TRFDTV ~ 14

Chapter – 14

“Asili Bolsheik. Lady of House Bolsheik.”

The Crown Prince extended his hand toward Asili but discreetly withdrew it the moment his gaze met Ludwig’s desert-dry eyes.

“This is His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“It’s an honor to meet you,” Asili said.

Her tone was just as dry as Ludwig’s, but the Crown Prince—unable to conceal his curiosity—opened his mouth again, only to be pushed gently back down onto the sofa by Ludwig’s hand.

“Sit first.”

Ludwig guided Asili to sit beside him as if handling a delicate glass doll.

The Crown Prince’s aide looked utterly dumbfounded, while the prince himself grinned with mischief dancing in his eyes.

Without even bothering to hide his amusement, he spoke.

“You sure dote on her, don’t yo—ah, yes, right. I mean, the Grand Duke.”

He shrugged and then half-lowered his eyes toward Asili, who wasn’t even looking his way.

“Asili, was it? That’s quite a unique name. Dream, huh? Perhaps the Duke of Bolsheik was so overjoyed to gain a lady that it all felt like a dream.”

The prince laughed heartily at his own joke. Asili finally cast him a lukewarm glance and replied with minimal effort.

“Yes. I suppose so.”

In truth, the name Asili—meaning “dream”—was one Ludwig had given her.

As the Crown Prince continued babbling on, Asili let his words flow in one ear and out the other, recalling the moment Ludwig had named her.

That must have been right after she fell into this world—after meeting Ludwig’s aides for the first time.

Seeing her eyes lose focus for a brief moment, the Crown Prince’s grin deepened.

Contrary to the public belief that he was oblivious and often made others uncomfortable, the truth was quite the opposite—he was remarkably perceptive. He simply chose to act however he pleased, regardless of what others felt.

When Asili stopped talking and silence fell, the air grew heavy.

After what felt like an eternity of uncomfortable quiet—long enough to make anyone squirm—

—Knock, knock, knock-knock-knock!

A rapid knocking sound broke the stillness.

Asili and Ludwig instinctively exchanged glances.

Seeing that, the Crown Prince tilted his head.

And because he was absolutely incapable of restraining his curiosity, he asked boldly,

“You two seem to know each other quite well, don’t you?”

Damn it, this guy’s annoyingly sharp.

“How exactly did you meet? She’s from House Bolsheik, isn’t she?”

“That’s a private matter,” Ludwig cut him off curtly.

But the Crown Prince wasn’t the type to back down that easily.

He flashed a bright smile and continued, his tone playful.

“Come now, it’s the first meeting with the lady who’ll be by your side. Don’t be so stiff. Tell me the story—your children will want to hear it someday, won’t they?”

Who the hell does this rude bastard think he is?

What right did he have to pry into their story, let alone talk about their future children as if he had a say in it?

Sure, one could call it friendliness or lack of formality—but in another light, it was plain disrespect.

Being the Crown Prince or a Grand Duke didn’t mean one should always keep others at arm’s length with rigid etiquette—but it also didn’t grant the right to trample on boundaries.

Especially when the Crown Prince’s counterpart here was a Grand Duke.

To keep pushing after being clearly told to stop—that wasn’t friendly, it was intrusive.

And the worst part? All men like him said the same damn thing.

“What kind of story is it that you’re so determined to keep secret?”

“It can’t be that big of a deal, right? It’s not like I’m asking you to reenact it—”

What a royal nuisance.

Not a big deal, huh? Maybe to you.

Knowing full well that ignoring types like him was the best response, Asili still couldn’t help herself.

“With all due respect, it’s a precious memory I don’t wish to share.”

Well, it was a precious memory—meeting him naked in their shared dream and biting his arm.

Just not one to share with anyone else.

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened, darting between her and Ludwig.

Asili’s brows twitched in irritation under his blatant stare—when suddenly, another knock came.

Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock.

“Come in.”

Normally, one would ask the Crown Prince’s permission before letting someone enter, but Ludwig didn’t care.

Because to him, the Crown Prince wasn’t a guest.

Had it been anyone else, the entire mansion would’ve treated him as a precious visitor no matter the time or circumstance—but not this man.

To both Asili and Ludwig, the Crown Prince was nothing more than an annoying, disrespectful intruder.

The door opened silently, revealing Sebastian.

His face was calm as always, but given the urgency of the knock, it was obvious something serious had happened.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

“What is it?” asked the Crown Prince with a casual wave of his hand.

But Sebastian didn’t answer him.

The “Your Highness” he had addressed wasn’t the Crown Prince—it was Ludwig, the Grand Duke.

To Sebastian, it didn’t matter who the visitor was. His master was Ludwig.

Unless his lord asked, he would say nothing of what happened in this mansion.

That might sound natural, but standing in front of the Crown Prince and acting that way took incredible discipline.

The aide’s face flushed bright red, ready to burst with outrage—

“What happened?”

At Ludwig’s question, Sebastian finally spoke.

“There’s been a theft, Your Grace.”

Asili’s eyes widened slightly.

And, predictably, the Crown Prince immediately interjected.

“Theft? Here, in this place?”

The mere word “here” was so insolent that even his aide nearly intervened.

“Your Highness, perhaps you shouldn’t—”

But he never got to finish. His words were cut off.

“Crown Prince.”

Ludwig’s voice was as rough as desert wind—but even a passing monkey would’ve recognized it as a warning.

“Ah—”

And the Crown Prince, who thankfully had better instincts than a monkey, raised both palms in surrender, pressing them against his chest.

The playful gesture made the corner of Asili’s mouth twitch.

God, I want to kick him in the ass.

Whose son is this? Didn’t his parents teach him anything? Ugh… right, he’s the Crown Prince.

The pinnacle of this rigid, hierarchical society.

And worse yet—he was the protagonist of this world.

The one who could never die no matter what, who would always get his happy ending.

Not that his “happy ending” necessarily meant anyone else’s happiness.

Judging by his behavior, it almost certainly didn’t.

“How unfortunate. I was hoping to talk a little longer,” the Crown Prince said, his eyes fixed on Asili, full of both regret and fascination.

“But I suppose I’ll let you go for now. After all, I can see you anytime I wish.”

What the hell does that mean, “anytime I wish”? You lunatic.

Before Asili could open her mouth and unleash the curse perched on her tongue, Ludwig spoke first.

“Keep your babbling to your dreams. Empty nonsense isn’t worth listening to—and if it’s drivel, I’ll shut your mouth for you.”

His tone was quiet, but no longer calm.

It was sharp—like a blade pressed to the throat.

The Crown Prince’s eyes went wide, and he instinctively took a step back.

Even his aide’s face had gone pale, hand clutching at his neck as if the air had vanished.

For a moment, the killing intent radiating from Ludwig had quite literally choked them.

Eventually, the Crown Prince swallowed hard and nodded.

Without another glance, Ludwig turned and left the room with Asili.

She, too, departed without a single farewell.

Not out of rudeness—because if she opened her mouth, she’d probably start swearing.

When the door closed softly, only the Crown Prince and his aide remained.

“T-that was… outrageous!” the aide burst out, his fury misplaced.

Not toward the Grand Duke who had nearly suffocated them, but toward Asili—

“She’s not even proven to be real Bolsheik blood, just some suspicious wom—mmph!”

The aide’s words were cut short as the Crown Prince clamped a hand over his mouth.

He smiled—pleasantly, yet nothing like his usual bright grin.

“Now, now. Best not to say such things here. You seem awfully worked up. Calm down, won’t you?”