“...Apologize, Jacqueline.”
Cesare looked at us both alternately and sighed.
Well, in a world where even the Emperor is a crazy old man behind the scenes, I could understand why I was called a 'girl' a hundred times over.
“An apology, what? It’s okay.”
I said that with all my heart. No matter how much Olga doted on me, to the people outside the back alley, I was just like them.
Every time I went out on the street, I heard curse words like dirty rats, cesspool kids, and squalid people.
After my breasts started to grow a little, even sexual insults were added. To me, the word 'sissy' was ticklish, almost warm.
But Jacqueline, the man who was called that, was different. The sight of that big man with his shoulders hunched over seemed a bit funny.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Jacqueline!”
Cesare pressed him quickly. Jacqueline pouted her lips in displeasure.
He looked cute because his face was closer to that of a boy than a knight.
“No, it’s just us anyway. Who among these three doesn’t know that person’s true identity?”
“...Please watch your mouth. Where is His Excellency?”
“He will be at the back of the training ground. See you next time, Your Highness.”
“Goodbye.”
Jacqueline quickly ran away, scared of Cesare's reprimand. I waved my hand cheerfully.
Since I was always the one being bullied, I didn't really hate that kid who was in a similar situation. When I saw him cheerfully winking one eye and saluting until the end, I couldn't help but laugh.
If the two of us start cursing at Cesare, we could probably stay up all night.
As I was thinking about nothing, I suddenly saw Laskan in the distance. I could recognize him at a glance, even amid the chaos. He was a head taller than the others.
He was standing before a tent surrounded by knights.
“What's going on?”
I ran over to greet him cheerfully. Cesare, who was following behind me, taunted me by asking if I had forgotten all the manners I had learned, but I ignored him.
Laskan gently caught me as I almost fell and said.
“You said you wanted to meet Enoch.”
Yes! Enoch. How did I completely forget about him?
“Is he in here?”
“Yes. Tomorrow is the 9th expeditionary force’s departure date. He volunteered as a criminal, so he is under arrest.”
I was so surprised that I kept my mouth shut.
Come to think of it, it had already been a few weeks since I first heard about him from Laskan. I had completely forgotten about Enoch because of all the classes and homework I had been doing.
“Before you meet him, I have something to tell you. According to military law, a person who has volunteered cannot withdraw from service.”
“...”
“...But if, as a Princess, you were to appoint him as your guardian knight in the future, it would be different.”
At first I didn't understand why he was saying that to me.
Laskan was giving me a sneaky hint. He said that even if I made a fuss, he wouldn't be able to make Enoch go, but if I made him the Princess's knight, he could bring him back.
As I stood in front, one of the knights lifted the curtain of the tent.
“Is it okay if I go in alone?”
“I’ll wait here. I think the two of you have something to talk about.”
It was a thoughtful remark. I smiled briefly.
"Thank you."
I took a deep breath and entered the dark tent. It was so dark inside that I turned up the light from the lantern placed in front of the tent entrance.
Enoch was locked in a cage with his hands cuffed. He didn't seem to know I was there yet.
I wasn't sure what kind of face I should have when facing him. I didn't think I could selfishly blame him for all his misfortunes by saying that I ran away, but I didn't think he would be hurt.
I hesitated and then timidly called him.
"Enoch?"
He noticed me and looked at me with surprise.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
He stood up and tried to salute me. I quickly waved my hand away.
“Enoch, you don’t have to. I’m still Sasha.”
“You’re completely different from before. You’ve become so elegant that I can’t even recognize you.”
Enoch smiled gently. There was not a trace of accusation in his brown eyes.
I mustered up my courage and said.
“I wanted to apologize. If I had listened to Enoch back then, it wouldn’t have come to this...”
He shook his head.
“From the moment I first met you, Lord Zachary was certain that you would be Her Highness the Princess. I shared that certainty. It was my fault for not telling you in advance, even though I knew the truth. I understand that Your Highness was anxious.”
