How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 64

The grandeur of the victory parade lasted several days after the actual event. Lanterns hung everywhere, fireworks exploded night after night, and flower petals thrown by people were still scattered across the roads.

The hunting competition was an event that gathered the leftover excitement and made it explode again. Sophia glanced toward the stage to catch a glimpse of the Second Prince, who had stirred up the palace so much, but only saw an empty platform. It seemed he hadn’t arrived yet.

‘Maybe he’ll appear with the Emperor?’

Sophia thought. After all, even in the Princess’s palace, Sophia had heard rumors that the Emperor cared deeply for the Second Prince.

‘They say His Majesty hugged the prince and had tears in his eyes.’

‘Well, he brought back the Forester territory’s flag. It makes sense he’d be emotional.’

‘This is just between us, but how hard must it have been for him as a father? His wife forced him to send his young son to war.’

‘The only reason the Second Prince came back alive is because he’s him. Honestly, people were saying it’d be better to hold a funeral in advance, because he was as good as dead.’

While being shunned by the ladies-in-waiting in the Princess’s palace, Sophia tried to survive by getting closer to the maids. At first, they were wary of her, but later they happily included her in their tea-time gossip. Though it was more like gathering around briefly during work at the servants’ table, they even laid lace tablecloths for Sophia, treating her with some ceremony.

Sophia always listened carefully to what the maids said. It felt like they all shared some invisible thread of information. No matter where a story started, it always found its way to them within days.

‘And I heard the Second Prince is really handsome.’

‘I saw him once while passing by no wonder everyone’s talking. At the ball, people didn’t look at the Princess; they only looked at the Second Prince.’

‘And that hair… those eyes…’

Their eyes sparkled in a dreamy way as they talked, full of sincerity just like when they sometimes mentioned the Duke.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s strange. There are so many rumors about the Second Prince, but I’ve never heard what he looks like or even what his name is.’

Sophia suddenly realized. She had heard so many stories from the maids, yet no one had ever described his appearance in detail. She didn’t even know his name, even though he was royalty.

‘Sure, he went to war young, but… still, it’s strange.’

In contrast, she always saw Prince Casgen’s portrait every year on his birthday, and articles were constantly written about him.

‘Well, I guess… If people were already saying to hold a funeral before he left, reporters probably didn’t want to write about someone who could die at any time. And the Empress probably used her power to shut them up too.’

Sophia nodded to herself. At that moment, someone gently tapped her shoulder. When she turned her head, Michelle was motioning for her to follow.

“What is it?”

Michelle’s face looked pale and gloomy. Since Michelle almost never approached her in public like this, Sophia knew something was wrong right away.

When Sophia asked, Michelle grabbed her hand and said,

“The Princess poisoned the horse you’re supposed to ride. I think you shouldn’t join the hunting competition.”

“What? That can’t be. I heard all the horses for the competition are checked by the Emperor’s stablemaster. Maybe you heard wrong?”

“No. I heard it clearly. She said she added something to your horse’s feed. Even if it’s the Emperor’s stablemaster, he’s still human. If the Princess bribed him, he could’ve easily gone along with it.”

“But…”

Sophia frowned, uncertain. She had spoken with the Emperor’s stablemaster before. When he talked about the horses he raised, stroking their manes and explaining their origins and personalities, he seemed so full of pride. No matter how much money the Princess offered, he didn’t seem like someone who would harm his own horses.

Seeing that Sophia didn’t believe her, Michelle looked frustrated and added,

“She used a drug to excite the horse so you’d fall off. You know how furious the Princess has been with you since the victory ball.”

Sophia frowned awkwardly.

Yes, she did know. The Princess now looked like she wanted to eat her alive whenever she saw her. At first, she nitpicked everything Sophia did while serving her, often throwing things. Later, just the sight of Sophia irritated her, and she ordered Sophia’s room moved as far away as possible.

She was even shoved into a dusty, rundown room that the maids rarely cleaned. That was upsetting, of course, but also a little pitiful. The Princess had looked forward to her social debut so much, only to be publicly rejected by the Duke at the ball—and then the spotlight was stolen by the Second Prince.

“His Majesty the Emperor is arriving.”

At that moment, nobles around the room rose from their seats. It was time to greet the royal family. Sophia nodded quickly, planning to part before the Princess saw them together.

“Alright. I’ll change horses. Thanks for telling me.”

“Here, take this.”

Michelle handed her something. It was a dagger, beautifully carved with engraved patterns.

“A dagger? I won’t need this.”

Hunting was mostly done from a distance, so a dagger wasn’t useful. But Michelle’s expression was serious.

“Just in case. Be careful.”

She hugged Sophia tightly once, then stepped back. Sophia quickly returned to her place before the royal family entered. She fastened the dagger Michelle had given her to her waist.

“Thank you all for gathering.”

The Emperor spoke from the stage, looking down at everyone.

“Today, we hunt animals to offer in sacrifice to the gods for the new land of Forester. Many noble children and my sons are joining this event. I will reward the one who brings back the best catch with a great prize. I hope you all do your best.”

While the Emperor gave his short speech, Sophia kept glancing at the stage, curious about the Second Prince everyone said was so handsome. But she couldn’t see him well because of the crowd. The only one clearly visible was the Duke, confidently standing beside the Emperor despite disobeying orders.

‘So the Duke isn’t joining the hunting competition.’

He wore a formal uniform. Then, as he stood on the stage, his eyes met Sophia’s. The moment their eyes met, the Duke smiled sweetly and raised one hand—previously behind his back—to wave at her.

Even though he probably didn’t mean it that way, just seeing that white hand made last night’s memory come rushing back. His hand gripping her chin, staring into her face closely, almost like searching it.

His solid body that didn’t budge no matter how she pushed. The soft lips that met hers, the tongue that explored her mouth—it all came back to her in a rush.

Sophia turned her head in shame. But it wasn’t a cold shame. It was the kind that came with a warm feeling spreading from deep inside.

“Participants, step forward.”

Just as she was embarrassingly thinking about the kiss, it was time for her to enter. Dressed in her riding clothes with the other noble children, her palms grew sweaty from nerves.

Even though people already knew, they whispered again when they saw the Princess and Sophia entering the hunting competition together. From far away, she could hear people wondering what they would catch, how graceful the Princess looked, how surprising it was that they were hunting together despite their tense relationship.

“The Princess looked so angry… I wonder if she ever spoke to the Duke again after that?”

Sophia flinched when she heard that, even from a distance. Beside her, Yulicias stood tall, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Her slim and elegant figure looked even better in her hunting clothes. Sophia considered saying something comforting.

“Shut your mouth.”

As if she had read Sophia’s thoughts, Yulicias said without even looking at her. She still wore a smile, but her eyes stayed fixed straight ahead.

“If you say one word, I really will rip your mouth apart.”

The pain in her pride was clear in those words. Sophia closed her mouth tightly and accepted the ritual performed by the priest with the Princess.

‘He should be coming down by now.’

Sophia glanced at the platform and the open path in the center. She was curious about the final star to appear.

Just then, the attendant loudly announced the name of the Second Prince.

“His Highness Ezekiel Dominance Eldrich Rockwell has arrived!”

At the end of the long, somehow familiar name, he appeared.

With striking white hair, a neat look, and that always unreadable expression—

The white-haired thug was now wearing royal clothes.

Sophia stared in shock, her mouth wide open.

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