ETHTKE chapter 43

* * *

Because I was always confined to a limited space, it was hard for me to feel the weight of his authority.

After all, in the original work, I had never seen Baek Yigang’s standing as the Crown Prince.

But then one day, I became a weakness for Baek Yigang, who had never revealed his own vulnerability, even hiding his illness.

After that, it was only natural that I became a pretext for others to attack him.

Fortunately, things settled down when I restored the forest… but it just emphasized that there was no reason for him to feel grateful toward me!

At this point, shouldn’t I be the one thanking him instead?

Given the situation, I resolved to somehow steal the Holy Power of the Third Prince today, cure the incurable disease, and finally receive a thank you!

However, even as my determination burned, Rata’s intermediate adjustments continued for over three hours, and any flames of resolve within me completely died out.

I was so exhausted I wanted to sit down immediately, but Rata glared at me fiercely, saying my attire would get messed up.

“Rata, I want to sit down.”

“What did you say?”

“I want to sit…”

“Pardon?”

“No, just for a moment.”

“Couldn’t hear you?”

How could I possibly sit down like this?

Rolling my eyes, I realized that sitting in front of someone working on adjustments was unthinkable.

Still, it seemed like it was finally coming to an end. I now understood why Anna had been rushing me from early on.

She must have known it would take this long, so she urged me to come early.

“We’re almost done.”

At last, the awaited words were heard. I wanted to scream that I would never come back, but I felt so drained that I couldn’t even muster a dry laugh.

I won’t even breathe in the direction of the tailoring room from now on. Seriously.

“You just need to do one more thing.”

Checking what Rata, who seemed tireless, ambitiously pulled out, I couldn’t help but let my pupils widen in disbelief.

In her hand was a cluster of brightly colored flowers. There were roses in between, big roses with thick thorns.

“Those… where exactly are they supposed to go?”

“They would look perfect in your hair, Wizard.”

“In my hair?”

“Yes.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. This is the highlight, you see.”

As Rata, smiling with a kindly face, slightly waved her hand, the sharp thorns on the rose stems caught the light and glimmered.

Isn’t that a weapon? It sure looks like one!

Couldn’t she at least remove the visible thorns? How can someone be so unfiltered and blunt?!

“Um, Rata? It seems there are quite a lot of thorns on those flowers.”

“Ah, beauty always comes with pain, you see. Come now, Wizard. I’ll safely pin these in your lovely hair.”

What kind of nonsense is that? If those go in, I’ll definitely end up bleeding. That’s absolutely not happening!

Sensing danger, my body moved instinctively for survival.

I jumped up at lightning speed, put on an awkward smile, and started backing away slowly.

But it was only for a moment—Rata’s sharp gaze quickly caught me.

“Tsk, catch him.”

So quick on her feet, Rata spoke in a chilling voice, and suddenly, some burly men appeared out of nowhere, approaching menacingly.

“If you come back quietly now, I promise you’ll be safe.”

“Wizard, please be aware that magical attacks are forbidden in the main palace.”

“It will all end peacefully with just a flower in your hair.”

Then, the sound of cracking knuckles rang sharply in my ears.

What the hell… Is this a crime movie now?!

“Haha… Rata, I didn’t want to say this, but if you keep this up, I’ll report you to His Highness.”

“Oh dear, Wizard. It was His Highness who commissioned me.”

Ugh, typical Baek Yigang, never any help!

Seeing the men charging toward me, I turned and ran without looking back.

Not knowing my way around the main palace, my feet naturally led me to the only place I knew—the Crown Prince’s palace.

“Cheong Dowoon! You need to wear this flower!”

“Agh, damn it! Wear what?! I’m not a flower vase!!”

“Wizard!”

“Cheong Dowoon!”

Rata’s terrifying echoing calls behind me chilled me to the bone.

This was a horror park, no doubt.

Who knew I’d be so grateful for the rule that only certain people could enter the Crown Prince’s palace!

Finally reaching a safe area after running nonstop, I leaned against the wall, half-dazed.

I had been harassed since morning, and my head was spinning.

I could still hear Rata’s voice, saying I needed to wear the flower to complete the look, as if she were still chasing me with eyes burning.

Now I’m hearing things, hallucinations.

