“It’s like this.”
“I'm not the Princess, I'm just pretending to be half-mad at me.”
“...”
“Even without this, the trust between us will be strong, and if you ascend to the Marquisate, I will be the one who will feel sorry. The Princess will desperately need your family.”
“...”
He didn't give any answer until the end. Dmitry's attitude only served to confirm my suspicions.
From beginning to end, I had a suspicion that he was just pretending to like me.
He may have wanted to hide it until the end, but it was obvious to me. Every word and action he made today was calculated.
It wasn't much different from what the men in the back alleys did to try to get me to fall asleep.
This impure aspect was what decisively distinguished him from Laskan. It was this difference that made it easy for me to believe in Laskan’s sincerity, but difficult to trust his heart or see him as a man.
First impressions are lasting, right? At least that was true in this relationship. Maybe we were at odds from the moment we first met.
I couldn't see exactly what his expression was like, but the strength that had been holding my wrist slowly disappeared. So much so that I could easily shake it off.
I pushed him, and he obediently pushed back. And he stayed like that for a very long time.
In the distance, along with the shouts of people, the sound of firecrackers exploding could be heard. The dark sky began to be decorated with colorful streaks of light.
It was a beautiful sight, just as he had promised over and over again. It was enough to make me forget about the situation and just stare blankly at the sky.
I spoke firmly as if I had not even lost my mind for a moment.
“I keep my promise. As soon as the fireworks are over, I’ll go right back.”
“...”
He didn't answer. I wrapped my arms around my body and stared at the sky. I was afraid that if I looked at him for no reason, the gaze I met would be too much
Dmitry remained silent the whole way back in the carriage. I wondered if he was embarrassed because he had been hit hard, but I didn't know. It was none of my business. In any case, it was convenient and good for me.
I looked out the window with my chin resting on the window. Despite the suffocating silence, the carriage ran steadily and before I knew it, it was right in front of the drawbridge.
The speed was not picking up at all. This was because the carriages trying to enter were lined up in a single row, tightly blocking the entrance. The island was large, but there was only one old drawbridge at the entrance, so this was an inevitable result.
I looked at the banners on the carriage and counted the families in attendance. Officially, the invitation was only extended to thirteen families of the Privy Council, but now that I looked at it, it seemed that there were quite a few nobles who had attended as exceptions.
Lilies, roses, tridents, laurels... As I gazed at the family crests hanging from the carriages, I spotted a familiar pattern.
A silver wolf embroidered on a blue-black flag. It was Laskan's camp.
“Stop the carriage.”
I blurted out, overcome by some impulsive emotion. Dmitry's eyes widened in surprise.
“What is that...”
“I’ll take care of things from here on out.”
“Your Highness, there is no invitation right now.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Because you’re not the only one with that invitation.”
Dmitry burst out laughing at my blunt remark. He raised his upper body slightly and looked in the direction I was looking.
The face that had been faintly filled with proper manners and a smile suddenly became cold.
“...Do you really have to go?”
“Do you really have to do this to me?”
“...”
“Come to your senses, Dmitry. You don’t really love me.”
I shot back coldly.
He clenched his fists as if he had been hurt. His face and fingertips were pale.
If only he had told me at a time like this that he truly loved me and that it wasn't a delusion... Well, maybe I could believe him.
But he always acts like he's going to cross the line, and then when I say something that gets close to that line, he freaks out and backs down. Just like now.
“...Please go.”
He said as he opened the carriage door. I was suspicious of his sudden docility, but when I saw his weak smile, I felt guilty.
No, it was you who approached me with impure intentions from the beginning, so I don't know why I have to suffer from these feelings.
I tried to ignore him, refused the attendant's escort, and jumped out of the carriage. I also carefully packed the bag I had bought from Tilata.
“Then, see you next time, Young Master.”
I ran towards Laskan's camp without even greeting Dmitry.
It didn't seem like that far when I got off the carriage, but it was actually a long way when I ran.
The bag containing the trap was heavy, and my steps were even heavier. At this rate, I would get tired before I could even get close.
Even if I went near the camp, there was a possibility that I would be considered a suspicious person if Laskan didn't see me. That would be the case since I currently had no means of proving my identity.
I felt like I was back to being Sasha, an orphan wandering the streets. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had really gotten off without any plan.
