If she claims she had it yesterday and threw it away today, she won’t be caught lying unless Vin goes to check her bedroom.
The drugs are non-lethal, and even if they were, Vin wouldn’t have the authority to search the princess’s room.
But when Vin’s smile vanished, further denial was pointless.
Even before he asked Sienna, Vin had been convinced, and the conversation had confirmed it.
“Let go.”
Rather than make excuses, Sienna used her strength to pull away from Vin’s grip.
She turned and ran out of the training grounds.
Oh, how she wished he would be disappointed in Irillin. There was a void in her heart!
‘Thanks to the princess, I was able to enjoy some lovely wine yesterday.’
It was obvious unless you were a fool.
The drug was intended to drive a wedge between them but instead caused a spark.
‘No. You were a fool from the moment you failed to recognize Irilline’s ‘honest’ heart.
“What happened?”
Sienna had fled to Rapel’s office.
She pressed her lips together in defeat at the thought of Irillin.
“She and Lord Ortega seemed to have grown closer.”
“Hmm, then perhaps Irillin Heather has feelings for the Deputy after all.”
“But why doesn’t she want to show it to Lord Ortega?”
“Well…….”
Rapel rested her chin in her hands and thought for a moment.
“I’m sure there’s a reason. More than that, did you find out what happened with the Sith Heather?”
There was a knowing look in her eyes, but Sienna didn’t bother.
There will be plenty of time and opportunity to use the wine and violets.
“I haven’t met ‘him’ yet, so I don’t know.”
Which made me wonder.
What would he be like, the one who took over her body?
* * *
Today, for some reason, Vin didn’t make a move on me until after work.
It was strange to not have a monster clinging to me and crying ‘dinner dinner’ or ‘dalian dalian’ under the excuse of checking my posture.
I wondered what was up with him.
Maybe I was too pushy yesterday and it got too much……?
If he had pushed too hard, I would have tied him up too.
Understandably, he’d lose interest.
……So he doesn’t like me anymore?
He’s been looking for me for seven years, and he changes his mind overnight?
Even if I did something to cause him to fall out of love with me, isn’t that a bit too fast?
Not this fast, unless he has someone else in mind.
I guess…Sienna. She’s been gone for a while.
Just this morning, he was giggling about how we’re already a couple because we go to work together!
And then all of a sudden, he grabbed her wrist and I don’t know if it was her lips or her nose, but he put his lip on it!
“…… You switched so quick, you bastard.”
I don’t blame him for his quick change of heart, since we had no relationship.
But I can’t help but feel resentful.
There were times when I thought I’d give my life to be with him.
I can’t believe he’s so casual about it, folding overnight just because someone pushed him a little too hard!
“You bastard!”
“Who was being mean to you?”
Gosh, you scared me!
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice someone approaching from behind.
“What the hell, what’s wrong?”
I squinted and tried to keep my voice neutral.
Then the bastard laughed, the sweetest laugh I’ve ever heard.
“Pouting because you were supposed to kiss me and you didn’t?”
‘I swear on my honor. Tomorrow, when we’re alone… I’ll do it, a kiss. So for tonight, be a good girl and sleep tied up.’
Holy shit. He’d made that promise!
You’ve got a crush on me, and you’re going to do such a tasteless thing to me?
What a bastard!
Ha……. See if I ever drink again.
For now, let’s pretend not to remember.
“What are you talking about? I don’t remember. Don’t tell me that just because I got drunk.”
“You don’t remember?”
“Yeah.”
The smile that had been tugging at the corners of his mouth spread to his eyes.
I could see in that gloriously beautiful smile that he wasn’t going to leave me alone.
Oh, I’m in trouble!
“Then why were you screaming as soon as you woke up in the morning, and avoiding me all day?”
“…….”
You bastard, you don’t have to cut to the chase like that!
As I stared at him wordlessly, Vin leaned in close and smirked.
“Should I kiss you or not?”
“……I’m sorry. I’m in the wrong.”
“Should I or shouldn’t I?”
“I know I was too drunk to handle last night, so as an apology, how about dinner tonight?”
“Should we have dinner or not?”
“What happens if you break a chivalrous word, do you get in trouble or can you just break it?”
