Chapter 14
Unlike when the sun had shone, the castle in Arus territory looked pale under the shroud of darkness.
Inside the massive stone building, which seemed to have forgotten the night, a group of warriors with cool expressions had gathered deep within the grand hall.
“Here. And here.”
Blake Arus pointed to several spots on the enormous map and continued.
“And this is the stronghold marked on the secret letter that Chloe sent. Since the mission’s objective is not invasion but retrieving Chloe, we’ll assemble a small elite armed force.”
“But the castle already has numerous defensive magic stones set like traps. The chances of infiltrating without triggering them are very low, so perhaps a full-scale assault…”
“I’ll go.”
Melissa interrupted Brooks.
Since Chloe’s abduction, Melissa had lived like a hollow shell, refusing to eat or drink, but she had changed entirely from the day she received the secret letter.
“I know that place best. I lived there for years.”
“Melissa.”
“The positions of the defensive traps on the map Chloe sent match almost exactly with what I remember. Nothing has probably changed much.”
Melissa’s resolute eyes turned to Blake, who was seated in the place of honor.
“I’ll infiltrate, brother.”
“…I forbid it.”
Blake’s face had grown noticeably haggard in just a few days.
He shook his head firmly, expressing his will.
“I can’t let you go, Melissa.”
“No, I must go. I’m the most suitable person for this mission.”
“Melissa, listen to me.”
“Are you worried I’ll fail?”
Melissa smiled confidently, her eyes shining.
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring Chloe back no matter what. I’m more than capable. Trust me—I won’t fail.”
“…It’s not that. I’m not worried about failure.”
Seeing Melissa’s hands trembling slightly with anger and desire for revenge, Blake let out a heavy sigh and spoke sincerely.
“I’m not talking about Chloe right now. I’m talking about you.”
“…”
“You had a really hard time there too, didn’t you? I can’t send you alone to such a place. I’ll handle this mission. You stay in the rear.”
Melissa looked at Blake, who still seemed to see her as a little sister he had to protect, then smiled faintly.
“Thank you, brother. But this time, I must go.”
“Melissa.”
“This time, don’t worry. I won’t get hurt there at all.”
Her golden eyes, once gentle, became chilling once again.
“Rest assured. If anyone bleeds… it won’t be me this time.”
“Do you like it?”
Chloe couldn’t properly answer Cash.
She loved it. She had never owned a dress that fit her taste so perfectly.
Chloe stared, mouth agape, at herself in the mirror wearing the bright yellow dress.
The dress, light and airy with a large bow at the waist, had multiple layers of lace at the hem.
When she spun quickly, the skirt flared like a bell along the trajectory.
“It’s amazing. I love it, I really, really love it!”
Her green eyes sparkled like stars as she clenched her hands.
Just as Cash and Isabelle’s expressions melted at that cute sight, a knock came, followed by Lucian’s voice.
“Are you ready to meet Demos?”
“May I open the door, Princess?”
Chloe looked in the mirror once more and answered firmly.
“Yes!”
With permission, the door opened.
Two men, as large as the door itself, stepped in.
Lucian Leander and Ian Leander—the masters of this vast territory.
Chloe, who had been confidently watching the door, now gaped again.
Dressed formally, they exuded a completely different presence than before.
Their terrifying look in Arus territory, their simple attire in Leander territory—both had been impressive, but this was on another level.
Like statues crafted by a master, or mythic figures the master had wished to create.
As Chloe alternated her gaze between Lucian and Ian, Ian’s voice reached her.
“A fairy…?”
“Huh?”
“A fairy…?”
Ian stared blankly at Chloe, smaller than his waist, mumbling to himself.
“No, that can’t be. Someone born into the Leander family can’t be this cute. My brother and I were vicious as kids…”
Cash and Isabelle stifled laughter at that indirect compliment.
But Chloe couldn’t smile and fidgeted with her fingers.
Should she have worn this dress?
Her hands unconsciously went to her head.
Silly Chloe Arus.
‘Even if I’m cute, just a little is enough! Being overly cute makes them doubt I’m not a beast!’
As Chloe sulked and resolved to be only a little cute next time, she suddenly felt a huge barrier in front of her crumble.
Startled, she looked ahead to see Lucian kneeling in front of her.
His perfectly tailored uniform didn’t seem to bother him; he only fiddled with her shoes.
‘Why, why is he doing this?’
Feeling his large hands pressing gently against her small shoes, Chloe watched him carefully.
“Cash.”
Lucian checked the other shoe a few times before looking at Cash.
“Bring me the last pair of shoes ordered, the yellow ones with straps.”
Cash quickly presented the shoes.
“Alright.”
Refusing Isabelle’s help, Lucian removed Chloe’s shoes and helped her put on the new pair himself.
Watching him awkwardly fasten the straps, Chloe finally realized why he had changed her shoes.
“These are more comfortable!”
The new shoes were subtly but noticeably more comfortable.
She had thought the previous pair fit perfectly, but now she knew these were the correct size.
“I see. They seemed a bit small. Must have been ordered without measuring properly.”
Lucian responded nonchalantly and stood.
“Now we know the size. Cash, inform the wardrobe.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Cash bowed deeply, hesitated, and approached Chloe.
“Princess, I’m sorry for not noticing earlier. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”
“It’s okay! Besides, I was the one who said they fit perfectly first, and you helped me put them on. It wasn’t your fault!”
Chloe’s lively answer melted Cash and Isabelle again.
“Shall we go?”
Amused by the maids’ changing expressions, Chloe instinctively reached out at Lucian’s words.
“Yes!”
Ah.
Immediately realizing her mistake, she froze.
Habitually reaching out her hand had become second nature after always holding her mother’s or uncle’s hand when moving.
Chloe anxiously watched the direction she had reached.
“….”
Lucian said nothing and simply looked at her outstretched hand.
‘I made a mistake.’
Embarrassment rose on Chloe’s face again.
But instead of apologizing immediately like in the greenhouse, she observed Lucian’s reaction.
He might ask why she reached out, giving her a chance to say it was a habit, like she told Cash and Isabelle.
‘Then I can explain once more how loved I’ve been.’
She eagerly waited for Lucian to look puzzled.
‘I’ll answer everything!’
But once again, the reaction she expected didn’t come.
“Huh?”
Instead, his large hand covered hers.
“Let’s go.”
Chloe stared at the hand covering hers, surprised.
She hadn’t expected him to hold it.
She thought she’d have to enter the hall alone.
Chloe looked up at Lucian, hand in hand, feeling oddly as if a human emotion had surfaced on his sculpted face.
‘Why… does he seem happy?’
As Chloe tapped the floor lightly with her shoe, feeling embarrassed, she sensed something hard touching her other hand.
Turning her head, she saw Ian calmly holding her hand.
‘Huh?’
“Demos will be waiting. Let’s go.”
Ian spoke, slightly annoyed, and began walking.
With both giant men holding her hands, Chloe looked at the mirror in her room.
Inside it was the image of herself, like an orangutan, walking hand in hand with her two caretakers.
