CH 72

「Owner.

I picked up a pen after hesitating many times, fearing that even these words would be a burden.

Last night, your heart that was as soft as a leaf in early spring, must have been surprised.

I want to apologize.

I couldn’t understand the lady’s heart deeply because I was clumsy.

You might still be very afraid, but I dare to ask.

I sincerely apologize and ask for a chance to clear up the misunderstanding.

If my sincerity reached you…

Please come to the ‘purple lilac tree of Lake Thalys’.

Please come whenever you like.

You can come late.

I will always be happy to wait for you.」

The letter was neatly written in an aristocratic cursive tone, and it was as if his serious, low voice could be heard.

‘It’s like a love letter from 20 years ago.’

It was a letter full of sincerity, caution, consideration and respect.

Even the selected location was romantic.

—The part about it’s okay to be late.

‘He didn’t write down a time at all.’

It was only to tell me to come at any time, on my schedule.

Waiting was up to him.

It would not be empty words.

Last time, this pure man waited for me under the clock tower even though I was late.

Even so, he greeted me with a smile without showing any contempt… 

“Wow, this is so confusing, isn’t it?”

I tilted my head in frustration.

The nerdish, shy and innocent handsome Mr. Kine who sent this letter—

“It is a gift. You wanted to have a smart pet.”

Woof, woof! Woof, woof!

He was the same person as a crazy murderer who puts men in prison like pigs and made them bark and gave them as ‘pet gifts’.

Moreover, Mr. Kine was the same person who said he was joking with his friend, and had fun shaking him upside down.

“It’s scary. Heuk.”

—I should be suspicious.

‘Is he really calling me to make an apology?’

I thought about the atrocities I had committed against the leader of Larva.

I treated him like a ‘hogu bread-fan’ and sold him leftover date palm tarts. 

He took a little bit of the bread, and I made him a day worker (it wasn’t even at minimum wage).

And to food. Even saying I would have eaten more if he was going to pay (my shining personality).

Finally—

“Isn’t he really scary and terrifying?”

In front of the leader of Larva, wasn’t it true that I cursed at him…?

‘Heuk-heuk, please save me.’

No matter how much I thought about it, even if I was kidnapped by the leader of Larva to the red rose headquarters to be romantically ‘welcomed’, there was nothing to say.

But that wasn’t the only thing that happened.

“…….”

Although it had only been a short time since we met, I had seen many sides of him.

Mr. Kine who brought me pretty apples to apologize and blushed in front of me.

As the little boy fell into a deep sleep, those wide, firm shoulders carried him with a soft touch and covered him with a blanket.

The cute expression when his glasses fogged up while drinking cocoa.

‘Was it really all acting?’

If he was going to kidnap me, he was a man in a position to take me right now.

Because he was the leader of Larva, the most infamous intelligence guild.

‘Besides, he didn’t come today, but instead, sent a letter through the squirrel.’

It must have been in case I might be surprised.

Certainly, far from showing any intention of intimidating or harming, he was being really careful.

“Okay.”

I ended my brief contemplation.

Soon, I lowered my pale green eyes and smiled softly.

“Shall I go and have a listen? To what your master is going to say.”

I gently stroked the squirrel, and the squirrel jumped happily, Pii. Like it was listening to what I was saying.

I immediately got ready and went outside.

I followed behind as the chubby squirrel wagged its rich tail.

After the bread lover and squirrel left.

Hwing, the wind blew from the window, making the paper attached to the first page of The World Daily flutter.

Thanks to that, it was revealed.

―Today’s shocking headline.

「The Prince of El Dorado — Invaded the Fris Empire and was victorious.

Who is the ‘Annette’ he is looking for?」

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

It took only three hours for Sislin to capture the capital of the Fris Empire.

Everyone thought it was crazy. 

It didn’t make sense.

The ‘devil’ who entered the heart of the Fris Empire using a large-scale teleport penetrated the stronghold of the empire at once and subdued the Emperor.

―So, three hours.

‘I knew the Crown Prince was strong, but this is a nonsensical record.’

Heinrich’s aide, Duncan, quickly received the news.

It was a record that would go down in history.

It had been less than half a day since the conquest started, and the enemy’s breath was already smothered.

Even right here.

Those on the outskirts of the Fris Empire didn’t even know there was a war.

There was no time to tell.

In fact, there was no sound of gunfire here, and it was peaceful.

