Chapter 31.
A Late-Night Visitor
Just as William turned his back, trying to ignore the sight of Millie and Ralph together, Millie came running up to him, breathless.
Though she was panting as if her breath was caught in her throat, she pressed a blue scarf tightly into William’s hand, as if it were the most important thing in the world.
“You said a perfect knight like you wouldn’t need something like this… but still, it’s better than nothing.”
William fought the ticklish flutter in his chest and the upward tug at the corners of his lips. But then—
“Don’t get hurt. Come back safe.”
Her bright smile completely disarmed him.
In a moment of impulse, William stretched out his arms and pulled her into a sudden hug.
“Sir… William?”
Startled by her voice, William quickly came to his senses and pushed her away from him.
“You… take care of yourself, too.”
Blushing from his ears to his neck, he hurried back to his place and mounted Bibi.
As the trumpet signaling departure rang out, the knights all raised their spears high. The colorful scarves tied to the tips fluttered like banners of victory.
William’s heart swelled with excitement, about to burst, and he looked fondly at the blue scarf tied to the end of his own spear.
But when he glanced sideways at Ralph and Freddy’s spears, he pursed his lips tightly.
Both of them had white scarves fluttering from their spear tips.
‘No way… did Millie give one to them too?’
His soaring excitement collapsed like a punctured balloon. It felt like his heart was sinking straight through the floor.
But he soon straightened his spear.
‘It doesn’t matter. Even if she’s weighing the three of us, I just have to tip the scale in my favor!’
Determined, a fierce glint radiated from William’s eyes—almost murderous in intensity.
The other knights, unaware of what sparked it, felt an overwhelming sense of confidence seeing the fire in their commander’s eyes.
‘With Prince Mikrok and Commander William leading us, we’ll surely return victorious again!’
Unintentionally, William’s burning resolve quickly spread to every knight’s heart.
“Hyah!”
As Bloodstorm, carrying Mikrok, charged ahead, William and his hundred knights followed in formation.
The square in front of the Pritan castle was emptied in an instant.
✦✦✦
“Your Majesty, your cheeks are red with frost. You’ll catch frostbite if you stay out here any longer.”
Millie looked at me with concern as I stood atop the tallest central tower of Pritan Castle.
When Mik and the knights left the square, I had rushed up here, wanting to catch even just a glimpse of their retreating figures.
Last time, I had also climbed this tower to watch the knights return from their monster subjugation, and I’d been the first to spot their triumphant return.
But this time was different—it was the dead of night.
Even the moon was hidden behind heavy clouds, and by the time we reached the top, Mik and the knights had already vanished into the darkness.
I held my breath, trying to catch the sound of hooves, but even that had been swallowed by the night. A nameless anxiety made me tremble.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? I wasn’t this nervous last time. Why do I feel so uneasy this time?”
“Because your feelings for each other have deepened, I think.”
Millie’s gentle observation startled me—I hadn’t even realized it myself.
The last time Mik had departed right after our first night together, I was mostly relieved, thinking that rumors of my disgrace at the Marquisate of Uzkal wouldn’t spread.
But now…
“His Highness Mikrok will return safely this time, too. Let’s believe that together.”
“You’re right.”
Though I agreed with her, my eyes were still fixed on the empty sky.
“Huh? Your Majesty, someone is arriving at the castle.”
At this hour?
Puzzled, I looked down and saw a carriage approaching the castle gate.
Curious, I watched as it passed through the gates and stopped in front of the main palace.
As it drew closer, I saw a golden eagle with outstretched wings etched into the roof.
‘That’s the crest of the Harlan Imperial Family.’
The carriage door opened, and two people stepped out. A strong gust of wind blew the hat off the man in the back, revealing soft blond hair.
“Robby…?”
“Oh my, it really is Young Master Robby! He said he was coming—I guess he just arrived!”
Millie squealed in excitement, bouncing on her toes.
“Millie, go meet him and escort him to the Queen’s Reception Room. I’ll come down shortly.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
“Go on ahead. Oh, and tell Colin to warm up the reception room a little more. Robby came from Harlan, so Pritan’s cold must be harsh on him.”
“Of course, Your Majesty!”
Millie gave a bright smile before hurrying down the tower.
Left alone, I looked up at the sky once more. Just then, the full moon peeked out from behind the clouds.
Please, light the path of Mik and his knights as they ride through the night.
Let them all return unharmed, not a single hair harmed, under the blessing of the goddess Bestea.
I, who had never believed in gods, now prayed desperately, clutching to faith like a sinner seeking redemption.
✦✦✦
“Millie, are you sure you told Lea I was here?”
Robby shot up from his seat in the Queen’s Reception Room, clearly losing patience.
