Chapter 27

“Mm…”

Wishit said with a bewildered smile and a tilt of his head.

“Did you feel uncomfortable because I talked casually? Don’t tell me, were you offended? But I mean, this kind of honorific is against the hierarchy too…”

“…?”

Wishit, who had been muttering, then smiled brightly.

“Fine. I wish we could talk to each other more comfortably.”

“What are you saying? Don’t be silly.”

I tapped Wishit on the shoulder and added.

“Hurry up and run, dude. You have to keep moving if you want to burn fat.”

“…”

“Hey, since you’ve come this far, don’t even think about leaving and just join me.”

“Oh, oh. Okay…”

So I pulled Wishit’s arm, who seemed to have no intention of running, and he was dragged in confusion.

We started running side by side.

“Isn’t the air nice in the evening?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty good.”

“How refreshing. Let’s go out and exercise together every day from now on.”

Wishit, who was running at my speed for a long time, smiled and nodded.

“Well, okay.”

“I’m a little touched that you’re running with me while you hate sports. Thank you. I’ve been so bored running alone.”

“What do you mean I hate it? I like exercise. Physical fitness is essential.”

“Sure. Pfft…”

“Oh, you don’t believe me? I did 20 laps of the training hall with the Knights Order at the palace today too.”

“…”

Wishit’s expression as he made eye contact with me looked serious.

My pace, which was accelerating, slowly slowed down and then stopped.

‘What are you talking about?’

“Knights Order? 20 laps of the training hall?”

“Just in case, I’m no bluffing. All of the knights have good stamina, so everyone does that. Of course, I am the best.”

“…”

“Oh, don’t worry, I have enough stamina to run with you every day after leaving the palace.”

With a handsome face, Wishit said with a grin.

‘What’s this? What—?’

What is this? Seriously. The sense of incompatibility I should have felt earlier, and this insecurity that I felt late like a fool…

I quickly sent a message into my head.

{Wishit. Wishit.}

{What?}

Wishit, who stood a couple of steps ahead of me after I stopped, tilted his head and looked back at me.

{Where are you now?}

{The fountain of spirits, where else?}

{… Really? You’re not kidding me?}

{What are you saying? Look, I’m busy right now. There are two spirits I haven’t seen in a long time, and they’re fighting and shedding blood. The blood has just dried.}

{Oh, please…}

{What’s wrong? What’s going on? First of all, I’m a little busy, so later.}

The tension made my mouth dry.

‘I’m in trouble.’

The one before me right now is not Wishit.

Looking back carefully, the atmosphere was also subtly different, and above all, Wishit wasn’t the kind to play pranks like this.

I should have noticed the first time we met and he muttered something I didn’t understand…

‘No, how did I not notice that? It was an unexpected appearance, wasn’t it?’

I defended myself it wasn’t because I was stupid.

Who would have imagined that at this time, in this place, a human who would never come would appear? I hadn’t doubted it for a second because I’ve been Wishit, who had this face 24 hours a day.

But the water that has already been spilled, even if I try to defend myself…

This handsome man in front of me is…

The real thing.

‘Why is the crown prince here!?’

It was the real crown prince, Lark van Rashmagh Descarde.

“…”

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you running any more?”

Lark asked, tilting his head.

‘Oh, my God. Why are you giving me this ordeal?’

How many atrocities have I committed to this man I haven’t met in less than 10 minutes?

“Mm, hello.”

“Hurry up and run, dude.”

My mind went blank.

‘L-Let’s hope…’

I took a slow, deep breath, put my hands together, and bowed down.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“…?”

“I have made a mistake…”

“What are you talking about? Why are you speaking formally all of a sudden?”

Lark asked with a smile on his face.

‘I wish I could get mad at anything. How could I recognize the real crown prince? We even talk casually to each other and run together on the playground on our first meeting!’

Blaming him on the inside made no difference.

It was only my situation that I confused him with Wishit. Anyway, I was in a situation that was close to blaspheming the imperial family.

“My friend and… Your Highness looked so alike, so I misunderstood for a moment.”

“Hmm?”

This is also an excuse!

Lark burst out laughing.

“So you didn’t know who I was until now? You’re saying you mistook me for your friend?”

“Yes, but you’re completely different when I look again. Something must have gone wrong with my eyes.”

“Oh, is there anyone in this capital who looks so confusingly like me? That’s surprising.”

