TCBUP 70

Chapter 70 We Mustn’t Cross Paths

“Your Grace, let’s go back.”

Lily gently tugged on the damp sleeve of Damian’s coat.

He glanced briefly at her slender hand before quietly slipping his arm away, silently refusing her request.

Still, Lily persisted, determined to convince him.

“Sienna is now Prince Aiden’s fiancée. I’m sure His Highness will take good care of her.”

“…Please inform His Highness.”

“I will.”

Reluctantly, Damian took a step back, and Lily followed closely behind.

Just before they exited, Damian turned around, unable to shake his lingering attachment. But the prince’s attendant—likely one of his men—shut the door without mercy.

As soon as they left, the bedroom door was shut tightly.

“Sienna, are you feeling any discomfort?”

“Joshua, is it really okay for you to be here?”

“Of course. I’m Prince Aiden’s personal physician.”

“I may not look it, but I graduated from the Royal Medical Academy. I passed the final exam with pride and was officially appointed to serve in the palace.”

Joshua cheerfully answered while carefully examining me.

In truth, I wasn’t in particularly bad shape.

Damian had acted quickly to save me when I fell into the lake… Ah. I owed him again.

We had locked eyes when I arrived at the tea party, but Damian had turned away first.

After that, he hadn’t even acknowledged me, nor had he come anywhere near the tent I was in.

Yet he was the first one to jump into the lake to save me. I still couldn’t believe it.

‘I didn’t even get to thank him.’

I’d been preoccupied with Lily, and too anxious that Leon’s identity might be exposed.

I’d have to thank Damian properly another time. For now, something else was more urgent.

“Your focus has returned, and your speech is clear. There are no significant abnormalities, so you can rest easy now.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. With a bit of rest, you’ll be ready to return home in no time.”

Though my body still felt heavy like a waterlogged sponge, I relaxed at his reassuring diagnosis and immediately called for Leon.

Leon, who had stepped out to give the physician space, now sat beside my bed.

“I’m here.”

“Leon, I need you to do something for me. You absolutely must follow my instructions.”

“Got it. Whatever you need.”

“Whatever happens, do not let Lily see you in your current form.”

Back when Sienna’s hidden route hadn’t activated yet, and Leon/Aiden hadn’t been revealed as the male lead, Lily had shown no reaction to him.

But now it was different.

Just like me, Lily could identify the male lead using the silver lock. I had to warn Leon.

If he was careless, Lily would discover his identity.

“Promise me. You absolutely must not meet her. Understand?”

My urgent tone seemed to startle Leon.

He looked pensive for a moment, his expression growing a little complex, then he nodded.

“I’ll do that.”

“Thank you.”

“And don’t worry, Sienna. I have zero interest in that woman.”

…Why is the conversation going in that direction?

I blinked, confused, as Leon gently brushed aside the wet strands of hair clinging to my forehead.

“But don’t you find it strange? The Duke didn’t seem to care about her at all.”

“Do you really have to say that in front of me?”

“I mean, it’s true. From what I saw, it looked more like the Duke was interested in you…”

“Tch.”

Only then did I realize the misunderstanding Leon and Joshua seemed to have.

I considered correcting them, but gave up.

I couldn’t explain the real reason anyway. For now, what mattered was keeping Leon and Aiden’s shared identity hidden from Lily.

“In any case, please be careful. I can’t go through that again.”

“Okay, okay. But first, get some rest.”

“Oh right. I wonder if Duke Ortiz just went home. He must’ve gotten soaked too.”

“I’m sure he took care of himself. Don’t worry.”

“But I didn’t get to thank him.”

“I’ll pass the message on for you.”

“Achoo—Jealousy alert.”

Joshua muttered a tiny cough with a grumble, and Leon shot him a sharp glance.

Joshua flinched slightly but looked away innocently.

Then Leon pulled the soft blanket up to my chin and gently patted my shoulder like soothing a fussy child.

“Don’t think about anything. Just sleep. You’ll feel much better afterward.”

Pat, pat. The steady, gentle rhythm was like a lullaby.

Before I knew it, I drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

* * *

After about an hour’s rest, my body felt noticeably lighter.

Enduring Leon’s endless fretting and Joshua’s dramatic farewell, I finally managed to leave Aiden’s residence.

Just as my carriage was about to exit the palace grounds, it came to an abrupt stop—almost tipping forward—before someone suddenly flung the door open and climbed inside.

“Sienna Hargreaves.”

“Wh-Who are you?”

Startled by the stranger’s sudden intrusion, I immediately went on high alert.

But the man, with muted red hair and a white suit, sat across from me and gave a charming smile.

His slender frame, delicate facial features, and the hint of seduction in his smiling eyes were striking.

“Thank goodness. I was in a rush to catch you before you left. Managed just in time.”

“I’m sorry, but who are you?”

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Withro.”

“…Forgive me. I greet Your Highness, Prince Withro.”

We were in a carriage, so I couldn’t rise. I had no choice but to bow my head while seated.

“No need for formalities between family. And since I got in without permission, let’s call it even.”

“I heard you were overseas, so I didn’t recognize you.”

“I was. But when I heard my brother got engaged, how could I just sit still? I rushed back to congratulate him.”

Dangerous man.

He was like a beautiful yet poisonous flower, radiating seductive energy.

Though his smile was bright, something about it sent a chill down my spine.

“I see.”

I reflexively looked at his chest for a silver lock, as I did with every man who approached me.

It was clean.

Not the male lead. Thank goodness.

I had no desire to be caught between two brothers locked in a deadly power struggle.

And since I had already accepted the role of Aiden’s fiancée, I had no interest in getting involved with his rival.

“How’s your body? You must’ve been startled by the gunshot and fell into the water.”

“…”

“It was pretty dangerous, wasn’t it? The bullet landed right at your feet.”

How did he know that?

Withro hadn’t been there.

Just as an odd sense of unease began to creep over me, he casually admitted it.

“Oh, I shot the gun. Got a new hunting rifle. After we made the lake, some ducks came by, so I took a shot. I mean, beautiful ladies were having tea—it wouldn’t do to have ducks around instead of swans, would it?”

…Is this guy insane?

The Empress, noble ladies, and even Ariana—his potential future bride—were all present.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

Oh god. So it wasn’t a mistake or misfire. He deliberately aimed for me.

He was definitely unhinged.

“Playing with guns in the imperial palace sounds rather reckless.”

“Well, that’s because it’s the imperial palace.”

He smiled lazily, as if he already owned the place.

“I wasn’t trying to kill you. I swear it on the god Zephyros.”

“Did it not occur to you that if I was startled and fell into the water, I might drown?”

“Oh, it did. But I figured someone would save you. Besides, it’s a man-made lake—the water’s not that deep.”

He didn’t seem the least bit sorry. Not even a trace of guilt.