I Slept with the Villain Holding My Hand

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Merria asked in wonder, “Does His Highness’ second prince often go hunting enough to make it his hobby?”

 

“Yeah. He does it a couple of times every quarter without missing a beat.” Brana answered not knowing Merria’s surprise.

 

‘I knew he enjoyed drinking, but I didn’t know he enjoyed hunting in private.’

Merria thought to herself.

 

‘Certainly, Dominique resembles the previous emperor more than Afrion.’

 

Hunting seemed to be out of date in the capital, but it was still one of the nobles’ hobbies in areas where the emperor’s presence was not significant.

 

While Lilith also went down to the estate, she learned to hunt as a hobby.

 

“But how does Brana know that?”

 

“That’s because the Crown Prince entrusts us with orders from time to time. Because he used arrows made of wood.”

 

“What’s the name of the top by any chance?”

 

“It’s Mandela’s top.”

 

‘Ahh.’

The Mandela was a large top that had long been trading with the imperial family.

 

A wealthy commoner named Mandela, an early merchant, made his name known from the eastern continent, bringing in medicinal herbs to cure the Emperor’s ailments.

 

He was given the title of baron in exchange for contributing to the health of the Emperor, and it seems that his last name was Owen.

 

As Merria shook her head, Brana took a step closer and lowered her voice to whisper.

 

“I’ve received a lot of orders for the arrows this time.”

 

“…?”

 

“Ah, to be exact, as much as he always ordered, there was one more order and then another anonymous order later. I could tell that the arrows, which were dyed blue at the end, were only being distributed for the sake of His Majesty Dominique. Combined, that’s three times the usual amount.”

 

Triple than usual… Why would a prince who’s not even a knight and lives in the middle of the capital need so many arrows?

 

He wouldn’t even go hunting for a hobby every month, but it was very suspicious. Then suddenly, for a moment, I thought that Brana might get in trouble one day because of her cheerful mouth.

 

“Well, Brana, is it okay for you to tell me these important things?”

 

I was grateful for the information, but it could be dangerous for Brana.

 

However, contrary to Merria’s expectations, Brana was only bad at social conversational skills, but she wasn’t an ignorant person.

 

The incident at the Fabro’s mansion was a case of over-excitement. Brana’s eyes widened, and clasped her hands tightly, and looked at Merria.

 

“You’re worried about me! But don’t worry too much, I don’t go around saying this to just anyone.”

 

“Why only to me…?” Merria asked.

 

“Please consider it as a small sincere token to you for graciously forgiving my rudeness.”

 

Merria’s worries doubled as Brana smiled brightly.

 

After the conversation with Brana was over, Merria called the staff instead of going to Reukis.

 

Although it was not officially opened, many items caught my eye because it was stocked.

 

The staff who carried the items she pointed to immediately returned with two carefully packed boxes.

 

Merria chose a hairpin with little pearls and a candle that smelled of the dawn forest. One for Serinia, who lends her books for a long time, and the other…

 

“Reukis. It’s your present!”

 

It was for Reukis, who had been with me since early hours.

 

“I thought it might be helpful for you, so take a look. Thank you for coming with me today.”

 

When she first gave him a handkerchief, Merria decided to give him a small present often.

 

The problem, however, was that the word

‘small’

itself was too subjective. I couldn’t choose easily because I wanted to give a better present and a prettier one every time.

 

The point was to buy a small gift that comes to mind.

 

Therefore, today was the perfect day to give him a small present. When she handed the box, Reukis, standing still by the wall, looked at her with round eyes.

 

He held the same box without a word.

 

Merria, who had been thinking for a while about what it meant, burst into laughter.

 

“Ahㅡ if someone sees us right now, they might shake their head for ridiculous reasons.”

 

“Is that so?” 

 

The corners of Reukis’ lips also formed a smile. The two exchanged identical boxes.

 

“Can I open it?” Merria asked.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Be sure to open it before you go to bed when you get home.”

 

The scented candle she chose was a scent reminiscent of a forest sold anywhere, but the price was unusual.

 

I bought it because it had magic on it that clears a person’s head and helps sleep.

 

Merria worried about Reukis, who wouldn’t be able to sleep again with fever and headaches after her ring disappeared.

 

Now that I could no longer help him in that part, I felt even more concerned and worried. That’s why I chose this gift.

 

Reukis nodded like an obedient child. Merria’s lips curled to a smile at the sight, and she relentlessly untied the ribbon of the box he gave.

