INWY~11

Chapter 111

“Say my name.”

“……Pardon?”

This time, Riena showed a hint of surprise. Considering the audacity of the words Dante had just thrown out without hesitation, her reaction seemed almost comical.

Perhaps it was even better than forcing a fake smile to appear cheerful. Of course, Dante himself might have sounded a little childish, but…

He even added another condition without hesitation.

“Ah, calling me once won’t do. Keep calling me that from now on.”

Was calling his name really such a big deal? Riena now even wore a slightly reluctant expression.

Yet Dante, as if he had anticipated her reaction, merely raised an eyebrow indifferently. After all, in moments like these, Riena always tended to hold back.

“Why, is it easier to hug me than to say my name? I’m curious where you learned a concept like that.”

Riena frowned slightly at Dante’s deliberately teasing tone.

“If I say Your Highness’s name, you’ll let me go home, right?”

Dante responded with a slow nod. He didn’t speak a word, but Riena’s eyes seemed to light up at the clear confirmation.

“Dante…… Venachert.”

“Oh, if you wanted to tease me, just say so.”

“……Dante.”

After a little chiding, Riena finally called him as he wanted. Hearing her hesitant voice speak his name felt strangely refreshing—despite having heard it before, it was as if he had never been called that way in his life.

“Again.”

“Dante.”

“More.”

“Dante. ……Why are you making me do this?”

Dante had her repeat his name several more times. Soon, Riena, slightly sulking, let out a small sigh of frustration.

“Alright.”

“Why? Is it really what you wanted, me calling your name like this?”

“It sounds nice.”

Dante gave her a small, satisfied laugh while staring at her confused expression.

“When you keep calling me Dante, Dante, it feels like I belong only to you.”

“……As long as it’s not unpleasant.”

Riena paused at his words, then forced a small smile. He thinks I belong to him alone… Perhaps he didn’t just want to treat her like a toy—he didn’t even want her to have anything of her own.

Someone to rely on, perhaps. So he kept her trapped here and even distanced her from Henry. The thought churned a surge of unpleasantness deep inside her.

Yet Riena quickly collected her expression and spoke again.

“Will you fulfill my request now?”

“……There’s a condition. Come back to the resort every other day. I’ll send Calis anyway.”

“Every other day…… that seems too often.”

Not three days, but every two days. If she returned today, that meant she had to come back by the day after tomorrow at the latest.

“Well. You’re not really in a position to complain about the frequency, are you?”

“If you don’t trust me……”

“Why. Should I assign someone to watch over you since you can’t be trusted? That’s not a bad idea.”

Dante nodded with a look that suggested he thought it a good plan.

“……Are you saying you’ll be watching me?”

“Perhaps. You’re still untrustworthy, and since you want to go out, that’s the only choice, isn’t it?”

Now he raised his eyebrows as if graciously giving her a choice. Leaning back in his chair, Dante laced his fingers on his knee and looked at her.

Riena swallowed a harsh retort she could have spat out immediately. No wonder Sharon had spoken carelessly to him before—he gave off an almost dangerous, unpredictable air.

She lowered her head, feigning deliberation. Her hands clenched tightly under the table.

No matter how much she struggled internally, she had no other choice. She had to accept his terms. It really was the only option.

Taking a small breath, Riena slowly lifted her gaze. As soon as she met his golden eyes, they seemed to pierce through her thoughts. She forced the tension from her mouth, unwilling to let her expression stiffen. She hated his gaze now more than anything.

“……Yes. I’ll make sure I do nothing to displease Your Highness.”

Dante narrowed his eyes slightly. Her obedient tone was there, but he could sense the thorny edge beneath her words. Does she really think I’m some delicate flower? He probably hadn’t considered that her tone could also irritate him.

Leaning forward slightly, Dante picked up the fork she had been holding, silently cutting a small piece of cake and pressing it into her hand. He whispered softly, as if bestowing a rare favor.

“Three days. Don’t expect me to extend it, understand?”

Riena, holding the fork instinctively, nodded quietly. His hand was cool, as if easing the heat of her palm.

“You won’t be hindered while you’re out.”

Out. That simple word sent a shiver down her spine. He called it going out.

Riena swallowed the rising anger and placed a piece of cake into her mouth, maintaining a calm smile.

“Yes. Thank you.”

***

“Assign someone to watch Riena. The one you sent last time will do.”

“Eh? Again……?”

Callis’ relief at Dante saying he would let her leave was short-lived. Hearing him immediately follow with another instruction drained the color from her face. Why is he like this? One moment he’s being kind, the next he’s tormenting her. To her, he seemed almost like a double-personality.

“Callis, mind your words.”

Dante casually flipped through the papers, only lifting his gaze to chide him.

“‘Again,’ you said.”

Callis drew a breath, lowered his head, and muttered,

“Apologies, sir.”

“Report frequently. I’m nearby anyway. Who you meet, where you go, what you do at home—everything.”

“Yes, understood.”

***

After half a month, she finally returned home. Her first action wasn’t to pull the overgrown weeds or sweep the dust that had accumulated.

Riena almost ran into her bedroom, opening the bottom drawer of her bedside table. Pills she had used spilled out, but that wasn’t what she was looking for.

She reached deeper into the drawer, retrieving the extra ID Henry had left her—just in case. Though Henry hadn’t anticipated this specific scenario, it was a precaution. Riena looked at it briefly and sighed. It had faded slightly, but it was still recognizable.

After a deep breath, Riena retrieved a heavy bag from the wardrobe, stuffed with cash she had saved from working at the café. She had intended to hand all of it to Henry, but Dante’s sudden interference had prevented her.

Biting her lip, she pulled out a stack of cash and the ID, placing them into a small bag and hiding it deep under the bed. She left the original bag roughly in the drawer to create the impression that she hadn’t gone far.

Her heart raced even though she wasn’t leaving immediately. The man had advised her to stay calm, but it was impossible right now.

Still, she needed to regain composure. The preparations weren’t finished.

After several deep breaths, she took out her last green suitcase. The slightly older suitcase probably wouldn’t last much longer, but that didn’t matter—it only needed to prove she was a traveler.

She packed a few sets of clothes, just in case someone checked, and took out a tiny glass bottle containing a clear liquid—the most important item she currently possessed. Carefully wrapped, she placed it in the suitcase and hid it under the bed alongside the cash.

Finally, Riena collapsed onto the bed, her legs weak from tension. Even though she hadn’t done much, her heart pounded irregularly.

A fleeting thought of her guardian’s advice—that she could take a tiny dose if her heartbeat was too strong—crossed her mind. Shaking her head, she calmed herself with deep breaths.

No. Even if the worry seemed unnecessary, she couldn’t waste any of the precious liquid.

Lying down fully, she felt the tightness in her chest growing but forced herself to relax. The sun was about to set, so she could rest today—but her mind raced.

And there was still so much left to do. Not the chores, but her main mission: to get the tickets to Sermar.

Yet now, it was impossible. He had truly assigned someone to watch her. Riena glimpsed her shadow reflected in the window.

He wasn’t mad—he was insane. Like a villain straight out of a novel. Watching her every move.

…Surely, this wasn’t the first time. She swallowed dryly, shaking her head. Probably not. Things hadn’t escalated to this level before.

But if it had… her already fragile affection would shatter completely.

Riena lay on the bed, organizing her thoughts, then peeked at the window once more. She finally stood, realizing she needed to clean the house normally, as if nothing was unusual. She had to appear ordinary, mundane—even under surveillance—so the observer could report back to Dante without suspicion.