Chapter 30
When they ate together, he would return a little after five in the evening. He had never once been late for their mealtime. Even when they didn’t eat together, he always made sure her meal was on time.
Because the rain had slowed his steps, even if he were late, it should have been by only an hour or two at most. Since it was already midnight, it made sense to think he’d come back in the morning, or after the rain stopped, and to go to bed first.
It was the first time he’d been this late, but it was also the first time such a heavy downpour had fallen, so there was nothing to be done about it.
She changed her clothes, prepared her bed, checked in once more on Lucky and Happy for no real reason, and lay down. She even left the light on in the front hall on the first floor, just in case Hunter returned in the early morning.
But somehow, Prina couldn’t fall asleep. Lying under the blanket, she kept tossing and turning. Unable to bear it, she sat up. Being in bed only made her more anxious, so she pulled a chair to the window and sat there, hands clasped tightly, praying again and again for his safe return.
It was because she was worried about him, and because memories of the day she had nearly died in the forest came flooding back.
“Princess!”
That mocking title Sir Arthur had called her before trying to violate her.
“A princess like you has no place in the palace.”
“It’s time for you to die. By order of the royal family.”
A voice that dismissed her existence so simply. And the fear of death that had swallowed her whole like a tidal wave.
When she looked out at the forest, darkened to pitch black, devoured by the storm and the rain, it felt as if that memory was coming alive again. Her clasped hands tightened. Before she knew it, they were trembling.
She could still vividly remember the feeling of the heavy rain striking her entire body like countless needles.
Whether he sensed it or not, Lucky came over and rubbed against her feet. Prina picked him up onto her lap and clasped her hands together again.
Yes. But unlike that day, today she was in a safe place that protected her. Hunter’s place, where no one else came. She herself was in no danger, but the fact that he had not yet returned weighed on her mind.
This was his house. It was only complete when he was here. That was all there was to it. The only thing she wanted now was that, nothing else.
‘I hope nothing’s happened…’
Even as she wished he would come back as soon as possible, she also prayed he was somewhere safe, waiting out the rain, and would only return once the skies cleared.
With her heart so contradictory, would the Lord even grant her wish? No—she must only wish for his safety. Then he would be able to come back. Prina steadied her mind.
The pitch-black sky flashed white for an instant.
Rumble…. CRASH!
Startled by the thunder that followed, shaking the ground, Lucky crouched low and puffed up his fur. Happy was just as frightened.
“It’s alright. Nothing’s going to happen…”
Prina murmured, as if to soothe the animals, stroking Lucky.
When the weather cleared, the sky would become bright and clear again as if nothing had happened, and she would think she’d worried for nothing.
He would come back.
Without fail, safe and sound.
Just as Prina was repeating those words like a spell…
Bang!
The door burst open.
It was Hunter.
Prina’s eyes widened slightly as she took in his appearance.
He was soaked from head to toe. His long coat hung limp, and his black hair, wet and plastered to his face, looked even darker than night.
The man, his eyes fever-bright, was breathing heavily.
He had returned to her side. But contrary to her wish for him to come back unharmed, his face was pale.
“…Hunter!”
When his staggering body struggled to cross the threshold, Prina rushed over to support him.
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