“Aisha. Let’s meet at dinner time. Don’t forget—6:30!”
Having received my permission, Lucas left the chaotic infirmary with a beaming smile.
And then, a moment of silence.
“You and Lucas seem like family already.”
The Duke broke the uncomfortable silence with a smirk.
‘That old man is sulking!’
I could tell.
He was pretending otherwise, but his eyebrows were tilted about 10 degrees higher than usual.
‘Emergency. Emergency!’
I stared blankly into space with a frozen expression while assessing the situation, then suddenly had a good idea and smacked my palm with my fist.
“Th-this is the harm of rote learning!”
“What?”
“I’ve been hearing Lucas oppa call me all day long, so it just slipped out without me realizing!”
“Is that so?”
Then the Duke pulled out a chocolate from his pocket, slowly unwrapped it, and put it in my mouth while muttering.
“…I wonder if the word ‘dad’ would work too.”
“Hng?”
Unfortunately, I was too absorbed in the sweetness of the chocolate I hadn’t tasted in a long time to catch what he said.
“It’s nothing.”
Calypse chuckled and shook his head as if it were nothing, then wiped the corner of my mouth with his handkerchief.
‘…Wow. Amazing.’
His expression was clearly indifferent. Yet I could feel affection in his gaze as he looked at me.
Munch munch—
The chocolate somehow tasted even sweeter. In a good mood, I wiggled my toes without realizing it.
“Aisha.”
“Yes?”
He watched me quietly, then continued carefully.
“There’s something else you didn’t tell me besides the title thing.”
“Hm?”
“About Lucas being kidnapped by the circus. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Thud.
My dancing toes stopped.
It was a simple question without further explanation, but that single sentence brought rushing back all the burden and loneliness I’d felt right up until going to the circus.
Did he notice my body had gone stiff?
“I’m not scolding you.”
A firm, low voice reached me. Then he leaned forward and began unwrapping another chocolate.
“I’m worried. So can you answer me?”
He brought the chocolate to my lips again.
I had no choice but to open my mouth, but I couldn’t think of what to say.
‘Because I was afraid of losing his trust?’
When he was looking at me with eyes dripping with such affection?
Saying something like that would hurt him.
‘Then, because I failed once and was afraid he wouldn’t trust me a second time?’
To explain that, I’d have to bring up our contract again, and I didn’t want to remind him of the lost princess either.
Hmm.
As my contemplation lengthened, a short sigh escaped from across the way.
“Kid. Don’t rack your brain again.”
I flinched.
Just as I was deliberating even more and finally about to speak—
“I believe I can explain that.”
“?”
“…?”
A familiar voice rang out from somewhere.
Both the startled Calypse and I looked around.
Pop—!
A potted plant in the corner of the infirmary shot upward.
Or more precisely.
“I apologize, Princess.”
A man wearing a plant-shaped headband rose up from the soil.
“Would you grant me time to apologize?”
It was Knox, the aide of House Krost.
________________________________________
At that moment, in the head maid’s quarters.
“Doing needlework at my age makes my eyes tired.”
Mai massaged her weary eyelids with her fingers, then spread out the completed scarf.
Compared to items from city salons, it was a plain scarf, but the meticulous knitting and small wolf embroidery in the center gave it quite a luxurious feel.
She was packing the scarf in a blue box that matched its color when—
Knock knock—
“Head Maid. Knox is calling for you.”
The servant nodded as if ready.
‘Finally, the time has come.’
“Alright. I’ll go now.”
Mai left for the corridor with the box, her heart pounding.
She arrived at the infirmary—where Princess Aisha was staying.
“…”
Mai took a slow, deep breath in front of the closed door, steeled her resolve, and knocked.
Knock knock—
“It’s Mai. I’m coming in.”
Inside the infirmary, it was bustling with people welcoming the young princess back to life.
________________________________________
And so, right now.
Knox and Mai were kneeling extremely respectfully before me as I sat on the bed.
