Chapter 16

The night after returning from the festival, Genoa slept soundly. Despite the princess not being by his side. Bane was greatly surprised and suggested calling a doctor, but Genoa refused. The reason was that he felt he no longer needed treatment for insomnia.

Genoa, in an unprecedentedly good mood, seemed somewhat excited. Bane keenly noticed his changed demeanor.

“Did something good happen during your last outing?”

“Hmm? Ah, yes.”

A pleasant smile appeared on Genoa’s lips. Thinking of the princess made his expression relax.

When was the last time he could smile purely, without any thoughts or intentions, when remembering someone? Thinking carefully, there hadn’t been any instances at all except for those times he spent with Mel before the successor trial began.

“It seems the princess will accept my proposal.”

“……!”

Bane widened his eyes in surprise at Genoa’s words. Since Bane usually harbored unfavorable feelings toward the princess, Genoa generously overlooked his reaction. There had never been a time, except for once, when he hadn’t obtained what he wanted. And this time would be no different.

Genoa had come to want the princess, and eventually, he would have her in his grasp. The princess would give him the greatest satisfaction among all things he had held in his hands so far. It felt like his throat was being moistened in the midst of a chronic thirst.

“At the festival, the princess could have escaped but didn’t. She chose to remain at the Ivanstein mansion.”

“……She might have done so knowing she couldn’t escape Ivanstein’s eyes.”

“No, it’s different.”

Genoa firmly shook his head at Bane’s hypothesis.

The princess’s gaze at that time, the tears welling up in her eyes, her body relaxing and leaning toward him—all these things told him: the princess had given up the freedom she so desperately longed for. Because of Genoa. Because he wanted her.

“Bane.”

“Yes.”

“The princess likes me.”

“……”

At his confident, assured voice, Bane lost his words and unconsciously opened his mouth. His face showed thoughts rising and sinking repeatedly without being organized in his mind.

Suppressing the urge to mock that face or tease him, Genoa emphasized once more.

“It’s obvious.”

“If my lord has judged it so, then it must be.”

“But why does she fear me so much?”

Even though I treat her kindly. Genoa clicked his tongue regretfully.

He saw in the princess’s eyes a fear she still couldn’t shake off. It was close to terror.

“I shouldn’t have brought the princess from the royal palace in that way at first.”

“……Are you actually regretting it?”

Bane asked in disbelief. His tightly clenched fist trembled with shock. Through Bane, Genoa could see how ridiculous he himself had become.

“What, do I seem strange?”

“What exactly about the princess has made my lord like this?”

“Well……”

Genoa lightly tapped the desk with his finger and thought briefly.

Why had the princess, who was merely a prisoner, become so special? Was it because the princess’s eccentric behavior at the Ivanstein mansion was something he had never predicted? Was it because of her wisdom, which allowed her to understand his intentions faster than anyone else and move more smoothly than his own limbs?

Or was it because when he was with the princess, he could forget Mel’s existence, which had countless times appeared in his mind?

Various reasons came to Genoa’s mind. As he pondered each one, he was newly surprised at himself. He couldn’t think of a reason not to possess the princess.

She was like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly with Genoa. She held what he needed, and being with her made him feel pleasant. Perhaps instinctively knowing this, on that day when he first met her eyes, Genoa was able to fall into a sweet sleep in the carriage.

“It bothers me that the princess fears me.”

“Because you are a frightening person, my lord.”

“If she feared me, she should have from the beginning. From the moment we first met. But the princess……”

The princess showed deeper fear whenever Genoa acted kindly toward her. Rather, when they first met, she was more……

A faint crease appeared between Genoa’s brows.

“She’s afraid of opening her heart to me. As if there’s a reason why she shouldn’t.”

Bane’s tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

His lord instinctively and keenly noticed something close to the truth. Even though the princess and Bane were trying to cover Genoa’s eyes.

Bane already knew. That his lord would eventually reach the truth. Mel probably feared this too.

‘Mel, who was cherished by her mother, didn’t run away.’

Mel’s choice wasn’t simply choosing Genoa. She chose what she wanted right now over her mother.

‘Why.’

Bane calmed his trembling hand, gnawing on the inside of his mouth.

As a child who knew how to use her wits cunningly even when she was pure and young, Mel surely had her thoughts. She wasn’t one to make impulsive decisions. Especially in this situation where her mother’s life might be in danger.

“She probably doesn’t have a hidden fiancé in Reibritton.”

Even at this moment when he thought he had obtained the princess, Genoa tried to find and eliminate even the smallest reasons why she might run away.

In his mind appeared the existence of what the princess no longer needed, the “precious thing” she had mentioned. She seemed to have given up looking for it now, but at least at first, she had searched for it desperately enough to make a deal with Genoa.

As he remembered something he had momentarily forgotten, Genoa instinctively knew that he needed to find it to make the princess completely his.

“Send people back to Reibritton. Before the First Prince notices that I dealt with the head maid.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Bane bowed his head and prioritized following Genoa’s orders. As he was about to grab the doorknob to open the door and leave the office, Bane hesitated and stopped his hand.

“My lord.”

He slowly turned around and approached Genoa again, who was looking at documents. Genoa answered without taking his eyes off the papers.

“Did you forget something?”

“Did you not notice that the princess entered the western garden?”

Thud. Genoa put down the document again and looked at Bane. Bane continued.

“You didn’t ask the princess what she saw there.”

“Are you blaming me?”

“I’m concerned.”

Genoa’s eyes narrowed for an instant, so briefly that Bane didn’t notice.

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever she saw there, it doesn’t matter.”

“……”

“I don’t know how much of this family’s horrors the princess has noticed.”

But still, the princess stayed. She stayed. A satisfied smile appeared on Genoa’s lips.

He truly didn’t care what the princess had seen in the western garden. Rather, he hoped she had seen and felt the gloominess of the western garden, the feeling that something unpleasant was hidden there, the fragments of the past that hadn’t been completely erased.

That would make the weight of whatever was clinging to the princess’s ankles, which had been rooted to the ground, even heavier, and the princess’s choice to stay would be more valuable to Genoa.

