Raise Me, So That I Can Eat You Up - Chapter 29

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‘Was I that tired?’

It seems I fell asleep while writing the novel.

I must have dozed off for just a moment, as the sun hadn’t set yet.

‘Where’s Oscar?’

When I opened my eyes, I was alone in an empty room.

‘It’s his sword training time now.’

Looking at the pocket watch, it was the time Oscar usually went to the training grounds.

‘He must have gotten up on his own and gone to train without waking me.’

He’s already grown up. A faint smile appeared on my lips.

Yes, it’s admirable, but I feel like I’ve forgotten something important.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

‘…No way, did he see it?’

Suddenly, a chilling thought made my blood run cold.

I checked the manuscript as if in a trance.

Sure enough, the blank space for the male protagonist’s name was filled with scrawled handwriting.

Oscar gazed intently into her eyes. After a moment of surprise, as their eyes met, Oscar pulled her waist close and embraced her.

Oscar. Oscar.

It says Oscar.

“Aah! I must be crazy!”

I couldn’t contain my embarrassment and let out a scream.

So, while I was sleeping, Oscar saw my manuscript and even wrote his name in the blank space?

Fortunately, there wasn’t any content that a child shouldn’t see.

To be precise, I hadn’t even started writing anything like that yet, but it could have been a close call.

‘And he just calmly went to sword training after this?’

Really. I can’t take my eyes off this dragon for a moment.

My face turned bright red with embarrassment. I crumpled up the manuscript and took out a new sheet of paper.

‘Sigh, there’s not much time left before training ends, so I should write quickly.’

I need to write quickly and hide it securely.

I unfolded the crumpled paper. It seemed better to copy what I had already written to write faster.

‘What would be a good name? Felix?’

I just chose a name that sounded like a male protagonist and scribbled it down.

‘Really. I could get in big trouble if I’m not careful.’

I always had to be extra cautious with a child around. I hurriedly finished today’s manuscript, put it in the desk drawer, and locked it.

***

“Are you managing the press well?”

Henry, while handling various documents, casually asked his aide.

“Why don’t you check for yourself, Your Highness?”

The aide showed him several newspapers.

“We’ve published explicit content in the most widely read gossip magazines.”

“Well done. Keep up the good work.”

Henry smiled with satisfaction after skimming through the content.

“I’m following Your Highness’s orders, but what exactly are you thinking?”

The aide had a somewhat perplexed expression.

“It’s unusual for you to be so obedient.”

“I think I need to understand Your Highness’s intentions to proceed more efficiently.”

After being so openly rebuked at the royal ball, what lingering attachment could he have?

The aide couldn’t understand his behavior, constantly talking about his former fiancée day and night.

“Didn’t I say it was lingering attachment?”

“Given Your Highness’s past actions, even a passing dog wouldn’t believe that.”

“How impertinent.”

Henry let out a hollow laugh.

“Duchess Arwen has found a new marriage prospect for you. Please stop this meaningless rebellion and agree to a new engagement.”

“Didn’t I say I’m not interested?”

“His Majesty has inquired about Your Highness’s well-being.”

“Tell him I’m deeply heartbroken.”

“Are you really alright with this, Your Highness?”

The aide urged strongly.

“Why are you so restless?”

Henry chided him as if it were no big deal.

“Your Highness. It’s not just your well-being at stake here. I have a wife and children too, you know?”

“Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll make sure you’re the first to be exiled.”

“That’s not what I mean right now.”

The aide seemed worried about falling out of favor with Henry, who was taking a different path than before.

“Are you really trying to protect Lady Hayworth?”

“That’s right. So I’d appreciate it if you’d stop nagging and cooperate willingly.”

“Yesterday, His Majesty asked about Lady Hayworth.”

Henry’s gaze wavered at the aide’s report.

The Emperor taking a personal interest in Ariella was not exactly welcome news.

“Did you tell him I’m dying of love?”

“I said I would look into it for now. So, I need to know why Your Highness is doing this.”

“I owe a debt. Is that reason enough?”

Despite Henry’s calm answer, the aide still looked unsatisfied.

“Is this debt more important than Your Highness’s well-being?”

“I was taught that a royal’s honor is more important than life.”

“You need to stay alive to maintain that honor. And I heard they’re renovating the Rose Maze recently.”

The Rose Maze was a kind of harem where the Emperor’s concubines stayed. The reason for its renovation was obvious.

“So you’re saying I’ll soon have new aunts.”

Henry was well aware of the reason.

If he wasn’t going to choose a new marriage prospect, Henry’s duty was clear.

At this point, the wise move would be to spread more rumors with daughters of high nobility.

In a situation where everyone was trying to avoid being selected for the harem, a scandal with Henry would be desperately needed.

At such a crucial time, instead of gaining support from more nobles, he was fixated on his former fiancée.

From the aide’s perspective, it was understandable to feel frustrated.

“It seems articles alone won’t be enough.”

Yet Henry continued to speak nonchalantly.

“What exactly are you planning to do?”

“I’ll go beg my Noona for forgiveness.”

As leaking information to the press wasn’t enough, it was time to take more active measures.

“I’m going to Hayworth. Make the preparations.”

