If They Get Obsessed, I’m Doomed - Chapter 27

Chapter 14.2

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Having relished the opulent journey in the royal vehicle adorned with golden eagles, Ariel finally arrived at the imperial palace.

Her second visit to the palace offered a contrasting sight compared to the previous one.

It was a clear day with a serene green landscape. Though the buildings still boasted ivory-colored walls, the roofs and pillars now presented a striking contrast in black. The west wing of the castle, which looked completely different from the south wing, was a geometric splendor with stark color contrasts.

『 A target has been detected nearby. 』

『 Devoncia von Elios Lévretin

▷ Favorability towards you: [ Unable to verify ] (Due to a temporary error, the verification of the affection is delayed.)
▷ Current Location: Imperial Central Hall — Western Pavilion, 3rd Floor Private Room. 』

As she was confirming the location of the Crown Prince, a lady-in-waiting approached, prompting her to quickly hide her phone.

The lady-in-waiting accurately led her to the location shown on the phone.

The third floor of the Western Pavilion.

Turning left into the corridor, they entered a long passage without windows. Even at a glance, it was expected that the size of the private room would be considerable.

Within moments, the lady-in-waiting halted in front of a black double door in front of us and pressed a button on the wall, resembling a doorbell. Seeing that there was no sound coming out, it seemed like it was designed to be heard only from the inside of the room. The soundproofing was so well done that not a single sound leaked out.

While Ariel curiously peeked through the crack in the door, the lady-in-waiting seemed to have finished her task and left first.

As she was left alone, the door opened.

“Hi.”

With a brief greeting, the Crown Prince appeared to welcome her in a well-dressed attire. He wore a black suit, and the silver cufflinks on his wrists gleamed as they peeked through the sleeves.

She briefly glanced at his sleeves before slowly raising her gaze to meet his eyes.

Devoncia’s heterochromia eyes warmly sparkled as he welcomed her. His long, gracefully curved eyes, nestled beneath well-defined eyebrows, possessed a mesmerizing charm that captivated those who looked upon him. Ariel only faced his eyes for a brief moment before immediately bowing her head.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“You don’t have to be so stiff.”

“Oh, that… thank you for treating me kindly.”

He chuckled softly when her frozen response was obvious. It was a light chuckle, like a sigh.

“Come in first.”

As the Crown Prince opened one of the doors and stepped inside, she followed suit and entered the private chamber. The interior, with no windows, was extremely dark. Although a few stand lamps were lit, their feeble glow hardly sufficed to illuminate the vast space.

Carefully treading, Ariel positioned herself close to the wall, cautiously peering at the interior. The room appeared to be a large rectangular space, enclosed by curtains on all sides. In the center, there was a peculiar contraption or device that resembled a celestial globe, and that was all there was. There were no other people or objects in the room.

As this realization dawned on her, she couldn’t help but tilt her head curiously, sensing that something was out of the ordinary.

“Aren’t the others here yet?”

“No. Ariel is the only noble who hasn’t taken the magical aptitude test.”

Devoncia, pretending not to notice, gently replied while narrowing the distance between them. Even though he casually called her name, Ariel paid little attention to it.

‘I thought there would be other people here, even if it would be just children…’

She was taken aback by the fact that she was the only guest invited here.

“Still, it was supposed to be aimed at some nobles…”

“That ‘some’ could mean just one person.”

“Then…”

“That’s right. You’re the only one coming here today, and I’ll be the one conducting the test.”

Uttering so, he approached her with a distance that couldn’t be ignored and whispered in her ear. Startled at the soft, warm breath tickled her ear, Ariel almost pushed him away. Fortunately, she managed to stop herself by clasping her hands tightly, opting instead to step to the side and create some distance between them.

To her relief, Devoncia didn’t pursue her as she moved away but made a subtle ‘Hmm’ sound. It was a response that seemed neither pleased nor disinterested yet filled with curiosity.

“I didn’t invite you for anything in particular.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind so there won’t be any misunderstanding.”

Even though they were the only two in the secret room, Ariel remained composed, even when facing the Crown Prince. Her reaction left a strange impression on Devoncia.

“Do you know that nobles usually take an aptitude test in the imperial Castle, right?”

“Yes. I know.”

“They usually get it around the age of five, and at the latest, they finish it before the age of ten. However, the Princess hasn’t taken it yet.”

“I’m sorry. I missed the timing because I was confined at my house due to personal reasons.”

“It’s alright. If you take it now, it’s fine. It’s not like there’s an ordinance that says you have to have it done at a certain age.”

“Is that so? Thank you for understanding my inevitable circumstances.”

Although her voice remained at a moderate pitch, her tension was palpable. Despite not being adept at concealing her emotions, she managed to maintain a composed demeanor. Her composure was almost cold, which was difficult to see from an aristocratic young lady of her age.

But then again, she was currently alone with the Crown Prince.

Moreover, the Crown Prince even considered her needs and extended his favor, regardless that she was nothing more than a mere Countess’s daughter with a faint presence who hadn’t even stepped into the social world.

‘Still, looking at her… Isn’t she a county’s princess who supposedly had never even set foot in the social world to this age due to poor social skills?’

In a situation that didn’t quite fit and seemed out of place, question marks filled Devoncia’s mind. He studied Ariel’s face intently, unable to resolve the questions.

Her elegant facial features and faint pinkish lips were illuminated by the slanting light of the stand.

Driven by an inexplicable thirst, he unconsciously stuck out his tongue to moisten his lower lip. The more he gazed at that face, the more… hunger kept stirring inside him. It was an interest in something unfamiliar, or perhaps a s*distic desire to break and shatter the woman in front of him.

“Is the Princess…”

He could feel a surge of heat rising in him within the moment, causing his head to spin. His body, which had been unwell for a week, was acting up again, and he pressed on his throbbing temple before stopping his words.

Her nonchalant eyes, which were lowered, widened in an instant, and black eyes turned to him in surprise.

“Are you all right? Should I call a lady-in-waiting?”

“…I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Kindly brushing off her concern, Devoncia let out a faint smile. Nonetheless, Ariel didn’t show much of a reaction to his response, and she didn’t easily dismiss her worries.

“If Your Highness is feeling tired, you can go inside and rest. I’ll come back later.”

It was a response that seemed admirable yet ignorant.

He had orchestrated this opportunity himself. Once she entered the academy, it would be difficult even for the Crown Prince to secretly examine her like this.

“As you know, Ariel, the imperial family doesn’t have that much time.”

As he uttered a short remark, Devoncia smoothly positioned himself to block the door that was slowly sliding open. When she followed his movement and tilted her head, an unsettling sensation began to take shape within her, taking on a distinct feeling of foreboding.

“We have to finish this today.”

Behind his affectionate declaration, the door slammed shut with a click.

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