Chapter 63
“Stalk—…”
At that answer, Nancy and I exchanged glances, our expressions tightening.
The director, oblivious to our reactions, continued explaining the full story of the incident.
“That stalker said he killed her on impulse—because she ignored him and decided to marry another man. The world’s such a scary place these days. How can anyone raise a daughter safely? So, Shanael, if someone ever starts following you around like that, don’t take it lightly. Be careful.”
“Ah… yes, I will.”
It was meant as a warning, but it didn’t feel like someone else’s story at all.
When my unease showed, Nancy covered my hand with hers and gently patted it, reassuring me.
Since the topic was getting too dark, I decided to change the mood.
“Oh! Director, did you know that ‘The Crown Prince’s First Love’—your serialized novel—is being read even in other countries?”
“How’s that possible? Our paper barely circulates beyond the capital.”
“I didn’t know either. But the Prince of Astelgia told me. Apparently, someone there compiled it illegally and published it as a book—it’s been spreading around.”
“What!! Seriously?”
“Yes! He told me himself yesterday, said he’s a fan.”
“I ended it with the Crown Prince going bald, so I thought it’d be weird to release it as a book… Maybe I should’ve done it after all.”
“If you ever do, you should delete the bald part in the ending.”
“But if he’s not bald, is there even a reason for them to break up?”
“If you can’t think of one, just make the heroine, Iris, leave to find a treasure island or something. Say she went off to chase her dreams.”
“Hm… A Crown Prince suffering heartbreak after letting an ambitious woman go… not bad.”
Nancy, listening beside me, laughed and said my quick ideas were brilliant, agreeing that the ending sounded much better.
Heh, this was nothing for me.
If only I’d written that kind of ending from the start, I wouldn’t have been dragged into the palace in the first place. I regretted how reckless my past self had been.
While we were chatting, a staff member knocked on the director’s office door.
“Director, there’s a visitor from the Press Association.”
“Oh, right—was that meeting today?”
Apparently, he had a prior appointment. Looking slightly embarrassed, he rose to his feet. Since I had dropped by unannounced, I got up too.
“I’ll visit again another time.”
“Sure. Take care, Miss Nancy.”
Nancy and I left the newspaper office and went down the stairs.
Once we reached the first floor, we stopped by a bakery to buy some long-stick bread.
At first, the shop owner didn’t recognize me, but when it came time to pay, he exclaimed, “Oh!?” and looked both shocked and delighted.
“I’ll just quietly buy this and go.”
“Of course, of course. Here, this one’s on the house. Don’t worry about paying.”
He seemed so happy to see me that I didn’t even have the heart to ask about those strange advertisements on the door.
After telling him to stay well, I grabbed the paper bag of bread.
“Miss Shanael, this bread would be delicious dipped in warm milk tea.”
“Right? Let’s go.”
Nancy and I, excited to eat, headed toward the door—ding! The bell above the door chimed as someone entered.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside.
And that striking red hair—impossible to ignore.
Our eyes met—the arrogant expression that only high nobles could make stared down at me.
Prince Felix?
I wasn’t the only one who froze.
Beside me, Nancy’s face paled in fear as she looked up at him.
Prince Felix looked down at me, his lips twisting into a faint smile.
“I heard a rumor that the famous author’s bread is sold here. What a coincidence, meeting you in a place like this.”
I tried my best to answer naturally.
“Ah… I see. The bread here is really good.”
Nancy, tense, clung tightly to my arm.
We walked past him and exited the shop, but as we tried to move away quickly, I spotted a black carriage parked at the end of the alley.
Something about it made my instincts scream danger.
So Nancy and I turned the other way—only to run straight into Prince Felix, who had followed us.
He walked toward us calmly, deliberately blocking our path when we tried to pass.
“Miss Shanael, since we’ve come this far, don’t just leave. Let’s have a little talk.”
“Couldn’t we talk in the palace instead?”
“I’d prefer somewhere quieter… I even have a carriage ready.”
So that black carriage was his.
Nancy gripped my arm tighter, afraid I’d be taken away.
