December 21, 2020
"Hello! We've met before, haven't we?"
"......."
"Back in the study. You might not remember, but I entered the study, and I saw you there...."
The man waved his hand awkwardly, trying to make himself recognizable. Alicia stared up at him for a moment before a soft smile appeared on her lips.
"No, I remember."
"Really?"
"Yes, I do."
Watching the way the man’s mouth loosened in relief, Alicia subtly reached behind her back. His face was filled with delight, but she wasn't particularly pleased by his familiarity. There was only one reason why a stranger would try to act close to her—because he saw her as Cabelenus’s woman.
"Is there something you need?"
"Oh, no. It's nothing, really. I just saw a familiar face and thought I'd say hello."
"A familiar face?"
"You look a lot like someone I know."
"......."
"Ah, saying it like that makes it sound like a cheap line, doesn’t it?"
The man scratched his head with a sheepish grin. Despite his large frame, his smile was bright and almost childlike.
"Just to be clear, I’m not trying to flirt with you. I just wanted to talk for a bit."
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Well... I know this might be a bit forward, but... could I ask for your name?"
"My name?"
Alicia blinked.
"Yes, in Roakin, it’s customary to exchange names before a conversation."
"That might be a little difficult."
"Pardon?"
As Alicia's expression hardened, the man instinctively took a step back.
"I was always told that when giving my name, I should hear the other person’s name first."
"...Oh! R-right! My apologies! Now that I think about it, I never introduced myself."
The man flinched in embarrassment, covering his face with both hands. He was usually good at handling people, but looking into those ashen-gray eyes turned his mind blank. It was as if he had regressed to his timid childhood.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"A-ah, well! I guess I just got a little flustered!"
"There’s no need to be."
Alicia smiled gently, and the corners of his mouth twitched. Even if it was just a possibility, he couldn't help but feel hopeful. Auburn hair and gray eyes weren’t rare, but seeing them together made his heart race in anticipation.
"Who do I remind you of?"
"Well..."
"Is it difficult to say?"
"It’s not a pleasant story to tell."
"If it's difficult, you don’t have to."
She had only asked out of courtesy. Alicia had no intention of continuing this conversation for long.
"...A child."
"A child? You seem young, but you're already—"
"No! That’s not it!"
Flustered, the man quickly interrupted her. Alicia stared at him with wide eyes. He seized the opportunity to continue.
"I'm not married. The child I'm talking about... I met them a long time ago."
"For them to have left such an impression, you must have been close."
"Not really. I just..."
He unconsciously averted his gaze. The sparkle in Alicia’s gray eyes was different from the child’s, yet the color alone stirred a deep thirst within him.
"...I owe them an apology."
"An apology?"
"Yes, an apology."
Forcing himself to remain composed, he smiled again.
And then—Alicia’s body suddenly swayed.
"A-are you all right?"
The expression he had carefully maintained crumbled. He looked down at her, concerned, before realizing that, somehow, he had ended up supporting her. His body stiffened.
"Oh, yes. I’m fine."
Alicia smiled and gently pulled her hands away. He blinked as the warmth between them disappeared in an instant.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I’ve just been overexerting myself lately. It’s nothing serious."
"Even so, you should see a doctor—"
"It’s fine, really."
She cut him off firmly and took a step back. His throat went dry. The wary look in her eyes was like that of a wounded animal. He had thought she and the child were nothing alike apart from their hair and eye color.
But now, he wasn’t so sure.
It was the same look that didn’t belong to a noble lady.
Just like how that child had never had the eyes of a princess.
***
"You’ve been meeting Roakin people frequently?"
"It’s happened too often to be a coincidence."
Alicia frowned slightly. No matter how she looked at it, the man who kept appearing out of nowhere, smiling at her, seemed suspicious.
"Was he a young man or someone older?"
"He was young. A little younger than you, I think."
"Then he must be one of the escorts."
"An escort?"
"That’s what he introduced himself as, at least."
Cabelenus shoved both hands into his pockets. If he didn’t, he might lose control and reach for his sword.
"Then he has another identity?"
"He introduced himself as Fenril, but that’s an imperial name. The people of Roakin hate the empire. There’s no way one of them would use it."
"Maybe he’s trying to get on your good side."
"If he wanted to gain favor, it should have been someone important using an imperial name, not just an escort."
Cabelenus shook his head.
"Besides, the Roakin chieftain has a son named Fenril."
"The chieftain’s son..."
Alicia’s mind drifted back to a hazy memory.
An old betrothal.
Back then, the person mentioned in the engagement talks had been the chieftain’s youngest son, three years her junior.
"If we put it in terms of a normal country... that would make him a prince."
"Do you think he really is?"
"Who knows? Unless he reveals his identity himself, it’s just speculation."
"......."
"Are you worried?"
"Yes... it’s unsettling when I don’t know someone’s true intentions."
Alicia wrapped her arms around herself, as if seeking comfort.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"Don’t worry too much. At the very least, neither you nor Mikael will be in danger inside this castle."
"......."
"I told you before—nothing in this castle escapes my eyes and ears."
His gaze sharpened, shadowed beneath his lashes. Once was enough to suffer from a rat’s treachery. His nest would never be raided again. The past eight years had not been a light stretch of time.
