Don’t Ask, It’ll Hurt If You Know - Chapter 71

After the Crown Prince left, Chloe thought about the reason why he had come all the way to the Count Elena’s mansion. The claim that he was worried about her was absolute b******t, and if it were only to talk about the Crown Princess position, he would have summoned her to the Imperial Palace instead of coming in person. She had subtly asked her parents, but they seemed completely clueless as well.

Then what was the reason? After thinking it over carefully, Chloe recalled the Crown Prince suddenly asking if she liked Ian.

Could it be he came because of Ian? Since he and I are close, is he trying to do something to him by using me?

It wasn’t a far-fetched guess. It was a fact known to all citizens of the Empire that the relationship between the Crown Prince and Ian MacMilden was terrible. Since Chloe had actually seen the two of them clash, she was even more certain of it.

However, she wondered why it had to be her. Usually, in these matters, people take family members or beloved partners as hostages. Chloe couldn’t fathom why the Crown Prince had chosen her specifically out of Ian’s many friends.

“You…… are you on really bad terms with the Crown Prince?”

On the other hand, Ian might know something, so Chloe needed to accurately grasp the relationship between him and the Crown Prince before asking or answering further.

“A little.”

“How much is ‘a little’? Pick a number from 1 to 10.”

At the request to be specific, Ian thought for a moment and then held up four fingers.

“Level 4? That’s not as bad as I thought…….”

Chloe, who was about to say it wasn’t that bad, paused when she saw him then spread five more fingers wide enough that the creases of his palm were clearly visible. Level 9. Her jaw dropped and wouldn’t close at the realization that they were practically sworn enemies as if one had killed the other’s parents.

“Do you really think it’s level 9? Not a joke, but for real?”

“……Is it level 10?”

“That’s even worse!”

She knew Ian and the Crown Prince were on bad terms, but to think it was this much. Chloe pressed her fingers to her furrowed brow at the ominous thought that she might have gotten caught in a fight far more massive than a whale war.

“So, what’s your answer?”

Ugh, that damn answer, answer!

It wasn’t like a ghost that died from not hearing an answer was haunting him; Chloe, annoyed by Ian’s obsession with her answer, waved her hand dismissively.

“Like you said, it was a lie that I’m participating of my own will. The Crown Prince used his position to pressure me to participate, so what choice do I have?”

As she continued to think while talking to Ian, she decided it was better not to mention her deal with the Crown Prince. If his relationship with the Crown Prince was that bad, it was even more appropriate to hide it.

The fact that the Crown Prince pressured me isn’t a lie…… so the area under my eye didn’t tremble, right?

She hadn’t cared at all when she didn’t know, but now that it had been pointed out, she was incredibly conscious of it. Chloe fidgeted with her hands to resist the urge to touch the area under her eye.

“I see.”

Fortunately, it seemed to be fine this time, as Ian let it pass. Chloe, feeling deeply relieved, muttered about an unresolved question.

“Why did the Crown Prince choose me as bait, of all people?”

That’s because I like you.

The moment Ian forced down the truth he must never speak, a nameless blue bird took flight into the gold-tinted sky with a flutter.

* * *

“If the Crown Prince says or does anything strange, tell me immediately.”

While returning from the garden to the mansion, Chloe stopped in her tracks and looked back at the sudden remark. Ian’s face, as he followed a few steps behind, was serious. She thought they had finished the conversation earlier, but it seemed he had been thinking about it the whole time.

He’s so stiff even in situations like this. Chloe clicked her tongue inwardly and asked.

“If I tell you, will you resolve it?”

“Yes.”

“And can you? The opponent is the Crown Prince.”

She wasn’t nitpicking or being sarcastic; she asked because she was genuinely curious. Chloe also wanted to give Antonio a good smack or give him back more than he gave when he was spouting nonsense, but she couldn’t because he was the Crown Prince. It wouldn’t be any different for Ian.

Still, since he was the Emperor’s cherished nephew, maybe it would be okay for him to talk back to the Crown Prince a little. While thoughts of wanting him to just say “you’re a goddamn son of a b***h”—nothing more, nothing less—bloomed like clouds, Ian spoke.