“...I heard that you volunteered for the expeditionary force. And that if I become the Princess, I can stop it.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s my fault. If I had done something wrong, it could have caused problems for your safety.”
"But..."
“No. No matter what I heard, the decision was mine. If I committed a crime that directly affected the safety of the royal family, it should have been punished immediately. Even the fact that I was able to volunteer for the punitive force was due to the consideration of His Excellency the Duke and Your Highness.”
“...”
Enoch's resolve seemed firm, even though it was not his fault at all.
I hesitated for a moment and then lightly grabbed the back of his hand that was holding the bars.
“If I ever get the power to appoint someone as a Guardian Knight later, will you come back then? Is that okay?”
“Even though I am a sinner... If you could do that, it would be a great honor.”
I wanted to pat his skinny shoulder, but I couldn't because he was blocked by the iron bars.
Just before I left the tent, Enoch called to me again. Your Highness. It was a very small voice, and I could barely hear it.
“I sincerely hope that Your Highness will regain the glory that is rightfully yours.”
It was something I had never heard from anyone. I raised my trembling eyes and looked straight at Enoch.
"Thank you."
It was heavy to leave Enoch like that and go back. I was upset that I wasn't qualified yet and couldn't save Enoch right away. He really didn't do anything wrong.
When I grumbled that if I wasn't the Princess, Enoch wouldn't have put the royal family in danger, so it wasn't Enoch's fault yet, Cesare comforted me with a strange look in his eyes.
“It would be better for Lord Enoch’s honor if he volunteered for the expeditionary force. He only has to wait a few months, so it would be a reward if you appointed him as a Guardian Knight.”
Laskan remained back at the training grounds to finalize preparations for the expedition. Even though he was not going out himself, many tasks required his approval.
I suggested that we go back to the corridor along the eastern garden to appease my melancholy mood, although I was more eager to delay the next class by just five minutes.
Cesare nodded as if he knew he was being deceived.
“Sasha.”
As I was walking, looking at the floor, I suddenly raised my head. A man was walking across the hallway. It was Zachary.
I've told many people my name before, but they all called me Young Lady. Now, that man is the only one who calls me Sasha. Why is he here?
“Zachary? What are you doing here?”
He smiled at me and pretended to know me, then turned to Cesare and spoke.
“Cesare. Please step aside for a moment. We have something to discuss.”
“But, Your Grace..."
“Wait a minute. Your Grace? Zachary? So he’s Laskan’s brother?”
As far as I know, Duke Ashkhabad didn't have a younger brother.
I know how much of a fuss was made in the newspapers when he was fifteen and his parents died, leaving him alone in this huge castle.
I was only eight years old at the time. Even in George, the furthest from the capital, people were extremely worried about the little Duke.
“Your Highness, he are His Excellency cousin.”
Cesare replied with an annoyed look, then turned his gaze back to Zachary.
“Anyway, Your Grace, that won’t do. His Excellency has given orders..."
“It won’t take long. I just want to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. Right, Sasha?”
“Well, yeah...”
Although it was a bit shaky, there was still a story left to finish.
Cesare looked at us both alternately with meaningful eyes, then bowed.
“I will be waiting at the garden entrance.”
We stood there, staring at each other's faces from afar, waiting for the sound of Cesare's footsteps to fade away.
Maybe it was because I heard that the two were cousins, but I saw a lot of Laskan on Zachary's face.
But the impression I got was completely different. While Laskan was a solid person who seemed to be concerned about me and caring for me, I always felt uneasy when I met Zachary because I couldn't figure out his true intentions.
Finally, Zachary spoke first.
“Sasha, why didn’t you follow Enoch?”
“I have a question for you too. Everyone says I might be the Princess. Did Zachary know that too? Is that why you care so much about me?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Really?”
I squinted my eyes.
According to Enoch, Zachary was convinced from the beginning that I was the Princess. If that was true, then either Zachary or Enoch was lying to me.
