Chapter 47

Karina, sitting on the bed, heard something fall to the floor and looked down. A bright yellow key had fallen near the bedpost.

“Miss, so what kind of wish are you going to make?”

Becky asked as she tidied up the dressing table. Karina, running her fingers through her slightly damp hair, rolled her eyes.

“Well, I’m not sure yet.”

“Do you think they’ll really grant anything?”

She still hadn’t decided how to use the Crown Prince’s wish voucher that she received from Kaya.

Karina discreetly avoided Becky’s sparkling gaze. She felt sorry for Becky, but she had no intention of using the wish for herself.

‘Would money be the best option? No, even if I had it, I probably wouldn’t use it properly.’

As she thought about the two free-spirited individuals, Becky tilted her head in confusion.

Karina, however, was quite serious in her own way.

Just yesterday, she had seen the castle with its leaking ceiling with her own eyes. Part of her wanted to replace the entire castle, but she wasn’t sure if that was even possible.

“How much money would it take to buy a castle?”

Muttering to herself, Becky’s face lit up like a blooming flower. Karina tried to correct her words, but Becky left the room humming a tune.

Shaking off her awkwardness, Karina returned to her thoughts. Inside her mind, she kept seeing the image of a water-filled bucket in the middle of a room.

Her head ached. Karina, holding the key, walked over to her desk. Since it was a wish voucher issued under the Crown Prince’s name, it seemed reasonable to ask for a castle.

“If it doesn’t work… I’ll just think of something else then.”

Coming to a vague conclusion, Karina reached for a pen and paper but paused. She stared intently at the key in her hand.

‘That’s what we want from you, Miss Karina.’

Noah’s words in the carriage suddenly came to mind.

Placing the key on the desk, Karina, as if possessed, spread out a sheet of paper.

The answer had been in his words. Her pen moved effortlessly across the paper.

***

The sound of wind slicing sharply echoed from one corner of the training ground.

Knights on the opposite side glanced disapprovingly at Noah, who was in the middle of training, and began whispering among themselves.

“Colt, didn’t they say that guy returned on the brink of death?”

“Y-yes, I heard he was seriously injured….”

Before Colt could finish speaking, one of the knights flicked him on the forehead.

“You idiot. Does he look like someone who was injured? He’s not just fine; he’s brimming with energy.”

For some reason, Colt seemed to be the one getting scolded.

Noah, unbothered, continued swinging his wooden sword firmly. His injuries had mostly healed. In fact, that was precisely why he was training.

‘Since when did I become so weak?’

It was a realization he had while carrying Karina on his back and climbing up the cliff. Collapsing after climbing such a small height had been a shock even to himself.

To be precise, he had wandered for a long time after escaping the ravine, but that didn’t change anything. Having discovered his own weakness, he simply needed to train harder.

“Captain.”

While Noah was deep in training, Kaya emerged from the annex and approached him. Staring down the knights as she walked, Kaya stopped in front of Noah.

“The Crown Prince is summoning you.”

“Me?”

“He wants you to come with me.”

In the brief moment it took for her to speak, Noah wiped the cold sweat off his brow with his sleeve and nodded.

The two of them left the training ground and headed straight to the second floor of the annex. It was where Essis always stayed and spent time with his people.

As soon as they opened the door and entered, a letter flew through the air and landed squarely on Noah’s face. Standing blankly, Noah caught the falling letter and bowed his head.

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“I greet His Highness.”

Even at Kaya’s half-hearted greeting, Essis lazily flicked his fingers and spoke.

“Read it.”

He sounded as if he already had a headache. The letter was already opened. Noah, feeling puzzled, unfolded the letter. The handwriting looked familiar.

“What is this?”

“You’ll know once you read it.”

“…….”

“To His Highness, the Crown Prince… Oh, isn’t this a letter from Lady Karina?”

Tilting her head, Kaya belatedly realized something and asked in confusion.

Without saying a word, Noah read the letter from beginning to end.

“At this point, I’m starting to wonder if the three of you planned this. You’re all making a complete fool out of me.”

The contents of the letter, which had clearly upset Essis, were simple.

『…Therefore, my wish is for Sir Noah Velcarid and Sir Kaya Kipen to each have one thing they desire granted.』

Kaya’s eyes widened as she belatedly read that sentence. She wasn’t the only one surprised by the unexpected wish. Noah stared at Karina’s name and her handwriting at the bottom of the letter for a long time.

His heart felt ticklish. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling.