“Of course! Her Majesty personally instructed me to bring you here and to make sure the room was extra warm.”
“Then why isn’t she coming?”
As he paced restlessly between the sofa and the door, Millie took a closer look at him.
Even after several months, he was still very much her type—his tailored clothes showed off his lean, graceful frame. Compared to the rugged, broad-shouldered men of Pritan, he seemed a bit too delicate.
But strangely, his usually warm, honey-colored eyes now felt a little cold.
And the way he snapped about Lea not arriving quickly—it gave off the impression of a pampered noble heir who’d grown up too sheltered.
Millie found his edgy behavior unfamiliar, and being with him felt uncomfortable.
“I’ll go and bring her myself. Please wait just a little longer.”
Just as Millie turned to leave, the door to the reception room opened.
“Robby, is it really you?”
Lea, now dressed in casual clothes instead of her earlier formal wear, entered the room.
The moment Robby saw her rush toward him, his tense expression melted.
Seeing her childhood friend again, Lea was overcome with emotion and reached out to him, eyes glistening.
Robby took her hand and kissed the back of it lightly.
“Lea…”
He seemed equally moved, unable to speak further.
“I was so surprised by your letter. What made you come all the way to Pritan? Nothing bad happened, right?”
For a moment, Robby looked a bit awkward, lowering his head. But then he smiled and said:
“Don’t you remember the last time we said goodbye? You shoved me out of the second-story window. I came to demand compensation.”
“Oh, right!! Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
Suddenly reminded of that night, Lea was filled with guilt and hurried to examine him from head to toe.
“You’re only asking now? I was fine because I’m used to climbing in and out of your window thousands of times. Anyone else would’ve broken their neck.”
“Oh, please~ If your neck was going to break from that, it would’ve broken a long time ago.”
Robby laughed at her cheeky response, and Lea giggled in return.
“You haven’t changed. I’m glad.”
The easy banter made them feel like they were kids again.
After being dragged to Pritan by Mikrok, Lea had completely forgotten about Robby. Now, she was just grateful and happy he had come all this way to see her.
“Tired?”
“A bit.”
“It’s late, so get some rest for now. We’ll talk tomorrow. Millie, ask Colin to prepare a guest room in the West Palace for Robby.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After Millie hurried out, Lea looked at Robby with playful eyes.
“How’s the Earl of Stone doing?”
“He’s been thinking about leaving the capital to return to his territory, but now he’s cozying back up to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Still the same, that ambitious Earl.”
She chuckled, remembering how the earl had tried to set Robby up with Hailey. Robby had always been a little… scared of her.
Thinking of that made her smile faintly, but then she asked the one question she’d been avoiding—about the family she had once hated and still wondered about.
“How’s the Marquisate of Uzkal? Nothing happened?”
“…Actually, Hailey took your place and became the empress.”
“What?!”
Lea was stunned by the unexpected news.
‘After all those years of flirting with noble bachelors, Hailey married the old and temperamental emperor?! Can she even survive in the imperial court?’
Hailey had been thrilled when Lea had been married off to the “bloodthirsty monster of Pritan,” but Lea didn’t find her misfortune satisfying in the slightest.
“I guess the Marchioness must’ve been devastated.”
Robby nodded in agreement, then looked at Lea carefully and asked:
“What about you? Is the King of Pritan treating you well?”
“Huh? O-of course.”
When she lowered her head slightly, Robby gently lifted her chin and looked her in the eye. He leaned closer and whispered:
“You don’t have to lie to me, Lea. A war maniac who ran off to battle right after your wedding—how well could he be treating you?”
She had just felt too embarrassed to talk about her relationship with Mikrok, but it seemed Robby had misunderstood her silence.
“Robby. Love isn’t proportional to time spent together.”
Not knowing how to explain the mysterious spark between men and women to someone who had never experienced it, Lea awkwardly smiled and changed the subject.
“If you’d arrived just a little earlier, you could’ve met Mik. Too bad.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t he out on a monster subjugation mission?”
Robby’s reaction was more intense than she expected.
“It ended earlier than planned, and he returned a few days ago. But something came up near the border, and he had to head out again just before you arrived.”
“I see… That’s too bad.”
But despite his words, Robby looked a little relieved. Lea noticed and tilted her head before nodding in understanding.
‘Well, I guess it’s understandable. Their first meeting wasn’t exactly pleasant. Mik looked like he wanted to kill him from the start. Really, Mik needs to work on that temper of his.’
But then again, Robby had come to her room that night planning to run away with her—no wonder Mikrok had been angry.
Lea found herself missing even Mikrok’s unreasonable outbursts. She sighed softly.
She shook her head quickly, chasing the thoughts away.
‘I have to stay cheerful and strong until he returns!’
And now, she was truly thankful that Robby had come to see her.