“By the way, Bane, the princess is a woman who made a vegetable garden at the Ivanstein mansion. In the princess’s field, something that can’t even be called sprouts yet is already growing.”

Genoa smiled, recalling the clumsy patches of green that were barely beginning to bear fruit.

The princess cherished them very much. Whenever she had time, she would go to the garden to water them, level the soil, and caress them. The tea party was also held there; he wondered if she had wanted to show off the fruits of her efforts a little.

Just thinking about it allowed Genoa to smile slightly even during the busy coronation.

“The princess can change this mansion. Imagine the Ivanstein mansion filled with those trivial blooming things, Bane.”

“……Well.”

“Though they may be poor quality, they’ll surely be lovely.”

It would be a loveliness that might shake the reputation of the Ivanstein family.

Genoa smiled as if looking forward to that day. Seeing that serene smile, Bane couldn’t say anything and turned his back. Bane’s heart felt tightly constricted.

* * *

The emperor’s office was immersed in silence, as if the excited atmosphere of the empire didn’t belong there. Only the scratching sound of pen nibs and the occasional fluttering of turning papers could be heard.

There were countless desks in the emperor’s office. The emperor’s aides sitting at those desks also quietly checked their assigned tasks in their places.

It would have been natural for all the aides, including the new emperor, to be intoxicated with a sense of victory after officially proclaiming the empire’s emperor, but the atmosphere was not like that at all. This place seemed as if it hadn’t yet escaped from the late emperor’s death notice. It would not be wrong to say they looked like people holding a funeral.

“Did you eat?”

It was Genoa’s voice gently inquiring about the emperor’s well-being that broke the silence.

The emperor’s aides glanced at Genoa before burying their heads back in their documents. Though it was an opportunity to see the famously enchanting Duke Ivanstein up close, casting a single glance was the only luxury they could afford. The aides’ faces were deathly pale.

But in an even worse state than them was the emperor. Genoa clicked his tongue as he saw the emperor’s face rising from among the piles of documents.

“You haven’t.”

“I can’t even remember when I last had a proper meal, Duke.”

“You’ll soon have to appear before the imperial citizens. You know you shouldn’t show such an emaciated appearance.”

“It’s not that I don’t know that, which is why I’m like this.”

The emperor, Rudrich, leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply while staring into space.

He knew the late emperor hadn’t been a good ruler. So immersed in women and pleasure, he had even transferred several important authorities to Rihast and Rudrich in advance, shifting responsibilities to them. It was a different approach from past emperors who worried about the center of power shifting to the princes.

Moreover, it was widely known that he entrusted a substantial part of the actual work to Duke Ivanstein, whom he greatly trusted, and delegated the rest to his close associates.

“I wonder how you managed to handle all these until now, Duke Ivanstein.”

“It wasn’t easy, but when His Majesty commanded, I had no choice but to accomplish it.”

Rudrich’s expression became subtle at Genoa’s matter-of-fact response.

“Why are you so loyal to the imperial family?”

“It’s natural for an imperial noble.”

“……Seeing you answer like that when you know that’s not what I’m asking, it seems you don’t want to talk about it.”

“I was merely being honest with Your Majesty.”

“Fine. It’s better not to engage in lengthy conversations with you, Duke Ivanstein.”

Rudrich rubbed his face with his hands and sighed deeply.

Rudrich, who didn’t want to rely on the Ivanstein ducal family like the late emperor, had reclaimed a significant level of authority. That had become the catalyst for Rudrich to trust Genoa to some extent. It was largely thanks to Genoa Ivanstein’s willing cooperation.

But problems due to the absence of a leader guiding the empire appeared everywhere. Rudrich, who had just ascended to the throne, was desperately struggling with the overwhelming issues that were too burdensome for him to handle.

“Do you intend to go down in history as an emperor who didn’t fully participate in his own coronation ceremonies?”

“If I can clearly convey that the reason was overwork, then yes.”

“The imperial citizens will be greatly disappointed.”

“The fact that this empire isn’t functioning properly will disappoint them even more.”

Rudrich said this while picking up one of the documents piled in front of him and tossing it forward. As Genoa approached and took the document, Rudrich spoke.

“These are the late emperor’s illegitimate children.”

“A huge amount of funds flowed to them every month.”

“It’s an amount comparable to the operating costs of a fairly sized viscounty. Since the late emperor wasn’t particularly fond of his children, this is……”

“Secret funds.”

Rudrich heaved a deep sigh. He seemed to have a headache as he pressed his fingers against his temples and said:

“What reason could an emperor possibly have for needing secret funds? Everything in this empire should have belonged to the emperor.”

“……I was merely His Majesty’s faithful dog, I don’t know the details of his feelings.”

“I thought you would certainly have known.”

At Rudrich’s words, Genoa silently shrugged his shoulders. Rudrich’s eyes narrowed momentarily at this meaningful gesture. But he already understood that since Genoa was responding this way, he wasn’t someone who would say anything more.

“No one knows what this secret fund was used for or where it is now. None of the illegitimate children on this list are alive anymore.”

“Your Majesty is compassionate, so that fact must pain you.”

“I need to know where this money flowed to, Duke.”

“Will you entrust this to me?”

Genoa looked at Rudrich with gleaming eyes, as if ready to act immediately upon the emperor’s command.

The sight of his purple eyes shining sent chills down the spine of anyone watching. He was like a hunting dog trained to be extremely cruel for his master. Ready to tear anything apart with sharp teeth at a single command.

Since it was decided that Rudrich would ascend to the throne, he had fallen into the illusion that Genoa Ivanstein was in his hands. More precisely, Genoa had pushed Rudrich into such an illusion.

“I have one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Everyone calls the Duke of Ivanstein the emperor’s dog, have you never been dissatisfied with that?”

“As Your Majesty’s subject, what more glorious nickname could there be to cause dissatisfaction?”

No matter how closely Rudrich looked, Genoa’s voice was filled with sincerity.

The emperor’s dog. The duke who acted most befitting of this nickname that had been passed down for generations about the Ivanstein ducal family was Genoa Ivanstein. Although the previous duke, Lionel Ivanstein, also prioritized the emperor’s commands, he hadn’t been this blatant.

