Chapter 17

“No. My name is Aaron Seiran.”

‘Ah, that’s right. ‘Denicar’ is the surname he took after becoming the Duke of the North. Goodness.’

Neria had never even seen a portrait of young Aaron.

‘Did my imagination really conjure up the childhood of this gentleman?’

Neria felt confused.

Regardless, the prince’s curious gaze at Neria quickly changed to one of disappointment, as if he were looking at a pitiful creature.

“You don’t even know the royal family’s surname? I’m starting to doubt the quality of my imaginary friend. It’s tragic.”

“……”

She had nothing to say. Neria didn’t think she was of high quality either. She grumbled with a sulky expression,

“Do you choose friends based on ‘quality’? If your hearts connect, you’re friends.”

‘And if your bodies connect, even better.’

But that was a bit much for a child, so she kept quiet.

“As I said before, my second brother hates me. I tried to win his favor, but he said that since I receive Mother’s love, I shouldn’t be here. What should I do? Can I… change my brother?”

This dream wasn’t reality, but even so, Neria seriously pondered and offered advice.

“Probably not. Whether he dislikes you or not, just let it be.”

“But the person he hates isn’t someone else—it’s me. How am I supposed to just leave it alone?”

“You can’t help it, because his hatred isn’t yours.”

The prince bit his lower lip.

“This doesn’t make sense. My brother has no reason to hate me.”

“Then give him a reason for him to hate you. That way, at least it’ll make sense.”

“Are you serious?”

Neria looked at the prince. Even in the darkness, his bright blue eyes were filled with disbelief. Meeting her gaze, the prince made a face far too mature for his age and shook his head.

“…You’re really strange.”

Neria shrugged. The prince eyed her suspiciously, then let out a deep sigh. His shoulders slumped, and his gaze fell gloomily to his feet.

Seeing the young prince’s sudden sadness, Neria felt a pang of guilt. But her answer, though it sounded offhand, was actually the conclusion she’d reached after many years. A solution for an outsider who receives more dissatisfaction and resentment than affection from their family.

Neria fidgeted, then awkwardly patted the young prince’s small shoulder.

“…What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, Prince Aaron Se—Seiran. I know the grown-up you…”

Her eyes, accustomed to the dark, quietly studied the prince’s cute face—his black hair and big, striking eyes. His blue eyes, filled with a strange hope, were so pretty and pitiful.

“Whether or not someone dislikes you, you’ll grow up healthy and strong—”

Neria pictured the grown Duke of the North. 

‘What kind of adult was Aaron Denicar?’

“…You’ll grow up to be a peculiar adult.”

“……”

The clever prince caught the negative nuance in the word ‘peculiar,’ and his face turned cold. Neria hurriedly tried to explain.

“I mean, like a star in the sky. A star-like, peculiar adult. Or, maybe a ‘starred’ adult? Someone with stars on their face…?”

Broken, Neria awkwardly waved her arms like a straw doll with a skewed frame. The prince, lightly smacked by her jerky movements, complained.

“Ah, enough!”

“Sorry.”

Neria bowed her head. The prince kept letting out frustrated breaths.

“Does apologizing make the problem go away?”

“I wish it did.”

The prince pouted, acting angry for some reason, though he didn’t seem truly upset. The child said sulkily,

“You’re annoying. I need to know your name.”

“I told you earlier.”

“Surely, you don’t think I believed you just like that.”

“You didn’t?”

“Sigh… I’m not a fool.”

Neria blinked. The prince seemed to keep talking, but she couldn’t hear him. No, it was as if all sound had suddenly been blocked out. When Neria didn’t respond, the prince looked at her curiously. At the same time, everything around her blurred.

In the next moment, she felt a strong wind and hunched her shoulders. This time, she was outdoors, standing on a hill.

The scenery was still all dreary, sepia-toned. The bright blue sky and vast green fields existed only as faded colors.

Not far away stood a grand, ancient castle.

‘Where is this? What kind of dream is this now?’

As she wondered, a sudden shout rang out from behind.

“Kneel, traitor!”

“…Me?!”

Neria flinched and turned her shoulders.

“There must be some misunderstanding—wait.”

Five men dressed as knights stood there. One of them kicked the leg of a man whose hands were bound.

Neria was suddenly frightened by the violence. Fortunately, just like the nursemaid searching for the prince earlier, the men didn’t seem to notice Neria’s presence. One man, looking off into the distance, shouted loudly.

“His Grace the Duke is arriving!”

With a whinnying sound, someone appeared on horseback. Neria’s eyes widened. The person who dismounted was Aaron.

The man who got off the horse looked different from the Aaron she’d seen recently. His hair was shorter, and he was younger and leaner. His stiff face looked dark and troubled.

Unlike his childhood self, the current Aaron didn’t recognize Neria and passed by coldly. Gazing at the kneeling traitor, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

“Why did you do it?”

Neria quietly clasped her hands over her mouth.

‘Wait, is this…?’

