TTPB 27

Chapter 27. 

You Should Lock the Door Properly

A cool breeze blew in through the open terrace.
Herya stretched out lazily on the soft bed and yawned.

“Haahm. When is the Princess coming?”

He lay sprawled out, legs crossed, waiting for the owner of the room to arrive. Even the slightest movement made the elegant canopy above him sway. Soon he began humming a tune, looking far too relaxed for someone who had snuck into a room uninvited.

As he shifted, the letters hidden in his clothes crumpled uncomfortably. Inside were a letter from the Pope and a small scrap of paper. He pulled out the folded scrap and opened it. Before coming to the palace, he had first stopped by the port city of Calon, and this note was information he had obtained there. Reading the words written on it, Herya narrowed his eyes languidly.

“I’ll have to check if it’s true.”

Though he had acquired the information himself, verifying it several times was a must. Bastia Port lay at the far southern edge of the empire. Without intending to, he had taken a long detour on his way to the capital. The delay had forced him to ride hard to make up for lost time, only to find that the princess was so busy he could hardly catch a glimpse of her.

Since the coming-of-age ceremony, she had disappeared off somewhere again, leaving him to languish in the dull palace for days, restless with boredom. As soon as he heard she had returned, he had requested an audience, only to be told to wait. The endlessly delayed summons had finally driven him to climb through the princess’s bedroom window.

“Waiting is boring. So hurry up and come.”

Just imagining her surprised face when she saw him already inside brought a grin to his lips. Herya chuckled, burying his face into the faintly sweet-scented sheets.

Meanwhile,
Rose handed a report of the relief center’s activities to Tanasis.

“This is the last one.”

“Right. You’ve worked hard.”

His voice was low, emotionless compared to Savas’s warmth, yet still, it was something. In the original story, such human touches from him were rare.

What is going on here?

He wasn’t treating her with hostility.

According to Savas, Tanasis had secretly helped with many things this time too.

From assigning knights to the relief center, to making sure I awakened my powers through Savas… things don’t seem as bad as they could be.

At least he didn’t seem intent on doing anything harmful to her for now. Rose narrowed her eyes, staring hard at the man reading the documents, as though she could read something from his profile.

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, Dian entered the office. He stopped short at the sight of the unexpected guest.

“So, the Third Princess is here.”

“Come in.”

Tanasis stopped him just as he was about to retreat. After a moment’s hesitation, Dian scratched his head, then carefully closed the door.

Wow. To think I’d see Tanasis’s loyal aide in person.

Dian had reddish-brown hair and keen yellow eyes. Unlike the robust physique of Duke Bunois, Dian was lean, the very image of a scholarly administrator. For a grown man, his slender features even resembled those of his younger sister, Ellar. Having frequently appeared in the original story as one of the most important figures after Tanasis and Arsène, he was someone Rose felt a strange familiarity with.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Bunois. I believe this is our first proper introduction.”

“May the blessing of the fairies be with you. I’ve simply been too busy serving His Highness to find the time.”

His guarded tone made it clear he didn’t entirely trust her.

Right. Dian was always the cautious, calculating type.

Despite being the duke’s second son, Dian often behaved humbly, nitpicking over details with unusual thoroughness. High nobles rarely worried about others’ opinions, but Dian did. Tanasis was also careful and calculating, but when he chose to be bold, no one could match him.

Dian’s not just cautious—he’s kind of a coward at heart.

In the novel, it was briefly mentioned that Dian was acquainted with people from the back alleys. Rose had always wondered if there was some hidden backstory there, but nothing was ever revealed, even by the end.

Perhaps it was only to show that the Bunois family possessed information networks beyond the obvious. In time, Dian’s faction would provide Tanasis with many unexpected advantages.

He may be Tanasis’s ally, but to me right now, he’s probably the most troublesome one here.

Having independent armed forces meant he could act without political interference—up to and including disposing of a powerless royal like herself.

“I just came from speaking with Sir Savas. I hear you’ve developed a new water system to prevent flooding?”

Dian seemed to have intended to report this to his master, but, finding the subject of that report present, spoke directly to Rose. She responded modestly.

“I wouldn’t call it ‘developed.’ Nothing’s been officially announced yet.”

“I reviewed it—it has good versatility.”

When Rose had pointed out that the outdated waterworks were the cause of flooding, Savas immediately began investigating the Kataros riverside. His independent actions had thrown their return to the capital into chaos, forcing both the Remigis knights and Rose herself to sweat over delays.

