Chapter 54
The Madness Duo
Daphne scowled as she stared at the person who had suddenly appeared.
“Romeo, seriously. Can you see the goosebumps on my arm right now?”
“I can’t.”
“Please stop copying Psyche. Do you really think that tone suits your voice?”
Emerging from behind the glowing string lights was none other than Romeo Rodriguez.
He smelled faintly of wine, having apparently slipped away from the reception, and was now approaching Daphne.
“You don’t look too happy.”
“I’ve got a lot to think about.”
“Hmm.”
Daphne wrinkled her nose at the mix of cigarette smoke and alcohol emanating from him. She pursed her lips and held her breath, unable to hide her displeasure.
“I’m curious about something.”
“What?”
“Who’s living a second life?”
She furrowed her brows and turned away, pretending she hadn’t heard. Her gaze fell on the sea.
“There’s a legend, isn’t there? If you die here, you’ll live again. Don’t you remember?”
“Do you even know what you’re talking about?”
“The sea where you can see all the little islands. Aunt Rose mentioned it once—this is that place.”
He gestured toward a lush, uninhabited island visible on the horizon, as if to emphasize his point.
“What nonsense.”
The story had been part of a folktale her aunt had shared, one Romeo had been present for. There was no way he didn’t remember. Embarrassed, Daphne fixated on the unfamiliar island as if scrutinizing it would help.
Romeo didn’t respond further and instead sat down next to her. As he reached for his cigarette case, Daphne stopped him.
“Don’t light that.”
“Why not?”
“The smoke will blow in my face if you light it over there.”
“Fair point.”
“And by the way, your sister’s mood is absolutely awful today. Maybe you should go back to your wife.”
Daphne glanced down the corridor where Romeo had come from, half-expecting Psyche to follow, but there was no one—not even an ant in sight.
“You left her alone?”
“My wife is not a child.”
“She looks like one to me. Probably always will.”
“Did you give birth to her or something?”
Seeing her cousin’s smirking face after all these years grated on Daphne’s nerves. She and Romeo were the kind of relatives who wouldn’t hesitate to spit in each other’s faces if provoked.
Now that Romeo had escaped the marriage market, along with Psyche, the two of them would likely settle down and have children soon. After that…
“Ugh, what a headache.”
Daphne could already feel the torrent of annoying lectures about family and responsibility barreling toward her.
While she furrowed her brows in deep contemplation, Romeo sat there grinning, clearly in a good mood.
“Romeo, you’re drunk.”
“Maybe. It is my wedding day.”
Daphne finally let her expression soften and laughed.
“Congratulations on your wedding.”
“…….”
“You’ve worked hard. And you’ll have to work even harder in the future. Don’t forget me when you become king, okay?”
Her cousin, already half out of his mind from being utterly besotted for years, had completely lost his senses since falling in love.
Still, as the Crown Prince, he had always maintained his composure in public, hiding his nerves and inner turmoil behind a noble mask.
Even in front of the woman he loved.
“To put it nicely, he’s formal. To put it bluntly, he’s obsessed with appearances.”
The only person who probably ever saw him truly relax was Psyche.
Daphne didn’t particularly mind that he was letting his guard down and grinning in front of her now.
“So, why are you so relaxed today? Did something happen to boost your confidence?”
Romeo paused at her teasing question, staring at her intently.
“What are you looking at?”
After a brief hesitation, Romeo let out a soft laugh, his golden eyes wandering toward the sea before returning to her.
“Is my brother imitating you?”
Romeo tilted his head in genuine curiosity, his gaze fixed on Daphne.
“What are you talking about?”
“Sometimes, you and my brother behave similarly—your tone, your words.”
“Oh, we’re super close. We sleep together every day.”
Romeo gave her a skeptical look.
“Lower your eyes.”
“Oh, so my sister is in love?”
Daphne responded by silently flipping him the middle finger.
“You knew that and still didn’t let him in with me?”
“It was out of my hands. Is this your way of protesting? Doesn’t seem like you at all.”
Though his guess was entirely off the mark, Romeo had a knack for sensing her unsettled emotions.
“This wedding…”
“What about it?”
“The thought that it could have been Celestian’s…”
The idea was so unpleasant that Daphne cleared her throat and shook her head. She offered a different answer instead.
