ITETP Chapter 2

Raios.

 

There was only Raios.

 

“Dana?”

 

Skreee, Raios pushed his chair back and stood up.

 

“What’s suddenly happened?”

 

At that moment, Dana was engulfed in a sense of self-derision and let out a hollow laugh. How foolish could this be! For a moment, she doubted Raios. She thought he might be up to something inappropriate in his office!

 

“No, Raios, actually…”

 

Just as Dana was about to confess everything.

 

“…”

 

Her words dispersed. It was because a scent brushed past her nose. The fresh fragrance of freesias… it was a woman’s perfume.

 

“Since you’re here, let’s have a meal together,” Raios said casually, grabbing her shoulder. “It’s good timing since I was feeling hungry.”

 

Dana stared intently at Raios. Silently, quietly, still.

 

“Dana?”

 

Then she noticed… His black hair was disheveled. He was always so meticulous about his appearance. So why?

 

“Dana? Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

When Raios reached out to her, Dana jerked away instinctively, an animalistic rejection without any forethought.

 

“Dana? What’s wrong?”

 

Her neck felt stiff. From the tips of her fingers, slowly, very slowly, it felt as if she was freezing.

 

The moment Dana swallowed her saliva, she had a premonition. There’s someone here. Still in this room. The owner of that scent.

 

“Dana!”

 

Without any thought or rational consideration, Dana just frantically searched the room. The sofa, the side table, the bookshelf, and…

 

“Dana! What are you doing!”

 

And then, the desk.

 

“Stop it!”

 

As she approached the desk, Raios quickly came closer.

 

“Dana, what on earth are you doing! Have you lost your mind?”

 

“Let me go.”

 

“Calm down! Just relax and―!”

 

He tried to turn her around, but it was too late. Because Dana had already spotted that woman.

 

Under the desk, the woman was crouched, trembling. When their eyes met, a sneer escaped her.

 

“What are you doing there, Allice?”

 

Allice Windsor. It was her cousin.

 

“Si-Sister Dana, t-that’s because…”

 

It was when.

 

“Move.”

 

Raios shoved her shoulder. Dana just slumped right there and was astounded by that fact.

 

He pushed her? Raios really pushed her?

 

“Get up, Allice.”

 

“Yo-Your Highness. But…”

 

“Enough, get up. Now.”

 

At that moment, Dana thought. Ah, of course. This must be a dream. Otherwise, this wouldn’t be possible. There was no way Raios would push her and help Allice fix her tousled hair in front of her― daring to do this in front of her!

 

“Just go back, Allice.”

 

“But Sister Dana is…”

 

“I’ll handle it. Just go back and take care of yourself for now.”

 

Thud. The door closed as Allice left. At that moment, Dana snapped back to reality.

 

“Explain, Raios.” Dana stood up. Her legs were shaky, but she managed to stand. “Explain this situation. Now―”

 

“Don’t pressure me.”

 

Suddenly, her words were cut off.

 

“I’ll explain without you having to press me.”

 

Just right now… what did Raios say?

 

Raios sighed deeply, sweeping back his tousled black hair. “Why did you come without letting me know?”

 

A chill ran down her spine.

 

“I must have told you that I was busy.”

 

Those black eyes that met hers were incredibly fierce.

 

“I’m really sorry for not informing you in advance. I was planning to tell you soon.”

 

Was it because of his calm voice? Dana couldn’t find any sense of reality.

 

Not making excuses. Not panicking. Just admitting it. Betraying her and acting as if it’s nothing, so casually―

 

Ah. Suddenly, a heart-wrenching pain surged. Breathing became difficult, and she gasped for air.

 

“How could you, with Allice, have an affair.”

 

“It’s not an affair.” Raios cut off my words firmly. “This is love.”

 

At that moment, the accusations filling her mouth scattered.

 

“I sincerely love Allice.”

 

How pale must she have looked?

 

“…After holding me back from returning to my world with tears, now you’re saying you love my cousin? Raios, you are my fiancé!”

