Chapter 3: Lips on The Bare Skin (1)
Translated by Hikaru
Edited by Mel
“Who are you?”
Rayleigh laughed briefly with the sound of the wind blowing.
“That’s what I should be saying.”
She must have been taken aback. There is a secret tradition in the Royal family in order to protect the emperor from assassination or other dangers. One of them is that the Emperor’s bedroom is used by the crown prince, which no outsiders could know, so it was natural for the intruder who was expecting the emperor to be shocked to see him. In addition, he lost six fiances consecutively in incidents therefore quit going to all social activities to pay his respects. He eventually became unrecognizable. Having lived as a hermit for 10 years, it was natural not to recognize him as the crown prince. But this is the Imperial Palace – It was strange to break into such a place and ask questions.
“It was high-handed.”
Although she was completely overpowered, the way she seemed to be looking down on him was so natural, that even he belatedly realized a sense of discord. She was so proud of herself despite her natural inferior figure and defensive position. Furthermore, her clear view of the circumstances of the Imperial family and her extremely elegant hand movements were hardly considered that of an assassin’s.
It was like a well educated Lady, but can a Lady penetrate the Imperial Palace alone? It made him tilt his head again. He should’ve taken off her mask when he first held onto it. He couldn’t do that anymore. That’s too bad. What if he had paid a little more attention at the time? Perhaps had he not been too excited about the surrender he squeezed out of her, after he heard the brutal declaration that she would die rather than being his.
“I can’t help it if it comes to this.”
“If this is the King, why don’t you pretend to be honored by saying that you are willing?”
“Speak again after you’re qualified to bring out the word ‘willing’.”
The woman’s eyes were brightly lit up in response to his words. She must have been quite upset because she was caught not due to any sloppy work. She looked very disrespectfully toward the Crown Prince, but instead of blaming her, he responded with a smile of ignorance. It’s not a wrong thing to cherish her own self. She was a man of her own. He could have turned a blind eye if it wasn’t for the betrayal.
She even knows the meanings of ‘Etiquette’. Loyalty makes a person grow, but anger pushes him beyond his abilities. Loyalty needs a justification, but anger comes with blindness. It is not that there is no one who devotes loyalty to Rayleigh, but he meant it when he said he felt sorry for people. The Empress Catherine Gillot, was not just a pretty person. She bought the Emperor’s heart with an innocent and colorful smile and stirred up the Emperor with sweet whispers. Catherine’s whispers began with small things and spread out more and more. Starting with the planting of the Gillots in crucial positions, the key posts inside the palace were filled with direct family and supporters. All the positions that were replaced by Gillot originally belonged to Rayleigh’s people.
Clearly, the aristocrats were busy trying to save themselves, and his position was in jeopardy as it increasingly diminished despite his obvious and persistent vigilance. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before Empress Catherine gave birth to the throne. Then, he was so happy, he couldn’t explain how he was lucky enough to get a useful person in such an unexpected place. He couldn’t stop laughing. Of course, the opponent didn’t seem to like it. A bitter voice, as sharp as her eyes, came out from the woman who had a sulky look.
“If you are done celebrating now, why don’t you write the contract, Your Highness Rayleigh?”
“The contract?”
“No way, were you thinking I want to be a dog forever, with no bottom or end?”
“It was smart of you to think like that in the midst of this.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but could you please record it quickly? It’s hard for me to relax because I have somewhere to be.”
The aristocrat had the urge to bow down to her; she was unquestionably elegant.
“Ha…”
The curved tip of the head and the slightly visible rounded crown were polite, but in reality it was absolutely not. Showing and prodding respect was meant to be sarcastic, and the eyes under the drooping eyelids were very arrogant. Even when she was threatened with the possibility of death by biting allegations of trying to assassinate the royal family, she was negotiating in the name of the contract. He felt rather satisfied with her attitude to minimize damage under any circumstance. He thought it was lovely that she, as his person, was naturally so capable and smart.
