🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 26
“Ugh. Are you sure she’s really here?”
“She is.”
Pashina pinched her nose at the unmistakable stench of manure that filled the air, characteristic of the countryside.
The sweet scent of the vineyards mixed with the smell of fresh fertilizer created a nauseating blend.
“She’s so lowly, honestly. No wonder they say she’s a country-bred princess. Hiding out in a place like this?”
Everything about the situation irked Pashina.
She was already exhausted just from riding the carriage all the way to Vanessa.
“I bought this intel from the guild. A woman resembling the princess shows up at the village market regularly to buy food.”
Derrick intended to comb through the village based on that information.
It was only half the size of the capital, with fewer people, so he believed they’d find Erne in no time.
“Even the roads in this place are awful.”
Wearing heels, Pashina kicked at every stone in frustration as they hindered her steps.
Derrick ignored her and approached a fruit stall, pulling out a wanted poster he had brought from the capital.
“Hey. Let me ask you something.”
His arrogant tone, especially toward someone he just met, made the shopkeeper glance them over quickly.
But the high-quality fabric of their clothing made it clear they were nobles, and the shopkeeper nodded nervously.
“Have you seen this woman?”
Derrick handed over a portrait of Erne.
The shopkeeper looked closely at the poster.
“Hmm…”
A woman who looked like her had bought tomatoes from his stall a few days ago…
But no matter how he thought about it, the woman he saw wasn’t as ugly as the one in the drawing.
So the shopkeeper shook his head.
“Never seen her.”
Damn it. That answer was just the beginning—they kept hearing the same thing from everyone.
Even in the small Vanessa market, every response was identical, and Derrick cursed under his breath.
“Oh dear. Haven’t seen anyone like that.”
“There are tons of blondes. Haven’t seen her.”
“This isn’t some tourist spot. If we had, we’d tell you. But we haven’t.”
With everyone giving the same answer, Pashina’s face turned as sour as Derrick’s.
“You said you were sure!”
When she accused him as if it wasn’t her idea, Derrick’s face hardened.
“I shouldn’t have trusted that intel guild. Damn it…!”
Derrick kicked a tree near the roadside.
In truth, the guild Derrick had wanted to use was called Crow.
It was renowned in Nesheld for its speed and reliability in gathering information.
Rumors even said that Crow had taken over the entire intel market across Nesheld, which proved their skill.
So what?! That bastard!
That damn guild master had rejected Derrick’s request, saying they operated by reservation only.
Just thinking about it made Derrick furious, and he kicked the tree again in frustration.
Pashina, growing uncomfortable under the scorching sun, fanned herself mockingly as she climbed into the carriage first.
That’s when Derrick saw something unusual.
“What’s that?”
While he was leaning against the tree trying to cool his anger, something caught his eye—a signpost.
“Cheonghak-dong?”
Why is it so hard to pronounce? What the hell does it mean?
Derrick turned his head in the direction the sign was pointing.
It led into a forest. For some reason, he had a strong hunch that they needed to check it out.
He quickly climbed into the carriage.
“Follow that sign.”
Derrick gave a short order to the coachman. Since the village market had yielded nothing, they might have to start questioning each villager one by one.
“Cheonghak-dong? What kind of word is that? Never heard of it.”
Pashina read the sign Derrick pointed to as the carriage began to move in that direction.
“You think that bitch Erne is there?”
“No idea.”
“What? Then why are we going?”
“I paid good money for this info. We’re going to get our money’s worth. If she’s not there, we’ll just question every villager.”
“So we’re staying overnight in this dump? Seriously?”
“It’ll be sunset soon. It’d be hard on the coachman to turn back now. Roads are dangerous at night.”
Pashina’s face soured at the fact that she’d have to spend a night in the countryside.
Anyone could see how much she hated it.
“All this suffering just to find that bitch!”
She grumbled curses toward Erne, the root of all this misery, sniffing disdainfully at the lingering rural stench.
“I need my perfume. My perfume!”
Derrick sighed as Pashina fussed around in front of him, digging for her perfume.
“Just bear with it until tomorrow. Once we find Erne and take her back, everything will go according to plan.”
Derrick tried to soothe her, but Pashina was close to tears.
“Who would’ve thought I’d end up sleeping in a place like this?!”
She used to dislike Erne, but now she absolutely hated her. The air inside the carriage became suffocating with the strong scent of Pashina’s perfume.
Derrick, now with a headache from the stench, looked down at the wanted poster in his hands.
Their carriage sped through the wooded path toward the strange place called Cheonghak-dong, the road shaded like a mountain trail.
He had to bring Erne back at all costs.
