How to Escape from My Possessive Fiancé - Chapter 66

Ezekiel asked.

 

“……”

 

Sophia couldn’t speak for a moment. She had forgotten what kind of man he was. He was the type to see right through her and stab at the truth the moment she tried to avoid it.

 

“That’s not exactly it.”

 

Sophia sniffled and shook her head.

 

“That time… You almost fell off the cliff because of me. So…”

 

Her words trailed off. Ezekiel looked like he didn’t quite understand what she meant, but after thinking over her mention of *killing a royal*, his face hardened.

 

“Did you really think I might blame you for that?”

 

His voice, filled with disappointment, made Sophia shrink her shoulders.

 

“Anyway, you’re royalty and I’m just a count’s daughter.”

 

But Ezekiel didn’t understand the difference. In fact, he got angry.

 

“Did you say something like that to the duke too? Is that why you accepted his proposal? Because of that old-fashioned thinking?”

 

“Why are you getting angry? I had no other choice.”

 

“There’s no such thing as ‘no other choice’ in this world.”

 

“That’s only because you’re a privileged royal.”

 

“Do I look like a privileged royal to you?”

 

He asked. His left eyebrow furrowed slightly as he looked down at her, making him look arrogant. Of course, what he meant was, how could she say that when he had suffered so much on the battlefield? But his expression only made him look even more like a high-and-mighty noble.

 

“Yes. That’s how it looks.”

 

“Didn’t you mistake me for a knight just a while ago?”

 

“That’s because I already know the faces of most noble heirs. Sorry, but I almost forgot the second prince even existed.”

 

“There’s no need to be sorry.”

 

Even then, Ezekiel bowed politely. Sophia gave an awkward cough and said,

 

“Anyway, I know you went through a lot at war, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re royalty. Don’t criticize my choices from a higher place.”

 

“I wasn’t always royalty.”

 

“I’m telling you, society life is different from the battlefield.”

 

Ezekiel went silent. A troubled look came into his eyes. When he furrowed his brow and said nothing, an awkward silence filled the air. Sophia, feeling uneasy sitting on the horse with him, asked to get down.

 

Ezekiel said nothing for a moment, then got down first and helped her off. As she held his hands and leaned her weight to dismount, sudden pain shot through her left wrist.

 

“Ah!”

 

Sophia let out a sharp cry and lost her balance. Ezekiel quickly caught her by the waist.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“My wrist… It suddenly hurts a lot.”

 

“Let me take a look.”

 

Since he had pulled her close, their bodies were nearly touching. Now that they were facing each other, it felt far too close. Blushing, Sophia stepped back a little as she held out her hand. But behind her was the large white horse they had been riding.

 

“Ah!”

 

Sophia cried out again as Ezekiel gently turned her wrist. He frowned seriously.

 

“It seems your wrist got twisted when I grabbed your hand earlier. I’m sorry.”

 

“Oh, you don’t have to apologize. You saved my life.”

 

“From now on, try not to use that wrist.”

 

“What?”

 

“There’s no bandage, so I’ll wrap it with this for now.”

 

Ezekiel took a handkerchief he had and began wrapping her wrist tightly. Sophia panicked.

 

“Wait… You’re saying I shouldn’t use my wrist? But what about the hunting competition?”

 

“Is that so important right now?”

 

“It is to me! If I do well here, I can see Solid. I practiced so hard for this!”

 

Ezekiel frowned in frustration.

 

“Do you really believe Yulicias will let you meet Madam Sandel? Didn’t you just say it was Yulicias who drugged the horse? That’s who she is. She won’t keep a promise with you.”

 

“But still…”

 

“If you want, I can arrange a meeting with her.”

 

Ezekiel offered. But Sophia shook her head.

 

“No.”

 

“If Yulicias can do it, I definitely can—”

 

“That’s not the point. Of course, you could do it. But then how could I face Solid? I’d be using royal power to force a meeting she didn’t even want.”

 

“And it’s different if Yulicias arranges it?”

