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Chapter 63
Cillia forced her pounding heart to calm down.
‘Damn it.’
There was no point in cursing her situation now — it wouldn’t change anything. Quickly regaining her composure, Cillia made up her mind.
‘…Act like nothing happened. Smooth it over.’
Even so, the image of that little child’s face kept circling in her head — the moment the child had grabbed her fragile hand and begged for help. But still…
‘I can’t act rashly.’
She couldn’t afford to behave as though she had seen or realized something important. Cillia quietly tightened her grip on Krondel’s hand, intertwining their fingers as she turned to look back — a silent warning to watch what he said. Krondel seemed to understand and gave a slight nod.
At that moment, the Crown Princess’s eyes dropped to their clasped hands, and she spoke.
“I didn’t realize the two of you were that close.”
“……”
“Two young nobles of marrying age, sneaking off together for a tryst, perhaps?”
Krondel flinched and tried to pull his hand away. Instead, Cillia held on tighter.
She could feel the cold sweat on his palm beneath their gloves. Cillia tugged him closer, deliberately.
The Crown Princess’s remark was clearly politically motivated — but there was a way to twist the meaning.
She could either tell the truth and make things worse… or brazenly pass it off as a matter of romance.
‘Obviously, the latter.’
Cillia spoke in a slightly stilted voice, forcing a troubled tone.
“Your Highness, may I beg you to keep this matter secret?”
“A secret, you say?”
“As you said, an unmarried lady was caught having a private meeting with a man. I’m sure rumors will spread somewhere.”
“Ah.”
The Crown Princess’s tone carried amusement — a hint of “So you’re really going to insist on that story?”
“Come to think of it, I heard rumors during the admission exams that the Second Prince was looking for a young lady.”
Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Slowly blinking, she continued,
“Then it should be simple enough — just announce an engagement.”
The words were cold, sharper than ice. From the moment they first met, she had been pressing about marriage alliances. Just as Cillia was about to respond, Krondel stepped forward.
“Please, Sister. I was the one who approached the lady. I lured her out — said the ballroom was stuffy, asked if she’d like to get some fresh air.”
“Hah.”
“That’s all that happened. I swear on my honor, nothing that would tarnish her name occurred.”
“……”
“Nothing happened. Except that I was the one pursuing her.”
“So, you used high-level magic to sneak out for that?”
“…The lady had nothing to do with it. I did it. I didn’t want her to get into trouble.”
“You? With what power?”
“I used some stolen magical tools. You know my habits, Sister.”
Krondel was taking the entire blame onto himself. The Crown Princess’s expression hardened.
“Still can’t fix those sticky fingers of yours, can you? You’d go that far just for her?”
“…Yes.”
“Then all the more reason to announce the engagement. It’ll protect her honor — and give you some use.”
“That’s…”
“What’s the problem? It’s the best solution under the circumstances.”
Krondel’s voice came out steady.
“Because it’s one-sided. My feelings alone. The lady only humored me because it’s hard to refuse a prince.”
For an act, he was awfully convincing.
“I can’t force someone who doesn’t return my feelings. Even if the marriage went through, what good would it be if she were miserable?”
“How romantic of you,” the Crown Princess scoffed.
Then Cillia spoke up.
“No, my feelings have changed. Let’s do it — announce the engagement.”
“…Cillia?”
Cillia pulled Krondel back to her side and met the Crown Princess’s cold gaze head-on.
“It’s not like it’s a bad deal for me. Having the royal family at my back — what’s there to lose?”
“……”
“But you won’t do it.”
“And why do you think that?”
“Because then everyone’s attention would turn to the Second Prince.”
“To him?”
A faint, mocking smile curved the Crown Princess’s lips. Cillia tightened her grip on Krondel’s hand.
“You told me before that you wouldn’t mind if I got engaged to him — that it would even make it easier to win me over.”
“And I meant it.”
“I know. But that only holds true when I haven’t chosen a side yet.”
“……”
“Or when there’s still a chance I might stand with Your Highness.”
The Crown Princess’s lips parted slowly.
“So you’re choosing now?”
“Yes.”
Cillia’s reply was firm. Beside her, she could hear Krondel’s sharp intake of breath.
It wasn’t a good choice — not by any means. Making an enemy of the royal family’s most powerful figure after the king himself could end in disaster.
But…
After seeing that child’s tear-streaked face, hearing her desperate plea for help — Cillia couldn’t bring herself to support or use the Crown Princess anymore. Maybe before she’d seen it, she could have. Not now.
