Ninym’s days in the forest mansion continued. Although always inscrutable, Prince Wein was never irrational, and she grew accustomed to his aloof demeanor. She still fumbled at work, but Raklum offered constant support. In short, her new life was rather lovely.
Still, Ninym couldn’t deny a murkiness in her heart. Her recent comforts served only to deepen the unpleasant shadows.
“Both sides have come to an agreement. Tomorrow, someone from your village will confirm your health.”
Raklum’s announcement solidified her phantoms.
“I’ve rented a room in a nearby town that will be our meeting place. I’ll accompany you, but I believe you should be the one to persuade them if you wish to remain here.”
Young Ninym had chanced upon work and shelter after running away without a word to anyone. The northernmost kingdom of Natra was a dismal land spurned even by thieves and kidnappers, but that wasn’t to say all its people harbored pure intentions.
Ninym was fortunate to have avoided trouble so far. Wein and Raklum wouldn’t object if she wished to be escorted back to her home with the Flahm. Only Ninym’s selfishness kept her here. These tranquil days forced her to look at the hard truth.
What do I want?
She’d constantly asked herself this question while in the mansion but still had no answer. And now, time was up.
“I understand your hesitation,” Raklum said. “However, they will only grow more concerned if nothing is done. Whatever the end result, at least prove you are alive and well.”
Ninym nodded.
“Furthermore, His Highness shall join us,” the guardsman added.
“Prince Wein will?”
“Forgive me, but I am reluctant to leave His Highness alone for your sake. Upon review of the matter, the prince decided this was for the best.”
Raklum was the mansion’s only guard, so he could protect only one of the children at a time. Wein was naturally his highest priority. It would be presumptuous of Ninym to consider herself on the same level. She was grateful for their company nonetheless. Still, she thought it would’ve been better if Wein had brought more guards with him.
“In any case, you needn’t worry about His Highness or myself. Focus on you.”
“…I understand.”
Raklum’s suggestion raised old questions.
What did Ninym want to do? Would she know by tomorrow?
The trio departed as planned on the following day. Thanks to a hectic work schedule, Ninym hadn’t left the mansion since she first arrived. The forest’s vastness dawned on her as they walked along the path, and she realized just how lucky she’d been.
After a while, they reached the edge of the forest, where a splendid horse-drawn carriage awaited them.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“Not at all.”
Raklum spoke briefly with the man who’d brought the horses, then glanced behind himself.
“Your Highness, Ninym, please step inside.”
“Me? A-are you sure it’s all right?”
Raklum chuckled. “Do you plan to walk there?” He mounted a horse not hitched to the carriage.
Wein climbed in, and Ninym hastily followed suit. The courier was also apparently their coachman.
“Right, let’s be off,” Raklum announced.
Soon, the carriage was on its way.
“Wow…”
Ninym had never ridden in a coach before and felt instantly overwhelmed. The sway of the portable room was a foreign sensation. She’d heard carriage rides were bumpy, but the high-quality cushions or some unknown device absorbed most of the shock.
Ninym leaned forward to admire the passing scenery but quickly remembered she wasn’t alone.
“P-pardon me. I got carried away.”
“It’s fine,” Wein replied crisply.
Ninym sheepishly sat back down. His coldness might’ve once been mistaken for disfavor, but experience had taught her that Wein’s words were sincere.
“…Um, Your Highness?”
“What is it?”
“Well, I just wanted to thank you for everything.”
She had no idea why a prince like Wein lived in the middle of nowhere, but whatever the reason, he’d rescued her in several ways. Ninym couldn’t begin to express her gratitude, and yet…
“You asked, and I agreed. That’s all.”
Another brusque response. She’d expected no less, but Ninym quietly sighed. It made sense, of course. As the unilateral recipient of Wein’s generosity, she really had no right to complain.
All the same, Ninym’s feelings were mixed. Such an underwhelming reaction made her thankful heart feel like a pebble on the roadside.
What was his motivation?
“…Your Highness, did you help me out of noble obligation?” she asked abruptly.
If Wein’s charity had been born out of a privileged duty to aid the unfortunate, she could understand why he’d freely do so without compensation.
However, Wein blindsided her.
“Noble?” repeated the boy whose lineage was the greatest in all of Natra. He acted as if she’d suddenly spoken in a foreign tongue, then he gave a small smile. “Hmm. ‘Noble,’ huh? Is that what this looks like? I suppose it’s reasonable to think as much.”
“Um…”
Flustered by her first glimpse of the prince’s brief, inexplicable smile, Ninym anxiously wondered if she’d said something wrong. However, Wein continued unaware.
“People have desires and fantasies. Things they want to have or be. I can grant both. That’s why.”
“Uhhh…”
Ninym’s confusion deepened. She mulled over his words for a few moments, then timidly replied “Then…you helped me because I asked?”
This made Wein sound like benevolence personified, but she could tell there was more left unsaid. At first, Ninym thought it might be akin to noble obligation after all, but that felt off the mark.
“Make of it what you will,” Wein replied as if reading her mind.
His baffling, dismissive answer frustrated Ninym. She sighed again. Despite her mature demeanor, she was still only a child.
“…What if I had other requests? Would you grant those, too?”
Ninym’s petulant comment was made only in passing, but Wein regarded her seriously.
“What do you want?”
“Huh?”
“What. Do. You. Want. From. Me?”
All at once, fear struck Ninym. Wein’s tone was no different than usual, but this was a dangerous question. She understood that one wrong answer could irrevocably ruin everything.
“U-um…”
What should she say or not say? Ninym’s mind reeled.
“Pardon me, Your Highness,” Raklum interrupted. He’d pulled up alongside the carriage window. “The town has come into view, and we’ll be arriving shor… Is something the matter?”
The peculiar atmosphere didn’t escape Raklum’s notice, and he gave a perplexed look. Wein shook his head lightly.
“Nothing to worry about. Just silly kid stuff.”
“I see.”
Raklum rode away without prying further. Wein’s gaze returned to Ninym, who immediately sat up straight. However, the prince had apparently lost interest, because he closed his eyes and said no more.
What was Wein really after? Despite her lingering questions, Ninym felt a wave of relief. She couldn’t afford to upset her benefactor now, not on the precipice of her biggest battle.