PSTB 27

~Chapter 27~

But, unlike I expected, he just turned around and walked toward the mansion.

Why is he acting like this? It’s even scarier when he doesn’t say anything!

I quickly followed behind him as he walked silently ahead.

Etienne stopped in front of my bedroom door.

Was he telling me to go in?

I glanced at him and went into my room. Etienne turned around sharply.

Huh? He’s just leaving? What about the misunderstanding?

I had a feeling I shouldn’t let him leave like this.

“Etienne! I’m sorry!”

I almost shouted at the back of his head.

I could feel the servants nearby were surprised. They quickly moved far away, sensing the mood.

Etienne turned around. He didn’t come any closer but stared at me with cold eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

His flat voice made my mouth go dry.

If I say the wrong thing here, it’s over!

“I didn’t know Veseth was coming. I only went to see the play. Veseth suddenly showed up, and I was surprised, too! Ha ha… You feel bad, right? I’m sorry. But please, don’t misunderstand.”

Etienne was silent for a moment, then spoke. Luckily, his voice was less cold than before.

“If you’re not really sorry, don’t say you’re sorry.”

“Oh… Yes, sorr— I mean, I’m not sorry.”

I guess I got too used to apologizing. The words just slipped out, so I quickly corrected myself.

There was an awkward silence between us at the door.

“Um… Would you like to come in for some tea before you go?”

I didn’t really mean it, but I asked out of politeness.

I don’t know. Simon said you should do things like this.

But then he gave an unexpected answer.

“Okay.”

Etienne walked into my room before I could even react.

I stared at him, confused.

Why is he listening to me so well all of a sudden? This is suspicious.

A moment later, we sat across from each other with a tea table between us.

I, Dahlia, honestly felt like I could die from the awkwardness here.

“Ha ha, the black tea smells so nice, right?”

He didn’t answer.

I thought we were getting comfortable with each other again lately, so why is it awkward now? It’s all Veseth’s fault. Veseth!

Just thinking about him reminded me of his strange confession earlier. I was sure he was up to something.

“Etienne, about the things I stole…”

Etienne was watching the tea being poured into his cup, but now he looked up and met my eyes. He signaled the maid, who quietly left the room. Now it was just the two of us.

I spoke slowly.

“Are those things related to Veseth?”

“Why do you think that?”

Etienne had never told me what the stolen things were.

At first, I thought I must have just stolen something expensive. But that didn’t make sense.

Etienne was rich. He wouldn’t go through all this trouble just for some jewels.

So maybe it wasn’t just about money. Maybe it was related to that rebellion he was later involved in.

“Veseth is acting strange.”

Etienne frowned. Seeing his suspicious look, I hesitated, wondering if I should say more. Was he going to divorce me on the spot?

Nervous, I cleared my throat.

“He told me just now. He asked if I wanted to become the crown princess.”

I checked Etienne’s reaction.

Of course, I didn’t think he liked me in that way… but still, he could be upset, right?

But Etienne’s face stayed calm, like always. Maybe a little vein appeared on his forehead—no, it disappeared right away.

Etienne picked up his teacup with a soft clink.

Of course. Why did I expect anything from you? I muttered to myself and continued.

“Of course, anyone could fall for me. I have all kinds of charms! But the thing is, Veseth suddenly acting like this is weird. From what I remember… I thought Veseth hated me. Why did he suddenly change?”

Etienne watched me closely, as if trying to see what I was thinking. Maybe the hot tea made his lips look extra red and soft. I caught myself staring and snapped out of it.

“That’s not all. Listen, he said I promised him something. A promise! Doesn’t that sound suspicious? What if it’s related to the thing I stole?”

I narrowed my brows, speaking seriously like a TV reporter, and then paused to check his reaction.

Etienne’s face didn’t change at all.

“Why are you telling me this?”

His words made all my excitement fizzle out.

“Why? You told me to find the stolen thing. I can’t remember everything, so I have to try other ways.”

“I don’t really have a reason to believe you.”

What do you mean you don’t believe me? Are you always this suspicious?

He leaned back slowly in his chair, clearly not trusting me.

