“The wound has opened more than before.” 

The physician said while examining Evelyn’s foot. Evelyn remained silent, unable to confess that it was because of the midnight escape.

“It will sting. Please bear with it for a moment.”

Fortunately, the physician didn’t question her further about why the wound had worsened. She merely treated Evelyn’s foot in silence.

As she had warned, a sharp pain radiated from her foot. She bit her lower lip to endure it, but she couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped with the sting.

A faint moan slipped from her delicate lips, and the physician hesitated for a moment.

“Is it very painful?”

“No, it’s fine. I can bear it.”

She couldn’t remember if it had been this painful during the escape last night.

No, it certainly had been painful. But even the pain had felt faint compared to how desperate she had been.

The physician’s touch grew more cautious than before. Even so, the aching sensation did not lessen. Evelyn quietly watched her apply the medicine, trying not to make a sound.

At that moment, a commotion sounded from outside. Evelyn reflexively lifted her head and looked out. Beyond the fabric curtain that hung like a screen, she caught sight of soldiers moving in perfect formation toward some destination.

“I hear His Majesty has suddenly turned away from his march toward Hesta.”

Noticing Evelyn’s attention on the soldiers, the physician offered an explanation.

It was just as Reynard had said—he was turning back. And the moment his words came to mind, Evelyn remembered something else he had told her: that there were a few who knew her true identity. Her body stiffened.

The physician, noticing this, paused in preparing the bandages. She then looked up and met Evelyn’s eyes.

“As you know, I’m a physician. If there’s an expedition, I’m informed early since I must prepare as much as the soldiers do.”

Even without being asked, the physician had sensed her curiosity and began wrapping the bandage around Evelyn’s foot.

“Your Highness fears His Majesty, doesn’t she? Is it because of the rumors spreading through Hesta?”

Despite the physician’s continued speaking, Evelyn did not respond. Even as a maid, she had lived in the royal palace for a long time. She knew full well the kind of trouble that could come from careless words.

What’s more, among the people here, someone knew that Evelyn was not Princess Ophelia. In such a situation, clumsily pretending to be Princess Ophelia would be worse than remaining silent.

“He is sharp and stern, but he is also someone who yearns deeply for affection. I hope Your Highness won’t fear His Majesty too much. And please, don’t try escaping on feet like these again.”

Evelyn felt her heart drop at the physician’s continued words. 

“You… knew?”

“Of course. You could’ve ended up crippled if something had gone wrong. I ask this as a physician, so please don’t take it lightly.”

The physician carefully tucked in the end of the bandage and gently lowered the hem of her dress. Evelyn subtly tried moving her leg, but the sting from her wound quickly made her go limp again.

“By the way, are you truly alright?”

The physician, now cleaning up the tools she had brought for treatment, asked suddenly.

“My leg is fine. I’ve been treated.”

“No. Not your leg—what’s about to happen.”

“……”

Evelyn parted her lips slightly. She didn’t know what intention lay behind his words, but if she were to answer only the question itself, then no—she wasn’t alright at all.

“You must have realized it already when you saw the soldiers still stationed here, but His Majesty originally planned to conquer Hesta immediately. For some unknown reason, it was delayed by a year.”

The physician’s eyes turned toward Evelyn. She instinctively looked away from her gaze.

“In any case, if it’s His Majesty, then a year from now he will surely conquer Hesta and raise the glorious wolf’s banner over the castle. You must know this already. Are you truly alright with it?”

Evelyn bit her tongue for a moment. It was hard to tell if this question was meant for the Princess of Hesta, or if it was asked because the physician knew her true identity.

However, if she judged only from his devoted care, then perhaps he didn’t fully know who she was.

And so, she slowly gathered her thoughts. If Reynard had resolved to conquer Hesta, then the fall of the kingdom was inevitable. And with it, many people would meet their deaths.

From those Evelyn had known, to those she had never even seen who merely shared her nationality.

“…I think it’s something that can’t be helped.”

Just as Evelyn said, it was something unavoidable. All of it had been caused by the King of Hesta, not Evelyn.

His greed had driven him to seize Bait, and when that failed, he dressed Evelyn up as his daughter and sent her to Bait. Fearing the lie would be exposed, he had even tried to kill her before she could meet Reynard.

His scheme had been so meticulous that he even killed all the people who had been guarding her.

And yet, what had come of it all?

The fact that innocent people would die was regrettable to Evelyn, but that was all. It wasn’t something Evelyn had wished for, and it wasn’t something she could stop just because she didn’t want it to happen.

There was no reason for her to feel guilt over something beyond her control. No, she consoled herself by insisting there wasn’t.

Then suddenly, she revisited the words she had just spoken. She wasn’t sure if the response she had given was truly fitting for Princess Ophelia.

‘Would Her Highness have been outraged by this truth?’

It was something she couldn’t know.

“I see.”

Contrary to Evelyn’s worries, the physician simply nodded and stood up.

“Ah, my name is Heinrich Leopold. Please, feel free to call me Heinrich.” 

With a polite bow, Physician Heinrich left the tent.

Only after the curtain that served as the tent’s door closed did Evelyn let out a sigh of relief. It felt like walking barefoot down a path lined with rose vines. She was being careful, afraid of stepping on thorns, but it wouldn’t be surprising if she were to step on one at any moment.

‘Is this really okay?’

‘I truly don’t know.’

Evelyn brought a heavy hand to her head. The only thing she knew was that she would keep asking herself this same question from now on.

Perhaps because she had stayed up all night, Evelyn couldn’t stay conscious for long after Heinrich left the tent. All the fatigue that had built up until now surged in like a wave.

She lay down on the temporary cot, and without even blinking five or six times, she fell asleep just like that.

For that one moment of sleep, the anxiety that had bound Evelyn vanished as if it had been a lie.

***

While giving the order for the troops to retreat, Reynard stopped by Evelyn’s tent before returning to his own. He meant to check if she had received proper treatment.

But what he found upon entering was Evelyn, fast asleep, completely unaware of the world.

Stepping inside, Reynard pulled the blanket—left half off—up to her neck.

“So afraid, always thinking of running… and now the exhaustion finally hits.” 

Reynard recalled how she had fidgeted like a mouse cornered by a cat and let out a quiet laugh.

***

“Did you sleep well last night?”

Early in the morning, Reynard visited Evelyn’s tent again.

It was already the third day.

The maids had already laid out breakfast in Evelyn’s tent.

“Thanks to your concern, yes. Did Your Majesty sleep well?”

As Evelyn tried to rise to greet him, Reynard lifted his hand to stop her. She had started to stand awkwardly, but with a sheepish smile, she sat back down.

“I’m fairly certain I told you yesterday not to get up with that injured leg.”

“I apologize.”

Reynard was a man who all but owned the entire Western Continent. The fact that such a man was showing her consideration was still difficult and uncomfortable for Evelyn to process.

Reynard strode over and sat across from Evelyn.

“Finally, we’re heading back today.”

“Yes.”

As Reynard began eating, Evelyn also started her meal.

“Do you know how to ride a horse?”

“A horse?”

“The carriage you came in is almost completely wrecked, and we haven’t been able to prepare a separate one for you on our side.”

Reynard shrugged lightly as he placed a helping of fresh salad onto his plate. Evelyn, who had tried to focus on her meal, glanced up at Reynard.

“I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

She had a sinking feeling, but then she remembered how, a few days ago, Reynard and the soldiers of Bait had recovered her spare clothes and accessories from the site where she had been ambushed. She let out a quiet sigh.

Come to think of it, even when they brought those back, not a single carriage had been in sight.