4.

“Now it’s time to sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.”

“If you go to bed early, you will grow taller quickly.”

“Is it really bigger?”

Theodore muttered with a self-deprecating expression.

“It will be bigger. “I swear on my family name.”

“There’s no need for that. “More than that.”

Theodore whispered, climbing onto the bed and covering his neck with the blanket.

“Won’t you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“I will. “Is there anything else you want?”

“Sing a song.”

“A song?”

“My mother sometimes sang me a song before going to bed.”

As far as Richt knew, this was behavior unbecoming of a sister. It was surprising that she did something like that.

“What song was it?”

“Song of victory.”

It was a military song sung when going into battle. You sang that to a sleeping child? It was amazing.

“Can you call me?”

“I don’t know the victory song, but I know other things. “If that’s okay with you, I’ll call you.”

“are you okay.”

I cleared my throat and translated the song I remembered into the language of this world. It was not a difficult song, so it was worth changing the song.

“Sleep well, my baby. “At night, when all the birds and baby sheep in the front yard and back garden are asleep.”

On a quiet night, a low singing sound echoed in the room.

‘It’s different from the song my mother used to sing.’

It was a sweet and warm song. Theodore slowly closed his eyes. Then Richt’s hand lightly tapped her chest. The texture felt so good that I thought it would be okay even if I died like this.

‘Theodore. Beware of Duke Devine. Richt will kill you.’

Mother, if this is death, I think it would be okay to die. Thinking like that, Theodore fell into a deep sleep.

Theodore fell asleep. His sleeping face looked like an angel and caught my attention. When I thought about how difficult it must have been, my heart moved.

‘Let’s be nice while we’re at it.’

Richt thought that and stood up. Fortunately, Theodore, who was deeply asleep, did not notice Richt leaving. As I stood up, opened the door, and came out, the drivers waiting in front showed respect.

The confrontation with the Imperial Knights was still continuing.

“Sir Alex doesn’t seem to understand very well.”

Richt smiled and said bitterly. Alex met my gaze and gave me an aggrieved expression.

“My job is to protect His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Then do it. Please do not make a fuss in front of His Majesty the Crown Prince’s room and wake him up while he is sleeping. “If you keep making a fuss, I won’t be able to sit still.”

“Lord Devine!”

“You know my name even if you don’t shout it so loudly.”

After that, the standoff continued some more. It was then. Theodore’s door, which had been closed, was opened.

“Noisy.”

Theodore opened the door and appeared.

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince!”

Alex looked very happy. But Theodore’s reaction was different from what he wanted.

“Everyone, please step aside.”

“Your Majesty the Crown Prince? “What do you mean by that?”

“My mother passed away and my uncle came here because he was worried about his nephew. “There’s no need to react like this.”

Alex despaired again at Theodore’s words. How on earth did His Majesty the Crown Prince change so much in less than a day?

“no. “Don’t you know that’s not true!”

Alex knelt down and cried out desperately.

“I do not know.”

However, the painful answer that came back was simple words.

“So back off. And Licht. Because I woke up from my sleep. “Come and sing some more.”

Theodore tugged on Richt’s sleeve. Richt was willing to do as Theodore wanted. He followed Theodore into the room again. The glimpse of Alex’s expression before entering was quite worth seeing.

widely.

The door closed and darkness fell again.

“Did I do well?”

Theodore asked.

“Well done.”

There was silence between the two for a moment. As I took a step forward, I saw Theodore’s face in the moonlight that seeped in through the open window. He was smiling faintly. But he looked so weak and exhausted that Richt touched him without even realizing it.

“I thought it would be okay to just get some rest.”

As Theodore continued, Richt realized what he was feeling. He was fond of Richt, but did not trust him. It was impossible for him to fully trust the person he had been trying to kill in one day.

But why did they stop Alex? The answer came quickly. Theodore was prepared for his death. He did this even though he thought Richt might kill him.

