The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 64

Albert opened the arched door and led her deeper into the library. “This is the place.”

 

“Wow.” The moment Shailoh stepped inside, she couldn’t help but let out a breath of awe. The vast, high-ceilinged space, as large as the banquet hall, was packed wall-to-wall with books. Long ladders were placed here and there to reach the shelves high above, and on the opposite side, rosewood desks and chairs were scattered for reading.

 

“Usually, many officials who come and go through the castle, as well as authorized outsiders, frequent this place. But today, because of the banquet, it’s unusually empty.”

 

“I see.”

 

As she looked around at the hundreds, no, thousands of books, Shailoh felt a moment of despair. She wasn’t confident she’d be able to find anything about the white rock of the northern Sigurd Plateau among all these volumes. She reached out and ran her fingertips over the spines of the books on the shelves.

 

“Do you know where the librarian is?”

 

“He’s off today.”

 

“Pardon?” At the calm reply, Shailoh turned around. “But I thought the royal library was open year-round. And that the librarian comes in every day.”

 

“You seem well-informed. Almost like you did some research beforehand.”

 

“Well…” Shailoh bit her lip, momentarily at a loss for words. The reason she’d asked Albert to show her the library, despite Caleb’s political enemy, was because she trusted a librarian would be there, and that nothing improper would happen.

 

Albert had been surprisingly courteous and even friendly toward her, but she still felt uneasy being alone with him.

 

“Someone told me about it. Thank you for showing me around. I think I should be going now.” Shailoh bowed slightly and turned toward the door she had just entered through. At that moment, a strong hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

“Huh?” Before she could frown at the rude touch, Shailoh’s body wobbled. Her vision doubled and overlapped, blurring and clearing repeatedly.

 

“You look drunk. Why don’t you sit down for a bit?” Albert smiled slyly as he grabbed both her arms to support her.

 

Goosebumps rose on Shailoh’s neck as she struggled to push him away. “Don’t touch me!”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Unable to steady herself, Shailoh’s trembling legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor. Albert clicked his tongue at her and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head up.

 

“What did you do to me?”

 

“Didn’t your sponsor tell you?”

 

“Ah!”

 

Albert yanked her hair hard and, savoring her scream, smiled wickedly as he toyed with her. “You shouldn’t just accept drinks from other men so easily.”

 

“The drink… what did you do to it?” Clenching the hand that gripped her hair, Shailoh gritted her teeth. She hadn’t expected him to make a move so openly, right in front of everyone. It was a mistake to think he wouldn’t be so brazen.

 

Her vision darkened, and Caleb’s face flickered in her mind. The last thing she’d seen was Caleb, drunk, supporting Octavia as she staggered out of the banquet hall.

 

“Being the third prince is a waste on you. Attacking your brother’s partner on your birthday, especially with your fiancée right there.”

 

“So what?”

 

“Your reputation will plummet, and those who support you will drift away. You’re only shooting yourself in the foot.”

 

The drug’s effect surged through her, heat rising in her body, her breath growing ragged. She felt detached, as if floating above the ground, and an itch crawling beneath her. She summoned all her strength to stay conscious.

 

“Prince Caleb won’t let you get away with this. Never.”

 

Albert chuckled, his shoulders shaking at her feeble warning. “Pfft.”

 

“You’re… laughing?”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

Releasing her hair, Albert grabbed his stomach and laughed darkly. Shailoh, struggling to catch her breath, sank down and desperately backed away. This was dangerous. She had to escape.

 

“So you thought you were clever and calculating, huh? But you really don’t know my brother at all.”

 

“What?”

 

“Pathetic, really. Do you honestly think Caleb truly loves you?” Albert sat down, bending his knees, and grabbed her chin. Her cheeks flushed deep red, and she gasped for air. Confirming the drug’s effect was strong, he whispered. “Think about it. If he really loved you, he wouldn’t dress you in such a scandalous gown. He wouldn’t parade you around as eye candy for other men, just to keep my interest.”

