PNA~38

Chapter 38

“Is there anything you’re uncomfortable with?”

“No. Not yet.”

A day had passed since Marquis Damian was detained under the pretext of an investigation.

Somehow, Erne had ended up staying at Wizard’s residence.

Perhaps because the place was unfamiliar, she woke up early and was now having breakfast with Wizard.

The table was full of rich, though not overwhelming, food.

Unlike her self-sufficient days in Cheonghak-dong, having someone serve her felt a little awkward now.

“Ah, thank you.”

Noticing Erne’s discomfort at the busy attendants pouring water and placing dishes from the tray, Wizard discreetly signaled them to leave.

Soon, only the two of them were left in the dining room.

Only then did Erne pick up her utensils. Watching her begin with the light soup, Wizard asked,

“Did you take the tonic I left for you last night? I specially asked Hanteo to prepare it, considering Your Highness’s constitution.”

“…More or less.”

Erne averted her eyes as the mention of the quack made her expression stiffen.

Noticing her reaction, Wizard narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Eventually, unable to avoid his persistent gaze, Erne spoke with a resigned sigh.

“But it was bitter.”

She pouted as she stabbed a tomato from her salad with a fork.

Her sulky expression looked like a child’s tantrum, and Wizard stifled a laugh as he replied,

“They say anything good for you tastes bitter.”

“I’ll try to take it.”

In the end, Erne lost to Wizard’s strange logic and could only nod.

But as she remembered the tonic from the night before, her face darkened again.

The taste was so vile and pungent that her tongue felt numb the moment it touched it.

‘That was a taste I’ll never forget.’

What on earth was in it? The ingredients really made her curious.

“By the way, what’s the current situation at the palace?”

“Actually, I plan to enter the palace today to find out.”

Erne had tossed and turned all night, worrying about Marquis Damian.

Anger toward Derrick and Pashina surged up from time to time, but only briefly.

She realized that getting angry at people who were born foolish was a pointless waste of energy.

“Is my father safe?”

“According to the secretary, Marquis Damian is a suspect in the Queen’s assassination. The royal investigative unit has rejected the request for his release.”

Good heavens. Erne screamed inside. Anxiety surged through her.

If something really happened to her father…

The tragedy that came overnight made Erne feel like everything was her fault.

Where did it all go wrong?

‘Was it when I said I wanted to break off the engagement because I didn’t want to marry the guy who slept with my friend?’

Erne bit her lip.

‘No. The real mistake was getting possessed into this trashy novel.’

Even when she dodged one landmine, another one called “trashy plot twist” was waiting for her.

Remembering the original story, Erne frowned.

Come to think of it, when did the Queen die in the original?

‘…She didn’t. She was alive.’

She distinctly remembered the Queen, Douglas, and the protagonists remaining at the center of the story until the hidden villain brought down Neshald.

Now she was scared that her presence was the variable that twisted the original plot.

If something really happened to Marquis Damian because of her… Erne didn’t think she could bear it.

She put down her fork and knife and pleaded with Wizard, desperation in her voice.

“My father couldn’t have killed my mother. Everyone in Neshald knew how close they were.”

Her hands stopped at salad, soup, and milk bread.

Seeing her stop eating, Wizard frowned slightly.

She needed to eat more. He didn’t like how little she was eating, like a bird pecking.

But seeing her eyes begin to glisten, he couldn’t ignore it either. He set down his utensils and said,

“I know.”

He knew? Erne’s eyes widened in surprise at the trust he was showing without question.

“There’s no way that man killed Her Majesty. I trust—no, I believe in the loyalty Marquis Damian has shown to the royal family.”

“…Thank you. Really.”

There was probably a trap in those words somewhere.

Though her response came a beat late, Erne felt sincerely grateful for Wizard’s unwavering trust.

She glanced around the room again.

An unfamiliar yet strangely familiar place.

She was in Douglas’s estate—not Neshald, not Cheonghak-dong.

It felt surreal.

Noticing her gaze wander, Wizard hurried to distract her.

That was the dangerous desire he harbored inside.