"You don’t need to hide. Just live as you always have. Do what you want, take what you desire. You’re free to do that as much as you please."
He had brought her here because he could afford to let her do so. As he spoke, Cabelenus shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. If he couldn’t see them, he wouldn’t want to reach out. But if he saw her, he wanted to touch her. And once he started, he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop. If he couldn’t bring himself to stop, it was better never to start.
"Hearing you say that puts me at ease. And honestly, that person didn’t seem to have a bad impression."
She had spoken lightly, hoping the situation would turn in a favorable direction, but even that casual remark made the man’s lips twist slightly.
"A good impression, you say?"
"I only saw him briefly, but he smiled a lot. It was pleasant to see."
"Pleasant, huh...."
Cabelenus’s right eyebrow lifted slightly.
"And he was about your height, which was surprising. There aren’t many people as tall as you, even in Schwarhan."
"So, you were paying quite a bit of attention to him."
"It was suspicious, so of course I—wait, are you jealous right now?"
Alicia’s frown deepened.
Cabelenus, rather than denying it, simply nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I told you—I’m a jealous man."
"That’s not what matters right now."
"It matters to me. Because I’m the one at a loss here."
Cabelenus leaned in slightly. Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden closeness.
"I must be hopeless. At first, just having you near me was enough. But now, I want more and more."
"More?"
"Yes, more. Every time we talk, every time you smile at me, I start wanting more."
He chuckled bitterly.
If he had never known anything, maybe he would have been fine.
But now that he knew—now that he understood—the desire burned him alive.
"What is it that you want?"
"Something beyond whatever it is you’re thinking."
Cabelenus lowered his head.
Alicia tilted hers up, meeting his gaze.
They were so close she could feel his breath against her skin.
But that was as far as he went.
So close that just a little movement would close the gap—but instead, he remained frozen, staring down at her as if nailed to the spot.
Alicia took a careful breath.
Even so, her heart pounded relentlessly.
There was something gratifying about the way he restrained himself, despite the hunger in his eyes.
"You were right again this time."
"About what?"
"If you don’t want it, I can’t do anything."
"......."
"I never want to be hated by you again."
"I don’t hate you. How could I, when you’re trying so hard?"
Alicia’s hand brushed against his cheek.
Cabelenus frowned slightly, but he didn’t push her away.
"That’s unfair."
"Why is it unfair?"
"When you say things like that, it makes it even harder for me to do anything."
Cabelenus murmured, uncharacteristically weak.
Alicia’s lips curved as she gently stroked his cheek.
Despite how solid his body was—like something carved from unyielding stone—his face was unexpectedly soft.
That contrast made her fingertips tingle with amusement.
"I’m not always right. I’ve been wrong before, too."
"Like what?"
"You."
Alicia’s smile deepened.
"I was wrong to think you’d never change."
"......."
"Cabelenus."
"......."
"I believe in you now. You’re doing well, and you’ll only keep getting better."
Alicia reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Cabelenus stiffened in shock, bent awkwardly at the waist, unable to move.
"No matter what happens, I know you’ll protect Mikael and me. And you’ll be a good father to him, too."
She whispered softly in his ear and closed her eyes.
Her late mother had always told her that words held power. That she had to be careful with them. That any wish spoken with enough sincerity would come true.
Alicia had never fully believed it.
But just this once, she prayed her words carried weight.
***
"Did you get enough rest?"
"Thanks to your consideration, I did."
"Good."
Cabelenus leaned on his elbow, his chin resting on his hand as he signaled to the maid beside him. She moved smoothly, placing a teacup on the table.
"It’s Lafsan tea. Helps with sleep."
"......."
"I’m not a fan of things like this, but I thought it might be good for you."
His gaze shifted toward Fenril.
Fenril hesitated under the weight of it before stepping forward.
"It seems Your Highness has many eyes and ears in the palace."
"When dealing with guests who refuse to reveal their identities, one must be cautious."
"But you already know who I am, don’t you?"
"Rather than knowing, I’d say I’ve made a deduction. But I still need confirmation."
Cabelenus casually ran his thumb along his jawline. His stare was akin to a beast locking onto its prey.
"Confirmation, you say. It seems you’re more meticulous than I expected."
"If you pronounce ‘Fenril’ in the Roakin style, it becomes ‘Fenrir.’ And, coincidentally, the Roakin chieftain’s youngest son was also named Fenrir."
"That name is common in Roakin."
Fenril smiled easily, but Cabelenus did not.
Instead, he scrutinized him, carefully ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) assessing every detail.
"You look older than in the portrait I received."
"......."
"Though, that’s expected. It was painted during your coming-of-age ceremony, wasn’t it? And Roakin’s adulthood rites are held early. Comparing it to your current age, the difference is even clearer."
"How did you acquire my portrait?"
"My subordinates are far more capable than you think."
Cabelenus tilted his head slightly.
In Roakin, adulthood was recognized at fifteen.
This year marked exactly ten years since the chieftain’s youngest son had come of age.
Ten years was long enough for a man’s face to change significantly from a childhood portrait.
But even so, traces of his younger self remained.
