Chapter 37
So, that’s the reason he’s changing his tune.
Ryan’s decisiveness when it ca to matters not concerning himself was certainly one of his stronger traits. It made him appear ruthless, an impression that wasn’t far from the truth.
For soone like him, maintaining his position as Crown Prince would be of utmost importance.
…Not that I planned on letting him manipulate
so easily.
It was ti for Ryan to realize that the Marceau who loved him was long gone.
“I’m glad to hear that you finally believe in ,” I said with a sweet smile, watching Ryan’s reaction carefully.
“Yes, so—”
“This ans we can finally put everything to rest, doesn’t it? After all, Your Highness has always denied
because of my feelings for you.”
I went straight to the point.
The biggest reason Ryan refused to believe that I had changed was because he still believed I was in love with him.
So, if he was now claiming to believe in , it could only an one thing…
“…What exactly do you an by that?” Ryan blinked in confusion.
Still smiling, I intertwined my fingers and said softly, “Isn’t it obvious? You’re finally acknowledging that I no longer love you.”
I watched as my smile slowly faded away.
“All this ti, you’ve tornted
because you thought I was still in love with you and, as a result, might harm Leshuan.”
“T-tornt? That’s not—”
“Oh my, you’re already contradicting yourself after just claiming you’d accept that I’ve changed.”
Ryan bit his lip. He was clearly growing irritated as the conversation strayed from where he wanted it to go.
“I ant that I believe you won’t trouble Leshuan any longer.”
“Which essentially ans the sa thing.”
The only reason I would have to trouble Leshuan was because of him. If I no longer bothered her, it would an I no longer harbored feelings for him.
I no longer sent him gifts, wrote him letters, or asked anything of him.
His eyes wavered, uncertain like a child lost in the woods. It had been a while since I’d seen him this unsettled in front of .
Even when he had confronted , demanding I stop harassing Leshuan, he had been far more emotional than he was now.
I took a step closer, holding his gaze. This ti, I wouldn’t look away, because I could sense this was different.
I knew that if I didn’t shatter his delusion now, I might never get another chance.
“You really didn’t see this coming, did you?”
Ryan’s expression was unlike any I’d seen before. There was no hatred, no disdain—only bewildernt. It was as if he were finally seeing the real
for the first ti.
He had believed that all my actions were just a ploy to win his approval. He must have thought that as soon as he acknowledged my change, I would revert to my old ways and start vying for his affection again.
But the tinted glasses through which he viewed
had finally been shattered.
Finally.
How long had I waited for this mont? It was like soone had poured a refreshing drink down my throat after years of suffocating frustration.
‘Might as well finish this.’
Since I planned to return to the social scene, it was better to snuff out any lingering rumors.
“I know Your Highness is a man of his word. You wouldn’t go back on this, so I’ll make sure everyone knows that from now on, you won’t believe any rumors about
harassing Lady Leshuan.”
My words were a clear warning: Ryan would regret ever making such a claim.
Not only would I clear up the rumors, but I would also ensure it hurt his pride in the process—a win-win.
It’s easy to say you believe soone has changed.
But I knew that Ryan didn’t truly believe I had changed.
It was his arrogance and pride that kept him from accepting it.
But as a prince, his pride was at stake, so he was probably feeling quite conflicted right now.
Let’s see what he says next.
I waited for Ryan to respond.
Surely, it was ti for him to throw off the soft mask he had been wearing and unleash his temper.
If not that, he would likely resort to threatening
with so other excuse.
But instead, his response caught
off guard.
“You really don’t love
anymore?”
It was a lant.
I furrowed my brow and let out a small sigh.
…What is this?
I thought there was nothing Ryan could do to surprise , but this was truly unexpected.
“You?”
His blue eyes darkened, their depth reminding
of the sea.
“Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“….”
“I’ve changed, and I won’t interfere with you or Lady Leshuan anymore.”
I sharpened my words again.
“The person who has changed is the one who broke their promise to stay hidden and ca here to see .”
That hiding was never for you! I was just tired of everything; it wasn’t so considerate act ant for you, Ryan.
Just as I was about to correct his misunderstanding, there was a loud crash behind us.
It sounded like sothing had exploded. Whipping my head around, I saw smoke billowing through what used to be a door…now shattered to pieces.