So Rudrich wondered why Genoa, who was considered the most outstanding among all Ivanstein dukes, would so openly call himself a ‘dog’ before the emperor.

“I say this because I don’t feel like I’m holding your leash. How can I trust a duke who could manipulate me, the emperor, at will?”

Rudrich’s eyes also gleamed coldly with the same light as Genoa’s. It meant that if he truly wanted to be the emperor’s dog, he should act accordingly.

Since the late emperor’s death notice, the Raon Empire had been running according to Duke Ivanstein’s will rather than Rudrich, who had just become emperor. Genoa appeared to willingly hand over all his authority and power to the emperor, but that was only superficial; he still firmly held the decision-making power over Reibritton, which had not yet been resolved.

To the extent that no matter how hard Rudrich tried, he couldn’t obtain information about the internal affairs of Reibritton.

This was Genoa blocking information without even trying to hide it. Rudrich couldn’t tell if he intended to do so until the appropriate time or if he had other intentions.

“I understood Your Majesty’s concerns.”

Genoa walked briskly until he stood before Rudrich.

The aides who had been pretending not to hear the conversation between the two men looked up. The sound of knights moving was heard behind Genoa. Tension in the office tightened just because Genoa had approached the emperor more closely.

As if pleased with the situation, Genoa laughed softly, placed both hands on Rudrich’s desk, leaned his upper body slightly forward, and met his eyes.

“If you wait just a little longer, I will place a leash in your hands that will please Your Majesty.”

“Are you saying you’ll put a leash on yourself and hand it over to me?”

“Most willingly. Your Majesty only needs to hold that leash and wield me as you please.”

“I don’t understand. The proper order would be for Duke Ivanstein to convince me of his reasons for going this far.”

At Rudrich’s words, Genoa brought the pen and paper on the desk in front of him. Then, while writing something on that paper, he said:

“You will naturally understand when the time comes—the moment Your Majesty holds my leash in your hand.”

Genoa slid the paper he had written toward Rudrich. After checking its contents, Rudrich’s face hardened terribly. Having observed this reaction sufficiently, Genoa retrieved the paper, took it to a candle, and immediately burned it.

“……How will you handle this?”

“I need to meet the princess.”

Genoa smiled broadly at the emperor’s words.

* * *

Everyone at the Ivanstein mansion was confused by the strange currents that had been faintly flowing in recently. They were beginning to realize one by one that things were not proceeding normally. It was because of the head maid who had disappeared overnight.

“It’s really strange. There’s no way that head maid would suddenly quit her job like this.”

“……That’s right.”

Lin talked incessantly about it while attending to Mel’s clothing.

“Besides, the head maid used to look down on me saying she was from the capital, but it doesn’t make sense that she hurriedly left for her hometown far in the north.”

“That’s also true.”

“Everyone’s talking about it. Why did she suddenly disappear? Is it really because of that legend of the Ivanstein ducal family? She disappeared that night!”

“Maybe so.”

Lin sighed deeply as she looked at Mel, who was answering lifelessly.

Most of the words coming out of her mouth now were the mainstream opinions that the servants were spreading around. Mel should learn about these to take control of this mansion. Lin’s little mistress didn’t seem interested in utilizing this good opportunity.

Lin, who had noticed the strange atmosphere flowing between Genoa and Mel faster than anyone else, was secretly using and adjusting the opinions of the mansion’s servants appropriately. It was to strengthen the princess’s position in this mansion in the absence of the head maid.

If she gathered those who had lost their center due to the absence of the head maid, who could be called the leader of most servants, especially the maids, in the name of the princess, then there would no longer be talk about her being merely a prisoner of war.

Unaware of Lin’s intentions, Mel had a face that seemed lost somewhere.

“Do you have something worrying you?”

“Mmm, just……I’m nervous thinking about meeting His Majesty.”

Lin saw Mel’s hands trembling faintly as she tied the ribbon of her dress. It was a trembling that had continued throughout the entire time she had been attending to her clothing.

“Are you very nervous?”

“……I can’t help but be.”

Mel sighed deeply and rubbed her hands herself. Sweat seemed to have seeped into her palms.

“I could understand if it were the late emperor, but the current Emperor is generous and just. I heard he was respectful to you at the last party, so why are you so afraid?”

“That was before His Majesty ascended to the throne.”

“That doesn’t mean his character would change. Don’t worry too much!”

At Lin’s comfort, Mel smiled bitterly and said:

“It’s not just about meeting His Majesty, but I’m afraid of the words that will naturally come out when I see him.”

Finally understanding Mel’s words, Lin nodded as if she now comprehended her nervousness.

“Well, this is His Majesty’s first private meeting with the princess since his coronation.”

Rudrich, who had just held his coronation, had not yet allowed private meetings outside of official occasions. This was because the first person he met after ascending to the throne would implicitly determine who would hold key positions in the empire he would unfold.

In other words, it was a time when all eyes in the Raon Empire were focused on this.

“To be precise, Duke Ivanstein was first.”

“Oh my, that’s only natural.”

Lin blinked as if to say, what an obvious thing to mention.

In all these circumstances, Genoa Ivanstein was the exception. The Ivanstein family was absolutely loyal to the imperial family, and they were dogs who always carried out only the given commands under the shadow of the imperial family.

Therefore, the nobles didn’t care at all whether Genoa Ivanstein had a private meeting with the emperor first or later. The Ivanstein ducal family was always in their designated place, and since no one could take or covet that position, they simply didn’t pay attention to it from the beginning.

“Duke Ivanstein is……”

Mel naturally recalled Genoa’s face and felt heat rising to her face. She remembered the kiss they had shared among the crowds that day.

“What about the Duke?”

“Nothing.”

Mel bowed her head deeply and repeatedly wrapped and unwrapped the innocent ribbon around her finger. Lin tilted her head in confusion, but as the departure time approached, she focused on giving Mel’s clothing a final touch-up.

‘I should have run away that day……’

All night long, Mel had tossed and turned, unable to sleep, filled with regret.

She shouldn’t have done that; she should have run away the moment she noticed Genoa’s sincerity. No matter how much she clutched and kicked the blanket, that moment wouldn’t return.

