Chapter 16
Sylaria wrapped her hand around the one that had touched Euclid. As she brushed the spot that still held his warmth, she felt his heated gaze.
“All I have is this so-called status of being the First Prince. I’ve spent my whole life fighting nothing but the monsters that come out of people’s ‘mouths’.”
At this unexpectedly sincere confession, her violet eyes widened.
She had always thought the First Prince was an inscrutable person. Yet here he was, revealing his whole self to her, even before they had checked their match rate.
Just because she had given him a single sip of purification to quench his deep thirst.
“My world is different from Arendtert’s. If you stay by my side, you can’t expect the glamorous high society or the refined court etiquette of the imperial family.”
“I don’t want anything like that.”
“Then… you really don’t mind getting involved with a brute who would steal his own brother’s fiancée?”
“Is that fiancée by any chance me?”
“That’s right. I’m a wicked and savage madman, you know.”
At his self-deprecating and half-joking answer, Sylaria let out a small laugh. Unlike just moments ago, he no longer felt difficult to approach.
There was something different in the way Euclid looked at her. She could instinctively sense that every word he spoke was genuine.
She was sure of it.
‘If it’s this man…’
It will be alright. Prince Euclid would help her take her revenge. And he would do so willingly.
“Your Highness.”
“Call me Euclid.”
“Euclid.”
“Go on.”
Sylaria swallowed dryly. There was something she had to do if she truly wanted to be with him.
That was…
“Will you marry me?”
…a proposal.
***
“Syllie!”
The door to the empty sitting room flew open. At the same time, a furious shout echoed out.
“Sylaria! Where are you!”
Arendtert stormed into the drawing room, both fists clenched tight. On his way to the guest palace, he had been organizing all the things he wanted to say to Sylaria.
But the person meant to receive his blame was nowhere to be seen.
Like a beast searching for its prey, Arendtert scanned the room fiercely. Just then, a woman trying to get up awkwardly from the sofa caught his eye.
“Where is Syllie? Why are you here alone?”
Recognizing the woman, Arendtert spoke without any greeting, going straight to the point. Grizelle stammered, flustered by the Second Prince’s cold demeanor.
“Y-Your Highness, the Second Prince. I was just…”
“I’d like it if you could speak a little more clearly.”
Arendtert snapped coldly. He was in no mood to be kind to a bumpkin country girl.
He had been utterly humiliated before Euclid the day before, and even the engagement ceremony had fallen apart.
Because of this, Arendtert had been summoned by his mother early that morning. The Empress had nearly foamed at the mouth, demanding how he planned to manage his fiancée.
He had been so tormented that her sharp voice still seemed to ring in his ears.
‘An annulment! Don’t you know that you must get engaged and married as soon as possible to become Crown Prince?’
‘What a disgrace to me, that you can’t even handle one bumpkin girl you brought from the countryside!’
‘I’ll give you three days. Whether you coax her, threaten her, or whatever else, clean up this mess. Quickly!’
Three days. The Empress had given Arendtert three days. That meant three days was the most she could hope to keep the Emperor’s eyes and ears closed.
By some miracle, the Emperor still didn’t know about this crisis. Arendtert, ever the dutiful son, thought it was fortunate that his father was bedridden for now.
But the Emperor was only lying down. His mind was still as sharp as ever.
No matter what, the situation had to be settled within three days.
So Arendtert needed to persuade Sylaria as soon as possible. But now, his crucial fiancée had vanished.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I don’t know where Syllie went. I haven’t seen her since this morning. I heard she left even before breakfast…”
“So you say you’re her childhood friend, but you’re not that close after all?”
“No, not at all! Syllie and I are like sisters. Syllie, Ellie—that is, Syllie’s younger sister—and I all grew up together.”
“You’re that close?”
Arendtert, who was about to ignore Grizelle and leave the sitting room, stopped in his tracks. He looked her up and down with new interest.
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