Please Answer Me - Chapter 137
A large map was spread out on the table. Three men were gathered around it, staring intently. Sika pointed to a specific spot on the map with his finger.
“After observing the movement and timing of the soldiers over the past few days, I’ve concluded that it’s impossible to infiltrate from within. The soldiers constantly patrol inside the building, and apart from merchants like myself, there are virtually no outsiders. Therefore, Riga must enter from the outside.”
Sika’s finger precisely indicated Rosetta’s bedroom. The problem was that her room was located on the highest floor of the princess’s palace.
“They change the guards at 8:30 PM, and for exactly ten minutes, this side of the palace is left unguarded. If you climb in through the window during that time, no one will notice. The shadows there make it dark, so if you wear black, you won’t be easily seen.”
“…So, you want me to climb the wall?”
“Yes, exactly!”
Sika responded brightly, while Rashid wore a troubled expression. Seeing his face, Sika widened his eyes. “Riga, are you seriously thinking of refusing because it’s dangerous?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Rashid groaned, rubbing his forehead. He suddenly recalled something Rosetta had told him about the old custom of “night visits” in Lysa. It was a tradition where a man would climb into the house of the woman he loved by scaling her window. Back then, Rashid had made a remark…
“There are always fools who risk their lives for love and die.”
Now, it seemed that the saying about people being unable to foresee their own future was absolutely true. He was about to do exactly what he had once mocked.
As Rashid wallowed in self-reproach, Sika urged him. “You’re agreeing to this, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Use a rope when coming down. It’s the quickest way.”
At that moment, Mark spoke up. “Isn’t the timing too tight? You have to leave the palace before 9 pm, and it seems impossible to move with Rigaina as well.”
“This time, I won’t be taking her.”
Sika nodded in agreement with Rashid’s decision. “That’s right. Trying to sneak Rigaina out of the palace immediately is far too risky—almost impossible, actually. They’ll check faces and identities at the main gate, and there’s no way around it. First, we need to find a way to get Rigaina out of the palace safely. Ask Rigaina if she has any good ideas. Time will be short, so you need to act quickly.”
As Mark listened to Sika’s words while munching on an apple, he casually asked a question, “But what if Rigaina doesn’t want to come with us? What do we do then?”
The atmosphere instantly froze at his careless question. Realizing his mistake, Mark quietly put down the apple he had been eating. Sika rolled his eyes at him.
Don’t ask such things aloud—just think them!
“…Well, what should we do then?”
Rashid’s gaze drifted toward the window, specifically at the distant Lysa Castle, where the lights were flickering.
“Should I let her do what she wants again, or should I kidnap her this time?”
He had already let her go once, a decision that had felt like his heart was being torn apart. Although it was the right thing to do, based on Rosetta’s decision, he has wrestled with endless internal conflict and regret ever since.
No matter how much he pushed his body to the limit to forget Rosetta, it hadn’t helped at all. Even after emptying an entire cask of wine, nothing had changed. It was only after receiving that cruel letter that he found the strength to move forward again.
If the moment ever came when he had to let her go again, Rashid truly didn’t know how he would react.
***
The elderly man with a long beard carefully examined Rosetta for a long time. After thoroughly checking several things, he finally came to a conclusion.
“It is confirmed. Congratulations, Princess. You are indeed with child.”
Allen let out a groan, while the nanny tapped his arm and then beamed at Rosetta. “Congratulations, Princess. You really are expecting a baby!”
Rosetta, on the other hand, still felt dazed. Even with the doctor’s confirmation, she found it hard to believe. Stroking her stomach, she asked him again, “Is it really true? Is there truly a baby inside me?”
“Yes, but it’s still early, so you should be careful.”
Rosetta gazed at the elderly man, her expression filled with curiosity. “Herend, aren’t you going to ask who the father is?”
Since she had summoned him instead of the court doctor, he must have already guessed that the child wasn’t Iselle’s. Yet Herend’s demeanor remained remarkably calm.
“Why would it matter who the father is? The most important thing is that it is the princess’s bloodline. You needn’t worry, I won’t speak of this to the King or Queen.”
