The Little Sister in the Devastating Novel Wants to Live

Episode 18

The pain, as if my organs were twisted, surged, perhaps due to stress.

I stopped walking for a moment.

I clenched and unclenched my cold hands repeatedly.

As I waited, I began to feel slightly better.

With a sigh, I started moving again.

Dmitri and the other palace maids adjusted their pace to walk as slowly as possible.

Wiping away the sweat on my forehead, I moved diligently.

My mind was elsewhere, my mood was ruined, but surprisingly, my feet found their way forward with determined steps.

I tried to maintain composure and encouraged myself.

I reminded myself that the Crown Prince was as unpredictable and dangerous as Igon.

If I were to incur his displeasure, my already short leash might become even shorter.

‘If only I hadn’t made a mistake at the banquet.’

Memories of that day, when I said and did things I shouldn’t have under the influence of alcohol, flashed through my mind.

I bit my lip nervously.

It felt like meeting a superior in a very difficult position, even worse, meeting someone who had made a mistake in front of them before.

Guided by Dmitri, I walked deep into the garden.

Tall, neatly trimmed trees lined the path like walls on both sides.

The maze-like path seemed to have a structure that would be impossible to navigate or escape from alone.

Perhaps because it was the palace garden, its scale and appearance were unique.

The Duke’s garden was neither as vast nor as complex as this.

As I turned right at a corner, an arch-shaped structure covered in red rose vines came into view.

Finally, at last, I could see beyond it a small table, two chairs, and the man sitting there.

He sat with his long legs crossed, gently tapping his gloved fingertips together, and slowly tapping one foot at a steady pace without any nervousness.

I noticed the cigarette dangling from the tip of his right index finger, just like at the banquet.

The pale smoke dispersed slowly in the air.

In the shadows of the towering trees, the Crown Prince ran his hand through his hair slowly.

His imposing presence, elegant yet chillingly raw, was palpable.

It felt different from Igon’s pressure, causing my toes to curl in discomfort.

I took slow, deep breaths in and out.

Surely he must have sensed my presence, but he didn’t turn to face me.

“Hmm.”

Clearing his throat, he made a soft sound.

His head turned slowly.

An air of keen interest seemed to pierce through as he glanced over.

Suddenly, a golden glint flew and struck.

A stiffness and soreness spread around my left shoulder.

It was a gaze that made it difficult to stand face-to-face for too long.

Avoiding his gaze, I quickly lowered my eyes and bowed slightly to greet him.

“Your Highness, I am honored to meet you. Glory to the Empire…”

“Are you doing that on purpose?”

His low voice, filled with amusement, cut through my greeting.

It struck me that his tone was quite similar to the Crown Princess’s.

Unconsciously, I found myself responding to his whimsical question.

“Pardon?”

“Your hair.”

The Crown Prince raised his finger, pointing to my loosely tied hair.

“Strange shoes and bare feet, and now this hair… It seems the Crown Princess is more comfortable in the palace than I am.”

His tone was mocking.

But his words made me realize that my current appearance was indeed not suitable for the palace.

Or perhaps, not just the palace.

How many places could I go with this hairstyle as a noble?

“…It was unexpected, and I apologize for the breach of etiquette.”

It wasn’t even an official meeting, and I intended to accept what was given and leave immediately.

However, the Crown Prince seemed to have different thoughts about me.

With a sigh, he explained his reasons.

“My hair tie came loose…”

“Yeah, let’s just go with that.”

I wanted to retort that it wasn’t just an excuse, but unfortunately, I hadn’t drunk any alcohol today.

Facing him with a normal blood alcohol level, he exuded an extremely dangerous atmosphere.

He seemed less like a person and more like a fierce and savage beast.

His eyes clearly showed that he didn’t see me as an equal individual, but rather as prey to toy with and devour.

I suppressed my rebellious spirit and kept my eyes lowered, only moving my pupils.

There was no sign of Dmitri nearby, whenever he vanished, it was impossible to sense his presence.

Even when I turned my head, Dmitri, who was cleverly hiding his body, didn’t appear in my sight.

I silently hoped he hadn’t gone too far, leaving me alone with this dangerous creature, and cast an anxious glance over my shoulder.

“You seem like you want to run away.”

He knows that and still exudes this intimidating presence?

I wanted to question him about it, but once again, I held my tongue.

He was too formidable to confront with whatever came to mind.

“Sit. Do you think I’m going to eat you, my lady?”

