Chapter 19
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Translator: Diva
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: They Say Huge Age Gaps Skip the Compatibility Check
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“So, um... I think I need to head back early and rest today.”
Swallowing my embarrassment, I stubbornly kept up the act of being in pain and feeble.
“That’s okay, right? There’s... plenty of time.”
I stared straight at the crown prince as I said it, and he slowly nodded.
“Sure. No need to rush.”
Good thinking on my part.
There was no reason to have an important conversation right in the middle of the banquet hall while dancing, after all.
The crown prince seemed to buy my excuse about feeling ill and even offered some kindness.
“I’ll send my personal physician to your annex.”
Though he might just be pretending to believe me.
Refusing would only make him suspect I was faking it.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Since I was already playing sick, might as well milk it for some medicine.
I faked a coughing fit again, hacking away.
I’d never actually had a cold, so I wasn’t sure if it sounded convincing... but it had to be close enough to when something went down the wrong pipe.
Elhart pulled his hand away from my eyes and leaned down to check my face.
“You okay...?”
No, Elhart... what if you fall for it too...
“The banquet hall felt a bit chilly.”
With the crown prince watching us, I had no choice.
“Let’s get you back to rest.”
Elhart carefully tucked the jacket around me even tighter, then scooped me up in his arms.
“W-wait...! You don’t have to—!”
I flailed in surprise, but he just pulled me closer.
“This way, I’ll feel better about it.”
He drew me tight against him, so I had no choice but to relax and let go of my tension.
This was the first time in my life I’d been carried like a princess.
‘Huh... it’s more comfortable than I thought?’
Elhart wasn’t just big—he had solid muscle and plenty of body heat, making it surprisingly cozy.
As Elhart carried me toward the lounge exit, the crown prince blocked our path.
“Hold on.”
He tossed the dress he’d been holding aside and shrugged off his own jacket to drape it over me.
For a split second, as his hand brushed my body, the surrounding mana seemed to stir faintly—but it was so brief, I couldn’t be sure.
Only after wrapping it carefully to cover everything but my face did he step back.
“Follow me.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and started walking. Elhart glanced at him for a moment, then followed.
At the end of the west corridor was a door leading outside without passing through the banquet hall.
‘Didn’t Lucia say going that way meant death?’
I eyed it suspiciously, and the crown prince spoke as he stepped out ahead.
“This path should get you to the annex without running into anyone.”
“Isn’t this the garden only for imperial family direct descendants?”
Elhart voiced my question for me.
“I hear trespassers can be executed on the spot.”
“You know all about that, huh.”
The crown prince sounded mildly surprised.
“No need to worry. There are no guards today.”
“......”
As we shot him a doubtful look, wondering if it was a trap, he shrugged.
“Just doing a favor for Ser. You’re not going to die quietly anyway. No point in me taking a loss.”
Elhart looked to me for approval, so I gave a small nod.
He wasn’t wrong.
Cradion wouldn’t kill Elhart unless they had no choice.
If they wanted him dead, they’d have done it ages ago.
“We’ll gladly accept your kindness.”
“Think nothing of it.”
As Elhart stepped into the garden, the crown prince turned and headed back inside.
Probably back to the banquet hall.
I noted he’d given me his jacket.
‘Whatever, he’ll grab a spare or change clothes.’
Not my problem.
Better to enjoy the imperial garden I’d never set foot in again.
‘It’s... beautifully kept...?’
In daylight, I would’ve been awestruck, but under the dim moonlight, it just felt serene.
More interesting than the shadowed flowers and trees was watching Elhart’s face.
He walked silently toward the annex, lips pressed tight in thought.
‘Come to think of it...’
Something occurred to me, so I asked.
“You didn’t mean that earlier, right?”
“Mean what?”
“That you could abandon Bardia.”
Even if Elhart truly felt that way, no one could blame him.
Not after how Bardia had cast him aside, despite all he’d sacrificed his life to protect.
Still, if he hated Bardia now, there’d be no need for him to endure the humiliation of being a hostage—that’s why I asked.
To know his true feelings.
“...I’m not sure.”
Elhart finally spoke after a long pause.
“I didn’t fight to preserve the royal line or the nobles’ privileges.”
His gaze was straight ahead, but it felt like he was reflecting on the path he’d walked.
“What I wanted to protect were the lives of the people surviving day by day behind Bardia’s walls.”
Yeah.
I’d figured as much.
Like Mikhail, Elhart had become a wall himself, driven by the desire to shield those who sought his protection.
Even if some spat on his back or threw filth at him.
The mana scent that told his life story proved his noble character.
“But, Ser. I’ve come to realize I’ve lived peacefully only thanks to others’ protection and sacrifice.”
He looked down at me as he said it.
“It makes me feel like I could do anything for my wall.”
His wall.
What—or who—did that mean?
“Do you think I’m wrong?”
Elhart asked for my opinion.
I thought for a moment before answering.
“It depends on how solid that wall is.”
I didn’t have all the answers, but I’d been through something similar.
“If it’s a shoddy wall, I’d kick it down and build a new one.”
Mikhail had been a hero of his era, a sturdy wall the people desperately needed.
But if he’d veered wrong later on, I wouldn’t have let it slide.
As his friend, I’d have given him hell for it.
“People can’t be trusted. You have to keep a sharp eye on them.”
No matter the reason, handing the throne to Caleb and vanishing had been irresponsible—he deserved a good scolding.
But I hadn’t been there, and now I regretted it.
I never dreamed my own wall would crumble.
I’d failed to see Mikhail’s vulnerability and left him alone.
How foolish of me.
“I see.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded emphatically.
“Don’t let your guard down. Watch closely to make sure your wall doesn’t start acting up out of nowhere.”
Did my advice hit home?
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
There was a hint of amusement in Elhart’s voice as he replied.
***
Back at the annex, Elhart laid me on the bed and wouldn’t let me lift a finger.
I couldn’t bring myself to confess it was all fake because...
My acting had been too perfect.
‘Nailed it.’
The crown prince’s physician diligently noted my fabricated symptoms and said,
“Seems like it’s from the sudden change in environment. I’ll prescribe treatments for the symptoms and some tonics to build you up.”
Luckily, he was naive enough to take a faker’s word at face value.
Thanks to him, I stocked up on medicines and rare remedies—quite the haul.
But...
“Why didn’t you say you felt bad sooner?”
The moment we were alone, he cornered me.
“Uh, well, you see...”
I rolled my eyes, scrambling for an explanation, when Elhart sat on the edge of the bed.
“Don’t even think about getting down. Sleep here.”
“In the bed? With you?”
“We slept together last night.”
That was totally different.
Especially since he’d unilaterally moved my sleeping bag!
“Am I bothering you or something?”
As he asked, he leaned toward me.
I felt the bed dip under his weight and instinctively held my breath.
‘Of course you are.’
You’re bothering me a ton! In the best way!