“We’re back!”

“Don’t rush…”

“Yeah, I know.”

Happily treading down from the floating ship, Reina stepped onto solid ground with a bright smile on her face.

We’d finally arrived safely at Hamen City.

Sure, our home was still a few miles away, tucked deeper into the county.

This city basically felt like part of it.

Close enough to breathe easy.

As always, the terminal was loud and alive, people coming and going in all directions.

Even with winter creeping in, the cold hadn’t stopped anyone.

Folks with steady jobs, families, or plans—they just kept moving.

Guess winter alone isn’t enough to freeze up a whole city.

“Big bro, should we take a carriage or walk back home?”

“The county’s pretty far, you know. You sure you’re up for a hike?”

“We’ll still make it before nightfall. And don’t you think taking it slow might be a nice change of pace?” She grinned. “We only have two weeks to enjoy this hometown of ours. Walking a bit, taking in the sights, making small memories here and there—doesn’t sound so bad, right?”

Honestly… she had a point. I could already picture it: the chilly air, the quiet roads, that peaceful calm only this place could offer.

Still, part of me knew the others were probably back home, waiting.

Maybe even setting up another surprise welcome, like they did last time.

“While that’s a nice suggestion, the others back home are probably—”

“Darling~”

My body froze on instinct.

That voice—soft, elegant, and all too familiar.

“Oh! Big sister Liyana, you’re here!?” Reina lit up and rushed forward.

There she was.

My fiancée, Liyana Heavens.

Ever graceful, ever beautiful, walking toward us with her usual calm, magnetic presence.

Her long silvery white hair flowed behind her coat, and a petite maid quietly followed at her side.

She smiled at Reina and gave her a gentle greeting before turning her eyes directly to me.

“Liyana…”

“Darling…” she mumbled softly, voice barely above a whisper as she stepped closer.

Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, she opened her arms and wrapped them tightly around me.

Her embrace was warm.

Firm.

Comforting.

“I missed you, Darling~” she whispered, her voice melting into my shoulder.

This girl… Why is she even here?

Did something unexpected happen again?

I had a gut feeling that the moment I saw Liyana, something out of the ordinary was going to follow… but this?

Meeting me openly like this? In public?

That wasn’t like her.

Liyana was the daughter of the duke—the man who practically owned this entire city.

She wasn’t just some noble. She was the noble around here.

And her popularity?

Through the roof.

All it took was a single glance—those silvery-white strands of hair, her flawless skin, and those deep ruby red eyes—and anyone nearby would instantly recognize her as the duke’s precious daughter.

The princess of this whole entire dukedom….

Which is exactly why, on normal days, she used to cover herself with light illusion magic. Just enough to blur her features, change her face slightly, lower her presence.

She never liked drawing attention, on her real self.

Especially when we are together….

But this time? She hadn’t done any of that.

She was walking like she wanted people to see her.

And they were.

The moment she approached, I could feel the shift in the air—eyes, whispers, the buzz of quiet excitement building all around us.

People had stopped.

They were staring.

And from the way they looked at us… it was obvious what they were thinking.

A public reunion. A noble lady running into her lover. A romantic scene straight out of a storybook.

“Darling?”

“…Hm?”

“Aren’t you going to hug me back? Fufu~”

“…Oh.”

Caught off guard, I finally raised my arms and wrapped them gently around her.

My body moved a bit awkwardly, unsure of what to do, but still—her warmth made it easier.

I let out a small chuckle from my chest, the kind you make when you’re not sure how else to react.

She didn’t mind.

In fact, she only hugged me tighter.

As if she didn’t want to let go.

….

“Well then, I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone. I’ll go explore the city for the time being. See you back at home, big bro!”

And just like that, Reina spun around and dashed off into the crowd, leaving me behind without giving me a chance to stop her.

Honestly, that girl…

It was obvious Liyana’s sudden appearance gave her the perfect excuse to slip away and do her own thing.

Exploring the city? Sure.

But leaving me alone with my fiancée? That was the real reason, wasn’t it?

Before I could even open my mouth to complain, she was already gone.

“Fufu~ Darling, it’s been a while since we’ve had time like this, just the two of us, hasn’t it?”

Now it was just me and Liyana. The two of us walking side by side through the streets of Hamen City.

Snow drifted gently from above, painting the rooftops and trees in soft white.

Despite the cold, the city was alive—people moving about, chatting, laughing, the smell of roasted nuts and sweet bread lingering in the air.

There was a quiet kind of warmth to it all.

“It hasn’t been that long,” I mumbled. “We hung out around the city a lot last vacation.”

“Fufu~ Darling~ do I need to remind you that you spent most of that vacation getting dragged into training with my father?”

“…That’s—okay, but you kept dragging me along afterwards too, didn’t you?”

“You came, but your mind was always somewhere else.”

“That’s—” I stopped myself, sighing.

She wasn’t wrong.

Back then, I… I guess I kept myself busy on purpose.

I even mostly went dungeon hunting….

Whenever things about our future together came up, or the engagement, or even simple thoughts about how I really felt about Liyana—I’d just dodge it.

