Married To The Enemy Kingdom's Illegitimate Prince-Chapter 84 — Don’t Judge Her

Walking through the dark street she had randomly entered, Cynthia tried to retrace the path where she had met that man, but in vain.

"Looking for me?"

Hearing the unexpected voice, she gasped, promptly clenching her fist around the sword, turning to face the golden-haired man.

"My... you already forgot my voice? Oh! You can wield a sword?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the way she held the hilt perfectly in her grip.

"No," she scoffed, lowering the blade.

"Really? It seemed like that."

"I’m running errands for... one of my employers and got lost," she looked around, making sure the knights were not behind her.

"Looking for someone else even after I came to you myself?"

Cynthia shook her head in disbelief to his overly confident voice, yet she refrained from making any harsh remarks. He was still someone useful to her.

"Do you roam around here often? No matter where I go, I keep encountering you."

The man chuckled, not answering her.

Cynthia crossed her arms, waiting for his reply which never came.

The man coughed, clearing his throat before speaking.

"I am unsure as well, however, I can sense it whenever you are around. Strange, isn’t it?"

Her amethyst eyes glared at him— at his nonsense.

"Uhm... did you not speak to that shapeshifter about what I told you last time?"

"Ah, right..."

It had completely escaped her mind that she needed to speak with Arlot about the ’familiar’ thing this man had mentioned on their second meeting.

"Why don’t you tell me about it? I had too much to do and didn’t get to speak with that person."

The golden-haired man began walking away, causing Cynthia to follow him.

"Where are you taking me this time?"

"Shh."

Unwillingly, she kept quiet. She had Lucian’s sword if she needed to fight in case of danger.

At least he didn’t carry the sword he uses to kill demons. I wouldn’t be able to lift that heavy thing no matter how strong I am.

A faint smile of relief formed on her lips.

"Alright," the man’s steps halted once they reached the same alley where they had their last conversation.

"Why are we here?" She looked around, seeing only old buildings, the same shabby roads with mud. However, now, there were a few children playing before a small house.

"This is where we had our longest conversation!" The man exclaimed with a bright smile on his face.

Cynthia looked at him, blinked a few times, trying to comprehend what that could possibly mean.

The red-eyed man let out an awkward laugh, seeing no reaction from her. Usually, women would be flustered by his words, yet this lady did not. It was hard for him sometimes to believe such a pretty lady could be a commoner. Her posture, her composure, everything about her was noble.

"So," Cynthia started, breaking the heavy silence that fell in the dark alley. "Did you give my suggestion a thought? Are you willing to take revenge on the king?"

Her violet eyes seemed to carry a fire inside them, despite their bright colour, they seemed to contain a deepness one could never know of unless they had a shapeshifters’ eyes’ powers that excited for the sole purpose of protecting them from anyone who would want to harm them.

Yet, from the moment this lady told him about her revenge plans, he didn’t see any threat– that she wanted to use him, rather, she seemed genuine despite not being a shapeshifter.

From the first time he met her, his comrades knew she lied to them; however, they wanted to give this smart lady another chance. Perhaps, this time she would speak the truth? However, she seemed to have been conscious of her lie.

"At least she isn’t a fool. And her revenge plan will only benefit us," he thought to himself.

Cynthia, impatient to hear his answer, waved her hand before him to catch his attention. He seemed to have spaced out, lost in thoughts.

"If you need more time, then forget it. If you don’t care about the injustice done to your kind–"

"I never refused, Miss," the man grinned. "Let me tell you my name. I doubt we have introduced ourselves. Since we will be working together from now on, it is the least we can know about each other."

Cynthia nodded, wondering if she should tell him her real name.

"I am Ying. What about you?"

"... Cynthia."

She lowered her gaze, praying he wouldn’t see the connection. He couldn’t doubt that she might be the grand duchess however, she wanted to be truthful at least about her name. She was using him for her own selfish reasons even if she disguised it as revenge for the injustice the king did. However, that wasn’t a lie either. He did force her marriage with Lucian in both lives, where there was no happiness, and only pain with a path of thorns.

Seeing her pained expression, Ying couldn’t help but wonder why it pained her to say her own name.

"Your name... is the same as the duke’s wife. Is that why you don’t feel comfortable saying it?" Ying lowered his head, looking into her eyes.

Cynthia didn’t know what to say. Hence, she merely nodded in agreement. It was partly true. Because she was the grand duke’s wife— the woman almost everyone in Erion must want to kill.

"Don’t be. I doubt she is as vile as the rumours say."

Cynthia looked up at him, almost a smile forming on her lips upon hearing so. Maybe not everyone hated her?

"She might be better or worse. However, I learned that you shouldn’t judge someone through rumours. Same goes for you. Don’t judge her if you haven’t met her."

The silver-haired young woman nodded, keeping quiet. She couldn’t help but wish she had met more people who would want to know about her without paying attention to rumours surrounding her. Or even, loathe her only for her origins.

Her jaw tightened, trying to overcome the anger which once again overtook the momentary relief. Because that’s how people should have been. She had lived in Erion for ten years yet no one ever told her that the rumours didn’t matter and wanted to genuinely know about her— not even her own husband, who lived under the same roof as her— nor the servants who were supposed to serve her but only tortured her further.

She snapped out of her thought once she felt Ying’s hand reach for hers. She wanted to swat it away however he gripped her hand tightly.

"Patience," he chuckled.

With his other hand, he reached for something inside his pocket and pulled and placed it in her palm. Feeling the cold object on her palm, she looked at it, frowning. It was almost the same pendant as Arlot’s; however, the pattern inside the circle was red— just like Ying’s eyes.

"This is..."

"A pendant. Each shapeshifter has at least one. They give it to someone they trust so that they can be summoned whenever that person needs them. The ’bond’ between them is called a familiar. Think of it like insurance or... trust."

I can’t summon him at the mansion like I can call for Arlot... If I do that, he will discover my real identity!

That was the only thing Cynthia thought.

"I—"

"Just summon me when you arrive at the marketplace," he said, as if he had read her exact thoughts. " I doubt you can call someone where you work. So I can understand. However, for now, let’s visit the office."

"Office?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you just a bandit?"

"You hurt my feelings now. We do that only for some cash. However," he leaned closer to her ears and whispered, "We were investigating something really serious lately."

"We?" Cynthia stepped aside, uncomfortable by the way he acted so friendly towards her despite having met her for only three times including today.

"Yes. I’m sure the rest would find your plans quite agreeable."

"Alright... but did they agree to work on this?"

"Of course. That’s why I needed time. I had to convince each and every one of them. Do you know how much trouble it was?"

"..."

Cynthia simply stared at him, raising an eyebrow.

It’s not like I asked you get your people involved, right?

She wished to say however, she kept her mouth shut.

"I can’t go with you today."

"I guessed that much. You must have other plans for today. Next time you come, just rub my pendant like that other shapeshifter must have instructed you and I will appear."

Cynthia nodded, clutching the pendant, gazing at him.

"Then, hope to see you soon, Miss," he chuckled, snapping his fingers and disappearing within the flickering violet light.

Once the man left, Cynthia looked around, making sure no one had seen her talk to that man.

Thankfully this alley is so empty.

She began pacing through the streets, trying to look for the maid road. As she seemed to reach closer to a crowded place, a loud cry was heard from a far. She rushed towards the crowd, but the scream wasn’t coming from there.

She looked around, panicked. That cry wasn’t that of a human— it was that of a demon!

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