‘I couldn’t.’

While staying by Genoa’s side, Mel had unknowingly confronted the fact that her hidden desire for him had grown uncontrollably.

At first, she had only wanted to survive. Although she had met Genoa again in a state where she couldn’t reveal herself, she had found comfort in the fact that she could see him grown up like this, and had planned to leave.

But gradually, when Genoa showed his true feelings in front of her, when he smiled subtly, when he showed that trust he had shown before, Mel found herself looking for excuses to stay by his side.

She had judged that if she found evidence that she hadn’t betrayed him, at least Genoa wouldn’t kill her, considering Mel’s merits and old affection, but in reality, she had hoped that Genoa would keep her by his side even if the truth was revealed. That’s why her feet couldn’t leave despite having the opportunity to escape.

‘Young master’s heart isn’t entirely mine. I shouldn’t have coveted it.’

The only thing Mel regretted was this. She was completely disgusted with herself for not pushing away Genoa when he came to kiss her that day, but instead pulling him closer.

‘If this isn’t manipulation, then what is it?’

The princess’s shell would eventually be peeled off. This was an unavoidable fate. So as long as she wore this shell, Genoa’s heart wasn’t entirely Mel’s. It was a feeling she wouldn’t have started in the first place if she had been a slave.

“Princess, relax! If you go to see His Majesty with such a serious, stiff face, who knows what will be said in the social papers tomorrow.”

“……Is my face that serious?”

“Yes! You’re already a Princess who had a scandal with His Highness the First Prince, and if you go to the audience with that expression now, it might seem like you’re dissatisfied with His Majesty’s ascension.”

“I’m starting to dislike the imperial social papers.”

“That’s probably true for any imperial noble.”

Lin smiled and pulled the mirror closer to Mel.

In the mirror, Mel was exuding a gloomy atmosphere. It was indeed a face that might cause all sorts of talk in the social papers, as Lin had said. Mel stared at the mirror for a long time before she could finally manage her expression.

“You need to depart now. The Duke has other appointments, so he asked Sir Bane to escort you.”

“Sir Bane?”

“Yes.”

While Mel opened her eyes wide in surprise, there was a knock and the door opened. It was the butler.

“Sir Bane asks me to inform you that the princess’s carriage is ready.”

“I’ll go now.”

Mel sighed and moved her feet. She shouldn’t show her dislike, but honestly, she didn’t want to enter the palace with Bane.

As she walked following the butler’s guidance, Mel calmly organized her thoughts. Lin looked at Mel with worried eyes, as she was still visibly tense.

“Are you really alright?”

“Of course.”

Mel smiled and nodded to Lin.

The truth Mel carried was so heavy that when she saw kind Lin’s face, she felt the impulse to share that burden. But no matter how much Lin was her person, would she still look at her with such warm eyes when confronted with the tremendous truth that Mel was actually a slave?

Probably not.

“Thank you, Lin.”

Mel habitually expressed her gratitude to Lin, but Lin’s expression subtly changed upon receiving it. She looked at the butler once and then back at Mel.

As Lin was about to say something, moving her lips, they had already reached the carriage.

“I’ve been waiting, Princess.”

Bane, who had been waiting in front of the carriage, extended his hand. Mel took it.

“I’m counting on you today, my lord.”

“I will serve you to the best of my ability.”

Bane bowed his head respectfully and led Mel into the carriage. After helping Mel board the carriage, Bane got in behind her and said to the coachman:

“Depart immediately.”

“Yes.”

It was before Mel had even settled in her seat. As ordered by Bane, the carriage started quickly as soon as he closed the door. So the carriage shook greatly once, but no one suspected anything.

“……Ack!”

No one suspected that inside the carriage, Bane was strangling the princess.

“Ugh, this, please……!”

Mel grabbed the hand choking her throat with a face reddened from lack of air. But there was no way she could overcome the grip strength of a man whose physical power vastly exceeded hers. Her hands couldn’t pry off even one of Bane’s fingers.

“How dare you manipulate my master?”

Mel shook her head and looked into Bane’s eyes. His pupils were burning with rage. Yet despite Mel being the one being strangled, it was Bane who looked as if his own breath was being constricted.

The strength in Mel’s hands trying to remove Bane’s grip weakened. With a thud, her arms fell, and just as her vision was about to blur, Bane roughly released her.

“Haaah! Hah, haaah!”

Mel coughed violently as she hurriedly gasped for air. The tears that had welled up in her eyes fell in drops.

“What are you thinking? Surely someone like you wouldn’t dare covet the position of Ivanstein’s lady. What scheme are you plotting now to manipulate my lord and me!”

Bane’s cold accusations poured down on Mel, who was busy catching her breath after collapsing.

“……”

Mel couldn’t respond to Bane’s words as her breathing hadn’t yet returned to normal. But perhaps Bane’s patience had reached its limit, as he grabbed the collar of the collapsed Mel and pulled her up.

“Speak up now!”

“Please let me go and then I’ll talk!”

Mel irritably shook off Bane’s hand and glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

“Have you forgotten who I’m on my way to meet? The emperor, the Raon Empire’s emperor! The imperial nobles are watching us intently with their eyes wide open, wondering what state I’ll be in when I have an audience with the emperor!”

“……You!”

Bane’s mouth opened and closed as if he were at a loss for words. His eyes widened in disbelief, filled with astonishment.

“Could it be that you’re actually mistaking yourself for the real Princess?”

“Right now, I need to be the princess! At least for now!”

Mel shouted as if frustrated. Startled by her scream, which resembled a shriek filled with anger, Bane stepped back and ended up sitting on the opposite seat.

“You’ve gone mad, Mel. You’ve finally gone insane, that’s for sure.”

“Then what should I do now? What exactly can I resolve by revealing here that I’m a slave? Do you have a solution, Sir Bane? A way for both me and my mother to survive!”

“So your chosen method is to seduce my lord? Huh?”

Bane glared back at Mel and sneered.

Mel realized that Bane had noticed something had transpired between Genoa and her on the festival day. Her face was colored with embarrassment. It felt like having an unwanted vulnerability exposed, and on the other hand, an unbearable grief welled up.

