Seeing that the bathroom was empty, Cahill grunted with dissatisfaction.
Since coming to this country, it had been difficult for him to see Holly unless at night. Even when the servants brought meals to the room as if they were trying to fatten him, and when he asked where she was, they only said that she was with the prince.
âOh, is that true?â
Unknowingly, the sullen Cahill soon remembered Hollyâs face, who was disgusted when he questioned whether she would do it with the Prince or not.
âHolly doesnât like that guy.â
He opened the door with a smile, satisfied with the conclusion he had come up with. As he came out of Hollyâs room, the maids passing by the hallway were stunned to see him.
âWhy are you here?â
When he turned his head to the sharp voice, there was a woman who was clinging to him. She asked with a puzzled face.
âFind out where Gamal, no, the guard is.â
Cahill was watching her order the little maid.
âPlease, go. Youâre not supposed to be here.â
âWhere is Holly?â
The woman immediately flinched at Cahillâs question.
âI will take you to your place. Follow me.â
There was no way he couldnât have noticed that the womanâs eyes were shining. Cahill, awakening the sensations in his body, pretended to follow the woman obediently.
âIs the wedding over?â
âWedding?â
As he followed the passing maidâs words, the woman glanced at him and bit her lip. Her tense expression was evident. Cahill scrutinized her with narrowed eyes, organizing his thoughts. Judging by the color of their skin, they were from the desert.
Red in the desert meantâŠ
ââŠBringing peace and good luck to the home.â
Having done business with one of the desert countries, He knew the local traditions. It was the color used for weddings. At the same time, the red cloth that decorated Hollyâs room brushed past his eyes.
âWa, wait! The room is not over there.â
They wanted to lock him in the room again. In the meantime, Holly would marry the sly Prince.
Cahill shook off the hand that was trying to grab him and ran off. He followed the workers who were busy moving somewhere. Taking his breath, he stood in front of a large door that could only be found in a cathedral.
Then, he gently pushed the door that two people needed to push together.
Holly, who was on the altar in a brideâs clothes, saw him and widened her eyes. Cahill gazed only at her as he walked. Those who tried to block him flew through the air without even touching him.
âCa, CahillâŠ?â
As soon as Cahill reached Holly, he grabbed her shoulder.
âI have a question for you, Holly.â
He could see the Prince getting up and approaching him. Feeling something unusual, Holly nodded without asking anything.
âAre you going to marry that prince?â
Her eyes widened in surprise. She had the same look as when she was disgusted by the question of whether she was going to sleep with him. Then, the fire that had been burning in Cahill all the way to here was extinguished in an instant.
Relaxed at Hollyâs reaction, he saw the bread in her hand. It was a symbol of promise to be together forever with those who shared it.
âIf you eat that, you have to spend the rest of your life with that prince.â
There was no way the nobles would appreciate someone like the Princess to be wallowing around with another man.
When he said it in that sense, Hollyâs face distorted with a look that looked like she was going to spit out curses. She furiously rolled her eyes and grabbed Cahillâs hair, which was closest to her.
âHey! Are you only thinking about that at this moment?â
âHuh? Thatâs not itâŠâ
He slid behind her, bewildered by Hollyâs unexpected and violent reaction. His soft hair soon slipped out of her hand as easily as a grain of sand.
âNo, you said you wouldnât sleep with that Prince last time.â
Cahill waved his hand and made excuses. As his voice spread throughout the wedding hall, the sound of gasping breaths could be heard here and there. Holly lifted her head and looked at Ahmed. His eyes stiffened open in shock.
âWhen, when did I say thatâŠâ
As Holly was about to try to pretend, Cahillâs eyes met hers. She didnât think he would have said something he didnât mean the moment she looked into those eyes.
âI think I didnâtâŠâ
âYou did, you did!â
âOh, my gosh! How could I say such an absurd thingâŠâ
Gossiping words slammed into Hollyâs ears like thunder. Soon, her face turned red as if it was about to explode.
âYouâre not going to marry the Prince?â
Cahill was the only one who was calm in this commotion.
âIâm not, Iâm NOT DOING IT! Iâm not getting married, nor am I going to sleep with him!â
Holly burst into anger, unable to overcome her shame. She glared at Cahill, who was staring at her with eyes that didnât know why she was angry, and then she realized it.
âIs this a wedding nowâŠ?â
âIf you eat it, then itâs over.â
Cahill nodded his head with a smile and pointed the tip of his chin to the bread in Hollyâs hand. She then glanced at her hand with bewildered eyes before throwing the bread to the floor as she wiped her hands on the brideâs robe as if she had touched anything dirty.
Mona, who stood closest to her, ran to her and came with the bread that had fallen.
âYou canât do this, miss. Come on and eat.â
Mona glanced at Ahmed and put the bread in front of Hollyâs mouth. The corners of her lips trembled slightly as she smiled.
ââŠIs she telling me to eat what had fallen to the floor? No, if I eat that bread before then, it will be over!â
Slapâ
Before Holly, astonished, could respond by opening her mouth, Cahill slapped Monaâs hand.
âKyak!â
She was struck so hard that she rolled over the floor, screaming. The look on the poor womanâs face made her feel sad, but the eyes looking down at her were only cold.
âHolly wonât eat that guy.â
Hollyâs face, which was hanging from Cahillâs arm in surprise, hardened subtly.
âThe bread, bread..â
Cahill tilted his head, asking what the difference was.
Eventually, Ahmed, who had been hardened by the shock of being rejected, slowly got up before opening his mouth.
âMiss Holly. Are you sure you donât want to marry me? I thought our hearts connect.â
He drooped his eyebrows in disappointment. Her heart was weakened because his gentle eyes were teary.
âEven so, if this was my wedding, you should have asked my opinion first.â
Holly, who replied in a soft voice, saw Ahmedâs face lit up at her words and quickly added.
âOf course, itâs not like our hearts do actually connect.â
âYou said you wanted to see my parents.â
His incomprehensible look made Holly say again.
âI just wanted to say thank you for inviting me to the castleâŠâ
âI brought you to my parents with the intention of introducing you as someone who will be with me for the rest of my life.â
With his low voice and serious gaze, she couldnât answer anything. Perhaps mistaken by her silence, Ahmed approached with a charming smile.
âIf itâs the heart, it doesnât matter because we can connect it from now on.â
âAre you going to live with us?â
Cahill looked at her, and his eyes widened. Holly, knowing where the end of the thought was, twisted her face.
âDo you not want it that much?â
At that, Holly reflexively nodded her head while Ahmed, who seemed to have never been rejected once in his life, frowned.
âOh, itâs not that I hate the Prince. I do not like you either. It was too short a time to know and like Ahmed.â
She added soothingly. Of course, she didnât care how long the time he spent with her to fall in love, and she thought it wouldnât get better if she knew him more. Still, she didnât want to hurt Ahmed, who was kind to her.
âThen, will you give me more time? I will definitely reflect Hollyâs opinion on our marriage.â
ââŠIâd rather say it clearly even if it hurts.â
Hollyâs face was clearly stained with trouble that Ahmed didnât even need to hear an answer.
âThen, I canât help it.â
Seeing her rejecting him until the end, Ahmed smiled sadly. Holly opened her mouth, thinking that she should leave Sharif like this.
âCapture her.â
However, before she could do that, the smile faded from Ahmedâs face and it turned cold. He looked at Holly with an arrogant face never seen before.
âAs expected, you will have no choice but to be my bride.â