Upon noticing Frey, tears cascaded down her cheeks as she stared at him blankly. Only after scrunching her tear-ridden face was she able to collect herself.
âS-So⊠t-this isâŠâ
Clana swiftly wiped the flowing tears with her hands as she tried to come up with excuses, but she couldnât conceive any words for the inexplicable situation she found herself in.
âHuk.â
Soon, her hands began trembling as if her body had a mind of its own.
ââŠItâs nothing.â
Clana couldnât focus on anything for the past few days due to unknown symptoms and a burning sensation developing in her heart. She weakly muttered as she plopped down onto the sofa.
âHeung⊠So that was the truth.â
As the First Imperial Princess murmured as she stared at Clanaâs meek figure, Frey inquired with a disinterested expression.
âSo, what was it that you came to say? Iâm quite busy right now so Iâd appreciate it if youâd quickly get this matter over with.â
âIâm sorry, but it seems our conversation may be long.â
The First Imperial Princess, who managed to respond to Frey in a leisurely manner, glanced at Clanaâs panicked figure before continuing.
âThough it looks like itâs not me, but Clana, who has many things to talk about.â
âHah⊠Then it canât be helped.â
Frey sighed in response to the First Imperial Princessâ words and instructed the girls to leave in front of him.
âTake Lulu and go play in the room next door. Know that whoever fights wonât get any food.â
Freyâs tone was one that didnât seem to consider them as humans, yet the girls simply nodded with lifeless eyes.
âLulu, letâs see each other later alright?â
âHaeugh⊠y-yesâŠâ
Frey gently smiled at Lulu who tailed the other girls out while donning a pale face. After watching the girls leave, Freyâs expression hardened as he questioned the First Imperial Princess.
âNow, what were you trying to say?â
âAh, thatâs right. Regarding the request for assistance from the Cloud Kingdom, youâre aware of the secret meeting that took place at todayâs birthday party, correct?
âOf course.â
âWell, I came to inform you of the meeting venue.â
The First Imperial Princess explained her motives and stared at Clana who slowly raised her hand and flicked her fingers.
âAh, p-please wait a moment.â
However, when nothing but a faint flicker of light materialised, Clana repeatedly flicked her fingers in embarrassment.
âChirp!â
ââŠThis is?â
After numerous flicks, Clana managed to summon a canary which flew over to Frey and perched on his shoulder. Clana tried to maintain a calm expression as if she never struggled to summon the bird as she spoke.
âT-that bird will lead you to the venue of the secret meeting.â
âThatâs right. You simply have to follow the bird to the meeting. Now that Iâve informed you of everything I had in mind, Iâll be taking my leave.â
âYouâre leaving already?â
Frey asked with a puzzled expression as he watched the First Imperial Princess stand up to leave. The corners of her lips curled up from observing Clana.
âAh. There was another topic I wanted to discuss⊠but it doesnât seem necessary anymore.â
The First Imperial Princess then added one final comment with a wink.
âPlease continue to do as youâve currently been doing so, Frey.â
âHuh? What do you meââŠâ
Confused by what she said, Frey attempted to question her, but the First Imperial Princess left the room with a wave of her hand.
âââŠâŠ..ââ
A long silence ensued in the room in which only Frey and Clana remained.
.
.
.
.
.
ââŠHave you been well?â
âNo.â
Frey tried to put on a calm expression and break the long silence by asking me how I was. I immediately responded negatively. Frey sighed and asked another question.
âSo, what did you want to talk to me about?â
âFirst, Iâd like an explanation for the girls who left earlier.â
When Frey calmly asked me what business I had with him, I demanded an explanation for the previous spectacle. Frey responded to my inquiry brazenly.
âIsnât it obvious? Theyâre my slaves.â
âS-SlavesâŠ?â
Hearing his shameless response, I began to question him coldly.
âThereâs going to be a meeting regarding the slave market soon, yet here you are, treating girls our age worse than slaves.â
âAnd? What about it? Are you going to try to kill me or something?â
As soon as I heard Freyâs sarcastic remark, I felt a burning sensation in my chest. This had become a common occurrence in the past few days every time I thought of his voice.
âI-Itâs starting again.â
My hand hidden beneath the table began trembling again. No matter what methods I used to stop the trembling, it just wouldnât stop.
