Chapter 32

I suddenly woke up and felt dizzy.

“Are you okay?”

“…Your Highness?”

I managed to pull myself together, raise my back and look at him. There was Valery who looked somehow tired.

“Yes, it’s me, Valery.”

I was so surprised that he replied with a natural smile.

“Why… here? Ah, here.”

Now I know. Why couldn’t I think of it earlier? It was the villa he had brought me in once.

“We’re in the villa. No matter how much I thought about it, I thought bringing you back to your mansion would be dangerous, so I brought you here. Are you feeling any pain?”

“…I have a headache.”

“I will call the doctor back.”

He got up quickly. I grabbed him by the sleeve in a hurry. Memories that had been missing rushed back quickly.

“Your Highness, w-wait a minute.”

“Yes.”

Valerie sat back in bed casually.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, it’s not like that… Did anyone come after me?”

“Do you mean your escort?”

Ah, didn’t Sir Shubart follow along?

“Ah, right. My escort.”

“No, but we may have missed it. I will check it out.”

“No, you don’t have to. By the way…”

“Yes, tell me.”

“Why… were you there?”

I don’t know why Valery was there. That place was neither Iskar’s territory nor Sir Shubart’s territory. Furthermore, it was a remote place, so it wasn’t even a place where he would come.

Even if I have doubts, Ian can’t be unaware of it. Not just Ian, but a bunch of escorts Sir Shubart put on. I’ve deliberately reduced the number of escorts to meet Iskar’s chief recently, but I don’t think I’ve made anyone suspicious about Valery yet. The matter about I saved him.

“It was a coincidence.”

“Coincidence?”

“Yes. I was just going to give you a present, but there seems to be a problem.”

“Ah, that’s why you tracked me down?”

“Yes. You seemed to be in danger. And it was true.”

“I see.”

I’m glad it was just a coincidence. I rubbed my forehead and sighed in relief. When I looked up, my eyes met with Valery, who was staring at me. He seemed to have more to say, but he looked like he was holding back something.

“First of all, I will call the doctor back. Can we have a conversation after that?”

I wanted to go back right away, but my condition was really bad. As I quietly nodded my head, Valery got up from his seat with a much softer expression, as if reassured.

“…”

As soon as he left, the room felt like a wasteland. I don’t know if I can stay here because I think he brought me here without any permission. Valery is not a fool, so I guess he will get out of it later. But I was concerned whether Shale was caught by Sir Shubart.

Still, I’m glad that I did everything I could do this time. Thanks to that, my sick body hurt a lot more, but I didn’t expect to wake up in the middle of Ian’s absence.

Now, if Shale retrieved the pocket watch at the auction house instead of Sir Shubart and send me a person, I would be more relieved. If that happens, I can even make a hole to escape.

A little later, the doctor came in. I’ve seen that doctor before. He checked my temperature, examined me, asked a few questions, and gave me another bunch of medicines as he did last time.

“I’ve been lying down for three days?”

“Yes. You opened your eyes a few times but closed them again.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would cause trouble to Your Highness this much. I need to go back quickly.”

Instead, Valery looked like he was hurt.

“Is that important?”

“Pardon?”

“You just heard what the doctor said.”

Valery spoke in a somewhat lower voice than usual.

“Yes, I did.”

“You know how well your body is.”

“Ah, yes. Because I heard it…?”

“It was an obvious kidnapping. But why are you feeling sorry for me and being calm about it?”

“Ah.”

I tried to speak, but then I shut up again. I was just glad things worked out and survived even though I was sick. It was like that in real life. As long as you always reach the desired result, it doesn’t matter how you achieved it. But Valery is upset about it.

But you’re upset about it.

“Are you angry?”

“…No. How can I be angry?”

“I’m sorry. It was because you looked so worried. I’m out of my mind too.”

Then Valery’s expression became a little more gentle. Suddenly, I felt warmth from my fingertips. It’s because he gently wrapped his hand around my hand. It didn’t feel bad as my hands, which had been so cold, were getting warmer. So as he did, I just stared at it. Then he completely wrapped his hands in my hands. With his hands large enough to hold both of my hands with one hand, I felt a little strange when I wrapped him with both hands.

“I don’t think I can let you back right now. No, I can’t let you go back right now. I’m very anxious.”

“…”

He looked down at my hand wrapped in his own hand and spoke as if in a certain way, but his tone was somehow closer to a request. Then he raised his head.

“Is this your first time experiencing this?”

“Pardon?”

“Or is there someone that keeps your family in check? They appeared to be quite powerful. Is it related to Count Ariandel?”

Aside from being fortunate, I thought it would be troublesome that the person who found me was Valery, not Sir Shubart or anyone else. I thought I couldn’t avoid it.

It’s absurd if the Ariandel family doesn’t have any enemies anyway. In fact, Count Ariandel said that he had been threatened by bad things several times, so I thought I will bring up that roughly.

“It’s not my first time.”

“Do you mean that this has happened before?”

“Ah, it wasn’t this dangerous, but it’s not like it never happened. However, my father’s work is getting attention these days, so I think it has become a little bit more of an issue.”

“Still, it would be better to find out who is behind this.”

When he asked me to let him protect me for the time being, I grabbed him by the arm.

“No, you can’t.”

“Why?”

“My father said he had an idea. So I just have to move on quietly this time.”

“Even though it was so dangerous?”

He said as if it was ridiculous.

I sighed with a troubled look. I made eye contact with him, still holding his arm tightly.

“Of course I will tell my father. Although he’s far away, he’s very worried about his daughter. He will take steps to prevent something like this from happening again.”

“Still, I’m not relieved. As you say, he’s far away.”

I patted him on the arm.

“You’re a prince.”

“Yes. What does that matter?”

“It’s obvious that the Emperor has given grace to our family, but if Your Highness does the same, rumors will come out.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

I interrupted him.

“There are eyes and ears everywhere. Did you know that you and I have already been talking a lot?”

I dropped my head sadly, still holding his arm.

“I don’t want to stand out anymore. Do you remember what I said in the North?”

Then Valery shut up. It looked like his eyes were shaking a little. Then I put a wedge.

“Don’t worry. If it doesn’t seem to work out, I’ll really ask for your help then.”

When I asked him one more time to prevent things from happening behind my back, his stiff head finally nodded softly. Yes, it should be like this. This way, he can look for his happiness, and I’m looking for my freedom.

“If you said so, I understand. Then let me protect you here until your body is healed.”

I don’t think he’s going to be this stubborn. I’m still not feeling well, and I thought I could have some time to make excuses for mother.

“Thank you. I accept that because you’re worried.”

Luckily he didn’t add more words. However, the subdued atmosphere did not brighten up, but rather created silence. I didn’t feel uncomfortable when I was on a date at the beach or here, but now it was completely thorny. It’s really uncomfortable.

“Ah.”

“What’s wrong?”

I put my finger on my neck and looked at him again.

“I promised to wear the necklace for the next appointment.”

He had a strange look on his face that seemed both absurd and laughable. It was only when I raised the corner of my mouth that Valery’s expression relaxed.

“It’s okay. You can wear it the next time we meet.”

“Next time?”

“Then, you won’t meet me?”

“Uummm.”

I must have been a naughty person. When he said that, I had the urge to twist his words again.

“You have to show me your necklace.”