Chapter 177
After sending Ombre, I got ready for bed.
‘Surely nothing will happen tonight, right?’
To the people of Aligiosa, this is a foreign country.
And it’s someone else’s house.
Would they really do something to a royal child here?
Sending Ombre was just a precaution.
I started preparing for bed.
I washed myself with hot water and dried off with a clean towel.
After applying lotion diligently, I put on my nightgown.
I buttoned them from the bottom up and proudly looked in the mirror.
‘I’m all grown up.’
I’m a child who can button my clothes by myself now.
When I was three, I couldn’t even hold a crayon properly, and the maids always had to button my clothes.
But now, I can not only button up, I can even tie ribbons on my own.
Feeling satisfied with my neatly buttoned nightgown, I headed toward the bed.
As I rolled around in the sheets that smelled nice from being dried in the sun, just when I was about to fall asleep—
Clatter, clatter, clatter—!
The dresser shook violently.
‘Ombre?’
I quickly opened the dresser.
I saw Ombre poking out from the shadows.
“What is it, Ombre?”
Since Ombre can’t speak, he showed me with his actions.
Clatter, clatter!
When I didn’t move and just stared at him, he frantically moved around in the shadows.
It seemed like he wanted me to follow him.
“Alright, let’s go!”
I quickly left the room.
I ran down the hallway so fast that my feet started sweating.
Even as I ran, I kept a close eye on my surroundings.
‘No one’s around. Good.’
If nothing was wrong and I was caught sneaking around the Aligiosa guests’ quarters, it would look suspicious.
Luckily, no one was around.
It was late at night, and most of the staff were focused on the Aligiosa party.
The good-natured First Prince had shared the drinks he brought with the servants.
So in the servants’ rest area…
“This might be our only chance to taste Aligiosa’s liquor!”
“They say Aligiosa’s alcohol is amazing! Let me have a taste too.”
“Oh, how long will you make me dance with joy!”
—Everyone was distracted by the Aligiosa whiskey.
Ombre twirled in front of the door where Abeno was staying, signaling that we had arrived.
My heart was pounding from running so fast.
‘It’s strange that he feels drowsy after taking medicine.’
It’s one thing if it was strong medicine, but when combined with a suspicious servant, things don’t add up.
What if the medicine the servant gave wasn’t just for a headache?
I moved because something about the situation didn’t sit right with me.
As I took a step toward the door, Ombre slipped back into my shadow.
I pressed my ear to the door and could hear a faint voice.
“…because…please…”
A small voice.
It seemed to be the servant’s.
‘I can barely hear it.’
The soundproofing is too good.
‘Soundproofing is great when I’m the one using it, but it’s inconvenient when someone else is.’
I tried peeking through the keyhole, just in case.
‘Oh, come on. I can’t see anything.’
Peeking would’ve been the best plan…
‘Ugh, looks like I have no choice but to go with Plan B.’
I took a deep breath and clenched my fist tightly.
Then, I knocked loudly.
Bang! Bang bang!
I shouted as loud as I could.
“Your Highness! I’m here to show you a monster! Prince Abeno!”
I had definitely heard voices inside, but suddenly, everything went silent.
I know you’re awake.
And yet, even after all this noise, no one’s coming out?
Normally, anyone would at least check if it was an ambush out of fear.
He is a royal, after all.
It’s only natural to assess and eliminate any danger.
It seems the servant was startled and hiding, but sometimes ignoring things works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
In this case, it definitely wasn’t going to work.
‘You’re playing innocent this hard?’
My unease grew even stronger.
I narrowed my eyes.
‘Go ahead, pretend all you want. It won’t work on me.’
I deliberately made even more noise.
“Prince Abeno! It’s Erylotte!”
Bang!
Bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
“It’s—E—ry—lotte! Prince—A—be—no!”
As I kept causing a commotion, maids from the other side of the hallway came running over.
They were from our duchy.
“Lady Erylotte, what’s going on?”
“Prince Abeno asked me to show him a monster, but no matter how much I call, he won’t come out!”
Since they were from our duchy, it wouldn’t be easy for them to interfere in matters involving external guests.
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