Chapter 7
“I went to the prince’s palace… and you weren’t there.”
“You came all the way here just because of that? Do you even know what kind of place this is? A sheltered noble lady like you has no business coming to a place like this!”
The moment I answered, Khalid exploded in anger, rubbing the dried bloodstain on his palm with fierce frustration.
Watching him, a spark lit in my own chest. I raised my voice, unable to hold back the flare of defiance.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have been here in the first place. It’s already been three days since Izar’s funeral.”
“…”
Khalid lifted his chin, daring me to say more.
He didn’t look like the future emperor of a vast empire right now. He looked more like the boss of some back-alley gang, radiating raw danger. With his large frame and menacing glare, anyone who didn’t know him might cower on sight.
But I wasn’t just anyone.
I’d known Khalid for twelve years. No matter how threatening he looked, I wasn’t afraid. No matter how much tension he exuded, he had never laid a hand on me.
So I pressed him, demanding answers.
“You know exactly how serious things are right now. And yet you’re wasting your time in a place like this?”
“What business is it of yours?”
He scoffed, like the whole thing was a joke. That arrogant tone knocked the breath out of me.
I’d endured humiliation after humiliation to track him down… and this was his response?
Swallowing my rage, I forced my voice to stay gentle.
My feelings didn’t matter right now. I had to carry out Father’s orders—even if I hated it. Even if I absolutely, utterly loathed it.
“I told you before. It’s because now, I—”
“I told you, Renata Carnelutti. I’m not marrying you.”
“You think that’s your decision to make? Do you think I want this either?”
“…What?”
Khalid blinked at my outburst. I dug my heel into the dusty ground in frustration.
“You think I’m doing this because I want to marry you? I don’t! I hate it. I hate this! I hate you!”
“…”
“You look just like Izar with that disgusting face of yours!”
I was yelling like a madwoman when Khalid suddenly strode toward me. His steps were urgent, but his hand on my shoulder was surprisingly gentle.
“Hey, Renata. Calm down… this isn’t the palace.”
His large hand swallowed my shoulder completely, covered in the soft fur of my fox-lined cloak. But that touch wasn’t enough to put out the flames in me.
The dam had burst. I couldn’t stop the flood of words.
“If someone had to die, it should’ve been you! Why Izar? Why him, of all people?! If it were up to me, I’d forget about reviving the family name or obeying Father or my brother—I’d run away. Far away! I’m the one who’s struggling the most with all of this!”
I froze.
I had been staring at his chest as I shouted, but suddenly remembered that Laura was just a few steps away. She had heard everything.
Damn it. I’m screwed. If this gets back to Father…
Shame and panic washed over me. I covered my face with both hands.
But first, I had to deal with Khalid. I glanced at him nervously. In my fury, I might’ve said something that hurt him more than I intended.
“…Run away? Where’d you even pick up such trashy language?”
To my surprise, Khalid didn’t seem all that affected. In fact, he looked almost amused.
He wasn’t towering over me anymore, looking down with smug superiority. Now, he was watching me eye to eye, a curious look on his face. He bent slightly at the waist and studied me.
I frowned. “Do you have no shame? You’re the one skulking around in places like this.”
“…Alright, alright. Calm down, will you?”
He finally seemed a little embarrassed. His brow furrowed in imitation of mine, and he looked away, as if retreating.
I took a deep breath.
“I’ll calm down… when you bring Izar back.”
“…What happened to you in just a few days?”
“…”
“So you’re finally being honest. I thought you were just someone who drifted wherever people told you to go, never thinking for yourself.”
That teasing smirk of his returned. Without warning, he reached out and tapped my cheek lightly with one finger.
I was already boiling, but that smug grin tipped me over the edge.
What the hell is so funny?
I raised my foot and kicked him in the shin. Hard.
“…Ugh.”
He doubled over with a groan, and I felt slightly—only slightly—better.
“…Ugh.”
The man groaned as he came to.
His vision was hazy, his mind foggy. It felt like he’d been in an earthquake—his head pounded like a drum, and his body was screaming in pain.
“Oh! You’re awake.”
A soft voice floated to his ears. He heard the sound of water rippling nearby.
He couldn’t move his limbs—they felt paralyzed. He barely managed to shift his eyes toward the source of the voice.
A girl with long, water-colored hair and deep green eyes sat beside him, looking thrilled.
“…Who…?”
His voice came out in a cracked whisper. The moment he spoke, his skull throbbed like it would split open.
He instantly knew something was wrong.
His mind was blank.
He couldn’t remember anything. Not how he got hurt. Not who he was. Nothing.
Panic gripped him.
Who am I? What’s my name?
“Who else would I be? I’m the person who saved your life.”
“…Saved… me?”
Her words didn’t make sense to him. Even her strangely low voice grated on his nerves a bit.
She looked like a girl, but… could she be a boy?
He frowned and asked the question aloud.
The child blinked wide, startled eyes, then squinted as if she realized something.
“No way. Seriously? You’ve lost your memory? How cliché.”
“…Cliché?”
“Oh, wow. You’re serious, aren’t you?”
Unfortunately, he was. The man nodded, dazed and expressionless.
The girl’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Then she suddenly burst out laughing and declared, “My name is Pell.”
“I’ll walk you to where your carriage is. After that, you’re on your own.”
Khalid, now keeping a wide distance from me and rubbing his shin, finally spoke.
I must’ve used every ounce of strength in that kick—he looked truly miserable.
I felt much better and shook my head.
“No need. I’ll manage.”
“What do you mean, manage? Do you still not get how dangerous this area is?”
“I don’t need your help.”
I scoffed, glancing toward where the carriage was parked. If I walked quickly, I’d be there in no time.
Honestly, Khalid must think I’m some delicate flower raised in a greenhouse.
But he couldn’t be more wrong.
When you’re the daughter of one of the wealthiest men on the continent, unfortunate incidents are part of the package.
Ever since I was a child, I’d been kidnapped multiple times by people targeting my family’s fortune.
The first was when I was eight.
Then at eleven, fourteen, and most recently, seventeen.
Of course, these incidents were kept completely quiet. Father always made sure no rumors ever got out—so much so that even Izar, my closest childhood friend, never knew.
So Khalid? He didn’t have a clue.
After the second time, Father decided I at least needed to be able to defend myself.
He brought in private instructors to secretly train me in self-defense and marksmanship.
“You really are insufferable, you know that?”
