# Chapter 39
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"Hey, Lina.
"What if you touch the fireplace while you're sleeping?"
"Ah, oops...
...
.
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"How much more will I have to scold you before you come to your senses?
"Don't just apologize, shake it off!"
Lethargic footsteps pass by the bedside and gradually move away.
I had to lift my body, but somehow I couldn't even lift my eyelids due to the heavy weight pressing down on my entire body.
When I dozed off and opened my eyes, the clear glow of the sunset had disappeared into the black night.
In this state, I fell into a light sleep again.
"Your Highness, I...
...
."
"done.
"I'll move it."
I didn't know how much time had passed.
Someone picked me up with a careful gesture and I could tell the owner was Nezar from the familiar smell and warmth.
You can't sleep.
I decided to play cards, but if I woke up like this, it would be early tomorrow morning.
Nezar's routine was always set, so tomorrow he might have to board the carriage without even saying goodbye.
"I wonder if I've grown up a little, but it seems like I'm still the same...
...
."
I felt the soft back of his hand touch my forehead.
I leaned closer and turned around in the cold, cold temperature.
A small sound of laughter came from a short distance away.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already late at night.
The bright yellow light of the big full moon illuminated my face as I lay in bed.
I'll let you sleep now and close the curtains for you.
I closed my eyes to fall asleep again, but try as I might, my mind was spinning.
Since I hadn't taken off my makeup or changed my clothes yet, I took off all the messy hairpins and left the room.
The castle where everyone slept was silent and cold as always.
"Is no one here?"
There is no other answer than the sound of the clock.
I muffled the sound of my footsteps and went down to the first floor hallway and looked around.
There really is no one.
I carefully opened the door and left the castle.
I wasn't the only one to leave at this point.
"Even if you keep getting angry, it won't work today.
Have you forgotten that tomorrow is the day of Her Majesty the Empress's visit?
"I have a lot of work to do since dawn."
"What's so urgent?
"Tell me, I will do everything."
I never would have thought that we would be enjoying a secret meeting so late in the morning.
The maid burst into laughter as a hand wrapped around her waist and pushed the man's chest.
It was a voice that seemed somehow familiar.
"Anyway, what did I say.
"Never mind, I have to go."
"really?
"Are you leaving me alone on this dark night?"
"There's no point in trying hard.
I'm going out with you tomorrow, so let me go. huh?"
The maid brought the man closer to her face and kissed him on the forehead, as if she were comforting a child.
Soon, the man who grabbed the woman's wrist lowered his head and gave her a deep kiss.
The twisted waist was clearly visible even here.
Why don't I feel a single tremor even though I'm hiding and watching?
Do you think the man is very flirtatious?
Have you just woken up from sleep?
Even while I was squatting without changing my expression, their skin became more explicit and heated.
As time passed, my mood became somewhat strange.
All my feelings for Nezar have this meaning, right?
We touched each other breathlessly, kissed and...
...
.
Hmm.
I decided to just stop thinking about it.
Fortunately, after a while, the bodies of the man and woman who were biting and sucking each other tirelessly moved away.
The maid returned to the castle through the back door and the man was left alone to say goodbye to his wife.
When I wondered who was so unhappy, it was Lord Tuld who was accompanying me to the academy.
Is it characteristic of knights to speak loudly in front of women?
After all, articles like Pansion were rare.
When I thought of his face, I felt as if the fingers touching my lips were on fire.
The passionate look was still vivid in my mind.
Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it!
I got up and ran to Tuld to escape those embarrassing memories.
"M-young?"
And then he opened his mouth to a face full of shame.
"Sir Tuld seems to be very good at dealing with women."
"...
...
"Yes Yes?"
"Why do all men with pretty faces pay a price for being pretty?
"Except Lord Pansion, of course."
Tuld covered his face with his hands with a frustrated expression and spoke in a sighing voice.
"Did you see that?"
"How can you not see them touching each other so openly in the middle of nowhere?
"I thought you meant to check it out since I left again."
It wasn't intentional, but it ended up being a torment for Tuld.
Well, it's something that needs to be heard.
How dare he play with love in the crown prince's castle?
Was it like your liver was coming out of your stomach?
Tuld, who was staring into space with hard eyes, as if he had noticed, immediately knelt down in front of me.
"Lady Katrina, you may think my request is brazen, but please don't mention anything to His Majesty.
This is the child I dragged away.
"Even if I am punished, I want to receive it myself."
What desperate love.
Although only the top of his head was visible and his expression could not be seen, his harsh voice represented his feelings.
On the contrary, the corners of my mouth were constantly twitching, not knowing how to lower them.
I went down to get rid of the boredom, but I never thought that an event like this would be waiting for me!
"Hmm, with your mouth bare?"
Tuld raised his chin at my words.
Even in the dark, the drooping expression of a lost puppy was clearly visible.
"Don't make that face, it's a joke."
"I don't think you're joking."
What would be better?
I was already depressed because I had wasted all my time with Nezar.
Well, since I have the chance, let's get rid of the sadness.
“Would you like to bring a horse?
If possible, I'm a child who isn't sensitive and wouldn't know if someone stole it and used it."
Tuld responded to my request with a perplexed expression.
"Lady Katrina, all the words in the castle belong to His Majesty, so don't use them carelessly...
...
."
