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Chapter: 17
Miliana watched the vines still maintained by Heos’s power and spoke.
“Master, it’s the first time I’ve seen you use your ability, and it’s so beautiful. Don’t you think so, Your Majesty?”
Kaiden glanced at the vines that had restrained the knights and the ones tangled nearby in response to Miliana’s words.
“The roses are so lush… it’s amazing that you made these bloom, Master!”
Miliana blinked repeatedly and gestured for him to respond. But as Kaiden gazed at the roses, a certain figure came to mind.
Erfilsie, who loved roses.
“I love roses. They enchant people, yet their thorns will pierce anyone who dares touch them. How beautiful and resilient they are.”
Kaiden’s brows furrowed harshly. Miliana, seeing this unexpected reaction, felt slightly taken aback. The atmosphere had suddenly turned tense, and it seemed his mind had drifted elsewhere.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Miliana’s exclamation snapped Kaiden back to reality.
“Don’t you think so?”
She urged him with an awkward smile to agree.
“Ah… I see. You handle your ability well.”
Kaiden’s large hand reached out and settled on Heos’s head.
He tousled Heos’s hair gently, albeit clumsily. Heos stiffened, and his eyes trembled. Yet, he seemed to relax somewhat, sensing the warmth.
“You’ve improved a lot while I was away.”
“I studied… diligently.”
“I see.”
Feeling that this conversation was awkward, Heos suddenly stood up and said,
“I’m going now.”
“Huh? J-just a little longer…”
‘The mood was nice…’
“I have to. Class will start soon.”
You can’t be fully satisfied on the first try. Seeing his earlobes flush red with embarrassment, it seemed some progress had been made.
‘Ah, so class was soon.’
“If it’s class, then there’s nothing I can do.”
That’s why Heos insisted on leaving.
Miliana mentally recorded the time he spent studying. She had heard that a private tutor oversaw his lessons, personally selected by the Emperor himself.
Though she had never met this tutor, Miliana felt quite favorable toward someone who came all that way for lessons without fear of Heos.
‘Wait a moment. But didn’t the curse strengthen right after the class ended? Could there be another private tutor for Master?’
It was impossible. Knowing the medicine he was given was important, but understanding why the curse intensified was just as critical.
After gathering the mat and putting it in a basket, Miliana said,
“Master, let’s go quickly. We can’t keep your tutor waiting!”
She set out to uncover why the curse had suddenly strengthened and whether the tutor was truly the cause. If so, then she and Erfilsie might be working together?
At that moment, someone’s voice made Miliana stop in her tracks.
“You will stay here for a moment.”
“Huh?”
Miliana turned her head.
‘Oh no… I need to go with Master…’
Kaiden gestured for her to follow. Heos held Miliana’s hand.
“Why, Miliana?”
“I have something to discuss. You prepare for class.”
Miliana wanted to ask Kaiden why this was necessary. The mood had been so good just a moment ago. Heos’s face slightly crumpled at Kaiden’s cold tone.
“You should attend Madam Asilia’s class. She has much to teach you. Obey her instructions. Release the knights before you go.”
Heos reluctantly released the knights, frowning. The knights, fallen to the ground, tended to their aching arms and legs.
“You’ll see me later.”
“…Understood.”
Heos watched Miliana anxiously, still holding her hand.
“Your Majesty… I…”
“What is it?”
‘If I argue, I’ll look even more suspicious…’
Even if she insisted she needed to stay by Heos’s side, she would have no words when asked “Why?”
‘I can’t say, “The tutor might be dangerous!”’
‘After all, she’s trusted by Your Majesty, and even you trust her. Can I really stop her? If I do nothing now, both giving him medicine and finding out why the curse strengthened will fail!’
One of those two goals had to succeed.
Miliana made her decision and stepped forward boldly.
“Your Majesty, I am Heos’s personal maid.”
“…I see.”
Kaiden stared at her solemnly.
“Therefore, I cannot leave his side!”
Her serious expression, as if swearing an oath, left Kaiden momentarily speechless.
Seeing her refusal to leave Heos’s side, he wondered whether to praise her or scold her for ignoring his command.
