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CHAPTER 16
Erne woke up early in the morning and stretched with a refreshed face.
Since the children didn’t start arriving until around lunchtime, Erne decided to enjoy a rare leisurely morning.
‘So bright.’
It was a sunny day, the sunlight pouring down. Erne brought out orange juice and toast and sat on the wooden swing.
She planned to quickly and simply take care of breakfast.
“Erne.”
If only it hadn’t been a welcome guest.
“Noma!”
Erne immediately recognized the guest and jumped to her feet.
Noma, whose orange-tinged hair stood out vividly, smiled softly and opened her arms wide toward Erne.
“Noma!”
Erne called out her name again and ran into her arms.
“When did you get here?”
“I was waiting before you even woke up.”
“You should’ve come in and woken me.”
“I got distracted looking at the garden.”
Noma pointed to the vegetable garden in the courtyard of Cheonghakdong.
Erne had recently started gardening lessons with the children, inspired by her recent visit to Countess Vanessa’s estate.
“I came in person because there was too much to write in a letter. Honestly, I had something to check out too.”
The reason Erne had been waiting for Noma was something else entirely.
Noma was a friend Erne had known since she used to gather herbs—practically a childhood friend.
It was Noma who had taken charge of the funeral arrangements when Erne’s grandmother passed away.
To Erne, Noma was like family.
She was also the only one who helped Erne run away.
Noma continued to send regular updates about the capital’s situation in Erne’s place.
“Have you eaten breakfast?”
“No.”
“Want some?”
“Yeah.”
Noma took a bite of the simple toast Erne had made and sat beside her on the swing.
“What were you going to tell me in the letter?”
“Wanted posters have been spread all over Nesheld.”
“I know. I saw one a few days ago.”
“Still, it’s a good thing this place is far from town.”
“I cover my face as much as possible when I go shopping, so it’s fine.”
At Noma’s words, Erne waved her hands as if telling her not to worry.
Noma was Erne’s only source of news since she’d cut ties with the capital.
“Her Majesty the Queen announced the successor yesterday.”
“Huh?”
“Erne Buesel Nesheld. She named you.”
“…What?”
They had declared her the heir when no one even knew whether she was dead or alive?
Erne felt gloomy at the thought that once she returned, there would be no turning back.
After all, she was just someone who had possessed this body.
Not even a main heroine, male lead, or hidden boss—just an extra.
According to the original plot, the kingdom of Nesheld was doomed anyway. The thought of becoming queen of such a place made her sigh.
‘Who in their right mind would want to become queen of a crumbling country!’
She suddenly felt like crying.
Sensing Erne’s conflicted expression, Noma reached out and gently tucked away the strands of hair blowing in the wind with a soft smile.
“Don’t be too disappointed. And I’ll bring Libera next time.”
“Really?”
Libera was Noma’s twin sister.
“She’s been dying to see you. If it weren’t for her crow mission, she might’ve been the one who came instead of me.”
Since Erne was close with both Noma and Libera, she nodded without hesitation.
“It’s easier for you two to come here than for me to move around. Yeah. Next time, bring Libera with you.”
“Sure. And you said you didn’t need the hair-dyeing potion I gave you last time, right?”
“Oh, that…”
Erne scratched her cheek.
She couldn’t exactly say that Duke Douglas, a parent of one of her students, had discovered her identity—Noma would definitely freak out.
So she opted for a harmless white lie.
“I forgot to use the potion and went to the market anyway, but no one recognized me. You know how I hate hassle. It’s annoying to use it every time. No point using it if no one’s going to notice.”
“Really? That’s unexpected. You’re the kind of person who never lets even the smallest exception slip…”
Though suspicious, Noma accepted it soon enough.
As the two continued chatting over breakfast, an unexpected silence settled between them.
“Hey, Erne.”
“Yeah?”
Since they were so close, the silence didn’t feel awkward.
But something about Noma’s expression seemed uneasy.
It looked like she had something to say.
“Before coming to Vanessa’s, I stopped by Rank. You know, our hometown.”
“Ah…”
Erne nodded. Rank was where she had lived.
It held memories of her grandmother and the twins—Noma and Libera.
“The royal family has started searching Rank.”
“That’s why I never went back there.”
“Hmm…”
Noma tilted her head slightly, as if struggling with something on her mind.
She wasn’t sure if she should say it—if telling Erne would just upset her unnecessarily.
As she let out a rare sigh, Erne, who had already finished her toast, dusted off her hands and spoke.
“You have something to tell me, don’t you?”
