“You arrived today?”

“Yes! On the way here, His Highness the First Prince helped me with directions.”

Raul guiding the way?

Valia looked at Raul with an expression of disbelief. Raul, with a handsome smile, said.

“It’s all true. I happened to help because I got lost in the palace.”

“…Is that so? I’m sorry if my guest caused any trouble.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Valia felt uncomfortable with the situation of having such a light conversation with Raul. So, she smiled awkwardly and was about to say that she should leave now.

But Raul was quicker.

“May I walk with you for a moment?”

“Huh?”

“I want to have a little chat.”

Valia looked around.

Unfortunately, this was the central palace. There were too many eyes watching them.

“I’m sorry. I just received a new guest, so I think I should welcome them now.”

Valia couldn’t refuse outright and responded, trying to turn down Raul’s request.

But Raul didn’t step back.

“I won’t take up much of your time. I’ll instruct my attendants to guide the guest safely to the Second Prince’s residence through my envoy.”

“…I don’t want to cause any misunderstandings, Your Highness.”

Valia said in a small voice.

But Raul didn’t retreat.

“Shall we take a walk with my attendants and maids?”

He went so far as to say that. Valia couldn’t reject him outright and felt the awkward gazes around them.

“…Alright. I can’t spare much time.”

Eventually, Raul instructed Erzhe, who was standing behind him. With an uncomfortable face, Erzhe looked at Valia and then led her maids and attendants to follow him.

“Shall we go?”

Raul gave a fresh smile and extended his hand naturally towards Valia.

Valia didn’t want to, but she held his hand and walked towards the visible garden in the central palace.

This way, Raul wouldn’t cause any problems unnecessarily.

The attendants and maids followed at a slight distance.

They wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation, but it was also a way to prove that this wasn’t a situation where misunderstandings could occur.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Valia.”

Raul called Valia with a distant tone.

But Valia cut off his emotions with a single stroke.

“I’ve said it several times. You have not given me permission to use your name.”
Valia did not hide her anger as she spoke to Raul.

“I have thought about it.”

Raul seemed to have no intention of listening to her words.

No, it was as if he didn’t hear her at all and just continued with his own words.

“Do you really have feelings for Khalid? …Or is it because you chose Khalid to reject me?”

It was the right answer.

But Valia didn’t show any expression.

She didn’t want to give unnecessary opportunities.

“On what basis are you saying such things?”

“There is no lack of contact, is there?”

His expression was very cheerful.

All the worries seemed to have disappeared, leaving only a refreshing feeling.

There was no sign of the hesitation he had when she saw him before.

“How long do you think this relationship you’ve maintained to get what you want will last?”

She understood that everything he was saying now was meant to shake her.

So she had to remain unshaken. She had no intention of showing the figure he desired.

When Valia maintained a dignified attitude and did not respond to his words, Raul burst into laughter.

“Haha, Valia.”

Raul approached Valia and whispered in her ear.

“You seem anxious.”

“…”

“Is that anxiety about whether Khalid will change, or is it about me being concerned?”

Valia let out a dry laugh as if she found what he was saying absurd.

What nonsense was he talking about?

“Your Highness. You seem to be misunderstanding something…”

“Whether it’s a good meaning or a bad one, the fact that I’m concerned remains unchanged.”

Raul continued with a satisfied expression.

“So, I will continue to shake you, no matter how much you refuse.”

Even if Valia refused.

Even if she looked at him with a horrific gaze that couldn’t hide her horror.

“I have no intention of giving up on you.”

After saying this, Raul stepped away from Valia. Then he smiled affectionately and continued walking along the path.

Even if Valia rejected him.

Even if she looked at him with a gaze that couldn’t hide her horror.

“I will continue to shake you as I please.”

Valia looked at him coldly as he walked away.

“…It’s impolite remarks to both the fiancée, Lady Kanteleth, and me.”

But Raul still didn’t care about Valia’s reaction.

“I will come to you anyway.”

“That won’t happen.”

“We are destined to be connected, so why refuse?”

Destined. It would just be a curse.

One corner of Valia’s mouth curled up slightly.

“Why did I reject you back then? I wonder if I can give you a proper answer.”

Valia let out a sigh to calm down her boiling emotions.

Then she said firmly.

“I dislike Your Highness.”

Valia felt irritated at how much longer this meaningless conversation would continue. She wanted to leave now.

“Keep disliking me. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Valia glared at Raul.

“I am the fiancée of the Second Prince. And a few months later, I will become the Second Princess Consort.”

So snap out of it.

Why was he so obsessed with her, doing things he didn’t even do in the previous life?

Valia couldn’t understand this Raul. He didn’t seem like the person she knew.

“Your Highness, if you continue behaving like this, what do you think people will think of you?”

If you don’t want to be stamped as the woman who lusts after her brother’s woman, just focus on the external image as before.

Valia said that.

But Raul still didn’t care.

“It doesn’t matter how people see me now. I have decided to have you, no matter what it takes.”

Raul smiled brightly and beautifully.

And that appearance.

It was simply horrifying to Valia, giving her goosebumps.