Chapter 43

‘Why is the Second Prince here?’

In my confusion, I unwittingly loosened my grip.

In that instant, a smirk played on Dante’s lips.

‘Damn it!’

By the time I realized my mistake, it was already too late.

Dante swiftly flipped us over.

He pinned me to the floor and straddled my stomach.

I belatedly swung my arms, but Dante, as if anticipating it, effortlessly caught both my wrists and pinned them to the floor.

Our positions were reversed in an instant. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been overpowered so easily.

My shock at the assailant’s identity was the main reason I couldn’t counter properly.

“Ugh!”

The crushing grip on my wrists made me frown involuntarily.

Dante stared down at me for a moment before asking.

“Does it hurt?”

“Can’t you tell by my expression?”

“I’m not accustomed to reading others’ expressions.”

“Ah, I suppose that makes sense. You’ve likely never had to care what anyone else thinks your entire life.”

“You’re right. So tell me. Does it hurt?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if it didn’t? This is the grip of a swordmaster, after all. Let me warn you now. If you break my wrists, Duke Ruthius will demand compensation from the imperial family. The duke is very concerned about my well-being, you see.”

In reality, it was probably because my value would drop if I were injured.

‘No need to mention that part.’

Dante chuckled at my nonchalant reply.

At the same time, the pressure on my wrists eased slightly.

I sighed, clenching and unclenching my tingling hands. The pain that felt like my wrists were about to shatter had subsided, but his grip was still too firm to escape.

“Why don’t we act like civilized people and have a calm conversation on the sofa? We’re not animals, and this position on the floor is a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Weren’t you the one who threw me to the floor, Princess?”

“Hmm, would you believe me if I said I planned to seat you on the sofa after I subdued you?”

“Not a chance.”

“Drat, you saw through me. To be honest, I was going to break all your limbs, tie you up, and shove you in a corner. A shame I got flustered, or I might have succeeded.”

“Princess…”

Dante narrowed his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping over my face.

“You don’t seem nervous, even when faced with me.”

“Are you going to kill me?”

“You, Princess? Of course not.”

“Then why should I be nervous? Ah, though there is one thing that worries me slightly.”

“What is it?”

“You do realize this position could lead to some serious misunderstandings, don’t you? I’m worried a strange rumor might start between Your Highness and me.”

“Who else is here?”

“There’s one person over there. Though he looks like he’s about to die.”

There was another person in the room besides Dante and me.

Burman Miller, the master of the information guild. He desperately reached a hand toward them.

“P-please, could you… save me first… and then talk…?”

As if only then noticing the master’s presence, Dante turned his head to look at him.

Now!

I seized the moment he looked away, jerking my head up to headbutt him.

Just before my forehead could collide with the bridge of Dante’s perfectly shaped nose.

Dante released my wrists and sprang to his feet.

‘He let go that easily?’

I concealed my bewilderment and shot to my feet.

I thought he might be about to attack, but that wasn’t it either.

Dante was already seated on the sofa. He gestured to the seat opposite him with his chin.

“Sit.”

“I refuse.”

“Didn’t you suggest we talk like civilized people? If you’d rather not, we can go back to our previous position. I actually preferred that one.”

*Try it if you dare, you pervert. This time, I’ll definitely break that perfect nose of yours.*

I expressed all of this in a single word.

“Hmph!”

I suddenly missed Johan, who would blush just from holding my hand.

I calmly walked over, retrieved Arondight from where it was embedded in the wall, and stored it away.

Then I took out a potion and poured about half of it onto the master’s shoulder. The bleeding stopped instantly, and the wound slowly began to close.

‘To save someone on the brink of death… This truly is a top-grade potion. I guess Alex really did wait in line to buy it.’

Dante said nothing the entire time. He simply watched my actions with his jet-black eyes.

Feeling his piercing gaze on the back of my head, I had the master drink the rest of the potion.

“Ughhh, haaah…”

Burman, who had been on the verge of death, let out a long breath.

Having regained his senses, he looked at me with tear-filled eyes, so grateful he seemed ready to kiss my feet.

