Chapter 87
The County of Hice covered a large area, connecting to a nearby small forest, specifically a grove. However, it wasn’t a desirable place to wander around in a dress and shoes. Lirel’s dress, which she had barely cleaned, was messed up again.
No matter how small the forest was, it was still a forest. Even if the route was explained to Selena, she had to take a long walk until she reached the place. Instead of asking for the location, she was wisely guided by Lirel’s directions.
How could she have disobeyed Selena with the certificate of servitude in Selena’s hands?
“I don’t think the host should stay away from the party for too long. You may go back now.”
Even if the two arrived at the meeting place, they could not find the Prince and Rosalyn. But since Selena was a spy, she didn’t really need someone to peek at her task from now on.
Replying with a convulsive smile, Lirel turned around. Selena could catch a bucket of curses rolling down her lips every time she bumped while walking away.
“Now then, where is it?”
Holding the hem of her dress, Selena walked into the woods. Before leaving the mansion, she had asked a maid to rearrange the pins and ribbons of the dress. After which, she was more comfortable than earlier.
‘Now it’s easy to move around. I can run if I have to.’
She couldn’t see them, but there were guards Kalcion posted somewhere watching her. Thanks to him, she was able to summon the courage to enter the forest all alone.
She found Rosalyn very soon. Rosalyn stood facing the Crown Prince in a vacant lot not far from the entrance of the forest. Selena stepped a little closer to listen to their conversation. The occasional rustling of the leaves from the breeze covered her footfalls. Without making a sound, she hid behind a tree as she approached the pair.
“Rosalyn, I thought you were a strong woman.”
“…..Yes.”
“Have I expected too much from you? I don’t expect you to be so weak.”
“…..Please forgive me…..,” answered Rosalyn in a small voice with her head down. The Prince’s voice was as sweet as Selena’s memory. However, Rosalyn shrank as if every word of the Crown Prince was stabbing her.
The Rosalyn—who looked so proud and determined in front of everyone. Selena blinked many times because it was so difficult to believe. Still, Rosalyn, who shrank like a bollworm in front of the Prince, did not disappear.
“Rosalyn, it does not matter where your name and body stand. It’s the heart that counts.”
“….I understand.”
“Then, you know that you’ve been doing well so far. So make sure to carry it a little bit further, okay?”
His voice was as sweet as a man who coaxed his lover into bed.
“…..Yes.”
It seemed like she had nothing else to answer. The Prince, satisfied with Rosalyn’s answer, pulled her into a hug. In return, Rosalyn’s hand was clasped on his back.
‘What the?!’
Selena could not understand the context of their conversation because she didn’t hear them from the beginning, but from how they spoke to each other felt like they were a boss and a subordinate. Such a business-like conversation was suddenly concluded by a friendly hug.
Selena’s eyes grew wide in surprise. She kept seeing things she never saw before. However, her eyesight was very good. Even if she stood far away from the pair, she could clearly differentiate between a hug and a fight.
The hug was short. As soon as they separated, Selena’s eyes narrowed to thin slits again. Rosalyn’s face was burning red.
“?”
Selena stretched out her neck like a turtle. She thought she could believe what she was seeing only when she got a bit closer. But her mind was already spinning, filled with confusion. She didn’t know if the confusion was in this world or in her head. Her mouth fell open, stunned at the relationship of the pair.
‘So Rosalyn and the Crown Prince are like….’
The Prince stroked Rosalyn’s red-painted cheek with his fingers. “Are you going back with that face?” Those words made her blush even more.
“I will get some fresh air before I go back.”
Rosalyn appeared too gentle and obedient. Selena couldn’t take her eyes off Rosalyn’s behavior.
“How long do you plan on hiding, wild bird of Renbird?”
It was the Prince’s voice that broke her trance.
“Gasp!” Selena was startled to her core. ‘I’m very far away! When and how did he notice me!’ She was so surprised that she almost swallowed her tongue.
From the outside, the Crown Prince looked like a man who grew up beautifully, but he was not the norm. In fact, he was quite a monster to compete with the monstrous Kalcion.
Selena, who had already been caught, pitifully walked out from behind the trees.
“You continued even when you knew someone was watching?”
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to point out.”
His ‘mask of friendly smile’ was still not shaken. He didn’t seem to have been caught even though he was caught based on the circumstance.
