“…What do you mean by that?”

When Amy made a puzzled expression, Noah closed his mouth for a moment before slowly beginning to speak.

‘You see, Noah. Human sympathy is a sweet poison.’

Born as a princess and oppressed by her father the king all her life, his mother said the world changed the moment she met his father. Although she stood before the emperor as a tool of her father to seduce him, the emperor accepted her readily.

She said father was her only breathing space. Although later it ended up choking her instead.

‘Your father pitied me like a beast withering away in a cage. But foolish as I was, I thought it was affection and gladly accepted it.’

Do you know what happens if you drink seawater when thirsty? You die even faster. His mother, who whispered this, left Noah with her last words as she wasted away.

‘When I die, you will become pitiful.’

With hands withered to bone, his mother caressed her son.

‘You may even become miserable beyond pity. The empress is not one to be swayed by emotions.’

His mother gazed sadly at her son who would be left alone in this vast palace.

‘Many people will approach you. And they will try to strip your flesh, pick your bones.’

Who will be there to protect you? Now you have no one. The emperor, your father, had long forgotten about the mother and child.

He was the type of person who would pick up a stray animal on the street, bring it home to bathe and feed it, then lose interest once it became plump…

‘You must cultivate an eye for people.’

His mother warned with tears glistening in her eyes, as if spitting blood.

‘You must not be fooled by those who try to use you, of course, but also by the sympathy and pity that deceive the eyes like sugar. Find someone who sees you just as you are.’

After his mother died, Noah pondered for a long time.

Paradoxically, to find the person his mother spoke of, he had to be in a position to receive pity and sympathy.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the environment was given without any effort on his part. Noah’s father had as little loyalty as his shallow and short-lived affection. Soon he was thrown into a cold world of neglect and indifference.

Nevertheless, the empty shell of being the second prince remained, so people enchanted by it approached one by one. But as soon as they learned his true nature, they all left, mocking and pitying him. Noah had no expectations, so he felt no disappointment. However,

Loneliness slowly ate away at him.

Then one day, the Crown Prince came to see him.

‘Ah yes. I had a younger brother.’

He seemed to have come to spy, perhaps worried about a potential rival.

‘It’s nothing. I wasted my time.’

He glanced at Noah and gave him a look tinged with superiority. It was familiar. Just another form of pity.

Then a cold voice was heard.

‘Such careless thoughts create openings.’

Turning his head to see who it was, there stood a very pretty maid with a chilly aura. She glanced at Noah then looked away. Was it dismissal? But…

‘!’

Her gaze was fixed on Noah’s hands. Noah quickly hid behind his back the hands calloused from secret sword practice. Her eyes sparkled with interest beyond mere curiosity.

‘Let’s go, Amy.’

The Crown Prince, who had long since grown bored, said with a malicious glance at Noah, displeased that Amy had taken notice of him.

‘Looking at this pitiful fellow is depressing.’

At that, she slightly furrowed her brow. Noah’s heart sank.

‘Only oneself can make a person pitiful.’

After speaking strictly, she turned her head again to stare at Noah. At her gaze that seemed to ask if that wasn’t so, Noah felt as if his mind had gone blank.

The Crown Prince looked back and forth between the two and sneered.

‘Amy, seeing that child must have brought back gloomy memories of the past.’

She shrugged nonchalantly.

‘I can’t say that’s not the case.’

Past memories? Noah was dumbfounded. To think that someone who seemed so solid had a past similar to his own…?

The moment their eyes met, a very brief smile flashed across Amy’s indifferent face.

‘So I’m curious to see how it turns out.’

‘!’

After the two left, Noah thought blankly.

‘Only oneself can make a person pitiful…’

In her gaze as she said those words, there was no pity or sympathy. Rather…

‘I’m curious.’

There was a glimpse of expectation, as if wondering how he would grow up.

For the first time in a very long while, Noah thought of his mother.

‘Find someone who sees you just as you are.’

His lips moved and words flowed out without him realizing.

‘Mother, I’ve found her.’

“Me? You say I looked forward to it?”

After hearing the story, Amy pointed at her own chest with her finger, making an incredulous expression. Noah pouted.

“What, so it was just empty words?”

“No, that’s not it…”

If she had said such things, it must have been sincere. She never said things she didn’t mean, which was why she was bullied so much by the senior maids when she was young.

‘But that’s such a trivial reason.’

Childhood deprivation is this frightening. What Amy couldn’t even remember became a life-changing moment for Noah.

‘Well, I suppose he was lucky to have entered that sensitive person’s good graces because of it.’

As Amy was thinking sourly, Noah’s eyes flashed with a strange light.

“Even if it was pity, I don’t mind.”

