The Tyrant Covets The Slave -R19 - Chapter 18

Lucai had left the Grand Duchy early and was standing behind Beher. He casually tied her dress.

There was only one reason he was here. He was worried that things would go wrong if rumors started. Beher expected that.

“I didn’t know Your Highness was coming.”

Beher said, looking at Lucai. She was deeply dissatisfied that he approached her without permission.

Moreover, she was worried about the scars on her back. She didn’t want anyone to see it. She remembered the maids that had looked at her with pity.

After seeing her back, Lucai didn’t say anything, only clicked his tongue.

Originally, no scars should have been left, but she didn’t receive any proper treatment since the day she escaped, and the scars were still there.

From the look on Lucai’s face, he seemed curious. But he didn’t ask and she had no intention of answering. It wasn’t a factor that would affect her contract with him.

“Is there any reason why I shouldn’t come?”

Beher took a step away from him. Lucai watched her actions.

“Since you’re a busy man, I didn’t know you’d pay attention to these little things.”

Yes. He should have been working with the knights, training them by now. Beher wondered what exactly was the reason he had come all this way.

“Well, I don’t like to worry about things that aren’t important either.”

“Then?”

“Didn’t I say that His Majesty has planted watchers around the Grand Ducal Palace. They saw you come to the bridal shop. It’s a good time for His Majesty to be suspicious.”

“…….”

“If I didn’t come and watch the woman I’m in love with in her dress, it will soon be revealed as a lie.”

‘Is he teasing me again this time?’

Beher couldn’t tell what he said was true or lies. He really was a man who made her head spin.

“If you are going to trick me again, please don’t. I don’t want to be teased a third time.”

Beher said, keeping her hands neatly clasped together. Hee waist was tight and her breathing was clearly visible, so she naturally hid it.

She noticed Lucai’s red eyes were glowing, but Beher spoke exactly what she wanted to say.

“If there really are watchers around, show me the evidence. My trust has run out due to Your Highness’s mischief.”

As if taken aback by her bold words, Lucai laughed broadly.

“Ha ha ha! I don’t know what I’m going to do about it, as you came at me fearlessly. Or will I be able to shut your mouth if I eat it completely?”

He swept his sweaty hair back slowly. With that, he focused his red eyes on Beher.

“Evidence, evidence. I’ll get His Majesty’s watchers and bring them before you. Is that what you need?”

His statement made Beher think that this man had really lost his mind. It was easy to take this as a sign of treason, because to bring His Majesty’s people would at least require the use of force.

Was this another of his ways to test her?

“No. You don’t need to go that far. Are there still watchers in the area?”

Beher said calmly. There was no need for force. Things could go wrong if she was discovered as a Princess of the Vitan Empire. She was kind of angry at the man who kept acting dangerously, but she didn’t express it.

“Yes. They’re constantly monitoring in front of the store. On the outside, he’s covered with an old  robe, but inside, there should be an imperial crest. Take a good look at it.”

She wanted to leave immediately and check it out, but Beher held back. Restlessness was a weakness that could quickly lead to destruction. It was because of the experience of fighting wars.

Beher swept her tangled hair. She had nothing more to say. She seemed to be stuck in the hole he had dug for her.

‘I hope Lucy comes back soon.’

That way, she could take this dress off quickly.

Beher pouted and looked at the entrance to the changing room. She didn’t see any sign of Lucy coming in. Lucy would probably be waiting outside quietly as Lucai gave the order.

She couldn’t tell her to disobey the man who had saved her life. When she thought of Ron, she felt like she was in debt.

When Beher was lost in thought, Lucai stepped a little closer.

“Where did you get those scars on your back?”

It was a question she didn’t want to answer. But she thought if she didn’t answer, he would force her to open her mouth. Lucai’s red eyes were tense.

He tapped his fingers several times. She could see him patiently waiting for her to answer.

It was all right as she had thought of many excuses.

“I was riding a horse once and I fell off. It’s a scar from a sharp object that cut me.”

It was a plausible excuse. She wanted to fool him, but she didn’t have high hopes.

“You’re lying. Do you not have enough experience?”

His eyes glittered sharply, like an edged sword.

“Human beings are not perfect.”

She tried to be perfect, but she couldn’t be perfect. It was a lie, but it was filled with truth.

