Atil looked at Lilyca, then quickly turned his gaze to Alteos.
âIs that an order?â
âKind of.â
âThen I will.â
Atil bowed his head. Lilyca looked at Alteos in bewilderment, then Lat and finally Atil.
It seemed that she had no choice here. Lat looked at her troubled face and nodded as if understanding, but did not take sides.
âHurry up.â
Alteos pushed her back again. Lilyca was pushed and took a few steps forward.
âSince itâs like this anyway.â
Then, Lilyca said to Atil.
âI look forward to your kind cooperation.â
âLetâs go.â
âHave a good time.â
Lat smiled and saw the two of them off. Lilyca sighed and followed Atil.
She asked as she walked down the hallway.
âDo you want me to hold the basket?â
âForget it.â
Atil replied briefly.
They didnât say anything until the lake shore. Atil made it clear that he had no intention of making conversation.
Lilyca followed him and looked up at the sky.
âWowâŚâ
Atil glanced at her. Lilyca said with a smile.
âThe sky is really blue. The clouds are beautiful and the weather is very nice. Oh my God, the lake is so pretty.â
Bursting with admiration, Lilyca looked around.
The lake was quite far from the palace, so she had never been here.
âThere are not many people. The lake is quite wide⌠Where does it lead? Wow, thatâs an island in the middle, right? Thereâs a small building on the island, too. Itâs amazing.â
It didnât matter if Atil didnât answer. Lilyca was excited and chatted while looking at the lake.
Atil heard her voice. He didnât think she was noisy because it was outdoors.
It was just awkward.
It has been a long time since he had heard a voice like that. A bright, worry-free voice.
He placed the basket on the boat that was moored by the lake and held his hand out to Lilyca.
Lilyca opened her eyes wide, smiled and took his hand.
Only then did he see her face. It was different from the face he had seen at that moment.
[NB: The moment they met.]
Lilyca said as she got into the boat.
âI didnât ask His Majesty to do this.â
âI know.â
He had stood her up like that, so there was no way Lilyca would ask to meet him first.
Atil untied the rope and pushed the boat towards the lake with his foot.
Lilyca was about to say something to Atil, but was startled by the rattling boat and stopped.
Soon the boat began to move smoothly along the waves. Lilyca held on to both sides of the boat for the first time in her life and gradually relaxed.
Atil skillfully stood and rowed, and Lilyca looked at it curiously.
âThis is my first time riding on a boat. So, this is how it feels.â
Lilyca got used to it quickly and was excited. She slightly put a finger in the lake and pulled it out, before looking up at Atil.
âYour Highness.â
Atil looked at her. Lilyca opened her mouth candidly.
âI donât know what Your Highness is thinking, but Iâve always wanted a brother. When children my age and I had fights, their sister and brother always came to their help. Iâm alone, so Iâve always been envious of that.â
She smiled slightly.
âSo, I was happy to have an older brother, even if it was, in reality, a cousin. I donât know what Your Highnessâs thoughts are about that.â
Oh, there was one more thing.
Lilyca thought to herself and continued.
âI want to be close to you.â
Lilyca asked, with all her strength in her pleading eyes.
âCan we?â
Atil blinked. It was the first time he had heard the words âI want to be close to youâ like this.
His blue eyes looked at Lilycaâs turquoise ones.
Like the emerald sea, eyes that seemed to take you to a far-off foreign country, far from here.
He had no blood relatives. No, Alteos was there, but he wasnât a friendly man.
So, Atil was alone.
Always, completely alone. Atil tried not to think about it.
He tried his best, but even the words of a little girl shook his heart, just like this.
He bit his lip and changed the subject.
âMy father had many brothers and sisters.â
Lilyca waited quietly for his words.
âThere were six. But when my father ascended to the throne, he was the only one left.â
Lilyca widened her eyes.
âDid everyone die?â
âYes.â
âHe must have been very sad.â
Lilyca murmured. Atil laughed involuntarily.
It was the first time he heard such a thing. Everyone paid more attention to stories such as âAssassinationâ or âFight for the throneâ, but no one talks about their feelings.
âRight, he must have been.â
Atil had no choice but to answer that way. Even if he had siblings, he couldnât bring up the story that he was fighting for the throne, or that he was only a threat meant to be assassinated.
