CH 3

Rupert’s face showed his concern for Chloe.

He suddenly looked up at Enoch. He then asked the maids to take care of Chloe and strode back this way.

“I thought you were busy.”

“It’s alright, Your Highness.”

Rupert still spoke in an overbearing and arrogant tone. The novel clearly stated that such a tone was attractive, but hearing it from Erin’s point of view, I was only repulsed.

Still, given that the ceremony had just ended, I had to act as his wife. I wanted to ask for the Crown Prince’s understanding, but our heroine Chloe did not remain silent.

“Rupert… Ha. I’m dizzy Rupert…”

Her small, weak voice desperately called for Rupert.

Rupert began to look visibly restless. Did he come back here because he realized that he had just gotten married?

But what can I do? You should go.

The two were destined to be together, and I was nothing but a nuisance between them.

Looking at Rupert, I said, “She’s calling for you. Shouldn’t you go?”

As soon as he heard me, he ran back to Chloe without bothering to reply. I looked at them and sighed.

Just when I was about to leave myself… I couldn’t help but feel helpless.

I turned to the Prince who had reached out his hand earlier. “Your Highness, may I ask you a favor again?”

When I reached out to him, His Highness glanced at Rupert and Chloe, and said with a smile, “Of course. Let’s go, then, Count Spilet.”

Taking his hand and turning lightly, our footsteps were neither heavy nor light.

What I needed most now was time and space to think quietly. But as soon as I took Enoch’s hand and walked out of the hall, I was dazzled by the scene in front of me.

There was a square outside the hall, and in the middle of it was a large wedding carriage. And there was a red carpet from the entrance to the carriage.

I was flustered, but then again, so were countless people.

Who wouldn’t be? The bride, who was supposed to walk out through the door with the groom, was escorted by another man. And the other man was none other than the Prince.

I took his hand and walked out of the hall, but I was a little overwhelmed by the sight in front of me.

However, there was one person who wasn’t flustered at all.

“I will escort Count Spilet to a carriage.”

At his words, the escort knights and attendants began to break through the crowd. The path they cleared was in a different direction from the red carpet, and at the end of that road stood another carriage.

I glanced at Prince Enoch, who stood next to me. I had read it in the novel, but it was reassuring to see that he didn’t seem to get unsettled easily.

I smiled as he escorted me, then the murmurs from behind started again.

Looking back, Rupert was walking out.

His blond hair sparkled in the sun as if all the sunlight was his.

Even the pale Chloe in his arms shone brightly.

“…Even the sky is on the main character’s side.”

“Pardon?”

“I-it’s nothing, Your Highness.”

I tried to ignore them, but I turned around and looked at them with a strange sense of deja vu.

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When I remembered it, I suddenly froze. In the novel, Chloe collapsed at Rupert and Erin’s wedding, and the Prince carried her out.

It was the first scene where the second lead appeared, so I remembered it clearly.

I looked at them with a stiff expression and turned back to see the Prince’s emerald eyes on me.

“Your Highness?”

“I don’t think it’s a scene worth watching, Count Spilet.”

“Ah…”

Even with his gentle expression, his tense facial muscles caught my eye.

I didn’t really mind, but somehow Enoch seemed more upset. I wondered why it was that way, but soon I could understand. The Prince was a just and righteous man, and Rupert’s actions would not be acceptable by his standards.

Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling that someone was angry instead of me.

But no matter how I felt, my thoughts became more tangled. What would happen now that the scene here changed?

The Prince, who had stopped when I did, looked at me and asked carefully, “Shall we?”

I nodded and turned completely away from them.

Rupert took Chloe, and I didn’t see where they had disappeared.

“Haa, really.”

The wedding dress was really heavy and difficult to move into. It wasn’t easy to even step on the foothold while holding his hand.

Enoch, who was watching me struggle, stopped me with his arms.

“Count.”

As I looked at him in surprise, Prince Enoch held my knees at the hem of my dress and lifted me onto the carriage.

When the calm yet heavy scent filled my senses, my muddled mind instantly went blank.

“Please wait a moment,” he calmly said to me, sitting so nervously.

He asked for patience yet waited until I nodded before he closed the door and left.

Only then could I be in a quiet place.

Sighing, I closed my eyes. “Why me…”

My head throbbed. Was this headache Erin’s pain or mine? While I pressed my fingers on my temple to soothe the pain, the noise outside gradually dwindled.

The door opened when I was peeking through the window to see what was happening. Enoch was outside the door, and she couldn’t see any people behind him.

Perhaps he dismissed everyone.

When he looked at me for a moment, I wondered if he would hesitate, but he came in and sat across me. I thought it was a fairly spacious carriage, but the space felt narrow when Enoch sat across me.

There was a moment of silence, then he sighed. “Haa, he wasn’t that kind of guy.”

“… It’s a fake marriage, anyway.”

He immediately shook his head and said, “No, even so, it wouldn’t make sense to do that kind of thing there.”

Rupert disappeared with Chloe because Enoch did not go to Chloe. What made him come here?

“…Your Highness.” My voice ringing in the carriage was strange. I didn’t even know if I was speaking properly. However, his earnest green eyes encouraged me to continue. “Why did you bring me here?”

“That’s…”

For the first time, he showed embarrassment. As if contemplating the answer, he frowned and avoided my gaze.

Seeing that look, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

“I didn’t mean to argue. It’s late, but thank you for your help.”

Even in my greeting, he was silent.

“So…”

I wanted to explain more, but he interrupted me.

“…… I’ve seen a lot of weddings, some of which, as the Count said, were fake.”

He chose words slowly and carefully.

His elbows, bowed down, were resting on his knees. As a result, we were quite close.

“It’s rare for nobles to marry for love. However, even with such a wedding ceremony, I have never seen a wedding where the bride couldn’t even wear shoes. That’s all.”

After saying that, the conversation ended again.

So the heel broke, and the story diverged from the original because I took off those shoes? Haa, I don’t even know anymore.

It seemed that the Prince felt bad for Erin Spilet, who was standing there.

Honestly, it was a lie if I said I wasn’t impressed by his actions and words that saved me.

But on the contrary, it has become a bit confusing.

Even if Erin knew of the deal against Rupert, would the Crown Prince have lost his temper instead of Erin?

No, it couldn’t be.

Apart from Rupert’s actions at this wedding, it was clear that Erin’s blackmail and deal with Rupert were terrible.

That’s what I was paying for now. How frustrating.

As I thought about it, my blood ran cold.

Yes, I have to wake up.

At the end of the day, the Prince was still the second lead in the novel. In other words, he’s also Chloe’s man.

“Where would you like to go?”

I couldn’t answer right away. The wedding was over. So where do you usually go?”

“……Where can I go?”

Enoch blinked, looking at me with those beautiful green eyes.

Yes, I admit it was a stupid question. But he, who had been calm all the time, burst out laughing.

“W-why are you laughing?”

“The Count, who hasn’t reacted after going through what she did, is now blushing.”

“Ah…”

I covered my face with the back of his hand and looked at his smiling face. It was refreshing to see a smile on that handsome face. His laughter was infectious, and while it wasn’t the time to laugh, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“If you’re not comfortable going to the Duke’s house, we can take you to the palace tonight.”

Fortunately, his words were a hint. I guess I’m going to Rupert’s mansion.

“The wedding has just ended. I can’t. Your Highness, if possible, would you be able to take me to the Duke of Clifford’s mansion?”

However, his face fell. Since then, he didn’t answer.