WSGP 10

Chapter 10

She didn’t even have time to scream.

Just as she stumbled, someone firmly grabbed Ren’s hand.

It was a large, warm hand—calloused and scarred in many places.

Unfeeling golden eyes turned to her. As if it were nothing, he gently pulled her to her feet.

Ren’s heart pounded. She must have been more shocked than she realized, as it wouldn’t calm down easily.

Slowly, she descended the stairs, escorted by Rix. The moment her feet touched the ground, he let go of her hand as if nothing had happened.

Fernandez rushed over in a panic, asking if she was okay—probably more than ten times in that brief span.

Just then, Mabel—wearing a slightly simpler uniform than Rix’s—approached and spoke to him.

“Your Highness, Count Mafla has arrived.”

“Already?”

“Yes. He’s unpacking now at his estate in the capital.”

Rix glanced at Ren. His gaze fell to the hem of her dress, which had gotten slightly dirty from the kiss and horseback riding.

“Looks like we’ll need to get her another dress.”

Scarlett, standing beside them, spoke up awkwardly.

“By now, all the shops must be closed.”

Looking up at the sky, she could see the faint glow of two moons. Come to think of it, when had time passed like this? She was sure it was bright daylight when they arrived.

Rix nodded thoughtfully and said to Scarlett,

“Then dress her in one of Mother’s gowns. The shoes fit her last time, so the dress probably will too.”

Suddenly, Ren’s ears turned hot. She remembered the shoes he had given her. She hadn’t found the right moment to return them, so they were still in her room.

Scarlett, who had nodded at her master’s command, turned to Ren and said,

“I’ll assist you.”

Tina and Fanny followed behind Ren. She glanced back; Rix was speaking with Mabel in the same expressionless tone as before.

When she had touched his palm, she could feel the many scars. Ren clenched her tingling fist.

The blue, flowing dress that looked like something out of a fairy tale made Ren move like a clumsy wooden puppet.

It was even harder to walk in than the long silver dress she wore before.

To make things more extravagant, Fanny’s magic-touch hairstyling earned applause from everyone. Tiny braids were adorned with blue flower pins that resembled Ren’s eyes.

From the shoes to the hairpin, everything had belonged to Rix’s mother.

What was strange was how perfectly they all fit her.

Because of that, she couldn’t even make an excuse that they didn’t suit her.

To make it worse, everyone around her was praising how stunning she looked—she couldn’t just throw it off. Even Stella, who rarely showed emotion, had a slight smile.

Ren sighed and slowly descended the stairs. Thankfully, the dress wasn’t longer than her height, so there was no danger of tripping. That was the one perk of this doll-like outfit.

When she reached the bottom, a voice came from ahead.

“What about Viscount Tinnerk?”

“They’re still leaning more toward the First Prince. But they haven’t fully crossed over, so with a bit more effort—”

Mabel stopped mid-sentence. He was looking toward Ren. Rix’s head naturally turned in the same direction.

Ren’s and Rix’s golden eyes met in midair.

While she had changed, so had he—he was no longer in his uniform, but dressed like a noble invited to a formal dinner.

The navy tailcoat, cinched at the waist, emphasized his broad shoulders and V-shaped torso. The refined silk cravat softened the intensity of his red hair.

One wouldn’t think red hair would pair well with blue tones, but he pulled it off effortlessly. It was as if the night embraced the red sun.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. No one else dared to speak either.

Rix lifted one corner of his mouth playfully and walked slowly toward her.

With each step, the sound of his polished shoes echoed through the hall.

Before she knew it, he was right in front of her and extended his hand with the grace of a waltz.

What was she supposed to do?

As Ren hesitated, he motioned with his eyes toward her hand.

She awkwardly placed her hand in his, and his touch flowed over hers like water. Then he bowed and kissed the back of her hand.

That fleeting moment felt like eternity.

He gently took her hand like a butterfly and led her forward. Ren followed as if under a spell. She thought that even if he led her to the edge of a cliff as a ghost, she wouldn’t resist.

Waiting in front of the grand entrance was a carriage as majestic as Cinderella’s. Two large black horses, each the size of Kiss, stood ready.

