Smack!

A loud sound rang out as flesh struck flesh. Evelyn’s small body crumpled to the floor, unable to withstand an adult’s strength.

“How dare you neglect the princess? Are you insane, Evelyn?!”

Glenna, her face twisted in fury, screamed at Evelyn.

Evelyn, who had rolled across the floor, gasped for breath, struggling repeatedly to lift herself. But the shock had left her body unable to move properly. She tried to stand several times, only to collapse back to the ground.

Only after some time had passed—when her blurred vision returned to normal and her breathing somewhat steadied—was Evelyn finally able to rise slowly.

“I’m sorry, Mother.”

Evelyn bowed her head deeply to Glenna.

“You do realize I’m not the one you should be apologizing to, don’t you?”

“…Yes. I’ll properly apologize to the princess as well.”

Evelyn murmured in a small voice.

“Apologize to the princess this instant!”

“Yes.”

Even as she answered, a metallic tang spread in her mouth. Her mouth had torn, and blood had pooled inside.

Evelyn swallowed the blood and took unsteady steps toward the door, where Princess Ophelia was likely waiting. Whether from the aftermath of being thrown to the ground or not, she couldn’t walk straight and stumbled repeatedly. Still, her mother didn’t once offer a hand to steady her or speak a single word of concern.

If she’d truly cared about her, she wouldn’t have struck her so violently in the first place.

Evelyn bit down on her lower lip to steady her spinning head and reached for the door.

As expected, Princess Ophelia stood waiting on the other side.

When she saw Evelyn’s left cheek, now red and swollen, Ophelia smiled in satisfaction. It was the expression of someone enjoying the sight of a person who had dared to abandon her now getting what she deserved.

Evelyn bowed her head toward Princess Ophelia with lifeless eyes.

“I’m sorry, Princess. I won’t let this happen again.”

“And how can you be so sure it won’t? I don’t trust you.”

Ophelia deliberately raised her voice, making sure both Evelyn and Glenna could hear her.

At that, Glenna rushed out of the room and offered Ophelia a smile.

“I’ll make sure Evelyn doesn’t wander around again. So please, calm yourself, Princess.”

“Hmph, well, all right. Since my nanny insists, I won’t make a bigger issue of it. But I have one condition.”

“A condition?”

“Yes, a condition. I don’t want Evelyn meeting with that rude servant boy from Bait anymore. What if she ends up like him, spending time around someone like that? I wouldn’t like it if Evelyn became so impudent.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll keep a close watch on her.”

Glenna answered and pushed down on Evelyn’s head with her hand. Evelyn’s head bowed once more before Princess Ophelia.

“Good. Then I’ll be going. Nanny, come soon. All right?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Princess Ophelia, seemingly satisfied, left the scene.

Glenna gave her a deep bow, then straightened and glared fiercely at Evelyn.

“Evelyn, from now on, you are to return to your room immediately after finishing your work. Understood?”

Faced with Glenna’s commanding tone, Evelyn silently nodded her head.

She didn’t reply, but Evelyn knew well enough that she couldn’t disobey her mother’s words.

With a sharp snort, Glenna turned around and followed Princess Ophelia.

Only when the two of them had disappeared from view did tears begin to well up in Evelyn’s eyes.

***

“She’s not coming.”

Reynard, who had arrived at their hideout, let out a small sigh as he thought of Evelyn, from whom he’d heard nothing for days.

Since the day Princess Ophelia and Evelyn had appeared at the hideout together, Evelyn had not shown up again.

Only then did Reynard begin to worry about Evelyn’s well-being.

In fact, Princess Ophelia had filed a complaint to the Bait side as well.

However, because Reynard wasn’t just a mere servant but a prince of Bait, the Bait side had only conveyed to Hesta’s side that he had been warned.

This meant Reynard had received no real punishment or reprimand.

But Evelyn was a maid of Hesta.

Her position was different from that of Reynard, a prince of Bait.

“I really didn’t handle it well that time, did I?”

He wanted to apologize, but with Evelyn not appearing, there was no way to convey his regret.

And now, going to see Princess Ophelia felt too awkward, so he was left with no options.

“There are only a few days left now…”

Reynard crouched down, burying his face in his arm.

Tonight again, the moon passed high overhead.

***

The time of parting came quickly.

The diplomatic delegation, which had visited to celebrate the Hesta King’s birthday, was now preparing to return.

Before leaving, Reynard wanted to see Evelyn one last time and headed to their hideout.

Even as he moved quickly, he did not expect much.

It had already been six days since Evelyn had last shown up at the hideout.

Still, Reynard sat and waited.

Tomorrow, he would leave Hesta early in the morning.

That meant he might never see Evelyn again.

On a night when even the moon had tucked itself away behind the western hills, Reynard, after waiting for a long time, finally stood up.

It seemed he would have to part ways with Evelyn without seeing her again.

But just then, he heard a rustling sound behind him.

Reynard turned in response to the noise.

And when he saw who it was, his eyes opened wide.

“Evelyn?”

Behind him stood Evelyn.

Breathing heavily, Evelyn spotted Reynard and gave him a bright smile.

“I heard you were leaving tomorrow, so I snuck out without Mother knowing.”

At her words, Reynard immediately ran to her and pulled her into a hug.

“…I thought you weren’t coming.”

Reynard whispered in a choked voice.

He had truly thought he wouldn’t see Evelyn again before leaving.

Evelyn buried her face in Reynard’s shoulder and smiled radiantly.

“I can’t stay long. If Mother finds out, she’ll scold me again…”

At her words, Reynard let her go from his arms.

“You’ve gotten into a lot of trouble because of me, haven’t you?”

“No. I mean, not really, but… well…”

Evelyn stumbled over her words.

Reynard noticed the faint scratches still visible on Evelyn’s face.

He became certain that she had suffered because of him.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’m okay.”

Evelyn sincerely meant that she was fine.

Though she had been harshly scolded by Glenna, she had at least managed to protect the first friend she’d ever made.

For Evelyn, that alone made her unregretful about that day.

If she had lost Reynard because of Princess Ophelia, that would’ve been even more painful.

“One day… when I’m older, I’ll come back for you.”

“For me?”

“Yeah. So, until then, hang in there.”

How? How would a servant like Reynard come back for her?

The question arose in her mind, but Evelyn decided not to dwell on such trivial things right now.

After all, what couldn’t be said as a parting promise on the day of farewell?

“Then I’ll wait. You must come for me. Promise?”

“Yeah.”

Reynard gave a firm nod as he answered.

That was their final farewell.

***

“Your Majesty?”

When Reynard didn’t speak for a while, Evelyn tilted her head and called to him.

Only then did Reynard snap out of his thoughts and let out a faint laugh.

“What were you thinking so deeply about?”

“Nothing.”

“Is it something you can’t even tell me?”

Evelyn slumped her shoulders as if sulking, and Reynard gave a sheepish smile.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“I was thinking about the past.”

“The past?”

Unable to guess what he was referring to, Evelyn repeated his words in confusion.

“I was reflecting on the moment I first met you in Hesta.”

As Reynard finished his sentence, Evelyn smiled as if understanding finally dawned.

“Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“Hm?”

Reynard turned to look at Evelyn.

“You remembered?”

“Yes. I remembered it belatedly. I shouldn’t have forgotten.”

With that, Evelyn gently hugged Reynard.

Reynard softly patted her back.

“It was a promise, after all.”

~~End of the Side Story~~