Chapter 009. Their Twisted Hero (5)

A week before the departure to the North. As the time drew closer, more visitors began to visit the reception room of the Imperial Princess’s palace.

“I will follow you, Your Grace.”

“Please allow me to go with you.”

‘Well, I didn’t live my life in vain.’

Rosalyn thought, looking at the loyal heads bowed before her.

The ominously named Anata Territory. A significant number of knights had come forward, pledging to follow her there.

Among them, Aaron and Jacob, currently kneeling in front of her, were considered two of the most skilled within the conquest unit.

However, she didn’t feel particularly moved.

Rosalyn, seated on the sofa in the reception room, crossed her legs and gently swayed her foot as she spoke.

“I don’t want to.”

“Pardon?”

Aaron lifted his head and asked, startled by her unexpected response.

Currently, Anata was called a Grand Duchy in name only. It was merely a patchwork of territories, including Anata, Keter, Nadav, and Hozen. With no proper knight order, even a single knight was desperately needed.

‘I thought she’d be pleased.’ Aaron thought.

However, contrary to his expectations, what came back was a cold rejection.

“Pardon—?”

Rosalyn mimicked Aaron’s tone and narrowed her eyes. Sensing the mood, Jacob quickly pressed Aaron’s head down and apologized in his stead.

“We’re sorry, Your Grace. But please reconsider. We truly wish to follow you.”

“Why?”

“That is because…”

Jacob hesitated in response to Rosalyn’s indifferent question.

His gaze naturally drifted beyond Rosalyn’s shoulder. At the end of his regretful stare stood the Imperial Princess of several years ago.

‘I cannot allow you to go to such a dangerous place alone.’

Jacob swallowed the presumptuous answer.

“I asked why you want to follow me to my grave.”

“On the day you rescued me from captivity, I vowed to follow you for the rest of my life, Your Grace.”

The noble and great Rosalyn, Imperial Princess, had been the lone beacon of hope on that horrific battlefield.

There wasn’t a single member of the conquest unit who didn’t owe their life to her. Everyone believed in her—she always led them to victory, no matter the situation.

‘Hmph.’

“You’re more sentimental than I expected, Jacob.”

Her sneer scattered Jacob’s nostalgic thoughts.

“When did I ever demand eternal loyalty from you in exchange for saving your life?”

“Your Grace—”

“Just as I didn’t demand your loyalty, don’t force it on me.”

“But…”

“Enough. I have no intention of bringing you with me. Now, leave.”

Rosalyn waved her hand dismissively, cutting off Jacob’s protest. It was a clear signal for them to leave.

“I don’t understand!”

At that moment, Aaron, who had been quietly listening, interjected.

“What?”

“The North is crawling with savages, and there are no proper knights there. We are absolutely needed there.”

The more Aaron spoke, the more his voice swelled with emotion.

“Yet why are you abandoning us and taking that prisoner instead?”

“Aaron Vanil.”

Rosalyn called Aaron’s name in a low, threatening tone. It was a habit she had when she was in a foul mood.

“Why is Sionne Feitan being brought up in this conversation?”

It irked her that someone who came as a knight would mention the prince. After all, Aaron and Sionne’s roles were clearly different.

“Why? Are you trying to become my lover too?”

What irritated her even more was that she wasn’t unaware of Aaron’s personal feelings driving his behavior.

“Know your place. You’re not it.”

“What… is it about him that you like so much? Is it his face? Or his body?”

Aaron’s wounded pride made his mouth run uncontrolled.

“Aaron…!”

Beside him, Jacob swallowed hard.

He had known that Aaron’s loyalty and obsession with Rosalyn were unusually intense, but he didn’t expect him to confront her like this.

‘It’s because Rosalyn is the only reason he has left to live.’

Jacob’s mouth felt bitter. In truth, he, too, found it hard to believe they were being discarded by the person they served so faithfully.

“If it’s not his looks, is it his status? I’ve been granted a barony now, too!”

Crash.

Unable to hold back any longer, Rosalyn threw the teacup that had been in front of her.

The teacup shattered right in front of Aaron’s knees, and a small shard left a scratch on the back of his hand.

Aaron looked at the tiny wound on his hand and bit his lip. Getting injured was nothing new to him, but this stung more than usual.

“If you want to know, I’ll tell you. Why Sionne Feitan is acceptable, and why you are not.”

“Please tell me.”

