Episode 24
For a moment, Katrina didn’t know what had just happened.
Raymond had kissed her.
His lips pressed against hers. Katrina’s eyes widened.
…What the hell is going on?
Startled, she looked at Raymond, whose green eyes were dazed, as if intoxicated by ecstasy.
Katrina shoved Raymond away.
The man who had pulled her into a rough embrace allowed himself to be pushed back easily.
“What… was that…”
Everything happened so quickly that Katrina couldn’t fully grasp the situation.
She felt the need to go over what had just happened again to understand it.
She hurried to stand up from where she had been sitting.
She was so shaken, she needed to get away from here.
But Raymond didn’t let her.
Katrina fell right back into Raymond’s arms.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Katrina was stunned.
“Don’t go.”
“…”
“You’re the one who said it, Katrina.”
She tried to push Raymond away again, but his grip was stronger.
He looked at her and smiled faintly.
“You said you wouldn’t be able to resist your impulses.”
…Those words—he really just said that.
Katrina broke into a cold sweat as she stared at Raymond, now nestled in her arms.
“I think that’s true.”
His brilliant golden hair was disheveled against her chest.
The desperate way he clung to her made it seem like he had completely surrendered to her.
That arrogant Raymond.
The weather had been beautiful that day.
The clouds were soft and round, and the breeze was cool.
So Katrina had just laid down under a shaded tree.
A party was in full swing in the Aviche garden.
Katrina hated parties.
She always felt awkward and out of place without a single close friend to talk to.
She also hated the way people looked at her.
Especially the eyes laced with underlying contempt—it was deeply uncomfortable.
‘If someone catches me here like this, I’ll definitely get scolded.’
And if they saw her lying down, it would be even worse.
But at that moment, none of that mattered. She didn’t care.
Her whole body felt like a waterlogged sponge—completely limp and drained.
It had already been over a year since Katrina arrived in this world.
She had spent those days wandering, unable to adjust to the life that had been thrust upon her.
Katrina closed her eyes in the shade.
Shhhhhh—
The breeze blew, and the grass tickled her skin.
“Are you Katrina?”
Someone called out to her from above.
When she opened her eyes, green eyes filled with curiosity were looking down at her.
She was taken aback.
It was a boy around her age.
He smiled sweetly at her. She was just about to think how pretty that smile was when—
“The one who got adopted into Aviche, right?”
The bluntness of his words felt rude, and Katrina frowned.
…What the hell?
“Yeah. So what?”
Her voice was edged with caution she couldn’t quite hide.
“I was just curious about what you looked like.”
She felt like she’d just been smacked in the head.
…Did he just say that to my face?
Is this kid insane?
The thought slipped out before she could stop it.
“Why are you curious? And why would you say it like that?”
The boy looked momentarily flustered.
But only for a second—then he smiled calmly again.
“Am I not allowed to be curious?”
“Yeah. Because you’re being really rude right now.”
“So what are you doing here?”
Was he just going to ignore what he said earlier?
“Can’t you tell? I’m lying down.”
“I meant—why are you lying here?”
Why is this kid so nosy?
Katrina was starting to feel irritated.
“Just because I want to.”
“Why?”
Oh, for god’s sake.
When she didn’t answer, the boy’s face lost its expression.
“I asked why you’re lying here.”
That tone—it rubbed her the wrong way.
She didn’t like how forceful he sounded.
“Hey, kid.”
Finally, Katrina couldn’t hold back and snapped.
“Does your mother know you’re here?”
“…What?”
“Shouldn’t you head back before she starts worrying about you?”
The boy’s expression changed. He looked baffled, like he couldn’t believe what he just heard.
“You’re here too.”
“Yeah. But I’m not like you. No one’s looking for me, so it’s fine.”
“Really?”
…What kind of conversation is this even?
The more she talked to him, the weirder she felt.
She wished he would just go away, but he showed no intention of leaving her side.
“If someone came looking for you, would you go back?”
This time it was Katrina who didn’t understand him.
“Want me to introduce you to a friend of mine?”
…Huh? Out of nowhere?
And wait—he has friends?
“Hey, kid.”
Just as Katrina was about to scoff and respond—
“Raymond.”
“…What?”
The boy spoke clearly.
“Not kid. My name’s Raymond.”
Katrina repeated the name in her head.
…Raymond.
Why did that sound so familiar?
She looked at the boy again—this time more carefully.
His pure golden hair shimmered like fine threads in the sunlight.
Each time the wind blew, it looked as if golden dust scattered through the air.
His green eyes were so clear and bright, they reminded her of a hidden pond deep in the forest.
…How did I not realize?
“Do you know who I am?” the boy—Raymond—asked.
Of course she did.
He was the Crown Prince.
And also one of the main love interests in the game.
The one Katrina would fall in love with.
A chill ran down her spine.
“No. I don’t think I do.”
That was how Katrina and Raymond first met.
Katrina looked up at the sky.
The fluffy, round clouds were just like those from that day.
Raymond had kissed her.
Katrina looked down at the man still holding her in his arms.
Why?
The question finally spilled from her lips.
“…Raymond.”
He looked up at her when she called his name.
At this moment, she felt like no matter what she asked, he would tell her the truth.
But her mouth wouldn’t open.
A bad feeling held her back.
“…Do you like me?”
If not, why would he kiss her? Why would he be clinging to her like this?
But at the same time, her question felt ridiculous.
As if he could ever like me.
If he did, how could he treat me this way?
Why did he mock me, humiliate me?
That’s not how someone acts when they like someone.
Then Raymond’s lips moved.
“Yes.”
Katrina’s face froze. She hadn’t expected that answer at all.
She asked again.
“…Then why did you betray me?”
You say you like me… but why?
Why betray me?
She still didn’t understand him.
“I already told you, Katrina.”
Raymond’s green eyes curved like a crescent moon.
“Because it was fun.”
