Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 13

Heidi, who had been blinking her large, round eyes like ripe grapes, belatedly jumped up in surprise.

“Sleep…? You want me to sleep? Here?”

Heidi’s head whipped toward the large bed beside her.

A bed twice as large and tall as the one in her room. Solid posts, navy blue cushions placed on white bedding without a single wrinkle.

Feeling troubled, Heidi bit her lower lip slightly. To occupy someone else’s bed, especially her master’s bed, and sleep in it.

Unaware of Heidi’s inner turmoil, Desion tilted his head and asked.

“Is there some problem?”

A problem… When he asked like that, it didn’t seem like much of a problem after all.

Heidi slowly shook her head. Then Desion nodded.

“Then that’s settled. I’ll guard the door just in case. Please rest comfortably.”

* * *

But how could she possibly fall asleep.

Rustle, rustle.

Hearing the sound of Heidi tossing and turning, Desion suddenly asked.

“Can’t you fall asleep?”

“…Yes, it seems so.”

“I can’t leave my post, but if you’d like, I can keep you company with conversation.”

Heidi nodded slightly. She brought up the question she hadn’t been able to ask earlier.

“Seeing how they suddenly barged in today, don’t you think the royal palace has caught on to something?”

Desion, who had pulled up a chair to sit at some distance from the bed, shook his head.

“They might have had a hunch. But if they really knew, they wouldn’t have moved so carelessly.”

“Then…”

“Well. It would be right to see it as a kind of warning. That they’re watching.”

“Master… I mean, teacher, aren’t you anxious?”

Desion shrugged his shoulders as he answered.

“I thought this would happen eventually. Though I didn’t know Anastasia’s patience would be so lacking. This is quite advantageous for us.”

“Why is that?”

“Because we’ve bought time.”

The corner of Desion’s mouth lifted slightly.

“For now, today’s events will put Anastasia at ease for a while. The thread of suspicion will loosen somewhat too. She’ll be busy for the time being creating her people in the capital, and we’ll finish our necessary preparations in the meantime.”

Us.

Heidi was finally beginning to vaguely understand the weight of that word. How dangerous it was for her and Desion to be bound together as ‘us.’

‘This was something that had to be done risking our lives day by day.’

Heidi had never even seen the palace walls in her entire life. Stories about royal bloodlines, schemes, and power struggles couldn’t possibly resonate with her.

All Heidi knew for certain was that a way to save her mother had appeared, that was all.

Of course, it wasn’t as if she had no escape route at all. Her promise with Desion was only to receive these lessons.

‘If push comes to shove, I can just run away…’

Heidi clenched both fists tightly.

‘I want to know. What the real reason is for bringing me here while taking such risks.’

Heidi, meeting Desion’s eyes, parted her lips.

“Teacher.”

Desion slowly tilted his head as if asking what was the matter.

“You said before. That proving I’m the King’s real daughter is an important matter to you.”

“…”

“I want to know. The reason you brought me here while bearing all these risks and costs.”

Desion’s pupils trembled slightly. Heidi didn’t miss that moment and pressed further.

“You could have just closed your eyes and pretended not to know, so why are you trying to reveal the truth? Is it out of loyalty to His Majesty the King or patriotism… something like that?”

At Heidi’s words, Desion shook his head.

“Patriotism… No, it’s not that.”

“Then, do you want to gain power?”

“Are you asking if I want to act as a puppet master by putting you forward like a marionette?”

The corner of Desion’s mouth lifted slightly.

“No, Heidi. I swear to heaven I have no such desire at all.”

“Then what?”

“Well…”

Desion trailed off uncharacteristically.

After a surprisingly long time passed, Desion parted his lips.

“Perhaps it’s the same reason you took my hand.”

“The same reason as me?”

Heidi tilted her head inwardly.

She had accepted his proposal because of money. She needed a great deal of money to cover her mother’s medical expenses.

‘But he couldn’t possibly need money.’

If asked to name the wealthiest family in the kingdom, everyone would unanimously answer the House of Haizen. There was no way he would covet the royal family’s money.

‘If it’s not that, then perhaps it’s a family matter…?’

Just as Heidi had to protect the Dalton couple, was he also protecting someone right now?

‘That someone would probably be Miss Eloise. Since she’s the only blood relative he has left.’

Then Desion slowly stood up. Approaching the bedside, he picked up the candlestick from the nightstand and showed a courteous smile.

“I’ll put away the candlestick. It’s harder to fall asleep when it’s bright around you.”

“Ah, yes…”

It meant it was time to sleep now. It was also a gentle way of saying he didn’t want to continue this conversation any further.

‘I want to know more…’

Heidi gazed quietly at Desion’s back. Setting down the candlestick at a distance from the bed and placing both hands on the table, he somehow looked a little tired.

‘Not today then. Next time.’

* * *

Soft breathing.

The steady breathing of deeply sleeping Heidi was the only sound in the quiet bedroom.

Desion watched her from a distance as she slept peacefully without a single movement.

‘She seemed like she wanted to ask more.’

It was natural for Heidi to be curious about the truth. And Desion was prepared to tell her everything.

No. Even if she didn’t want to hear it, he would have to confess everything to her someday.

Since they had boarded the same ship with everything at stake, there should be nothing hidden between them.

‘But…’

Desion slowly withdrew his gaze from Heidi.

‘Not yet. It’s not a light story for Heidi to handle.’

Desion looked at the flickering candlelight before him. Strength entered his clenched hands.

The candlelight burning red like his eyes. Dancing according to the flow of air, then subsiding greatly.

Desion’s eyes darkened as he stared intently at those small movements. He pulled out a certain day from the past that was still vivid in the flames.

Vibrations that shook the ground he stood on.

Heart-rending screams.

Heat that pierced his skin.

A small figure discovered in the place he entered through that heat.

A voice pleading not to be saved, to just be left to die like this.

“…”

Desion’s nails dug into his flesh. Just as drops of blood began to seep out, the strength drained from Desion’s hands.

‘Ah.’

Desion barely managed to look away from the candlelight. He realized his breathing had become rough.

Was it because of today’s events? Memories he hadn’t recalled for a while had resurfaced.

A sleepless night.

Desion’s nightmare was deepening.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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