🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 14
This Is a Secret
2023.08.14.
Simoren Lindel, the Emperor’s First Knight and now serving as a guard at the Sheien Palace, was unusually upright by nature. One could even call him rigid, but people like him tend to fit perfectly into structured routines.
Simoren’s life had always followed a structured path: a disciplined household, private schooling, and the knighthood. Naturally, he had always been an exemplary student wherever he went. He had never once felt bored by studying or duty—until now.
Since becoming a guard at Sheien Palace, for the past few days:
“…Boring.”
For the first time in his life, Simoren understood what boredom felt like.
The reason was simple. His duty was ostensibly guarding—but in reality, it was surveillance—and he had to follow Anet everywhere.
The problem was that Anet was busy moving about but did absolutely nothing that required monitoring.
“I can’t neglect my duty, so I’m following her… but this is really dull…”
It was truly boring. At first, Simoren thought Anet was acting cautiously because he was there.
[Mabel, has Lady Anet’s schedule changed?]
[Oh, no, brother. It’s the original plan.]
[…Really?]
In the past few days, Anet had gone on a shopping spree, taken a stroll around the palace, had tea, and now she was holed up in the library. She brought a huge pile of books, stacking them around her like a wall, and immersed herself without ever leaving her seat.
“Is this really the behavior of someone scheming something?”
Simoren had taken up the duty to discover Anet’s purpose, but in the few days he had observed her, he only learned that she liked neutral-colored clothes and, surprisingly, enjoyed novels. Anyone seeing this daily routine might question the point of surveillance.
“This isn’t what I signed up for…”
Feeling the futility of his purpose, Simoren recalled the events of a few days ago.
The day he first met Anet and decided to guard her:
Yesterday, while leaving the central palace, Simoren saw a black-haired woman passing through the corridor.
The combination of luxurious attire and black hair gave a simple conclusion. He immediately approached and stopped her.
“Lady Anet, you may not enter here without His Majesty’s permission. Please return.”
The woman’s face was strange at first glance.
It may have seemed rude to describe someone as “strange,” but he could think of no better word. The young noblewoman of the Martinec family, who had lived hidden away due to her frailty, was indeed unusual.
Her black eyes held unfathomable depth, her pale skin still showing traces of illness.
The contrast of black and white was strikingly still, yet utterly captivating. It wasn’t only that she was beautiful. Even if her face were hidden, the impression would be largely the same.
There was something about her that evoked death.
The moment he realized it, her inscrutable black eyes rolled toward Simoren. Though her expression was blank, Simoren somehow felt she was smiling.
“Do you know me?”
It was strange—and it irritated him even more.
A person who evokes thoughts of death? Simoren now found her disquieting.
He forgot to answer. But the pause wasn’t long.
“Answer me.”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked if you know me. I’m seeing you for the first time.”
Her gaze was cold, almost accusatory, directed at Simoren.
Only then did he realize he had forgotten her question. He quickly replied:
“Of course I know you. Do you think there are two black-haired noblewomen in the palace?”
“I don’t know. This is my first time in the palace.”
Her casual, even cheeky answer made Simoren frown.
“Anet Martinec.”
“Wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“That’s not my name. How rude of you.”
“No… that can’t be…”
Flustered, Simoren scrutinized her. In every way, she perfectly matched the description of ‘Anet Martinec.’ But that was not the point.
“You assumed I was Anet Martinec just because my hair is black, without asking anything. Consider this a debt you owe me in return for your rudeness.”
“…So, you really aren’t the Martinec noblewoman?”
“Does the first rule of the royal knights cover insolence?”
Simoren frowned, realizing she was right. Despite the proper etiquette, he had judged her solely by her hair color.
He bowed politely.
“Please forgive my rudeness. I am Simoren Lindel, His Majesty’s First Knight, assigned to guard you.”
Yet, even after straightening, his gaze held more hostility than before.
“However, it is forbidden to bring unauthorized people into the palace. May I know your identity?”
“Sheien Palace.”
She answered smoothly and smiled brightly.
“Call me Lowell.”
Upon hearing that, Simoren’s expression darkened. He realized he had been played.
“Are you lying to me?”
“I’m not lying.”
Of course, she was truthful. No one else would believe it.
“I merely wanted to know the name of the person who ordered me in.”
“That doesn’t justify it. Why were you curious about my name?”
“I was looking for Sir Simoren Lindel. I know he has gray eyes, but meeting a rude knight with gray eyes doesn’t automatically mean he is Simoren Lindel. I have enough intelligence to make that distinction.”
A formal introduction should come first. Simoren was slightly embarrassed. He, who had never been at a loss for words, found he could not contradict her even once.
Anet continued:
“I just want an answer. I asked His Majesty, but he wouldn’t respond.”
She smiled softly and asked another question:
“If Lowell Hessen is alive, will His Majesty look for her?”
Simoren could not answer.
‘At the time, I wondered why I had such a feeling…’
To glimpse death in someone alive—how could it make sense? After hearing Noah’s story, Simoren found the answer: Anet had nothing to lose but her life, which gave her that aura.
A capable mind, and nothing to lose.
Someone with nothing to lose is fearless in any situation and uncompromising. On top of that, if skilled in handling others…
Who could be more dangerous? Simoren’s internal alarm bells rang.
Considering Noah had warned him not to approach Anet, it had completely backfired.
“…That’s why I came.”
With no achievements and time passing meaninglessly, even Simoren began to doubt his own judgment.
As he grew despondent, the sun began to set outside.
Finally, Anet rose from her seat, having spent an uncertain amount of time among the “book graves.”
“Time has gotten away from us. Let’s head back.”
Good news for Simoren. He quickly followed her.
But contrary to expectation, Anet did not head toward the usual route from the library to Sheien Palace.
“Lady Anet, aren’t we returning to the palace?”
“Yes. This way is slightly faster. Have you never taken this shortcut?”
“Of course….”
No. He had never used a shortcut. Why take one when the corridors were perfectly fine? The concept had never existed in his mind, so he was somewhat shocked. It must have shown on his face because Anet gave a small laugh.
“I’ve heard you’ve been in the palace a long time, but now it seems I know it better.”
“…That’s not funny. I should know all the palace routes, yet I didn’t know one path at all.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I think I’m the only one who thought of using this shortcut.”
Simoren frowned slightly. If Anet was the first to use this path, that meant she had created a new route.
He had followed her meticulously—so when had she done it?
“Now that you know this path too, there are two people who know it.”
This is a secret between Sir Lindel and me.
Anet said, smiling faintly. Her almond-shaped eyes, dark blue, curved gently; the shadows of trees swayed in the wind, scattering sunset through their leaves.
If death could love, it would surely have that face.
Simoren found himself speechless. Before he could understand why, Anet turned her steps back.
“Let’s go. Mabel must be waiting…”
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the wall where they stood.
“About Lady Anet… is she really a noblewoman, even with black hair?”