“I’ll have to live with a pricked conscience for the rest of my life, so should we eat dinner or not?”
“……I’m not going to do it! You’re going to live with a pricked conscience! I’m not!”
“You shouldn’t do that, Miss Baek Mo-na, when you begged me to do it first.”
Ack! Why are you remembering my name again?
I guess he doesn’t think much of it because I used it as a pen name for an art competition once upon a time…….
Still, it’s kind of chilling.
I remember once hearing Mona White talk about being trapped in a body because it’s the world she used to live in. (?)
When I heard about the original self, I was reminded of what I had heard before.
“Well, yeah, but……. I was just talking crap when I was drunk, so can we just forget about everything that happened yesterday?”
“You’re asking for the impossible, Miss Baek Mo-na.”
“And please don’t call me ‘Miss Baek Mo-na,’ either…….”
“It’s the first time you’ve ever been honest with me, and how could I forget it?”
Vin’s face, no longer smiling, was no longer playful, but serious and pleading.
He was confessing his love to me.
In retrospect, every moment was like that.
The seven long years of searching for me, the possessive dark eyes, the gentle voice.
These were the things that made him who he was every moment he was with me.
Why couldn’t I be honest with him every moment?
“……It’s just alcohol, get over it.”
“You must have been drunk, judging by the way you called your Sith brother ‘sister,’ but you were honest with me for every moment you were with me.”
He sounded convinced, without a shred of doubt.
What the hell does he believe?
It’s not like my drunk behavior is honest…….
“Tell me. Do you want me?”
“No.”
“You want me.”
“I don’t.”
“Not even my body?”
Vin grinned lustfully, tapping his index finger against my lips.
‘You don’t like me?’
‘Of course not.’
‘Good.’
He stroked my brow and laughed.
I blushed and looked down at the ground, unnecessarily, and mumbled.
“……I’m not going to bother you again if you don’t keep your promise, so yeah. Do it.”
Vin’s brow furrowed for a moment as if the mention of bothering him reminded him of the past.
But then he straightened and smiled.
“Sure, why not-”
Vin leaned in closer.
The blank expression on his face gave way to a hint of excitement.
He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowed hard, and his lips parted with a faint sigh.
However.
It was a different area than I expected…
Why did I imagine it would be on the lips or cheeks?
There is also an area called the back of the hand, which is commonly kissed during formal occasions.
I felt embarrassed that I had made such a big deal out of this little touch.
“Should we go to dinner now?”
“……I didn’t say I’d stay for dinner.”
I said softly, opening my closed eyes.
Vin hadn’t stopped laughing at something that seemed to be so funny.
I blinked unnecessarily to hide my embarrassment.
“Why do you have to eat with me, you can eat with Princess Sienna.”
Oops, I sounded too jealous.
“Hmm?”
Vin let out a short exclamation and began to study my face.
He must have noticed that I was blushing.
I whipped around before he could notice.
“…….”
And this time, I felt my face go white.
Blood-red eyes were staring at me.1(Why did this sentence jumpscare me when I was translating🤣)
How long had he been standing behind me?
God, I must have been so flustered by Vin that I didn’t even realize there was a person behind me!
“His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Behind me, Vin bowed his head in greeting.
I was about to follow suit, but the Crown Prince turned his gaze away from me.
“Deputy. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you about the oath of allegiance.”
An oath of allegiance? What the hell is that?
Who’s loyal to whom?
“Go to my office.”
Vin gestured toward the other end of the training grounds.
Then he looked at me and mouthed the words, “Front of the quarters after. I’ll pick you up.”
“I’m not coming!” I mouthed back.
I watched out of the corner of my eye as Vin and the Crown Prince walked away, chuckling.
Something’s not right.
Why didn’t he react to the two of us just now?
And why are they walking so far apart again?
Normally, the crown prince would walk close to Vin, or at least glance at him.
Not only now, but also when they were talking earlier, he had a very businesslike demeanor.
It was like a normal boss and subordinate.
……What kind of wind is in the air?
* * *
“Sis. What’s the oath of allegiance?”
I asked my sister as soon as I got home.
She replied by drawing a picture of the crown prince.