 

Inside the box was a lavender fountain pen.

 

“It’s beautiful. It looks like you’ve been here the whole time, but when did you buy this?” Merria asked as she blinked her eyes.

 

“I’ve been here the whole time. Shouldn’t the roads cross when you come to me? I asked the staff to pack it.” Reukis said tenderly, touching her fingertips.

 

Then Karina, who found the two of them, approached. “Merria.”

 

“When were you here, Karina?” Merria asked with delight.

 

“I just got here,”  Karina responded with a slightly awkward gesture.

 

Merria’s head tilted at the unusually bustling feeling.

 

“Karina,”

 

At the person who appeared next, Karina flinched and trembled. Merria and the others around her looked at him with astonishment.

 

“I see the Crown Prince.”

 

Merria, who quickly cleared her expression, bowed her head lightly.

 

Altheon nodded when Reukis, who was standing by Merria’s side, greeted him together.

 

“Well, it’s not even a public visit.”

 

“Why are you here?”

 

When Reukis asked, Altheon raised an eyebrow and looked at him. Then Altheon also gazed at him, asking,

‘Aren’t you here too?’

 

Karina, who was listening to their conversation, spoke with a smile.

 

“I asked him to come with me. I’d like to tell him that there’s a place like this—”

 

“I think you’re only getting better at lying in front of me.”

 

Before Karina could finish speaking, Altheon shook his head. He wrapped his hand around Karina’s waist and curled the corners of his lips.

 

“I can’t ask her to have a meal together, so I followed her wherever she went out of curiosity.”

 

“…!”

 

At Altheon’s sly remark, Karina shouted a little. The earlobes, visible through her half-tied hair, were burning red.

 

Altheon grinned as he looked down at Karina.

 

“If you’re done greeting everyone, will you go to have lunch with me now, right?”

 

Karina pursed her lips and nodded her head violently. Merria cheered their love affair with a warm gaze.

 

‘It doesn’t look like a one-way street to my eyes, but I wonder if the person involved doesn’t feel it.’

Merria thought as watched the two love birds.

 

Karina presented Lysia with flowers and soon left with Altheon.

 

Reukis, who glanced at the clock, also led Merria’s hand out of the store.

 

As soon as they went outside, the sky that greeted them was still as blue as water.

 

“This way.”

 

As I walked along with him, a large carriage appeared in front of us. Why did it seem like he sent the carriage we rode together first?

 

Merria glanced at him in secret, and Reukis tilted his head innocently.

 

“Don’t you want to ride the carriage?” Reukis asked.

 

His golden eyes were as bright as a child’s, but Merria knew that wasn’t all there was to it.

 

She saw from him a desire not to say anything until Merria got on the carriage.

 

There was no way that Reukis would take me to a harsh place, so I decided to grant his request for now.

 

Upon entering the carriage, the interior was more spacious than it appeared from the outside.

 

The chair, which seemed more comfortable than usual, was wide enough for five people to lie down neatly.

 

‘This… It looks like a carriage for long-distance trips or journeys.’

Merria thought to her surprise.

 

Then Reukis jumped into the carriage and closed the door himself. Meria didn’t know where she was being kidnapped, and she just enjoyed the scenery outside.

 

After I got out of the shopping district, I could see a lot of blue scenery outside the window.

 

As the carriage began to run at a moderate speed, a cool breeze blew in. Reukis lightly held Merria’s hair, which was blown by the soft breeze, so as not to turn messy.

 

Thanks to this, Merria, who enjoyed the scenery to her heart’s content, closed the window and turned her head.

 

“So, you won’t tell me until we arrive?”

 

Reukis rolled his eyes at her question.

 

“Didn’t you say something to me before?” Reukis responded with a question.

 

“…?”

 

‘We’ve had a lot of conversations before…’

Merria pondered.

 

At his ambiguous answer, Merria simply leaned over Reukis.  She whispered in his ear as her face came near his.

 

“Please give me a little more hint as a courtesy for lovers.”

 

Reukis, who shrugged slightly, reached out and wrapped his hand around Merria’s waist gently.

 

Reukis answered in a low voice, laying his head upon Merria’s head leaning on him.

 

“I decided to go on a trip together instead of working hard.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Come to think of it, on the last day of Coming-of-Age Night, I said something like that. And then, without making any promises, I was wasting my time with this and that.

 

Merria, who had suddenly become a person who took a promise lightly, pulled her body away from him.

 

Reukis looked down at her with a half-disappointed, half-mischievous expression on his face.

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