After that day, Yvonne left the palace. Lennox slept alone and ate alone, just as she’d said. It was a monotonous life. Hughie, who was the same age as him, also left for Saxon Cota where his maternal family lived, following his mother. 

There was no one in the palace.

Though he saw his mother often, he didn’t have a particularly close bond with her. Even though she cherished her only son, she didn’t know how to treat him. 

To Ingrid, Lennox was a son so precious she could put him in her eye without pain, but at the same time, he was a very difficult son.

“Thank you for accepting Mother’s decision.”

“I didn’t accept it.”

Had two weeks passed since Yvonne left the palace? Queen Ingrid approached Lennox, who was so angry he hadn’t visited her palace. 

Lennox had no way to resist his mother’s decision and could only comply. No matter how much he cried and protested, the King and Queen didn’t change their decision.

So what could he do? He had no choice but to live doing what needed to be done, just as Yvonne said. But…

“Lennox.”

“Mother always does whatever she wants. More than me! You always say I do whatever I want, but you’re more self-righteous!”

Lennox shouted roughly at his mother.

He missed Yvonne. He longed for Yvonne’s gentle breath and voice. His mother always said she loved him. But she’d never once held him. Lennox trembled as he glared at his mother, then left the palace. Ingrid watched him with bewildered eyes, then clenched her fists.

Time passed like that. Yvonne returned to Rosbon one spring, three years later. Lennox was delighted to hear Yvonne had returned and was excited all week. That was just last week. But…

“Fine. I’ll just go to her. I’ll go see Yvonne and come back.”

Lennox stormed down the stairs. He walked quickly through the remote passages used by the palace’s lowest servants to avoid attention.

The Altuart family villa was in a suburban city not far from Rosbon. About two hours from the royal palace. He left the palace thinking he wanted to fall asleep with Yvonne tonight, at least.

* * *

“What? The Prince has disappeared?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you…!”

“After reporting to Your Majesty that His Highness the Prince was quite angry…”

“Do you think it makes sense that not a single person saw the Prince in that time!”

The Queen shouted sharply. Richard’s expression was emotionless enough to seem heartless. Ingrid twisted her face harshly, then bit her lip. Lennox had disappeared… 

Her whole body trembled like she’d been doused with cold water. She couldn’t tell if it was from anger or fear, but she was extremely agitated.

“However…”

The attendant stammered. Ingrid grabbed a glass. The King, who’d been watching her, spoke.

“Enough. Ingrid.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Calm down.”

“Is this something to be calm about?”

“Your not being calm won’t help us find the Prince’s whereabouts.”

“So Your Majesty…”

“Let’s contact Count Altuart.”

“Why Count Altuart…”

“Didn’t you say he was angry about not being able to see Yvonne?”

Richard muttered indifferently. Ingrid, who was about to demand why Yvonne was being brought up here, closed her mouth. Whether he’d seen through her, Richard narrowed his eyes. A stinging sensation rose up like her heart had been pierced by an awl.

“Return to the Queen’s palace.”

“Yes.”

Richard turned away. Ingrid tried to swallow her humiliated feelings with clenched fists.

“Your Majesty.”

Helena, who’d been watching from behind, slowly approached and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ingrid closed her eyes and laid her hand over Helena’s.

She felt like crying. No one had humiliated her. But Ingrid… felt rejected at every moment. It had been that way from the moment she married Richard. The King didn’t love her. It didn’t matter. She didn’t love the King either. She’d thought they could still be a decent couple.

“Your Majesty.”

“…I’m fine.”

“You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“That doesn’t mean His Majesty has done anything wrong either.”

Ingrid opened her eyes. Her moisture-laden eyelashes trembled faintly. Yvonne was a good woman. She had no malice or greed. She’d left the palace for Ingrid and Richard’s sake. She’d left because there was nowhere left to flee from the King’s affection.

So she should be grateful.

“Yvonne is innocent.”

“Even so, it’s true that Your Majesty was hurt by her.”

Helena muttered coldly. Ingrid raised her gaze to look at her cousin’s melancholy face. Slender fingers wiped her eyes. Ingrid pulled her lips into a smile to shake off her gloom. Helena didn’t smile back.

* * *

“…Are you coming to?”

A young voice drifted faintly. Lennox tried to catch the murmuring scattered in his ears. Cold sweat dripped down. He opened and closed his eyes repeatedly, adjusting his flickering vision. 

An unfamiliar face caught in his hazy sight.

Lennox moved his chapped lips. Then lukewarm water flowed into his mouth. He accepted and drank it without resistance.

“Cough, ugh!”

Was it because he’d swallowed the water hastily? He choked. The hand giving him water stopped.

“Are you okay?”

It was a kind question. Lennox looked at her while coughing frantically. The face that became clearer over time was round like a white pebble. He stopped coughing and blinked. 

It was a face he’d never seen before. But he recognized that the girl before him was the owner of the voice that had rushed in to save him.

“…Where is this?”

“I don’t know. It’s where Johnny told us to hide.”

“Johnny?”

Lennox asked. The girl nodded. He coughed again. His mouth was very dry and his throat was scratchy. Noticing his condition, the girl held out the water bottle again. 

He didn’t have the strength to take the bottle and said, “Feed me.” 

So the girl tilted the bottle. Lennox frowned.

“Properly.”

At his demand, the girl sighed, then came closer and supported his neck. Then she tilted the bottle and poured water into his mouth. Lennox emptied the entire bottle. The girl shook out the empty bottle and set it aside. She turned her gaze to survey the interior.

“Is this a stable?”

“No.”

“Then why is it so old and cramped?”

Though he’d never once been to a stable, Lennox looked at her, asking if it was a stable just because it was old and cramped. Her clear gaze was innocent and naive. It was very different from when she’d rushed in sharply to protect him.

“…It looks like a pigsty.”

“……”

“I mean that’s what it looks like.”

At his answer, the girl pressed her lips tightly together. Lennox stared up at her. She seemed more uncomfortable than he’d expected. Lennox lay looking at her, his head pillowed on her lap.

It was refreshing. No one had ever shown their emotions in front of him. The servants were expressionless throughout, and his fiancée Charlotte also always smiled in front of him.

Like putting on a fancy dress, when she stood before him, she’d smile sweetly with her hands neatly folded. Lennox took all of that for granted. It wasn’t strange. He was the royal family’s only prince, and even his parents had never easily bent him.

“…What’s your name?”

“Ann. Ann Rosenthal.”

“I see.”

Lennox muttered quietly. He lowered his gaze briefly, then raised it. Suddenly his lips moved on their own.

“You look like Yvonne.”

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Who’s Yvonne?”

He moved his lips and answered, “My nurse.” 

The girl had no reaction. Feeling awkward about that, he turned his gaze away. But he’d been sincere about the resemblance.

For a commoner, her elegant eyebrows were beautiful like they’d been drawn with a brush, and the thick eyelashes beneath them were quite refined. Her delicate features and water-colored eyes… 

Her face, calmly refined like an elaborate doll, was remarkably harmonious.

Charlotte might be jealous if she saw her. That girl couldn’t stay still when she saw pretty girls. 

Usually Charlotte was much prettier, yet she acted that way. But the girl before him was prettier than Charlotte.

“…Aren’t you going to ask my name?”

Lennox, who’d been looking away, asked while looking at Ann. Ann blinked her water-colored eyes and asked, “What is it?” 

He felt a bit offended by that half-hearted question.

“Lennox.”

It was a brief answer. Ann replied “I see,” then left him and went out. Lennox was so flustered he couldn’t even ask where she was going.