Episode 40

“Why are you laughing?”

“I should start collapsing regularly from now on. You treat me so kindly, just like you do with the Tower Master. Ever since those leeches started gathering around, you’ve been so cold to me.”

“That’s entirely your fault, Your Highness. If you didn’t play around with your life, I wouldn’t have treated you so coldly.”

Seeing the Crown Prince, who couldn’t even resort to violence, seem a little helpless, I pinched his nose lightly—just enough not to hurt. Then, I got startled when he bit my hand in response. But instead of getting angry, he simply curved his lips into a bright smile.

‘… Somehow, it feels like we’ve become close.’

Maybe it was because he was too tired to think straight, but I felt like the wall between us had crumbled.

‘I’m tired too.’

With a sigh, I lay down beside him. He tucked a pillow under my head and turned onto his side, resting his arm beneath his head.

“Hey, Young Lady.”

“What is it?”

“What’s your ideal type?”

“A normal person.”

“Oh? That means I’m the closest match to your ideal type right now.”

I turned to look at him with wide eyes.

‘Does this guy have no sense of self-awareness?’

I thought about prescribing him some mirror therapy right away, but seeing him grinning stupidly, drunk with sleep, I let it slide.

“Hey, Young Lady.”

“Ugh, what now?”

“Are you really not considering marrying me?”

“Nope.”

“Why not? I can do the dishes now. Better than that prince, even.”

And what exactly are you planning to do by outcompeting someone in dishwashing?

“Hey, Young Lady. Doesn’t this feel like we’re a newlywed couple?”

“I do want to build a house, though.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened, as if caught off guard. He even looked a bit happy.

“Really?”

‘Yeah, your grave, you bastard. Just go to sleep already, will you?’

Noticing my unimpressed expression, he quickly realized it was too good to be true.

“Oh, so close.”

I shot him a glare.

“You don’t even sincerely like me, so why do you act like you’re disappointed?”

He raised an eyebrow at me.

“Maybe I already like you—I just haven’t realized it yet. A woman willing to die with me… isn’t that attractive?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Come on, why don’t you try getting into a dangerous situation? Who knows, maybe in that moment, I’ll suddenly realize my feelings for you.”

I already knew he didn’t value his own life, but did he really have to take human lives so lightly?

I glared at him.

“Why on earth would I do that? My life is precious, you know.”

I sighed and turned my back to him. My fondness for him had definitely taken a hit—especially since he treated life like it was nothing.

It had been quiet for a while, so I assumed he had finally fallen asleep.

“Hey, Young Lady, want to make a bet?”

Then his voice rang out again.

‘Seriously, is this guy not planning to sleep at all?’

I turned my body and glared at the sleep-talking idiot.

The Crown Prince had a faint smile on his face, as if something amused him.

‘…I’ll let it slide because he looks pretty when he smiles.’

Though my words were harsh, at some point, I realized he had been talking nonstop just to stay awake. That made me feel a little sorry for him.

It seemed like some inner anxiety was keeping him from falling asleep.

‘Does he have bad memories associated with sleep?’

It didn’t suit someone as confident and arrogant as him.

Reluctantly, I broke the silence.

“…What’s the bet?”

The Crown Prince slowly closed his eyes, still wearing that faint smile.

“Hmm, whether it’ll be day or night when we leave. I say it’ll be daytime.”

“Then I’ll choose nighttime.”

“Great. The loser grants the winner a wish.”

“You’re acting like a child. Are you planning to become a gambler in the future?”

“My dear wife, you shouldn’t say things like that carelessly. Our baby is listening.”

Then, before I knew it, he covered the ears of the small rabbit curled up by my pillow.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Ugh, this is so frustrating.’

Even after that, he kept asking about my favorite foods, hobbies, and habits. He played with my hair, mumbling about managing my gray strands when we returned to the Empire.

He was clearly out of his mind.

Giggling to himself, he even used my hair to make a fake mustache under his nose.

‘Is this guy actually insane?’

I let out a breathless chuckle in disbelief.

The even crazier part was that I found it… kind of cute.

Eventually, his eyes, heavy with exhaustion, finally shut.

