Episode 129

While walking side by side.

I glanced back at Rea, noticing her slowing pace.

“……”

Rea’s gaze was directed towards a street vendor.

She was looking at apples skewered on wooden sticks.

She intently watched the boy at the store as he dipped the apples into caramel.

“Do you want to try it?”

I asked leisurely.

Rea coughed and replied,

“No, I was just observing the northern market.”

Despite her words, her eyes remained on the caramel apples.

For a moment, she looked like a young girl, seeing cotton candy for the first time.

“Wait a moment.”

Responding, I stopped walking.

Then I approached the boy at the store and asked,

“Give me two of those, please.”

“Uh…? I’m fine.”

Rea said she was fine as I came back with two caramel apples.

But I firmly handed one to her.

“Having snacks like this will make us look more like students, won’t it?”

“……”

Rea looked up at me as I handed her the apple.

Then she smirked and replied,

“It’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

I asked calmly, and the empire’s 1st Princess gazed at me with a peculiar look, her eyes half-closed.

“You’re oblivious in other aspects, but quick in situations like this.”

Rea tilted her head.

And asked sharply, as if trying to uncover my inner thoughts,

“Have you been pretending not to notice, even when I gave you hints?”

“Haha… I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I avoided the Princess’s gaze and bit into the apple.

“……”

The outside was coated in sweet caramel.

Inside, the tart apple spread its flavor, making it quite delicious.

“Your Highness, try it. It’s delicious.”

I adeptly changed the subject and suggested.

Rea looked back at the apple, seemingly taking my cue.

“Okay…”

Rea elegantly brushed her black hair behind her ear.

Then, she narrowed her eyes and opened her lips.

‘She looks just like a pretty schoolgirl this way…’

But that was my misconception.

The Princess tried to bite the apple.

At first, not knowing how to eat it, she opened her lips wide, merely eyeing the caramel.

Seeing this, I felt a strange sensation.

“*Huh…”*

Soon, the Princess figured it out and took a big bite of the apple.

And she bit into it refreshingly.

She nibbled on the apple, smirking suggestively.

She soon savored the taste and swallowed deeply.

“It’s quite tasty…”

Rea wiped the caramel off her lips with the back of her hand, smirking maturely.

The caramel stretched and dropped stickily onto her uniform.

I stared blankly at her clothes.

Certainly, for an ordinary schoolgirl, the caramel would have just fallen to the ground.

But perhaps due to her alluring curves, instead of reaching the ground, it landed on her tie.

Such a voluptuous figure.

It was so sensual that no one could think of her as just a regular schoolgirl.

“Are you okay? Shall I get a napkin?”

“No, this can be easily handled.”

Rea touched the caramel mark with her finger.

The brown liquid wriggled and then dissipated into the air, disappearing completely.

“Ah, I got a bit on me.”

Rea looked intently at the caramel on her finger.

Then, she naturally stuck out her tongue and licked it.

“Puah…”

I turned my head away from the sight.

And internally, feeling a bit sad, I tried my best to push thoughts of her out of my mind.

“Since we’re done eating, let’s continue.”

On the way back to the office.

I noticed pairs of guards patrolling the streets.

‘The procession is very meticulous, as expected of the Minister… The patrol intervals are very tight.’

Since they were originally stationed at the royal palace, it was easier for them to recognize Rea.

So, naturally, I was even more tense at the moment.

“Hmm.”

However, whether she knew my state of mind or not, the Princess remained relaxed.

It seemed like she found my tense appearance cute and amusing.

“Someone might think you’re a spy, right?”

“In this situation, I’m also a member of the Black Moon.”

As I guarded the surroundings with a sharp gaze, Rea gave me a playful look.

Then, slyly…

“…!”

She gently grabbed my hand.

“If you’re a spy, you should have this level of precision.”

I swallowed hard at the soft touch of her hand encasing mine.

She gradually interlocked our fingers, even hooking our pinkies.

“So, what shall we do next?”

Rea looked up at me, as if I were her lover, and asked.

She changed the subject, making me unaware of our interlocked fingers.

“Well…”

I avoided the gaze of the knights scattered around.

As a result, my eyes turned towards places where students might go.

“Oh, that person is…”

A red-haired woman sitting forlornly at a table set up on the street.

