Chapter 7
However much I looked at her, it was clear this pampered princess was completely insane. Aside from her stunningly perfect features, there wasn’t a single normal thing about her. Showing up out of nowhere and disturbing someone’s rest was already infuriating, but the way she kept spouting those crazy, brazen words left me completely speechless and in agony.
Even as a headache pounded through my skull, the princess sat cross-legged on the log with a grumpy expression and kept throwing out those daring remarks.
“I don’t want to be this obsessed with you either, Arkin. But the situation is already so weird, right? And… think about what your servant said earlier. What if you can’t even become king…?”
“What exactly are you trying to say now?”
Arkin’s gaze, which had been trying to hold back for as long as possible, suddenly turned icy.
“If that’s the case, maybe I can go to Kepet with you? Honestly, that part worried me the most….”
Arkin’s face twisted. I could no longer endure a woman who kept mentioning the one thing I had to avoid at all costs.
Should I call her selfish? Or was she simply out of her mind? How did Kepet become such a rude country? Was there not even the slightest awareness that one should not pry into the affairs of another nation?
“Listen here, Kepet.”
Arkin’s eyes, suppressing his rising fury, sparked with flames.
“Even if you can dismiss those foolish actions, there is a limit. Keep crossing the line and it will never end, and it could turn into a diplomatic issue between our two nations. Remember that.”
“……”
“And if you hear about such problems, the proper etiquette is to pretend you didn’t hear them. At the very least, any person with common sense would do so.”
Arkin’s words about lacking common sense struck like a shock. The threat of it becoming a diplomatic issue had clearly silenced Nefetia. The princess suddenly clamped her mouth shut and fell silent.
…Had I spoken too harshly?
“Princess! Princess Nefetia! Where are you?!”
At that exact moment, a desperate cry echoed from nearby. The moment I heard that voice, Nefetia jolted and immediately pressed her finger to her lips to shush me.
“Shhh…!”
Arkin, who had already tensed up, lowered his voice in surprise. Only then did it dawn on him that this was his chance to escape the mad princess.
“Princess! Princess!”
A figure stumbled through the bushes, almost in tears. Nefetia awkwardly hunched her shoulders to hide herself, but Arkin’s lips curled into a mischievous grin he had never shown before.
“It seems they’re looking for you.”
“Be quiet.”
Nefetia trembled, clearly displeased that the approaching voice belonged to her. Arkin cheered inwardly and rose to his feet the moment the voice reached them.
“The princess of Kepet, Nefetia, has committed an appalling rudeness from the very first meeting. This time, I shall generously overlook it.”
As if the searchers had heard his bold declaration, the rustling in the bushes quickened. Arkin took another jab.
“I hope you never speak to the people of Kepet again. They’re really bothersome.”
The moment Arkin finished speaking, the massive bush right beside them split open in two. A woman with snow-white hair burst out from the gap.
“Princess!”
Shadia’s eyes, filled with shock, shifted from Nefetia—who sat with a gloomy expression—to the tall king standing before the princess. Her brilliant golden hair, blue eyes. Exactly as she had heard: a handsome face adorned with a silver brooch on a crimson cloak.
Shadia’s face paled the instant she realized who it was. Of all people, she was tangled with the prince of Solinar…!
Arkin politely bowed before Shadia, who stood stunned.
“It seems you are a servant from Kepet. It must have been quite exhausting to accompany such a noble princess, no?”
“I-I don’t quite understand… What did our princess say…?”
“She said she would buy me and take me back to her kingdom. From what I heard, it seems she wanted to make me her pleasure bedroom slave.”
Despite his courteous tone, Arkin’s words sliced through the air without mercy.
“Eh? Eeeh?”
Left utterly bewildered, Shadia stood there as Arkin summoned his page.
“That’s enough, Magnus.”
Arkin walked away, stirring up the cold wind, and Magnus followed his master, muttering quietly.
“What… Where are you taking him?”
Shadia’s mouth fell open in shock, but the Solinar group had already vanished into the forest path. Left behind was only the princess, fuming with unfairness, as if she had done nothing wrong.
Shadia murmured dazedly.
“Princess, what exactly have you done?”
***
“How could you do this? You slyly slipped away while I wasn’t looking and touched a stranger’s body? Haven’t I told you repeatedly? I said it so many times until my mouth dried up! Leave the robes on the deck! You really are hopeless!”
Shadia poured her entire fury into her words. She chased after Nefetia, who walked quickly ahead as if she couldn’t stand her aunt’s nagging, and bellowed.
“How much lower are you going to drag Kepet’s national dignity! No matter who you are, you can’t do whatever you want in this world! What on earth is wrong with you?!”
“……”
“He’s a prince, you know. He will one day become the ruler of Solinar. How could you make such a mistake toward someone like that?! Even if this is a trivial thing to you, it’s not for others!”
…Who knew whether he would become king or my match?
Nefetia grumbled to herself. The thought of Arkin, whose cheeks had flushed red and who had stood there so proudly, stirred an even more irritated feeling. The image of him slipping away while spilling everything to Shadia remained vivid.
Shadia continued her scolding in a firm tone.
“The only saving grace is that the other person is Prince Arkin of Solinar. He wouldn’t dare seduce you or lead you down a path of depravity.”
Even though she glared at the princess with disgust… Shadia swallowed her bitter anger and slammed her staff into the ground. She still couldn’t believe a disaster had occurred from the very beginning.
“You know Arkin, Shadia?”
“Because Solinar is quite far from Kepet, we don’t receive news quickly. But Arkin is extremely famous. He has excellent qualities as a successor, and many women admire him. He has an air of dignity, is always courteous, and is praised for his excellent character.”
“I don’t know much… He seemed rather rough and blunt.”
“Nonsense, Princess. How could you be so angry with Prince Arkin, who is so patient?”
Well… I wonder if he endured that surge of sensation with such patience!
I am certain he felt the same thing. Maybe he lied to avoid getting entangled in something annoying! His flushed cheeks, ragged breathing, and panicked expression made it clear.
Anger rose from the unjustified grievance. But Nefetia no longer wished to speak of the matter in front of Shadia. She clenched her fists and pressed her nails into her palms.
“No matter how amazing you are, Aunt, you’ve warned me countless times! When will you stop being so childish? One day you might end up entangled with some prince and truly be in trouble.”
“……”
“Never, never give your heart to anyone here. Remember that well. Do you understand? If you do, there could be a disaster that topples an entire nation. Princess, you must understand how emotionally intertwined royal bonds can lead to the most tragic results!”
“Shadia, please stop already!”
Nefetia suddenly snapped.
“Nothing happened between me and the prince of Solinar! Why are you controlling every single thing about me?”
“I was trying to stop!”
Shadia screamed in despair.