The Crown Prince’s Courtesan - Chapter 93

“My consideration ends here. Watch your tongue.”

“Yes, yes, I know. If not for Marie’s friendship, my head would probably have rolled long ago, wouldn’t it?”

As Russell seriously considered whether he should strike the back of the laughing man’s head, the flirt suddenly said,

“But Marie is smiling.”

“…”

“What can you do? Marie says that her happiness includes Your Highness. If that’s the case, then that’s enough, isn’t it?”

For a brief moment, the tension left Russell’s lips. Had Marie really said something like that? Had she told Ryan those words?

As he relaxed ever so slightly, Ryan clicked his tongue as though he found that reaction displeasing. Then, with that infuriating smile still on his face, he said:

“Still, it’s too soon for you to relax.”

“…”

“After all, Marie left this palace holding my hand, not yours. You’ll have to work very hard to take back all the things you’ve said and done. If you want to make sure something like that never happens again, I suppose you’ll have to keep doing your best every single day.”

That was enough.

Russell’s patience finally ran out.

“Ryan von Alice, not another word. The only reason you’re still alive is because you gave Marie a chance to breathe. But the moment even the slightest hint of romantic interest appears in those eyes of yours—”

He spoke with genuine killing intent.

“—that mouth of yours will never speak again. Do you understand?”

Then, quietly enough that Marie could not hear, he ground out the words,

“This is your final warning. There will not be a second time.”

“…”

Russell knew. He knew that the Alpha whom Marie had called a friend had, in truth, risked his own life to help her escape. He knew that beneath those seemingly carefree actions had been a desperate sincerity.

“You must remain Marie’s friend.”

“…Haha.”

A faint laugh escaped the face of the young Alpha, which had momentarily stiffened. He was someone well accustomed to hiding his true feelings behind the mask of a smile.

Still, it seemed he understood, for he took a step back.

“Your Highness, I do value my own life. And I know very well where the leniency shown to me and my family came from.”

The way he looked toward Marie one last time was painfully earnest. Then, after a brief pause, he said:

“So please don’t worry. I sincerely want Marie to be happy as well. Besides, being friends as an Alpha and an Omega isn’t such a bad thing, is it?”

Russell frowned.

He really was an insufferable brat to the very end.

* * *

“This is strange, Your Highness.”

Standing on the terrace, Marie looked at the man standing guard at her side and spoke.

“What is?”

“How everything has changed. Everyone was so kind to me. What did you do?”

“Nothing. You’re simply the kind of person who deserves such treatment, so they approached you with goodwill.”

“I’m not that naïve, you know.”

Marie had spoken with many people today. Some had once mocked her, while others—noblewomen who had previously walked past her with lofty indifference, not even sparing her a glance—had also spoken with her.

Without her making any particular effort, she was no longer, in their eyes, the Crown Prince’s courtesan to be looked down upon and ignored.

In the past, this place had felt terribly bleak. It had felt utterly desperate.

But now, those memories seemed so distant, as though they had been nothing more than a dream.

It felt as though all those painful and miserable moments would be overwritten by this time, this memory. And surely, that was exactly what the man standing beside her had wanted.

‘No matter how oblivious I may be, I’m not so clueless that I couldn’t tell everyone was watching your reactions.’

What had he said to them? Or perhaps, what threats had he made?

‘All for my sake.’

The thought that this indifferent, cold man had taken her feelings into consideration and cared enough to go that far felt so unfamiliar and awkward that it made her toes curl.

And yet, it made her happy. Little by little, a smile spread across her lips. The emotion swelling within her was undoubtedly happiness.

“But I still enjoyed it. Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I’m glad.”