Chapter 40…
The Demon King Is Intoxicated by the Mirage Princess (Side: Yoan).
After leaving the royal castle, Yoan had kept only minimal, formal contact with his elder brother, the king. He had never once asked him for a favor—until now. The moment he learned of Felicia’s engagement, he sent an urgent messenger to the king, asking him to revoke the marriage approval that Felicia’s father, Christoph, had supposedly granted. However, it was soon discovered that Christoph had been abroad on diplomatic business at the time, and therefore couldn’t possibly have given his consent. In fact, Christoph hadn’t even known his daughter was to be married off.
This was despite the fact that, through his familiar, Yoan had overheard Felicia’s stepmother claiming that the marriage proposal had come from Christoph’s strong wish. Before he could investigate further, the date of Felicia’s departure for her new home was decided, and Yoan set out to intercept her before she crossed the border. On his way, he came upon Felicia’s entourage under attack by bandits—and rescued them.
(Everything about this is wrong. Why did the marriage talks begin while her father was away, and why was it all arranged in such haste? That means the stepmother’s story was a lie. Moreover, that road is rarely used by carriages, yet the bandits were clearly lying in wait, as if they knew Felicia would pass through. It’s natural to think someone ordered them to target her from the start. Just like the poisoning attempt two years ago… I cannot allow Felicia’s life to be endangered again.)
During the attack, the coachman and the carriage itself managed to escape. Yoan sent his familiar to track them, but the carriage was found abandoned near the border, and it appeared the coachman had fled into the neighboring country.
Because the king also found the circumstances of this marriage highly suspicious, he granted permission for Felicia to be sheltered in Yoan’s castle and instructed her father accordingly.
Two years earlier, during the attempted poisoning of Felicia, the person arrested as the culprit had been a maid who worked as a server in the royal castle. She had no prior connection to Felicia, and it was believed she had acted under someone’s orders. However, the maid took her own life immediately after being captured, and so the true instigator was never identified. According to the king, Felicia’s father was still personally investigating the mastermind behind the incident.
(I will not let the one behind this get away. To target Felicia’s life is unforgivable. They will pay for it.)
Before Felicia came to his castle, Yoan could only protect her from afar. His sole focus had been on keeping her safe. But now—it was different. Felicia was here, within his reach. He could protect her while also hunting down the culprit and bringing them to justice.
(From here on, I’ll find the real criminal. I’ll never let Felicia be in danger again.)
With fierce determination burning in his eyes, Yoan finished his nightly duties and descended from the tower.
As he walked down the corridor toward his chambers, his gaze drifted out to the courtyard.
(—Felicia?)
There, in the gazebo beside the fountain, sat Felicia, gazing up at the sky.
Bathed in the deep indigo glow of night, she seemed to shine with her own light. Her profile, so graceful and serene, stole his breath away. The silver of her hair rippled in the wind, catching the moonlight like threads of pure starlight—so beautiful it seemed unearthly.
Sensing Yoan’s gaze, Felicia turned and smiled, soft and radiant as a flower in bloom. The sight sent a powerful surge of longing through his chest.
“Lord Yoan, thank you for your hard work this evening,” she said gently.
Yoan had to fight, with every ounce of restraint he possessed, against the overwhelming urge to rush to her and hold her tight.
