But if she had to answer since he asked…

‘Yes, absolutely.’

Yet, she felt like she shouldn’t say that.
“Well.”

“……”

“It might be a little disappointing, but what can we do? All this is for a greater purpose, so I’ll set aside my disappointment and support your future.”

“Would you be disappointed… if I left?”

In the moonlight, Liz’s redirected gaze met Kain’s handsome face.

‘That’s not the point…’

But as she looked into his eyes, shimmering blue like the southern sea, Liz found herself nodding involuntarily.

“Perhaps… yes.”

“Then it’s settled.”

The subtle smile on Kain’s lips left Liz perplexed.
‘What does he mean by “it’s settled”? Does he intend to keep staying at our house?’

The situation took an odd turn.

Such a course of action was impossible for the male lead in the original work.

Liz tilted her head, wondering if she had misunderstood the original storyline.

Just then.

Screech—[dash].

The sound of a heavy iron gate opening echoed, followed by the distant noise of gravel crunching.
Realizing that the sound was of a carriage leaving the royal palace wasn’t difficult. It was also easy to surmise that anyone departing the palace at this late hour in a carriage was no ordinary individual.

Certainly someone of high nobility, at the least.

It was a bit unsettling, but not enough to lose composure.

There wouldn’t be anyone in this world who could deduce the dark-haired, golden-eyed crown prince from this blonde-haired, blue-eyed man…

“Ah…!”

Liz’s eyes widened dramatically.

She pointed with her trembling hand at one of Kain’s pupils.
“Your, your eyes… Your Highness’s eyes are…”

They were mismatched!

“Ah… I see.”

It was Kain… no, the Crown Prince, who calmly adjusted his eyelids in response.

As if he had just heard someone say something was stuck to his eyelid.

When he removed the hand that had adjusted his eyelids and opened both eyes simultaneously, they were no longer mismatched.

This was a big problem.

‘Why now… why is it happening right here?’

Liz looked at a pair of golden pupils that shone brightly like a cat’s with a desolate expression.

The trees were bare, and they stood in the middle of a desolate road.
The sound of the carriage was getting closer, and the heads of two brown horses just became visible at the end of the road.

There was nowhere to hide.

Hoping that the person in the carriage wouldn’t recognize the Crown Prince was the only option left.

The four-wheeled carriage, now fully in view, was rushing toward them at a furious speed.

Liz realized she was facing the worst-case scenario when she spotted the golden emblem on the front of the carriage.

An emblem depicting an eagle with its wings fully spread, soaring through the sky.
It was the emblem symbolizing the Grand Duke of Montaner.

“My God!”

Liz involuntarily sighed in the overwhelming situation.

It was a miracle she hadn’t lost her wits and self-destructed.

“Quick, hide!”

Liz rolled her feet, speaking to the man.

His face had completely returned to that of the Crown Prince.

“Why should we hide?”

His utterly calm face and steady voice made Liz more flabbergasted than the approaching carriage of the Grand Duke of Montaner, now about a hundred meters away.

“What do you mean why? Right there is…”

Liz pointed with her finger toward where the carriage was.
The carriage was no longer there. It had come much closer than that! Furthermore, a few lanterns were also hung along the corner of the wall. Those lanterns would undoubtedly illuminate both of their faces very brightly as they passed this alley.

The Crown Prince stood nonchalantly, as if he had resolved to be discovered. But Liz could not leave him as he was.

He was still a man she feared, but she did not wish for them to be caught and taken away like this.

“Your Highness.”

Liz spoke with a determined face.

“If I commit an impertinence, please don’t kill me.”
As soon as her words ended, Liz propped her hands against the man’s chest and lifted her heels. Still not tall enough to reach, she grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him down. Then… their lips met.

The lanterns illuminated by the passing carriage swept over his broad back and Liz’s flowing red hair. Clearly, the passengers of the carriage perceived this situation as a clandestine meeting between lovers out for a moonlit stroll. From the way they continued on their path, as if having seen nothing at all.
Darkness returned, and so did tranquility. It seemed they could part their lips now. But why wasn’t this man letting go?

Why was he holding her so tightly that her toes were barely touching the ground, grinding their lips together?

Moreover, what was this audacious thing exploring the depths of her open mouth?

Liz felt her mind becoming hazy.

‘This… this isn’t right.’

She realized that going any further would be incredibly dangerous. Despite this realization… she couldn’t easily push him away.

The kiss… was too sweet!
The breaths growing increasingly ragged were incredibly tantalizing, and the noses grazing each other as they tilted their heads from one side to the other were stimulating enough to make one dizzy.

But still… this couldn’t go on.

“St… stop!”

With all her strength, Liz pushed him away.
She realized just how precarious the situation had been when she found a pair of eyes, feral like a starving beast, glowing gold, and lips glistening with unidentified saliva.

Liz made several attempts to erase the provocative afterimages that the sight evoked.

“The… the carriage has passed now.”

“Is that so.”

As if saying ‘so what?’ he casually wiped his lips with the back of his hand. This nonchalant behavior once again baffled Liz.

“Did you intend to get caught? What would happen if you just stayed there?”
“Why would you get caught?”

Why? Is he asking because he doesn’t know now?

“The Duke is cautious by nature. He rarely leaves the palace, especially at night. If he does have to leave, he sneaks out the back door; he doesn’t confidently exit through the front gate. The person inside is most likely just one of his body doubles.”

“Ah…”

The one who knew nothing was Liz herself.

Thank goodness… Wait, this isn’t right!

“Why are you telling me this only now?”

“You never asked.”
Unable to argue, she merely chewed her lips, prompting him to ask,

“So… do you regret it?”

His eyes had softened considerably from before. His voice seemed tinged with a hint of tension.

Was it an illusion to feel that the tension would ease or persist based on her answer?

“Of course…”

She wanted to say she regretted it, but it felt like she shouldn’t say so this time either.

“…I’m not sure.”

It was the best answer Liz could give.

“I’m not sure…”
He repeated Liz’s words solemnly. Then, with a suddenly languid gaze, he wrapped his arms around Liz’s waist.

“If you’re not sure, let’s do it again.”