I woke up to the sound of rain pounding against the window, sat there blankly staring outside, and silently mocked myself. It was because I had fantasized that the person I was waiting for might sneak in through the window and sneak a peek at me while I was sleeping.
"Woof."
Boaz, who had been sitting quietly in front of me, barked lightly at me. I lifted my gaze from the materials and looked at him. He kept wagging his tail and panting, as if begging to be looked at, but I couldn't tell what he was trying to say. Boaz never gave up, even when others didn't understand, and he always tried to express himself with utmost sincerity.
“Snack? A walk?”
I listed all the things Boaz would like, but he couldn't help but like them all. When I brought out a treat, he quickly ate it, then spun around in circles for a few minutes before barking and running to the window.
“Do you want to go out?”
Boaz wagged his tail and leaned his paws against the window frame, looking out. I stood up and followed Boaz's gaze.
“Woof! Woof!”
I looked down at Boaz, panting and barking happily, with a puzzled look, then turned my gaze back to the rain-soaked window. More precisely, I was staring at a familiar black vehicle entering the palace. Boaz, clever as he was, recognized the sound of Noah's car. Only then did I realize Boaz wanted to tell me that our family had returned.
“Noah.”
Without realizing it, I called his name out loud. There was once someone beside me who would smile gently and answer me affectionately. It was a name so closely connected to everything about me. Sometimes, when I called it out loud and recited it in my mind, I felt alone and a pang of bitterness. Yet, whenever I longed for that bright smile, I would quickly bring back memories from the past. I resented him, yet loved him. I stood there, mulling over this contradictory feeling, a mixture of sadness and joy, for a long time.
Upon returning to the capital, the Queen faced Noah, who had come to see her. A silence, concealing countless words, hung between them. The Queen sighed and parted her lips.
“It will be difficult to meet the Princess in that state.”
“Well, I dressed up as nicely as I could. It’s just that I look a little ugly because of the scar on my face.”
Noah, standing upright before the Queen, raised his chin, smoothing the lapel of his officer's coat draped over his shoulders. She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“That’s not the problem.”
The Queen's jade eyes studied him carefully. Bandages clung to Noah's face, his right hand bandaged beneath his uniform sleeve, and scratches scattered across his face. If Diana saw this horrific sight, wouldn't she be shaken and make an emotional choice? She worried that Diana would voluntarily abdicate or flee in some extraordinary way. Then, Noah's sacrifice for Diana would be for naught. The Queen, noticing the patch covering Noah's one eye, asked.
“Did you hurt your eye?”
“It’s not like I lost my sight. The shrapnel tore the area above my eye.”
"Yes, you've had a hard time. But if Diana saw you now, she'd be emotionally distressed. Please understand, for her sake. I don't want to do this, but it's truly heartbreaking that this is the only way for you and Diana to survive."
“I see.”
Noah dropped his gaze to the floor, then slowly raised his head and added.
“My mother always told me to prioritize the other person’s suffering.”
“Yes, Duchess Rotsilt is right.”
Noah stared at her with hazy eyes. His eyes seemed to hold many words, but he only occasionally let out a deep breath, uttering no words. The Queen pressed her eyes tightly. She then tried to conceal her regret and offered a calm, composed admonition.
"Go back to the mansion and rest, then return to the military hospital tomorrow. I'll tell Diana you couldn't come due to some circumstances."
“I will do that.”
The Queen sighed as she watched Noah smile nonchalantly, turn around, and walk away.
“...That’s something I can’t do.”
As a Frogen, Noah was a target of caution. The truth right in front of him is more suspect than the lies hidden within. Most people would find even his obedient compliance suspicious, unaware of the hidden agenda.
Even if he said his intentions were pure, and for the sake of his wife, the Princess, no one would believe him. That's just absurd, book-like stories.
I dismissed all the attendants and sat alone in the room, waiting for Noah to come. No matter how long I waited, he didn't come, so I called Henry.
“Henry, has Noah arrived yet?”
Henry, who entered the room at my call, avoided eye contact with me, his gaze dropping as if he were studying the intricate patterns etched into the carpet. He was a man of extreme candor, never hiding or lying, always saying what he wanted to say. Just by looking at his expression, it was clear he'd already arrived but hadn't been able to meet me.