 

“I have no intention of annul our engagement,” Raios spoke slowly. “But I also intend to marry Allice.”

 

“What… did you say?”

 

“You and Allice, I plan to marry both of you. It’s common for cousins to share a husband—”

 

Slap―! His face turned.

 

“Raios Geranze.”

 

Her voice trembled. So did her hands.

 

“Get a grip. Do you realize what you’re saying is nonsense?”

 

Raios slowly looked at her with his head slightly turned. “…How dare you.”

 

The eyes that met hers were fiercely glaring.

 

“How dare you raise your hand against the crown prince?”

 

Suddenly, he grabbed her chin forcefully. Lifting it, and stared at her as if pressing her down.

 

“A possessor who took over someone else’s body dares to act so high and mighty.”

 

At that moment, Dana’s breath was cut short.

 

“Being treated nicely has made you arrogant, reaching all the way to your head.”

 

“…”

 

“Acting so brazenly, do you still hope my feelings for you won’t change?”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t blame me. Your arrogance brought about my change of heart.”

 

The next moment, Dana heard a loud noise. It was as if the whole world shattered and crumbled.

 

* * *

What happened next, she didn’t quite remember. Ah, that’s right. She argued with Raios, yelling at each other.

 

“The dimensional gate is closed. You know? You can’t go anywhere now!”

 

Recalling that again made her mind go hazy. The person who said that was too unfamiliar.

 

“You’re a person of this world, Dana, my citizen!”

 

It was as if a stranger had donned the skin of the man she loved.

 

“So, behave according to the imperial law, Danae Windsor!”

 

She fled the room, boarded into a carriage… When she came to her senses, she was walking in the garden of Windsor Mansion.

 

“Dana.”

 

Then, someone grabbed her shoulder.

 

“Be careful. There’s a pond ahead.”

 

It was her cousin brother, Rumie. He checked her face and gasped in surprise. “Dana, why are you crying? What happened?”

 

Before she could answer, Rumie hugged Dana. He patted her back gently, comforting me. “What happened? Huh? Why are you crying?”

 

Ah, finally, she found someone on her side. Seeing him, a surge of sadness welled up.

 

“Brother Rumie. Raios…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Raios… has cheated with Allice.”

 

At that moment, his hand stiffened. But it was only for a moment.

 

Rumie sighed. “Cheating, you say.”

 

He gripped Dana’s shoulder tightly.

 

“How can you talk such nonsense?”

 

And pushed her away.

 

“They’re just in love with each other.”

 

…What?

 

“But to defame love as cheating, isn’t that a bit vulgar?”

 

Dana blankly lifted my head. His delicate face was like a porcelain doll, with clear silver hair and ruby-like eyes. It was strange. This face was definitely Brother Rumie, but…

 

“In this world, that’s not a problem at all. You’re also a person of this world. You should adapt.”

 

But why is he talking like someone else?

 

“How can you say that?” Dana’s voice cracked as it burst out. “Brother Rumie, you saw it too. When I was about to leave for my world, Raios swore to me while holding me back. But now—!”

 

“Oh gosh, Dana. You should know your limits.” Rumie laughed as if troubled. “Your sense of entitlement is suffocating.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s one thing, and this is another. Did someone tie you up and prevent you from leaving?”

 

“…”

 

“A man having multiple wives is normal in this world.”

 

Rumie stroked her hair. His touch was very gentle, making it all the more bizarre.

 

“Now you can’t even return to your world.”

 

“…”

 

“What will you do? You have no choice but to adapt.”

 

He smiled softly, as usual, beautiful. Then briskly walked away.

 

Dana watched his back in a daze. Was that Rumie? The person who always stood by her side, the kind Rumie, speaking so sharply?

 

Dana murmured without realizing it. “It’s not like that.”

 

The dimensional opens once every hundred years. But that’s just the natural cycle of its opening…

 

The dimensional gate can be opened again.

 

There’s a way to open it with human effort. And she knew the way. 

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