Chapter 62…
Tession’s lips, which had been blocked by hers, curved into a faint smile as he asked,
“Do you dislike it?”
“N-not exactly dislike… but we already did it a lot…,” she murmured, her voice shrinking smaller and smaller without realizing it.
Tession replied with a calm face that showed he didn’t quite understand.
“I thought it wasn’t enough.”
“Huh? How much would satisfy you—”
“So this is what the rats hiding in my castle were.”
At that moment, the heavy click of leather shoes echoed across the marble floor, followed by a cold voice. Startled by the sudden sound, Cynthia pushed Tession away and turned her head.
“Upon a closer look, they’re not rats but my old friend, Grand Duke Lumanov, and his fiancée, Lady Bailey.”
The Crown Prince Lycaion Bonefeld stepped lazily onto the second-floor balcony. Seeing him, Tession’s expression immediately hardened.
Lycaion, standing there with one corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin, looked back and forth between Cynthia and Tession before speaking.
“Oh my. What’s this soft, tender atmosphere? Did I just barge into a lovers’ secret rendezvous?”
Crown Prince…?
Cynthia froze. She recognized Lycaion — the cruel man from the original novel, the one who knew she was a fake Bailey lady.
Sensing her tension, Tession deliberately moved to shield her behind his back.
“Your Highness,” he greeted evenly.
Lycaion, standing a little distance away, raised his hand to his chin, eyeing the two of them with interest.
“Well, well. What were you two doing up here alone? All the other nobles are outside watching the fireworks — the highlight of the party.”
“…”
“I almost mistook you for filthy rats and crushed you underfoot.”
He lifted one polished shoe slightly and brought it down hard — the sharp clack of leather on marble cut through the air.
Cynthia couldn’t speak, seized by an unexplainable fear. He wasn’t just cruel and heartless in the novel — he was also the one who knew her secret.
But this is too much… isn’t it?
Even if he was a bastard, he was still the crown prince of the Dirotein Empire, and the people before him were a grand duke and a noble lady. He didn’t have to be friendly, but shouldn’t he at least maintain a shred of courtesy?
Feeling the hostility radiating so openly, Cynthia frowned slightly.
It was obvious — Lycaion had always hated Tession, and since she was Tession’s fiancée, he was simply taking it out on her too.
As Cynthia watched with wary confusion, Tession spoke calmly.
“We came up here to get a closer view of the fireworks Your Highness prepared.”
“With whose permission?”
“This isn’t a place that requires permission. I often came here during my time at the Imperial Academy.”
Lycaion’s face twisted at Tession’s answer. But Tession didn’t seem the least bit concerned.
“Thanks to you, we were able to enjoy a splendid view after a long time. Thank you, Your Highness.”
“A long time? You mean for the first time. I doubt you’ve ever actually seen it.”
Lycaion scratched at his ear and frowned, then turned his crimson eyes toward the figure standing behind Tession.
Cynthia, who had been holding her breath, flinched when his gaze met hers. His eyes gleamed with new interest.
“Ah, Lady Bailey. Did you enjoy the fireworks as well?”
Cynthia glanced briefly at Tession’s tense profile before replying softly,
“Thanks to your kind attention, I did. The scale and brilliance were impressive.”
“Ha! Well, it’s been a while since I made a public appearance. I splurged a little this time,” Lycaion said with a smirk.
“But to think the two of you were spending such cozy time together here. Rumor has it your relationship is rather cold — was that all false?”
Tession stayed silent. Cynthia answered instead.
“The Grand Duke is a very considerate man. As his official fiancée, he has always treated me with kindness.”
“Kindness? This seems a bit beyond that. From what I know, Grand Duke Lumanov despises anything related to the Imperial Academy. Yet here you are, bringing your fiancée to one of its favorite hangouts.”
Imperial Academy…?
Cynthia glanced between the two men, both of whom looked distinctly uncomfortable at the mention of that place.
What exactly happened between them there? Was my guess right — that Lycaion bullied Tession back then?
“There were too many people in the garden. We simply wanted a more comfortable spot to watch the fireworks.”
“Ah, so Grand Duke Lumanov’s tenderness is reserved for his fiancée alone, I see.”
Lycaion smirked again.
“And that look you gave her back in the hall… for a second I thought something was wrong with my eyes. Anyone would think you actually have feelings for her!”
Tession’s hand suddenly closed around Cynthia’s, and he began to lead her away.
“The fireworks are over. We’ll be taking our leave now.”
“Already?”
“Once again, congratulations on your return, Your Highness.”
Finally, we’re leaving.
Cynthia felt a rush of relief — they were about to escape this suffocating confrontation. She bowed politely to Lycaion and tried to walk past him, but his hand shot out and grabbed her opposite wrist.
“Ah!”
She gasped as her body spun from the force of his grip. Tession immediately turned back, seizing Lycaion’s wrist in return.
“Let her go.”
“Oh? Angry, are we?”
Tession glared silently. The dark amethyst of his eyes burned with cold fury.
Lycaion flinched — just slightly — surprised by the raw emotion, then slowly released Cynthia’s hand, raising both palms in mock surrender.
“See? I let go. Fascinating — I’ve seen so many expressions from you tonight. I never realized human eyes could hold so many emotions.”
“…”
“It just felt rude to part so soon. Mind if I borrow your fiancée for a quick chat?”
Tession exhaled slowly.
“It’s late. I’ll arrange another time to—”
“Lady Bailey doesn’t resemble Duke Castlton Bailey much, does she?”
Lycaion cut him off smoothly.
Turning his head slightly, he began to study Cynthia from head to toe.
“Even if she’s an adopted daughter, they’re family — you’d expect at least a little resemblance. Odd, how completely unrelated they look.”
Ah. Now he’s turning his target on me.
He was deliberately pressing on what he knew would unsettle her. Lycaion was the kind of man who found joy in cruelty.
And the worst part? He’s right…
“That’s enough, Your Highness,” Tession said sharply.
But Lycaion only looked more amused.
“Why? Did I say something untrue? I merely pointed out that, despite being adopted, she doesn’t look much like her father.”
He was watching Cynthia closely — searching for confirmation, for any flicker of truth. And she could tell — he knew.
Cynthia clenched her fists. She couldn’t let him win.
Even if her secret had been exposed once, she had to make him doubt it again — prove that his assumption was wrong.
Her pulse pounding, Cynthia drew in a deep breath. This wasn’t just about a contract with the Bailey family anymore.
It was about her life.
If the crown prince became certain she was a fake and exposed her, she’d be doomed — punished without escape.
“If you ask me,” Lycaion began, “it seems the Duke had a change of heart and adopted some unrelated girl—”
“Pfft.”
The sound of quiet laughter cut him off. Both men turned.
Tession looked at her; Cynthia had her eyes wide and a hand over her mouth.
“Ah—sorry. I just couldn’t help laughing,” she said softly.
