Chapter 16

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Chapter 16

Arya was having a strange dream. Whether she really adapted as Princess Arya Deloraine, she had become her even in her dreams. It was her at a very young age.

‘Mom!’ Her hands and feet were really small, and she was running, pulling up her flowing skirt. Maybe she was covered in tears, her vision was blurred, so she couldn’t see properly.

‘Mom, don’t go! Mom!’

No matter how much she ran, the distance didn’t narrow. It was disappearing right in front of her, but her speed didn’t increase.

‘Mom! I was wrong! Mom! Mom!’

It hurt as if her heart was falling apart as the woman left without looking back. The bag she was holding in one hand was large, but as if it was nothing, she strode away from her.

“…ess!”

An unfamiliar low voice was heard.

“…rya… ess…”

She couldn’t hear the words properly because a high-pitched beeping sound was ringing in her ears. As she struggled to open her damp eyes, her vision was as blurred as in the dream. So, after blinking a few times, she could see where she was right now.

“Hyaaa!”

“Princess Arya!”

Thanks to the person pulling her hand from behind, she was able to keep from falling.

“Uh, what, why… what, what is this?”

She was sure she had fallen asleep on the sofa, but now she was on the railing of the terrace. Startled by the suddenness, her legs trembled, and her stomach churned as she felt as if she was about to fall.

“Come here, Princess Arya!”

Arya was able to come to her senses at the sound of his urgent call. She slowly turned her body in the direction he was leading, and he pulled her. Because of this, he was unable to withstand her weight, and Arya fell to the floor with a thud.

“Arya.”

Arya didn’t know when she started to cry. Perhaps because of it, her face felt colder because of the wind. She thought she was going to freeze at any moment. She was gradually finding stability in the hand patting her back. Her breathing was so rough that it felt like someone else’s.

“I, why…”

“Arya, are you alright?”

“No. I– why, why was I about to fall?”

The fear gradually melted into his gentle hand patting her on the back. As the cold wind brushed past her cheeks, her heart felt like it was beating louder. Kylian’s chest seemed to be also thumping as he hugged her, but it was probably her own heart. It was really strange, her body was tense, but just touching him calmed Arya’s mind a little. Enough for her to notice it.

“I don’t know either. Princess Arya walked to the terrace, so I followed you, and you climbed up to the railing.”

Suddenly, she remembered the time she had dinner with Duke Deloraine.

“Did you sleep without any problems yesterday?”

And on her first day here, she was asleep on the bed with her arms and legs restrained.

“Is this, perhaps, sleepwalking?”

“I don’t know. But it seems like it.”

The dark, restraining orb marks on her ankles seemed to sting. Even if she had changed inside, was it like this because of the memories left in the body?

‘That’s why the servants gave me such a reaction when I told them not to come near here!’ Right then, everything seemed to fit the puzzle.

“It’s probably not good to sleep separately.” Saying so, Kylian took her hand and led her to the bed. Arya couldn’t think very well, and it was only when they reached the bed that she came to her senses.

“I cannot share a bed with a man whom I’m not married to.”

“Then I will sleep on the sofa.”

“The kidnapper should sleep on the sofa!”

“The kidnapper almost died. I’ll have to keep her safe until she sends me back.”

He kindly gestured for her to lie down, so Arya climbed up with a bitter expression on her face. He smiled and told her to lie down. So she lay down, looking into his eyes. He looked around and brought a chair to the bedside and sat down.

“Let’s do this.”

“. . .”

“I’ll sleep during the day, so Arya must sleep now. While I’m awake, I’ll help you sleep safely.”

“…It’s scary.”

When she unintentionally uttered those words, the real fear began to increase.

‘What if I try to jump off like I did before?’ What Bell had said was only now beginning to make sense. ‘There must still be restraints under the bed, should I take them out and tie myself down?’

‘No, those restraints are no longer in the room because I asked the servants to take them when they were cleaning the room.’

“You’ve been sweating a lot.” Saying so, Kylian carefully removed the hair that was attached to Arya’s forehead. Then he brought a cloth soaked in water. He wiped her forehead with the damp cloth, looking somewhat worried.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that? I’ve kidnapped the duke, made you lose your memory, and even gave you a nosebleed.”

“I don’t know. It’s because Princess Arya is so beautiful that it makes it difficult for me to think rationally.”

He was the ultimate villain, and it was clear that he was really good at lying. It was true Princess Arya was pretty, but when she thought about how he would fall in love with Melina and lose his mind, she couldn’t believe what he was saying right now. This man was a madman. Only for Melina.

