“Huh? Oh, yes. I have something to do at home...”
The maid named Binka nodded, saying she had no idea the handkerchief belonged to the Crown Prince.
She seemed worried that she might get in big trouble.
But Winfred didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed delighted to have the handkerchief back.
“Where did you find it?”
“Oh, that... it was on the restaurant floor.”
As expected, it was here! Winfred's prediction was correct. However, Binka, who had found the handkerchief, had left work early and was on vacation for two days, so he couldn't get it back.
“Thank you so much, Binka...! Thanks to you, I found something precious again.”
Winfred smiled brightly and gently took Binka's hand. Joy twinkled in his eyes.
“Oh, no, Your Highness. I didn’t do anything.”
"No, thank you so much! You're my benefactor! If you have any trouble in the future, just let me know, yes?"
Strictly speaking, Binka had merely picked up and stored the items that had fallen on the floor, but to Winfred, it felt as if Binka had been his benefactor who had saved him from the flames.
The handkerchief that held memories of Aila had that much meaning to him.
Binka, who had seemed frightened and embarrassed at first, smiled shyly as if she had been infected by Winfred's joy.
And Winfred, who had retrieved his beloved handkerchief, emptied his plate as if he had never had an appetite.
Roderick put the thin report he had just read down on top of a thick stack of papers.
Although the people who reported and the targets were all different, the content was similar.
This was because it contained the content, ‘I couldn’t find anything special.’
He had planted a secret agent around the nobles who had even a little bit of a relationship with 'First Prince Byron' and had them watch over him to make sure he didn't come into contact with Byron.
He didn't really expect anything in particular to come out. But maybe he couldn't give up hope.
It was disappointing that nothing came out like this.
No, he didn't give up all expectations. If he had never had any expectations in the first place, he wouldn't have been this disappointed.
'How can there be so few clues?'
If Byron is hiding within this empire, he must be receiving help from someone.
It was a little strange that the tail wasn't stepped on like this.
Phew. Roderick sighed and lowered his head. He felt a suffocating feeling inside, like his stomach was clogged, and he couldn't seem to get anything done.
'Should I cool my head for a moment?'
He got up from his desk, stretched his neck slightly, and left the office.
He was thinking of taking a short break and seeing Ophelia's face.
She was quite full and heavy, so she spent most of her time in the bedroom, and she was probably still there.
Arriving at the bedroom door, he carefully turned the doorknob. He didn't want to wake Ophelia, who might be asleep, by making any unnecessary noise.
But contrary to his expectations, she wasn't asleep. He could hear Ophelia talking to someone inside the room.
“I keep trying, but... breaking through the security magic is harder than I thought.”
“...I’m sorry for asking such a difficult favor. And... thank you so much.”
"Why do we need such words between us? Leave it alone, leave it alone."
From what he could hear, it seemed like the person she was talking to was Candice.
She's still trying to track down the magical tool that Ayla is said to have, but it doesn't seem to be going well.
“Hmm, hmm. I’m home, Ophelia. Candice is here too.”
Roderick opened the door and made a noise.
“Oh, Roderick! Come in!”
Candice waved cheerfully to welcome Roderick. It was a truly delightful gesture that even onlookers found enjoyable.
Roderick smiled slightly and sat down next to the bed where Ophelia was leaning.
“I wonder if I inadvertently interrupted your friends’ cozy time.”
"Hey, what's the owner saying? I was planning on going anyway. I have a meeting coming up soon."
Candice said, as always, nudging Roderick in the side with her pointed elbow.
While she was in the Empire, she had been participating in regular meetings remotely once a week using a video camera.
“Oh, was today Thursday?”
"Yes."
Candice greeted the couple with an annoyed expression, scratching her messy hair.
As she left the room, Roderick took Ophelia's hand and gave the back of her hand a quick kiss.
As Roderick lay face down on the bed, his hand intertwined with Ophelia's, she stroked his hair.
He closed his eyes gently and felt her touch.
As her soft hands touched his hair, the complicated thoughts floating around in his head seemed to disperse and disappear.
“Roderick?”
Then, Ophelia called his name.
“Yeah, why?”
