Previously
Thiel attempts to escape the Nestian mansion during a busy visit from Imperial guests. She sneaks into Sinder's office to steal valuables for her journey, discovering a locket containing a photo of her late mother, Lena.
Startled by the noise outside the door, Thiel hunched her shoulders as if she were in pain.
Anyone could see her shoulders trembling.
Ian grabbed Thiel by the shoulders and asked.
Thiel trembled and nodded. Ian then whispered into her ear so the people outside the room wouldn't hear.
Shivering, Thiel took a step back and set the blanket she was holding onto the floor.
Soon, she spun in the air; the little girl vanished, and a terrified snow leopard cub appeared in her place.
Ian licked his dry lips and urged her on.
The snow leopard took the blanket she had been holding before transforming into her mouth, dragged it along, and hid under the bed.
However, because of her nervousness, her tail stuck out from beneath the bed.
Not missing the exposed tail, Ian quickly rushed over, tucked Thiel’s tail inside, and smoothed down the bedspread.
From the outside, it merely looked as though the blanket had been kicked under the bed from restless tossing and turning.
Only then did he straighten his rumpled pajamas and open the door.
Creak.
Ian furrowed his brow when he saw the man standing tall before the half-open door.
When Ian called him by name, Cedric lowered his head slightly instead of answering.
After glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby, Ian pressed Cedric for an answer.
Cedric stood before the door with a weary expression and spoke to Ian in a low voice.
Cedric whispered softly, so only Ian could hear.
The reason both were being so cautious was that Ian had not come to the Nestian estate openly as the Crown Prince.
Iandros Crassion.
He was currently undercover by imperial decree.
‘You must choose your bride.’
Following the Emperor's orders to observe the candidates' true characters, he had intended to return quietly.
Until this little girl stumbled into his room.
Now, returning quietly was out of the question.
Ian sighed and led Cedric inside the room.
All the estate servants had gathered at the entrance of the annex, peering inside.
If Cedric were caught calling Ian “Your Highness,” the situation would become deeply complicated.
Ian spoke curtly. Cedric lowered his head and said,
Ian scoffed.
Her hair was white—the unmistakable symbol of the Nestian family.
Yet they called her a maid.
Ian, oblivious to the inner workings of the estate yet certain something abnormal was happening, spoke with a rough edge to his voice.
Ian spoke firmly.
Cedric lowered his head, noticing a sheen of sweat on Ian.
He raised his head again, puzzled.
Unlike Ian's usual neat and orderly demeanor, the bedroom was disheveled, looking as though someone had barged in.
Even so, Cedric said nothing and decided to back down.
Cedric placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head.
Ian gave a curt nod as if annoyed, and Cedric closed the door and left.
Cedric's voice could be heard outside, and the corridor abruptly turned noisy.
Then Ian locked the door with a key, wary of anyone walking in.
Shortly after, the corridor grew quiet, indicating the servants searching for Thiel throughout the outbuilding had dispersed.
Cedric had told them there was no maid in his room or Ian’s, so the servants hadn't dared set foot inside.
Ian lifted the bedspread and said,
At Ian’s words, Thiel poked her head out cautiously.
The Nestian servants cleaned every nook and cranny meticulously, so even though she had hidden under the bed, not a speck of dust clung to her.
Thiel looked around, but the moment she caught a loud noise outside, she ducked back under the bed.
‘If you get caught this time, they'll lock the attic door on you.’
Because if she were caught, just as Zera had said, the attic door would be secured with a heavy padlock.
Then her chance to escape would be lost forever, since she couldn't use her powers.
Her entire body shivered at the thought that she would die within a month of being locked away.
Ian seemed to understand how Thiel felt.
He reached under the bed and scooped up the small snow leopard cub.
As he lifted her and placed her on the bed, Thiel’s eyes went wide.
Thiel shook her head.
If she opened her mouth now, the servants outside might overhear.
Besides, listening to his conversation with that man earlier, this boy seemed to hold high status. Even so, she wasn't sure if he could protect himself, let alone her.
When Thiel kept her mouth shut and said nothing, Ian sighed and said,
Thiel did as Ian said and released the Imprinting. In an instant, a girl in ragged pajamas was sitting on the bed.
Ian folded his arms and looked at Thiel.
Thiel shook her head in denial.
A maid? Impossible.
True, her hair wasn't as radiant as Rowen's silver hair, but her white hair was undeniably the mark of the Snow Leopard clan.
Furthermore, snow leopards were only born to the direct bloodline of the Nestian family.
There was simply no way this boy wouldn't know that.
Thiel shook her head and spoke cautiously.
Ian countered, “I know that. I saw the mark on your hand. I'm asking why you're running away, and why they're calling you a maid.”
Thiel thought for a moment.
She wasn't sure what to say, or how much to reveal.
How far should she go? ‘My grandfather is going to kill me’?
Thiel quickly abandoned that thought. The moment she claimed her grandfather was trying to kill her, she would look like nothing more than a raving mad girl to him.
So Thiel decided to leave that part out.
After Thiel said this, Ian looked at her and spoke. Feeling his gaze, Thiel swallowed dryly and continued.
Ian, who had been listening to Thiel, pulled her into his arms.
As Thiel froze in confusion, the boy lifted the hem of her thin nightgown and examined the scars across her skin.
There were old scars alongside fresh ones, in various shapes and sizes.
Thiel’s face flushed bright red when she realized what Ian was doing.
Regardless, Ian’s expression remained stony as he inspected the wounds.
Thiel nodded.
Thiel fell silent for a moment.
She had a destination in mind, but even that place was unlikely to welcome her. She hesitated, unsure whether she could trust the boy in front of her.
Thiel looked on the verge of tears.
Hearing Thiel’s words, Ian’s eyes widened, and he studied Thiel’s face once more.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
Naturally, Thiel, who had no idea why Ian was reacting this way, could only stare at him.
After scanning the child's face again, Ian tucked the blanket back into Thiel’s arms and asked,
What Thiel produced from the bundled blanket was a few gold coins and a fountain pen she had stolen from Sinder's office.
Thiel might not have known any better, but the fountain pen and coins were nowhere near enough.
There was no way Sinder Nestian would leave truly valuable items in an office that was usually left unlocked.
Ian, who had been regarding the coins and the fountain pen with a cool gaze, gently settled Thiel onto the bed and said,
Thiel’s eyes flew wide open, and she asked again.
Thiel asked, her face streaked with tears.
Ian answered as though it were a bother, scratching his head. He took hold of Thiel and laid her head down on the pillow.
"…?"
Thiel lay on Ian’s bed, thoroughly bewildered.
She tried to sit right back up, but Ian’s hand held her down.
Ian said, draping the blanket over Thiel’s body.
Thiel nodded, then grabbed Ian's sleeve as he sat beside her and spoke.
Thiel’s golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight in the dim room.
Ian looked down at Thiel’s face, looking somewhat caught off guard. Then he said,
“My name is Iandros Crassion. Call me Ian…”
Thiel’s eyes widened upon learning her benefactor's name.