Chapter 18
Several maids stood nearby alongside my nanny to assist with my bath.
Feeling self-conscious, I submerged myself in the water up to my neck, trying to hide the marks scattered across my flushed skin. It was something that happened every day, but that didn’t make it any less embarrassing.
Still, if there was one thing to be thankful for, it was that I always woke up in the morning with my body already washed clean.
I remembered, just once, regaining consciousness while he was holding me in the bath. That memory alone made it clear who had done it.
After washing and dressing, I stepped outside for a slow walk. I always ended up going to the same places. Even so, just moving a little and feeling the sunlight for a brief moment felt far more productive than lying still indoors.
I was walking aimlessly when I happened to find myself near Princess Isabella’s quarters. I came to a stop and quietly gazed at the princess’s residence.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
My nanny, who had been following me, called out softly.
“Nanny.”
At my response, she quickly approached me.
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness?”
“Did the princess have a favorite flower?”
The flowers I’d seen in her room yesterday suddenly came to mind.
“A flower? Oh yes, that’s right. I remember hearing something about that when she stayed here. I believe she was especially fond of a flower called Smeronia. I’m pretty sure I mentioned it before. Don’t you remember?”
“What?”
Caught off guard, my voice came out louder than I intended.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
“Oh, you told me about that already? I must have forgotten. My mind’s been all over the place lately. So, Smeronia, you said?”
I quickly covered for myself.
‘Idiot.’
Normally, I’d have tried to recall first. But today, my body was so exhausted that the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind leading to this slip-up.
“Yes. Smeronia has purple petals clustered in a round shape, and it gives off a very strong fragrance. But it’s extremely rare, so most people never see one in their lifetime.”
Thankfully, my quick excuse seemed to work. The nanny answered without suspicion.
‘Phew.’
I quietly sighed in relief and pressed a hand to my chest.
A purple flower with clustered petals… That matched what I’d seen in the princess’s room yesterday. If it’s so rare that few people ever get to see it, who could’ve placed it there?
“I’m going to step inside for a moment.”
“Pardon? Then I’ll…”
“No, it’s fine. I just want to be alone for a bit. I’ll be back soon, so please wait here.”
Even though I’d smoothed things over, I needed a moment to calm my pounding heart.
“Alright. Please be careful.”
“I will.”
Flashing a reassuring smile at the nanny, I stepped into the princess’s residence.
Lost in thought, I walked slowly and soon found myself near the staircase that led to her room.
The princess’s chambers were on the second floor. Since I was already here, I decided to go up and take another look at that room.
But as I reached the second floor and the room came into view from a distance, I spotted someone leaving it. Instinctively, I ducked behind a nearby column.
I wasn’t sure why, but I had the distinct feeling I shouldn’t let that person see me. Peeking out slightly to check their face, I was startled to see someone familiar.
It was Allen Eustione whom I’d seen just last night at dinner.
‘Allen Eustione?’
What is he doing here?
A dozen thoughts and suspicions began racing through my mind.
‘No, this is bad…’
I heard footsteps approaching, steadily getting closer.
Figuring out why he’d come from the princess’s room could wait. For now, I had to make sure he didn’t realize I’d seen him. But it was already too late to make a clean escape.
I pressed myself tightly against the column, making myself as small as possible.
Please…
Please just walk past me without noticing…
I held my breath, focusing intently on the sound of his footsteps.
But to my dismay, they came to an abrupt stop right in front of me.
‘…Ah.’
I’d been discovered.
Raising my head, I looked up at the man standing before me. The sharpness in his eyes swept over me instantly, but then realizing who I was, he looked surprised and quickly dropped to one knee.
“Your Imperial Highness.”
“So it was the captain of the Royal Guard.”
I responded as if I had never been hiding in the first place.
‘Why did I even bother?’
Despite trying so hard to hide, even holding my breath, I ended up making a fool of myself.
I straightened up and pushed aside the awkwardness.
Now that I thought about it, it was foolish to think I could hide my presence from Allen, the Emperor’s chief guard. He was the only person Calix ever trusted to watch his back on the battlefield.
Stories of their campaigns together since boyhood were spoken of like legends, even beyond the empire’s borders.
“Please, rise.”
Allen remained kneeling until I gave him permission, then slowly stood. Even then, he didn’t lift his head to meet my gaze.
But he was at least a head and a half taller than I was, so even with his head bowed, our eyes kept meeting.
“What brings you here… if I may ask?”
It was a question I should’ve been asking him. But since he spoke first, I hesitated for a moment before replying.
“Didn’t you hear that I lived here for quite some time?”
“…Yes, I did.”
“I was simply curious how the place had changed. But…”
I trailed off, staring directly at him.
“What brings you here, Captain?”
I threw his question right back at him.
I clearly saw his shoulders tense at the question. A brief silence settled between us. I waited patiently until he finally spoke.
“I also lived here once.”
“What? You did?”
That was news to me and completely unexpected. I couldn’t help but raise my voice in surprise.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Allen answered in an even tone, unaffected by my reaction.
“I see. I didn’t know.”
“It’s not something you needed to know, so please don’t trouble yourself over it.”
He was right. There was no reason for me to know, and it wasn’t my business.
Another awkward silence hung in the air.
Just as I was about to say something to break it, Allen lifted his head.
“If you have no further business here, I’ll escort you back to the palace.”
“Ah, well…”
I hesitated.
The reason I’d come here required me to go past him and into the princess’s room. But then the image of Allen stepping out of that very room flashed through my mind.
And in that moment, I realized I didn’t need to go in to confirm what I wanted to know.
Still, it wasn’t as though I could just return to the palace with him. If I accepted his escort, word would inevitably reach Calix. And once it did, his reaction would be all too predictable.
‘I can’t let what happened last night repeat itself.’
“No, it’s fine. I just had a few things to do here. I have attendants waiting outside, so I appreciate the offer, but I’ll decline your escort today.”
I had no particular destination in mind, but I chose words he’d find reasonable.
“…Understood. Then I’ll take my leave.”
He gave a simple, respectful answer and began to turn away.
“Ah, wait!”
I called out just as he was about to leave.
“I heard you’ll be heading south soon. Please stay safe.”
At those words of concern, his expression shifted slightly.
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
He gave a small smile in reply, and his striking face seemed to glow in the sunlight streaming through the windows.
After Allen left, I immediately entered the princess’s room.
‘Just as I thought.’
On the small bedside table stood a vase filled with purple flowers.
Yesterday, there had only been one. But now, it was clearly a bouquet, many blossoms clustered in the glass vase.
I stood in silence, staring at the Smeronia, deep in thought.
