What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.16

“I will send you to a place where there is someone I can trust, so that you can’t contact the Archduke.”

“Is it a prison?”

Caitlyn looked straight at her.

“In such a place, Edward won’t be safe either. If that’s the case, I have no reason to act as Your Highness commands.”

Princess Adelheid stared intently at her, then burst out laughing.

“Do you know where I was born, Miss Hardick?”

“I don’t know.”

“It was an island. A place where there’s a royal villa. You’ll like it when you get there, Miss Hardick. Except for the fact that a boat carrying supplies comes only once a week, it’s a very quiet place with no interference from others.”

“…….”

The Princess was right. She had always dreamed of living in such a place.

“But if I go to Solaris, I won’t be able to receive any protection from then on.”

“……I will write a contract for you.”

Princess Adelheid spoke in a tone as if she were being very generous.

“And I’ll release you as soon as the Archduke gives up on you. Along with enough money to live on for the rest of your life. How about it, isn’t it quite a tempting offer?”

Caitlyn thought. It was a truly tempting offer, but unfortunately impossible because there was one fact Princess Adelheid didn’t know. Roxias Akbar would never give up on her until he regained his power. The moment she was about to answer, with a bang, the door was blown off its hinges, and a very familiar man stormed in.

“Princess.”

The Archduke’s voice surged with a barely controlled rage. Caitlyn realized. That this was truly the first moment Roxias Akbar was genuinely enraged.

The few moments he had been displeased before were nothing. Outwardly, there was no difference from the usual Archduke Akbar. However, with his golden eyes flashing ominously, the killing intent felt from his entire body, and the way he strode in and choked the opponent’s breath, Archduke Akbar looked as if he would destroy anything that stood in his way. Even if the opponent were the princess of an allied nation.

Princess Adelheid either didn’t notice that fact at all, or she didn’t seem to care even if she did. She only stared at Archduke Akbar with a face full of adoration. In her sparkling blue eyes, which seemed to hold a handful of starlight, only admiration was reflected.

“You came earlier than expected, Your Grace.”

“If you thought I would be late even after you kidnapped my fiancée, that would be even more surprising.”

The Archduke seemed to have no intention of addressing the Princess formally as he did in official settings.

“Kidnapping?”

Princess Adelheid’s eyes went round.

“How could you say such a thing…… there seems to have been some misunderstanding. I politely invited Miss Hardick.”

“That?”

Archduke Akbar grabbed Caitlyn’s wrist and held it up. Even though he lifted it carefully, with no grip strength felt at all, a small groan escaped Caitlyn’s lips.

“It hurts, Your Grace…….”

“I suppose a polite invitation in Solaris means binding someone’s wrists.”

“That part was something I did on my own, Your Grace the Archduke!”

Suddenly, Eugenia knelt down. Caitlyn stared at her in disbelief. A princess’s maid committed a kidnapping without her mistress’s permission?

No one would believe those words. But Eugenia shamelessly continued speaking.

“Her Highness the Princess knew nothing about it. Since I didn’t think she would come if I persuaded her with kind words, I secretly ordered the servants to bring her without Her Highness’s knowledge. I will pay for this crime with my life, Your Grace!”

A heavy silence fell over the entire room. But only for a moment. Roxias Akbar let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.

“Hah… Like mistress, like maid. It’s almost impressive.”

“Everything is my fault, Your Grace.”

Adelheid answered politely.

“If you wish, I will apologize to Miss Hardick.”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“…….My maid has committed a great discourtesy. I’m sorry, Miss Hardick.”

The sudden use of formal address; her intentions were transparent. But Caitlyn didn’t point that out, nor did she provoke Roxias to counterattack Adelheid. That was how shocking Adelheid’s future had been.

“I’ll try to make sure this doesn’t happen next time.”

“You don’t need to go out of your way to try, Princess.”

The Archduke answered dryly.

“Since you will be returning to your home country very soon.”

“Your Grace the Archduke……!”

Princess Adelheid jerked her head up to look at Archduke Akbar. Her soulful blue eyes filled with tears, as if she would burst into sobs at any moment.

“Must you really be so cruel……? I simply adored Your Grace. If this is such a crime…….”

“If you don’t want to go back, that’s fine too.”

Roxias grabbed Caitlyn’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.

“I’ll take care of things here, so leave. I have people standing by.”

“……Yes.”

Caitlyn did not hesitate. Remaining here would be of no help to Roxias. Furthermore, she wanted to get away as quickly as possible. From Princess Adelheid. Because only then did it feel like she could breathe a little from that horrific future that came to mind every time she saw her.