IYWHM Chapter 63

What in the world is going on?

Kisa’s mind went blank at the shocking scene unfolding before her eyes.

Why is the princess kissing Gabriel here?

Moreover, Gabriel, who initially seemed to struggle to get away, was now holding her waist, suggesting it wasn’t just the princess’s desire.

‘Wait, what about Seyard?’

Wasn’t Seyard the one Gabriel loved?

Wasn’t Seyard the one he was supposed to meet here?

Kisa stared blankly at their passionate kiss for a while before snapping back to her senses.

Whatever the reason, it wasn’t a scene that others should be freely watching.

Turning her gaze away from them, she tried to leave.

But her legs were shaking so badly she couldn’t walk properly.

It seemed her body had given out from the shock of learning such a truth after sprinting, something she rarely did.

Kisa sank to the floor without realizing it.

In the deserted annex, only the explicit sounds created by the princess and Gabriel flowed through the silence.

Though there were only two people kissing, Kisa’s face grew hot.

Having grown up in a conservative environment her whole life, Kisa had no experience with kissing herself, and this was the first time she had even witnessed someone else doing it up close.

A strange, unsettling feeling mixed with guilt from eavesdropping on the private affairs of people she knew swirled within Kisa.

Just as she was about to force herself to get up, feeling like she couldn’t stay like this, the kiss finally ended.

The princess, having caught her breath, exclaimed triumphantly.

“See? You act like you don’t like it, but you come running like a dog at the slightest opening! What? Leave me? Study abroad? You can’t go. How dare you even think of going?”

Kisa was startled by the violent language.

It was a side of the princess she had never seen in their nearly ten years of acquaintance.

The Arta Derbon Sorbi that Kisa knew was somewhat selfish and tomboyish, but basically kind and elegant.

A person befitting her royal status.

“Have you already forgotten who took you in when you failed to study abroad and were living like a bug after being swindled by some stupid theater owner?”

She was never someone who used such insulting expressions and looked down on others.

She was the generous princess who would smile and forgive even a clumsy palace worker who spilled tea on her dress.

“You just need to stay by my side until I get tired of you, bark when I tell you to bark, kiss when I tell you to kiss, and play the violin when I tell you to. Is that so hard?”

The fantasy Kisa had held of the ‘princess I secretly admired’ shattered.

She had now seen Arta’s true colors.

“I… I don’t want to live like that,” Gabriel protested to the princess in a trembling voice.

“Princess, there was a time when I thought I could endure it because I loved you. But I still want to go out into the wider world. I want to do more music in Octava.”

But it didn’t work on the princess.

“Yeah, do your precious music. But not in Octava. Stay in this country where I am.”

“There are limitations here. And weren’t you the one who told me not to even think about becoming more famous?”

“Isn’t that obvious? The more famous you become, the more likely this relationship will be exposed. My mother told me to stay quiet until I get married.”

“…Marriage, you say. You are truly cruel. Are you telling me to just suck my thumb and watch you get married from behind the scenes? And to just act cute when you want me to, pretending I know nothing?”

The princess seemed to be in a better mood at Gabriel’s sorrowful question.

“Jealousy is quite cute. It’s presumptuous, but I’ll let it slide. But that’s it. You know very well that your role isn’t my husband. Was your head so bad that you couldn’t even understand that?”

“I… I don’t want to live like that. I’m going to Octava to start a new life.”

Gabriel declared with a fairly determined attitude, but the princess simply scoffed.

“You act all clean, but you’re so ungrateful. Have you already forgotten the favor I bestowed upon you?”

“I, I am grateful for that. I will repay you with the money I have saved.”

“Can you repay me with that measly amount of money?”

“Then I will definitely repay you later. If you don’t like that, I will even borrow money from Duke Hillan to repay you.”

“What? That bastard is going to lend you money?”

“The Duke told me to tell him anytime if I had any financial difficulties-.”

“Seyard Hillan, that son of a b*tch.”

It was a curse filled with hatred, as if she wanted to chew him to death right away.

