Chapter 6: I’m Sorry for Hurting You

‘Hmm, was it my imagination?’

Clea looked at the back of her hand, wondering if the pain in her chest had subsided somewhat.

The speed of the second hand within the clock pattern on the back of her hand remained unchanged.

Her time diminishes as it flows.

Though it might be considered more precious than anything else, Clea didn’t particularly care.

No matter how much time she had left, life here was meaningless to her.

Though she hated wasting time that should be precious, her heart remained empty.

However, the situation before her eyes was not a waste at all.

“Why are you staring at your hand like that?”

“I was checking if it was broken since Your Highness grabbed it so tightly.”

“Show me.”

“Fortunately, it’s not broken.”

“I only believe what I see with my own eyes.”

‘He speaks like someone with terminal paranoia.’

There was no particular reason she didn’t want to show her hand.

She only said it because she wanted to observe Edmund’s reaction, but he seriously told her to show her hand.

Clea extended her hand to Edmund.

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Edmund’s hands were calloused.

As the sole heir, he was the one who would lead the empire in the future.

Thinking that if Edmund grew up weak like glass, it would be the end of the empire’s future, the Emperor raised him even more strictly.

From an early age, he was made to learn horseback riding and swordsmanship, as well as academics and various experiences.

Some worried that a man who would have everything might easily become arrogant.

But Edmund was a pure man, contrary to his hair color.

That’s why that one night with Clea had to be recognized as an intensely memorable night for him.

The thrilling atmosphere of that night, the arms that desperately held her despite her seemingly detached appearance.

It felt like a secret that no one else would know.

Even now, he found it difficult to take his eyes off the small, soft hands that had stroked his hair last night.

Clea smiled as she looked at him.

“I lied. It was actually warm. I was cold, you see.”

“You’re the only one who would so openly tell me it was a lie.”

“My, my. There are plenty of people around you who tell lies, they just don’t admit to it being lies, both now and in the future. How naive of you not to notice something like this.”

Edmund merely smiled at her words that were meant to tease him.

He doesn’t know how long she had been outside.

Though he could roughly guess why she came out and what happened at the Odoi family, it was too early to be certain.

However, what mattered right now was the woman before him. Edmund took her in with his red eyes.

“If you have nowhere to go, won’t you come to the palace with me?”

Hearing those words, Clea thought about what had happened earlier.

Just earlier, he had been giving off an air of it being too late for regrets and that she would have to follow his words from now on, yet now he was giving her the choice.

It seemed as though he had no intention of taking her forcibly. Clea held back a smirk at his kind and caring heart.

‘Is this why she chose Edmund?’

Compared to the arrogant Lloyd, he was like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.

But thinking she would prefer him to be a bit more forceful, she provoked him.

“Is this all there is to your question about regrets?”

Edmund’s face hardened momentarily at her question implying his show of authority was lacking.

Clea found it amusing as she looked up at him.

Finding a person amusing…

The only people she had seen here were her family according to her registry, Lloyd, and Aria’s followers.

Of course, she had occasionally encountered Edmund while attending the acade together, but that was about it.

This was the first time someone had interested her like this.

“Alright. I’ll accept Your Highness’s invitation.”

He nodded at those words.

Looking up at him as he stood there saying nothing like a mute who had eaten honey, Clea wanted to make the most of her remaining time.

After all, the man before her would soon turn to Aria Hersher according to the flow of the original story.

Until then, she thought it wouldn’t matter if she stayed by his side.

Cursing the god who had transmigrated her into Clea Odoi and made her suffer through painful days, she decided to enjoy herself for a while.

* * *

Edmund called over Oberon, who had been standing guard at a distance.

Oberon frowned momentarily upon seeing the figure standing beside him, but quickly composed himself.

After all, Edmund’s orders came first right now.

Edmund didn’t miss the expression that appeared on Oberon’s face.

Though he desperately wanted to point it out right there, he was worried about Clea staying too long in the cold.

So he postponed the reprimand and ordered him to prepare the carriage quickly.

Partly because she was wearing heels, but also because he didn’t want her exposed to the cold on the way to the palace.

Oberon was about to suggest leaving Clea behind, but gave up upon meeting Edmund’s cold gaze.