Maybe that's why. When I saw a man getting off the carriage with the blue-black curtains, I almost cried. It was to the point where I wondered if I had ever looked at someone so earnestly in my life.
I shouted loudly without even looking around.
“Laskan!”
"...Your Highness?"
It was a very small sound, but it was clearly audible as if he had found my voice amid this noisy chaos.
It was really great. I had been watching him from the beginning, and he probably didn't even know where I was.
Just then the carriages that had stopped started moving again. A huge cloud of dust rose up, and the servants carrying the luggage pushed me.
“Laskan! Me, over here!”
Like being swept away by a swollen river after a rain, I was swept away, staggering, and helplessly pushed to the other side.
It was then that a firm hand suddenly appeared and grabbed my arm. At first, it was my arm, and then immediately a wide bosom followed. It was Laskan.
“Your Highness, what on earth...”
He was speechless at the sight of me as if he was surprised. After all, he had thought I would just sit quietly in the summer palace, but how could he have imagined that I would be here?
I held onto his arm and rested my forehead on his chest, letting the solid, stable feeling wash over me.
“I missed you.”
“...I did the same.”
It was a cute foul when he said he wanted to see me, almost as if he was trying to harass me. He looked me over from head to toe.
I'll be covered in dirt and my hair will be a mess, so whatever it is, it won't look very pretty.
His eyes narrowed. Perhaps he thought I had escaped the maids' gaze on my own.
This is really unfair. I have something to say! I am a victim too!
I was fully prepared to make excuses if he asked me anything, but surprisingly, Laskan didn't ask me anything. He just picked up the bag I was dragging halfway on the floor, took off my cloak, and put it over my head like a hood as he spoke.
“It’s dangerous, so this way first.”
Everyone was watching the Duke who suddenly jumped between the carriages, so it was a consideration to keep my identity from being revealed. I was gently led by his hand and headed toward the carriage.
I squirmed beneath Laskan's large, heavy cloak and looked around. He didn't look angry, but his mouth was set somewhat stiffly, unlike usual.
I asked cautiously.
“Are you angry?”
“Am I speaking to Your Highness?”
The tone was closer to saying that he dared not be angry at me. It wasn't that he wasn't really angry.
As soon as he returned to his camp, he called his attendant. I stood by blankly while he gestured for directions.
Finally, he looked down at me again.
“At first, I just thought I was surprised to see you in a place like this.”
For the first time, a faint reproach came to his heavy voice.
“Now that I think about it, yes, I guess I was right to be angry with Your Highness.”
“...”
“It was the same with you moving without accompanying Enoch, and not even informing your maids of your whereabouts.”
“...”
“More than anything, it was the fact that you were standing so dangerously between the carriages.”
Every word was true, there was no room for excuses. He held out his hand to me and said.
“I will take you to your residence.”
“...Aren’t you going to ask me where I’ve been or who I was with?”
“I am glad that you returned safely without any injuries.”
“...”
“In the end, Your High school will choose to be by my side anyway.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“Who else would you choose besides me?”
He asked, his gaze slanted. There was a sense of leisure in his gaze. I stammered and changed the subject.
“No, it’s not like I’d necessarily choose someone else...”
“It sounds like you’ve thought about it.”
“...Huh, can’t you even imagine? You were such a merciless person?”
“I have always been like that to everything except Your Highness, so this is no new accusation.”
“...”
“And the mere fact that I have been chosen by Your Highness is reason enough for me to be merciless.”
He tilted his head down. He stopped just before our lips met.
Golden eyes staring intently. Our gazes were intertwined. His mouth formed a crooked smile.
Whenever I caught a glimpse of this kind of possessiveness on his neat face, I would feel a pang in my stomach. He whispered softly in my ear.
“It smells like flam.”
It's a good fruit. It's cheap and tastes good.
I nodded as if I was entranced by his words. The sour and sweet taste from before was still on the tip of my tongue.
“Did you like it?”
“I ate enough.”
I stammered as I was met with a suffocating gaze.
He smiled his savage smile once more.
“Give me orders whenever you wish.”
He slowly ran his fingertips over my lips.
“Not just a few cheap fruits like this.”
“...”
“I will gladly give you the South.”
