Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 27.2
Chapter 27.2
“What? You don’t have any allergies….” I stepped on Rettie’s foot, silencing her muttered words. Of course, I had no such allergy. I simply wanted to avoid any potential danger.
‘And what’s the point of going out without Bashar?’
There was no reason to accompany Haroon without my primary objective. I assumed this would change Haroon’s mind, that he would become annoyed and sit back down. I was wrong.
“Well, it can’t be helped. What about your maid… or rather, your sister?” He asked, glancing at Rettie beside me.
“Me? Are you talking to me, Your Highness?”
“Yes. You came to attend to her, but you must have your own preferences.”
“If Your Highness permits, I would love to see the gardens.”
Rettie seized the opportunity, responding with a shy smile.
“Then it seems we’ll have to go out just the three of us.”
I was taken aback by Haroon’s casual tone, as if my opinion had never mattered. He intended to leave me here, a guest, while he went to the gardens with Rettie?
Even if Rettie had refused, he would have gone alone. It was clear the opinions of others truly held no weight with him.
‘What in the….’
As if anticipating this outcome, I heard Ray Kewind click her tongue from behind me.
***
In the end, Haroon Kishar, Rettie, and a handful of knights, including Ray Kewind for their protection, departed for the gardens. Left in the vast reception room were Bashar Kishar, myself, and the remaining knights.
Silence descended upon the room after their departure. Bashar Kishar hadn’t spoken a word since Haroon left.
‘He won’t even respond to me.’
I had tried to engage Bashar in conversation a few times, but he’d completely ignored me, leaving me to lean back against the sofa in silence.
“Shall I bring more refreshments?”
Ricardo Div approached me cautiously.
“No thank you, Sir Div.”
“Is that so?” I nodded in response.
Having nothing else to do, I’d eaten all the refreshments on the table, leaving it completely bare. I’d consumed them all myself, and now I was full. I had no desire for more food.
Commander Ray had accompanied Haroon, while Vice-Commander Ricardo remained here. In fact, most of the knights were still in the reception room.
‘There are knights in the gardens as well, so they must have left most of them here to….’
Perhaps to guard Bashar Kishar, the person Haroon and Ray were most wary of.
I turned to Ricardo, who was still nearby. His violet eyes were visible behind his spectacles. He looked at me questioningly when our eyes met.
I offered him a small smile. “Is there something you need?”
“Are you watching me, by any chance?” My question finally prompted Bashar to lift his head. Ricardo’s expression remained unchanged, but I noticed his eyelids flicker the instant I spoke.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“When I said I’d stay here, Prince Haroon’s gaze was… peculiar. And the fact that he left most of the knights here, including you, Sir Div….”
While protecting Bashar was likely a factor, I suspected they also intended to keep an eye on me. Perhaps they thought I would try to harm Bashar if left alone with him.
I glanced around at the tense knights, a faint smile playing on my lips. I could see Kelliard Hazel in the distance. “If that’s the case, you can rest assured. I have no intention of doing anything.”
If anything, I was more inclined to save Bashar than harm him. However, my words did little to ease the tension among the knights. It would likely persist until Haroon and the others returned.
“You misunderstand, my lady.”
“It’s alright. I would have done the same if there was someone I suspected.” I shrugged, then my eyes met Bashar’s, who was still watching me. “Do you suspect me too, Your Highness?”
He was about to ignore me again, head bowed as always, I thought. “Not particularly,” Bashar Kisha curtly replied. His unexpected answer prompted me to press further. “Aren’t you afraid?”
“Of what?”
“Of being poisoned, like at the last banquet? You nearly died.”
A cool gaze settled on me. “I’m not afraid. It’s practically routine.” Bashar calmly sipped his now cold tea, acting as if he wouldn’t care even if I truly were an accomplice in the attempt on his life.
“What if I am the culprit?”
“Ha! Do I look like a man incapable of subduing a single woman?” Bashar sneered, one corner of his lip lifting. Even though he was a prince who hadn’t received a proper education, he seemed to think subduing someone like me was child’s play. Even if he couldn’t, he didn’t seem afraid of dying.
But if I mentioned that I was after Haroon’s life, Bashar’s reaction would be different.
Bashar Kisha was a shadowy figure in the original story, merely a catalyst for war and a sacrificial lamb. Consequently, information about him was scarce.
‘I have to rely on the children and Ronen’s information.’
In Kishar, Bashar was known as a prince far removed from the line of succession, Haroon’s shadow puppet. This wasn’t a reference to his exceptional martial skills protecting Haroon. It meant he was a taster, sacrificing his own life to protect his brother from poison.
‘A human shield.’
In the isolated Kishar royal family, Haroon was the only one who extended a hand to Bashar. Therefore, Bashar would protect Haroon, even at the cost of his own life.
“Even so, His Highness, Haroon, is being unreasonable,” I said, resting my chin on my hand. Bashar reacted instantly to Haroon’s name, his expression hardening at my seemingly critical words about his brother. “Leaving you here, considering the culprit is targeting you, Your Highness.”
“It’s only natural, for my brother’s safety,” Bashar gritted out, as if to say it was none of my business. Unlike his earlier indifference, he now displayed raw emotion. ‘Just as I thought.’ Haroon was the only one who could evoke such a response from Bashar.
