CPBF 36

Chapter: 36

“Did I… get in the way or something?”

Seeing him with such a pitiful expression, like a abandoned puppy, made my heart ache.

It’s not what you think—it’s not! It’s all my fault!

I should’ve just stayed still. Trying to run away only made things worse. Damn it.

“Get in the way? Not at all! I was just about to go there anyway. Please take good care of Bin, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave first, then.”

“Where are you going?”

Bin grabbed me again just as I was about to leave.

And of course, he grabbed me at my lower back.

‘Bin Ortega, you damn—!’

I cursed silently in my head.

If Bin weren’t a patient, I would have immediately punched his hand away.

“Where would I be going? I told you I wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest.”

“Oh.”

Only then did his hand let go.

But maybe because he didn’t really want to, it lingered just a little.

The Crown Prince was watching the entire scene, his eyes bloodshot.

Late at night.

After meeting Bin, the Crown Prince secretly called Lapel into his bedroom.

“You summoned me, Your Highness?”

Today, Lapel seemed different from usual.

There were no teasing remarks or quips—just a serious demeanor.

The Crown Prince was the same.

Normally, he might have asked about what happened out of concern for his people, but today, he had no room to care for anyone else.

Right now, his attention was solely on two people.

One was Bin Ortega. The other was…

“There’s something I want to instruct you to do in secret.”

“What is it?”

“Kill Irilin Heder, Lapel Isden.”

The one he hated so deeply that he finally wanted to end her life: Irilin Heder.

Even for the Crown Prince, killing someone—especially a noblewoman from a powerful family—was risky.

After all, the Emperor was still above him.

But if he becomes Emperor, no matter how powerful the Heder family is, they wouldn’t dare retaliate.

He had sought the easier path by aiming for the throne.

But the anger simmering inside him today had gone beyond control.

Easy paths didn’t matter anymore—he wanted to reach the goal of Irilin’s death, even if he had to cut through every thorn in the way.

That’s why he summoned Lapel.

Even if they had to wade through thorns and be covered in blood, he wanted Lapel to go with him toward the target.

But Lapel wasn’t someone who blindly followed the Crown Prince.

She became his subordinate simply because it was “fun.”

The Crown Prince, knowing this well, was willing to even give up the throne if Lapel refused—just so she could have Bin.

But contrary to the Crown Prince’s calculations, Lapel’s answer came quickly.

“Very well.”

Lapel’s black eyes flashed with a smile, full of the same intensity of hatred that the Crown Prince felt.

“We’ll strike during the upcoming Founding Day celebration. I’ll act when the crowd is thick.”

Back in my room, I recounted everything to my sister.

About Mona White trying to hurt me, Bin getting injured because of it, and the Crown Prince reacting strangely to seeing Bin and me together.

Her response after hearing everything was:

“You little wild boar! Why the hell did you go after him?”

“What do you mean why? I went to have him undo the spell on you.”

“You really think he’d obediently do it just because you asked? You know better than anyone he wouldn’t.”

“Why do I know better than anyone?”

“Think about your reckless personality. You probably went charging off to him without even consulting me, didn’t you?”

I had nothing to say, so I pressed my lips shut.

But feeling like I was losing the argument, I managed to squeak out:

“No… he doesn’t even resemble me that much… I’m not violent toward people.”

“……”

Whether because she recognized me as a White or just lost for words, my sister stayed silent.

I figured it was probably the latter.

Truthfully, I was quite violent toward boys who harassed my sister when we were young.

“Yeah.”

I felt a presence approaching and turned my head toward the door.

Not long after, Bin appeared.

Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be resting in his room?

I knew he only needed outpatient treatment, but why didn’t he go straight home?

And what had happened with the Crown Prince?

“You just barged in without being invited? What kind of rudeness is this?”

My sister dashed to block me at the door.

Her silver hair fluttered as she let out a sigh.

“Who was it that first committed rudeness?”

“Me? I knocked before coming to your room.”

“No, not that. The lie you told.”

“What lie?”

“You said you felt burdened… by Irilin.”

“……”

My sister turned to glare at me.

