Chapter 6
Ah, seriously. He’s definitely a troublesome person.
“You’re really annoying…”
I said openly as I set down the tray and took out another teacup. He burst out laughing.
“…Can’t deny that.”
Bleeding and starving on top of that.
For the first time, I felt a bit sorry for him.
Having grown up learning to take care of things on my own — whether I was hurt, starving for days, or in danger — I’d become somewhat numb to it.
I’d been taught that if getting injured could endanger others, it was better to die alone.
Although I’d rarely actually faced such dire situations… that’s just how it was.
But others wouldn’t be like that.
Especially not Prince Valery, who probably never had to starve unless he chose to.
I often forget that my nerves are wired a little differently from ordinary people’s.
“Well, wait a moment.”
There should still be leftover ingredients in the food storage — things Mr. Schwalt used for cooking.
I grabbed some dried vegetables and sausages preserved hard enough to break teeth, set aside for the harsh winter. I also took out some milk and bread Mr. Schwalt had brought this time.
I could feel his eyes staring intently at me from behind, but I ignored it and focused on what I was doing.
Strangely, every time I moved, his gaze persistently followed.
I went back to the dining area, pulled out a small pot, and placed it beside the boiling water. I poured in the milk and roughly chopped in the vegetables and sausages.
Even that was enough to make a simple soup.
Of course, it would be a far cry from the meals Mr. Schwalt prepared.
While the soup simmered, I placed the bread on the lid to warm it.
And I fell into thought for a moment. I had hoped not to run into him or that he’d leave soon — but now that we’d met, it was time to think differently.
‘Originally, I was supposed to die by his hands.’
The current prince was undoubtedly a delicious prey in my mother’s eyes.
He carried the blood of someone she hated deeply.
If things continued this way, a catastrophe was inevitable. I couldn’t just quietly avoid it anymore.
“Phew…”
I sighed as a throbbing headache came on, and resumed working with my hands.
When everything was ready, I half-filled a wooden bowl with the soup — it looked decent enough.
I placed the bread and soup on the tray with the tea I had steeped earlier and handed it to him.
“Eat this. You can’t die.”
I gave him the bowl and crouched down a short distance away, hugging my knees. He looked at me with puzzlement.
“…Are you worried I might die?”
“I was at first, but not anymore. I have something to say after you finish eating.”
“Understood.”
The prince must have been starving, as he immediately started eating the soup.
Once he was done, I planned to tell him to leave at dawn — and to forget this place entirely.
Midway through eating, he stopped and looked at me.
“Um.”
“Are you still hurting somewhere?”
The prince shook his head.
“May I ask your name? I’d like to know the name of the person who helped me. You may call me Valery. I will surely repay you.”
Now it was certain.
He really was Prince Valery Ahibara Kashinev.
I let out a soft sigh and shook my head.
“There’s no need for you to know my name. I just helped you, that’s all. Leave at dawn. Once you’re out, forget this place completely. And don’t die.”
He looked a little surprised.
He was probably someone who had never been turned down like this before. He must be used to receiving kindness without needing to offer any in return — the opposite of me.
Even seeing his somewhat bewildered expression, I continued speaking.
“Don’t try to find me to repay the favor. Forget this place as if you’d never been here. If you must remember something, just recall that I saved your life. Forget everything else. Understood?”
“…”
“I’ll leave another pouch of herbs over there. Take it along with the blanket if you need it. It’ll work as a makeshift coat.”
Without waiting for his response, I left the dining room.
My plan to enjoy tea had gone up in smoke.
Letting go of the idea of a warm drink, I headed upstairs.
I couldn’t sleep well that night.
Because of what I’d done, driven by a fleeting emotion. I woke earlier than usual and threw on a thick coat.
Peeking through the curtains, it was still dark outside.
In winter, the sun rises late.
And in the north — the latest in the empire.
It would be at least another hour before sunrise, but I decided to move early.
I went down to the food storage, and the spot where he’d been was completely empty.
The soup was cleaned out and sitting in the wash bin. So was the teacup.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem like a messy person.
He must have heeded my request.
The important thing was — he took the herb pouch and the blanket I had left.
That was enough. This was the right thing to do. Right?
“Well, thank goodness. If Mother had seen him, someone would’ve ended up dead.”
Just as I confirmed there were no traces of him outside, I heard the sound of a carriage in the distance.
It was Mother.
She returned earlier than expected, even though she said she’d be gone for several days. Mr. Schwalt, whom I’d seen a few days ago, was with her.
The two of them looked like an elegant couple straight out of a painting.
“Why are you outside?”
Mother, dressed in a deep black velvet coat-dress with a red sheen, approached me.
She seemed puzzled that I — who hated the cold — was standing outside early on a freezing morning.
“Oh, I heard something outside.”
I made an excuse. Hopefully there was no lingering scent of blood… it was freezing, after all.
Mr. Schwalt’s sharp senses made me nervous. If discovered, I planned to quietly ask him to keep it a secret. He usually couldn’t refuse my requests.
“If there was a sound, that’s all the more reason to stay inside.”
“Ah… I didn’t think. It sounded like a small animal.”
Damn. The lie I blurted out ended up earning me a scolding. My heart was pounding with the fear of being found out.
Thankfully, Mother brushed it off and went straight into the house.
Mr. Schwalt set down two large bags and gave some instructions to the coachman.
“Bella.”
“I thought you’d be away for a few more days.”
“Not happy to see me?”
“This is my happiest face right now. You must’ve finished up quickly.”
I forced a smile, just like last time.
“Mm. That’s good. Yes.”
Mr. Schwalt followed Mother inside but glanced around before doing so.
Then, his gaze paused for a moment — toward the food storage.
“Um, where did you go?”
I quickly spoke to divert his attention.
“Ah, just checked in on the new place we’re moving to. Had a few things to confirm.”
“I see.”
His eyes quickly landed on me again. For a moment, I thought I saw a sharp glint.
But it vanished behind his usual gentle smile.
“I actually have something to tell you too. Come on inside — it’s cold.”
Feigning chill, he led me toward the entrance.
I noticed his gaze linger once more toward the food storage, but I pretended not to notice and opened the door.
Normally, Mother and I barely talked.
But with her return, the house no longer felt so empty.
And with Mr. Schwalt — who was much more active than us — there was even a sense of liveliness.
I used to think I didn’t mind being alone, but maybe I had been a little lonely after all.
Then I noticed something odd — the luggage they brought back was more than they had taken.
Turned out they’d gone shopping too.
Come to think of it, when was the last time I shopped freely?
“Karvella. Come here.”
I was about to go upstairs for a bit of tea time when Mother called me.
“Yes, Mother.”
Without complaint, I went straight to her.
Mother was still elegantly sipping tea, while Mr. Schwalt was busily unpacking something from a large trunk.
“What’s all this?”
“Try this on, Karvella.”
Mr. Schwalt called out in an excited tone as he held something up.
A long red dress.
Not the thick, rugged winter dress I was wearing now — but something grand, the kind worn at social parties back in the capital.
I didn’t realize how used I had become to this lifestyle.
The first thing that came to mind upon seeing the luxurious dress was: That’s about a month’s worth of food.
Maybe enough to buy all the firewood we’d need for winter too.
“…Is that for me?”
