Chapter 113
Hearing those words, the hand that touched the Crown Prince’s body felt even more unpleasant for nothing, as if his gloomy and dark energy had transferred.
Selina put her finger on Kalcion’s lips.
“Here, too.”
Kalcion’s eyes shone dangerously.
However, more slowly, he grabbed her wrist and covered the back of her hand before pressing his lips against her fingertips. The soft lips didn’t go well with his firm fingers though a creepy feeling ran through her body as if she was being eaten from the fingertips.
“It is okay now.”
Selina, whose ears were red, pulled her hand back, but Kalcion wouldn’t let her go.
“There will be seeing eyes, so why…”
Turning her head to say that there were also servants at the entrance, she saw the Princess with her mouth wide open as she looked at them through the window of the carriage. At the same time, Kalcion, who turned his head, hardened like a stone.
Apparently, their actions just weren’t something they should do in front of a child. They almost went above the appropriate level.
Selina hid her hands behind her furiously and laid a sheet of iron on her face.
“The Crown Prince has left, so come out.”
Nothing happened. It was just the way it was.
Hearing the coercion and intimidation in her voice, the Princess nodded heavily. Surely, the dumped Princess’ pillow would get wet tonight.
* * *
“Because I am not used to the social world, I do make mistakes like this. I am sick, so please forgive me.”
Count Orlen lay on his bed and begged for an understanding.
Before he could calm down as he was surprised by the Crown Prince’s visit, the Princess and Selina came together at the same time, so of course, he would be baffled.
Originally, the Princess had sent a message saying that she wanted to visit urgently while he calculated that Selina would come to visit him in a leisurely manner after meeting her. However, thanks to the Crown Prince’s appearance, everything was twisted.
The frightened Princess took the time she could to the Count, and Selina, who was in a hurry, arrived sooner than she expected.
“You have to be sick to know where your position really is. I guess my reputation wasn’t too bad.”
“It must have been good enough to be a joke.”
“It’s about one arrow. I was just looking for an excuse to go back to my estate.”
Count Orlen smiled like it was no big deal and patted his bandage with his fist. However, his eyebrows were slightly contorted as if he was also being pretentious. Even if he smiled straight away as if it wasn’t hurt, it was showing on his face.
Count Orlen, whose bravado was ignored due to his privilege of being a sick person, was faithful to the role of the sick person again with his hands down and lying down.
“By the way, I didn’t know the Princess would be with you. When did you become friends?”
“Ah, that…”
“We’re not friends.”
When the Princess looked around, Selina turned her head to the other side and let her tongue out. The exasperated Princess opened her mouth wide. It was childish even in her childish eyes.
Seeing her like that, Selina’s eyes smiled slyly as they met. Once again, the Princess laughed. Still, laughter was also laughter. When the two laughs met, the laughter doubled. Then, she shyly avoids her eyes at the same time.
Count Orlen, who was observing the situation, summarized it briefly.
“I think you’ve become close.”
“We’re not close.”
This time, the Princess spoke first. She likewise stuck her tongue out towards Selina, too. At that, Selina laughed.
“I wish the Count’s speedy recovery.”
The Princess set the bag she had prepared and set it down next to Count Orlen’s place.
“This is a present, prepared with mother and my worries.”
Count Orlen raised his eyebrows slightly, looking thoughtful, and he lifted the bag. It didn’t look heavy.
“Can I open it here?”
The Princess turned to Kalcion and Selina, and she nodded her head sternly. Soon, Count Orlen moved his hand indifferently. The knot in the bundle was easily untied, and a small box appeared inside. It was a pretty expensive-looking box.
‘Where have I seen it…?’
Selina tilted her head at the shape of the box that her eyes were familiar with.
Opening the box was a twinkling jeweled hairpin inside. It was not very suitable as a visitation gift. Count Orlen groaned in embarrassment; perhaps he had the same idea.
“Well. This.”
“This is an item that mother instructed to handcraft and added a design to. I guess she saw the one she was most familiar with as she picked from places she could reach.”
The Princess answered again. It was a more powerful voice than usual.
Selina looked at the jewel, the Princess, and Count Orlen in turn. He looked at the jewel for a while and then let out a long sigh.
“It is a beautiful jewel. It’s something I couldn’t even see in my estate.”
“It’s just an item, you can just fill it.”
“Even if the number of rare items increases, I wonder if an outsider like me can manage it.”
