The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Sweat formed on her forehead.

‘He must be saying this casually, right…?’

Laria had never met someone so hard to read as the Crown Prince.

He had no sense of authority, his actions were erratic, sometimes sharp enough to cut, but then he could be carefree.

On top of that, he had the ability to foresee. His words could be jokes, but it was hard to tell if they were serious.

“…It’s probably because of the location.”

Laria didn’t have the confidence to look at Zenox, so she fixed her gaze on Ishel.

“At that time, I left without a word, so I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to accept your apology.”

Ishel, embarrassed, shook his head.

It seemed he was trying to change the mood. Whether that was his intention or not, he smiled brightly.

“Anyway, I’m glad you both came.”

“You extended the invitation personally, so of course, we should come.”

Zenox, who had been silent all along, replied.

To Laria, it sounded like, ‘I didn’t want to come, but since you invited us, I guess we had to.’ And to Ishel, it sounded like, ‘Thank you for inviting us.’

Each had their own thoughts.

Ishel, who had been smiling contentedly, quickly looked around.

“It seems that the two of you are the stars of today’s event.”

Ishel whispered that everyone was paying attention here.

“Well, both of you rarely attend banquets.”

Laria raised her eyebrows at his murmuring.

It was natural for them to be the center of attention if they were going to publicly announce their engagement at the banquet.

‘I almost got into trouble again.’

She had no idea that the engagement announcement would proceed like this.

When Laria’s expression turned confrontational once more, Ishel instinctively looked at Zenox.

It seemed like Lady Rohan was angry. So he asked with his eyes, ‘What did I do wrong?’

Zenox pretended not to notice Ishel’s signal.

‘I can’t just be fooled again.’

Laria cautiously looked up at Zenox.

Their eyes met, and Zenox slowly closed and then opened his eyes, like a cat giving an eye greeting.

Sensing that Laria had something to say, he finally exerted some force on the arm she had squeezed. Laria took a deep breath and began to speak.

“Your Highness, there’s something I’d like to discuss.”

“What is it?”

She wanted to say that she wanted to cancel the engagement announcement today and postpone the engagement ceremony… but there were many eyes and ears around.

“Can I tell you after we change locations?”

“Shall we go to the lounge or terrace? Are you coming, Zenox?”

Zenox looked at her as if asking, ‘Do I have to state the obvious?’

Finally as they stepped away, the banquet hall buzzed.

“Oh my. Which family could it be?”

“It’s the Rohan family.”

“Everyone in that family is impressive.”

The ladies fanned themselves faster.

Theodore and Semela, as well as Herdin, gathered not far away.

Although the family wasn’t interested in the banquet, they all came out for one reason – Laria’s attendance.

The faces of the ladies who were looking at Herdin turned bright red.

They didn’t know much about his personality, but he had a pretty good face, so women’s attention was drawn to him. Despite not caring about the attention, Herdin naturally ignored the gazes.

Theodore, Semela, and Herdin approached Laria directly.

The ladies’ faces, who had been surveying Herdin, brightened.

Although his character was unknown, his appearance was quite good, attracting the women’s attention.

However, Herdin naturally ignored the pouring attention.

The three who had been facing forward came straight to Laria. All eyes were focused on her, as if Zenox wasn’t even visible.

“I was worried you were late.”

“There was a problem with the carriage, so we’re a little late. Was everything okay?”

Semela asked sweetly, and Herdin grumbled beside her.

“Why is it so hectic? It’s not even the market.”

For a moment, Herdin and Ishel’s eyes met.

Herdin’s expression, meeting a boss on a holiday, crumpled like a rotten leaf. On the other hand, Ishel was as crumpled as a wet paper.

Since the arranged meeting incident, Herdin has become brute.

Ishel, looking at Zenox, awkwardly exclaimed:

“Oh! By the way, I have something important to discuss. Shall we go out for a moment?”

Zenox tried to ignore it naturally, but Ishel held onto his arm and didn’t let go.

“Please, just nod for me,” he whispered desperately.

“Shall I go?”

“…Yes.”

Yeah, Zenox would handle it for her, Laria thought. It was about delaying the engagement announcement.

Ishel took Zenox with him as he disappeared into the crowd.

Herdin clicked his tongue at the sight of Ishel, who looked like a frog running away from a snake. Looking at the situation, one wouldn’t know who was the Crown Prince and who was the doctor.

Judging from the fact that even with that personality, he isn’t fired, it seems like his skills are recognized.

‘Well, even my burn marks were healed without a single scar.’

The burn marks from the fire incident were completely gone. It was all thanks to Herdin.

“Still, I guess he didn’t completely lose his wits as he took the Grand Duke away.”

“Is it okay to say it like that?”

Laria cautioned while looking around at Herdin’s words.

Herdin snorted and said:

“He says even worse things in front of others.”

To what extent had the Crown Prince’s authority fallen…

“It seems like he’s completely absent-minded.”

“Maybe it’s better to go home quickly…?”

Semela and Theodore, sticking close together, already suggested going back.

‘I want to go home too… Really.’

Even though Zenox was away, when her family joined, all eyes were back on them.

Laria tried to soothe the family with a smile, as if dealing with children.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been to a banquet. How about chatting with other people a bit…”

But it seemed that no one really wanted to socialize, and everyone had somewhat uneasy expressions.

Especially Herdin, who looked absolutely disgusted.

“Colleagues from work are everywhere, so why bother?”

The men who received Herdin’s gaze flinched.

They seemed to be knights judging from their physique and short-cropped hair, but they avoided Herdin’s gaze in a hurry, as if they didn’t want to make eye contact with him.

“What exactly are you doing at the imperial palace?”

“Why do you think I’m the problem? Maybe those guys are the problem.”

Wasn’t that a bit too arrogant?

“Why don’t you go over there and have fun with your colleagues from work?”

“What? Are you saying crazy things like that? You’d know how I feel if you had a job!”

“If I tell you I want a job, you’d probably oppose me!”

“Of course!”

The two siblings argued fiercely.

Theodore and Semela were too busy guarding the surroundings to stop them. According to Semela’s theory, pests needed to be exterminated in advance.

After the heated argument between Herdin, Laria looked around belatedly.

Everyone was looking at them with curious eyes.

‘I was too excited…’

Already the center of attention even before, now that everyone was staring, it felt like she was an animal in a zoo.

Just as Laria was about to turn her head, she noticed a person with red hair among the unfamiliar faces.

‘Sienna?’

Beside Sienna stood a middle-aged man she had never seen before. Judging by his fiery red hair, he seemed to be Sienna’s father, Marquis Hashir.

Sienna, who had been talking to those approaching her, glanced in her direction.

Her eyes widened as they met. She seemed to have something to say, as her lips twitched, but she turned her head back.

Marquis Hashir looked puzzled as he watched Sienna, then turned his gaze towards Laria.

‘Why are they coming here?’

Sienna and Marquis Hashir walked towards Laria.

It was strange behavior because, except for the Crown Prince, no one else had approached them, and especially not Sienna, who wasn’t very close to Laria. And she had never interacted with Marquis Hashir.

Laria glanced at her family members, who had been sticking close, and fixed her gaze on Sienna.

His slightly shaking shoulders caught her eye.

Before she knew it, the Marquis had come right in front of them and greeted Theodore.

“It’s been a while. Count Rohan.”