A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 21

Half an hour later.

Lidoria was standing beside a warehouse at the corner of the arena.

(A new home, huh…)

Leaning against the warehouse wall, Lidoria let out a soft sigh.

Things were progressing rapidly. In an unexpected direction.

A new home.

She had thought it would be enough to occasionally show her face at Alex’s house, but his dormitory life had been an unexpected complication.

They would probably need to find a fake new home for their fake marriage.

Whoa—a loud cheer rose from the arena.

The archery competition was currently underway. Had someone’s arrow hit the mark?

(I need to get back to Her Highness the Crown Princess soon.)

She had told Amanda and Sena that Alex had summoned her, but she hadn’t informed the Crown Princess. She needed to return before suspicions were raised.

I wish he’d hurry up, Lidoria thought as she looked around.

This was the eastern end of the arena.

She had expected a single shed-like structure when they said “warehouse,” but it was actually a “warehouse complex.”

Four single-story warehouses stood in a row.

They probably stored different items. To mark them, flags of different colors seemed to be painted on their exterior walls.

The warehouse closest to the field had a red flag painted on it. The one behind it had a yellow flag. And the warehouse with a blue flag painted on it was the farthest from the field.

Since the front warehouses cast a shadow, the blue-flagged warehouse Alex had designated was in the shade, making it reasonably comfortable. Plus, it was completely out of sight likely because all the items needed for the competition had already been taken out.

But it was musty.

That was because, for the royal tournament, spare tents seemed to have been moved outside, and the unused ones were piled up beside the blue-flagged warehouse.

The jumble of tent poles was one thing, but whenever the wind blew, the musty smell of the canvas wafted over, making Lidoria’s nose feel oddly itchy.

Just as another gentle breeze swept through the warehouse complex and Lidoria was about to turn her face away.

Click. A small stone bounced in front of her.

“Huh?”

The stone had clearly come from the left from the east.

Lidoria straightened up from the warehouse wall and looked in that direction.

The stone had been thrown from beyond the haphazardly stacked tents.

“Who’s there?”

When she asked softly, another stone was tossed as if on cue.

“Lord Alex?”

Was he still worried about being seen and trying to lure her further in?

Lidoria headed in the direction the stone had come from.

As she passed the warehouse and approached the piled-up tents, the smell of canvas grew stronger.

“Lord Alex?”

She was about to add, “I don’t really like it here,” when—

“Lady Lidoria?”

Unexpectedly, a voice called from behind.

“Huh?”

She turned reflexively.

In her field of vision was Alex, who seemed to have just arrived.

(Huh? Why?)

Then what was that stone all about?

That stone that had lured her here.

Alex was staring curiously at Lidoria heading deeper into the warehouse complex when he suddenly shouted, “Lady Lidoria!” and widened his eyes.

“Huh?”

Lidoria tilted her head just as a clattering sound echoed.

As if startled by the noise, she looked up.

It was the tent poles.

Dozens of poles propped against the wall were collapsing toward her like an avalanche.

Instinctively, Lidoria covered her head and crouched.

But several sharp impacts struck her body and head, and after one fierce blow to her right temple, she lost consciousness.

Later.

When Lidoria opened her eyes, it was Finley peering down at her.

“Huh…?”

She started to say, “What’s going on?” but the words trailed off into a groan.

A headache, like that of a hangover, made her grimace. When she tried to touch her temple, she cried out again. Her right wrist hurt.

“Are you okay? This is the infirmary.”

As she sat up, Finley slipped pillows and cushions between the bedhead and her back to make it easier for her to lean.

“Huh? The infirmary?”

Enduring the pain, she gently looked around.

It was a simple, small room.

There were two beds—one occupied by Lidoria, the other unused and neatly made.

Along the wall was a medicine cabinet, and in front of it, a washbasin on a stand.

A faint scent wafted past her nose. The smell of disinfectant alcohol and the fragrance of herbs used for pain relief.

Looking at her aching right hand, she saw it was wrapped tightly in bandages. The slight stickiness was probably from a salve applied underneath.

When she touched her throbbing temple with her left hand, she found it was also bandaged.

“Do you remember? Sis, you were buried under the tent poles.”

“Ah.”

The words escaped her involuntarily.

That’s right.

Alex had summoned her, and while she was waiting there, a stone had flown over.