It was a line befitting a lowly villain, but his gesture inviting me to sit exuded genuine nobility.

Reluctantly, I took the seat after hesitating.

“The sun is setting.”

It was a roundabout way of saying that I needed to leave.

It was a hint to wrap up whatever conversation we had quickly.

But the Crown Prince just smiled as if he knew nothing.

“Indeed.”

From his slow tone, I could tell he was enjoying the current situation.

Human tastes are truly terrible.

“Come to think of it, we had something to exchange.”

Something to exchange?

Strange.

It seemed that the Crown Prince’s recollection of events differed from mine.

Only thoughts of what I would receive came to mind.

“I had a bit of trouble finding the fallen lady’s shoe. As you can see, the garden is quite vast.”

“I understand that the garden is vast, but I believe it wasn’t me who dropped my shoe that day…”

It was a rebellion I had put my heart into.

“Yeah, I dropped it. Normally, I’ve never dropped anything I’m holding, but that day the wind was carrying something heavy in the other hand.”

No, what on earth is he saying?

I looked at him incredulously.

I was speechless.

I never expected to hear something like, “You were too heavy, so I dropped it,” so blatantly to my face.

I swallowed my dry spit and rolled my eyes in confusion.

I couldn’t understand what kind of response he was expecting with such remarks.

In the dimming light of the setting sun, the face of the conceited Crown Prince shone brightly.

He was smiling as if to say, “If you have something to say, say it.”

I thought I would lose if I fell for such provocation, but at the same time, I wanted to see cracks in his facade.

“I’m sorry… that you were too heavy, it must have been unfortunate.”

I looked up at the Crown Prince and smiled gently.

“Though you’re busy with state affairs, as the future of the empire, wouldn’t it be interesting to also find enjoyment in court events? Whether for Your Highness’s health or to strengthen those delicate arms…”

I chuckled naturally as I spoke, looking at those robust arms that seemed impossible to wrap both hands around.

Even as I spoke, I knew how absurd my words were.

Why hadn’t I seen him since the banquet?

The Crown Prince was towering over most men, with a physique that combined innate structure and perfectly balanced muscles, making him appear not just robust but also menacing.

Unless there was an issue with one’s vision, it was impossible not to notice the Crown Prince’s robustness and strength.

But as someone with vision problems, unable to see his figure, I remained silent.

“I believe it would be helpful to Your Highness in many ways,” I concluded, offering a faint smile.

His eyes, sparkling like scattered gold dust, seemed to shimmer strangely.

Dangerous.

I definitely felt that, but the fear of what consequences might follow couldn’t silence my words.

As I pondered what reaction I should give, I ended up blurting out whatever came to mind.

After I finished speaking and fell silent, he turned his head away from me not long after our eyes met.

Instantly, a chilling fear crept down my spine.

I realized anew how dangerous it was to be in the palace, with him being the Crown Prince, and the current situation of being alone together.

But the words I had already spoken couldn’t be taken back.

Clutching my trembling hands tightly together, I felt like a small animal facing a predator.

A slip of the tongue last time, and another one this time.

Would he show mercy like last time, or would he punish me this time?

My body tensed for a moment, but soon it collapsed, unable to maintain the tension.

The Crown Prince’s laughter, as if he couldn’t contain it, echoed.

“Hahaha!”

It was a laugh that could brighten anyone’s mood.

The Crown Prince laughed as innocently as a boy, a stark contrast to the solemn man he had been just moments before.

I was baffled, unable to grasp the context.

I must have looked somewhat foolish.

After laughing for a while, he wiped away a tear clinging to the end of his long eyelashes and finally managed to control his laughter.

“…Ah, I’m sorry.”

His apology, delivered amidst laughter, didn’t resonate with me at all.

What on earth was so amusing?

I tilted my head slightly to the side, unable to follow the flow.

“You don’t need to put on airs, Lady. You’ll have your peculiar shoes back without any issues.”

“But you said there was something for me to receive.”

In response to my question, he raised the corner of his lips.

It seemed as if he had been waiting for this question.

“It’s not something material, so don’t worry. If you’re someone’s savior, it’s only natural to want to ask for something in return.”

“What?”

“Why did you try to kill yourself that day?”

Observant, calm eyes.

A slightly raised corner of the mouth, as if amused by something intriguing.

It was an attitude that seemed to observe others’ misfortunes or even others themselves.

Even if I wasn’t actually trying to commit suicide, his tone and gaze were extremely discomforting.

In an instant, my guard shot up.