Chapter 18
“…A banquet?”
“The foolish Lady Retel left only a note and went traveling disguised as a commoner. The Ducal House didn’t discover the note in time and caused an uproar.”
This time, following Leandro, it was I who became the author.
“But will people really believe that story?”
Leandro, after pondering my novel’s plot, asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
In high society, where a single rumor could easily bury a young lady, truth was irrelevant.
“If the Imperial Family and the Retel Ducal House say it’s so, then that’s all there is to it.”
“Milady, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
At the butler’s words, I gave myself one last glance in the mirror.
A few strands had slipped down from the silver hair pinned up high.
My skin was so pale it looked almost translucent, a light touch of makeup added faint color, and my thin neck led to bare shoulders.
“How annoying.”
I muttered, and my lush red lips moved slightly.
Chase’s gaze was always uncomfortable, but on days when I dressed up like today, his sticky stare clung to me even more.
I was the one who requested the Crown Prince to host this banquet…
But the helplessness of having to rely on a man I detested left me feeling filthy. And his languid smile made me burn with humiliation.
Still, it was better than watching my family continue to suffer as they tried to catch the culprit.
“Milady, your shawl.”
A white mesh shawl was draped over my midnight-blue dress dusted with golden sparkles.
“Shall we go, then.”
Descending the grand staircase, my eyes met Chase’s, who was waiting in the entrance hall.
His lips curved with satisfaction as he scrutinized me from head to toe.
“Charle.”
Before I even reached the bottom, Chase came up to me, spoke my pet name, and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand.
Disgusting.
When Artif kissed my hand or face, it never felt like this. His touch was more like a ticklish flutter…
“You are breathtaking tonight.”
His voice broke into my drifting thoughts, and I answered flatly out of reflex.
“Thank you.”
I accepted Chase’s escort into the imperial carriage. Once he sat beside me, the door closed, and the carriage rattled into motion.
A confined, narrow space.
Twilight had fallen, and faint lights flickered in through the window.
The heavy scent of Chase’s cologne seeped so strongly into the air, I feared it would cling to my body.
“It’s cramped.”
At last, I couldn’t endure it anymore and muttered.
Sliding closer to the wall, I startled when Chase suddenly burst out laughing.
“Ha ha, you truly are…”
He touched a strand of my fallen hair, smiling as he spoke.
“You really don’t understand men at all.”
Not men—psychopaths.
I bit my lip hard and turned toward the window. But soon I felt my shawl slip away from my shoulders.
Snapping my head back, I saw it in Chase’s hand.
“What are you doing? Give it back.”
I reached out, but he tossed the shawl onto the opposite seat.
“I have a gift for you.”
“I don’t need it.”
I leaned to retrieve the shawl, but his strong hand pinned my bare shoulder down. No matter how I struggled, his grip held me fast.
“Don’t resist. I’m holding back as it is.”
Crazy bastard.
“Don’t bite your lips. And don’t glare at me with eyes that stir a man’s urge to conquer.”
He pressed his thumb against my lips.
All I could do was glare, wide-eyed, unable to move.
“This would be over quickly if you’d just accept the gift. Behave while I still have reason left.”
Chase unclasped the ruby necklace from my throat.
“I want our first time to be at the perfect moment.”
I clenched my fists tight.
As rage threatened to bring tears to my eyes, I bit the inside of my cheek instead. Chase chuckled and cupped my face with one large hand.
“I love you, Charle.”
“……”
I couldn’t slap his hand away or even turn my head.
Because I knew—if he wanted, he could do anything to me here. That I had no choice but to endure—that was the most terrifying thing of all.
“Good girl. If only you would always be this obedient.”
On the verge of kissing me, he instead pulled back and took out a small box.
“Rubies don’t suit you.”
Inside was a set of amethyst jewelry.
He set a tiara on my head and replaced my ruby earrings with amethyst ones.
“Turn around.”
At the commanding tone, shame burned through me as I turned. A heavy amethyst necklace pressed against my throat.
Smiling in satisfaction, Chase now stripped off my gloves.
“Your Highness.”
“A punishment.”
He draped the shawl back over my shoulders but entwined his fingers tightly with mine, then leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
“From now on, don’t wear gloves when you meet me.”
His hot grip squeezing mine made me feel sick.
Just as I thought I would suffocate and wanted to leap out, the carriage came to a halt.
“Let’s go.”
Breathing in the fresh air as I stepped down from the carriage with his hand, my lungs felt cleansed.
Tonight’s banquet was set in the Crown Prince’s garden.
Following Chase, I entered a scene dazzling with grandeur even outdoors.
Flowers adorned every corner, and a massive fountain sent cool breezes through the night.
As we arrived, everyone bowed their heads.
“You all must have heard that Lady Charlez Retel was absent for a short time.”
Chase addressed the assembled nobles.
Gasps rippled through them, faces showing a mix of surprise and curiosity at the sudden public statement.
“There were foolish rumors of abduction, but the lady had only traveled to Plutis.”
Plutis was the nearest seaside city to the capital.
Thus, as I had earlier suggested to Leandro, the matter of my disappearance was neatly wrapped up as a trip.
No one would believe it, but no one dared question it either.
“My considerate fiancée has prepared jewelry made of Plutis pearls as gifts for you all—please take one.”
Chase himself wore a tie pin decorated with pearls.
“Thank you, Lady.”
After Chase’s declaration, several nobles approached to greet me, already wearing the pearl ornaments.
“Truly remarkable, my lady. To have procured so many pearls of such fine quality.”
“I’m glad they please you.”
I smiled softly, and the noble flushed.
“Well, then…”
“Charle, shall we dance?”
Before he could say more, Chase pulled me close by the waist.
“I—I’ll go greet the others then.”
Seeing how intimately we stood together, the young noble hastily retreated.
“You’re too beautiful. Even vermin like that dare harbor filthy thoughts.”
Chase whispered against my ear, his hot breath repulsive.
I pushed at the hand gripping my waist and said,
“I’m thirsty.”
Despite my indifferent expression, he let out a pleased chuckle.
“I’ll fetch you something right away.”
As he left to fetch champagne, I slipped away from the banquet and into the garden.
“Haa…”
So tired.
Since my disappearance, Chase’s obsession had grown worse.
A grim foreboding pressed on me—that I might never escape him.
I tilted my head back and looked to the sky.
The moon was swelling from a half-moon toward fullness.
‘I’ll return when the full moon rises.’
Artif had promised.
If I’d known we’d be separated like this, I would have let him touch my jelly palms a little longer.
Regret weighed on me, and I sighed—when suddenly a shout came from afar.
“My lady!”
“What is it?”
The palace knight hurried over, panting.
“Ha… ha… Please stop His Highness! At this rate, the young Lord of Count Paltern will die!”
