YWPWYLFDM 26

Chapter 26

One might interpret it as daring to send the Crown Prince of a nation on an errand—but it wasn’t like that. It was a request made to a friend. To the very first friend she had ever made.

Perhaps sensing her feelings, Winfred gave a small nod. He didn’t know what circumstances Aila was facing, but every time he saw the sorrow in her expression, it felt as though something heavy sank inside his chest.

“Then, let’s go. I’ll take you there.”

Aila, rising from the rooftop, dusted off the handkerchief Winfred had lent her, folded it neatly, and handed it back to him. Winfred, uncharacteristically quiet, took it and slipped it into his pocket.

The two of them descended from the roof and carefully walked through the now-empty night streets, eventually reaching the area near the lavish mansion where Winfred was staying.

Hiding in an alley, they spied a few knights and the steward who had earlier come looking for Winfred, his face weighed down with worry.

They couldn’t exactly announce that the Crown Prince had gone missing, so the scene was not noisy—but the tension was clear.

“See? Just by sneaking out alone to play, you’ve caused so many people trouble.”

“…I get it. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Winfred muttered sullenly.

Since so many people were searching for him, Aila figured it was safe to let him go back now. She gestured for him to leave, but just as he was about to step out of the alley, he turned his head back toward her.

“Aila.”

“What is it?”

“…Will we meet again?”

It was a desperate question.

Aila fell into thought. Someday—after her revenge was complete—perhaps they could meet again as the Crown Prince of the Pelles Empire and the daughter of the Duke of Weisshafen.

“Probably.”

When she nodded, Winfred asked again in disbelief.

“Really?”

“…Yes.”

How happy he looked. His smile outshone even the bright moon hanging in the night sky.

“Then I’ll really go now, Aila. We’ll definitely meet again.”

Even after saying his farewells, his steps seemed reluctant. He glanced back at her several times before finally stepping out into the lamplit street.

“Your Highness!!! Where on earth have you been? And what is this dirt—did you roll on the ground somewhere? Look at your clothes, they’re filthy!”

The steward who spotted him ran up in a fluster. Winfred had expected to be scolded, but the reprimand was harsher than anticipated, and he gave an awkward smile.

“Sorry. I won’t do it again.”

After all, he had promised Aila.

“Come inside quickly. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? If anything had happened to you…”

Winfred half-listened to the steward’s nagging while letting his eyes wander toward the night sky.

Somewhere up there, perched on a rooftop like a hidden cat, Aila must be watching to make sure he got home safely.

As Winfred had guessed, Aila was indeed watching from a high place. Only when he disappeared from her sight did she head back to the inn.

Her outing had lasted longer than expected, but fortunately, Laura was fast asleep, unaware of anything, and there were no signs that anyone had entered the room.

Aila carefully hung up the cloak she had worn out, sat on the bed, checked on Laura, and then quietly summoned the magic box.

She worried that the snap of her fingers might wake Laura, but thanks to the sleeping medicine she had given her, the girl didn’t stir.

Aila let out a small sigh of relief, pulled the vial of sleeping pills from under the pillow, and placed it carefully into the box. Then she drew out the pocket watch Winfred had given her.

So I just wind the spring here, right?

She had always felt uneasy about guessing the time from the stars and moon each night, so having a clock was a great relief.

Staring at the pocket watch, she found herself recalling Winfred’s face—his radiant smile when she had promised they would meet again.

…So golden eyes can look kind too.

They were the same color as Byron’s, yet so different. Byron’s eyes always seemed greasy and greedy, making her uncomfortable, whereas Winfred’s had been clear and gentle.

She was lost in such thoughts, watching the second hand tick by, when she heard footsteps climbing the stairs.

It could have been a guard on patrol, but she couldn’t be sure.

She hastily returned the watch to the magic box, sent it away, and pretended to sleep, waiting for the steps to recede.

