CHAPTER 79………………………………………..
– Two People Bound by Fate
Chasing Julmon’s trail, Shine arrived at the Marquis of Uzkal’s estate in the Haren Empire—only to be utterly bewildered by the commotion within.
Catching one of the maids, Shine showed her a portrait of Julmon and asked if she had seen him.
“No, ma’am. If someone as striking as this had come by, there’s no way I’d forget!”
“Really?”
Disappointed by the maid’s confident answer, Shine sighed. But then the maid’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
“Wait, is there really someone who looks like this? I mean, the hair color, the ears, the face—it looks more like an imaginary portrait than a real person!”
“Imaginary portrait, my foot!”
Irritated by her response, Shine let the maid go and turned away abruptly.
“Wait! Could you maybe trade me that picture for this silver coin? I’ll treasure it forever!”
Ignoring the maid’s pleading eyes, Shine hurried off—only to collide with a passing carriage that happened to be carrying Lea.
Of course, she couldn’t tell Lea everything that had happened. She couldn’t admit that Julmon had come to Haren to investigate Lea.
“What a pleasant surprise, meeting a familiar face in a foreign land! Where are you headed, Your Majesty?”
“Ah, I’m on my way to visit my friend, Count Stone.”
“Really? Perfect! Let me come along.”
“Pardon? Princess Shine, you wish to meet Robby?”
✦✦✦
When I (Lea) ran into Princess Shine in front of the Marquis of Uzkal’s estate, I was shocked. She said she had come to Haren chasing her knight and fiancé, Julmon—but the way she avoided details made it clear they’d fought.
Knowing Shine’s temperament, that wasn’t surprising. But for Julmon, who usually tolerated her whims so calmly, to come to Haren without a word—it must have been quite the argument.
To make things trickier, she asked to accompany me to Count Stone’s manor. Honestly, that put me in an awkward spot—I wasn’t visiting for leisure, but to heal my teacher.
After some thought, I decided to be honest.
“I’m going to the Stone estate because someone there was injured. It’s not a social visit, so bringing another guest might be difficult.”
“That’s all right. I won’t stay long. I just wanted to apologize to Viscount Stone.”
“Apologize?”
“Yes. Remember at Fritan Castle? I was terribly rude—I mistook him for Your Majesty’s lover.”
“Ah!!”
“I never got the chance to apologize to him. I want to put that guilt to rest.”
I hadn’t expected her to still feel bad about that. Her willingness to own up to her mistake, even after all this time, actually made me like her a bit.
“Very well. Then let’s go together.”
“Thank you, Queen Lea.”
When I signaled the coachman, the carriage started moving again. Then I realized something odd.
“Princess Shine, if you came chasing Sir Julmon, why were you at the Marquis of Uzkal’s estate? He wouldn’t be anywhere near there.”
“Ah…!”
For a brief moment, Shine’s eyes flickered uneasily—or was I imagining it? She then laughed loudly.
“That was the Marquis of Uzkal’s estate? Isn’t that your family’s house, Your Majesty?”
“You didn’t know?”
“Of course not! I was just sightseeing through the capital, passing a few noble estates. That one looked so busy—like they were moving—so I stopped to take a look.”
“I see.”
I sighed softly. It wasn’t a move—it was a seizure of property. It seemed the Marquis had gotten himself into serious trouble this time.
The carriage grew quiet for a while.
“The Stone estate’s ahead, Your Majesty. We’re almost there.”
“Thank you, Millie.”
I straightened my clothes and put on my hat.
“I’ll change my appearance a bit too. It’s better not to look too much like a demon here.”
As Shine murmured an incantation, her platinum hair began to ripple and change—like crimson paint being poured over it. Her pointed ears softened, her sharp eyes relaxed.
Even after seeing it before, her transformation magic was mesmerizing.
“I’m so envious. You can change your appearance anytime?”
“Yes, but I can only maintain it for about half an hour.”
“That’s a pity.”
“Isn’t it?”
We exchanged a small smile just as the carriage came to a halt.
“Welcome, Lady Lea—ah, I mean, Your Majesty the Queen!”
Hans, the Stone family’s butler, greeted us warmly. I smiled and hurried inside.
“How have you been, Hans? Where’s the Count?”
“The Count is out at the moment. You arrived earlier than expected.”
“I was worried about my teacher, so I came as quickly as I could.”