“I'm not the Princess, I'm just pretending to be half-mad at me.”
“...”
“Even without this, the trust between us will be strong, and if you ascend to the Marquisate, I will be the one who will feel sorry. The Princess will desperately need your family.”
“...”
He didn't give any answer until the end. Dmitry's attitude only served to confirm my suspicions.
From beginning to end, I had a suspicion that he was just pretending to like me.
He may have wanted to hide it until the end, but it was obvious to me. Every word and action he made today was calculated.
It wasn't much different from what the men in the back alleys did to try to get me to fall asleep.
This impure aspect was what decisively distinguished him from Laskan. It was this difference that made it easy for me to believe in Laskan’s sincerity, but difficult to trust his heart or see him as a man.
First impressions are lasting, right? At least that was true in this relationship. Maybe we were at odds from the moment we first met.
I couldn't see exactly what his expression was like, but the strength that had been holding my wrist slowly disappeared. So much so that I could easily shake it off.
I pushed him, and he obediently pushed back. And he stayed like that for a very long time.
In the distance, along with the shouts of people, the sound of firecrackers exploding could be heard. The dark sky began to be decorated with colorful streaks of light.
It was a beautiful sight, just as he had promised over and over again. It was enough to make me forget about the situation and just stare blankly at the sky.
I spoke firmly as if I had not even lost my mind for a moment.
“I keep my promise. As soon as the fireworks are over, I’ll go right back.”
“...”
He didn't answer. I wrapped my arms around my body and stared at the sky. I was afraid that if I looked at him for no reason, the gaze I met would be too much
to bear.
***
Dmitry remained silent the whole way back in the carriage. I wondered if he was embarrassed because he had been hit hard, but I didn't know. It was none of my business. In any case, it was convenient and good for me.
I looked out the window with my chin resting on the window. Despite the suffocating silence, the carriage ran steadily and before I knew it, it was right in front of the drawbridge.
The speed was not picking up at all. This was because the carriages trying to enter were lined up in a single row, tightly blocking the entrance. The island was large, but there was only one old drawbridge at the entrance, so this was an inevitable result.
I looked at the banners on the carriage and counted the families in attendance. Officially, the invitation was only extended to thirteen families of the Privy Council, but now that I looked at it, it seemed that there were quite a few nobles who had attended as exceptions.
Lilies, roses, tridents, laurels... As I gazed at the family crests hanging from the carriages, I spotted a familiar pattern.
A silver wolf embroidered on a blue-black flag. It was Laskan's camp.
“Stop the carriage.”
I blurted out, overcome by some impulsive emotion. Dmitry's eyes widened in surprise.
“What is that...”
“I’ll take care of things from here on out.”
“Your Highness, there is no invitation right now.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Because you’re not the only one with that invitation.”
Dmitry burst out laughing at my blunt remark. He raised his upper body slightly and looked in the direction I was looking.
The face that had been faintly filled with proper manners and a smile suddenly became cold.
“...Do you really have to go?”
“Do you really have to do this to me?”
“...”
“Come to your senses, Dmitry. You don’t really love me.”
I shot back coldly.
He clenched his fists as if he had been hurt. His face and fingertips were pale.
If only he had told me at a time like this that he truly loved me and that it wasn't a delusion... Well, maybe I could believe him.
But he always acts like he's going to cross the line, and then when I say something that gets close to that line, he freaks out and backs down. Just like now.
“...Please go.”
He said as he opened the carriage door. I was suspicious of his sudden docility, but when I saw his weak smile, I felt guilty.
No, it was you who approached me with impure intentions from the beginning, so I don't know why I have to suffer from these feelings.
I tried to ignore him, refused the attendant's escort, and jumped out of the carriage. I also carefully packed the bag I had bought from Tilata.
“Then, see you next time, Young Master.”
I ran towards Laskan's camp without even greeting Dmitry.
It didn't seem like that far when I got off the carriage, but it was actually a long way when I ran.
The bag containing the trap was heavy, and my steps were even heavier. At this rate, I would get tired before I could even get close.
Even if I went near the camp, there was a possibility that I would be considered a suspicious person if Laskan didn't see me. That would be the case since I currently had no means of proving my identity.
I felt like I was back to being Sasha, an orphan wandering the streets. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had really gotten off without any plan.
