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CHAPTER 83………………………………………….
It’s Just Hair
After successfully fooling Hailey and sending Shine downstairs to the guest room, Robbie felt as if he had cleared the first checkpoint.
For Leah’s perfect escape, there was still the second one to overcome. Straightening his shoulders confidently, Robbie walked back toward Hailey.
“So, Hailey, you came rushing here because you thought Leah arrived and I failed to report it?”
Hailey’s face twisted with displeasure at how things were unfolding.
“I made a mistake. My stupid subordinates must’ve been mistaken.”
“You once told me this, didn’t you? ‘If you’re on my side, be on my side all the way.’ I’d like to say the same back to you.”
“Fair enough.”
Hailey gave a cold smile and abruptly changed the subject.
“So, you went to Fritan just to dote on Leah, and yet you somehow found time to get involved with the demon princess? You must’ve been busy.”
Her narrowed eyes scrutinized Robbie sharply. Robbie met her gaze with shameless calm.
“That night with her was impulsive. I was surprised she came looking for me all the way here. But as you can see, she’s quite… forward. Not many men could refuse her.”
“I’ll apologize for my rudeness today. I’ll make it up to you soon.”
Though her words were aimed at Robbie, her eyes flicked toward her subordinates. It was obvious the cold sting of reprimand would soon follow.
The head knight flinched under her gaze, then hastily spoke.
“There’s still something suspicious. I swear, the woman I saw earlier was Queen Leah!”
“Still saying that?”
Hailey’s face crumpled in fury — she thought they were just making excuses rather than admitting their mistake.
“Check whether that retired knight is really here. If the queen truly came, he’s the first one she would’ve tried to hide!”
With a look of lingering irritation, Hailey slowly turned back toward Robbie.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Robbie, but we should be sure, shouldn’t we?”
“Whatever makes you comfortable.”
Expecting this moment, Robbie fought to maintain his composure.
“This way, please.”
He led her toward the room where Pallet was and gently knocked on the door.
“Master, it’s Robbie. I’ll be entering for a moment.”
“What’s the point of knocking on the door of someone unconscious?”
Hailey sneered, but Robbie’s expression turned grave.
“Before he’s my teacher, he’s a vassal of House Uzcal. Please show some respect.”
“…Fine.”
Robbie stalled a few seconds — long enough for Pallet to prepare — before opening the door. Hailey and her followers stepped in close behind him.
Just as planned, Pallet was lying still on the bed, appearing dead to the world.
“Poor Sir Pallet. Lying there so quietly.”
Hailey sighed theatrically, then shot a venomous glare at her knight beside her, whose face flushed red.
“You’ve confirmed it. Now please leave. To be honest, I don’t like having the people who did this to my master in this room.”
Robbie deliberately placed himself between them and the bed, his hostility clear.
“My apologies. But once again — if Leah arrives, you’d better inform me at once.”
“…Of course. But Hailey, promise me something as well.”
“What?”
“When Leah arrives, you must give me time to heal Sir Pallet.”
“Naturally. Don’t worry about that.”
She patted Robbie’s cheek lightly before turning to leave.
The unruly black knights who had stormed into the Stone estate so noisily disappeared just as quietly.
Robbie stood frozen beside Pallet’s bed until all the footsteps faded. Then he slumped into a chair.
“Haah…”
Relief from surviving the first crisis made his body tremble anew.
“Master Robbie…”
A warm hand touched his shoulder. When he looked up, Pallet was already standing beside him.
“I misjudged you.”
“No, you didn’t. I really did terrible things to you and to Leah.”
Tears welled up in Robbie’s eyes.
“Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that you’re doing everything you can to set them right.”
“Master…”
Robbie broke into sobs at Pallet’s kind words. Just then, there was a knock, and Shine entered.
“How did it go? Is it over?”
“For now.”
Robbie quickly wiped his tears and faced her.
“Thank you, Princess Shine.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m glad I could help. What now?”
“Master should leave for the southern continent as soon as possible.”
