Chapter 64

“So… what is this supposed to be?”

Kaya asked with a sullen expression. Essis answered with a faint smile.

“I’m telling you for the third time now—it’s a list of families that can help you.”

Repeating the same thing three times was starting to irritate him, but it wasn’t right to scold a patient. Even if it was Kaya Kiphen, her figure wrapped in bandages and lying down was quite pitiful.

“More importantly, can’t you untie this? It’s so uncomfortable I could die.”

“If you want to stay tied up like that all year, go ahead.”

At Essis’s threat, which revealed his dwindling patience, Kaya grumbled and glanced over the list. It was the same list he had already shown to Noah, but there was one reason why it was being brought up again.

Kaya’s whereabouts had been leaked, and as a result, two people had been gravely injured, barely escaping death.

‘The information was leaked. Pathetic.’

Under such circumstances, it was only natural for Essis to change the designated residences of the two individuals. Even now, it was uncertain who might be watching, so the room was occupied solely by Essis and Kaya.

Though Kaya seemed indifferent, the situation was gravely serious. Overnight, the commander of the 1st Imperial Knight Order had been arrested for attempting to assassinate a member of the Imperial Family.

This plunged the entire palace into chaos, creating mistrust even among the soldiers.

‘I thought there’d be a big upheaval soon, but I didn’t expect them to act so openly.’

As Essis massaged his throbbing temples, Kaya quietly set the list aside. It seemed she had lost whatever interest she initially had.

It wasn’t unusual. After all, Kaya didn’t have the authority to make any decisions.

Once the list had served its purpose, it was thrown into a container with scented candles and burned.

“In fact, I’ve already decided on the location. Once your injuries improve to some extent, you’ll be sent there.”

“Where is it?”

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you… No, I guess you might.”

Kaya blinked blankly at Essis, who muttered with a subtle tone. Judging by her expression, there was no need to explain further. Essis stood up.

Kaya, who seemed indifferent, belatedly asked a question after tilting her head.

“By the way, what about the Captain?”

Having spent the past two days alternating between treatment and sleep after returning injured, Kaya was naturally curious about the outside world.

“Is he still locked up in his room?”

“Locked up? It’s for his protection.”

“Who’s protecting who… Even if everyone there ganged up on him, the Captain would deal with them all.”

“Who knows? Judging by your current state, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Kaya glared fiercely, her pride clearly hurt by Essis’s remark.

He was merely stating facts. In Essis’s judgment, Noah was undoubtedly in a dangerous situation. Just last evening, Essis had faced Mathis, who had been stripped of his position as Commander, separated by iron bars.

Though he hadn’t been able to extract much information from Mathis, who had decided to turn against the Imperial Family, one thing became clear.

‘Do you truly wish to save your younger brother?’

‘…’

‘If so, send him back to the North immediately.’

It became evident that someone with extraordinary power bore a grudge against Noah. After saying this, Mathis closed his eyes and refused to speak further.

“You’d better not take this lightly. Your life and Noah’s are on the line.”

At Essis’s serious tone, Kaya’s expression shifted from irritation to awkwardness. At least she seemed to have some sense.

Essis walked toward the door, answering Kaya’s initial question as he left.

“Noah is still alive. That’s all you need to know.”

“Well, of course. That guy isn’t someone who’d just die.”

Kaya replied nonchalantly, leaning her head back against the bed’s headboard. Without further conversation, the door opened. The knights waiting in the hallway immediately escorted Essis.

Essis stopped just before taking a step forward. He scanned the knights standing nearby one by one. His gaze made the knights exchange uneasy glances.

Fortunately, the person he was looking for wasn’t among them. Without a word, Essis turned away. There seemed to be no need to visit where Noah was. After all, Noah had his own matters to attend to.

‘Well… he’ll handle it himself.’

***

The disheveled blanket had fallen to the floor. The bed was empty. In the vacant room, a knock echoed. When there was no response, the door slowly opened after repeated calls.

“Your Highness, Prince.”

A young knight cautiously called out. He was one of the knights assigned to guard Noah for the past few days. After confirming the empty room, he exchanged glances with his fellow knights before stepping inside.

After searching the disheveled bed, the bathroom, and even the wardrobe, the knights finally grasped the situation.

“His Highness, the Prince, is gone!”

Noah had vanished. He had disappeared without a trace.

“Were you watching the hallway the entire time?”

“Yes. We didn’t hear a single sound from inside the room.”

