Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Resuan's Collapse
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“By passing through that hallway on the way here, you must have realized I have a foul temper. If not, you'll learn soon enough.”
Darsi casually brought up the door he'd smashed earlier. As expected, he had a plan for everything.
His confident demeanor made him seem ready to claim the throne at any moment. Those blood-red eyes suggested he'd slaughter anyone who didn't side with him without hesitation—a true tyrant.
Of course, I knew that was just an illusion.
Because I knew how considerate the man I remembered truly was.
Still, that vengeful look toward Ryan and Emperor Kies felt utterly genuine.
It wasn't so much a burning ambition to become emperor, but a desire to dismantle imperial authority and diminish Ryan's power that stood out.
He'd originally planned to leave, and said he'd depart once I was happy. I alone knew he had no interest in status or position.
‘...I wonder how he'll manage to leave like that.’
Building his forces and captivating people like that must come from his innate charm, right?
In any case, it was fortunate that Darsi had responded indifferently to Emperor Kies's contemptuous act earlier.
The move meant to unsettle Darsi had backfired, exposing Emperor Kies's own inner thoughts instead.
It handed Darsi another hilt to grip.
The reason he had to accept Darsi despite hating him so much.
Only Darsi himself and I knew that reason.
Those aligned with Ryan would tremble in anxiety because of it.
Those who sided with Darsi would find relief in it.
“I don't have much to say. Since seats are prepared in the palace, I hope you all enjoy yourselves before you go.”
With those final words, he flashed an insincere smile. The way one corner of his mouth twisted upward looked forced to anyone watching.
But who could object to him? Not even Ryan dared step forward.
I shook my head, recalling the first time I'd met Darsi.
‘What merchant.'
He was a man suited for the light, not the shadows. My heart fluttered warmly as I steadied it, but then the person standing in front of me began to collapse backward.
The build, the dress, even the hair color that entered my vision—all felt familiar.
Only then did I realize the figure before me was Resuan.
The realization was instantaneous.
Instinctively, my hands moved first. I reached out and cradled Resuan's head.
Crash. In that awkward position, I tumbled down with her. The multiple layers of dress I'd worn for today cushioned me somewhat, but it still hurt.
“Resuan!”
With the marquis's scream, everyone's gazes turned to Resuan and me.
‘At least no one will misunderstand that I pushed her.’
I'd completely lost my balance and fallen alongside her. No need to worry about rumors...
Lost in thought, I flinched at the chill emanating from Resuan's arm as I brushed against it.
‘Did I really just touch Resuan's body?’
It was hard to believe this was someone who'd been breathing and alive moments ago. She looked like a terminally ill patient.
She'd been perfectly fine just earlier? Had Resuan ever been this ill before?
The original story had her as frail, but she'd never collapsed like this.
Was something from today's events the trigger? An incident shocking enough to affect her health that much. What could it...
‘Is it because she met me?’
Her utterly still form looked nearly like a corpse.
I'd thought things between Resuan and me were resolved, but apparently not?
Biting my lip to calm my confused heart, I placed a finger under her nose.
I could feel faint breathing. As her trembling exhale brushed my skin, Resuan's body suddenly jolted.
“I'll support her.”
It was Kaisen.
To see him seize the initiative before Ryan. It was an intensity unbecoming of a sub-male-lead.
The marquis pushed through the crowd right after, his face deathly pale as he checked on Resuan.
“Resuan, come to your senses. My dear...!”
He couldn't maintain any composure. His trembling hands steadied as he gave me a slight bow.
“Thank you. I'll repay you properly later.”
It was the moment any needless misunderstanding that I'd nearly killed her was thoroughly dispelled. As expected of a marquis.
“No, it's nothing. But what on earth happened...?”
No matter how much Resuan and I clashed, I'd never wished for her health to worsen.
“...I don't know.”
The marquis replied to my words with a brief silence. It was a subtle hesitation, but my intuition told me.
The marquis knew why Resuan had collapsed.
Yet he didn't lash out at me. Instead, he thanked me for saving Resuan from a potentially serious fall.