She was the fortune teller I met at the jewelry store a few months ago with Irina.

“Fortune-telling, I’ll read your compatibility.”

It felt like just the other day, she was working in a workshop in the northern affluent district.

Now, she was humbly telling fortunes in a corner of the market.

“Hmm, a mage?”

Rea followed my gaze towards the woman.

“Fortune-telling… The magic that gypsies are known for.”

She was always full of curiosity about knowledge and learning.

Her eyes showed much interest in the woman.

“Shall we go see?”

When I asked, Rea tightened our interlocked fingers more firmly.

Our palms were sweaty with the tension.

“Yes, there are many royal guards around, so let’s naturally slip away while getting our fortunes told.”

The Princess and I strolled through the streets, feigning a relaxed gait.

Then, we stood together in front of the shabby fortune-teller’s table.

“Welcome, what a group of handsome and beautiful people.”

She seemed a bit thinner than when I last saw her.

Sensing my sympathetic gaze, the woman glanced at me.

“Hmm? But this young man seems familiar…”

“Well, I’m not sure about that…”

I replied coldly.

I didn’t want to get caught in front of Rea for having been here with Irina before.

“Yes, it’s our first time here.”

Rea spoke to the red-haired woman with a relaxed expression.

“Oh, I’ve been so out of it lately…”

The fortune-teller sighed, glancing at me cautiously.

It seemed like she had been ousted from the workshop she previously worked at.

“Then, let’s start with your love fortune. It will be two silver coins.”

The price of two meals.

It was expensive for a fortune reading.

“Read our fortune first.”

As expected, meticulous Rea firmly proposed to see the fortune first.

“I will determine the price based on your accuracy.”

“What…?”

The Princess was taking the lead even in front of the fortune-teller.

The red-haired woman looked momentarily stunned.

“Ah, understood.”

But soon, she meekly agreed, overpowered by Rea’s voluptuous figure and commanding presence.

“Then, could you please tell me your birthdates and names?”

The fortune-teller asked, carefully observing our faces.

“Do we have to tell you our names? You should be able to tell just by looking.”

I replied complicatedly, wanting to conceal my identity.

The red-haired woman flinched at the sight of a male student as difficult as the female student.

“Well, it’s okay if you don’t know. Then, could you tell me the time you were born?”

Rea first wrote down her information and handed it over.

Then, she subtly suggested I write down my birthdate next to hers.

“Understood.”

The Princess stealthily glanced at my written birthday.

Then, she handed the written paper back to the fortune-teller.

“Alright… let’s see then…”

The fortune-teller already seemed exhausted, as if the energy was drained by the two well-matched students.

However, her expression became even more surprised after she saw the result of the fortune.

“Oh… This date is definitely…”

She then stared blankly at Rea’s face.

Soon, she realized that she was the 1st Princess of the Empire.

“P-Princess…?”

“Don’t be surprised. Just quietly read the fortune.”

Rea warned with a finger on her lips and a cold look in her eyes.

Then, the red-haired woman nodded, discreetly looking around.

“Ah, understood. Then, this young man is not a student, but…”

“He’s my guard. Speak comfortably.”

The fortune-teller then remembered she had met me before.

“Yes… understood.”

She swallowed deeply.

Then, she calmly showed me the cards calculated according to my birthday.

“Yes… For the knight, a red fox has appeared.”

The cards were a bit different from last time.

Apparently, these cards were more accurate for love fortune.

“Originally adept at flattery and quick-witted, you can smoothly get out of any crisis.”

Rea showed more interest in this than I did.

She nodded with an interested look.

“Quite skillful.”

“What do you mean? Where else would you find a knight as upright as me?”

As I laughed awkwardly, both the fortune-teller and Rea looked up at me intently.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t be too serious…”

The fortune-teller covered her mouth with her fist, steadying her voice.

Then, she naturally recited Rea’s fortune.

“Now, for the Princess, or rather the female student, a lion has appeared.”

Just as expected.

“A lion… It’s interesting since the lion is also the symbol of my army.”

“Yes, a lion is an animal that deeply cares for its family and pack, with a strong desire to continue its lineage.”

The fortune-teller spoke with a serious look in her eyes.

“Seeing that the pomegranate tree card also appeared, it might signify a lioness… The tree signifies…”

“Huh…?”