Quant, the knight who had first knocked, frowned at the junior knight’s response. In the suddenly tense atmosphere, Quant gave orders in a low voice.

“Report to His Highness, the Crown Prince, and investigate the details.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“The rest of you, begin searching immediately.”

As the junior knight sprinted off, the remaining knights dispersed down both ends of the hallway. Quant watched them for a moment before entering the room and heading toward the window.

The window was firmly shut, making it impossible to open without breaking the glass. Quant hesitated briefly before turning back toward the door. With a sigh, he muttered under his breath.

“Damn it, he should’ve just stayed hidden…”

His tone was entirely different from the authoritative voice he had used to issue orders to the knights. It was then that Quant froze in place.

“Like this, you mean?”

Hearing a voice from the side, Quant quickly turned and drew his sword. But before he could properly lift his weapon, a cold metal object touched the back of his neck.

Noah, speaking in an even tone, gave an order to the now-rigid Quant.

“Turn around.”

“…”

“Don’t say a word.”

“Y-Your Highness, were you in the room all along?”

Quant, finally recognizing Noah, turned his head in surprise.

“I said to turn around.”

The cold metal pressed harder against the back of his neck, leaving a shallow cut. Quant stopped responding, slowly turning to face the wall as instructed.

Noah silently observed Quant’s gloved hands. Then, he kicked at Quant’s legs one by one.

Though Quant momentarily faltered, he quickly regained his footing. However, Noah noticed it clearly. Despite being struck in the same spot, Quant’s left leg had noticeably wobbled.

‘Left thigh.’

It was the exact spot where Noah had wounded the masked man with his own hand that day. Suspicion turned into certainty. Noah didn’t miss the moment and pulled out a bandage from his pocket.

In the blink of an eye, he wrapped the bandage around Quant’s neck and tightened it. Quant, caught off guard, struggled in panic.

Noah pressed his back against the wall and tightened his grip even further.

“How did you know… urgh.”

“Quiet.”

He had no intention of engaging in idle chatter. He wasn’t in the mood. He simply wanted to survive. That small desire had put those around him in danger.

“Urgh… even if you kill me… nothing will change. You’re… no different…”

Even as he gasped for breath, Quant let out a precarious laugh, as if he had given up on everything.

Noah didn’t respond. He didn’t want to waver.

Kaya, who had almost been used as bait to capture him. Baine, who had been dragged into this unfairly. And Karina, who had been there. The red traces she had left in the forest. Thinking of all that, Noah tightened the bandage in his hand.

He didn’t want to think about losing anything anymore.

‘Because of you, Noah. Because you…… keep staying by my side.’

If it was Karina Edelin, who had made him want to live, even more so.

He had lived all this time simply because his mother had told him to. He had to live. Nowhere in that life was there anything Noah truly wanted.

For the first time, someone had given meaning to the life he had been continuing, unable to let go of the past.

‘I enjoy being with you, Miss Karina.’

‘I feel the same.’

It might not have been a big reason, but for Noah, it was everything. Perhaps it had been that way for a long time.

Quant’s lifeless body slowly crumpled to the floor.

The bloodied bandage fell to the ground. Noah looked down at it with a blank expression.

There was no guilt. This time, he would protect what mattered. No matter what.

***

As the unusually short spring ended, green leaves sprouted on the trees welcoming the new season. Fallen flower petals were crushed under the wheels of a carriage. Phyllis stepped out of the carriage and onto the ground.

It was an earlier return home than usual. This was because of a rare summons from his father.

“Please go inside, Young Master. The Master is waiting for you.”

Derrick, who had been waiting for him, led Phyllis with a strangely heavy expression. Phyllis, without expressing his curiosity, entered the mansion.

“He should be in the study by now.”

“Yes. I’ll go alone.”

The atmosphere in the mansion felt subtly different from before. Phyllis headed to the second floor alone.

Come to think of it, as he walked through the hallway, he noticed unfamiliar faces here and there. Once he became aware of it, even the air itself felt different.

The door to the study drew closer. Phyllis habitually adjusted his attire as he opened the door.

“Father. I heard you called for me…”

However, Phyllis stopped in his tracks before taking more than a couple of steps into the room. A familiar, yet unwelcome face was seated in the center of the sofa in the study.

“You’re here. Greet His Highness, the Prince, first.”

Earl Herwin spoke as if it were nothing, and Noah was the first to greet Phyllis.

“Hello.”

“…”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”