Please Don’t Let Go Of That Leash - Chapter 4 - Royal Banquet (Part 6)
Chapter 4 – Royal Banquet (Part 6)
In the uncomfortable situation, Ria just held her champagne without drinking it. Omur showed a slightly disappointed expression.
“Are you worried that I might have done something strange?”
“Pardon?”
“I thought you weren’t drinking because you were worried.”
“Oh…”
Feeling exposed, Ria hesitated briefly before smiling and replying.
“No, it’s just that I’m not feeling well.”
“Oh dear, I see. Um… I’m sorry to ask this of you when you’re feeling unwell, but there are quite a few nobles watching us. For the sake of my reputation, could you at least wet your lips with it?”
“Omur.”
Ignoring Katrina’s call to stop, Omur kept staring at Ria, as if he wouldn’t let her go unless she drank.
“My lady, you don’t have to drink…”
“That’s quite rude.”
When Omur didn’t listen, Katrina turned her head towards Ria. But before she could finish speaking, Ria spoke up.
“I kept quiet because I was told you’re the brother of Lady Peune, but you keep pushing me, so I’ll speak.”
“…”
“I can drink this champagne for you. But if your reputation is so important, maybe you should go somewhere where it matters. Don’t tarnish the hard-working Lady Peune’s name.”
With a stern expression, Ria downed the champagne in one go and placed the glass on the table with a loud clink. Then, before they could react, she turned and headed towards the terrace.
Katrina, who had been staring blankly after Ria, snapped back to reality at Omur’s muttered words.
“That haughty bitch will be crying soon enough.”
“…What?”
For a moment, she couldn’t believe what she heard.
“Why are you acting dumb? You heard me.”
“You…! What have you done this time? Don’t tell me…!”
Katrina’s gaze shifted to the glass Ria left behind. She felt a chilling sensation from her fingertips to her entire body. She wanted to sew up the sneering mouth next to her.
“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you have some suspicion already?”
“…You’ve really lost it. Are you trying to ruin the family? I even told you she is the woman of the Dukes! Ha, I should have known you’re just a clueless bug!”
“Shut up. I’m taking care of the bitch who might take your place, what’s the problem?”
Laughter burst out involuntarily of Katrina at the absurdity.
“Take care of? You just wanted to satisfy your filthy desires. Go back to the territory immediately. I won’t tolerate it any longer. I’ll tell the Dukes.”
“Go ahead.”
“What?”
“Go ahead and tell them. But do you think they’ll believe you? They’ll probably see you as a co-conspirator.”
Remembering the incident at the café, Katrina hesitated. Omur didn’t miss that.
“So go to the Dukes and flatter them. Or offer your body. Do you think they’ll take back a woman who’s been defiled by someone else? Your position will be vacant, and anyone can take it.”
‘Is that something a human would say?’
She hadn’t considered him family for a long time, but his words were so shocking that Katrina froze. Omur sneered at her and started walking towards the terrace where Ria had gone.
A dirty smile spread on his face as he imagined the woman, likely under the influence of the drug. As he reached out to the door, someone called him.
“Young Master Peune.”
Furrowing his brow, he turned around but quickly bowed upon recognizing the speaker.
“Y-your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Golden eyes, like those of a beast, glinted with a deadly intent.
“If I’m not mistaken, it seems the terrace is already occupied.”
“Pardon? Ah, well, I was, I was supposed to meet her here! Yes, yes.”
“Is that so?”
His eyes slowly shifted from the terrace door back to Omur, with a more terrifying killing intent than before.
“I don’t recall hearing that.”
“Pardon?”
“The person who’s supposed to meet the lady on the terrace is me.”
An aura of coldness and intimidation that someone of Omur’s rank couldn’t withstand radiated. Omur trembled pathetically under the piercing gaze as if he were less than an insect.
“Get lost.”
Feeling like his legs would give out, Omur quickly turned and fled. Watching his retreat, the Crown Prince, Cherta, ordered the Imperial Guard Captain, Diharn, beside him.
“Capture him discreetly, beat him half to death, and lock him in the underground prison. And ensure no one comes near this terrace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“That vermin dares…”
Unable to suppress his killing intent, Cherta ground his teeth.
***
Inside the terrace, Ria felt her body heating up. At first, she thought it was from the champagne she downed in one go, but it was a completely different sensation from being drunk.
‘This feels more like… when I was drugged.’
Realizing this, Ria shivered. Goosebumps rose all over her body. Having experienced the effects of such a drug before, she knew well what it felt like.
‘I should have been more cautious from the start…’
She regretted drinking the champagne too late. She never imagined anyone would do such a thing at a royal ball.
“Uh.”
Her body, now burning hot, let out a heated moan. Soon, her legs began to tremble, and she barely supported herself by gripping the balcony railing.