Roderick raised his head slightly from where he had been bowing and looked up at his wife.
She stared intently into his eyes, as if trying to fathom his thoughts.
“Do you have any concerns?”
And she ended up reading Roderick's mind so easily.
"...No."
But Roderick lied shamelessly. He was disgusted with himself for having to do it, and his stomach started to churn again, but there was nothing he could do.
“Really? ...It looks difficult.”
Ophelia tucked his hair behind his ear with a worried expression.
Even though her husband was very blunt and didn't express himself well, even when he was tired, she could still tell.
That Roderick had something big on his mind.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
But he never ended up confessing his worries.
She wasn't upset. She had a firm belief in Roderick.
He was the kind of man who wouldn't lie to her unless he had a good reason to.
"...Is it so."
So Ophelia decided not to ask any further questions.
When Roderick is ready, he will tell her.
Waiting for Aila, who might never return, was a difficult time for both Roderick and Ophelia.
And then, she felt a gurgle under her stomach.
It's as if the baby in the womb is trying to comfort its parents.
As winter passed and the days grew warmer, the accumulated snow melted and green grass sprouted.
A deer was grazing on the newly sprouted grass with its head on the ground when it suddenly raised its head and looked around.
She feels like she hears a noise from somewhere, so she is very alert.
But it was too late. An arrow had come flying from somewhere and taken the deer's life.
“...Well done, Miss. Your skills are improving day by day.”
Cloud praised Aila for her success in hunting the deer, but she lowered her bow with a calm expression.
She had no choice but to hunt to secure food, but no matter how many times she did it, the feeling never became pleasant.
Aila looked at Cloud, who was carrying the deer, with an indifferent gaze.
It was covered in dirt and dust here and there, and it was in a tattered state, as if it had not been washed for a long time.
And it was probably the same for Aila.
This was because they were currently avoiding checkpoints and taking only rough routes.
She was exhausted from the constant camping, but there was nothing she could do.
It would take two more days to board the ship to the Inselkov Kingdom.
“The master will be pleased, my lady.”
“...Yeah, I’m glad if my father likes it.”
When Cloud said this, Aila couldn't keep her mouth shut.
It was unnatural for a girl whose father was her everything in life to not respond to such praise.
Even though she reacted in a completely normal way, Cloud still stared at Ayla.
It was a look in his eyes that seemed to have something he wanted to say.
"Why?"
“I said this because I thought you had grown up so much.”
Cloud opened his mouth as if he was feeling a new sensation.
“...That’s only natural. As time passes, children naturally grow up.”
"I see. But... you've matured so much in the past year, young lady. It's almost as if you've aged five years in that year."
At his subsequent words, Aila was speechless and fell silent.
It was as if she had been caught going back in time.
“...Let’s go quickly. Father will be waiting.”
Aila changed the subject for no reason and quickened her pace.
It wasn't a wrong statement. Byron, who was usually sensitive and ill-tempered, was now in even worse condition.
It was because he hadn't had a proper meal for several days.
Only by quickly going and cooking some deer meat and offering it could Byron stop his outburst.
When they returned to the temporary tent where they were staying, Capella came and gave them some deer meat as if she had been waiting for them.
Aila sat on a chair made of a tree stump and absentmindedly tossed the dagger at her waist into the air.
It was an award she received for her work during the last checkpoint incident.
And soon enough, a delicious smell began to waft in. The meal was ready.
“...Now I feel like I can live.”
After feasting on tender venison, Byron returned to his usual relaxed and languid self.
He praised Ayla, perhaps because he felt good after eating delicious food for the first time in a long time.
"I heard from Cloud that you caught a deer. So, my daughter?"
“Yes, Father.”
“...Thanks to you, I had a satisfying meal for the first time in a long time. To make your father happy is something to be commended for.”
Even though he praised her, he was still quite self-centered. Aila felt a subtle sense of offence, but forced herself to swallow it and put on a happy smile.
Because she heard praise from her father, whom she loves so much.
But as Byron continued to speak, Aila couldn't believe her ears. She was beginning to wonder if she was dreaming.
"Yes. If you go to the Inselkov Kingdom... I think I can give you a bit more freedom than you have now. It's a foreign country, so it won't be that dangerous."
