CH 4.2

“Ahem, we will start the tour.”

He raised the flag in fluster as he didn’t know how to console my gloomy mood. He seemed to conclude that it would be better to leave me alone.

Children lined up behind Paulaner, and I naturally stood at the end of the line.

As Paulaner began the course set for the royal palace tour, he stopped at every attraction object and explained diligently with veins on his neck.

The children listened to Paulaner. Sometimes when one of the field participants asked a strange question, the other children who came with him gave a cold look. Then the child who asked the question would become quiet as he was feeling discouraged.

‘It seems like their parents have educated them strictly.’

One of the reasons parents sent their children to join this program was because they wanted their children to catch the eyes of the nobles who regularly visited the palace.

However, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

The tour course itself was different from the area where the nobles were wandering around.

‘Don’t let the nobles feel uncomfortable by the visiting children.’

Such thought, of course, existed among the nobles.

‘Royal palace is none other than where nobles come to eat, play, and dance.’

I turned my head and saw the tall palace. Brighting Palace, where music played endlessly all day, was built for the current Queen Julia.

It was a sanctuary of all kinds of corruption.

‘I’m going to blow that up one day.’

Because I was looking at the Brighting Palace, I was left behind a little, and the scrupulous Paulaner called me. I quickly skipped and approached him.

“That was a wonderful explanation. I have been to the palace a few times, but I didn’t know there was such a story!”

When he was praised that his explanation was excellent, Paulaner became excited and more talkative.

‘Stop it. That’s enough.’

I knew it all.

But, I smiled and responded attentively to Paulaner’s explanation. After a lot of pretending to be interested, they finally arrived in the rose garden.

I had to sneak from the group at this point. I tapped the back of Paulaner’s hand. He then lowered his gaze and made eye contact with me.

“Sir Paulaner, can I spend some more time here?”

“Yes? But…”

“This is a place that holds memories with my father. That’s why I applied for this tour.”

Paulaner looked flustered.

One of the rules of visiting the royal palace was to go off the course. The children were obliged to stick and move with Paulaner, the tour leader, even for any emergency reason.

With such a reaction, I’d better pull than push.

As I dropped my eyebrows, I said,

“If you will be in trouble because of my request, I will just go.”

I could see conflict in Paulaner’s eyes.

“My memories with my father… I will just engrave it in my heart.”

“W-Wait a minute.”

Paulaner stopped me when I started to return to the group. He looked at my drooping shoulders and palmed his face.

In the end, he reluctantly gave permission.

“Lady, you have to stay in the rose garden only, all right?”

“Thank you, Paulaner! There, I will sit still on that bench over there!”

I pointed at the bench near the rose bushes.

After Paulaner checked the bench, he took the other children away. He told me that I could only stay in the rose garden for half a day, and by then, I had to return to the group.

The group that Paulaner led quickly disappeared from sight. I waited for Janice without moving from my seat. Soon, Janice, with a bored look on her face, was seen among the crowds.

Even in a minor noble family, the parents sent one servant to accompany the children from a distance while their young masters were on tour.

“Janice!”

“Young Lady, what are you doing here? Did you get left behind by the group? Please get up; you can catch up if you walk a little fast.”

Janice took my hand and treated me like I was a lost child. I nodded and raised my hand. Janice bent down at my signal and gave me her ear.

“No, Janice. I’m waiting for you here.”

Janice opened her eyes wide. It was a look that asked why I was here waiting for her.

I peeked behind her. I waited until the other servants were leaving because I couldn’t tell her the reason in front of other people.

The other servants were looking at Janice and me, but they wouldn’t dare to be curious and asked.

Once the servants were far enough, I grabbed Janice’s hand and moved into the rose garden.

“Young Lady, do you want to play hide-and-seek?”

“No, I have to go somewhere.”

“Where do you want to go? That aside, are we allowed to go this way?”

There was a serious concern in Janice’s voice. She had a reason to be concerned.

The rose garden was created to protect the King during war, and the maze was so complex that one required guidance to get out of it.

The stupid soldiers who left the rose garden to the palace open wouldn’t think anyone would go inside it, so I had no choice but to get in even though we could get lost in it.

But it was nothing to me. I knew the rose garden very well. Because I often hid in this rose garden whenever I fought with Dyson.

‘Rather than a fight, it was more of a one-sided frustration.’

I walked fast with a bitter smile.

“Young Lady, where exactly are you going? Where are we now?”

Janice, who followed me from behind, kept asking.

As the destination was finally in sight, I decided to answer Janice’s question.

“Janice, this is… The Third Prince’s Palace.”