Chapter 52

“Ian, one of these days, that mouth of yours is going to get you killed.”

“Cursing your own friend now? What kind of heir to a marquisate talks like that?”

The voices were getting closer. They were definitely just beyond the bushes.

“So, what’s been keeping you so busy these days?”

“Oh, I’ve been trying to look into something. I’m starting to think I might’ve been wrong… but I just can’t get that scent out of my head.”

They kept chatting nonstop. Since she was technically eavesdropping, Bianca couldn’t just stand up and walk away. All she could do was wait for them to leave.

‘Why did I even hide?’

If she hadn’t hidden, it probably wouldn’t have felt so awkward. She crouched down, gently tapping the tulip’s stem with her fingers.

“Kavert. I actually made a bet when I heard you’ve been staying away from Guides lately. Is that true?”

“Yeah. I don’t think anyone else would satisfy me.”

Kavert?

The familiar name made Bianca turn her head toward the bushes. It was obvious he was looking for her. The fact that he went around bothering Guides was enough to tell her what kind of person he was.

‘It’s definitely better I didn’t run into him.’

She held her breath, trying to stay calm. What if her scent reached him? Since the tulips had a strong smell, maybe that would help hide her.

Her heart was pounding.

“You’re going to land yourself in serious trouble. If you keep this up, I don’t think I can keep seeing you. Hard to believe the two of you are twins.”

“Shut up. If you’re going to talk about Kasen, I don’t want to hear a word. That disgrace who turned his back on the family is nothing but a shame.”

Kavert’s voice rose sharply. Bianca could hear him muttering angrily, even from behind the bushes. He clearly lacked patience and was hot-tempered. She could already imagine how he treated Guides.

‘Disgusting.’

He was exactly the kind of person Bianca despised. She never wanted to run into him again.

Their footsteps slowly faded away. Bianca let out a quiet sigh of relief. At that moment, a cool gust of wind brushed past her, ruffling and scattering her hair.

The damp breeze made her look up.

‘Is it about to rain?’

She slowly rose to her feet. The tulips that had been right in front of her eyes were now at her waist. Just then, she heard a rustling sound.

“I found you!”

A hand suddenly snatched Bianca’s wrist. Her heart pounded so violently, it felt like it might burst from her chest.

She was so startled that no proper words came out. His brown hair glinted under the moonlight, reminding her of murky water. The lust in his gray eyes and the way he licked his lips were more than enough to send a wave of dread through her.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been looking for you. Ah, this scent…”

“Hht.”

He pressed his nose to her wrist and sniffed deeply, sending a shiver down her spine. His grip tightened as if he was afraid she might try to run.

“Lord Kavert, please let go of me.”

“After all the trouble I went through to find you, there’s no way I’m letting you go.”

Now that she thought about it, the people he had been with earlier were gone. Which meant he had come back here alone, and it was obvious what his intentions were.

“An awakening after coming of age… but with a scent this strong, I’m guessing the guiding must be pure ecstasy.”

He leaned in, pressing his nose to the back of her neck. A crawling sensation ran over her skin, and she bit her lip to keep from reacting.

“Lord Kavert, it’s best not to do something you can’t take responsibility for.”

Bianca kept her voice steady, but the tremor in it was unmistakable. She had already experienced reverse guiding with the Crown Prince. Even if she refused, if he forced himself on her…

“Can’t take responsibility? Yeah, I guess it’s strange. This is the Crown Prince’s garden, yet here I am, curious about why you’re here. But your scent… it’s making it really hard to think straight… haah.”

“What are you…?!”

He pulled her into his arms and collapsed beside the tulips, taking her down with him. His weight pressed heavily against her, and a thick wave of pheromones flooded the air.

Bianca fought to push him off. Whether he had lost his reason or was in a frenzy, Kavert’s eyes were completely unfocused.

“Lord Kavert…! Stop, please, don’t do this. If you keep going… it’s not just dangerous, uht… you could die!”

It wasn’t an exaggeration. If the Crown Prince saw this, Kavert might not live to see another day.

Riip.

The sound of tearing fabric cut through the air.

Bianca’s mind went blank. She writhed, trying to break free. No matter how hard she struggled, he wouldn’t move. In desperation, she shoved at his chest with all her might.

‘No. I don’t want this.’

Alarms blared in her mind. Each time his breath brushed against her, her skin crawled. Fear crashed over her, and tears came pouring out uncontrollably.