“Even so, I have to.”

Perhaps because of the red sunset pouring over his head, his expression looked poignant.

“……Because.”

His voice suddenly became so quiet that she couldn’t hear him well, but Chloe could easily guess what Ian had said.

“Then it means you asked as a friend…… but that’s even more over the line.”

Thinking of those words, the harsh things she had said to Ian when she went to retrieve Bianca’s body one by one came back to her.

“Even between friends, there’s a line to keep. There are lines that should never be crossed.”

Could it be that he’s not properly calling us friends because of that? Unlike his appearance, which looked completely indifferent and bold to the world, Ian MacMilden was narrow-minded and held onto past events. So, it was a possibility.

Besides that, she had done a lot of things wrong to Ian. Thinking of the dream, completely forgetting about receiving the sapphire as a gift, suggesting they settle things with the Imperial Knights exam, and so on—as her past mistakes resurfaced vividly, her conscience pricked her.

“I’m sorry.”

It was very late, but Chloe bowed her head deeply toward Ian, thinking it was right to apologize even now.

“It’s not that I forgot you gave me that sapphire. To be honest, I forgot for a moment…… but I remembered and brought it with me. I said I’d never forget, but I’m sorry I did. I’ll be careful not to make such a mistake again.”

Her long blonde hair, hanging like curtains, swayed in the cool evening breeze. Her earlobe, glimpsed through the strands, was redder than a tomato. Ian, captivated by that alluring red glow, gazed blankly at her earlobe.

“I’m sorry about the Imperial Knights thing too. If I hadn’t said we should settle things with that, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have forced you to join the Knights…… I’m sorry.”

Come to think of it, had the Crown Prince kept his promise? Only a day had passed, so it wasn’t right to rush him, but considering what he had done, she wanted to run to the Crown Prince’s palace and demand an answer right away.

“I’m also sorry for telling you to keep the line even as friends last time. I think my words were a bit harsh. I didn’t mean to speak so sharply, but I wasn’t in a good mood that day…….”

“Are you saying you didn’t mean it?”

Chloe, who had been rambling on with excuses, looked up at the question that cut right through her words. Ian MacMilden’s face was visible from an excessively close distance.

As a startled Chloe stepped back, his hand touched her cheek. Ian, who tucked the hair stuck to her face behind her ear, asked again in a low voice.

“What you said to me then, you didn’t mean it?”

“Huh? Ah, uh. Right. I didn’t mean it.”

About half of it was the truth, but Chloe told a white lie, thinking the atmosphere would be shattered if she said so.

At that moment, a smirk brushed past Ian’s lips. Only then did Chloe remember the fact that the area under her eye trembles when she lies, and she flinched, casting her gaze far down. Because of the dependable shadow he cast, the area within her sight was dark, as if night had arrived.

What should she say? Should she be honest and say it was only half-meant now? That seemed strange in its own way.

“I’m sorry.”

Chloe racked her brain for a brief moment, but she couldn’t find a more appropriate word than this. All she could do right now was apologize sincerely.

“I’m really sorry. As an apology, if there’s anything you want from me, just say it.”

“……Anything?”

“Yes. I’ll do anything within my power.”

“Then let’s go on a date tomorrow.”

“Yes. I’ll…… what?”

Chloe’s eyes went wide as she reacted half a beat late. Wasn’t ‘date’ a word used for couples or those in a similar relationship?

Of course, it was often used in other cases, but one thing for sure was that it wasn’t a word to be used between him and her. Unlike her, who was flustered, Ian answered nonchalantly.

“I owe Bianca Lloyd something, so I have to repay her, but I’ve never bought a gift for a woman before. I don’t know her taste either. So, you go with me and pick it out.”

“……Is that a date?”

“Is it not?”

Chloe wrinkled the bridge of her nose at his attitude, which seemed to say “if not, then whatever.” She was also embarrassed that she had been flustered by a casual remark he had thrown out without a second thought.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

She wanted to refuse for that reason, but she did have things she had done wrong. Since the person who had made that request was none other than herself, Chloe had no choice but to accept the proposal.