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Chapter 34
“Hello, Uncle Max.”
“Oh! Lady Huna from Cheonghakdong!”
The vegetable vendor beamed as he greeted Erne.
At the market, Erne was known as the scholar of Cheonghakdong. The kids had trouble pronouncing it properly, so they just called her “Lady Huna”—but she was quite content with the nickname.
“Today’s vegetables are super fresh.”
“They really do look fresh.”
Erne picked up a head of broccoli, thinking about the vegetable soup she planned to make.
Her shopping bag was already full of various ingredients.
“You should buy some meat, too!”
Butcher Tom called out in his booming voice.
“Did you get a good cut in today?”
“The best!”
Tom answered confidently—he was very proud of the quality of his meats.
“Then I’ll just buy a little.”
Erne continued shopping, enjoying the cheerful atmosphere of the market.
Though Vanessa didn’t have fancy shops like dress boutiques or jewelry stores, the market’s lively energy made up for it.
She chatted happily with the vendors she’d gotten close to, laughing brightly.
Not far from there, two very suspicious-looking individuals stood watching.
“Do we really have to go this far?”
“Ellen’s a sharp one.”
Rejected after asking for a weekend date, Winzard was watching Erne from a distance.
Shuknen, clearly uncomfortable in the hood he had pulled over his head, grumbled.
“You know this is actual stalking, right?”
“What are you talking about? This is the proper way to protect Ellen.”
A crack appeared in Shuknen’s expression. He let out a sigh.
Maybe I really should tell Teacher to run away.
His father’s possessiveness and obsession were an insurmountable wall.
But unlike Shuknen’s thoughts, Winzard had his own rationalization.
Ellen is a princess, after all.
He was merely a loyal subject protecting the next queen of Nesheld.
“Can I take this thing off? People keep staring at us weird. You might be used to it, but I’m not!”
Shuknen fussed with the hood, stomping his feet in frustration.
Winzard clicked his tongue at his son’s whining, but his eyes stayed fixed on Erne.
“Why is that guy smiling at Ellen?”
“…”
“Ellen never smiles at me like that…”
Each time Erne smiled at another man, Winzard’s eyes grew darker with jealousy.
Shuknen was feeling more and more exhausted by the growing tension.
He hadn’t expected “a fun game” to mean following his teacher around.
Now he just felt stupid for falling for it, his lips pouting in protest.
“Let’s just go say hi. Even if you can’t, Ellen likes me.”
Winzard glanced at his son in disbelief, then silently turned his head.
Shuknen’s patience was wearing thin when—
Just as he was about to speak, a chilling voice came from Winzard.
“That guy… his hand is on Ellen’s shoulder…!”
“What? Where? Who is it? Which guy?!”
Who dared to touch his teacher?
Moments ago, Shuknen was bored, but now his eyes flared with rage.
The resemblance between father and son was so striking, passersby flinched and changed direction.
“I’ll have to break that guy’s wrist.”
“Ugh! Her skin is so delicate—she might bruise!”
A moment ago, they didn’t seem to get along at all.
Now, the father and son were perfectly in sync, exchanging furious thoughts like a team.
“Father! She’s heading that way!”
“Don’t lose her.”
“Got it!”
The mysterious man who touched Erne’s shoulder had instantly united the duo, their pursuit now fueled with even greater intensity.
＊＊＊
Why does the back of my head itch so much today?
Erne had the unsettling feeling she was being followed and looked back several times on her way home.
But there was never anyone there.
Maybe I’m just being paranoid.
Maybe she was just sensitive because it was finally quiet around her.
She had been enjoying her rare weekend alone, but today, her heart thumped strangely.
Ever since Derick’s visit, she’d been on edge, afraid that Nesheld’s knights might show up any day to drag her back to the palace.
Erne shook her head to chase the thoughts away, arms full of ingredients.
She planned to enjoy bread and tea slathered with cream once she got home.
For dinner, she’d start light with vegetable soup and then have some meat.
