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ABZ 17
Penelope, saying she didn't want to be hated, looked somehow lonely.
"I want to be a part of this place, so I'm trying."
She spoke at length, as if wanting to explain that she had no ulterior motives, and constantly watched my expression, as if trying to confirm whether my misunderstanding had been resolved.
Yes, at first, I thought Penelope had some kind of scheme. That's why I re-washed all the dishes she touched.
'I'll do the dangerous things from now on.'
Now I knew that wasn't the case.
Last night, too. I didn't think she went out to the yard late at night and ruined her clothes to make Uven look bad.
If she had intentionally tried to ruin her clothes, she wouldn't have brought them into the Inner castle.
"...Okay."
However, all Idorian could do was nod, saying he understood.
He had many questions he wanted to ask and many things he wanted to say, but Idorian swallowed his inner thoughts once again.
He didn't want to confirm why Penelope had become afraid of being hated.
'So, I just don't want to attract zombies with the smell of blood. It's too, too scary.'
Penelope, trembling as if she were afraid, Penelope, with her eyes full of tears, desperately reaching out for help, was already filling his head without a break.
Idorian was satisfied with the present.
The zombies rushing to bite, the sounds of wild animals echoing through the mountains every night. He didn't want to imagine Penelope having to survive alone in the mountains without food or shelter any longer.
He didn't want to let her into his heart any more.
Whether it was pity or guilt towards Penelope.
As a member of the imperial family who would inherit the throne, Idorian had been taught all his life not to be swayed by personal feelings and ruin things, so these were emotions he couldn't and shouldn't be responsible for.
The feelings towards Penelope would fade away after some time, if he distanced himself from her more....
They would disappear. No, he had to erase them no matter what.
"I believe you don't have any ulterior motives."
Idorian ended the conversation, intending to leave.
He didn't bring up the story about how it was unavoidable or that he didn't abandon her because he hated her.
Because bringing up that day again felt like it was for him, not for Penelope.
"Lilia and I both know you didn't do it on purpose."
Penelope's eyes widened slightly, as if my words were unexpected.
"What I meant by being concerned was, don't overdo it."
He was burdened by his heavy emotions when he saw Penelope's significantly changed appearance, so he said those words.
So, it wasn't a word for Penelope, but a word for himself.
"Yes, I understand."
Penelope raised the corners of her mouth as if she had mistaken it for a word for her, and simply nodded without any further response.
"Thank you."
As if she had decided to make the one who abandoned her sink into guilt and never come out.
* * *
"Princess, why already...."
Lilia approached, rubbing her eyes as if she had just woken up, while I was hanging up the laundry and moving the water jar.
"Why did you wake up so early?"
"Lilia, did you sleep well?"
Lilia, who was nodding, ran to the well, seemingly intending to help carry water.
'Idorian and Heresdon will hate it if Lilia works already.'
Her wounds hadn't fully healed yet, and it wouldn't be good if she kept getting her hands wet.
And Idorian and Heresdon were just trying to resolve their misunderstandings, so if Lilia's wounds worsened again, they might resent me again.
"Lilia, I was supposed to do this until your hand heals."
I hurriedly put down the water jar I was holding and chased after Lilia to stop her from working.
"But...."
"Please, let me do it."
Lilia, who was hesitating as if she felt sorry for me working alone, frowned when she saw Idorian's clothes hanging up.
"Don't tell me you did that too, Princess?"
"Yes. Uven seemed very upset."
"Ah...."
Lilia frowned.
"Were you very embarrassed yesterday?"
Lilia, who grabbed my hand as if to comfort me, was upset as if she had been the one who had been misunderstood.
"Anyone would think Uven said something to Lilia."
When I smiled slightly at Lilia's appearance, she frowned.
"It's natural to be upset. You even got rained on, and you were misunderstood for no reason."
It was strange.
Despite all the past misdeeds that Penelope Lloyd had committed, she believed in me this much.
Because of Penelope's past misdeeds, Idorian, Heresdon, and Uven were harsh to me, so why was Lilia the only one different?
"I wanted to see you for a moment yesterday, but you seemed to be sleeping, so I just went back."
Only Lilia, whom Penelope had tormented the most.
"Uven also said he seemed to have misunderstood."
"Uven did?"
I thought it would be difficult to resolve Uven's misunderstanding.
To think that he admitted it was a misunderstanding before I could even do anything.
However, I soon realized why that was possible. Lilia must have conveyed my position well.
"It seems that Uven is still young and sensitive, so it's hard for him to accept this terrible situation."
Lilia carefully brought up the topic.
"Of course, even so, this time it's Uven's fault."
Her words were cautious, as if she wanted me to forgive Uven.
"No, I would have acted the same way if I were Uven."
I quickly replied, feeling sorry for Lilia, who was worried about various things between Uven and me.
It was a word for her, but it was also true that I understood Uven's actions.
Because it was Penelope who had tormented Uven all along.
"Then Lilia, go inside quickly."
I quickly moved away before Lilia could ask why I thought so.
I was afraid to say how badly Penelope had treated the child who lost his mother, and that Uven hated me because of the incident where she stole his horse.
I was afraid that Lilia would hate me too if she found out. I didn't want to lose Lilia, the only kind person here, so I avoided the situation.
However, despite my efforts to avoid her, I had to face Lilia again in less than ten minutes.
"Uven, you have to say it quickly."
Lilia gently stroked Uven's head once and called the child's name.
"I'm sorry about yesterday."
When Lilia spoke in a rather firm voice, Uven, who had been hanging his head as if he didn't like the situation, reluctantly apologized and raised his head.
"I naturally thought the Princess put dirt on my clothes. To get revenge on me."
The child faithfully conveyed his misunderstanding, but his tone was still rebellious.
"Just like how you tripped Lilia and pushed me away because I was in the way. I thought it was like that yesterday too."
He couldn't overcome Lilia's urging and apologized to me, but his animosity seemed to remain.
"And just like how you secretly sprinkled dirt on Lilia's food, I thought it was like that yesterday too."
"...Uven."
Lilia, as if rebuking the sneering Uven, put her hand on the child's shoulder in embarrassment.
"Anyway, I'm sorry."
Uven hurriedly apologized before Lilia could say anything else.
Lilia looked at me with an awkward expression.
She seemed to be reminded of the Penelope of the past who had tormented her.
"...I won't do that anymore either."
I couldn't help but check Lilia's expression.
However, unlike my worries, she smiled brightly as soon as our eyes met, as if thanking me for accepting Uven's apology.
"Sister, let's go now."
The child said, pulling Lilia's hand. As if he didn't want to be with me any longer.
'Uven hates even looking at me, but he made him come and apologize.'
Uven's apology a little while ago was not for me, nor for himself. It was only for Lilia.
Now I seemed to know how much Uven cherished her.
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