Episode 65

I watched her for a moment, then deliberately smiled brightly.

I could sense Aria flinch slightly at my smile.

‘So that’s how she’s playing it.’

Not all of my injuries from the streets were nonexistent.

‘It was a rough place, after all.’

But most of them were thanks to Seth.

And the most noticeable scars—the ones people had been paying close attention to—were all inflicted by Seth. Far more severe than anything I got on the streets.

‘Didn’t you see it all?’

Aria had seen Seth act violently toward me more than once.

Not just Seth—Servi’s actions too.

Yet here she was, trying to sway public opinion. That could mean one of two things.

First, Seth and Servi really did tell her my wounds came from life on the streets.

Second, she knows everything and still…

Even as a quiet shock spread inside me, I kept smiling.

Just then, someone whispered,

“Well, it’s not exactly something to be proud of—being from the streets.”

It wasn’t intentional, but it perfectly set the stage for what I was about to say.

I took Aria’s hand and spoke.

“You really do understand me well.”

“Huh?”

“We’re both from the streets, after all, Aria.”

As I reminded them of something everyone had conveniently forgotten, I could feel the others flinch. Even the one who had just made that comment gasped audibly.

The mood shifted. Even the affectionate gazes people had been giving Aria became a little strained.

‘As annoying as this classist society is, it can be surprisingly useful sometimes.’

Most people here were born into noble status.

Among such people, noble ladies from the streets are naturally considered flawed. Not just me, but Aria too, who hadn’t had many opportunities to learn proper etiquette.

My weakness was also Aria’s.

‘Of course, unlike me, Aria’s actual birth was noble.’

Still, reminding them of the environment she grew up in would cause some to be prejudiced.

And Aria had spent even more time on the streets than I had. The moment she made a mistake, people would remember that she, too, was a noble lady from the streets.

‘Just like they saw me as the ashes of high society.’

Some of the ladies exchanged glances, as if suddenly realizing Aria’s background anew.

I continued speaking, feeling their shifting stares.

“We’re like sisters, right?”

“……”

Aria slowly smiled. A reluctant, forced smile. I glanced at it briefly and turned away.

“Still, Lady Aria is kind-hearted, isn’t she?”

“Of course. That’s for certain.”

Some of the young ladies quickly chimed in to support Aria.

To me, even that was a misstep.

‘It sounds like they’re saying she’s sweet, even if she’s rough from the streets.’

I turned away from the awkward smiles and looked around the beautifully decorated villa hall.

The pillars adorned with summer flowers and the indoor pool where I’d been splashed earlier came into view.

I decided not to retire early, and instead walk around the hall to show off my outfit. After all, the cape embroidered at Chris’s suggestion still suited me perfectly.

I could feel the eyes of fashion-conscious noble ladies greedily scanning me.

I regretted that Helena wasn’t here.

‘If she’d seen this, she would’ve been excited and begged to commission more dresses right away.’

Helena could be annoying when an enemy, but quite dependable when on your side.

Suppressing my disappointment, I naturally slipped through the crowd, deflecting their gazes.

“My lady.”

The Crown Prince easily caught up with me from behind. Other nobles glanced our way but didn’t follow, seemingly wary of the unspoken message: ‘Don’t interrupt.’

Perhaps it was the aura the Crown Prince gave off.

“Shall we walk together? The rear garden of this summer villa is quite beautiful. Wouldn’t you like to see it?”

“If Your Highness leads the way, I’d be happy to.”

Aside from the fact that I’d be with the Crown Prince, there was no downside. My goal was to showcase this outfit to as many people as possible.

The Crown Prince smoothly stood beside me and offered his arm.

When I didn’t refuse and placed my hand on his arm, he leaned in slightly and whispered in my ear.

“As I said before, the more I see you, the more beautiful you become.”

“You flatter me.”

“No, I mean it.”

Classic male lead charm. But the next moment, he lowered his voice so only I could hear.

“The wounds on your shoulder blades—look like they came from a poker. Am I right?”

“……”

“The ones along your spine are from a whip. Judging by the depth, it must’ve been made of cowhide.”

I was momentarily speechless, staring into his blue eyes. They gleamed with cruelty.

