Chapter 6

‘Alright, I understand. I’ll see him out quickly.’

‘My daughter…!’

‘Please.’

Receiving their silent, desperate encouragement, Aisha covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed.

“Cough, cough… Ah, excuse me. I think I have a slight cold…”

“Oh dear, you should go rest. I kept you here too long when I only meant to check that you’d woken up.”

“N-no, it’s me who should be serving my benefactor… cough!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll see you again at the palace anyway.”

At that, her mother nearly gasped. When she looked back, her mother seemed to be panicking at the thought of what her daughter was doing at the palace to be acquainted with such an important person.

‘Why is she worried already, instead of just curious…?’

Aisha felt bitter, wondering what image her mother had of her.

“I’m relieved to see you’re awake and well. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Ahem, then let us see you out…”

“Oh, that’s alright. You both must not have slept a wink last night, so please rest. Thank you for allowing me to wait with you, even when I imposed so much.”

Sir Raymore politely stopped her father from following. His expression, tone, and posture were perfectly courteous. Even though he was in a position to scoff at the Lindberg name, he showed no sign of arrogance.

But even that courtesy seemed uncomfortable for her father, who clearly wanted to go rest. Sensing this, Aisha carefully spoke up.

“Cough, I’ll see him out. Father, Mother, please rest now. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Will you be alright? Your cough…”

“I’m just saying goodbye at the front door, it’s fine. Ahem.”

And she had something to thank him for in private. But she couldn’t do that in front of her parents, so Aisha smiled calmly.

‘Looks like there’s no message from work, either.’

Following behind him, Aisha thought to herself. He must have handled things so neatly that no rumors would spread.

‘I owe him too much.’

She’d heard of his character, but never expected such consideration for someone unrelated.

“Thank you again, Sir.”

Once they reached the entrance and confirmed no one else was around, Aisha spoke quietly.

He turned and looked at her, eyes wide as if to ask what she meant, and her heart swelled.

“For explaining to my parents, for… saving me. For everything. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

It wasn’t just her reputation at stake. She could have lost the job she’d worked so hard to get, and her parents might have lived in shame because of rumors about their daughter. He was the one who prevented all of that. Only now, out of her parents’ sight, could Aisha finally relax and feel relieved.

“…As I said earlier, I only did what was right. And—”

He answered, gazing at her face filled with gratitude and relief.

“As long as you keep our ‘promise’, I don’t expect any other reward.”

“…Excuse me?”

‘Promise? What promise?’

Aisha blinked in confusion. But Raymore didn’t see her reaction and checked his watch.

“Oh, I really must go now. Please rest well. I’ll come visit again soon.”

“Um…”

He placed his hand over his chest and bowed politely, then turned away. A splendid carriage led by a majestic black horse was waiting ahead.

Aisha stood dazed for a moment, then hurriedly chased after him.

“Um, Sir…!”

“By the way.”

Just as she was about to ask about the promise, he spoke first.

He took something out of his pocket and handed it to her. Before she could say a word, Aisha accepted it automatically.

“You left this behind.”

“Huh?”

“I was going to keep it as a token.”

He smiled. His appearance was still devastatingly handsome, but something had changed. His narrowed eyes seemed to say, ‘You know, don’t you?’—binding Aisha tightly.

“I wanted to receive it directly from you.”

Without warning, his hand reached out. He tucked the hair behind her ear with such natural ease, as if it were something he always did.

The sudden lack of distance made Aisha freeze, then flinch belatedly.

“I look forward to seeing you again… Aisha.”

Aisha.

Her name, spoken by him, lingered sensually in her ear. It was the first time she’d heard him say her name, yet it felt familiar. As if he’d called her that before. But if that were true, she would surely remember…

While Aisha was lost in this strange feeling, Raymore boarded the carriage. The carriage sped away instantly, carrying its master.

Left standing in the yard, Aisha blinked.

“…What was that just now?”

Promise? Something left behind? A token?

Staring blankly at the departing carriage, Aisha lowered her head and examined what he’d given her.

