He was completely unaware of what Velia had been through.

So it was entirely possible for him to cling to her with such a pitiful expression now.

Thinking that, Velia had to hold down her wildly fluctuating emotions.

‘He’s not the Emperor now. He’s not the Emperor…’

Though she repeated this to herself, terrible memories kept surfacing, causing goosebumps to erupt on her arms.

Perhaps that was why her voice came out sharper than she had intended.

“Why do you want to know that?”

She wanted to strangle Raul right then and there.

‘Why isn’t it you…?’

Her clenched fist’s nails dug into her palm.

Her lips trembled.

She couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Have I done something wrong to you?”

Just as Velia couldn’t hold back her rising anger at Raul, who stared at her blankly, pretending he knew nothing—

Someone hugged her tightly from behind.

She recognized who it was by the cool scent that wafted over her. It was Prince Khaled.

His gentle touch on her back calmed her turbulent emotions a bit.

Velia closed her eyes and took deep breaths in his embrace.

“Don’t act so pitiful. Just go, will you?”

He glared at Raul as he said this, taking deep breaths.

As Velia had suspected, he had been watching through the window and had come rushing into the courtyard as soon as he noticed Raul trying to play tricks on her.

“People might misunderstand, thinking you’re making advances on my fiancée.”

Raul hardened his expression at Prince Khaled’s mocking words.

“…That’s not it.”

“Then what is it? What could you possibly have to say to Velia? Don’t tell me you bumped into her by chance?”

Prince Khaled said, comforting Velia by running his hand down her shoulder.

Ran into her by chance in the palace he had never visited before?

There was no need to even hear Raul’s likely excuse.

Moreover, he knew what Raul would have done with that teary face if he hadn’t been watching. Prince Khaled snorted.

“What could possibly bring you all the way here? It’s quite obvious.”

He sneered at Raul, making sure Velia’s face was hidden from him.

“Why? Still have lingering feelings?”

Prince Khaled’s voice was dangerous.

Not wanting to cause a scene, Raul ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

“Ah. I simply wanted to invite you both for tea.”

He claimed it was nothing more than that.

He defended himself.

“It was mere curiosity that led me to ask the princess those questions earlier.”

It was a ridiculous explanation.

At that moment, Velia, a bit calmer now, peeked out from Prince Khaled’s embrace.

Raul watched her with a complicated expression before speaking.

“…I will soon be engaged to Princess Kanterif. I simply wanted to introduce her. Please don’t misunderstand.”

His attitude while speaking to Velia was incredibly respectful.

“We are family, aren’t we?”

There was no malice to be seen in his smile. But Velia knew. She knew Raul was saying things he didn’t mean.

It was terribly uncomfortable, but she couldn’t refuse his invitation to the end.

More and more people were showing interest in them now, after all.

Velia, now calmed thanks to Prince Khaled, gently pushed him aside and offered her approval to Raul.

“There’s no reason to refuse a meeting meant for family unity. Let me know the detailed schedule later, and I will make time.”
“Thank you for understanding, Princess Velia.”

Raul, who had been smiling warmly, expressed his intention to leave, and Velia nodded her head.

Taking a step away, Raul raised one corner of his mouth and approached Prince Khaled, grabbing his shoulder. Raul whispered in a voice only for him to hear.

“Fretting like this even though you’re engaged, how amusing.”

Then he leaned in closer to drive the point home.

“What’s making you so anxious? You don’t look like a winner, Khaled.”

Raul tightened his grip on Khaled’s shoulder before letting go.

“I’ll inform you of the date and time through a messenger.”

Raul made a polite greeting to Velia, then turned to Khaled and smiled brightly.

“See you then.”

(This is a time separator.)

Thud, thud, the sound of footsteps echoed in the silent corridor.

“Wait a minute, Khaled! It hurts!”

Velia tried to shake off the grip on her wrist, but she couldn’t overcome his strength.

Khaled didn’t say anything.

He simply held onto Velia and strode into the room.

Slam!

The door shut loudly.

“Huuu…….”

Khaled, who had stopped in the middle of the room, exhaled deeply as if holding something back.

“……Let go.”

Velia grimaced.

Only then did Khaled loosen the grip on her wrist.

Blood seemed to have been cut off from her tightly grasped wrist; her pale skin began to redden.

Seeing that mark, Khaled roughly ran his fingers through his hair.

He felt a deep sense of guilt upon seeing the red mark on Velia’s delicate skin.

He couldn’t control his emotions and felt utterly pathetic.

“I’m sorry.”

Velia glared at Khaled, who offered an apology in a barely audible voice.

“What is this about?”

Khaled didn’t respond.

“Look at this. There’s a red mark.”

Velia showed her wrist to Khaled.

Khaled averted his eyes.