The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

---

No one had come to see us off. The academy’s guards and heads of state from various countries were watching us, but it was closer to surveillance than a farewell.

Hoyeon and her guards completely ignored them, but I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. If we were following the original story, I would have seen those faces at least once. Especially with the Northern Dukedom, I probably would have had a showdown over their daughter.

…Speaking of which, what about Jeongho? When Hoyeon spoke about her parents, there was a sense of respect and awe, so I doubted she would be much help.

Would you kill the person your daughter loves right in front of her? Should I brazenly put myself out there? That thought didn’t even come to mind. After all, it was odd for a daughter who had been abroad to come home with a strange man.

Who knows. I sunk into the plush cushion. The inside of the carriage was quite spacious for a carriage, so there was plenty of room. We had time, so I could slowly think about excuses as we traveled.

Perhaps because the carriage body was good, the vibrations felt strangely pleasant. I looked outside at the scenery and had small talk with Hoyeon. With no particular aim, as I lounged around, I soon realized we were leaving the city surrounding the academy.

There were a few interruptions along the way from guards and the like. However, when the Black Wolf showed our free pass, they bowed their heads and cleared the way.

For being exiled, it was unusually peaceful.

“Yawn… Yeah. I’m a bit sleepy. Dokan… I think I’ll take a quick nap…”

Hoyeon, perhaps exhausted, had already settled beside me, hugging my arm and falling asleep. The feeling of her forearm made me consider closing my eyes too.

Is it really okay to laze about for a day? I’ve been through so much recently, and well, my body… oh. It has been reconstructed. So a day of lounging shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Thinking back, I realized I was always doing something even on my days off. There was hardly a time when I had nothing to do and just hung around.

Even those days I rolled around with her, once I regained my strength, I was immediately off and running, so I probably hadn’t had one of those idle days.

“…I shouldn’t be that lazy.”

When you’re not outstandingly talented, lazing around is when you’re in real danger. So I guess I should be doing something. The only thing that comes to mind are the questions I have for Hoyeon’s parents.

Especially questions for Byeolbi. She is truly a key figure in this world.

Then there was Iris’s remark when we were in the Great Forest. She said something was created from me separating away. No matter how I think about it, that fragment referred to Byeolbi.

Her saying she thought it had broken felt like she was talking about something that should never have existed, which left me with a weird feeling. That’s confirmed. And I should also ask about the West.

Aside from that, there are many things to inquire about, like gods, magical power, sacrifices, technology, and purposes. But just as I was about to ponder more, Yoonho snuggled in from the other side, curling up and falling asleep.

On one side, Hoyeon slept, and on the other, Yoonho was clinging to me while I was wide awake, and with them both asleep, I felt it was unreasonable to stay awake. My eyelids slowly grew heavier, as if the drowsiness was contagious.

Maybe just closing my eyes for about 6 hours wouldn’t be bad…

– – – –

Three weeks have passed. The problem is I’m still stuck in the carriage, and I’m incredibly bored. A silver lining is that Dokan’s storytelling seems endless.

“…From here on is the most entertaining part. When the patient woke up, they were separated from their bones and flesh, and the doctor had already fled and couldn’t be found.”

“Where’s the humor in that?”

“…Sorry if it wasn’t funny. I split my sides laughing when someone else told it, but doing it myself feels completely flat. Ah, maybe it was funny because I was with others…”

…That was a bit tiresome too. Nevertheless, it was almost the only source of entertainment here, so I stayed quiet and listened.

The occasional insider moments were so cringeworthy that they nearly made me lose my mind.

During the first week, we enjoyed reading novels together and admiring the scenery outside. But doing that repeatedly made me lose the desire to continue.

By that time, the snacks I brought were running out, and I had to rely on local provisions for every meal. To make matters worse, no one knew how to cook, which took away the joy of eating.

We were stuck in the carriage without any exciting twists, like being attacked by bandits or wild animals, just rattling around as I relinquished my body to the bumps.

“…I’m so bored.”

“Just hang in there, after we cross a few mountains, we’ll reach the sea soon.”

