50.
“So, are you staying in the South Palace or wherever that is now?”
After dinner, just as I lay down to sleep, Leguin, who had returned to his human form, asked abruptly.
“Yes. At the State Guest House.”
Philomel replied, pulling the blanket up to her neck.
“Hmm. The southern buildings lack the divine power of this place, but I suppose that’s fine.”
“Is that so?”
“But was it really necessary to dismiss the attendants? Well, it’ll be more convenient for me to move around, though.”
“Actually, that is one of the reasons. We’ll be seeing each other quite often from now on, so…”
Philomel trailed off.
Strangely, she felt uneasy, as if she had forgotten something important.
“Why did you stop talking?”
“Um… is there something I missed?”
“Well. Not particularly.”
Leguin raised an eyebrow with indifference, and his expression brought a certain person to Philomel’s mind.
She kicked off the blanket and sat bolt upright.
“Ah! Jeremiah!”
She had completely forgotten about Jeremiah, whom she had tucked away in the dark space.
* * *
Jeremiah emerged from the dark space, still bound hand and foot.
“…Jer, Jeremiah?”
At Philomel’s call, his closed eyes snapped open.
He glared, his piercing blue eyes sharp with fury. The original plan had been to release him after a brief conversation with Eustis. But with Ellensia intervening and the issue with Katherine coming to light, Jeremiah had slipped her mind.
This was disastrous. She was about to be hated before she could even earn his favor.
“U-uh, please untie him quickly…”
Philomel urged Leguin, ducking behind his back.
“……”
Contrary to her fear that he would lash out the moment the bindings fell away, Jeremiah remained strangely quiet. However, he did not lower his hostile gaze.
“Can’t you open your eyes properly? You’re scaring Phil.”
“……”
As if rebelling against his father’s words, the corners of his eyes grew even sharper.
“Well, look at this.”
“Please, don’t. It’s my fault.”
She mustered the courage to step forward, fueled by the ‘secret weapon’ in her hand.
“Jeremiah! I’m sorry for leaving you locked up for so long! It’s not much, but would you accept this as an apology?”
Philomel held out a cookie. She always kept snacks in her room for late-night hunger.
“Hmph.”
Jeremiah turned his head away, ignoring her completely.
“You must be starving since you missed dinner. Please, have this to tide you over.”
He remained unmoved.
“…It’s quite delicious. It has plenty of chocolate chunks, too.”
Philomel muttered in a small voice.
“Aren’t you going to give me any?”
Leguin asked, his brow furrowed. He seemed piqued that she hadn’t offered him one.
“I already took care of your dinner separately, Leguin-nim…”
Philomel answered, rubbing her temples as a wave of fatigue washed over her.
“That’s that, and this is this.”
He wasn’t helping at all; he was only making things worse.
But then, an opportunity arrived.
“Honestly, I can’t watch this anymore. What on earth are you two doing in front of— Hup.”
In the split second Jeremiah opened his tightly shut mouth, Philomel quickly pushed a cookie inside.
“You…”
He scowled, yet he diligently chewed.
Soon, his blue eyes began to shine.
“…It’s edible enough.”
“Eat more.”
“If you think I’ll be swayed by something like this— Hup.”
*Munch, munch.*
Only after swallowing did he open his mouth again.
“That’s enough. Stop giving me any more— Hup.”
This time, she pushed three at once. The sight of him munching with his cheeks stuffed full reminded her of a hamster.
“Are you thirsty? I have water too.”
“Hmm…”
When she poured a cup and held it out, Jeremiah cleared his throat and took it.
*Eating cookies is bound to make you thirsty!*
After a few more repetitions of ‘Hup’ and ‘Glug-glug,’ he finished his meal and said:
“…Ahem. Instead of doing useless things like this, just say what you need to say.”
Despite his sharp words, his eyebrows had softened. His anger had clearly subsided.
“You’re eating quite a lot.”
Leguin complained, eyeing the empty cookie plate.
