IWBQ 26

Chapter 26

. Three People
2023.08.26.

Alice wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen Chase, but that was hard to do.

He was already a flamboyant person, and today he had dressed up even more, shining so brightly that her eyes were naturally drawn to him.

The crowd’s gaze followed Chase.

The subjects of the rumors had gathered in one place.

Alice, Karan, Chase.

People openly glanced their way. Even the musicians stopped playing for a moment and got scolded by the steward.

Alice stepped aside to make room for someone else.

As if they were companions, Chase’s steps followed her and shifted in the same direction.

She wished he was looking for someone else, but that was a hopeless expectation.

“Alice.”

At the sound of Chase’s tender call, goosebumps rose on her arm.

“Greetings to His Highness the Prince.”

Alice placed her hand gently on her chest and bent her knee.

Karan, who held the same rank, instead straightened his back even more.

The moment Alice rose, Karan took her hand and laid it on his arm.

Chase’s gaze lingered on that arm for a moment before falling away.

Only Alice noticed the faint twitch at the corner of Karan’s lips.

“It’s a pleasure, Your Highness. We finally meet. I am Karan Lysandro Titrice.”

Karan bowed politely.

Chase remained silent, his gaze fixed on Alice. His eyes were clouded yet deep.

Those around them exchanged puzzled looks.

“Does he still have feelings left?”

“No, he probably just doesn’t want to speak with a barbarian.”

Chase was the one being rude, but Karan was the one receiving blame.

Concerned, Alice looked toward Karan.

His expression was blank, unreadable.

‘Did he not hear it?’

If he hadn’t, that would be a relief.

Alice didn’t know that Karan’s hearing was sharper than most.

“Something you want to say, Alice?”

Sensing her gaze, Karan looked at her and smiled.

It was a small change, but when his handsome face softened, the crowd stirred.

The ladies fluttered their fans.

“Oh my, look at that. Now I see why Lady Alice fell for him. He is handsome.”

“No wonder there are rumors about him having so many women. They say in Titrice alone he’s been with over a hundred…”

The gossip grew increasingly indecent. Alice had expected some whispers, but this was excessive.

‘They’re way too focused on us.’

The only way to ease things was to redirect that attention.

First priority: separate from dazzling Chase.

“Your Highness, if you have nothing further to say, I’ll take my leave.”

As Alice tried to withdraw, Chase stepped forward.

But this time, Karan stepped in front of Alice, as though to block Chase.

The strange standoff between the two men with Alice caught in between drew attention.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Chase arched his brow.

“It seems you missed my greeting, so I’ll say it again. How do you do, Prince Chase? I am Karan Lysandro Titrice.”

Karan leaned in closer toward Chase. Right in front of him, he turned his head and whispered near his ear.

“Twice ignoring me is too much. And I very much appreciated the gift you sent. Shouldn’t you at least accept my greeting so I can thank you properly?”

Chase’s cheek twitched.

When their eyes met, Karan raised his brows slightly, then stepped back.

Chase’s jaw tightened, sparks flashing in his eyes.

“…Pleased to meet you.”

After some hesitation, Chase forced out the words.

Karan only nodded slightly, then turned to Alice.

“Alice, at the Bedroka ball, don’t they dance?”

Alice quickly replied,

“Of course they do. Will you dance with me, Your Highness?”

A stir rippled again. It was unusual—Alice had asked Karan to dance, like a man would traditionally ask a woman.

It showed how much she respected and cherished Karan.

“I may be lacking, but I’ll do my best.”

Karan took the hand Alice offered.

“Alice, I just wanted to say—”

But Chase couldn’t finish.

Alice was already far away with Karan.

The foot he had stepped forward slowly returned to its place.

Three times already, Alice had ignored him at this ball.

His pride wouldn’t allow him to pursue her further.

Left behind, Chase glared at Karan and Alice as they took their place on the floor.

‘Well received, was it? Arrogant bastard.’

What Chase had sent was not a gift, but criminals willing to do anything.

He hadn’t wanted Karan at the ball with Alice.

So he had sent assassins to stop him.

