Chapter 81

Chapter 81 – When He Calls Her Name

While Bella kicked Jenkins’ knee and punished him, Kiehl took care of even the smallest movement and changed to the Imperial Palace’s carriage in the middle. It was already reported that he had departed from Marquis Vivre’s territory.

“We really bought a lot of hard work.”

Rinne was going to ride from Kiehl’s carriage to Bella’s carriage while Rio acpanied Kiehl.

“By the way, where did one carriage go? Lady Shuria’s?”

“Don’t ask me. Let it be.”

Rio didn’t like Kiehl’s crankiness since the morning. Things seemed to be going well as planned, but why was he so sensitive?

Of course, it was not that Rio didn’t know. Once they entered the Imperial Palace, it was obvious that Kiehl and Bella would not have enough time to meet. That was why he wanted to be here a little longer.

‘…I think she’s been avoiding me these days.’

Besides, Bella’s heartfelt emotions used to be as intense as thunder, and they would fade away after a while.

Like now…

‘Bella… What are you thinking?’

He was strangely excited but was also infinitely sad. If it were Bella, not Rio, who was in front of him right now, it would be nice if he could put a mirror in front of Bella’s heart a little more.

Meanwhile, Rio looked at Kiehl for a while and at least gave him a hopeful message.

“Still, you can meet her if you go to the annex.”

“Ha… How do I get there when all the ladies who have been gathering are there?”

It was true.

This contest for the Crown Princess was to invite the ladies of all families to the Imperial Palace. So, each province came along, too.

Usually, when nobles traveled, they visited and stayed in the mansions of nearby nobles, but now, this was not possible as it was impossible for each family to acmodate that many ladies every day. Therefore, all real estate owned by the Imperial Palace opened its doors for the ladies to wele them.

“Well… It will be difficult for me to go.”

“It must be noisy to go to the annex. Let’s get off the carriage and walk through the back door.”

Every time he walked, Kiehl got goosebumps imagining people staring at him. After a while, Bella was embodying his horrifying imagination.

“Miss. You must clearly identify yourself.”

“I am really… Bella Cruelle…”

The girl who came from another world and became the adopted daughter of the Cruelle family.

“The Cruelle family all have silver hair. How dare you!”

Instead, she was being driven out as a thug who tried to break through the iron-clad guard.

“…Rinne, what should I do?”

Besides, it had not yet been reported that Bella Cruelle was going to the Crown Princess contest instead of Shuria Cruel. She didn’t know what kind of interference Juan might have in the middle.

“Hey. Don’t you know me? Archmage Rinne Froha, preliminary!”

Rinne said the word ‘preliminary’ a little bit softer.

“How is His Highness’ Kiehl’s escort attached to Cruelle? Say something that makes sense!”

That was also true in a way.

“There were reports of an attack on the Cruel family’s carriage. You guys are…!”

The news that the Cruelle’s family’s carriage had been broken and found near Daisy had already spread to the guards.

“No, can’t you believe it even when you see our Pur? Because I am Bella Cruelle from the Animal Kingdom.”

“How dare you e wearing a doll’s mask!”

She thought she was famous, but Pur never imagined that people would not believe it.

“I am a real doll!”

“You are a bear.”

When they didn’t want to let her in, Bella decided to retreat.

“Wait, and when Lady Shuria es…”

“No, Miss Bella. How embarrassing would it be if we left here and came back again?”

However, Rinne grabbed Bella as she was about to step back and cleared her throat.

“Doesn’t it look like everyone’s acting so rudely just because you’re in charge?”

“….”

“I warn you. If you open the door now, I won’t ask you about this crime. Open the door.”

How experienced was she as Kiehl’s escort? She was good at impersonating authority. Still, there was something that Rinne didn’t know either.

“Do you know how many beggars spoke like you today?”

Those who wanted to take part in this large procession, or those who usually harbored resentment towards the nobles, were caught in line from the morning. The next moment, quite a few spears and swords surrounded Bella’s party.

“Or, Miss Bella, let’s hold on a little longer. I think Kiehl will arrive soon.”

“….”

Bella stared coldly at Rinne.

She said to wait since a little while ago, so they waited, but the guards were so angry that now they didn’t even think of letting them go.

“Arrest them.”

As the guards took a step closer, Bella warned.

“Kim Pur, eat…”

However, before Bella could finish speaking, a spear came near her neck and Pur ran in front of her.

“…No.”

A long time ago, whenever they traveled, if there were people who harmed Bella, the first thing Pur did was get excited and ate them, and then she said, ‘I protected the Princess.’

“I protected the Princess! I am the Prince!”

Bella grabbed the nape of Pur’s neck and licked her lips.

