Leticia tilted her head as she looked at Aina, who was extremely sparing with her words about Chamuka.
However, since that wasn’t what she came to talk about, she lightly looked around Aina’s inn room and changed the subject.
“Is it comfortable staying here? Aren’t you bored being inside all the time?”
“It’s nice to rest. How about the young master- no, the young lord?”
Since they both already knew he wasn’t actually a prince, and calling him “Your Highness” in this capital was more dangerous, they had just agreed to change how they addressed her.
“I’m also enjoying the rest.”
“……”
“……”
Silence flowed between them.
In fact, both their minds were filled with similar thoughts, and to some extent, they were both aware of each other’s thoughts.
Aina, who was a bit older of the two, was the first to reveal her true feelings.
“I miss my brother.”
The air in the room grew heavy at those words that dropped suddenly.
Avoiding Leticia’s gaze, Aina stared only at the curtained window as she spoke.
“I thought I would never return here anyway. So I tried not to miss him. I just believed he would live well. It happened 10 years ago, so he might have forgotten me anyway…”
She didn’t bother to add that she wasn’t even his real sister.
Leticia quietly agreed with Aina’s fading words.
“Me too.”
“……”
“I miss my family too.”
The Borba troupe members being held hostage by the Emperor weren’t related to Leticia by blood either.
But not being connected by blood doesn’t mean they aren’t family.
If they were in the Grand Duchy, she would have just buried it in her heart, thinking they must be living well.
Feeling relieved that she wouldn’t have to hear about any possible misfortune befalling her family.
But this was the capital of the Empire.
Step outside this room and the imperial palace could be seen in the distance, where they could find their families if they wanted to.
While breaking the curse, she had inadvertently returned to where her family was. Without any mental preparation.
“But I also don’t want to see them.”
Leticia muttered, talking to herself.
“If I don’t look for them, I can imagine they’re still doing well, just like the past 10 years. But if I were to look…”
What if I hear bad news?
She couldn’t bring herself to say those words.
After being manipulated for 10 years with her family as hostages, she didn’t want to know if they were doing well.
Perhaps it was because she knew how arrogant the Emperor was, how he didn’t treat others as people.
Ten years ago, Leticia was a weakling at the very bottom of the power structure. And the Emperor was someone who might not keep the promises he made to someone like her.
She knew this, but had nothing else to hold onto, so she accepted the Emperor’s proposal and had to believe in his empty promises.
Because of those uncertain promises, she couldn’t even be honest with those who cared for her.
“Sometimes I dream of attending my brother’s funeral.”
It was the same for Leticia.
“In reality, I don’t even know if he’s alive or dead, but in my dreams, I always go to some funeral and stand in front of a coffin. People around me whisper to say my final goodbyes, but I never open that coffin. Because I couldn’t bear it if he was really lying in there, so I don’t even try to open it and just stand there endlessly.”
Since her brother had also entered as an imperial spy just like her, it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any time.
Leticia empathized with Aina’s feelings as she murmured those words.
How futile are the lives of the weak who have fallen into the hands of the powerful.
Leticia barely opened her mouth while suppressing her heart that was pounding with anxiety.
She knew well that she was a coward.
And that if not now, she would never have the courage to confirm the truth.
“But we can’t stand in front of that coffin forever.”
“Why not? I could stand there my whole life. Believing my brother isn’t in that coffin.”
“Then you’ll regret it. At least I think I would.”
Leticia thought that being alone in the capital of the Empire right now was her opportunity to find out about her family.
“…Are you going to look for them? You might regret it if you hear bad news.”
“I’ll be sad. Not regretful.”
She replied briefly as she stood up. Then, intending to lighten the heavy atmosphere, she added lightly.
“You never know. I might hear good news.”

***

“Sir. Would you like to send flowers to the waiting room?”
A boy selling flowers in front of the theater asked.
Leticia raised her head after looking at the colorful flower baskets.
A new troupe had taken the place where the Borba troupe used to be.
Well, the location was perfect for a theater troupe, even though it had all burned down. Perhaps it was even easier to rebuild since everything had burned.
‘Chekan Troupe…’
There seemed to be a performance tonight as well, with carriages stopping in front to unload what looked like audience members one by one.
There were carriages bearing noble family crests, but quite a few wealthy commoners in unmarked carriages were visible too.
“…a new actor in today’s performance…”
“Did you hear? His Majesty recently…”
“…they say the troupe has a new patron…”
Families with small children, couples arm in arm, awkward couples barely holding hands—each entered the theater at their own pace.
Leticia blankly took in the scene.
Only the name of the troupe had changed; the scene was too similar to 10 years ago.
“Sir? If you’re not buying flowers, would you mind stepping aside?”
The annoyed boy’s voice awakened Leticia.
She handed the boy some of the money she had received from Colin and asked.
“Do you know the actors here well?”
The boy who quickly pocketed the money nodded. The annoyance had already disappeared from his face, replaced by a bright expression.
“Of course! What would you like to know, customer? First, today’s protagonist debuted last year—”
“No, not the protagonist. Who’s the actor with the longest career in this troupe? I don’t mind if they’re not famous.”
“Career? Hmm. As far as I know, the oldest actor would be Grandpa Chester… He must have had an acting career of over 30 years?”
Leticia handed more money to the boy who was chattering about how the actor was famous for his handsome white beard.
“Then please send flowers to that actor.”
“But that old man isn’t performing today?”
“Then send them to his home.”
“Yes! What would you like me to write on the card?”
“Just say thank you.”
Leticia glanced at the boy’s poor handwriting as he scribbled the order details in his notebook.
Written there was the address of “Grandpa Chester” where the flowers were to be delivered.
After memorizing the address, Leticia left without hesitation.
The world of actors was small. There was a lot of interaction even between actors from different troupes, and in fact, most actors in the capital knew each other.
Leticia knew who this “Grandpa Chester” was that the boy mentioned.
Though not a member of the Borba troupe, he was an actor famous for his handsome beard even 10 years ago.
And he was someone who frequently interacted with her older sisters and brothers.
He was at least a decent person to ask about what happened to the people of the Borba troupe after the fire 10 years ago.
It was a better choice than snooping around for rumors and being labeled as suspicious.
Leticia began walking toward the memorized address, leaving behind the sky that was beginning to turn navy blue.
“I wonder if Colin will worry if I’m late.”
The words she suddenly muttered were less about actually being concerned about Colin’s worry and more about her hesitation before going to ask about her family.
In reality, what did Colin matter to her right now?
And at that moment, Colin was being held by the collar in the hands of Chamuka, who had just broken his personal speed record.