The forbidden alchemy formula stolen from the royal archives — it was almost certainly the Crown Princess’s doing.
‘At this point, it’s practically confirmed.’
It was only suspicion for now, but…
And besides—
Cillia remembered how Krondel had always been willing to take risks for her. Even if part of it had been for show, there were times he had spoken honestly, with real warmth. Just now, too, he had stepped up to take the fall for her.
“You asked if my feelings were real. Yes, they are.”
If she had to choose one of them eventually—
“I’ll stay by the Second Prince’s side.”
Silence filled the guest room.
She could hear Krondel’s trembling breath. After what felt like hours compressed into mere seconds, the Crown Princess finally replied, her voice dry.
“I see.”
Without another glance, she turned and strode out.
“See that the fallen attendant is taken to someone else’s care. You may continue to use this room.”
The door creaked open.
“Just for tonight.”
Bang.
The door slammed shut.
Cillia and Krondel remained frozen in silence, staring after her.
“…Let’s wait a bit before we leave.”
Outside, fireworks burst again with a loud pop. Cillia took Krondel’s arm and led him back toward the ballroom. Curious gazes followed them immediately.
“Cillia?” Krondel whispered, startled.
“Act natural. Especially me. Let’s dance a few songs.”
She had to salvage what she could. The damage was done — but it could still get worse if she panicked.
“…I don’t think I should go out there.”
“No one knows who you are. You’ve got a mask and a wig.”
“But my sister recognized me—”
“The Crown Princess is gone. Just dance one song. If you stand there like a statue, people will suspect something.”
And so, Krondel unwillingly became the subject of mild gossip among the capital’s nobles.
Even though the Crown Princess had granted them permission to stay the night, they decided to leave the palace instead. Sleeping there now would be like inviting a dagger to the throat.
Marcella was openly disappointed, but there was no helping it. Krondel said he would investigate the experiment himself and disappeared into the night as soon as they left the palace gates.
“Don’t get yourself stabbed.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve been dodging blades for seventeen years.”
Cillia watched him go, worry flickering in her eyes. Flior, who had followed her out, looked equally concerned.
“Knives? What happened?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Back at the Diaman estate, she barely slept a wink. Her mind was spinning with thoughts — especially one.
“She asked me to save her sister.”
The crying child’s face haunted her all night and through the next day. She couldn’t focus on anything.
After a restless, sleepless day—
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped on her window as night fell again.
“You’re easy to find. Your magic stands out anywhere.”
“……”
A tiny dragon — Yotun — hovered outside the window, flapping its small wings. Honestly, it looked more like a lizard than a dragon.
‘Kind of cute, actually.’
While Cillia was thinking that, Yotun’s small mouth opened.
“I found a trace.”
“How?”
Cillia jumped out the window to follow his lead.
“I caught the scent, you could say. Luck was on our side — looks like they were taken not long ago. Took some time, but I tracked them down.”
“Anyone watching would think you’re a hunting dog, not a dragon.”
If the ancient being was offended by the comparison, he didn’t show it — he seemed positively delighted.
“It’s been ages since I’ve gone on an adventure with someone. I’m quite thrilled.”
“This isn’t a vacation,” Cillia muttered, pushing off into a run.
* * *
“Hey, are you okay? Wake up!”
Mollie was shaking the child slumped against her knees. The girl had seemed fine earlier, but after being summoned outside a few times by the guards, her condition had worsened rapidly.
The guards kept taking the youngest ones — and each time they came back half-dead. Everyone in the warehouse was terrified.
“Your sister’s safe, dear. Please, stay with me.”
At least this child had managed to hide her little sister in the back before being taken herself. Watching these kids suffer broke Mollie’s heart. They reminded her of her grandson who’d died young of sickness.
Then, the warehouse door creaked open.
“You. Come out.”
The guard pointed at a small boy — barely school age. Mollie couldn’t hold back anymore.
“How can you do this to people! Have you no shame?”
“What’s this, old hag? You looking to die first?”
“Let her be. Doesn’t look like she’s got much left to drain anyway.”
The guards laughed among themselves.
“If you want to die so bad, we can—”
Thud.
It all happened in an instant.
Thud, thud! One by one, the guards collapsed, struck by something flying in from outside.
“Gah!”
Startled, Mollie rushed to the doorway — and saw all the guards lying unconscious. Someone shouted that the exit was open, and the captives began to surge forward.
But Mollie turned back to the child. Someone had to carry her. That was when she heard it — a low metallic hum.
“Are you all right, ma’am?”
A man stepped out of the shadows — red hair gleaming under his sword’s reflection.