âItâs just a joke. Why are you overreacting?â
ââŠIâm not in the mood for jokes.â
Frey seemed to be teasing me so I raised my voice to retort.
âYou! What did you to m-âŠâ
âOh right. I have a gift for you.â
However, he interjected and handed me a box as my words remained stuck in my throat and vanished.
âTake it. Itâs a gift of reconciliation.â
âHaeughâŠâ
âClana?â
Frey called my name, but I was trapped in thought with my head down.
âIâm sure of it⊠Frey did something to me.â
For the past few days, Iâve been unable to rid my mind of thoughts of him.
Not only that, my chest would become warm and my hand would start trembling with even the smallest thought of his face or voice.
At first, I suspected I might have fallen in love with him but Iâve concluded that itâd be impossible.
I hated him enough to want to murder him, so thereâs no way Iâd suddenly like him in the span of a single night.
Only one reasonable answer remained.
Frey mustâve done something to me out of spite.
âJust now⊠he asked me âAre you going to try to kill me or something?â Yeah, he must haveâŠâ
Did he perhaps find out about my plan to kill him and prevent such an outcome from borrowing the Demon Kingâs power to take revenge on me?
No, even if he didnât find out about that plan, he had many reasons to make me suffer.
He was a guy who said heâd play with me before leaving me behind at the previous ball.
âI wonât open the box.â
I replied coldly after arriving at such a conclusion.
âWhat?â
âDid you think I wouldnât know? That box definitely contains something that would strengthen the curse you placed on me. Am I wrong?â
Freyâs face became puzzled as he listened to me.
âIf that wasnât the case, you wouldnât have a reason to give me a gift. Come on. Say something.â
âI told you. I want to reconcile with you.â
I felt anger surging up.
I hated the Frey who was trying to give me a gift that was obviously clad in dark mana and I desperately wanted to kill him.
Yet, my heart kept racing and my hands continued trembling.
Itâs as if my mind was telling me to despise him, but I couldnât find it in my heart to do so.
âI got this present after requesting assistance from Kania so it would obviously contain some lingering traces of dark mana. Youâre making a big deal out of nothing.â
âDonât lie. Did you think I wouldnât know you did something to me?â
Frey continued to maintain a brazen expression on his face. I spoke as I held out my trembling hand.
âMy hand trembles whenever I see you⊠no, just thinking about you is enough to make it like this. Why is it like this?â
ââŠAhâ
Frey seemed momentarily flustered and something snapped within me in that instant.
âTake that gift back. I donât need anything like that from the likes of you.â
âCan I take that as a refusal to make up with me then?â
Frey shrugged his shoulders after questioning me. He then continued to speak to me.
âI thought I would be able to make up with you.â
âThatâs not happening.â
I stood up with a deep frown and expressed my feelings.
âI really despise you, Frey.â
âIs that so? But I like you.â
âStop with your bullshit.â
âI really do.â
Frey continued with a composed demeanour.
âIâm not sure why your hand trembles and I can assure you that itâs not my doing.â
âHow long are you going to keep up this facadeâŠâ
As I was about to erupt in rage, a sudden thought crossed my mind. I began to reflect on the situation I was currently in.
âSurely, somethingâs off.â
His flustered expression is suspicious. Itâs not the usual shameless face he wore when he gets caught doing something bad, nor was it his usual cruel face. It seemed that he was genuinely flustered.
Most importantly, I couldnât sense any evil intent behind it.
If his expressions until he took out the present were his usual shameless ones when performing an evil deed, the expression just now was one that seemed indicative of his worry for me, just like that time.
âWait, âlike that timeâ?â
My racing thoughts came to a stop as a word crossed my mind.
What is âthat time?â Has there been an occasion in which Frey worried for me? No, there shouldnât be any reasonâŠ
âAnyways, youâre saying you donât want this gift, right? Then, just leave.â
âUntil the very end⊠youâre really not going to tell me what youâve done to me?â
âLike I said, I didnât do anything.â
I stared at him in bewilderment as he pointed towards the door with an exhausted look. I wanted to protest but I hurriedly moved to leave when I felt my hand begin to tremble.
âAre you really not going to take this?â
Right as I grabbed the doorknob, I heard Freyâs voice and my hand began trembling again.
âI-I donât want a gift from someone like you.â
In order to hide my trembling, I replied sharply and hurriedly left the room.