“Stop grinning and just tell me what you want.”

Essis sighed repeatedly and rubbed his forehead as if he had given up.

“Anything at all, right? Really?”

“Why do I already feel uneasy about what you’re going to say?”

Kaya snorted like a bull and raised her hand high as if making a grand announcement. However, Noah’s response was a little different. Picking up the letter that had fallen from Kaya’s hand, he opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, but I need to leave.”

Essis’ expression turned strange at Noah’s abrupt statement.

It didn’t matter. Noah, just as politely as when he entered, bowed his head and turned around. He thought he heard some harsh curses behind him, but his hand didn’t hesitate as it opened the door.

After running a short distance outside, he managed to leave the palace grounds. There was no need for a carriage. His steps felt light, as if wings had sprouted on his feet.

Only one thought filled his mind.

‘Will I be able to see her if I go?’

Even though he knew it was foolish, his legs didn’t stop.

He passed through the city streets, entered a familiar alley, and crossed an old stream.

Without stopping to catch his breath, Noah finally came to a halt in front of a wall.

Looking up, he saw an open window beyond the wall, with curtains fluttering in the breeze.

“Julia, why did you put that there?”

“I’m sorry. I thought the cleaning was done.”

The voices of maids drifted faintly from inside.

Soon, a woman appeared at the window. Noah instinctively opened his mouth.

At the same time, Karina, who happened to look back, met his eyes.

“Noah!”

Karina leaned out the window, her expression startled as she called out to him.

Only then did Noah let out a shallow breath.

He could breathe. Finally.

***

A quiet and solemn air filled the library.

Karina silently reached out and pulled a book from the shelf. It was a book without a title.

‘This isn’t it either.’

Disappointed, she was about to set the book aside when a hand suddenly appeared from behind, holding the book in place.

“Did you find the book you were looking for?”

Noah, who had caught the falling book, asked in a low voice. Karina awkwardly smiled and stepped aside.

Noah picked up the book she had put down and examined it. His eyes seemed vacant.

‘Maybe the library wasn’t the best idea.’

She knew it. A library and Noah Velcarid—it was the least compatible combination she could think of.

But Karina had her reasons. That morning, she had planned to visit the bookstore and meet Ellie. She had received some good news from Ellie via letter a few days ago.

『The central library has acquired some rare old books. They’ll only be available for borrowing for the next ten days.』

With nothing else to do, she thought it was a good opportunity.

“What is this book about?”

Noah, who was seriously studying the table of contents, had not been part of her plan. Barely suppressing a sigh, Karina closed the book, and Noah tilted his head.

“It might be better to try another book. This one’s a bit difficult.”

“I see. Alright.”

Looking around, Karina selected a book that seemed more suitable and handed it to him. It was an adventurer’s autobiography, the kind of book she often read.

Noah’s eyes sparkled as he opened the book. Karina seized the moment. She approached a passing librarian and handed over the list Ellie had given her, quickly finding the book she wanted.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. Do you need anything else?”

“Um, do you have any children’s books by chance?”

The librarian looked slightly perplexed at her question.

Even Karina herself thought it was a ridiculous request. She quickly withdrew her question. Fortunately, when she returned, Noah was quietly reading the book.

‘At least he’s reading.’

Relieved, Karina approached him but froze when she saw the open page.

Despite the time that had passed, he was still on the first few pages. Wondering if there was another reason, she leaned in closer, and Noah, noticing her, turned his head.

Karina absentmindedly pointed to the page and asked.

“Are you still reading this part?”

Noah quietly shook his head and replied.

“No, I’ve finished it.”

“Then why…?”

Trailing off, Karina saw Noah’s gaze return to the book.

More precisely, he was staring intently at the words on the page.

“Why do people read books?”

After a moment of silence, Noah asked an unexpected question.

Coming from him, it didn’t feel strange. In fact, it felt natural. It even made her think deeply. Karina pondered for a moment before answering.

“I don’t think I read for any particular reason.”

It was a topic she had never considered, but the answer came easily.

“The story begins the moment you open the book. I think there’s meaning in that beginning.”

Noah seemed to listen intently, then suddenly locked eyes with Karina.

“Where do you think our beginning was, Miss Karina?”

Karina unconsciously closed her slightly parted lips. Lost in a sudden tangle of thoughts, Noah continued to gaze at her.

His clear, sky-blue eyes seemed especially deep that day. In their exchange of glances, Karina suddenly thought:

Perhaps their beginning hadn’t come yet.