Richt spoke in a faint, trembling voice.

“I won’t kill you.”

“It’s easier for you to kill, right?”

Theodore’s voice was calm as he said that.

“But it doesn’t kill you. So don’t make that face.”

“Why does my expression look like that?”

Theodore traced his face with his hand.

“You look like you’re about to die.”

With those words, Richt gently hugged Theodore.

“It’s warm.”

In Richt’s arms, Theodore slowly closed his eyes. And he fell asleep again. The child was so light and dry that it was not difficult to place him on the bed.

“Have a nice dream.”

When I put Theodore back to sleep and went outside, the imperial knights had disappeared. Because it was the crown prince’s order.

Originally, the Imperial Knights dispersed around this time, but it was not because of Crown Prince Theodore but because of Licht. Well, I decided to think that good things are good things.

“Mr. Licht.”

Ain approached Licht. It seemed like we had already arrived at the imperial palace. He was holding a thin, long box in his arms, and I immediately recognized what it was. It was the tool Richt used every time he punished Van.

“The room is ready.”

It seemed like Ban had spoken to Ain and prepared in advance. Is there a need to be this active in receiving punishment? I thought so, but considering what Richt had done so far, it wasn’t strange.

“egg plant.”

Richt was guided by Ain and headed to an empty room. Once inside her, Ain opened the box with her skill and took out her whip.

The whip had nine prongs and had an iron piece at the end. It looked clean, as if it had been cleaned regularly, but it seemed like the blood stains that had soaked in could not be completely removed. The leather, which would have been brown, was stained red.

“Then I will step down.”

After Ain stepped away, the door opened and Ban came in. He walked inside with great strides and first took off his shirt. When I took off my uniform top, I saw a wonderful body full of well-trained muscles. Without realizing it, drool went down my throat.

Any man would want to have a body like that. The same was true for Richt. But when the body turned around, my eyebrows naturally furrowed.

There were quite a few wounds on the front, but they were minor compared to those on the back. The back was completely covered up. Blood is still pooling in the deep wound, as if he had been punished just a few days ago. There was also an area where pus had formed. I was out of breath.

Ban sat in that state kneeling on the floor.

Did he say he would be punished again in this condition? What is the benefit of the former Duke? His head hurt.

Richt could not bear to lift the whip. Even though he knew that here he would not be suspected if he was punished. How can they whip me again on that back?

“Ain!”

When I called loudly, Ain, who had been waiting outside, came in.

“Bring the treatment tools right away.”

“yes?”

Although Ain had a puzzled expression, he steadily followed Richt’s orders. Richt took the box filled with medicine and bandages and sent Ain outside again. Then he approached Van, who was still sitting with his back turned foolishly.

“You are so stupid.”

The sharp words were met with a calm answer.

“That’s because I learned nothing.”

“I’m glad I didn’t know.”

Richt nervously took out a disinfectant. He wanted to call a doctor, but it wasn’t good for his injury to be known in this situation.

“Hold on.”

I poured the green juice from the bottle onto gauze and dabbed it on the wound. Although it must have been quite painful, Ban still did not move a muscle.

“If it hurts, make a noise.”

“it’s okay.”

It’s okay, but it’s okay. I got upset for no reason. She didn’t make a sound while half of her entire back was being disinfected. It took a considerable amount of time to apply the medicine to the sterilized back and cover it with gauze.

In the meantime, Richt couldn’t see Van’s face. So I couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

“Are you not punishing me?”

“It’s up to me except to punish.”

Ban fell silent again.

“Put your clothes back on.”

Only then did Ban stand up, pick up his fallen clothes, and put them on. His face was still grave.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at the same time.”

It seemed like the gauze needed to be changed at certain intervals.

“yes.”

Half answered honestly.

Regardless of the answer, I would have doubts, but that could not be helped. Isn’t it strange that Richt did something that the original Richt didn’t do and told people not to even be suspicious?