“Take my hand.”

“Hmm, come to think of it, this is my first time being escorted.”

“Did your fiancé never do this for you?”

“If that’s what being engaged means, it seems all the young ladies in the empire lead unfortunate lives. Or perhaps they’re only treated well after marriage.”

Clea thought of Lloyd.

He was always irritable whenever he saw Clea.

He would always chase after other women, saying he couldn’t understand how he could marry someone like her.

His father, the Grand Duke, would scold him for this and apologize to Clea.

He would occasionally give her expensive jewelry as an apology.

Clea didn’t care.

Even affection requires attention to exist.

While the original Clea seemed to have strong feelings for Lloyd, the current Clea had no particular interest in him.

The Persi grand ducal family was closest to the imperial family and wielding immense power?

What good was any of that?

With her modern sensibilities, such things weren’t reason enough to maintain such a miserable engagement.

‘Not to mention his face isn’t even my type.’

There was no reason to be interested in a man who was busy tormenting his fiancée while avoiding breaking off the engagement.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me for this.”

“I’m still thankful.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“Since Your Highness says so, I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Clea was quite satisfied with the man before her.

She wouldn’t go on about his different personality or naturally flowing dignity.

She just found it amusing that this man, who had shared a moment of pleasure with her, couldn’t forget her and came looking for her.

“Clea Odoi.”

“Oh my, is he riding with us too?”

Though Clea and Edmund had gotten into the carriage, the door remained open.

Oberon was glaring at Clea as if he wouldn’t allow it.

“Oberon.”

When Edmund called his name in an emotionless voice, Oberon trembled.

“We’ll discuss the rest when we return to the palace.”

“…Is that Your Highness’s wish?”

“How tiresome.”

Edmund avoided answering.

He didn’t want to reveal his feelings in front of Clea.

Not because he disliked her, but because his feelings weren’t sorted out yet.

Though the two seemed to interpret it differently, Oberon couldn’t ignore his wishes.

He glared at her once more as if he could kill her.

Clea let out a laugh at the absurdity, and Oberon closed the door with trembling hands.

Even as he closed the door, Oberon mouthed words to Clea:

‘He’s not someone who should associate with the likes of you.’

Clea couldn’t hold back her laughter at those words.

She wanted to say at the same time:

‘What makes you qualified but not me, you fool.’

But she held back, thinking that if she continued arguing with him, cold air would keep coming in.

Besides, she could see that Edmund was already annoyed.

Finally, with the door closed, the carriage departed.

Perhaps because it blocked the cold wind,

Her body warmed up as soon as she entered the carriage.

“When we get to the palace, warm yourself up first.”

“And after that?”

The atmosphere heated up inside the carriage where only the two of them remained.

Clea spoke deliberately, wanting to tease Edmund, and Edmund unconsciously swallowed.

Unlike his innocent appearance that day, his eyes held fire as he looked at her. The corners of Clea’s lips turned up.

“You should rest.”

“If that’s what you want…”

What a boring man.

Clea whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

Though Edmund felt his mind twisting at the ticklish provocation, he still exercised patience and let it pass.

He thought it would be better for her to rest today since she had been in the cold for so long.

“Your Highness! My apologies! It’s because of the children passing in front!”

“Are you still going to just rest?”

“Ha.”

However, it seemed things wouldn’t go according to his wishes.

Because as the carriage jolted, Clea was lifted up and fell onto Edmund.

Edmund froze as he caught her.

Her bright red lips flickered before his eyes.

Edmund was flustered at their proximity, which was close enough for their lips to touch.

Though he desperately tried to maintain his reason, in the enclosed space, with her scent reaching his nose, memories of the previous night numbed his rationality.

He kissed Clea.

Clea went along with Edmund.

After all, this was what she wanted too.

After several minutes had passed like this…

Smiling with not a hint of shyness, Clea brushed up her bangs while looking down at Edmund.

“Your red eyes are pretty.”

Edmund bit his lip as he watched her gazing down at him intently.

But before long, she returned to her seat and asked.

“So shall we just rest tonight?”

Unlike before, he found it difficult to answer confidently.

Seeing Edmund like this, Clea said with a bright smile,

“I think I’ll have to take back what I said about you being a boring man.”