Chapter 20: Chapter 20

“Get the carriage ready.”

Suli blinked at Bioust’s words as the crown prince watched the mansion being engulfed by flames with an expressionless face.

“What carriage?”

“A carriage for my bride to ride in.”

Suli’s eyes widened at Bioust’s reply.

In reality, both Suli and Bioust were already seated in a carriage. It was the most luxurious, comfortable and finest imperial carriage of the empire.

“Are you ordering me to prepare an additional carriage?”

“Yes.”

Bioust then rose up from his seat. Suli, who had not fully understood what the crown prince had said, got up as well.

“I’m not sure what kind of carriage you’re talking about.”

“My bride still doesn’t know that I am the crown prince.”

“Are you saying that you intend on keeping it a secret even when she gets onto the carriage later?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Suli asked in confusion.

Suli pondered upon the personality of the number one groom of the empire. No one will be able to utter a word about Bioust’s temperament since he was indeed the prince.

Bioust may not be kind or sweet, but obviously, any woman would desire him since he was the crown prince.

Which woman wouldn’t like becoming the crown princess of the empire?

Thus, Suli could not understand why Bioust was trying to conceal that fact from a woman.

“My bride is a very shy person.”

Bioust then got out of the carriage and popped his neck left and right. The way he warmed up did not look like a man who is about to pick up his bride, but rather more of a sportsman or hunter.

“No matter how shy a woman may be, there is no way she would refuse the crown prince.”

“That would be true if you’re that woman,” Bioust replied as he thought of Layla.

The woman was small, skinny, and looked like she had a body that could break easily if he ever squeezed too hard. She was also like a cat that had sharp nails.

However, when caressed a little, she would unintentionally purr like a cat and not know what to do, Bioust mused.

“Why are you chuckling like that?”

“What?”

“Did you just laugh?” Suri asked as he stepped in front of Bioust after assisting the crown prince put on a jacket.

“Are you laughing because something good happened?” Suri asked again.

“Stop talking nonsense and get the carriage ready.”

Bioust, who seemed indifferent towards the luxurious imperial carriage, started walking into the forest.

“No, I mean… You laughed as if it was the most amusing thing in the world…”

Bioust had not heard what his servant muttered behind his back. Even if he had heard it, Bioust would not have bothered as he was already unconsciously chuckling again.

***

The bright red mushroom looks like a fruit. I can’t say that it was appetizing, but it certainly wasn’t very disgusting or inedible, Layla thought to herself.

Having decided that she wanted to die, Layla had wandered in the forest in search of some poisonous plants. However, she was unable to find what she was looking for.

Eventually, she found a ‘Poison Rose’. It was red and beautiful like a rose, but did not have thorns that would prick the finger. In reality, it was a poisonous mushroom.

Although it was a poisonous mushroom, it was small and incapable of being fatal. As Layla wanted to die, it would take her some time to collect enough for her to consume and fulfill her wish.

After picking a handful of ‘Poison Roses’, Layla began to wander in the forest again. She was now concerned about where she could die.

The place where she had picked the ‘Poison Roses’ was dark and humid enough for the mushrooms to grow. However, she felt uncomfortable at the thought of mushrooms sprouting from her corpse if she were to die there.

Moreover, it was not like someone was going to bother collecting her corpse. So, she was looking for a spot that was quiet which would allow her corpse to be one with nature quickly.

As she wandered around like that, she had unknowingly returned to the familiar sight of her cabin.

“In the end, this is the place…” Layla mumbled as she gazed upon the charred remnants of her cabin.

This will do.

Afterall, it was the cabin she had lived in for ten years. It was a small shelter that was built in a sunny place of the forest. It was not a bad place to live or die in.

Sitting faced towards the burned cabin, Layla glanced down at the bright red mushrooms she had.

“I wonder what these smell like…”

Layla had rarely ever smelled anything else because of the stench that emanated from her body. Be it a pleasant or awful smell, nothing could ever compare to the overpowering stench of her body. All scents just cease to exist.

Layla picked up a mushroom and sniffed it closely.

If this is poisonous enough to kill a person, surely it will smell worse than I do.

Alas, there was no smell. Even a poisonous plant did not smell worse than her odor.

Layla abruptly laughed.

Looks like I’m more poisonous than this mushroom.

She then popped a mushroom into her mouth, but there was no flavour to it.

