âCome to think of it, a ladder⊠I think I saw it in the warehouse earlier.â
As I dragged the ladder behind me while groaning, I noticed something.
For some reason, the ladder seems to be lighter than usual.
Well, Iâm not heavy so it wonât break against my weight.
Leaning the ladder against the wall, I started climbing the ladder with determination.
I held a long broom in my hand.
âAlmost, Iâll be right thereâŠâ
I made a swiping motion with the broom.
Although the broomstick came close to touching the spiderâs web, probably because of my short arms, it barely touched it.
After several unsuccessful attempts at swinging, I stared angrily at the corner of the ceiling.
âI think I can reach it, just a little bit more!â
Why are my arms so short!
Do you think Iâll give up?
I carefully measured the distance between the web and myself, then swung powerfully.
The sound of the broom brushing against the wall signaled that the cobweb had been swept away.
I was filled with joy at the moment.
All of a sudden, I felt something ominous.
I felt goosebumps race down my spine.
âThat sound just now⊠what was it?â
I heard the sound of wood cracking.
As soon as I had that thought, the ladder steps snapped as my foot slipped.
I hurriedly tried to grab hold of something, but it was hopeless.
My hands swayed in vain in the air.
I closed my eyes reflexively.
âThe empress will find out that Iâm going in and out of the princeâs palace then!â
Please, donât get hurt!
However, I couldnât feel the pain I had expected at all.
Instead, I heard urgent sound of footstepsâŠ
All of a sudden, my body was safely held in someoneâs arms.
A desperate voice called to me.
When I quietly lifted my gaze, I saw Damian with a pale and tired face as if he was about to pass out at any moment.
âHey, what are you⊠where did you find these broken ladders?!â
âFro-from the warehouse.â
Damian was so angry that I was surprised.
He kept frowning while scolding me.
âWhat? The warehouse? Did you drag that ladder from there to here?!â
Damian couldnât hide his amazement and stared at me intently.
âDo you think youâre strong? Thatâs why I told you not to clean!â
âWhy arenât you afraid of what had just happened? If you hit the floor, you would be done for!â
Damianâs voice trembled softly.
I became teary and reflexively apologized.
âSorry, Iâm sorry. I made a mistake.â
âWhat are you sorry about?â
âI made things difficult for youâŠâ
What if the empress found out that I was in and out of the imperial palace?
That would not only give trouble for me but Damian as well.
What I had done to help Damian almost made him in trouble.
However, the expression on Damianâs face as he glanced at meâŠ..
It seemed as if he was in pain.
Itâd be understandable if he was angry.
Damian opened his lips as if to say something, but instead, he gave a sigh and shut his mouth again.
What should I do? I feel really bad.
I slowly made eye contact with him.
âIâm, Iâm fine with you scolding me.â
ââŠThatâs enough.â
Only Damian would act in that manner.
After he placed me back on the ground he quickly turned around.
Why, why did you turn your back on me?
I paced behind him, earnestly calling out to Damian.
âYour Highness, are you angry?â
At Damianâs silence, my chest tightened with the tension.
After a while, he muttered,
âWhat kind of person do you think I am?â
âIf you get hurt, Iâll be in trouble. Thatâs why I got angry.⊠did you seriously think I would be like that?!â
Damian pondered on what to say for a long time.
His low voice somehow sounded melancholic.
ââŠYouâre the only good person Iâve met after 5 years of being imprisoned in this palace.â
I bit my lips in response to Damianâs choice of words.
Damian clenched his fists.
âIf such a person gets hurt, isnât it natural to worry?â
Damian couldnât finish his words and let out a sigh.
âŠÂ Oh no, what should I do, I canât even lift my face.
This was completely my fault.
In the end, I caused him distress since I was unable to judge clearly.
âIâm telling you sincerely. Iâm sorry.â
My words was accompanied by tears.
I took my time approaching Damian and gently grasped his sleeve.
âHey, Crown Prince, Iâm glad youâre nice to me.â
Damian was still looking at me with disbelief as he opened his mouth.
âWhen I first met you, I threatened you with a knife. If you donât like me because of thatâŠâŠâ
I was taken aback and raised my voice.
How many times have we met? Why are you still worried about that!
âTo be honest, I was a little scared at first.â
I nearly died because of him, how could I not be terrified of Damian at first?
Damianâs expression slightly softened.
I continued with a clear voice.
âI donât care about that at all. Crown prince, youâve saved me.â
âIf it bothers you⊠letâs call it even if you forgive my mistake this time.â
I let go of Damianâs sleeve.
This time, I would never let go of him even if he pushed me away.
Damian, who had been hesitant for a long time, looked at me and asked.
âReally⊠You donât hate me or anything?â
âOf course. I like you.â
I nodded my head repeatedly.
Damianâs eyes were shaking.
He opened his lips slightly.
âDonât do that next time.â
âItâs the truth, right? You really donât hate me, right?
His clumsy fingers reached out to gently caress my cheeks.
âOkay, that will do.â
His voice was tiny and muffled at the end.
After hesitating for a while, Damian smiled awkwardly.
The smile he made was dazzling, I unknowingly laid my face on Damianâs palm.
At that time, unbeknownst to us, someone had come to the Crown Princeâs Palace.
A knocking sound resonated throughout the room.
The empress, who had been examining paperwork for a while, raised her head.
The empress furrowed her brow.
She usually doesnât interfere when sheâs workingâŠ
âI came here because I have something to tell you about Charlize.â
The maid Hayden spoke with a worried tone.
The empress opened her eyes wide.
âWell, Charlize has been out a lot lately.â
âDonât you also go out? There has never been any prohibition or restriction from going out of the Empressâ Palace.â
Even though she initiated the conversation, she hesitated, unable to speak for a long time.
It might not be a big deal.
It might actually not be worrisome, butâŠ
She was merely a maid, and she had no authority to judge the gravity of any matter.
It was the job of the empress, the owner of the maids, to judge the severity.
She shut her eyes tightly.
âItâs a bit suspicious to see her keep packing food and going out.â
â⊠Sheâs taking food with her?â
For a moment, a suspicious look appeared on the empressâs face.
She can eat it at the Empressâs Palace, so why take it with her?
âIsnât she just taking a little bit to eat as a snack outside?â
âNo, the amount is significant. Itâs too much for Charlize to eat alone.â
It implied she had more to say.
The empress questioned her.
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âThatâs it? If she was just going out with food, you wouldnât have come to me and even tell me.â
The maid raised her head.
The maid, who had been contemplating what to say for a while, carefully added her words.
âRecently, Charlize⊠I heard her once ask about His Highness the Crown Prince.â
The empress narrowed her eyes.