ICOF 16

Chapter 16

“…What do you mean?”

“Everyone knows you changed after your fall, but you’re saying you don’t even remember something like that? Shouldn’t you have at least discussed it with me?”

Exactly. What is he even talking about?

Did he figure out I’m not really Giselle? Or did I cause trouble again?

“While questioning that maid, I heard that Christoph proposed to you. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Oh… that?

I answered casually,

“What’s the point of telling you about a proposal I already rejected?”

“I already told Father!”

I jumped up in shock.

“What?! Why would you tell Father?!”

“Your engagement with Adrian is already broken, so if there’s someone who likes you, you should get married quickly!”

What? How did it turn into that?!

“No, no, that’s not it. He just misunderstood because we were childhood friends. He doesn’t actually like me. And I don’t see him as a man either.”

“Christoph says he does like you. He said you were betrothed as children, and that you didn’t bring it up because you don’t remember.”

“B-betrothed? Me?!”

“You used to visit the Baldur estate often with Mother when you were young. Mother and Lady Marie, Christoph’s mother, were close friends. They intended to match the two of you. Father vaguely remembers it too, but you were so young, and both women passed away around the same time, so it was forgotten.”

Lucas continued calmly,

“In fact, that engagement came before Adrian. So this marriage would be better. It’s also what Mother wanted when she was alive.”

What is he even saying?

I don’t even remember my mother, and that so-called engagement isn’t mine!

I waved my hands frantically.

“No, that still doesn’t make sense! I don’t remember any of it. And Christoph has a destined partner anyway! I don’t know exactly when, but within a year… or two…”

Lucas grabbed my flailing hands and said firmly,

“Stop with the nonsense prophecies and think seriously. Father is thrilled about this!”

Even Father…!

I’m doomed.

I boldly declared I’d date freely, and now I’m about to get engaged again—this time to a guy I just agreed to be friends with!

What is Christoph thinking? Didn’t he give up and leave?

Lucas looked around the room carefully.

“We removed all the bells from the terrace. After interrogating the maid, we found out she was closely connected to your stepmother’s former maid. You had her dismissed from the palace when she got pregnant, so they held a grudge and planned this together.”

“Yes…”

I answered bluntly.

Normally I would’ve paid attention, but right now I was too focused on my bleak future.

Fine, they found the culprit. That’s enough. But what am I supposed to do now?

If I keep insisting I don’t remember… and persuade Christoph, will it work?

Surely Father wouldn’t force me into marriage… right?

Lucas clicked his tongue.

“I can practically hear your brain working. Don’t even think about it! Rosa is already married, so it’s naturally your turn now.”

I shouted in frustration,

“What if I go wild then? What if I date some notorious playboy, or say I’ll marry a priest, or even try to seduce Adrian again?”

Lucas frowned and scratched his forehead.

“Stop causing trouble! I already have enough headaches these days—what’s gotten into you?”

I walked up to him and pressed my forehead against his chest.

“Brother!”

“What?”

“Do you hate me?”

“Get off! You said you don’t remember causing a scene in my office, but look at you now—you clearly remember something!”

I clung to his arm and pleaded.

“This is my second life—I can’t just live the way others decide for me!”

“I just want to stay like this forever, living happily with you and Father!”

“I have my own family, and Father does too. How long do you expect us to keep you like this?”

Ugh, the men in this family are so cold.

Now that they’re happy, they want to get rid of this troublemaking princess?

“Marriage is my decision. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“If not Christoph, then try again with Adrian! You sent me to the tavern because you were worried he’d get hurt—so you’re not over him!”

I turned my head and scoffed.

“That’s not it. And he rejected me—why would I go back?”

“You’re not even pretty, yet your pride is huge.”

“That’s too much. Don’t attack my face.”

Lucas sighed and headed for the door, clearly done listening.

“If you don’t like Adrian, then choose Christoph! Rosa even tried setting you up with someone, but that didn’t work out, right? Then Christoph is your only option!”

My rebellious streak flared up.

“No! The person Rosa introduced was actually fine! I’ll meet him again!”

“What?”

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

…And just like that, I bit the bait.

It seemed better than immediate marriage, so I chose it as a temporary solution—

But somehow, it felt like I had trapped myself.

***

I never thought I’d see that intense man with those long strides walking through the grand hall again.

This situation was honestly ridiculous.

A fortune-telling princess who can’t see her own future had desperately run away from a jackal-like man—

And now I was the one contacting him first.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“Neither did I.”

He smiled slightly and bowed.

His elegant tailcoat and white silk pocket square caught my eye.

He’s quite tall.

He brushed back his glossy black hair and glanced around, then gently pulled my arm to keep me from bumping into someone passing by.

His refined manners and composed posture made it hard to believe he came from a modest background.

He must have worked incredibly hard—but it didn’t show at all.

“It’s an honor that you asked to meet me, Your Highness.”

I fidgeted with my dress, clearing my throat, feeling a bit guilty.

“I had no choice but to rely on you. We can just pretend we met briefly. After today, I won’t trouble you again.”

He stood straight, smiling confidently.

“It’s no trouble. You told me not to overexert myself, remember? Thanks to you, I’ve had some rest. I only regret not being able to escort you myself since you contacted me so suddenly.”

“It’s fine. This is more comfortable for me.”

Well… aside from all the guards trailing behind us.

He checked the program pamphlet and his watch.

“It’s about to begin. Shall we?”

He offered his arm, and I placed my gloved hand on it.

He pulled me closer, escorting me carefully through the dim corridor.

We sat alone in a reserved second-floor seat close to the stage and watched the opera.

The first act began with the heroine lamenting her fate—being forced to marry someone she didn’t love.

Wow. Could this be any more fitting?

“Roberto, I do not love you. No matter how many jewels you give me, my heart will not change!”

Exactly. That fat Roberto sings well, but he clearly doesn’t understand women.

Why torment someone who already said no?

As I focused on the soprano’s beautiful voice and acting, I suddenly felt someone watching me.

I glanced sideways.

Theodore was staring at me.

Even in the dark, his gaze was unmistakable.

It felt like another kind of performance had just begun.

This feels dangerous… maybe I really shouldn’t have gotten involved with this jackal.

After the performance, we sat in the lounge discussing it.

“I’m glad I chose something you could relate to.”

“Yeah… how did you know I wanted to run away so badly?”

I thanked him.

“Thank you. I enjoyed it.”

Theodore took a sip of his blue cocktail and looked straight at me.

“I’m not someone who uses flowery words. I’ve never felt the need to.”

“Is that because women came to you without you needing to say anything?”

He smirked.

“I won’t lie.”

…Is this bragging time?

“Well… I can see that.”

“But today, I want to say it. You are very beautiful and elegant, Your Highness. You feel different from that day.”

A warning bell seemed to ring in my head.

I clenched my gloved fingers and shook my head.

“Hehe, don’t say things like that.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m already embarrassed. It’s hard to hear.”

“Then give me four chances.”

“…What?”

I looked up in surprise, and he raised four fingers with a smile.

“If you go on four dates with me, you’ll come to like me.”

“Wow, that’s some confidence. But I’m curious—aside from my ‘unshakable heart’… what do you even like about me? I really don’t understand why you’re interested in me.”

At that, he suddenly smiled in that familiar, seductive way—and gently pulled my hand.