Secrets with Crown Prince 24

Because I found it bothersome to send letters daily, I agreed to visit Do-Hyuk at the palace every four days.

I didn’t understand why we had to reach an agreement in the first place, but I couldn’t exactly refuse since I said I would give him a chance.

“Memory Restoration Potion?”

Do-Hyuk carefully examined the vial I gave him.

“I didn’t know such a thing existed.”

“Melissa occasionally brings potions that are not available in the market.”

“Is this something you can trust?”

“They were recommended by the mage who saved my life. And Melissa herself is an accredited mage. You can trust her. The price is exorbitant since it’s illegal, but the effects are incredible.”

“I wanted to ask, didn’t you say a mage saved your life? What exactly happened in the Nayden Kingdom?”

He hit the spot that I wanted to gloss over naturally and asked me.

He had always been like that. He never let anything slide.

I shrugged my shoulders with my arms crossed.

“I was almost abducted by slave traders. That’s when a mage named Erin helped me. She is a close friend of Her Majesty the Queen. Quite a remarkable coincidence, isn’t it?”

“Slave traders…”

Do-Hyuk’s face twisted. While looking at that menacing expression, I quickly changed the subject.

“My past isn’t important right now.”

“Why wouldn’t it be important?”

Do-Hyuk replied with a clenched jaw.

He seemed ready to track down those slave traders and tear them to pieces.

I made an effort to steer the conversation in a different direction.

“Let’s talk about that later. Shall we discuss the potion for now?”

I pointed to the potion in his hand.

“You just have to drink it and try recalling the memories of the desired time period. Wouldn’t it be nice to drink whenever you miss Korea?”

Do-Hyuk looked at me with a somewhat disappointed expression.

“What I’m curious about is not my own memories, but Korea as seen through your eyes. I don’t need to revisit my own memories.”

Ah, I had no idea. Why was Do-Hyuk so curious about my perspective?

I thought his efforts to seduce me were only because of our special bond, but is that really the case?

“Should I drink it instead?”

I took a pill bag from my jacket pocket and showed it to him.

“I prepared this just in case you would say that. If I drink the potion with this pill, it will project my past memories as videos. That way, they can be shared with others. Isn’t it fascinating?”

Do-Hyuk looked genuinely amazed.

No matter how powerful magic was, this was way out of the ordinary.

“Is such a thing possible?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? Perhaps magic is even more advanced than modern technology.”

And just as I was about to experiment with the potion’s effects, Argan arrived.

He came to find me after hearing that I wasn’t in the Lubiche Mansion due to my visits to the palace.

Do-Hyuk rolled his eyes, uneasy with the fact that Argan had come.

Then he sighed for some reason and touched his mouth.

“Hurry back.”

Do-Hyuk gave a modest farewell that could have been more agreeable.

His resigned face looked somewhat pitiful, like a puppy with a sullen tail, making him quite cute.

“Don’t forget that I’m waiting.”

I laughed out loud at the remark.

How could I forget Do-Hyuk just because I’m meeting Argan for a moment? I’m not a goldfish.

Do-Hyuk is a man who will chase after me and bug me until his existence is etched into my mind.

But I knew that his intention behind those words wasn’t that. He was just uneasy, so he mentioned it again unnecessarily.

I gave a light farewell and left. Argan was standing quietly in front of the door.

Just like an old tree, he stood upright and firm.

I saw his clean black hair and the neatly dressed attire of a knight without any wrinkles.

It seemed like he was heading for the training ground.

“Let’s head to the drawing room.”

Argan’s rigid gaze fell upon me in response to my answer.

“Do you have any intentions of breaking off the engagement?”

I didn’t answer Argan’s question. A maid who was observing us led us to the drawing room.

Argan and I sat silently facing each other at the drawing room’s table.

It was comfortable with Argan. We didn’t really have much to talk about.

I opened my mouth as I watched the steam rising from the teacup gradually fade away.

“Can I be honest with you?”

He nodded in response to my question.

“I would be grateful if you called off the engagement first. But even if you don’t, it doesn’t matter much.”

In response to my answer, his lips tightened into a straight line.

“There are many women with better conditions than me. I think there are clearly better options than getting engaged to a foreigner like me.”

“Is that because of Prince Reynold?”

He turned around and asked me, calmly listening to my words.

The rumors about Do-Hyuk and me had spread uncontrollably. But even so, I didn’t want to push Do-Hyuk away.

Even though it may not be on par with his emotional and sad longing for me, he remained the only person who could understand my feelings.

That was the truth of my innermost thoughts.

“Yes, you’re right. I am so embarrassed. If you want the documents, please let me know. I will discuss it with my father and try to make adjustments as much as possible.”

He didn’t need any documents when we hadn’t even been engaged. But as a courtesy, I spoke meaningless words.

After saying that, I apologized again and lowered my head to him.

“What if I say I’m not okay with it?”

There was a sense of tension in his voice.

I read the stubbornness in his determined eyes. Why suddenly didn’t he want to break off the engagement?

“Isn’t that different from what you said before? We agreed that if either of us felt that we couldn’t continue anymore, we would end it. Prince Reynold was there too.”