Rosetta smiled faintly. “I never doubted you. You’ve kept my secrets since I was a child.”
When Rosetta was young and often sick, she had wanted to play with animals on her bed, but her mother had strongly opposed it, believing that animal fur would harm her health.
There had been several occasions when she had secretly placed rabbits or cats on her bed, only to be scolded severely by her mother when she unexpectedly walked in. After that, Herend had always helped Rosetta hide the animals to prevent her from getting into trouble.
He had hidden them in his wide sleeves, in his bag, and even hurriedly stuffed them inside his shirt at times, only to get scolded alongside her when a rabbit escaped and hopped out.
“Yes, I’m old, and there’s no need to rush. When I pass on to the world of the dead, I’ll share all the secrets then.”
Herend scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to the nanny. “Prepare the meals listed here, and I will send the necessary medicine through Allen.”
“Yes, I understand.”
After the nanny accepted the note, Herend began packing up his medical tools. As he grasped Rosetta’s hand one last time, he spoke with sincerity.
“The most important thing is that a happy mother makes a happy child. Please don’t forget that, Princess.”
Rosetta smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“If anything happens, send Allen to me immediately. I’ll come at once.”
“Okay.” Rosetta looked at Allen. “Escort Herend back to his home.”
Allen took Herend’s bag and replied, “Yes, I will. Grandpa, let’s go.”
The two men walked silently through the palace, speaking little until they reached a secluded area. Only then did Allen cautiously speak up.
“Grandpa, I must remind you again that this must remain a secret… Wait, what are you doing?”
Suddenly, Herend pulled out a small surgical knife and pointed it at Allen. As Allen backed away, Herend followed, eyes now fierce and menacing.
“Why are you doing this to me all of a sudden?”
“Be honest with me. Depending on your answer, I might just cut your carotid artery right now.”
This wasn’t a mere threat; the knife was precisely aimed at the carotid artery in Allen’s neck. Allen knew full well that with a single swift motion, the experienced doctor could sever his artery with deadly accuracy.
Straining his neck to the side, Allen managed to shout. “W-what do you mean?”
“Is it you?”
“What?”
“Are you the scoundrel who got the princess pregnant?”
Allen froze like a statue. Even with the knife at his throat, he was too shocked to speak. They say that when you’re utterly flabbergasted, you can’t even find the words to respond—how true that was.
After a moment, Allen’s temper flared, and he yelled, “That’s ridiculous! Have you lost your mind? Stop spouting nonsense and put that knife away!”
“You and the Duke are the only men who have been near the princess, and I know it wasn’t the Duke. So, it must be you!”
“Why would I even think of doing such an irreverent thing to the princess? I’d be struck by lightning! Besides, I already have someone I…” Allen quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, but the words had already slipped out.
Herend’s thick gray eyebrows twitched. “You have someone you like? Are you in love?”
At that moment, Rosie’s face flashed in Allen’s mind. Ever since returning to Lysa, he had often, no, quite frequently thought about her. The conversations they had shared by the campfire, her bright smile when she was with him—so different from when she was with her family—and the way she had kissed him before walking away, her back turned and alone.
“…Yes, I am in love with someone.”
Finally, he realized it. Somehow, she had made her way into his heart, and now it was impossible to separate her from it. No matter how hard he tried, the red mark she had left on his heart couldn’t be erased.
“…Hmm, it doesn’t seem like a lie.”
Only then did the knife pull away from Allen’s neck. He rubbed his neck, and seeing a bit of blood on his hand, he stared at Herend in shock.
Herend, however, spoke calmly, “In truth, I never doubted you. My grandson would never do something so heinous to the princess.”
“But you were just about to kill me!”
“Quit exaggerating. I know full well you could’ve easily overpowered me if you wanted to.”
Herend lightly patted Allen’s arm and walked ahead. As Allen stood there, dumbfounded, Herend called out to him.
“Hurry up. Your grandmother’s making your favorite dish, so stay for dinner before you go. If the food gets cold, I’ll be the one in trouble.”
Finally, Allen followed after him with reluctant steps.