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Chapter: 42
“Irillin Header. In recognition of your achievement in rescuing the Crown Prince, a reward of 30 million gold is granted.”
At the masquerade, I received a sealed envelope from the Emperor himself containing the reward for finding the hidden royal.
The Emperor’s bitterness was evident—he had missed the opportunity to kill the Crown Prince right before my eyes.
His constant glances toward the recovery room where the Crown Prince was being treated were proof enough.
Is he secretly hoping the plan would fail and that poison would finally claim the Crown Prince?
“Then, we’ll dismiss for today. Thank you all for your hard work.”
After receiving the reward, Bin gave the dismissal order in place of the captain, who had vanished as soon as we returned to our duties.
There were still fireworks and magical carriages to send off, but those on guard duty at that time would be the other knights who weren’t chosen for the banquet’s main team.
Finally, time to leave! I need to hurry and discuss the upcoming matters with my sister.
I followed the flow of fellow knights leaving the banquet hall like a receding tide.
Then, suddenly, a hand grabbed my wrist.
Without turning my head, I answered,
“Why?”
“Where are you going? Did you forget our promise?”
“Promise?”
This time I turned my head to see Bin’s face, clearly nervous.
“Not dinner, right? You mean the sparring match?”
“I don’t want to.”
The sparring monster doesn’t want to spar? What kind of nonsense is this?
And if, for any reason, he didn’t want to spar, why is he still chasing me around?
“Then what promise are you talking about?”
“The magical carriage. We agreed to watch it together.”
“Ah.”
Ah, right. Seven years ago, after we made that sparring promise, we also promised to watch the magical carriage together—and I ran away.
“Why do you want to go first? Did you forget something?”
“Yes.”
“Then we can just go together to get it.”
“No!! That’s not necessary.”
“Why?”
“…I need to fart. Please, move out of the way quickly.”
Yes, I had actually said something so humiliating.
And then I ran away—Bin must have realized later that it was a lie.
“You… ran away because of a bodily function, so we couldn’t watch together.”
What?! He didn’t notice at all!
So he thought for seven years that I had been running away just because I needed to fart?!
“No! Of course saying I needed to fart was obviously a lie! I just wanted to run away.”
“Really? That’s impossible.”
“Really!”
“Fine. Fine, let’s just go watch it then.”
Ugh! Why does he believe me so easily? It’s not true!
Regardless of how frustrated I felt, Bin passed by me with an unbothered expression.
I blocked him, huffing, as he urged me to hurry.
“No! Really!”
Look into my innocent eyes! Do these look like the eyes of someone lying?
I said each word, pointing to my eyes for emphasis.
“Kuhp….”
Bin made a sound like he was trying not to laugh.
Funny? I was furious, but he finds it amusing?
When I glared at him with wide eyes, he flinched slightly.
Then, unable to hold it in, he burst out laughing.
“Haha! I’m just joking. Of course I know that’s not why you ran away.”
Bin placed his hand on my head, his crescent-shaped eyes curved beautifully.
Was he about to stroke my head? But then he awkwardly withdrew his hand.
“You ran away for another reason, didn’t you?”
“…Yeah.”
A moment of silence passed.
We stared at each other, and in the flowing tension, all that could be heard was the sound of swallowing.
He didn’t ask why I ran—was he being considerate?
I just wanted to tell him everything as it was.
I had no choice but to leave him and run; otherwise, I would have died.
“Irillin!”
My sister’s voice sharply called out, as if scolding my reckless thoughts, snapping me back to reality.
“Our parents said we should watch the carriages together. Your duties are over, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go quickly.”
My dazed hands were grabbed by my sister.
Just as I was about to be pulled along, I planted my feet.
“…I promised to watch it with Bin.”
My sister shot me a glare, but her next words were calm.
“You haven’t spent time with your parents since joining the knight order. They’ll be upset.”
“Irillin. I’m fine. You can go. We can see each other next year.”
Bin, despite his words, looked disappointed.
Unable to step forward easily, my sister whispered into my ear:
“Focus. Those who would kill you are everywhere.”
She was right.
