It was impulsive to catch Nike.
Even as I climbed the stairs as quickly as possible, but still stealthily, I found myself dumbfounded.
The reason I call Nike a fool is that he is kind and gentle...
'It's not like he's an idiot waiting around in such a dangerous situation!'
That's just plain stupid!
Would anyone be crazy enough to wait for a child who looks like she's about to wake up her dad and tell him there's someone suspicious downstairs?
Of course, he would have left right away, but I hurried just in case.
'What about Ryan?'
A tense moment as I passed Ryan's room, which was right next to mine.
“Snore... Gulp!”
Even as I climbed the stairs as quickly as possible, but still stealthily, I found myself dumbfounded.
The reason I call Nike a fool is that he is kind and gentle...
'It's not like he's an idiot waiting around in such a dangerous situation!'
That's just plain stupid!
Would anyone be crazy enough to wait for a child who looks like she's about to wake up her dad and tell him there's someone suspicious downstairs?
Of course, he would have left right away, but I hurried just in case.
'What about Ryan?'
A tense moment as I passed Ryan's room, which was right next to mine.
“Snore... Gulp!”
The sound of snoring pierces through the door.
I was so dumbfounded that I closed my eyes tightly.
‘You're sleeping soundly without even knowing what I just did...’
Of course, I wanted him to sleep, but it was a bit absurd that he was actually sleeping peacefully.
I quickly went into my room.
On the bed. I ripped up the note Luna had probably left for Ryan, then quickly opened the first drawer of the desk.
A flat gift wrapped in pretty wrapping paper.
'I guess I knew this would happen today.'
It was amazing. I bought it because I was reminded of Nike when I went out with Revan during the day.
I took it and went out again.
Nike will probably already be gone anyway, so just take your time...
“...?”
I was surprised.
Because Nike didn't go and stayed the same.
'Are you really that stupid?'
No, I told him to wait, but I didn't know he'd actually wait.
I was momentarily taken aback, but shook my head and came to my senses, then approached.
“Dad is sleeping soundly, snoring, oblivious to anything. He probably doesn’t even know I’m gone.”
I handed over a gift.
"Thank you so much for saving me and bringing me back. Please take this. And don't worry about it. Don't lose sleep over the thought of me telling Dad what happened today."
I was in a hurry, so my words came out hurriedly.
I need to say something pretty, so that people can remember me...
"Hey, please remember me every time you use this. Don't forget. I will never forget the help you gave me today, and I will definitely repay you someday."
Nike didn't answer. Instead, he looked at the gift I offered for a moment, then accepted it.
And he turned his horse's head and left.
I watched Nike walk away and bravely wiped away the tears that were flowing down my face.
'Please wait.'
“Let's never fall in love.”
I can't do that even if I die.
Once I love you, I'll love you until I die. I'm a very clingy and petty woman.
Instead, this time, I want you to feel at ease even if you love me.
So that we can love each other in a world where we don't have to worry about anything, without worrying about what anyone else thinks.
I will definitely make it happen.
***
Handkerchief.
It was something of great significance.
After our first meeting, I had not had a chance to see Nike for a long time, so I was very anxious and finally managed to arrange a meal.
I was grateful for the salad dressing I had smeared on my mouth that day.
I received a handkerchief from Nike.
“I’ll wash it and return it to you next time we meet.”
Because he gave me an excuse to meet again.
I felt sad as I returned the cleanly washed handkerchief to our next meeting.
‘What am I going to say next time we meet...?’
So, I put strength into my hand as I returned the handkerchief. No matter how much Nike pulled, it wouldn't budge.
“...Please give it to me next time we meet.”
"Yes?"
As if he had read my mind, the man smiled slightly and said the following.
Next meeting.
This time, a generous white salad dressing was placed on Nike's lips.
It was a chance. I offered my handkerchief instead of the one he had brought to return.
“Oh my, did I just give away mine?”
“...I’ll wash it and bring it to you later.”
"Yes. Um, by any chance, may I use the handkerchief I was going to give you today until I get mine back? I don't have any extra handkerchiefs..."
“Yes, please do so.”
Nike was a kind man who believed even the most ridiculous statement, such as that the daughter of the richest family in the empire didn't have a single spare handkerchief.
See you next time.
