Chapter 69

What Aran pointed at was a very narrow path that only one adult woman could pass. Little Aran was able to pass through easily, but Enoch had to walk sideways like a crab to get through the narrow path.

Aran shook her head as she looked at Enoch’s shoulder width and compared it to the road.

“I’m going to have to walk alone from here. And… thank you so much for walking me here,” said Aran.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind,” Enoch replied.

“It must be hard for you because it’s so narrow. I don’t mind going alone.”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“…Okay.”

The road was narrower than he thought. It was probably a passage used by maids a long time ago but now was completely abandoned and forgotten through the ages of time. The princess walked naturally along the hideous path, which was not lacking with cobwebs.

“You can go back anytime if you change your mind.”

Through the passage, Aran looked back and forth.

“I didn’t expect to walk here with you,” Enoch let out a sigh.

“It’s a secret passage that I’ve known for a long time.”

Enoch’s headache seemed to worsen when he heard her endless unilateral chatter.

“And don’t talk to me. It’s nighttime. I need to listen to small noises far away. What if someone catches us?”

“Oh, yeah… sorry.”

A heavy silence fell as the princess shut her mouth. The two said nothing until they reached Aran’s bedroom.

“I came back safely thanks to you. I’m sorry for making you walk so far when you’re sick,” Aran whispered.

“If you already know, don’t come to see me at night.”

“Yes,” Aran answered sullenly and caught a long stretch of rope dangling through her bedroom window. The rope clumsily made of silk seemed dangerous to look at.

“Are you thinking of climbing it up?” Enoch frowned.

“Yes. Why?”

“Ha… really…”

He didn’t have the strength to be annoyed. It was a mystery how such a child came to be born to the sly emperor and empress.

Aran blinked. She didn’t know what Enoch was sighing for.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

Enoch removed Aran’s hand which held the rope rather roughly and carried her up. Surprised, Aran tried to scream when her feet suddenly lifted. Enoch quickly covered her mouth.

“Don’t scream unless you intend to execute me.”

Aran nodded. Enoch, who confirmed that she had calmed down, took his hand off her lips. He raised Aran higher.

“Stretch out your arms, grab the window frame, and step on my shoulder.”

“Huh…? H—how can I?”

“Just step on me,” Enoch sighed. “If you hesitate and lose your balance, we’ll both get hurt.”

“What? You’re going to get hurt…?” Aran said in a tearful voice.

Enoch thought that maybe he shouldn’t have said what he was thinking.

“It won’t happen. I’ll hold you tight so you won’t get hurt. Step on me.”

At Enoch’s urging, Aran reluctantly groped the window frame and lightly put her feet on his shoulders.

“You should lean your weight on me. The day’s about to break.”

It wasn’t until he was thoroughly irritated that Aran closed her eyes tightly and gave strength to her feet. It took a while, but she was able to get up to her bedroom safely.

It was fortunate that the princess was light. If she had been six pounds heavier than she was now, Enoch would have suffered multiple fractures.

“Thank you.”

Aran waved at him from the window.

Enoch bowed mechanically and turned his back. He was completely exhausted after overdoing it in the midst of his illness. It was equally irritating to go back to that narrow road, and too tiring to deal with the princess.