“Can I hold your hand?”

“Yes.”

Afraid to say no, she reached her left hand to him, and he clasped it tightly with both hands, sharing his warmth. Maybe for that reason, for the first time, she was trying to make this fake other’s life feel like her real life.

“What if I have another nightmare?”

As their hands were touching, there was an illusion that energy was transmitted through his hand. She thought maybe it had something to do with the pattern. Still, she couldn’t ask. She didn’t know much about it, and Kylian said he didn’t remember either.

“I’m by your side, so dream all you want. I will comfort you if you wake up.”

“And what if Kylian gets hurt?”

“What if I get hurt a little?”

As he smiled, Arya could see the scar on his neck.

‘Weird. Why is the wound on his neck still bleeding even after days have passed?’

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Even after confirming the bleeding had stopped and bandaged, it didn’t stop.

“Kylian.”

“Yes.”

She took a breath and asked him, trying to calm her nervousness.

“Is the wound on the neck caused by Kylian?”

His curled, silent lips were chill, scarlet and bewitching.

Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and answered.

“Who knows.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I’m joking. Does the princess really think I did it?”

‘You didn’t? Am I uselessly suspecting someone? However, I don’t think there were any injuries to the neck on the first day?’

Arya was confused.

“Arya kidnapped me, but why would I do that?”

She trembled slightly, startled by his gentle touch. Then his finger tickled her cheek and touched her hair as if teasing her.

“I know it’s shameless to say this.”

“. . .”

“I don’t really remember the day I kidnapped Kylian. So I don’t know how this happened or why it happened.”

Arya spoke in a calm voice, but her back was trembling because she was afraid of Kylian.

“Because you can’t remember doesn’t mean it goes away.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

It was a little unfair, but objectively, she was in a situation she shouldn’t. Telling him she was being wronged would be truly a mistake.

“Are you sorry for me?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me sleep next to you.”

“Oh, that…”

‘Why? Why would you want to sleep in the same bed with your kidnapper?’ She couldn’t understand, so she just stared at him, confused, and he smiled.

“Did you know? To me, even if Arya is a kidnapper, the only person I can rely on is you.”

‘Oh, so, is that why you are being so nice to me?’

“Kylian.”

“Yes.”

“Why aren’t you trying to run away?”

That was very strange. Normally, if you’re kidnapped, you should start thinking about escaping, right? But why do you listen to me? Even when the crown prince came, he calmly hid in the bathroom. Why?

She couldn’t understand why he listened to her so well.

“Are you going to kill me?”

In the original story, Kylian was an ambitious villain trying to kill the Crown Prince and get Melina back.

‘Is it really because he lost his memory? I mean, you really lost your memory, right?’ She couldn’t control the questions that kept popping up.

“Me, kill Arya?”

“Yes.”

“Why would I?”

“Then why don’t you try to escape?”

Right then, his cold fingers grabbed Arya’s lips and stretched them out, so she couldn’t open her mouth.

“Whhmmmmhh??”

“You look like a duck if I do this.”

He held her lips with his thumb and index, and let go. He brushed her with his fingertips, and for some reason, she couldn’t shake them off.

“Arya is so sloppy. I could run away at any time.”

“Ah…”

“And as Arya said, it could be dangerous to go back like this.”

While he continued, Arya felt cold perhaps from the cold night air. Was that why? She was about to fall off the railing just before, but now the cold was more vivid. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she closed her eyes tightly. Her heart was calming little by little as a gentle hand stroked her forehead.

“I won’t do anything. I’ll help you fall asleep next to you.”

I am the kidnapper. He’s a victim. I shouldn’t refuse the favor I get from him, the real victim. And it’s clear that this person is doing this to me because there is no one to turn to right now.

Arya thought so and courageously opened her mouth.

“Come here.”

She moved onto the pillow next to her and tapped where she had just been lying. Even though she had just moved to the side, the unheated bed was cold. The chill felt from the sheets and blankets seemed to make her body colder.

“Princess Arya has a very warm body.”

“Kylian is cold.”

She watched him get into bed and pull up the covers. When he turned to Arya, his eyes were cold again.

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“What’s the matter?”

He smiled as his eyes met Arya’s. She was getting scared because the smile didn’t seem real. However, as she was sleepwalking, it was dangerous to fall asleep alone.

‘What should I fear more, sleepwalking or Kylian?’

But does it make sense to start feeling better just by touching him right now?

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