“No, you’re completely different. I have a disease where I can’t distinguish faces well…”

“Oh dear.”

Lark narrowed his eyebrows in regret. Seeing the playful expression on his face, he didn’t seem to believe it.

At best, the excuse I came up with as a lifeline was to act like a noble lady with a facial recognition disorder…

I raised my hands and covered my face with mixed feelings.

“I’m truly sorry.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Lark laughed at my apology.

I couldn’t make eye contact with him, so I stood still, but I felt Lark approaching.

“Princess. Look at me.”

“…”

I asked, looking up at him, who was just around the corner with one hand down.

“Will you forgive me?”

“I’m not angry at all.”

“Really?”

“Really. Aren’t you the one who was deceived?”

“Mmhmm.”

There seemed to be no falsehood in his generous demeanor than expected.

I swallowed my embarrassment and said.

“Thank you. Your Highness is as broad-minded as the Robben Ocean.”

“Ha ha ha!”

What’s so funny? I feel like I’m in hell and I’m barely alive.

Lark asked with a smile as he scratched the back of his neck in an awkward mood.

“Are you going to run more?”

“No, that’s it for today…”

“Why don’t you talk casually like before?”

I shook my head straight away, disgusted.

“If anyone hears it, I will be arrested for contempt of the imperial family. I don’t want to go to prison.”

“Who’s going to send you to prison if I agree to it?”

“Nevertheless. Since I was born in the Descarde Empire, of course I have to be polite to Your Highness.”

Lark said with a chuckle.

“So, do you have time? Can I talk to you if you’re not busy?”

“…”

His suggestion brought me to a halt.

‘Aha. I was wondering why the Crown Prince was here. He must have come to see me on purpose.’

Now I understand a little bit.

I had already expressed my refusal through Victor, but it must have been disappointing from the crown prince’s point of view. So he came all the way here to meet me in another way.

He must have heard from Victor that I workout here every evening.

‘How meticulous.’

He pretends to be nice on the outside, but he has a lot of thoughts on the inside.

“Alright.”

I nodded, alert, and then pointed to a flat rock in the corner of the vacant lot.

“Oh, wait.”

As I was about to sit down, Lark, who reached out and stopped me, pulled out a handkerchief. Spreading it out on the rock, he nodded and suggested a seat.

‘Well-learned manners. Not bad.’

I said thank you in a low voice and sat down. Then Lark flopped down right next to me.

The distance was quite close, so I slowly moved my hips and opened them up a little.

“…”

Lark looked at my action of dragging my body away.

I laughed awkwardly and said.

“I sweat a lot. Just in case you smell something.”

“… Not at all? It’s okay. I am a person who has been wallowing with sweaty knights in the dust of the training hall all day.”

“Nevertheless. I am embarrassed.”

Lark’s eyes narrowed as I resolutely held out my palm and distanced myself from him.

‘I’m really sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved in a relationship like that with you.’

His face was so handsome that it hurt, so if I looked at it for a long time, I might become really mad.

I opened the canteen I was holding, moistened my throat, and avoided Lark’s gaze.

“I am thirsty too.”

“Oh.”

I was embarrassed to drink water by myself, so I handed the water bottle in embarrassment, but paused.

“But I put my mouth on it…”

“It’s alright. Can I have a drink?”

“Yes, alright.”

Lark took the water bottle from me and tilted it with a grin.

He could have drank it without his mouth touching… But he drank the water with his lips pressed against the mouth of the water bottle, trying to attract attention from me.

The wet lips and the hard neckline that draws a big curve every time he chugs water caught my eye.

Again, I scratched the nape of my neck and sighed inwardly, thinking.

‘… This person is a player.’

A versatile perfectionist. If he had lived for a long time, the crown prince would have left a mark in the history books as a rare saint.

Lark was, indeed, a man who could do everything as he was rumored. Even shaking women’s hearts.

‘I’m not impressed by his modest beauty, but I can’t help but feel a sense of crisis because of his Adam’s apple… How awesome!’

I politely admitted it and said.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“If my guess is correct, I think you are someone who doesn’t like to waste time on trivial things. So I want to tell you in advance.”

“… What?”

“I.”

After clearing my throat once, I looked directly at Lark.

And, as if surrendering, I held out my palm and said.

“I have no intention of developing into a romantic relationship with Your Royal Highness. I’m sorry if I misunderstood. If Your Highness wants anything from me, don’t bother.”

Lark paused in surprise at my words.