Please Die, Your Highness - Chapter 90

“……Of course, the search for that girl is also continuing.”

“I know there has been no gain. It must be harder than finding witches who have vanished. Is it not so?”

Fergus slowly turned his body and walked past his disciple who had become a stone statue.

The disciple remained frozen in the exact same posture as last night, when he had said, “O King. Gladly,” looking at him as if in worship.

Fergus picked up a folded new gown and changed into it.

For a split second, his exposed snow-white naked body was covered with magically engraved formulas. It was dreadfully full of them.

As a result of the tragedy brought about last night, Fergus ultimately obtained a body that had grown younger by several years. After checking his smooth eye area, which no longer wrinkled even when he smiled, he turned toward Ronan.

“Still, please do not give up. I surely want to win that girl back.”

As soon as they escaped from that land where the maple forest stretched endlessly, rain poured down as if it had been waiting. The rain fell so terrifyingly that Maeve and Prince Declan were staying in an abandoned warehouse where they had stopped with the intention of taking shelter briefly.

Prince Declan took dried mushrooms from the bag and was feeding them alternately to the donkey, Ambrox, and the horse, Bebe. Since the day Maeve had collapsed alone and he had hurriedly carried her back, Bebe’s treatment of him had changed slightly. Regrettably, it was not a change for the better.

That horse glared at him suspiciously, as if he had committed some harm to Maeve to cause her state.

“Maeve. Bebe keeps glaring at me. That is a look mixed with suspicion no matter who sees it.”

Prince Declan pointed out that fact after much deliberation, but Maeve did not particularly listen to his words.

Ah, Maeve. Fortunately, the maidservant who had startled him by collapsing by the river a few days ago had her body return to normal after a long sleep.

She said she had become that way because she accidentally touched a plant with paralyzing poison, but well. Prince Declan did not believe her words. How could she, who was more knowledgeable about the grass and flowers near here than anyone, make such a mistake? Prince Declan was certain she had surely been bitten by some insect or snake.

If the other party wished to hide something, it was the duty of a man to willingly close his eyes and pretend not to know. Prince Declan thought so. Even if it was that maidservant who usually carried him around slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Sincerely.

“Prince Declan.”

He was in the middle of teasing Bebe by intentionally giving more treats only to the donkey. From over there, with a creak, the door opened and Maeve poked her face out.

“Yes. Why?”

Prince Declan, as if he had been waiting, fed all the remaining treats to the donkey and stood up. Behind him, Bebe snorted as if promising retaliation.

Prince Declan ignored it and quickly walked toward Maeve.

“I’m going to look around nearby for a moment. Together……”

“Yes, alright. Just a moment.”

Because the road had become a complete muddy mess due to the rain, it was better for a person to go out and ruin their shoes briefly rather than taking the horses. Furthermore, because the young donkey cried out exactly like a baby if left alone, someone had to remain by its side to be with it.

Bebe stared blankly as the humans prepared to head out by themselves without calling him.

Prince Declan quickly turned around, threw on his overcoat, and came out. Then, as if remembering something, he turned back, went to his bag, and pulled something out.

“Isn’t that your overcoat, Prince Declan?”

“That’s right. It’s for wearing on rainy days; it doesn’t get wet easily, and even if it does, it dries quickly.”

When Prince Declan put the overcoat on her as if it were natural, Maeve wore a strange expression that was difficult to describe.

“Isn’t it expensive?”

“It’s fine.”

She had asked with the possibility of selling it in mind, just in case. Since the Prince’s expression was nonchalant, Maeve simply ended up nodding. The Prince’s raincoat was oversized on her, like a large cloak draped around her. She took off the raincoat and held it out to him.

“Let’s cover up together.”

His face, which had momentarily distorted as if disappointed, brightened instantly. Prince Declan willingly pressed close to her and pulled the smooth fabric over himself.

The Prince did not babble nonsense like before, telling her not to harbor private feelings demurely. The maidservant also did not say shocking things like telling him not to think of touching her.

The boundaries they had established against each other had, at some point, simply ceased to exist.

As Maeve felt the man’s broad chest behind her back, she silently turned her head and looked at him. The Prince, whose face was wet in places from the rain, looked at her as if asking, Why?

Prince Declan was simply pleased with this situation. He was happy that since that day, instead of treating him like a piece of luggage, Maeve seemed to be treating him as something of an equal.

“Let’s go, Maeve. I’ll make sure to watch your footing for you.”

“Pardon? ……Yes.”

Though she didn’t quite know what he meant, Maeve nodded as if she understood.

“Then, let’s go.”