Chapter 19

Lambert’s face looked terrible, his eyes bloodshot. Even though his features and physique hadn’t changed, he was clearly on the verge of transforming into a beast.

I instinctively glanced at the sun; it wasn’t even noon yet.

What happened? Why had his condition deteriorated so badly?

Perhaps due to the early onset of his transformation, his desire for control had become extreme. When my attention wasn’t on him for a few seconds, he couldn’t bear it and gripped my chin with two fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. His voice was terrifyingly low: “Answer me. Where have you been these days?”

I shook my head: “I didn’t try to escape, I just got lost… Wait, these days?” Suddenly realizing, I said in surprise, “After I sent Ophelia off, I was on my way back and saw a suspicious woman. I followed her and got delayed in the flower field for a little while. I swear it was only a little while, no more than half an hour. How could it be ‘these days’?”

He said nothing, coldly scrutinizing my expression like a leopard watching a fleeing gazelle filled with intense possessiveness. After a long moment, he released my chin, raised his arm, and calmly adjusted his cufflinks, appearing to have regained his composure: “That flower field is imbued with magic; it’s best not to go there.”

You could have said that earlier. I answered sullenly in my mind. Thinking it over, I felt it was still my fault for recklessly chasing after her. I cleared my throat and spoke guiltily: “Um… Lambert.”

His gaze swept over: “What?”

“How long was I gone?”

He lowered his eyes slightly, his Adam’s apple moving, but he didn’t speak. After a long while, he finally answered, “Three days.”

Three days. No wonder his emotions were so unstable. Does this mean that I am actually very important to him?

In the illusion, the image of him aiming the crossbow at his own mother flashed by, and I could feel his struggle as he betrayed his humanity and the pain as he succumbed to reason. Seeing his past, I seemed to understand him a bit more, yet also felt further away from his world. I wasn’t sure which feeling was correct. From birth to holding great power, he had always lived under the watchful eyes of those around him, his emotions confined in a mold called “reason,” shaped by countless expectant gazes. Ophelia was a reflection of those around him. From her, it was clear that for the country and the people, he symbolized far more than an individual. He seemed to stand high above, yet he didn’t even have the right to release his instincts. No wonder his transformation into a beast only amplified his instincts, having a devastating effect.

As soon as I stepped into the castle grounds, the temperature dropped again, cold snowflakes drifted down, and dark clouds pressed low over the tower. Looking at his tall and slender figure, I wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start. After hesitating for a few seconds, I decided to be proactive and ran over to hold his hand: “Lambert.”

He seemed to have completely returned to normal. He glanced at my hand and calmly replied, “Hmm.”

“I saw some things in the flower field…”

I thought he would follow my words, but after waiting for a long time without a response, just as I was about to ask, he suddenly grasped my hand, pulled me behind a tall statue, and pressed a finger to my lips: “Shh, talk later.”

I was puzzled but saw him squint his eyes, staring intently ahead without moving, so I closed my mouth. Following his gaze, I saw the messy, dirty footprints in the snow in front of the castle, the door slightly ajar, with bright lights inside, and the occasional sound of clinking glasses, laughter, and even an accordion playing.

Someone was inside.

At this moment, a young man’s voice rang out: “It’s all thanks to Old Ford! If he hadn’t been smart enough to draw a map as he walked, how could we have found this place so easily? Everyone, raise your glasses and toast to him!”

“Heh, so what if he’s a prince? We still tricked him!”

“Everyone, eat and drink well. After we’re done, let’s take all the things we didn’t grab last time! Who says we can’t take royal stuff? I don’t believe those lazy nobles can find us!” After saying this, the man let out a long burp, causing a burst of laughter.

I looked at Lambert. His expression was very calm, and his tone was flat: “Let’s go the other way.”

Just go the other way? Not teach them a lesson? Is it because he regained his rationality after returning to normal, or because a ruler needs not only a harsh and cold hand but also a noble and forgiving heart?

I really didn’t understand what he was thinking. If it were the beast Lambert, he definitely wouldn’t let those people do as they please. He wanted to take me away, but I didn’t want to go with him. His grip was as firm as shackles, and I couldn’t break free, so I simply sat down in the snow.

Lambert looked at me in slight surprise. His voice restrained and low: “Rosa?”

The snow was wet and cold, and it didn’t take long for the chill to seep into my skin. I shivered: “Why doesn’t Your Highness punish them?”

He didn’t seem to notice my change in address, glanced at the castle gate, and slowly said, “No need.”

