Chapter 7

The first prince and the second prince being on such good terms, I only found out about it today.

They are the same age, differing by only five months.

Because of this, the two of them have been compared constantly, and especially Nicholas has always been the one who came out on the bottom.

Being less capable in learning, not grasping things quickly, and being clumsy at everything he did.

Then, what was the appearance Nicholas showed today?

In the carriage on the way back from the castle, swaying on the carriage road, I casually touched my hair.

On the way out of the castle, I glanced in a mirror I found by the road, and the hairstyle adorned with fresh flowers, done by my own hand, was not only as good as the work of the maids who usually do my makeup but was even more elegant and beautiful than anything I had ever seen.

"You're too quiet, it's creepy."

My shoulders trembled. Nicholas was sitting diagonally across from me in the carriage.

After finishing his hairstyle, leaving the study, and getting into the carriage with me, Nicholas, who had not said a word, spoke with a haughty tone.

He said I was creepy. Just being quiet made me creepy.

No, I understand. I've been acting unlike Martina for a long time now.

It's only natural to be suspected, and there's no need to be flustered by it.

"You're probably up to no good."

I wanted to spew out all the venom at once.

But, cursing Nicholas when only he was around would just be a mere insult.

I had already decided not to do that anymore.

To swallow the venom that had risen to my throat, I responded with a question.

"What are you thinking? To do something like that to me."

"…Something like that? What do you mean by something like that?"

"Because—"

Trying to retort to the clueless Nicholas, but the vivid scenes and sensations of today's events, along with various other things, came flooding back, and my head boiled over.

With my second sentence cut off, Nicholas narrowed his eyes and smiled coldly.

"…B-because. What happened to Lilia Aurelia?"

"…Lilia Aurelia? Why that name?"

Nicholas received my half-desperate words with a puzzled look.

His truly puzzled face showed no sign of unease or guilt, leaving me even more bewildered.

"Is the Lilia Aurelia you're talking about the foster daughter of the Viscount Adele's family, whom you met at the Duke Oudel's maze garden and the ball the day before yesterday?"

"Yes, yes, that's right."

"…You probably don't know yet because we tried to keep it quiet, but that mismatched girl was expelled from society yesterday."

"………What?"

Expelled from society? Lilia Aurelia? Not Martina Olbrant?

"Due to improper conduct… well, to put it bluntly, she repeatedly harassed multiple men with fiancées, ignored reprimands from her family, and the Viscount Adele sent her to a remote village for convalescence, effectively expelling her from society."

"…Multiple men?"

Come to think of it, there were other targets to pursue in the game.

I had forgotten. I had only been looking at Nicholas, so it had slipped my mind.

Recalling, the targets in the game were all the sons of the current government's core—wait, wasn't Prince Albert one of them?

If that's the case, it's a huge problem.

The prince's fiancée is the first princess of a mountainous country across a valley. One misstep could have caused a diplomatic rift with our most important ally.

Keeping it quiet was probably for that reason. Sending her away for convalescence was likely for the same reason…

I felt no sympathy at all.

Approaching men other than Nicholas left no room for sympathy.

But, why did she do such bizarre things that deviated from the norms of the noble world?

Seducing one prince after another, it was almost like a game—

Could it be, she also…?

There's no way to confirm it now, but if it's true, it would be even more her own doing.

Trying to make Nicholas one of her conquests was something I could never allow.

"So, why did Lilia Aurelia come up?"

Nicholas repeated, sounding suspicious.

I was at a loss for words.

To Nicholas, who had no knowledge of the game or my past life, bringing up Lilia Aurelia instead of today's events might have seemed unnatural.

"…Well, um, because I was worried after all the things that were said."

"Hmm."

Nicholas muttered, clearly unconvinced.

For some reason, I felt guilty.

However, if Lilia Aurelia wasn't Nicholas's destined partner, then what was Nicholas really thinking when he did that to me?

That, that— the memory of a lady's upbringing rejected the vulgar words.

Such indecent and lustful acts!

Even though I rejected it, my head still boiled.

Unable to switch my thoughts, being in the same space as Nicholas became unbearable.

In the narrow carriage, I tried to put as much distance between us as possible, sticking to the window.

Pretending to look at the scenery outside, I glanced at Nicholas out of the corner of my eye.

Our eyes met. I reflexively turned away.

The scenery filled my vision, but for a moment, Nicholas's reflection appeared in the opposite window. He, too, was looking out the window.

The boiling sensation was suddenly doused, calming down.

Nicholas seemed to have no intention of bringing it up.

Perhaps it would just remain ambiguous.

Is that okay? No, it's not. If it did, I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep, and I might even die of exhaustion this time.

I swallowed hard, but my mouth and throat were parched.

Still,

"…Why did you do that?"

A thin voice came out.

There was no response.

Was it because I asked the same question? Or was it drowned out by the sound of the wheels?

If so, would I have to say it again?

A laugh sounded.

Looking at him to gauge his mood, our eyes met, and he narrowed his eyes in a good mood.

"Why? That's more like my line."

Nicholas crossed his legs, leaned back, and folded his hands as if savoring the moment.

"Why do you like me so much?"

I froze.

What did he just say? Did someone say they liked someone?

"Normally, that's the conclusion you'd come to. You always come at me alone, hating to form alliances. When others mock you, you glare at them fiercely."

