IWLUBCD - Chapter 20

But why did the maid hand me a note written in an ancient language that only a professor could interpret?

It's not really a secret, but something about a wedding.

It was when I was tilting my head with an uneasy feeling that I couldn't explain.

A familiar voice was heard along with the tinkling sound of a bell.

“Ellie.”

“... Ernest?”

My mouth opened at the unexpected appearance of the Crown Prince.

“What are you doing here?”

“I happened to see the carriage of the Duke of Cretian on the way.”

Ernest approached me with a warm smile that made me feel like I was melting.

“What were you doing here?”

“Oh, I came to get a dress fitted, but I got there too early. I was just browsing the bookstore for a bit. What about Ernest?”

I said, putting the book I was holding back in its place.

“I also came out for a bit because I had something to do...”

He looked at me for a while, his voice trailing off.

“By the way, Ellie. Did something happen?”

“...No. Not at all.”

But, contrary to my reply that nothing was wrong, my face was dark.

The Crown Prince, who had been staring at me like that for a moment, said.

“Ellie. You know there’s a festival in the capital today, right? Why don’t you get your dress together later and come enjoy the festival with me?”

"Festival?"

Somehow, the atmosphere seemed to be bustling the whole time I was here.

I who just happened to want a change of pace, nodded.

“Yes. Then tell the people outside that you’re going to see the festival...”

"No."

He stopped me with a playful expression.

“Let’s run away.”

"Yes?"

“Hey, boss. Where is the back door?”

“Wait, wait a minute...! Run away!”

But before he could hear my answer, Ernest grabbed my wrist and dragged me away.

“Don’t you want to run away?”

“...”

I smiled at the Crown Prince's words.

Actually, I wanted to run away.

It was something I had thought about dozens of times while locked in my room.

But it was something I had never said or done.

Did that man enter my mind and then come out?

My heart began to pound.

But one thing was certain.

The one word he blurted out about running away was the thing I wanted to hear the most here.

***

“Somehow, I felt uneasy when I saw the carriage of the Duke of Cretian.”

Cullen, the Crown Prince's knight, grumbled and kicked the floor.

It's already been an hour since the Crown Prince and his fiancée disappeared.

They waited for him, thinking he would just go out for a bit of fresh air.

It seemed like the two of them had no intention of returning.

And the Crown Prince's attendants were waiting for them calmly, without any sign of panic as if this kind of thing happened often.

But unlike them who were calm, Elizabeth's people were in complete confusion.

“Sir, is it possible that our young lady has been kidnapped or something like that?”

“Don’t worry. She will definitely be back by the end of the festival. Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince has people guarding him, so it’s okay.”

Only then did May feel relieved as if she had been relieved.

Meanwhile, Carsis had been waiting for Elizabeth for an hour at the same spot where she had told him to wait.

As if he believed she would return at any moment.

“Hey, you there. Do you think the lady will come back if you just stand there?”

Cullen told Carsis several times to give up, but it was no use.

“We said we would take her safely to the mansion later, but that’s what happened.”

Cullen clicked his tongue as he looked at Carsis. Then, as if he was fed up, he turned around and walked away.

As time passed, the sun was slowly setting.

Carsis was still standing there.

***

How far did we run?

We were breathing heavily at the corner of an alley far from the bookstore.

“Haa, haa-.”

The two people let out heavy breaths that had risen to the tip of their chins.

“Ha-. I guess, haa. I guess I shook it off well?”

I nodded, unable to even answer.

It's been a really long time.

I've never run so hard that I can't breathe.

Even though my body was tired, my head felt clearer than ever.

"Are you okay?"

“...Haa. Yes, it’s okay. But, is it okay to sneak out like this?”

I asked Ernest if his racing heart had calmed down to some extent.

I ran out as if following his words, but I wondered if it was okay.

“Well, whatever. We’re not really running away. We just have to get back before it’s too late.”

"But..."

“Ellie. Just ignore all that and enjoy yourself today. It’s a festival that only comes once a year, right?”

When I looked around at Ernest's words, I saw people walking around the streets excitedly.

'Come to think of it, I've never really seen the capital properly.'

I just took a look as I passed by on a carriage.

Today was the first time I took to the streets like this.

Ernest grabbed my wrist as I stared blankly into the distance.

“Forget it, Ellie. And just enjoy today.”

He smiled brightly at me.

And at that moment.

Thump-.

I, startled by my pounding heart, put my hand on my left chest.

‘Why is it like this...’

A smile was as refreshing as the breeze blowing in midsummer.

Golden hair that shines dazzlingly like the sun.

Red eyes that seem like they could melt even the coldest of hearts. A smile that makes those who see it feel good.

They say laughter is contagious.

I was also laughing along with Ernest.

Brighter than ever.

***

Today, I experienced many things I had never experienced before.

Street foods I tried for the first time.

A scent I smell for the first time.

Even the street scenes that I saw for the first time.

It's been quite some time since I've been here, but there are so many things I've experienced for the first time.

Although I had many new experiences in Lytskal before, the atmosphere in the north and the capital was clearly different.

A more bustling, flashy, and warm feeling.

I, who was sitting in a park on a deserted street and feeling the spring breeze blowing, closed my eyes.

Then suddenly a question occurred to me and I looked at Ernest.

“But how did you know that I wanted to run away?”

At those words, the Crown Prince smiled faintly and tousled my hair that was tousled by the wind.

“You had the same face as me.”

"... Yes?"

“Because I always wanted to run away. From my position as Crown Prince. From this country. From my father, the Emperor.”

There was a hint of bitterness on his face.

“Everything around me felt like it was suffocating me. Everyone expected something from me as if it were a given. It was suffocating. I didn’t want to be Crown Prince.”

“...”

“Ellie. Being a Crown Princess will be much harder than you think. Sometimes you will feel like the burden on your shoulders is too much. People you don’t even know will expect a lot from you. Just because you are a member of the royal family, you will have to live your life giving up everything you want to do and say.”

Suddenly, the pain in Ernest's eyes became clear.

“I’m sorry. The man who loved you happened to be the Crown Prince.”

He took my hand.

A large, warm warmth enveloped my hands.

“So, Ellie. For now, live however you want. Right now, you are just a precious daughter of the Duke’s family.”

'Do whatever I want...'

And I repeated those words to myself for a long time.

***

Only after the sun had completely set did the carriage carrying the two arrive in front of the Cretian mansion.

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