âNice, did you ruin your relationship with Frey?â
ââŠHeuagh?â
As soon as I exited the room, a person whose face was covered by a bridal veil grabbed onto me and whispered.
I turned around in surprise and recognized the face behind the veil.
âRoswyn?â
âJudging from your expression, it seems like you successfully ended your relationship with him.â
Roswyn winked and continued whispering.
âThen, letâs begin the operation right away.â
âRight now?
âOf course we have to do it now. Heartbroken men fall easily to temptation.â
With that, Roswyn started heading towards Freyâs room with a radiant smile on her face.
âW-Wait!â
âHm? Whatâs wrong?â
I suddenly stopped her when I saw her walking.
Why am I acting like this?
âN-no, itâs nothing⊠no, wait. SoâŠâ
âHuhu, donât worry.â
Noticing my indecisiveness, Roswyn lifted the corners of her lips and reassured me.
âIâll perfectly erase Frey from your life.â
Roswyn opened the door and naturally entered Freyâs room.
.
.
.
.
.
âEughâŠâ
Watching the door close with a thud, Clana started to nervously linger near the door.
âWhy am I acting like this⊠Just whyâŠâ
She tried meditating with closed eyes, took deep breaths, and even bit her nails, but her anxiety persisted.
ââŠEugh!â
Unable to get rid herself of her anxiety, Clana began walking elsewhere.
âItâs for Roswynâs safety⊠Just in case Frey crosses the line.â
Clana arrived at Freyâs veranda and began resonating with the canary that previously perched on his shoulder.
She had never shown Frey her ability to summon the canary before. She had first summoned the bird back in the past when she was lonely and wanted someone to converse with.
Convincing herself that she wouldnât get caught, Clana connected her senses with the canary and began observing what was occurring in the room.
âFrey, why do you look like youâre about to break down and cry?â
âJust⊠something unfortunate happened.â
A slight frown emerged on Clanaâs face as she watched Roswyn ask while stroking Freyâs shoulder.
âDid you perhaps get dumped by Clana?â
âNo⊠itâs not that. I was just trying to make up with herâŠâ
âIs this the gift you tried to give her to reconcile with her?â
Roswyn tilted her head in puzzlement as Frey spoke with a sullen expression.
âRoswyn, would you like to have it instead?â
âIâd be glad to. Iâm happy to receive any gifts.â
ââŠEven if you have to date me if you receive that gift?â
As Roswyn was talking about gifts with sparkling eyes, Frey grinned and looked at her.
âSo? Do you still want it?â
ââŠâŠâŠ..â
âItâs a joke. Iâll get you a better gift the next time I visit the Intelligence Guild soâŠâ
âIâll take it.â
âWhat?â
Frey shook the box in front of Roswyn before sullenly trying to put it away. He became flustered however, when she snatched the box from his grasp.
âW-Wait. Why are you taking the giftâ
âHeung⊠The gift wrap is quite luxurious. It must have been difficult to acquire.â
After interrupting the dumbfounded Frey to compliment the gift wrap, Roswyn scanned their vicinity awkwardly.
âT-That gift wrap isâŠâ
Clana murmured with a pale face as soon she watched Roswyn snatch the box.
âThat could be dangerousâŠ!â
Clana clearly felt dark mana emanating from the box. Roswyn would be in danger if she unwrapped the gift.
âI-If you open thatâŠâ
Clana hurriedly tried to take control of the canary as the thought of Roswyn being in danger emerged in her mind. Unfortunately, she could only turn away with a pale face when solar mana refused to materialize in her trembling hand.
âOh my, whatâs this?â
âUh⊠ItâsâŠâ
Clana bit her fingernails in anxiety as she was about to barge into the room. She unknowingly but down violently as she watched Roswyn reach into the box.
âThis⊠Did you prepare this for Clana?â
âNo, just⊠it was on display in front of the flower shop⊠and how are you able to touchâŠâ
âAre you lying in front of me? How adorable.â
What came out of the gift box was not a clump of dark mana, a spell scroll, nor a cursed necklace.
âJust from the fact itâs a Canaria flower⊠and a yellow one at that, itâs obvious you purchased this specifically for Clana.â
It merely contained a yellow Canaria flower.
ââŠHuh?â
Clana watched them through the canaryâs eyes and muttered in a trembling voice.
âThat, that canât beâŠ?â
This was the moment Clana felt something was amiss.