At my words, his lips twisted.

Neither of us touched the teacups. The tea had long since gone cold.

The maid standing near the door observed the situation cautiously and brought a fresh pot of tea.

Feeling suffocated, I took a sip of the newly served tea. It had a bitter yet subtly sweet aroma swirling in my mouth.

This was exactly how I felt right now. A harmony of bitterness and sweetness.

After dimension-hopping, I was fortunate enough to become a noble. Still, protecting myself from the threats that jeopardized this position was challenging.

“I won’t go back on what I originally said, but…”

Argan gave a somewhat delayed response.

“I don’t want to break off the engagement with Lady Lubiche. Especially if the reason is Prince Reynold.”

I pondered his words and tilted my head in confusion.

Was it merely a matter of his meager pride rather than him being pleased with my conditions?

“Do you dislike His Highness?”

Argan hesitated at my question, rolling his eyes from side to side, then sighing.

He answered with a tired expression on his face.

“I don’t particularly like him.”

“Why?”

Argan stared at me intently before sipping his tea slowly.

“Why does Your Grace like Prince Reynold?”

“I… well, it’s not like I… Anyway, I don’t like Prince Reynold. Absolutely not.”

Argan furrowed his brow, unable to comprehend my reply.

“If you don’t like him, why insist on calling off the engagement with me?”

“Think about me and Lord Roadwald’s reputation.”

“Isn’t it easier to distance yourself from Prince Reynold?”

“Then let me ask you this. Besides the fact that you can’t break the alliance between our houses, what other reasons are there for you not being able to break off the engagement with me?”

I replied to his question with a question.

In response, Argan tightly sealed his lips. Perhaps he couldn’t find any other reasons.

I let out a sigh.

“I didn’t ask for an immediate decision.”

As I said that and got up from my seat, Argan hurriedly followed me.

I was about to bid him goodbye, but he unexpectedly grabbed my wrist.

“I will respect Young Lady’s wishes. Just please understand that I still want to proceed with the engagement.”

I was at a loss for words at his statement and stared at him.

Why is he suddenly acting like a clingy ex-boyfriend? We don’t have any personal relationship, do we?

“And Mother is not in good health. She said it would be difficult for now and that she will give her say on the matter after some time has passed.”

Nevertheless, he diligently fulfilled the request. I already knew, but I was genuinely impressed by Argan’s kindness and sincerity.

I need to correct my previous assessment of him as inconsiderate.

“Thank you. But how about Duchess Roadwald? Is she okay? I heard she’s not in good health.”

At my question, Argan closed his mouth with a slightly gloomy expression. It seems to be a serious matter. What could it be?

“Well… According to the physician, it’s Florence.”

What is Florence?

Seeing Argan’s serious expression, I couldn’t bear to ask what it was.

I spoke as if I knew what Florence was, so I refrained from asking. It appears to be a serious illness based on Argan’s expression. I comforted him with a sympathetic face.

“Oh… It must be challenging for you to take care of her. I hope she recovers soon.”

As I tried to console him, his expression became strange.

Huh? Was that not appropriate? As I was thinking that, someone knocked on the drawing room’s door.

Knock, knock.

I opened the door and saw Do-Hyuk waiting obediently in front of the door.

It seems he had been eagerly waiting to barge into the drawing room.

“Are you done talking now?” 

He asked me with sparkling eyes. Was he here the whole time?

Argan was calm even when he saw Do-Hyuk waiting in front of the drawing room.

Do-Hyuk, whom I thought would be the opposite, also looked at Argan with a composed face.

“Your Highness, you are always rude, whether it’s now or before.”

“And you, whether it’s now or before, never cease to try fixing the stable doors after losing the horse¹.” 

Argan frowned, not understanding Do-Hyuk’s words.

“You still have an incomprehensible way of speaking.”

“I didn’t expect you to understand.”

Do-Hyuk’s smile crumpled Argan’s expression.

It was impressive how Do-Hyuk could evoke such strong emotions from the usually cold Argan.

The sparks between them were flying. I felt like I was going to get electrocuted.

I tried to quietly step back and disappear, but Do-Hyuk grabbed my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

I rolled my eyes and glanced at Argan before answering. The situation was truly awkward.

“I have to go home.”

Upon my answer, Do-Hyuk stared down at my face for a moment and sighed deeply.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Upon my response, Do-Hyuk made a dissatisfied face this time.

Then Argan went into the drawing room, put on his jacket, and reached out his hand to me.

“I will escort you. After all, I am the Young Lady’s fiancé.”

We have yet to officially engage. So, the term “fiancé” is not appropriate.

Moreover, it feels like there is a hint of force in the word “fiancé.” It can’t be a misconception.

The two had a reasonably friendly relationship, but now their relationship seems slightly fractured.

I extended my arms towards them.

To keep them from approaching me.

“It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”

And swiftly, I turned again, heading towards the garden where my personal maid, Maria, awaited.

The two men hesitated and stopped following me.

“Don’t follow me. I want to be alone. I won’t look at the person who follows me ever again.”

Ultimately, the two men couldn’t follow me and stood there dismayed.

Leaving them behind, I hurriedly went to find Maria.