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Chapter 23
In front of the tall full-length mirror, someone was checking their reflection.
It seemed they liked what they saw, because they began tucking things into their arms.
“What…? I don’t think they even told the shopkeeper.”
Then, from the suspicious way they glanced around, I was certain.
That’s a thief.
Just as I was about to turn back to inform Theodor, he must have sensed my presence because our eyes met directly.
“……!”
The thief and I were both startled at the same time. I grabbed something nearby and hurled it at him.
“Thief!”
“Wha…! Wait!”
Then I spun around and ran with all my might.
“Wait! Stop!”
Footsteps began chasing me.
“Ah! They’re after me!”
I should have just walked away instead of investigating. I had forgotten that when you don’t have proper strength, meddling can backfire.
Fortunately, I hadn’t gotten far, and the parlor we had passed earlier came into view.
But I had relaxed too much and tripped, pitching forward.
I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for impact, but all I felt was a roll—I didn’t actually get hurt.
I peeked open my eyes. My hands were clutching someone’s shirt, wrinkling it in the process.
“Ugh!”
I quickly let go and moved away. The owner of the shirt rubbed his tousled brown hair and sat up.
“Ah… that hurts.”
His eyes were the same color as his hair, lazy and careless.
“……! Thief! Someone’s going to—”
“……Honestly, I was about to report you myself.”
Before I could finish, he deftly put his finger to my lips.
“Shh… quietly… don’t make too much noise—”
A classic criminal remark. He had probably fallen along with me while trying to grab me.
I didn’t listen further and struggled to break free with all my strength, but then more footsteps approached.
Marianne lifted me up and held me in her arms.
Though startling, it was honestly a relief. My trembling hands slowly calmed down.
“Ah… thank goodness.”
I could have met a worse fate than in my past life. And I realized once again:
“Whether I get my strength from the spirits or train it myself…”
I needed power. Even a brief moment without the ability to resist had been terrifying.
“Still, at least I caught the bad guy.”
He didn’t look much older than me, yet he was already stealing.
The “thief” stood up and brushed himself off.
But for some reason, the atmosphere was strange.
“…Huh?”
The people who had been chasing him moments ago now looked awkward. Even Blair.
I lowered the finger I had raised to report him and watched the scene.
In the peculiar silence, Blair pulled out a lace fan and covered her mouth, then spoke sharply to Theodor beside her.
“……So that’s why you said you couldn’t come? You should have told me.”
She had gritted her teeth so tightly that the ending sounded like a garbled mutter.
“That’s really unfair. How am I supposed to explain I just didn’t notice?”
The “thief” glanced at the two of them, then sighed while staring into the air.
“Ah, why today of all days, of all places?”
“…That’s what I was going to say.”
Blair replied slowly, clearly not wanting to talk.
“Do they know each other?”
She even sounded younger, and yet she was using polite speech?
“…Then they’re not ordinary people.”
Looking again, he seemed lazy but undeniably handsome. Still, having stayed at the duke’s mansion, his appearance didn’t impress me much.
Yet, as far as I knew, no other prominent noble had a face like that.
At least one thing was certain.
“He wasn’t a thief.”
I felt embarrassed thinking about my earlier fuss.
While fanning my flushed face, his gaze returned to me.
“This has become more troublesome than expected. How do you plan to take responsibility—”
He suddenly stopped speaking, then walked toward me and studied me intently.
“…What now?”
He looked at me with wide eyes, as if inspecting an unusual creature.
“Excuse me. So, a new ward of Blair Hilberg… what an interesting spectacle.”
I gave him a wary look, and he shrugged, adding casually:
“Then I won’t send you to prison for attempted regicide.”
“…Pardon?”
Did I hear that right? I looked at Blair to clarify, and she sighed deeply.
“So there really is such a thing as a resigned Blair.”
It seemed true. Given his age, only one royal could fit that description.
“But that person is….”
I was momentarily lost in thought, then tapped Marianne’s arm. Understanding my intention, she set me down.
Regardless, I bowed slightly to apologize.
“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. I am—”
The situation was complicated, but still, I couldn’t introduce myself first in front of royalty.
Noticing this, he smiled warmly and introduced himself.
“Ah, no need to worry. I’m Albert. Albert von Garcia.”
It was exactly who I expected: the imperial prince, three years older than me.
Rarely seen even at official events, known for only caring about leisure.
A so-called “playboy prince.”
“…Elena Hill.”
My stiff introduction made Albert smile faintly.
“You’ve calmed down. Where’s that bold spirit from earlier?”
Who had mentioned attempted regicide again?
“…Sorry. You took the item without a word, so I misunderstood.”
“That could be seen that way.”
Albert nodded, and I felt a twinge of curiosity.
“Then, why… did you try to stop me?”
Even ignoring me would have cleared up the misunderstanding quickly.
He replied matter-of-factly.
“You tried to call Theodor.”
Adjusting the hat he had picked up earlier, he added:
“I only intended to quietly leave with a few clothes.”
A few clothes quietly?
Everyone except Albert stared at him in disbelief.
It wasn’t a misunderstanding, was it?
“…Isn’t that usually called stealing?”
“Eh? Elena, you don’t understand. Theodor and I are friends. Borrowing a friend’s belongings briefly isn’t theft.”
At his cheeky words, Theodor pinched his forehead and groaned.
“A thief who couldn’t even report to the kingdom…”
Blair, silent until now, spoke in a gloomy tone.
“I don’t want unnecessary trouble. Let’s pretend this never happened… and go back.”
“Why? Something to hide—”
Albert, clearly looking in my direction, smiled leisurely.
“…Do I?”
The air froze. Only then did I understand Blair’s words from the carriage.
As a new ward, I was the person people interested in the Hilbergs would be most curious about.
“Easy target too, I guess.”
I held my breath to gauge his intentions. In the tense silence, Albert surrendered first.
“Just kidding. I’m just out today for fun, so don’t be too wary.”
Albert twirled to lighten the mood.
As he was about to leave entirely, he glanced back at me.
“Ah, by the way…”
‘What now?’
We watched him with tense expressions. Yet his question was oddly out of place.
“Elena, how old are you this year?”
“…Eleven.”
“Is that so?”
He touched his chin thoughtfully, muttering to himself.
“Fascinating. You don’t seem like it at all.”
Then, as if he hadn’t spoken at all, he checked his clothes and left.
“…Exhausting.”
Drained, we measured for clothes and immediately boarded the carriage.
Blair kept her gaze on the window, watching outside. I hesitated but spoke.
“You really… are Prince Albert, right?”
She glanced at me and lightly nodded.
“I’m not doubting his identity now, but…”
As far as I remembered, Albert’s hair was supposed to resemble the emperor’s: a dazzling platinum blonde.
Why was it brown?
A lazy voice cut into my thoughts.
“You worry too much. In this world, there are things better left unknown. Learning too much only causes trouble.”
“That’s… true.”
Blair flicked her fingers.
“You only need to handle the Hilbergs. You’ve already chosen us… right?”
It sounded like a warning not to be interested in the prince.
‘Even just dealing with the Hilbergs is already exhausting.’
It seemed like more than “enough,” given the secrets involved. I chuckled at her sly remark, and she smiled faintly.
“We’re tougher. Definitely. As for them… nevermind.”