The foolish country princess was just a pawn for Derrick and Pashina’s plans.
＊＊＊
Creak— The rusty hinges gave an eerie sound.
“Can’t tell me what you wished for? Is it a secret?”
“You know how they say a wish loses power if you say it out loud.”
“Mm. What a shame.”
Erne had felt feverish since the afternoon. Her body was heating up more and more.
She desperately wanted to wash up and get in bed before anyone noticed.
“Well then, see you tomorrow, Erne. Thank you for spending the day with Shuknen.”
The voice clearly showed reluctance to part, but in her feverish state, Erne couldn’t notice.
“Yes. Get home safely, Winzard.”
All she wanted was to get Winzard and the sleeping Shuknen out of the house so she could rest.
Afraid she might get caught again, Erne hurried inside the house, hearing the distant sound of the carriage departing.
They’re gone. Thank goodness.
Just as she was rummaging through her wardrobe for clothes to change into—
She felt it.
The chilling sensation of someone watching her from behind.
“There you are, Erne.”
Shiver. A cold sweat ran down her spine.
It was a familiar voice—but no one should’ve been in her house.
“I’ve been looking all over for you, Erne.”
Erne froze, unable to turn around.
Her hands, reaching into the wardrobe, also stopped mid-air.
She was too stunned to even scream, turning her creaking head slowly.
As expected, footsteps echoed from the dark kitchen—
And that bastard emerged.
“How… did you get in?”
“Come on. How could I not know about you? Hmm?”
That smug bastard smirked and walked closer.
Erne trembled, her face pale.
Whether from fear or panic, she couldn’t tell—but Derrick seemed pleased by her frightened face.
“This country house is so lax. The door wasn’t even locked. Honestly, I wouldn’t have known you were here, but look—this was sitting right on the table. This is your most treasured item, right?”
Something shimmered in the dark.
Realizing what it was, Erne couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted his name.
“Derrick!”
“Yes, it’s me. Your fiancé, Derrick. Oh, and this—your grandma’s keepsake, wasn’t it?”
He chuckled as he lifted the pendant necklace into the light.
Erne trembled uncontrollably.
Still such a clueless country bumpkin. Tsk.
Derrick didn’t care why Erne left the royal palace.
If he had to guess, it was probably because she found out about him and Pashina.
A fragile country princess, after all.
Derrick thought Erne was just scared of him.
Just like a fairy tale princess, claiming she wouldn’t marry without love.
Well, doesn’t matter. I found her. That means I’ll marry the princess after all.
As soon as Derrick was sure this was her home, he sent Pashina and the carriage to a nearby inn.
Then he waited in the empty house for her return—
All for this moment.
“Do you know how much His Majesty has been looking for you? Come back with me, Erne.”
“……”
“We need to get married, remember?”
Derrick held out his hand with a greasy smile. Erne’s expression suddenly hardened.
She glanced between his hand and his smug face, then smiled.
Her trembling—wasn’t fear anymore. It was pure joy.
Not just from the fever.
“Derrick.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear with a fresh, dazzling smile and called his name.
“Yes, Erne.”
Derrick was sure she still had feelings for him.
Her deepening smile only confirmed it.
“I missed you.”
Of course. Derrick felt he had been right all along.
Erne had fled the palace because she couldn’t handle the heartbreak of his relationship with Pashina.
But now that he had come to get her, she was delighted.
A country princess is so easy to manipulate. Convenient.
Erne had finally given in.
That fact alone made Derrick feel victorious.
“Why did you take so long to come?” Erne asked, slowly approaching.
Derrick opened his arms wide, ready to embrace her.
Soon, the foolish princess would fall into his arms and sob with gratitude.
Yes, that’s how it should’ve gone…
Hi-yah!
Hi-yah?
The strange shout made Derrick tilt his head—then came a dull thud.
Perhaps Derrick should’ve run the moment he heard that odd sound from her mouth.
“Urgh!”
A groan of pain escaped Derrick’s lips.
Crack. His smile shattered.
Through his blurred vision, he realized what Erne had done.
“E-Erne…! You…!”
Derrick dropped to his knees.
He wanted to speak, but the pain blocked his voice. Only a single tear squeezed out.
Trembling, lips quivering, he curled into a grotesque shape.
A desperate attempt to endure the pain.
Above him, Erne’s smile glittered with satisfaction.
“Sigh. Took you long enough. If you’d come sooner, I could’ve hit you a few more times.”
Her face, after landing a perfectly centered blow, looked oddly refreshed.
“Right now, I don’t see anything in front of me.”
More precisely, her vision was burning hot from the fever.
Shaking the stiffness from her leg, Erne grinned.