Cesare looked at us both alternately and sighed.
Well, in a world where even the Emperor is a crazy old man behind the scenes, I could understand why I was called a 'girl' a hundred times over.
“An apology, what? It’s okay.”
I said that with all my heart. No matter how much Olga doted on me, to the people outside the back alley, I was just like them.
Every time I went out on the street, I heard curse words like dirty rats, cesspool kids, and squalid people.
After my breasts started to grow a little, even sexual insults were added. To me, the word 'sissy' was ticklish, almost warm.
But Jacqueline, the man who was called that, was different. The sight of that big man with his shoulders hunched over seemed a bit funny.
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Jacqueline!”
Cesare pressed him quickly. Jacqueline pouted her lips in displeasure.
He looked cute because his face was closer to that of a boy than a knight.
“No, it’s just us anyway. Who among these three doesn’t know that person’s true identity?”
“...Please watch your mouth. Where is His Excellency?”
“He will be at the back of the training ground. See you next time, Your Highness.”
“Goodbye.”
Jacqueline quickly ran away, scared of Cesare's reprimand. I waved my hand cheerfully.
Since I was always the one being bullied, I didn't really hate that kid who was in a similar situation. When I saw him cheerfully winking one eye and saluting until the end, I couldn't help but laugh.
If the two of us start cursing at Cesare, we could probably stay up all night.
As I was thinking about nothing, I suddenly saw Laskan in the distance. I could recognize him at a glance, even amid the chaos. He was a head taller than the others.
He was standing before a tent surrounded by knights.
“What's going on?”
I ran over to greet him cheerfully. Cesare, who was following behind me, taunted me by asking if I had forgotten all the manners I had learned, but I ignored him.
Laskan gently caught me as I almost fell and said.
“You said you wanted to meet Enoch.”
Yes! Enoch. How did I completely forget about him?
“Is he in here?”
“Yes. Tomorrow is the 9th expeditionary force’s departure date. He volunteered as a criminal, so he is under arrest.”
I was so surprised that I kept my mouth shut.
Come to think of it, it had already been a few weeks since I first heard about him from Laskan. I had completely forgotten about Enoch because of all the classes and homework I had been doing.
“Before you meet him, I have something to tell you. According to military law, a person who has volunteered cannot withdraw from service.”
“...”
“...But if, as a Princess, you were to appoint him as your guardian knight in the future, it would be different.”
At first I didn't understand why he was saying that to me.
Laskan was giving me a sneaky hint. He said that even if I made a fuss, he wouldn't be able to make Enoch go, but if I made him the Princess's knight, he could bring him back.
As I stood in front, one of the knights lifted the curtain of the tent.
“Is it okay if I go in alone?”
“I’ll wait here. I think the two of you have something to talk about.”
It was a thoughtful remark. I smiled briefly.
"Thank you."
I took a deep breath and entered the dark tent. It was so dark inside that I turned up the light from the lantern placed in front of the tent entrance.
Enoch was locked in a cage with his hands cuffed. He didn't seem to know I was there yet.
I wasn't sure what kind of face I should have when facing him. I didn't think I could selfishly blame him for all his misfortunes by saying that I ran away, but I didn't think he would be hurt.
I hesitated and then timidly called him.
"Enoch?"
He noticed me and looked at me with surprise.
“Your Highness the Princess.”
He stood up and tried to salute me. I quickly waved my hand away.
“Enoch, you don’t have to. I’m still Sasha.”
“You’re completely different from before. You’ve become so elegant that I can’t even recognize you.”
Enoch smiled gently. There was not a trace of accusation in his brown eyes.
I mustered up my courage and said.
“I wanted to apologize. If I had listened to Enoch back then, it wouldn’t have come to this...”
He shook his head.
“From the moment I first met you, Lord Zachary was certain that you would be Her Highness the Princess. I shared that certainty. It was my fault for not telling you in advance, even though I knew the truth. I understand that Your Highness was anxious.”