Perhaps I can’t taste it since I was never able to really smell things in the first place.

Since there was no taste, Layla moved her jaw a little and began to chew on the mushroom.

“What are you doing here?”

Layla looked back in surprise at the sudden voice.

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There stood a smiling Bioust.

“Whoa~ Those red mushrooms look delicious,” Bioust said as he reached and took a bright red ‘Poison Rose’ from her, putting it into his mouth as if it was the most natural thing to do.

“Wha–“

Layla, who was trying to stop Bioust, spat out the mushroom that was in her mouth as it was preventing her from speaking.

“What are you doing?!”

Her pronunciation slurred since her tongue was coated from the poisonous mushroom, but it was enough to convey her embarrassment and anger.

“Oh. It looks delicious.”

“Do you think you can eat anything that looks delicious? What do you think this is?!”

“But were you not eating it as well?

“Yes, but…!”

“What is it?” he looked at her with serious and innocent looking eyes. As if wanting to eat whatever Layla ate, Bioust patiently waited for her response with a genuine smile on his face.

“T-this is…”

“Layla.”

No words could come out. She could not say that the mushrooms were poisonous and her intent was to die from eating it.

Unable to say anything, Layla could not look at him and lowered her gaze.

Despite a gentle voice calling out to her, Layla could not bear to raise her head.

“I’m a witch,” she said weakly.

“I don’t know why you can’t smell it, but I do stink. It’s an overwhelming stench… That’s why people call me a witch.”

Layla raised her head and turned. Bioust followed her gaze towards the burned cabin.

“That’s why the cabin is like this. It was to burn a witch to death.”

Then everything became clear to Bioust.

It was because of how she smelled that she was labelled as a witch and had to die. An existence that should not have been. That was the problem.

“Layla.”

Gently, he cupped her face and gently turned her to face him and not at the burned cabin.

“You don’t stink.”

“You only say that because you can’t smell it.”

“Yes, that is true,” Bioust smiled kindly as he whispered lies.

In truth, it was not that he could not smell her. Rather, she gave out a sensual scent that was more intense than her odor.

The scent was the same now.

The scent of tears as she cried pitifully, the scent of her stiff golden hair, and the scent of flesh from her white skin.

Put together, they emitted a strong scent that excited Bioust from within.

“You’re not a witch. You’re just an ordinary girl.”

Intoxicated by Layla’s scent, Bioust smiled gently and bent slightly so that Layla would meet his gaze.

“Well, I can’t say that you’re ordinary. You’re actually really adorable.”

“Lies.”

“Why do you think it is a lie?”

“I… I’m not adorable.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I have unruly hair, rough skin, and am short and skinny. Even a stinky witch like me has eyes.”

“Haven’t I told you already? You don’t smell at all. So, you’re not a witch and–“

Sweet yet greedy eyes watched Layla.

As Layla had said, her hair was stiff while her skin was rough and just white. However, that was because she did not have the luxury of bathing in floral water or receiving oil treatment as an ordinary noble woman would.

In the eyes of the public, rather than looking skinny and short, Layla looked gloomy and anxious.

Bioust was the only exception.

Only Bioust who was a descendant of the imperial family would be able to detect the overwhelming sensual fragrance Layla exuded. Just the fragrance alone will take the attention away from her appearance. It was Layla’s scent that was capable of inciting the beastly side of Bioust regardless of what time of day it was.

Her appearance was never important.

“Of course, I may be the only one, but what is wrong with that? You’re adorable in my eyes.”

For a short moment, a flush of light pink appeared on Layla’s pale cheeks.

“So, would you like to come with me? Your cabin has burned down and you have no place to go now. Layla, I’m very worried at the thought that you have nowhere to sleep tonight.”

As if in response to the sincerity in Bioust’s voice, Layla bit on her lower lip. Gripping tightly at her old skirt, she turned her gaze towards the red mushrooms.

“Won’t you please?”

A large hand slowly held onto Layla’s hand. A warm and gentle hand that enveloped her small and rough hand, as if protecting it.

“Come with me.”

“… Okay.”

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Although Layla did not look up at him, Bioust smiled softly when she finally agreed.

“Thank you for agreeing to come with me.”

In contrast to the friendly voice, a cold smile spread across Bioust’s face. Layla, who was preoccupied with looking at the big, warm hand that held hers, remained oblivious.