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CHAPTER 06
“Waaaah! (This is uncomfortable!)”
Roellin suddenly burst into a powerful cry, and the startled Emperor quickly handed her back to the nursemaid.
The nursemaid awkwardly held Roellin, clearly at a loss.
“What’s the cause of the princess’s crying?”
The nursemaid shook her head, her face pale, signaling that she didn’t know. The Emperor then turned to me and asked in a cautious tone:
“How does the young lady hear the princess’s cry?”
There was a hidden meaning in this. If I hadn’t lied, then I should know exactly why Roellin was crying.
And I did understand what she was saying.
‘Aaaah! (It’s all because of this damned formal dress! Of course it stings and hurts when these decorations touch my delicate skin!)’
Not knowing the truth behind her cries, the Emperor looked frustrated as he stared at me, waiting for my answer.
From my perspective, fully aware of her true feelings, the situation felt almost ridiculous.
“Young lady?”
Prompted by the Emperor, I deliberately acted as though I was deep in thought, trying to buy time.
Even if it was a dream, I figured it was best to handle things smoothly so our Roellin could get her happy ending, just as planned.
I responded, hesitantly, as if I had only just made the connection.
“In my humble opinion… I think it’s because of Your Majesty’s clothing.”
“My clothes?”
“Yes. Babies sleep well when they’re in warm, cozy arms. But the clothes Your Majesty is wearing have many decorations… they might be irritating the princess’s delicate skin.”
Startled by my words, the nursemaid immediately examined the Emperor’s clothes. Then, bowing her head, she supported my claim.
“It seems Lady Inferna is correct, Your Majesty.”
“The ability to interpret an infant’s cries… curious, yet impressive. Nurse, take the princess.”
The Emperor passed Roellin back to the nursemaid—and Roellin, who had been wailing uncontrollably, immediately calmed down.
Even the ladies-in-waiting and Imperial Guards were stunned, their eyes all fixed on me.
“Ahem. Marquis, summon Count Inferna to the palace at first light tomorrow.”
“As you command.”
Surprised by the sudden imperial order, I kept my mouth shut.
A soft raspberry fragrance in her red hair, and sparkling green eyes full of life—
Kailis couldn’t tear his gaze away from the human girl standing before him. He frowned slightly, as though troubled.
“Um… thank you for helping me earlier.”
Elufe Inferna gave a bright, cheerful smile, and his brows twitched slightly.
“You’ve got the order wrong. How did you know I was watching you?”
“Well… when our eyes met, I just had this feeling you’d help me. A hunch, I guess? Haha.”
“So you think I helped you?”
“Yes.”
While Kailis grew more and more complicated inside, Elufe smiled as innocently as ever. He stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head.
“As I thought, there’s no way she could’ve known.”
He had been watching her from a tree all day long.
Drawn in by her overly sweet scent like a moth to a flame, he’d followed Elufe Inferna without even realizing it.
He had followed her all the way to her carriage, intending to confront her and ask how she knew he’d been watching.
But she clearly had no idea why he had been there. His tension felt meaningless.
“Next time, I’d like to recognize you right away. May I ask your name?”
Kailis’s expression hardened at her sudden question.
“Doesn’t feel like this was a pleasant enough meeting to share names.”
‘Not like we’re close or anything.’
Recalling the uncomfortable moment in front of the Emperor, he drew a clear boundary. Elufe, however, muttered thoughtfully:
“Well, it is just a dream after all. What’s the point in expecting consistency? I don’t even remember his name, so why would he know?”
Watching her murmur nonsense under her breath, Kailis couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She just didn’t feel like someone you’d find in the Imperial Palace—he was caught off guard.
“Do you mean entering the palace feels like a dream?”
This was the first time he’d ever felt such curiosity about another person for no reason.
Kailis’s gaze was intense, like he could devour her whole. But Elufe smiled sweetly, unaware.
“If that’s how you interpreted it, then sure—let’s go with that.”
He couldn’t forget the way she looked at him in the corridor earlier.
As if she could see right through his hiding spot—that look had left a deep impression.
Just as he was lost in thought while facing her, a familiar voice called out from behind.
“There you are.”