“Hmm…”
Pallet thought for a moment, then asked,
“If I disappear, you’ll be in trouble. It might even endanger House Stone.”
“That’s my burden to bear.”
Robbie gave a faint, lonely smile. Pallet clasped his hand firmly.
“Then let’s plan together. Until then, I’ll pretend to stay unconscious.”
“Master…”
“I wonder how Queen Leah is doing. Did she make it out safely?”
At that, Robbie came to his senses, laid Pallet back on the bed, and ran to the study.
He and Shine followed the secret passage to its exit — thankfully, no one was there.
“She must have escaped safely.”
Shine’s voice was full of relief.
“Seems that way.”
Only then did Robbie collapse to the ground, all his tension finally released.
After escaping safely from the Stone estate, Millie and I hid at an inn that Freddy had arranged.
It was on the far edge of the capital’s main crossroads — quiet and out of sight.
“We’ll need a new carriage. Please, Your Majesty, don’t leave this room until I return.”
“Yes, Sir Freddy. Be careful.”
While he went to fetch transportation, I decided to dye my hair — with Millie’s help.
“Your Majesty, are you really going to cut it?”
“Yes.”
Millie fiddled with the ends of my hair regretfully.
I drew a small dagger from my bag, gathered all my hair in one hand, and cut it clean off.
“Ah!!!”
Millie gasped, but I didn’t care. A few strands of hair weren’t worth risking our safety.
She quickly took the severed hair from my hand and wrapped it in silk.
“Why are you keeping that?”
“It’s too pretty to throw away. I’ll take care of it.”
Sighing at my unevenly chopped hair, she did her best to tidy it with the dagger and then dyed it brown.
“All done. How do you like it?”
She handed me a small mirror.
The dark brown hair brushing my shoulders looked strange — but it also felt like I’d become someone else entirely.
“Just changing the color makes me look like a different person. I like it.”
“I don’t know why I bought brown dye of all colors.”
“What’s wrong with brown?”
“It’s the same color as Lady Hailey’s.”
Millie pouted unhappily. The mention of Hailey made my chest tighten.
“What was she thinking — hurting our teacher and luring me to Haron?”
“Whatever it is, it’s nothing good.”
Millie clenched her fists.
“Whatever her plan is, we’ll ruin it. We just need to escape Haron first.”
I nodded in full agreement.
“When we return to Fritan, I’m never setting foot in Haron again! Not one good memory here!”
I pulled her into a gentle hug as she sniffled.
We hadn’t even started investigating my parents yet, but right then, I also wished I’d never come back.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over me, and a vision appeared before my eyes — a hazy scene surrounded by mist. Figures blurred, voices muffled.
But one woman stood clearly at the altar — long platinum hair flowing, white robes gleaming, both arms raised.
It was me.
‘That’s strange. I just cut and dyed my hair!’
Then — flash! — a burst of white light, and hands were gripping my throat, choking me. I couldn’t see the face, but the pressure was real; my breath grew ragged.
I struggled desperately to pry the hands away — and suddenly came to.
“Your Majesty, are you all right?”
Millie’s voice rang clear beside me.
“…Yes, I’m fine.”
“Goodness, look at this cold sweat. I’ll get a towel.”
She started to leave, but I grabbed her sleeve.
“Don’t go, Millie. Stay here.”
Her eyes widened at my trembling fingers. She pulled me into a tight hug.
“Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.”
Her gentle hand on my back calmed me, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what I’d seen.
Just then, Freddy returned. Seeing me, his eyes widened.
“Your Majesty, your hair… you cut it?”
“Yes. Does it not suit me?”
“N-No, it’s just… unfamiliar. You’re still beautiful.”
I forced a light smile, and he flushed red, mumbling awkwardly as he changed the subject.
“I’ve secured a carriage. We’ll travel by night and hide during the day until we’re out of the capital. It’ll be slow, but please bear with it.”
“I’ll trust you, Sir Freddy.”
“Then we’ll depart in an hour. Have dinner and prepare.”
Millie and I nodded. We both knew — the long, exhausting journey home was only just beginning.