“Where is he?”
“He said he couldn’t come?”
“Why? Today is the day he comes.”
Henry's shoulders slumped slightly as he lowered his head at my urging. It seemed like it was taking him a while to come up with a suitable lie. Finally, with a rather uncomfortable expression on his face, he gave a lukewarm answer.
“Uh... Is he busy?”
“You know you can’t lie, right?”
"Yes. It's difficult, since there haven't been many situations where I had to lie. If I told anyone that he entered the palace and then returned to the mansion, be be put under house arrest. That would be a disaster."
“I heard you talking to yourself. It’s okay.”
“That’s good then.”
Henry's expression brightened considerably, and his cheerful demeanor returned, and he smiled gently. I draped the fur coat the maid had brought over my shoulders and stared at him with a persistent gaze.
“I’m going out.”
“Where are you going?”
"Rotsilt Mansion. Just you and me."
“It won’t work.”
“Yes.”
I ignored him, who kept repeating "no" like a parrot, and left the living room. I turned to Henry, who was standing behind me, and gave him a firm instruction.
“Please prepare the tea.”
"No, really, you can't. Just let me see. I need to deploy security, so please wait a moment..."
“Can’t you just report that you and I are going on an outing together?”
“Are we going out in the rain? The Princess doesn’t even care about me.”
“I’ll at least pay attention to whether you’ve eaten.”
"I'm so embarrassed, I don't know what to do. But you're always causing trouble, aren't you? Like the time you sneaked out of the palace with Miss Barbara Chelsea. I'm the only one getting scolded, so I'm dying."
Henry followed me as I walked away, groaning loudly.
“This time, even the Princess might get in trouble.”
My footsteps, which had been ahead of me, suddenly stopped. I asked, my gaze fixed straight ahead.
“Is this wrong?”
Henry's words were cut off by my cold voice. I could guess the expression on his face without even turning around. A sigh, as if he were groaning, was followed by a listless reply.
“I’m saying this because I’m worried.”
Unlike the others, who flatly opposed the idea, who were always blunt and unyielding, I summoned Henry. He shook his head, seemingly helpless, and ordered the servant outside the door to prepare to leave. He looked slightly intimidated, then quickly regained his composure and asked me.
"How about setting up a cavalry guard in front and behind? It'll look cool. I'll tell them to get ready right away."
“When will we arrive with the horsemen?”
Henry, who had been trying to buy time and stop me somehow, sighed with a look of resignation in his eyes.
“...I’ll do it next time.”
As I passed through the central entrance and headed toward the porch, I saw a black car with a flag waiting. Henry looked at me, dumbfounded, as I casually opened the driver's door and climbed in, the driver stepping out and offering a courtesy.
“Would you like to do it yourself?”
"Just because I'm royalty doesn't mean I'm powerless. And this is my car, a gift from Chairman Bentner."
“Your Highness, the Princess, please let me do it.”
"Is it so?"
Henry, his face on the verge of tears, nodded to the elderly chauffeur and climbed into the driver's seat, while I took the passenger seat. Royal vehicles are required to drive slowly, and with the royal security vehicles trailing us in front and behind, the ride was excruciatingly frustrating. It felt like another hour before we finally left the palace and crossed the Rembrandt Bridge. I patted Henry on the shoulder and spoke in a dry voice.
“Henry, overtake the car in front and run into the alley.”
"Yes?"
“There’s a shortcut there.”
“Princess, it’s so urgent.”
“I’ll give you 10 minutes, so get there quickly.”
"If I hurry and get in an accident and the Princess gets hurt, my life will end quickly. Will you take responsibility for me then? Promise me you won't abandon me."
"Then let's switch seats. I'll show you what a lawbreaker on the road is."
“I don’t know what it is, but I don’t want to see it.”
Henry shook his head, his expression aggrieved by my harsh tone, and stepped on the accelerator, accelerating. As we passed the security vehicle ahead and entered a narrow alley, I saw the panicked security vehicles hurriedly chasing us.