Distract myself. With anything.

Training. Helping out. Wandering aimlessly through the city just to keep my thoughts elsewhere.

And yeah… I’m sure she noticed.

I probably came off as distant.

Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t want to think too deeply about it.

Especially not when everything with Snow had just started back then..

That whole time, I was walking a tightrope—torn between guilt, fear, and confusion.

And the extreme mindset to become stronger…

Back then, I couldn’t even look Liyana in the eye.

I was too afraid of her reaction…

Thankfully, back then, Liyana hadn’t known about my relationship with Snow.

It seemed my theory had been right—that the White Queen’s lingering presence in the academy had somehow kept her from directly seeing or sensing what I was up to.

Whether it was luck or interference, that strange distortion around me had acted like a veil, blocking out prying eyes.

But now?

There was no White Queen anymore.

Her influence had long faded, and whatever safety net she accidentally gave me was gone with her.

The academy wasn’t shielded from the outside anymore.

And worse, there was no shortage of reasons for Liyana to have already found out.

The news about me and Snow had spread fast, especially after what happened at the Imperial Palace.

The moment I stood there and declared something as insane as “I’ll marry my entire harem with equal status,” in front of the emperor and the duke—well, there was no hiding after that.

Even if the White Queen was still around, something like that wouldn’t stay buried.

Which means…

She has to know.

There’s no way she doesn’t.

Not with the kind of father she has.

Knowing him, he’d rush to tell Liyana immediately.

That man never held back when it came to her.

If it concerned Liyana’s safety, her future, or even just her feelings, he’d snitch faster than anyone.

He’d lie to the Emperor himself before lying to his own daughter.

So then… why?

Why hasn’t she brought it up?

Knowing Liyana, I was expecting at least a cold smile and a passive-aggressive “Oh? So you’ve been busy in the academy, Darling~” Or maybe a few subtle jabs.

Maybe even a fight.

But no.

She hasn’t said a word.

Not a hint of jealousy, not even a teasing comment. Nothing.

She’s just… calm.

Almost too calm.

The Liyana I remembered—obsessive, fiery, a little unhinged when it came to me—would’ve gone off the rails just hearing a rumor about me and another girl.

But this version of her? She’s quiet. Gentle. Still affectionate, sure, but not in the same intense way as before.

It doesn’t make sense.

Did she change?

Or is she just pretending not to know?

Either way… something about this doesn’t feel right.

It felt like a quiet storm was brewing.

Not the kind you could see or hear.

The kind that slowly builds behind the silence—thick, heavy, impossible to ignore.

And for some reason, it felt suffocating.

Because if Liyana really wanted to… she could probably end me right here.

Without effort. Without warning.

I mean, I wasn’t completely defenseless.

I had my insurance.

A few plans, cards to play, contingencies ready if things really went south.

But still, watching her now… I didn’t think it’d come to that.

Not yet.

Not with this version of her.

‘Most of her seals should still be in place at this point in the story….’

Unless of course she found a way to bypass it…

Just as I got lost in that spiral of thoughts, Liyana suddenly moved.

Without warning, she pressed herself right against my side, clinging to my left arm with a smile that was way too composed.

Her grip tightened, her body pressing even closer.

And despite the fact she wore a long, flowing white dress with soft sky-blue patterns and golden embroidery, it still wasn’t enough to hide… anything.

The soft curve of her chest.

The warmth of her skin.

The subtle, but unmistakable pressure as she squeezed my arm against herself.

Her body was—unapologetically—on full display.

And her timing?

Impeccable.

Every guy walking by instantly locked eyes with us—or more accurately, with her.

I could feel their collective killing intent radiating in waves.

Staring. Whispering. Glaring. It was like being caught in a storm of knives made of pure envy.

Honestly, their hostility almost felt cute.

But that didn’t mean I was comfortable.

Not with all these eyes. Not when I was practically being smothered in public.

This girl… she’s definitely doing this on purpose.

“Liyana…” I muttered under my breath, glancing to the side. “Aren’t you… a bit too close?”

She tilted her head slightly, lips curled in that same faint smile. “Fufu~ Darling, we’ve already been much closer in bed. So, what’s wrong with something like this~?”

I choked.

“R-Right…”

As soon as she said that, the pressure around us intensified.

The air practically cracked with murderous intent.

Seriously, were these people actually listening?

She didn’t even say it loud. Just a soft whisper.

But somehow… everyone heard.

Don’t these people have any shame?

You’d think they’d look away at least once—maybe give a little privacy, show a little dignity.

But no, apparently not.

Here I thought it was just the nobility that lacked shame, with their brazen attitudes and thick skin… but I guess it applied to everyone in this world.

Commoners, merchants, guards—they were all blatantly staring like it was the hottest show in town.

And of course, Liyana didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

“Darling,” she said sweetly, her voice brushing against my ear, “before we head home… why don’t we go on a date first?”

