I Became A Squirrel Seeking For The Villain Chapter 48

It was clear that Theodore and Rivena were in cahoots. It meant that Theodore wasn’t being used by Rivena without knowing anything.

 

‘Well, since he’s stepping up to personally warn me, it doesn’t seem too strange.’

 

From the outside, it might seem like Theodore has stepped in himself because our battle of nerves seems too much for Rivena to handle alone.

 

Now that the prince had personally intervened, even I had no choice but to step back.

 

Still, it wasn’t a complete loss. At least now, it was clear that Theodore and Rivena were after my life.

 

‘For now, this situation will end with this.’

 

“Hmm.”

 

While I was lost in thought, Theodore’s fingers brushed against my hand once more.

 

I couldn’t help but frown for a moment.

 

Because it seemed clearly intentional.

 

“You’re Lady Yurika Medes, right?”

 

He looked at my face and asked slowly.

 

It was such an out-of-the-blue question.

 

There was no reason for him to ask my name at this moment.

 

In fact, I was pretty sure he had already addressed me as Lady Medes earlier.

 

“Yes.”

 

As I answered briefly, barely hiding my suspicious expression, Theodore raised his eyebrows and asked quietly.

 

“Have we met before?”

 

“Yes?”

 

‘What the heck is this third-rate comment?’

 

My eyes widened at the absurd question.

 

Rivena also flinched and momentarily failed to control her facial expression.

 

I was momentarily taken aback and couldn’t even think of answering, so I just stared at Theodore’s face.

 

Then he smiled again with that pretty, gentle smile.

 

“If you don’t remember, that’s fine.”

 

“Oh, um….”

 

“Let’s talk more about this later.”

 

Theodore smiled politely and left first.

 

I couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling.

 

* * *

 

“The Empire therefore owes a great debt to the great wizard, Duke Yohan Hyrad.…”

 

While the Emperor’s boring speech continued, Yoham watched Yurika’s movements without listening to a single word of it.

 

Honestly, he wanted to ignore all formalities and just return to her side.

 

Nothing could be easier or more enjoyable than having to act like a devoted lover madly in love with her.

 

Even today, Yurika was ridiculously pretty.

 

Her accessories and dress, styled under the motto of ‘the more extravagant and luxurious, the better,’ were all of the highest quality.

 

He felt even more anxious because he knew that everyone had held their breath when Yurika appeared earlier.

 

Even his adjutant had warned him to be careful.

 

Yohan had also seen Yurika spill champagne on a young lady earlier.

 

Though it wasn’t a big enough incident to reach the main table since they settled it quietly, it was still an incident.

 

However, the reason he didn’t interfere was that he was sure Yurika had calculated everything.

 

‘If I interfere unnecessarily, I’ll only get in her way. She always moves according to a plan.…’

 

Yohan could never forget the look on the squirrel’s face when it left Hyrad’s mansion for the last time when they were young.

 

A look that said, ‘Mind your own business and don’t interfere.’

 

Not long after, a woman named Rivena approached Yurika.

 

‘That woman…. That’s the person that Yurika was suspicious of.’

 

At first, Yohan thought it was all part of Yurika’s scheme, so he watched with ease—until the Second Prince, Theodore, personally got involved.

 

Yohan didn’t miss the moment when Theodore’s expression changed as his fingers brushed Yurika’s.

 

The first contact might have been accidental, but the second time, when he deliberately ran his fingers along hers, was not.

 

‘The Second Prince… has a connection with Yurika?’

 

That was impossible.

 

If that were the case, Yurika would have already told him.

 

Up until now, Yohan hadn’t paid much attention to Theodore’s seemingly gentle face and round eyes, but now they irritated him to no end.

 

Because his eyes were filled with longing and possessiveness.

 

Yohan knew that kind of expression better than anyone.

 

Because that was the face he had whenever he thought of Yurika.

 

‘Could it be…’

 

Yohan’s eyes turned cold.

 

His instincts as a wizard sharpened.

 

‘…Are you a wizard who has experienced divine powers before?’

 

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s congratulatory speech continued.

 

“And so, it is important to recognize the true nature hidden beneath the rumors branding him as a scoundrel…..”

