If They Get Obsessed, I’m Doomed - Chapter 79

Chapter 40.2

As soon as she answered without realizing it and put the books away, Ariel was pulled along by her wrist and dragged away. He walked quickly as if there was something urgent, leaving her no time to ask questions.

There was a car waiting prominently in front of Building 3.

She was only able to ask questions after she was dragged into the car and sat next to him.

“Did you mean to have lunch together?”

He nodded.

Ariel was about to ask more about where they were going but closed her mouth. In the meanwhile, perhaps startled by her casual behavior, the driver in the front seat appeared noticeably tense.

Speaking casually to an imperial family member was an awkward thing to do under any circumstances.

As she thought that it was best to hold back on speaking, except in the presence of just the two of them, the conversation consequently ended.

As she drew back the curtains, feeling bored from staring inside the car, a peculiar landscape passed by outside the window. Ornamental trees that she hadn’t seen at the academy filled her view. They were rare plants she had only seen during her previous visit to the imperial palace.

It was clear that the car was leaving the academy and heading toward the imperial palace.

“Your Highness…”

“Why are you using formal language again? Is repeating things your specialty?”

Skylar frowned and cut off her words.

She couldn’t understand why he was so fixated on her manner of speaking, especially when there was no one like Lexius to compare to now. She almost blurted out a question asking why he was acting this way, but that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

“Where are we going?”

“To the Central Hall of the Imperial Palace.”

“Are we… going there for lunch?”

“Why, don’t you want to?”

“I’m not sure if it’s a place I should be going. It’s also a bit intimidating, and… to be honest, I’m a little uncomfortable.”

“….”

After hearing Ariel’s answer, Skylar seemed to ponder for a moment. The next moment, he tapped the armrest of his seat in reticence before he finally opened his mouth as the car approached the entrance of the imperial palace.

“Turn the car around.”

“Where shall we go, Your Highness?”

“The garden of the first dormitory building.”

As the car, which had reached the main gate of the imperial palace, turned around and headed back to the academy, Ariel stared at him with wide eyes, taken aback by his sudden change of mind.

Skylar, looking somewhat embarrassed, avoided her gaze.

“You said you didn’t like the imperial palace because it was uncomfortable.”

“Ah…”

Originally, the meal would’ve been scheduled at the Central Hall of the Imperial Palace, though he changed the plans just because of her words. It was a significant gesture of consideration for her on his part.

“Is that okay?”

“It’s fine, otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

Skylar was still looking elsewhere, seemingly too embarrassed to meet her eyes.

“Thank you.”

Skylar’s face turned red when she said that. It was a clear sign of favorability that couldn’t be described as just two hearts.

Ariel barely managed to resist checking her phone.

The car returning to the academy soon passed by the entrance of the First Dormitory, which was decorated in emerald green before it stopped at a spot in the garden where a fountain was visible.

The two of them stepped onto the brick path and walked toward the lawn.

Amidst the blooming four o’clock trees, there was a wooden table and chairs set up under a white parasol. Neatly arranged tableware was visible on the white tablecloth. Ariel admired the perfectly arranged dining table. It was surprising that everything was ready even though they had made a sudden change in their plans.

“Sit down.”

Skylar, who had gone ahead, pulled out a chair for her and spoke.

It was a sight that would’ve made any maid or aide faint in shock. The Prince was doing something that should have been left to a servant…

Flustered, Ariel hesitated and stepped back, then hesitantly approached again.

“Thank you.”

After expressing her gratitude, Ariel sat down in the chair and Skylar took his seat across from her.

“What would you like to eat…”

“…Your Highness! Your Highness!”

As his sentence was interrupted by an aide rushing in from a distance, his expression showed nothing but irritation.

“Why, Felix?”

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t know.”

“The schedule for today at the imperial palace. You have a luncheon appointment with His Majesty. Your Highness, you need to go immediately.”

The aide pleaded with Skylar, sounding resentful.

On the other hand, Ariel felt a shiver run through her body upon hearing his words. While Skylar pretended not to know about the schedule, there was no way he didn’t know about it. After all, the place he originally intended to go was the Central Hall of the Imperial Palace.

He had planned to take her along with him to his appointment without giving her any prior notice.

‘I almost ended up having lunch with the Emperor!’

Ariel felt like all the blood had drained from her body just from imagining it. Honestly, she felt like she had come close to death.

Skylar glanced irritably at the aide, then turned his head sharply in annoyance. However, his expression changed when he saw that Ariel, who was sitting across from him, had turned unbelievably pale. A sigh escaped his lips, and he reluctantly got up from his seat, almost as if he was being pushed.

“You’ll have to have lunch alone. I’m sorry.”

“No! It’s fine. Please don’t worry about it.”

As soon as Ariel spoke, Skylar’s face twisted into a scowl. It was unclear whether it was because of her formal language or because she didn’t seem the least bit disappointed that he was leaving. It could be both.

“I’m glad to hear it’s fine.”

His face twisted into a fierce scowl as he heard her respond.

It was unclear whether it was because of her formal language or because she didn’t seem to regret his departure at all. It might have been both. His tone was so cold that it was almost chilling, as if he was angry, and he abruptly turned and headed back toward the car.

Eventually, the car carrying Skylar left the garden.

Finally alone, Ariel glanced around and took out her cell phone.

『 A target has been detected nearby. 』

『 Skylar von Aither Lévretin

▷ Favorability towards you: ♥♥ (He’s strongly conscious of you and will often initiate conversations with you first.)
▷ Current Location: Entrance to Academy 1st Dormitory Building. 』

Skylar’s favorability was still the same. Even if she upset him, it didn’t seem to drop anymore.

“Even though it hasn’t increased, why does his behavior keep getting more excessive…?”

It was frightening to think about how much worse it might get if it increased by even half a level or a full level.