If everything went according to plan, it would be the perfect weekend.
Breathing in the fresh, forest-like scent of the path, she made her way back to Cheonghakdong.
But even before she arrived, she saw a large group of people gathered near her home.
No way…
Erne tried to steady her pounding heart, her face stiff as she cautiously approached.
As soon as she recognized the familiar uniforms, her doubts turned into certainty.
The bad feeling she’d had earlier was now an undeniable reality.
She froze.
“You need to come with us now.”
“……”
“The princess has a duty she must fulfill as the next queen.”
Erne’s expression twisted as she looked up at the man who had ruined her only break.
A group of royal knights were waiting for her at Cheonghakdong—an unwelcome sight after a peaceful outing.
Clearly, if she refused to go willingly, they would use force. The number of knights was considerable.
One, two…
About seventeen?
Erne roughly counted the knights crowding her front yard and scoffed at the man’s words.
A duty so important she had to return? They should’ve come up with a better excuse.
“I’m not going back.”
The knight’s face turned red.
He hadn’t expected her to go easily, but her stubborn refusal still surprised him.
“Then we have no choice. Please forgive us for laying hands on the princess—”
“Who gave you permission?”
The knight’s sentence was cut short by a chilling voice from somewhere nearby.
Both Erne and the knights turned toward the voice.
Erne immediately knew who it was the moment she heard it—and her face filled with confusion.
Winzard?
Why was he here?
Erne, unaware that Winzard had followed her all the way from the market, assumed his arrival was just a terrible coincidence.
She held back a cry, feeling this “coincidence” was far too dramatic.
Winzard stepped between her and the knights.
His stride was confident, filled with purpose.
He blocked Erne with his body and glared at the knights with murderous intent.
Shing. The blade gleamed as it slid from its sheath.
“D-Duke Douglas?!”
He was a royal knight—so it wasn’t surprising that the other knight recognized him.
The knight gulped, staring at the drawn sword.
Even as a seasoned soldier, this situation was absurd.
But the most shocked of them all was Erne.
The only one calm in all of this was Winzard.
“If you want to take the princess—”
“……”
“You’ll have to get through me first.”
At his words, Erne staggered in disbelief.
What was this? Some legendary 1 vs. 17 showdown?!
The darker Erne’s expression grew, the deeper Winzard’s delusion became.
He thought she was worried about him taking on so many opponents.
“Don’t worry, Ellen. Seventeen? That’s nothing.”
He said it to comfort her.
But his words only made Erne’s expression even more twisted.
“Ellen, to protect you…”
Winzard gripped his sword firmly. He looked ready to slash through them all at any moment.
Erne focused all her strength just to stay conscious.
Hitting people is wrong.
Killing is… also wrong.
Didn’t they have this exact conversation yesterday?
“Those who try to harm the princess… I can’t let them live.”
Even more sinister words escaped Winzard’s lips.
Erne held her forehead and leaned against the swing’s wooden post, trying to calm her breath.
It was official: villain redemption had failed.
“That’s right! Father! They’re all trying to hurt Teacher, right? Don’t let any of them go!”
As if Winzard’s appearance wasn’t enough, Shuknen suddenly emerged out of nowhere.
His hood fluttered behind him as he clenched his fists and cheered his father on.
Any hope that the villain’s son might grow up right—shattered.
Erne briefly thought that maybe the dysfunctional royal family wasn’t so bad after all.
Just then, a carriage pulled up in front of Cheonghakdong. It bore the royal crest.
No way… did Mother come in person?
Erne watched the approaching carriage with growing dread.
She really didn’t want this day to get any worse.
But when she saw who got out, her eyes filled with surprise.
It was someone who could bring instant order to this mess.
“Erne!”
“Father?”
It was Marquis Damian. He immediately rushed over and embraced Erne tightly.
Winzard and Shuknen, still glaring at the knights with weapons ready, turned when they heard Erne’s words.
“Father-in-law?”
“Grandfather?”
