“Episode 16”
That damned mischievous streak.
Truly, a dazzling prince in shining gold.
Celestian stood before Daphne, exuding an air of whimsy as if he were a curious stranger.
“Your royal relatives are casting glances. They might say it’s improper.”
Those who dared to turn their backs on the royal family’s people and cause a scene at the royal party had countless words to add. Daphne was aware of this fact, feeling incredulous.
“I’m a foreigner, never learned such etiquette.”
Celestian replied cheerfully, apparently intent on forgetting the few years he had lived in the palace.
“Only a foreigner when it suits you.”
“Ah, well….”
Celestian leaned as if to move aside. Daphne firmly grabbed the lapel of his vest. It didn’t sit well being below him, but in situations like this, it proved quite useful.
“Oh, no need. Stay where you are.”
“Is there no one to greet with a kiss this time?”
Daphne raised an eyebrow, glancing over Celestian’s shoulder at the people. The royal family of Secradian and high-ranking nobles didn’t particularly like Daphne. The reason was simple.
She was a greedy woman.
“I’m an outcast in this social circle. Can you shield me if bottles start flying? Let’s prove your worth.”
He burst into laughter, as if he were joking about his shield being a traitor!
“You speak so beautifully.”
“No need for flattery.”
Certainly, being momentarily blinded lessened the impact. Who knew her shield was a traitor! Daphne smiled satisfactorily.
“You’re quite perceptive.”
“I don’t understand why such speech is disliked. So, dislike it, like it, what does it matter?”
“You’re quite perceptive too. Ah, does that also include the ‘gun’?”
Daphne laughed as Celestian teased. He, too, laughed with narrowed eyes. Daphne playfully straightened Celestian’s vest, pretending to tidy it up.
“You need to be aware. They’re high-ranking individuals. Respected, responsible for the country’s share, and whatnot. And….”
“And?”
“I’m tired of the commotion.”
The Secradian royals were born, lived, and died in grandeur. Enjoying luxury was natural, and they were admired for merely inheriting the bloodline. With only a few individuals left, their era was coming to an end. Perhaps that’s why they despised ‘traitors’ even more. Their era was truly about to end. Sometimes they even came to the workplace to cause trouble.
But there was nothing to be done. Royals were noble and precious.
“If Celestian really succeeded in rebellion….”
“Your inner thoughts seem different.”
Celestian seemed to read Daphne’s expression.
“That’s right. They all wish X or Y would fall.”
Daphne pulled Celestian’s lapel, speaking very quietly.
“Daph.”
A warm yet firm voice was heard. Daphne turned her head. It was Psyche.
Unmistakable joy shimmered over the blue eyes. Then gradually…
‘She’s getting angry.’
Blue rage began to ripple in her eyes. Daphne briefly wondered why she was so angry.
‘Oh, Romeo… Did ‘we’ forget to tell Psyche we were coming?’
Romeo was smiling quite awkwardly. So he was actually ‘laughing’. He soon stood in front of Psyche, covering her. It seemed he was trying to appease her.
‘Nowadays, she’s quite sensitive. What a damned mischievous fellow.’
Daphne burst into a cold laugh. When Psyche got angry, her face tended to turn red, and Romeo loved that face very much. It meant he enjoyed calming down the female lead who was in a panic.
Expecting this to be the only such incident, Daphne trembled in her cousin’s dark thoughts.
‘It’s fortunate she doesn’t throw punches.’
One fortunate thing was that the noble individuals gathered over there didn’t detect anything unusual about the flow of people toward this side.
While Psyche briefly went to the powder room with a few royal members, Daphne and Celestian were led to the dining room with several round tables adorned with white silk. Perhaps due to people coming here only to take a break from the ongoing commotion, the place was quiet.
“This time, you’re seated next to me. Do you like it?”
Daphne was about to answer that she really didn’t like it, but she just grimaced instead.
‘Ugh…’
Celestian was practically glued to Daphne’s back, and upon confirming that Romeo had already taken a seat, he personally pulled out Daphne’s chair.
Feeling somewhat fondly entangled by Celestian’s charming antics today, Daphne was about to burst into laughter but had to sober up immediately. It was because of her cousin’s behavior of pulling out the chair Celestian had vacated.
“Please move aside, sir.”
Celestian raised an eyebrow. In the meantime, Romeo gestured as if to say, ‘Go ahead and take the seat on my left.’
‘Rude jerk.’
Daphne rolled her eyes around and then looked at the neatly arranged cutlery. She thought about sticking each one into Romeo’s body holes.
Celestian stood straight, gazing down at Romeo with interest.
“If I do the same…”
Daphne approached Psyche, planning to patch things up with a quick kiss and leave for home. She wobbled in her seat with the thought of going home.
“You should sit down. I have something to say.”
“Can’t you just write me a letter? I’m going to see Psyche.”
“She’ll be here soon. If we miss each other, it’ll be worse.”
What nonsense. Feeling impatient already, Daphne lowered her eyes. Then, she looked up and said to Celestian:
“Prince, could you perhaps wait outside?”