It looked like a cannonball had struck it—there was no mistaking the malicious intent behind this.
Isn’t the palace protected by a barrier that prevents the use of magic?
As I pondered the palace’s security, soone erged from the smoke.
Darcy walked in, elegantly brushing back his silver hair, his cravat hanging loosely around his neck.
I flinched at the sight of his furrowed brow, the predatory look in his eyes sending chills down my spine.
This was the instinctive reaction one has when standing before a wild beast. The rawness he was showing now was a stark reminder of why he had survived as a powerful force for so long.
Lowering his head as if to sigh, Darcy then lifted it again, looking for all the world like the grim reaper.
“What a pathetic little ga for a prince to play,” he muttered, folding his arms and blinking slowly.
“I knew you were petty, but you picked the wrong person to ss with.”
His voice was as cold as ice. Not waiting for Ryan’s response, Darcy shifted his gaze to .
“You do realize what your actions an for the royal family?” Ryan growled in a low voice, still in shock at the broken door, but Darcy didn’t seem the least bit fazed.
He acted as if Ryan didn’t even exist.
As if to prove the point, the harsh expression he had worn while looking at Ryan lted into a warm smile as he looked at .
His eyes lit up, the smile he wore as he faced
a thing of pure beauty.
It was a smile ant only for , and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
My face flushed.
The realization that I was the only one who could make Darcy smile like this brought with it a strange and guilty pleasure.
A pleasure born from my own selfishness.
“You could at least listen when I—”
Darcy pushed Ryan aside, his face serious as he leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“Shall we go?”
Had he noticed my reddened face?
I bowed my head slightly to hide my embarrassnt.
“Yes.”
And so, we left Ryan behind as we stepped out of the room.
The mont we exited, the people waiting in the hallway rushed inside, their common reaction being to flinch and avoid looking directly at Darcy.
‘So, it really was Darcy’s doing.’
I had suspected as much when he first walked through the smoke, but now I was sure.
“Why did you break the door?”
“…For multiple reasons.”
“Huh?”
“It’s an opportunity to show the nobles what kind of person I am. And a warning to Ryan to watch his step.”
So, it wasn’t just out of anger. I should have known that just talking to Ryan wouldn’t be enough to make him do sothing like that.
The Darcy I knew was rational, even if he sotis seed a bit unhinged on the surface.
Feeling a bit guilty for almost misunderstanding him, I studied him closely as he muttered under his breath.
“Yes, that’s all there is to it.”
“I know, I believe you. But what kind of image are you trying to create?”
Darcy narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer. Then, as if he were about to share a secret, he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
“Soone you don’t ss with.”
“Well, you certainly nailed it. Ryan definitely got the ssage.”
Everyone attending the ball would have to walk past this hallway, and they would all see the destruction.
And the way he had walked toward
earlier…
Now that I understood his intention, it all made sense. I praised him for it.
Darcy blinked, then looked at
with an odd expression.
“Did I really seem that crazy?”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“….”
There was an unusually long silence from Darcy. He stared at
for a while before asking,
“Marceau, aren’t you afraid of crazy people?”
“What do you an, afraid?”
“I’m going to be seen as soone crazy from now on. Won’t that make you uncomfortable?”
I hadn’t expected him to consider that.
“Not that I am crazy, of course.”
I knew that too. In fact, I found his thoughtfulness rather endearing.
The persona he showed in front of Ryan and others was one he had crafted to survive.
‘It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared at all.’
But I was relieved to have Darcy on my side. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have soone like him as an enemy.
Darcy was watching , anxiously waiting for my response, his face a mixture of worry and hope.
For so reason, he reminded
of a puppy in need of praise.
After a brief hesitation, I stood before him.
“How could I be uncomfortable when I know the real you?”
I gently patted his shoulder to show my sincerity.
“You did well.”
A wide smile spread across Darcy’s face.
“Is patting my shoulder your way of praising ?”
“It’s the praise I can offer. Do you dislike it? If so, I can stop.”
“Of course not.”
Darcy shook his head and then crouched down, looking up at .
…This was a new angle.
“Since you’re at it, you might as well pat my head too. Tell
I did a good job.”
His voice was low and teasing, like a fox tempting
into a trap.
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