Chapter 91
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 91
'I need to get up...'
My mind insisted my head should leave his embrace, yet my body refused to budge.
As if I were captivated by those blue eyes gazing down at me.
Or perhaps...
I wasn't unable to move—I simply didn't want to.
His gaze followed the flutter of my eyelids, tracing my hair and lips, lingering on my ear where my earring swayed, before finally ascending to meet my eyes and settling there.
Then his lips, curved in a faint smile, parted slightly.
"You're beautiful."
At his languid voice breaking the silence, my heart began to thunder as if it might burst from my chest.
Seeing those blue eyes fixed upon me and those reddish lips whispering...
Gulp.
I swallowed involuntarily.
Only at that sound did I snap back to my senses.
'No! Pure thoughts! He's a friend's friend!'
Suddenly aware of my dangerous thoughts, I gasped and bolted upright.
"W-when did you arrive at the Imperial Palace? You didn't receive an invitation. And how did you even know I was being chased?"
At my rapid-fire questions tumbling out to hide my embarrassment, Lahedis exhaled a deep sigh before speaking.
"One at a time, slowly. You'll run out of breath."
He rose from his seat alongside me, brushing fallen leaves from his clothes as he answered each question in turn.
"I came with the Duke because I had business at the Imperial Palace. However, since soldiers aren't permitted inside the palace grounds, I was investigating from outside when—"
"I see."
"I spotted you through a window and followed."
I had no idea what he'd been investigating in the Imperial Palace Garden, but I accepted his explanation readily enough.
What mattered to me was that he was here now.
Though I was secretly delighted by this unexpected encounter, Lahedis's brow furrowed once he finished speaking.
"But why is the Crown Prince chasing you?"
"I... don't know myself."
"So you're running without any reason at all?"
I certainly hadn't told Lahedis what had happened between Allen and me at the Hunting Festival.
'But I don't want to talk about that.'
Rattling off every detail felt too childish, and besides...
'The person I like is Lahedis.'
For any reason whatsoever, I didn't want to mention being entangled with another man.
"...I simply didn't want to."
"Didn't want to?"
"I have no interest in being caught up in scandals or gossip involving a man I don't even like."
As I spoke, he stared at me intently, then stepped closer and reached his hand toward my head, asking:
"What about me?"
"...?"
"If someone were to see us together like this, it could become a scandal as well."
The sudden closeness made me hold my breath without thinking.
His hand brushed past my cheek and removed a blade of grass tangled in my hair.
At the same moment, his gaze shifted from my temple, and our eyes met.
"Is that not a concern?"
In that instant, my heart plummeted.
The question, those blue eyes gazing down at me so quietly—it felt as though he knew everything about the feelings I'd worked so hard to conceal.
My cheek, where his hand had brushed, burned belatedly as if scorched by flame.
'What... what should I say...?'
If I said it wasn't a concern, I'd have to keep my distance from him going forward. But if I said it was fine...
'That would be indirectly admitting that I have feelings for Lahedis.'
My heart pounded so violently it felt ready to burst from my chest.
Part of it was exhilaration, but fear dominated far more.
'What if my feelings become a burden to him?'
If my emotions made things awkward between us, that would be far too painful.
Unable to say either yes or no, I merely bit my lip nervously.
Suddenly—
The balcony door burst open, and a couple rushed in.
"My darling, who are you trying to impress today, looking this beautiful?"
"Who else? There's no one else worth impressing."
"You're absolutely adorable, you know that?"
The affectionate couple fell silent.
Instead, the embarrassing and explicit sound of their lips meeting filled the air.
Terrified they might notice me, I froze completely in place.
'Hello, there's someone down here!'
If I'd been alone, it might have been bearable.
But standing here with Lahedis, my face burned intensely.
'Heavens, why do you test me so...?'
Those two were the ones engaging in this embarrassing display of affection, so why did I want to disappear into a mouse hole...?
The couple continued kissing and whispering sweet nothings for a while before, mercifully, leaving before my legs cramped.
I'd hoped they'd disappear quickly, but once they were gone, I felt even more mortified.
Especially with Lahedis staring directly at me like that.
'This is so embarrassing! And I wasn't even the one kissing!'
Flustered by the ensuing silence, I cleared my throat awkwardly and attempted to speak as if nothing had happened.
"Ahem! L-love really is remarkable, isn't it? Even in a place where so many people come and go, they have the courage to act so boldly. Don't you think?"
"...When you love someone, the entire world fades away, and only that person remains."
Lahedis's eyes and voice carried a certain gravity as he spoke.
For a moment, it felt as though he was speaking of me.
'Does he have someone like that?'
Just as I was about to voice that tickling question, a sudden interjection shattered the moment.
"Miss! There you are!"
"...Lindsey?"
Upon spotting me, Lindsey rushed over, but the moment she noticed Lahedis standing beside me, her eyes narrowed with caution.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, he's a Knight I was close with back at the Duke's Mansion. Say hello."
"Ah."
Only then did Lindsey relax her guard and offer a polite greeting.
"But why did you come looking for me?"
"The Marquis asked that we return now. If you're still in conversation, I can inform him that―"
"No. You can take me with you."
Lahedis readily handed me over to Lindsey without protest.
I lingered for a moment, watching him, before finally moving to Lindsey's side.
"Then... see you next time."
Lahedis raised his hand lightly in farewell.
Unspoken questions lingered in my throat like an itch as I gazed at his composed expression.
* * *
The moment I returned to the Ballroom, I froze.
'That bastard is still staring at me?'
My eyes had met Allen's the instant I walked in.
'But... no matter how brilliant the Crown Prince is, he won't dare spout his usual nonsense here, not with Father, my Aunt, and countless other eyes and ears watching.'
Besides, I was no longer a lowborn commoner at his mercy—I was now a legitimate noblewoman of a prestigious house.
After a brief hesitation, I offered Allen a composed smile, then approached where Father and my Aunt stood.
"Were you looking for―"
Before I could finish speaking, Father spotted me and strode over.
And then...
"Vivian! Where have you been? You weren't cornered by some ruffian, were you?"
He immediately cupped my cheeks and began inspecting me from every angle.
I felt the startled gazes of those around us.
'Sir, please... have some dignity...'
Where was the composure of that cold, ruthless war hero?
Finally, my Aunt, who had been watching this spectacle, sighed and intervened.
"Vivian isn't the sort to fall so easily for such men. And even if she did meet another man, that's hardly your concern."
Exactly!
I nodded vigorously in agreement with my Aunt's words.
"Vivian is an adult, and eventually she'll marry. What will you do then?"
"What are you talking about? Our princess promised to live with me forever. Isn't that right, princess?"
I was swallowing a sigh at Father's shameless behavior, which knew no time or place, when―
"Lady of Rowswide."
The atmosphere around us suddenly grew quiet.
Allen had approached at some point.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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