Chapter 61

I shot up from the ground. There was no need to call Aaron.

The moment my feet touched the floor, I leaped and kicked.

“Princess?”

Before the top of my foot could connect with his handsome jaw, Dante took a large step back.

“Princess!”

I pressed my attack, giving him no room to defend.

I clenched my fist and threw a quick punch, but he leaned his head back again to dodge it.

*Whoosh.* My arm cut through the air, stopping just a hand’s breadth from his face.

He tilted his head, looking at my fist.

“Such a fierce welcome.”

“It’s not over yet.”

I unfurled my fist, gathering strength in my fingertips.

A knife-hand strike.

The sharp edge of my hand grazed the bridge of his nose.

*Damn it! My hands are too small!*

If these were my old hands, I would have crushed his nose and then some.

I bent my arm and spun around.

A spinning kick, using the momentum.

He raised a strong forearm to block his face.

*Thwack!*

A tremendous impact shot through my leg. The attack had landed squarely.

But he only staggered for a moment before smoothly deflecting my next attack like flowing water.

He stepped aside, dodging the fist rushing toward his face.

Then he snatched my wrist and pulled me toward him.

“Seeing how you move, you don’t seem to be hurt… so what is all this about?”

“Shut up.”

As he pulled, I let myself be drawn in and twisted my body.

At the same time, I struck his solar plexus with my elbow.

*Thud!*

He twisted away, but he couldn’t dodge it completely.

I was pressed too close, almost as if in an embrace.

My elbow glanced off, scraping against his ribs.

“……!”

Dante’s expression hardened for a second, then he gave a seductive smile.

“This is fun, but I’m curious. Don’t you think I deserve to know why I’m being attacked?”

His unique scent and low voice reached the back of my ear. Goosebumps rose on my skin, my hairs standing on end.

“I told you to shut up!”

I tried to push him away and escape his embrace.

But Dante was faster. He pulled me into a hug. Then, from behind, he wrapped his arms around me, binding me so I couldn’t move.

“The princess prefers a physical conversation to a verbal one. We have similar tastes.”

His voice was laced with laughter.

I scoffed and threw my head back.

In that instant, Dante lifted his chin high.

I expected him to let go and jump back…

*Thump!*

The back of my head collided with his solid chest. Not with his handsome nose.

*I didn’t account for the height difference.*

It must have been quite painful, but he didn’t let me go. Instead, he tightened his arms, holding me fast.

“Let go.”

I lifted my leg and stomped hard on the top of his foot.

But Dante dodged even that, casually stepping back while still holding me.

Because of that, I couldn’t even finish my attack and was dragged a few steps along with him.

As expected, he’s not an easy opponent.

“I said, let go.”

“Tell me why, and I will.”

“Let go!”

“The reason first.”

“The reason? If you’re so curious, why don’t you ask your father?”

“……Who?”

He must not have expected that. The strength in his arms loosened slightly.

I immediately grabbed his upper arms and bent forward sharply at the waist.

An overhead throw.

It was an attack adapted from the Taekwondo throw.

*Thud!* Dante, slammed onto the dirt floor, let out a short groan.

“Ugh!”

I quickly straddled his body, pressing one knee into his chest.

I didn’t bother to restrain him. This wasn’t enough to quell my anger.

I desperately wanted him to attack again.

I have no taste for tormenting someone who doesn’t fight back.

But Dante didn’t resist.

He could have easily escaped, yet he just lay there, letting me do as I pleased.

“This is the second time. That the princess has been on top of me.”

Spouting such nonsense.

“Do you like this position?”

“Shut your mouth! You sick pervert!”

“I may be mad, but I don’t think I’m a pervert… Hmm, though I can’t be certain, lacking the experience.”

“Stop talking nonsense. I’m done going easy on you.”

“I’m curious. What happens when you stop going easy? Why don’t you do as you please, Princess?”

He urged me on in a hushed, conspiratorial tone.

Smiling like a devilishly charming lover whispering sweet nothings.

*Even in this situation, he’s trying to act composed?*

Not to be outdone, I met his gaze and gave him a gentle smile.

“Do I look like I’m playing games?”

“No.”

“That’s right, this isn’t a game. Your father attacked me and the Duke.”

“……”

Dante’s expression changed in an instant. The smile vanished.

