Is he under the illusion that I like the Crown Prince?
What kind of brain structure would lead to such absurd delusions?
In front of me, Vin continued to talk nonsense with a cold demeanor.
“You cried because you were afraid that His Highness would die, and you wouldn’t show yourself with me in front of him.”
“That’s…….”
I’m just trying to live, you delusional patient!
Why on earth would I have feelings for the Crown Prince?
“If you wish.”
His low voice gave me goosebumps.
Now there’s no trace of anger in his eyes.
But why? Still, I feel a fear as if my heart might jump out of my chest.
“Break up? I’ll do it for you.”
“…….”
“If you want to run, then run.”
He used to chase me relentlessly, and now he’s suddenly willing to let me go?
To my hesitation, Vin smiled angelically and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“If being caught by me is that enjoyable.”
As if he never intended to let go in the first place.
“Your Highness, The Crown Prince.”
For some reason, the title sounded unfamiliar to him.
Your Highness, The Crown Prince.
Despite having heard those words until his ears were worn out, it felt strange now.
As if hearing a name from a distant past, it seemed oddly distant despite being a term he had known all his life.
‘Dion Abert.’
A name that he barely remembered now. Why did she recall it?
She might be the only person in this world who could remember it. Did he really try to kill that kind of person?
An undeniable agitation grazed the Crown Prince’s heart.
“Your Highness.”
Rapel entered the recovery room once again, calling him to attention.
She was holding a melon in her hands.
“What’s with the melon?”
“Ah… I was in a hurry. Damn it.
Despite being in front of the royal family, Rapel cursed unabashedly and tossed the melon she was holding into the corner of the recovery room.
She lowered her head. Her expression was unexpectedly heavy.
“I apologize. I failed.”
“It’s fine.”
There was no sense of disappointment or regret.
‘What a relief.’
Only the image of her face, with tears pooling in her eyes and that deeply relieved expression, came to mind.
“Why are you relieved?”
“Me?”
The Crown Prince asked incredulously.
The person who had ordered her to kill Irillin, why would he find relief in her failure?
“It must be a misunderstanding.”
If it wasn’t an illusion, he made a similar expression involuntarily because he felt a little pity for that relieved face.
“Yes, that’s all it is.”
The Crown Prince murmured to himself.
…Yet, the sentiment that he was somehow resolved about something refused to leave him.
“I hope it’s just my misunderstanding… But I’ll tell you just in case.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t forget. It is not the girl who only knows your name, but your cutie that saved you.”
“No. It’s both of them who saved me.”
“If your cutie hadn’t cast a recovery spell on you, would you have lived?”
“Would the recovery magic have worked if she hadn’t identified me?”
“…….”
“In the end, she deserves credit. That’s the truth.”
Rapel made a sarcastic expression.
She let out a heavy sigh and turned away from the Crown Prince.
As soon as she left the recovery room, she said angrily.
“If Your Highness remains this indifferent, I’ll take care of it myself. At any cost.”
After the founding festival, normal life returned.
‘Break up? I’ll do it for you.’
‘If you want to run, then run.’
‘If being caught by me is that enjoyable.’
The words Vin had spoken the previous night continued to swirl in my mind.
What had I done after that..?
…I had truly pushed away Vin’s touch and fled.
Despite the long chase, Vin eventually caught up to me.
‘Could I take this as a sign that you actually want to keep getting caught?’
Tears filled my eyes in front of Vin, who said so while panting.
I was sad by that I had to run away even though I truly wanted to be held, and I was relieved that he came after me.
‘……I’ll let you go. Don’t cry.’
Only then did the strength in his arms that had embraced my waist release.
I hesitated and then pulled away from his arms, running away again.
I returned to the lodging without even bothering to say hello to my family. I disliked how I had kept looking back at him while running away.
I came back to the lodging without even thinking of saying hello to my family. I didn’t like the way I kept looking behind me even while I was running away.
And now, the next day, I was about to leave the lodging when I froze in place.
“…….”
“What’s wrong?”
My sister, who was following me, asked. I pointed quietly at the door.
“He’s at the door.”
“Who? Vin?”
“Yes.”
The same ferocity that I saw on Vin yesterday appeared on my sister’s face.
“Stay close behind me.”
Blocking my path, my sister swung the door open abruptly.
Then, a warm scent tickled the tip of my nose.
What’s this scent? Since he’s a guy, and because of Sith Header’s height, I couldn’t see the situation in front of me.
I placed my hand on my sister’s shoulder and stood on tiptoe.
“…….”
Vin with a small blue bouquet and my sister, who unexpectedly received a bouquet from a man with a man’s body.
Both looked very embarrassed.
“What, have you switched over to me now?”
“Ah.”
“Why the grim expression? It’s obviously a joke.”
“That’s a relief. If you really had a misunderstanding, it would have been quite uncomfortable.”
My sister made a hesitant expression as if debating whether to strangle him or not.
You two used to cooperate to find me. Why this bitterness now?