“See, you can do it well.”
Henry's shoulders shrugged slightly as he narrowed his eyes with intense concentration, praising her with a satisfied expression.
Molly faced Noah as he returned to the mansion. With the fall of Fort Lindsinoth, a retreat had been ordered, and Noah's battalion had been mobilized to support the retreat. A fierce battle ensued with the pursuing Frogen Alliance forces as they retreated toward the defensive line, killing many. The commander and Surgeon McCullin, a close friend of Noah's, were among the dead. Noah's scarred face hinted at the gruesome circumstances of the day. Molly observed blood seeping out of the bandages wrapped around his hands.
“I will change the bandage for you.”
Noah looked down at his bandaged hand with indifferent eyes.
"It's okay."
“I heard you were admitted to the military hospital. What if you come here before you’re fully recovered?”
“Did I do something wrong? The Queen told me to go back without even seeing her.”
“I can’t help it; the Princess would be upset if she saw this.”
“I’m upset too. I have to keep my promise to see her later.”
He smiled, completely unrelated to his mood.
Molly clenched her jaw in frustration. Everyone was probably only thinking about Diana, the Princess, first in line to Medea's succession and second only to the Queen and Prime Minister in terms of ceremonial power. A single change in position had changed everything. Noah already knew this reality. Molly sighed.
“You can meet after you get better.”
Noah looked utterly exhausted. He was sitting in Diana's favorite teak rocking chair. The only sound in the silence was the creaking of the chair. Molly, standing there dumbfounded, asked in a tone of incomprehension.
“Why do you do that?”
"What."
"I wonder if it's really necessary to risk your life and go through all that trouble. The Princess is doing very well and has even been recognized as a capable successor with a distinguished career in finance and economics. She's even coveted by the Queen. There's no need to die."
“Yeah. Diana is doing well without me.”
Noah's final words trailed off in a lonely whisper. Molly's face darkened, as if she were imagining something unpleasant, but she ultimately remained silent.
“We have a guest. He seems to be a noble person.”
A maid came and announced that someone was visiting.
Molly, suddenly snapping out of her reverie, headed toward the front door. As soon as she opened the door, she saw a handsome young man in a suit, holding an umbrella. He greeted her warmly.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Henry Marx, and I work for the Royal Finance Department and am the Princess's personal secretary. Is Captain Rotsilt here?"
Noah suddenly poked his head out from above Molly's auburn hair, who had a puzzled expression on her face.
“Do you know me?”
Henry looked up at Noah, who was taller than him. He thought he understood why the Princess wouldn't even bother with another man. Henry's purple eyes widened inwardly as he gazed at the same man.
“Wow, you’re really handsome, just like I heard. Even when you’re injured, you’re still a handsome man.”
Molly, who had been feeling uncomfortable under Noah's protruding head, slowly moved away. Noah approached, observing the young man before him with keen observation. He smiled at Henry.
“You came to confess to me? You’re not my type.”
"No? I've always wanted to meet you. I came to tell you that a Princess just like yours would like to meet you."
"Really?"
"She must be really upset because you didn't even write a letter or come see her. Just go to the location written here."
Noah shook his head with a pitiful expression, touching the bandage on his cheek.
“As you can see, I look like this.”
“Why? You seem like a man with a story, and you have a cool vibe.”
Henry added to Noah, who was staring at him without answering.
"You'll find out later anyway. It's better to be upset now than to drift apart due to a misunderstanding. Just as accepting the immediate loss can prevent a greater one."
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Noah unfolded the note Henry had handed him. The hotel address was written in a child's scrawl. Henry glanced at Diana's characteristically crooked handwriting and smiled.
"Princess handwriting is really bad. It's a problem for my work."
“I like it because it’s like a password. I’ll go now.”
Henry raised his right hand towards Noah, who was about to leave, and placed two fingers together on his forehead in a salute.
“Dear Ubermensch, I wish you good luck with your irrational investments.”
Henry's voice, strangely excited, calmed down. Noah's lips lifted, and his blue eyes narrowed.
“I like it when you say everything you want to say. Were you partners?”
A young man holding an umbrella covered his mouth with one hand and laughed, his face innocent and contradictory.
