The procession didn’t stop until evening, when it finally halted on a plain. 

As Evelyn dismounted from her horse, a low groan escaped her lips from the pain that struck her body like a blow.

It was the moment the toll of all her built-up tension began to show. She had tried not to show it outwardly, but every time she moved, her face involuntarily twisted in pain—something she couldn’t hide.

“Princess, please wait over here.”

A maid approached Evelyn and spoke. The place the maid led her to was a temporary shelter.

It was a space prepared for Evelyn and Reynard to rest in until the barracks were erected. She had been wanting a break, so she sat in a chair and took a short rest.

Meanwhile, the soldiers busily began setting up the camp. They moved with such precision and coordination that Evelyn, simply watching in silence, couldn’t help but let out a small sound of admiration.

The soldiers of Hesta had been skilled at setting up tents too, but these men were in a different league altogether—their movements perfectly in sync.

“Princess.”

Just as she was watching absentmindedly, Heinrich approached her. When Evelyn turned her head to look, Heinrich handed her some pills and a cup of water.

“This will help you feel much better.”

“What is it?”

“I heard from His Majesty earlier. That this was your first time riding a horse.”

“Oh, right.”

As Evelyn nodded, Heinrich gave a soft smile and continued,

“His Majesty seemed very concerned. So I prepared this. It’s medicine that helps relieve tense muscles. You’ll feel much better once you take it.”

Evelyn’s gaze shifted from the pills in her hand to Heinrich, then to Reynard, who was standing at a distance, watching over the soldiers.

“Are you feeling any particular discomfort?”

“No. I’m fine. Really.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call.”

With a warm smile, Heinrich bowed her head and stepped away.

Even then, Evelyn stared at the medicine in her hand for a long while without taking it.

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust Heinrich.

It certainly wasn’t because she didn’t trust Reynard.

It was simply because the kindness he showed her felt so unfamiliar, so awkward.

She had never felt such warmth—not in her homeland of Hesta, not in the royal palace where she was raised, not even from her own mother. So what was this kindness from Reynard, the emperor of an enemy nation, supposed to mean?

At that moment, as if he had noticed her gaze, Reynard suddenly turned to look at her. Evelyn quickly turned her head away, pretending not to have been watching—but their eyes had already met.

Reynard stood still for a moment, looking her up and down, then began walking toward her.

“So now you don’t even trust the medicine Heinrich gives you?”

That was the first thing Reynard said upon reaching Evelyn.

“What?”

Not understanding his words, Evelyn looked up at him. He stared down at her with a gaze full of displeasure.

“That medicine.”

“Oh, no. I was just about to take it.”

Reynard narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical despite her denial. Then he gave a short laugh and looked away.

“If you don’t want to take it, then don’t. It’s your choice, after all.”

“……”

“But you’d best take it while you can. Right now it might just feel like a minor discomfort,
but after a night’s sleep, you’ll likely find it hard to walk at all. Still, if you take the medicine, you’ll be good as new.”

With that, Reynard turned and walked away toward where the others were gathered. Left alone once again in the shelter, Evelyn stared blankly at his retreating figure.

Such a strange man.

The fake Princess Ophelia. The maid Evelyn Ebenezer. He knew who she really was, and yet he continued to treat her with such kindness.

Why?

If only she could, Evelyn wished she could step inside Reynard’s mind and find out the reason for his gentleness toward her. But she knew all too well that she could not.

Watching as Reynard spoke with his adjutant, Evelyn finally took the medicine. The bitterness vanished quickly with a sip of water.

***

Evelyn opened her eyes to the sound of birds chirping. Still not fully awake, she blinked several times in a daze before finally realizing where she was and what situation she was in. She sat up.

Looking around, it seemed the sun was just beginning to rise. Even so, it was noisy outside the tent. It was likely because preparations for breakfast and camp cleanup were already underway.

“Your Highness, may I come in?”

Following that, a maid’s voice called from beyond the tent.

“Come in.” 

With permission granted, the maid stepped into the tent.

“You’re already awake. Good morning, Your Highness. I’ll prepare breakfast right away.”

The maid smiled warmly at Evelyn and began setting the table, laying out the dishes one by one. Evelyn quietly watched her work. Despite both being maids, this woman was very different from who Evelyn used to be.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

The maid paused in her task and looked up at Evelyn.

“What’s your name?”

Since they would be seeing each other face-to-face, she figured she ought to at least know the maid’s name.

“My name is Joy Everett. Apologies for the late introduction.”

The maid—Joy—bowed politely to Evelyn as she spoke.

“Joy, got it. I look forward to working with you.”

“The pleasure is mine, Your Highness.”

With introductions complete, Joy resumed setting up the rest of the meal.

When she finished preparing breakfast, she bowed once more to Evelyn and quietly left the tent.

Watching Joy’s departing figure, Evelyn wondered if the maid knew her true identity. From Joy’s behavior, it didn’t seem like she did.

Still, it was entirely possible that Reynard had instructed everyone to pretend not to know, and to treat her as the princess regardless.

“May I come in?”

Just as she was drifting into thought, Reynard’s voice called out.

Snapping back to herself, Evelyn cleared her throat before responding.

“You may come in.”

“Then I shall.”

The tent flap was pulled aside and Reynard entered. Since she had already seen him at breakfast a few times, his presence wasn’t particularly surprising anymore.

Evelyn didn’t sit down until Reynard had taken his seat across from her, moving with familiarity.

Before beginning to eat, he stared intently at Evelyn for a moment. Then he chuckled lightly and reached for his utensils.

“I take it you took the medicine. You look just fine.”

“Huh? Oh, yes. You went out of your way for me—I couldn’t possibly refuse.”

To be honest, she had been uncertain about it.

But after taking the medicine and falling asleep, she woke up that morning without the slightest trace of muscle pain.

“Well done. If you hadn’t taken it, this morning would’ve been awful.”

For some reason, Reynard’s simple “well done” struck a chord deep in Evelyn’s chest. Come to think of it, she could barely remember ever being praised in her life.

Glenna, who had always been indifferent toward her, was not someone who gave praise, and others around her hadn’t been particularly fond of Evelyn either. Because of that, she had grown increasingly isolated, and no one ever reached out to help her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing. Just…”

“Just?”

“It’s unfamiliar and awkward.”

“What is?”

Reynard tilted his head, clearly puzzled.

“Everything Your Majesty does for me.”

For the first time, Evelyn honestly expressed her feelings.

That fact alone pleased Reynard greatly.

“You’d best get used to it. I may not look like it, but I’m quite the kind man.”

“……”

Evelyn looked at Reynard, who was smiling with self-assurance. His confidence didn’t feel like empty words. In fact, quite the opposite.

It felt like Reynard truly meant every word he said.

The thought made her smile. Evelyn, smiling softly without a sound, began her breakfast.

And for that moment, Reynard didn’t interrupt her and quietly continued his own meal.