Chapter 12

No wonder. I was the partner and friend of Vathorlia’s.

No?

I can’t guarantee it.

Ever since Tristan was locked in a solitary cell in the east tower, he has been damaged dozens of times. 1

How should I confess to him, how would his reaction be?

The imaginary Tristan always treated my words as a vicious joke.

Even after accepting that my words were true, he resented and hated Rowenthal and myself who survived alone instead of dying. So I wasn’t sure Tristan would cooperate with me.

I couldn’t even gamble.

If Tristan turns around and tells Aurest everything, I will die a solid death.

I have to live.

To live, you have to be more careful than someone who crosses over on thin ice.

So you didn’t make up your mind long ago?

I need to prepare.

I said I would confess only after Tristan meets the conditions for cooperation.

I need Tristan’s favor. 1

I had to get enough kindness so that Tristan, who had come to know everything, would not deny me and be of importance.

Until then, we can’t tell Tristan the truth. 1

***

It’s dangerous to say useless things about patients in the imperial palace. The doctor, who knew it well, didn’t question how he got hurt like this. In cold words, he only spoke of his views as a doctor.

“Since the injury is serious, I recommend you to see it to the priest.”

That was the only thing the doctor added.

Tristan lying in bed had a bloody bandage wrapped around his knees.

I rose from my seat and gently pressed Tristan’s shoulder to be polite.

Tristan was gently pushed back, but when I released his hand, he got back up. Oh, it wasn’t absurd.

”You can just lie down.”

“I can’t respond with an irreverent attitude.”

“I’ll forgive your rudeness, just stay on top.”

“Please let me sit down.”

Tristan sat up.

I told Tristan what the doctor had told me, his present condition, medicines to take, and how to manage them.

“Education stops until you are fully recovered. So focus only on getting better, not thinking about anything else. The maids will listen to your sick.”

I thought about putting something more on the subject, but I kept getting choked up when I see his face.

“I’m sorry.”

Other than this, I couldn’t think of any suitable words.

“I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry, Your Imperial Highness.”

Tristan looked at me and said so. I lingered away from his gaze.

“Everything.”

“……”

“I’m sorry about everything I’ve done to you.” 1

The healing priest did not come until sunset.

There was no news until I had dinner, took a bath, and lay down in bed.

I couldn’t fall asleep at the thought of a healing priest who wasn’t good enough to heal him.

I jumped up and went out of the bedroom with a lamp.

I was going to take a walk. 1

There was a chill in the bedroom and the reception room that followed. The curtains in the window shook like black-and-blue hair tied to the gallows. The eyes of the portraits on the wall followed me.

I prayed as if my mother’s red lips, which can now only be seen in the frame, were flinching.

I lit a lantern on my mother’s portrait. 1

Erin. Where are you going at this time of the night?

“I’m not going where my mom is, so don’t worry.”

I went down the stairs through the corridor.

First floor main gate, shady blind spot.

There was someone there. 1

I stopped on the stairs and stared at the shadow.

It was the escort knight Aurest gave me. The way he sat and dozed off in his chair was easy. The money I gave to him was a waste to hear that he was not going around the night patrol. I turned off the lamp and walked silently by killing the sound of footsteps. It was about time to walk a dozen or so away from him.

Kku… Peok!

The knight, who raised his lower head, glared his eyes and raised the sword in his waist.

“Hey, you little bitch got caught. Let’s be a little quiet at night, uhm?”

I’m glad your ears are bright. I gave a deep answer.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t sleep well at night. Lord Gareth.”

“What? Are you a ghost?”

“Do I look like a ghost?”

Gareth Wallow, a knight who misunderstood the princess who was walking around with her hair loose in the middle of the night as a ghost, scratched his head with a shameless face.

“Ah. Are you the princess and not a ghost? What are you doing without sleeping at this late hour?”

“I can’t sleep. Why are you sleeping at this late hour? Unless I’m mistaken, I’m sure it’s your shift.”

“You were asleep. I was pretending to be asleep to trick a possible intruder.”

Gareth didn’t even erase the spit marks from his mouth. Instead of enjoying the joy of embarrassing Gareth by pointing out the fact, I said with a sigh.

“I’m going out for a walk, so get up.”

“What? At this dawn? Hmm. I’m in trouble. Someone has to be on the night watch.” 1

You do not care about the subject as you were sleeping…

“If you’re worried that Tristan might run away somewhere, rest assured. At least he’s sick tonight and won’t be able to run away.” (Gareth) The thought of Tristan’s physical condition made me depressed again. “Lord Tristan… Oops…”

Gareth gave himself a smack in the head as if he had made a mistake.

“I’m not worried about Tristan’s escape. He’s not a superman, so would he run away with the body of a hole or out of the sky?” (Erin)

Gareth shrugged his shoulders.

“There was an order from the Crown Prince to keep a close eye on Tristan in case anyone approached him.” I recalled the fact that the four new guards Aurest attached were not knights of the Imperial Guard, but knights of the Eleven Swords. Eleven swords are young knights who pledge allegiance to the loyalty to Aurest, and Aurest’s closest limbs are self-proven elites.

They were a bit of a waste to attach to the imperial palace for security purposes. Apparently, Aurest was on the lookout for a remnant of Rowenthal’s treason to contact Tristan.

“I don’t know if you’re my escort or Tristan’s escort.”

“Of course we’re the escort of your Imperial Highness. Tristan also keeps a low profile.”

“Then wake up another knight..”

“Ugh, Sir Digory has the longest temper, and Sir Gereint never wakes up once he lies down…”

“What about Lord Celtic?”

“Senior Celtic went to give his Imperial Highness a piece of advice. Come to think of it, it’s time to be back soon. Would you please be patient?”

The Wallow family was a family of knights who had served the Duke Durak for generations. The eldest son of the Wallow family, Gareth Wallow, was to be a knight of the post-Durak story, as his father did. However, Gareth, who was knighted, pledged his loyalty to the Crown Prince Aurest instead of the Duke of Durak.

When Gareth’s father ran out to kick his unfilial son’s ass upon hearing the news, it was after Gareth had already fled to the imperial family. As if to commemorate the escape from his father, this young handsome man, who sat down in the imperial family, sprinkled all kinds of salt doors with imperial women. He flirted with my maids when he had time, but he always treated me awkwardly.

The master’s younger sister is uncomfortable with me… What am I saying?

Suddenly, Gareth turned his head. The place he looked at was on the side of the hallway connected to the back door. About a dozen seconds later, I heard a thud of footsteps, and on the side of the corridor, a man of a lush physique appeared. The man found me sitting in the chair and hesitated. Soon he saluted politely.

“Your Imperial Highness.”

“Sir Celtic.”

Celtic approached quickly and hit Gareth in the back of the head without hesitation. Gareth, who uttered a scream, tried to protest as if he was falsely accused.

“Oh, Little Master, why all of a sudden…” Hewas struck one more. “-little baby!” 1

“It’s not little master, it’s Sir Celtic. And it’s night, so keep it quiet. You’ll wake up all of the maids.”

Celtic, whipping his hand that struck Gareth’s back, said politely.

“It must have been a great rudeness to the Princess Majesty while this horny foal was away from my place.”

“Please forgive me generously.”

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Gareth rubbed the back of his head with a discontented look. “…forgive me.” Gareth rubbed his lips. “Forgive me or whatever, so go for a walk.”

Ddak…

Celtic again hits Gareth’s back head. Me and Celtic took hold of the back of the head and stepped out of the building, leaving Gareth behind.

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