Seeing the coldness behind those beautiful blue eyes, I reflexively smiled softly.

‘Lunatic.’

It was a smile I gave because I couldn’t insult him to his face.

The Crown Prince seemed to interpret my smile in his own way and smiled back at me.

His chiseled face remained as captivating as ever. The excited noble ladies chatting in the garden glanced our way before quickly looking elsewhere.

“So I was right.”

“Close enough.”

“And that long scar on your neck… this one’s tricky.”

“Do you find it fun to guess the origins of my wounds?”

The sarcasm slipped out before I could stop it, but the Crown Prince, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t seem to hear it.

“Hm, what caused it, I wonder?”

There was a strange heat and excitement in his eyes as he looked at my body. His fingertips twitched slightly.

…When others would have turned away from such severe scars, his eyes only gleamed brighter with interest.

“Roses bloom with thorns, after all.”

“……”

“You are truly enchanting. Do you know that?”

“To receive such words from Your Highness is an honor.”

“Did you choose the embroidery yourself? Your taste is excellent. It fits your body perfectly.”

As he spoke, his gaze returned to the nape of my neck.

I had intentionally tied up all my hair, leaving the nape fully exposed. The nape where he couldn’t identify the scar.

“A bit of mystery is a fine spice, isn’t it?”

At his words, I smiled faintly.

‘I forgot this bastard was a total pervert before his “reform.”’

No—maybe even after that so-called reform.

I recalled the Crown Prince’s dazzling smile as he tortured me.

‘Confess.’

‘Whether you did it, or didn’t.’

‘For Aria’s sake.’

Back then, I thought it was a smile twisted by his obsession with Aria, but now that I think about it…

‘Maybe he just enjoyed the torture.’

Suddenly, the air felt suffocating. The hand I rested on his arm felt as though bugs were crawling over it.

Seeing those eyes, I longed for Chris, who had looked at my wounds with genuine sorrow, as if they were those of his own soldiers.

I began to regret interfering with Aria and the Crown Prince’s meeting at the banquet.

‘If he’d properly gotten together with Aria, he might’ve reformed for real—and wouldn’t be saying crap like this.’

Then I wouldn’t have to listen to this nonsense.

Oblivious to my thoughts, the Crown Prince leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Will you tell me someday?”

“Who knows.”

“I like guessing, but… I’d also like to hear it from you.”

As he said that, his fingertips lightly brushed the nape of my neck.

“Your Highness, I’ll go fetch us some drinks while we walk in the garden.”

“There’s no need for you to go yourself—”

Before he could grab me, I quickly turned down a side path.

In a corner of the garden, I saw a small hedge maze, formed from thick shrubs. Summer flowers bloomed everywhere, dazzling the eyes, but my focus was fixed straight ahead.

“Hurry.”

I ducked into the maze and took random turns. It seemed the Crown Prince couldn’t follow me immediately.

“My lady.”

I hoped he wouldn’t find me and kept searching for an exit.

“Lady Reinhardt?”

But the maze was small, and I soon heard the Crown Prince’s voice closing in.

‘Damn it.’

What had seemed like a good hiding spot now felt dangerous. Just the two of us in here—isolated.

The hedge walls were taller than an average man. No one could see inside.

‘If anything happens in here… it’ll be hard to escape him.’

And the Crown Prince I knew before his “reform” was more than capable of trying something. He used to lay hands on any noble lady he could.

‘I can’t leave even the slightest opening.’

Just as I turned to find a way out—

“Tch.”

A high, thick hedge blocked my path.

It was covered in vibrant trumpet flowers, but to me, it was just a bleak wall. I looked around frantically, but saw no exit.

“Lady Reinhardt.”

The Crown Prince’s voice, laced with excitement, rang out, as if he were enjoying a game of tag.

I sighed, wondering how I could ruin the mood.

“……!”

Thump.

Someone suddenly grabbed me and pulled me through a hidden door in the hedge.

It wasn’t just a wall—it was an emergency exit for those who got lost.

I found myself enclosed in someone’s arms.

“In trouble here, ‘Lady Reinhardt’?”

A red-haired man looked down at me with a deep smile.

It was the Guildmaster of Oracle.