PNA~44

Chapter 44

“I didn’t really explain my situation to Shuknen. I thought it was better that way—no need to make a child understand the complicated world of adults.”

Erne shared a quiet dinner with Wizard and Shuknen, who had returned late in the afternoon.

Perhaps due to the exhausting journey from Vanessa to the capital, Shuknen dozed off shortly after eating dinner.

Thanks to that, Erne and Wizard were left with time alone for an adult conversation.

“By the way, you said my father’s public trial would be held in the Royal Court?”

“Yes. It’s a tricky situation, but I don’t think we need to worry too much. If they play dirty, we’ll just retaliate in kind, don’t you think?”

“But isn’t Derrick the one currently controlling the royal castle? Could Babylon really have extended its reach to the Royal Judiciary too?”

Wizard neither affirmed nor denied Erne’s question.

Realizing that silence was his answer, Erne pressed her lips together.

“Please don’t worry too much. We’re planning to bribe the adjudicators on our side. We’ll offer them more than what Babylon promised.”

“…That’s reassuring.”

And she meant it. The constant, lingering unease gnawed at her from time to time.

But what had helped Erne endure the fast-paced, chaotic plot of this soap opera-like world was, in the end, Wizard.

‘Why would the Queen suddenly die? The premise is flawed—completely illogical.’

With a soft sigh, Erne sincerely expressed her gratitude to Wizard.

“I really don’t know much about these kinds of things, so it’s comforting to have you. I suppose I won’t be able to attend the public trial?”

To Wizard, being called “reassuring” might have been the highest compliment.

Smiling shyly for a brief moment, Wizard soon shook his head with a face full of regret.

“I’m afraid it would be difficult. There’ll be too many eyes. Even with a disguised identity, there’s no guarantee people wouldn’t recognize you.”

“I see. I just… wondered how my father was doing.”

At her words, Wizard looked up at the night sky, now completely dark.

After dinner, he had suggested a light walk to help with digestion.

For a moment, he worried she might decline, but Erne had readily agreed.

Wizard quietly observed the clarity in Erne’s eyes. It amazed him that she trusted him enough to say she felt reassured.

And at the same time, she was unbearably endearing.

The once-impenetrable Erne was now beginning to open up to him—he could feel it.

The Erne who once drew a hard line, calling him only Shuknen’s parent, now seemed to regard him as something more than that.

“How was the Queen’s funeral handled? I mean, she was the one who gave birth to me…”

Though she didn’t feel much affection for the Queen, Erne didn’t forget that the woman had brought her into the world.

It might have seemed like she easily accepted the Queen’s death, but the memories of their time in the palace weren’t so easily shaken.

They had clashed, growled, argued, shouted, resented, and hated each other…

Maybe it was a kind of affection formed through all that bitterness. Erne muttered with a bitter smile.

With her current circumstances, hiding away, she had no choice but to rely on Wizard for updates about the royal family.

‘But I did send a message via crow earlier today. Rivera and Noma should be coming to see me soon.’

That would be better than this suffocating situation.

Erne tried to reassure herself but still couldn’t stop thinking about the Queen’s death—and what had become of her funeral.

“After the trial in four days, and once Marquis Demian is sentenced, there’ll be a nationwide funeral for the Queen across Nesheld. It will last for fifteen days.”

“…So they really are going to pin the Queen’s murder on someone.”

Erne rubbed her temples as if she were getting a headache.

‘It’s not like this is some contest to see who’s dumber.’

Derrick? Fashina? Whoever came up with this plan, Erne ground her teeth.

‘You wanted to be King that badly? And Queen too? Disgusting cockroach couple.’

As the evening chill settled, Erne pulled her collar tight.

The biting wind helped cool the rage she felt toward Derrick and Fashina.

Wizard, walking beside her in step, stared intently at her as she sank into thought, not noticing his gaze. He quietly chuckled to himself.