It was a misaligned smile that looked a lot like Noah's.
"Woof."
Boaz, who had been sitting quietly in front of me, barked lightly at me. I lifted my gaze from the materials and looked at him. He kept wagging his tail and panting, as if begging to be looked at, but I couldn't tell what he was trying to say. Boaz never gave up, even when others didn't understand, and he always tried to express himself with utmost sincerity.
“Snack? A walk?”
I listed all the things Boaz would like, but he couldn't help but like them all. When I brought out a treat, he quickly ate it, then spun around in circles for a few minutes before barking and running to the window.
“Do you want to go out?”
Boaz wagged his tail and leaned his paws against the window frame, looking out. I stood up and followed Boaz's gaze.
“Woof! Woof!”
I looked down at Boaz, panting and barking happily, with a puzzled look, then turned my gaze back to the rain-soaked window. More precisely, I was staring at a familiar black vehicle entering the palace. Boaz, clever as he was, recognized the sound of Noah's car. Only then did I realize Boaz wanted to tell me that our family had returned.
“Noah.”
Without realizing it, I called his name out loud. There was once someone beside me who would smile gently and answer me affectionately. It was a name so closely connected to everything about me. Sometimes, when I called it out loud and recited it in my mind, I felt alone and a pang of bitterness. Yet, whenever I longed for that bright smile, I would quickly bring back memories from the past. I resented him, yet loved him. I stood there, mulling over this contradictory feeling, a mixture of sadness and joy, for a long time.
***
Upon returning to the capital, the Queen faced Noah, who had come to see her. A silence, concealing countless words, hung between them. The Queen sighed and parted her lips.
“It will be difficult to meet the Princess in that state.”
“Well, I dressed up as nicely as I could. It’s just that I look a little ugly because of the scar on my face.”
Noah, standing upright before the Queen, raised his chin, smoothing the lapel of his officer's coat draped over his shoulders. She clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“That’s not the problem.”
The Queen's jade eyes studied him carefully. Bandages clung to Noah's face, his right hand bandaged beneath his uniform sleeve, and scratches scattered across his face. If Diana saw this horrific sight, wouldn't she be shaken and make an emotional choice? She worried that Diana would voluntarily abdicate or flee in some extraordinary way. Then, Noah's sacrifice for Diana would be for naught. The Queen, noticing the patch covering Noah's one eye, asked.
“Did you hurt your eye?”
“It’s not like I lost my sight. The shrapnel tore the area above my eye.”
"Yes, you've had a hard time. But if Diana saw you now, she'd be emotionally distressed. Please understand, for her sake. I don't want to do this, but it's truly heartbreaking that this is the only way for you and Diana to survive."
“I see.”
Noah dropped his gaze to the floor, then slowly raised his head and added.
“My mother always told me to prioritize the other person’s suffering.”
“Yes, Duchess Rotsilt is right.”
Noah stared at her with hazy eyes. His eyes seemed to hold many words, but he only occasionally let out a deep breath, uttering no words. The Queen pressed her eyes tightly. She then tried to conceal her regret and offered a calm, composed admonition.
"Go back to the mansion and rest, then return to the military hospital tomorrow. I'll tell Diana you couldn't come due to some circumstances."
“I will do that.”
The Queen sighed as she watched Noah smile nonchalantly, turn around, and walk away.
“...That’s something I can’t do.”
As a Frogen, Noah was a target of caution. The truth right in front of him is more suspect than the lies hidden within. Most people would find even his obedient compliance suspicious, unaware of the hidden agenda.
Even if he said his intentions were pure, and for the sake of his wife, the Princess, no one would believe him. That's just absurd, book-like stories.
***
I dismissed all the attendants and sat alone in the room, waiting for Noah to come. No matter how long I waited, he didn't come, so I called Henry.
“Henry, has Noah arrived yet?”
Henry, who entered the room at my call, avoided eye contact with me, his gaze dropping as if he were studying the intricate patterns etched into the carpet. He was a man of extreme candor, never hiding or lying, always saying what he wanted to say. Just by looking at his expression, it was clear he'd already arrived but hadn't been able to meet me.
