“Irillin Heather. In recognition of rescuing the Crown Prince, a reward of 30 million gold will be granted.”
As a reward for finding the hidden royal family at the masquerade, the Emperor himself presented me with an envelope containing the reward money.
It seemed as though the Emperor’s words were somewhat bitter, having missed the opportunity to eliminate the Crown Prince right before his eyes.
His hesitation, glancing towards the direction of the recovery room where the Crown Prince, was evidence of that.
Was he hoping that circumstances would turn and the poison would take care of the Crown Prince?
“Well then, let’s conclude things for today. Everyone has worked hard.”
After receiving the prize money, as soon as I returned to the knights, Vin ordered the dissolution instead of the Captain who disappeared.
Although there were still festivities like fireworks and magical carriage rides remaining, guarding the event was the responsibility of the knights who weren’t selected as part of the team.
Finally, it was time to go home! Now I had to talk to my sister and discuss our future plans in detail.
I blended into the stream of fellow knights leaving the gala like a fish swimming downstream.
However, suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist.
Without turning my head, I asked.
“Why?”
“Where are you going? Have you forgotten our promise?”
“What promise?”
This time, I turned my head to look. There was something nervous about Vin’s expression.
“Is it about dinner? Or are you talking about Dalian1(sparring)?”
“I don’t like that.”
The Dalian monster doesn’t like Dalian. This makes no sense at all.
And if you don’t want to spar for whatever reason, then just stop following me around!
“So, what promise are you talking about?”
“The magic carriage. We agreed to watch it together, remember?”
“Oh.”
Come to think of it, after that promise to spar seven years ago, we had also promised to watch the magical carriage together, and I had run away.
‘Why do you want me to go first? Did you leave anything behind?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then we can go get it together and go down.’
‘No!! You don’t have to.’
‘Why?’
‘…It’s because I want to fart. I beg of you to leave me alone.’
I had said embarrassing things like this before.
And then I ran away, he must have realized that I was lying, right?
“You…you ran away because of your fart, so I couldn’t watch it with you.”
What the hell! You didn’t even realize!
Does this guy think of me as a kid who’s been running away for seven years because of my fart?!
“No! When I said I wanted to fart, it was obvious that it was a lie! I did it to escape!”
“Really? No way?”
“It’s true!”
“Okay, okay. I got it so let’s just go and watch it.”
Ah! Why did you say you believed me! I really didn’t!
Whether I was frustrated or not, Vin passed in front of me with a relaxed face.
I huffed in front of Vin, who urged me to go quickly.
“No! Seriously!”
Look into my innocent eyes! Are these the eyes of someone telling lies?
I conveyed that message with my eyes, pointing at them.
“Heh…”
Vin stifled his laugh.
Is he laughing? I’m going crazy, but it’s funny?
Vin flinched and shook as I glared with wide eyes.
Then, as if he couldn’t hold it in, he burst into laughter.
“Ha ha! I’m kidding. That’s not why you ran away, of course I know.”
With a beautiful smile that curved his eyes into a crescent, he gently touched my head.
Was he trying to pet me? Just as I thought that, his hand awkwardly withdrew.
“You ran away for another reason.”
“……Yes.”
There was a moment of silence.
Staring at each other, surrounded by a flowing tension, the only sound that filled the air was the sound of swallowing saliva.
You wonder why I ran away, but you’re not asking me out of consideration.
I just wanted to tell you the truth…
I had no choice but to abandon you and run, or I would have died.
“Irillin!”
I was abruptly awakened by my sister’s sharp voice, which seemed to scold the wind without restraint.
“My parents want us to watch the magic carriage together. Are you done with your mission?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
My sister took hold of my absentminded hand.
As I was about to be led away, I planted my feet firmly on the ground.
“……I’m supposed to watch it with Vin.”
My sister shot me an annoyed look.
But her following words were surprisingly calm.
“It’s been a while since you’ve spent time with our parents since you joined the Order of the Knights. They’ll be disappointed.”
“Irillin, I’m fine, so you can go. You can see it with me next year.”
Vin’s words seemed nonchalant, but his eyes were full of regret.
Her steps were not falling, and her sister whispered in her ear.
“Snap out of it. There are people everywhere trying to kill you.”
She’s right.
Crown Prince, Mona White, Isvino…….
The situation is full of unexpected enemies.
There are traps everywhere, so I shouldn’t make a misstep because of a momentary emotion.
I steeled my resolve. A sharper tone filled my voice.
