Unable To Escape (10 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 16
Alicia was extremely uncomfortable with the current situation.
Just what exactly was she supposed to think now that Adrian, who would become the Empire’s next emperor, was bowing respectfully toward Killian to express his gratitude?
It was solely Alicia’s own thought—clouded by her relentless self-deprecation both before and after her regression—that prevented her from objectively seeing her standing and value within Eregorn.
“It was merely my duty to protect a noble person of Eregorn. There is no need for such excessive thanks; please withdraw your gratitude.”
Moreover, Killian’s demeanor—just as courteous as Adrian’s—only added to her confusion.
Though Killian was indeed a noble who knew how to adjust his attitude according to time and place, his fundamental disposition had always been “arrogance.”
That arrogance never truly changed, even when facing the Emperor—perhaps his politeness increased only slightly compared to how he treated ordinary nobles, which frequently gave imperial-faction nobles grounds to criticize him.
Of course, he always counterbalanced such criticisms with undeniable merits, so no noble ever dared to confront him directly.
‘If this were the Killian I knew, he’d have simply replied “Yes” and left it at that…’
Yet here he was, not just once, but twice—and speaking at such length, no less?
Though traveling back through time was indeed a monumental event, Alicia couldn’t recall doing anything that would have caused Killian to change so drastically.
All she’d done was send him a letter stating she no longer liked him.
Surely that single letter alone couldn’t have transformed Killian to this extent.
People could change due to the smallest of triggers—but this was Killian we’re talking about, wasn’t it?
If he were truly capable of such dramatic change, he wouldn’t have treated pre-regression Alicia’s earnest feelings with such coldness.
‘Well… he did grow even more repulsed by me after our marriage, so I suppose he did change—but that was only because I became rather tiresome, so it couldn’t be helped.’
…If this reflexive self-deprecation, as natural as breathing, was a side effect of regression, then she’d just have to accept it.
Barely managing to swallow the sigh rising to her chin, Alicia turned her gaze away from Adrian and Killian—who seemed locked in a silent stare—and toward the Emperor.
Though both the Emperor and Crown Prince were present, Alicia had no intention of lingering long in the same space as Killian.
“Father.”
“…Hm? What is it, Alicia?”
The Emperor, who’d been lost in thought while watching Adrian and Killian, answered her call slightly belatedly.
His behavior struck her as somewhat odd, but escaping this place took priority.
Pushing aside the fleeting doubt that had surfaced, Alicia spoke to the Emperor.
“I think I’ll return to my room now.”
“Are you unwell?”
“A little… tired.”
“I see. Very well.”
The Emperor glanced sideways at Killian briefly before nodding.
He surely understood why Alicia was eager to leave so quickly.
At his permission, both Adrian and Killian—who had been locked in a silent battle of wills—turned to look at Alicia simultaneously.
“Ari, are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s probably from riding in the carriage for so long.”
“Then go rest at once. I’ll come see you later. We can continue our conversation then.”
Adrian hurried to Alicia’s side, gently grasped her hand, and waved toward the Chief Steward.
It was a signal for him to come and escort Alicia.
“I can walk by myself.”
“But…”
“Really, I’m fine.”
“Alright… if you say so…”
With a glance, Alicia deterred the approaching Chief Steward, walked over to the Emperor, and gave a slight bow.
Alicia offered him a small, reassuring smile, then turned away—careful not to let her expression betray anything as she deliberately avoided looking at Killian all the way until she left the audience chamber.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
She’d thought she’d managed her expression calmly enough—but judging by Amy’s concerned face the moment she stepped out through the door, her efforts had clearly failed.
“I’m fine.”
“The journey must have been too taxing for you. Please go ahead—I’ll prepare your bed.”
“Where’s Mina?”
“She went ahead some time ago to prepare your bath, even though no one asked her to.”
Seeing Amy’s oddly proud tone—implying Mina wasn’t entirely useless after all—made Alicia chuckle softly.
Amy tried hard not to show it, but she was deeply affectionate.
She worried constantly and fussed over Mina a great deal, yet whenever Mina wasn’t around, she’d occasionally let her fondness slip through like this.
“Good. I was hoping to soak in some warm water.”
“She’d be even better if she could just show a bit more composure.”
“But that liveliness is part of Mina’s charm.”
“She’s far too lively, if you ask me.”
As Alicia walked alongside Amy, her gloomy expression gradually brightened.
Perhaps sensing Alicia’s desire not to think about Killian, Amy kept the conversation focused solely on Mina—and Alicia didn’t mind that at all.
That is, until they turned the corner of the corridor and ran straight into two approaching men.
“We pay our respects to Your Highness, Princess Alicia.”
With long silver hair, violet eyes, and an aura reminiscent of a gentle scholar, he was Marquis Anderson.
And behind him stood Riley Anderson.