“I don’t believe that’s what Your Highness’s instincts think.”

My chin was suddenly lifted, and Lambert leaned down, his cold eyes meeting mine: “Instincts? Do you like that beast so much?”

It’s not that I like the beast, but rather that I love everything about him. I moved my lips, just about to muster the courage to say this, when the castle suddenly fell silent, and a pair of patched bark shoes appeared at the door: “Everyone quiet down. It sounds like there’s something outside.”

I quickly closed my mouth, moved further inside, and pulled Lambert down to the ground as well. He didn’t understand my good intentions and continued looking at me coldly.

“Don’t spoil everyone’s enjoyment of the wine, little Hugo! Without a map, this place is impossible to find!”

A drunken voice said, “Yeah, even if they find it, just the messy thorns in front of the castle are enough to deal with them. Everyone, keep drinking, keep drinking!”

“Close the door, little Hugo. It’s terribly cold today!”

The bark shoes hesitated for a moment, then obediently pulled the heavy castle door shut. The sound of clinking glasses and laughter disappeared, and the dead silence of wind and snow once again surrounded the castle.

Taking this opportunity, I opened my mouth to explain, but he suddenly yanked me up and dragged me forward. I tried to break free, but his grip was like shackles, and his strides were so large that I stumbled along behind him like a kite that couldn’t fly.

Certain that even if I shouted, those people wouldn’t hear us from this distance, I stopped and tried to shake off his hand. After two attempts, I still couldn’t break free. Frustrated and embarrassed, I shouted, “Lambert!”

He replied coldly, “Didn’t you just call me ‘Your Highness’?”

“…Don’t be like this.”

“Then how do you want me to be?” He turned around, his eyes cold and fierce, cutting into my face inch by inch. “Like that beast, following behind you, wagging my tail and begging for your affection, controlled by your kisses and caresses. Is that what you want to see?”

His words were colder than the wind and snow. Even in the freezing cold, I felt intense shame and grievance. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Then what do you mean?” He gripped my wrist and stepped closer, forcing me to brace my elbow against his chest. His heartbeat was fast and frantic, his breathing hot and rapid. “Answer me.”

I also wanted to ask what he meant. I really wished the curse could be lifted at this moment. The howling wind would stop, the cold snow would disappear, and the black scales on his hand and neck would vanish. Then, I could confidently tell him how much I liked him. But no, the curse wasn’t lifted, and the wind and snow outside the castle grew stronger, soon covering his head, eyelashes, and shoulders. His eyes were so beautiful, exactly like the queen’s in the illusion, but his gaze was colder and more piercing than the wind and snow.

“What do you mean? Tell me.”

Maybe I was overthinking, my mind too confused, and my body suddenly felt tired. I lowered my head and said softly, “I don’t want you to suppress your instincts and impulses. These people are not citizens of the northern kingdom; you don’t need to be responsible for them like a king. They made mistakes, and driving them away is the right thing to do. That’s what I mean.”

For some reason, tears started to fall. I raised my hand to wipe them away, but the more I wiped, the more they flowed. The tears quickly froze into a thin layer of frost. If the curse had been lifted, this wouldn’t have happened. So, he didn’t love me; it wasn’t my imagination.

“I saw your past in the rose field. I know you carry a lot of burdens and that you are not a heartless person. Although the beast is a product of the curse, I can feel his intense and passionate emotions. I believe such emotions are also hidden in your heart. I don’t like the beast — No, actually, I do like him a bit.” Not knowing what I was saying, the wind was too strong, hurting my cheeks and ears.

As I spoke, I carefully chose my words. Finally, I smiled bitterly and said bluntly, “Forget it, I’ll tell you. I like the beast because I like you.”

At that moment, it seemed like the world was filled only with the sound of wind and snow. The last bit of hope shattered; he didn’t love me, nor did he like me. I had expressed my feelings so plainly, yet the curse was still not lifted. I shouldn’t have had any hope.

“I like you. Isn’t it ridiculous? Because you don’t like me.”

The more I cried, the more tears flowed. Just as I was about to raise my hand to wipe them away, my chin was suddenly lifted, my vision replaced by a shadow, and cold lips covered mine.

For a moment, the sound of my heartbeat completely drowned out the roar of the wind and snow. My cheeks burned for a few seconds, and I thought the wind and snow had disappeared and the world was filled with warmth and blooming flowers.

Had the curse been lifted?

However, when the kiss ended, I met a pair of scarlet eyes.

Lambert had turned into a beast.