AWLC | Chapter 003

Episode 3

As Asha boarded the carriage meekly, like a mouse before a cat, Cedric couldn’t tear his eyes away from the carriage shrinking into a dot in the distance.

He had arrived at the lavender garden earlier than the appointed time, leisurely strolling through it.

While passing the time calmly, he glanced at the garden’s entrance and saw a couple engaged in what seemed like a cozy date.

Though he could only see the woman’s back, her petite and delicate frame matched the typical image he had vaguely pictured of a woman from the capital. The man, on the other hand, was a face Cedric knew well.

‘His Highness, Crown Prince Alesto? What a coincidence.’

He was the benefactor who had provided considerable funds and troops when Cedric was subduing pirates in the Dalbert territory.

Until now, Cedric had never met him in person, only knowing him through portraits.

The support had come in the crown prince’s name, but he hadn’t personally made an appearance.

Still, he was a benefactor and someone Cedric was glad to see.

‘I’d like to go greet him, but would that be intrusive? Hmm.’

As he hesitated, the woman slightly turned, revealing her fair face.

When their eyes met perfectly, Cedric froze in place.

It was as if time itself had stopped.

‘Beautiful…’

And holy.

Her fluttering hair was as soft as a fledgling’s feathers, her movements like those of a fairy.

Even the hem of her dress disappearing into the carriage was lovely.

Cedric’s frozen time began to flow again only after she boarded the carriage and left for good.

Had he been holding his breath without realizing it?

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he watched the carriage grow smaller.

Were all women in the capital this lovely?

With newfound anticipation, he waited for Miss Asha of House Herman.

But even as the red sunset faded, she never appeared.

* * *

Asha racked her small brain.

How could she get out of this carriage?

If they reached the imperial palace like this, she might truly lose any chance to escape.

Then, a brilliant excuse flashed into her mind.

She cautiously opened her mouth.

“Um, it just occurred to me, but I think my family will worry if I go like this.”

Of course, to Alesto, her concerns were irrelevant.

“I’ll ensure there’s nothing for you to worry about, Miss Asha.”

Asha inhaled sharply.

Did “ensure” mean he’d take care of her family in some drastic way?

They might be her first family in this world, but they were still her family!

Not daring to ask directly, she circled around for another escape route.

“There’s something important at home.”

“I’ll have it brought tomorrow.”

“It’s something I hid carefully in my room.”

“Not a single piece of paper in your room will be missed. Don’t worry.”

“Well… how reliable.”

After just two exchanges, Asha ran out of things to say.

She had never been particularly quick-witted or eloquent to begin with.

Meanwhile, Alesto, the crown prince who had spent nearly his entire life among sly opportunists in the imperial palace, found the saintess intriguing.

How could someone’s thoughts be so transparent?

‘She wants to escape.’

He had no intention of letting her go, but he also couldn’t keep her trembling like a cornered mouse.

She seemed concerned about her family earlier—should he use them?

He shook his head inwardly.

Intimidation and threats weren’t a good approach.

Since she could turn back time, she might rewind and disappear to some remote place if pushed too far.

For now, the best strategy was to make her willingly abandon the desire to escape.

Better yet, make her want to stay by his side.

‘In that case…’

Grrrr.

Following the sudden sound, he shifted his gaze and saw the saintess’s face turn bright red as she let out a fake cough.

“Ahem! Ahem…”

She clearly wanted to hide the sound of her growling stomach, but once it started, it wouldn’t stop.

“Um, I’m hungry…”

She gave an awkward smile, her face now so red it looked ready to burst.

Alesto immediately stopped the carriage.

It was still over thirty minutes to the palace, so it would be better to get her something to eat here.

The carriage stopped at the edge of a shopping district, and he led the saintess to a restaurant he occasionally visited, The Lion’s Table.

The corners of his lips curved subtly upward.

Asha pretended not to notice his expression.

To her great frustration, she hadn’t eaten properly all day.

Hunger was something she was used to.

In Korea, and even as Asha, her environment had never allowed her to eat whenever she was hungry.

‘The orphanage and the factory had strict schedules, and even if the portions were small, you couldn’t just grab a snack. The count’s household was especially rigid about meals.’

In short, she had neither time, money, nor leisure.

‘All I had this morning were a few biscuits, right?’

It was already well past lunchtime, heading toward evening.

The fragrant bread and milk from the charity event kept lingering in her mind.

Though she admitted her hunger due to the thunderous growling, she hadn’t expected an immediate meal.

She had only hoped for some bread and milk to tide her over before bed.

But then.

Alesto stopped the carriage and brought her to a proper restaurant?

He opened the menu and placed it in front of her for easy viewing, asking, “What do you like?”

Humans are fickle creatures, and Asha was especially simple among them.

The bread and milk vanished from her mind in an instant.

“Meat.”

* * *

While waiting for the food, wine was served.

Following Alesto’s lead, Asha clumsily held the thin stem of the wine glass, rolling it awkwardly before speaking.

“Um, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Why do you keep speaking politely to me? …Your Highness.”

This was a hierarchical society where status, not age, determined who was superior or inferior.

He was the crown prince, second only to the emperor and empress.

So why was he using polite speech with someone as lowly as the daughter of a mere count?

The answer came immediately.

“Because I see you as a romantic interest, Miss Asha.”

Cough.

Caught off guard by his blunt yet striking response, Asha choked on her wine.

As she hurriedly reached for water, Alesto pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, finishing his thought.

“Didn’t you say your fantasy was to be taken and loved by a handsome man? I find you appealing, Miss Asha. If this relationship deepens, you’ll become someone precious to me, so I have no choice but to speak politely.”

His response was flawless, the epitome of a courteous gentleman’s sweet words.

So why did a chill run down her spine?

Was it the cold air?

Was it the coolness in his voice?

No.

The answer was clear.

It was because the person saying these sweet words was a budding tyrant.

It was worth remembering that in The Saintess’s Life of Confinement, there were hardly any sane characters.

One of them was this very crown prince.

And the default premise of the original novel was confinement.

‘Wait, hold on.’

This wasn’t reality, was it?

The moment she remembered this was a novel’s world, a sense of crisis naturally arose.

Could it be?

All she wanted was to live comfortably, but was she now facing a plot where a villain and a tyrant became obsessed with her for no reason?

‘No way… surely not.’

As Asha quietly ate, sensing an ominous feeling, Alesto was closely observing her ever-changing expressions.

Saying he saw her as a romantic interest was his calculated method of “keeping the saintess close.”

He wasn’t sure if he could genuinely love her, but that wasn’t the point.

The goal was to sway the saintess’s heart.

He was willing to pursue a real relationship, even marriage if necessary.

Her ability to turn back time was worth that much.