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Chapter 62
A suffocating silence fell.
The Second Prince blinked, as if he couldn’t believe that Wishid had refused him without a shred of hesitation.
“Duke, could you say that again? I must have misheard…”
“You didn’t mishear me.”
“…You’re saying no?”
The prince, dumbfounded, let his expression twist ever so slightly.
Unlike him, I had somewhat expected this, so I quickly pressed my forehead and staggered weakly.
“Wishid. I’d like to rest now.”
As Wishid bent close to hear me, I whispered quickly so no one else could catch it.
“Why do you keep provoking him…!”
What if that ill-tempered brute lashes out?
Wishid only smiled and wrapped his arm around me, as if to support me.
“Forgive us, but may we take our leave? It seems she’s not accustomed to such gatherings.”
“Ah, very we—”
Before the prince could finish, Wishid turned on his heel and swept me out of the hall. Out in the corridor, where only the occasional servant passed, I slipped from his arms.
I wasn’t tired in the slightest.
“Wishid, did something upset you?”
He had been glued to my side all night, so there had been no chance for him to be offended. Yet his mood was unmistakably sour. Wishid glanced at me and replied flatly.
“Nothing.”
…What a strange man. His temperament was impossible to fathom; I couldn’t even muster a sigh anymore.
Since I was already bored of the banquet, I figured we’d head back to the palace. But suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
“Lord Wishid.”
Gruel appeared quietly from the shadows.
“Caiman sent word.”
According to Gruel, Caiman had gone ahead to their rendezvous point, where he saw Duke Venthes arrive. Soon after, a leopard beastkin showed up. The duke had taken the leopard in and asked Gruel to tell Wishid that he needed assistance.
So Duke Venthes planned to use that counterfeit beastkin to draw out the true mastermind. Wishid smirked.
“Tell him I’ll help.”
The grin on his face looked downright villainous.
I tried to ignore it—but then, out of nowhere, someone jumped out in front of us.
I flinched in shock while Wishid’s brow furrowed.
“Ah, Wishid! Where did you go? I’ve been looking everywhere!”
The lively, chirping voice of a woman rang out first. Her rare pink hair and flushed, doll-like cheeks immediately drew the eye.
“I can’t explain fully, but you can’t go right now. You’ll be badly hurt.”
“…Princess.”
“Oh, you do know me! Then why did you ignore me before? Do you know how hurt I was?”
“Didn’t I warn you? Show yourself again, and I’d kill you.”
“I know, I know, but this isn’t the time for that! You have to leave right awa—”
“Gruel. Remove her.”
“Yes.”
In an instant, the woman vanished from sight.
Only then did I realize I’d been holding my breath since her sudden appearance. I exhaled shakily.
“Why are you staring? Did she frighten you?”
Wishid tilted his head at me, but I couldn’t answer.
“…Who was that?”
“Some lunatic. Don’t mind her.”
We continued on, but my thoughts were filled with Swan. Wishid had spoken of her like they’d met multiple times—she even knew his name.
Has Wishid… already fallen for Swan? But isn’t it too soon for them to meet…?
My head spun. Nothing was unfolding the way it had in the original story.
“Luna, what’s gotten into you—”
Smack!
“…Ah.”
I had slapped his hand away without realizing it. By the time I came to, we were already back at the palace.
Wishid stared down at me with an unreadable expression before withdrawing his hand. I opened my mouth, desperate to explain, but he spoke first.
“You must be tired. Rest for tonight.”
Later, after Dana helped me bathe, I learned I’d been assigned a separate bed.
I lay down but couldn’t sleep.
I’d never had trouble sleeping before, but tonight, despite my heavy limbs, slumber wouldn’t come. I tossed and turned until I gave up.
Was this because I slapped his hand away?
There was no other explanation. His foul mood earlier had nothing to do with me—so it had to be that.
Why did I slap him…?
Retracing my thoughts, the answer surfaced. I had been thinking about Swan—about Wishid maybe loving her earlier than he should.
My eyes flew open.
“…Am I jealous?”
The words escaped before I realized it, and heat rushed to my face.
“No, no. Jealousy isn’t only for lovers. Friends can be jealous when one finds a partner, or pets when their owner brings home another…”
The discomfort that had been gnawing at me dissolved.
Right. This is that kind of jealousy.
Though, calling myself his pet was a bit humiliating. Still, Wishid really did treat me like one.
I sat bolt upright.
I need to apologize to him.
I’d been too rattled to earlier, but it was better to clear the air quickly before misunderstandings piled up.
So I left my room at once. The corridor was silent. From the second floor, I climbed confidently to the third, where Wishid’s study and bedroom were.
Even at this hour, I was sure he wouldn’t be asleep. If he is, I’ll just explain tomorrow.
But as soon as I stepped onto the third floor, I froze.
…Blood?
A metallic tang stung my nose.
Kicking off my slippers, I padded barefoot over the carpet, muffling my steps. Not a sound came from within.
Dana wasn’t around either… which meant she was needed elsewhere. Something’s wrong.
Swan’s words from earlier came back to me.
“I can’t explain, but you’ll be badly hurt if you go in.”
“You have to leave right away.”
My stomach sank as the worst possible scenario formed in my mind.
I flung open the door to Wishid’s bedchamber—only to find pools of blood and scattered corpses. There was no sign of him.
Heart pounding, I sprinted to his study at the end of the hall.
No matter how strong he was, I wouldn’t rest until I saw him safe with my own eyes.
“Wishid!”
I burst through the door—only to be swallowed by total darkness.
