Chapter 86
I realized what I had done and quickly pulled my hand away.
“Sorry,” I added softly, and instead of saying he was fine, he answered my question first.
“Yes, that’s right. You know there are people targeting Liz. If possible, I’d like to stay by her side….”
Rixion Luhanes stared at the arm I had been holding even after I let go.
In the past, I might have just thought he was in a bad mood, but after that kind of confession, my feelings were more complicated.
“I’m no longer her close guard, but I still have to stay at the palace. So I assigned trusted people to stay with Liz instead.”
He trailed off for a moment before continuing, lifting his head.
When Rixion mentioned the saint, I instinctively furrowed my brows. Memories of my earlier conversation with Jieunha came back.
Seeing Jieunha get so angry that she cried, and noticing that Rixion had even stepped back from being her close guard to keep his distance, made my heart ache.
It was already a problem, but I was afraid it might completely ruin the original story if things continued like this.
After all, I was just someone who would leave, and the heroine who was supposed to receive everyone’s love and reach the ending was Jieunha, not me.
Even the powers I now possessed, including matters concerning Rowin and Rin, made me feel guilty toward Jieunha.
And now, even the original male lead was looking at me instead of her, and the guilt was overwhelming.
I really hadn’t wanted this to happen.
I truly didn’t want to steal Jieunha’s place as the original heroine.
Feeling frustrated, I gripped my skirt tightly with both hands, as though trying to contain the emotions surging out of me.
“You were really angry at Jieunha, weren’t you?”
Why did he have to say that? Swallowing the critical tone I couldn’t voice, I looked at him with resentment.
But this time, Rixion Luhanes also narrowed his blue eyes sharply and asked back.
“Did she do that?”
Just as I had stepped back when I grabbed his arm earlier, he now took a bold step forward.
“Why did she go looking for Liz? What did she say to you?”
Reflexively, I braced my feet and stood my ground. Hiding my flustered expression, I answered flatly.
“I didn’t hear much. She just didn’t have any friends her age and wanted to be friendly, that’s all.”
“Friendly?”
Rixion Luhanes’ handsome brows drew together.
“You said it wouldn’t happen no matter what, yet someone you’ve only met twice you immediately call a friend?”
I was taken aback. His unexpected question pointed out a detail I hadn’t considered.
‘Wait… now he’s quibbling over that?’
Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction and question, I let out a short, breathless laugh.
Come to think of it, it was like this with Jade before, too—suddenly he wanted to get close to me…
Oh no! I completely forgot about Jade!
Following the train of my thoughts, I realized in horror that I had almost forgotten an old friend who might have been in danger from bad people.
I really was scatterbrained. No wonder Jade might have felt hurt!
Remembering Jade so late, I panicked and looked around.
Unconsciously forgetting Rixion Luhanes in front of me, I thought only of getting into a carriage quickly and leaving the palace. My mind was dominated by the need to check if Jade was safe at the temple.
I was stomping my feet, scanning for the path I had come from, when my left hand was suddenly lifted, and I felt something soft touch my ring finger.
Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, I turned my gaze sharply, and Rixion Luhanes’ face was close enough that my reflection was visible in his blue eyes.
I yanked my hand free and took two steps back.
I silently congratulated myself for not screaming the moment our eyes met.
“W-what are you doing?”
I was so flustered that words barely came out.
Trying to sound stern, I frowned at him, and Rixion Luhanes shrugged lightly.
“Who knows?”
Who knows? Did he just say “who knows”?
I raised the corner of my eye at his ridiculous and shameless reply.
“That’s not ‘who knows’! Did you just… do that to the back of my hand?”
“A kiss?”
“Don’t mention it so directly!”
I finally shouted in frustration.
Yet he reacted as if my threat didn’t even matter.
“I could see Liz having other thoughts. So I just teased her a little.”
And then he gave that long, captivating smile.
If I were someone who didn’t know better, I might have been completely charmed by that face and given everything I had without thinking.
“Hah.”
But I wasn’t someone who would fall for that smile blindly.
I let out a huff, utterly exasperated, and shot him a look of disbelief.
It was strange. He had always been a bit bold, but never this much.
The day he confessed he liked me, he had followed up with an apology.
It was sad that someone had to apologize for their feelings, and it even made me feel sorry in return.
But who was this sly, cunning man standing in front of me now?
The gentle, melancholic gaze from before was gone, replaced by a cheeky, shameless smile that left me confused.
And even though I tried to resist, I kept getting drawn in, making me more anxious.
Something inside me screamed that I had to escape from this man as soon as possible.
“I need to go home.”
Without looking at Rixion Luhanes, I quickly moved. I intentionally walked around him and quickened my pace.
The day had already grown dark, and I could barely see, and maybe because of my haste, I tripped slightly and leaned forward. The cumbersome dress and uncomfortable shoes didn’t help.
Just as I felt I might fall, an arm reached around from behind and caught my waist easily.
‘Phew… lucky.’
At that moment, I was only relieved I hadn’t fallen flat on the ground.
But once I realized the arm around my waist didn’t let go even after I regained my balance, my thoughts started racing.
‘Huh?’
Something similar had happened before at the Luhanes mansion. I had spent a long time in Rixion Luhanes’ arms.
But back then, I didn’t know he liked me, and it felt like he was simply reminiscing about his childhood, so it was awkward but not unsettling.
“Liz, you sure do fall easily.”
The low whisper right at my ear made my body shiver.
He wasn’t doing it on purpose, but his close proximity was distracting.
I couldn’t stand it any longer and struggled, wriggling free from his arm.
Like a feisty little chicken after eating spicy food, I flailed, and Rixion Luhanes reluctantly let me go.
I huffed and spun around to glare at him, hoping my flushed face would be seen as anger, not embarrassment.
His calm, unbothered expression in contrast was infuriating.
“I forgot to tell you something.”
I raised my right hand toward him like a warning.
“Sorry, but don’t like me.”
Even saying it, it sounded ridiculous. I didn’t think I’d ever say such a thing, but I felt I needed to set the boundary once.
I said it firmly and glanced at Rixion Luhanes’ expression.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem hurt. He just looked slightly amused, as if he had expected it.
Feeling somewhat relieved, he calmly replied with a smile.
“Alright, then I won’t like you.”
……?
My mind filled with question marks again.
Don’t like me!
Okay, I’ll not like you!
After such a strange request came an even stranger reply.
Not just “I won’t like you,” but “I’ll make it that I don’t like you”?
I couldn’t make sense of the conversation or the situation, so I stared at him dumbfounded.
Rixion Luhanes, smiling gently at me, suddenly raised his hand to cover his face.
Before I could wonder what was happening, he bent at the waist and burst into laughter.
