LTTCH 18

Chapter 18

Despite such a ridiculous excuse, the Crown Prince still looked at Uncle as if she were adorable and began walking ahead.

I was about to follow the two of them when I noticed the jewel attached to the magic tool sparkling, so I headed toward a secluded corner of the garden.

The magic tool’s effect would wear off soon.

They said it recharged under sunlight.

After checking my surroundings and confirming no one was nearby, I pressed the jewel on the magic tool and dispelled the invisibility.

Then I placed the bracelet on a sunlit rock and hid beneath the shade of a tree.

“Haa…”

What a brutal day.

Squatting down, I let out a deep sigh.

The magic tool would probably need around ten minutes to recharge.

In the meantime, I hid behind the tree trunk to conceal my presence.

And just as I was about to look up at the sky—

Shiiing—.

Along with the sharp metallic sound, something cold touched my neck.

My pale face reflected in the polished blade.

“I thought I sensed someone watching. So a little rat had snuck in.”

What the—why is the Crown Prince here?

With the blade pressed against my throat, I couldn’t even swallow properly.

I nervously glanced around, but Uncle, who had left together with the Crown Prince, was nowhere to be seen.

Trying to hide again was impossible when the magic tool wasn’t even in my hand.

I stared down at the gleaming blade and gulped.

“Hands up.”

I obediently raised both hands.

“Turn your head.”

“T-The blade…”

“Turn.”

The Crown Prince showed no mercy.

Careful to avoid the edge as much as possible, I slowly turned my head.

The sensation of the blade digging into my neck was terrifying.

Feeling warm blood trickling down my throat, I looked toward the Crown Prince.

“The young lady is…”

The Crown Prince frowned.

Did he recognize me?

We had met at the Marquis’s estate before, and I had even introduced myself. Maybe he remembered.

As I bit my lip, the Crown Prince asked quietly,

“Who are you?”

Wait, what? I introduced myself and he still doesn’t remember?

Dumbfounded, I stared at him in disbelief.

“I’m Rene of the Count Sober family.”

But since there was currently a sword at my throat, I obediently introduced myself again.

“I see, Lady Sober. What business did you have sneaking into the First Princess’s palace?”

The Crown Prince asked while still keeping the blade against me.

I swallowed dryly and searched for an excuse.

I guess there’s only one option.

Internally sighing, I looked at the Crown Prince with tearful eyes.

“To tell the truth, I’m Your Highness’s devoted fan. I never had a chance to see the Crown Prince, but I heard you would attend the First Princess’s tea party today, so…”

At least, I was trying to say that.

“Hey, you bastard—!”

Suddenly, Uncle burst out from nowhere.

Eyes wide, I stared at Uncle running toward us from afar, and Uncle—

“Who the hell do you think you’re pointing a sword at?!”

She came sprinting from the distance and flew—literally flew for a moment—and performed the astonishing feat of kicking the sword out of his hand.

CLANG—!

She kicked it so hard the sword flew far away before crashing loudly onto the ground.

Panting furiously, Uncle glared at the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince alternated between staring at the fallen sword and Uncle with eyes so wide they looked ready to split apart.

And then I saw it.

[13% Until the World Ends]

The message appeared before my eyes.

Rumble—.

A sound like thunder crashing echoed through the air, and I saw the dark crimson crack stretching across the sky grow even larger.

I hurriedly grabbed Uncle’s arm.

But Uncle didn’t calm down easily.

“Uncl—I mean, Beatrice. Calm down.”

“That bastard pointed a sword at you! How am I supposed to calm down?! I thought you said you don’t get stabbed!”

“That applies to you. I’m…”

An extra, so I could probably still get stabbed.

I swallowed the rest of the sentence and tried soothing the agitated Uncle first.

“Beatrice, go wait at the carriage for now. I’ll talk with His Highness and then head over…”

“Don’t be ridiculous. So he can stab you again?”

“I didn’t get stabbed…”

“How about you wipe the blood off your neck before saying that?”

Ah, right. My neck was bleeding.

I hurriedly covered my neck. Slick blood stained my fingers.

Uncle looked at me fumbling at my throat, frowned deeply, and reached out.

Then she abruptly grabbed my neck.

“At this rate, when are you ever going to stop the bleeding?”

The pressure on the wound nearly made me scream.

Stopping bleeding hurts this much?!

Pressing my neck the way Uncle instructed, I looked back at the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince, who had been staring blankly at Uncle, snapped back to attention and looked at me.

I bowed deeply and apologized.

“I apologize. In my admiration for Your Highness, I committed an act I never should have. If you wish to punish me, I will gladly—”

“What punishment? If anyone deserves to get hit, it’s that bastard. What kind of lunatic pulls a sword on someone?”

Uncle, please just stay quiet.

She had done fairly well at the tea party, but the moment things became dangerous, she apparently forgot where she was.

Without letting the Crown Prince see, I secretly slammed my elbow into Uncle’s side and continued.

“If you choose to punish me, I will gladly accept it.”

“You said you did it because you admire me?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Come to think of it, you did say you were my fan.”

Fortunately, it seemed he remembered my excuse.

I’d been worried he might have forgotten after Uncle’s shocking entrance.

“I see. That’s understandable.”

The Crown Prince was an unbelievably narcissistic character.

Rather than making up unnecessary excuses, saying “I like you, Your Highness” and flattering him worked a hundred times better.

Sure enough, the Crown Prince nodded as though everything finally made sense.

“We’ll discuss this another time. For now, return and receive treatment.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince retrieved the fallen sword and slid it back into its sheath before turning toward Uncle.

“Come to think of it, Lady Sober is your close friend, isn’t she? I apologize for injuring someone precious to you. I understand why you were angry.”

Having 100% affection really is terrifying.

Seriously though, she kicked away his sword and cursed at him—how is his affection level still 100%? Shouldn’t it have dropped?

As I thought about it, I remembered that the Crown Prince was hopelessly obsessed with pretty faces.

Ah right. This bastard was absolutely crazy about Beatrice’s face.

Even in the original story, no matter what Beatrice did, he forgave everything the moment he saw her face.

What a damn looks-obsessed world.

Kicking away the Crown Prince’s sword and cursing at him should have been enough for execution, yet the Crown Prince was apologizing instead.

Once again feeling the overwhelming power of the female lead, I jabbed Uncle in the side with my elbow.

We had to repair this collapsing plot somehow.

I signaled desperately for Uncle to quickly say it was alright, but instead she crossed her arms and scoffed.

“So saying sorry makes everything okay?”

And does speaking politely suddenly make your behavior acceptable?

Suppressing the urge to lose my mind, I called out,

“Beatrice?”

“His Highness is apologizing like this, so shouldn’t we let it go peacefully? After all, I’m also at fault for sneaking into the Imperial Palace.”

Uncle parted her lips to say something, but I quickly drove my elbow into her side again.

“Ugh—!”

Uncle shut her mouth and glared sharply at the Crown Prince with dangerously cold eyes.

I’m the one who hit you, so why are you glaring at him?

I hurriedly jabbed her side again, trying to tell her to stop making such disrespectful expressions.

At last, Uncle let out a sigh and clicked her tongue.

“Fine. Let’s call it even.”