The maid named Binka nodded, saying she had no idea the handkerchief belonged to the Crown Prince.
She seemed worried that she might get in big trouble.
But Winfred didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed delighted to have the handkerchief back.
“Where did you find it?”
“Oh, that... it was on the restaurant floor.”
As expected, it was here! Winfred's prediction was correct. However, Binka, who had found the handkerchief, had left work early and was on vacation for two days, so he couldn't get it back.
“Thank you so much, Binka...! Thanks to you, I found something precious again.”
Winfred smiled brightly and gently took Binka's hand. Joy twinkled in his eyes.
“Oh, no, Your Highness. I didn’t do anything.”
"No, thank you so much! You're my benefactor! If you have any trouble in the future, just let me know, yes?"
Strictly speaking, Binka had merely picked up and stored the items that had fallen on the floor, but to Winfred, it felt as if Binka had been his benefactor who had saved him from the flames.
The handkerchief that held memories of Aila had that much meaning to him.
Binka, who had seemed frightened and embarrassed at first, smiled shyly as if she had been infected by Winfred's joy.
And Winfred, who had retrieved his beloved handkerchief, emptied his plate as if he had never had an appetite.
***
Roderick put the thin report he had just read down on top of a thick stack of papers.
Although the people who reported and the targets were all different, the content was similar.
This was because it contained the content, ‘I couldn’t find anything special.’
He had planted a secret agent around the nobles who had even a little bit of a relationship with 'First Prince Byron' and had them watch over him to make sure he didn't come into contact with Byron.
He didn't really expect anything in particular to come out. But maybe he couldn't give up hope.
It was disappointing that nothing came out like this.
No, he didn't give up all expectations. If he had never had any expectations in the first place, he wouldn't have been this disappointed.
'How can there be so few clues?'
If Byron is hiding within this empire, he must be receiving help from someone.
It was a little strange that the tail wasn't stepped on like this.
Phew. Roderick sighed and lowered his head. He felt a suffocating feeling inside, like his stomach was clogged, and he couldn't seem to get anything done.
'Should I cool my head for a moment?'
He got up from his desk, stretched his neck slightly, and left the office.
He was thinking of taking a short break and seeing Ophelia's face.
She was quite full and heavy, so she spent most of her time in the bedroom, and she was probably still there.
Arriving at the bedroom door, he carefully turned the doorknob. He didn't want to wake Ophelia, who might be asleep, by making any unnecessary noise.
But contrary to his expectations, she wasn't asleep. He could hear Ophelia talking to someone inside the room.
“I keep trying, but... breaking through the security magic is harder than I thought.”
“...I’m sorry for asking such a difficult favor. And... thank you so much.”
"Why do we need such words between us? Leave it alone, leave it alone."
From what he could hear, it seemed like the person she was talking to was Candice.
She's still trying to track down the magical tool that Ayla is said to have, but it doesn't seem to be going well.
“Hmm, hmm. I’m home, Ophelia. Candice is here too.”
Roderick opened the door and made a noise.
“Oh, Roderick! Come in!”
Candice waved cheerfully to welcome Roderick. It was a truly delightful gesture that even onlookers found enjoyable.
Roderick smiled slightly and sat down next to the bed where Ophelia was leaning.
“I wonder if I inadvertently interrupted your friends’ cozy time.”
"Hey, what's the owner saying? I was planning on going anyway. I have a meeting coming up soon."
Candice said, as always, nudging Roderick in the side with her pointed elbow.
While she was in the Empire, she had been participating in regular meetings remotely once a week using a video camera.
“Oh, was today Thursday?”
"Yes."
Candice greeted the couple with an annoyed expression, scratching her messy hair.
As she left the room, Roderick took Ophelia's hand and gave the back of her hand a quick kiss.
As Roderick lay face down on the bed, his hand intertwined with Ophelia's, she stroked his hair.
He closed his eyes gently and felt her touch.
As her soft hands touched his hair, the complicated thoughts floating around in his head seemed to disperse and disappear.
“Roderick?”
Then, Ophelia called his name.
“Yeah, why?”
Roderick raised his head slightly from where he had been bowing and looked up at his wife.