But to a relieved Philomel, Leguin’s voice was barely audible. She was moved by the realization that sweet food worked so well on the prickly Jeremiah.
Jeremiah, the Prince of Ice. A sucker for sweets, though he would never admit it.
That was information straight from .
In the book, Ellensia had broken down Jeremiah’s walls with desserts. While he hadn’t played a massive role, whenever he appeared, his love for sweets was so fervent that he was almost always seen with a treat in his mouth.
*Good. If I make good use of this, I might be able to make Jeremiah my ally!*
A brilliant plan sparked in her mind.
“Are you listening? I asked why you locked me up.”
Philomel lowered her head once more to the complaining youth.
“I’m truly sorry. You must have been very uncomfortable. It was all my fault for neglecting you like that.”
“No, well… it’s not just your fault. Leguin is the one who actually shoved me in there…”
This, too, played out exactly as it had in the book. Jeremiah couldn’t be harsh to those who repented. Even when Ellensia made a mistake, he accepted her if she apologized properly.
“Still, I’m sorry.”
“So, why did you do it?”
Jeremiah’s eyebrows had perfectly returned to their natural position.
“Well, you see…”
Philomel carefully opened her mouth.
* * *
The next morning dawned.
“Philomel-nim, good morning.”
After waking Philomel and surveying the bedroom, Countess Deles asked with wide eyes:
“Where did the cat go?”
Philomel yawned and replied, “Aah, it went out the window. I think it’s more comfortable sleeping outside.”
“Well, it was a stray cat originally, so that could be the case.”
In truth, Leguin had been grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Jeremiah last night and dragged out. Philomel had asked Jeremiah to stay for just one more day.
“What? So you’re saying you locked me up just because you wanted to have a conversation with me?”
Jeremiah had asked in bewilderment at her clumsy excuse, but he hadn’t been angry.
“…If that’s the case, just say it with words. It’s not like I can’t spare a day.”
His reaction—a light scolding accompanied by a sigh—was unexpected.
*I see. He does listen if you just tell him.*
Philomel blinked. Because Jeremiah had been so hostile toward ‘Philomel’ in the book, she had instinctively assumed he wouldn’t listen.
“Anyway, it’s late, so let’s talk in detail tomorrow.”
With that, Jeremiah had picked up his father, who had turned into a cat and was heading toward the fireplace.
“Where do you think you’re going? You’re supposed to be with me. Don’t you have a spare room in this vast palace where we can hide?”
The cat had glared at Jeremiah, but when Philomel urged him to go, he eventually disappeared out the terrace window.
She was secretly relieved. Even if he was in cat form, sharing a bedroom with a biological father she had only recently met was awkward.
Furthermore…
“You, you talk quite clearly in your sleep, don’t you?”
Things were even more awkward due to the offhand comment Leguin had made yesterday.
She hadn’t known that such sleep-talking habits persisted. Her nanny had nagged her about it when she was young, but she had heard nothing since and assumed the habit had vanished.
Looking back, she had simply always slept alone since growing up, leaving no opportunity for others to notice.
*To think my inner thoughts slip out without me even knowing… I hate that.*
She didn’t want to let anyone know. Anyone at all.
“The weather is truly lovely. What shall we do for the schedule today?”
Countess Deles opened the window energetically. Philomel looked at her warm face before replying.
“I think I’ll just rest quietly all day today. I don’t think my fatigue has worn off yet.”
“In that case, I will make sure no one disturbs your rest, Philomel-nim. Shall I instruct them to leave your meals at the door?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Rest well.”
The perceptive Countess quickly withdrew. She was a good person, always looking after her.
*However…*
Countess Deles was included among the people to whom Philomel did not want to reveal her inner thoughts. It wasn’t that she had complaints; it was just that she couldn’t be completely honest, even with her.
To be kind to everyone, yet close to no one.
That was the way Philomel had lived her life thus far.
*…Can a person like me change now?*
Philomel sighed softly.