“…I’m not sure,” I replied cautiously, already imagining the awkward conversation waiting for me. “Mom and Dad are probably expecting us. Might be rude to show up late—”

“Don’t worry,” she interrupted with a smile that clearly said everything is under control. “I already informed Mother and Father. They know we’ll be arriving a bit late.”

“…You what?”

“They’re expecting your delayed visit,” she said, slipping her arm back around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. “So~ no excuses.”

“Didn’t you used to hate going on public dates like this, though?” I asked, squinting at her suspiciously. “I mean… this kind of date?”

“Oh~ you mean this?” she echoed teasingly, clearly catching the implication behind my words.

Liyana usually preferred subtlety, especially when we were out in the city.

As the Duke’s daughter, she hated the attention.

No fancy shops, no public handholding, no overt gestures.

Always a glamour spell or an illusion to disguise her identity. That was the norm.

But today?

Today she was glowing in every sense of the word.

“Fufu~ I just thought a little change of pace would be nice,” she replied softly, tilting her head as her silver hair caught the falling snowlight. “Besides… haven’t you noticed anything different about me today?”

“…Different?”

I stared at her for a second, blinking dumbly.

She paused.

Her expression darkened just slightly as she puffed out her cheeks in a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Then, with a quiet huff, she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear using her right hand.

The motion revealed a delicate, shimmering earring—crimson and gold, glinting like a tiny gemstone.

She straightened her posture and slowly slipped her arm away from mine, stepping in front of me with an expectant glare.

“I dressed up, you know,” she said, her voice somewhere between playful and offended. “I even put on makeup for a change… and you still haven’t complimented me.”

I blinked again, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone.

“Well… you always look naturally beautiful, so…”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Even still,” she grumbled, arms now firmly on her hips, “a little compliment wouldn’t kill you.”

Now that she was standing in front of me like this—framed by the snow and the glowing lamps lining the street—I could finally see what I had been blind to just moments ago.

Yeah. She did look different.

She looked… stunning.

Too stunning to say the least….

Her makeup was subtle, enhancing the natural sharpness of her ruby-red eyes.

Her lips had a faint gloss that shimmered with the falling snowlight.

The white dress she wore—elegant, flowing, trimmed with pale blue and golden accents—fit her perfectly.

Graceful. Regal. Yet somehow soft and warm.

“…You look even more beautiful than usual, Liyana,” I said at last, letting the words settle between us. “And that dress really suits you.”

Her eyes widened just a little—then she giggled softly, her blush returning in full force.

“Hehe~ finally.”

She looked away shyly for a moment, brushing a bit of invisible dust from her skirt, but her smile never faded.

Then, with a graceful little bounce, she came right back to me—light on her feet like a dancer—and slipped her arm through mine again.

Her fingers curled delicately around my left arm, hugging it closer to her chest with an almost childlike warmth, though the woman in front of me was anything but innocent.

‘She’s even softer than Alice….’

“It’s been a while since you’ve openly complimented me like that, Darling,” she said with a teasing lilt, resting her head lightly against my shoulder. “Even though I had to force it out of you a little~ I could tell you meant every word. You were being genuine.”

Her voice softened, warm and affectionate, and there was that faint note of mischief always hiding under the surface of her words.

“Usually, you’d be too meek to say anything at all… This—” she looked up at me with sparkling eyes, “—is exactly why I love you, Darling~”

Her face inched closer, enough for me to see every detail—the soft flutter of her eyelashes, the slight shimmer on her lips, the gentle flush in her cheeks. Too close. Far too close.

Instinctively, I took a small step backward.

That I love you… it hit me harder than I expected.

“I love you, Darling~”

It sounded too similar to that Liyana.

The one from the other world.

The Liyana I was truly, deeply in love with.

Shit.

This isn’t good. Seeing her up this close now, hearing her say those words with that exact voice, wearing that same expression I had once held so dear… it was starting to affect me more than it should.

She tilted her head, smiling as she studied my face like an open book.

I couldn’t see myself—there weren’t any mirrors nearby—but judging by her reaction, I must’ve been blushing.

My body was too warm, my heart beating a bit too fast.

Damn it.

“Hehe~” she giggled softly, the sound laced with amusement and something else—something deeper. “I know it might feel a little uncomfortable with all these eyes on us, but this time, I just want a real date with my Darling. A genuine one. Just you and me, okay~?”

Her tone shifted as she leaned even closer. Her lips neared my ear, her breath warm and ticklish against my skin.

“And also…”

She whispered slowly, deliberately—each syllable tapping against my nerves.

“…You can’t exactly deny me, you know, Darling? You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

And just like that, she pulled back.

The heat left my ear, replaced by the sudden chill of the open air.

My body tensed without meaning to. Her pale red eyes—usually soft and teasing—had taken on a different shade now.

Still beautiful, still smiling… but there was something sharper hidden just behind them.

Pressure.

A weight dropped onto my shoulders, invisible but suffocating. Like standing under the gaze of something I couldn’t fight.

“Cheating isn’t exactly legal, you know, Darling~?” she whispered sweetly, her tone still as affectionate as ever… but the underlying threat was unmistakable.

Fuck….

She knows.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep