ESMLT 29

Chapter 29

“So you’re saying it can’t be heard or seen, but only humans can perceive it?”

“Yes.”

“And you have no idea how that’s possible?”

“That’s right.”

At the Crown Prince’s question, I nodded as I walked, stepping around low-hanging branches.

That was when Sien—who had been trudging along clutching a tattered blanket, insisting it was a waste to throw away since I’d washed it for him—came closer.

“As expected, Lia, you’re very clever.”

His violet-like eyes curved into soft crescents.

We don’t even have food, and you’re flattering me?

My gaze flicked to the wound on Sien’s cheek.

“When we reach the western shelter safely, I’ll treat it.”

It wasn’t just anyone—seeing a cut on Sien’s cheek bothered me more than it should have.

It felt like spotting a bruise on a ripe, glossy red apple.

Sien blinked his languid eyes once, then tilted his head.

“Hmm. Instead of treatment, I think I’d recover faster if Lia blew on it for me.”

There he goes again. Where does he keep finding this aegyo?

“Don’t say nonsense.”

Sien turned his head away, looking deeply disappointed.

“…Tch.”

Tch?

Tch?

Tchhhh?

I was dumbfounded.

If he were some bulky musclehead, it would’ve made my skin crawl—but when a delicate, Snow-White-like beauty does it…

Why is that cute? Why??

I truly didn’t understand my own tastes.

Ahead of us, the Crown Prince shot Sien a vicious glare. His eyes were filled with pure disgust.

“What a lunatic bastard.”

Sien blinked, eyes widening.

How could anyone say such a thing?

That unfamiliar expression said it all.

Well, Princess Sunfish occasionally acted fierce, but having grown up pampered, he probably had never even heard profanity before.

Words that suited him weren’t curses, but flowers, butterflies, red apples—elegance and grace.

I narrowed my eyes and glanced sideways at the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, please refrain from swearing. You’ll hurt the Tower Master’s feelings.”

“Hah.”

The Crown Prince scoffed, lightly tapping his spear against his shoulder.

“Young lady, you’re being fooled. You have no idea how filthy that brat’s mouth really is.”

Oh, come on. No way.

Sure, he sometimes acted questionably, but swearing?

It didn’t suit him at all.

“Don’t slander people, Your Highness.”

He already felt bad enough about failing to bring the urn—why kick him when he’s down?

“Hah!”

The Crown Prince raked a hand through his hair, looking like he might die of injustice.

That was when Sien suddenly slipped between us. I paused in surprise.

“Please don’t fight because of me, Lia.”

“No, we’re not fighting—”

“I’ll just be the lunatic bastard, then.”

…What? Why would you take that role, Princess?

As I stared at him, stunned, Sien gently took my hand and placed it against his cheek.

Then he tilted his face, lowered his lashes, and looked down at me. Half-hidden by thick eyelashes, his deepened eyes were beautiful—and unsettlingly sensual.

“So don’t take your eyes off me. I don’t know what I might do.”

The smooth curve of his eyes made a chill run through my chest.

He looked like a lion guarding his mate, warning off rival males.

Does he know he’s supposed to meet another male lead soon?

When I nodded reflexively, Sien smiled—lush and captivating, like a flower in full bloom.

Rather than fluttering… it was a little scary.

We arrived at the back gate of the western shelter.

We’d escaped the forest at dawn and only reached the place as evening fell.

A fence tangled with flowers and bushes surrounded the shelter in a neat rectangle. Outside it stood the crumbling stable Jaeger had mentioned.

I considered pulling out jerky to call Aporta, but instead gave it to the rabbit.

Because I heard a flute.

The sound drifted from somewhere near the fence.

We followed it, circling around.

Soon, through the leaves of a tree pressed close to the back gate, we spotted a man perched among the branches.

The closer we got, the clearer the pure, ringing notes became.

“Kueeeeehk!”

Ah—along with zombie shrieks, of course.

When we reached the spot, zombies were clawing desperately at the tree, trying to climb. Their horrifying grip tore bark away, sap oozing down the trunk.

Crack!

Thud!

By now, dispatching zombies was relatively easy for me. I looked up at the tree and let out a dry laugh.

The man either hadn’t noticed us—or simply had no intention of stopping until his tune ended. He kept playing.

Different kind of unbothered than Sien.

I wasn’t the only one baffled.

“How leisurely,” the Crown Prince sneered.

“Can’t we just shoot him down?” Sien muttered, irritation creeping in.

That was when the man finally lowered the flute, slipping it into his sleeve. As if he’d known all along we were there, he bowed his head slowly.

Then his eyes—beautiful pale green, like fresh leaves holding morning dew—widened as they met mine.

Whoosh—

He leapt lightly from the tree.

He was a man with a pure yet mature air.

He wore the kind of clothes you only saw in martial-arts dramas, his brown hair braided long to one side and tied with white cloth.

Un Danha.

The thirteenth prince of the Eastern Kingdom of the Eastern Continent—and the final male lead.

I snapped out of my thoughts a beat late, realizing he was still staring at me.

His gaze held unfamiliarity and curiosity.

Why is he staring like that?

No matter how handsome someone is, staring is rude.

“What are you looking at?”

I snapped at him on purpose—but he only widened his eyes in sincere awe.

“…I’m astonished. I’ve never seen a woman so beautiful.”

His almond-shaped eyes curved softly.

“It seems every lovely word in this world was created after seeing you.”

My face heated slightly.

What do you mean, words were made after seeing me?

As expected of a flirt—his skill at winning women over was top-tier.

Looking back, Danha was actually my favorite among the male leads.

He’d withdrawn from succession, stayed far from power, and lived as a refined wanderer steeped in calligraphy, music, and flower arrangement.

A gentle man who recited poetry, played the zither, drank tea, and loved peace.

That was Un Danha.

When he loved the Saintess, he never forced her feelings—he simply waited quietly, supporting her from behind.

Despite looking like he’d never fought a day in his life, he was the tallest of the male leads, yet carried a fragile purity—like dew clinging to green leaves.

And the most surprising thing?

With that face, he only dated older women.

Well, with that silver tongue, no wonder the ladies fell for him.

That was when a broad back stepped in front of me.

The Crown Prince stood facing Danha, spear resting on his shoulder, chin lifted arrogantly.

“Oh? Eastern customs are interesting. Is showering women with empty flattery your way of greeting?”

Danha showed no surprise, only a mild, composed smile.

“My foolish eyes were captivated by a beautiful lady, and I failed to notice Your Highness. Please forgive me.”

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed.

“Un Danha greets the Empire’s Little Sun.”

He executed the Empire’s etiquette flawlessly.

Judging by the shift in tone, he normally spoke Imperial in his native cadence—but when observing protocol, his Imperial was perfect.

Finding nothing to criticize, the Crown Prince let out an annoyed sigh and scanned the forest.

“Still, impressive. Playing the flute so calmly in a situation like this. You don’t seem eager to escape, Prince.”

Danha merely smiled faintly.

“I didn’t know what else to do, so I was counting leaves.”

He stepped aside, approaching me.

“Perhaps I was meant to meet a woman this beautiful.”

Oh. Solid line.

“Is this how one greets an Imperial lady?”

He took my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it—soft lips brushing briefly.

And then a gentle, smiling glance.

One hundred points.

That was when—

Smack!

Sien slapped Danha’s hand away hard, pulled me into his arms, and rested his chin atop my head.

“Know your place. Don’t touch what isn’t yours.”

I couldn’t see Sien’s face, but his low voice was dangerously cold.

Danha gave an awkward smile.

“You must be the Tower Master?”

“And if I am?”

“I regret approaching the lady too freely. So perhaps you could stop aiming that gun at my lower half?”

I glanced down.

A gleaming revolver was pointed directly at Danha’s most vital area.

“While it would be an honor to lose my chastity to someone as beautiful as the Tower Master,” Danha added mildly, “I’d rather not become crippled just yet.”

Too embarrassed to keep watching, I slowly nudged the gun aside.

Danha exhaled in relief. Sien clicked his tongue, his expression twisted.

That was when Jaeger, who’d been quietly observing from behind, stepped forward.

“I believe that’s enough nonsense. Don’t you agree?”

He shot me a look—a hint.

We’d found another survivor. It was time to plan our escape.

Understanding his urgency to return to the Empire as soon as possible, I got straight to the point.

“Shall we talk?”