Killing the Possessor - Chapter 40
“I’m too shocked and exhausted today, so I’d prefer to talk later.”
I spoke not as a suspect, but as a lady. Since he was also a noble here, it would be hard for him to refuse my request.
“Understood. I’ll come to speak with you later.”
As expected, he backed off without protest. However, there was someone who didn’t back off so easily.
“Camil! Our conversation isn’t over yet!”
The prince grabbed me with a desperate voice. But just as quickly, someone else called to him with an even more urgent tone.
“Wyner! My son!”
The woman who rushed over, acting far less dignified than when she interacted with debutantes, was none other than the Empress. She seemed to prioritize her maternal instincts over her responsibilities as a ruler, rushing to embrace her large son.
“My goodness, are you hurt? What on earth happened here?”
The prince’s inner conflict: wanting to hold me, but at the same time, couldn’t abandon his mother, was clearly visible. With a small snicker, I turned away, trying to leave the room.
“Ah.”
Though my attempt to leave was thwarted by a light collision with someone entering the room, I quickly stepped back, adjusting to the situation and trying to figure out who it was.
“It’s been a while, Miss Camilli.”
“…….”
Who was it?
It’s never comfortable when the other person knows me but I don’t know them. And especially in a world where I can’t afford to be exposed as a possessor.
“Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
Surprisingly, the person who played the role of my savior was the investigator. After watching him salute, I belatedly realized that the person in front of me was Wyner’s brother and the Crown Prince. I quickly bowed my head.
“Your Highness, Crown Prince.”
Daeon Forre, the eldest son of the late Empress, who passed away before the current Emperor ascended the throne.
He had the same crimson-colored irises as Wyner, so he must be his half-brother. And now that I thought about it, his attire was a special ceremonial outfit reserved only for royalty.
I had been careless. I should have noticed that much right away.
But as I was thinking this, it quickly slipped away when he leaned in toward me. Startled by his sudden movement, I took a step back, but the Crown Prince whispered kindly with a gentle smile.
“You did a great job today.”
“…….”
“Make sure to rest well when you go back.”
It was a clichéd remark, but why did it feel so meaningful?
Curious, I looked up at him and met his round, reddish eyes. His glowing pupils, as if he could see right through me, and the deep smile on his face made me clench my dress tightly.
I wasn’t sure how I finished my greetings and left the palace. The meeting with the Crown Prince left me feeling confused.
What is this feeling?
We’d met for the first time today, so why did it feel like this?
“Camil!”
At that moment, a loud voice and something yellow came running toward me at a fast pace. Startled, I looked more closely and saw that it was none other than Dahlia.
The youngest of the Mute family, whose carefully arranged appearance had been completely ruined, had large tears hanging from her eyes as she yelled at me.
“Where have you been?!”
“Me?”
“You ran off before it was even my turn! You weren’t in the shelter, and the knights said an evil spirit appeared and that we couldn’t get back in, but you were nowhere to be seen!”
Frowning at her rambling, Dahlia screamed even louder, as if getting more upset.
“Seriously, you’re so annoying!”
“…….”
I stood there dumbfounded as she ran off again, this time toward the carriage.
What is she doing, really?
“Camil, I’m so glad you’re okay. We were all really worried. Where were you?”
While I was distracted by Dahlia, Dante, who must have come up while I wasn’t paying attention, said in a serious tone. I couldn’t be bothered to explain it all, so I just gave a brief answer.
“The bathroom.”
“What?”
“I went to the bathroom to take care of business, okay? Is that good enough?”
Leaving Dante, who was blushing deeply, behind, I followed Dahlia toward the carriage. At this moment, I was more eager to check the message that had been blocking my view since earlier than to deal with my bothersome fake siblings.
[Reward 1. Would you like to check the ‘Memory of Parting’?]
