It had been quite some time since the sun had set.

Looking around without a lantern, Amelia finally gave up trying to find her way and let out a heavy sigh.

“Haa.”

She felt deeply embarrassed to find herself in exactly the kind of situation Dana had warned her about.

When she first mounted her horse, she hadn’t intended to go far at all. She simply wanted to walk along the river and watch the water flow.

But whether the horse was uneasy about its absent-minded rider, who had dropped the reins and become engrossed in watching birds and butterflies, or whether Amelia had wandered deeper into the forest without realizing it, the result was the same. The horse, carrying her on its back, had wandered aimlessly with a carefree gait.

Either way, when Amelia finally came to her senses, she found herself in a familiar place.

“This is…”

In front of her stretched the clearing where spectators gathered during hunting competitions. She had wandered into the royal hunting grounds.

Since she had traveled by carriage on previous occasions, she had no idea how to get back. To make matters worse, as she trudged away from the clearing into the forest, a mist seemed to be settling in.

“What should I do?”

Amelia stroked the horse’s mane and spoke to it as if confiding in a person.

It was getting progressively darker, to the point where she could barely see. The rustling leaves in the wind started to sound like the cries of wild animals, and she began to feel afraid.

“…Maybe I should head toward the river?”

There, at least, the trees would clear enough for the moonlight to shine through. If she followed the river upstream, she figured she wouldn’t get too far from the estate.

Looking for constellations through the branches, Amelia carefully found her bearings. She pointed the horse’s head west and rode forward until, fortunately, she reached the riverbank.

Hearing the sound of flowing water, Amelia smiled in relief and dismounted.

“Thank goodness…”

Just as she was about to run to the water to quench her thirst, she froze.

On the other side of the not-so-wide river stood a huge wolf.

It had mottled gray fur and glaring yellow eyes. The moment she saw the threatening beast, Amelia screamed with all her might.

“Kyahh!”

Startled by the sudden noise, the horse reared slightly, striking the ground with its front hooves. The wolf’s expression turned fiercer as it bared its teeth.

“Grrr…”

The opposite bank was slightly higher than the grassy area where Amelia stood.

The wolf quietly crouched, as though gauging whether it could leap across the river.

Amelia was paralyzed with fear, clutching the horse’s mane and unable to move.

However, the current in this narrow part of the river was swift. The experienced predator seemed to be considering this.

After a brief pause, the wolf decided against it. Stretching its neck and turning away, it disappeared back into the darkness.

“Amelia!”

As she blankly watched the wolf vanish, Amelia’s name echoed loudly through the night. She turned her head.

“….”

Seeing Josef riding toward her, Amelia’s eyes filled with confusion.

She couldn’t believe that loud voice had been his. The thought of how he had found her only came later.

His horse slowed elegantly, as if performing dressage. Dismounting gracefully, Josef stood before her.

His breathing was rough, as though he’d come in a hurry. His shirt beneath his vest was slightly disheveled. His broad chest rose and fell a few times before he exhaled deeply.

“Ha…”

After giving her a once-over and realizing she was unharmed, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

He had a lot to ask, but Amelia offered a brief greeting first.

“…Your Highness.”

She understood that Josef hadn’t come here by chance. Somehow, he had wandered the hunting grounds to find her.

Originally, this was supposed to be Dana’s and the Calstadt servants’ responsibility.

Had Dana gotten worried enough to run to the palace? Had Betty sought Josef’s help?

‘If I’ve caused this much concern, I’m in trouble.’

Unable to endure the mounting anxiety, Amelia spoke first.

“Your Highness, what… what happened? Why are you here…?”

“You should be the one explaining.”

Josef had his hands on his hips, looking somewhat exasperated.

“What are you doing here? Why did you scream?”

“…I saw a wolf.”

Amelia hesitated, fearing that his anger would flare up again, thinking she was overreacting.

“Where?”

But he asked seriously.

“Over there, across the river.”

Josef followed the direction of her pointing finger.

“It’s okay. They can’t cross here.”

After briefly observing where the wolf had stood, Josef reassured her.

“Does that mean they can cross elsewhere?” Amelia asked, startled.

Josef laughed, as though incredulous.

“Yes. That’s why you shouldn’t enter the hunting grounds alone. Understand?”

Josef wrapped his arm around Amelia’s waist and lifted her onto his horse’s saddle. He took the reins and began walking. Her horse obediently followed behind.

***

Josef briefly explained the dangers of traps.

The jagged edges of the traps could easily injure a horse’s ankle. That’s why he was lighting the ground with a lantern as he walked. He seemed to have forgotten to scold her for venturing into the royal hunting grounds.

“We’ll stop somewhere safe soon.”

“Huh?”

Amelia looked surprised.

“Aren’t we going back to the palace?”

“It’s too dangerous in the dark. If we hurry, we might step on a trap.”

Looking up at her, Josef added, “Or are you planning to make me walk until sunrise?”

He was being sarcastic, but in reality, he was leading the horses slowly, carefully watching the ground.

Meanwhile, Amelia, unfamiliar with spotting traps and without a lantern, was safely seated on the horse, receiving the Crown Prince’s protection.

Feeling guilty, she decided it was best to keep her mouth shut.