“……I didn’t want to do that either!”

Tears poured from Mel’s eyes. She could freely show the despair in front of Bane that she couldn’t bring herself to express before Lin. Though she really hated that fact, Mel wailed as if a dam she had been holding back had finally burst.

“I couldn’t possibly not know that what young master likes is the princess. When he learns I’m a slave, his feelings will be withdrawn anyway, so do you think I would have seduced the young master hoping for that?”

“Wait, now, you!”

“I could have escaped, I was trying to escape! Do you know how difficult it was for me to choose to stay here!”

Mel sobbed loudly, not caring that her face was becoming a mess. She cried as if she had returned to her childhood. She cried so much that even Bane, who had been pressuring her with the certainty that Mel had devised some sinister plot with her extraordinary intelligence, was taken aback.

“I didn’t want to stay by the young master’s side like this either. Building up lies to the young master day after day! It’s painful and I hate it!”

“……”

The shell of the Reibritton Princess that Mel had been brilliantly acting as until now had, at this moment, completely melted away. Seeing Mel collapse while fully revealing her true feelings, Bane couldn’t help but be considerably bewildered. He knew that Mel had perfectly imitated the princess enough to deceive everyone, but it felt strange to see Mel expose herself so blatantly.

Strange? He now realized that despite knowing the truth, he still hadn’t been able to erase the impression of Mel as the princess.

“……You really are Mel.”

“Because I’m Mel, because I’m a slave and not a princess, you strangled my neck without hesitation, right!”

Bane exhaled a dejected sigh at the voice flowing with resentment. Mel’s suffering and despair, as she poured out her emotions, were so blatant that Bane could no longer blame her.

The woman sobbing in front of him wasn’t the noble Princess who would make a significant mark on imperial politics by gaining the trust of the newly crowned emperor with the Duke of Ivanstein backing her. She was just a slave desperately struggling to survive in her situation.

Bane was now beginning to see that in all the circumstances that had unfolded so far, her own will hadn’t been present at all.

“What exactly do you plan to do?”

The voice with which Bane questioned Mel had lost both its strength and killing intent. He no longer tried to strangle her or press her.

Seeing this attitude, Mel calmed herself and extended her hand to Bane.

“First, please give me a handkerchief.”

“Here.”

Bane obediently handed over a handkerchief. Mel wiped her eyes and took deep breaths. She needed to regain her composure. Since she had decided to stay here, her priority was to find evidence that she hadn’t betrayed them.

Since Bane had also deceived Genoa by making Mel appear as a traitor, he too needed to establish merits to be forgiven for this.

“Young master is someone who gets whatever he decides to have, isn’t he? I couldn’t refuse him completely.”

“……”

At Mel’s words, Bane recalled how his lord had treated her. Thinking of the face that became sweeter when looking at Mel, Bane ultimately had no choice but to understand her with a deep sigh.

“If you didn’t intend it, that’s fine. But if my lord’s feelings deepen here, your life could really be in danger. Then you’ll be strangled not by me, but by my lord.”

“I know.”

Mel nodded and straightened her disheveled dress. She took out a decorative ribbon that Lin had tied and wrapped it around her neck. Wearing a ribbon around the neck as decoration was somewhat outdated, but Mel had no choice. She had to cover the clear handprints left from Bane’s strangling.

Bane, perhaps feeling guilty at the sight, apologized to Mel.

“Strangling you was hasty of me.”

“I see you still haven’t corrected that habit of not thinking things through when you get excited. Despite young master repeatedly advising that you should fix that aspect of yourself.”

“……”

Bane bit his tongue and bowed his head. The habit from his foolish days had resurfaced probably because of Mel in front of him, but he was in no position to blame her.

While Bane couldn’t say anything, Mel, who had somewhat composed herself, sighed softly and said:

“This false Princess act will soon end.”

“Don’t tell me, have you found it?”

Bane suddenly raised his head. Seeing Bane’s face with a trace of expectation, Mel shook her head.

“No.”

Bane’s face was colored with disappointment. Who knew that such a stoic face could change so vividly? Mel thought this as she continued:

“But I have an idea of where it might be.”

“How?”

“That day, to deliver the map to young master, I had to distract the former duke. I had to divert his attention elsewhere.”

Mel was looking at Bane, but her gaze was directed towards a distant place. Sweat was already seeping from Mel’s forehead as she recalled the memory of that day. It was because she had never been closer to death than at that time.

“So I threw it as bait.”

“That means……”

Bane’s face instantly turned pale at Mel’s words. It was because he knew too well what she meant by what she had thrown.

It was what Genoa was looking for, what Bane couldn’t hand over to him and thus couldn’t earn his complete trust, and what could serve as evidence that Mel hadn’t betrayed them.

“It would have been in the former duke’s hands. ‘The History of Ivanstein’ that young master is looking for now.”

‘The History of Ivanstein.’ This was a historical book that recorded the truth of the family, said to be passed down to the head of the Ivanstein family.

A historical book that had been passed down from the ancient kingdom era when the rulers of this land weren’t Raon, not to mention the time when the Raon Empire was still a kingdom. A treasure that recorded the path walked by Ivanstein, whose history was said to predate the Raon Empire.

“And the former duke would probably be in the basement.”

This was precisely why Mel needed to enter the Ivanstein mansion’s basement again.

Bane recalled Genoa’s past reaction. In the past, Genoa had shown deeper interest in the Ivanstein ducal family’s historical book than in the basement map. So much so that he had ordered Bane to focus more on finding the historical book rather than the map.

For Bane, who thought finding the map that would help them survive once the trial began was more urgent, it was an incomprehensible order. At that time, Bane had asked Genoa:

“Since the historical book will naturally fall into your hands once you become duke anyway, why do you prioritize it?”

To that question, the boy Genoa had answered with a fresh smile:

“Because he will never hand it over to me.”

“Why……Could it be that he won’t acknowledge you as the successor even if you survive?”

“Hahaha! My father knows too well that there’s no better successor than me to continue the Ivanstein lineage!”

“Then why……”

What thoughts had Genoa had while looking at Bane, who wore a face of complete bewilderment at that time? Bane recalled Genoa’s words from then as he remembered his eternally incomprehensible lord.