It was a tenacious declaration that contradicted what he had just said.

Regardless of the past, it was a sincere determination not to let Amy go now, but Amy only thought it best to end this topic quickly. So she muttered awkwardly while scratching her cheek.

“What I meant was… why would I pity someone when there’s no profit in it.”

“I see.”

Only then did Noah grin. Given Amy’s personality of not saying empty words, he was quite pleased that she had genuinely been curious about his future.

“Um, Your Highness, it would be good if you didn’t read too much into other people’s words.”

“I only listen carefully to what Amy says.”

“That’s true.”

As the two chatted amiably, the dance time came to an end. Seeing people dispersing from the square, Amy and Noah stood up. The two walked towards the Grand Duke’s castle along with the crowd.

Most likely, mercenaries disguised as Noah’s guards were secretly hidden among the people. Judging by how their presence couldn’t be felt at all, they seemed to be truly skilled individuals. The mercenary captain’s careful selection had paid off.

That wasn’t all. As the drawbridge leading into the Grand Duke’s castle came into view in the distance, footsteps were heard from behind, followed by someone letting out an exaggerated sigh.

“It’s such a shame that today was the last day.”

It was Bradley. Having lost the bet with the guards and knights, he was in charge of Noah’s security today. They were uneasy about leaving it entirely to the mercenaries. Thanks to Bradley following closely behind all along, they were able to enjoy a fun time with peace of mind.

Bradley came closer and whistled.

“Did you see His Highness’s portrait? I think you’ll look just like that in 10 years.”

“The portrait painter did an amazingly realistic job.”

It was a face that looked like it could really exist somewhere in the world. Amy nodded in agreement before tilting her head. Come to think of it… that face seemed familiar from somewhere?

“That’s what I…”

“How could a southerner… one person…”

Hearing a commotion behind them, they turned to see Jack and Dwayne engaged in an intense conversation with confused expressions. What’s wrong with them now? At that moment, Jack spotted Amy and Noah and quickly approached.

“Your Highness, did you enjoy the festival?”

He smiled so naturally that one would doubt if he had really been arguing with Dwayne just moments ago. But it was true. How can I be sure? Because Dwayne was glaring daggers at Jack with his lips pursed.

“No matter how I look at it, they’re similar…”

As Dwayne turned his head and stared intently at Noah while muttering, Jack, still smiling, jabbed Dwayne in the side with his elbow. Dwayne collapsed, coughing and sputtering. But surprisingly, no one paid him any attention.

“The castle gates are open.”

Since entry to the Grand Duke’s castle had been prohibited during the festival period, a guard had to come out personally to check faces one by one before opening the gate. Upon seeing Noah, he quickly made a hand signal, and soon a small door beside the large metal-plated gate opened.

As Noah entered through the castle gate, the hired staff who had already returned greeted him. Noah waved his hand perfunctorily as he headed towards the inner castle. He planned to change clothes, rest a bit, and then have dinner. But Amy, who he thought would accompany him, stood still and didn’t move.

“Please go ahead, Your Highness. Eva will attend to you in the inner chambers.”

“What about Amy? Why aren’t you coming along?”

Noah asked hastily. Amy shrugged.

“I need to stop by the guard post briefly. I’ll see you at dinner later.”

“…Alright.”

Noah reluctantly left first. After confirming Noah’s departure, Amy headed to the guard post. Opening the door, she found Vernon sitting at the table, sighing deeply as if he carried all the world’s worries.

‘I knew it.’

Amy approached silently and rummaged through her pocket to take out the items she had bought at the market stall. It was a pair of rings, one small and one large. She placed them on the table with a clatter, and Vernon slowly raised his head.

“What’s this?”

His voice was sluggish, devoid of any enthusiasm. It seems he still hasn’t recovered from the shock. Amy pushed the rings towards the captain.

“See if it fits your hand.”

“Isn’t this a ring? Where am I supposed to check if it fits…”

Amy furrowed her brow and muttered.

“I have a rough idea of Lady Weaver’s finger size, but I couldn’t quite guess yours, Captain Vernon.”

“…So these are for me and Joanna?”

At last, light began to return to his dull eyes. Amy crossed her arms and gestured for him to try it on. He glanced at Amy as he slipped the ring onto his finger. Fortunately, it fit well.

“Are you really… giving this to us?”

Vernon asked, trying to control his twitching lips. Amy, who was heading towards the door after finishing her business, suddenly turned around.

“About that, I was fine with it.”

Vernon was bewildered by the sudden, out-of-context statement.

“Pardon? That… what do you mean?”

Amy said without smiling:

“Eeeng~ That.”

“…”

Vernon looked like he had lost his country.