CH 17

Clyde’s head, which had been hung high, gradually drew closer.

At that moment.

“Edith?”

A clear voice like dawn came from not far away.

A smooth, clear voice with a higher tone than Clyde and fits right into the ear.

Edith reflexively pushed her hand away from Clyde and looked back at the person who called her. The face made of clear skin like clear water was staring at the two of them, unable to hide a look of surprise.

“Adri…”

She didn’t expect to run into him like this.

Somehow, she was walking too slowly. When the two of them set off first, the servant went to pick up Adrian, but he was caught up in the gap.

She had made the original top and bottom meet in the worst situation.

Was it because of the feeling that Adrian’s lower eyelids looked like they were slightly distorted? The flesh that had risen thickly and made his beauty stand out was narrowed down.

The bewildered gaze alternated between Edith and Clyde. Staring at his hand that was still wrapped around her shoulders, he realized Clyde’s identity with his luxurious sleeve decorations and attire.

“Greetings to Your Highness, I’m Adrian Raymond, Count Ryan III of the Sky Ice Cliff. It’s an honor to meet you unexpectedly.”

He bowed politely with one knee and arm folded; he bent his purple hair, which was loosely tied and stretched back, at a polite angle.

Clyde received Adrian’s greetings in a dignified manner.

“Thanks to Edith, I’m meeting Sir Raymond at the palace.”

“I’m grateful.”

“I just found out that the two of you are friends. I’ll allow you to walk often.”

Adrian raised his head and his face wasn’t bright at all. He might have seen the special relationship between Edith and the Crown Prince.

The atmosphere was very cold.

“I will be grateful for your words. Then I’ll come to see Edith often if you excuse me.”

Adrian picked up on Clyde’s formal words. It was nothing more than her declaration that she would meet her often.

Edith took a step back and took Clyde’s hand away from her, and this time Clyde’s eyes became fierce.

The shining golden eyes were like wolves.

“What’s the matter, Edith? Hold my hand.”

As if he didn’t know, he came up to escort her again.

Something was out of the ordinary. The meeting between the two of them didn’t go as planned.

She expected it would work out somehow if he just greeted him, but a completely different aspect unfolded.

Since they were the original story’s main characters, shouldn’t they have a feeling that attracts each other like a magnet? But what? No matter how much she looked at them, there was no sign of a special feeling blooming between the two men.

Adrian glared sharply while consecutively keeping the law, and Clyde acted like her lover, exercising his ownership over her.

She needs to change the mood. The original plan was to tie them together and sneak out.

Edith asked bluntly, pretending not to see Clyde’s hand.

“Your Highness, where is the south point bench? Is it far from here?”

“If we go to the shortest course, it will be quick. The maze just has a bit of a twist because it was fun to wander around, so the road is complicated, but in terms of distance, it’s not far.”

“Wow, that’s great.”

She lined up behind him, it was meant to go there immediately.

Actually, she had been wanting to do this for a while. If the road was narrow, they could just stand in a line. What’s the point of sticking so close and putting your arms around each other’s shoulders?

Clyde clenched his stretched hand. Although he seemed very displeased, he couldn’t refuse her request and took the lead.

❋ ❋ ❋

No one spoke while walking in line with Edith in between. She was the only one who was troubled by the awkward atmosphere.

The situation in which she had secretly held her expectations was mercilessly broken. When she looked at the back, she saw Adrian made a gesture that he wanted to talk to her separately, and Clyde kept reaching out his hand in front of her.

The problem was that they didn’t even look at each other. Even if it turns into a story where they fight and then turns into the original story later. They should have paid attention while disliking it, but they just hated it and didn’t show interest.

She didn’t know why. Why was it so different from the original?

By the time she barely reached the point, she was sweating on her back because she was busy with many things, whether she had to sweep her hair or keep her speed with the pace.

In the distance, a large, circular space with grass appeared.

There were also a lot of flowers blooming around the central garden. A bench set decorated with small marble sculptures caught her attention.

However, she couldn’t see her feet properly for a moment because she was distracted by the delicate angel sculpture.

Her foot tripped over a stone and she fell forward.

“Ah!”

I stumbled and my body was bent.

The clear blue sky spun quickly. A sudden wind flew past her ear as if she was riding a roller coaster. Her vision blurred, and futility glimmered before her eyes.

It was different from simply falling.

The moment she realized it was unusual, the original passage appeared as if the marble statue and the screen overlapped.

[Clyde slowly approached ==. The murmurings of others who flocked like clouds and filled the banquet hall disappeared in the distance. ==’s shaky vision and deaf ears were filled with Clyde.]

What the hell was that? Why was Clyde’s counterpart’s name removed?

It used to be Adrian. This was definitely one of the few things she had seen.

[The serving cart that was ready to serve the hall reached behind ==. There was no room for further retreat. ==’s feet froze between Clyde and the food in the back.]

