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~Chapter 52~
The knight, whose horse had just been taken, stared in confusion at the disappearing Emperor. Oreon, coming up behind him, patted his shoulder to comfort him.
It was bright midday, but the forest was dark from the thick leaves.
Grey stopped his horse and listened closely.
“Kyaaahhh…”
Far away, he heard the princess’s voice.
Grey turned his horse toward her scream and chased after her. Long branches brushed against his face.
“Lady! Keep shouting!”
But he didn’t hear her voice again.
Grey kept riding in the direction of her last cry, listening hard.
After weaving through thick trees, he finally came out on a hilltop. But at the end of the path was only a cliff.
“Damn it. Princess! Princess Dahlia! Answer if you can hear me!”
“…Over here!”
Her frightened voice came faintly from far away.
He urged his horse to run at full speed. At last, he spotted the princess in the distance.
“Princess!”
She tried to look back, but the wind forced her to look forward again.
“Stop your horse!”
“It’s not listening to me!”
She shouted, trembling in fear.
Grey raced his horse up close to her runaway white horse. The white horse’s eyes were wild, and it was foaming at the mouth.
Grey let go of his own horse’s reins and tightened his thighs to stay balanced.
“Princess, get as close to the front of your horse as you can.”
“What?”
Standing up in the saddle, Grey judged the distance and then leaped behind her.
“Kyaa!”
Startled by someone suddenly behind her, she screamed.
“It’s me.”
Grey grabbed her waist tightly. Feeling her soft warmth, he realized he’d been holding his breath the whole time.
“Haa…”
He sighed deeply and took the reins from her hands.
“Whoa, whoa.”
But as expected, the crazed white horse didn’t respond at all.
He quickly glanced around and spotted a sloped path ahead, covered with yellow wildflowers.
“Princess, look at me.”
“H-how?”
Terrified, she tried to turn her head, but the wind made it almost impossible.
Grey grabbed her waist and lifted her so she was sitting facing him.
“Aahh!”
Startled, she flailed her hands but finally grabbed his shoulders.
“It’s dangerous.”
Grey lowered her hands, then wrapped one arm firmly around her waist.
“What are you trying to do?”
Her purple eyes shook with fear.
Grey covered her eyes with one hand.
“Close your eyes.”
“Why—mmph.”
He pulled her close, burying her deep in his arms, and gently cradled the back of her head. As soon as he saw the field of yellow flowers, he threw himself sideways off the horse.
They tumbled down the slope together.
Her muffled scream was pressed against his chest and disappeared as they rolled.
“Ugh.”
Grey grunted. He only stopped when his back hit a big rock.
Holding her tightly, he finally let go and looked down at her. Her pink hair was scattered among the yellow flowers.
The princess, still in his arms, had her eyes closed and was trembling.
“Princess, are you all right?”
Her long lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes.
Their gazes met—her violet eyes and his black ones looking deeply at each other.
She blinked a few times, then carefully reached toward his face. Her gentle touch brushed just below his tear mole.
“Are you hurt?”
She seemed to notice the scratch from when he chased her through the trees.
“Princess, is that important right now?”
“Of course it is. It’s a shame if something happens to such a handsome face.”
Her words, said so naturally, relaxed Grey’s tense nerves.
“Seems like you’re not hurt.”
“Yes. I’m okay. Your Majesty protected me.”
“Why do things like this always happen around you? You can’t even ride, so why did you—”
He trailed off as her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
“I actually ride really well. The horse just went crazy…”
She tried to hold back her tears, jaw clenched, breathing hard.
Grey’s black eyes trembled a little as he watched her.
She was an adult, but why did she look so cute?
She wiped her tears bravely, her eyes full of frustration.
“…It’s so unfair. If only I had my GentleMarapaInKarissma…”
Who’s that supposed to be?
Grey watched as her expressions changed wildly in an instant.
“I’ll show you how well I can ride next time!”
“No thanks.”
Just imagining her riding alone made his blood run cold.
“But I really can ride…”
Seeing her pouting in disappointment, his lips curled up without thinking.
“Ah! But how did you know I’m a princess?”
“Is that important right now?”
Her violet eyes went wide and then she suddenly looked alarmed.
“Oh! I almost forgot the most important thing! Thank you for saving me, Your Majesty.”
She bowed her head, her pink hair tickling his nose.
She really didn’t realize what was important.
Didn’t she notice how close they were?
He was completely aware of her body against his, but she seemed not to care at all.
“But really, how did you know? I lied perfectly!”
Perfect? She was probably the worst liar he’d ever seen.
He didn’t realize she was the princess, but she definitely wasn’t fooling him.
“Are you confessing to lying to the Emperor?”
“…I didn’t say anything?”
She peeked at him, shamelessly denying it.
As his lips curved into a perfect smile, her eyes fell on his lips.
His eyes drifted down from her eyes to her lips, too.
“Um, Your Majesty.”
“What?”
His voice was low, even to his own ears.
She covered her ears, flustered, and finally brought up what he’d been thinking for a while.
“Aren’t we a little too close right now?”
“So?”
His gaze slowly moved over her face.
They really were close. If he leaned down just a bit, their lips would touch.
“Um, this might sound rude, but… you’re kind of heavy…”
She squirmed underneath him, trying to make some space. That had a strong effect on him.
Grey jumped to his feet.
“You’re right, it was rude.”
“Sorry.”
Dahlia bowed her head, genuinely apologetic.
“So where did you get the horse you were riding?”
“From the Crystal Palace stables.”
Grey’s face turned serious. So she hadn’t brought the horse herself?
He stared at the princess, deep in thought, while she picked yellow flower petals and green leaves from her pink hair.
Did she even realize how much danger she’d been in?
“Princess, do you know what that means?”
“Um… I guess someone in the palace doesn’t like me.”
His eyebrow shot up. That was unexpectedly sharp.
“It’s probably more than just dislike.”
“…No way?”
Finally, her violet eyes trembled in fear.
“Someone probably wants to kill you.”
