PLML 39

chapter 39

A voice sweet enough to be called seductive. Eyes filled with affection, as if he were utterly in love with the person in front of him. To an outsider, it wouldn’t be strange to think that Ferus was madly in love with Jaina. That’s how tender his expression was.

It was clearly the face of a man in love.

Ferus’s eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly.

“I’m sorry, Jaina Blake.”

The man who always called her by her nickname in a playful tone now addressed her seriously.

He slowly raised a slender finger and swept back her disheveled blonde hair. Playing with the strands that reached down to her chest, Ferus lowered his gaze. A faint shadow passed through his clear, sky-blue eyes.

“I know I shouldn’t be doing this.”

His expression resembled that of a child who had just done something wrong.

“But I can’t hold it in any longer.”

His eyes shimmered as they caught the dazzling sunlight. The moisture in them was enough to stir any woman’s heart.

“Jaina, it’s not wrong to have feelings for someone, is it? I…”

As if trying to pull out a heartfelt confession buried deep inside, Ferus hesitated. Watching him, Jaina smiled faintly.

“Ferus.”

“Yes, Jaina?”

“You’re right. Liking someone isn’t a crime.”

Ferus’s face lit up. Like a child forgiven, he smiled brightly and was just about to continue when Jaina cut him off.

“But liking someone who’s already taken is wrong. Ferus, cheating is a crime.”

Jaina didn’t fall for Ferus’s tricks. It was obvious he was trying to win her over with his pretty face.

‘I’m not someone who’ll fall for a cheap charm offensive. And besides, dark hair is still better than blondes.’

“Ferus, sorry, but you’re just not my type. If you want to use your looks to charm someone, try someone whose type you actually are.”

Ferus, who had been pretending to look dejected, lifted his head. The gloomy expression of a man rejected by his longtime crush vanished in an instant, returning to his usual self.

“Really now. Isn’t it polite to at least pretend to accept a confession this heartfelt?”

“It’s better to reject someone outright than to play with their feelings. So? Mind telling me why you really called me here today?”

Ferus grinned and bit into a cookie in front of him with a crisp snap. The way he licked the crumbs off his fingers was surprisingly seductive. Not to be outdone, the cotton candy creature beside them licked Jaina’s hand.

“Yes, yes. You’re the best, aren’t you, Cotton?”

“I wish you would love me like that too.”

“Not happening. Ever.”

“So cold. Honestly, I just called you here today because I missed you.”

Jaina didn’t believe him. As she looked at him with obvious suspicion, Ferus responded in an exaggeratedly hurt voice.

“Am I really that untrustworthy?”

“Yes.”

“What do I have to do to be someone Jaina can trust?”

“Well, for starters, stop asking to meet me behind my husband’s back.”

“That’s quite a tough request.”

Ferus chuckled slyly as he sipped his tea.

“I really only intended for us to drink tea, but…”

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Jaina.

“Since you keep doubting me, I suppose this tea time is over.”

His expression now resembled that of a sulky child whose plans had been ruined. Jaina shuddered slightly. A bad feeling crept over her.

* * *

After tea time ended, Ferus led Jaina to his room. She followed like a criminal being dragged to judgment.

“Wait here a moment.”

Leaving just those short words, Ferus exited the room. His tone felt oddly cold, and Jaina found herself unable to even ask where he was going.

Only she and Cotton remained in the room. Cotton whined, looking up at her anxiously.

“It’s okay. Nothing’s going to happen.”

Petting Cotton’s soft fur helped calm her nerves a little.

Knock knock—

At the sound, Jaina turned her head.

There was no reason for Ferus to knock. Before she could say anything, Cotton jumped off the bed and hid underneath it.

“Excuse us.”

The door opened. Maids entered, bringing in large drawers and an unknown object covered in black cloth. Jaina looked at them in confusion.

The leading maid pulled the cloth away.

‘Clothes…?’

Dresses—clearly expensive—were lined up in droves. Still dazed, Jaina blinked as the maid gracefully pointed to the dresses.

“Please choose one you like.”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince has requested that you prepare for an outing.”

“I’m fine in what I’m wearing now. There’s no need to change…”

“His Highness insisted you must change.”

‘What, does he hate my outfit that much?’

Jaina was dumbfounded. She tried to speak with Ferus outside, but two maids blocked her path, saying they were ordered not to let her leave until she was ready.

