#34
Fear usually has a target.
But this abnormal fear manifested without a target was belatedly dragging up memories that touched this level of terror to the surface.
And I. The fear I felt for the very first time was.
“It’s a miracle. An angel has come to us… so.”
The memory of my first disownment.
And.
“Hey, leech. Stop talking and get lost. Won’t you get lost?”
Memories of brutal violence from who knows when they began.
Ah, and…
“Your Highness.”
“…Ha, ugh.”
My vision keeps flickering.
Even though I had retreated beyond the curtain, out of her sight, the magic didn’t disappear.
No, it seemed to be getting stronger.
As if embedded here, telling me not to come out.
I stiffened at some memory that was becoming clearer and clearer, going past very old memories from before my possession.
I heard the sound of a whip being swung from somewhere.
My breath was cut off, and I only touched air just before losing consciousness.
New blood flowed before the old blood could clot.
Violence is frightening.
“Still, ugh.”
“…Your Highness?”
“…Ah.”
I’m scared. You were very frightening.
But beyond that, I was sad.
I was even ashamed of feeling fear.
It was fine for you to frighten me as much as you wanted.
Because no matter what I endured, the situation couldn’t get any better.
“Why, wait. Why are you like this?”
“-Archduke.”
At someone’s touch gripping both my shoulders, my vision suddenly blurred.
“I’m fine. But you…”
“…Yes?”
Ah.
When I let what had pooled in my eyes flow out, I could finally see the person in front of me properly.
“Ah… Archduke.”
“Your Highness. …Are you conscious?”
“…Yeah.”
His seemingly kind yet indifferent gaze wandered carefully over my face, then swept over my neck beaded with cold sweat and my body still trembling.
“What happened?”
“Bad memories came back. I’m fine now.”
Though the order of remembering and being terrified was different, it seemed a bit early to reveal the young lady’s black magic.
It wouldn’t be the kind of magic that left enough traces to use as evidence anyway.
Since I improved as soon as I regained consciousness, it seemed she had withdrawn the magic now.
When I unconsciously let out a small sigh, he asked.
“Bad memories, suddenly? Here?”
Well, the location would seem random.
I shouldn’t appear this fragile.
I immediately leaned back against the backrest and muttered cheekily as I escaped from his grasp.
“…I should have done cleanup. Tch.”
In as murderous a voice as possible.
It was a small mutter, as if it had come out without my knowing.
I blinked slowly a couple of times and glared eerily at the empty air, then hesitated.
As if belatedly realizing he was there.
When I raised the corners of my mouth suspiciously as usual and stared directly at him, he smiled gently in response as he had been observing me.
“…It seems you’ve recovered, so that’s fortunate. Shall we return to the hall?”
Actually, it would probably be better to calm my body a bit more before going.
I stared at the white hand extended toward me, then smiled wryly.
Even if I wasn’t in perfect condition, I should be fine during the ball as long as I didn’t let my guard down.
“Will you escort me too? Archduke, it’s troublesome if you keep being so kind.”
“My arm hurts, Your Highness.”
“You’re good at jokes too. Really.”
I got up with an “Heave-ho” and naturally wiped my palms on my clothes before taking his hand.
The coldness couldn’t be helped, but at least my sweat wouldn’t get on him.
‘He might think I’m cold as a snake.’
Like he once said.
Those blue eyes that never let me out of sight folded gently.
After giving him a wry smile in return, I walked as he led me toward beyond the curtain.
His hand holding mine was firmer than expected, so it would be difficult to slip free midway.
I don’t know why he’s applying so much force…
Does he think I might run away because of what just happened?
“There’s hyung. Hyung!”
“It’s not good to call out so loudly at a ball.”
“Mm-hmm, okay, okay.”
I thought for a moment, then whispered quietly to him during the brief walk toward Theodore hyung to make up for what had just happened.
“Ah, Archduke. How’s my acting?”
“-Acting?”
“Yeah, acting like a young brother who’s very close to hyung and follows him well.”
His gaze, which had been mysteriously stubbornly facing forward since the moment he took my hand, briefly turned toward me again.
“It seems to be working on our young lady, at least.”
When I spoke while glancing toward Lady Marsien casually, he tilted his head slightly.
And after checking both my face and the young lady’s once, he asked with an expression that was hard to read.
“Your Highness, is causing strange misunderstandings your hobby?”
