Chapter 08
A drop of blood slid down the blade of a razor-sharp sword that looked like it could cut even at the slightest touch.
Once.
Then again, her gaze shifted—toward Kaelus, who stood lost in thought, absently tracing his smooth jawline with his fingertips.
Her hazel eyes, clearly shaken, darted around like a carriage racing down a rough road.
Of all places, she had almost run into Ikanuel in the deserted annex—only to instead stumble upon the crown prince casually dealing with assassins. If bad luck had a scale, hers would have broken it by now.
“Y-Your name?”
Caught in an unexpected crisis, Isabella stammered in response to Kaelus’s question.
“C-Cellie Brown. I was hired for Princess Elena’s birthday party, Your Highness.”
“Cellie Brown, huh.”
Kaelus slowly closed the distance between them, bending slightly to meet her eyes. His amber pupils gleamed with curiosity, like he was peering through a glass window. Then, abruptly, he curved his eyes in a dangerously playful smile.
“I don’t really like liars.”
“Pardon?”
“Why do I feel like you’re lying?”
Did he already know everything about a temporary worker like her? Panicked, Isabella avoided his gaze and forced herself to continue.
“Th-That can’t be possible, Your Highness.”
“Hm. Fine, let’s go with that. Then I suppose I should call you Miss Cellie.”
You can call me whatever you want… she wanted to say, but swallowed the words. Her lips trembled.
“Th-Then I’ll just get back to preparing for the party…”
She tried to end the uncomfortable encounter quickly, stepping backward as if attempting to escape.
But Kaelus, as if reading her intentions, tilted his head slightly.
“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
That was a polite warning to stay still. Isabella froze and reluctantly returned to her place.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I-I came to retrieve chairs needed for Princess Elena’s party.”
“Hm. Is that so?”
“Yes. I need to get back quickly.”
She nodded rapidly, silently begging for permission to leave. But Kaelus had no intention of letting her go so easily.
Does he think I’ll go around talking about what just happened?
In the imperial palace, discretion was essential. Thinking he was suspecting her, Isabella’s face went pale. She bowed deeply in apology, feeling his piercing gaze above her.
“I swear I won’t speak of what I saw today.”
“Really?”
“So… may I leave now?”
She lifted her head slightly, looking at him with pleading eyes, like an innocent commoner.
“Hm. More importantly, haven’t you lost something in the palace?”
“Nothing seems to be missing…”
“Wait a moment. Excuse me.”
Kaelus gently took her wrist. It didn’t hurt—but the moment he touched her skin, a system notification appeared on the smartphone hidden in her pocket, vibrating.
“I didn’t intend to meet you like this.”
Before she could notice, he flipped her hand over and placed a pure white handkerchief onto her palm.
Isabella’s eyes widened as she looked between him and the cloth she had completely forgotten.
“You dropped this in my palace this morning, didn’t you?”
Kaelus stepped closer, as if confirming the energy lingering on the handkerchief.
A refreshing scent, like a mix of sweet berries, brushed her nose. And just as expected, a cool, clear energy flowed between their touching hands.
“A-ah…”
A breath of almost euphoric satisfaction slipped from Kaelus’s lips. The energy felt refreshing, yet for some reason, it left him strangely parched.
“I can’t let you leave like this.”
No way…
Isabella’s gaze dropped. The wig she had been wearing to evade assassins had come loose and fallen to the ground in a tangled mess.
Without even realizing it, she had been insisting she was Cellie Brown the entire time.
Her face filled with despair.
“So I’ll ask again. Are you really Cellie Brown?”
Completely frozen with tension, Isabella’s expression clearly showed her desperation to escape.
“T-That is…”
Her eyes darted nervously as she tried to gauge Kaelus’s reaction—like a frightened rabbit, which made him laugh.
Even though he knew she was lying, Kaelus chose to follow her lead.
“If it’s difficult to answer, I won’t press further. Temporary worker Miss Cellie.”
“……”
“Shall we clean up the mess first?”
Kaelus flicked his hand lightly. Around them, excluding their immediate space, orange magical energy rose like a blazing fire that incinerated everything in its path.
In an instant, the assassins’ bodies disappeared without even leaving bloodstains, as if they had never existed.
“Until this incident is sorted out, you’ll be coming to my palace.”
“Pardon?”
Her entire plan—to quietly finish the job as a temporary worker and return home—collapsed.
Already burdened by her broken engagement with Ikanuel, getting entangled with Kaelus would only bring more trouble before she could return to her world.
“I was only hired for today…”
“That’s something Jessica can handle. Don’t worry. If money is the issue, how about 5 million krona per day?”
That was the extra fee she was supposed to receive today. The tempting offer made her hesitate—but she shook her head.
No matter how much money it was, staying in the imperial palace risked exposing her identity to other nobles.
Haa… I could still cover that much myself…
Of course, she should refuse. But Kaelus did not back down.
“Special bonus: 10 million krona. Additional compensation included.”
Her mental calculator began spinning rapidly. That was three times her monthly allowance.
Maybe I should just pay for my internet service with this…
Once she had experienced the internet through her smartphone, she couldn’t go back to life without it. The offer was too tempting to ignore.
Kaelus watched her shifting expression and added calmly:
“You just said you’d keep quiet. I need time to determine whether you’re someone who can keep secrets.”
“And that’s true…”
“And the assassins may target you next.”
“Me?”
“Witnesses are inconvenient for them. Your existence is a liability.”
It made sense. Isabella slowly nodded.
“Ah… that does make sense.”
Kaelus smiled faintly, like a cat waking from sleep.
“That nod means yes, correct?”
“Eh? Ah…”
“A wise decision.”
Before she knew it, she had accepted.
“…Well, this is messed up.”
“What did you say?”
Startled, she clamped her mouth shut.
“It means… I’ll work hard.”
“I’ve never heard that language before. But I like your enthusiasm.”
“Ha… ha… thank you, Your Highness.”
Her awkward laughter betrayed her panic.
Does he already know who I am?
Before she could think further—
Knock knock.
A voice came from beyond the closed door.
A voice both Kaelus and Isabella recognized.
Ikanuel.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. May I enter?”
“If I said no, would you actually leave?”
Kaelus replied lazily, while Isabella went pale behind him.
If she stayed here, she would definitely be exposed.
She couldn’t even jump out the window.
Panic tightened her chest.
What do I do…?
At that moment, Ikanuel entered the room—and his gaze shifted toward them.
But before it could land on her—
Kaelus stepped slightly in front of her, blocking her completely from view.
As if sensing her unease, he hid her behind his back.
“I don’t recall giving you permission to enter.”
Ikanuel, still unaware of her presence, lowered his head.
“I came because you have not been taking your prescribed medication.”
“Do you think you’re my mother?”
Kaelus smirked.
Ikanuel sighed deeply.
“I understand your intentions, but refusing medication is not good for your health.”
“Medicine builds tolerance. And if I become tolerant before an important event and fall ill again, what then?”
“You will improve before that happens.”
“That’s what you’ve been saying for three months.”
Their conversation continued, but then—
Ikanuel suddenly stopped.
He sensed another presence behind Kaelus.
An intruder?
But Kaelus remained calm.
A breeze drifted through the room.
And with it, a strand of soft golden hair slipped out from behind Kaelus’s back.
Ikanuel’s dark blue eyes widened.
…Isabella?