I wasn't aware of doing such things.

But I couldn't confidently deny it.

I felt my cheeks heat up at the unexpected comment.

"Despite the importance of networking for nobles, you ignore it, run to me when you see me, and only talk to me. And for some reason, you never bring up comparisons with my brother Albert, whom the queen consort particularly boasted about. After the situation changed, you started to act more reserved, but when we're alone, you always spew venom. But, it's meaningless. You were already isolated and had no one to rely on except your fiancé, so what did you gain by hurting him… Well, I can imagine. Good job."

Even after the situation changed, Martina continued to belittle Nicholas, thinking that if the engagement was going to be broken off anyway, it was better to be hated than to be forgotten, and she wanted to leave an impression.

Feeling seen through, my self-control wavered.

"But, despite being ignored and only getting standard greetings, you keep coming at me without giving up. Moreover, you've been doing excessive studies for years, which seem to be to acquire the abilities befitting a royal partner. I can't understand why you can do that. Today, you even smiled happily when you were almost killed. It's really at the level of a sickness."

"…!"

Nicholas's words pierced my heart.

Despite once saying similar things, I couldn't stop the venom from spilling out, feeling ashamed.

"What a delusion. There's no way I could have a crush on you. My ideal is much higher. Someone like you—someone like you…"

I couldn't come up with a quick insult.

Perhaps I had gotten rusty from not using them for a while.

Opening and closing my mouth repeatedly, an unnatural amount of time passed before I could make an excuse.

"…I've always thought your lips look like they're coated with poison."

Caught off guard by Nicholas's comment.

"Maybe it's because you licked them, but the poison seems to have worn off."

The teasing was too much, and I fell into complete silence.

My cheeks flushed, whether from embarrassment or defeat, I couldn't tell.

Nicholas watched with a mocking smile.

His cold eyes, which were always the same, seemed to have a different meaning now.

"Anyway, I've been thinking. Why do you like me? Maybe… you like being bullied?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what he said and stared at him blankly.

Nicholas laughed, as if it didn't matter.

"Why you like me. That question is answered."

He laughed, with a sadistic smile.

Realizing I had been labeled with a specific kink, my denial wavered.

"Such, such. No one, no one, enjoys being bullied."

"Sure, that's fine for now. We can prove it over time. It wouldn't be fun if your poison wore off too quickly."

His indifferent response came back.

What is going on here?

It's strange. I don't know this Nicholas who acts so confidently.

The Nicholas I know doesn't suddenly do indecent things, confront me head-on, or spout insulting words.

Yet, why can't I be disillusioned by Nicholas's drastic change?

Looking down on people like a king, even being degraded to a masochist, I feel myself swaying towards the sexual perversion he offers.

I panicked.

Could it be that I've been seeking such things from Nicholas all along? That's why I wanted his attention so much.

"Anyway, considering that, why did you stay away from the palace for a while? That's still a mystery… It's been three months since you fell ill. I thought you'd come storming in when I didn't send a get-well card, but you didn't."

Perhaps because I was still flustered, his tone sounded unusually accusatory.

"If you didn't change your mind, did you believe the rumors of the engagement being broken off and stop coming?"

That's not entirely wrong, but it's not entirely right either.

I couldn't explain everything and pursed my lips.

Nicholas laughed coldly.

"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, even if you keep agonizing and plotting, our engagement will never be canceled."

"…Why?"

"Because it's fun to watch."

"…What?"

"Spewing venom at someone you can't live without, watching you destroy yourself, has been very entertaining, but maybe it's time to try a different game."

A chill ran down my spine, spreading through my body.

I understood the cold eyes. They were the eyes of a predator toying with its prey.

"Can you really escape? Can you live without the man you're so obsessed with that you want to die?"

He said it with certainty.

He must have seen me smiling in joy at the moment of death. No matter how I try to explain, it won't be convincing.

But, that would deviate greatly from the ending Martina Olbrant was supposed to have.

What did Nicholas sense from me, who was still clinging to my past life's memories, in the narrow carriage, as he got up and leaned over to the opposite seat.

"You don't need to think too much. Just come to the palace every three days like before. Then—"

Nicholas loomed over me.

His long, beautiful hand touched my cheek, and his lips came close to mine.

"As a reward, I'll reapply your lipstick."

His breath and heat grazed my skin, but he pulled away.

Suggesting a clear tease, he returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

You're playing with me.

You think I'll fall for your condescending offer to reapply my lipstick.

"…What do you want from me—what does Nicholas want from me?"

He only finds it amusing and doesn't answer.

I continued, as if begging for the words I wanted.

"…What do you think of me?"

"Who knows? What do you think?"

Not even a word of affection.

Maybe he just enjoys tormenting me.

If what Nicholas wants is an inescapable, twisted relationship, even if we do end up married, he might never whisper love to me.

He'll torment me and lick up the poison that overflows from me.

"…I hate you. I hate Nicholas."

He laughed softly.

"I'm looking forward to three days from now."

Filled with pleasure, Nicholas's voice made me lower my head.

There, my lips curled slightly.

For three days, I will surely agonize, long, and repeat fever and depression,

And then, I will go to see him.

I am being invaded by poison.

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And with this, the main story concludes.

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But, it will continue a little more.