TRETTHD 13

#13. Clashing Hearts

Having been outside for a long time, the wind brushing against her skin felt increasingly cold.
Yet, strangely, she did not feel like going back inside the banquet hall.

“…Huh?”

At that moment, Khalid draped his coat over Belia’s shoulders.

“Don’t want you catching a cold.”

“Thank you.”

Belia smiled softly and held onto the coat. She hadn’t even realized she was cold, but wearing his coat warmed her entire body.

She thought it was amusing that something as simple as someone putting their coat on her shoulders on a terrace could bring such warmth. Just as a smile began to form on her lips, Khalid quietly spoke.

“What did you talk about with Raul earlier?”

“Huh?”

“Since you danced with him, you’ve seemed down.”

Khalid asked cautiously, curious about what nonsense Raul might have said to her.

At first, Belia seemed unwilling to answer, so Khalid held his tongue. But seeing her growing more pensive, he couldn’t help but bring the topic up again.

“……”

Still, Belia hesitated and kept her lips tightly sealed.

There was no way Raul had said anything good about her. Surely, in that small head of his, she must be debating whether or not to relay what was said. Khalid could only imagine the flood of thoughts running through her mind.

“The princess thinks too much.”

With a sigh, Khalid’s words prompted Belia to speak cautiously. She wasn’t exactly trying to hide it.

“Prince Raul asked if I wouldn’t regret it. He said that if I chose you, I would definitely regret it.”

The more she thought about him, the heavier her heart felt.

Then why had things ended the way they did when she had chosen Raul?

“So I told him there was no way that would happen.”

“Is that so? No wonder Raul’s expression was like that.”

Khalid nodded, folding his arms, seeming satisfied with her answer.

“Words like that don’t bother me. So there’s no need to hide it.”

“Still, there’s no need to hear unpleasant things.”

“Thank you, for thinking of me like that.”

Khalid looked up at the night sky and chuckled lightly.

Compared to what he had expected, it was nothing much at all.

Still, seeing Belia close her lips for his sake made him feel a little better. On impulse, he spoke again.

“I don’t get along with that guy.”

Surprised by the sudden remark, Belia looked at him. Khalid met her gaze, a faint smile curling his lips as he continued.

“We have to fight for the throne, so it’s only natural we don’t get along. But actually, we were very close until we were kids.”

“Really?”

“That was until I realized that his kindness was just pity. I truly looked up to him as an older brother.”

Khalid’s expression was flat as he spoke.

Numb, indifferent, as if it no longer mattered.

“If you come to the empire with me, you’ll naturally find out how insignificant a prince I am.”

“…Your Highness.”

“So it wouldn’t be strange if Raul laughs at you for choosing me.”

Belia disliked the self-deprecating tone in his voice.

“If you marry me, I’ll definitely be your strength.”

“Hahaha. A princess of Ronica would say something like that.”

Belia’s tone stiffened slightly as she tried to brush off Khalid’s laughter.

“Besides, Your Highness wouldn’t just give everything away to the first prince and stand idly by, would you?”

“Does it look that way?”

“If not, you wouldn’t have accepted my proposal. You wouldn’t care whether he found the gold mine or not.”

But the moment he read my letter and came to find me,

I clearly sensed he had a plan to bring Raul down.

“So that’s why you accepted my ridiculous marriage proposal by just saying the conditions were favorable.”

It was likely a strategic move to prevent the first prince of the empire from acquiring the Ronica kingdom.

And if he could use Ronica’s power for himself in the process, it would be a stroke of luck. Especially given Ronica’s current state.

When he said Belia was also someone he coveted, he wasn’t lying.

That’s why Belia had a good impression of him even when he warned her despite the situation being more advantageous for him.

“…You have sharp instincts.”

Khalid’s expression stiffened a little.

“You’re smart, quick to assess situations.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“That’s why it’s suspicious.”

But then he relaxed his expression and shrugged.

“Honestly, there are many things I find strange.”

Belia bit her lip as she listened to Khalid speak.

There was much to do, with Khalid leading the way.

But if every time she asked about the source of his information, he doubted her, those small doubts would pile up and surely bring collapse from within.

So she didn’t want to leave any room for suspicion.

“…If we’re together, there will be many moments when you find things suspicious like now.”

Belia carefully chose her words.

Khalid raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

“Will you just trust me then?”

“The gold mine?”

“No. All the information I give Your Highness.”