Lilyca pounded on her chest.
âI will not die.â
âWhat?â
âI will never die, so donât worry. I will not make you sad.â
Atil chuckled.
âAnd are you always on my side? Will you come to me if you need me?â
âSure! Thatâs what siblings do. If someone bothers you, I will go and punish them.â
It was funny to see a little one swearing.
âI donât believe that.â
âBut thereâs no one who doesnât need this.â
Lilyca calmly responded to the sharp spit. Atil stopped talking.
Lilyca had her cheeks dyed red.
âI know. Words like âalwaysâ or âforeverâ may sound empty, I know that, but still.â
Lilyca jumped up from her seat. Still, there was a height difference, so the eyes did not match, but their faces were closer than when they were sitting.
âI needed it.â
And then she added softly.
âAnd I believe it exists.â
Atil tightened his grip on the oar.
He wanted to believe in it too, but he couldnât.
Atil looked away instead of answering, and Lilyca was not disappointed. He reminded her of a stubborn stray cat.
A black cat with its tail sticking out in the slums.
A cat that is always arrogant, and is so sharp and beautiful that it will never be stoned by children.
Trust doesnât come from just one hand held or a single word.
Meanwhile, the boat arrived at a small island. The ropes were tossed on a stake in the dock to moor it, and the two berthed on the island.
With familiarity, Atil started walking with a basket, and Lilyca followed. On a small island, a gazebo with tables and chairs were set up.
There, as he opened the basket and laid out the food, someone approached them.
Atil looked at the person and relaxed.
âRowin.â
âYou cannot go without an escort.â
âWell, His Majesty is always spontaneous.â
Atil sighed and introduced him to Lilyca.
âRowin, my escort knight.â
âMy name is Rowin Gray. Princess.â
âNice to meet you.â
Lilyca greeted him lightly. She had a strange feeling.
âI have a bad feeling out this.â
He was called Atilâs escort, but it didnât feel right. She heard an alarm sound in the corner of her mind. It was strangely clear and distinct. This was obviously a person who would cause harm.
âHow did you know where we would be?â
At Lilycaâs question, Rowin shrugged.
âI asked the servant.â
Atil turned his back on him and opened the basket. Lilyca glanced at Rowin.
âThey put everything in.â
Unknowingly at those words, Lilyca tiptoed and looked into the basket.
In an instant, goosebumps ran down her spine. She saw Rowin holding the handle of his sword when she glanced sideways.
The attention of a slum child, accustomed to violence, was turned on him at once. The sense that had always saved her was now screaming.
Lilycaâs hand turned to Atil without realising it. At that moment, Rowin swung his sword like lightning. At the same time, Lilyca pulled Atil with all her might.
â!!â
By a hairâs breadth, Rowinâs sword grazed Atil. A few hairs flew into the air.
If Lilyca hadnât reached out first, it would have been too late.
âOh my.â
Rowinâs voice was so nonchalant that Lilyca wondered if he had been trying to exterminate insects with his sword.
Lilyca jumped onto the bench and opened her arms to block Rowin and Atil.
âHow comeâŚâ
Atilâs trembling voice came from behind her.
âWhat do I do? What do I do? How can I outsmart a trained adult male with a sword?â
Lilyca stared intently at Rowin. Rowin sighed.
âBecause I served the Crown Prince for eight years, at the very least, I wanted to send you off without knowing, for the sake of it.â
âWhy, why⌠!â
It was a squeaky voice. Lilyca exclaimed.
âHey, you villain!â
Rowin paused. Lilyca continued.
âTraitor! Bad guy! The worst guy is the one who thinks he has a plausible reason!! Shamelessly trying to kill a child!â
Rowin said with a tired expression to Lilyca, who was yelling at him.
âItâs like the emperor to make such a vulgar girl, of unknown origin, a princess. The problem is that such a person is the emperor of the empire. Now the empire is a newââ
Then something flew from behind Lilycaâs back. The moment Rowin swung his sword and blocked it, the sound of the bottle shattered and pepper powder spread all over the place.
At the same time, Atil grabbed Lilycaâs hand and ran.
But the escape did not last long.
âHey!â
The moment he grabbed her hair, Lilyca released Atilâs hand.
But Atil did not let go. He stopped, turned around and clenched his teeth.
