* * *
It had to be because their duty was to protect it.
This wasn’t a tunnel for escape.
“It just happened.”
“…”
That didn’t sound like an excuse at all.
Still, he said nothing more, as if he had no other way to explain it.
Only after several more steps did he finally speak.
“I found it while checking the castle’s passages.”
“You checked the secret passages yourself?”
“Yes… under my brother’s orders.”
His tone carried a hint of annoyance, as if recalling the hassle it had caused him.
His older brother Fabian probably gave him the task to reveal the location of the hidden passages.
And this overly competent man had gone and discovered even the most secret of secrets.
‘It’s not easy to find something like that.’
I recalled how I had once escaped through the fireplace’s secret exit.
I thought I’d done well to find it, but apparently, it was beginner-level stuff.
There had been another passage in that room, too.
His hands had been awfully practiced when operating the mechanism at the back.
It hadn’t been that long ago, yet the memory came back with surprising clarity.
While I was lost in nostalgia, we passed through a suffocatingly narrow passage—until suddenly, fresh air rushed in.
I took a deep breath, my lungs clearing out completely.
‘Can I open my eyes now?’
But if I could, he’d probably have said so first.
Still with my eyes shut, I turned my head—stopping when I sensed I was facing where Klen’s face might be.
“…!”
And just as I opened my mouth to speak, something soft brushed my eyelid.
“Not yet. You can’t open your eyes.”
“You could’ve just said that.”
“If I wait until after you open them, it’d be too late.”
“….”
Still, that doesn’t mean you need to press your lips against them.
His steps were careful, but swift.
Maybe we were already inside the estate.
Holding my breath to avoid getting in his way, I pressed closer to him.
His foot stepped hard from stone into the undergrowth.
After that, all I could hear was the brushing of grass.
Even that felt more like wind passing by my ear than sound.
I was curious. It felt different from when I’d snuck in—but I couldn’t picture how we were moving.
I wanted to see it with my own eyes.
But since I’d promised to keep them closed, I couldn’t even risk peeking.
Just as frustration began to swell in my chest, Klen came to a stop.
“You can open them now.”
At his words, I slowly lifted my eyelids—and the detached palace stood right in front of me, welcoming us with open arms.
But I wasn’t someone who should be here. I was supposed to be lying sick in bed.
I couldn’t just walk through the front door.
In the end, we decided to use the same secret passage as before.
“Didn’t you say there were other ones too?”
“I’ll show you those next time.”
What a shame. Are they far from here? Or just more complicated?
“Um, can you put me down now?”
“This is easier.”
Even though there was no one around to see us, he made no move to put me down.
No—wasn’t the whole reason he picked me up in the first place to get past the knights guarding the entrance of the forest?
Fine, let’s say there was some secret passage I couldn’t see… but then why is he still carrying me?
When I tried to shift my body to get down, his grip only tightened.
Then, in that clearly uncomfortable position, he suddenly leapt up the hidden passageway and, with a few light movements, activated a mechanism and reached the room.
‘Phew…’
It felt like I’d only been gone for just over a day.
That was all it was—barely any time at all.
And yet, a strange sense of longing suddenly welled up inside me.
The cozy air that welcomed me back made it feel real: I was finally home, in a place where I could rest.
Klen shut the door to the fireplace and stepped forward.
Clatter—
“…!”
But his foot, which had been moving so silently until now, hit the table leg.
The resulting noise echoed loudly in the otherwise quiet room.
“Ugh.”
He curled in on himself and let out a groan—whether it was real or just for show, I couldn’t tell.
“Who’s there?!”
“?!”
The door burst open almost immediately.
Linda and Vis stormed in, their expressions fierce.
Vis stepped forward with his sword drawn.
But the moment they saw us, their bodies froze.
Their wide, stunned eyes locked onto us.
“Young master! And Lord Adrian, too…!”
“Shh. Quiet.”
They were about to shout, but quickly clamped their hands over their mouths and trembled.
Their eyes darted rapidly, as if tears could fall at any moment.
But perhaps their bodies reacted first—they rushed to close the door behind them.
It was obvious why Klen, who hadn’t made a sound until now, had deliberately bumped into the table.
He’d wanted them to notice us.
If we had opened the door ourselves, it would’ve caused a major scene.
“What in the world happened?”
“You both went missing—we didn’t know what to do. We’ve been worried sick.”
They seemed to have regained their composure quickly, and spoke without raising their voices.
But their soft-spoken words felt heavier than a scolding.
Now that I thought about it—I was still being carried by Klen.
I lightly tapped his shoulder, and finally, he set me down.
“Sorry. I tried to get back as soon as I could.”
“We thought… maybe that was the case, but…”
“Lord Adrian… Did you go out there to find the young master yourself?”
If they’d figured that out, there was no point in denying it.
I nodded silently.
Their faces contorted, and they looked like they were about to burst into tears.
“If that’s the case… you should’ve at least told us.”
“We are your attendants, are we not?”
If I had told them, they would’ve stopped me no matter what.
That’s exactly why I couldn’t say anything.
I knew—none of them in this castle would’ve agreed to it.
I didn’t regret it.
But that didn’t mean I felt no guilt, either.
“And it hasn’t been easy… deceiving everyone for a whole week.”
“…A week?”
“A week?”
That word rolled awkwardly in my mouth, like it didn’t belong.
“It’s been a full week since you disappeared, Lord Adrian. Did you not realize?”
“…!”
Klen and I exchanged shocked glances.
It had only felt like a day.
Maybe two, at most, if I counted the time when Klen entered the forest.
But a whole week?
That’s a bit much—even if I’m not the protagonist.
Now I understood why the knights and these two had reacted so strongly.
It wasn’t just a day or two—it had been an entire week.
For them, who’d waited without any news, it must’ve felt even longer.
I grabbed Linda’s hand tightly.
“I’m sorry. Next time… I’ll try to let you know before I go.”
“Please. Promise you’ll tell us.”
I couldn’t give a firm promise.
I could only offer a weak smile.
I might be able to try and share my plans—but I couldn’t promise.
I turned to Vis, who stood beside her.
“Still… thank you. For trusting me. For waiting.”
“I’m just… glad the two of you returned safely.”
His voice trembled as he bowed his head.
He tilted his face away, as if trying to keep the tears in his eyes from falling.
The air grew heavy, soaked with the weight of unshed emotion.
“Are you hungry?”
Like a cotton ball soaking up water, the air had grown heavier by the minute.
But Linda’s bright voice quickly scattered that heaviness.
She gave us a forced smile.
So… we haven’t eaten in a week?
* * *