Her gaze was firm and resolute.

She couldn’t tell him about the time loop.

Even if she tried, he wouldn’t believe her.

Then, in their locked gaze, Khalid smiled softly and said,

“You’re asking too much of me, you know?”

“…Is it so much to ask for trust when we’re supposed to cooperate?”

After all, they were allies now.

And engaged, soon to be married.

They would be spending a very long time together.

Reading her sour mood, Khalid whispered quietly into her ear.

“Everyone hides the truth, yet asks me to trust them fully.”

“That is…”

He frowned slightly at how Belia nervously bit her lip and faltered in speech.

Khalid was certain she harbored no selfish intentions.

She stayed by his side solely for her own purpose.

So it should be a matter of mutual benefit. So why—

I care.

He wanted to find out.

Why was he unusually gentle and forgiving toward her?

Why did this princess, who was just amusing before, keep getting under his skin?

Khalid curled his lips into a wide smile.

“Princess.”

Belia turned to him at the sound of her name.

“You hide much from me, but I think I will try to trust you.”

Then he reached out and adjusted the coat draped over her shoulders.

Just one step.

That single step he took beside her instantly changed the atmosphere around them.

The once light and brisk air grew heavy and suffocating.

“…Your Highness Khalid.”

It was strange.

He had called her name many times before.

But just now, the name rolled off his tongue as if it had its own will, lingering in her mouth.

“Belia.”

This time, he said her name so tenderly.

Was it the strange atmosphere of the place?

Or was it that she couldn’t adjust to the suddenly changed air?

She averted her gaze, struggling even to exhale the breath caught in her throat.

Nothing was easy.

Her heart pounded loudly, thudding in her chest.

“If I fully trust you, then someday you will tell me the truth.”

Still fiddling with the coat on her shoulders, he continued.

“As I said before, I don’t have much. So I don’t let go of my people or what’s mine. I can’t lose even the few things I have. So even if you hide the truth—”

Khalid slowly tucked a stray strand of Belia’s hair behind her ear.

“Once you become mine and ask me to trust you, I will believe you.”

Of course, he would verify it.

“So don’t betray me. It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

His voice, much lower than when calling her name before, was not gentle at all.

His teasing gaze unsettled her again and again.

Belia stared at him with trembling eyes, unable even to breathe.

“Your Highness…”

Just as she struggled to part her lips,

Khalid stepped so close that his lips almost touched hers.

“Then I’ll do my best to make sure you never regret choosing me over Raul. How about that?”

His voice was low and warm.

His hand teasing her ear grew gentler.

Get a hold of yourself, Belia.

Seeing his blue eyes glitter under the moonlight from so close, Belia sensed she would be completely swept away if she didn’t resist.

She couldn’t let that happen.

Gathering her strength, Belia gently pushed Khalid away.

“If Your Highness does as you say, our contract will be much stronger. That’s a relief.”

Belia reminded herself they were merely bound by contract.

She mustn’t be shaken any longer. These were unnecessary feelings.

“Ha…”

Khalid felt a bit disappointed that she sharply rejected his attempt to get closer when he was trying to confirm her feelings.

“Since we entered an equal contract, it’s only natural we both try. If Your Highness trusts me, I won’t betray you. Will that build a little trust?”

She spoke nonchalantly, but it stung Khalid.

He was helplessly shaken by Belia. Though he said it was irritating, he knew all his attention was on her.

“…Not bad.”

He couldn’t stand that she was not completely in his grasp.

An unknown possessiveness crept in and consumed him.

So he said something to unsettle her heart.

“But what if I become sincere with you?”

“…I know that’s just curiosity.”

Belia flinched at his words but soon smiled in reply. Khalid had no answer to that.

“Enough nonsense. Let’s focus on the primary goal first. First, confirm the existence of the gold mine, and then ensure I don’t get engaged to Prince Raul. We’ll talk about everything else after.”

Her voice trembled slightly but she ended firmly.

When she glanced at Khalid, his expression was somewhat empty.

“You understand?”

Belia asked for his firm agreement again. Khalid sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“…Alright.”

With his reluctant answer, Belia nodded while trying to hide her trembling heart with a forced smile.

But Khalid didn’t smile at all.

“Let’s go back. We’ve been away too long.”

Belia took off Khalid’s coat from her shoulders and returned it to him.

“Thank you for the coat.”

Then, as if with no regrets, she opened wide the terrace door leading back to the banquet hall.