Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 26

It felt like my innermost thoughts had been completely exposed.

Killian’s hand was still holding my chin. I pushed his hand away and said,

“No… I don’t think like that. Because it’s none of my business. And please let go of me.”

“Well… your words and actions seem different, don’t they?”

I avoided Killian’s gaze. His words were right.

As I continued to stare at the tightly closed terrace, I felt oddly uneasy.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

If I hadn’t clumsily intervened between them.

If I had just let everything flow naturally…

If that had been the case.

Would those two have recognized each other a little earlier?

“Maybe it could have been like that…”

None of that was my fault. Yet, I couldn’t shake off this inexplicable sense of guilt.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, nothing at all.”

“Hmm. Honestly, I’m a bit curious.”

“What is it?”

“I’m curious about what those two are talking about. Oh, right… they could be doing something other than a conversation.”

Killian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

A sly smile played on his lips.

Just moments ago, he had been intimate with Delian…

To think he’s having such impure thoughts after seeing Delian in a secret space with another man…

For a moment, it felt like Ray was treating me similarly, and it made me feel uneasy.

“Ray isn’t that kind of person, though?”

“Well, what if I am?”

“Yes. At least that’s how it seems to me.”

“It’s disappointing. To think I appeared that way to the lady.”

I didn’t want to continue this meaningless banter with Killian.

There was only one thing I wanted to ask him.

“I have something I’m curious about. Can I ask?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you love Delian? Or at least like her?”

At my question, Killian seemed to make a puzzled expression for a moment. He rolled his eyes briefly and sighed.

“Well…”

“……”

Then he seemed to smirk.

“I don’t particularly feel drawn to either of those options.”

Killian’s lively gaze flashed distinctly.

My guess was correct.

Killian didn’t love Delian at all.

He had no ounce of affection for Delian.

It wasn’t really surprising.

After all, Killian was that kind of character even in the original work.

“Thank you for the invitation. I’ll take my leave now.”

I bowed and smoothly slipped away from Killian, who had been blocking me.

“Too bad.”

I hurriedly passed through the terrace and descended the stairs, leaving behind the muttering Killian.

* * *

“Sigh….”

I must be crazy.

But as the Crown Prince of the Empire…

I went too far with Killian.

Somewhere, I could hear the sound of my lifeline being cut short.

“Ha…”

Clinging to the railing, my body barely held up as I gasped for air in frustration.

Inhaling deeply due to my stifled emotions,

the cool and clear night air filled my suffocated lungs.

Delian and Ray… Killian…

If I continue to stay by Delian’s side like this…

I’ll inevitably get entangled with those two men.

I no longer wanted to be involved in that complicated and stubborn love triangle.

Judging by the atmosphere… it seemed like only a matter of time…

When I was in the South… I wasn’t this agitated.

I suddenly recalled the peaceful and comfortable life in the South.

It was a time when everything focused solely on me.

“All right… I’ve made up my mind. Let’s leave. To the South.”

‘Now that it’s come to this, might as well collect some degrees or something.’

I looked up and gazed at the pitch-black night sky. As I observed the dark void, Ray’s image suddenly came to mind.

Although I didn’t have many memories with him…

I recalled some accumulated memories of the past.

The young, boyish Ray and the dignified young man Ray flickered like a panorama.

It was a mix of good memories but also memories I wanted to bury this way.

“…Alright. Decision made!”

Let’s just run away.

Run far, far away.

“…Daisy!?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out my name. It sounded somewhat urgent.

His heavy footsteps became increasingly hurried.

“Ray?”

“Ha…”

Ray, after spotting me, nervously ran a hand through his hair. Then he let out a frustrated sigh.

Deep wrinkles were etched on his forehead, his eyebrows furrowed heavily.

Ray swiftly approached me with wide strides, our bodies almost touching.

“I was worried about you.”

Ray gently grabbed both my shoulders and pulled me to him.

His warmth settled on my shoulders, chilled by the night breeze.

“……”

“It’s cold outside, why are you out here?”

As if it were natural, he took off his coat and covered me with it.

His body heat fully transferred to the delicate skin exposed above my dress.

I wonder what conversation he had with Delian just a while ago…

But… did he really need to be this kind to me…?

I raised my head to look at Ray.

My hair fluttered in the cool breeze, covering his face.

Ray brushed aside the hair that fell over my face.

But his own hair was tousled.

His tousled black locks danced in the night air just like mine.

I lifted my hand towards his head, brushing his soft hair with my fingertips.

My fingertips touched his soft hair as I gently tidied it up.

“Your hair is messy. It’s not good like this.”

“……”

“You’re covering up your good-looking face.”

With that, I removed the hand that touched his hair.

Ray quickly caught the hand that was slipping away.

“Where on earth did you go? Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his disheveled appearance.

“Ray, I’m fine.”

I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to him.

“Why are you here alone? It’s dangerous.”

“It seems like we misunderstood each other. Um… I came down the stairs and got lost… I followed my footsteps and suddenly realized I was outside.”

“I shouldn’t have left you alone after all.”

Ray once again raised an eyebrow. His red eyes seemed unaware of the possibility of falling from me.

“Ray.”

“Yeah.”

“Shall we just wander around?”

Ray just looked at me silently.

“Actually, there’s a place I really want to see! Will you come with me? I’ll show you properly.”

* * *

The imperial family’s birthday celebration was like a festival, bringing liveliness to the entire capital.

Hence, near the palace and the central streets of the capital, night markets would stay open until late hours.

Normally, by this time, the streets would have been dark, but during the festival period, the neon lights of the vendors were shining brightly.

The market street was bustling with merchants promoting their goods and people enjoying the sights.

It was a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere of the banquet hall.

The lukewarm natural breeze felt refreshing.

“Oh, that looks delicious! Let’s start from there!”

I linked arms with Ray, urging him forward with his movements.

We stopped in front of a sign. ‘Food Market.’

As we entered the entrance of the food market, the savory scent of grilled meat and sweet aroma from dessert shops stimulated our senses.

“What should we eat first? Demon jelly skewers? Non-alcoholic virus cocktails? What do you want to eat, Ray?”

“Um…”

Ray seemed lost for words in this unfamiliar place, like a mute person who just tasted honey for the first time.

He quietly observed the street market beside me. I naturally guided him through it.

As we gazed at the array of food displayed on the counters, my mouth watered.

I picked up a demon jelly skewer being sold closest to us.

It was a skewer with layers of demon-shaped jellies stacked on it.

In reality, it was just fruit-flavored jellies shaped like demons.

“Mmm… delicious!”

While expensive steaks and premium lamb were good, I had eaten them until I got bored over the years.

Now, it was harder for me to come across these common foods.

The raw atmosphere of the night market stirred my nostalgia.

It was the most familiar scenery to me from my days as a commoner among commoners.

Swallowing the jelly in my mouth, I said,

“Why aren’t you eating, Ray? It’s delicious.”

“It’s my first time trying this kind of thing, so it’s intriguing. And the shape is a bit…”

Ray’s forehead creased lightly.

“Haha! For someone who chops up living demons, does that gross you out?”

“No, it’s just…”

“Huh…? Are you more of a scaredy-cat than I thought?”

Laughing at Ray’s unexpected reaction, I playfully nudged his side with my elbow.

“Rather than that…”

“Hmm… Then, should I feed it to you?”