“He found out that I don’t find interest in anything.”

Saying that was why his father would never hand over the historical book to him, Genoa had laughed it off refreshingly. Then as now, Bane couldn’t fully understand his lord’s inner thoughts. Was that why he couldn’t have his lord’s complete trust?

“We need to find the former duke’s corpse in the basement. The historical book will certainly be with him.”

Bane stared at Mel’s face, which was urging his response. Mel made a complicated face and fell into thought for a moment. Bane wanted to look into Mel’s mind, even if he had to rummage through it.

A slave in the guise of a Princess who had deduced something on her own that hadn’t even been told to her.

Mel had succeeded in gaining Genoa’s trust both in the past and in the present, wrapped in lies. What special quality did that child possess to earn his lord’s trust every time?

“How could you know?”

“Do you know about the legend passed down in the Ivanstein mansion?”

“What do you mean?”

“They say there’s a legend among the servants that when a festival is held in the capital, people disappear from the Ivanstein mansion.”

Bane’s brow furrowed. It was the first time he had heard of such a legend circulating among the servants.

Seeing his reaction, Mel nodded as if she understood. There probably wouldn’t have been any servant who could tell Bane, who had become the captain of the Ivanstein ducal knights, about such a trivial legend.

“I heard the former Duke Ivanstein disappeared like that too, just like the head maid.”

Bane finally understood how Mel had been able to approach the truth.

Mel knew about the existence of a vast basement beneath the Ivanstein mansion. Moreover, since she also knew about the map, she would also know that there were several entrances to the basement.

The western garden where people were forbidden to enter, the traitors of Ivanstein, the sound like something collapsing. For someone as intelligent as Mel, it would be more strange if she didn’t know what that sound meant.

“Young master hated the former duke. He wanted to deal with him in the most terrible way possible.”

Genoa, Mel, and Bane all knew how horrific a punishment that basement could be.

“Young master pushed the former duke back into that place so he could die slowly in that basement.”

“……”

Bane could no longer deny it. His face was telling Mel that her conjecture was correct.

When Mel had looked into the entire basement through a telescope in the secret space she had found in the office, she had seen only the head maid as a living person. She hadn’t found the former duke’s corpse either.

From what she had learned, quite some time had passed since the former duke’s disappearance. This meant he had been confined in the basement during the time the Raon Kingdom became an empire. Since he couldn’t possibly still be alive, his corpse would be somewhere in the basement, and Mel was worried about the condition of the historical book.

“There’s a high probability that the historical book is somewhere in the basement along with the former duke’s corpse. So……”

“Are you saying you’ll enter the basement?”

“……That’s right.”

“Huh.”

Bane exhaled a short, dejected sigh. He seemed unable to understand Mel’s thinking, that she would enter that terrible place again.

“So I need your cooperation, Sir Bane. Please guide me to the entrance that should be in the western garden.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m saying I’ll go in and bring back the historical book.”

Mel leaned her upper body forward as if frustrated, looking at Bane who was firmly shaking his head. This time, it seemed like Mel might grab Bane by the collar.

Though Mel remembered the map she had seen in her dream, she only knew that the direction of the remaining entrance was in the western garden, but it was impossible to pinpoint the exact location of the entrance within the large western garden.

Bane answered with a resigned voice, his face colored with dismay.

“Only my lord knows the exact location of the basement entrance.”

“Why? You must have seen that map too, Sir Bane.”

“I didn’t see it. The moment I received it from you, I hurriedly delivered it to my lord without even checking it.”

“Then if we just check the map that young master has……”

“It’s gone. That map no longer exists, Mel.”

Mel’s eyes blinked slowly. Seeing her clear face that couldn’t understand, Bane sighed and continued.

“My lord said he memorized the entire map and then burned it on the spot.”

“……!”

Mel’s face contorted with shock, then slowly colored with despair. If Bane didn’t know the exact location of the entrance, then at this point, the only person who knew the last remaining entrance was Genoa alone.

“I’ll help you access the western garden. The entrance is somewhere there, so if you look carefully……”

“No, we don’t have enough time.”

Mel anxiously bit her nails as she racked her brain.

The First Prince’s rebellion was imminent. Having joined hands with the Reibritton royals, he would now incite chaos in the empire without restraint. If that happened, Mel’s position would instantly become precarious. If the fact of the Duke of Ivanstein’s marriage proposal became known, he too would not be free from this act of rebellion.

There were many who eagerly awaited his downfall—those who were manipulated by him under the notorious title of the emperor’s dog. They were grinding their teeth, ready to dig into even the smallest flaw of Ivanstein to widen the crack.

“The crown prince of Reibritton must have noticed. That I’m a fake. If that happens, it’s only a matter of time before the young master finds out too.”

“If my lord learns that you are Mel……”

At Bane’s murmur, a single possibility flashed through Mel’s mind. Simultaneously, a bitter smile formed at the corners of her mouth.

“Then I’ll become a traitor too and be dealt with by the young master’s hands.”

“You can’t mean……!”

Bane’s eyes widened as he realized what Mel had decided. Mel nodded to him.

“This is the only way. It works out well, actually. The young master has become sincere toward the princess, so the sense of betrayal he’ll feel when he learns he was deceived will be indescribable. Me……”

Mel continued, straining her eyes as if tears might come.

“He’ll want to kill me in agony.”

The carriage slowly came to a stop. They had almost reached the imperial palace. Before putting on the perfect mask of the princess once more, Mel informed Bane about the existence of a secret space in the office.

* * *

Rudrich stared intently at the reception room door, not realizing his tea was getting cold.

‘When was the last time I saw the princess.’

In fact, it hadn’t been that long since he had visited the princess and talked with her before the coronation. Nevertheless, whenever Rudrich thought of the princess, he felt as if he were recalling a distant past.

“Your Majesty, shall I bring fresh tea?”

“Hmm? Ah, yes, do that.”

Only then did Rudrich realize he hadn’t touched his tea for a long time. He took his gaze off the reception room door and leaned deeply back into the sofa.