But despite her efforts, when Felix suddenly grabbed my other arm and yanked hard, I couldn’t resist.
Nancy lost her hold on me, and I stumbled straight into his chest.
“Your Highness! Please let Miss Shanael go and talk properly!”
“How dare a commoner lay hands on me?”
Felix shoved Nancy away roughly, his eyes full of contempt.
So this is his true face…?
He had always spoken politely to me—even though I was a commoner too—but clearly, that politeness was nothing more than a mask.
It was as if he had two completely different sides, and I could never tell which was real.
He pushed on my back, forcing me toward the carriage.
“Do you like lakes?”
“Let go of me! I said I don’t want to go!”
“…I asked if you like lakes. Answer me.”
“…”
Was he planning to take me there—to a lake?
He smiled at me, but there was a flash of menace in his eyes.
To onlookers, we probably looked like a couple taking a pleasant walk, but I knew better—he was threatening to drown me.
“I don’t like lakes. I don’t like water at all!”
“If you dislike water, then perhaps you prefer mountains?”
Suddenly, I remembered what Magnum had told me—the child who had been with Felix had fallen to his death.
No matter the place, water or mountain, it all led to the same outcome—death.
Fear surged through me.
Nancy tried to stop him, following closely behind, but she couldn’t overpower him.
“Ah!”
Felix swung his arm, throwing Nancy against a wall.
“Nancy!! Don’t touch my friend!”
I tried pushing his chest away with my free arm, shouting for him to stop, but he wouldn’t let go.
Since he had already prepared a carriage, it was obvious—he was determined to take me with him.
There was no one around. No guards. No help. Panic set in.
What do I do? How do I get out of this?
I glanced around quickly and spotted a stack of burlap sacks nearby.
If I grabbed one and swung it, I might be able to break free—but what if using force made things worse?
“I granted you amnesty to protect yourself, not to turn it into a weapon.”
Hadn’t the Crown Prince warned me not to resort to violence?
And this was a visiting foreign prince—if I acted rashly, I could cause political trouble for the Crown Prince.
So all I could do was resist by refusing to move.
I dug my heels into the ground, struggling not to be dragged any closer to the carriage.
“I said I’m not going! Ugh—let go!”
“Ah, why are you being so difficult? Don’t waste your strength. Just walk properly.”
Annoyed, Felix tugged harder—and then—
Thud!
“Agh!”
With a short cry, Felix’s body was hurled sideways—someone had struck the back of his head hard.
He released my arm, and I collapsed to the ground, looking up at the person who had appeared behind him.
All I could see at first was a tall figure, gold embroidery gleaming across his chest.
As I lifted my gaze to his face, my body instantly relaxed with relief.
Standing over me like a guardian angel—was the Crown Prince.
At that moment, I realized what it meant to have someone who was truly, unshakably on your side.
“Shanael, are you alright?”
The Crown Prince knelt beside me, helping me up as he examined the arm Felix had grabbed.
“There’ll probably be a bruise.”
“I’m okay. What about Nancy?”
Nancy, who’d been thrown against the wall, was standing with Magnum’s support.
I was grateful that they had come to save us—but I couldn’t understand how they’d been here in the first place.
That question was soon answered when Magnum approached.
“Your Highness, you should’ve waited a bit longer. We needed to catch him actually forcing her into the carriage for solid evidence.”
“I couldn’t stand it any longer,” the Crown Prince said. “Still, your idea to lure him out of the palace was brilliant. I wasn’t sure it’d work.”
“See? So now I’m officially exempt from patrol duty, right?”
“Fine. I’ll speak to the captain of the royal guard myself.”
Wait a little longer?
From their conversation, it was clear—they had been following me since I left the palace.
So that’s why His Highness told me to go out earlier… to lure the prince out?
It seemed Magnum had not only told me but also informed the Crown Prince about Felix’s behavior.
Maybe his plan was partly to save me and partly to clear his own record—but either way, I was deeply grateful.
Meanwhile, Prince Felix, grimacing in pain, was struggling to stand.
Seeing that, the Crown Prince calmly stepped closer.
“Don’t make a fuss—it was only my fist that hit you.”