I planned to take the handkerchief when Nike returned it and say that I had forgotten it.
But Nike spoke first.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to return the Princess’s handkerchief.”
"Yes?"
It was amazing.
At our next meeting, I forgot to bring his handkerchief, and at the next meeting, Nike forgot to bring mine.
If we exchanged handkerchiefs properly and never saw each other again, there would always be sauce on our lips that day. Then, once again, our handkerchiefs would be in each other's hands.
'You're doing this on purpose, right?'
If you didn't know, you were stupid.
Whenever I thought of the man who had already forgotten his handkerchief four times, my heart sank.
***
I stayed up most of the night with my eyes wide open.
I thought of Nike and recalled the innocent days when we exchanged handkerchiefs.
I got out of bed when it was light outside, and it was noisy.
'Let's live hard.'
Because there's a lot to do to love again without any worries.
The problem with the supernatural power transplant experiment I was trying to solve was that the imperial family gave me the upper hand... I had nothing to do.
'There might be more facts they're hiding, so we need to keep those people alive and keep an eye on them.'
My heart felt a little heavy as I thought of Luna, so I decided to just shake off my worries.
I always call you a fool, but it's just a joke. You're a smart person, so you'll figure it out on your own.
First, I'll wash up and put on some new, fluffy underwear.
Actually, the place I went with Revan yesterday to buy clothes was... an underwear store.
Unlike my Princess days when I had clean, new underwear prepared every morning, I had to keep washing and wearing underwear that I couldn't even bring with me. I suppressed my embarrassment and asked Revan for help.
I think I need to buy some more underwear...
'Are you saying that it's much easier for Revan to say something like that than Ryan?'
Delicate, perhaps? Anyway, I bought five pairs of underwear, and on my way out, I saw a handkerchief, so I asked Revan to buy that too.
The kind lady at the lingerie store wrapped each item in pretty wrapping paper.
“Hmm.”
The underwear was neatly organized in the second drawer of the desk. I hummed as I ripped open the packaging...
“...?”
A handkerchief came out.
"What?"
Why is this here?
Did I dream it? I clearly gave it to him yesterday.
I opened the first drawer in surprise.
It's empty. I'm sure it was given.
"For a moment."
I bought exactly one handkerchief, so there's no way I could have gotten it all mixed up. So this is all I have in my hand.
It's a mistake. The packaging is the same, so it looks like it was put together incorrectly...
Then?
So what did I give Nike yesterday?
"Ah..."
I have a cold sweat on my back.
Have I ever felt this terrified in my life? Wasn't it like this before Ryan almost killed me?
“Ah, ahh... ahhh!!”
***
After clearing the experimental base without a trace and escorting the remaining personnel for questioning.
The sky was dimly lit.
Completely successful in concealing the ability transplant experiment...
...he could have done it.
If only he hadn't returned that girl to her father.
“What are you going to do, really?”
Rainer sighed.
"Even if we sweep it away and find no evidence, the supernatural will definitely hear that there's a force trying to repeat that experiment."
“...”
"Your Highness! Are you listening to me? Are you aware of what you did yesterday?"
“Then, should we kill that child?”
“Who said let’s kill her?”
Rainer pounded on his chest, feeling suffocated.
"At least we should have kept her. Even though we felt bad for her, we couldn't send her back to her father."
“She said she wouldn’t say anything.”
“...? No, do you really believe that right now? She's saying that because she's scared right now. Do you think she’d be kidnapped and not tell her dad?”
“She won’t do it.”
Reiner looked at Nike like he was an idiot.
He knows. It was stupid.
Yet, somehow, Nike's heart felt at peace. Why? He doesn't know. He just felt certain. He felt like the child really wouldn't say anything.
"Hey, please remember me every time you use this. Don't forget. I will never forget the help you gave me today, and I will definitely repay you someday."
Suddenly remembering, Nike took out what the child had given him.
The gift, beautifully wrapped in pink, felt soft to the touch. Fabric? Perhaps a handkerchief.
“What is that? When did you buy it?”
Nike opened the package on the spot.
“...?”
Nike's eyes narrowed.
That's pink...
Something with lace? Ribbon? Something like that...
'Panties?'
He immediately raised his head.
Rainer's mouth was wide open.
“What, what, what is that...”
"No."
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