“Alright. If there’s a chance, let’s meet next year. I don’t know if that chance will come, but… Our parents are waiting, so I’ll go now.”
However, despite my determined stance, I had to face Ortega’s people as soon as I stepped outside.
The Heathers, who were close to them, decided to see the magic carriage together.
Of course, I had to join this meeting.
“Oh, Vin! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“I’ve been well. How was the Marchioness?”
“My only daughter pestered to marry you, and now she’s saying she’s going to be a knight, so she can’t have been doing well I’m really disappointed, my future son-in-law.”
Look, this is it.
The holiday scene where people pester you about when you’re going to get married.
I’m still only 20 years old and I have to go through this already.
If I say ‘Give up, mother. I don’t have the slightest desire to marry Vin anymore.’ will she mention Dr. Saint again?
However, I’d rather be locked up in Dr. St’s hospital than not break up now.
I almost killed the crown prince, and two people are sharpening their swords to take my place or reclaim it.
We must correct the twisted relationship before it’s too late.
“So, speaking of which… Now that you’re all of age, how about progressing with the marriage?”
“Well, I need to tell you something.”
“What do you mean?”
The Duchess of Ortega asked in a benevolent voice.
Even though I had never seen her before, her eyes were filled with tenderness, as if she were looking at her own child, perhaps because she had often seen Irillin as a child.
Vin looks like the Duchess.
Their personalities and atmospheres were similar, but even those immeasurably deep, dark blue eyes were similar.
“Sorry to say this, but I think…”
I swallowed for a moment. A firm resolution soon flows through my mouth.
“I think I need to break off my engagement with Vin.”
For a moment, there was a breathless silence.
In the midst of everyone freezing in shock, only Vin’s trembling pupils were visible.
…I felt an unexplainable emotion.
I felt like I had done something I shouldn’t have done. Even though I had to do this…
“What? Why? Why! Tell me, Irillin!”
“There must be a significant reason for breaking off a family engagement, right?”
Unlike the agitated Marquis, the Duke of Ortega asked in a calm tone.
Black eyes, which seemed to penetrate everything about the other person, looked strangely familiar, even though they were a different color.
His eyes were like Vin’s.
Coupled with the cold silver hair and appearance, it was so similar that I thought Vin would look exactly like that when he reached middle age.
It felt strange to be declaring a broken engagement in front of the person involved.
“I’m sorry that I forced Vin into the engagement when I was young. He must have wanted to be with someone he loves… I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”
“A lover? Of course not. Isn’t that right, Vin?”
Duke Ortega’s face became grim at the mention of a possible lover.
He seemed to have remembered the Crown Prince so he urged Vin without stopping.
“Come on, answer me! Isn’t your fiancee the one you love?”
“…….”
For some reason, Vin remained silent, looking only at me, not even glancing at the yelling duke.
It was as if he was silently appealing to me.
I didn’t know what he wanted to say because he didn’t say it aloud. I didn’t even want to know.
You must not know.
So I bit my lips and turned away from Vin’s gaze.
“Ha.”
Vin let out a small sigh.
From that one syllable, I couldn’t help but hear the plea in his voice.
‘Why are you trying to leave me again? Why are you hurting me like this?’
“Answer me, Vin Ortega!”
“Your Excellency, please stop.”
The Duchess stopped the Duke. She then turned to me with a gentle gaze.
“If that’s really your intention, it can’t be helped. Breaking a contract between families isn’t easy, but even so, we can’t force you to mend a broken heart that’s been separated for a long time…”
“We’re not doing that.”
Vin, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke with frustration.
Amidst the confused and lost gazes, Vin grabbed my hand.
With a strength that clearly conveyed his determination, as if he would never let go.
“Look at me for a moment.”
Though I could easily shake off his hand, the intense anger in his dark eyes was overwhelming, and I couldn’t even think of doing so.
No, I can’t deny that I didn’t want to shake it off.
“Do you really want to get away from me?”
It was not until we reached the place where we had separated seven years ago while waiting for the magic carriage, that Vin finally stopped.
Even while posing such an intense question, his hand remained in mine.
“Why?”
Because the Crown Prince will try to kill me. I know I have to say something else but I can’t.
‘I just want to stay away from you because I don’t have feelings for you.’
But the words just kept coming out.
Actually, I don’t want to distance myself, I don’t want to be apart.
I just want to remain caught in this guy’s obsession.
“Actually, I understand.”
“What…?”
“The place you want to go after distance yourself from me is right beside the Crown Prince.”
“……What the hell do you mean?”
