YWPWYLFDM 25

Chapter 25

“I’ll give you this box too. It’s a magical box. Normally, it stays hidden, but when you whistle, it will appear out of thin air.”

Startled, Eila blinked rapidly.

She wasn’t very knowledgeable about magic, but she was taken aback by his words. He was offering her a rare magical tool she had never even heard of before.

“That must… be really expensive.”

Unlike a single-use scroll, a magical tool that could be used repeatedly was usually priceless.

“Hmm… yeah. But you saved my life, so it’s only fair.”

Winfred laughed heartily, as if to say, “Did you think my life, the life of the future heir to the throne, was that cheap?” Eila bit her lip.

She couldn’t deny that she felt a twinge of greed. If she didn’t, she’d be lying.

With this, she could secretly record the information she had gathered, hide weapons, and she wouldn’t need to steal new training clothes every time she moved. Even the sleeping potion she had hidden under the pillow in the inn room could now be safely stored.

“…Safe?”

Eila asked cautiously. Magic always left traces. There was no guarantee it wouldn’t be discovered.

“Yes. This box has protective magic. Unless someone is stronger than the wizard who made the tool, they’ll never notice it. And just between us, the person who made this box is the most powerful magic user in the world.”

Winfred patted his chest confidently, insisting it would be impossible for anyone to find out.

The strongest magic user, huh? Normally, she would have dismissed it as bragging, but he was the heir to the throne. It might not be a lie.

Under these circumstances, the box suddenly seemed irresistible.

She found herself more interested in this magical box—meant to hide the pocket watch Winfred initially intended to give her—than the watch itself. The situation had completely flipped, but so it was.

However, there was a problem.

A shadow crossed Eila’s face, and Winfred, noticing, asked worriedly, “What’s wrong this time?”

“…I don’t know how to whistle.”

Eila spoke in a despairing voice.

“…You’re joking, right?”

Winfred laughed awkwardly, as if it were a funny joke. But Eila’s expression was utterly serious.

“I’m not joking.”

She made a motion to whistle, hissing softly, but all that came out was a weak, leaking breath.

“Puh-hah!”

Winfred burst out laughing at the sight.

Eila shot him a sharp glare. Her cold eyes immediately wiped the smile off Winfred’s face.

“Ah, s-sorry. You’re just… so cute, I couldn’t help it.”

Cute? Eila, who was struggling with how to use a precious item given by the heir to the empire, felt her gaze grow even icier.

“Th-That’s not a problem. We can change the spell. What should we use… How about a finger snap? Try this. Can you make this sound?”

Winfred snapped his fingers with his thumb and middle finger and spoke urgently.

“Yes, I can do that.”

Eila nodded and copied the motion. This time, a clear, crisp sound emerged from her fingers.

“Good. Then we’ll use that.”

Winfred’s face lit up with genuine joy. Seeing his carefree smile, Eila couldn’t maintain her icy glare and offered him a small, shy smile.

“Now, place your hand on mine.”

Winfred extended his hand, long and larger than his youthful face suggested, while Eila hesitated.

“Ah, okay.”

“I, Winfred Julius Vito Pelles, hereby transfer the ownership of this box—”

He paused, about to close his eyes and recite the spell, then realized he didn’t even know the mysterious girl’s name. He opened his eyes wide.

“…What’s your name?”

It was a remarkably late question. He had listened to her life story and her family’s woes but hadn’t asked her name yet.

Eila hesitated. Should she reveal her name and identity?

Although she had forgotten in the moment because of her different demeanor, Winfred resembled Byron—so much so that it had annoyed her when they first met. He was her cousin, and their relationship wasn’t exactly close. In fact, it had been strained since Winfred had fled after a failed rebellion when he was four, making them distant relatives for over ten years.

Moreover, the crown prince was expected to attend Eila’s eighteenth birthday ball, so her family’s ties with the royal house weren’t entirely bad. Perhaps it was safe to tell him everything.

But Eila’s heart wavered.

“Do I have to give my full name?”

She asked cautiously, as if solidifying her decision.

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Winfred shook his head. He also noted silently that she was a girl full of secrets.

“My name… is Eila. Eila… Hailing.”

She withheld “Vicehafen,” saving it for a day when she could safely reveal it. It was also her subtle riddle for the crown prince—maybe one day, Winfred would discover her true identity, just as she had discerned his.

“Hailing?”

Winfred tilted his head. The surname sounded vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Clearing his throat, he spoke in as impressive a voice as he could muster.

“I, Winfred Julius Vito Pelles, hereby transfer ownership of this box to Eila Hailing.”

His voice cracked slightly at the end due to his changing voice, but Eila didn’t seem to notice. Winfred, however, wanted to appear impressive for her and pouted briefly.

Just then, a warm purple glow shimmered around their joined hands and vanished.

“…It’s yours now. Try calling it once.”

Winfred released Eila’s hand reluctantly. Eila, feeling a rush of tension, snapped her fingers.

As before, the jewel-encrusted box appeared, floating in midair before her.

“Here. Take it, Eila.”

Winfred handed her the gold pocket watch, calling her name. She felt a strange thrill on her tongue.

“…Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

The item had been given in exchange for saving the heir to the empire. Eila carefully placed the watch on the empty box’s bottom.

“You return it the same way, okay?”

Winfred snapped his fingers and smiled. Eila nodded and copied the motion again. As if by magic, the floating box vanished.

“…Thank you so much.”

Winfred didn’t know this.

That the pocket watch—and the box—were the first things she had ever truly owned in this life. And how much this would help her.

“I should probably head back soon. But first, I’ll make sure you get to a safe place.”

Eila looked anxiously at the sky. Night had already fallen. She needed to return quickly.

“Going back?”

“…Yes.”

Back to that hell. Back into the monster’s jaws. It was time to return.

“Before you go, Winfred. That man who targeted you tonight? He’ll keep watching until you return to the palace. So you absolutely, under no circumstances, sneak out like this again. Do you even realize you’re the crown prince? Do you know how dangerous it is outside?”

She lectured him, though she didn’t have time for a full scolding. Why did the empire’s only heir need to sneak out at night, evading servants and knights?

Since it was supposedly part of becoming the crown prince, she couldn’t just order him back. Telling him to stay safe was her best advice.

Winfred scratched his cheek, feeling oddly like an older sister scolding him, despite Eila being younger.

“…That assassin? He’s connected to Byron, your uncle. That person is plotting something. Don’t ask how I know. It’s a secret.”

Winfred’s eyes widened at the revelation. He could barely contain his curiosity about who Eila really was and how she knew all this.

Before he could ask, she cut him off, insisting he not inquire. He had to suppress his rising curiosity.

“And… if someday, you find out who I really am…”

Eila swallowed nervously. She worried whether it was right to tell him this.

“…Could you promise to tell my parents that I’ll come back? That I’ll return to them, no matter what. Keep it a secret from everyone else, just tell them.”

Her expression was resolute, and even Winfred dared not question who her parents were.