YWPWYLFDM 48

Chapter 48

“Eh? Ah, yes. I had some things to do at home…”

Bingka, the maid, bowed her head, apologizing because she hadn’t realized the handkerchief belonged to the Crown Prince.

She seemed worried that she might get scolded severely.

But Winfred didn’t seem to care at all. In fact, he looked genuinely happy to have the handkerchief returned.

“Where did you find it?”

“Ah… well… it was lying on the floor in the dining hall.”

So it really was there! Winfred’s guess had been correct. The only reason he hadn’t gotten it back sooner was that Bingka had left work early and taken two days off.

“Thank you so much, Bingka…! Thanks to you, I’ve got back something very precious.”

Winfred smiled brightly, lightly holding her hand. Joy practically overflowed from his eyes.

“Oh, no, Your Highness. I didn’t do anything.”

“No, really, thank you! You’re my savior! If you ever face any trouble in the future, just tell me, alright?”

Strictly speaking, all Bingka had done was pick up something that had fallen and keep it safe, but to Winfred, it felt as though she had rescued him from a burning fire.

To him, the handkerchief held memories of Aila and was incredibly meaningful.

At first, Bingka had seemed frightened and flustered, but Winfred’s joy was contagious, and she shyly smiled.

Having reclaimed his treasured handkerchief, Winfred cleared his plate as if he had never lost his appetite.

Rodrick placed the thin report he had just read on top of a thick stack of documents.

Though the reporters and subjects differed, the contents were all the same.

They all basically said, “We couldn’t find anything unusual.”

He had planted spies around nobles who were even remotely close to First Prince Byron, instructing them to monitor any possible contact with him.

He hadn’t expected to find anything significant. Yet perhaps he had held onto a small hope, however slight.

Now, having found nothing at all, he felt disappointed.

No, maybe he hadn’t let go of his hope entirely. If he had no expectations at all, he wouldn’t feel disappointment like this.

How can there be absolutely no clues?

If the target were hiding within the empire, they must have some help. The fact that they had left no trace at all was strange.

Sighing, Rodrick dropped his head. He felt stuck, as though he couldn’t focus on his work.

Perhaps I should clear my head for a bit.

He rose from his desk, lightly stretching his neck, and stepped out of the study.

He thought to take a short break and perhaps check on Ophelia. Since she spent most of her time in her bedroom due to her heavy meals making her sluggish, she was probably there now.

Upon arriving at the bedroom, he turned the doorknob carefully. He didn’t want to make unnecessary noise and wake Ophelia if she was asleep.

But contrary to his expectations, she wasn’t sleeping. Voices came from inside, indicating that Ophelia was conversing with someone.

“I’ve been trying, but… breaking through the security magic is tougher than I expected.”

“…I’m sorry for asking such a difficult favor. And… really, thank you.”

“There’s no need for words like that between us. Just put it in, put it in.”

Judging from the voice, her companion seemed to be Candice.

They were still tracking a magical tool that Aila possessed, but it seemed the effort wasn’t going smoothly.

“Ah, ahem. I’m here, Ophelia. And Candice too, it seems.”

Rodrick announced his presence as he opened the door.

“Ah, Rodrick! Welcome!”

Candice waved energetically, radiating cheerfulness that lifted the mood of anyone who saw her.

Rodrick smiled faintly and sat beside the bed where Ophelia was waiting.

“I hope I’m not intruding on a private moment with your friends.”

“Oh, no, how could you say that, master of the house? I was about to leave soon anyway, since it’s almost time for the meeting.”

As always, Candice nudged Rodrick lightly with her elbow. While in the empire, she would join weekly meetings remotely via the video globe.

“Oh, so today’s Thursday.”

“Yes.”

Candice scratched her messy hair and greeted the couple lazily before leaving the room.

Rodrick then took Ophelia’s hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

As he leaned over her hand on the bed, she stroked his hair. He closed his eyes gently, savoring her touch.

Her soft hand running through his hair seemed to scatter the tangled thoughts in his mind.

“Rodrick?”

Ophelia called his name.

“Mm? Yes?”

Rodrick lifted his head slightly to look at her. She was gazing quietly into his eyes, as if trying to read his thoughts.

“Are you troubled by something?”

She had read his feelings too easily.

“…No.”

Rodrick lied brazenly. He despised himself for having to lie, and his mind churned with agitation, yet he had no choice.

“Really? …You look troubled.”

Ophelia brushed his hair behind his ear, worry creasing her face.

Though he was usually stoic and poor at showing strain, she could tell he had a heavy burden.

“I’m fine. Really.”

Yet he didn’t reveal his worries.

Ophelia wasn’t upset—she trusted him completely.

If there were no reason to lie, he wouldn’t deceive her.

“…Alright then.”

So she decided not to press further. When Rodrick was ready, he would confide in her.

Waiting for Aila, whose return was uncertain, was a trying time for both Rodrick and Ophelia.

At that moment, a fluttering stirred in her womb, as if the child inside were offering comfort to its parents.

As winter ended and the weather warmed, the snow melted, and fresh green grass sprouted.

A young deer lowered its head to nibble the tender grass but suddenly looked around alertly.

It seemed to sense a presence, but its caution came too late. An arrow flew from somewhere, taking the deer’s life.

“…Well done, milady. Your skill improves by the day.”

Cloud praised Aila, who had successfully hunted the deer, but she lowered her bow indifferently.

Though hunting was necessary for food, it never became a pleasant task for her.

Aila looked at Cloud, who carried the deer on his back, her expression detached.

He was dusty and unkempt, probably as grimy as Aila herself.

That wasn’t surprising—both of them had been traveling rough terrain to avoid checkpoints.

They were exhausted from the continuous camping, but there was no choice.

To reach the Kingdom of Inselkopf by ship, they still had two more days of travel ahead.

“Master will be pleased, milady.”

“…Yes, if Father is pleased, that’s enough.”

Hearing Cloud say this, Aila couldn’t stay silent. For a girl whose father was her entire world, ignoring praise would be unnatural.

Though she responded as she always did, Cloud continued to gaze at her intently, as if he wanted to say something.

“Why?”

“I feel that you have grown considerably.”

Cloud spoke, filled with admiration.

“…That’s natural. Children grow over time.”

“Perhaps. But… you have matured significantly over the past year. As if you’ve grown five years in just one.”

Aila was at a loss for words, feeling as though he had noticed her journey back through time.

“…Let’s hurry. Father will be waiting.”

She hastened her steps, deflecting the conversation. Byron, normally irritable and short-tempered, was far worse now due to several days without proper meals.

Returning to the temporary campsite, Capella eagerly took the deer meat.

Aila sat on a stump-made chair, casually tossing the dagger at her waist in the air and catching it—a reward for her role at the checkpoint incident.

Soon, the delicious smell of food filled the air. The meal was ready.

“…Finally, I feel alive again.”

Byron, enjoying the tender venison, returned to his usual relaxed demeanor. Eating good food after a long time seemed to lift his spirits, and he even praised Aila.

“Cloud says this is the deer you caught. So, my daughter?”

“Yes, Father.”

“…Thanks to you, I’ve had a satisfying meal for the first time in a while. Truly deserving of praise.”

Though his praise was self-centered, Aila swallowed any irritation and smiled happily. She had received praise from her beloved father.

But what Byron said next made her doubt her ears. She wondered if she were dreaming.

“Yes. When we go to the Kingdom of Inselkopf… I think I can give you a little more freedom. Being in a foreign land, it won’t be as dangerous.”