YWPWYLFDM 61

Chapter 61

“…What is it?”

Gerald, whose face had grown noticeably gaunt over the past few days, cracked the door just enough to peek his head out. If it wasn’t news he liked, he looked ready to slam it shut again.

“What kind of attitude is that? Do you know how much trouble your father went through to grant your request…!”

To appease Byron, he had sacrificed his favorite wine and endured endless rounds of cajoling until, at long last, he’d secured permission. Yet his son greeted the news with such a listless face.

“The guest in the annex has agreed. He said it’s fine for you to go out together with that little girl!”

“…Really, Father? You’re not lying, are you?”

Gerald eyed the Count with clear distrust.

Anyone watching would think the boy had been tricked his entire life. The Count clicked his tongue inwardly.

“Yes, you rascal. So hurry and eat. At this rate your mother will eat me alive.”

He sighed, recalling his terrifying wife shouting for divorce. If he hadn’t secured Byron’s permission, who knew what state he’d be in now? The very thought sent chills down his spine.

While Gerald finally came out of his room after days of sulking and was filling his stomach, the news of the outing reached someone else as well—Aila.

“…What did you just say, Father?”

“I hear there will be a grand festival in the capital soon. I did make a promise, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. So I said you should go out and enjoy yourself.”

When Aila blinked in disbelief, Byron put on a thoughtful air, as though he were doing her the greatest favor.

At first, she thought she’d misheard. But no—he’d really said she could go into town.

Come to think of it, he had once mentioned letting her go out. She’d heard it, yes, but it had slipped her mind entirely after learning something far more shocking afterward.

And now, all of a sudden, he was bringing it up again—on the day of a festival, no less.

Aila had never actually seen a festival before; she had only heard of them. She couldn’t even imagine what the atmosphere would be like.

If she could escape Byron’s watchful eye, just for a day, and lose herself in a joyous festival crowd—

Perhaps she could feel like an ordinary person. Even if it was only for one day.

Her curse wasn’t going to change just because she worried about it nonstop. So if she had to go anyway, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to simply enjoy it.

But the spark of anticipation inside her was quickly shattered by what Byron said next. She couldn’t stand the thought of the person she would be forced to go with.

“And you’ll be going with that boy from this house, so keep that in mind.”

Of course—it had sounded too good to be true. There was a trap, and quite the big one.

To go to the festival with Gerald, that infuriating nuisance? Aila almost suspected Byron had arranged it deliberately just to torment her.

Still, she couldn’t openly refuse. Not when Byron had so “generously” arranged something for her.

If she dared say, I don’t want to, she could already imagine how he’d snarl about her rejecting his goodwill—and how much worse her days would become.

“…I see.”

Reluctantly, Aila nodded. Yet even that didn’t please Byron.

“So, you like the idea of going out with that boy, do you?”

His tone dripped with mockery, as if to say: Of course, you’re a girl—you must enjoy going on dates with boys.

Aila bit her lip, cornered. What on earth did he want her to do?

“…No, I… As long as Father is by my side, that’s all I need. I’d be happiest if I could go with you.”

She quickly chose the words she knew would satisfy him most—the words of a girl who lived for her father alone.

And it worked. Byron gave a crooked smile, clearly pleased.

“I knew my daughter would say that. But right now… it’s a bit difficult for me to go out. You understand, don’t you, my dear?”

As he asked, he threaded his fingers through her hair.

Suppressing her revulsion, Aila forced a faint smile and nodded.

Even so, she couldn’t make sense of it. Gerald wanting to go out with her, fine. But why had Byron agreed?

He wasn’t the type to grant such a brazen request for nothing.

“I hear he’s been pestering you endlessly. He promised that if you went with him just once, he’d stop bothering you. So endure it this one time.”

And with those words, the mystery unraveled. Byron stroked her hair as he spoke.

…Well, if that’s all it takes, I can put up with him for a day.

Whether Gerald would actually keep such a promise was doubtful, but still—

Aila nodded. “I understand.”

“Wow, a ship! A real ship! Joseph, look! It’s huge!”

