Chapter 84
Editor : Aru
Startled, I waved like a fish and pushed Iker away, but his body did not budge like a wooden stone.
“Oh, sorry, were you surprised?”
He stepped back and frowned.
I was really irritated.
I was expecting to some extent that my proposal would not be accepted, so I couldn’t help but feel bad.
I can’t believe I ran into Iker in this situation.
‘This leech-like prince….’
What are you? Liu Bei?
Of course, I’ll be surprised. Maybe I’ll curse also. But if I had actually spit that word out of my mouth, I would have been cut off on the throat for insulting the Imperial Family, so I clenched my teeth and treated him with courtesy.
“I’m meeting the Crown Prince.”
“You don’t have to do that. I said I want you to be comfortable with me.”
‘Because you make me uncomfortable at all and you’re annoying.’
With a business smile on my face, I did not answer his complaint.
“It’s been a pleasure to see you then. I have an urgent schedule today.”
Other Housekeepers spewed their words in rapid speed to avoid their seats after seeing me and Iker together.
But unlike me, Iker rolled up the corners of his mouth and smiled leisurely.
“Why did you come out the back door today, my dear?”
‘I’m sorry……’
Iker’s golden eyes, bringing out the words, were gleaming merrily.
I felt pretty bad because his eyes looked as if he was making fun of me.
‘Crazy, how did you figure that out?’
“I was waiting for you at the front door because I missed you, and later I saw you going out from the back door.”
He must have been watching me outside the door to see if there was a perspective.
I just smiled back and said, as I was tongue-tied by the tenacity.
“Haha, I can’t wait to get home.”
“Doesn’t it take more time to get out from the back door?”
“Anyway, didn’t I arrive earlier than the rest of the Housekeepers?”
After hearing me, Iker tilted his head and fixed his golden eyes on me.
“Why do I think you keep lying?”
“What are you talking about, Crown Prince? How dare I do such a thing to you?”
Then Iker grinned.
“I see. Then you wouldn’t say anything sad that you came out the back door on purpose to avoid me. Isn’t that right?”
I really want to escape.
It was really pitiful that teleportation magic was forbidden in the Imperial Palace.
‘Next time I’ll have the carriage waiting at the back door instead of the front door.’
I gnaw one’s teeth into one’s mouth and try to calm one’s anger.
“I, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I’m really sorry, but I think I’ll have to go back now. It was nice to see you today–”
“No, how many times did you have to say it? I have something for you today. Can we talk a little before you go?”
“Your Highness, I’m terribly sorry, but I don’t think I can today.”
I bowed politely and rejected his offer.
“So you’re saying next time will be okay, right?”
I’m going crazy.
Doesn’t he know that this means no? The palace won’t teach him anything like this?
“Your Highness, I can’t promise you because I haven’t got a schedule yet.”
At that moment, his golden eyes, shining sharply like the eyes of a beast, were fixed to me.
And then, like a noose was thrown into my body, I felt my breathing tight.
“You, do you hate me?”
Naturally, the answer to that question was yes.
But I couldn’t answer that because he had a look of taste that seemed to rip everything apart.
“No way… I don’t think so.”
“Right?”
Iker twisted the corners of his mouth and smiled.
He seemed satisfied but I felt a sense of alienation from his sly smile.
It felt very different from the laughter of Cassius or the Emperor who ruled this Empire.
“Then, is it okay for me to meet you at any time?”
While sighing inwardly and rolling my head to put the meeting back as much as possible, suddenly someone’s hand grabbed my shoulder.
‘Who is it?’
Surprised, I took that hand and turned around, and there stood Cassius.
“Cassius?”
Cassius quickly pulled my shoulder and wrapped me in his arms.
“Huh?”
Iker, seemingly embarrassed, reached for me but couldn’t reach me.
And the moment I closed my eyes and opened them, I was sitting in the carriage, not the front door.
‘What is this?’
I stared at Cassius with my eyes wide open, but he was concentrating all his attention on opening the carriage door.
“Horseman! Go!”
Successful in opening the window, he shouted to the horseman to start, and out the door of the carriage that began to move.
“Good to see you, brother! Stay healthy! And the Duke of Spade has a schedule, so I’m taking her with me!”
Then he slammed the door without hesitation.
Dumbfounded by the whole situation, I looked at Cassius with a blank look.
Only then did Cassius, who noticed my gaze, leaned forward and looked at me.
“Oh, sorry, were you surprised?”
It was exactly the same as Iker said.
But Cassius did not say that to mock me.
I could see that he was genuinely worried about me.
“No, but, Cassius, are you okay?”