“I would believe it if it was a normal person. But you’re not. You’re not likely to make a mistake, considering the momentum you’ve shown me. A calculating woman fell off the horse is unbelievable.”

It wasn’t easy to fool him. Beher wanted to bite her lip in frustration. But it was wise to stand like a statue in front of him, who was perceptive to every little action.

“There was an attack while I was riding. I had no choice but…”

“I heard you could do magic. That’s what I heard when I first bought you. Are you going to deny it?”

It was a mistake to use the spirit to get rid of the slaves. At that time, she lost her strength and couldn’t use her powers properly…. It would have been better if she just didn’t use her powers and got caught. At least, it was fortunate that the spirit technique was considered magic.

“My magic is weak. I am not qualified to be a great wizard, nor a low-level wizard.”

The excuse she had in mind was about to bottom out. Beher was nervous. Lucai was more relaxed.

She thought she was pretty crafty, but she was wrong. Plus, she felt weak in front of this man. She didn’t want to reveal her past to him that much.

His lips moved slightly and he spoke, as if he had given up.

“I’m more curious about the past when you’re trying so hard to hide it.”

Lucai took a step back. He didn’t ask anymore questions. Beher felt relieved.

Every time she talked about her scars, her back tingled. She didn’t want to feel hurt anymore.

“It’s not something Your Highness should be interested in.”

“Well, we’ll have to see about that.”

With those last words, Lucai excused himself. By the look of his uniform and the sweat on his forehead, it looked like he had run in a hurry.

Soon after, Lucy came back and helped Beher take off the dress. She was wondering if the watcher Lucai mentioned was really outside.

Ignoring the designer’s greetings, Beher walked out. Along with the fresh air, she felt a persistent glare at her from somewhere.

She knew that the gaze was directed at her. It didn’t seem like they were trying to kill her.

Beher glanced around. She pulled up the instincts she’d acquired to survive the war. Recalling the chills of the arrow flying and passing by her skin, she found a gaze staring at her.

Deep in an alleyway, she saw a woman holding flowers. Her gaze was certainly fixed on the child in front of her, but Beher could vaguely see that her energy was focused on her.

It was just as Grand Duke Lucai had said. On the outside, she wore an old robe, but the imperial golden pattern shone inside. Beher decided to use her power to know more clearly.

“Summon.”

She murmured in a small voice. The only person who heard her was Lucy, who was nearby.

She could feel Lucy’s eyes on her, but Beher didn’t stop.

The water was raised in the air and turned into vapor. That created a breeze that made the woman’s robe flutter.

The imperial crest shone precisely in Beher’s eyes. Obviously, it was sent by the emperor.

She thought that Lucai was playing a joke on her…. But this time he didn’t. Beher sighed lowly and hurried to stop her power before the watchers noticed. Then she got on the carriage.

***

Lucai, who had returned to the Grand Ducal Palace earlier, went to his room. He was drenched with sweat due to the training.

It was enough to send Ben to check the dress Beher would be wearing. But…for no reason at all, Beher’s face came to his mind.

He kissed her deliberately and mischievously, and her angry face flickered into a warning.

He didn’t mean much. He just wanted the emperor to be fooled for sure. So he went to the bridal store to see her.

However, the scars he saw unexpectedly caught his attention. Somehow he wanted to touch the scars. His fingertips tingled and spread, and he felt hurt.

Why did he feel this way?

There was only one possible conclusion.

He wanted the woman who will become the Grand Duchess to be perfect.

He wanted to know about her past for that one reason. Naturally, he thought that the husband-to-be should know. But Beher was tight-lipped.

“…Annoying.”

In order for a person to stand next to him, he had to know everything about that person. Just in case he will face some kind of betrayal in the future. It came from long experience with the sword.

“Ben!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

When Lucai called, Ben jumped out of nowhere.

“Beher. Let’s investigate her.”

“Even every little thing?”

“Yes. I know to know why a noblewoman of the Vitan empire became a slave and knew how to use magic. Also….”

Lucai was about to mention about Beher’s scars but stopped.

“…..She’s no ordinary noble, so investigate thoroughly and report back. Don’t tell Lucy.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

As soon as Ben left, Lucai took off his sweaty clothes and lay on the sofa.

“…It’s just a woman…”

Talking to himself, Lucai closed his eyes in the moonlight.