Betty had told her that Duke Aaron Denicar had executed a friend who tried to rebel. This must be the dream depicting that moment.

Neria rubbed her goosebumped arm.

‘Why am I experiencing an event I hardly know, as if I lived it myself?’

Neria stared at Aaron. A strange reaction fluttered in her chest. Though he showed no sign, the betrayed Aaron was deeply grieving. She sensed that this would be the moment he built his emotional walls.

He would never fully open his heart to anyone again…

‘What is this…?’

Neria, bewildered, placed her hand over her heart. It felt strange to sense Aaron Denicar’s emotions so clearly. And it was uncomfortable, as if she were peeking into someone else’s memories.

“Your Grace. Here.”

One knight handed Aaron a well-forged sword. Aaron stared at it for a long moment and muttered bitterly.

“My brother is so thoughtless. For him to want me to carry out this kind of traditional punishment myself…”

“……”

Neria forgot her fear and quietly watched Aaron, who tried to avert his gaze from the sword. Somehow, he looked exhausted and sorrowful, even though this had happened five years ago. Silent, gazing at the sky, he seemed to be hoping for help, and Neria’s mouth tasted bitter.

My brother wants me to be destroyed inside by this.

Aaron’s inner thoughts echoed clearly, and Neria looked at him in surprise.

If I sink to the bottom as my brother wishes, will I feel at ease?

She wanted to tell him absolutely not. Just as she’d told the young prince, there was no need to live by someone else’s standards. It was something Neria herself wanted to hear.

She clenched her fist. Suddenly, she wanted to reach out to him sincerely. At the same time, she hoped this dream wasn’t just her own fantasy.

“Your Grace.”

“Duke.”

The retainers urged Aaron to make his decision. He remained silent, but inside he was shouting to escape, to grab her hand and run.

So Neria followed her heart.

She grabbed his sword-holding wrist, and Aaron jerked his head in surprise. Soon, his eyes widened as he saw Neria.

“You…?”

Aaron’s whispered words struck like thunder. After all, this was a world of illusion. There was no need to dwell on past pains.

Neria, holding his wrist, left everything behind and began to run. It would be hard for an ordinary woman to drag a large man along.

But at this moment, she felt only a slight weight, and Aaron followed her lead, running with her. Neria felt secretly pleased.

“Witch, what are you doing?”

“It seemed like you wanted help.”

“So is this your best idea? Running away?”

“We’re not running away, you know?”

“Then…?”

Neria giggled and picked up her pace. It was a lively sprint, with no concern for a noble lady’s dignity.

“It’s two steps back for one step forward!”

“……”

Holding her small hand and lumbering after her, Aaron looked back. Even though it was all in the past, the nightmare that clung to him like sticky tar was receding into the distance.

At last, he let out a hollow laugh and muttered in a cracked voice,

“For two steps back, this is pretty far…”

Two steps—an absurd measure, with no destination and no real meaning, a useless, empty dream.

Yet, strangely, his heart felt healed. Like a refreshing mint on the tongue, his anxiety faded, replaced by a light smile.

At some point, the two were holding hands. As if they were allies, they were tightly united. The warmth between them was neither cold nor hot, just pleasantly similar.

After running for a while, Neria stopped, out of breath. Seeing she needed help, Aaron reflexively reached into his coat but paused.

He looked down at the panting woman with unfamiliar eyes. His hand, hovering in the air, cautiously brushed her back. At the simple touch, the woman flinched, then looked at Aaron and broke into a smile.

Aaron still could not recognize the witch’s face, only the softly upturned corners of her mouth.

Even so, he could sense it. The woman’s smile held a value more precious than gold. It was as wondrous as the majestic, rugged nature of the North.

When had he started to value this witch so dearly?

Aaron wanted to ask her. If this wasn’t a product of his imagination, but truly the witch’s magic—he wouldn’t be angry, so he wanted her to tell him who she was.

But he feared that if he pressed for her identity, she would instantly pull away and run, just like the woman from the fairy tales he loved as a child.

Instead, he found courage in her willingness to accept his touch. Aaron gently cupped the woman’s cheek. She lifted her head and met his gaze.

Before Aaron could speak, she said,

“Can I try kissing you, just once?”

What did he answer then?

He probably said yes.

Because of their height difference, Aaron spread his legs to lower his eye level. The way she lifted her chin and offered her lips was lovely.

Aaron lowered his head and kissed her. After a few gentle butterfly kisses, he couldn’t resist and pulled her tightly into his arms.

Sepia tones spread outward from the two, coloring the scenery with natural hues. Neria, startled as she opened her eyes, tapped Aaron’s shoulder.

Aaron, who had been lost in kissing Neria’s lips, slowly pulled away and looked around with wide eyes at the vibrant, freshly colored surroundings.

Without anyone needing to speak first, the two looked at each other at the same time. The blindfold that had covered her eyes was gone.

When blue and violet eyes met—

Aaron recognized the woman’s face.

‘…Neria?’