TBKBS 13

Chapter : 13 

Is it really that nerve-wracking to sit next to me?

Well, too bad!

I don’t want to get tangled up with Leon.

And I already told you I like you.

So relax a little, will you?

But despite my blunt words, Calix sat a seat away from me. In the end, Leon took the empty spot at my side.

Ugh, this guy… even when I set things up for him, he won’t take the chance. Really.

“Sigh….”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

Fine. Just remember this, Prince: you’re the one who sat far away. I never said I wanted to sit next to Leon.

Resigned, I tried to leave it at that. As soon as they were all seated, I leaned over and whispered to Aby beside me.

“Hey, Aby. Why didn’t you tell me the Grand Duke Leon and His Highness the Crown Prince were coming?”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you know already and just pretend not to? Every year, the crown prince and the grand duke represent the imperial family at the first performance. Lin, why are you acting coy when you’re obviously pleased?”

Aby spoke confidently, as if I were the strange one here.

Good grief.

She really has no clue about my true feelings.

It felt like there wasn’t a single person in this novel who understood my heart.

The opera held outdoors in the park during the day was quite magnificent.

Of course, I doubted the singers’ voices carried well all the way to the commoners sitting far in the back. But at least for our group—including the crown prince, seated in the best spots—the sound was strong and clear.

When Act I ended, it was intermission.

Ah… I need the bathroom.

“Aby, I need to go to the restroom.”

“Restroom? What are you saying? At an outdoor performance?”

What do you mean, what am I saying?

Are you supposed to just hold it in at outdoor events?

I stared blankly at her, unable to understand, and Aby frowned at me instead.

“You don’t mean you’re actually going to line up there, do you?”

Line up?

Still confused, I followed her gaze.

Oh my goodness!

There was a massive crowd flocking toward the bathrooms.

Apparently, they’d provided special seating for nobles, but not special restrooms.

Then… what were we supposed to do?

As if answering my unspoken question, Aby stood up and whispered.

“I’ve had my eye on a good spot near those bushes for a while now. Let’s go there.”

Bushes?

Wait… is she seriously suggesting we pee outdoors?

Unbelievable.

What noble ladies relieve themselves in the bushes?

I frowned at her, but Aby didn’t care in the least.

“But… the restroom….”

I hesitated.

Aby only looked at me strangely.

“Lin, you’re not really going to line up with commoners, are you? Look over there—see? All the nobles are heading to the bushes. No one else goes near that area anyway. The riverside thickets at Letian Park have always been used for that. Why are you acting so uptight?”

Ugh.

I’d heard Versailles gardens were littered with noble excrement—looks like this was the same thing.

But my urge was getting too strong to care about restrooms or bushes.

In the end, I followed Aby, who was already on her feet, resigning myself to the bushes.

Just as I stood—

“Kaelyn. Where are you going?”

It was Grand Duke Leon.

I wanted to say, To pee, but obviously couldn’t.

“Just stepping out for some fresh air by the river.”

Aby quickly answered for me.

“Oh… really? Then shall I come with you?”

Leon started to rise.

Come with us? Absolutely not.

This man really had no sense at all.

Thankfully, Luke, who at least had basic awareness, stopped the clueless duke before he could follow.

Wait.

While I was whispering with Aby, Calix had vanished.

I looked around and spotted him standing by the riverbank, talking with Rajiv.

So Rajiv was always by his side, huh. Must be a truly trusted aide.

Ah… but I really can’t hold it anymore.

I hurried off toward the bushes with Aby leading the way.

It was no easy feat to hold up a cumbersome skirt and relieve myself in the bushes.

Other noblewomen might be used to it, but this was my first time doing such a thing in such clothes.

I just hoped nothing got on my dress….

With great effort, I managed to finish my business cleanly and stepped out, pushing through the branches.

Huh?

Where did Aby go?

She should have been right there, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Aby?”

No answer. With no choice, I started making my way out alone.

I swear, I’m never coming to an outdoor event like this again.

The “facilities” are just awful.

I grumbled as I pushed through the bushes—

“Ahh!”

My foot slipped on something, and I rolled sideways.

Sploosh!

Before I knew it, I’d fallen straight into the Letian River.