Men skilled in killing.

He had ordered them to keep Karan tied up—but the fools had failed.

‘Slipped away like a rat.’

Chase never imagined Karan had beaten them all to a pulp. He turned away.

After all, he also had a partner waiting. He couldn’t leave her alone any longer.

Iris looked back at him, smiling brightly.

In her blush-pink dress, with her pale skin, she was a different kind of beauty from Alice.

‘Perhaps this is better for me.’

Alice had caused a scene, and because of that, he had a chance to have the so-called Rose of the Continent at his side.

‘Without even a scratch from the thorns.’

On top of that, she was a mage, possibly destined to become a Sage.

Compared to Alice, the match was too good.

Even so, Chase couldn’t let Alice go.

‘She was mine from the start. I won’t let anyone take her. I never threw her away.’

He had two hands. So why should he let go of either Alice or Iris?

Though he had asked her to teach him, Karan led Alice with practiced ease.

As he guided her smoothly through the steps, Alice narrowed her eyes.

“Have you learned the Bedroka dance before, Your Highness?”

Dipping and returning her, Karan answered,

“As I mentioned briefly before, I lived in Bedroka for a short time as a child.”

“You lived in Bedroka?”

Alice wanted to ask more, but Karan only smiled.

She could guess his feelings.

‘There must not be many good memories of that place.’

Even as a grown man, large and intimidating, he was treated with suspicion and contempt. How much worse must it have been when he was a child?

Alice imagined a young Karan, scorned and bullied by the Bedroka people.

It was hard to picture him small and cute, but it was easy to imagine the cruel words hurled at him.

Her brows knit downward.

“You must have suffered a lot. Wasn’t it hard, living in Bedroka?”

“I can’t say it was easy. I wasn’t there as a prince, after all. But I did have fun. I had a good friend.”

Why would he have hidden his identity, living there without revealing he was a prince?

Alice searched her memories but found nothing.

There wasn’t much information about Karan to begin with—most of it only related to the demon-slaying campaign.

‘I should’ve paid more attention.’

She regretted it belatedly, but she couldn’t turn back time. Nor did she want to.

So she changed the subject.

“I’m glad you had some joy there. And I’d like to thank that good friend of yours.”

“You? Why?”

Karan spun Alice in a circle.

She stumbled slightly with the speed, and he caught her firmly at the waist. His hand was hot.

“Because if your memories of Bedroka were only bad ones, you wouldn’t be holding my hand now.”

Karan, as if convinced, stepped back to arm’s length and then drew her in again.

“Then you should thank them plenty. Freely.”

“And who was that friend?”

Alice asked reflexively.

Karan pulled her closer, their chests pressing together. She placed her hand against his chest.

Even through layers of fabric, she felt the pounding of his heart.

He leaned in, his breath warm at her ear.

Alice’s gaze fixed on his throat.

All her senses turned toward Karan.

She thought it felt like being trapped in a room called Karan.

All she could see was him, all she could hear was his breath, all she could feel was his heartbeat.

On the fading edge of his breath, he answered,

“Alice.”

Alice lifted her eyes to meet his.

It was just a response to her name, but he only smiled enigmatically.

“We should go greet His Majesty. Will you come with me?”

“But the dance isn’t over…”

Leaving the floor before the music ended was against etiquette.

Alice hurriedly grabbed his collar—but her grip slackened almost instantly.

The music had already ended.

She couldn’t tell if her heart was racing from the dance—or because of Karan.

Alice declined Karan’s suggestion that they greet King Lange of Bedroka.

The king would not want to meet her.

Perhaps his anger had cooled somewhat with the engagement between Iris and Chase, but he would never forgive Alice for her past defiance.

‘He won’t like Karan either, but since he needs allies for the war against Ragnaros, he won’t show it openly.’

And Chase was not the favored son in Lange’s eyes.

For the sake of the kingdom, he’d likely swallow his pride.

‘Maybe I should do my part too.’

Alice took two glasses of champagne from a passing servant’s tray.

She slipped into a circle of chatting ladies.

“Shall we share in some fun conversation?”