The look said, “Wild boar. I went out of my way to help you, and you couldn’t even play along?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony—she had gone to Bin without consulting me, yet called me reckless.

“I didn’t feel burdened.”

“Well, what sane person would say that when asked by their boss?”

“……”

This time, Bin peeked up and shot me a glance.

‘You’re that mad dog of Serom, right? Naturally, you have no social skills.’

At least that’s what it seemed he was thinking. Maybe it was just my imagination.

“Have you forgotten? Irilin’s social skills have long been…”

…so it wasn’t my imagination.

That damn sparring monster! Dare to… speak the truth?

“That’s right.”

Why does my sister admit it so easily?

“……”

This time I glared at them both.

“See? You really don’t have social skills.”

“See? You really don’t have social skills.”

Then Bin and my sister both said it at the same time.

No, that just makes it more infuriating!

They couldn’t have coordinated, so how are they so in sync?

“So, what do you want? Don’t tell me you came to scold me for lying.”

“No. I am just socially skilled enough to overlook a colleague’s rudeness.”

Why is Bin picking a fight with me like this? What’s wrong with my social skills?

“Hey, Bin Ortega. Stop teasing me and get to the point before your hand lands on my stitches.”

“See? Violent.”

My sister sneered, and I snapped.

“Ah, really!”

Then, for some reason, both Bin and my sister burst out laughing.

“If I’m not a burden, then—”

Bin’s face, unable to hide the smile, opened his mouth.

Something rustled, and my view was blocked.

I squinted and stepped back, then looked again at what had blocked my sight.

“Let’s have dinner.”

It was a bouquet of bright red roses.

I was stunned, unsure what was happening, when Bin added:

“It’s an order from your superior.”

His voice was stern, but the smile on his face made it feel playful.

Should I take it seriously? Or as a joke?

Sure, you can invite a friend to dinner. But with flowers?

Even more, after dragging his injured body here?

It couldn’t help but feel like a date request.

But Bin had no reason to do this. Why?

I didn’t respond and just stared, and Bin lowered his head slightly.

Then, lifting his head with a serious expression, he looked at me.

“You don’t want to?”

His deep eyes made me feel like I could drown in them.

I instinctively shook my head, but my sister stepped forward.

“You said you don’t see men weaker than you as men, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“If you want to share a meal, get stronger first, Bin Ortega.”

“Really, Irilin?”

Bin stared at me with those deep eyes again.

I bit my lip and nodded slowly.

His gaze dropped, and his shoulders, once confidently straight, slumped slightly.

“No wonder you wanted to spar with me all along… there was a reason.”

Sorry, but that’s your misunderstanding.

Because it’s all a lie…

Unable to hold my head high, I lowered my gaze like Bin.

My shoulders slumped as well.

“Understood? Now go. We need to sleep.”

With my sister’s urging, Bin nodded weakly and left.

Watching him walk away, my back burned again.

The feeling didn’t fade, and I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

“Today’s training will be voluntary.”

I expected him to harass me about sparring from the start of work, but Bin was surprisingly quiet.

He focused on his training alone, not even hovering nearby.

It made me feel awkward, and I found myself sneaking glances at him.

‘If I’m not a burden…’

‘Let’s have dinner.’

The bouquet from last night came to mind.

Even a fool could understand the meaning behind it.

Since when had this been happening? He was supposed to be paired with the Crown Prince, so why me?

Countless questions had been swirling in my mind since last night.

My heart would freeze at the approaching crisis, then suddenly race as if excited.

…Why am I like this?

More than questions about Bin, my own feelings confused me.

And then, at the start of the day, he flipped his behavior like a card, intensifying the confusion.

Why did he act like I didn’t even exist, focusing solely on his training?

“But isn’t the Founding Day celebration coming up? Leaving us to train voluntarily at such a crucial time? Why is he like that?”

…Even though Deputy Commander Nari, in charge of training the new knights, had abandoned her duties.

‘You said you don’t see men weaker than you as men, right?’

Suddenly, my sister’s lie to chase Bin away came to mind.

No way… could it be?