🔊 TTS Settings
“Affection?”
“Yes. Affection. We only talked briefly, but we really clicked.”
Grit. A grinding sound came from the crown prince’s direction. Retina, who had only meant to lightly tease him in revenge for his mocking during the dance, struggled to hide her surprise at his unexpectedly intense reaction.
“Didn’t you attend this ball as my partner?”
Herald brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen over his face. His voice was low, almost like a growling beast.
Did I… push the wrong button?
Retina awkwardly smiled, realizing the situation had flipped on her faster than she expected.
Trying to compete with the crown prince was a mistake from the start.
She slowly leaned back from where she had been sitting on the edge of the bed. She’d rested enough; it was time to leave anyway.
“R-right? But, well, parties and balls are meant for socializing. It can’t hurt to get along with the prince, right…?”
Before she could slip away, Herald yanked her arm toward him. Her body, perched on the bed, fell backward into the soft blankets, and their positions reversed. With both her wrists pinned in his hands, Herald straddled her, caging her beneath him.
“What should I do with you?”
His smile curved wickedly, like a villain’s. Though he was the crown prince, usually warm and charming to nobles, his reputation carried a much colder, razor-sharp edge beneath the surface.
“I don’t like you getting friendly with the Prince of Raglas.”
He was the type to laugh off minor missteps, but once someone crossed a line, he ruthlessly tore them out by the roots. Rumor had it more than ten noble families had disappeared without a trace after underestimating him.
Is he going to kill me? Just for teasing him a little? Maybe he’s hunting me down to silence me, like that woman at the party…
Retina’s eyes trembled as she looked up at the crown prince. His behavior wasn’t romantic anymore—it was terrifying.
When his fingers traced slowly down her jawline, Retina squeezed her eyes shut. Goosebumps prickled along her nape. And despite the situation, he was still annoyingly handsome—his hair falling around her face like warm sunlight.
“You were chattering away just a moment ago, and now you’re silent like a mouse with honey in its mouth.”
Herald tilted his head and chuckled, scratching his throat. Retina, who had been grumbling earlier, now found herself speechless.
“You’re the type who says what you think without worrying about others. I like that. You don’t spout empty flattery like the other young ladies.”
Is that a compliment or an insult?
She pouted, glancing toward the door. Her brothers would probably come looking for her soon. If people discovered she’d disappeared with the crown prince, rumors would spread fast.
“I thought you liked flattery.”
“Hardly. I hate that kind of thing the most.”
Retina tried to push him away with her freed hand, but Herald easily caught it again, pinning both arms above her head. Unfortunately, her off-the-shoulder dress left her neckline completely exposed to him.
“At first, I was only suspicious…”
A predatory glint flashed in Herald’s crimson eyes. The headache that had plagued him while dancing with other noble ladies had vanished the moment he saw her—just like that night he’d slept without nightmares for the first time in ages.
“There’s something I want to confirm.”
He lowered his face toward her neck. Just once. If he checked just once, he’d be sure.
“W-wait, wait, wait!!”
But Retina wasn’t about to offer herself up like prey to a hungry beast. She frantically stopped him as he leaned closer.
What does he want to confirm? Did he already figure it out?
Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears. His eyes were different now—his whole demeanor had shifted.
“If the two of us disappear for too long, people will start to talk. At least one of us has to return to the ballroom to avoid suspicion. You’re tired, Your Highness, so I should be the one to go back, right?”
It was the best excuse she could come up with on short notice. All the romance novels she’d read were useless; faced with the crown prince, her mind had gone completely blank.
She anxiously watched him for a reaction. Had her desperate reasoning worked? As his grip loosened a little, she began to slowly pull her arms free—but Herald tightened his hold again, fixing her back onto the bed.
“So what if they misunderstand?”
“…What?”
“You’re the young lady the crown prince chose as his partner—something that’s never happened before. Normally, the Marquis of Histing’s daughter would be by my side. Do you know what that means?”
His gaze roamed boldly over her dress.
“It means our relationship isn’t ordinary. From the start of the social season, that fact has been officially declared. In other words…”
His voice trailed off as he leaned closer, until their faces were only a breath apart.
Retina shut her eyes tightly as he closed in. Any closer, and their lips would touch.
“…No one would find it strange if you spent the night in my chambers.”
He whispered in her ear, his lips brushing past. Their bodies were pressed together from the closeness.
Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst. She could feel his heated breath against her skin. Escape was impossible now—if she ran, it would be the same as admitting she was the woman he was searching for.
At this rate, I really…
The memory of that night flashed through her mind, and she instinctively tensed, struggling to get free. Just then, Herald—who had been holding her firmly the whole time—suddenly collapsed to the side.
“…?”
The sudden loss of his weight left Retina blinking up at the ceiling in confusion. The intense atmosphere vanished, replaced by quiet breathing.
He fell asleep? Now?
Lying on his side, the prince’s chest rose and fell steadily. His tired face, usually sharp and commanding, had softened into a peaceful expression.
Retina stared at the sleeping prince still holding her wrist, utterly dumbfounded. His grip had loosened too—he’d actually fallen asleep.
“…Idiot.”
She pushed and wriggled her way out from under his surprisingly heavy body, giving his forehead a light flick. The effort left her too exhausted to even stay mad.
“Is he playing with me or what…”
Blushing furiously, Retina brushed off her crumpled dress. Her hair, thankfully, remained perfectly pinned thanks to Lina’s foresight about securing her wig for the party.
Her feet ached even worse when she put her shoes back on. Limping slightly, she made her way out, where a royal guard awaited.
“What happened here today—”
“You want me to keep quiet?”
“Yes. And what you saw—”
“—I should forget. Don’t worry, I have no intention of remembering or telling anyone.”
“Thank you. If you take the same route back, you’ll reach the hall without running into anyone.”
His tone was formal yet forceful—typical of royal knights. Retina, who now wanted nothing more to do with the crown prince, just nodded and brushed it off.
“Oh, by the way.”
After a few steps, she stopped and turned back.
“What did you mean earlier when you said, ‘If it’s you, it’s fine’?”
She frowned, genuinely puzzled.
“Well…”
The guard scratched his chin, looking awkward.
“I think you already know the answer to that better than I do, my lady.”
He gave a sheepish laugh and quickly backed away, clearly eager to escape further questioning. Retina considered chasing after him, but decided to let it go.