Many things had changed after his brief meeting with the princess. He was now called emperor instead of prince, and he was in a position where he had to revoke the freedom he had promised to the Reibritton Princess.

[The First Prince is plotting rebellion with the Reibritton royals.]

Because of that single line written and shown by Genoa Ivanstein.

Rudrich also had his own people and informants. Even without the emperor’s will, Rudrich had made considerable preparations to win the competition for the throne against his brother Rihast.

But what came as a great shock to Rudrich, who had just ascended to the throne and hadn’t properly settled in as emperor, was that he had failed to grasp that Rihast, his biggest subject of caution, was preparing for rebellion.

Even if it was at a time when everyone was intoxicated with the sense of victory during the coronation, not knowing that Rihast had moved directly to Reibritton couldn’t even serve as an excuse.

‘Where exactly did the leak come from?’

The one who resolved this question that arose in Rudrich’s mind was Genoa Ivanstein.

That day, in the emperor’s office, aides who could be called Rudrich’s closest confidants were helping him handle affairs together. They were individuals who had not only helped Rudrich reach this position but had also earned his trust by showing absolute loyalty.

In such an office, Genoa chose to write a note to inform Rudrich about the First Prince’s rebellion and then burn it, rather than speaking.

‘This means there’s a traitor among my people.’

Rudrich narrowed his brow as if he had a headache and exhaled deeply. Information about Rihast was the most crucial to Rudrich, so concealing it was no ordinary matter. It wasn’t information that a single traitor could block. That meant…

‘Many people are on my brother’s side.’

Although they say an emperor’s life is one where he must suspect and be wary of everyone around him, Rudrich felt a deep sense of skepticism weighing down his entire body. Whom to trust, and whose information to believe?

Rudrich felt as if his entire body was tied up, and his breath was gradually being constricted.

“Your Majesty, the guest has arrived.”

At that moment, the chamberlain outside announced the princess’s arrival. Rudrich, who had been deeply absorbed in thought, felt his heart skip slightly and hastily opened his mouth.

“Show her in.”

“Yes.”

The door slowly opened, and the princess appeared. Though she wore a dress with a modest design and minimal accessories, she radiated a dazzling appearance just like the day he first saw her at the party.

“May infinite glory be upon the Raon Empire, I greet Your Majesty.”

Rudrich, who had been staring blankly at the princess as she bent her knee and deeply bowed her waist in courtesy, jumped up from his seat in surprise. Though his body had felt heavy until just a moment ago, his steps moving to escort the princess were exceedingly light.

“There’s no need for such formality.”

Rudrich extended his hand to the princess. Though Rudrich had now become emperor, he showed consistent manners. The princess stared at his hand for a moment before smiling softly and taking it.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”

“……”

Seeing that smile, Rudrich hurriedly averted his gaze and escorted her to the sofa.

Rudrich deliberately concealed his complex inner thoughts. He resolved to avoid her eyes as much as possible during their conversation.

“The reason I requested this meeting today is because I have something to ask for your understanding in advance, Princess.”

“……You’ve heard the news from within Reibritton, I see.”

“You knew?”

“Duke Ivanstein gave me a hint.”

Rudrich swallowed the sigh that was about to burst forth and said:

“Then this conversation won’t be difficult. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep the promise I made to you last time, Princess.”

“I recall that Your Majesty made several promises to me, not just one or two. Which one are you referring to?”

“Ah.”

Rudrich parted his lips in apparent surprise at the princess’s response.

Rudrich had promised to keep her secret, to accept the Reibritton kingdom’s people as imperial citizens, and also to give her freedom if she wanted to escape. As the princess said, he had promised many things despite having only brief meetings and not seeing each other many times.

Rudrich’s earlobes reddened as he realized how much his goodwill had inflated without him being aware of it.

“That is……”

He wasn’t usually one to be at a loss for words, but feeling like a fool in front of the princess, he carefully chose his words.

Seeing Rudrich like this, the princess smiled gently and spoke first.

“You must be referring to withdrawing your statement about incorporating the Kingdom of Reibritton into the empire.”

“Ah, yes. The situation has become regrettable.”

The Princess didn’t want her kingdom to fall back into the hands of the royals. Though Rudrich had opposed this war, after talking with the princess, he had changed his opinion to completely subjugate Reibritton into the empire.

But with Rihast having joined hands with the Reibritton royals, they couldn’t exacerbate the chaos he was aiming for. The only way to completely subjugate Reibritton would be to resume the war, but if that happened, Raon would essentially be waging war while leaving its back to a powerful and dangerous traitor within.

The forces following Rihast were not few, so it was vividly clear without even calculating how they would carry out sabotage operations and how much they would try to reduce the power of Rudrich’s forces through this opportunity.

“Before handling matters, I arranged this meeting to ask for the princess’s thoughts.”

“First, I want to tell you that I differ in opinion from the Reibritton royals. I believe Your Majesty will trust this, having seen the scars on my body.”

Rudrich’s face naturally hardened as he recalled those terrible marks engraved on the princess’s body at her words.

“I believe you.”

Rudrich’s resolute words had the power to instill trust. The princess must have felt this too, as she continued speaking, relaxing her shoulders that had been stiff with tension.

“Since Your Majesty trusts me, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“Please speak.”

“If you have another opportunity to talk with me, please ask me this.”

The princess’s eyes looked at Rudrich, filled with earnestness.

“Ask me what my nickname is.”

“……Your nickname?”

“Yes.”

Rudrich made a puzzled face at the difficult-to-understand request. Seeing his expression, the princess smiled brightly as if she understood and continued:

“If I don’t answer ‘Mel,’ please don’t grant anything I want or request.”

“I don’t understand, Princess. What does that……”

“I’m just telling Your Majesty in advance. Because a me who doesn’t use the nickname ‘Mel’ will surely betray Your Majesty and Duke Ivanstein.”

Despite the princess’s explanation, unresolved questions remained on Rudrich’s face. However, somehow the smile that appeared on the princess’s lips seemed bitter to him, so he didn’t ask further. He merely tasted the name Mel once more on his tongue.

“Your Majesty will surely plan to invite the Reibritton royals to discuss the end of the war.”

“That’s correct.”

