Chapter 13

Attil looked at Lirika, then abruptly turned his gaze to Altears.

"Is it an order?"

"Sort of."

"If so, I understand."

Attil bowed his head. Lirika, flustered, glanced at Altears, then at Lat, and finally back at Attil.

It seemed she had no choice here. Lat nodded as if understanding her troubled expression but didn't take her side.

"Hurry up."

Altears pushed her back again. Lirika took a few steps forward, pushed by him.

'Well, it's come to this.'

Lirika said to Attil.

"Please take care of me."

"Let's go."

"Have a good time."

Lat smiled and saw them off. Lirika swallowed her breath and followed Attil out.

As she walked down the corridor, she asked,

"Should I carry the basket?"

"It's fine."

Attil answered curtly.

They didn't speak at all until they reached the lakeside. Attil made it clear he had no intention of starting a conversation.

Lirika, walking behind him, looked up at the sky.

"Wow—"

Attil glanced at her. Lirika smiled and said,

"The sky is really blue. The clouds are beautiful, and the weather is amazing. Wow, the lake is so pretty."

She kept exclaiming in amazement as she looked around.

The lake was quite far from the palace, so she had never been here before.

"There aren't many people around. The lake is quite large... Where does it lead? Wow, that's an island in the middle? There's a small building on the island too. How interesting."

It didn't matter to Attil if she said such things. Lirika continued,

"I know. Words like 'always' or 'forever' can sound hollow, but I still—"

Lirika suddenly stood up. Though she was still shorter than him, her face was closer than when she was sitting.

"I needed it."

And she added softly,

"And I believe in your existence."

Attil gripped the oar tightly.

I want to believe, but I can't.

Attil turned his gaze away instead of answering, and Lirika wasn't disappointed. She thought of a stubborn stray cat.

A black cat with its tail held high, walking around the slums.

Always proud, quick and beautiful, a cat that would never be hit by a child's stone.

Trust isn't built with just one gesture or one word.

By then, the boat had arrived at a small island. Attil tied the rope to a stake at the dock, and they both stepped onto the island.

Attil started walking, carrying the basket as usual, and Lirika followed. A gazebo with a table and chairs was set up on the small island.

As he opened the basket to lay out the food, someone approached.

Attil relaxed when he saw who it was.

"Rowyn."

"You shouldn't be wandering around without your guards."

"Well, His Majesty is always spontaneous."

Attil sighed and introduced Rowyn to Lirika.

"My guard, Rowyn."

"I am Rowyn Greer. Your Highness."

"Nice to meet you."

Lirika greeted him lightly. She felt a strange sensation.

'Something's not right.'

Though he was introduced as Attil's guard, she had a bad feeling. An alarm bell rang in her heart, clear and distinct. This person was definitely going to cause harm.

"How did you know we were here?"

Rowyn shrugged at Lirika's question.

"I asked a servant."

Attil turned his back to him and opened the basket. Lirika kept glancing at Rowyn.

"You put all sorts of things in here."

At these words, Lirika couldn't help but tiptoe to peek inside the basket.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine. She saw Rowyn grip his sword hilt out of the corner of her eye.

Her attention, honed by the violence of the slums, immediately focused on him. The instinct that had always saved her was now screaming like a warning.

Her hand instinctively reached for Attil. At that moment, Rowyn swung his sword like lightning. Lirika pulled Attil with all her might.

"!!"

Rowyn's sword barely grazed Attil, a few strands of hair floating in the air.

If Lirika hadn't reacted first, it would have been too late.

"Hmm."

Rowyn's voice was so calm that Lirika thought he had just swatted a bug.

Lirika jumped onto the long bench, spreading her arms to block Rowyn and Attil.

"Why...?"

She heard Attil's trembling voice from behind.

'What do I do? What do I do?'

How could she fend off a trained adult male with a sword?

Lirika stared at Rowyn. Rowyn sighed.

"I served His Highness the Crown Prince for eight years, all for this moment. I wanted to let you go without incident, at least out of respect."

"Exactly, why...!"

Her voice was strained. Lirika shouted,

"Because he's a villain!"

Rowyn hesitated. Lirika shouted,

"Traitor! The worst kind of person! You think you have a noble reason, but you're the worst for trying to kill a child so brazenly!"

Rowyn looked at her with a disdainful expression.

"To make such a vulgar girl a princess, you truly are an emperor of unknown origin. The problem is that such a person is the emperor of the empire. Now, the empire needs a new—"

At that moment, something flew from behind Lirika. As Rowyn swung his sword to deflect it, the sound of a bottle breaking and pepper spreading everywhere was heard.

At the same time, Attil grabbed Lirika's hand and ran.

But their escape didn't last long.

"Ah!"

Lirika let go of Attil's hand when her hair was grabbed.

But Attil didn't let go. He stopped, turned around, and clenched his teeth.

"Run!"

Lirika shouted, but Attil didn't listen. Lirika felt her breath catch in her throat.

Her vision went dark.

'Huh?'

A strange, crunching sound was heard.

Her vision literally went dark. The hand that grabbed her hair loosened, and she felt the warmth of a palm over her eyes.

'What is this? What's happening?'

Thud

The sound of someone falling was heard.

"You both seem fine."

The hand covering her eyes was removed. When she tried to turn around, a strong hand prevented her from doing so.

"No, don't look behind you."

She looked up to see the Emperor standing there. Altears smiled.

Only then did her legs start to tremble. Lirika desperately held back her tears.

Attil, shocked, approached her.

"Ugh, sniff, ah—"

Seeing Lirika finally burst into tears, Altears asked,

"Are you hurt?"

Attil, surprised by his words, knelt in front of her.

"Surely, something went wrong when Rowyn grabbed you—"

Suddenly, Lirika hugged him. Attil gasped.

"S-S-So scared, I was so scared, ah, ah, thank goodness, thank goodness—"

Lirika hugged him tightly, sobbing.

Attil, flustered, stiffened. It was the first time someone had hugged him.

The arms and body of the young girl were surprisingly slender, and her body was warm. He didn't mind the sound of her crying.

Not knowing what to do, he slowly patted her back, and Lirika burrowed into his chest even more.

Without realizing it, a sigh-like voice escaped him.

"You said you wouldn't die."

From his embrace, a muffled voice replied, "I won't die, I won't die at all."

Attil couldn't help but smile.

"Lirika! Oh my God, Lirika!"

Then, the Empress, pale and panicked, ran over. Altears said, "They're both fine," but she didn't seem to hear him.

Attil, flustered, tried to push Lirika away, but she wouldn't let go.

What should he say?

How should he explain this situation to Her Majesty?

As Attil was thinking, Rudia hugged both of them at once.

"I'm so glad you're safe. So glad, really."

"!!"

Attil gasped.

The relieved voice saying they were safe, the rough hand petting his hair.

Attil, who had never been hugged by his mother, desperately held back his tears.

Altears said in a slanted voice,

"I saved you, so why aren't you hugging me?"

"Are you saying that now?!"

Rudia stood up and said. Her gaze, about to turn angry, fell on the body.

"Ugh, for heaven's sake. Let's get out of here. It's not good for the children's education."

Rudia covered their eyes and frowned.

Then, a commotion began. They first took the boat back, where a pale Brin and Bran were waiting.

Fay was pacing restlessly and brushed her hand over her chest several times. Tan and Lat were also there, and the two were having a low conversation with Altears.

Rudia said, "Come, let's rest for a bit," and pushed them along.

After a while, Lirika bathed in hot water, sat on a soft sofa, and drank a large cup of warm chocolate.