Oh, is he finally going to sleep?

“Young Lady, I’m sleepy.”

“Then just go to sleep already. Do you think I’m going to kill you while you do?”

“Yeah.”

Should I just go ahead and assassinate him?

I glared at him, narrowing my eyes. Even with his eyes closed, he seemed to sense it and let out a soft chuckle.

A moment later, he fell silent, only the sound of his breathing filling the space. Then, in a quiet voice, he spoke again.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“…You want me to live, right?”

What kind of question is that?

“Have you ever seen someone risk their life to save someone they wanted dead?”

I meant it as a reminder that he owed me his life multiple times now—so he’d better remember that when we returned to the capital.

But instead, the Crown Prince’s pretty lips curved smoothly into a smile, completely oblivious to my real intent.

Even though all he’d eaten that morning was a small piece of bread, he looked as satisfied as a predator that had feasted.

“Alright, that’s enough for me. I think I can sleep now.”

‘What the hell is he talking about?’

Time passed.

The chill in the air faded, and drowsiness finally set in.

That’s when I heard his voice again, slow and relaxed.

“When I was little… my brother, the Emperor, used to put me to sleep by singing lullabies.”

“…So, are you asking me to sing you a lullaby?”

“Horrifying. Don’t even joke about that, Young Lady. I heard you earlier—you’re tone-deaf.”

“I find you horrifying too, you know?”

The Crown Prince chuckled. He was clearly enjoying my disgusted reaction.

But soon, his smile disappeared. His breathing evened out, steady and peaceful.

As I watched him sleep, I felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

Maybe I, too, had wanted him to sleep peacefully.

So I closed my eyes and followed him into slumber.

* * *

It was silent and pitch dark.

Lihad curled his small body and buried himself under the blanket.

A while later, the sound of a door opening reached his ears.

Soon, a gentle hand stroked his hair, and a lullaby followed.

He wanted to wake up immediately and throw himself into the arms of the person beside him, but at the same time, he wanted to linger a little longer in this sweet sensation.

So he thought to himself.

‘I should surprise Brother.’

Just imagining his brother’s startled reaction made him giggle, and he had a hard time suppressing his laughter.

‘Lihad, are you asleep?’

The smile on his lips deepened.

His brother, who cherished him like the most precious treasure in the world, even though he had no mother.

Did his brother know how much he trusted and loved him?

‘Lihad, are you sleeping?’

Lihad couldn’t hold back his mischievous smile any longer. Overwhelmed with affection, he was just about to rise and throw himself into his brother’s arms when—

‘I wish you would never wake up again.’

…

‘I hope you sink into despair and have nothing but nightmares.’

…

‘Do you know that every night, I pray for your death?’

…

‘So that all my efforts won’t go to waste, hurry up and die already.’

The voice whispered right against Lihad’s ear.

‘Die.’

…

‘Just die.’

…

‘You should never have been born, you worthless insect.’

Gasp!

Lihad inhaled sharply as his eyes shot open.

He immediately sat up, his shirt and hair drenched in cold sweat.

“Ugh…”

Swallowing back a groan, he raked his fingers through his damp hair in frustration.

He was in the barracks. His legs had kicked past the edge, sticking out beyond the tent’s entrance.

‘Damn it…’

Only then did reality, which had momentarily slipped away in the depths of his nightmare, return to him.

Lihad let out a deep sigh and instinctively glanced to his side.

Redria was curled up in her sleep, facing his direction.

“…Ha.”

His eyes widened for a brief moment before a scoff escaped his lips.

‘Did I actually sleep? With someone beside me?’

How long had it been?

Since he last slept like this, next to someone, as if he’d passed out.

And of all people, next to Redria—the very person he had doubted until recently.

‘Was it because my exhaustion finally caught up to me and lowered my guard?’

Lihad ran a hand through his damp hair and let out a bitter chuckle.

Ha. Even so, this was unbelievable.

He had told her he trusted her, but what he meant was that he believed she wasn’t involved in the incident—not that he fully trusted her.

And yet, he had fallen asleep so carelessly beside her.

Even he couldn’t believe it himself.