 

“Don’t say such… ridiculous things.” Her breath hitched, and an unbearable, shameful sensation crept up from her toes. Clenching her fists tightly to keep her wits, Shailoh shook off his disgusting touch with eyes wide and bloodshot.

 

“That bastard’s not right in the head. He may wear a mask and pretend to be a loving lover in front of you, but he’s a cold-blooded monster who didn’t shed a single tear at our brother’s funeral or even at his mother’s. There’s something seriously wrong with his mind.”

 

“…”

 

“He told me himself. That I could have you, take you however I wanted. But in return, he wanted to set foot in this castle again as a prince. You’re just a tool to him. At best, a well-trained pet who obeys commands.”

 

Lies. All lies. Shailoh glared at Albert with bloodshot eyes. It was all black, pure lies and manipulation. She didn’t want to hear any more slander against him.

 

“You may be bitter about losing your fiancée to your older brother… but don’t take it out on me, you pathetic bastard. Aaagh!”

 

Albert’s eyes flared with fury as he shoved Shailoh’s shoulder. Her head slammed against the cold floor, and pain radiated through the back of her skull.

 

“You’ve got a big mouth, spouting nonsense. I know exactly how to handle a woman like you.”

 

“Let go of me! Trying to rape your brother’s woman, aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

 

Albert lifted the hem of her dress and groped up her thigh. She struggled, but his weight pinned her down, unmoving.

 

“Consequences? What consequences could there be for a whore like you?”

 

Albert pressed his lips to the nape of Shailoh’s neck. Her strength gradually drained. She hated it so terribly that she wanted to bite her tongue, yet her body welcomed the man’s touch. She felt like she was falling into an abyss. Darkness clouded her vision, and her heart sank. Then—

 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

 

A cold gun barrel came into Shailoh’s view. The muzzle was pressed against Albert’s head.

 

“Who’s there?”

 

Albert froze like an ice block and stopped his hands that had been exploring her.

 

“Take your hands off her. Right now.”

 

“Fine, fine, just take the gun away.”

 

“Step back.”

 

Albert had let his guard down after driving off all the guards. He closed his eyes tightly as he climbed off Shailoh’s body. The moment he whipped his head around to see who dared point a gun at him, his eyes twisted in anger.

 

“…Duke Yesiol.”

 

“Long time no see, Your Highness.”

 

“Why are you here…? And how disrespectful. When will you lower your gun?”

 

It was then that Declan let out a low sigh and slowly lowered the weapon. Bang! The gun fired, slipping from its owner’s hand. Shailoh, startled, slowly opened her eyes.

 

“Missed.” Caleb, who had snatched the gun from Declan, aimed again with a dry expression. “It’s been a while since I last held a gun. Guess I’m a bit rusty, Albert.”

 

“B-Brother?”

 

“I might accidentally shoot an arm or leg before killing you, but you can forgive me, right?”

 

Albert, pale as a ghost, took a deep breath. Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, Declan snatched the gun away.

 

“Your Highness!”

 

“Enough!”

 

At the same time, Evan, who had chased after Caleb, joined in, restraining Caleb along with Shailoh.

 

“Let’s call it here. There are too many eyes watching.”

 

“But—”

 

“Right now, Miss Griche takes priority.” Evan pointed at Shailoh, who was gasping for breath. Whether it was the drug or her condition, something was clearly wrong.

 

Caleb, finally wiping his face with one hand, carefully lifted her into his arms. Glancing down at Albert as if he were trash, he turned his back. Albert, consumed by rage, shouted. “Caleb!”

 

Caleb stopped without turning around, checking Shailoh’s condition.

 

“Keep your promise. The one thing you said you’d give me.”

 

Instead of an answer, all that came was the sound of a door slamming shut.

 

“Aaargh!” Albert screamed, throwing books from the shelf onto the floor.