 

Still, Yohan listened to the congratulatory speech with one ear and let it go out the other, lost in thought.

 

“He even broke off his engagement with the Medes family in pursuit of true love, showing a romantic side….”

 

Yohan just kept his gaze fixed on Theodore’s gentle face.

 

“He imprisoned his own half-brother in an underground prison—though some say that’s worse than death, but at least he didn’t kill him, since life is precious, of course.….”

 

Yohan had never heard any rumors about Theodore being a wizard.

 

He had never heard of him bringing in a divine beast.

 

If Theodore had an immense amount of magic requiring a divine beast, his body would be weak like Yohan’s. But Theodore was perfectly healthy.

 

Even if he was just a mid-tier wizard, it didn’t make sense—those kinds of wizards had all been drafted into the war.

 

‘It’s a bit strange in many ways, but it’s not entirely impossible.’

 

Normally, magical abilities are inherited through bloodlines.

 

Usually, royal bloodlines do not have magical abilities, but Theodore was an illegitimate child.

 

No one knows who his mother was.

 

In other words, it meant that she might be a woman born with magical power.

 

‘If he had hidden the fact that he was a wizard,….’

 

It was a wild theory to build on just a single glance, but wizards had exceptionally sharp instincts.

 

‘Yurika never told me what happened at the temple. She just remains extremely wary of it.’

 

Yohan swallowed dryly, narrowing his eyes.

 

He had always paid close attention to Yurika’s hypersensitivity toward the temple.

 

The temple was practically the homeland of divine beasts, yet Yurika was incredibly cautious of it.

 

She insisted on uncovering something there rather than just destroying it outright.

 

Since Yohan had already ended a war at one time, Yohan had not taken it seriously during that time.

 

He simply supported her plans and was prepared to wipe everything out if she was ever in danger.

 

‘If the prince gets involved, things could get more complicated than I thought.’

 

Wizards cannot use magic on the imperial family.

 

That was an ancient oath, the very reason high-ranking nobles with immense magical power never attempted rebellion.

 

‘And if the Second Prince himself is a wizard…’

 

Then, despite being a fellow wizard, Yohan would be unable to use magic against him.

 

Considering that magic usually only has explosive destructive power, that puts him at a severe disadvantage.

 

“Yurika needs a kind and gentle man. Yurika herself is weak to such people.”

 

At the very least, Theodore’s appearance fit the part.

 

It was very unpleasant.

 

On top of that, he had an impeccable public reputation.

 

‘I’ll have to be extremely cautious.’

 

Yohan’s face, instinctively wary, turned cold.

 

* * *

 

The long, long congratulatory speech has finally ended.

 

Yohan swiftly jumped down from the main seat and stood beside me.

 

“Yurika, have you been waiting long?”

 

He gently brushed my hair back and smiled softly.

 

“I missed you the whole time…”

 

The eyes of those around us were focused on us due to our excessive display of affection.

 

Of course, I had to play along. I clung to Yohan, pouting playfully, and smiled at him.

 

“Then, if you missed me that much, get me an amethyst after the banquet. A gemstone exactly the color of your eyes.”

 

“I will fill your room with the finest amethysts.”

 

This was all part of our pre-arranged act, but Yohan played the role of a love-struck fool so naturally that even I nearly fell for it.

 

“Amethyst alone would be boring. Please add some diamonds here and there.”

 

Of course, I was also very good at acting shamelessly.

 

As the banquet officially began, the Emperor and Empress led the first dance.

 

They were followed by Mariel and Roymond, and then by Theodore and Rivena.

 

‘Huh?’

 

And I felt a strange sensation again as I watched Theodore’s blue eyes gleaming at me.

 

Obviously, Theodore, despite being partners with Rivena, was completely unfocused and kept looking at me.

 

‘What’s with that look? It’s unsettling….’’

 

Of course, I wasn’t the only one who felt those eyes, as Yohan held my waist closer with a wary look on his face and led the dance.

 

Then he whispered in my ear.

 

“Do you know that guy?”

 

It was a talent to be able to whisper so creepily and affectionately.

 

I rolled my eyes and answered.

 

“No. This is my first time seeing him.”

 

“Then why does he keep looking at you like that?”

 

* * *