‘This is so uncomfortable. What is this situation?!’
My eyes spun around, not knowing where to look.
At first, I flailed about in confusion and tried to stop the two adults.
‘Why are you kneeling! Get up quickly, especially Head Maid Mai—you’re at an age where your joints could suffer!’
But the Duke, who noticed something was off, grabbed both my flailing hands.
‘Leave them be. Your subordinates have something to say to you, the princess.’
Subordinates. Subordinates, he says!
Technically it was correct, but the Duke had never treated Mai and Knox that way before.
And so I was currently looking up with my eyes raised as high as possible to avoid looking down at the two kneeling adults.
“So.”
“…”
“What are you trying to explain?”
Calypse was the first to speak.
Mai’s shoulders flinched at the slightly sharp low tone, and Knox slowly raised his gaze.
His teal eyes were looking at me, not the Duke.
“When we couldn’t find the princess, I had the presumptuous suspicion that Lady Aisha had deliberately approached the ducal castle.”
I knew that already. Knox had been particularly blatant in his dislike of me.
“But this incident with the young master made me realize how complacent I had been.”
“…”
“If I had trusted and believed in the Princess, you would have told me—or at least me—about Young Master Lucas. At that time, His Grace was away suppressing creatures.”
Knox paused briefly, then asked carefully.
“Princess. That strange report you were writing in your bedroom—did you deliberately write it to make me go to the circus grounds?”
At that question, the Duke’s gaze also shifted to me. It was a question Calypse had been curious about too.
I don’t know why I felt nervous over something like this.
I wiggled my round fingers and nodded.
“…Yes.”
Then—
“As I thought.”
“Hah.”
“…”
Knox nodded, Calypse frowned slightly in annoyance, and Mai bowed her head like a criminal.
“My mistaken judgment caused you great injury, Princess. I will gladly accept any punishment you give.”
It was a calm but sincere apology.
“By the way, Princess?”
“Yes?”
“If you found Young Master Lucas, do you also know where the first young master is?”
It seemed Knox now believed what I said. Judging by him asking such a question.
At Knox’s question, all eyes turned to me.
“Um… about that…”
I fidgeted with my fingers.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to find the first young master.”
“Why not?”
“…I’m not really sure either. Hehe.”
I brushed it off vaguely, but I actually know where the first young master is.
However—
“Princess.”
Just then, Mai, who had been watching nervously with an anxious air, spoke up.
“I will also gladly accept punishment.”
“Mai, why would you…”
Calypse seemed puzzled, but Mai continued resolutely.
“Last time, you asked me, didn’t you, Princess? Whether His Grace would not trust you.”
“What? Who doesn’t trust—”
“Duke.”
Calypse’s eyes widened. But I cut off his words and tugged on his sleeve.
“I remember the answer I gave to the Princess’s question.”
“…”
“He may have adopted you out of pity, but he won’t trust you. Because you lied to him first, miss.”
“What? Mai, what on earth did you say to this tiny child—”
“Duke.”
I tugged on his sleeve again.
“…Ha, really.”
Calypse looked back and forth between Mai and me, then let out a hollow laugh and slowly rubbed his face with his palm.
Mai’s hands folded over her knees were growing increasingly pale.
“It was said in a fit of anger, but I’ve regretted saying it over and over. Especially when I heard that the Princess had died trying to save Young Master Lucas…”
Mai, who had stopped breathing for a moment, swallowed hard.
“My heart sank.”
The infirmary’s atmosphere grew heavy with Mai’s confession.
The two were still kneeling, waiting for my response.
More precisely, waiting for what punishment I would declare.
That’s when it happened.
“Let me take the child for a moment.”
The Duke, who had been hiding his flustered expression, quietly picked me up.
Huh? Like this, with Knox and Mai kneeling? He wants to leave?
“Why?”
“Let’s go out and talk with me for a bit.”
My eyes widened as I whispered in his ear, and a firm answer came back.
________________________________________
