He was born a predator. Pride was more natural than breathing and had the ability to make such arrogance feel natural. Just because she got another chance, he wasnt someone she could be ignorant of.

In a way, the idea of avenging Queen Arya on his behalf might be ridiculous in itself. Hell cut off Aryas throat by himself. Even if he is not exploited by Arya, he will never fall into despair.

You dont have to be so demure about it. You may be annoying sometimes, but I dont hate it.

Carl came up to Sienna and held her chin up with his fingertips and faced her closely.

Because Im having fun with you answering my words with your chin up like this.

She swallowed her saliva.

His close-up pale eyes glowed yellow. The eyes, like the eyes of a lion, blazed like predators. The fear that he would bite off his neck at any moment has gripped the country.

As Sienna narrowed her pupils into small pieces and shook herself, Carl stepped back.

As I suspected, youre very funny. Even though I look straight into your eyes as you talk like a child who has never felt fear before, if I step up this close, youll suddenly be on alert like a rabbit in front of a beast.

Theres nothing to be afraid of. I dont mean to do anything to you.

Sienna felt that the words for now were omitted from Carls words out of generosity.

He brushed past her to the bed. Then he lay down on the right side of the bed and took his seat. Sienna looked at him.

Are you going to keep standing like that? We need to go to sleep.

Please go to sleep first. I have something to do.

What are you going to do?

If you ask me so suddenly

Sienna peered around the room and looked for something to do right away. There was nothing to do in the bedroom that only cared about the function of sleep. She said she would drink with the still-remaining carbonic. He spoke with an impression on that,

Was it a lie to me that youd only have one drink?

Its not a lie, its its a really good drink, but its a waste to leave it as such. I heard you only have twenty-five bottles. Except for this, theres only got to be twenty-three more.

Why dont you try to have enough sleep so you can eat with Empress Arya tomorrow morning? You cant deal with her in a foggy condition. So, try to sleep early.

Dining with Empress Arya?

She told him that she hadnt heard such a story. He spoke with a look of conviction.

Remember, Ive returned now. Im sure shell be inviting us to dinner tomorrow because shell want to see what Im thinking about and why I have come back to the capital. Well, theres a lot of excuses to use, isnt that right? Its the first family dinner well have together since we got married

Breakfast with Arya? She hadnt even thought of that. She felt as if the food would have already begun to go stale, thinking of how uncomfortable the meeting would be at the table.

So why dont you come here instead of spending your time doing stupid useless things. Im tired, too. I dont mean to do anything special, so just sleep next to me.

Sienna squealed to the bed at Carls words. She sat on the edge of the bed. Carl pulled her arm and led her into his arms. Suddenly, in Carls arms, she stared at him with her eyes gouged.

What is this?

Im just saying it for the second time, but I wont do anything to you, so get some sleep. Dont waste your energy.

Seeing as to how he already repeated himself the second time, It seemed like he would get angry if she made him repeat any further. His distance was so close to her that she felt burdened and turned her back in a hurry from him. Then he pulled Siennas back from her waist and hugged her. She could feel his breath behind her neck.

Im going to keep my promise to you to divorce you in five years. But I hope you wont forget that you and I are a couple until then.

Sienna opened her closed eyes. She couldnt believe he said this when he was planning on going to sleep. She felt like tonight was going to be hard for her to fall asleep.

*

Uh!

Sienna forced her heavy eyes to open in the sun, which sank over her eyelids. She was startled and almost screamed. Because she could see Carls face up so close.

You fell asleep way too fast for a nervous person, even snoring to add

Carl spoke to her as he looked like a person that hadnt just gotten up. Being in bed with him was stifling and stuffy, she couldnt seem to get a wink of sleep, as he said, and she felt like she had snoozed away. She practiced dancing all night the previous night, and she guessed she was very tired because of the nervous war games with Arya and Carls unexpected behavior.

No matter what and how much. To have snored in front of him.

Did I really snore?

Im kidding. Well, you didnt really snore, but Im sure you fell asleep.

At Carls words, Sienna said with her mouth pouting,

You said you werent the type of person to fool around with jokes

Then Ill correct it. It wasnt a joke, it was an idiomatic expression.

Yes, sure. Sir Carl never jokes.

She leaned up and pulled the rope by the bedroom. It was a cord connected to a bell hanging from the living room of the servants. Hain opened the door and came in with a cautious move.

Would you like me to prepare for breakfast?

No, Ill wash and get ready.

As he said yesterday, they would hear from Arya soon.

Shall we prepare the bathtub for both of you to enter together?

Next to her, Carl giggled and laughed, and Sienna thought shed have to put a leash on Hains imaginations from The Knight and the Lady, The Dancing Red Flower, and The Prince of Golden Hair and hide them somewhere.

Moments later, as Carl said, there was a call from Arya to join her for a meal. Hain had been working on Siennas head in an air of excitement.

Hm, hm, Your Highness

As if she was trying to say something, Hain made a chirping sound and called Sienna.

What is it, Hain?

Do you know who is the most famous person in the city these days is?

Sir Carl or Empress, as always.

Carl, who was called the god of war, and Arya, who has a beautiful appearance that will never fade over the years, have always been on the lips of many.

They are always, but theres a new person thats been coming up.

Dont tell me

Only

She squinted at the thought of a chance.

Thats right. Its you, your Highness, the Princess!

Damn it. She closed her eyes tight.

It was worth knowing. How much would the rumors be spreading about by now? It was the same in the past. Maybe it was because of how high up and important a princess place must have been to be in the spotlight of many people, and even one little thing for anything would result in her being cursed at for.

Some even said that they would believe it if they were descendants of serfs, not aristocrats. She was not used to talking to aristocrats, so she told them that she wasnt as good at speaking as they were.

No one told the story, so she didnt know what insult she was being subjected to. She didnt think the maids could have told Sienna that story in person

When she belatedly learned that stories were circulating around that were insulting her, she wondered if she should bite her own tongue and die due to her immense feeling of embarrassment. She thought it was no different this time. No, it would and could have been a lot worse than she had thought. It was the same thing in comparison of having a glove from Arya being thrown at her face and the servants or anyone at all, and that wouldnt be able to do anything in defense against the face of the socialites most powerful queen. She wondered how much did the ladies gossip about her behind her back?