He had inherited the Anderson family’s signature silver hair and violet eyes, his short hair neatly parted and tied back just above his shoulders.
His formal attire and soft smile made him instantly likable.
Yet the moment Alicia saw the curiosity brimming in his violet eyes, she froze as though doused in icy water.
“Marquis Anderson… and Viscount Riley, I see.”
Riley—the man from her nightmares who’d coldly ordered Killian’s death.
The moment their eyes met, Alicia felt as if someone had seized her throat, making it impossible to breathe properly.
Though this was undoubtedly reality, the floor beneath her feet seemed to sway.
“Your Highness!”
Amy quickly steadied Alicia, gesturing to the servant trailing behind them—likely signaling to summon a physician.
“Are you alright?”
“…I’m fine. Have you come to see Father?”
Gripping Amy’s arm tightly to steady her trembling body, Alicia forced a smile.
Royalty must never carelessly show weakness.
That held true even when standing before the leader of the Emperor’s faction among the nobles.
Alicia deliberately ignored Riley’s gaze from behind the Marquis and pressed her toes firmly into the floor.
Recalling how nobles in the past would pounce like wolves the moment she showed any hint of vulnerability helped her somewhat.
Back then, she truly had to grit her teeth and endure it all alone.
‘But things are different now.’
She had a living brother she could rely on, and a father she could lean on.
‘So I’m alright.’
Moreover, since her engagement to Killian had been undone, she no longer needed to accept the poison Riley offered, urging her to kill him.
Therefore, she was fine.
Alicia exhaled slowly, calming her ragged breathing.
“I’m afraid I’ve shown you an unbecoming side of myself, Marquis.”
“It hasn’t even been that long since your retreat for convalescence—returning this early worries me.”
“I suppose I’m just tired. A good night’s sleep will set me right, so please don’t worry.”
“That would be a relief, but…”
Lowering her eyes to avoid catching sight of Riley behind the Marquis, Alicia lifted the corners of her lips slightly and forced herself to speak calmly despite her impatience.
“The Crown Prince and Duke Diaz are inside the audience chamber.”
“Yes, we are aware.”
“It seems His Majesty summoned you. Please go in.”
“Are you truly…”
“I’m fine—really.”
Worried he might add something further, Alicia quickly cut him off, gave a slight bow, and began walking away.
Though it took effort to deliberately slow her pace—so as not to appear suspicious to the Marquis and his son—luckily, nothing else obstructed her path.
Watching Alicia’s retreating back, the Marquis turned to his son, who was staring in the same direction with undisguised curiosity.
“Why do you wear such a suspicious expression?”
“You know you resemble me, right?”
“I don’t make faces like that.”
“Well, you hide it better, at least.”
The Marquis sighed softly at his son’s smug tone and shook his head.
His mischievous curiosity was clearly rearing its head again.
“Why has she returned so soon?”
“Surely because of the Spring Banquet.”
This time, his curiosity seemed fixed on the princess.
The Marquis answered his son’s question nonchalantly and moved to step forward—but his son’s next question halted him mid-stride.
“Does anyone actually believe her convalescence was genuine—that she left merely on the pretense of illness to avoid attending the banquet?”
“They’d better believe it. If they want to breathe freely and live properly in His Imperial Majesty’s realm.”
“You say such terrifying things so casually.”
“You should worry about that smiling face of yours before accusing me of anything.”
Honestly, where on earth had the boy learned to smile like that?
The Marquis certainly didn’t believe he’d inherited it from him.
“Well, anyway—why has Her Highness, who once fled the Imperial Palace like she was running for her life upon hearing Duke Diaz was returning, now come back together with him?”
“We’ll know the reason soon enough.”
It was a prompt to move along.
Riley wanted to discuss further with his father about the princess, whose demeanor now felt different from what he remembered.
But the Emperor awaited them both, so they couldn’t linger here.
After all, they had entered the Imperial Palace by direct imperial command.
Having recently heard that the Marquis was making serious moves to pass his title to his son, the Emperor had summoned Riley as well.
That the Emperor recognized him as the heir to the Marquisate was certainly gratifying—but…
“If I went after Princess Alicia to ask her directly… Father, would you kill me?”
“You think I’d end it that easily? I prefer more… elaborate methods.”
“Are you really saying you’d make me wish for death?”
Riley chuckled softly, shook his head, and hurried after his father, who’d already started walking ahead.
Just as his father said, the answer to his curiosity would soon be revealed.
Riley smiled as he gazed at the grand, ornate doors of the audience chamber—where the truth awaited him.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
The Audacity of that bitch!!! 😡😡 Glad the princess kept her in her place
Alicia is very unlucky. Of all the servants, she found only Killian’s spy.
Marisa wants time to tell Killian about it. The problem is that Alicia never suspected her.