“Now who’s going to play with me?” Daphne lamented dramatically. “You should at least sympathize with a girl mourning the loss of her best friend.”
“Ah, right.”
Romeo shifted slightly, causing Daphne to perk up, thinking he might actually leave.
“You are a girl, after all.”
But he was only adjusting his position to sit more comfortably.
“Do you have a death wish on this joyous occasion?”
Daphne gave up trying to shove him away and crossed her legs. Romeo fiddled with his silver cigarette case before setting it on the seat next to him.
“Did I congratulate you already?”
“You did.”
“Didn’t hear it.”
Daphne sighed but managed a laugh.
“Are you referring to the end of our contract? I’ve congratulated myself plenty, actually. Even bought myself a little gift. All I ask is that His Royal Highness keeps every promise he made.”
The bizarre contract she’d shared with Romeo officially ended today.
Its primary purpose had been simple: ensure that both Daphne and Celestian survived. In hindsight, it hardly seemed necessary to bind such a promise in a formal contract.
“Hmm, my sister says promises are made to be broken,” Romeo quipped playfully.
Daphne shot him a venomous glare, her eyes filled with unspoken curses. He grinned wider, clearly satisfied with her reaction.
Daphne ignored him, sinking back into her thoughts. She recalled Celestian in the narrow hallway, his hand hovering near her neck. Maybe, in a fit of rage, he had genuinely thought about choking her.
“Whatever the case, he wouldn’t have made it this far without Psyche.”
If it weren’t for Romeo, it might have been Celestian tossing her to the crocodiles instead of helping her.
For a brief moment, Daphne clasped her hands together, silently thanking Psyche for everything.
“Crocodiles.”
“What?”
Daphne flinched visibly. Romeo said nothing but nodded toward the edge of the ship’s railing.
Several large, scaly creatures with rugged backs swam lazily near the anchored vessel.
“Those aren’t dolphins?”
“Want to go down and see for yourself? I thought you liked reptiles.”
“I only like snakes! I’ve never seen a crocodile before, and they’re terrifying.”
“Who knew you could be scared of anything? Seeing your face at night would be just as frightening. Psyche must have nerves of steel.”
Daphne snorted at the jab but shook her head in amusement.
“Huh.”
Romeo’s expression returned to its usual unreadable mask—calm, smirking, and full of secrets.
A shiver ran down Daphne’s spine, and she instinctively edged away. Yet Romeo remained as motionless as a grinning doll.
“Maybe I’m just imagining things.”
The eerie moment passed, and Daphne’s thoughts wandered back to Celestian. She wondered where he was and what he might be doing.
“Could he be locked in some underground prison?”
She had pored over the ship’s blueprints countless times, and such a place didn’t exist. But Romeo was the type to break all expectations—a man of unusual cunning and downright insanity.
“He always wants what interests him and discards what doesn’t. What a moron.”
Daphne scratched her cheek, realizing that criticizing Romeo was akin to spitting in her own face. When she glanced at him again, he was staring at her intently.
“What now?”
“I was just thinking, Daphne.”
His tone was flat, devoid of inflection, sending a chill down her back.
“We should stop thinking so much.”
“Not like it’s necessary now that the contract’s over.”
Romeo ran his thumb across his lips, narrowing his eyes slightly. Daphne chose not to ask “Stop thinking about what?”
“Like the part where you saved my wife’s sworn enemy and a traitor?”
He said it anyway.
Daphne forced a bright smile and shot to her feet.
This area was too secluded, and Romeo’s playful malice had long since crossed the line. During the two years of their contract, she’d felt relatively safe, but that safety was no longer guaranteed.
“Your Highness, enjoy your honeymoon,” she said, curtseying mockingly as she lifted the sides of her dress. In her mind, she had already spat on his face a thousand times.
“Daphne Beaucater.”
His cold hand seized her delicate wrist, pulling her back in a flash. He turned her around effortlessly, his gaze drifting to the bruises on her wrist and shoulder. He chuckled softly, his grip firm enough to sway her balance.
“Romeo!”
Daphne came to her senses just as her back pressed against the ship’s railing. Her upper body tilted dangerously over the edge.
Her fiery red hair caught the glow of the setting sun, blazing like flames, while Romeo’s golden eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Aren’t you curious why there are crocodiles here?”