Ugh, this is so unfair, but there’s nothing I can do.

It felt like playing Mafia and being accused as the criminal right at the start, just because of my eyes. And I always got killed first turn. There’s no point in making excuses then.

I silently poured more tea into his empty cup.

He finished it so quickly! It was like he drank it in one gulp, not like tea but like cold soup.

“It’s a document. About a magic experiment.”

Etienne suddenly spoke.

He hadn’t believed me a moment ago… so why was he telling me now?

“Magic experiment?”

Magic… I knew magic existed in this world, but hearing it said out loud felt strange.

“About 20 years ago, black magicians went around the country taking babies from all sorts of families. They were all different, but the goal was the same: to turn them into people with silver hair and blue eyes.”

Silver hair and blue eyes? You could just use dye and colored lenses for that, couldn’t you?

Wait, no. I remember now—silver hair and blue eyes are the royal family’s symbol, protected by holy power.

So that’s why they had to use black magic.

Wait a second—does that mean they made fake princes?

At that moment, I remembered seeing very clear silver hair and blue eyes right in front of me.

“Does that mean you, Etienne…!”

Wait, this wasn’t in the novel!

I was so shocked, I felt like all the holes in my face got bigger. Worried someone might hear, I lowered my voice.

“Wow, you’re not really the king’s real son?”

As soon as I said it, I realized it was way too direct. I quickly covered my mouth.

But still! My husband!

Etienne smirked, finding my reaction funny.

Then he started unbuttoning his shirt.

“W-what are you doing?!”

Watching him slowly undo his buttons from his neck was so… indecent. I quickly covered my eyes.

Behind my hands, his calm voice continued.

“Many people died in the magic experiment. Only one survived. I got a burn-like scar on my chest as a result.”

“S-so…”

Is he really showing me his scar right now?

I peeked out from behind my hands.

His shirt was open down to his chest. He was strong and muscular, but… there was no scar. His skin looked so smooth I almost wanted to touch it.

“What about Veseth?”

“Yeah.”

“No way…”

I couldn’t believe it. That was never in the novel.

How could the main character not be the king’s real son?

I squinted hard, thinking.

Wait, does that mean… my guess might actually be right?

Is Veseth really the one behind everything?

I just couldn’t believe it. The novel “The Possessive Crown Prince” never had this kind of story!

What a weird novel. The title is “The Possessive Crown Prince,” but what if he’s not the real prince?

Now I didn’t know how much of the novel to trust or doubt. I needed to think more.

“So, are you looking for that document so you can become emperor? And Veseth is trying to stop you?”

“I don’t care about the throne at all.”

Huh?

Will he change his mind later? Or is he lying because he still doesn’t trust me?

“Then why are you looking so hard for it?”

“My mother died right after she got the document. Her body was so thin and shriveled that I could barely look at her, but she never rotted. It was black magic.”

I took a deep breath. Etienne’s voice was calm, but what he said was heavy.

If someone killed the queen to hide the prince’s secret… If the same people made Veseth and killed Etienne’s mother…

It felt like a huge bell was ringing in my head.

For days, I couldn’t get over the shock. Things were happening so differently from the novel.

Veseth, who was supposed to be in eternal love with Sophienne, had made a cringy confession to me. And now he’s not even the real crown prince.

“Why does the story keep changing?”

I chewed on my finger nervously. Just then, the door suddenly burst open.

“Come out.”

Aaaah! It was Etienne again.

Since that day we had tea together, he’s been coming to see me a lot. I lost count of how many times.

Simon’s etiquette lessons and dance classes were over. I thought I’d finally get some rest before the party.

Maybe he doesn’t like seeing me relax.

“Can’t I just rest today? I didn’t sleep last night. Penny says I need a massage and some special perfume before the party… My dark circles are so big people will call me ‘Mrs. Panda Bear.’”

“What’s a panda bear?”

I pointed under my eyes.

“It’s a bear with big circles under its eyes… They exist.”

Etienne looked at me like I was just some random bug on the street, then walked away without a word.

You don’t believe me?

“There really is a bear like that…”