Chapter 20
“How do you get out every time?”
It was the first time he had asked her a question since their secret meetings began. Daphne, surprised, replied instinctively,
“…It’s a secret.”
Johannes raised an eyebrow slightly, but he didn’t seem displeased. Rather, if she had excitedly revealed the ‘secret,’ he would have sighed deeply at her foolishness. He was that kind of man. Daphne knew him that well now. And surprisingly, Johannes’s questions didn’t end there.
“You can sneak out of the castle, so why don’t you run away?”
Daphne hesitated for a moment, surprised and hesitant to answer. In the meantime, he abruptly retracted his question.
“No, don’t answer.”
Daphne stared at him, bewildered by his erratic behavior. Come to think of it, he was quite different today than he had been so far. She could guess why.
‘He seems quite bothered by the herbs.’
At the same time, the way he desperately put on a brave face was almost pitiful. Thinking that, Daphne didn’t answer, as he wished. Instead, she asked,
“How old is Leopold?”
He flinched visibly, as if taken aback by the unexpected question. But that was all; there was no answer. Of course, Daphne didn’t expect him to answer. She was about to assume he would ignore her question as usual, when,
“…He’ll be thirteen soon.”
Daphne’s eyes widened again, and she looked back at him. Their gazes met—hers, incredulous, and his, deeply perplexed. Daphne felt somehow awkward but also a sense of anticipation that she might finally have a proper conversation with him. So she spoke,
“He crossed the ocean at such a young age. That’s amazing.”
His expression turned subtle. It seemed a little sad, though it was hard to believe. Daphne quickly changed the subject.
“So, what I mean to say is…. He’s about the same age as Thisbene.”
“…….”
“Oh, Thisbene is my younger sister. She’s very frail, so everyone was worried, but she made it to thirteen. She’s a very pretty child. Prettier than…”
…I shouldn’t say prettier than me. Daphne stopped mid-sentence. Then she quickly glanced at Johannes. He didn’t seem bothered or annoyed.
‘What is going on?’
The effect of the herbs was truly remarkable. The shame she felt when he discovered her secret no longer mattered. With a pounding heart, Daphne subtly continued the conversation.
“…You seem very close to your brother. I am, too.”
Johannes’s brow furrowed slightly. Had she been too friendly? Daphne became nervous with every subtle reaction of his and gulped unconsciously. And Johannes only looked away, not showing any signs of complete rejection. Daphne felt a little more courageous.
“…Of course, at first, I didn’t feel particularly responsible. But Thisbene is the last thing Sione asked of me. Sione is my older sister, the one I mentioned before, who got married.”
After Sione got married, Daphne, having lost her support, quickly grew weary. Depressing thoughts that life had no meaning frequently visited her. She spent more and more time standing at the high window, staring at the ground. And each time, it was the promise with Sione and Thisbene’s existence that held her back.
Why can’t I die as I please? She resented her sister’s voice and her sister’s existence, but the next day, when she came out of her depression and regained her senses, she felt indescribably grateful.
Thus, Daphne lived, thanks to Thisbene, time and time again. And then she realized that she could only live if Thisbene lived. It was around that time that she vowed to protect this child, no matter what.
“…Even I, who was nothing, finally had a reason to live.”
Daphne murmured softly and suddenly looked up. Johannes wasn’t looking at her, but Daphne was certain he was listening. She hesitated for a moment whether to say the next words, but a feeling that it would be alright came over her.
“That’s why I can’t run away and leave Thisbene.”
Johannes realized that it was the answer to ‘why don’t you run away?’ His face fell as he learned one more thing about the enemy princess, something he hadn’t wanted to know. Daphne couldn’t help but smile at that moment.
What are you doing to me? Johannes started glaring at her with a frightening look. Daphne knew she should stop here for today. She quietly moved a few steps away and pretended to look for the dagger again. She could feel his gaze following her, as if he was quite annoyed. Crouching down in the grass that tickled her ankles, Daphne pulled her lip between her teeth to suppress her laughter.
There was no further conversation after that. Nevertheless, time flew by.
Daphne thought it was probably because even just his presence behind her made dozens of emotions surge through her in the blink of an eye. She lifted her chin and looked around with a wistful gaze as the surroundings were dyed in a bluish light. Perhaps because it was the first day he had asked her a question, she felt particularly sad that their time was ending.
Until then, Daphne hadn’t imagined that anything more special would happen to her today. Of course, for her, nothing about him was ordinary—the way he tilted his stiff neck back, rubbed his tired eyes, or furrowed his beautiful brow at her.
Anyway, Daphne thought he would pass her by silently as usual and return to the barracks on the beach. But surprisingly, he stopped as he passed by and held out his hand. Daphne instinctively took his hand and stood up.
“Leopold crossed the ocean with me when he was four.”
Daphne, fiddling with her hand as if it felt hot from the brief contact, reacted a beat late.
“…What?”
“That was my best option.”
“Ah….”
“Even if it wasn’t the ocean, but a mountain range, I would have crossed it with Leopold.”
Johannes told Daphne a story she hadn’t asked for. A piece of his past, no less. Daphne was so surprised that she didn’t have time to think about his intentions. She could only stare blankly as he disappeared between the densely grown trees. After a while, Daphne came to her senses and exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand,
“Two days from now, same time.”
All that returned was the echo of her own voice. On her way back to the castle, Daphne pondered the words he had murmured at the end. And after safely returning to the castle, she watched Thisbene sleeping. Then, realization dawned on her suddenly.
Johannes would have crossed the mountain range, even carrying four-year-old Leopold on his back, if he had to.
『…….』
『…Daphne? When did you get back….』
Thisbene, who had just woken up, spotted Daphne and murmured as if still in a dream.
『Thisbene.』
『Yes?』
『I don’t want to die like my sisters.』
『…What?』
Thisbene, who had been responding half-asleep, opened her eyes wide. What was going on? She hurriedly sat up and checked Daphne’s expression. Daphne’s face was contorted as if she was about to cry.
『I don’t want to die with my Achilles tendons cut, bruises and fractures all over my body, and a broken neck.』
『Daphne….』
『I don’t want to wait for that future like a fool. But….』
As she spoke the words aloud, one by one, her feelings became clearer. Daphne, who had been speaking breathlessly, paused for a moment and gripped Thisbene’s hand tightly.
『I don’t want to run away and leave you alone.』
Daphne said in a slightly trembling voice, her eyes shining translucently in the darkness. Thisbene stared blankly, her lips parted.
『I can’t promise you a normal life. We might have to live in hiding for the rest of our lives. We might have to live a very miserable life, cold and hungry. We might even die wandering on the road before we get that far. The outside world is more cruel than you can imagine. But, Thisbene.』
Once she started, she couldn’t stop. Although she was talking about a harsh future, the tremor in her voice gradually disappeared as she found what she truly wanted.
『Will you leave this place with me?』
Her desires, pouring out unhindered, felt both unfamiliar and familiar. It felt like the vague images she had drawn were taking concrete form and unfolding before her eyes.
Of course, she wasn’t him, but Daphne felt as if she could achieve anything.
Daphne, her face flushed, grabbed Thisbene’s cheeks.
『I want to.』
Thisbene blinked her large eyes several times. She wondered if she was dreaming. Daphne’s pink cheeks and violet eyes were dazzling. It had been a long time since she had seen her like this.
Yrv1011
So good! Thank you for translating! Awesome job!!!