The Crown Prince, Mona White, Isbino… the list of enemies had unexpectedly grown.
I couldn’t let fleeting emotions dictate my steps in a world full of traps.
I steeled myself and spoke with a sharper tone.
“Alright. If the opportunity comes, maybe next year we’ll see each other. I don’t know if it will come… But my parents are waiting, so I’ll go quickly.”
However, as soon as I stepped outside, I was immediately confronted by Ortega’s people.
Being close to the Header Marquis family, they also intended to watch the magical carriages together.
Naturally, Bin joined this group as well.
“Oh, Bin! It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, Marchioness. How have you been?”
“I fussed over you, wanting my only daughter to marry you, and now you just want to be a knight… I’m so frustrated, all because of your fiancée.”
Ah, so this is like those holiday scenes when relatives nag you endlessly about when you’ll marry.
I’m only twenty and already going through this.
‘Give up, Mother. I have no intention of marrying Bin anymore.’
Even if I go to Dr. Saint’s hospital, I must truly end the engagement.
The Crown Prince nearly died because of me, and there are two others ready to take my place or fight me.
I must correct this broken relationship before it’s too late.
“So… now that you’re of age, shouldn’t we proceed with the marriage?”
“I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
The Duchess of Ortega spoke kindly.
Though I had never met her before, she had often seen Irillin as a child, and her eyes were full of warmth, like looking at her own child.
Bin resembled the Duchess—not just in personality and aura, but in the deep, vivid blue of his eyes.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I think… I must break off my engagement with Bin.”
A tense silence followed.
Everyone froze in shock, and I could only see Bin’s trembling eyes.
I felt an indescribable emotion.
Even though I had no choice… I still felt guilty.
“What? Why? Tell me, Irillin!”
“There must be a special reason to break a family agreement, right?”
Unlike the fussing Marchioness, Duke Ortega spoke calmly.
His black eyes, which seemed to pierce everything, felt strangely familiar—just like Bin’s.
His silver hair and appearance were so similar that I could imagine Bin in middle age looking exactly like him.
Facing him directly to announce the engagement breakup felt surreal.
“I regret forcing Bin into an engagement when he was still young. He surely wanted to be with someone he loved… I don’t want to be an obstacle to that wish.”
“Someone he loves? Nonsense. Isn’t that right, Bin?”
Mentioning “someone he loves” made Duke Ortega’s expression stern.
It seemed he thought of the Crown Prince and pressed Bin relentlessly.
“Answer me! The only person you love is your fiancée, isn’t it?”
“….”
For some reason, Bin didn’t look at the Duke; he only looked at me, silent, as if pleading with his eyes.
I didn’t know what he was feeling, and I didn’t want to know.
I had to remain ignorant.
I bit my lip and avoided his gaze.
“Ah.”
Bin let out a small sigh.
In that single syllable, his silent plea came through.
Why must he abandon me again? Why wound me like this?
“Answer me, Bin Ortega!”
“Please stop, Your Grace.”
The Duchess stopped the Duke and then looked gently at me.
“If this is your wish, there’s no helping it. Breaking a family agreement isn’t easy, but you can’t force hearts that have long since drifted apart…”
“It’s not our wish.”
Bin, who had been quiet, spat out the words firmly.
Amidst the shocked faces, he grabbed my hand.
His grip was stronger than ever, sending a clear message: he would never let go.
“Look at me for a moment.”
I could have pulled my hand away easily, but his intense, anger-filled eyes held me in place.
No—I couldn’t deny that I didn’t want to pull away.
“Do you really want to escape from me that much?”
We reached the place where we parted seven years ago, where the magical carriages awaited, and Bin finally stopped.
Even as he asked fiercely, he didn’t let go of my hand.
“Why?”
I couldn’t say, “Because the Crown Prince will try to kill me.” I had to find another explanation.
I should just say that I have no feelings for him and want to distance myself.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Because in truth, I don’t want distance. I don’t want to escape.
I just want to remain trapped in this obsession of his.
“Actually, I know.”
“…Know what?”
“Where you want to escape to… is by the side of His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“…What on earth are you talking about?”