“You’re not saying you’re going to steal His Highness Nezar’s words, are you?
It means bringing words of respect.
"You're not as perceptive as I thought."
Tuld used all his hand and foot gestures to try to persuade me in some way, but I shook my head resolutely and opened my eyes wide.
Soon Tuld appeared, leading a horse with a beautiful black mane.
As I climbed into the saddle, holding my dress with both hands and a smile on his face, Tuld, who was blocking my path, shouted in a low voice.
"Please, young man.
Better hit me!
I'll give you as much as you want, so don't do anything dangerous...
...!"
With that, I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
"Don't worry.
My family comes from hunters, so I have good night vision.
I can see Lord Tuld's face very well now.
"A pimple appeared on my right cheek while I was sleeping?"
I'm not even a Rockherd and I never thought I'd be riding a horse late at night.
I didn't feel so bad.
I walked lightly around Tuld and reassured him.
"I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going?"
"Just look around.
If you're worried, don't sleep and wait!
Hey!"
The cool wind of the spring night blew through my hair.
I quickly got excited, increased my horse's speed and left the garden.
Since the moon was bright, it was not pitch black for my son-in-law.
As I ran across the open meadow, I felt like I could breathe freely.
"Alive!"
Since I could be dragged away like a crazy bitch, I deliberately ran down a deserted road.
When I visited the imperial castle, I didn't have time to look at other places, as I mainly focused on Nezar's castle, the emperor's castle and the banquet hall.
The only living things that moved in the vast land were me and the horse, so I felt like I was alone in the world.
Then a gloomy looking castle caught my eye.
It was an ancient castle isolated like an island in the vast sea.
"Hey, hey.
Just wait here.
You can never leave me behind.
Understand?"
Is this an abandoned building?
I tied my horse nearby and entered the castle grounds.
Creaking.
The empty main hall was very large and gloomy.
The wind that suddenly came in through the open window repeatedly hit the pillars and ceiling, making strange noises.
Thanks to the large window, the moonlight came in and there was no need to turn on the lights.
Instead, whenever the heel of a shoe touched the ground or touched an unclaimed ornament, flying dust constantly decorated the air.
As I walked up the stairs, I had a thought.
It's quiet, but old and dirty.
It was incredible that a place like this existed in the imperial castle.
"You've lost your mind."
At that time, the blue velvet curtains fluttered like waves, blocking the view.
An impressive amount of dust falls onto the yellow moonlight that streams across the hallway.
When I came to, my body had already fallen to the ground.
I could clearly feel the cold energy of the marble beyond my head.
"He's so confident I can't help but laugh.
"What were you trying to do by sneaking in so boldly?"
At first, I couldn't recognize who it was.
This was because a sharp dagger was pressed just below his neck.
But after my breathing calmed down a little, my vision became very clear.
When I blinked once, I saw a slightly younger and smarter Nezar, and when I blinked twice, I saw wet blond hair and glowing red eyes.
If it weren't for the cold gaze, I would have thought I had gone back in time and met Nezar when I was nineteen.
But that couldn't have been the case, because the young man in front of me was Andrew, not Nezar.
"Can't you talk?
Or do you want to die?"
Seo, is it possible that you don't recognize me?
Of course, unlike then, her hair was scattered and her dress was a bit messy.
I quickly shook my head with a nervous heart.
"...
...
"I've seen that face somewhere before."
"Uh, uhm, don't you remember?
Yes, I'm Catelyn, who helped His Highness Nezar."
I couldn't answer: 'Katrina, who played Caitlin, who was helping Nezar.' I opened my mouth as wide as I could to prolong my life.
It was very difficult to speak due to the pressure in my throat.
"Caitlyn?
"The stupid woman who came to the gym in the morning?"
"Oh, are you a stupid woman?
"No matter how much you call me prince, you're too much."
Andrew didn't even snort at my words.
His cold eyes looked me up and down, so cold that the blood ran from my skin when I brushed against him.
It was the same reaction as when we first met.
"Did your brother tell you to keep an eye on me?"
What does this mean?
I shook my head sincerely.
"I don't know what you're talking about.
"I just passed by here while enjoying horseback riding."
"Horse riding after midnight?
How dare you do this in the imperial castle?
"Are you telling me to believe that now?"
It must be hard for me to believe that too.
Yes, I knew that one day Rockherd's shitty hobby would send me over the edge.
I felt as if the tip of the knife approaching my chin had become even sharper.
"Even though it's hard to believe, it's true.
Look at me.
Does this look like someone's suit sneaking in somewhere?"
"Looking at the outfit makes it even more suspicious.
If you don't want to be sentenced to death, speak when you have good words to say.
"What's the purpose?"
Is this what it's like to talk to yourself against a wall?
If that happens, it's a mixed bag.
"Because it doesn't exist!
Get out of the way for now.
Are you putting me down just because I'm an adult now?
"And in such a dark and gloomy space?"
Andrew finally responded.
I took advantage of his pause and moved away the arms and chest that held the upper part of my body.
I turned my head after combing my messy hair, and to my surprise, I saw Andrew with a somewhat sullen expression.
"It's been a year since I became an adult."
"Wow!
Really?
You're amazing!
"It must be good that a year has passed."
After responding with bitter force, only the cold of an empty castle remained between me and him.
Well, what should I do now?