After confirming her observations, Savas had dedicated himself to devising new water facilities and purification systems, which, with her help, had quickly taken shape. He had been amazed by her suggestions to adopt modern technology.

Well, I do know all about plumbing structures—I worked on ships, after all.

Recalling the dull steel pipes she’d seen endlessly during shipfitting made her shiver slightly. Even death hadn’t erased the marine knowledge stored in her head.

“The proposal has already been submitted for the council meeting. Once it’s approved, the large-scale waterworks project will begin.”

“Waterworks project?”

Tanasis asked, brows raised. Dian handed him the documents.

“Yes. They plan to replace the entire system according to these designs. With the founding festival preparations, it won’t be until around October.”

As Tanasis read through the detailed designs, his gaze flicked toward Rose.

“This was your idea?”

“Yes. It came to me while I was helping at the relief center.”

“….”

He turned back to the papers, suspicion in his eyes. Rose, realizing she might have slipped, quickly added,

“I only provided the theory. Sir Savas did most of the work. Nearly all the surveying was done by him.”

At that, Tanasis seemed satisfied, nodding.

“If Master devised it, it must be reliable.”

“Yes. Starting next summer, there should be no worries.”

“That’s a relief.”

Rose sighed inwardly.

Honestly, I can’t even claim credit for my own work.

She had been too wary of arousing suspicion to assert her contributions. It was frustrating, but avoiding Tanasis’s suspicion was more important.

The last thing I want is to fall out of his favor.

“May I go now?”

“Yes.”

Leaving his office, Rose stretched, exhausted. Since returning from the relief center, she hadn’t had proper rest. Her eyelids felt heavy—sleep was catching up with her.

Phew. As soon as I get to my room, I’m going straight to bed.

She had finished all her tasks. Rest was well-deserved.

But upon entering her chamber, she froze—someone was sprawled across her bed.

“Herya?”

“Long time no see, Princess.”

“My goodness. How did you get here…?”

“Shh! I snuck in. Keep your voice down.”

With a playful gesture, he pressed a finger to his lips. At least he knew he wasn’t here by proper means. She had heard he was in the capital, but never imagined he’d be lying on her very bed.

“I don’t recall granting you an audience.”

“Come on. How long was I supposed to wait? I waited forever and got no answer.”

“How did you even get in? There are guards—”

“You should lock your doors better.”

Herya pointed at the open terrace window. Rose pressed her forehead with a groan. Once again, he had slipped in like a stray cat.

“No one would think to climb in through a third-story window.”

The imperial palace ceilings were tall—higher than most trees. But to this infuriating fox, such a climb was nothing.

“Anyway, I wanted to see you, Princess.”

“And yet you vanished without a word.”

After the coming-of-age ceremony, he had disappeared without a trace. He came and went entirely as he pleased. Herya’s eyes curved slyly as he approached her, leaning close with a teasing smile.

“Were you upset?”

“Hardly. Though I didn’t expect you to leave without even a farewell.”

“I am, after all, the humble servant of His Holiness the Pope.”

His tone still dripped with arrogance, making Rose chuckle despite herself. She didn’t particularly dislike that about him.

Though he really does need to fix this bad habit of barging in uninvited.

She gave him a light push away and walked to her bed.

“Go, before I call the guards. Come back properly next time.”

“What? You want me to wait again?”

“I’ll summon you tomorrow morning. Tonight I’m far too tired.”

Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. But she softened it with a smile.

“It’s not like it’s urgent. You just came to see me, didn’t you?”

“That’s true.”

“Then you’ve seen me. You can leave now.”

“Uh… well… I guess so?”

Herya blinked, dumbfounded.

“You’ll see me again tomorrow. Twice as good, isn’t it? Now off you go.”

“Mm… fine.”

As if in a daze, he headed to the terrace, then suddenly whirled around.

“Wait—Princess! You’re treating me like an idiot, aren’t you?!”

“Mm… good night.”

But Rose, overcome with sleep, collapsed into bed and drifted off instantly.

Left staring at her, Herya gaped.

“How can you just fall asleep like that, with a strange man in your room? What if I tried something?”

Trusting a man who had broken in—what a baffling woman. Nothing ever went as he expected with her. That only made her all the more intriguing. Listening to her steady breathing, he finally let out a helpless sigh.

“Honestly… you leave me no choice.”

Resigned, he decided to retreat—just for tonight.

He even remembered to close the window tightly before leaping off the terrace without hesitation.