“Master Robby asked that you be taken directly to Sir Palet’s room.”
As Hans led us upstairs, he paused briefly when he noticed Shine’s hooded figure.
“And this lady is…?”
“She’s traveling with me. She knows Robby as well and wanted to greet him.”
“I see. This way, please.”
Having watched Robby grow up, Hans seemed surprised that he had a noble acquaintance he didn’t know about—but he said nothing further.
Teacher, it’s Lea. Please hold on a bit longer.
Following Hans, my steps quickened.
He led us to a small, secluded room on the third floor—quiet and well-suited for a patient. Robby must’ve chosen it carefully.
Hans went in first to announce us.
“Lea’s already here?”
I heard Robby’s surprised voice. Well, we had rushed all the way here.
Moments later, he opened the door, ushering us inside. The room was simple but neat.
My teacher lay on the bed as if asleep, while Robby stood beside him, pale and exhausted, holding a wet cloth.
When our eyes met, Robby forced a small, awkward smile.
“Welcome. Was the journey hard?”
“I’m fine. What happened to him? Who did this?”
Robby hesitated, lowering his head.
“…I don’t know. I brought him here as soon as I found him.”
“And the doctor?”
“He said the muscles and tendons in his limbs are destroyed, and since he’s still unconscious, it’s likely his brain was injured too…”
Robby’s face crumpled, barely holding back tears.
I quietly approached my teacher. Could I really bring him back?
I had healed wounds, frostbite, fevers—but never someone in a coma. Still, if I gave up, my teacher might never wake. I had to try.
Taking off my coat and handing it to Millie, I uncovered him completely to assess his condition.
“I’ll do my best. Oh—please make sure Sir Freddy and Princess Shine have somewhere to rest while I work.”
“Princess Shine?”
Robby blinked, confused. Then Shine, who had been standing silently by Millie, removed her hood—revealing her true form once again.
“It’s been a while, Viscount Stone.”
“You—why are you here…?”
Recognizing her, Robby frowned, clearly remembering unpleasant things.
“We ran into each other by chance. She said she had something to tell you.”
I explained in her stead. Robby looked displeased, but composed himself.
“While you treat the master, we’ll wait in the study next door. Call if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Robby.”
Once they left, I began gathering my healing energy.
Instead of forcing it into my fingertips, I did as Foyna taught—rolling it slowly inside my body, letting it expand in waves.
“Wow, Your Majesty!”
Millie gasped as the radiant energy swirled around me, far greater than anything I’d produced before.
I looked down at my sleeping teacher with all my heart.
Please hold on, Master.
✦✦✦
Leaving the room, Robby led Shine and Freddy toward the study—but Freddy stopped at the door.
“I’ll stand guard here. Princess Shine, please go with the Viscount.”
Seeing Freddy’s firm stance, Robby didn’t argue and continued on with Shine.
“So,” he said, “what did you want to tell me?”
“I came to apologize. I was foolish to spread that rumor—that you were Queen Lea’s lover.”
Despite her apology, Robby’s expression remained grim.
“You should apologize to Lea, not me. Honestly, I can’t understand her. How can she treat so kindly the woman who spent the night with her husband?”
“Ah!”
Shine gave an awkward laugh.
“That was a lie. I never actually slept with King Mikrok. Queen Lea already knows—and I’ve apologized to her too.”
“…Truly?”
Robby still looked doubtful. She nodded earnestly.
“I was blinded by desire back then. But once I fell in love for real, I realized—you shouldn’t interfere with people bound by fate.”
“People bound by fate?”
“King Mikrok and Queen Lea. I’ve never seen two people so completely devoted to one another. If that’s not fate, what is?”
Robby’s eyes darkened.
“You mean… King Mikrok truly loves Lea?”
“Of course. His helpless infatuation is the talk of the entire northern realm.”
Shine shook her head with a knowing smile, but Robby’s expression only grew more serious.
As if piecing together something grim, he murmured to himself:
“So Millie was right… Then her plan might fail after all.”
“…What plan?”
Shine blinked, not understanding. Robby quickly straightened.
“It’s nothing. Your apology is accepted, Princess Shine.”
“Good. Once Queen Lea finishes her healing, I’ll say my farewells and leave.”
“…You may want to stay another day or two. I might need your help.”
His mind racing, Robby’s eyes gleamed sharply.
