TTOSS 10

Chapter 10

Rhirope was briefly baffled by the sudden interruption in the communication device. Thinking it might have malfunctioned, she poked and prodded it.

Pressing the power button firmly, the device turned on, displaying the default screen lined with the emblems of various noble houses.

So it wasn’t broken.

“Could it be… he cut it off on purpose?”

Rhirope frowned sharply.

She was puzzled by the mention of “ten minutes,” realizing it probably meant he would send an escort in ten minutes, and her eyes narrowed immediately.

“That northern guy…”

She wondered if he had caught some kind of ‘short-speech disease,’ because how could anyone understand his meaning with just “ten minutes” and then nothing else?

Rhirope was quick-witted and could pick up on subtleties, so she understood right away. A slower person might take a week to figure out the meaning behind that “ten minutes.”

Her heart, which had been leaping at the sight of Theo’s smile earlier, settled somewhat, but she still didn’t like his personality.

Yet, she decided to accept the fact that he would send someone within ten minutes.

From the Grand Duke’s residence to her location, ten minutes would definitely mean sending an escort through the teleportation portal. Considering how expensive teleportation was, she could overlook his stubbornness.

Of course, for the duke ruling the northern territories, teleportation fees were nothing.

Rhirope waited patiently for ten minutes.

But when she finally did… it wasn’t an escort knight who appeared before her eyes—it was Theo himself.

“W-Why are you here, Theo?!”

Startled, she asked, and Theo replied in a more composed tone than usual:

“Why? To escort my fiancée, of course.”

The words “so that’s why you’re here” hovered in her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice them.

Apparently, her expression betrayed her thoughts, as Theo’s usual relaxed smile appeared on his face.

“You look like you’re thinking, ‘Why of all people, you?’”

When Theo emphasized “you,” Rhirope cleared her throat as if her inner thoughts had been exposed.

Though she desperately wanted to ask why he had come, she forced a polite smile and asked the safest possible question:

“…Aren’t you busy?”

Theo shrugged.

“Even if I’m busy, what can I do? My fiancée needs an escort.”

“But you could have sent someone else…”

“Within the Grand Duchy, I’m the most trustworthy escort.”

“….”

“If the Duke sees that I came along, he’ll be more at ease. He trusts me more than Sir Grey.”

Theo glanced around, then asked, “Where’s your graduation project?”

“I’m not telling my dad. Besides, it’s not a graduation project—it’s Lynix.”

“There’s no secret in the world. So, where’s Lynix? Since I’m here, I want to see it.”

‘Ah, so he really came to see my phoenix.’

Rhirope’s eyes grew half-lidded. Last time, Lynix had taken a particular liking to Theo, and apparently, the feeling was mutual.

‘Hmph, I won’t show it to him.’

“It’s sleeping in my room. It’s naptime right now.”

Theo’s face fell slightly at her answer, but he didn’t insist on seeing it and simply nodded.

“Still, it’s a bit… much that you’re coming along, Theo.”

Rhirope hesitated to voice the latter part—“It’s a little overwhelming”—but Theo seemed to read her mind.

“If it feels overwhelming, just think of me as the escort I’m supposed to be.”

Rhirope rolled her eyes in disbelief.

“Who treats their fiancée as an escort?”

“I’m relieved you realize that I’m your fiancé.”

Theo’s smile widened at her response.

“Good thing you didn’t sign the engagement without knowing such things.”

“You were with that fool Cardin, so I thought… you didn’t know.”

Theo emphasized “didn’t know” strongly, which seemed to be his habit when stressing a point.

“At that time, it couldn’t be helped.”

“There are always situations that can’t be helped, Rhirope.”

“But that doesn’t mean I was involved with the Crown Prince… Wait, why did you call me Rhipe?”

“Hm?”

‘Even tilting his head like that is unfairly handsome.’

Rhirope had to steady herself, lest she be completely captivated by his appearance.

“My dad and Gemma call me Riri.”

“But?”

“It feels a bit strange to be called by a nickname that no one else uses.”

She wanted to say it annoyed her slightly but softened it as best she could.

Theo gave her a lazy smile.

“Of course. I’m not ‘a man’—I’m your fiancé.”

“….”

“And soon, your husband.”

His mischievous smile made Rhirope’s heart drop.

That smile seemed reserved just for her, never shown to anyone else.

Rhirope blinked in confusion at the situation.

Things seemed to be getting very complicated, and Rhirope couldn’t relax her tense expression.

She had tried to twist the original story to survive, only to accidentally entangle herself with the male lead. That was the problem.

The original story’s events were approaching, and by then, Theo and Rosearin would inevitably be drawn to each other, as if by fate.

Perhaps fate had already tied their threads together, binding them.

Even something as small as a handkerchief had already indicated the beginning of their connection.

Rhirope realized she had become an unwanted element between the male and female leads, potentially drawing her closer to death.

‘I need to stay sharp. As long as I don’t interfere, I can arrange a peaceful breakup with the North Duke without problems.’

Seated across from Theo in the carriage heading to town, Rhirope resolved to remain vigilant.

Then she realized Theo’s gaze was fixed on her.

Turning from the window, she met his lazy, arrogant look.

“Is there something on my face?” she asked, touching her cheek.

“No.”

‘Then why is he staring at me like that?’

“You’re just so beautiful.”

Rhirope’s eyes widened.

“I’ve only known the proud little lady image, so this feeling is… refreshing.”

‘What kind of feeling is that?’

Her throat tightened; she could only blink rapidly.

Her ears heated, then her whole face flushed. She realized she was already blushing without needing to check a mirror.

“W-What…”

Her heart raced, and she couldn’t lift her head as she murmured. Theo looked at her with an unusual intensity.

“Consider it as, ‘I didn’t realize my fiancée was truly beautiful.’”

Rhirope covered her face with her hands.

“Why… why are you like this?”

“What did I do?”

Her trembling voice made his tone warm and teasing.

“I didn’t expect you to be so embarrassed. People might think you really like me, Rhipe.”

“….”

“If this is acting, then you’re amazing at acting.”

“It’s not acting.”

“Either way, it’s refreshing.”

“So now, stop hiding your face. I can’t see it.”

His whisper carried a strangely tender warmth.

Rhirope finally lowered her hands, still avoiding eye contact. Her gaze fell on the golden buttons of his uniform.

Unable to adjust to this chaotic situation, she looked out the window and asked him:

“Do you only like people’s faces?”

If so, Rosearin would objectively be much prettier than her, making her the wrong match.

In the original story, the Crown Prince had been interested in Rosearin’s beauty from the start, whereas Theo had gradually been drawn to her personality and actions.

But now, his words—calling her beautiful and saying it was refreshing—made him seem less superficial.

Unexpectedly, Theo answered:

“Not at all. I fall for someone only when I’m certain they are mine.”

It was as if he was saying Rhirope was already his.

Rhirope’s heart raced so violently, it felt as though it would leap out of her chest.