CH 131

Even though it was cliché, Michael’s eyes widened.

I applied the medicine on him, who had hardened as if he had been stunned in the back of the head. Thanks to his calmness, it was easy to apply.

“Go to your room and get some rest. And…”

I pulled out a heavy leather pouch and held it to Michael.

The dazed boy unexpectedly took what I had given him.

“Here you go”.

“…What is that?”

Michael stared at the pouch in his hands without untying the tight laces.

I unpacked the pouch for him. The thick leather cracked open and revealed dazzling gold that glittered like the boy’s hair.

“My entire fortune.”

The pocket was full of gold coins.

“Run away, Michael.”

We maintained eye contact. Michael frowned as if I was talking nonsense.

I pulled out a note from the gold coins and unfolded it in front of him.

“Now, here’s a list of public carriages that you can ride right on the back road of the Duke’s Castle.”

On a piece of paper the size of the palm of my hand, the number of carriages and the times they would come in and out of it were written in full. It was a record that was checked against countless times over the past four years.

“And this is the location of a village without a newspaper carrier. This is a swamp… Oh, by the way, I only put gold coins in here, so before you leave, come say goodbye to me. I’ll bring you some coins you can use.”

Until four years ago, there were a lot of abandoned coins in the Duke’s Castle.

The gold coins I handed over to Michael were my escape funds collected from every corner.

And the notes I put along with the gold coins were escape routes that should not allow one to be caught anytime soon.

I handed over all the escape items I had prepared for four years to Michael and clapped my hands once.

“Now is your chance. The Duke can’t afford to care if you run away. Because of me.”

“You…”

“If he tries to chase you, I’ll try to buy time.”

Although he was saved once, Michael was still in danger.

The timeframe that Alan promised to keep Michael alive was 10 years. Therefore, there was not much time left before he was executed according to the contract.

There was no way to prove Michael’s usefulness in a few years. Even I was not necessary for Alan now.

Michael had to run away to survive. And that was impossible with his own power.

Just as Benny helped me, he needed help.

“…What about you?”

Michael looked at me; he still hadn’t accepted the pouch.

“Are you going to run away with me?”

“What nonsense.”

I laughed out loud.

“I will remain in the castle. I have something to do.”

“…….”

Michael stared at me. He then tied the straps of the leather pouch tightly and pushed it back.

“I don’t need it.”

Somehow, he seemed angry.

I was stunned. I shook my head in response, saying,

“You’re not worried about me, are you? Michael, I’m really safe. I’m engaged, so I’ll leave someday…”

To be precise, once the rebellion was resolved, there was no reason to live with Alan anymore.

Without realizing it, I was immersed in my own thoughts, but Michael roared like a cat with a broken tail.

“What? Engaged? With who?”

He brought his face close to mine, as if curious about my fiancé more than his own future.

Awkward, I shifted my eyes and replied softly.

“…With Benny.”

In front of others, I was embarrassed to change my words after denying the ‘scandal’ with Benny.

I twirled my hair around my index finger and quickly continued speaking.

“Anyway, it has nothing to do with you. You just need to run away, eat well and live well. This conversation is over!”

I waved my hand and walked down the path. However, there was no sound of footsteps following.

Turning back, I saw Michael standing in place like a stone statue.

“I said I don’t need it.”

Michael rudely and roughly threw my gift. I hurriedly put my hands together and caught the pouch that flew like a stone.

“What’s wrong with you? I am just thinking about you and taking care of you…”

“Take me.”

The firm tone was close to coercion.

“What?”

“When you get married, take me with you.”

‘What the hell is he saying?’

I touched my temples and pondered his words, but I did not understand easily.

“What will you do if I take you to the newlywed house?”

“Just, well… As we’ve done in Bauner’s castle…”

“As we’ve done?”

Michael mumbled as if he was embarrassed.

“…Anything if it’s for you.”

“…….”

It was ridiculous.

“It’s okay. There’s no reason to make you do it.”

“Or make me clean up your room.”

“It’s fine. If you keep doing that, I won’t give you this either.”

I held my pockets in my arms and walked five more steps. However, no matter how far I walked, Michael did not follow.

‘How do I beat that stubbornness?’

I mulled over it and shouted a passing thought.

“I’ll take you if you kneel down.”

I didn’t mean it seriously.

Michael made fun of me as a fake. There was no way that he, who had a strong pride, could kneel in front of me.