‘This is too much…’
The effect was much stronger than what she had experienced before. The cold wind, which she thought would cool her, only served as a further stimulus.
‘If someone were to enter in this state… ‘
As her vision blurred from tears, she began to worry, glancing at the door. It was then she noticed the curtains weren’t fully drawn and saw a man’s silhouette outside.
“…!”
Struggling to calm her racing heart, she tried to think of a way out. But her body, now in pain from the heat, wasn’t cooperating.
Meanwhile, the door clicked open. Confirming this, Ria closed her eyes tightly, hoping it was Eden. The one who said he would find her no matter which terrace she was on.
The sound of the door closing and the curtains being drawn seemed terrifyingly loud. Slowly opening her eyes to confirm, she saw the figure was too obscured by the shadows and her blurred vision to identify.
Ria clutched her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart, and pressed herself against the railing. The person seemed to notice her wariness and didn’t move hastily, as if to show they meant no harm.
This made Ria feel both relieved and anxious. It didn’t seem like the person intended to harm her, but she was sure it wasn’t one of the three men she hoped for.
“I came in first… huh.”
Trying to get the person to leave, she managed to speak but couldn’t even finish one sentence before a heated breath escaped, and she swayed. The person moved quickly towards her before she could even comprehend it.
Without the strength to support herself, Ria slid down, barely gripping the railing. Her head felt dizzy.
“Are you alright?”
Hearing the voice, Ria looked up, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw red.
“Eden…?”
Her foggy mind recalled the most familiar person. If she were in her right mind, she would have recognized the red hair. She would have remembered she had already been sure it wasn’t one of the three.
But then a gentle hand wiped the tears from beneath her eyes.
Seeing her call another man’s name, Cherta briefly frowned but then gently smiled as he wiped her tears away. Blinking twice to clear her vision, Ria made a dazed sound at the unexpected figure.
“Oh…”
“I always seem to see you crying.”
It was the man she met in the bustling street. Dressed in a splendid and intimidating uniform, unlike before.
Only then did Ria realize that he was the Crown Prince.
In the banquet hall, she hadn’t properly seen his face, so she didn’t recognize it was the same person. All she had seen was a glimpse of the clothes under his bowed head. The fact that three men had prevented her gaze from wandering elsewhere was also a factor.
Cherta pursed his lips into a straight line as he looked at Ria, who was panting heavily, sitting on the floor.
He had thought it was an opportunity when the two dukes and Count Fernon, who had been surrounding her protectively, left at the emperor’s call. Even though it was strange that his father suddenly called them, it was more important to approach her alone, so he didn’t pay it much mind.
However, as soon as he tried to move, the nobles who wanted to place their daughters in the still-vacant position of the Crown Princess kept blocking his way. It was a rare chance to approach the Crown Prince, who seldom attended banquets, so their actions were understandable.
Knowing this, Cherta usually found it annoying but only expressed his refusal without taking other actions. However, this time was different. It was extremely irritating that they seemed to be blocking him from approaching her. He ignored all the words.
By the time he finally got away from the nobles and approached her, she had entered the terrace. And he heard Omur’s filthy words.
‘That bastard is worse than a beast….’
Cherta cursed inwardly at Omur’s words, which resurfaced in his mind. He swore he would not let him die peacefully.
“Rune, huh… call Rune.”
As he was contemplating how to kill Omur, he came to his senses at the faint sound of Ria’s voice. Ria, holding onto his forearm with trembling hands, said.
“Or Eden, or huh, Kahin.”
He didn’t like that other men’s names kept coming out of her mouth. Even though he knew it wasn’t a situation to be jealous of, he felt jealousy.
‘I’m here too. I’m also one of the fates in the myth.’
“I…”
‘I’ve waited for you for so long.’
“I’ll take care of it.”
‘What? What will you take care of?’
Ria, not understanding his words, stared blankly at him, and he slowly cupped her cheek with his hand and lowered his head.
“I want to touch you. Let me touch you, Ria.”
Their gazes met at a distance where their lips were almost touching. At the moment when she was fully reflected in his golden eyes, Ria felt like she was under a spell and couldn’t do anything but just look at him.
“If you don’t want it, push me away now. Otherwise, I’ll consider it as having received your permission.”
Don’t want it? No, on the contrary, a strange sense of relief gradually enveloped her body, making her think it would be okay with him. This was a familiar feeling and thought she had experienced before.
Cherta wrapped his other hand around her waist, pulling her closer. As their bodies pressed against each other without a gap, she could feel Cherta’s heartbeat directly.
Feeling the trembling all over her body, Ria slowly extended her hesitant hand and tightly grasped his collar.
“Forgive me for taking advantage of this situation.”
As if her action signified permission, Cherta whispered softly and gently took Ria’s lips.