If They Get Obsessed, I’m Doomed - Chapter 22
Chapter 12.1
The sharp atmosphere was heightened, which wouldn’t be surprising if a blade went back and forth.
Caught in the middle of a tense family quarrel, Ariel could only glance around.
‘Still, Devoncia’s emotions didn’t seem to change much. Skylar, on the contrary, is too sharp.’
Skylar was the one she needed to appease in order to defuse the situation right now. If she chose Devoncia’s side here, Skylar would explode.
And most of all, she didn’t like that Devoncia was so dismissive of Skylar.
“I heard that Your Highness is currently ill!”
Calmly yet firmly, Ariel opened her mouth.
When the two, who stared at each other with the momentum ready to kill each other, turned their heads at her words, Ariel ducked her waist, avoiding the stinging gazes.
“I fear that my presence would be unintentionally disrespectful, as it would be difficult for Your Highness to rest, so may I return to my room?”
The first thing out of Ariel’s mouth was to turn down the Crown Prince’s invitation, no matter how well-packaged the excuse was. However, rather than the Crown Prince, it was Skylar who stiffened in surprise instead.
On the other hand, the Crown Prince’s eyes only glowed with interest, benevolently and generously.
“Even though I say it’s fine?”
“I apologize. Please understand my intention.”
Still, she didn’t back down. Taking a polite posture, Ariel gracefully crossed her hands together and expressed her refusal to the end.
“Alright, I can’t help it. You…”
Devoncia’s words trailed off somewhat meaningfully as he finally gave in to her wishes. By the time she had straightened her bent waist, the Crown Prince was gazing elsewhere as he tied his robe again.
Conversely, Skylar’s eyes turned to Ariel. Since he only showed his back to her until now as he was focused on his brother, the shock etched on his face from her words just now was visible to her as his face was painted with the emotions of puzzled and surprised. The expression was as if his eyes dilated or his lips parted slightly.
‘…He’s not angry. Thank God.’
Ariel was relieved that she hadn’t provoked him.
As the tension eased, the corners of her mouth lifted, though only slightly. At the same time, Skylar couldn’t take his eyes off her face. The slightest change in her expression suddenly brought him an unfamiliar feeling of tightening in his chest and heat to his face.
His face, crumpled with a mixture of emotions, became harsh, as though he was angry.
“Why are you…”
His sudden frown made Ariel gasp in surprise.
‘I thought it was okay, but did something upset him?’
At times like this, it was best to avoid it before she irritated his mood further.
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
She hastily bowed her head in greeting at the thought before leaving at a brisk pace.
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Ariel found her room by a route she’d barely memorized. Although she could have used the location map on her phone, she didn’t want to, afraid that she might be noticed. It wasn’t until she returned to the private room that was closed off on all sides that her vigilance faded.
Placing the keys she’d taken in a glass, she glanced around the room.
The hands of the clock were already past seven. It was past seven o’clock when she asked for dinner, yet meals weren’t served in the absent room.
“Do I need to ask again…”
‘It’s annoying.’
Exhausted, Ariel immediately took off her shoes and collapsed onto the bed. The fatigue from the long hours of traveling, combined with the tension from the sudden encounter, drowned her.
“They said all I needed to do was to register.”
Ariel spat out a groan and closed her eyes.
Lying down on the soft mattress made everything bothersome, and all she wanted to do was sleep.
‘For a minute. Just for a minute…’
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Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.
A knocking sound that seemed regular, all of a sudden, became irregular and urgent. It sounded like knocking on a glass window. Ariel’s consciousness, which had sunk deep into unconsciousness, slowly returned.
‘…Is there a breeze?’
She struggled to lift her eyelids, which had collapsed from sleep.
A black silhouette hung over the wide glass window in front of her. Outside the moonless window, it was eerie, like a monster had come to visit.
Ariel, who had been lying on her stomach, stood up in horror. Her stiff body stared at the slithering glass with a looming shadow. It took more than a dozen seconds for her to realize that it was the Prince talking through the window glass.
“Your… Highness?”
Seeing the blonde and familiar outline of a face illuminated by the orange light of the nightstand, she was taken aback, relieved that it wasn’t a complete stranger or a monster.
Ariel staggered over on her loose legs and opened the window to the unexpected visitor. A refreshing scent permeated the night air as the blond hair and a thin blouse fluttered in the light breeze. Skylar, who stood with a grumpy face on the window frame, tilted his head. As usual, he looked somewhat displeased.
‘Aside from that, why is he here…’
“Your Highness, why did you come this way instead of the door?”
“…You don’t have to know.”
Skylar hesitated for a moment before he refused to answer.
‘I wish he could explain it to me sometimes.’
He was reticent and didn’t even have the slightest bit of affability.
Not knowing what more could she ask, awkwardly, Ariel fiddled with her fingers. As his blue eyes flickered to the white hand that moved, he sighed softly as she stopped moving at the glance.
“More than that, I heard you still haven’t eaten dinner yet.”
How on earth did he know when she hadn’t even told him yet?
“…Did Your Highness hear about it through the lady-in-waiting?”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean all of my other actions will be reported as well?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I brought you as my guest under my name, so I should know about your whereabouts.”
That was true. At his words, Ariel nodded her head in agreement.
“Thank you for your concern.”
However, Skylar’s ears blushed as if he had been caught talking about the obvious with an embarrassed look.
His rigid demeanor made her think he might turn and walk away at any moment. But instead, against her expectations, he moved closer. His left arm, hidden outside the window frame, then reached out and held something out.
Ariel’s eyes naturally fell to his palm.
A light pink paper box. It was a dainty and pretty thing, complete with a white ribbon.
“Your Highness, is this…?”
“At least eat this.”
He replied curtly.
“What’s my dignity if you come as my guest and keep starving?”
While it was an unfriendly way of speaking, Skylar’s behavior was clearly intended to take care of her. He must’ve put a lot of thought into it in his own way.
“Thank you.”
As she clasped her hands together politely and held them out, Skylar handed the box over, sliding it over her neat palms.
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