Chapter 16

A chill ran down my spine. The unknown energy seemed to relieve my hazy mind, so I hurriedly held on to Argen.

‘Argen, Argen!’

“…….”

‘You just made a slip of the tongue!’

It was not a good option for anyone to listen to, to change their lives by being swept away by some emotion and. I was swept away by what Argen said and I came to my senses First.

Argen’s feelings, which were about to burst , gradually subsided at my words.

“…….”

“…….”

While looking up at the First Prince, Argen opened its mouth and made a few unknown sounds. Then his face turned pale, as if he had understood the whole situation too late.

The First Prince had a slightly perplexed face and his hands were stiffened.

As soon as Argen came to his senses, he held my hand and started running.

‘What are you doing running?’

It’s going to be like a child’s prank if we ran away to the First Prince anyway, because we screwed up. No matter how much I run away from here…….

“Too fast……”

“Haa…….Haa.”

After all, it was inside the Imperial City.

I don’t know how much we’ve been running, but we had arrived in front of the emperor’s palace. Argen was sitting on the floor and covered his head.

“I’m screwed…..”

“…… You’re screwed.”

“I couldn’t stand it and made a mistake.”

While on the floor, Argen wiped off the sweat with his hands. It’s been a long time since I ran so fast that I couldn’t catch my breath.

Fortunately, the First Prince wasn’t following us and there wasn’t anyone around other than us, whose hearts were rapidly fluctuating.

I was breathing in and out with heavy breaths. The feeling of oxygen not being properly supplied to the lungs kept me panting. I continued to pant as I felt the lack of oxygen properly supplied to my lungs.

It was hard to say because I was out of breath, but with difficulty I managed to speak.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

You said what I couldn’t say. Although I might regret it, for a moment I felt relieved.

“We did nothing wrong.”

I firmly repeated my words. Argen’s eyes seemed to shake, then he slowly nodded .

******

Once we returned to the room, Ishina suddenly stopped when she saw us covered in dirt and grass. The Maid were slowly beginning to notice that Ishina’s was going to start nagging again.

Ishina, who has served the 3rd Prince as a nanny with her own hands, did not flatter us. Unlike those who greeted us, while inwardly degrading and cursing us as illegitimate children, Ishina was always impassive and only pressured us to stay well-mannered as an ‘imperial’ family.

“Where have you been?”

Again, Ishina was polite but sternly asked. Her facial muscles were often so stiff and hardly moved, that I was worried

“I’m surprised you suddenly disappeared.”

“…….”

“…….”

“This is already the second time. I’m going to inform his majesty separately, your highness, if you have anything to hide from us, you should tell me now.”

In front of us who were covered in dirt, Ishina slightly knelt  and made eye contact. My right cheek twitched with plumpness since I’ve been eating well these days.

“Please tell me what you’re hiding.”

Her eyes looked as if she was forcing an answer. Did she do the same to the other princes? I could bet it was absolutely not the case.

“There is nothing to hide.”

“We’re not hiding anything.”

My heart was still pounding from meeting the First Prince a moment ago and Ishina’s continuous urging made me feel sufficated.

“We saw you both sleeping well in bed. Everyone was watching you two.”

Ishina continued to speak as if she was going get it out of us.

“But you suddenly disappeared.”

It was your side that suddenly disappeared. Argen trembled and shook his head. Of all things, a leaf stuck on his head fell to the floor.

Ishina stared at the two of us, who didn’t answer, and sighed. Then she got up and lifted her fingers to call the maids.

“It’s almost time for Madame Minne to come. You will need to prepare for class, so I will help you.”

“Already?”

“Too fast…..”

At most, It’s been less than an hour since the sun came up. Just a moment ago, I was breathing in the smell of dawn.

The excessive schedule that was forced on us was almost enough to take away even the hours of sleep that we thought were abundant.

“It’s early in the morning.”

When both of us tried to carefully refute the study time that was held earlier than usual, we heard voices that we really didn’t want to hear.

It reminded me of the situation with the First Prince, which was pushed aside due to Ishina’s constant urging.

In fact, it wasn’t right to say I remembered it. I just pretended not to remember.

A cold sweat ran down my back.

“Ishina, isn’t it early in the hour?”

“Greetings to Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince.”

It was different from when she treated us. Ishina bowed down to the First Prince with a gentle face, showing years of experience.

He naturally received the greeting and looked down at both of us.

We had just run away from him, so my body trembled as soon as his gaze touched us.

