Chapter 47

After getting ready to go out, the two got on a carriage and went out of the Imperial Palace fortress.

It had been a while since they went out and Illian looked happy.

Rosena, who was watching Illian looking out the window, asked quietly.

“Don’t you miss your father?”

At those words, Illian shoulders trembled.

“…I miss him.”

The answer came a long time later, but Rosena thought it was because Illian was shy.

Illian, who was lowering his eyes, said cautiously.

“You know, I… I want to learn swordsmanship.”

“Swordsmanship?”

Rosena blinked at an unexpected request. It was the first time that Illian wanted to do something first.

Rosena agonized for a moment.

Can she let a little kid like him learn how to do swordsmanship?

Other aristocratic boys also take swordsmanship classes, but Illian was young and smaller than his peers, so she didn’t really take that into consideration.

But instead of saying no, Rosena opened her mouth, holding Illian’s hand.

“Okay, but let’s make a few agreements with mom in return.”

Rosena wanted three promises.

Don’t neglect other classes, take classes but practice with a wooden sword, and don’t overdo it.

Listening silently, Illian promised Rosena he would do that.

At the end of the story, Rosena was troubled.

She didn’t know much about swordsmanship, so finding a good teacher was the problem. It would have been better to ask Yerhan later.

Rosena, who had put aside her worries, looked down at the Illian.

She thought he was only six years old and still a baby, but it felt strange to see him start to assert himself little by little.

She was proud of him, but at the same time, she felt lonely because she thought he would leave her arms at any moment.

In a few years, Illian would leave for the academy, where he would stay until adulthood.

And when that time comes, Rosena will leave the imperial palace.

Rosena was so moved that she touched Illian’s cheek.

Can she leave him behind?

No matter how tall or old he is, Illian will always be like a child to her.

Even if the day comes when Illian will go to the academy… will she be able to let him go without any regrets?

As she turned to the window, Yerhan’s face flashed through the window.

When she first reunited with him, she vowed to break up with him without hesitation.

She believed that one day she would be able to return to Astania, leaving Illian on his own. But now she wasn’t as sure as she used to be.

Leaving behind Illian was still the same, but as time went by, Yerhan’s face kept coming to mind.

She doesn’t even like him… she just wants him because of a strange attraction, but why…

Rosena closed her eyes tightly to control her shaking heart.

Before long, the carriage completely left the castle. When the carriage that was running on the wide road stopped at the side, Rosena grabbed Illian’s hand and got off.

Rosena, who was decorated as modestly as possible, did not look like a prince’s wife to anyone.

As Rosena headed toward the alley, the cats climbed over the wall.

At the cat’s small cry, Rosenna and Illian stopped walking at the same time and turned their heads.

Behind their backs was an empty alley.

“Come on out.”

Rosena said, staring into the empty alley.

“Are you going to keep following me like that?”

Rosena’s voice that followed was calm.

As Rosena waited, staying still, two men soon appeared at the end of the alley.

They looked very puzzled as they began to waddle forward. It was as if they didn’t understand why they were caught.

“You’re…”

Rosena opened her eyes wide when she saw the familiar face of the two men. He was Isaac, who escorted Rosena last time.

“…I’m sorry. I was following at the behest of the Prince.”

When Isaac confessed meekly, Rosena had a strange face.

Yerhan seemed to have taken care of every little detail while he was away. Suddenly she felt the vacancy of Yerhan again.

“I see.”

Rosena nodded, and Isaac asked, wary.

“But how did you know we were following you?”

He was proud of his skills, that even most trained people would not notice.

He thought he was perfectly hiding his presence, but he was so curious how Rosena noticed.

“It just seemed like that.”

At Rosena’s answer, Isaac fell further into a labyrinth.

Isaac looked at the knight standing next to him, Karlan. At that gaze, Karlan shook his head with a very confused, yet disgruntled look.

Rosena looked at him and asked.

“You are going to keep following me, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“Then let’s go together.”

Upon Rosena’s suggestion, the two of them opened their eyes wide.

Did they hear it wrong? While thinking about it, Rosena took the first step.

The two quickly came to their senses and followed after Rosena.

Rosena left the alley and walked along the main road. Rosena, who was accompanied by the men in black, had no choice but to be subjected to people’s attention.

There were so many eyes that dressing modestly became useless.

Rosena, who suddenly came with the two men, was in a dilemma of where to start.

She thought it would be better to go to the bookstore first. She had to check if the book was available and made a reservation.

While walking down the street, Rosena read the signs one by one to find a bookstore.

She didn’t know the geography of the capital, so she had to go around and find the stores.

After walking for a while, Rosena found a bookstore and went inside.

The knights circled around at a certain distance from Rosena, and Illian went looking for a children’s book.

Rosena, who was looking for this new book, fumbled through the bookshelf.

“I think it’s around here… ah…”

Rosena found a book that was placed in a high position. She couldn’t reach the book even if she raised her magpie-like feet and reached out.

That was at the moment when she thought she should ask the clerk.

Rosena could feel someone standing behind her. A hard chest touched her back.

Surprised, Rosena turned around and the opponent fell off.

“…Ah, oh my.”

When their eyes met, his eyes slightly bent and smiled. The man holding the book was Crown Prince Zigrit.

Rosena pursed her lips in surprise.

It was because there was a person that she could not have imagined in front of her.

“…Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”

Rosena could not hide her bewilderment and called Zigrit. Then Zigrit held out the book he was holding and said,

“What a coincidence. Is this the book you were looking for?”

Rosena received the book by surprise. The book he handed over was exactly what Rosena was looking for.

But Rosena was more focused on Zigrit, who appeared in front of her than on the book.

There were many doubtful aspects to dismiss it as just an accidental meeting.

