Chapter 37

As one drop was not enough, he felt a burning thirst. He savored the sweetness in a trance.

However, he could not reach for the cookies on the table. He could only grasp at the crumbs.

How dare he, how could he.

How could Fjord Barat ask for that from Princess Lirika? He was content even with the crumbs of pity that came from her tolerance.

‘No.’

He chuckled and corrected his words.

‘I thought it was fine.’

If it had really been enough, he wouldn't have said he wanted to be her companion.

Knowing it was something he shouldn't say, he still blurted it out. When Lirika's letter came asking if Fjord would be her companion, he was overjoyed.

In stark contrast, his mother immediately became upset.

How dare a commoner, a mongrel.

Such unpleasant words poured out. Still, Fjord stepped forward and said,

Isn't it a good thing to be close to the enemy?

At that moment, his mother exploded. Always, always, 'for your own good,' she would say, but in reality, she just wanted to vent her emotions.

As the Barat Duke, who usually suppressed all his feelings, once he exploded, the aftermath was considerable.

After enduring her anger, Fjord swallowed a groan and pondered.

‘What should I say to Her Highness?’

Even though he had wanted it, if he refused, she would surely be hurt. He had to find a way to convey that it wasn't his intention.

What if she is deeply disappointed and hurt?

He lay there for quite a while, only to be filled with such worries. Eventually, he gathered himself and got up.

He needed to deliver the message as soon as possible. He remembered how difficult the path to the palace garden had been.

He practiced his words the entire time he waited.

‘And I can't remember.’

Then, he was sure he had met Her Highness. He thought he had met her, but his memory was a jumbled mess after that.

Did she call for him? Or was it just a delusion?

He couldn't tell.

He must have collapsed, but he didn't know when or how.

The clearest part of his memory was when he opened his eyes in bed. The voice urging him to go back to sleep while fanning him was vivid.

‘It's a matter of concern.’

For Fjord Barat to lose consciousness and collapse in an unprotected state, and to fall asleep in an unknown place.

It shouldn't happen again, but he also felt that it didn't matter.

—Fjord, you're not a piece of art.

Her Highness's words suddenly came to mind, and Fjord smiled.

How could she be so good at saying such sweet things?

It was truly amazing.

But today would be the end of even the crumbs. Even if he had been forgiven once, would the Crown Prince forgive him a second time?

And if that caused Her Highness to be so...

Thinking of Lirika bleeding from her mouth earlier sent a shiver down his spine. If Lirika ended up like that because of him, he couldn't forgive himself.

Or perhaps Attil is more precious to Lirika.

No matter how he thought about it, only negative thoughts came to mind.

Then, Lirika opened the door and came in. Fjord jumped to his feet. When Lirika mimed writing something with her hand, Brin quickly brought a stone tablet.

Then, he skillfully cut the leftover cloth from the bandages he made yesterday and handed it to Lirika.

Lirika wrote something with the stone pen and showed it to Raub.

His Highness apologized for being too harsh. He said he had you attack the two of us?