Reluctantly, she stood before the rack.

The dresses were all luxurious, but none suited her taste. After some thought, she picked the one she figured might suit her best—a pale pink dress adorned with frills and elaborate ribbons.

After changing, the same maid opened a drawer. Inside, arranged under glass covers, were accessories encrusted with dazzling jewels.

“…No way.”

Jaina couldn’t even finish her sentence before looking at the maid, who gave a confirming nod.

After picking a matching hair ornament and brooch, the maids finally left. Cotton, who had hidden under the bed, crawled out and leapt into Jaina’s arms.

Not long after, Ferus returned. He had also changed clothes for the outing.

A bright white uniform, embroidered with golden thread and a blue brooch that matched his eyes. His usually tousled hair was now neatly styled. He looked exactly the part of the warm, kind crown prince.

“You look beautiful. Jaina, do you like my gift?”

His voice was soft and kind again—no sign of the earlier coldness.

‘Who forces a gift on someone like this?’

Jaina swallowed her true feelings and smiled.

“Yes, thank you. But I don’t need this kind of thing anymore. My closet’s full of dresses and jewels at home.”

“That may be true… but I wanted to dress you in something I picked and walk around together.”

‘Uh-huh. Sure you did.’

“Then, shall we go?”

Ferus opened the door and held out his hand. Jaina stood, holding Cotton. Just as she was about to walk out, Ferus lowered his posture to block her path.

“What is it?”

“Jaina, I’m sorry, but you can’t bring that little one.”

“Why not?”

“Are you planning to parade around town with a monster?”

‘Oh, right.’

She’d been holding Cotton so naturally, she forgot.

Cotton was a magical beast. Cute and adorable as it looked, that didn’t change what it was. Taking a monster into town would definitely cause a commotion.

Ferus smiled slightly.

“Sorry, but you’ll have to leave it behind.”

As soon as he spoke, Cotton clung tightly to Jaina’s clothes, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

“I can’t leave her alone. She’s still young and gets anxious without me. I’m sorry, even though you prepared all this… maybe we should go out another time.”

“Don’t you feel bad for me, all excited to go on a date with you?”

Ferus made an exaggeratedly disappointed face.

“I’m sorry.”

Ferus sighed briefly.

“It can’t be helped.”

Just as Jaina felt relieved, Ferus pulled a paper from his coat.

“Incident report: At 0 hour 0 minutes, the Beligus Dragon went missing from Training Facility No. 3. No damage or signs of forced exit were found. Attached is a list of unverified visitors on the day in question.”

Ferus smiled as he read the report aloud.

“Where could that massive Beligus Dragon have gone, I wonder?”

“Y-yeah… who knows?”

‘I didn’t think I’d get away with it forever, but this is way too fast…!’

Ferus laid the report in front of her.

Below the description, there was a list of names. One stood out, marked with a red X—“Sinas Agrina,” a fake name used by Ashins.

“Sinas Agrina. The only person still unaccounted for. We checked at Louvern Temple—no one by that name exists.”

His cold blue eyes stared into Jaina’s.

“What do you think, Jaina?”

“Uh, wh-what about it?”

“The monster training center is funded by the royal family. Which means all the creatures there belong to the royal house.”

‘So he’s asking who the lunatic was who stole from royalty, huh?’

There was no doubt—he was certain it was her.

Jaina debated.

She’d used transformation magic to change her appearance. True, she was briefly seen by a guard in her real form—but she left immediately. If she denied everything now, it might still work.

‘No. He knows it was me.’

Pretending not to know might buy time, but who knew what would happen after that? Better to confess now and get it over with.

“Ferus, the truth is—”

Just as she began to speak, Ferus cut her off.

“The disappearance of the Beligus Dragon is a big deal… but for me, going on a date with you is more important. I feel like I’ll forget all about this minor incident once we do.”

His eyes curved into half-moons. They asked her silently:

What’ll it be?

If she agreed to the date, the whole dragon incident would be swept under the rug.

‘But still…’

Jaina hesitated. She looked back and forth between Cotton and Ferus.

When she didn’t answer, Ferus sighed lightly.

“Sigh… Alright. If Jaina is this reluctant, it doesn’t feel right to push ahead.”

‘Now you stop pushing? After all that?’

Jaina couldn’t believe his sudden shift in tone.

“Let’s do this instead.”