Chapter 14
“You won’t believe me either way. And I already told you beforehand that the place where it manifested is inappropriate.”
“That’s exactly why I said I’ll examine it myself to see whether it’s true or not. Where on earth is it that you’re making such a fuss about?”
One corner of Leopold’s mouth curled upward wickedly. He casually tossed the wine glass onto the grass beside them and grabbed Mina by the waist. Then, just like last time, he leaned dangerously close and whispered.
“Why won’t you tell me where it is? You said it’s not a lie. Hmm? What’s gotten into my former fiancée these days?”
Afraid she might be attacked with another kiss, Mina jerked her head sharply to the side.
Wow! This is so uncomfortable!
While suppressing that strong sense of rejection, could she really find the true owner of her Name? Mina pushed both hands against Leopold’s chest as he pressed his body against hers and muttered through clenched teeth.
“I’m sorry, but it’s somewhere I can’t just show even to my former fiancé!”
“Really? Then where exactly is it? Are we playing riddles together right now?”
Leopold chuckled as if he were a child playing a prank. With one arm wrapped tightly around Mina’s waist, he buried his face against her neck, and his other hand busily wandered here and there.
“Ah! S-Stop it! What are you doing?”
Mina struggled desperately and tried to break free, but escaping from the grip of a man who was far bigger and stronger than her was almost impossible. As her strength began to fail, Mina realized that something hard was pressing firmly against her lower abdomen.
‘This crazy bastard!’
Even considering that they were locked in such close physical struggle, how could he do this while having a fiancée of his own…! Mina was writhing in shock, and her strength was just about to give out.
“I’m sorry to interrupt the two of you during such an intimate moment… but what exactly are you doing here?”
A voice as low as a cave echoed from behind them. While Leopold lifted his head in surprise, Mina pushed him away with all the strength she had.
At last free from Leopold’s arms, Mina saw a towering figure standing before her. Leonhardt, his terrifying red eyes gleaming as he glared at the two of them for a moment, began to slowly approach with his black hair swaying.
“You two. As far as I know, things between you ended a long time ago. Or am I remembering wrong?”
His low voice was still ominous. Within his stiff expression, his tightly clenched jaw twitched threateningly.
“Ahem! Well, that’s true.”
Startled by the sudden intruder, Leopold abruptly cleared his throat and pretended nothing was wrong. To think even that shameless man still had some conscience that could feel pricked.
“So the Crown Prince secretly harassing his former fiancée, who will soon become his sister-in-law…”
“What? What are you talking about? Secretly harassing…?”
When Leonhardt openly mocked him, Leopold jumped in visible panic.
“I heard your new fiancée is an extremely jealous woman. From what I saw earlier, she was going around looking for you everywhere. I suppose you don’t mind if she finds out?”
The moment Leonhardt mentioned Rose, Leopold immediately scowled.
“Ah, fine! I’ll go right now!”
But just as he was about to retreat with his tail tucked, Leopold suddenly turned back toward them.
“Hey! About earlier, you saw it wrong. Nothing really happened, so don’t misunderstand!”
His tone was extremely urgent. It seemed he was worried that it might somehow reach Rose’s ears. But Leopold couldn’t continue speaking. After making a few incomprehensible gestures, he stormed off in that direction.
Mina had been worried he might stubbornly linger and continue his nonsense, so it was a relief. Just as she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Leonhardt strode toward her. His red eyes glowed fiercely like those of a goblin. Before Mina could even react, he reached her in just three steps and grabbed her wrist. Then he roughly dragged her into the maze garden.
“Ah? W-Wait…!”
Flustered, Mina called out to Leonhardt urgently, but it was useless. He kept turning sharply through the winding paths of the maze garden for a while, then suddenly stopped in one spot. Looking around uneasily, Mina soon realized this was the same place where she had first encountered him a few days ago.
Leonhardt released her wrist as if throwing it away, then turned toward her and growled like a lion.
“What exactly have you been doing? Is your self-respect still that worthless? How much more are you going to let your former fiancé toy with you before you come to your senses?”
“……!”
Startled by Leonhardt’s sudden, sharp accusation, Mina’s eyes widened. The joy that everything had been solved so easily after she had tried so hard to approach him vanished in an instant.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.