“Anyway, your life is mine, but would there be anything else to write on the contract?”
It was then when he pulled out a piece of paper from the side table next to the bed, and spoke as if he were peeking at her.
“It’s a Theodore’s remark, but I believe that you’ll keep fulfilling it.”
“Just about?”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Isn’t your purpose revealed just by coming to the Emperor’s bedroom with a dagger?”
“What’s my purpose?”
“What could be the unscrupulous behavior of the one who brought a dagger?”
She wasn’t pushed even once by Rayleigh’s words, who thoroughly pegged her as an ‘assassin’.
“It’s self-defense, self defense! I am going to need at least minimum defense to set foot in this strict place, right?”
Rather, she opened her eyes wide and calmly told a plausible lie. Neither her disposal, nor wit, nor agility was unsatisfactory.
“The unfortunate man who brought the dagger has yet to steal anything?”
The crimes of an assassin and a thief are different in their own way. Rayleigh snorted a little at the words that intelligently diminished her guilt.
“Didn’t you try to wake me up?”
“To ask where the treasure is.”
“Will you come out like that?”
“Let’s do it right. Is it something that many people want because they are greedy, even me.”
She walked to the tea table next to the bed and sat down, she dropped her blue eyes so that he couldn’t see them.
“Let’s be gentlemen, Your Highness Rayleigh, who has a lot of things. Yes?”
That’s how the contract started. After all, Rayleigh had no intention to be mean to her for having been subjected to something by the Imperial family. The deadline was until the Emperor stepped down, and she only worked at night.
“Anything at your discretion as long as you fulfill your orders, but murder is out of question.”
“… It is not that I want, but the situation could be that way, right?
Rayleigh shook his head firmly, looking at her dangerous blue eyes.
“But no murder, instead…”
“Instead?”
“If you’re in a situation where you can decide to kill, I promise you even better revenge…“
Rayleigh, who knew she wanted to grind her teeth and kill, left the heaviest promise she could ever make.
“Your Highness, you must keep that promise.”
“The light has faded, but I swear by the glory of Theodore.”
“Alright.”
“Then, write your name here.”
When he handed over the pen, her shoulders flinched as if they had been stabbed in the core.
“Write my name?”
“No way, were you going to hide it in the midst of this boat ride?”
“Oh, no, that’s… wait a minute, I need an extra clause.”
“What?”
“Don’t ask me about my identity.”
“Are you going to stay here?”
“It is too much to force me to believe in random faith, Theodore.”
It was obvious why she called him Theodore. Using the perpetrator’s last name- meaning she can’t trust him completely. In the end, Rayleigh Theodore had no choice but to have her sign with an improvised name ‘Roy’. Of course, he didn’t even see her face underneath the mask.
“See you here again tomorrow night.”
“Okay.”
“But Roy, how do I believe you will be coming?”
“Your Highness has given me the glory that has faded, but would you be relieved if I said I would make an unwavering announcement?”
After she finished speaking, Roy knelt on one knee and reached out to him without hesitation. It was the attitude of the knight when he swore allegiance. As Rayleigh reached out his hand, Roy slowly lowered her head, holding his fingertips gently. The kiss on the hand was so devout that Rayleigh could not say anything.
“Then, tomorrow. I’ll be back around this time.”
With a humble bow, Roy lightly rolled her feet and ran out to the terrace.
“Roy! Wait!”
He hurriedly followed her to tell her how to avoid the Knights, but when Rayleigh arrived on the terrace, all he saw was a big tree branch wiggling. As if Rayleigh was dreaming, Roy disappeared quickly.
“It’s a dream…”
It was just only two hours ago and he really thought he was dreaming. Rayleigh opened his eyes and swept the empty room with a slow gaze.
“It’s also sweet.”
It’s pretty good that you’re making me miss you already. When he raised his hand, he tapped on the chest where he had put the contract and smiled. It was nice to hear the sound that came out every time he tapped, he felt like it was saying that it wasn’t a dream.