Time-Limited Saintess, You've Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 101
Chapter 51.1
Ellin’s days passed quietly and cautiously.
Autumn came and went, followed by spring, and before long, another autumn arrived. She was transitioning from nineteen to twenty years old.
Surprisingly, nothing had changed.
She read fairy tales to Charlotte, tucked her into bed, and occasionally soothed the little girl when she threw a tantrum.
She was granted nearly all the freedom she could want—except for going outside.
In fact, even in her previous life, she had always been forbidden from leaving anywhere, so she didn’t mind the lack of freedom now. Ellin, once very skinny, had gained a pleasing amount of weight and often strolled through the palace with Charlotte, laughing happily.
As spring approached, they went on a picnic in the imperial palace garden at Charlotte’s request, with Harald joining them.
The person she was most concerned about, Arkan, frequently crossed her path during walks, but they never had any meaningful conversations or interactions. She had saved Charlotte, and since she wasn’t becoming the saintess, that man would survive, too.
Though still awkward with the people in the palace, she liked her small room and had started to enjoy her quiet life within the palace.
But recently, with the arrival of autumn, Arkan had started acting strangely again.
Ellin turned her head.
It felt as if those red eyes were flying straight toward her and piercing through her. Arkan was staring at her with his arms crossed.
‘Why is he staring at me like that?’
Wasn’t he incredibly busy last autumn?
She tried her best to ignore him. Charlotte seemed confused as well, but seeing Ellin ignore him, she did the same.
“Ellin, I like Ellin the most.”
“Pardon?”
“When I grow up, I’m going to marry Ellin.”
Charlotte, with her doll-like, beautiful face, beamed at her with a bright smile.
A year had passed, and the child had become so adorably lovely it was almost blinding. Her smooth blonde hair, paired with her peach-colored cheeks and ruby-red eyes, made her look as cute as a bunny.
She no longer stuttered when she spoke.
“Really? How is our princess so beautiful?”
Ellin pulled Charlotte into a hug and smiled brightly.
“But I know that won’t work.”
“Yes?”
“Ellin loves me, but not in that way.”
“…Why are you saying this all of a sudden?”
Charlotte glanced behind her at Arkan. She had grown accustomed to her brother’s visits by now. The princess, looking at her beloved brother, narrowed her eyes and smiled.
Her smile seemed to brighten the room.
Without realizing Arkan had arrived, Ellin smiled along with the adorable Charlotte.
“Does Ellin love anyone?”
“Did someone read you a romance novel? Why is our prince acting like this?”
“Do you have someone you love? Or not?”
Arkan pushed himself off the wall. In the meanwhile, Ellin, who was still oblivious to his presence and how intently he was listening to her, replied playfully.
“Hmm, maybe?”
“Really? Who?”
“Someone I can’t meet anymore.”
She spoke with a face clouded by a shadow. While Charlotte pouted as she looked at her face, Arkan gazed at Ellin’s lonely figure from behind.
“Alright, it’s time for your nap now.”
“Hmph.”
As the little girl obediently climbed into bed, Ellin walked over to the window and drew the curtains open before she turned around and smiled.
“Shall I sing you a lullaby?”
“Ung.”
She sat in the chair next to the bed, cleared her throat, and began to sing softly.
Charlotte smiled and buried her head in the pillow.
She absorbed Ellin’s affection like a young sprout soaking up rainwater. Over the months, she had grown quite a bit. Now, she was learning things like etiquette, history, and mathematics. People who once saw her as a sickly child were starting to recognize her as a proper princess.
The little girl closed her eyes, and soon enough, she drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and even. Ellin straightened the blankets and placed Charlotte’s favorite teddy bear beside her.
Just as she was about to leave—
‘Oh, I almost forgot about him.’
—The man who had been here since morning often caught her attention, but there were moments when she completely forgot he was there.
Arkan stared at her.
In response to his intense gaze, Ellin stepped closer, clasped her hands, and lowered her head slightly.
“Your Majesty, is there anything I’ve done wrong?”
“….”
“Your Majesty?”
Arkan snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. For some reason, he was dressed as if he were about to go out.
In the room, where sunlight filtered softly through the window, his handsome face came into view.
Despite often being overshadowed by his intense red eyes, he still possessed an undeniably captivating appearance. The perfect blend of soft and sharp lines was reflected in his features. At times, his face bore delicate, almost feminine traits, while at other moments, he exuded the strong, unyielding presence of a beast.
With his crimson lips pressed tightly together, black hairs dotted his pale face.
“Your Majesty, hold still for a moment.”
Ellin reached out and gently placed her hand on Arkan’s cheek, which wore a confused expression, and brushed off the stray black hairs.
At that moment, her hand was caught.
Arkan’s body, which had been frozen like a doll, finally moved. He lowered his head and stared at her face.
“Ellin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Despite his actions, Ellin’s face remained calm and composed.
“Can someone like you love?”
“Yes?”
Ellin’s eyes widened.
“Is it even possible for someone like you to love?”
The same face, the same words.
They were the very words once directed at ‘Elena.’
Ellin tried to pull her arm away. She had acted with good intentions, but hearing those words now seemed ridiculous. However, Arkan refused to release her arm.
“Let go.”
Even with her cold tone, he didn’t relent. His gaze grew more threatening, and after a long pause, he finally spoke.
“Ellin.”
“….”
“Who is it?”
“Pardon?”
“How could someone as stoic as you be in love… Who are they?”
‘Why is he so curious about that?’
She wanted to say it aloud, but she couldn’t.
Arkan stood still, his body close to hers as he stared at her.
“Tell me.”
“There’s no such person.”
“Earlier, you said there was.”
She let out a small, nervous laugh at his words.
“I thought she was reading a romance novel, so I said it to indulge the princess’s imagination.”
“….”
“Your Majesty, please let go.”
“….”
It was an inexplicable power struggle.
Just as Arkan was about to release his grip, a voice interrupted them.
“Are you planning to devour Ellin now, just like Charlotte?”
Harald’s voice rang out.
He rushed forward without hesitation, pulling Ellin’s wrist away before positioning himself in front of her as if to block Arkan’s path.
“Not only did you kill everyone and leave them behind, but now you’re trying to harass the person who saved my sister?”
He clenched his teeth and glared at his brother.
“Harass?”
“Yeah, harass. Brother, what were you doing in Charlotte’s room while she was asleep? And what was that position just now?”
“….”
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