 

“Yes. That would be the result of my own efforts.”

 

“So, you’re saying it won’t change anything, even if I ask under difficult terms?”

 

“Yes. You like me, Prince.”

 

“……”

 

Ezekiel looked at her blankly. Sophia looked back, confused, then realized how her words sounded. Her face turned red, and she waved her hands quickly to explain.

 

“I mean, I can’t accept favors from someone who has feelings for me. If it’s someone who dislikes me—like the princess—then harsh conditions make sense and…”

 

Ezekiel grabbed her flailing hand and stopped it.

 

“Alright. I won’t pressure you, so stop moving your hand.”

 

He gently touched her injured wrist and pulled back before she could say anything more.

 

Sophia felt a strange flutter in her stomach.

 

“This is wrong.”

 

She whispered to herself. She had the duke. She had kissed him in the dressing room not long ago. It wasn’t right to use another man like this.

 

She quickly turned away and began walking with long steps. Ezekiel tied the horse and followed her.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“To hunt.”

 

“Why are you acting so calm? Aren’t you angry? Yulicias put you in danger.”

 

“Of course, I’m angry. But that’s something to think about later.”

 

“Then let’s go back and start thinking now—how to punish Yulicias.”

 

“Pun… what?”

 

“Punish her.”

 

Ezekiel, who had never used harsh words before, rephrased and looked at her with a shameless face. Sophia blinked at this unexpected side of him and turned her head.

 

Right. This was the same man who had stabbed a bandit in the leg without flinching when they first met.

 

As Sophia turned away silently, Ezekiel followed and said,

 

“If you won’t do it, I will.”

 

“Do what?”

 

“Punish… I mean, deal with Yulicias.”

 

“How?”

 

“Well…”

 

Ezekiel couldn’t answer. His ideas were too intense to say out loud.

 

“See? You can’t even think of anything.”

 

*‘I can think of plenty…’*

 

But he couldn’t say that. Ezekiel sighed and held her arm.

 

“Let’s go back for now. We can think together.”

 

“Oh, look! A rabbit!”

 

Sophia spotted a rabbit and ran toward it. So far, she had only caught two deer, and that wasn’t enough. Even catching a rabbit might help. She grabbed her bow and pulled the string slightly. It felt like she could manage two or three shots.

 

Then an arrow flew past her and struck the rabbit. She heard the sound of its breath stop. She knew who it was without looking.

 

“Ezekiel!”

 

She shouted his name without hesitation and put her hands on her hips—though she quickly dropped them from the pain. Ezekiel looked at her with a cold face.

 

“If you try to shoot again, I’ll shoot everything before you. That way, my score will be higher, and you’ll never beat me.”

 

“Why are you being so unfair?”

 

“Which one of us do you think is being unreasonable right now?”

 

“Well…!”

 

Sophia couldn’t answer. Frustration boiled inside her—not at him, but at herself for being helpless. Overcome with rebellion, she notched an arrow and shot it into the empty air.

 

*Ugh.*

 

It hurt. She dropped the bow and clutched her wrist. Ezekiel rushed over and grabbed her hand again.

 

“Why are you doing this?”

 

“I’m just annoyed!”

 

“You’re a mess. The strangest person I’ve ever met.”

 

“What nonsense is that?”

 

“Exactly what it sounds like. You’re strange.”

 

Ezekiel snapped. Sophia didn’t hold back either.

 

“What’s so strange about trying? All I want is to make up with a friend! Is that such a big deal?”

 

“Why bother over some friend?”

 

“Then why are *you* bothering over someone like me?”

 

Sophia glared at him with fierce eyes. Ezekiel clenched his fists. He had so much he wanted to say.

 

He wanted to shout: “How can you compare *her* to me? You and I are bound by fate, even death can’t break us.”

 

But he couldn’t say it. Even if it were true, she wouldn’t believe it. Because fate, and the god who made it, always took her from him when he tried to tell her the truth.

 

So this time too… Ezekiel stayed silent.