WBRS 19

Chapter 19

“Luseline, you’ve been looking unusually low on energy lately. Is something wrong?”

“Hm? Really? Nothing in particular…”

I smiled faintly and turned my head at Hailey’s words.

Bird-type beastfolk were generally tight-lipped, so even if I confided everything to Hailey, it shouldn’t be a problem.

But even so.

After attending an imperial party, I happened to pick up a half-dead snake in the garden—I can never say I picked it up because it was pretty—and I named it and took care of it, only to get bitten by it. Then I found out it was a contract mark. And then I found out that snake wasn’t just any snake, but a snake beastfolk that had supposedly gone extinct long ago. Thanks to that, I now have the mark of the empire’s so-called calamity engraved on my wrist.

…How am I supposed to say that?! Absolutely not. I’d rather not lose my only same-sex friend.

“Hey, Luseline. About your engagement… you keep saying you hate it, but who knows? Maybe His Highness is an incredibly handsome man.”

“What are you talking about? That’s impossible.”

Hailey’s glittering violet-black eyes sparkled like jewels with anticipation. Seeing her like that, I firmly waved my hand.

“Why not? It’s possible. Maybe he’s so handsome they had to keep him hidden for security reasons so people wouldn’t faint from seeing him.”

As unrealistic, dreamlike words drifted into my ears, an unwanted image suddenly surfaced in my mind.

“Killis.”

White hair like snowflakes, golden eyes bright as the moon—a flawless beautiful man.

No matter what the crown prince looked like, he would undoubtedly fall far short of Killis.

Besides, the only person with such dangerously attractive looks that it could “make people lose their minds” was that snake beastfolk. If someone were hiding their face because of beauty alone, then the crown prince would have to be a snake himself.

But saying that out loud would probably get me charged with treason for insulting the imperial family.

It was that absurd.

The crown prince, said to be descended from dragons, being a snake? That was beyond insulting—it didn’t even deserve a word.

It would be more believable to say a long-lost dragon had been reborn.

“Ha ha, as if.”

Laughing at my own ridiculous imagination, I firmly shook my head.

“…Huh.”

I opened my eyes wide and clutched my chest, feeling my heartbeat racing, while looking out at the window where the sun had just begun to rise.

The conversation I had with Hailey recently had appeared in my dream. It was so vivid I remembered every word.

And of all days, the crown prince’s birthday…

“What a strange dream…”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Miss, you’re up early. I’ll prepare your bath.”

Leaning in with a strangely ominous smile was Lety, who entered upon seeing me awake.

The maids always looked like this on party days.

“Lety, your expression is suspicious.”

“Everyone’s been so bored since you stopped attending parties, my lady. We’re all full of enthusiasm today.”

Her raccoon-like black eyes gleamed sharply.

Seeing her, I instinctively knew I would be tormented by them until I left for the party.

“Everything is perfect…!”

“This is the best day of my 10-year career as a maid!”

“My lady, I’ve worked for 20 years! Everyone will fall in love with you!”

Finally dressed in a blue salon gown that arrived just in time, I was ready for the party.

Even though I said it was fine as it was, the maids insisted on decorating my hair until not a single strand was left untouched… I already felt exhausted before even leaving.

“…Is this okay? Anyone would think I’m the birthday girl.”

I was the one going to the crown prince’s birthday party, but I somehow looked like the main character.

“You are none other than the future Crown Princess, my lady. This is only natural!”

“Absolutely!”

Ignoring my protests, the maids finished fixing my hair just as a knock came from outside.

“Miss, the carriage is ready.”

We were already slightly late because the maids wouldn’t let me go. If I left now, I would barely make it before the party began.

“Okay, I’m coming.”

I finally escaped the clinging maids and followed the butler outside.

The imperial palace in the distance burned crimson under the sunset, like it was on fire.

“Please tell us how it goes afterward!”

“Today feels like the day! You’ll definitely meet him!”

Even as I boarded the carriage, the maids watched me intensely, making sure not a single hair was out of place.

“Alright, I’ll go.”

With their cheerful farewell, the carriage door closed.

Normally, my personal maid Lety would have come with me, but—

“I’ll skip today! His Highness will greet you when you arrive, and he’ll also take you back, so I’ll pass!”

That was what she said, conveniently excusing herself.

Of course, I had my doubts, but if she didn’t want to come, what could I do?

“…Take me back? I just hope I even get to see his face.”

After already being stood up before, I couldn’t bring myself to hope too much. More importantly, I didn’t particularly want to meet him today anyway.

I could already imagine myself panicking the entire time, afraid my contract mark would be discovered.

“He won’t show up today either.”

But despite saying that, a faint expectation lingered in my voice.

Looking out at the imperial palace with its dome-shaped towers glowing in the sunset, I slowly closed my eyes.

I wore long sleeves that could cover my wrist just in case.

The lace at the cuffs rustled against the handkerchief Killis had given me.

“…I hope I don’t have to use this.”

The cold glass vial of pheromone suppressant hidden in my sleeve kept bothering me.

It was a precaution in case the crown prince had an unusually sharp sense of smell.

Fortunately, only a very small number of beastfolk—mainly canine types—had such sensitivity.

Even Dylan, a wolf beastman I met before, only noticed my mark after seeing my wrist.

“So the chances are low…”

Still, there were always exceptions.

And if I were caught carrying an illegal suppressant, that would be even worse.

But even so, it was better than having my contract mark discovered.

Since pheromone suppressants weren’t officially distributed in the empire, they had to be obtained through the black market.

I had gone through quite a lot of trouble sneaking near the underground market without the maids noticing.

Soon, the carriage stopped.

We had arrived at the imperial palace.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

When the door opened, an unexpected sight greeted me.

“Greetings, Lady Ervel.”

Huh? Why are so many knights here?

As I stepped down from the carriage, imperial knights in neat uniforms rushed forward and bowed.

I was escorted down by one of them.

“What’s going on?”

We hadn’t even entered the party yet, so this clearly wasn’t just a simple escort.

At my question, the knights exchanged glances before leaning in.

“His Highness the Crown Prince requests a private meeting with you before the party begins.”

The words spoken in their calm voices were shocking.

I had expected this possibility—but not that it would happen immediately upon arrival.

“…Now?”

“Yes. If you permit the escort, we will guide you.”

Though it sounded like I had a choice, refusal was clearly not an option. I had no choice but to nod.

“Then we will escort you.”

As soon as I agreed, the knights surrounded me.

It almost felt like they were protecting me from something—or hiding me.

“Um… isn’t this a bit excessive?”

“It is His Highness’s order to ensure your safety.”

Safety or not, their broad backs completely blocked my view.

It felt like they thought I was some fragile baby rabbit.

Already, I had a bad feeling about what was to come.