Chapter 30
## The Truth Revealed
“Wow, this is really nice…”
Stepping inside Arwin’s tent, I stood in one corner, taking in the unfamiliar space.
It looked both shabby and full at the same time—a paradox.
The space was neither large nor small, just the right size, reminiscent of an ordinary commoner’s home. It had everything one might need: a well-made bed, a bathroom for washing up, and even a small kitchen for preparing simple meals.
Living alone as he did, Arwin had equipped the place with all the necessary facilities to survive independently.
Everywhere I looked, traces of Arwin’s personality were visible. Various trinkets and decorations he’d collected during his travels filled the interior—a dreamcatcher gifted by some Indian tribe, an intricate carving of a lion purchased from an unknown street merchant…
As if to prove his love for art, small paintings hung in one corner.
“When I wandered abroad, I’d buy any paintings that caught my eye from street vendors,” Arwin explained, pointing out each item I showed curiosity about.
Though the space was foreign to me, Arwin had clearly spent many years within these tent walls.
Perhaps that was why—despite entering for the first time—the place felt remarkably warm and cozy.
After listening to his explanations and looking around, I suddenly remembered something and turned to face him.
“Oh, that’s right. I have something for you, Arwin.”
I set down the basket I’d brought on the table in the corner.
Arwin tilted his head, eyeing it curiously.
“I was wondering about that since earlier. What’s in the basket?”
“What else? It’s food I prepared for you.”
“Huh…?”
His face went blank with surprise. I couldn’t help feeling a bit proud as I pulled each item out one by one.
“These are dishes I often make at home. This is a sandwich packed with fresh vegetables and ham, and this is a stew with tomatoes and beef. Even though everything’s probably gone cold by now, you can warm it up.”
Arwin stared dumbfounded at the food I was pulling out.
“After receiving your note, I thought about what might be helpful to you. I figured since you’re on the run, you might not be eating properly, hiding away like this…”
I trailed off as I realized what I’d just said.
I’d spoken aloud the fact that Arwin was being hunted.
In truth, ever since Arwin fled from the Duke of Hwidrian, his identity as the Third Prince had been exposed to me. But I hadn’t wanted to be the first to bring it up—not unless he chose to speak of it himself.
I’d made a promise to myself before coming to meet him.
A wave of self-reproach and unease washed over me, and I fell silent.
Then Arwin smiled gently at me.
“It’s alright.”
“…Arwin. I’m sorry. I wanted to pretend I didn’t know until you were ready, but it slipped out unconsciously.”
“My identity was already blown the moment I ran from the Duke, at least to you.”
“…”
“I called you here today because I intended to tell you who I am. I didn’t want you to learn my identity from someone else’s lips.”
His voice was softer and more serious than I’d ever heard it. I looked back at him.
He was gazing at me with a smile that mirrored the warmth of his voice.
“But before that, there’s something I absolutely must tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Even after you learn my true identity… I hope you’ll still treat me exactly as you do now.”
He held my gaze, as though waiting for my answer.
“Promise me. Promise that even after I tell you who I am, our friendship won’t change.”
There was anxiety in his eyes. The fear that I’d feel burdened once I knew his status.
Looking at him, I couldn’t help but laugh softly. Had he really taken my earlier joke to heart?
Of course—I had no intention of abandoning our friendship just because of his identity.
I’d grown close to *him*, to Arwin—not to some title or rank. If he’d revealed his status from the beginning, that might have been different. But now that we were friends, Kasia and Arwin, whatever status he’d hidden was nothing more than secondary.
“…Of course, Arwin.”
I nodded as I looked at him.
“Even knowing who you are, I’ll still be your friend.”
“Just like now?”
He asked, seeking confirmation. I nodded, meeting his gaze.
“Yes. Just like now.”
A bright smile spread across his face upon hearing my certainty. Then he extended his hand toward me.
“Allow me to formally introduce myself.”
“…”
“I am Adolf de Fontrich. Third Prince of the Empire.”
I gazed slowly at the hand extended before me. Then, with a smile, I took it.
“Pleased to meet you… Adolf.”
In that moment, I couldn’t understand why my heart pounded so fiercely.
—
Adolf seemed deeply moved by the moment, gazing at me with an expression too complex for words.
After holding my hand and looking at me for quite some time, he let out a small laugh.
I looked at him, confused, and he scratched his head, still smiling.
“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking… this really was insane of me.”
“What was?”
“Not running away, even knowing the knights were after me.”
“…”
“Perhaps from that moment on, I’d already foreseen this situation.”
The situation of being cornered, surrounded by knights, with nowhere left to run. And in the midst of it all, revealing his identity to her.
Arwin thought: perhaps it had all been foreseeable from the start. From the moment he’d met her. From the moment he’d seen her paintings. Perhaps somewhere deep in his heart, he’d already imagined this future.
“Of course, I never expected you’d go this far for me.”
His gaze drifted to the food spread out on the table.
“Thank you for the food. I’ll never forget the kindness you’ve shown me.”
“It’s nothing. I only wish I could have done more.”
“Just the fact that you came here for me, in this situation, is already a gift.”
He looked genuinely moved. He pulled out a chair from the table and gestured for me to sit as well.
“Come, sit with me.”
“…”
He seemed to have much on his mind. I settled into the chair he’d offered.
Arwin—no, Adolf—thought for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
“The truth is, I’m a coward. A pathetic coward who ran away rather than face reality.”
“You don’t have to tell me everything, Adolf.”
I said this, worried he might be forcing himself to speak out of pressure to maintain our friendship. But he shook his head.
“I’m not speaking out of obligation. It’s just… I’ve been thinking a lot lately.”
“…”
“You’re wise, so I’d like to ask you something. What choice would you have made in my situation?”
He looked at me, asking permission. I nodded. He continued.
“There are two people, A and B. They’re siblings. A deeply loves B and wants to get along as family. But B resents A, because their father favors A over B. And their father wants to leave everything he has to A.”
“…”
“So what’s the best choice A can make to maintain all their relationships?”
He asked, eyes fixed on me.
I realized instinctively that the father in his story was the Emperor, and that A and B were Adolf and his brothers. I also understood that Adolf had gone into hiding and vanished from the palace for seven years because of family conflict.
But his example didn’t apply only to sibling relationships. Listening to his story, I kept thinking of Ken. The old me who’d wanted to get along with Ken, and Ken who’d grown to resent his stepmother even more upon seeing his father dote on me.
Adolf’s story felt like a question directed at me: if you could go back to that moment, what choice would you make?
“Well… if I were A, I think I would have run away too.”
After a moment’s thought, he looked at me and asked.
“Why?”
“Because if I rejected what my father wanted to give me, at least I could get along with B.”
If I could go back, I would become a formal mother to Ken. Even though I couldn’t abandon Diana’s request—I knew I’d still honor it—I could at least decide what kind of mother I would be to that child.
If I went back, I wouldn’t approach him. I wouldn’t touch his heart anymore. I would be nothing more than a formal mother, never coming near his feelings.
“…The A from seven years ago thought the same way. That to maintain peace, he had to disappear.”