Duncan was now camping with his master near the seashore of the Fris Empire.

Click.

Duncan turned off the communicator, went into the camp’s tent, and spoke to his master, who was lying on a bed (which must have magical powers) that was quite luxurious and plush for a camper.

The Fris Empire fell. It was due to the success of the Grand Duke’s teleport magic tool.”

Heinrich’s eyes slowly opened. With narrowed eyes, his pupils shone beautifully.

Shh—

The arrogant master lowered his eyelashes, brought his index finger to his lips, and let out a breath.

It meant to be quiet.

“…….”

Duncan nodded and apologized.

But it seemed he was already late.

He heard a small whispering voice from the inside of the blanket, it was wriggling.

“Oh my.”

Heinrich’s eyes narrowed affectionately.

“You woke up.”

As he walked on the soft and luxurious red rug, Duncan looked inside and was startled.

“……!”

Because there was a girl in it.

Blonde as soft as honey, bright green eyes as fresh as spring, and small like a fairy.

Duncan knew the name of this young girl, who looked to be about 12-years-old.

‘Miss Annette’.

It was a creature created by his master, maddened by love and thirst, grounded in crazy obsession.

A few days ago.

“Your Highness, are you still locked up?”

“…You’ve been immersed for days without eating or drinking. I’m not able to enter because you said it’s off limits to everyone.”

“How much time has passed?”

“It is already the tenth day.”

Duncan decided it was impossible to continue on like this any longer. Because his owner was the type of person who would see it till the end when he was immersed in something.

Enough to destroy himself.

Especially with regard to ‘Miss Annette’, the symptoms worsened even more.

Duncan opened the door, prepared to lose his neck to protect his master.

Inside, an unimaginable scene unfolded.

A little girl (with flesh and blood, looking like a real human), and Heinrich, who knelt in front of her, holding and whispering to her.

“Do I finally meet you…?”

Heinrich looked crazier than usual.

“We can never part again, Sister.”

In the end, this undisputed genius succeeded in making the girl he loved.

It was a bit creepy for Duncan to see.

The Annette created by Heinrich was a 12-year-old girl, but he said she shared her soul with the current Annette.

He said that this creature was technically a magic tool to access the soul.

Thus, what the real Annette knew, this ‘Annette’ knew too.

After a touching reunion.

Heinrich asked Annette the information he wanted to get the most.

“…Where are you hiding now?”

From then on, at the words of the 12-year-old Annette, they went on a journey.

If they knew the coordinates immediately, they could teleport, but that was difficult. This Annette was getting closer to the ‘real Annette’ little by little, so she couldn’t tell them the location right away.

By the way;

Heinrich seemed rather to enjoy the process.

He was more lively than ever.

Like right now, he whispered to the girl in his arms while smirking.

“You can sleep more, Sister.”

“Yes… No. I want to get up.”

“Why?”

The girl raised a finger and said,

“If you sleep too much at night, you won’t be able to sleep at night!”

“Ah, oh my.”

Heinrich laughed quite happily.

The 12-year-old girl was nagging at him the way she used to.

“Then can you get up and tell me where to go next?”

“Great.”

The two got out of bed, held hands and stood side by side, and went out.

Duncan followed them like a shadow.

Numerous stars were shining in the night sky of the campsite perched on the cliff.

Swaa, swaa. The sound of waves crashing against the sheer cliff could be heard.

The fishy and refreshing scent unique to the night sea gently enveloped the tip of the nose.

Whooo—

A long wind blew past his beautiful silver hair and the girl’s moonlit blonde hair.

The girl who had been looking at the sea at night whispered at last.

“Now, we are almost there.”

The 12-year-old Annette raised her little hand.

And she pointed in one direction with her index finger.

Very precisely.

“‘I’ am hiding there now.”

Heinrich and Duncan’s eyes widened at the same time as they saw ‘it’.

“……!”

“……!”

Ame: *screams* oh my god, Heinrich!! WHAT WHY HOW ASJKDFHKSNL *whispers* nono, i did not read that, and i read nothing, yes, nothing. *speaks in a louder voice* ahem, the title was inspired from taylor’s ’tis the damn season, and i took some time to even edit the lyrics in annette’s perspective lmao

So we could call it even

You could miss me once more for the weekend

‘Tis the crazy season, time to scream

I’m stayin’ at Bayonaire

And the road not taken looks real good now

It’s time to run away from the male leads

(again)