Chapter 62
“Don’t depend on me. What do you even know about me? What if I’m doing all this just to use you, Prince Declan?”
“You stayed by my side last night. If it’s you, I feel like it would be alright even if I were betrayed.”
Sigh.
Maeve let out an overt sigh.
Prince Declan did not seem particularly embarrassed.
Maeve rubbed her face and glared straight ahead with cool eyes.
Soon, the village elder’s house began to appear in the distance, the size of a finger.
The village elder’s house, which had been quiet, was now bustling with villagers who had flocked there. A village woman she had spoken with briefly the day before recognized Maeve and greeted her warmly. Maeve greeted her with a nod, then returned to her room to check if any of her belongings were missing.
Just as she had seen before leaving, the potions she had made the day before and Fionechta’s sword were still lying exactly where they had been. Unlike her concern that he might have trashed the room—given what an underhanded fellow he was—the room was perfectly fine. Fortunately, Colm had not touched her room. She had been in Prince Declan’s room the entire time, but Colm likely hadn’t known that.
Even if he had entered the room and searched it, there was almost nothing here for Colm to take. To begin with, she carried things like money tied in a separate pouch inside her clothes. Maeve gave the inside of her top, where she kept the money pouch, a couple of light taps to check it, and then stepped out of the room.
When she went down to the first floor, the crowd of people had already thinned out by half. It seemed a conclusion had been reached in their heated discussion.
“Maeve.”
Prince Declan, who had been standing among the older men talking earnestly about something, recognized her and called out. Maeve walked straight toward Prince Declan.
“From tomorrow, the village men will gather to start clearing the blocked road little by little. I am going to help out too.”
“……Help out?”
“Since I’ve received so much help from the people here. Anyway, as soon as the road is restored, you will be able to go back.”
“You said you couldn’t go back.”
“I’m talking about you, Maeve. You must return to Lutea.”
Maeve was silent for a moment. She simply stared at him.
He was truly an unpredictable man in many ways. One moment he acted familiar as he pleased, then he got angry over nothing, and then, even while looking at her as if she were the only one left, he spoke as if he would readily send her away.
Maeve unconsciously looked at Prince Declan with a crooked gaze. What Prince Declan had left now were a few belongings and Maeve. Even that naive Prince Declan must have known well enough that she was more than just useful; she was essential. Yet, instead of thinking of taking her along somehow, he spoke of sending her away.
Immediately after learning of Colm’s flight, Maeve had actually felt a bit of regret. She had been troubled because she hadn’t known she would suddenly be left alone with Prince Declan like this, but then she had braced herself again, thinking that since she had saved him, she should take responsibility.
However, seeing Prince Declan’s attitude coming out like this made her feel quite twisted inside. He probably didn’t intend it, but he was grasping and shaking her remaining conscience.
Considering everything, even though she had played a part in Colm’s hasty escape, and even though she had confessed it readily, he hadn’t blamed her.
……And.
Maeve continued her fleeting thoughts before opening her mouth.
“I’m not going back. I’m going to keep going west.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I have business there too. Why did you think I volunteered for this ridiculous journey?”
Prince Declan looked at Maeve with a stunned face. Maeve, regardless, walked straight toward the kettle.
“Really? Is that so? Was that your goal from the start? What business do you have in the west? Are you looking for the witch too? Are you sick? Like me? Or is it that grandmother?”
“I can’t say.”
Maeve heartlessly cut off the ensuing questions and gulped down the water.
Prince Declan’s expression became peculiar. He contorted his face as if he were about to cry, then his lips twitched as if he were happy, and he fidgeted with his hands raised, not knowing what to do.
“……Then we are staying together.”
“If Prince Declan is alright with it.”
“Ah, of course! We won’t be departing immediately. Uh, because…… I’ve already said I would help the people.”
“Prince Declan, it hasn’t even been a full day since you barely recovered.”
“It’s fine. As I said, I feel more than fine—I feel healthier than before. I think living outdoors suits my constitution. Really.”
Maeve couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth to the excited man and finished drinking the remaining water.
“Anyway, I understand. May I go in and rest?”
The maidservant’s tone had now become overtly rude, but Prince Declan no longer cared.
The maidservant headed toward the stairs but then turned back to look at him.
“Call me before you go out in the morning, too.”
“No, you rest.”
“I’ll likely be better than ten of Prince Declan.”
Regrettably, Prince Declan could not refute those words.
“……Alright. Get some good rest.”
Once permission was given, Maeve climbed the stairs again and entered her room.
Prince Declan kept looking toward the closed door, then finally regained his senses and turned around.
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