CH 155

Why does that person keep greeting me? Despite the fact that I have never once returned his greetings.

Again, I pretended not to notice and ignored his greeting.

But something about his look and smile bothered me.

I looked back at where X was, but he had already left. It was as if I had seen a ghost or something.

I remained motionless, staring at the spot where X had vanished, then I called Demimore to stand by my side.

“Demimore.”

“Why?”

“Do you know someone named X?”

“Rex?”

“No, X!”

Demimore appeared perplexed, as though he had misheard me say Rex.

Demimore mumbled the letter “X” after I corrected him.

“Where did you hear that? I’ve never heard of it.”

He is the person who has recently been spotted around Cameron.

“Hanging out with Cameron?”

“The person who earlier stood between you and Cameron!”

Judging by his expression, Demimore didn’t know anything about X and didn’t seem to care much either.

I was hoping to learn something, but I was disappointed to see that he seemed to know nothing about X.

As I looked at Demimore again, I noticed that his cheek was still red. I was bothered by it even though he had earlier said it was fine.

“He doesn’t seem like a person from the imperial family.”

Jasper fanned himself lazily and muttered something carelessly as he stood behind Demimore.

Jasper was gazing blankly at Demimore’s cheek when I turned to face him.

“Are you talking about X?”

“Yes. I just found out that his name is X.”

Jasper bit his lower lip with a look that seemed like his pride was hurt.

“I’ve never seen him at the palace, but I’ve heard he’s been hanging out with the First Prince, so I’m curious as well.”

“I thought he was Cameron’s new assistant.”

“No, he doesn’t look familiar, so I was a little confused.”

Even among the imperial family, the relationship between X and Cameron appears to have been kept a secret.

Demimore appeared to be aware of the gravity of the situation as he puzzledly listened to Jasper’s conversation with me.

“Has Lady Mary ever met him?”

“Yes. He proposed this bet.”

In response to my words, Jasper and Demimore exchanged glances.

“Jasper, look into the X. Ask Max, too.”

“Max?”

“Oh, that’s the name of the First Prince’s assistant.”

“If you ask, will he answer?”

It might come off as cynical, but in all honesty, I was just curious and asked.

Will Cameron’s assistant obediently respond to Jasper’s inquiries? Can we really rely on those responses?

Demimore just shrugged his shoulders when I expressed skepticism.

“I’ll just ask.”

“Is he going to answer?”

“It’s okay because he’s nice.”

He did, after all, seem friendly.

He’s a nice guy, after all, which explains why he spent all those years working for Cameron. The way he appeased Cameron earlier was something he couldn’t do if he wasn’t nice.

But apart from all that, Demimore seemed to believe in him, even though he was giving me a ridiculous answer.

Maybe he had already struck a deal with Cameron’s assistant.

“Did Max tell you that Cameron would release a beast?”

Oh, right,” How did you know?”

Demimore’s face turned pale as I attempted to figure out what had happened.

“You wore sweet perfume today, and then a beast suddenly appeared and attacked you.”

“How did you smell that?…. I heard it’s a scent that most people can’t smell. “

As he said this, Demimore poked Jasper. Apparently, it was Jasper who had prepared the perfume.

Jasper, on the other hand, was unfazed by Demimore’s apparent contusion.

“I suppose Lady Mary isn’t your typical person.”

That’s not wrong…….

At Jasper’s cunning remarks, Demimore exaggeratedly sighed.

The two of them made me smile, but then Demimore’s red cheeks caught my eye.

“Why did you do that? If you had just warned me, I would have avoided it.”

“It would have been dangerous for Max if Cameron had realized you know his plan.”

“Still, there must have been a better way than for you to get bitten by a beast!”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Jasper said with a look of sympathy on his face as he argued with Demimore.

Demimore must have been stubborn.

“I was actually stung, and it was awfully painful.”

“Of course, it would hurt. Even getting stung by a bee hurts!”

Demimore suddenly said something stupid. Didn’t he know it would hurt before he planned it.

“That’s why I’m glad you didn’t get stung.”

“…….”

“I thought it was fortunate that you didn’t get hurt.”

I was briefly rendered speechless by Demimore’s confession.

Just thinking about Demimore lying down earlier made my heart ache. It looked so painful. His lips were dry and white. He couldn’t even breathe.

But hearing him say that it was fortunate that I wasn’t hurt made me feel a little… strange.

“Cameron might be more vicious and persistent than you think.”

A gust of wind blew, shaking Demimore’s hair.

There was an irresistible earnestness in his soft and gentle voice as the wind. I suddenly thought. His red lips, sharp nose, fluttering silver hair, and eyes that seem to be filled with sunlight. Isn’t he really charming, though?

“It’s hard to resist his personality, isn’t it?”

I was deep in thought, admiring his face, when Demimore abruptly interrupted my reverie.

I frown and Demimore laughed refreshingly.

“So, let me at least protect you like this.”

I silently nodded my head in agreement as I felt compelled to respond.

“But still…”

“What?”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“You, too…”

“Wait a second.”

I was facing Demimore when I noticed a flash of light coming from the bushes behind him.

I interrupted Demimore’s words and stared fiercely at the intense gaze. It seemed to be a passing beast.

I believe it looked directly at me.

It felt odd. That beast appeared to be going after me.

My body tensed up even though I knew it was an absurd thought. I picked up the bow and arrows I had earlier thrown to the ground.

The beast slowly emerged from the forest. Unmistakably, it was a snake.

The snake hissed and moved gracefully and gently toward the crowd.

And on the body of the snake…….

“It’s a cursed beast!”

There was a red and blue pattern that indicated it was a cursed beast.

Everyone began to hold their breath and become alert. We were unable to move carelessly. The snake didn’t attack us impulsively either.

Theodore seemed to be fiddling with the poison in his pocket.

We would have to hold out until Theodore could think of a better way to use the poison to get rid of the beast.

“Mary, get behind me!”

“You’re hurt.”

“Mary Conler!”

“You don’t even have a weapon now. I told you not to overdo it.”

Demimore grabbed my shoulder firmly. But I ignored it.

Even if he had taken the antidote, he had already been attacked by a beast and was very exhausted. I had to keep him safe.

‘I wasn’t wrong earlier.’

Although I had laughed off the ridiculous notion that this beast and I had locked eyes, it suddenly headed up to me and gave me a direct look.

I hesitantly put an arrow in my bow. Demimore muttered in my ear from behind that it wasn’t necessary, but I couldn’t risk it.

Because that snake was only after me.

It seemed that everyone around had noticed it, and it was impossible not to notice.

The snake has been staring at me relentlessly since it appeared.

Compared to the earlier group of beasts I saw, it was different. They appeared to have lost their sense of reason, but this snake appeared to be in control of its senses. And…

Although snakes lack facial expressions, this one appeared to be having a good time.

As soon as I tried to shoot an arrow at the snake, the snake’s neck was cut like a lie.

Grand Duke Estin was standing behind the dead snake, which was now in two pieces, with black blood on his face.

Grand Duke Estin, who was staring blankly at the snake he slaughtered, suddenly collapsed.

“Father!”

Everyone ran towards Grand Duke Estin, but I couldn’t move. It felt like a huge force was holding my feet down.

This is a lie.

The whole thing seemed like a lie.

A ringing noise started to echo in my ears.