The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Laria quickly jumped out of the store.

She looked around but there was nobody.

It seemed she missed him by a short distance.

‘The gaze I felt earlier must’ve been from that man.’

She thought it was her imagination, but it wasn’t.

She vowed to keep a close escort, fearing when the man might appear again to cause harm.

“Liri.”

Startled, she swiftly turned her head.

Zenox was right behind her, unbeknownst to when he had come out.

“You startled me.”

She didn’t sense him coming close at all. He seemed more beastly than a beast.

“I thought you ran away.”

“I came out to catch a stalker?” Although missed him, she answered.

Feeling awkward empty-handed, Laria revisited what Zenox had said and frowned.

“Why should I run away?”

“Exactly. I wonder why I thought that.”

After pondering for a moment, Zenox whispered as if talking to himself.

“Maybe it’s because I missed once.”

Feeling a chill down her spine for no reason, Laria changed the subject.

“The staff must have been surprised to see you come out suddenly. You didn’t pay, did you?”

“I gave a blank check, so they will bill it accordingly.”

Zenox naturally added, standing next to Laria.

“The clothes will be delivered to your house in two days, let’s move on to the next store.”

The fact that there was another store already made her tired.

Fortunately, the place Zenox took her was not a clothing store, but a jewelry store.

“Welcome.”

As they entered the store, Laria’s eyes sparkled like stars.

It was filled with jewels all around.

Examining a necklace displayed on the shelf, Laria marveled inwardly.

‘With that one, I could use a teleportation spell right to the North, right?’

To Laria’s eyes, the necklace was nothing more than a material for spell.

‘Long-distance teleportation spell… I want to experiment.’

Her ample robe fluttered excitedly.

Zenox smiled quietly at Laria who was expressing her excitement with her whole body.

“Is there any product you are looking for?”

The manager, standing behind, approached stealthily.

Zenox still had his eyes fixed on Laria as he answered.

“We need rings for the engagement ceremony and for daily wear.”

The word engagement ring made the fluttering robe stop suddenly.

“I will guide you this way.”

“Liri.”

Zenox called Laria with a sweet voice.

Frozen for a moment, Laria followed Zenox with a creaky step.

‘Engagement ring.’

They had agreed to get engaged with Zenox, but it was still sudden.

There was nothing set for the engagement ceremony or anything.

She was at ease thinking they would do it someday, was part of the reason.

Is it okay to proceed like roasting beans on a fire? They haven’t even received permission from their families yet.

As Laria sat down, Zenox took the seat next to her. She moved her seat as it felt too close, but he soon moved close again.

“These are designs by a very popular designer recently.”

The manager explained that once the order is placed, only one pair is made and the design is discarded.

Zenox, who was tuning out the explanation, received the design. And without checking, he handed it straight to Laria.

“Choose whatever you like.”

Handing the decision to Laria, the manager’s face turned anxious.

Did they think she was a guard or companion because she was wearing a robe?

The reactions of the employees who were watching from behind were not much different.

Feeling the gazes, Laria’s skin stung and she felt a little regret. Had she known, she would have visited as Laria Rohan. Because she was wearing a robe, everyone seemed curious.

Ignoring them, Laria flipped through the designs.

Her hand paused here and there as she skimmed through.

“Do you like that?”

Each time, her golden eyes shined sharply. Zenox didn’t miss and asked for Laria’s opinion.

Nodding her head, Laria looked at the manager.

“Is the one in the center a diamond?”

“Yes, it is.”

The manager, standing next to them, answered in a much friendlier tone.

The diamond drawn in the design was of a size that the ring would rotate around the finger once worn.

Swallowing hard, Zenox leaned in and whispered to Laria.

“You can’t take out the jewel and use it.”

“I am not such a naive sorcerer.”

How did he know?

Embarrassed for no reason, Laria denied it quickly.

“But what if there’s a real emergency?”

Laria leaned in to Zenox.

“Like if Your Excellency is in danger.”

“Would you come to rescue?”

Zenox squinted and smiled.

His black eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings right in front of her.

Staring blankly at him, Laria was startled.

When did they get so close?

“Will you come to rescue, Liri?” Zenox asked again, tilting his head.

Feeling her ears burn, Laria pulled her head back.

They say a fox bewitches people, but the wolf was the real deal.

“Of course, I have to. Naturally.”

The tone felt strangely odd so Laria added.

“Even if it’s not you, I would do the same for others.”

Zenox’s smiling face disappeared instantly.

He didn’t like the latter answer and sighed.

“But I am the priority, right?”

“Of course.”

Rescue the one who buys the ring first, what else can she do?

Only after hearing the answer he wanted, Zenox seemed satisfied and picked up the design.

“This one for the ceremony.”

The manager, with a slightly reddened face, nodded. Seeing the two chatting closely, it felt like he had peeped into a secret meeting of lovers.

“I’ll measure the size.”

“Instead of my fiance, Liri can measure. Their sizes should be the same.”

At those words, the manager’s eyes shook wildly.

Wasn’t the person in the robe next to him the fiance…?

The smug look on the manager’s face turned into disdain.

‘Ha…’

Though it was her who asked to differentiate between official and private matters, she didn’t wish for such a scenario.

Zenox didn’t even bother to correct the manager’s misunderstanding, seemingly finding it amusing.

Should I just take off the robe…

“What on earth are you doing?”

Laria turned her head towards the voice coming from behind.

A man with a large hat stood there.

‘Stalker?’

It was the man who was standing outside the dressing room earlier.

Laria stood up abruptly, standing in front of Zenox. She thought she might use a spell to blow the man away if needed.

But the moment the man took off his hat, her mind went blank.

‘Brother…?’

The stalker turned out to be Laria’s brother, Herdin Rohan.

Caught in an awkward situation, Laria froze.

He was clearly angry; his pupils narrowed vertically. He couldn’t contain his anger and crumpled the hat in his hands. The hat was crushed like a paper cone.

Seeing the snake scales on his cheek, Laria’s face turned pale.

‘He’s really angry?’

But why is her brother here…

“Are you cheating on my sister right now?”

Tension filled the store in an instant.

There was no conversation, not even a breath to be heard.

Not just the manager, but all the employees were pretending not to notice, while keeping an eye on the situation.

Zenox stood up.

He looked troubled facing Herdin.

“You misunderstood.”

“So, you’re saying what I saw was a misunderstanding? Fitting rings too?”

Herdin’s voice trembled.

On the contrary, Zenox’s voice was calm.

“I only have one person.”

Zenox’s gaze met Laria’s again.

Seeing that, Herdin couldn’t hold back and pulled out a small bottle from his pocket.

Why is he taking out the bottle!

Frightened, Laria yelled reflexively.

“Brother!”

Holding the bottle, Herdin paused.

Taking advantage of the pause, Laria took off the hood she had been wearing.

Her hidden silver hair flowed down like a waterfall.

Naturally drawn to her, Herdin’s face blanked.

“Laria…?”