‘What could she be thinking about to show so many different expressions like that?’

Hmm. Wizard hummed under his breath and began carefully observing Erne’s face.

She didn’t immediately draw attention, but once your eyes landed on her, it was impossible to look away.

When they had returned from the carriage, Erne had asked if he had gone out holding Shuknen’s hand. In that moment, Wizard had nearly pulled her into his arms.

The soft glow of sunset surrounding her had been warm, familiar, and deeply moving.

With Shuknen’s hand firmly in hers, they truly looked like a family.

And Wizard liked that image. In fact, he decided—no matter what, he would make that image a reality.

Once you’d tasted that warmth, it was impossible to forget.

“And Marquis Demian is doing well. We’ve already bribed the interrogators. They won’t put him through anything too harsh.”

Bothered by Erne’s earlier concern, Wizard wanted to put her mind at ease.

Fortunately, she smiled—albeit faintly—with visible relief.

That fragile smile seemed like it would vanish in an instant, and yet the traces of it lingered so long it haunted him.

Even after the smile was gone, Wizard kept chasing it in his mind.

Erne had been like that from the moment they met in Vanessa.

She always seemed just out of reach.

Whatever was going on in that little head of hers, her eyes were like dew flowing down a leaf—so clear and hard to look away from.

Above all, she could be as delicate as a princess on the verge of collapse—but Erne always stood back up.

With a natural, fierce spirit no one could imitate.

Wizard cautiously reached out a hand.

He had longed so many times for Erne to meet his outstretched hand…

Just once, he wished she would reach back—

Softly. His fingertips brushed her forearm.

Both Wizard and Erne looked at each other in shock, their eyes trembling.

Wizard hadn’t expected to touch her so easily. Erne was equally startled by the sudden warmth on her arm.

“…Um, Duke.”

At that awkward moment, it was Huger who broke the silence with a troubled look.

“What is it, Huger?”

“You’ll need to step outside for a moment. The Princess as well.”

“Me too?”

Since she was included, Erne tilted her head curiously.

“Well, unexpected guests have arrived. The fact that they came this late shows they clearly have no manners—but they keep insisting they’re the Princess’s close friends and that she promised to meet them, demanding we open the gate.”

“This isn’t good.”

Wizard muttered seriously, and Erne, sensing the gravity in his tone, focused intently on the conversation between him and Huger. So intently, in fact, she momentarily forgot Huger had said the intruders were her friends.

“If news spreads that the Princess is staying here in Douglas…”

“There must be a rat hiding somewhere in Douglas.”

His energy flared as if he’d draw his sword at any moment.

“Ugh. This is all my fault. What should we do? If people find out the Princess is here, it could cause serious problems…”

“Bring those intruders here. With interrogation, we’ll find out who’s behind them.”

“Understood.”

Huger hurried away, and Wizard turned to reassure Erne, thinking she must be alarmed.

“Someone’s definitely leaked your whereabouts. But please don’t worry—I’ll take care of it. I’ll ensure your safety above all else.”

“Ah, yes…”

Erne stared after Huger’s retreating back, brushing away a vague unease as she replied.

Soon, Huger returned with two people tied up by knights, causing a commotion even from a distance.

“Let me go! How dare you! I’m the Princess’s right hand and trusted friend, No—!”

“Don’t you dare touch me. Touch me and you’ll die. My name is—!”

Their loud voices rang out.

Even before they arrived, the voices were familiar enough to freeze Erne in place.

She wasn’t sure at first, but upon seeing their faces, she confirmed it and cautiously called out their names.

“…Noma? Rivera?”

“Ah, Erne!”

The suspicious visitors in the dead of night were none other than people she knew well.

Noma and Rivera beamed at Erne, but her own face had already gone pale with disbelief.

So shocked and dumbfounded she had to take a sharp breath to calm her startled heart before she finally opened her mouth.

“…Why are you two coming out of there?”