âRun!â
Lilyca shouted, but Atil didnât listen. Lilyca was out of breath.
Her eyes went dark.
âUh?â
A strange crackling sound was heard.
It was physically dark in front of her eyes. The hand holding her hair loosened, and she felt the warmth of the palm that covered her eyes.
âWhat? What happened?â
Flop.
There was the sound of a person falling.
âBoth of you look fine.â
The hand that covered her eyes was removed. As she tried to look back, a strong hand prevented her from turning her gaze.
âNo, donât look behind you.â
So, she looked up and saw His Majesty standing there. Alteos smiled brightly.
Then, she noticed her legs shaking. Lilyca was desperately holding back tears from welling up in her eyes.
Atil looked at the dead Rowin with a disappointed expression, then turned his gaze to Alteos.
âMe⌠Did you use me as bait?â
The end of his voice trembled slightly. Alteos tilted his head at that, then smiled.
âWho knows.â
Atil bit his lip. At the same time, Lilyca shouted.
âI do not like it!â
âWhat?â
Lilyca tried to turn around, but she couldnât because Alteos was still holding her head with both hands.
âHey, itâs too much to say that. That way, like this! Please tell us exactly. Did you use us as bait? If thatâs the case, Iâll be very sad and angry, but then I can ask you why, or if I have misunderstood. But I truly hate that kind of answer.â
Lilyca, who had poured out everything in one breath, gasped and kept her mouth shut. Atil looked at Lilyca blankly. Alteos was silent for a moment, then said.
âNo, thatâs not it.â
Atil raised his head.
âI didnât use you as bait. It was just a spontaneous decision. Your mother made a fuss all of a sudden.â
Then, Alteos muttered softly, âHow the hell did she knowâŚâ, and continued.
âI was on my way to look for her, but when I found out that Atil was in danger, I flew here. I came first, and your mother will be here soon. Look, no, you canât see it. Anyway, I can see her on a boat.â
In an instant, Lilyca slipped and fell to the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Surprised Atil approached.
âUhh, huuk, waahââ
In the end, seeing Lilyca burst out crying, Alteos asked.
âAre you hurt?â
Atil was startled by this and knelt before her on one knee.
âMaybe something went wrong when Rowin caught herââ
All of a sudden, Lilyca hugged him. Atil held his breath.
âS-s-scary, I was very scared, waah, waah, Iâm glad, Iâm glad thatâŚâ
Lilyca hugged him with a cry of waah, boo, hoo.
Atil stiffened in embarrassment. It was the first time someone hugged him.
The childâs arms and body were surprisingly thin, and her body temperature was hot. He didnât like the sound of her cries.
While wondering what to do, slowly patting her back, Lilyca dug into his arms like a puppy.
Somehow, without realising it, a voice came out like a whisper.
âYou said you wouldnât die.â
At those words, in his arms, a murmur echoed, âI will never die.â Atil smiled involuntarily.
âLily! Oh, my goodness, Lily!â
Then they saw the empress running, screaming, pale and tired. Alteos said, âBoth are fine.â He had said it, but it didnât seem to be heard.
Embarrassed, Atil tried to push Lilyca away, but Lilyca stayed attached to him.
What should he say?
How could he explain this situation to the Empress?
While Atil thought about it, Lydia rushed over and hugged them both at the same time.
âIâm glad youâre safe. Thatâs a relief, really.â
â!!â
Atil held his breath.
A voice filled with relief, saying that he was safe now, and a hand stroking his hair roughly.
Atil, who had never been hugged by his mother, was desperately holding back tears.
Alteos said in a stern voice.
âIâm the one who saved them, but why arenât you hugging me?â
âAre you saying that now?!â
Lydia jumped up from the ground and yelled. Her angry gaze turned towards the body.
âOh my God. Letâs cover it right here. Itâs not good for the children.â
Lydia frowned, covering Atil and Lilycaâs eyes.
Only then did a commotion break out. First, when they crossed to the opposite side of the boat, Bryn and Bran, who were white as a sheet, were waiting for them.
Pai stood restlessly and swept his chest several times. Tan and Lat were also present, and they had a low conversation with Alteos.
Lydia said, patting their backs, âCome on, you two, letâs get some rest.â
After a while, Lilyca took a hot bath and sat on the comfy sofa, drinking a large cup of hot chocolate.