‘Did he come to see us…?’

‘Obviously.’

Right. Obviously.

At that moment, the First Prince reached his hand out. It wasn’t just anyone that I’ve offended, but the future emperor…..I tightly shut my eyes because it wasn’t unusual even if I was hit by a blow at this current situation.

Argen even told me to watch out for a situation similar to this.

However, the violence we thought of didn’t come. Only a big hand covered our heads.

When I reflexively opened my eyes in surprise, only the hem of the First Prince’s robe was fluttering in front of me. I didn’t even have the courage to look up out of shame.

‘He’s not threatening to blow our brains out, is he?’

‘……It isn’t.’

If the First Prince hadn’t gently patted our hair with his hands, I would have really misunderstood.

I thought my life was in danger right now. I felt the soft touch on my head in a daze.

“Bring me the children’s list.”

“Which one are you talking about?”

“Give me their schedule of the classes conducted by the instructors.”

The First Prince did not take his hand off our heads. While we were rigid, the maid behind Ishina respectfully

took out the document contained in the folder.

He took his hands away from us and grabbed the document.

“Although I’ve delegated full authority to you…….”

“…….”

“Are you out of your right mind?”

I couldn’t hear the First Prince’s words at the last moment.

When I couldn’t hear anything, I put my hand on my head that the First Prince touched and looked around twice.

‘What?’

‘You can’t hear it?’

‘I can’t hear it.’

‘I’m asking because I can’t hear it.’

‘Right.’

I called Argen with a pout, but I couldn’t even hear what I said.

There was nothing we could do with our ears blocked shut.

While I was standing still, I saw a scene where the First Prince was saying something to Ishina. The composition seemed a bit strange as the First Prince continued to look down at her and spit out words with a cold face while Ishina lowered her head.

Ishina was one sidedly scolded. Ishina was the one who always scolded us.

Although she is a maid, her original identity is said to be a countess. We were disregarded to some extent by a Countess…….

That is the difference between real and fake. As soon as I tried to reconsider the meaning of me and Argen’s existence, who only had the prestigious title of the ‘Imperial’ family, I felt something that was blocking my ears disappear.

Before I knew it, he came up in to me, hesitated, and then slightly moved his lips .

“……If you need anything……You can come to my palace.”

He was careful to speak in such a small voice.

It was hard to believe that he was the one who poured out harsh words to Ishina earlier.

Maybe it’s because there was dirt on my body when I fell, but the fragrance of the perfume floating in the bathroom felt stronger than usual. It seemed thicker and darker.

After washing before Argen, I just sat down as soon as Ishina dried my hair.

The teacher will arrive soon, so I had to change my clothes. It was dreadful when I thought about having to take off my light linen pajamas and wear a dress again.

In the midst of this, my body felt heavy since I woke up so early in the morning. Eventually, I slowly yawned and then shut my mouth.

I thought Ishina, who was drying my hair, would say I was being ill-mannered, but surprisingly she didn’t say anything.

After Argen finished washing, she asked us a really surprising question.

“Shall we take you to the playroom or to the bedroom? I’m afraid you didn’t have enough sleep, but personally, I would like for you to sleep a little more.”

“What… about studying?

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it and asked.

What’s going on…?

“…… I think I was being too excessive. From now on, you will go to the classes that His Highness the third Prince had attended.”

Huh……?

‘What is she talking about?’

‘…… Studying, right?’

‘I think it’s studying.’

‘Really?’

‘…… I guess it’s for real.’

Argen and I simultaneously relaxed. Ishina led us to the bedroom.

After coming out of the shower, I was able to lie back down on the bed again with my fluffy hair scattered on the blanket.

Ishina covered me with a blanket and closed the curtains.

It was easy to fall asleep because I was so sleepy, but I couldn’t get rid of my doubts.

What on earth happened with the First Prince for Ishina’s to do this……?

******

The next day.

I thought I was in trouble when I saw that the raccoon, who became friendly enough to pet, disappeared from the cage, but Ishina just took us to the garden.

I could see a raccoon there.

To be exact, a raccoon playing in a place that looks more spacious than our room.

The garden was surrounded by iron fences as high as a ladder. When I opened the door, I saw trees full of fruits. A stream was dug up in several places to allow for the flow of water.

“It’s a farm built by His highness the Crown Prince.”

….. It wasn’t the size of a farm.

All the imperial family were like this, but I kept my mouth shut when I saw a polka dotted ribbon the head of a raccoon running around the farm.