“Huh?”
“If not, I was wondering if there’s really a need to provoke Lady Marsien.”
The purpose of this action that I had revealed to Marcus hyung was suspicion that the young lady might be cooperating with the half-demons like the High Priest.
So the Archduke’s words now would mean he didn’t believe that reason.
‘Well, you would think that way.’
The High Priest was deceived because he was in a special position.
Someone in the young lady’s position couldn’t escape the Archduke’s eyes, at least when it came to matters related to half-demons.
‘Though she’s hiding her black magic quite well. Black magic doesn’t require continuous suspicious meetings.’
Even if the Archduke hadn’t known until now, he might have independently investigated the young lady’s background as soon as he heard my intention.
As a result, he seemed to have become certain.
‘That the young lady is currently unrelated to the half-demons.’
Of course, my real purpose is to concentrate all the half-demons’ aggro on me and naturally inform them of the young lady’s black magic…
But I can’t say that now.
However, even though he asked quite lightly and casually, if I didn’t answer carefully, he might not cooperate properly in this matter.
I glanced at the Archduke blankly, then answered playfully in a small voice just before reaching the Crown Prince.
“Hmm, but still. I can’t use our dear Your Highness as bait, can I?”
“…”
Very briefly, he hesitated.
Seeing his expression, I knew my excuse had worked splendidly.
‘Bait to draw out the half-demons’ actions.’
Since I had properly failed the big incident before, the half-demon hardliners would have become cautious.
I had essentially said I had no intention of waiting for the period when they acted carefully.
As bait to draw out reactions, the best would be the Crown Prince, who is their target, but…
‘Since that’s difficult due to our contract, I said I’d try using the young lady who goes around calling herself the prospective Crown Princess.’
Doesn’t that sound like a mastermind?
“Hand.”
“…”
He looked at me quietly with a gentle smile on his face.
Was I mistaken?
It seemed like he was looking at my eyes…
Then he naturally lowered his gaze to his own hand holding mine.
His downcast face was very noble.
Without wavering, a face with no despair dwelling in it.
I looked at that face longingly without showing it, then gently shook our hands.
Suddenly the corners of his mouth drew a slightly deeper line.
After giving him an eye-smile at his gentle releasing movement, I fluttered toward ‘hyung.’
“Hyung. Hyung! Please dance with me.”
“…I was going to ask you first.”
“Ahahaha, what does it matter? You seem to have finished talking, so come on. Yes?”
“Ha, really.”
When I acted like a young sibling, being coquettish and grabbing and pulling the Crown Prince’s arm, the Crown Prince chuckled. Then he spoke to Lady Marsien, who was standing right beside him with an elegant smile.
“Having such a rascal of a brother is tiring.”
“…You really do get along well, Your Highness.”
“Does it look that way?”
He smiled wryly and turned his head without even listening to her answer.
While holding hyung’s hand and heading to the dance floor, I glanced back at her.
She was the picture of a refined lady in front of the Crown Prince, but the moment our eyes met, murderous intent flowed in those eyes.
It disappeared in the blink of an eye.
But then, she curved her eyes.
I looked at her thinking “surely not,” then swallowed a sigh inwardly and turned my head toward hyung.
“We need to set a penalty.”
“Huh, what penalty?”
“One flick to the forehead for each time you step on my feet.”
“That’s, that’s mean! I won’t agree to it.”
“As if I’d ask for agreement. That’s what we decided.”
Theodore hyung has been acting better than I thought since earlier…
“Tch…”
His mischievous smile looked like he was truly enjoying himself.
Though that couldn’t be the case.
And the moment the dance began, I forcibly stopped thinking about hyung and trembled my eyelids.
‘Does she even intend to hide her black magic?’
The young lady seemed to…
“Suddenly, why are you breaking out in cold sweat?”
“It’s all because of hyung. I’m nervous about the forehead flicks!”
“Hmm…?”
It seemed she was angrier than expected.
This is trouble.
I don’t intend to show it a second time.
* * *
‘Bait.’
Skyle lightly clenched and opened the hand that had held his.
‘It sounds like an appropriate answer, but…’
Why won’t the feeling that he literally ‘chose’ an appropriate answer to give disappear?
He thought this with a peaceful expression, then inconspicuously looked around the hall.
Not because of the answer the Prince had moderately given him, but to find out what he wanted to know.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
