Chapter 247

Chapter 247

Kaichen was dumbfounded. Dalia was so flustered that she was making no sense. But even so, she was so cute that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Wh-why are you laughing?! You’re making fun of me! Am I funny?!”

Kaichen tugged at their gripped hands and pulled her towards him. He hugged Dalia tightly, even as she pursed her lips.

“I knew you were going to do something like this… Hng, do you think you can just get away with this?”

Kaichen laughed lowly. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous.”

Dalia’s shoulders stiffened in his arms. She knew that Kaichen was right, and she hated it.

“I got g-goosebumps. Master, I think my fingers are bending because you’re so cheesy.”

“I’ll straighten all your fingers for you, so shall we go to your room?”

Dalia tried to escape from his arms, but Kaichen only hugged her tighter.

“Dalia, I only have you,” he said. “I’ll only look at you, so don’t avoid me anymore.”

Dalia slowly nodded, her face still red.

Kaichen smiled and patted her on the back. “Good girl.”

He glanced out the window and sighed. It was a pity that it was still daytime, but he didn’t care. He wanted Dalia right now. Would Dalia see him as a crazy perv3rt if she read his thoughts?

***

I didn’t make a deliberate effort to avoid Kaichen for an entire week. It was more like I couldn’t bring myself to face him, feeling ugly and consumed by jealousy over his attention towards Yanghwa and her treatment needs.

In the beginning, I didn’t hold back my complaints. I let my dissatisfaction be known. But as time went on and Kaichen spent more and more time with Yanghwa, I found myself unable to speak up, drowning in anxiety. Mentally, I cursed Yanghwa, but then I caught sight of my reflection in a window and a wave of shame washed over me.

Gosh, I looked hideous.

Yanghwa had suffered at the hands of terrible people and was struggling with an addiction to opium. She genuinely needed help. Meanwhile, my jealousy was just plain silly.

‘She avoids people because she can sense their magic.’

So, when I thought about it without my jealousy goggles on, I realized why Yanghwa allowed only Kaichen to get close. And did that realization make my behavior even more embarrassing.

A cough escaped me as I recalled my own foolishness.

I sought comfort in Kaichen’s arms, trying to hide my embarrassment, but he saw right through me. He smiled and reassured me, “No need to be jealous anymore.” The atmosphere got a bit awkward, though. But before we could dwell on it, Julius stormed in, as per usual.

Kaichen made this annoyed click with his tongue when he noticed the shiny ring on my finger. He muttered some curse under his breath, like “f!cking b@stard.”

I squinted at him, curious about his reaction, and figured I might as well give the magic communication thing a shot. I activated the seal and connected with Julius. I was met with his scream.

[Why on Earth didn’t you talk things out properly with Kaichen?! Your actions messed everything up!]

Julius went off, but then he saw Kaichen right there, next to me, and he shut up quickly. It was pretty obvious they were keeping something from me.

So, I put two and two together. Kaichen had decided to stop taking care of Yanghwa because I kept avoiding him.

Kaichen, cool as ever, spoke up. “I don’t think you understand who you’re talking to.”

[She’s in a tough spot. Can’t you keep looking after her until we can contact Suran’s emperor?] Julius pleaded, looking at me, not Kaichen.

“Why are you asking me, Your Highness? I can’t even get near the princess, let alone take care of her,” I responded.

[Because I don’t think Kaichen would say no if you asked.] Julius replied, as if forgetting that Kaichen was standing right there.

Kaichen’s eyebrows furrowed, and he shot a piercing glare at Julius. But the prince didn’t care and kept pleading with me.

[I know any help you can provide will be limited, but please, I’m begging you. If there was any other option, I wouldn’t resort to this. You know me, right?]

Pause.

Even Julius, the crown prince himself, was willing to humble himself for Yanghwa. That’s how valuable she was.

Out of all the female leads from the original work that I had encountered, she was the only one, and she was Julius’s ally.

Letting out a soft sigh, I stole a glance at Kaichen and nodded.

“How can I disobey Your Highness’s orders? I made a promise to te Master, so don’t worry.”

[That’s why I appreciate you.] Julius beamed with gratitude.

“Your Highness, you don’t have to appreciate her like that,” Kaichen interrupted, immediately wiping the smile off Julius’s face.

After ending the call with Julius, I listened as Kaichen shared the details of his conversation with Yanghwa. His cold treatment of her sparked a tinge of sympathy within me. I mean, could someone really be that indifferent? But that compassion was tiny, like a speck of ant poop.

“Master, you were cold to her because of me, and for that… I’m hap—no, you went too far.”

My heart felt like it might burst, and I nearly bit my tongue a few times, but I mustered the courage to firmly hold Kaichen’s hand as I spoke.

“Because Master loves me as his partner. And as for Yanghwa… no, I’ll make sure I understand your care for Princess Suran.”

“No.”

“I won’t be jealous anymore.”

“No, I don’t want that.”