[IHTTMBW] Chapter 43

“I’m going to stay here, Myrthi.”

“Huh?”

“So I can keep an eye on our relationship.”

“Aren’t you going back home? Allenan?”

“Yeah, but my family’s on edge because Gelbart, your guardian, holds such a significant position.”

A warm breeze blew through, but I felt a chill. I blinked wide-eyed as I started to understand what he was getting at.

“My family, the maternal side, holds a lot of power. It's so strong that the royal family’s influence seems weak in comparison. And my mother is fully aware that your grandfather’s power is growing stronger.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s okay if you don’t understand, Myrthi.”

He spoke in a serious tone, but his bright smile remained as he patted my head. His expression, as always, was one of unbearable fondness. Every time he touched my hair, his face would flush red like a young boy.

‘It’s me who should find this cute, not the other way around.’

Many people blushed when they looked at me, but Allenan was the only one who, as a boy, would turn red in such a way. But that wasn’t the real issue.

So, the Queen of Alkaden, whose family held a lot of power, had begun to see me as a threat. Even though he mentioned Gelbart’s name, my guardian, it was likely because my reputation had started to spread. Young Allenan probably wasn’t aware of that just yet. My name being constantly called at the Academy surely played a part. The current queen had no children, and it seemed the king didn’t mind. In fact, perhaps she was deliberately not having any. The queen always had a face filled with jealousy whenever she saw me.

It was safe to say that no one in the royal family truly liked me. In such a situation, as Gelbart supported me and my reputation spread through the Academy, even the nobles had started paying attention to me. From the perspective of Alkaden, who initially wanted to marry off a puppet-like princess with no family backing to their prince, it must have been a difficult time. Despite the king's disdain for me, the biggest concern was Euphil and my close relationship.

The third prince, who was steadily gaining power—most talented, still young, but growing into a strong figure, essentially becoming Gelbart’s heir.

‘Hmm. It’s no wonder they’re keeping an eye on us.’

Then Allenan continued, his fingers brushing the ends of my hair as though he was recalling distant memories.

“You know, Myrthi…”

“Yeah?”

“Haha, would you mind listening to me for a bit?”

Even in this situation, he sought my permission first. I eagerly nodded my head.

‘Yes! Spill everything about the situation in Alkaden!’

That’s what I thought.

But Allenan’s story began with the time he first saw me.

“Ever since I was young, there were people I was supposed to associate with and those I wasn’t. I couldn’t even spend time with my cousin, and I could only play with friends my mother had chosen.”

“Oh, really.”

“But one day, I met a different friend. It was so much fun, but once my mother found out, she got really angry. After that, I didn’t want to meet that friend anymore.”

“Hm.”

In this country, fourteen was practically an adolescent, but still quite young compared to adulthood. Yet, much was expected of royal children at that age. Allenan smiled faintly at me.

“But that was frustrating. When I first saw you, I was only nine. Even then, I felt stifled. My mother probably never even realised how trapped I felt.”

"Do you love your mother a lot, Allenan?"

"Yeah, I do. She’s family after all."

After thinking for a moment, Allenan turned and looked down at the tropical fish swimming beneath the bridge. Their fins flickered in the sunlight streaming through the blue water.

"But I heard about you on the way here. So, I thought about it.”

He gave a slightly awkward expression, scratching the back of his head like a child before grinning boyishly.

“Haha! It was a pretty harsh thought, but back then, I really thought you must be suffocating. I kept wondering how tough it must be for a princess living in this palace.”

“Hmm.”

Allenan, who had been staring off into the distance, now turned to look at me, his expression more serious. I watched silently as he slowly opened his mouth. His voice, slightly cracking as typical of adolescence, continued.

“But then… you were smiling.”

“...Hmm.”

“You were looking at me with such a bright, clear smile.”

And then he smiled again, like sunshine.

“I was so surprised.”

He smiled as though the sight of me blinded him, like he couldn’t bear to look directly at me, gripping my hand tightly.

“And I wondered, why is this child smiling?”

‘Why? I was smiling to survive, that’s why.’

But thinking back, at that time, I had been searching for Euphil. I had spent some time looking for him after he scolded Ante, and I had finally found him, so I smiled brightly. Even if I hadn’t been looking for Euphil, I would’ve smiled if I’d run into anyone else.

“I got so curious. And the more curious I got, the more I liked you.”

“Heh.”

“I wanted to know more about you.”

A cool breeze blew through then, making his curly hair sway gently in the wind. He smiled brightly, as if the tickling wind was playful to him.