At a southern port of the Pelles Empire—

Prince Winfred, spotting the vessel that would carry him, pointed with sheer excitement, his voice brimming with awe.

“…Your Highness, please. This is embarrassing. I beg you, maintain your dignity.”

Beside him, his chamberlain had both hands covering his reddened face.

It wasn’t Winfred’s first time at the sea, nor his first time seeing a ship. Yet ever since he’d been told he would lead a delegation abroad, the young crown prince had been sparkling with anticipation.

“But I’ve never seen one this big! And it’s my first time leaving the country!”

True, as a child he’d spent summers at a seaside villa and taken boat rides on lakes. But this—this was nothing like that.

No matter how often his retainers reminded him this was a weighty diplomatic mission—the first he would undertake as crown prince—Winfred seemed more like a tourist setting off on holiday.

“Isn’t it exciting, Joseph? Don’t you feel it too?”

“…Well, sometimes a little excitement is acceptable, I suppose.”

Though he tried to sound stern, the chamberlain himself was quietly exhilarated. Once they reached the Kingdom of Inselkopf, the real work would begin. But until then, sailing on a luxury ship wasn’t much different from a holiday cruise.

Winfred chuckled knowingly and skipped forward toward the massive vessel, his steps light as though he were walking on clouds.

But then, in the crowd watching the prince’s procession, a familiar face caught his eye—and he froze.

“…Headmistress Eposher?”

Candice Eposher, who should have been at the Ducal House, was among the onlookers.

Just before the delegation’s departure, Winfred had finally been permitted to visit the Duke’s residence after a month-long ban. There, he had seen Noah and Ophelia—and at that time, Candice had certainly been present.

It made sense if she’d come to the port to return home, having finished caring for Ophelia until the baby’s birth.

But… Candice wouldn’t simply leave without mentioning it to him. That wasn’t like her.

“…Pardon? What did you just call me?”

“Oh—my apologies. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”

Looking closer, the resemblance was there, but the details differed. This woman’s hair was neatly cut short, unlike Candice’s long tied locks. Nor did she wear the thick glasses Candice always seemed inseparable from.

“That’s not it at all! Wow, did His Highness the Crown Prince really just speak to me? I guess having an older sister pays off!”

The woman’s reply was so unexpected that Winfred blinked.

“…Older sister?”

When he asked, baffled, she flashed a grin uncannily similar to Candice’s.

“I’m Natalia Eposher. Headmistress Candice Eposher’s younger sister.”

What were the odds?

Winfred’s eyes widened as he studied her. The resemblance was unmistakable. Different in small ways, yes, but still—clearly sisters.

“I didn’t know the Headmistress had a sister. What brings you to the Empire?”

Still flustered, he asked. Natalia smiled brightly.

“A friend of my sister’s had a baby here in the Empire. I couldn’t let her hog all the fun of seeing the baby first, so I came too! Plus, I’m delivering some gifts from the friend’s family.”

It wasn’t just their faces—Natalia’s buoyant, lively personality was a mirror of Candice’s as well.

“Ah, so you’re headed to the Duke of Weissenhafen’s household. As it happens, I just visited to see the baby myself a few days ago.”

Winfred could hardly resist bragging. He wanted to tell everyone about baby Noah. Though the child didn’t share Aila’s hair or eye color, there were traces of his sister in those tiny features—an almost magical resemblance.

Smiling at the memory, he must have looked foolishly happy, for Natalia twisted her body in envy.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see him! He must be adorable!”

And at that moment—

Two voices cut in at once.

“Your Highness, it’s nearly time to depart.”

“…Natalia, the Crown Prince must be busy. Let him go now.”

One was Joseph, urging Winfred onward. The other came from a pale, delicate-looking man with long brown hair.

“Ah—this is my husband, Austin Eposher, Your Highness. Sorry for holding you up so long.”

Natalia scratched the back of her neck apologetically. Austin, embarrassed, still offered a polite bow.

“Think nothing of it. I enjoyed our talk. Please give my regards to the Duke’s household when you visit.”

With that short yet memorable encounter, Winfred finally boarded the ship bound for the Kingdom of Inselkopf.