“Are you sure?”

“Whose blood do you think is all over my dress?”

“……”

“The Duke took a knife in the back for me and collapsed. Even with S-rank healing abilities, he hasn’t regained consciousness. He lost too much blood.”

Attacking Duke Ruthius is unforgivable. Same goes for Alex.

Because the only one who gets to cause them pain is Astell.

*No one else.*

A chillingly terrifying energy slowly spread through Dante’s jet-black eyes.

Was it because the Emperor acted on his own, or was he resentful of being targeted for the Emperor’s mistake?

I couldn’t tell what exactly he was angry about.

“So, what do you think I’m going to do now? Take a guess.”

“……”

“You don’t know? Should I give you a hint?”

I lowered my head, bringing my lips to Dante’s ear.

“I’m a rabid dog that bites first when provoked. I don’t care who my opponent is. I see nothing but red.”

As my breath touched him, his skin tensed.

I slowly caressed his cheek, where the fine hairs stood on end.

“Do you understand now what you people have done?”

“……He’s provoked someone he shouldn’t have.”

“You get it. Go tell your father. He picked the wrong opponent.”

The Emperor has probably already been informed that the mission failed and is planning his next move.

But the moment he learns that I’m a madwoman who attacks indiscriminately when crossed, regardless of status, he’ll start to feel uneasy.

I don’t care if the Emperor, unable to bear the anxiety, does something crazy to me.

Because I’m even crazier.

“I’ll show you just how vicious a mad dog can be.”

I said coldly, tapping Dante’s cheek.

Just as I was about to stand up, Dante tilted his head.

“Why should I?”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Why should I have to warn His Majesty? What does he have to do with me?”

“……He’s your family.”

“Some families are worse than strangers. Just as some strangers can be more precious than blood relatives. You of all people should know, having experienced it yourself.”

I know it better than anyone.

Because I had someone who was more precious to me than my own blood.

Ye Shinwoo.

I narrowed my eyes and looked down at Dante.

“What do you mean by that? That I’ve ‘experienced it’?”

Dante stared up at me. After a short silence, he spoke.

“……You don’t call Duke Ruthius ‘father,’ so I assumed your relationship wasn’t good.”

Something was suspicious.

He’d had no contact with me, so it was unlikely he’d figured that out from a mere title.

“If you noticed that, does it mean you’re the same?”

“Want to make a bet? On who has the worse relationship with their family.”

I had already suspected that his relationship with the Emperor wasn’t as good as it was publicly portrayed.

But whether I could bring him to my side was another matter entirely.

“Good. Then you won’t be too sad when I take care of him. Just sit back and watch.”

As I answered with a sneer, his lips curved into a captivating smile.

“Shall I help you?”

It’s a trap!

I knew it the moment I heard it. He had another motive.

Though I couldn’t discern his exact intentions.

“What could you possibly do to help?”

“With the plan inside the princess’s head.”

“Sorry, but I’m more than capable on my own.”

“It would be much easier if I helped.”

“Do you think I’d fall for something like that?”

“What if I join your guild? Would you be able to trust me then?”

“……!”

That would be the perfect way to screw over the Emperor.

The Emperor plans to build a guild centered around Dante.

But if Dante joins my guild, he’ll have to halt all his plans.

*Dante knows about the Emperor’s plans.*

I sat astride his chest, lost in thought for a long while.

If I play my cards right, I might be able to use his relationship with the Emperor…

*I can’t trust a verbal agreement. Dante could just deny it later.*

Just then, he laughed softly.

“Princess, how long are you going to sit on top of me? I don’t mind, but if someone sees us, won’t the rumors just grow wilder?”

“……!”

Suddenly, I remembered what happened at the dressmaker’s shop.

“This is a problem. You can’t possibly attend the party with someone else when you have a lover, can you?”

“……L-lover? Sir Dante is my lover?”

“Oh? Is that not the case? The rumors about you two being lovers are quite widespread.”

The reason I didn’t deny the rumor was that I couldn’t afford to lose Louis.

So I decided to pretend to be Dante’s lover for the time being, planning to negotiate with him somehow when we met later.

Of course, I was prepared to accept some losses. After all, I was the one in a tight spot, not Dante.

*But what if I make that rumor a reality?*

A triumphant smile spread across my face.