Chapter 06
A tiger leaves its skin when it dies;
An overworked part-timer leaves their experience.
‘Wow… all those years of sweating under the sun were finally worth something! ’
Overjoyed, I tightened my arms around Kai’s neck.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but his strong shoulders seemed to tremble.
“See, Your Highness? I’m actually really useful! Sure, I used to be a spy, but stop doubting me and trust me once! I literally have no one else to rely on except you! ”
“……”
Kai said nothing and simply kept running toward the barricade.
Dangling on his back, I kept talking.
“Seriously! Without me, you would’ve died just now! ”
“……”
“You better treat me well from now on! I saved your life! You owe me one, Your Highness! ”
“Fine, so stop. And stop breathing hot air on my ear.”
“Ugh, don’t say it weirdly! I wasn’t doing that on purpose—I’m out of breath! ”
“You’re being carried. Why are you out of breath? ”
“Oh, come on! You saw me knock that monster to the other side of the ship! ”
I tightened my grip around his neck again, narrowing my eyes.
He didn’t say anything, but…
His attitude was clearly softer than before.
He didn’t argue.
He just kept staring forward in silence.
‘I knew it! He’s touched because I saved him! ’
Well, he is my favorite character.
Of course I’d protect him.
Feeling proud, I gripped my frying pan again—
ready to smash the skull of anything that dared approach.
Then Kai muttered in a low voice:
“…Are you planning to strangle me to death? ”
“Huh? What? ”
“Your grip strength is… never mind. Forget it.”
Why start talking and stop halfway like that?
So frustrating.
‘Has no one taught him the worst torture is stopping mid-sentence? ’
Two ways to drive someone crazy:
- Stop speaking right before saying something important.
- ……
***
As soon as we reached the barricade, the knights rushed out and killed the surrounding monsters.
“Your Highness! You’re alive! Ah—wait, what’s that bright red handprint on your neck?! ”
“It’s nothing. A certain barnacle tried to strangle me.”
“…A barnacle? ”
The knights were confused, but they still welcomed Kai happily.
Then Kai’s lieutenant rushed up, face pale with urgency.
“Perfect timing, Your Highness. There’s something you must check immediately—regarding the monsters’ behavior—”
He lowered his voice so others wouldn’t hear.
Whatever he whispered, Kai’s face grew more serious the longer he listened.
He walked into Zone 3 as the officers continued reporting.
I hurried after him—
But then—
“Stop right there.”
The knights’ expressions changed instantly.
“You’re not allowed inside.”
“… Excuse me?”
“Only authorized nobles and crew can enter Zone 3.”
“What? But I came with His Highness Kai! Let me in! “… ”
Panicked, I pointed at Kai disappearing inside.
“Your Highness! I’m here! Don’t forget me! Hey! Look back! ”
I jumped, waved, shouted—
but he didn’t notice.
Whatever the urgent matter was, he walked straight in without checking behind him.
He probably assumed I would naturally follow.
To him, I was a physically weak spy who couldn’t run to save her life.
There was no way someone like me would wander off alone into a monster-infested zone.
Of course I’d cling to him crying, “Don’t leave me, Your Highness! ”
But there was one problem neither of us expected:
The knights are blocking my path.
They refused to budge, and a brief struggle followed.
“His Highness hasn’t saved only you, civilian.”
“I’m NOT a rescued civilian! Ask His Highness directly! ”
“If he needs you, he’ll call for you. Until then, you stay out.”
They even tried to push me back outside the barricade.
Where a whole crowd of monsters was waiting.
These insane jerks.
I wanted to scream at them.
But unlike Kai, the knights weren’t the compassionate type.
If they were kind, would they have forced quarantined citizens back into danger earlier?
So I quickly switched tactics and tried to sell the idea that Kai and I had a “special relationship.”
“Excuse me! You saw him carrying me, right? We’re practically lovers! ”
The man who seemed to be in charge glanced at the knight who first saw us.
The knight hesitated… then nodded.
“Yes, that part is true.”
The knights pushing me away instantly softened.
‘Good. Use this opening.’
If they kicked me out, it was over. I had to ride this momentum.
I remembered the VIP customers I’d dealt with while working in a luxury department store.
I flicked my wrist elegantly, covered my mouth with my fingers, and let out a refined scoff.
“Really? Is this how you treat someone like me? Can you handle the consequences? ”
“…Lady, may I ask your status? ”
“Don’t you recognize it? Do I have to spell it out? Actually, let me ask YOU something. Name? House? Rank? ”
The simplest question—“What’s your name? ”—
can be the most terrifying depending on the situation.
Like when a professor asks it during roll call.
Or when a VIP stares at the name tag on your chest.
The knights instantly fell silent as I continued.
“Do you even know who my father is? One wrong word from me and you low-ranking knights are done for.”
“……”
“And for your information, Kai and I fell in love at first sight. We’ve already made future promises.”
A title like “the prince’s fiancée” would make them too scared to throw me out.
If nothing else, they’d either call Kai back or let me inside.
At the very least, they couldn’t afford to shove me into a monster pit.
I lowered my voice dramatically and imitated Kai:
“He cherishes me so much. Just earlier he begged, ‘Oh, my beloved Netty—my heart breaks every time your delicate feet touch the cold floor…’ so I reluctantly—”
“I dragged you here.”
Kai cut in.
He appeared out of nowhere, slightly out of breath as if he’d run back.
I pinched his side immediately.
Sure, I’d been pretending to be his fiancée and got caught.
but I was still angry.
‘Where were you?! ’
How could he just forget me and walk away?!
As I glared, Kai flinched.
“That woman is the spy I captured. Don’t mind her and continue your duties.”
He ended the argument with one sentence and pulled me toward the entrance.
We would’ve passed through without issue—
If not for a voice behind us.
“Please wait, Your Highness.”
“What is it? ”
“If she’s a spy, then we definitely cannot allow her inside with you. I will personally guard her 24 hours a day.”
Kai’s eyebrows furrowed sharply.
‘Huh? Why does Kai look… annoyed? ’
He looked genuinely displeased.
Then he pulled me slightly behind him and said firmly,
“Sir Dylan, I will not allow you to be alone with this woman.”