What could be the reason for that?
“We should let her rest first. Take her to the reception room.”
Was it because there were too many people?
My mind spun amid the unexpected events. In the midst of it, I marveled at the marquis's stamina as he pried Resuan from Kaisen's arms and held her himself.
“I'll guide you.”
Ryan, returning to the scene, calmly assessed Resuan's condition and led the way. The marquis nodded and followed.
Kaisen stared blankly at the spot where Resuan had vanished.
It clearly revealed whom the marquis had chosen as Resuan's partner.
The man who could rise to the highest position in the kingdom—perhaps it was only natural.
“When do you plan on getting up?”
“Ah.”
Darsi, who had approached me unnoticed, chuckled. My face flushed red.
In surveying the situation, I'd completely forgotten to stand.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yeah.”
“You looked out of it... Here.”
His gentle tone was worlds apart from the provocative demeanor he'd shown before the crowd.
The moment Darsi extended his hand to me felt like a scene from a movie.
I'd told him to act as his heart desired. And I'd said I'd do the same.
I took his hand. As I tried to stand with a smile, a pain shot through my ankle, making me flinch.
“...Looks like you're not okay after all.”
“It's just a sprain, so it's fine.”
My ankle throbbed a bit, but it wasn't agonizing. My answer apparently didn't sit well with Darsi, though.
His complexion seemed a shade paler than before. He stared fixedly at the hem of my dress where my ankle would be, then spoke.
“You should go rest too.”
“Yeah, then I'll call a maid—”
But I couldn't finish. Darsi, who had gripped my hand tightly, slipped one arm behind my shoulders and the other behind my knees.
He lifted me effortlessly, as if picking up cotton candy.
“Ah, um. Darsi?”
...We'd agreed to get to know each other, but sudden skinship was disorienting? Especially a princess carry?
“Indeed...!”
“The two of you...”
Exclamations rang unusually loud in my ears. I could practically see the fantasy of Darsi and me being an established couple unfolding in real time.
Our barely "talking" stage was about to be nailed down as lovers.
I shouldn't have underestimated Darsi's momentum.
As I reflected inwardly, Darsi read the worry on my face and whispered.
“This is the fastest way.”
“No, there are attendants...”
“A prince carrying you is the safest, right?”
Darsi ducked his head at my words and grinned. His silver hair, cascading like wisteria leaves, tickled my cheek.
It was a smile meant only for me.
Even the slight absurdity I felt melted away like spring snow.
In the end, all I could say was surrender.
“Let's go.”
My whisper was so soft even I could barely hear it, but Darsi didn't mind.
He moved.
“I'll come along too.”
...And an unexpected tagalong followed us.
It was Kaisen.
Darsi shot a glance at Kaisen, who had followed them out.
“Why exactly did you come along?”
“...To follow Lady Resuan. You know that, so why ask?”
“I'm saying you could come later.”
“You know that was the perfect timing just now.”
“That's not my concern.”
Their bickering was surprising. I'd never seen the usually stoic Kaisen converse so casually with anyone but Resuan.
Even under Darsi's harsh words, he pressed on steadfastly—it felt novel.
‘He looks like a subordinate getting chewed out by his boss.’
Kaisen, who had only been a vicious sub-male-lead to me, seemed so small.
Darsi, wearing an openly bored expression, suddenly seemed to think of something and spoke.
“Nothing to say to Marso?”
“...”
Kaisen's footsteps, which had been silently trailing us, slowed.
“Perfect timing.”
Darsi's pace slowed to match Kaisen's.
“Do I seem like someone who repeats himself?”
With that, Darsi's veiled threat continued.
Seeing Kaisen squirm like that—it was this enjoyable.
I regretted not getting alone time with Darsi, but this had its own rewards.
“...Thank you for today.”
His voice, solid as a tree trunk, pierced my ears. The content was just as I'd expected.
Kaisen never deviated from my predictions.
People don't change easily.
I stared steadily at Kaisen.
“That's not what I was talking about.”
“No, it's fine.”
As Darsi moved to speak again, I stopped him.
“It's a vain hope.”