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Chapter 46.
Walking down the narrow street reeking with stench, I finally found the source of the sound.
When I opened the door that looked like it could collapse at any moment, a foul odor — different from the filth outside — made me cover my nose with my cloak.
Passing through a cold, lifeless kitchen that also served as a living room, I entered the only room in the house and found a baby wailing atop a thin blanket.
Beside the infant lay a woman, presumably the mother, motionless on the floor.
It was a miracle the baby was still alive.
“Don’t cry.”
When I lifted the newborn and patted it gently, the crying soon subsided.
“What am I to do with you?”
Not long ago, I had picked up an old man, and now, a newborn child.
Unlike the old man, who had lived through many years and thus deserved respect, this infant hadn’t even had a chance to live properly — and was already on the brink of death.
Perhaps I pitied it because this might be my last chance.
No matter how desperately I try to live, my end is always death.
Unlike death that comes naturally to all people, mine always arrives unfairly — before its time.
No matter how hard I try, when the appointed time comes, I simply die.
“But you’re different. You’ll be able to live for a long, long time.”
I found the cleanest piece of cloth in the house, wrapped the baby, and tucked it inside my cloak.
“Just hold on a little longer.”
Once we get back to the mansion, the maids will take care of you.
Thankfully, the baby smiled quietly, and I hurried out of the filthy, cramped alley.
No one tried to stop me, and I was nearly free of the slums when someone called out:
“Lady Levian?”
Ah, really — could my luck get any worse?
Even dressed in shabby clothes with grime on my hood, the Crown Prince still recognized me.
I had no choice but to stop, lower my hood, and bow.
“Glory to the Empire, Your Highness.”
Waaah!
The baby suddenly woke up and began to wail loudly.
“Shh. It’s all right, little one.”
As I tried to soothe the baby, the Crown Prince looked on with curiosity. With no way to hide it, I took the baby out from under my cloak.
“A child from the slums?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I happened upon it and am taking it to my estate.”
“And the parents?”
“I didn’t see the father, and the woman who appeared to be the mother was, regrettably, already deceased. There were no signs that anyone else had been there, so I assumed the father couldn’t be found either and decided to bring the child with me.”
To my comfort, the baby cried even louder upon seeing the Crown Prince — as if displeased by his face.
Even so, I wasn’t worried. For all his arrogance, the Crown Prince wouldn’t harm a baby — at least, not one I was holding.
“Why is the baby crying louder all of a sudden?”
“I imagine it’s because it was warm inside my cloak and is now cold, Your Highness.”
At his gesture, I tucked the baby back under my cloak, and soon the crying stopped.
I wanted to take my leave, but since the Crown Prince hadn’t dismissed me, I stood still, eyes lowered.
Then came the inevitable question:
“I was under the impression that House Levian runs a charity for the poor. So why is the Lady of the House personally wandering through the slums?”
“There is no particular reason.”
No matter what reason I gave, the Crown Prince would only mock me, so I kept my answer short.
“No reason at all?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He frowned.
“So, it doesn’t bother you, Lady Levian — getting your cloak dirty, touching filthy cloth?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“I’ve never heard of you doing anything like this. Are you hiding it for a reason?”
“There’s no need to make it known.”
“Hah.”
As expected, the Crown Prince gave a short, incredulous laugh.
“Ha… ha ha. Why do I even bother with someone like you…”
What new insult was he preparing now?
I held back the urge to gag and stood silently until he sighed and ordered the knight beside him:
“Escort the Lady safely back home.”
“Your Highness, that won’t be—”
“That’s an order.”
That haughty tone — I quickly bowed. Arguing would only invite cruel words.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s generous concern.”
“I shall escort you, my Lady,” said the knight — Sir Milt Bellang, who had escorted me once before.
“Thank you,” I said with a smile.
The Crown Prince’s face twisted in displeasure. Right — he always hated it when I smiled.
“Lady Levian, about the other day—”
I quickly schooled my features into neutrality and looked down. He closed his mouth.
After a few impatient kicks at the ground, he muttered,
“I’ll see you at the Crown Princess selection.”
The Crown Princess selection? Did I hear that right?
Surely he didn’t mean he wanted me as his bride. He must simply assume that our family would, of course, participate.
But I won’t.
The Crown Princess selection sometimes ends in two months, sometimes drags on for half a year.
Either way, by the time I reach the final candidates — right before becoming Crown Princess — I always die.
No matter how the process unfolds, the Emperor forcibly includes my name, and each time, desperate to avoid death, I find a way to escape.
The best plan is to stay as far away from the selection as possible.
That way, I’ll have fewer encounters with the Crown Prince.
“Sir, please wait here for a moment.”
Since I had come out without the family carriage, I needed to take a shared carriage — but first, I had to change my filthy cloak.
I bought a new cloak and a soft scarf to wrap the baby.
As I wrapped the infant and held it again, Sir Bellang suddenly spoke up.
“You are a very kind person, my Lady.”
“Thank you, Sir. I’m merely doing what I can.”
When I smiled, his cheeks reddened.
I hailed a shared carriage, and though he looked surprised, he didn’t comment.
Shared carriages stop only at designated places — and they never enter the Royal District, where noble estates like ours are located.
As we sat down, I felt all eyes on us.
“Waaah!”
The baby woke from the carriage’s jolt but quieted quickly when I soothed it.
A friendly-looking woman sitting across from us spoke up:
“Are you two married?”
Denying it would only bring a flood of questions.
So I simply smiled under my hood.
At once, everyone’s eyes sparkled as they looked Sir Bellang up and down.
“My, your husband is so handsome.”
“Uh, well—”
Sir Bellang blushed furiously, while I stayed silent.
One by one, passengers got off, and when we reached the last stop, the Levian family carriage — sent by Ted — was waiting for me.
“Sir, I’m afraid you’ll need to come with me to the Levian estate before returning.”
“Of course, my Lady. Escorting you home safely is my duty.”
We sat facing each other in the carriage. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked softly,
“When that woman asked if we were married… why didn’t you deny it?”
“If I had, she would’ve asked a dozen more questions. It’s easier to just stay quiet.”
“Ah, I see…”
He nodded, seemingly convinced. Fortunately, he was the quiet sort and asked no more.
“Thank you again for escorting me today, Sir Bellang.”
“You remember my name.”
“Of course. I’d invite you to dine, but I imagine you must return to the palace?”
He smiled and nodded.
“Then, perhaps as compensation, may I send you an invitation to the next party I host?”
“It would be an honor.”
He struck his chest twice with his fist — a knight’s salute — then boarded his carriage.
“Then, my Lady, until next time.”
Once his carriage pulled away, I entered the mansion.
And immediately ran into my mother.
“Roa!”
“Waaah!”
The baby in my cloak cried out at the sound of her voice — as if responding to her call.
“What… what is this?”
I lifted the cloak to show her the baby. Her eyes widened as she examined it.
“Do you know whose child this is?”
“No. An orphan — I happened to find it and brought it back.”
“‘Happened to’? Honestly…”
Muttering that taking care of one baby wasn’t too difficult, Mother suddenly sniffed the air around me.
“What on earth were you doing to smell like this, Roa?”
Judging from her expression, she was seconds away from ordering me confined again. I quickly took a step back.
“I need to check the arrangements with the jewelers from the East, who’ll be arriving soon!”
I handed the baby to a maid and fled to my room.