“There’s only one ‘prince’ here, dear.”
Why does he keep provoking me? Daphne calmly changed the subject.
“Celestian, could you wait outside for a moment? I’ll greet you and then leave.”
Where would this man be anyway?
Misha would probably be resting somewhere in this mansion, but she couldn’t ask him to come out abruptly since he liked being alone.
Celestian oddly smiled and nodded quietly.
“See you next time, ‘Romeo.'”
Then he disappeared suddenly.
“Romeo, why are you like this, seriously? Are you that confident? Won’t you go see Psyche?”
“I’m treating Psyche well even without such times. Just like you taught me. Laugh appropriately and yield.”
Daphne sighed with irritation. Her throat was dry, but strangely, she wasn’t drawn to the drinks in front of her.
“Seriously… I want to immigrate.”
Romeo, who had been smiling with golden eyes hidden beneath his eyelids, brought a wine glass to his lips.
“What do you have to say?”
“Why did you come along?”
Both spoke at the same time. Romeo was looking toward the door where Celestian had disappeared. Did he forget he was the one who invited him? Daphne answered with a sly smile.
“You invited him yourself.”
“I did?”
Romeo raised his eyebrows in confusion. A few days ago, on the invitation received from Romeo’s secretary at Konya’s party, Celestian’s name was clearly written.
“Did I?”
If you found a mistake, please correct me.
Daphne stared at the red liquid flowing into her red lips and had a terrifying thought. Then, she suddenly remembered a joke Misha had made a few days ago.
“Who did you inherit from your aunt? Is the heir Psyche? Or…”
At once, Romeo’s expression contorted. His intense features turned angry, exuding an overwhelming aura.
He grabbed Daphne’s wrist, holding a wine bottle in his other hand. His strong grip furrowed her brow involuntarily.
“Ease up. I’m delicate despite being beautiful.”
“Diddy, come here.”
Romeo didn’t even bother saying not to be funny.
“How can our future children start a family if you’re not mature enough?”
Despite not wanting to hear his lecture, Daphne kept her lips tightly shut as Romeo wordlessly dragged her arm. She couldn’t resist his immense strength, even though she was taken aback.
Once they were on the terrace, Romeo relaxed his grip, and Daphne shook her hand several times as if electricity was running through it. It swelled slightly after just a brief moment.
“You’re really too strong!”
Daphne tried to curse him but stopped herself and turned her body towards her cousin.
Romeo, in a fit of irritation, pulled out his signet ring with his right index finger and crushed it.
“Look.”
After throwing the ring into the bottle, a wave of crimson foam erupted from the shattered wine bottle onto Daphne’s green dress.
“Oh my.”
The revealed ring was charred black. With a grip still tight around Daphne’s shoulder, Romeo interrogated her.
“You brought this wine.”
“Uh…”
High-quality wine from the northwestern region of the Empire was exclusively sold by Daphne within the kingdom. Romeo knew this well, as Daphne always served the wine or fruit at Psyche’s parties.
“I swear it wasn’t me. You know I wouldn’t do something so sinister. If I wanted to kill you, I’d have shot you and then killed myself.”
Daphne was innocent.
“Are you confessing?”
“If I killed you, I’d have to die too!”
“The timing is suspicious. Why did you ask about the heir?”
“It was a joke. Can you ease up a bit?”
Understanding, Romeo raised his hands. Then, he grimaced as if nauseated and gagged, folding his face like a piece of paper.
Daphne immediately placed her hand in front of his mouth. She couldn’t hit him anywhere else, fearing that the absorption would increase if she hit him wrong.
Since childhood, both cousins had undergone poisoning training, so they had some immunity to most poisons.
“And he’s a prince, so he can’t die.”
But having poison poured directly into his throat would be painful.
“Your Majesty, how many sips did you take?”
“Three.”
Romeo glanced at Daphne with repentant eyes.
“I really didn’t do it.”
“I know.”
The reason Romeo forcibly dragged Daphne here was improvisation.
The people at this dinner were only restless royals who couldn’t assert themselves in the kingdom.
If a problem arose, the “villain and traitor” would be the first to be punished, and Romeo didn’t like others making Daphne feel uncomfortable.
“It’s disgusting to touch you.”
Romeo muttered slowly as he leaned against Daphne’s body as if to squeeze her.
“Just keep drinking and go to hell, cousin.”
Despite saying that, Daphne didn’t push him away. If she could just seat him and bring Celestian, she could resolve it quickly, but if the hyenas outside caught a glimpse…
Thinking that, Daphne looked inside and froze.
“Oh.”
The people sitting there weren’t just sitting quietly. Five nobles were rudely peering through the curtains as if looking over here.
With a composed expression, Daphne glanced around at the situation she was in.
The wine-soaked floor, the crimson shards, the crown prince who fell into her arms, and who she was.
“Romeo, snap out of it. It seems like we’re in trouble.”
Ah, she was quite the villain.