Walking aimlessly, I found myself at the end of a corridor.

I wondered if I had somehow returned to the part connecting to the main palace, but thankfully, it wasn’t.

This was just the end of the hallway.

“This place is relentless. I’ve walked so far, and it’s still the Crown Prince’s palace.”

Come on, now. Realizing this strange feeling, I calmed down without even realizing it.

“…No matter how much I struggle, it feels like I’m still in his grasp.”

“Whose grasp?”

“Who else, of course, that damn Baek… Huh?”

At the moment I answered absentmindedly, a different chill ran down my spine than I had felt with Rata earlier.

Turning around reflexively, I found Baek Yigang standing there.

Right behind me.

I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t noticed Baek Yigang approaching so close.

Wait a minute, doesn’t that floral decoration on Baek Yigang’s head look familiar?

It seems like I’ve seen it somewhere before…

“…Doesn’t that decoration hurt?”

It was exactly the floral decoration I had refused a moment ago.

Now that I see it, that wretched designer had prepared it as a set on purpose.

If I hadn’t escaped, I’d probably have the same flower in my hair as Baek Yigang right now.

Wow. Just thinking about it makes me dizzy. I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.

“Hmm, not really.”

Baek Yigang shrugged nonchalantly, looking indifferent.

He’s annoyingly pretty. The ivory uniform, golden sash, and the violet brooch, glittering like a star, all looked incredibly good on him.

Despite being so flamboyant, it wasn’t over the top at all; it just looked right.

Maybe because his face was the most striking, the clothes and accessories didn’t stand out.

To think I was worried I might look like the protagonist next to someone like this… I feel embarrassed for no reason. I shouldn’t have worried at all!

‘Well, no matter how splendidly you dress, Your Highness, it won’t be more than that. I dare say, you will shine the brightest today.’

The words Rata had said earlier flashed through my mind. It was a perfectly reasonable statement, one that left nothing to be argued.

The problem, however, was that it wasn’t the clothes that were shining, but rather the face.

Nonetheless, Rata surely knew that, which is probably why he had made Baek Yigang’s uniform as elaborate as he did.

But that’s that, and right now, there’s another issue at hand.

“By the way… Why are you here?!”

With the Founding Festival just around the corner, why is he standing in front of me?

And not only that, how did he even find me here at the far end of the Crown Prince’s palace?

Barely had I begun to wonder when I sensed the presence of two more people behind Baek Yigang.

Come to think of it, weren’t there shadows too? Sometimes I forget because they’re so hard to see.

Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to detect their presence, but since I had just been relentlessly chased by Rata and his subordinates, my senses were on high alert.

Thanks to that, I was able to catch a glimpse of their presence, if only for a moment.

“Is it strange for me to be in my palace?”

“Well, the thing is, you should be…”

Baek Yigang looked at me, seeing the meaning in my eyes that he shouldn’t be here, and he let out a chuckle.

The sound of his careless laughter lazily drifted to my ears.

“I just came to pick up my partner.”

“Partner?”

“Yes. On a special day like this, it wouldn’t do to be absent.”

Then, Baek Yigang promptly extended his hand toward me.

It seemed the partner he was referring to was me.

He seems a bit gentler than usual today. Is it because of the big event coming up?

“Hmm, it feels like I’m shaking hands with a villain.”

“That’s harsh. I’m standing right here, you know.”

Baek Yigang squinted his sharp eyes at my words.

He didn’t really look offended, but it was a decent enough reaction.

“Well, I have no choice.”

“Welcome to the villain’s lair.”

Resigned, I took Baek Yigang’s outstretched hand, and he matched my movements as if coaxing a child.

“Seeing that you’ve dressed up so nicely, it seems Rata has done his job.”

At those words, I swallowed dryly. I mustn’t mention that I refused to wear the same floral decorations as him…

His grip was firm. Baek Yigang naturally led me forward.

“You know, there are a lot of people today. So, take a good look around. You’ll be seeing them often from now on.”

As soon as Baek Yigang finished speaking, Asel caught up from behind. I couldn’t see them, but shadows were clearly following us too.

At this point, wasn’t I just performing tricks right in front of Baek Yigang instead of being in the palm of his hand?

Escaping or whatever… Oh well…

* * *