While Amelia sorted through her complicated thoughts, Josef led the horses to what looked like a lodge.

“We’re here.”

Helping Amelia dismount, Josef headed toward the two-story brick house. The horses wandered over to a wooden trough near a well and began drinking water.

Even though she was just a few steps away, Amelia felt uneasy about being left alone in the dark and hurried to Josef’s side.

The house was large and neat for a gamekeeper’s residence. The low stone wall was carefully arranged, and the flowers seemed deliberately landscaped.

“Who lives here?”

“I do.”

“What?”

Josef unlatched the door.

“It’s where I rest when I come hunting.”

The flickering lantern in his hand briefly illuminated the Olschtin crest engraved on the lock.

“Come in.”

The moonlight lit up a room resembling a living room. The arrangement of the sofa in front of the fireplace and a heavy oak cabinet gave the space a cozy feel.

While Josef lit candles with practiced ease, Amelia awkwardly glanced around.

‘We’re staying here?’

There was a sufficiently long sofa in the living room, but only one. Inside, it looked like there was a kitchen, and next to it, a door stood with weapons displayed in front, suggesting it was a storage room.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

Josef, holding a candlestick, had placed one foot on the stone stairs leading to the second floor.

“Are you worried I’m going to make you sleep here?”

He seemed to read Amelia’s expression and smiled silently.

“The bedroom is upstairs.”

Amelia climbed the stairs as Josef led her. In the attic-like open space, there was a spacious bed.

The second floor looked more fitting than the first. The bedding and carpet were just as clean as in Josef’s own bedroom. Seeing the half-written papers scattered on the table and the robe draped over a chair naturally made her aware they had been touched by Josef.

“Sleep here.”

“……”

After hesitating for a moment, Amelia spoke.

“Where will Your Highness sleep?”

“I’ll sleep downstairs.”

“What?”

“Why? You’re not going to ask me to tuck you in, are you?”

Josef teased, watching Amelia.

She fell into troubled silence. Though she was the one who had caused him to come all the way here, making the crown prince sleep downstairs didn’t seem right.

But suggesting they share the bed was out of the question.

After much hesitation, Amelia asked.

“Your Highness, is it impossible to return now?”

“……”

“If we go slowly…”

She trailed off, silencing herself under Josef’s gaze. His expression showed he found the suggestion absurd.

Josef set the candlestick on the table and lifted Amelia, placing her on the bed.

“Y-Your Highness!”

Amelia wriggled out of Josef’s arms. In her struggle, she ended up right in the center of the bed.

Sitting beside her, Josef said,

“Wolves can kill people.”

He spoke as if telling a story to a child. Having just seen a wolf as large as a human, Amelia’s wide eyes filled with fear.

“I was bitten once, too.”

“What?”

Amelia gasped in shock.

“When?”

“When I was about fifteen.”

Josef spoke matter-of-factly, but Amelia’s face turned pale as she remembered the scar on his shoulder.

“You were so young… How did that happen?”

She asked without realizing it.

“I encountered one while hunting.”

“Hunting?”

Amelia’s eyes wavered. Hunting at fifteen? Was Josef lying?

“Are you saying this just to scare me?”

“I am trying to scare you, but I’m not lying.”

Josef shook his head.

“I stayed here alone overnight and ran into it.”

“Was it the same wolf as before?”

Amelia asked seriously, but Josef chuckled.

“No. I killed that one.”

“You… killed the wolf?”

The thought of a fifteen-year-old boy hunting alone in the night and killing a wolf was shocking. Did no one care for the crown prince?

“Why did you do something so dangerous?”

She repeated the question in disbelief.

“It was an order.”

An order? Only the emperor could give such an order to the crown prince.

“……”

Amelia stared at Josef. His eyes were cold, and he didn’t seem to be lying. The old scar on his shoulder was proof.

“Do you still want to go back now?”

Amelia shake her head silently. Josef smiled faintly.

“Get some sleep. We’ll leave at sunrise.”

Josef brushed his fingers across Amelia’s cheek. She ducked her head to avoid his touch, catching sight of his rolled-up sleeve. His forearm was covered in fresh scratches.

“Your Highness… Your arm is injured.”

Amelia’s expression grew anxious as she gently touched his arm. The fine cuts looked recent, like they had been made by branches.

“How did this happen? Does it hurt?”

“I came here in a hurry.”

Amelia’s blue eyes looked up at Josef steadily.

“So this happened.”

Her expression clouded. Her hand remained on his arm.

“……”

When Josef leaned in to kiss her, Amelia lowered her gaze. After a pause, when the next kiss came, she didn’t turn away.

Her upper body was laid back. Bare skin met, generating a shared warmth. Josef was more impatient than usual. Amelia’s body quickly readied itself to receive him.

As she felt Josef’s movements, her unfocused eyes fell on his shoulder.

What scared her wasn’t the faint, distorted shape of his scar. She realized that after hearing his story.

What frightened her was knowing why the scar existed.

She was afraid of understanding him.

She feared getting even a little closer to him, while a voice inside her screamed not to.

“Amelia…”

“……”

“Look at me.”

Look at me. Amelia buried her face in Josef’s chest, evading his softly whispered plea.