ICOF 09

Chapter 09

When I leaned over the terrace railing and looked down, I saw my brother Lucas and his group gathered about half a block away.

“Oh, so it was here? Just like I expected—there’s a fight!”

“What are you talking about? Huh? Isn’t that our brother over there?”

Rosa followed my gaze and looked down the street, startled.

“You’re right… ahem. Why is he over there?”

I pulled my gaze away from the terrace and shrank back.

Well, however it happened, as long as the goal was achieved, that’s what matters.

But not knowing my intentions at all, Rosa suddenly stood up as if she had found an excuse to escape the awkward situation.

“I’ll go down and see what’s going on. I’ll be back, Sir Theo—no, Sir Theodore.”

I grabbed the hem of her dress desperately.

“It’s already over. It’s probably nothing… just stay—”

“Can’t you see? Sir Adrian is covered in blood! And I need to find out why those people are bowing to Lucas.”

“Why do you need to find out? Unni, don’t go! Ha…”

And just like that, I was left sitting across from Theodore, waiting for Rosa to return.

Theodore stroked his chin and smiled faintly.

“Was this something you planned, Princess?”

“Huh? You mean this meeting?”

“Not that. It seems you sent Prince Lucas because you were worried Sir Adrian might get hurt.”

What is this man?

How is he so sharp?

My guard instantly went up.

As you might have noticed, I can’t see Giselle’s past or my own future with my powers.

So I never expected to meet someone like this—a predator at the top of the food chain.

If I had known, I would have prepared something in advance… or avoided him entirely.

But how did he figure out that I acted after seeing the future?

Theodore set down his teacup and crossed his long legs.

“No answer. Judging by your expression, I’m right. And… you don’t like me either, do you?”

“Have you considered changing careers? You’d make a great fortune teller.”

“I don’t know what that is, but even without such abilities, you are very easy to read, Princess.”

“Me? That’s the first time I’ve heard that!”

I kept a straight face, but chills ran down my spine.

He saw right through the act I had been putting on.

I had heard that sometimes there are people immune to divine power… is he one of them?

“I am a businessman. All kinds of rumors pass through my ears. That includes rumors about the king’s youngest daughter. But more than that, I say you’ve changed because I remember our first meeting, brief as it was.”

I shrugged exaggeratedly.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Theodore looked straight into my eyes and smiled like an experienced hunter.

A naive girl might fall for that expression instantly—but not me.

“As you know, royal marriages are calculated. When my relationship with Princess Rosa ended, I understood that. If I had fit those calculations, I would be sitting here today as your brother-in-law.”

So… their marriage didn’t happen because he didn’t fit the royal family’s standards?

And now that I’m the palace’s troublemaker, does that mean our “value” is about equal?

“Princess Giselle, you held onto someone you liked for a long time. But you let go of that feeling all at once. That made me curious. Was there a reason? And then… why did you still worry about Sir Adrian getting hurt today?”

I let out a small scoff, starting to get annoyed.

“I don’t want to have this kind of conversation with someone I barely know. And why would I care about Sir Adrian? He doesn’t even like me. Neither of us wanted this situation, right? Wouldn’t it be better to end this here and save both our time?”

“Is that so? I didn’t come here knowing this would happen, but now… I’m interested in getting to know you.”

…What?

What kind of bulldozer is this guy?

My sister almost got engaged to this man?

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s try dating.”

Unbelievable.

We’ve known each other for barely thirty minutes!

I shook my head firmly.

“You know I hit my head, right? And my sister told you—I’m… very strange.”

He smiled, almost like he was trying to tempt me.

“I can handle it.”

Goosebumps ran down my arms. I jumped to my feet.

“I can’t!”

Even thinking about my sister and brother-in-law, I knew I should stay polite—but this man was too much.

It was scary how he figured out my actions just from a short conversation.

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might hold some resentment toward our family because of what happened with my sister.

I bowed politely.

“I have something to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first.”

I grabbed my sister’s bag and left.

As I went down the stairs, I glanced back.

Theodore was still watching me… smiling.

What a creepy man.

As I stepped out of the bakery, Rosa was just coming back in, and we ran into each other.

“What are you doing? Why are you leaving?”

“Unni, your husband will be late today. Don’t pick a fight when he gets home. Just forgive him—he’s going to be a father.”

“What are you talking about? After what he did, I should beat him half to death! Anyway, why did you come out?”

“You’re lucky you didn’t marry that man. You escaped just in time.”

“What are you talking about? Theodore is a good person. Father didn’t like him because of his status, but he’s not someone you’d need to run from.”

I shook my head strongly.

“I don’t care—I can’t handle him. Don’t push him onto me. And I told you to forgive your husband. Otherwise, your baby will be born cross-eyed!”

“You little—what kind of curse is that?!”

Rosa glanced upstairs and asked,

“Should I go back up and say goodbye?”

“No, let’s just go.”

“R-really?”

Seeing her slightly flustered expression, I narrowed my eyes.

“Don’t tell me you still have feelings for him?”

“Of course not. That was just when I was young.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Rosa still looked uncertain, but we walked out onto the street together.

Right then, an escort knight approached us.

I asked,

“By the way, what happened to our brother?”

“Didn’t you send him there knowing what would happen?”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“They said you begged him to bring you the craft beer from that tavern.”

“Ah, whatever. What about Adrian?”

“What’s there to ask? You saw it earlier. If it weren’t for Lucas and the knights, he would’ve been beaten to dust.”

***

Adrian slowly sat up in bed, his face still tense.

For several days, he hadn’t been able to leave his estate because of the aftermath.

Fortunately, his injuries weren’t serious, and his body had mostly recovered—but his mind was more restless than ever.

He regretted what happened… but at the same time, he didn’t.

He regretted getting drunk and being beaten by people beneath him.

But he did not regret attacking those who spoke of Giselle with filthy mouths.

On the day they agreed to part ways—

He had forgotten Giselle’s warning not to drink too much on National Day.

He didn’t know how she predicted it, but her advice had helped him more than his own pointless concern about her eating vegetables.

If Prince Lucas hadn’t arrived that day, there was no way he could have held out in that fight while drunk.

Even someone like Hugo couldn’t have handled dozens of attackers barehanded.

When Lucas arrived with the knights and shouted, people recognized him and quickly backed off, ending the fight.

After he sobered up, his pride collapsed completely.

But strangely… knowing that Giselle had sent Lucas gave him a sense of relief.

When they were young, Giselle was quiet and shy.

As they grew older, there were times he found that side of her frustrating.

He hated being forced into things, and when the king pressured him into marriage, it became even harder to face her.

So when did he start becoming aware of her?

Lucas had told Rosa that Giselle had stubbornly insisted he go to that tavern and bring back its craft beer.

It felt… as if she had sent him there to protect him.

If it were him, he wouldn’t have been able to worry about someone who had rejected him for so long.

Adrian suddenly stood up and began preparing to go to the palace.

There were too many things he needed to ask her.