I Reincarnated as the Daughter of a Runaway Sub Heroine - Chapter 66

“Leaving already? Aren’t you going to read more?”

His breath was a bit rough, perhaps because he had rushed. It seemed someone had informed him of my arrival.

“If you’re done with your work, let’s go somewhere together. I have something to show you. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

I slightly furrowed my brows. What could he possibly want to show me? Why was he being so proactive?

“This time, the diplomatic delegation that visited gave me a magnificent bird as a gift. It’s truly beautiful. Especially when all its feathers are spread out, it’s breathtaking. I’ve never seen such a wonderful and beautiful bird in my life!”

Despite my silence, Persis continued to speak.

“You asked me to make you laugh last time, right? I guarantee that when you see this bird, you won’t be able to help but laugh!”

Persis smiled brightly, and at that moment, I could be certain. This guy was going to such absurd lengths with the intention of marrying me.

The greed of humans for power is truly terrifying—to go this far for someone they dislike.

As I looked at him with narrowed eyes, I held my skirt and slightly bent my knees.

“I greet Your Highness.”

At my polite greeting, Persis’s expression turned bewildered.

“Unfortunately, I cannot go see the bird. I have other appointments.”

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“I have been too disrespectful to Your Highness. I am deeply reflecting on my actions, so please forgive me.”

After bowing once more respectfully, I brushed past him.

He quickly blocked my path.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? What’s with that mismatched honorific speech?”

“There’s no other reason. Foolishly, I have come to realize that I should no longer be rude to Your Highness.”

“Forget it; just act as you were. This is really creepy, you know?”

“That cannot be. I apologize, Your Highness.”

I turned around and started walking again, but Persis followed me. He asked in a flustered voice,

“Did I do something wrong to you?”

“You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Or are you bringing up old issues now?”

“I told you, it’s because I can no longer be disrespectful to Your Highness.”

“I said I’m fine!”

“Even if you’re fine, I’m not fine.”

“What? So in the end, you’re saying you’ll do what you want, not for my sake?”

Did he just realize that?

I scoffed. Anyway, being close to him wouldn’t bring any benefits. I needed to keep my distance as much as possible. If I wasn’t careful, I could get entangled in a power struggle.

As I continued walking without responding, Persis changed his strategy.

“What’s this other appointment? Can’t it be postponed to another day?”

“I have somewhere to stop by.”

“Where?”

Since I didn’t really have a specific place to go, I quickly thought of the Duchess’s words.

“I need to go to Hyun. I have to convey the duchess’s message.”

“Oh, really? That’s great. Then let’s go together. I have something to say to Hyun too.”

I stopped walking and looked at the prince.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

To my surprise, he smiled.

“Now you’re finally talking to me?”

Persis said to me with a bright face like a child.

“If you’re angry with me, just say it honestly. I’ll listen to everything.”

I crossed my arms and looked at him coldly. I had tried to resolve things nicely, but it was no longer possible.

“Fine. I’ll be honest. I dislike you.”

At that moment, Persis’s expression froze, as if his soul had left his body.

“What?”

“I’ve disliked you from the beginning. You said you couldn’t remember why we fought when we were kids, right? Back then, you insulted my mother as soon as you saw me, saying she was a woman of unclear origin who didn’t know her place.”

“…I said that?”

Persis looked incredulous that he could have said such a thing.

“Yes, and that’s why I got angry and hit you. You should already know how I treat those who insult my family from the debutante ball.”

At the debutante ball, I had publicly humiliated Baroness Louise. Ever since, she had been hiding away in her mansion, afraid of running into me at social gatherings. Persis had witnessed all of it.

“No matter how much time passes, I will never forgive someone like that. So I hope we don’t get entangled anymore. If you want, I won’t come to this library anymore. It works out since you dislike me anyway.”

Now, at this point, he wouldn’t even think of marrying me out of anger…

But when I looked at Persis, I was a bit surprised. He had a face I had never seen before.

His golden eyes were trembling slightly. With a deeply hurt expression, he bit his lip tightly.

“If I apologize for what happened back then, would that change anything?”

“Do you think words that have been spoken can be taken back?”

“So you’re saying that no matter what I do in the future, you’ll continue to dislike me.”

“Yes.”

When he made a slightly gloomy expression, my heart softened for a moment. Did he really intend to apologize? The truth is, I didn’t dislike him as much as I did when we were kids.

But even if he apologized, nothing would change. I needed to keep my distance from Persis, for my sake and for my family’s.

“Speaking of which, isn’t this method a little…off? Where did the you who strongly opposed your mother’s words to approach me go?”

So I thought it would be better to cut things off like this, but he suddenly looked dazed.

“What did you just say?”

“Think about taking the throne with your own abilities. I said the same thing to the princess, so I hope you don’t take it too offensively.”

“…So you’re saying that I’m acting this way because I’m greedy for the throne?”

“Unless you really like me, which isn’t the case. You dislike me.”

Persis, who seemed at a loss for words, clenched his fist tightly.

Could he be thinking of hitting me with that?

I closely watched his movements as he stepped forward toward me. I quickly stepped back to maintain a safe distance.

Then Persis let out a hollow laugh.

“You really think I’m a terrible person, a guy who hits women when he’s angry.”

With a look of disbelief, he then stared at me sharply.

“Fine. I understand what you mean. Yes, I dislike you too. Why would I like a violent, uncouth girl like you?”

“A girl? What are you saying right now—”

“So I’m going to do the thing you hate the most from now on. You hate being around me more than anything else in the world, right? Then brace yourself. I’ll make sure you stay by my side for life.”

“What?”

He shot me a cold glare, simmering with anger.

“I’m saying I’ll become the worst kind of person you wish for. I’ll send you a formal proposal soon.”

“A proposal? What do you mean by that?”

But instead of answering, Persis glared at me with a frightening expression and left the room.

It was only after I was left alone that I finally realized I had just done the most foolish thing in the world.

“Oh no…”

In the returning carriage, I leaned my head against the wall and muttered blankly. Bell, sitting in front of me, wore a frustrated expression.

“So what exactly went wrong? Did something happen at the palace?”

“I tried to avoid the rain, but instead, I ended up caught in a downpour.”

“A downpour?”

“I just don’t understand. Is it that big of a deal to say you dislike someone? I dislike you. So what? I dislike you too. We could just agree to stay away from each other. Was that so hard?”

Bell looked puzzled for a moment before managing to piece together the situation.

“So you told someone straight to their face that you dislike them? Who did you say that to?”

“…Prince Persis.”

“Gasp!”

Bell’s expression was one of shock, like she was thinking, “You’ve lost your mind!”

“So what did the prince say? Did he get really angry?”

“He did get angry, but the problem is, he said he would make me stay by his side for life.”

“Huh? What does that even mean? Are you saying…”

“It seems he plans to propose out of revenge against me. He said he would do the thing I hate the most.”

I hung my head helplessly, and Bell clicked her tongue lightly.

“It seems the prince really has feelings for you. That kind of reaction doesn’t come from just anyone.”