The golden hair that symbolized royalty fluttered gently in the evening breeze, and the soft strands danced like flower petals in spring.
The one with the neat and refined appearance was none other than the Empire’s Crown Prince, Lepainon Eriten.
“Elufe Inferna greets the Little Sun of the Empire.”
The moment I greeted him in the way I knew from the game, the man—presumably Lepainon—looked momentarily surprised.
He was much taller and had longer hair than Rekanon.
“Ah, Lady Inferna.”
Lepainon smiled warmly as our eyes met.
“Yes. May I ask what brings Your Highness all the way out here?”
“Ah… I heard you helped the princess. I didn’t expect someone would be here to see you off already.”
As he spoke, Lepainon gave a curious glance toward the boy beside me.
There was a strange tension between the two—both about the same height, locked in a subtle battle of wills.
I quickly tried to ease the mood.
“This gentleman helped me. He’s like a savior to me. But he still hasn’t told me his name.”
I said it half-jokingly, glancing at the Crown Prince. Lepainon smiled knowingly, as if he already knew who the boy was.
“Ah, that must’ve been frustrating. But if we linger any longer, it could get troublesome. The sun is already setting. Be careful on your way home, Lady Inferna.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. May the peace and rest of the world be with you.”
I glanced at the carriage and confirmed the family crest. Then, looking back at Kailis:
“But… Your Highness seems quite familiar with my savior. Perhaps…”
Just then, the boy put a hand on Lepainon’s shoulder and said:
“Friends.”
“Pardon?”
Lepainon’s eyes widened at the word friends, and I tilted my head as I looked at them both.
‘Was there a character in the game who played the Crown Prince’s friend?’
The mysterious boy hurried to add clarification.
“Ah, I mean… like a companion. Someone to talk to.”
“Cough—companion?!”
This time, Lepainon blushed furiously—something you rarely saw. He was always written as a gentle character, but I hadn’t realized he was this shy.
‘Is it because this is a dream? Is the story diverging a bit?’
Feeling confused, I simply nodded and quickly climbed into the carriage.
Maybe I’d unconsciously wished Rekanon, the Crown Prince, had someone like that beside him.
‘They say dreams reflect the subconscious…’
The carriage began to rattle as it started moving. Riding in one for the first time, I was surprised at how bumpy it was—enough to make my hips bounce off the seat.
Compared to a car ride, it was downright terrible. But it was just a dream, so I didn’t mind.
Once her carriage disappeared into the distance, Lepainon couldn’t hold back his laughter and let out a quiet chuckle.
Kailis glared at him in annoyance, but Lepainon started to laugh outright.
“A follower of the guardian deity… behaving quite rudely.”
“If you needed someone to talk to, you could’ve said so earlier. I would’ve been your companion from a young age.”
“If I wanted a playmate, I’d visit the prince.”
Kailis reverted to his usual self, and Lepainon’s smile gradually faded.
“That boy wasn’t in the mood to play today.”
“Too bad. Neither am I.”
“I heard you testified on Rekanon’s behalf today. Have you suddenly taken an interest in the Inferna family? I’m dying to know what you’re thinking, Kailis.”
Lepainon’s cheeky question made Kailis frown.
“Why does that concern you?”
“Well, I just wondered if you lied to His Majesty after saying you’d speak only the truth—for Rekanon’s sake.”
“If you’re asking whether I saw the two in the hallway together, that much is true.”
“Oh my, I had no idea you had such… interests, Kailis.”
Lepainon’s teasing made Kailis smile—coldly.
“I happen to need two blue beads. How about I pluck your eyes out tonight and use them in a prayer?”
At that, Lepainon quickly took a step back.
“That’s going too far.”
“Pity. I’ve only ever spoken the truth to the descendant of the contractor.”
“So you’re punishing me for casting my eyes upon the beautiful Lady Inferna?”
Lepainon smiled slyly, like a snake, and Kailis frowned.
“You’re full of nonsense.”
“No need to be embarrassed. If you’re jealous of my eyes, I understand.”
“I don’t need your understanding.”
“But still—you did say you’d be my companion first.”
Lepainon flashed a mischievous grin, deliberately poking at Kailis’s nerves.