She stared intently into his eyes, as if trying to fathom his thoughts.
“Do you have any concerns?”
And she ended up reading Roderick's mind so easily.
"...No."
But Roderick lied shamelessly. He was disgusted with himself for having to do it, and his stomach started to churn again, but there was nothing he could do.
“Really? ...It looks difficult.”
Ophelia tucked his hair behind his ear with a worried expression.
Even though her husband was very blunt and didn't express himself well, even when he was tired, she could still tell.
That Roderick had something big on his mind.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
But he never ended up confessing his worries.
She wasn't upset. She had a firm belief in Roderick.
He was the kind of man who wouldn't lie to her unless he had a good reason to.
"...Is it so."
So Ophelia decided not to ask any further questions.
When Roderick is ready, he will tell her.
Waiting for Aila, who might never return, was a difficult time for both Roderick and Ophelia.
And then, she felt a gurgle under her stomach.
It's as if the baby in the womb is trying to comfort its parents.
***
As winter passed and the days grew warmer, the accumulated snow melted and green grass sprouted.
A deer was grazing on the newly sprouted grass with its head on the ground when it suddenly raised its head and looked around.
She feels like she hears a noise from somewhere, so she is very alert.
But it was too late. An arrow had come flying from somewhere and taken the deer's life.
“...Well done, Miss. Your skills are improving day by day.”
Cloud praised Aila for her success in hunting the deer, but she lowered her bow with a calm expression.
She had no choice but to hunt to secure food, but no matter how many times she did it, the feeling never became pleasant.
Aila looked at Cloud, who was carrying the deer, with an indifferent gaze.
It was covered in dirt and dust here and there, and it was in a tattered state, as if it had not been washed for a long time.
And it was probably the same for Aila.
This was because they were currently avoiding checkpoints and taking only rough routes.
She was exhausted from the constant camping, but there was nothing she could do.
It would take two more days to board the ship to the Inselkov Kingdom.
“The master will be pleased, my lady.”
“...Yeah, I’m glad if my father likes it.”
When Cloud said this, Aila couldn't keep her mouth shut.
It was unnatural for a girl whose father was her everything in life to not respond to such praise.
Even though she reacted in a completely normal way, Cloud still stared at Ayla.
It was a look in his eyes that seemed to have something he wanted to say.
"Why?"
“I said this because I thought you had grown up so much.”
Cloud opened his mouth as if he was feeling a new sensation.
“...That’s only natural. As time passes, children naturally grow up.”
"I see. But... you've matured so much in the past year, young lady. It's almost as if you've aged five years in that year."
At his subsequent words, Aila was speechless and fell silent.
It was as if she had been caught going back in time.
“...Let’s go quickly. Father will be waiting.”
Aila changed the subject for no reason and quickened her pace.
It wasn't a wrong statement. Byron, who was usually sensitive and ill-tempered, was now in even worse condition.
It was because he hadn't had a proper meal for several days.
Only by quickly going and cooking some deer meat and offering it could Byron stop his outburst.
When they returned to the temporary tent where they were staying, Capella came and gave them some deer meat as if she had been waiting for them.
Aila sat on a chair made of a tree stump and absentmindedly tossed the dagger at her waist into the air.
It was an award she received for her work during the last checkpoint incident.
And soon enough, a delicious smell began to waft in. The meal was ready.
“...Now I feel like I can live.”
After feasting on tender venison, Byron returned to his usual relaxed and languid self.
He praised Ayla, perhaps because he felt good after eating delicious food for the first time in a long time.
"I heard from Cloud that you caught a deer. So, my daughter?"
“Yes, Father.”
“...Thanks to you, I had a satisfying meal for the first time in a long time. To make your father happy is something to be commended for.”
Even though he praised her, he was still quite self-centered. Aila felt a subtle sense of offence, but forced herself to swallow it and put on a happy smile.
Because she heard praise from her father, whom she loves so much.
But as Byron continued to speak, Aila couldn't believe her ears. She was beginning to wonder if she was dreaming.
"Yes. If you go to the Inselkov Kingdom... I think I can give you a bit more freedom than you have now. It's a foreign country, so it won't be that dangerous."
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