TRETTHD 44

#44. Tell Me You’ll Stay by My Side

He had no idea what Belia had been through.

So it was perfectly possible for him to cling to her now with such a pitiful expression.

Thinking this, Belia struggled to steady her wildly churning emotions.

“He’s not the emperor right now. He’s not the emperor…”

She kept repeating it in her mind, but the horrific memories kept surfacing, sending shivers crawling up her arms.

Before she realized it, her voice had slipped out sharply.

“Why do you want to know that?”

She felt like she could strangle Raul on the spot.

“Why isn’t it you…?”

Her fingernails dug into her palm through her clenched fist.

Her lips trembled. She couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Have I done something wrong to you?”

Raul’s innocent, confused gaze bore into her, and Belia’s restrained anger threatened to burst. Just as she was about to speak, someone suddenly wrapped their arms around her from behind.

The cool scent gave it away immediately—it was Khalid.

His gentle hand patting her back slowly calmed the tension that had been on edge.

Belia closed her eyes in his embrace and took several deep breaths.

“Stop being pathetic and let’s go, shall we?”

He breathed heavily as he glared at Raul.

As Belia had expected, Khalid had dashed to the garden as soon as he spotted Raul harassing her through the window.

“Who would think you were flirting with my fiancée?” Khalid teased, his words laced with sarcasm.

Raul’s expression stiffened.

“…It’s not like that.”

“If not, then what could you possibly have to say to Belia? Surely you’re not going to claim it was a coincidence?”

Khalid brushed Belia’s shoulder, calming her while grinding his teeth.

Claiming they ‘just happened to meet’ in the Second Prince’s palace—a place Raul had never visited in his life? Any explanation would just be an excuse, and Belia didn’t need to hear it.

Besides, she could imagine what kind of manipulations Raul would have attempted if she hadn’t been watching. Khalid scoffed.

“Why do you think he came all this way? It’s obvious.”

He held Belia close so that Raul couldn’t see her face, then sneered at him.

“Still holding onto regrets, are you?”

There was danger in Khalid’s tone. Raul sighed, running a hand through his hair, seemingly unwilling to escalate the conflict.

“Sigh… I just wanted to invite you to tea,” Raul said, trying to justify himself.

He claimed he’d only come by to ask in person.

“The question I asked earlier was just out of curiosity.”

Curious about why she had rejected him? Nonsense.

At that moment, Belia, whose anger had slightly subsided, wriggled in Khalid’s arms and peeked her head out.

Raul observed her with a complicated expression before speaking.

“…I’m soon to be engaged to Princess Canterif. I only wanted to introduce her, so please don’t misunderstand.”

Raul’s tone toward Belia was extremely polite.

“We’re family now, aren’t we?”

His smile carried no malice, but Belia knew he was speaking words he didn’t truly mean.

Though she felt uneasy, she couldn’t refuse Raul’s invitation outright—especially now, as more eyes were turning toward her.

Belia, calmed by Khalid’s presence, gently pushed him aside and responded to Raul.

“Since it’s a family gathering for harmony, there’s no reason to refuse. Please let me know the details later, and I’ll make time.”

“Thank you for understanding, Princess Belia.”

Raul smiled warmly before indicating he would leave. Belia nodded.

As Raul turned to leave, he smirked and approached Khalid, placing a hand on his shoulder and whispering so only he could hear.

“Even engaged, yet you cling like this—how ridiculous.”

Then he leaned closer, planting a verbal wedge.

“What’s with the anxiety? You don’t look like a victorious man, Khalid.”

He gave Khalid’s shoulder one final squeeze before letting go.

“I’ll have the date and time conveyed by the attendants.”

With proper etiquette, Raul bowed to Belia and then smiled brightly at Khalid.

“See you then.”

The echo of footsteps rang through the quiet corridor.

“Wait, Khalid! That hurts!”

Belia struggled to free her wrist but couldn’t overcome his strength. Khalid said nothing. He simply walked briskly with her toward the room.

Bang!

The door slammed loudly behind them.

“Phew…”

Khalid exhaled deeply, trying to restrain himself.

“…Let go.”

Belia frowned. Khalid finally relaxed his grip. Her pale wrist gradually regained color.

