TPHRU 18

Chapter 18…

 The Princess of Mirage Is Captured by the Demon King.

When she opened the closet, she was taken aback to find it packed full of dresses.
(So many… Whose dresses are these? Which one should I borrow…?)

Unsure, she chose a simple wisteria-colored dress hanging at the very end. It looked like something she could take care of and return herself. Felicia hurriedly got dressed.
(It fits perfectly… It looks new, though. Is it really alright for me to wear this…?)

Ever since she had ceased to be the crown prince’s fiancée, Felicia had made a habit of handling her own needs as much as possible. She wanted to be prepared, no matter what her circumstances might become. Still, she never imagined she would one day be dressing herself in the Demon King’s castle. Life was full of things one could never predict.

When she went downstairs, a man—presumably the one whose voice she had heard earlier—was waiting for her.
He appeared to be around thirty years old. His posture was impeccably straight, giving him an air of dignity that matched his calm voice. His gray hair was neatly kept, and his chestnut eyes gave off a gentle, intelligent impression.

“Lady Felicia, this way, please. Lord Yoan is waiting for you.”
Smiling kindly, he began walking ahead of her.

When Felicia entered the room she was led to, the man seated at the dining table stood up immediately upon seeing her.

“Good morning, Felicia.”
“G–good morning.”

—She was struck speechless by his unearthly beauty.

He was tall and well-built, his body lean yet strong. His sleek, jet-black hair shone like wet silk, and his nose was high and straight. His cool, refined features carried a hint of sensuality, and from his eyes—deep red like rubies—he gazed at her with gentle warmth.

Those crimson eyes and that deep, honeyed voice she had heard the previous night told her exactly who he was.
She couldn’t hide her astonishment at the true face revealed beneath the demonic mask.

Yoan chuckled softly at Felicia, who stood frozen in place, and gracefully escorted her to her seat.

“My apologies,” she murmured, snapping out of her daze and hastily sitting down as he guided her.

“It’s only natural you’d be surprised,” he said. “Since coming to this castle, this is the first time I’ve removed my mask in front of anyone other than Hugo.”

The man who had guided her bowed his head slightly at the mention of his name—Hugo.

“How are you feeling? Do you have any pain anywhere?”
Yoan asked as he took his own seat, watching her carefully.

“I feel very light. Nothing hurts at all.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”

Yoan smiled in relief, and his expression bloomed with a warmth that almost radiated fragrance. Just being the recipient of that look made Felicia’s body feel flushed.

“Thank you so much for saving me,” she said.

His gaze met hers directly, steady and sincere. Feeling overwhelmed, Felicia quickly lowered her eyes and bowed again in gratitude.