At the sight of him licking his lips with his tongue, Karsatuna and Princess Larratu were captured by fear.

Humming a tune, Shino tossed the guard’s corpse into the lake.

Splash!

The corpse quickly sank beneath the surface. It was a miserable death.

Wiping cold sweat, Princess Larratu spoke softly.

“The king will find out that I went boating. You won’t get away with this.”

“Oh, does the esteemed princess worry about the concerns of a lowly man like me?”

There was no sign of fear in Shino’s chuckle. Did he have confidence in handling the situation before the king found out?

His leisure and confidence instilled greater fear.

“Princess. Come this way.”

Suppressing the overwhelming fear, Karsatuna calmly led Princess Larratu to the other side.
Seeing the two women relying on each other and shooting themselves, Shino smirked, witnessing the spectacle of hypocritical desires.

As he suddenly lowered his head, Princess Larratu let out a small scream.

Shino buried his face in her neck and inhaled the scent.

“Hmm, a pleasant fragrance. If you listen well, I’ll spare you from a tough situation.”

“Move aside!”

Karsatuna forcefully pushed his shoulder. Shino glared at her with a threatening gaze.

Karsatuna’s arm, lacking courage, trembled.

“I’ll let it slide this time.”

His lenient words, accompanied by a sly grin, were repulsive and frightening.

‘That was true.’

A few days ago, Egrain came to Princess Larratu without an invitation, angering her. At the same time, the matter she brought up was absurd.

“[Are you saying you’ll use me as bait now?]”

“[If the princess goes boating again, someone might be targeting her.]”

“[Are you using me as bait to find the mastermind?]”

“[If the princess is going boating again.]”

Daring to use the princess as bait. Karsatuna was at a loss for words.

At that moment, even she understood why Princess Larratu rebuked Egrain. It was such a rude and overstepping remark.

Even in the cold reaction of Princess Larratu, Egrain remained indifferent.

Only Karsatuna was at a loss.

Even if she tried to relieve the angry princess, it seemed insufficient. After all, what could she do by fueling her anger?

Princess Larratu, who had been glaring at her, smirked.

“[They keep saying outdoor activities are dangerous, but nothing happened a few days ago.]”

“[Maybe they are trying to assess the surroundings of the princess.]”

“[Then I’ll keep assessing. It seems like you’ve been going out more lately. Are you avoiding the city because of what I said?]”

“[No! Egrain’s words had no influence on me.]”

“[So, if I tell you to go boating, will you refuse?]”

“[Of course not.]”

As Princess Larratu spoke each syllable, her eyebrows twitched.

“[Whether Egrain says something or not, my decision won’t change.]”

Intense gazes were exchanged.

“[Do as you wish. I will protect the princess in my own way.]”

Ignoring Egrain’s words, Princess Larratu swallowed them with a disdainful smile.

After that, there were a few outdoor activities, but nothing happened.

Initially, Princess Larratu, who paid a little attention, soon ignored those words.

Now, facing the threatening eyes of Shino, the events from that time came to mind again.

There was madness in his eyes, something an ordinary person wouldn’t possess.

It was hard to guess what kind of life he had lived.

Perhaps they were facing someone who had experienced unimaginable things.

Could they safely escape from such a person?

Wouldn’t it be better to jump into the lake right now?

Karsatuna’s mind was filled with gloomy thoughts.

But she wasn’t alone.
“Princess, are you okay?”

Whispering to Princess Larratu while observing the boatman’s expression, she asked.

With no guards, just the two of them on the boat. They were no different from mice trapped in a cage.

The boatman only let out a nasty laugh.

He probably hadn’t seen the good sight of someone being dragged away.

Instinctively, Karsatuna, who was startled by the thought, sharply raised her head.

“In the end, what Egrain said was right.”

“…….?”

“Princess?”

There was no expression on the pale face. Was she so surprised that she lost her wits?

‘This is a big problem.’

Karsatuna was about to call her again.

“Aris Dorensia’s words are true.”

“What?”

An inexplicable anxiety surged.

Karsatuna was worried about her. Even in her own eyes, she seemed precarious these days.

Who was she?

The forbidden beauty of the kingdom. The beautiful First Lady. She had never failed to get what she wanted, surrounded by the love of the royal family.

Princess Larratu was not an ordinary person. She didn’t grow up like one.

Even if she enjoyed outdoor activities, she didn’t find true joy deep inside, and even when eating delicious food, she didn’t genuinely marvel at it.

That made her different.

She was not like any ordinary person, growing up in such a way.

However, she was different when it came to the prince from the empire.