“Thank you… thank you so much. You saved my life, Princess! I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have plenty of opportunities to repay me.”

“…Pardon?”

I left the bewildered Burman and turned back to Dante.

“Could you stop staring? I can feel you burning a hole in the back of my head.”

“If you’re done, sit.”

I suppressed a sigh and sat on the sofa. I had no idea why he was insisting I sit when we had nothing to talk about.

‘He can’t be mad about my pathetic attack. Is it because I interrupted his torture?’

But Dante’s question was unexpected.

“Why did you come to the information guild?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I came because I have information to trade with the master.”

“What kind of information?”

“That’s surprising. You don’t seem like the type to be interested in other people’s business.”

“Even I get curious when I’m interrupted.”

“Then Your Highness should answer my question, too. I had something I was curious about as well.”

“Fine. You first, Princess.”

I readily began.

“I wanted to know which noble owns the most houses in the capital.”

“Why?”

“I’m planning to move out.”

“Lying is against the rules.”

“A lie? Do you have some kind of disease that makes you unable to trust people?”

“You come to an information guild to ask who owns the most houses in the capital when that very noble is your father? Princess, I’m not an idiot.”

What? I thought Duke Ruthius was just rich with cash, but he’s a real estate mogul?

Dante rested an elbow on the arm of the sofa. The way he loosely propped his chin on his hand looked like something out of a painting.

“The Duke would never allow it in the first place.”

“You’re mistaken. The Duke and I came to an agreement about me moving out.”

“For an unmarried noble lady to move out on her own implies she’s been expelled from her family for something like an affair. Even if there are other circumstances, that’s what everyone will think. Would the Duke allow such a thing? Do you really think he’s that lenient?”

Suddenly, Duke Ruthius’s words came to mind.

“Oh, right, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I’m planning to move out.”

“When?”

“As soon as I find a place.”

“…It will be difficult to find a house in the capital, won’t it?”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Do as you wish. However, you must find a proper house.”

At the time, I thought he meant I should find a decent house so as not to embarrass the family.

But looking back now, his words were laden with meaning. *Find one if you can.*

‘I think he even smirked a little… Ah, damn it! That sly fox, Duke Ruthius!’

The reason the agents refused to make a deal wasn’t because I was the Mad Princess.

It was because Duke Ruthius had already pulled strings to prevent me from signing a contract for a house.

Of course, he probably didn’t own every single house in the capital.

But the agents had no choice but to fall in line.

They would be terrified of getting on the bad side of the empire’s wealthiest man, who also happened to be a duke.

I clenched my jaw.

Dante, who had been watching me quietly, licked his lips slightly.

“I recognize that look on your face. It’s the face of someone who’s just been blindsided. Am I right?”

“…And quite hard, too. I feel dizzy.”

“How will you repay me?”

“Repay you for what, all of a sudden?”

“You realized you were deceived because of me. When you incur a debt, you must repay it.”

Wow, I thought the Duke, who’s trying to extort 1.8 billion in cancellation fees, was the biggest robber baron around.

Who knew there was another one of his caliber right here?

“Tell me the real reason you came to the information guild. Then we’ll call it even.”

“Don’t you know that persistent men are unattractive?”

“My charm lies in my face, not my personality. Just like you, Princess.”

“…Thank you for the unexpected compliment.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I gathered my thoughts.

‘It’s probably best to tell him some of it.’

Dante didn’t seem like he would just let this go.

“A strange rumor has been spreading through the capital. It was detailed, yet subtly incorrect. It seemed like someone had deliberately manipulated the information.”

“And?”

“There aren’t many who could spread a rumor like that in a single day.”

They would have to acquire correct information, mix in falsehoods, and then disseminate that fabricated information far and wide.

“It had to be the work of a group with an organized system and easy access to information.”

“So you concluded the information guild was involved.”

“I wasn’t sure which one, exactly.”

“So you came to confirm it with the master?”

“Yes. Though someone beat him half to death, which has made things difficult.”

Dante smiled knowingly.