On the carriage door was engraved a sword piercing the sun. The sun represented the empire, the sword symbolized the goddess Fiora, and the combined symbol was exclusive to the imperial bloodline.

Only now did the reality of Rix’s status sink in.

Mabel opened the carriage door. Inside was an elegant black seat, plush and soft.

Ren climbed the steps, escorted by Rix.

When their hands parted, she felt a strange emptiness and leaned toward the window to look outside.

Just then, Rix stepped inside, and the door closed.

“Aren’t you riding a horse?”

“You stole Kiss, so I had no choice.”

“But last time I saw the stables, there were plenty of other horses. Mabel even said they were famous thoroughbreds from all over.”

“Mabel said that, did she?”

Rix chuckled.

“Even so, I’ve grown too used to Kiss. I can’t ride the others properly.”

“That’s unfortunate. Kiss is used to me now. He probably likes me more than you.”

“Oh really? Want to bet on it?”

“You’d think I’m possessed by a ghost who died from not betting.”

Ren replied with mock exasperation.

“I don’t believe in ghosts.”

Rix shrugged, completely unfazed.

“Besides, if we did bet, I’d just wish for you to return Kiss to me.”

Ren was speechless. He used to call the horse that thing, that brat, and now it’s “Kiss”?

“Don’t even dream of it. Kiss isn’t part of the deal.”

She firmly shut that door and looked out the window. Still, the jokes helped ease her nerves.

Outside, the twin silver moons were now crescent-shaped. When she first arrived, they had been full. Time had flown by.

But the moonlight was much dimmer than neon-lit Seoul. By four or five in the evening, it was already dark. For someone used to living 24 hours in the brightness, it felt far too early.

Fidgeting with the unfamiliar dress hem, Ren glanced at Rix.

He was sitting upright, eyes closed. His posture screamed noble etiquette.

Ren opened her mouth, then closed it again. She didn’t want to wake him. Just as she turned back to the window, a husky voice spoke.

“Got something you’re curious about?”

Her heart skipped a beat. It felt like a child caught snooping by a parent. Trying to act casual, she looked at him and thought quickly.

“Just… wondering, I guess.”

“You were staring pretty hard.”

“How would you know that?”

“I could feel it.”

Rix smirked. That smug smile always caught her off guard. Relaxing a bit, Ren picked one of the questions floating in her mind.

“What’s your relationship with Count Mafla?”

Rix narrowed his eyes at her.

“Seems like you’d know that better than I do.”

Suddenly, she recalled the chaos she caused screaming Victor’s name. Ren cleared her throat and forced her voice to sound natural.

“Well… I’ve just heard the name before.”

She almost slipped up. Rix hummed, stroking his chin, watching Ren avoid his gaze.

“Where did you live, exactly?”

“Is this the start of your wish?”

At Ren’s question, Rix stared at her for a moment. Since she didn’t avoid his gaze, he held it and nodded firmly.

“Yes.”

Great. This was going to be a headache.

Ren’s mind raced.

“A remote area. Hardly any contact with others.”

“The western mountains? Or the eastern Tarkana Lake?”

He was relentless. Saying she came from around Tarkana Lake sounded more believable.

From what Ren had learned during her stay, saying “beyond Tarkana Lake” in the Empire implied not only unexplored territory but also a place where magic appeared.

They said strange objects would appear from beyond the lake—like guns.

The Empire originally had no concept of firearms. Blades were the primary weapons until guns mysteriously appeared beyond the lake. That led to the nobles adopting and replicating them for personal use.

There was also a legend that the goddess Fiora came from beyond Tarkana Lake.

That place was said to be a completely different world. Ren had pieced this together by relentlessly pestering Fernandez, who could read.

“Tarkana Lake.”

“If you’re lying, it’s treason against the royal family. You’ll be executed.”

“Go ahead. If you can kill a saint, that is.”

Ren’s bold reply made him scoff. Then he asked another question.

“Family?”

This one was easy to answer—with the truth.

“I have none.”

“Then how did you get from Tarkana Lake to here?”

“Sorry, I don’t remember.”

“If you keep answering like that, I’ll run out of questions.”