“Look at you messing around again… It’s embarrassing, really.”

She knew they were not really trying to hurt her anyway. One by one, the closer they got, the more excited Pur grew, growling and biting the guard’s neck.

“Pur! Can’t you stay still? Why do you keep making things bigger?”

Still, the situation had already gotten bigger.

One of the guards stabbed Jenkins in the arm, trying to subdue them. Seeing that, Rinne unexpectedly used her magic, and the guard’s leg caught on fire. Meanwhile, Pur bit the neck or legs of the guards around her as if this was a signal to start.

“Uwaa!”

“Stop everything!”

With her orders, the demons and Rinne stopped, but the guards did not stop. However, their weapons were suddenly abandoned on the ground, and they staggered and collapsed as if they were slashed through the air.

“Pur. Why don’t you listen to what I’m saying and continue to act on your own?”

Bella grabbed Pur’s nape and lifted it up, the fur around her mouth was dyed red.

“Anyway, this isn’t a doll. It’s a real bear. Bear.”

Saying so, she looked around to settle the situation smoothly.

“Whether it’s Lady Shuria Cruelle or Prince Kiehl. I’ll prove my identity…”

Bella swallowed a gulp slowly as she spoke.

‘Ah…’

Quite a few people were injured and collapsed.

She couldn’t take her eyes off of them.

At that moment, the unbearable scent pierced the tip of her nose. Although her recovery was slow, she didn’t pay attention to it as it didn’t interfere with her life. Still, she instinctively knew what she needed most for her body to recover.

‘Ah… This smell.’

It was human blood.

She caught humans in the Demon Realm and played with them, but she never ate them. If that were the case, Bella thought she would bee a beast in human clothing. Even in a moment of confusion, she even made an oath of obedience to Pur to stop her.

The guards all had clothes that were bloody red.

Someone took off their clothes and stopped the bleeding right away.

The blood flowing down his skin looked like kimchi on white rice. A long time ago, when Iwer was stabbed with a holy sword, she remembered that she had eaten a human and recovered quickly. Bella didn’t say anything, but she didn’t think the wound on the back would heal.

‘…Shall I eat it?’

It was a strange experience indeed… to the extent that she could sympathize with why the demons fall for one thing. Bella’s eyes could no longer see anything, only the bloodstains.

Only that and her in space as if there were only two of them.

‘…You should eat what has been prepared.’

Around that time, Kiehl got out of the carriage and paused as he tried to walk towards the back door.

“…Bella?”

Even from a distance, she was recognizable at a glance… His lovely and beautiful woman, the two others, and the bear.

“Looking at the bear, I think Miss Bella is there.”

People were murmuring from the inside of the annex, and it was clear that they were looking out for Bella, who said she came from the Animal Kingdom.

“Kiehl, if you go now, you’ll attract more attention?”

“I know.”

So, he sat a little away and looked at Bella with delight to watch her until she entered. He imagined the day when he could hold hands with that person and go anywhere proudly.

Nevertheless, after a while, Kiehl had no choice but to stand up and walk to the front door. From the moment Pur attacked the guard, it seemed unlikely that the situation would be resolved no matter what she did afterwards.

‘What’s going on?’

When he arrived at the main gate, the guards recognized the Prince, and gibberish made excuses.

“W-we judged they were an intruder and subdued them.”

However, their reports did not e into his ear at all.

“Bella.”

He called her name, but without moving, her gaze was fixed on a single spot. She seemed to be staring intently, but her eyes were a little dazed.

…An empty heart with nothing in it.

Then, he saw the oath of obedience glistening on Pur’s neck that the guard was holding.

“….!”

The oath that Pur had to stop Bella whenever she wanted to eat a human. As soon as he saw her lick her lips very faintly, Kiehl ran and covered her eyes with his hand.

“Your Highness…!”

The guards were startled by Kiehl’s actions and did not know what to do.

“Everyone back off.”

Kiehl grabbed her shoulder, covered her eyes with the other hand, and whispered in her ear. Bella’s eyes darkened, and the familiar scent covered the pulsating smell of blood.

The scent of someone she loved so much.

“Bella.”

Like waking up to an alarm.

Her eyes, which were bright red as if on fire, gradually subsided. It was just her name… Why did it sound so sad?

Bella slowly raised her hand and grabbed the wrist of the man who was covering her eyes.

Slowly.

As she lowers his hand, the world brightens like the dawn that pushed the night away. Sparkling amber eyes. His hair was lit red with his back was against the setting sun. It was dazzling, as if she was going to be blind if seeing him with the naked eye.

“Are you okay?”

Why did the male lead in this novel always grab her attention just by looking at him?