Who the hell was that? Of course, it has to be Adrian, but if it was erased with ==, should she consider the possibility of it becoming someone else?

Moreover, the timing when such a fantasy appeared before her eyes was exquisite. Now, it was right after the original was changed for the first time according to Edith’s operation.

Perhaps the original story has changed because the timing of the two main characters’ first meeting has changed. However, even if that was the case, what if the name was deleted only when the background or circumstances changed?

The writing kept coming while she couldn’t get over the shock.

[Crash! == tripped and overturned the plate. The stain spread clearly on the clothes’ sleeves. As the strawberry was pressed on the palm of the hand, the white lace became more stained.]

[Clyde grabbed ==’s hand with sweet juice on it. The strawberries are all crushed.]

So who knocked the plate over?

[Fruit’s sweet smell and Clyde Alpha scent that was like a beast. A mesmerizingly close distance.]

[== trembled with the fingers sandwiched between them.]

In the meantime, the novel was gradually moving on to the part where the heat was rising. There was a situation that made her want to keep reading the next scene.

Edith focused on the hologram-like text with her eyes fixed on the air. She also had to find hints to uncover ==’s identity, and she wanted to read what they did while crushing strawberries.

But Edith was falling.

The original story passed in a very short moment.

Just before she banged her head on the ground, Adrian, who was following her, quickly grabbed her elbow.

“Be careful, Edith.”

Thanks to that, she was barely able to escape the crisis.

Adrian quickly grabbed her waist as he found it difficult just to pull her elbow.

A long and slender hand spread out around her navel. The wrapping and pulling force were unexpectedly strong and more stable.

It was out of the blue, but she remembered the moment when Adrian emphasized that he was strong. He sounded as if he was confident in using his stamina. There was also a hidden meaning to not looking at him only as a delicate omega.

She stood upright while putting strength on her toes and glanced back at Adrian.

“… Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. You almost got hurt.”

The arm around her waist was soon released, but he wouldn’t let go of her elbow.

Clyde’s expression darkened as he was leading her.

She missed his reflexively stretched hand, and later he clenched his fist.

“Let go of that hand.”

Clyde interrupted in a scolding tone.

“There was a stone sticking out in the middle of the road. I’ll escort Edith.”

“Then I’ll help you.”

“How dare I ask for Your Highness’ help. I’ll manage it.”

To be honest, when Edith read the original work, she used to find it a bit daunting. Why was she being supported? She was healthy and her limbs were fine.

Having missed a few steps at best, the two men offered to look after Edith.

“I’m fine. And isn’t that the South Point right over there?”

She headed to the bench alone, freeing herself from two men who were openly trying to engage in a war of nerves for nothing.

However, soon after, she felt that the heels of her shoes were loose. Her shoes must have been broken when it got caught in the stone.

Adrian was fast again this time. He followed her with a hasty step and noticed the limping steps.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I’m not hurt, but I think my shoe’s heel is broken.”

“Oh dear. May I take a look at it?”

Then her body suddenly flashed up. Clyde picked her up from behind.

“Ah!”

She screamed in panic, looked almost horrified.

Clyde supported her back below her knees and pressed her gently to his chest. Perhaps the weight of an adult woman was meaningless to him, and the movement flow was so easy.

“I can’t help it because you can’t walk. I have no choice but to carry you.”

“D-drop me off.”

“It’s right in front. Just stay like this for a moment.”

She struggled and wanted to get out of his arms, but she hesitated for fear that she would unnecessarily increase the weight. For now, she had to avoid the worst situation where Clyde felt heavy and dropped her.

Her stiff toes were neatly gathered together. She placed her hand on his shoulder to balance the center of gravity.

Excuse me, Your Highness. Just because the heels of her shoes were broken that didn’t mean she couldn’t walk. The limp walk would disappear.

She couldn’t bring up what she had in mind.

His mouth seemed frozen as she was held in the male’s strong arms.

“Your Highness, let me take a look at Edith.”

Clyde was busy making eye contact with her, without even noticing Adrian was closely followed.

Why did it feel so slow to go through the last passage of the maze? In her nervous mood, Edith grabbed the shoulder line of the men’s coat.

But somehow, the hugged pose felt natural. His arms wrapped around her upper body tightly, as if she had been hugged before. As she searched through her memories, nothing came to mind. By common sense, she would never get a princess hug from Clyde.

“Your Highness, have I ever had a similar experience… there isn’t, right? I don’t think so.”

He nodded without hesitation.

“Of course not. What could have happened for me to hold you?”

Pretending not to know, Clyde was delighted and had no idea what to do.

Edith had no recollection of the night being carried to bed in his arms. Clyde was the only one who remembered that night.

A smile broke out on its own, and the corners of his lips parted loosely. His smile was overflowing with captivating charm.

As he recalled the night, Clyde’s new plan was hidden in an unknown expression.