Chapter 92

“The monsters that were known for captivating the other person’s heart with their voice, were actually said to have a husky, low-pitched voice. Not a bright voice that sounded like jade balls rolling.”

She had no hesitation in praising her own voice. Herrietta’s appearance could have been overly arrogant in other’s eyes, but Jonathan quietly overlooked it. He knew why she was making such a fuss about it and behaving brightly.

“What are you doing here anyway?”

Feeling that the atmosphere had become awkward, Herietta subtly changed the topic of the conversation.

“Not anyone else but Sir is here. So there’s no way Sir would have stepped all the way here just to see the garden.”

“Ah, yes. Miss Mackenzie, I have a message for you.”

“A message?”

Herietta asked again, widening her eyes.

Anyone who dares to use Jonathan Cooper, a high-ranking knight of the royal family of Velicia, as a messenger…….

Jonathan nodded his head, perhaps reading the thoughts on Herietta’s face.

“His Highness Bernard is looking for you.”

* * *

Knock, knock.

Herietta knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

As soon as she knocked, the permission came straight from inside the room. It was a calm, languid voice.

Herietta slowly grabbed the doorknob and turned it. The door opened, revealing the admirable spacious interior.

Herietta went inside, and looked around, searching for the owner of her voice. She scanned the parlor sofa, desk, and window where he was likely to be, but he was nowhere to be seen.

A few papers lying under the desk caught her eye.

“Your Highness?”

“…….”

Herietta quietly called Bernard, but this time she didn’t answer.

‘Are we going to play hide-and-seek?’

Herietta’s eyes stopped in one place as she looked around the calm room. She saw two legs sticking out of the bed. Two legs wearing leather shoes that look very expensive at first glance.

Herietta’s eyes narrowed.

“You haven’t gotten out of bed yet?”

No matter how tired he is, he should probably not go to bed with his shoes on. Herietta slowly stepped toward the bed.

She moved the thin canopy curtains around the bed and saw a man lying still on the bed. She couldn’t tell if he had his eyes open or closed, as he was covering his face with one arm.

Wheeze. Each time he breathed, his chest swelled and subsided in a regular manner. Ebony-black hair lay in a mess on the bed.

“What are you doing there?”

Herietta said, “I didn’t know you slept a lot.”

“I am not sleeping.”

Bernard, who had been lying dead, moved his mouth.

“I was worried about something, so I was organizing my thoughts for a while.”

“Worry?”

A prince living a decent life is worried. Herietta tilted her head, feeling the answer didn’t suit him.

“What are you thinking about, why are you lying down like this?”

No matter how long she waited, Bernard gave no answer. So Herietta, who couldn’t wait, moved secretly. Then she lowered his hand that was covering his face. A stern face was revealed.

“I worry about how I can change your mind.”

Bernard answered, closing and opening his eyes slowly. The two eyes, which normally glowed lively and passionately, were dark and heavy today. His face, which always had a mischievous smile on it, was hardened.

The unexpected reply made Herietta momentarily speechless. She thought he was thinking of something great because he looked like he carried all the worries in the world. But it was actually about her.

Bernard, who had been staring at the bewildered Herietta, sat up.

“Should you go?”

He said again with an anxious look.

“Not this time, you can go next time.”

“…… Next time it’s too late. Your Highness knows that well.”

With Bernard’s begging tone, Herietta put on a puzzled look,

“This time or never.”

It was a soft, but firm answer at the same time. No matter what he says, her thoughts won’t change.

Bernard stared blankly at Herietta. There were many things he wanted to say to her, but he couldn’t open his mouth. He knew she was just as stubborn as him.

Before long, Bernard silently reached out and grabbed Herietta’s hand. Then he gently pulled her closer to him.

“Kustan forces were on the verge of sweeping the capital of Brimdel. By the time you get there, it might already be a mess.”

Bernard, sitting on the bedside, raised his head and looked up at Herietta. It was never the attitude a country’s royalty should take toward a non-royalty. But at some point, such formalities became unimportant to the two of them.

“I heard that many high-ranking nobles of Brimdel lost their lives in this war. Most of those with a title of marquis or higher have been decapitated.”

Bernard’s eyes, conveying the bleak news, were infinitely serious.

“Herietta, the same goes for the next Duke Rowani you are looking for. As one of the few Ducal heirs, there is a high possibility that he has already died at the hands of the Kustan army.”

“…….”

“So, just wait a little longer. I’m going to send someone to Brimdel to find out about the current situation of Duchy Rowani. I’ll find out if the next Duke is alive or dead. You can investigate them first, then you decide whether to go to Brimdel yourself or not.”

“No. Your Highness.”

Herietta, who had been listening to Bernard’s words, quietly interrupted him.

“If we keep waiting like this, we will be really late.”

You know that. Herietta’s eyes said that. And Bernard, knowing what she meant, had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Bernard had stopped Herietta from going to Brimdel. Because she is not ready yet. Because things are unstable right now. There were various excuses he brought out every time. And with that, Herietta has remained here ever since.

But she couldn’t wait any longer. Herieta looked determined. There was very little sand left at the top of the hourglass.

“I know it may be futile.”

Herietta said.

“But I can’t give up without even trying.”

Even if the result she faces at the end is her own end.

“Your Highness. I don’t want to regret it again.”

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