At Elvins words, I had no choice but to close my lips again and remain still.

A second passed as slowly as a minute.

It was inevitable for two people to hide behind the pillar, and I was almost locked in Elvins arms.

I belatedly found a brooch on his chest.

The brooch with a red ruby in the center was a gift from me.

Why?

Perhaps it was because the space was small, and my chest was stuffy, and my face felt hot for some reason.

If anyone sees what we are doing right now, they might misunderstand.

Does it bother you?

Isnt that obvious?

If theyre going to misunderstand, let them. Whats the matter?

Elvin replied calmly.

Looking at his seemingly innocent face, it seemed that I was the only one feeling uncomfortable in this situation.

I belatedly regretted that I had refused the servants guidance earlier and said that I would go by myself.

If so, this wouldnt have happened.

But regretting it didnt change anything.

Humans are animals of adaptation, and the discomfort and embarrassment I felt at first quickly got used to it.

Instead, boredom came.

I raised my head and looked at Elvin.

With his lips closed, his expressionless face looked very cold.

Did you just help me?

Because there is nothing good about being caught up in knowing the complicated family history of the imperial family.

Elvins eyes turned to me.

As we got closer, the difference in height between us became real.

Roxana wasnt short on her stature either, but she was about two heads shorter than him.

Thinking about how he helped me a while ago, Elvin was quite thoughtful and considerate.

I answered, avoiding his gaze.

Thank you.

What is this? Its natural to help friends when they have difficulties.

How long is this friend excuse going to last?

People might think were old friends.

After taking off his mask, Elvin seemed even more brazen. How many minutes has passed since we were in that state? Frustrated, I twisted my body slightly and looked behind him.

The Crown Prince and the second Prince were nowhere to be seen. I looked around, but it was the same.

It looks like theyre gone now.

Is that so?

Elvin stepped back behind her with her sad face. I wondered if he really didnt know that the two Princes were gone. As he moved away from me, the warmth faded away and the surroundings became colder. The temperature seemed to have dropped a lot because of the rain. As the wind blew, my body trembled.

Ill go now. Thank you. As I was about to leave after saying goodbye, something fell on my shoulders. It was the coat that Elvin was wearing.

Im done with my business, too, and Im about to go back, so I guess we can go together.

If anyone sees it, theyll think its strange. I dont want to cause any more trouble, so its okay.

What do you mean? Wran into each other and were on our way back, so thats why were here together. Its not wrong.

Its troublesome to be caught up in another scandal.

I handed the overcoat that was hanging over my shoulders back to Elvin.

Then he accepted it with a bitter face.

I felt a sense of guilt at the sight.

Then I cant help it. You go first. Ill go in five minutes.

Thank you. Then

After bowing my head slightly, I left.

As I walked, I could feel Elvins gaze from behind until I turned a corner.

It felt kind of uncomfortable.

Lady, why are you so late? Its even raining.

As I came out of the entrance of the Emperors Palace, Joan grabbed the umbrella and rushed towards me.

She grumbled as she tilted the umbrella toward me.

I grabbed a passerby and asked him, and he said that the meeting ended a long time ago, and I wonder if something happened. I was worried. Nothing happened, right?

Joan looked at me with a look of concern.

Yeah, nothing happened.

***

The second Princes palace.

Prince, what is the matter? Who dares .

When the 2nd Prince returned, his lieutenant, Ellen, looked at him with surprised eyes.

The second Prince passed him and sat down in front of his desk.

Its not a big deal, you dont have to worry about it.

Theres a wound on your face, but its no big deal?

Ellen clenched his fist in response to the second Princes indifferent reaction. There was a bruise on one side of the cheek of the 2nd Prince, who had been fine until they finished training earlier. There was a bloodstain on his lips. He must have been hit from somewhere.

I dont think its the Empress Is it the Crown Prince?

Ellen asked in an angry voice.

Under the Empresss checks and the Crown Princes jealousy, the second Prince grew up with difficulty.

The only recourse to the emperor was his heartless father.

As a result, the second Prince lived as an abandoned Prince and was ignored even by the courtiers, who were merely commoners.

Countless scars were carved on his body.

Most of them were obtained from the battlefield, but the rest were obtained while in the Imperial Palace.

Unlike Ellen, who was angry, the second Prince had a calm face.

The second Prince glanced at Ellen, and then with a calm face he turned to the papers on the desk.

I must have told you to be careful with your mouth in the Imperial Palace. Am I that easy going to you?

At the Princes warning, Ellen bit his lip.

I will bring the royal doctor.

Ellen went out and the 2nd Prince looked at the documents for a while and then raised his head.

He remembered what happened in the garden earlier.

He stumbled upon the Crown Prince and tried to pass by.

But the Crown Prince was not willing to let him go.

He knew that he (CP) hated him from the beginning, but today, something seemed to be going against the Crown Princes mood.

And he (CP) seemed to suspect that it had something to do with him (SP). (*SP=second Prince)

He (CP) even hit him (SP) in the face in public without any guilt, he (SP) couldnt help but be angry as a human being.

However, if he (SP) looked at the recent steps of the Crown Prince, the end of this tedious fight was not far off.