“Lord Alex pulled you out right away, so we know exactly how long you were down, and the first aid was quick, even if it was a bit. I was worried, you know.”

Finley sat down on the round chair for attendants, looking relieved.

“Huh? So, where is Lord Alex?”

As she asked, there were three knocks on the door—calm and measured.

“Ah. Could that be Lord Alex? He stepped out for a moment. Yes, come in!”

Finley answered in Lidoria’s place.

When the door opened and they saw who entered, not only Lidoria but Finley too was startled.

They had assumed it would be just Alex, but the Crown Prince and Princess were accompanying him.

Alex held the door wide open as the two entered.

Finley hurriedly stood up again, and Lidoria tried to swing her legs off the bed, but the Crown Prince stopped her.

“Lady Lidoria, please remain as you are. You’ve awakened—that’s good.”

Crown Prince George relaxed his eyes and, still arm-in-arm with Sophia, approached Lidoria.

“Because Alex summoned you to such a strange place. I truly apologize. I feel like I’m always apologizing to you, but please forgive him.”

“No, it’s not about forgiving or anything.”

Flustered, she shook her head, but Sophia let out a deep sigh and shot a glance full of anger toward Alex, who was waiting by the door.

“I understand wanting to meet alone, but could you not choose a better location? Or were you planning something improper in a place like that?”

“What?!”

As Finley flared up, “That’s not it,” Lidoria hurriedly interjected.

“We were going to discuss the new home and the wedding date. It’s just, we hardly get to see each other.”

She explained this to Sophia and George.

“But I should have chosen a better location. My deepest apologies.”

Alex bowed his head deeply to her. Finley, seeing this, somewhat reluctantly sheathed his anger, but Lidoria suddenly recalled the incident and voiced her doubt.

“That’s not it. I mean… It’s true the tent poles were stacked there, but of course, safety measures were in place. More importantly, there was a stone.”

“A stone?”

Finley tilted his head.

“Now that you mention it, you were walking toward the east.”

Alex also murmured. Lidoria nodded.

And she explained.

How she had been waiting there to meet Alex. How several stones had been thrown at her from beyond the piled-up tents, so she thought it must be Alex signaling her. How she had then headed in the direction the stones came from and walked that way.

And then, a voice called from the completely opposite direction, and when she turned in surprise, the tent poles collapsed and fell on her.

“…Hey.”

After Lidoria finished speaking, the air in the room felt heavy enough to be palpable.

No one spoke; each was lost in thought, but Finley was the one to break the silence.

“I hate to think it, but Sis, you weren’t targeted, were you?”

“Targeted? Me? Why?”

Her eyes widened in surprise, making her temple throb sharply, and she grimaced. But Sophia followed up.

“I was thinking the same thing. Could this be some kind of harassment?”

“Me? Harassing me?”

She couldn’t help repeating the question. Finley furrowed his brows further. Strangely, that expression made him look a bit younger again.

“Sis, if you were harassed and backed down, someone would benefit, right?”

“Backed down from what? Being the Crown Princess’s maid? Now that you mention it, Amanda said there are people hoping for this position lately.”

“No, no. It’s Lord Alex.”

Finley said impatiently, and Lidoria blinked.

Her mind went blank as she turned her gaze toward Alex, who was still standing by the door.

He still had that stern expression.

Though she had grown quite used to this impassive face, what slipped from her lips was something else.

“Princess Melissa?”

Alex snorted dismissively and crossed his arms.

“Perhaps. She might be scheming to frighten you into voluntarily breaking off the engagement.”

“Surely not…”

“No, it’s entirely possible.”

It was George who spoke, sounding pained.

He pressed his right hand to his forehead and hung his head.

“I know that sister of mine better than anyone. She’s capable of it.”

Sophia gently touched his arm, as if to comfort the groaning George.

“Thank you, Sophia,” he said, forcing a smile before looking alternately at Lidoria and Alex.

“His and Her Majesty have heard that the former Queen has become the guardian of the Zoe earldom. I also want to inform you that an agreement has been reached to quickly arrange the marriage between the Third Prince of Lavria and Melissa.”

“Your consideration is most appreciated.”

“My apologies.”

Alex unfolded his arms and bowed, and Lidoria, though still seated on the bed, did her best to return the courtesy.

“But given my sister’s nature, there’s no telling what she might do. So, if you two are willing, why not just get married officially now?”

At George’s words, Alex and Lidoria froze completely.