Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Only when he was completely out of sight did I finally start walking, my mind still dazed.
“Your Imperial Highness!”
As I stepped outside the Princess’s Palace, I heard the nanny calling out to me. Lifting my head, which had been lowered the entire time, I looked at her.
“Your Imperial Highness…”
Her expression was filled with unmistakable concern for me. She may not have known exactly what happened inside, but it seemed she had sensed that something had gone wrong.
“Nanny, when did His Majesty come here?”
“Not long after you went inside. I told him that Your Imperial Highness was already in there.”
“Ah…”
So he had entered just after hearing I was inside the Princess’s quarters. It didn’t seem like he saw Allen and me in the room together.
Still, to be sure, I carefully recalled everything Allen and I had talked about. Thankfully, there was nothing that Calix could have misunderstood, even if he had overheard.
But judging from how furious he seemed after seeing us together…
‘If he misunderstood, shouldn’t he at least give me a chance to explain? How could he just storm off like that?’
I let out a deep sigh, remembering the icy look in his eyes.
‘I have to clear things up…’
As I had felt back in the dining hall when I ran into Allen, there was nothing good that could come from provoking Calix’s obsessive possessiveness. More importantly, if I wanted to leave this place, the best course was to follow the original story’s flow as closely as possible.
‘So I need to be more careful.’
And yet…
‘That was pretty shocking.’
I didn’t know why, but the fact that Calix had brushed past me like I didn’t exist had left me shaken. It was strange. I would soon face much colder treatment and indifference, yet I was already this affected?
‘I need to get a grip.’
It might not seem long, but I had still spent over a month with him. During that time, he had consistently treated me with kindness.
Maybe being on the receiving end of that affection for so long had gradually influenced me without realizing it.
But it was a feeling with a clear end. There was no need for my emotions to waver any further.
“Let’s head back.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
Resolving to clear up the misunderstanding once Calix returned that night, I went back to my residence to compose myself.
Because of the mood I was in, I barely touched dinner and ended up resting in my room. For the first time, I stayed up and waited for him. Sleep tugged at me, but I resisted.
After what happened earlier, I figured it wouldn’t sit well with him if I were already asleep when he came. So I organized what I wanted to say and waited patiently for his return.
But no matter how long I waited, he didn’t come.
I looked out the window, trying to gauge the time. It was already well past midnight. Based on the usual times I had been woken up by Calix, this was unusually late.
‘What’s going on?’
I had assumed he would come without question. I hadn’t even imagined a scenario where he wouldn’t.
‘Could he… not be coming?’
This was a first.
If he didn’t return and I ended up sleeping alone tonight, it would be the first time since I arrived here. Or maybe something had happened?
Anxiety began creeping in as the minutes passed with still no sign of him. Logically, I should have welcomed the chance to sleep alone if he wasn’t coming, but strangely, worry for him was what came first.
‘Well… today wasn’t a normal day.’
I tried to rationalize it. If this had been an ordinary day, I wouldn’t have been so concerned. I told myself I was only worried because of the unusual circumstances. Otherwise, I couldn’t understand why I was so restless with worry over him.
The uneasiness erased any trace of sleepiness I had left. I decided to wait a little longer. Maybe he was just caught up with work and running late.
But even after more waiting, the palace remained silent, and dawn began to approach.
What should I do?
The imperial guards would be with him, so he was surely safe. Should I just go to sleep?
Then again, I was far too restless to actually sleep. I would only end up lying in bed, wide awake with a mind full of tangled thoughts.
Having nothing else to do, I decided to lie down anyway. But, just as expected, sleep wouldn’t come. Instead, my head filled with strange and unreasonable thoughts.
Unable to take it anymore, I got out of bed and sat on the sofa, deep in thought.
‘Should I go find Calix?’
Where could he be right now?
If he truly hadn’t come because of work, he would still be in the palace wing where his office was.
‘Maybe I should just go check his office?’
If I found him there, I could return without a fuss, reassured that he was simply working late. That seemed better than lying around conjuring up useless worries.
Once I made up my mind, I rose from the sofa without hesitation. I reached for the bell cord but pulled my hand back.
‘I’ll just go alone and quietly.’
It was nearing dawn, but the sky outside was still pitch black. At this hour, everyone but the guards was fast asleep. Given my status, I should have had an attendant accompany me, but I didn’t want to disturb anyone for a quick trip.
There would be a guard stationed at the palace, and I could bring him along. And even if I went alone, it wouldn’t be a problem.
By now, I was familiar enough with the palace grounds to find my way to Calix’s office without difficulty. Grabbing a lantern, I quietly opened the door and stepped outside.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
Contrary to my expectation that no one would be there, the nanny stood quietly by the door in the darkness.
“Nanny? Why are you still here?”
I was startled as I had assumed she had long since returned to her own quarters.
“Well… since His Majesty hadn’t returned, I stayed here in case Your Imperial Highness needed anything.”
“What?”
At her words, saying she stayed to keep watch because Calix hadn’t returned, I let out a sigh, feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion.
“You’ve been here this whole time? Without sleeping?”
Her stubbornness made me a little frustrated, but at the same time, I was deeply concerned for her.
“I was going to head back once His Majesty arrived.”
“Nanny…”
I opened my mouth to say more, but my chest tightened, and I fell silent.
“Then, why are you out at this hour, Your Imperial Highness?”
She looked at the lantern and shawl in my hands and asked with a puzzled expression.
“I’m going to check on His Majesty’s office.”
“His Majesty’s office?”
“Yeah. I’m worried he might not have come because he’s buried in work. I just want to see for myself.”
“Then allow me to go and check if he’s still there.”
As she began to move, I quickly stopped her.
“No, I’ll go. If he’s really busy, I don’t want to interrupt. I just want to take a quick look.”
Honestly, if Calix really was in his office, I didn’t plan to speak with him. I just wanted to confirm it with my own eyes.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“No, I can go alone. Please, Nanny, get some rest.”
“How can I let you go alone? I can’t allow that. I’m coming with you.”
“But it’ll take at least an hour round trip. I can sleep in later, but you can’t.”
“I’m not the least bit sleepy. Even if you don’t want to take me, I still can’t let you go alone.”
“I’ll bring one of the knights. So please, just rest.”
“Even so, I won’t feel at ease. Let me come with you.”
Seeing how unexpectedly firm she was, I hesitated for a moment.
“…Alright. Let’s go together.”
I finally nodded, knowing there was no convincing her.
“Let’s go, Your Imperial Highness.”
And so, we left the Empress’s palace, relying on the lantern’s dim light to guide our way through the dark. A knight assigned to guard my palace followed us.
The path was dark, so we couldn’t move quickly. After about twenty minutes, we finally reached the building where the Emperor’s office was located.
From outside, the palace was cloaked in darkness except for one small light glowing faintly in a distant window. It must be Calix’s office.
‘So he really couldn’t come because he was working…’
Seeing the lit office window filled me with quiet relief. With my heart a little lighter, I stepped into the building.
The Chamberlain, spotting me, rushed over at once. Even from a distance, his face had looked worried and tense, but as soon as he saw me, his expression brightened, as if he had been waiting for me all along.
……
T/N: Since Ariel’s affected now, it would be difficult to leave in the future