Maybe that's why. When I saw a man getting off the carriage with the blue-black curtains, I almost cried. It was to the point where I wondered if I had ever looked at someone so earnestly in my life.
I shouted loudly without even looking around.
“Laskan!”
"...Your Highness?"
It was a very small sound, but it was clearly audible as if he had found my voice amid this noisy chaos.
It was really great. I had been watching him from the beginning, and he probably didn't even know where I was.
Just then the carriages that had stopped started moving again. A huge cloud of dust rose up, and the servants carrying the luggage pushed me.
“Laskan! Me, over here!”
Like being swept away by a swollen river after a rain, I was swept away, staggering, and helplessly pushed to the other side.
It was then that a firm hand suddenly appeared and grabbed my arm. At first, it was my arm, and then immediately a wide bosom followed. It was Laskan.
“Your Highness, what on earth...”
He was speechless at the sight of me as if he was surprised. After all, he had thought I would just sit quietly in the summer palace, but how could he have imagined that I would be here?
I held onto his arm and rested my forehead on his chest, letting the solid, stable feeling wash over me.
“I missed you.”
“...I did the same.”
It was a cute foul when he said he wanted to see me, almost as if he was trying to harass me. He looked me over from head to toe.
I'll be covered in dirt and my hair will be a mess, so whatever it is, it won't look very pretty.
His eyes narrowed. Perhaps he thought I had escaped the maids' gaze on my own.
This is really unfair. I have something to say! I am a victim too!
I was fully prepared to make excuses if he asked me anything, but surprisingly, Laskan didn't ask me anything. He just picked up the bag I was dragging halfway on the floor, took off my cloak, and put it over my head like a hood as he spoke.
“It’s dangerous, so this way first.”
Everyone was watching the Duke who suddenly jumped between the carriages, so it was a consideration to keep my identity from being revealed. I was gently led by his hand and headed toward the carriage.
I squirmed beneath Laskan's large, heavy cloak and looked around. He didn't look angry, but his mouth was set somewhat stiffly, unlike usual.
I asked cautiously.
“Are you angry?”
“Am I speaking to Your Highness?”
The tone was closer to saying that he dared not be angry at me. It wasn't that he wasn't really angry.
As soon as he returned to his camp, he called his attendant. I stood by blankly while he gestured for directions.
Finally, he looked down at me again.
“At first, I just thought I was surprised to see you in a place like this.”
For the first time, a faint reproach came to his heavy voice.
“Now that I think about it, yes, I guess I was right to be angry with Your Highness.”
“...”
“It was the same with you moving without accompanying Enoch, and not even informing your maids of your whereabouts.”
“...”
“More than anything, it was the fact that you were standing so dangerously between the carriages.”
Every word was true, there was no room for excuses. He held out his hand to me and said.
“I will take you to your residence.”
“...Aren’t you going to ask me where I’ve been or who I was with?”
“I am glad that you returned safely without any injuries.”
“...”
“In the end, Your High school will choose to be by my side anyway.”
“How can you be sure of that?”
“Who else would you choose besides me?”
He asked, his gaze slanted. There was a sense of leisure in his gaze. I stammered and changed the subject.
“No, it’s not like I’d necessarily choose someone else...”
“It sounds like you’ve thought about it.”
“...Huh, can’t you even imagine? You were such a merciless person?”
“I have always been like that to everything except Your Highness, so this is no new accusation.”
“...”
“And the mere fact that I have been chosen by Your Highness is reason enough for me to be merciless.”
He tilted his head down. He stopped just before our lips met.
Golden eyes staring intently. Our gazes were intertwined. His mouth formed a crooked smile.
Whenever I caught a glimpse of this kind of possessiveness on his neat face, I would feel a pang in my stomach. He whispered softly in my ear.
“It smells like flam.”
It's a good fruit. It's cheap and tastes good.
I nodded as if I was entranced by his words. The sour and sweet taste from before was still on the tip of my tongue.
“Did you like it?”
“I ate enough.”
I stammered as I was met with a suffocating gaze.
He smiled his savage smile once more.
“Give me orders whenever you wish.”
He slowly ran his fingertips over my lips.
“Not just a few cheap fruits like this.”
“...”
“I will gladly give you the South.”
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