CH 13

“…Ah!”

A short scream escaped her mouth. It was because the maid who was standing close to her pinched her side and twisted her skin.

Yulif’s eyebrows twitched.

“He is the Emperor’s brother and the only Duke of the Empire. Show your respect.”

Canaren followed her handmaiden and bowed her head hurriedly. Yulif didn’t like it.

“Hello, I am……”

Canaren paused at the tip of her tongue. She seemed to be contemplating on how to introduce herself.

Yulif waited quietly for her answer.

“I am… Canaren, I am helping His Majesty to get some sleep.”

“Was it you?”

“Yes?”

Canaren raised her head and looked very surprised. Why was her mouth moving so much today?

Yulif observed her, and she scolded herself for talking like a tactile bird.

Canaren was a celebrity in the Imperial Palace. It was said that after she came to the Imperial Palace, Deltinus, who was suffering from excruciating insomnia, started getting a good night’s sleep every day. She was from the Hwira village, and when she sang her songs, he immediately fell asleep. Yulif didn’t ask any more because he wasn’t interested in stories that sounded like fairy tales and rumors.

However, the protagonist of the rumor seemed to be in poor condition.

Her first impression of her was lively, but when he looked closely, her eyes were dark and her lips were severely chapped. Most of all, the faint marks left on her wrists were suspicious.

“Are you okay?”

It was a question he asked without thinking deeply. There was nothing special about it, and it was a question that could be used as a greeting. Still, Yulif regretted asking the question.

It was because liquid was seeping out of Canaren’s golden eyes.

He thought tears would fall.

But Canaren did not cry. Her golden eyes, covered with moisture, glistened with luster

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

The end of her voice pretending to be calm was trembling. After finishing her answer, Canaren bit her lips. Her face showed that she had so many things to say.

Her twinkling eyes were earnestly asking for help. At least in Yulif’s eyes, it seemed that way.

More than anything else, Yulif was more annoyed by the maid who followed Canaren’s side closely. The surveillance measures Deltinus had attached were clear.

Without a maid, he would be able to get an honest answer.

“Stand back.”

“But Duke Rubius, I am here on His Majesty’s order…”

“Then you’d better go by yourself.”

The maid was pressed down by Yulif’s command and moved far away. A handful of faint breaths escaped from Canaren’s mouth.

Yulif took one step closer to her.

Canaren flinched, and took a step back. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him, but more of an instinctual defensive reflex.

The maid would not wait for long. It was a waste of time for him to ask if she was okay again.

Though he knew that, Yulif had no idea how to continue the conversation.

He didn’t know how to speak sweetly and softly. After his mother passed away, the only woman he talked to regularly was the maid who took care of him. Even his conversation with the head maid couldn’t be called a conversation. Because all he did was give short orders.

“Have you ever seen an artificial lake?”

“Um?”

The topic of conversation he had managed to find was the lake right in front of him. Perhaps it was an unexpected question as Canaren widened her eyes.

Soon she smiled shyly. A pale blush appeared on her pale, tired cheeks.

“Yes! Today is my first time seeing the garden itself. All this time, I was only in the room.”

“Did anyone give you an explanation about the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, well…”

Canaren, who was briefly pleased with the lake story, avoided answering with silence.

What kind of treatment she was being subjected to in the Imperial Palace could be easily guessed from the attitude of the maid earlier. She must have been treated like a rare animal.

“Duke… Oh, can you tell me what I should call you? It’s embarrassing, but I don’t know.”

“Whatever is comfortable.”

“The Duke knows a lot about the Imperial Palace…… Right?

Yulif neither affirmed nor denied. Quietly and silently, he just looked at Canaren.

The reason he showed an ambiguous attitude, neither positive nor negative, was that it was difficult for him to be sure whether she herself knew the Imperial Palace well or not.

It had been several years since Deltinus kicked him out of the Imperial Palace.

“If it’s okay with you, can you explain the situation in the Imperial Palace?”

Canaren was desperate. Except for Yulif, she had no one to ask for information about the Imperial Palace.

“The Duke is a busy man with a lot of government affairs. If you have any questions, I will answer you, so please, we need to leave.”

The maid interrupted as if she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Canaren glared towards her side and found the maid’s skinny hands creeping out toward her. It hurt, the place she was pinched earlier was throbbing.

“It is only for a moment.”

At that moment, welcoming words came out of Yulif’s mouth.

Thank goodness! Canaren was relieved and smiled brightly.

The two began walking slowly around the lake.