Regardless of his aide’s grumbling, Henry rose from his seat with a bright smile.

***

After dinner, Oscar and I were taking a stroll in the rose garden.

“Ari. Gift.”

Oscar plucked a red rose and held it out to me. A strong floral scent wafted from the fully bloomed flower.

“It’s so beautiful. Thank you, Oscar.”

“Hehe. Want to know a secret?”

“A secret?”

“Yeah. Lend me your ear.”

A secret? What could it be? Curious, I met his gaze and leaned in.

“Ari is prettier.”

Now he even knows how to say such ticklish things. He’s really grown up. Certainly, after growing, his speech has become clearer. He seems more mature somehow.

‘If before it felt like taming a young beast, now it’s more like having a friend who communicates well?’

When did he grow up so much?

I was looking at Oscar fondly when I noticed a small wound on his hand.

“Are you hurt?”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. You’re bleeding.”

A child this age would normally burst into tears. But Oscar just laughed as if it were nothing.

“Still, it could get infected. We should go to the room and disinfect it.”

I took out a clean handkerchief and wrapped it tightly around Oscar’s hand.

“Ari.”

“Yes?”

“Give Oscar rose.”

“Are you taking it back because I nagged you?”

“Uh-huh.”

As I joked with a smile, Oscar immediately retorted with his eyes curved prettily.

“In exchange, you must be careful not to prick yourself on the thorns.”

“Okay.”

I returned the rose I had received. Oscar fiddled with it for a moment before giving it back to me.

“Here, a gift again.”

“Thank you again.”

I accepted it with a bow, but the rose’s condition had changed slightly.

‘The thorns are gone!’

I rubbed my eyes, not believing what I saw. Even when I touched it, the stem was smooth.

I had been watching carefully to make sure he wouldn’t get hurt, but did I miss something? It was strange.

“How did you do this, Oscar?”

“Ari might get hurt. Removed thorns.”

“Yes, but how? I didn’t see you plucking them out.”

“Secret.”

Acting like a little miser. It seemed he wouldn’t tell me easily.

‘Could he have used magic?’

Since the failure with the spirit stone test, the matter of Oscar’s abilities had been left unresolved. I thought I should ask Benedict about it carefully when he comes.

“You must tell me later.”

“We’ll see.”

“If you keep doing that, I’ll be sad. I’ll make secrets too.”

“Ari can’t.”

“You little rascal.”

As we were bantering, maids came running from a distance, making a fuss.

“My Lady! Here you are!”

“We’ve been looking everywhere! It’s a huge event!”

Laura and Jenny were clapping their hands and stomping their feet in excitement.

‘…Can’t we go without these huge events for once?’

I’m scared just hearing the word ‘event’ now. So, my head started throbbing even before hearing what it was about.

‘I thought things had gotten easier now that he’s grown up. What’s this huge event now?’

Since Benedict’s visit, Oscar hadn’t been acting sensitive, except for causing minor incidents.

Although it was a bit troublesome, days passed peacefully as long as I wrote that ‘problematic manuscript’.

Whatever it was, I wasn’t too pleased about anyone disrupting this peace.

“What’s the matter?”

I asked indifferently while picking Oscar up.

“A carriage from the Imperial Palace has arrived, My Lady!”

…From the Imperial Palace? Could it be?

“Are you saying His Highness the Prince has come?”

“Yes! He said he’s here to see you, My Lady!”

Why on earth?

After all those harsh words I said?

What’s he plotting now?

It seemed I was the only one curious about the reason.

“My Lady, you said nothing happened. You were just pretending, weren’t you?”

“See? I told you there would be a reaction. If only My Lady had looked prettier that day!”

“He couldn’t forget you after all. He must have missed you more after seeing you at the ball! The newspapers said so too!”

“That’s right. He must have come all this way because he couldn’t bear missing you!”

“My Lady! I’m so excited!”

Jenny and Laura giggled, making a fuss with flushed faces.

“No, really. Nothing like what you’re thinking happened.”

I smiled bitterly with an embarrassed face.

“Maybe it will finally happen today. Kyaa!”

“Should we show him to My Lady’s room instead of the drawing room?”

“We just changed the bedding too!”

“We should spray some perfume. Would you like to take a bath first?”

Just how far are they imagining things?

The maids were so excited, saying things that would cause big trouble if Viscount Hayworth or Leon heard them.

‘…Is it such an urgent matter that he’d come without notice?’

Unlike the maids who were extremely excited by the unexpected visit, I just felt anxious.

“Where’s Father?”

“He went out with Young Master Leon.”

At least the two men who would cause a scene if they knew weren’t in the mansion. That was somewhat fortunate.

It seemed better to end the meeting before the Hayworth father and son returned.

“Tell him I’ll see him and prepare some tea.”

“In your room?”

‘We’re not like that!’

“No! In the drawing room.”

I met Oscar’s gaze as he looked at me with a blank expression.

“Oscar, we have a guest, so…”

“I’ll wait.”

Oscar calmly answered before I could finish and slipped out of my arms.

‘He doesn’t even fuss anymore.’

Is it because he’s become too mature? I couldn’t help feeling a bit sad.