AWLC 15

Chapter – 15

The saintess cracked the door open and peeked her head out. She looked a mess.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face—eyes, nose, lips—was swollen from crying.

Pitiful, really.

Alesto didn’t think she had cried simply because of the confinement.

From their very first meeting, she had asked to be locked up. Even before he confined her, he had confirmed again that she was fine with it.

Then why had she cried?

Because Cedric had been right in front of her, yet she couldn’t follow him?

Was she disappointed? Wronged?

After staring down at her for a long moment, he slowly spoke.

“I heard you didn’t eat anything…”

“I’m sorry.”

At that moment, Alesto felt something strange.

Why did it feel like the heart in his chest had dropped somewhere far below?

He felt an odd impulse and almost reached out to stroke her cheek, but he hesitated.

Was that appropriate?

In the end, he withdrew his hand without even brushing her cheek.

‘Come to think of it… she still hasn’t turned back time and escaped.’

Why?

If she hated being here enough to cry like that, why hadn’t she rewound time?

As he pondered, several possibilities came to mind.

Perhaps she didn’t know what ability she possessed. Or she didn’t know how to use it.

Or perhaps she currently lacked the means to activate it.

He needed to test her.

“Even if you apologize, I won’t cancel the confinement.”

The red, rabbit-like eyes that had been meeting his gaze drooped even more.

They had already been drooping—but now even more so.

“…Yes.”

Even with that dejected expression, the saintess answered obediently.

Strangely enough, seeing her like that eased Alesto’s mood a little.

No—perhaps it was more that he couldn’t bear how pitiable she looked.

Or that he felt like indulging her out of sympathy.

‘Certainly…’

Aside from her pretty face, the saintess had a peculiar charm.

Any man without a firmly fixed ideal type—unlike himself—would surely fall head over heels and offer her anything she asked for.

For now, at least, she didn’t seem like she would go anywhere.

Whether she had no intention of turning back time and fleeing—or simply no means—he didn’t know.

Once his mind felt more at ease, he finally took in her bedroom.

‘Small.’

The palace chamber wasn’t particularly cramped for living in, but it was small for being confined for days on end.

Looking at those droopy rabbit eyes, he made a generous concession.

“…Instead, I will expand your permitted area of movement to the entire imperial palace. When you leave the Blossom Palace, you need only clearly state your destination.”

Asha’s eyes widened.

‘The entire palace?’

Within the palace grounds were not only multiple residences but also forests, a lake, beautiful gardens, and fountains.

In short, there were countless places perfect for packing a lunch and going on a picnic.

This was exactly the cozy confinement Asha had wanted.

Before Alesto could change his mind, she quickly answered,

“Okay!”

Then she added, puzzled,

“But why are you suddenly being so kind?”

He lifted the corner of his lips slightly, as if it were obvious.

“I said I would confine you, but I didn’t assign any knights to guard you. Yet you did not leave the Almond Palace on your own. Thanks to that, I’ve gained a little trust. It must have been stifling. You’ve endured well.”

Did that mean if his trust deepened, he would allow her to leave the palace as well?

For now, she had no need to go outside.

Just the palace alone seemed enough to live out a very satisfying life.

‘Now this is finally starting to feel like the perfect emperor-style confinement!’

Meanwhile, despite her puffy, reddened cheeks, the saintess accepted his offer as if she had never cried.

Watching her, Alesto felt… something subtle.

The saintess had once voluntarily asked to be confined—only to attempt escape not long after.

Even going so far as to dress as a maid.

‘Pretend to loosen the reins, but increase surveillance,’ he decided.

He needed to see whether she truly had no intention of escaping.

Or if she was merely waiting for another chance to stab him in the back.

Alesto imagined her escaping again.

Just imagining it briefly left a sour taste in his mouth.

Perhaps that was why he found himself asking,

“And if Miss Asha were to leave the palace without permission, what do you think should be done?”

Her escape wouldn’t truly be a major problem for him.

He was confident he could bring her back.

Even if she rewound time ten years and hid somewhere remote—once the oracle confirming her time-reversal was verified, he could drag her back to the palace.

The issue was that each time she rewound time for the purpose of escape, her wariness would only grow.

And that would make securing her increasingly difficult.

So though the question was half impulsive, a penalty clause was necessary to avoid pointless back-and-forth later.

But to his surprise, she answered confidently,

“Leave without permission? I don’t think that’ll happen.”

“….”

To Alesto, she seemed utterly thoughtless—but Asha had, in fact, thought briefly about it.

‘Would there ever come a time when I’d give up this cozy emperor-style confinement and run away on my own?’

She just hadn’t thought deeply before answering.

In the end, he went ahead and drafted a contract based on their discussion.

Putting shackles on her ankle would benefit him in many ways.

“Well, it would be fortunate if such a thing never happened, but one can’t make absolute statements about the future. We’ll include a violation clause.”

As he wrote, he confirmed,

“If you leave the palace without permission, your allowed range will be reduced. The first time, back to the Blossom Palace. The second time, to your current room in the Almond Palace. Is that acceptable?”

The saintess accepted again without hesitation.

“Yes, that’s fine!”

But she added her own condition.

“Ah, but if there’s punishment, shouldn’t there be rewards too? If I follow the confinement rules well, please grant me one wish per month.”

Alesto smiled.

“As long as it’s not asking for freedom, I will grant whatever you wish.”

And so the two finished drafting a contract outlining the rules of confinement and the penalties for violations.

After Alesto left,

Ruby became even more enthusiastic about persuading Asha to attend the ball.

Honestly, Asha didn’t really want to go.

A ball?

Just the word itself sounded glittery and exhausting.

Well… she was a little curious.

In a romance fantasy setting, a ball scene was practically mandatory. She did wonder what it would be like.

‘…Still, it sounds tiring.’

After a long deliberation, she decided.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Truly?!”

A ball held within the imperial palace fell within the range Alesto had permitted.

And it was hard to keep ignoring Ruby’s hopeful gaze.

Besides, thanks to Ruby’s help, she was living comfortably—and her confinement range had expanded because of it.

They would be living together from now on; give and take was only fair.

“But to attend a ball… wouldn’t I need an invitation?”

It wasn’t the kind of place you could just show up to in a dress and be let in.

Ruby jumped up as if she had been waiting for permission.

“Don’t worry at all! I’ll go secure an invitation right away.”

Shortly after,

Ruby returned—with Gerald Burns in tow.

‘Oh? This person is…’

Caught off guard by the unexpected visitor, Asha straightened up from where she had been lazily lounging on the sofa.

“Ahem. It’s an honor to see you. Your Highness, what brings you here…?”

Gerald explained calmly.

“I heard you will be attending the ball. My elder brother is unable to spare the time today, so though I may be inadequate, I will escort you in his stead.”

Then he turned to Ruby.

“Can you have her ready in two hours?”

Ruby bowed enthusiastically.

“If you assign five maids to assist me, I will make it possible.”

A neat answer.

Gerald told Asha he would return in two hours, then left the Almond Palace. In the corridor, he instructed the attendant Lapo to assign five maids to Ruby.