“Where is he?”
“He said he couldn’t come?”
“Why? Today is the day he comes.”
Henry's shoulders slumped slightly as he lowered his head at my urging. It seemed like it was taking him a while to come up with a suitable lie. Finally, with a rather uncomfortable expression on his face, he gave a lukewarm answer.
“Uh... Is he busy?”
“You know you can’t lie, right?”
"Yes. It's difficult, since there haven't been many situations where I had to lie. If I told anyone that he entered the palace and then returned to the mansion, be be put under house arrest. That would be a disaster."
“I heard you talking to yourself. It’s okay.”
“That’s good then.”
Henry's expression brightened considerably, and his cheerful demeanor returned, and he smiled gently. I draped the fur coat the maid had brought over my shoulders and stared at him with a persistent gaze.
“I’m going out.”
“Where are you going?”
"Rotsilt Mansion. Just you and me."
“It won’t work.”
“Yes.”
I ignored him, who kept repeating "no" like a parrot, and left the living room. I turned to Henry, who was standing behind me, and gave him a firm instruction.
“Please prepare the tea.”
"No, really, you can't. Just let me see. I need to deploy security, so please wait a moment..."
“Can’t you just report that you and I are going on an outing together?”
“Are we going out in the rain? The Princess doesn’t even care about me.”
“I’ll at least pay attention to whether you’ve eaten.”
"I'm so embarrassed, I don't know what to do. But you're always causing trouble, aren't you? Like the time you sneaked out of the palace with Miss Barbara Chelsea. I'm the only one getting scolded, so I'm dying."
Henry followed me as I walked away, groaning loudly.
“This time, even the Princess might get in trouble.”
My footsteps, which had been ahead of me, suddenly stopped. I asked, my gaze fixed straight ahead.
“Is this wrong?”
Henry's words were cut off by my cold voice. I could guess the expression on his face without even turning around. A sigh, as if he were groaning, was followed by a listless reply.
“I’m saying this because I’m worried.”
Unlike the others, who flatly opposed the idea, who were always blunt and unyielding, I summoned Henry. He shook his head, seemingly helpless, and ordered the servant outside the door to prepare to leave. He looked slightly intimidated, then quickly regained his composure and asked me.
"How about setting up a cavalry guard in front and behind? It'll look cool. I'll tell them to get ready right away."
“When will we arrive with the horsemen?”
Henry, who had been trying to buy time and stop me somehow, sighed with a look of resignation in his eyes.
“...I’ll do it next time.”
As I passed through the central entrance and headed toward the porch, I saw a black car with a flag waiting. Henry looked at me, dumbfounded, as I casually opened the driver's door and climbed in, the driver stepping out and offering a courtesy.
“Would you like to do it yourself?”
"Just because I'm royalty doesn't mean I'm powerless. And this is my car, a gift from Chairman Bentner."
“Your Highness, the Princess, please let me do it.”
"Is it so?"
Henry, his face on the verge of tears, nodded to the elderly chauffeur and climbed into the driver's seat, while I took the passenger seat. Royal vehicles are required to drive slowly, and with the royal security vehicles trailing us in front and behind, the ride was excruciatingly frustrating. It felt like another hour before we finally left the palace and crossed the Rembrandt Bridge. I patted Henry on the shoulder and spoke in a dry voice.
“Henry, overtake the car in front and run into the alley.”
"Yes?"
“There’s a shortcut there.”
“Princess, it’s so urgent.”
“I’ll give you 10 minutes, so get there quickly.”
"If I hurry and get in an accident and the Princess gets hurt, my life will end quickly. Will you take responsibility for me then? Promise me you won't abandon me."
"Then let's switch seats. I'll show you what a lawbreaker on the road is."
“I don’t know what it is, but I don’t want to see it.”
Henry shook his head, his expression aggrieved by my harsh tone, and stepped on the accelerator, accelerating. As we passed the security vehicle ahead and entered a narrow alley, I saw the panicked security vehicles hurriedly chasing us.
“See, you can do it well.”
Henry's shoulders shrugged slightly as he narrowed his eyes with intense concentration, praising her with a satisfied expression.