Canaren wanted to know the inner structure of the Imperial Palace, especially the doorways. Yulif explained everything he could.

The topic naturally moved on, leading to the barrier that protected the Imperial Palace.

“Is the barrier formed by the tower I can see in the distance?”

“Yes.”

“What happens when the barrier is struck?”

“It blocks the attacks from outside.”

“Ah… That’s not what I’m curious about…”

The lips, which had been constantly asking questions, finally calmed down. Her golden eyes moved silently, as if contemplating something.

Yulif moved silently without any pressure. It was a slow pace that was less than half his usual speed as he was walking along with Canaren.

“Can’t one get out of the barrier?”

“It depends on the situation, but mostly not. Wouldn’t it be a problem if the enemy invaded?”

“Yes… It must be so.”

Canaren muttered sullenly.

Yulif was sure. She wanted to escape the Imperial Palace. The Hwira had strong wings, so she would think she could somehow escape if she could soar into the sky.

But her opponent was Deltinus.

As soon as the Canaren soared into the sky, an arrow or magic would pierce her wings.

Even if she’s lucky enough to get away, other innocent Hwira people would be captured instead of her. Knowing this, Canaren would not be able to act so easily.

“I’m sorry for interrupting you. It’s almost all the time His Majesty has allowed. We must return to her accommodation. We ask for your understanding in granting this broad generosity, Duke Rubius.”

The maid, who was looking for an opportunity to intervene, broke into the silence. Canaren was startled, as if she was drenched in cold water.

Already?

The maid pretended not to notice Canaren’s gaze, and she bowed politely to Yulif. She looked like she was intentionally ignoring Canaren and asking her pardon only from Yulif. Even though it was Canaren, not Yulif, who she was supposed to serve.

Yulif took out his pocket watch and checked the time.

“Would you like to go back?”

“I’m glad you understand…”

“I didn’t ask you.”

A voice as cold as ice cut the maid’s words. It wasn’t the warm voice that was directed at Canaren. It was a warning not to interrupt the conversation any longer.

Eventually, the maid took a few steps back from the two of them.

Canaren lowered her eyebrows in embarrassment.

“He told me to go for a walk until lunch. I think I have to go back.”

“Do you remember which building the detached palace was?”

“Of course! Let’s see, so… Uhm.”

As she exclaimed confidently, Canaren tilted her head. Although she had heard the explanation from Yulif, she saw too many buildings, and all of them were splendid and grand, so it was difficult to tell them apart.

“It’s easy if you just remember that the roof is in the shape of a petal.”

“The roof is petals… Ah. that! That’s right?”

Yulif nodded his head. Canaren smiled broadly at him.

“Thank you for teaching me so much today, Duke. Take care.”

Instead of words, Yulif greeted her with a light and elegant wink. He gave a wonderful greeting even at the end.

Canaren, in her silent admiration, was about to follow her maid in the lead.

“The barrier has never been activated before.”

Canaren’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at him. Standing upright on the shore of the lake, Yulif looked like a painting. Was it because the lake reflected the sun’s light? It was dazzling.

“It will continue to be so.”

“…Yes! Thank you for letting me know!”

The bright blonde hair and the hem of her light blue dress quickly faded away. Yulif, who watched them disappear, let out a long sigh.

He was acting strange. It was not because she was an innocent Hwira woman who didn’t fit in here, but he himself was dealing with such a woman for no reason.

It was only for a moment but he was intrigued by her beautiful and mysterious appearance.

During their conversation, Yulif seemed to be possessed by her. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, who was revealing her true feelings. The texture of emotions was vividly felt, when she was happy or when it was disappointing.

At first, he thought that maybe he was forcing himself to pretend to be bright.

She was a woman who had been captured by Deltinus. Even her maid watched over her and scorned her, life in the Imperial Palace was no fun.

But in every moment, Canaren was sincere. It was the first time he was dealt with so honestly.

It was said that saying thank you with a lot of sincerity makes people happy. It really was. His heart warmed as soon as he heard Canaren’s greeting.

‘I’m sure I’m weird. Did I suddenly get tired? I need to rest.’

It bit him by the tail and forced him to cut off his thoughts of Canaren. Yulif, who was about to return to the room, found something that had fallen to the ground. It was the white ribbon that was tied to Canaren’s hair.

She must have left in such a hurry that she didn’t even know the ribbon had come loose.

‘Next time we meet, should I return it to her?’

Yulif picked up the ribbon. He then clasped it with his hand. These were still actions that he did not understand himself.