“……Could you please deny any requests for meetings with me at that time? I don’t want to be involved in this rebellion in any way.”

“I will do so.”

The princess’s face noticeably brightened when Rudrich granted permission.

Somehow, he felt his ability to welcome the Reibritton royals with a smiling face when they visited the empire was gradually disappearing. Just from the princess’s reaction, he could almost tell what they had done to her.

“Then I shall take my leave first, Your Majesty. I sincerely congratulate you on becoming the master of Raon.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

The princess who had finished talking rose from her seat with a clean movement. That registered sharply in Rudrich’s eyes. It was such a brief conversation that steam was still rising from the tea placed in front of her.

“Princess!”

Rudrich hastily called out to the princess who was about to turn away. Without even knowing what to say.

Looking at the princess who turned around with a puzzled face, Rudrich, who had been choosing his words, slowly opened his mouth.

“……Though I cannot keep my promise to embrace your kingdom, my word to give you freedom if you want it still stands.”

At those words, the princess’s eyes grew round. Blinking slowly as she looked at Rudrich, she eventually smiled faintly and shook her head.

“It’s alright now, Your Majesty.”

At that smile, Rudrich felt a heavy pain constricting his heart. Finding it disconcerting, he stammered:

“Have you…… accepted Duke Ivanstein’s proposal?”

“……”

The princess made a complicated face and kept her mouth shut for a moment. That brief instant felt like an eternity to Rudrich. To Rudrich, who was waiting for her to answer, the princess deeply bowed.

“Why are you……”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“What could the princess possibly have to apologize to me for?”

“I’m sorry.”

Rudrich tried to get up to stop her, but the princess remained unmoved. She apologized to Rudrich over and over again for quite a while, as if begging forgiveness for some wrongdoing.

“Your Majesty, you must go now.”

In the end, until Rudrich had to leave first to attend to other schedules, she kept bowing to him as he walked away.

* * *

“Viscountess Roland has sent an invitation.”

Even as the butler handed the invitation to Mel, he couldn’t hide his disapproving face. Mel took the invitation and asked with a smiling face:

“Is Viscountess Roland’s reputation that bad?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Because she’s the First Prince’s mistress?”

“That’s part of it, but not the only reason.”

There was definitely something special about Viscountess Roland.

The butler didn’t yet know that Mel had had a tea party with her at the Ivanstein mansion. Therefore, he seemed to be choosing his words carefully, wondering how to explain about Viscountess Roland to Mel.

“Everyone is reluctant to invite me because His Majesty hasn’t yet announced his position on how Reibritton will be treated. Lady Roland is the only one who sent an invitation.”

“Hmm.”

When Mel expressed her desire to accept this invitation, the butler groaned with a troubled face. Mel swallowed her inner laughter and just looked at the butler with earnest eyes.

She had been accessing society gossip and news through society papers and Lin, but in fact, there were many shortcomings in gathering information solely from Lin, who was merely a servant, or from papers that only published somewhat filtered information.

But the butler was the one who assisted Genoa most closely, aside from Bane. The butler’s duties went beyond simply managing the mansion. Since the Ivanstein mansion received many visitors, he needed to know not only information about the nobles but also their most recent reputations in order to properly entertain them.

Mel needed to accept this invitation. Therefore, if there was any more information she could get from the butler, she needed to take as much as possible.

“I’ve done some listening around, and the reputations of the First Prince’s other mistresses, Marchioness Mervissen and Baroness Cezarn, aren’t that bad.”

“That’s right. Marchioness Mervissen has the ability to lead fashion trends with her excellent eye, and Baroness Cezarn is so knowledgeable that there are quite a few men who look forward to conversing with her.”

Mel stored in her mind the characteristics of the two mistresses that came from the butler’s mouth. One of those two people must be the collaborator who had informed Genoa about what happened at the tea party that day. Or perhaps it wasn’t just one of them, but both.

“So does Viscountess Roland have such a bad reputation because she has no strengths?”

“It’s not so much that, but rather, Viscountess Roland……”

Mel pulled her upper body forward from her seated position, leaning more toward the butler. It was an action meant to pressure him into answering properly rather than glossing over things. By not giving him time to think, she could get a more raw answer from him.

“She experiences no small difficulty in controlling what comes out of her mouth.”

“What does that mean?”

The butler tried to phrase it as diplomatically as possible, but Mel pretended not to understand and asked again. With a sigh, he finally used the blunt expression that circulated in society.

“Whatever is said to Viscountess Roland comes right back out through her mouth anytime, anywhere. She’s a woman who doesn’t know how to keep secrets.”

“Ah.”

Mel’s eyes narrowed, and her pupils flashed between them.

“It seems she’s someone who doesn’t know falsehood.”

“That could be one way to put it.”

The butler nodded in agreement.

In society, they were probably listing expressions far worse than what the butler had said before Viscountess Roland’s name. Mel engraved in her mind the points to be cautious about at this tea party, then gestured for the butler to leave.

The butler seemed to be waiting for her to instruct him to take the invitation away and discard it, but Mel neatly placed the invitation on the desk and picked up a pen to write a reply.

“……Call me if you need anything.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The butler left the room with a deep sigh. Lin, who had been listening to the entire conversation while arranging the bed sheets, quickly approached and asked:

“Are you really going to go?”

“Yes.”

“If the butler is trying to dissuade you to that extent, it really must be a bad gathering. Shouldn’t you reconsider?”

Lin also tried to dissuade Mel in a worried tone. But this was something she could do only because she didn’t know that Mel had no choice.

“Don’t you think it sounds interesting? In society, everyone wears masks of falsehood, but among such people, there’s someone who alone doesn’t know falsehood. She seems like an attractive person.”

“No matter what I say, you won’t change your mind, will you?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Alright then!”

Lin nodded cleanly and went back to finish arranging the sheets. Mel thought how much she liked Lin’s refreshing personality as she wrote a reply to Viscountess Roland.

[To my dear Viscountess Roland.]

From the very first line of her reply, Mel wrote with a bitter smile, thinking that perhaps Viscountess Roland, who didn’t know how to speak falsehoods, might be a better person than herself, who was full of lies.