***
Molly faced Noah as he returned to the mansion. With the fall of Fort Lindsinoth, a retreat had been ordered, and Noah's battalion had been mobilized to support the retreat. A fierce battle ensued with the pursuing Frogen Alliance forces as they retreated toward the defensive line, killing many. The commander and Surgeon McCullin, a close friend of Noah's, were among the dead. Noah's scarred face hinted at the gruesome circumstances of the day. Molly observed blood seeping out of the bandages wrapped around his hands.
“I will change the bandage for you.”
Noah looked down at his bandaged hand with indifferent eyes.
"It's okay."
“I heard you were admitted to the military hospital. What if you come here before you’re fully recovered?”
“Did I do something wrong? The Queen told me to go back without even seeing her.”
“I can’t help it; the Princess would be upset if she saw this.”
“I’m upset too. I have to keep my promise to see her later.”
He smiled, completely unrelated to his mood.
Molly clenched her jaw in frustration. Everyone was probably only thinking about Diana, the Princess, first in line to Medea's succession and second only to the Queen and Prime Minister in terms of ceremonial power. A single change in position had changed everything. Noah already knew this reality. Molly sighed.
“You can meet after you get better.”
Noah looked utterly exhausted. He was sitting in Diana's favorite teak rocking chair. The only sound in the silence was the creaking of the chair. Molly, standing there dumbfounded, asked in a tone of incomprehension.
“Why do you do that?”
"What."
"I wonder if it's really necessary to risk your life and go through all that trouble. The Princess is doing very well and has even been recognized as a capable successor with a distinguished career in finance and economics. She's even coveted by the Queen. There's no need to die."
“Yeah. Diana is doing well without me.”
Noah's final words trailed off in a lonely whisper. Molly's face darkened, as if she were imagining something unpleasant, but she ultimately remained silent.
“We have a guest. He seems to be a noble person.”
A maid came and announced that someone was visiting.
Molly, suddenly snapping out of her reverie, headed toward the front door. As soon as she opened the door, she saw a handsome young man in a suit, holding an umbrella. He greeted her warmly.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Henry Marx, and I work for the Royal Finance Department and am the Princess's personal secretary. Is Captain Rotsilt here?"
Noah suddenly poked his head out from above Molly's auburn hair, who had a puzzled expression on her face.
“Do you know me?”
Henry looked up at Noah, who was taller than him. He thought he understood why the Princess wouldn't even bother with another man. Henry's purple eyes widened inwardly as he gazed at the same man.
“Wow, you’re really handsome, just like I heard. Even when you’re injured, you’re still a handsome man.”
Molly, who had been feeling uncomfortable under Noah's protruding head, slowly moved away. Noah approached, observing the young man before him with keen observation. He smiled at Henry.
“You came to confess to me? You’re not my type.”
"No? I've always wanted to meet you. I came to tell you that a Princess just like yours would like to meet you."
"Really?"
"She must be really upset because you didn't even write a letter or come see her. Just go to the location written here."
Noah shook his head with a pitiful expression, touching the bandage on his cheek.
“As you can see, I look like this.”
“Why? You seem like a man with a story, and you have a cool vibe.”
Henry added to Noah, who was staring at him without answering.
"You'll find out later anyway. It's better to be upset now than to drift apart due to a misunderstanding. Just as accepting the immediate loss can prevent a greater one."
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Noah unfolded the note Henry had handed him. The hotel address was written in a child's scrawl. Henry glanced at Diana's characteristically crooked handwriting and smiled.
"Princess handwriting is really bad. It's a problem for my work."
“I like it because it’s like a password. I’ll go now.”
Henry raised his right hand towards Noah, who was about to leave, and placed two fingers together on his forehead in a salute.
“Dear Ubermensch, I wish you good luck with your irrational investments.”
Henry's voice, strangely excited, calmed down. Noah's lips lifted, and his blue eyes narrowed.
“I like it when you say everything you want to say. Were you partners?”
A young man holding an umbrella covered his mouth with one hand and laughed, his face innocent and contradictory.
It was a misaligned smile that looked a lot like Noah's.
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