“I’ve known Rosalyn since I was so young that I’m more familiar with her than any other child. No matter what situation I’m in, she is precious to me, right?”
“Ah….. Yes.”
“She is like a lovely sister to me.”
If Selena had not spoken to Lirel before facing this scene, she might have believed it. Because the Prince’s words and expressions were quite convincing. Including his charming face and sweet voice. If Selena had not been immune to such handsomeness, she would have been convinced by the Crown Prince that the grave was a gem.
“I see. You looked so close that I wondered if you two were siblings.”
Even if she wanted to say it was bullsh*t, Selena had to dig a little more to find out the truth. Therefore, she matched with the rhythm.
“Haha, you guessed it correctly. But usually, the first thing to do is to suspect if it’s a deeper relationship.”
Although she was curious, she could not say that she heard Rosalyn almost became the Crown Princess.
“Rosalyn is very dependent on me. She seems to see me as her own brother.”
“Ah, Lady Rosalyn must have been through many difficulties.” While she nodded outside, she told herself it was nothing but nonsense.
‘What kind of sister in the world whines at her brother for having a hard time? That’s ridiculous.’ It was like a cat waking up every morning after its meal was prepared. Which could never happen.
Selena’s acting was as good as the Prince playing innocent. Her innermost thoughts never escaped to change her expressions.
“Well, I came out to cool my head, but when I heard that you were attending Count Hice’s tea party, I hurried to see you. Occasional coincidences provoke great action, right?”
He asked as he narrowed the distance. He was now close enough to grab Selena if he reached out his hand. Selena had to raise her head to look at the Crown Prince in the face. When their eyes met, he smiled so brightly as if pollen burst at the spot where a butterfly just flew past by.
His smile was blinding, even though he was obviously not a good person when he was involved with Rosalyn. It was not Selena’s thing to say, but the world was not equal.
“I appear to have a lot of coincidences with you.”
“I can see.”
“They say that these coincidences mean two people are fated to be together.”
If it weren’t for the Crown Prince, Selena would have ignored it. But he was such a prime suspect. Just as pouring sugar into the sea did not sweeten the sea, no matter how sweet his voice was, the doubts about him only increased.
“When coincidences happen, it’s usually because of one’s strong intentions.”
“Haha, it doesn’t work that way. However, it is a real coincidence for us. Can’t we just be happy about it?”
Both accidental encounters were caused by Selena’s sudden decisions. The Crown Prince could not have calculated and turned it into a coincidental encounter.
“I don’t understand why we must be so happy.”
“Do we need a reason to be happy to meet someone so nice?”
“There’s no reason for me to be pleased.” Had the guards caught up with her position yet? Selena was very anxious. The forest was too quiet. Come to think of it, why was the Crown Prince alone? There was no way he ventured out alone without a bodyguard. Even after she had so many enemies.
What if the Prince’s escorts overpowered Kalcion’s guards? It could have been a huge crisis for her.
The Prince did not follow Selena, who took a step back, cutting him off coldly. Instead, he only smiled.
“Right, I forgot that I was the only one who could be pleased. I apologize if I made you feel pressured. It is literally a pleasure to see you.”
She couldn’t spit on a smiling face, but she could keep a straight face. A layer of frost fell on her face.
“Your Majesty already knows that I am the woman of Duke Renbird. I’m aware that Your Majesty hates the Duke.”
“You know that already? You’re smart.”
“Though Your Majesty likes me, he’s smart enough to know that it’s not just an affair.”
She quickly hit the nail that was protruding. It was also because she was impatient with anxiety that her bodyguards might have disappeared. The Prince’s obsequious manners were very questionable, so it made her more anxious.
The Prince did not immediately reply to her answer whether or not her criticism worked. However, contrary to what Kalcion said, he showed no sign of anger or violence.
“Well….. You’re right.”
“…..What?”
On the contrary, he admitted coolly enough to embarrass himself.
“However, relationships don’t necessarily work out that way. There are times when you make mistakes, and there are times when you use absurd boldness.”
He spoke as if he was trying to make an excuse. Selena waited anxiously for the next remark.
“I also know that I shouldn’t be near you. But the moment I saw you, my heart swelled up like a cloud.”
“…..”
Selena blankly stared back at the Crown Prince, unable to reply.
His eyes were glistening alongside his bright smile.
She tried to deny the possibility, but it was such a clear sign.
‘Is this man really into me…..?!’
Her head was pounding.
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