Unlike the Kaelyn in the novel, I could swim, at least a little. I’d gone to the pool with my younger brother as a kid.

But I’d never swum in a fast-flowing river. And certainly not while wearing a dress.

And—my feet didn’t touch the bottom!

The moment I realized I couldn’t stand, all swimming techniques vanished from my mind. My body stiffened in panic.

“Mom!”

I screamed instinctively.

“Mo… m…!”

Flailing, choking on water—

“Hel… someone…!”

But the riverside was thick with brush, empty of people.

As Aby said, nobles used this area as their restroom, so no one else came near.

Ah….

I thought at the very least I’d live until twenty-four before dying again—or maybe even survive longer if I tried hard.

But no. Not even twenty-four.

Killed in a car crash in my first life, drowned in my second.

Even as I thrashed at death’s door, I pitied myself.

And then… my consciousness began to fade.

In those fading moments, I thought I saw Calix’s face appear and disappear above me.

Calix….

That was my last memory.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in my own bed at home. My father and Luke were leaning over me.

“Lin!”

Ah… so I didn’t die.

Relief washed over me.

“Father. Luke.”

“Lin! Yes, yes, Lin…!”

Father’s voice trembled, half with relief, half with emotion, as he clutched my hand tightly.

“I’m alive….”

“Of course! There’s no way my daughter could die!”

He was crying… my father was actually crying.

Seeing his tears left me with mixed feelings.

Beside him, my brother Luke said,

“My goodness! Lin, you’d better never go back to Letian Park. You’ve fallen into that river twice now….”

Ah! That’s right.

Novel-Kaelyn fell in too, and now I had as well.

Wait—Calix?

The memory of his face at the last moment flashed in my mind.

“Who saved me?”

“You don’t remember? His Highness the Crown Prince pulled you out.”

“…Ah.”

So it was Calix.

Once again, Calix.

In the novel, Kaelyn had fainted and never even knew who saved her.

Though it was Calix who caused her fall, he was also the one who rescued her—but she only ever remembered him as the cause, never as the savior.

Since everyone avoided talking about the incident afterward, all she recalled was that Grand Duke Leon came to visit her every day while she recovered.

But unlike her, I knew the truth. And here, too, it had been Calix who saved me.

“Is His Highness all right? He didn’t get hurt?”

“What would hurt him? He was just worried since you wouldn’t wake up. Saving one drowning girl isn’t enough to injure him,” Luke said.

“…Right.”

He was practically an invincible amphibious weapon. What was I even worrying about?

Not long after, Father and Luke left, saying I needed to rest.

Alone again, I thought back to Calix.

Knowing that he’d saved me, I suddenly felt a fresh surge of affection for him.

He might have hidden his feelings, but the moment he saw me drowning, he must have lost all self-control and rushed in.

But poor Calix. Just when he’d barely managed to overcome his trauma of that river, he had to see me fall in again….

Oh no. My poor male lead must have been terrified out of his mind.

I felt sorry—and grateful. I had to go see him.

With this perfect excuse to visit, I was filled with hope that our relationship might finally take a step forward.

Meanwhile, Calix was listening to a report from Sir Rel, the captain of the knights, about an international spy organization.

They’d uncovered traces of it while investigating the unrest near the border with the Dacus Empire.

As Rel spoke, Calix pressed at his temples. Suddenly, he cut him off.

“That’s enough. Continue tomorrow morning. For now, I need to be alone.”

To interrupt such an important report—!

The captain was taken aback by behavior he’d never seen from the crown prince before. But he quickly gathered his papers and left the office.

Once alone, Calix leaned back in his chair, tilting his head toward the ceiling with his eyes closed.

But soon his brow furrowed again.

The chief attendant had entered the office.

If he’d come uncalled, it meant there was another report.

“Your Highness, there is a request for audience.”

“An audience?”

Calix’s displeasure showed openly on his face.

Audiences had their set days and times. No one could simply demand to meet the crown prince whenever they pleased.

Why would his attendant break protocol?

And his current state was far from good.

“It is Lady Kaelyn Brockburke, daughter of the Duke of Brockburke, who wishes to see Your Highness.”

At that unexpected answer, Calix’s headache pounded even harder.

The very woman who triggered his migraine was here.