Chapter 299: Chapter 132.2

“You’re just a third person playing Curtis Samuel O’Fallon. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

Raul’s disguise was uncovered.

It was the first time Rishe had ever seen such a scene, even in her life as a hunter. She felt at a loss for words and looked up at Arnold standing next to her.

Raul put on a confused look and spoke, as if troubled.

“Arnold-dono, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about…”

“It’s easy to identify a man imitating another with just a closer look at his movements. Unconscious hand gestures are completely different from conscious behavior, and the way you use that body is completely inconsistent.”

Arnold looked at Raul, asserting something so incredible as if it were nothing.

“The same goes for your tone. There is a very subtle distortion of it due to the deliberate change in the way the vocal cords vibrate. — It’s really quite grating, isn’t it?”

“Huh, hahaha!”

The real Raul laughed, but his laugh sounded somewhat dry.

“…Are you a monster?”

The look on his face was one of faint awe.

Raul shrugged and added cheerfully.

“You already knew, so why did you let me be?…Oh, to find Sigwell’s real intentions?”

“I don’t see why I should bother answering. Let’s go, Rishe.”

“Hey. If she is so important to you, shouldn’t you free her from your political marriage?”

His voice pierced into their backs, but Rishe’s freedom wasn’t about to be arbitrarily decided.

“I’m sure your fiancée would appreciate it.”

“Raul! I…”

Just before Rishe was about to turn around and argue with him, Arnold told Rishe first.

“――I don’t care how much you’ll hate me because of this marriage.”

“!”

A throbbing pain struck her heart.

Still holding onto Rishe’s wrist, Arnold turned his head and stared at Raul.

“I’m not going to let her go…This one will definitely be my wife.”

A sharp gaze pierced Raul, clearly different from the one he had just received.

Why?

Rishe could feel the sadness seeping out from right next to her throbbing heart, so she closed her lips to suppress it.

Raul’s smile turned distorted, but he challenged Arnold again.

“That’s awful. You’re aware that you’re going to make her unhappy, but you’re forcing her to be your wife.”

“Right you are…Rishe.”

This time, Arnold started walking with Rishe’s hand in his own.

Rishe wanted to say something, but she didn’t feel like she could string something. Rishe looked down and slowly walked with Arnold’s lead.

Still, there’s a gnawing in my left chest…

The tingling pain made it difficult for her to breathe.

Arnold also kept his mouth shut and said nothing. He only looked back at Rishe when they finally climbed the stairs to the fourth floor and stood in front of her room.

“I’m sorry.”

Arnold gently released his hand that had been detaining Rishe’s wrist.

On that note, he took Rishe’s hand and examined it, as if he were fitting her with a ring.

“I think you gripped your hand a little too hard.”

“…”

“Is it painful?”

Rishe shook her head in silence.

Arnold apologized, but his grip was not violent.

Although he indeed pulled her along unyieldingly, he didn’t make Rishe’s bones creak or bruised her.

It wasn’t the wrist he grabbed that Rishe’s pain stemmed from.

“Why did you say that?”

Her feelings bled into her question.

“Be at ease.”

Arnold calmly answered and reached out to caress Rishe’s cheek.

“Just because I won’t let you go doesn’t mean I’m going to tie you down to everything.”

“……”

Rishe’s hair hung over her cheeks because she was looking deep down.

Arnold gently smoothed it, combing it.

“You can continue telling me whatever you want. ―― I swear I will make them all come true, as long as I can.”

However, this part that Arnold mentioned wasn’t what Rishe meant by “that.”

“You said you believe I’ll hate you because of our marriage.”

“…Ah, right.”

Arnold openly affirmed while tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Do you dread marrying me?”

“…….”

He acted as if he were nurturing an infant.

His gaze, his voice, and the way he touched Rishe radiated the warmth of his care for her.

After some childish reluctance, Rishe placed her own hand on the back of Arnold’s hand. She couldn’t bring herself to raise her head, but she still looked up at him.

“…You’re Highness is stupid…’

“―― ……”

Arnold’s eye widened in response.