“You just need to have someone to manage it with you.”
“How should the people’s labor be calculated?”
“Wouldn’t it be enough to just feed them and put them to sleep?”
It was only then did Selina remembered where she had seen the jewels. She saw it in the same place as the necklace that was hanging from her neck. A small jewelry store she found on her way back from shopping with Kalcion, where the owner’s identity could not be revealed… She saw there.
‘Ah…!’
She discovered the basis of the fluttering conversation between Count Orlen and the Princess. Somehow, her words didn’t sound like hers and were awkward.
The Princess had now come to find one more way for her to live.
No matter how, it seemed that it would be difficult to get close to Kalcion, so it seemed that she was looking for another place and scored Count Orlen.
Anyone who knew would have known. Who was the owner of the jewelry store, or what was the Queen’s hobby?
It was a known fact that the Queen, who deliberately held a fancy party and stole money through the back hole, must have secretly saved up the money. Still, no one knew in what form she had collected the money.
In this world, especially the noble society, the production and distribution of jewelry seemed to be quite important. At least it was in a position where it would not be destroyed.
She didn’t know about Count Orlen’s wealth, but it seemed that he was moved by the Queen’s jewels. He even asked, “How far do you want me?” When the Princess answered that she would be satisfied if she spared her life, what would Count Orlen really say?
“I have to think about it a bit. Now, the warehouse is full, so it’s difficult to just fill it up.”
“I hope you build a new warehouse soon.”
As Count Orlen was still procrastinating his answer, the Princess persisted.
‘That’s pretty good.’
She acted like a child for a while though she was quite mature when it came to risking her life. Even the Princess’ appearance was brighter than she expected. It was extraordinary. Even if the Crown Prince really tried to wipe out the throne, she wanted to survive somehow.
“I’ll go out first, then.”
The Princess was quick-witted. She went away first, leaving only Kalcion and Selina.
There was no need for the Princess, who was superior in status, to do so. However, she was already living in a world where status was not everything. It was after learning the laws of the world that people begging for their lives should be at the bottom, and those who regretted it should bow down.
After the Princess retreated, Selina changed her expression and sat down.
“The Princess is smarter than I thought.”
Despite her reckless remarks, Count Orlen shrugged his shoulders.
“If it weren’t for the Crown Prince, she would have grown up better. It’s a pity.”
Remarks that could lead to treason if left unattended, Count Orlen uttered recklessly without fear.
“Your guts, Count Orlen, are really great. It’s amazing to see that you didn’t shrink at all, even after being hit by an arrow.”
“Because it wasn’t an arrow that flew at me.”
Kalcion crossed his arms, listening to Count Orlen, who also did not speak back.
“…Are you sure? Didn’t they just shut your mouth to say something to me?”
“When I saw the strength of the arrow, it was never a mistake by immaturity. It was a mistake caused by the target mixed-up until the very end.”
“Then?”
“There may have been two orders, and the person next to them may have been confused.”
In other words, they may be trying to kill Selina but hurriedly silenced the Count instead. At those words, the air became heavy.
Selina exhaled her breath with difficulty.
“I thought what you were going to say that day would be so great that you were silenced.”
“Silence. Looking closely, it might be the case. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. It’s just that the honor of others is at stake, so I shouldn’t talk about it easily.”
“What were you trying to say that day?
There was no need to hide it anymore.
Count Orlen answered easily.
“I was trying to tell you not to be too friendly with the Crown Prince. It’s because Lady Irell had a big problem right after she was connected with the Crown Prince. I don’t know if it’s related, but I wondered if the same pattern would be repeated for Lady Selina.”
“…Ah.”
After that, it wasn’t much. However, after Irell and the Crown Prince, another new relationship was discovered.
“Is Lady Irell friendly with the Crown Prince?”
“At least where there is no human eye.”
“How did Count Orlen find out about that?”
“I happened to pass by and saw the two of them hugging and kissing. However, I was not interfering, I was quiet, so I completely forgot about it.”
Count Orlen glanced at Kalcion. Selina looked back at him in surprise.
Kalcion didn’t even move.
It had already been revealed that Irell was involved with other noblemen, but she didn’t expect her to go to the Crown Prince. While she doubted whether Irell was the person who was timid, she also understood that the Crown Prince’s sweet speech could do anything.
Another assumption fitted the condition again.
…The Crown Prince had approached the ‘Kalcion’s woman,’ not Selina.
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