“Please stay here and be at ease, even if just for a while. Once this is resolved, Your Highness can return to the capital. Ah, this afternoon… they probably left by now.”

Wizard masked his possessive urge to keep her only for himself.

“Huh? Who?”

Erne tilted her head at the lack of a subject.

Wizard took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and muttered,

“Hmm. Shuknen is coming today. Yesterday, he insisted on coming with me. That boy is still young, and riding half a day straight on horseback is far too much, especially since he’s not in good health—but he’s so stubborn.”

Ah! Erne let out a small exclamation.

She nodded right after.

Things had been so hectic, she’d forgotten all about Shuknen!

Feeling guilty for her scattered mind, she asked,

“You left him behind because of me… Was that okay?”

“There are attendants at the separate residence. But he really gave me trouble. I don’t know who he takes after—so stubborn.”

“Shuknen must’ve been shocked…”

Looking back, she had been careless. Shuknen must’ve been shocked to learn she was a princess.

She should’ve thought of her student first. What kind of irresponsible teacher was she?

Almost in tears, Erne grabbed Wizard’s sleeve and bombarded him with questions.

“He must’ve found out I’m a princess, right? What if he hates me for hiding it? Who is he coming with? It doesn’t make sense for a child to travel from Vanessa alone!”

“That won’t happen. Shuknen would never hate you. It was you, Princess Ellen, who captured that picky child’s heart. And he’s coming with Hugo, so don’t worry.”

“I feel bad for Ash and Selene too… I’m really such an unfit teacher.”

Hearing that Shuknen had a guardian with him brought a wave of relief. She sighed deeply.

Seeing her like that, Wizard opened his mouth with a subtly displeased expression.

“…That’s not true at all.”

Whenever guilt threatened to swallow her, Wizard always lifted her up.

As if to say that guilt meant nothing.

But to Erne, it truly felt like all of this was her fault—no matter how ridiculous the plot of the original novel had been.

‘It’s because I, a background character, messed up the flow.’

If not that, there was no other way to explain everything that was happening now.

Erne sighed again and muttered,

“No. I really don’t think I’m good at anything.”

Though her words came out as a mumble, Wizard—who was close by—heard her clearly.

For some reason, Erne suddenly began to vent as she clung to Wizard.

“My social circle is really small. Back in Rank, I only had Noma and Rivera as friends. So when I entered the palace and became a princess, and Mother brought in a friend—Pashina—as a companion, I was thrilled.”

Wizard also set down his utensils and listened closely.

Just watching her speak softly with her delicate lips lifted his mood.

“Because I had a new friend. And when I got engaged, I felt my heart race too.”

At the words “my heart raced,” Wizard’s smile stiffened. He flinched.

The thought of Erne having another man—an ex-fiancé—made him grind his teeth.

“Your heart… raced?”

“Of course!”

She nodded brightly, unaware of his chilling tone.

“I thought I’d hit the jackpot, marrying into nobility. Like, ‘Wow, I’m getting a political marriage!’ But who would’ve guessed those two would cling together like cockroaches?”

She went on to complain and vent her frustrations.

Completely oblivious to Wizard’s pitch-black jealousy.

Clenching her fists, she fumed over her cheating ex-fiancé, and Wizard smiled again—but for a very different reason than before.

‘I really should’ve killed him back then.’

That idiot who crawled out of Cheonghak-dong with her.

With a dangerous gleam in his eyes, Wizard whispered with venom,

“To dare cheat while engaged to the princess… he must’ve had a death wish. But I’m grateful. Thanks to him, the princess is now… alone.”

“Wi–Wizard?”

Erne finally noticed the shift in atmosphere and called his name with a flustered expression, but Wizard set his glass down with a loud clink and smiled darkly.

“People make mistakes. But…”

“…?”

“To do such a shameless thing to the princess—I can’t forgive that.”

“Um, why are you so worked up over my situation…?”

“Let’s call it my loyalty to Princess Erne. Shall I put that fool’s spilled guts back where they belong? Will you permit me?”

Huh? Erne coughed in shock and repeated his words.

Wait a minute… Her brow furrowed.

“…That’s something you should do without asking for permission.”

You’re the villain, after all.