She couldn’t believe that the crown prince was visiting the bookstore. If he just gave his servant an order, even books that haven’t been released will be delivered to his bedroom.

“But how are you here…”

“I’m here because I have a book I want to find.”

“…Is that so?”

Rosena nodded, though her doubts were not completely cleared.

“Is there something wrong, Your Highness?”

The knights who had been standing at a distance hurriedly approached Rosena from behind.

As soon as they saw Zigrit’s face, they put on a grim expression. Even if she didn’t tell them who he was, they seemed to know immediately.

Isaac and Karlan were very wary of Zigrit. Even though they didn’t pull out their swords, their eyes seemed to have already cut him off.

The hostility was so strong that it could be considered profane, Rosena was at a loss for what to do.

“Everyone, calm down. Nothing is happening.”

Rosena opened her mouth to calm them down, and the two people who heard her voice faltered.

It seemed like a belated reminder that Rosena was in front of them.

While Rosena calmed them down, Zigrit’s eyes scoured Isaac and Karlan. The cold blue eyes were terrifying, and Isaac and Karlan’s faces hardened again.

“Are they your knights?”

Zigrit asked Rosena without taking his eyes off Isaac and Karlan.

“Yes.”

As Rosena answered briefly, his eyes narrowed.

Even though they were wearing black casual clothing, he could tell that they were Yerhan’s servants.

He had the memory of seeing one of them a few times before.

Zigrit smiled for a moment, then, with a soft expression as usual, made a suggestion to Rosena.

“By the way, this is just a coincidence, but could you spare me a moment?”

Rosena was silent. Despite knowing that it meant rejection, Zigrit did not back down.

“I have something I must tell you.”

As expected, Zigrit approached her with a purpose.

Perhaps he was following her since her carriage left the imperial palace.

“In a place like this?”

Rosena looked around. Because it was a bookstore, it was quiet, so others could hear their voices.

Moreover, after Zigrit approached Rosena, glances at the two of them increased.

“If you feel uncomfortable, we can move to another location.”

Zigrit gave a soft smile and adjusted it to Rosena.

Rosena sighed inwardly. Even if she refused this time, Zigrit might continue to follow her. It seemed that she had to listen to the reason why he had come to her.

“I also have business to do, so I don’t have much time.”

“A short moment is enough.”

As Rosena was reluctant to follow Zigrit, Illian asked, while holding Rosena’s skirt.

“Mom, who is this uncle? I’ve seen him before….”

When Illian asked with an innocent face, Rosena hurriedly looked at Zigrit.

There was a slight crack on his soft expression.

“Illian, it’s not good to talk like that. He is your father’s older brother. Call him Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Rosena explained in a low voice.

Illian responded with a nod and looked up at Zigrit.

Zigrit was looking at Illian with cold eyes.

Illian flinched at the look in his eyes, which was as if he was looking at a bug, but he did not want to lose and glared back at him.

“Your Highness…”

Isaac called out to Rosena with a worried face. Rosena whispered softly so that Zigrit could not hear it.

“I’m sorry I made a decision on my own. Nothing will happen because you’re here.”

“All right.”

Isaac bowed his head. He stood at Rosena’s back, vigilant.

Rosena, who left the bookstore, sighed inwardly.

She was just planning to go out with Illian, but she didn’t know how it ended up like this.

Rosena walked out of the bookstore, following Zigrit.

As Rosena walked a step back, she realized that no entourage had followed him.

The crown prince was moving, but there were no guards.

No, they might be waiting in an unseen place.

Zigrit entered a teahouse that was near the bookstore.

Inside the neat store, there was only one table that was occupied because it was morning.

Rosena turned to the table where the guests sat, and Zigrit asked,

“Are you uncomfortable in the presence of other people?”

“What?”

Rosena asked back to the sudden question. And before she could answer, Zigrit opened his mouth looking into the air.

“Come out.”

As soon as the words were finished, two men appeared in front of him. Unable to tell where they came from, Rosena blinked.

In the meantime, Zigrit gestured towards the table. The men, who suddenly appeared, immediately headed toward the table where the guests were sitting.

“Please have a seat.”

Rosena looked at the men with a bewildered look and sat down at the seat Zigrit had guided.

Rosena, who began to be concerned for some reason, turned her head. The table where the customers were sitting earlier was already empty.

Did they get kicked out?

As Rosena was checking the empty table, Zigrit, while looking at Illian, said,

“If possible, I’d like to have a conversation with just the two of us.”

‘What is he going to talk about?’

“You gave me a short time, so I don’t want to be disturbed.”

Rosena, who looked at Zigrit with a skeptical face, pondered for a moment before nodding her head.

It would be difficult if Illian intervened like before, so it would be better that way. After all, the escorts would also be in the same room.

“Isaac. May I ask for you to take Illian?”

He agreed, though he bore a disapproving look as he stood next to her.

Illian didn’t want to part with Rosena, but he hesitated and stood next to Isaac when Rosena said that it would only take a while.

Thus, Illian, Isaac, and Karlan sat so far apart from where Rosena was sitting that they could not hear the conversation at all.

After a while, the clerk served tea and refreshments.

It was incomparable to the tea delivered in the imperial palace, but this was superior enough for nobles to drink.

Zigrit picked up the teacup and smelled the scent, and said with a smile.

“It’s a place where we can get good tea.”

“You didn’t ask me to spare my time just to talk about tea, did you?”

Rosena cut his words. It may seem rude, but she never wanted to talk to him for a long time.

Rosena didn’t want to be with him even for a moment.

When she was in front of Zigrit, it felt like her hair was standing up. As if facing a natural enemy, she instinctively felt a sense of dread.

“Rosena.”

Zigrit called out her name affectionately.