“...I heard that you volunteered for the expeditionary force. And that if I become the Princess, I can stop it.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s my fault. If I had done something wrong, it could have caused problems for your safety.”
"But..."
“No. No matter what I heard, the decision was mine. If I committed a crime that directly affected the safety of the royal family, it should have been punished immediately. Even the fact that I was able to volunteer for the punitive force was due to the consideration of His Excellency the Duke and Your Highness.”
“...”
Enoch's resolve seemed firm, even though it was not his fault at all.
I hesitated for a moment and then lightly grabbed the back of his hand that was holding the bars.
“If I ever get the power to appoint someone as a Guardian Knight later, will you come back then? Is that okay?”
“Even though I am a sinner... If you could do that, it would be a great honor.”
I wanted to pat his skinny shoulder, but I couldn't because he was blocked by the iron bars.
Just before I left the tent, Enoch called to me again. Your Highness. It was a very small voice, and I could barely hear it.
“I sincerely hope that Your Highness will regain the glory that is rightfully yours.”
It was something I had never heard from anyone. I raised my trembling eyes and looked straight at Enoch.
"Thank you."
***
It was heavy to leave Enoch like that and go back. I was upset that I wasn't qualified yet and couldn't save Enoch right away. He really didn't do anything wrong.
When I grumbled that if I wasn't the Princess, Enoch wouldn't have put the royal family in danger, so it wasn't Enoch's fault yet, Cesare comforted me with a strange look in his eyes.
“It would be better for Lord Enoch’s honor if he volunteered for the expeditionary force. He only has to wait a few months, so it would be a reward if you appointed him as a Guardian Knight.”
Laskan remained back at the training grounds to finalize preparations for the expedition. Even though he was not going out himself, many tasks required his approval.
I suggested that we go back to the corridor along the eastern garden to appease my melancholy mood, although I was more eager to delay the next class by just five minutes.
Cesare nodded as if he knew he was being deceived.
“Sasha.”
As I was walking, looking at the floor, I suddenly raised my head. A man was walking across the hallway. It was Zachary.
I've told many people my name before, but they all called me Young Lady. Now, that man is the only one who calls me Sasha. Why is he here?
“Zachary? What are you doing here?”
He smiled at me and pretended to know me, then turned to Cesare and spoke.
“Cesare. Please step aside for a moment. We have something to discuss.”
“But, Your Grace..."
“Wait a minute. Your Grace? Zachary? So he’s Laskan’s brother?”
As far as I know, Duke Ashkhabad didn't have a younger brother.
I know how much of a fuss was made in the newspapers when he was fifteen and his parents died, leaving him alone in this huge castle.
I was only eight years old at the time. Even in George, the furthest from the capital, people were extremely worried about the little Duke.
“Your Highness, he are His Excellency cousin.”
Cesare replied with an annoyed look, then turned his gaze back to Zachary.
“Anyway, Your Grace, that won’t do. His Excellency has given orders..."
“It won’t take long. I just want to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in a while. Right, Sasha?”
“Well, yeah...”
Although it was a bit shaky, there was still a story left to finish.
Cesare looked at us both alternately with meaningful eyes, then bowed.
“I will be waiting at the garden entrance.”
We stood there, staring at each other's faces from afar, waiting for the sound of Cesare's footsteps to fade away.
Maybe it was because I heard that the two were cousins, but I saw a lot of Laskan on Zachary's face.
But the impression I got was completely different. While Laskan was a solid person who seemed to be concerned about me and caring for me, I always felt uneasy when I met Zachary because I couldn't figure out his true intentions.
Finally, Zachary spoke first.
“Sasha, why didn’t you follow Enoch?”
“I have a question for you too. Everyone says I might be the Princess. Did Zachary know that too? Is that why you care so much about me?”
“I didn’t know.”
“Really?”
I squinted my eyes.
According to Enoch, Zachary was convinced from the beginning that I was the Princess. If that was true, then either Zachary or Enoch was lying to me.
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