“Huh? What?”
“The Crown Prince. Is it really okay to do that? I’m afraid the Crown Prince won’t leave you alone.”
It was Iker who gave me a fierce look even if I showed a little dislike.
There was no way that Iker would let Cassius sit still in that character of his because Cassius took me away like this.
Cassius was sure to know that better than I do.
But he looked unexpectedly calm and said in an unobtrusive voice.
“I’ll think about it later.”
Then he fitted me with his golden eyes that seemed to have the sun in them.
“I saw you in trouble. Getting you out was my priority.”
Then he looked at me with a sigh.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to the palace for a while after the vacation. It doesn’t matter much.”
That’s what Cassius laughed at.
“I should have done this.”
I said with a question mark on his face.
“What?”
Cassius’s eyes bent gently, drawing lines like a half-moon.
Such a face looked very pleasant.
“Just, there’s something like that.”
Cassius gave a vague answer and looked out the window.
Before I knew it, the carriage was running on the outskirts of the capital.
In the open fields and the blue sky, the tension was relaxed.
“Thank you for earlier.”
I talked to Cassius, who rolled his golden eyes.
“I was in a bit of a bind.”
“Yes, I think my brother likes you.”
The eyes of Cassius, who said that, had turned sharp.
“Did he talk to you at last week’s meeting?”
“Yes, I didn’t know he was coming today.”
Saying so, I leaned my relaxed body against his back.
“Thanks to Cassius, I’m saved. Otherwise, I would have been held.”
“No.”
Cassius turned his head and said.
“I did it because I wanted to.”
“Still, you know it’s really hard to beat that temper.”
“I know.”
Cassius replied reluctantly.
“But Cassius, how did you get here?”
In the morning, I definitely came in a carriage by myself.
So I never imagined he would appear in the Noble State Field.
“I just wanted to meet you and go back with you, so I’ve tried hard to come here.”
At the remark, I said with my eyes wide open.
“How far is it from here to here from territory? Why did you do that, I’m sorry.
“Oh, no, it wasn’t that hard. And I did it because I wanted to, so don’t say sorry.”
Cassius spoke with his hands waved.
“But…”
“It’s really all right.”
When Cassius said he was so fine, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
‘He had helped me so when I got back, I’ll ask them to make a carrot cake that Cassius likes for dinner.’
So, thinking inwardly, I opened my mouth again.
“By the way, what did you do earlier?”
“Huh?”
“Why, when you helped me earlier. I blinked and suddenly, I was in the carriage.”
“Ah, that.”
Cassius answered in a cheerful tone.
“It’s a momentary shift.”
At his words, I narrowed my eyebrows and asked.
“Momentary shift In the Imperial Palace, teleportation is prohibited.”
I don’t know the exact reason, but it was impossible to use teleport magic in particular places.
The Imperial Palace and the Academy are representative places of that particular place.
“It’s not a well-known fact, but the Imperial family can teleport in the Imperial Palace.”
“Really?”
When I see things like this, it’s not like he’s a royal family for no reason.
He can use powerful tiger transformation magic, healing magic, and enjoy such a privilege.
“Then did you even teleport to Noble State Field?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Wow, that’s convenient.”
“Right.”
Come to think of it, if teleportation was possible, Iker could teleport and take me to the ceremony.
But he didn’t, and he took a risky shortcut and guided the way.
‘That bastard.’
Now that I see it, I’m sure he did it on purpose to make a mess of me.
It was also a moment that burned with anger.
After leaving the capital, I began to feel drowsy, and my eyelids were heavy.
“Yerine, get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”
I nodded slightly, but I still don’t know if Cassius saw it.
Then he came over to my side seat and covered me with a blanket.
“Now, sleep leaning against here.”
Without answering, I fell asleep, and my consciousness sank into the darkness.
***
Inside the rattling carriage, Cassius sat still and looked out the window.
The sun was setting before he knew it.
The red-coloured sky was really beautiful.
Cassius, enjoying the red colour, turned his head and looked at the sleeping Yerine, leaning against his shoulder.
Sleeping with her mouth slightly open, she looked comfortable.
‘That’s a relief.’
Cassius was worried that she might wake up with another nightmare, but luckily she didn’t seem to have it today.
Soft purple hair brushed against his fingertips.
Behind the long eyelashes would have been the red and purple eyes that Cassius loved so much. With confidence, her eyes twinkling with confidence.
‘I’ll never lose you.’
Let him take away things that have been taken away.
But he won’t stay still any longer.
Cassius vowed to himself, clenched his fist in his hand on his lap.
Surely, he’ll protect it this time.
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