After finishing my shower, I sat on the bed and took out my pocket watch. It was already close to ten. Then I pulled out my phone and called Jacob.
"Hey, Karen. Are you done?"
"Not yet. The king suddenly had something come up. I won't be able to see him until 9 a.m. tomorrow, so I've been told to stay here overnight."
"You're not being set up, are you? It was already suspicious enough that they summoned you at night, and now suddenly something comes up and they make you stay?"
"I think so too. Even the lock on my room door is broken."
"Then be careful when you sleep. A woman might crawl into your bed."
That kind of thing was a classic setup. The moment the messenger told me to stay overnight, I had already thought of it—use a one-night incident to frame me, force me to take responsibility and join the country… or ruin my reputation.
"I've already taken precautions. Anyway, how's your side? What about Lixia and the kid?"
"Shien tried to stay in the same room as Lixia, but she rejected him mercilessly."
"He's way too persistent. At this rate, Lixia will only hate him more. Try talking some sense into him."
After I said that, Jacob responded in a discouraged tone.
"I think I need your advice more than he does."
"Didn't I already teach you everything?"
I'd already explained the basics of pursuing a girl to him. What else did he need? If he wanted instant results, that wasn't possible. Relationships took time—you had to build them slowly for them to last.
But Jacob stayed silent, just sighing over and over, like he was debating whether to speak. After what felt like ten sighs, he finally made up his mind.
"...I'm thinking of giving up on Grace."
"What?!"
I couldn't hide my shock. That was serious.
Jacob continued in a low, self-blaming voice.
"When Grace was taken hostage on the train, I couldn't do anything. I could only stand there and watch. I feel so useless… Can I really protect her?"
Honestly, how many people could face someone stronger than them and still step in for the one they loved? Recognizing the gap in strength and seeking help wasn't shameful. What mattered was having the determination to grow stronger to prevent it from happening again.
Besides, this wasn't even his responsibility—Grace was the one meant to protect others.
I had to talk him out of this.
"So you're giving up just like that? You've barely even started. It's normal not to have the ability yet. Do you expect a baby to beat an adult? Instead of giving up, you should learn from this and work harder. And protecting someone doesn't only mean fighting. There are many kinds of danger—not just life-threatening ones. Being someone she can rely on, making sure she doesn't have to face everything alone—that's also a form of protection."
Danger wasn't always physical. Sometimes it was mental.
"...You're right. I'll think about it. I'll hang up now."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
I hoped he would take my words to heart. Otherwise… I'd lose my chance to wear sunglasses in peace.
There was still some time before bed, so I lay on the bed and played a game console I hadn't touched in a while to relax.
Then, a knock sounded on the door, followed by a woman's voice.
"Mr. Karen, this is Mayadi Butnashso. Are you asleep? I'd like to talk with you—may I come in?"
Butnashso… so she is princess.
Even if the other party is princess, the intention itself was intrusive. I ignore her and keep playing.
"Mr. Karen? Mr. Karen, are you asleep?"
When I didn't respond, she tried to open the door to check. As expected, she knew the lock was broken.
But I had already sealed it. There was no way she could open it.
At that moment, my game reached its climax. I focused on my controls, muttering under my breath without realizing it.
"I'm not here, I'm not here… trying to set me up? Go back already… Yes, I won!"
Eventually, the princess gave up and left.
I played for a bit longer. At eleven, I put the console away and built rock walls around the bed. Since I was on the top floor, the ceiling might be able to open.
Of course, I didn't seal it completely—I left a gap too small for even a child to squeeze through, just enough for air to circulate. Otherwise, I'd suffocate.
After that, I reached up and flipped the light switch beside the bed.
The room went dark.
And I fell asleep in silence.
<>
At 1 a.m., outside Karen's room, a woman with long yellow-hair and tan skin sat on the floor, hugging her knees as she slept. She wore only a thin nightgown, completely unprepared for the cold of the night.
A maid making her rounds with a lantern happened to pass by. The moment she saw the figure outside the door, she jumped in shock and hurried over.
"Your Highness, why are you sleeping here?!"
This woman was none other than Mayadi Butnashso—the very princess who had knocked on Karen's door earlier. When she was woken up, she was startled at the sight of the maid's figure, only relaxing after she recognized her face.
After a brief pause, Mayadi spoke, her voice filled with self-reproach.
"...I couldn't get into Mr. Karen's room. If I go back to my own room, I'll be scolded."
The maid had worked in the royal castle for many years. There was no way she didn't understand what was going on.
Mayadi had already admitted she couldn't get inside. That alone meant she had been rejected.
The maid reached out, trying to help her up, concern evident in her voice.
"Please return to your room, Your Highness. You're dressed too lightly—if you sleep here, you'll catch a cold."
But Mayadi didn't move. She answered stubbornly.
"I can't. This is a task my father gave me. I have to complete it."
"Your Highness, please… you should go back."
"I said I can't."
Seeing her persistence, the maid sighed inwardly. Mayadi was too naive. The moment she had been refused entry, her failure had already been decided.
"Your Highness… the moment you couldn't get inside, you had already failed."
Those words struck Mayadi like a blow. She froze for a second, then her expression dimmed with realization.
So she had already failed.
The maid looked at her with a hint of sympathy—but truthfully, Mayadi still had it better.
The maid had once worked in a noble household. Back then, she had ulterior motives—she tried to seduce the master and become his mistress. After spending a passionate night with him, she was coldly thrown out of his room, and in the end, she was dismissed from her position, losing her job entirely. It was a complete loss—she gained nothing and lost everything.
She had been young then—ambitious, and confident in her advantages. But now, past thirty, she had long since abandoned such dreams.
Mayadi lowered her head and fell into silence. After a long moment of thought, she still didn't choose to leave.
"...Even so, I can't go back."
She knew she would be scolded if she returned after failing. But if she stayed here until morning, it would at least prove she had tried her best and simply lacked the ability. Perhaps the scolding wouldn't be as harsh.
Seeing that Mayadi refused to budge, the maid gave up persuading her to return. But she couldn't just leave her like this either—the night air was cold.
"I'll bring you a blanket."
A while later, the maid returned with one and carefully wrapped Mayadi up, making sure she was fully covered. Then she resumed her patrol.
At 6 a.m., a group of soldiers arrived outside Karen's room. Their intent was clear—to barge in and catch him in the act.
But instead, they found Mayadi sleeping outside the door.
After waking her, they questioned her about the situation. Mayadi, unable to lie, honestly admitted that she had never entered Karen's room.
With no evidence to use against him, the matter came to an abrupt end.