“Get a grip. Do you really think that bastard is offering to send you to study abroad and even give you money out of pure goodwill?”

“Please don’t talk like that. The Duke is my benefactor.”

“Benefactor, my ass. You were the one who cried and begged me not to marry that guy.”

“…….”

“Anyway, that guy deliberately approached you to mess with me. Earlier, he was so persistent in holding me back in the reception room so I couldn’t get to you. That black-hearted bastard.”

Seyard’s existence seemed to fuel the princess’s anger, and she shouted again in an angry voice.

“Enough, just get out of this damn place! Did you think I wouldn’t be able to come if you were cooped up here? Go to Seyard, that son of a b*tch, right now and tell him you don’t need the study abroad or anything!”

Gabriel was silent.

“What are you doing? Go tell him!”

“……No.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m going to Octava. No matter what you say, Princess, that decision won’t change.”

Kisa thought the princess would be furious, but her tone was surprisingly calm.

“Are you serious?”

“I am serious.”

“I’ll ask you one more time. Are you serious?”

Gabriel couldn’t answer “yes” to the second question.

Because before his answer could come out, the sound of flesh hitting flesh came first.

“I, I’m sorry.”

Gabriel, his spirit broken, apologized, but Arta was merciless.

Slap!

“Tell me. That you’re serious.”

Slap!

“Tell me!”

Slap!

“Where did all that confidence from before go?”

Kisa’s face stung as if she were the one being slapped repeatedly.

Her heart was pounding fast, she was sweating cold, and her legs were trembling.

The princess was terrifying.

She was terrified of her, so easily capable of despising, mocking, belittling, and even resorting to violence.

The sight of Gabriel helplessly suffering her tyranny overlapped with someone else.

Kisa barely stood up on her trembling legs.

She was truly scared, but the thought that she had to do something took hold of her.

As she moved to stop the princess, a force restrained Kisa.

Someone she hadn’t noticed had come from behind, grabbed her arm, and turned her around.

Kisa was about to call out his name, but a large hand covered her mouth.

It was Seyard.

He glanced in the direction of the princess and Gabriel, then shook his head while looking at Kisa.

His eyes seemed to say it was better not to intervene.

Why was Seyard here?

Kisa’s mind, which wasn’t working well, questioned this.

****

The inside of the annex was cleaner than expected.

It seemed the Duke’s servants cleaned and maintained the furniture quite often.

Perhaps that was why Seyard had brought Kisa here.

Seyard, who had led Kisa into the reception room, the closest place to the entrance, first tried to calm the trembling Kisa.

“Kisa.”

“…….”

“Kisa.”

“Oh, yes?”

He gently held Kisa’s fingertips. His warmth spread through her cold fingers.

“It’s okay now. Don’t worry.”

“But Gabriel…….”

“She’ll probably stop after a few hits because her own hand will hurt more. The princess isn’t very strong. But Gabriel is different. If I had to guess, he’s much healthier than the princess.”

“Oh, you know him quite well?”

“I can tell roughly by his physique. He’s thin, but I can see some muscle even through his clothes.”

“Still, he’s still a person, so it must hurt to be slapped.”

“Of course. But if you had stepped in back then, the situation would have worsened.”

“Why?”

“Kisa, who is already disliked by the princess for being engaged to me, would only be adding fuel to the fire by stepping in for Gabriel. Even if she couldn’t do anything too harsh to Kisa, she would have tormented Gabriel even more.”

Thinking about it, it made sense.

She was so flustered that she hadn’t thought that far, but Seyard was, as always, rational.

But there was one thing she didn’t understand.

“Couldn’t Seyard have helped?”

“Pardon?”

“Couldn’t Seyard have stopped her and taken appropriate measures so Gabriel wouldn’t get hit anymore?”

He could have stopped the princess and prevented Gabriel from being hit further.

But he didn’t. Why?

“I’m not trying to blame you. I just want to know…….”

As Kisa struggled to express her thoughts, he tightened his grip on her fingertips.

“Kisa is right. I could have protected him. I could have sent the princess away for causing a disturbance.”

Their eyes met.

“But why should I have to?”