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Dana immediately went to find Raios.
“What brings you here?” Raios was enjoying a hunt at the imperial hunting grounds.
“I need to talk to you for a moment.”
“Yes. Just two of us, somewhere quiet.”
Raios shrugged. “Sorry, but I’m in the middle of enjoying a hunt with close friends and taking a short break. It would be awkward to send them away.” He smiled and gestured toward the gentlemen waiting behind him. “So I’d appreciate it if you came back another time, Danae.”
Dana glanced at them briefly. They were surely aware of her presence.They’re still ignoring me.
Raios’s friends didn’t even look at Dana. They didn’t offer so much as a casual greeting. Ignoring Dana was like their unspoken rule.
“No, there’s a way.” At that moment, Raios seemed to recall something and grabbed Dana. “We can ride into the hunting grounds together.”
“I don’t have a horse right now.”
And there was no way his friends would lend her one. Which meant…
“Why say something so obvious now?” Raios smiled mischievously. “You can ride with me.”
Once they entered the forest of the hunting grounds, Raios spoke. Hearing his voice brush against the back of her head filled Dana with irritation.
“What is it you want?”
It was unpleasant, but tolerable. What mattered right now was talking to him.
“Let’s talk on the ground.”
“It’s a hassle. Just speak it like this.” Raios refused coldly, sounding annoyed. “I’ll be meeting Allice soon. Don’t waste any more of my time. Just get to the point.”
Allice? Had that girl already left the monastery? Was she staying at the imperial palace with Raios now?But now wasn’t the time to think about her.
Dana went straight to the point. “Your Highness, the night before last.”
The night Justin Lancaster was killed.
“What were you doing?”
“I was with Allice,” Raios answered calmly. “These days, I always sleep with Allice.”
“Unlike you, Allice is always willing to curl up in my arms.” His voice dropped from above her head. “Thinking about how difficult it was just to get a single kiss from you… It feels like I’m finally experiencing real love now.”
At that moment, Dana realized something clearly. She felt absolutely nothing upon hearing his words. Her only concern was one thing.
“Were you with Allice all that time?”
Just wanting to find out the truth.
Dana probed gently. “That’s different from what I know.”
She almost wished Raios was the culprit.There can’t possibly be another madman like him.The thought that there might be someone else just as deranged as him was too horrifying.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Danae. Are you suggesting I put Allice to bed and then snuck out to have an affair?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’d better stop trying to sow discord. Allice is a light sleeper. She wakes up if I so much as move. She wouldn’t believe your words to begin with.” Raios looked genuinely displeased. “I spent the entire night with Allice. And you know that all entries and exits to the palace are recorded by gatekeepers.”
“If you want, request to view those records.”
Even if the entry records could be manipulated…Right, Allice is a very light sleeper.Allice also suffered from insomnia and didn’t fall asleep easily. Sneaking out while leaving her behind would’ve been impossible.
Could it really not be Raios? Then who? Could it be…
No way. Is it really Uncle Carl?
“So.” At that moment, a low voice came above her head. “What is it you really want to say?”
“Stop dragging it out and get to the point. There must be something else you want to say.”
What? This conversation is the main issue. Why does he think there’s another main issue?Frowning, Dana absentmindedly lifted her face. Instantly, she met a pair of jet-black eyes staring straight down at her.
She flinched. For some reason, goosebumps rose on her skin, and she quickly lowered her head again. Perhaps because his irises were such a deep black, whenever she met Raios’s gaze, Dana sometimes felt as though she were being sucked into an abyss. It was terribly chilling and eerie…
“Hurry up.” He urged her in a tightly restrained voice. “Get to the point, Danae.”
“That was all just now. I have nothing more to say.”
“…That was all?”
Why had he thought that earlier conversation wasn’t the point? It was strange to assume she had more to say.Ah, could it be?
“Your Highness, shall we break off our engagement?”
Perhaps he’d been waiting for her to say this since his mind had already changed.
“No matter how legal it is for cousins to share a husband… I guarantee you this. After time passes, it’ll be considered a horror story.”
It was the same in her world.
“Future generations may judge Your Highness as a crown prince with grotesque tastes.”
There was no response. Was he thinking positively? Of course, Raios would hate to give up her wealth.
Truthfully, Dana didn’t want to give Raios a single coin.But it doesn’t matter anymore. As long as I can leave this world somehow.Her desire to leave was so desperate that she could now say this out loud. “If you need it, I’ll divide my assets in half and give you your share.”
“Your Highness?”
What?Did he just tell me to shut up?
Just as Dana was about to protest,slap!Raios whipped the reins.
The horse began to gallop wildly. Dana’s back slammed against Raios’s chest.
“Raios! Slow down!”
Instead of slowing down, Raios whipped the reins again, increasing their speed. Dana clung to the horse’s mane, barely holding on.
This time, she nearly fell off, so she grabbed Raios’s arm reflexively. Then, amid the rushing wind, she heard Raios laugh.Is he laughing at me? This crazy guy!
“Stop!” Clinging to his arm, Dana shouted fiercely. “Stop it! Your Highness!”
But Raios did not respond.
At that shout, Raios yanked the reins hard. The horse came to an abrupt halt, rearing slightly.
Dana’s body pitched backward. Almost as if embracing him, her back collided with Raios’s chest. At that moment, something of his pressed hard against her hips.Ah.
Instantly, Raios’s arm tensed. She could feel his entire body stiffen as he held his breath.
Clatter.The horse’s hooves touched the ground again. At once, Dana hurriedly pulled herself forward as if burned.
What was that just now? Was it a mistake? No, it was a sensation that couldn’t possibly be a mistake…
“As it happens, I had something to say as well. This works out nicely.” Just then, Raios spoke. His voice was calm, as if nothing had happened. “You know that in a few days, the imperial palace will host the Night of Sponsorship, right?”