I thought getting a free pass would mean a quicker journey, but that was a complete misconception. When I think back, the trip here felt almost like a free pass too.

The time spent formalizing negotiations with the sword was actually not that long. Plus, when we came, we gave it our all and sped up…

At this slow pace now, it feels like forever. Ha ha.

“Even if they say the sea is coming up soon, it will still take a while to reach the port. Aah, doing nothing until then feels way too boring. And… ugh…”

“Hoyeon? What’s wrong? Are you feeling dizzy or car sick?”

No, I could tell it wasn’t that kind of problem. It wasn’t nausea for that reason. Speaking of which, I only took medicine, didn’t I?

Thinking about it, I hadn’t had my period either. There were many strange things.

“…Ah ha ha, Anya. I think what I ate earlier might have gone bad. More importantly… Black Wolf! Can you stop the carriage for a moment? I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”

“You weren’t dizzy until now, and suddenly you are…? Yes, as you wish. Hey, everyone! Time for a little break! Those who need to go, go take care of it, and those who are thirsty, hydrate!”

The carriage halted, and as sounds of stretching echoed, we headed to a reasonably secluded place.

Please, please, please. Let it not be that. Actually, if it is, it’s fine, but such things should only happen after marriage, right? Plus, my mother said she didn’t want to become a grandmother.

As I trembled with anxiety, waiting for the results, I knew it generally took a bit to show. But now, it felt especially delayed. I could hear the sound of insects flapping their wings and the creaking of ants’ mandibles, heightening my tension.

I don’t think I even trembled this much when I got caught lying to my mom on the first day at the academy.

The result was, ‘Yes.’

Yes. What did ‘yes’ mean again?

It meant it’s true. So, that means… I’m… pregnant… huh.

I should be thinking of something, but nothing is coming to mind. I had no way to gauge whether to feel happy or scared. So, am I going to have a baby? Is that good? It should be good. Is it bad? It’s bad.

With trembling hands, I straightened up my clothes and headed back to the carriage where Dokan was. Some guards looked at me strangely, but soon averted their gazes.

Is it good?

Is it bad?

Dokan was still lounging about, petting Yoonho. When he saw me, he casually welcomed me, asking if I had a good breath of fresh air.

Is it good?

“…Hoyeon, what’s that you’re holding in your hand?”

Is it bad?

Dokan finally showed interest in what I was carrying. Should I show him? But it seems better to reveal it. I handed him the damp paper.

“…What’s that smell? No, more importantly, what’s this red line… Hoyeon. Don’t tell me…”

Dokan’s expression gradually stiffened as he looked at me with urgency, asking what this was.

“…I think… I’ve gotten pregnant… Dokan, what do we do now…?”

What kind of expression am I wearing? Am I crying out of joy, or crying out of fear? I couldn’t tell. Dokan will never leave me now. That’s a good thing.

But after meeting my parents, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. That’s frightening. I can’t think of what to say when I meet my father.

“…Hoyeon, let’s calm down for now. It’s not good for your body to have such emotional turmoil.”

“Haa, hee, hee… huh… ugh…”

Oh, what should I do? Should I erase it? No, what am I even thinking? It’s Dokan’s child and mine, but I’m scared of my dad.

I didn’t want anyone to see this broken facade that I maintained in front of my father. But with no one around, I could only hug myself and collapse.

I’m happy, but I’m scared. I don’t know. What do I want to do right now? If I looked in the mirror, I’m sure I’d see a pathetic sight.

“…So, it means it’s really happening. When do you think it happened?”

Unlike me, Dokan remained calm, avoiding an overreaction. His complexion was pale, but he seemed to be keeping it together.

“Well, that time in the forest… we did it… at that time, I think… Huh… uh…”

But I took the medicine; why? Why?

Just as my breath was about to get ragged again, Dokan embraced me. Thanks to him, I could withstand being swallowed by fear.

“…I see. For now… I think we should calm down. If we panic now, it might have a negative effect on the baby…”

“How rude to interrupt during such a pleasant moment. A baby, you say?”

And those words reached the ears of the Black Wolf.

We’re screwed.