“Master is still unstable. I must stay by his side.”
Miliana whispered to Kaiden. He glanced down at Heos, still holding the collar of his clothes as if to prevent her from taking him away.
“Very well. I will not take you.”
Heos’s face brightened, and he looked up at Miliana.
At first, she had seemed suspicious that Heos obeyed her so completely. But thinking carefully, few had ever been so followed by Heos. Among the very few, Miliana was on another level. What exactly made her different?
‘…Perhaps because I seem like a child?’
When Kaiden said he wouldn’t take her, Miliana smiled brightly. She was delighted to be able to stay with Master. Her joy was exceptional.
Kaiden mistakenly thought she loved Heos so much.
‘I finally get to see the tutor with my own eyes!’
Miliana’s joy, however, had a completely different reason.
“Instead, you all come.”
“Huh…?”
“Can you protect Heos properly?”
He asked Miliana.
“Of course!”
She had refused the interview with Kaiden firmly for this purpose, bracing for his scolding. Luckily, it was avoided.
Suddenly, the knights would face Kaiden instead of Miliana. It was clear from his demeanor that the interview would not be smooth.
“You are far more trustworthy. You must answer without hesitation that it is for Heos’s sake. You all fail at that.”
“N-No!”
“The problem is that your voice trembles. Follow without further words.”
Kaiden led away the intimidated knights.
“Master, it seems Your Majesty is going to scold them. Well, naturally. How dare they answer back to Master? That must never happen. If something like this happens again, report immediately. Your Majesty will handle everything.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. He treasures Master immensely.”
Miliana returned to Heos’s room with him.
In his room, she waited confidently for the tutor. First, she needed to gather information. She knew nothing about the tutor personally, only what she had heard around her. She also wanted to know why the curse strengthened after class. Something must have happened during that lesson.
“Master, I have a question.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“What do you learn in your lessons?”
“Lessons?”
“Yes!”
“Normal things. History, politics, arithmetic. Why?”
“Oh, just curious!”
‘I see,’ Heos replied casually. Miliana wanted information beyond that. She carefully added,
“What do you think of Madam Asilia?”
“I think she’s honest.”
“…I see.”
Miliana’s eyes widened at his unexpected answer. Heos had been harsh with the staff, yet he said this.
‘He trusts her.’
This made it even harder for Miliana to keep Asilia at a distance. Noticing Miliana’s somber expression, Heos added,
“I like you too, Miliana. You’re honest, right?”
“Of course.”
Miliana was surprised that Heos’s assessment matched hers. Heos stared at her intently.
After a long pause, he asked unexpectedly,
“So tell me… do you really think my father loves me?”
He had asked this before, and Miliana had answered.
‘Is he asking because of the change in His Majesty’s attitude?’
Heos’s repeated question seemed driven by suspicion, which was actually a good sign. Miliana had thought he disliked her, but recent frequent encounters made her question that assumption.
“Think carefully, Master.”
At that moment, the door opened. Madam Asilia appeared. Her golden hair flowed as she entered.
She looked slightly surprised at Miliana, but gracefully lowered her head with elegance.
Miliana recalled the etiquette of noblewomen and mirrored it, though awkwardly, causing a slight twitch at the corner of Asilia’s eye.
“Master, who is this? She doesn’t look like a maid.”
Asilia spoke politely, but Miliana could sense the underlying meaning.
Unlike trained noble maids, Miliana was a commoner. The difference was evident. Her gaze scanned sharply, making Miliana blush slightly.
“She is my personal maid.”
“So it has changed again. But her etiquette is lacking. Is she really a noble?”
“No. But she is my personal maid.”
‘Master…!’
Miliana proudly lifted her head in defiance of Asilia’s dismissive words.
‘I must protect Master from any harm! Try anything foolish!’
Miliana stood by Heos’s side, determined to observe the entire lesson.
“Where are the knights? I don’t see them outside either, I was worried.”
“They were called away by my father.”
“I see.”
Asilia sighed lightly.
“Their behavior toward Master was rude, and now it seems it has come to this.”
Miliana felt slightly puzzled by her tone, which seemed caring toward Heos.
