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Chapter 03
I held my breath instinctively.
‘The Duke of Carter?’
The first thing I saw was his jet-black hair.
Underneath, his skin was pale enough to show veins, with dark shadows from long sleepless nights.
And then…
‘Hah.’
Through the messy hair, I caught a glimpse of crimson eyes.
They looked painfully familiar—just like mine.
It was almost strange that I hadn’t noticed before.
How could I have been so blind?
I had been tricked by the emperor and had driven my own father and family to ruin with my own hands. The thought was unsettling.
‘I suppose he didn’t recognize me either.’
I swallowed hard. This was not the time for sentimentality.
The sword pressed under my chin was far too threatening to waste time.
“…Your welcome is rather rough.”
“A suitable greeting for an uninvited guest.”
Even while holding a sword to the neck of a thirteen-year-old princess, he showed no hesitation.
Yes. This was the relationship between the royal family and the Duke of Carter.
The royal family oppressed the powerful Duke; the Duke hated the royal family in return.
‘If I foolishly say I’m his daughter here, my head will roll.’
A princess carefully isolating him, now revealed as his supposedly dead daughter? That would be laughable.
“If you cannot give a clear reason for trespassing into my estate, even a princess will not leave alive.”
“……”
“So answer me. What is your purpose?”
The sword pressed closer. A thin line of blood seeped from my white neck.
‘If I stall or make excuses, I’ll die.’
I took a deep breath and removed my hood.
“…I came to make a deal.”
“A deal?”
Carlos’ sharp eyes narrowed.
“Ridiculous. And what nonsense are you bringing me this time?”
He growled lowly.
“Explain yourself properly.”
I wobbled, trying not to fall.
The journey had been exhausting. Carriages, four hours of walking in heavy rain, my body battered by cold and wet. The threatening aura pressing down on me made it almost unbearable.
Even a twenty-year-old might struggle, let alone a thirteen-year-old used to the emperor’s protection.
But I had to endure. I had come prepared—to escape the emperor’s grasp and survive.
I clenched my trembling hand and pulled something from my cloak.
“Instead, I have a more tempting proposal.”
The Duke’s eyes narrowed.
“…Refined stones?”
“No, it’s different from regular refined stones.”
It wasn’t the bright red gemstone I had shown before.
It was deeper, darker crimson—a rich blood-red mineral.
A subtle crack of surprise appeared on his face.
“Well? Are you ready to talk now?”
I studied his expression carefully. His stance was still threatening, but the oppressive tension pressing on my shoulders had slightly lessened.
“Explain.”
“…Could you move the sword first? It hurts.”
I sighed, weakly speaking. At last, Carlos’ eyes moved to the bleeding mark on my neck.
He slowly pulled the sword away. Relief flooded me.
‘The immediate danger is over…’
But the dizziness hit me hard.
“Alright, so this is…”
I tried to speak, but my body wobbled.
‘No. I can’t faint here.’
I bit my teeth and held onto consciousness. If I collapsed now, everything would fail.
Yet just trying to stay conscious drained me further.
“What are you doing? Don’t waste my time…”
The voice from nearby sounded distant, as if coming from far away.
“Ah…”
No, this can’t happen. My body refused to obey.
“…Princess?”
At Carlos’ astonished call, I finally blacked out.
My body felt heavy.
I opened my eyes faintly. What had happened?
I had returned to the past, come to the Duke of Carter’s estate…
“……!”
I snapped awake and hurriedly sat up.
The bedroom was unfamiliar. Sunlight poured through the window.
“Ah! You’re awake.”
I flinched. A middle-aged woman with a neat appearance stood a little away from the bed.
“You were sleeping so peacefully, I thought you wouldn’t wake up today… Are you feeling better?”
She approached with a silver tray, examining my face.
“Oh my, my mind… I’m Mia Edinburgh. It’s a bit grand to call me head maid, but I manage the estate. Just call me Mia.”
“…Did I faint?”
“You got soaked in the rain. Your fever was high, so I gave emergency care, but you still need more rest.”
I felt my strength return slowly.
‘I didn’t die.’
It seemed the Duke had given me a room instead of cutting my throat or tossing me outside.
Wait—‘today too’?
“How long have I been out?”
“You’ve slept for two days straight. You were soaked that dawn, so it’s a relief you’re waking now.”
My head jerked up. Panic surged.
Two whole days… not half a day, two full days.
‘I need to see him immediately.’
This was no time to lie comfortably in bed.
“Where is the Duke… ugh.”
I tried to lift the blanket but dizziness struck. My muscles ached like hammers.
Mia sighed knowingly and laid me back down.
“No, no. Rest more. Your fever isn’t fully down, and you’ll need food and medicine later.”
“No need, the Duke…”
“Tsk! Listen to me!”
I froze for a moment.
‘Tsk?’ The head maid was scolding me, the princess?
Even palace maids, or the nanny who raised me, had never dared to contradict me. Did she even know how many heads had fallen at my command?
Undeterred, Mia tucked the blanket carefully over my shoulders and patted me gently.
“Don’t think of anything. Just rest, Princess.”
“No, I need to see the Duke…”
“It’s alright. After a good sleep, you’ll see him.”
Her soothing voice, like a lullaby, settled over me.
Strangely, I felt calmer instead of angry. Surrounded by unfamiliar warmth, I slipped back into deep sleep.
Before losing consciousness, I thought I heard a familiar voice:
“Mist… where…?”
“Princess… wake…”
Then darkness swallowed me again.