“Last time it was roses, what kind of flowers are these?”
My sister asked with a satisfied smile.
Vin didn’t respond to her but approached me, extending the bouquet of flowers once again.
My sister didn’t intervene, merely observing the entire process.
“…Did you even skip dinner to win that bet with me?”
“I’m not doing this for dinner. I did that last time. I’m giving this to you simply because I want to.”
I glanced at my sister’s expression.
She nodded nonchalantly and mouthed a question.
‘Ask what flower it is.’
Why the intense curiosity when you’re going crazy trying to keep me away from Vin and what with this flower?
“What kind of flower is it?”
“Your favorite flower.”
“So what flower?”
“They are Forget-me-nots.”
Forget-me-nots.
It’s a flower that Irillin liked, saying its symbolism and color matched her.
It’s not me.
Not me, but Irillin.
“I don’t like these kinds of flowers.”
In fact, I like all kinds of flowers.
But from that moment on, forget-me-nots became a flower I disliked.
I’ve been living in this body for years. You’re still looking at someone else.
Wasn’t it me that Vin was getting so close to? Was it all directed at Irilin?
“You used to like them.”
“I never did.”
I pushed away the bouquet Vin had offered me.
I tried to erase the approaching disappointment.
“Let’s go, Sith.”
Walking past Vin, I called my sister.
She seemed pleased.
Why was she so insistent on asking about the flower’s name? It was to help me straighten out my feelings, wasn’t it?
“Wait.”
Tap-
Vin’s fingertips lightly touched my arm and then quickly withdrew.
As if he remembered yesterday, he withdrew his hand as it neared me.
Instinctively, I tried to run away, but conscious of yesterday’s events, I restrained myself.
“You don’t have to work today. The knights who were on security duty at the banquet hall are on vacation for the next three days.”
How miserable the knights who missed the chance would be.
If the Imperial Knights treated them with such discrimination, it could cause a major… Oh yeah!
My heart, which had cooled down, started to feel lively again.
Since being forcibly returned to the Empire, I hadn’t experienced freedom. Now I could finally live like a human being!
Great! Let’s use the vacation as an opportunity to avoid Vin and have a good time.
What should I do? Should I try out some of the alcohol from Abert that I’ve never tasted? Or maybe go shopping!
“Just so you know, Irillin, you’re grounded at home for three days. You’re getting the grandest punishment in the world, so don’t even think about having fun during your punishment.”
Oh. my. God. Oh my god!
Damn it. It can’t be helped. If I’m at home, at least I won’t bump into Vin. I’ll have to be content with that…
“But don’t be too disheartened. The Marquis and Marchioness Heather have planned some entertainment for you, even while you’re stuck in the mansion.”
“What do you mean, entertainment?”
“Me.”
“……?”
“I’m the entertainment.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“I’ve been allowed to stay at the Marquis’ residence during these three days off as your fiancé. So, I’ll be spending time with you.”
Damn, God. Why are you doing this to me?
Why can’t I get away from Vin, no matter what I do?
“Lady! Why are you only coming now? You have no idea how lonely I’ve been without anyone to take care of!!”
Wendy warmly welcomed me back to the mansion after my absence.
She no longer feared me since my return from Serom, accepting that the once infamous Irillin Heather had changed.
Come to think of it, Wendy hadn’t attended the recent national foundation party.
Perhaps if she had met the ‘real’ person, wouldn’t she have instinctively felt an unknown fear?
“Oh, Vin.Why a bouquet?”
At the news of my return, the Marchioness hurried over and spotted the bundle of forget-me-nots in Vin’s hand, and asked
Vin replied, glancing at my countenance.
“I’m going to give it to Irillin.”
“They are Forget-me-nots! Forget-me-nots.”
The Viscountess recited, smiling contentedly as if conscious of ‘Irillin’s’ taste.
“Wendy, put those flowers in Irillin’s vase.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Is Irillin here?”
Maybe he ran out of his office, but the Marquis came to me gasping with his glasses on.
“Yes. Since this is your house, feel free to stay here comfortably and then go back. Eat delicious food to your heart’s content, and although you might not be able to shop… if you want, I can have Wendy buy all the dresses and accessories from the famous shops. If you want to relax, you can hire a skilled masseuse…”
“Honey, don’t overwhelm the kids who need some rest. Let’s leave them be.”
“The lady is right. Irillin, Vin, we’ll take our leave so you can rest.”
The words and actions of the two, which felt full of affection, did not touch my heart.
If I don’t continue acting like Irillin, they’ll end up committing me to a mental institution.
Eventually, once they realized I wasn’t Irillin, the affection would melt away like snow, leaving only hatred behind.
“Lady, I’ll arrange the flowers in the vase… I’ll do it quickly and then leave, if that’s alright with you?”
They needn’t fuss over me for a bouquet I received out of mere formality.
I couldn’t bring myself to say “throw it away” in front of Vin, so I just dryly nodded and headed toward my room.
By the way…
“Where are you going?”