‘A string… A ribbon?’

It was a ribbon, frayed at the end as if it had snapped somewhere. She stared at the thin, delicate thing, unable to figure out what it was. She stood there for a long time, until a flash of realization struck her.

“Oh, My Lady. Did you see the guest off well…”

“Where are the clothes I wore yesterday?”

“Pardon? Since you’re resting today, they’re in the laundry… My Lady?”

Barely listening to the maid, Aisha rushed to the laundry room. Her fingers holding the ribbon grew cold.

No, it couldn’t be. It had to be a mistake.

She flung open the laundry room door. Baskets filled with dirty laundry waited to be washed. Aisha found the basket with her clothes and rummaged through them with trembling hands, then stopped.

“My, Lady Aisha? What brings you here?”

A maid approached, seeing Aisha crouched and frozen. Seeing what Aisha was holding, the maid clicked her tongue.

“Oh dear, it snapped. Well, among your things, that one was the most worn-out. Should I just throw it out? Even if it’s mended, it’ll probably snap again… My Lady?”

Aisha collapsed, unable to accept the unchanged reality no matter how much she blinked. She hardly heard the maid fussing over her.

‘Why is this…!’

The ribbon of her corset had snapped. Aisha, disliking troublesome things, often wore the kind commoners used instead of the usual noble style. Commoner corsets had strings and ribbons at the front, so she could put them on herself.

She always tied that ribbon with her own hands, but now it had been torn off.

‘I didn’t do this.’

Even in that agonizing state, she’d never taken off her clothes. She remembered that clearly. But why had the ribbon of her underwear, which she hadn’t touched, been torn off—and why did Sir Raymore have it?

‘Could it be… Sir Raymore?’

She immediately denied it. He was famous for his gentlemanly manners; he wouldn’t do that. And her body was fine. If there had been any marks, the maid who helped her change would have noticed right away.

Aisha, clutching her head, suddenly looked up. Promise. He had said that.

‘Was I not unconscious…?’

She remembered seeing his face, her vision flickering. She was sure she’d lost consciousness. But what if her memory had simply cut off? What if something else had happened that she couldn’t remember…?!

“What in the world happened…”

Surrounded by people who rushed over, Aisha was stunned. Just moments ago, she’d felt relieved, but now the world had turned upside down.

One thing was certain.

The next time she saw him, she wouldn’t be able to smile as usual.

***

“…Sir. Sir Raymore , are you listening to me?”

“Ah, sorry. What did you say?”

Inside the swiftly moving carriage, Raymore turned his head, lost in thought. The Crown Prince’s aide sighed.

“I said you mustn’t change your schedule without warning. How could you not be by His Highness’s side during the inspection?”

“That’s why I’m hurrying there now.”

“I thought you weren’t coming at all.”

He was the main pillar of the Crown Prince’s faction. If he was absent, everything fell apart. They’d sweated all morning because he hadn’t shown up at his house since yesterday, nor at the Knight Order. If they hadn’t finally tracked him down thanks to a message he sent, they wouldn’t even have been able to leave so late.

Regardless, this picture-perfect knight only smiled calmly. Even with all the Crown Prince’s trust, this was not something that could be overlooked. The aide sighed, picturing the Crown Prince’s cold, expressionless face at this moment.

“How long will this inspection take?”

“Excuse me…? It’s just a tour of the capital, so it shouldn’t take long. Two days should be enough.”

“Hm.”

Tap, tap, his fingers drummed on the window sill.

‘Don’t tell me he’s planning to disappear again during that time?’

Raymore stared silently out the window, but the aide, who had watched this knight for years beside the Crown Prince, felt uneasy at the unusual atmosphere.

“…Do you have any connections at the Imperial Library? I need a list of visitors.”

“The library visitor list…?”

What on earth would he use that for…? 

The secretary looked puzzled, but Tristan answered brightly.

“I think something very interesting is happening in a place the Knight Order can’t see.”

“…Did something happen yesterday?”

“Something did.”

Something very interesting.

A strange smile played on his face as he looked out the window.