Seeing the marks, Khalid ran a hand roughly through his hair, guilt pressing down on him.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered in a barely audible voice.

Belia quietly rubbed her wrist and glared at him.

“What is this? Look at this mark!”

She held her wrist up to Khalid’s eyes. He averted his gaze.

“Hey? Look here! I’m showing you!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You know you shouldn’t have done that, right?” Belia puffed out her cheeks.

“What did Raul say?”

Even when he had rushed to the garden, Khalid hadn’t looked pleased. But after Raul whispered in his ear, his expression had gone icy in an instant.

Belia wanted to be angry but calmed herself and asked gently, seeing Khalid’s glum expression.

“What did he say to make you sulk like this?”

Khalid suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Belia patted his back softly.

“…Will you go to Raul?”

“What are you talking about?”

Belia asked, stunned. Khalid let out a small bitter laugh, as if even he found the situation absurd.

“I sometimes dream that you leave me for Raul.”

His voice lacked strength, steeped in gloom.

“That would never happen,” Belia said.

She had anticipated this the moment he learned she and Raul had been lovers. Khalid had never openly expressed jealousy, but it was clear he was affected. Today, facing Raul, those suppressed feelings had finally exploded.

“…I know. Even knowing, I almost went mad seeing you with him.”

Khalid lowered his head, releasing her hands. One hand covered his face.

“Damn it.”

It was the first time Belia had heard him curse. A shiver ran down her back to her waist.

“You don’t act like yourself at all… but only with me.”

Seeing him cling to her with unguarded emotion made her heart pound. When his face peeked out from behind his hair, she felt crushed by an indescribable force, trembling from head to toe at the sensation.

“…I’ll get some water.”

Had she really just spoken normally? She couldn’t tell.

She couldn’t endure it any longer. Watching someone pour out such raw emotions because of her gave Belia an inexplicable satisfaction. Was she strange for feeling that way?

“You should calm down a bit.”

Belia turned quickly. Khalid grabbed her hand, desperate as if fearing she would vanish forever.

“Don’t go.”

Belia smiled, gently pushing his hand away.

“Where would I go?”

“Tell me you’ll stay by my side.”

Even if it was just to fetch water…

“Hurry.”

He sounded desperate. Khalid gripped her again, refusing to let her answer.

“I want to trap you so you can never leave me.”

He met her gaze with a bitter laugh.

“Am I crazy for thinking this way?”

Belia needed to lighten the mood. His emotions surged recklessly across the line she had struggled to set, and she felt overwhelmed.

“Obsessive men aren’t attractive,” she whispered softly, trying to regain control. Her voice slow, sultry, and teasing:

“Do you know how hard I was biting my teeth, holding back when Raul spoke to me earlier?”

“….”

“I wanted to kill him right there.”

If you hadn’t appeared, she said with a laugh, she might have strangled him with her own hands.

“I’ll say it again. It’s simple. If he acts weak…”

“I’ll be the one to pierce Raul’s throat.”

She repeated it over and over in her mind. She would do it herself.

Belia picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip.

It suited her taste perfectly.

The desserts in front of her were also exactly what she liked. Someone must have remembered what she favored in the Kingdom of Ronica.

“If only I could turn back a bit further…”

If she could, she would have avoided any contact with Raul altogether.

Still, the cookies were delicious. Though the situation wasn’t exactly pleasant.

“Do they suit your taste?” Raul asked kindly as she nibbled a cookie.

Belia nodded slightly.

“Yes. They’re delicious.”

“I’m glad,” Raul said with a bright smile.

Earlier, under less-than-welcome circumstances, Khalid and Belia had accepted Raul’s invitation to tea at the First Prince’s palace.

Four people, awkwardly gathered, tried to make small talk. Whether it counted as conversation was another matter entirely.

“I remembered what you liked before, so I prepared these. I’m glad they suit your taste,” Raul said.

Belia nodded casually.

She glanced at Princess Elin Canterif sitting beside Raul. Her expression was rigid, clearly displeased at how attentive Raul was to Belia, his fiancée-to-be, rather than her. Khalid shared the same sentiment.

“Aren’t you curious what your brother’s fiancée likes?” Khalid remarked, pointing at the trembling, humiliated Canterif princess.