Episode 11
“…Ka, trina.”
“Smells nice, doesn’t it?”
“……”
“I made it for you, Your Highness. Thinking only of you.”
It wouldn’t be easy for him to refuse.
To her, it was an ordinary fragrance, but to Raymond, it must have felt like the sweetest scent in the world.
“But it seems you’ve already received a perfume as a gift.”
“…I appreciate the thought, but I don’t think I need it.”
Such pride.
He couldn’t even stand up, and yet he still pretended he could endure in that state.
This was exactly why Katrina disliked Raymond.
A man who complicated everything instead of taking the easy way. He never negotiated easily.
At least not with Katrina.
“You don’t need it, you say?”
“…I received a much better gift from Lady Selena.”
Katrina looked directly at the Crown Prince without a change in expression.
In the past, hearing another woman’s name from his lips would’ve made her explode with anger.
Then she would act as though she were trembling under the Crown Prince’s contemptuous gaze.
But Katrina had grown tired of that performance.
So Katrina placed the perfume back inside.
“Very well, Your Highness.”
Her quick acceptance made Raymond’s eyebrows lift slightly.
But Katrina hadn’t given up.
Raymond might not have noticed due to the pain, but she sensed movement nearby.
The sound of footsteps and voices was drawing closer.
“Oh, fair lady! May I know your name?”
“Oh my, Count, you already know it!”
Kyaah!
The cheerful voices of a happy couple.
It seemed Raymond had heard them too, as his expression stiffened.
The man who always maintained a calm expression was now letting his true feelings show due to pain.
“The banquet hall is so noisy—let’s go somewhere quiet, Count.”
“Perfect, I can’t stand noisy places either.”
The voices came even closer.
Katrina turned her head.
She and Raymond were in a spot quite close to the banquet hall.
Raymond certainly wouldn’t want anyone to see him like this.
On his knees, drenched in cold sweat, disheveled.
He wanted to hide the curse.
“…Katrina.”
Raymond called her name in a voice lower than ever.
“I should be going now, Your Highness.”
Katrina turned to leave.
But then—grab.
Raymond caught her wrist.
Still unable to stand, he had to crawl over to grab her.
“Your Highness?”
Katrina asked, feigning ignorance.
“Haa… Katrina.”
A strange sense of satisfaction surged within her.
She remembered the old her.
Back then, she always looked up at Raymond from beneath his feet.
“…What do you want?”
“You already know, don’t you?”
She wanted to use Raymond as a shield until she could escape safely.
“I don’t want to go to the convent.”
Katrina placed her other hand atop Raymond’s, which was gripping her wrist.
“You’ll grant my wish, won’t you?”
If he didn’t, he would soon be seen in his current disgraceful state.
He had no choice.
In this situation, he couldn’t win against Katrina.
“…Fine, Katrina.”
Raymond gave a gentle smile.
“I’ll do as you say. So…”
Katrina responded as if she were overwhelmed with joy.
And then—
Ssshh—
She sprayed perfume on Raymond.
Because their bodies were so close, the deep fragrance hit him directly.
She could feel the tension leaving his tightly clenched muscles.
Raymond’s breathing slowed.
“……”
Katrina gently pulled her hand free from his.
“I’ll be going now. I sneaked out without my father knowing, just to see you.”
She put her veil back on. Raymond’s eyes followed the delicate fabric as it floated down.
The beautiful woman’s face faded beneath the semi-transparent black veil.
Now that she had sprayed the perfume, he’d be fine for a few days.
The perfume she made was quite effective and long-lasting.
Raymond would surely understand its value now.
“I want you to be unhappy.”
Those were his words from before.
To Katrina, they were absurd. Who was he to wish unhappiness on someone?
You’re the one who started this.
Things weren’t always this disastrous.
In fact, she and Raymond got along rather well in the beginning.
But everything became what it was now because…
It was the main characters who made the first move.
Katrina moved quietly.
The journey there had been so unpleasant that she couldn’t even imagine riding back on horseback.
I’ll ride back with Damian.
She wondered what kind of expression he’d make when he saw her.
Surely, he’d be surprised.
He probably didn’t think she’d make it.
And just as expected, she spotted a man coming out of the banquet hall.
Speak of the devil.
She happily approached him.
“Damian.”
When she called his name, his dark head flinched.
“……”
He turned around, visibly flustered.
His blue eyes clearly hadn’t anticipated this situation at all.
He must’ve wondered how she got there.
Especially since he had taken direct steps to prevent it.
“You came out alone?”
“……”
“Planning to head back early?”
Seeing his rare expression of panic made the difficult journey worth it.
But, as always, Damian quickly returned to his stoic mask.
“What’s with that face? Are you sick?”
“Hah.”
He looked incredulous but didn’t show it openly.
Doing so would be like confessing that he had indeed tried to stop her.
“Damian, I don’t have a carriage.”
And you know why, don’t you?
Because of you.
“Let’s ride back together.”
Katrina began walking ahead. But Damian didn’t follow.
So Katrina offered him some reassurance.
“It’s okay. Everyone tries to block someone at least once. No need to be so nervous.”
“……”
“I understand completely.”
His expression screamed disbelief.
Clatter, clatter.
The carriage rattled along.
“Look, Damian. Isn’t the sky beautiful today?”
“……”
“Are those sheep-shaped clouds?”
“……”
Katrina chattered non-stop.
On purpose. To be annoying.
Knowing this, Damian didn’t respond.
He didn’t even look at her.
Ah, this is fun.
It had been a long time since she enjoyed time spent with Damian.
“How did you get here?”
Just as the carriage neared the Aviche estate, Damian finally spoke for the first time in an hour.
“You had no way to get to the palace.”
True enough.
If it were the old days.
Damian doesn’t know I can ride a horse.
Should she tell him? Or not?
“I rode a horse.”
She decided to tell the truth.
After all, she had left the horse at the palace, and someone from the family would need to fetch it soon.
Even if she hid it now, it’d be found out by tomorrow.
“You rode? You?”
“Yup.”
“You were never taught horseback riding.”
She told the truth, but Damian didn’t believe it.
“You used to be afraid of horses.”
That was in the past.
But there was no need to explain everything.
She couldn’t exactly say she learned while in Korea.
“Well, that’s perfect. Since I told you I rode here, you can send someone to pick up the horse.”
“Hah.”
“I left it there. All because of you. So it’s only right that you take responsibility and bring it back.”
“……”
Damian didn’t reply. He’d clearly chosen to ignore her.
But Katrina knew he would still do as she said.
After a long silent ride, they finally arrived at the Aviche estate.
The next day.
A royal messenger arrived from Raymond.
“His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence, My Lady.”
Everyone heard the message.