“…”
“Come on. Just say it. What is it?”
Erne was smart and quick-witted.
Noma, looking conflicted, finally spoke up.
“When I went to Rank, I saw the knights searching the cabin where you used to live.”
“And?”
“Well… there was someone with them who looked like Grandma Marshal.”
“…Didn’t you mistake someone else for her? She’s definitely passed away.”
“She had.”
Erne smiled faintly and shook her head like it was nothing.
If it wasn’t actually Grandma Marshal but just someone who looked like her, it must’ve been a coincidence.
Noma must have been mistaken.
But Noma, hesitant, added something even more troubling.
“The knights left without finding anything. But that night, after they left, I saw a light on in your old cabin.”
“…”
“I wasn’t the only one. Libera saw it too. And… we both saw someone come out of the house. Someone who looked exactly like Grandma Marshal.”
Erne didn’t respond for a long time.
In truth, she had only heard about her grandmother’s passing. She had never seen the body herself.
There were many restrictions to being a princess.
She could only visit after the burial. She hadn’t been allowed to attend the funeral.
That’s why it had been Noma and Libera who had handled everything for her.
So even though she thought Noma and Libera must be mistaken…
She couldn’t shake off the creeping dread that came with the knowledge that this novel’s plot was kind of messed up.
‘No way. It can’t be. Right…?’
＊＊＊
“Hi, kids! I’m Noma!”
Noma said she’d stay the night and leave early tomorrow morning.
Erne, brushing aside the strange feelings for now, said it was time for the kids’ lessons—and since Noma liked children, she quickly began playing with Selene and Ash.
The kids instantly bonded with her and giggled as they clung to her.
“Shuknen, why don’t you join Noma too?”
“That kind of stuff is for little kids.”
Erne tried suggesting it to the sulky Shuknen who was quietly drawing by himself, but his cold reply made her laugh awkwardly.
‘You’re still a kid too.’
She wanted to say it, but decided to protect his fragile pride instead.
With Noma handling the kids, today’s lesson quickly turned into free time.
‘Well, for the kids, running around like that is probably better than studying anyway.’
As Erne fondly watched the children playing—except for Shuknen—she suddenly felt a sharp gaze and turned her head.
There stood Windsor, the parent who was once again observing class today.
“Who is that?”
“Noma? I told you—my childhood friend.”
“So she’s a commoner.”
“Yes. She was my neighbor when I lived with my grandmother.”
At her response, Windsor’s face grew increasingly grim.
Was it because Noma was a commoner?
Some high-ranking nobles judged people by status, and Erne assumed Windsor must be one of those types, so she hurriedly added:
“Noma is a precious friend. She’s been by my side for a long time, regardless of status.”
Thinking that should be enough to prevent any rudeness, Erne smiled.
“When is she leaving?”
“Who? Noma?”
“Yes. She’s staying too long for no reason.”
Windsor’s sharp eyes pierced into Noma.
Erne let out an awkward laugh.
‘Who’s the one pointlessly observing all the time?’
She shot Windsor a playful look and turned her eyes back to Noma, who was joyfully playing with the children.
Noma’s smile was beautiful—gentle and kind. Just watching her made you feel warm.
“Noma’s sleeping over tonight.”
“Are you insane?”
Windsor’s sudden sharp voice jolted Erne.
“Windsor?”
“Elren, are you saying the two of you are going to spend the night alone in this house?”
Why… why was that a problem? They were just childhood friends.
Seeing Windsor oddly upset, Erne swallowed hard.
“Elren, you have absolutely no sense of caution.”
“…”
“How can you spend the night alone with a man? I forbid it.”
Erne’s already large eyes grew even wider.
Windsor, determined, radiated murderous intent toward Noma.
‘That bastard. I don’t like him.’
Windsor clenched his teeth and stared obsessively at Noma.
Tall—close to 180cm—with lean muscles rather than bulk.
A soft, low voice and short orange hair that glowed under the sunlight.
Fox-like eyes curving playfully whenever looking at Erne.
Not a single thing about her was to his liking. And sleeping over in a house where a woman lived alone?
Unacceptable.
For some reason, as Erne’s protector, he felt it was his duty to stop this.
‘Right. Elren’s weak. I’m the only one who can protect her.’
Windsor was about to double down on his refusal when—
Still looking puzzled, Erne slowly opened her mouth with wavering eyes.
“Windsor, what are you talking about?”
Erne took his hand and shook her head with a bewildered expression.
“Noma is a woman, Windsor.”
…Ah.
