[IHTTMBW] Chapter 23

Although it was not written in the book, I doubt Euphil was the family’s black sheep.

Hence…

Today, I finally decided to go see Euphil in his palace. Surely, Valk could take me there.

Starting a few days ago, I’ve been following Valk and staring at him without saying anything. I just said nothing and smiled whenever we made eye contact.

Even though I was young, I could still find out the guards’ schedule.

Valk had to walk fast because of my chasing, and the maids scolded him for the delayed work. 

But he could not help it. I looked at Valk smilingly until he gave in to me, begging him to help me.

At that time, I laughed in my mind and thought:

‘I win.’

“Let’s go, Valgu!”

“Yeah, yeah… Ah, seriously. If Orzette finds out, I will be in trouble.”

“So you don’t want to go?”

“No, no.”

Valk met me in the back of the large garden today and was looking around. It was in the same corner where I met Allenan.

He shook his head and looked around again before gathering me in his arms.

“When the Princess saved my life, I pledged allegiance to the Princess. You may request whatever you want from me.”

Yes, that’s the way it should be.

It did not matter to me that he could not sleep well because he was agonising over his late response.

Hm, Hm.

‘First things first, I have to find where Euphil is.’

I didn’t know the way because I was always carried there while sleeping. But even if I did know the way, I would not be able to go alone. I didn’t know how far it is.

‘It’s like a car.’

Valk walked cautiously while holding me in his arms. As I grasped his arms, I felt like I was riding in a luxury vehicle.

Blink. Smile.

It’s my trump card. If I twist my hair with my fingers, Valk will smile without realising it.

It seemed like he noticed and regretted smiling soon after.

“You’ve told me to wait for you since you’d like to go around alone. Will you be okay?”

“Yes! I’m going to find Euvil!”

“Alright then.”

I was carefully observing the path Valk took.

It was as I expected. 

The path to Euphil’s palace was too long for me to walk alone, and it was difficult for me to memorise. So, I easily gave up the idea of coming here alone. Maybe Valk will take me to the palace from now on.

Or perhaps Euphil could come to my palace.

We crossed over a rose fence and headed to Euphil’s palace. The palace we arrived at had a very wide entrance. My jaw dropped as I saw its grandness compared to my small one.

“Would you like to get off?”

Valk asked, and I answered awkwardly.

“No… Just take me to Euvil’s room…..”

Valk laughed as expected and headed there while holding me in his arms. But instead of just going inside, he went in a different direction.

“Valgu, where are you going?”

“If you want to see the prince, it’s better this way than going through the door.”

Valk looked so confident. Soon after, I found out he was right.

We arrived at the window of the Euphil’s room.

The window was so low that I couldn’t even look inside.

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[The prince moved his body like a small weapon. When the little boy’s blond hair shifted in the breeze, tinged with red residue, it felt like the air was blowing instead of the sword teacher, who was unprepared for him.

The movements were close to a masterpiece. It seemed like the very technique was developed for him. It was as if he painted a map of the empire with his footwork.

Alone in solitude, a ten-year-old child was left to ponder for two months during probation.

The first things that came to mind were the faces of the King and his father and the little child’s purple eyes.

When the child faced him, the King’s cold eyes reminded him that he had been abandoned. The child thought that the King might consider him a hateful existence.

But…

Now, when he closed his eyes, he remembered a more vivid face—a face like the statue of an angel.

The girl was smiling. As it was, he never cried before. And yet he felt like he was missing something when he remembered how the girl caught him with her dusty hands.

The prince often turned off the candle in the room and fell into the darkness. It was something that he had become used to.]

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