Suddenly, a memory from the past flashed in my mind.

Instinctively feeling anxious, I gestured to the fortune-teller.

“I don’t think we need to go that far…!”

When I hastily interrupted, Rea, finding it strange, firmly grabbed my arm.

Then, she smiled and asked the fortune-teller again.

“It’s okay. Just whisper it to me.”

The red-haired woman glanced at me cautiously.

But regardless of my status as an Imperial Knight, she was facing the empire’s Princess.

Following the power dynamic, she honestly whispered.

“Really?”

Rea chuckled, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

“So, what did you say about the relationship between this boy and me?”

“In the day, the lion firmly holds the fox, but at night, the nocturnal fox sleeps on the lion’s back.”

Encouraged by the Princess’s praise, the fortune-teller enthusiastically continued.

In my view, she might be more of a flatterer than I am.

“Hmm. Really? Interesting. That’s a plausible interpretation.”

“Hehe, I am quite good at fortune-telling. I got fired from the workshop for speaking my mind, though.”

Rea crossed her arms.

Her voluptuous curves were accentuated.

“Speaking your mind is also very important as a subject. I will ensure your safety.”

Rea took out an elegant package from her waist.

And handed it to the woman.

“This… this much…?”

The red-haired woman was startled by the brilliant bundle of gold coins in the package.

This amount of money could buy a carriage and still have some left over.

“Yes, especially the story about the pomegranate tree, which was impressive.”

“Hehe… Thank you-.”

Rea glanced at me.

Then, with a relaxed smile, she placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Let’s go now, Fox Vail.”

The Princess used my shoulder as a support to rise from her seat.

And now, she very naturally extended her hand to me.

“Understood…”

I sighed deeply and clasped hands with the black-haired female student.

Then, together, we headed towards the hill where the office was located.

“Wow…”

The red-haired woman clutched the fortune book close to her chest.

And watched the lioness drag the fox with a peculiar look in her eyes.

As if she were having some mischievous thoughts.

“It’s amazing to meet people who match so well together.”

The woman swallowed deeply, watching the sensual back of Rea.

Then, she tidied up the table to go eat with the gold coins she had just received.

“Now, once we pass through that back alley, we’ll be near my office.”

I pointed towards the dimly lit passage between the buildings.

“It seems to be a shortcut.”

“Yes, it’s actually safer under the current circumstances.”

Rea looked at the dark alleyway expressionlessly.

Then, she nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

‘This is really the end…’

I sighed in relief at the sight of the nearing office.

And just as we reached the midpoint of the passage,

“…!”

I caught sight of an approaching Imperial Knight at the exit of the passage.

“Quick, over here.”

I cautiously led Rea into a gap between the buildings.

And we both held our breaths, hiding together.

‘How are they patrolling even here…?’

The two of us barely fit in the narrow space.

From there, I peeked out to watch the way we had come.

“How’s it over there?”

Coincidentally, his colleague arrived on the path we had taken.

We ended up trapped inside the passage.

“All clear. No one’s here.”

Knights were approaching from both sides.

No matter which way we ran, we would be caught.

“Princess Rea, I apologize, but we need to stay close a bit longer.”

“It’s okay.”

The Princess looked up at me, so close that our chests touched.

She intensely observed me as I scrutinized our surroundings.

“You really do seem to resemble a fox.”

The footsteps of the two knights were getting closer.

At that moment, I covered Rea’s body, and we both bowed our heads together.

Like lovers secretly sharing love in the shade.

‘Please, just pass by…!’

Click… Click…

The sound of military boots came right next to us.

Eventually…

“Hmm? You students there. What are you doing in there?”

Unfortunately, the knights’ footsteps stopped abruptly.

‘We’re doomed…!’

Even I couldn’t manage my expression at this moment.

I ended up having a dazed expression in front of Rea.

“……”

The Princess pressed her body against mine in the narrow gap.

Then she looked up at me intently with her lips tightly sealed.

“Don’t worry, Vail.”

She seemed to notice my urgent gaze, slightly opening her blue eyes.

And then…

“I have a good idea.”

Rea gently lifted the heels of her shoes.

Then she grabbed my chin and slowly kissed me.

“Hmpf…”

The Princess kissed me deeply enough for her white breath to be visible in the shade.

Her tongue tasted of sweet caramel.