But instead of passing by, the footsteps drew closer and stopped at her door—followed by a knock.

Who could it be? At this hour…

It was nearing three in the morning. Even Byron, nocturnal as he was, should be drunk and passed out by now. Who would come to her room at such a time?

It was troublesome. If she hadn’t put Laura to sleep, the girl would surely have been guarding her side all night. Upon hearing the knock, Laura would have immediately asked who it was and opened the door.

But Aila herself couldn’t open it without knowing who stood outside. She gripped the blanket tightly, trembling with unease.

Then—

“Laura.”

The visitor called softly and began to open the door. It was Cloud’s voice—the man who had once tried to harm Winfred and failed.

“…Laura?”

Surprised when his niece didn’t answer, Cloud looked around and spotted Laura slumped in a chair.

“Laura, wake up.”

His voice grew more urgent. No matter how much he shook her, she wouldn’t wake, and his panic rose.

Pretending to sleep, Aila bit her lip hard, her anxiety mounting. What if Cloud summoned a doctor, thinking Laura was ill? What if it was discovered she had been given sleeping pills?

“Laura, wake up! Laura!”

His voice now carried a hint of tears. Finally, Laura stirred from her deep sleep, rubbing her eyes.

“…Uncle?”

“You scared me. Are you all right?”

Fortunately, she was merely under the heavy grip of sleep, not unwell. Laura yawned.

“Mmm… What’s wrong? At this hour…”

Still drowsy, she greeted him casually, but once her mind cleared, her face paled.

“U-Uncle, I—I just dozed off for a moment. Just a moment! Other than that, I kept watch properly. I swear!”

She blurted the lie in desperation. Falling asleep on duty—she knew she’d be scolded harshly.

If her mother Capella found out, she might even be whipped.

“So please, don’t tell Mother…”

“…You must have been very tired.”

Watching his niece plead with a pale face, Cloud spoke quietly.

Eighteen. Old enough to be considered an adult by law, but to him, she was still the child he had watched grow up.

He had no intention of scolding her for dozing off while watching over Aila.

“Calm down. I won’t tell your mother. The girl seems to be sleeping well too.”

Laura let out a breath of relief, her hand on her chest.

It wasn’t only her—Aila, lying with her face turned to the wall and pretending to sleep, also relaxed inside.

She had worried Cloud might discover she’d given Laura sleeping pills, or that she’d gone out in the night.

Or even that she had interfered with his plans.

“But really, what brings you here at this hour?”

“Oh, that… Here.”

Cloud pulled out an envelope from his cloak. Inside were treats from the night market. The sweet scent of freshly baked bread filled the room.

“…I had some business outside, stopped by the night market, and thought of you staying up all night. If there’s some left, give a little to the girl in the morning.”

After the Crown Prince had suddenly disappeared, Cloud had been searching places a child might sneak off to at night. He figured that, raised in the palace, the boy would be curious about the bustling night market. While searching, he had thought of his niece—this poor child who, because of a life always on the run, had no happy childhood memories.

“…Uncle, really.”

Laura lowered her head, her voice hard to read.

“You don’t like it? Then perhaps next time I’ll—”

“I’m eating it all myself. Why would I share with that girl? She’s not even pretty.”

Her words were sharp, but they were her way of saying she was pleased with the unexpected gift.

Cloud chuckled softly at her response, then said he’d be going and left the room.

Aila cracked her eyes open slightly, pretending to shift in her sleep, and saw Laura staring intently at the gift her uncle had left behind, lost in thought.

It felt strange.

Cloud, who had tried to kill Winfred—the precious son of someone—was capable of caring so deeply for his niece. The irony of it struck her.

But Aila forced herself to push away the tangled thoughts.

If she’d returned even a little later, things could have gone terribly wrong. She was lucky—again. That was all that mattered.

Listening to the sound of Laura munching on sweet bread, Aila drifted off to sleep amid her swirling thoughts.