“Those eyes. Because you have eyes like a dog.”

Rosalyn muttered, avoiding the gaze of Aaron and Jacob.

Even after her harsh rejection, the two pairs of eyes still shone with affection and trust. Rosalyn felt like their unwavering emotions were strangling her.

“A dog is always abandoned once the hunt is over.”

Pouring out their affection as they pleased, expecting things on their own terms, and she would struggle to meet those expectations.

‘I’m sorry, but I no longer have the strength to live like that.’

“The hunt is over, and I have no intention of bringing a dog to my sanctuary. Now, if you understand, get lost.”

From the beginning, Rosalyn had planned to leave Aaron and Jacob behind. But now that the moment had come, it didn’t feel as satisfying as she thought it would.

Jacob, sensing Rosalyn’s persistent refusal to meet their eyes, spoke up.

“I know this isn’t what you truly want.”

The endless war had taken so much from their princess.

First, it had taken away her emotions—the ones that made a person human. Finally, it had taken the people who had supported her.

The princess who had lost everything could no longer be the same as before. She had become someone entirely different.

‘Even so. Even though Your Grace has changed.’

Even though her name had changed from Hernia to Anata, Rosalyn was still Rosalyn.

“Who said I’m not serious? I am.”

“Well then, for today, we’ll take our leave.”

“Huh?”

“Until we meet again, may you find peace.”

Jacob stood and bowed deeply. He then dragged Aaron, who was reluctant to leave, out of the reception room.

After they left, Rosalyn walked over to the window. Her eyes followed the backs of her knights as they left the palace.

“Until the very end…”

Their slumped shoulders and staggering steps evoked a sense of pity. Even a dog with its tail between its legs would appear less miserable.

‘They should have just gone their own way after surviving the hell we’ve been through.’ It frustrated her that they stubbornly insisted on following her without even knowing where she was headed.

“I don’t like it.”

With a sharp tug, Rosalyn pulled the curtains shut.

Even if she felt pity, it didn’t matter. The young princess they once loved no longer existed.

* * *

Recently, with Rosalyn being so busy, Sionne had been able to enjoy some time alone more frequently.

Though, of course, he wasn’t entirely alone. Outside the room, a guard kept watch, and inside, a maid constantly monitored him.

“…”

Sionne lifted his head and looked to one corner of the room. There, a young maid was diligently cleaning.

‘They won’t even let me speak, yet they leave the two of us alone in a room. What could Rosalyn be thinking?’

He couldn’t fathom Rosalyn’s erratic intentions. Pondering this, he observed the maid’s actions.

Everything she touched—the unused office desk, the rumpled bed, Rosalyn’s frequently used teacup—was neatly tidied up as she passed by.

As she sorted the tea leaves, the maid finally noticed his gaze and turned around.

“!”

Surprised to meet Sionne’s eyes, the maid flinched. Her hunched shoulders gave the impression that she owed him an apology.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Sionne said, brushing the back of his head. Then, in a soft voice, he asked an unexpected question.

“Um… what’s your name?”

“?”

The maid pointed at herself, as if to ask whether he was truly asking her.

When Sionne nodded, she glanced around anxiously. Once she confirmed that no one else was around, she relaxed slightly and introduced herself in a quiet voice.

“My name is Peggy Woods.”

“Peggy Woods, I see. I’m Sionne Feitan.”

“Yes, I know who you are.”

An awkward silence followed their brief introductions. Sionne broke it with another question.

“Are you from the South?”

“Huh? Yes! How did you know?”

“I can hear a slight southern accent. You must have come a long way at such a young age.”

He gave her a look of sympathy.

“Yes, it’s far from the capital.”

“What about your family?”

“They’re all… still in the South.”

Peggy hesitated, wondering if she should be sharing such personal details. But for some reason, talking to the prince of a fallen kingdom made the words flow easily.

“When did you last see them?”

“About a year and a half ago, I think.”

She found it strange that someone so high-ranking would be interested in her personal affairs. But soon, she ended up sharing stories about her ruined family and her four younger siblings.

“You must miss them terribly.”

“Yes. My youngest sibling has apparently already outgrown me in height. I’m hoping to see for myself when I get my next leave.”

Peggy smiled bashfully.

“I’m sure you will.”

Her smile made Sionne feel slightly uncomfortable, as if it clashed with his intentions.

“But Miss Woods, there’s something I’d like to ask of you…”