The relationship of the Crown Prince with Duke Lillian, who was the second Princes biggest obstacle, was slowly fading, so if he (SP) kept that gap open, he (SP) would be able to handle a large burden.

Not only that, but recently, the Crown Prince was doing a lot of things because he was in a hurry.

Looking at what he (CP) and the people under him were doing, trouble was bound to arise sooner or later.

Payne (SP) was determined not to miss that moment.

He (SP) had endured it all his life, and there was nothing he couldnt endure for a few more years.

What I saw earlier

As he was with the Crown Prince earlier, he felt a gaze from somewhere and looked at it.

Apparently, someone was there.

The human shadow quickly disappeared behind the pillar.

It was such a fleeting moment, but it certainly wasnt a mistake.

The fluttering hem of the dress and the long, wavy blonde hair

As he was immersed in thought, the door opened and he felt a sense of popularity.

When he came to his senses, Ellen and the doctor he had brought were standing there together.

No Prince, your face

The doctor that Ellen brought was a young man newly appointed this time. He had deliberately chosen someone who was not of the Empresss people and brought him here.

The young doctor was unfamiliar with this kind of thing and had a surprised face. But he soon looked at the atmosphere in the cold room and hurriedly bit his lips.

Ill examine the wound for a moment.

The young doctor approached the second Prince with a nervous face. To him, the second Prince called the forerunner was a very fearful and respectful person. But there was a wound on his face. Of course he didnt get it on the battlefield and he must have been hit by someone. But who dares to touch the Princes body?

He wondered if he had been hit by the emperor, but he did not know the exact answer. Even though he was curious, he did not dare show his curiosity.

With a serious face, the doctor checked the wound on the second Princes face.

Fortunately, his injury was not serious.

It was enough to heal quickly after applying a compress and medicine.

However, since the patient was a war hero that the people were passionate about, the doctor couldnt help but feel nervous.

The knights gaze was staring at him as if piercingly from the side also played a part.

After the examination with a careful face, the young doctor retreated.

Your Highness, are there any other uncomfortable places?

The second Prince shook his head indifferently.

LIts not scratched or torn, so you dont have to worry about scarring. Ill leave the medicine behind, so please apply it twice a day.

Good job.

Call me again whenever you need it.

Yes.

When the royal doctor was about to leave, Ellen also tried to go out.

Then the 2nd Prince summoned him.

Ellen, you stay. I have something to tell you.

Ellen stopped his steps and turned back with a puzzled face.

After bowing politely, the doctor left the room.

Soon the door closed, leaving the two of them in the room.

The second Princes expression was deeply subdued.

At the same time as his expressionless face and his serious voice, Ellens face also became serious.

He asked the second Prince.

Your Highness, what do you want me to do?

After all, the 2nd Prince was also a human being, and there was no way he wouldnt have been angry about what happened today.

Ellen himself couldnt tolerate it either.

Was it something he was going to order about the Crown Prince? Or the empress?

Ellen waited nervously for the second Princes answer.

See if Princess Lillian had entered the palace today.

What?

Ellen was puzzled at the words in a completely different direction than he expected.

he couldnt understand it.

Why is the Princess popping out all of a sudden?

Maybe she did something disrespectful to the second Prince today?

Maybe she really did, given her notoriety.

He heard she was stupid and vicious.

Of course, people said that she had changed recently, but peoples personality wouldnt change easily.

Didnt people say that they get along with each other?

The Crown Prince and his fiance, the Princess, must have been there with the second Prince.

Answer.

At the second Princes voice, Ellen woke up from his thoughts.

Yes. Ill see to it.

The 2nd Prince glanced at him like that and gave an order.

Get out.

Ellen walked out of the office and lamented.

Duke Lillian was a rare talent.

However, he heard that his daughter, the Princess, had a disposition like an immature child.

Because of her, the Duke of Lillian was involved in the struggle for the throne and joined the Crown Prince.

In the end, the Duke had become an enemy of the second Prince.

In order to win the throne, the first enemy to be eliminated was Duke Lillian, the Crown Princes most reliable supporter.

In war, the only thing that followed the loser was death.

And the chance that the Crown Prince would win in this battle for the throne was very small.

Originally, a soldiers life depended on which commander he chose.

The Duke of Lillian, knowing it all, chose a dangerous path for his daughter.

The cost would have been more horrendous than expected.

Ellen sympathized with the Duke inwardly.

They were going to fall together because of the wrong parenting of his daughter.

But even though it was sad, nothing changed.

Ellen shook his head, remembering the Dukes face.

***

When I returned to the mansion, the sun had already set.

After changing my clothes, Annie brought me an invitation while I was sitting on the sofa resting.

It was an invitation to the annual charity event held by Marquis Flynn.

Marquis Flynns attitude toward me was hostile, but the Flynn was an influential family in the Empire.

There was a close relationship with the duke, and the relationship was not bad.

I asked, and handed the invitation back to Annie.

Is my father going too?

Yes. I think so. His Excellency asked if the Lady would attend?

Tell him Im going. Its natural, since I attend every year.

Yes. Then Ill tell him that.

Annie nodded with a smile on her face.

She then asked me.

By the way, Lady, your face looks bright today. Did something good happen in the imperial palace?