Flop!

The sound of something hitting the ground.

…I had an ominous feeling.

“Take me.”

I looked back, so slowly and hesitantly that it was like my body was creaking.

Michael was down on his knees. Confused, I tried to help him up right away, but he grabbed the hem of my skirt.

“I am not running away. So…”

His arrogant voice trembled shallowly towards the end.

“Don’t leave me alone in this castle.”

He tightened his grip on the hem of my skirt, as if he would not let go until he heard an answer.

“…You were the first person who believed in me.”

I was surprised.

Michael made a weak expression that I had never seen before. His eyes, which had always been annoying, drooped as if he was reading the air, and his dry lips trembled.

He was afraid of my rejection.

‘Isn’t this almost a threat…?’

‘If I don’t take him, Michael will remain in the castle. That means his death.’

And I couldn’t pretend I didn’t see Michael’s scheduled end.

At times, he was very mean, enough to make me want to beat him, but it was still difficult for me to leave him alone.

I was nervous, but I gave up on insisting in the end.

“…I’ll talk to Benny.”

Perhaps it was a satisfactory answer as Michael’s expression brightened.

I dusted off my crumpled skirt and grumbled.

“So don’t cry. I’d be surprised if you made a face like that.”

“…I didn’t cry.”

“You cried.”

When I brought my face closer to Michael, who was on his knees, he jerked up like a spring and turned his head.

“Whatever.”

Michael’s ears were red. Anyway, he was an unwelcomed child.

Nevertheless, the reason I could not leave him alone was probably because we were in similar situations.

“…Thanks.”

Michael looked at me sideways and muttered inaudibly.

“Huh? What?”

“For finding me.”

Michael fiddled with his hands. He, who had always tried appearing like a grown up, now appeared like a clumsy boy of his age.

“You didn’t pass by even when you saw me…”

The boy slowly raised his head to meet my gaze.

“…Thanks.”

The words made me feel somewhat nauseous. I wasn’t sick, but rather, it was the opposite.

‘To think that I’d heard him say thank you.’

I, who had no choice but to apologize to others, received a sincere thank you.

The fever, which had subsided, rose again.

“Well, what… if it’s this much.”

I rubbed my tired eyes and trembled slightly.

Michael stood still and waited until I took my hands off my face.

He and I walked side by side and returned to the Duke’s Castle.

We were both like victims who couldn’t escape, but it was comforting to know that we weren’t alone.

***

A few days later, I fixed Benny’s cravat in front of Alan’s office.

“Are you ready?”

Benny nodded his head.

Dressed like a nobleman from head to toe, he didn’t seem nervous at all, unlike me.

I swallowed dry saliva and knocked on the office door.

Normally, Alan, when he recognized my presence, would come to the front door to meet me, but of course that didn’t happen this time.

“…Duke. It’s me.”

No answer was heard. I tilted my head and turned to Benny.

“It’s strange, Verney said that he was definitely in the office…”

Then the door opened without warning.

I just ran into Alan without any mental preparation.

“Ah…”

As the dry eyes pierced me, my whole body shrank.

Alan hadn’t even appeared at a single mealtime since I revealed the truth.

In other words, this was the first time we had met properly since then.

“…….”

With the door half open, Alan went back to the desk that had papers piled up. It seemed he asked me to come in.

Benny took my hand and entered the office without hesitation.

Alan stared at our clasped hands and asked indifferently.

“What’s wrong?”

There was no trace of the friendly warmth of the past in his blunt tone of speech.

It was heartbreaking, but I had to endure it. I lifted my head, which had automatically fallen earlier.

“I have something to tell you.”

After Benny took good care of me, people’s attitude towards him became more favorable.

Hugo still seemed to have a long way to go, but at least Pedro sort of acknowledged Benny’s hard work.

The same was true of Verney and the rest of the staff who were displeased with him.

So now was the right time to conclude the contract with Benny.

When I gathered all my courage and parted my lips… Benny beat me to it.

“I’d like to get permission to marry the Princess.”

I was at a loss for words, and my mouth puckered like a crucian carp.

Alan’s eyes, which had been indifferent like stones, widened in an instant.

“…Marriage?”

Alan’s jade-colored eyes turned to me. He seemed to be trying to ask me to explain what Benny just said.

I bit my lower lip and took a step closer to Benny.

“Please… Allow us.”