episode_0033

Rudela Bismark, who is destined to become Crown Princess one day, lives in the Topaz Palace, located to the west of the Imperial Palace.

Because they learn the rules and etiquette of the imperial family, attend imperial events, interact with important nobles, and work with the crown prince on official business.

Thud thud.

There is a man walking briskly across the hallway of the Topaz Palace.

Blonde hair that shimmers golden in the moonlight and golden eyes that sparkle like jewels.

The Crown Prince was Fedelian Rosino.

A window overlooks the garden, its curtains embroidered with fine silver thread.

A road flowing with gold and elegance. White marble columns lined both sides, and each pillar was decorated with inlaid topaz, sparkling.

Arriving at the front of the residence with heavy silence, Fedelian opened the door after knocking three times.

A gorgeous bed with delicate lily patterns. A small birch table. Candlesticks that emit soft light.

An elegant and dignified atmosphere is added.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Rudela, who was sitting at the table and looking out the window, looked at Fedelian.

The room was filled with a faint scent like incense, creating a mysterious yet strangely cold atmosphere.

He said.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“As you can see, it’s okay.”

“Thank goodness.”

Fedelian gave her a friendly smile and sat down across from her.

“The agreement with Sanburg has been broken. It was your responsibility and it is unfortunate.”

“Your Majesty’s last name is crazy, so I don’t really care.”

His eyebrows quirked at Rudel’s words. There was a clear meaning in her words. She meant that she knew that you were the one who had instigated this incident.

“Is that a new joke? I didn’t know you could tell me a joke.”

Fedelian forced a smile, but a sense of discomfort spread within his golden eyes that seemed ready to burst at any moment. The corners of his mouth were slightly stiff as he responded to Rudela’s witty joke.

“Of course, of course I’m joking.”

Just as Fedelian’s gaze was about to sink lower, following his hardened lips, Rudella smiled brightly and changed the mood.

“… This is a new look.”

“Because I died and came back to life.”

Fedelian turned his head slightly and looked out the window.

“How was the skill of Harsen’s special wizard?”

“It was perfect.”

“Hoo.”

His golden eyes sparkled with interest.

“I was strangely interested in him.”

“I heard it through rumors.”

“Rumor has it that you single-handedly took care of a special demon?”

“Yes.”

Actually, there was another reason why Rudella had appointed Johan as her escort, but she wasn’t stupid enough to tell him that outright.

“Do you plan on calling him in the future?”

“I think so.”

“Good choice. He’s capable.”

As Fedelian pretended with a good-natured smile, Rudella asked with a dry face.

“So, what brings you here today? It is rare for His Highness the Crown Prince to come to see me in person.”

“You’re talking nonsense. My fiancee almost lost her life, so of course I came to see you out of concern. It doesn’t mean anything.”

For a moment, Rudella almost lost control of her expression at his pretentious words.

He made it up himself and then came out so shamelessly. He must not be called the two-faced crown prince for nothing.

“I see. Sorry for worrying you.”

“Haha. Don’t be so stiff.”

Fedelian smiled and got up from his seat.

“Anyway, I’ve confirmed that you’re safe, so I’ll be going now. Take care.”

“Yes.”

As he said this, he left the place where Rudela was staying.

The soft moonlight streaming in through the window illuminated his golden hair.

“Hmm.”

He wasn’t too happy with the current situation, but he had expected it to end this way. The Shadows had searched but had not found the two bodies.

Surely Johan Harsen must have used some trick to save his life.

‘Johann Harsen, whenever you get involved, you always fail.’

It was already the second time. Johan Harsen had escaped a crisis perfectly. Fedelian’s eyes turned cold.

‘By the way… … I knew about Rudella after all.’

She has always been quick-witted, ever since she was young. I thought she would have immediately realized that I was the one who had instigated this incident.

He knew many of my secrets and that I was in collusion with the demon practitioners, so I wanted to deal with him this time… … .

‘That’s too bad.’

I’ll have to wait for the next opportunity.

If possible, try to handle both at the same time.

‘I want to take care of it before I officially ascend to the throne.’

A dark light briefly appeared in Fedelian’s eyes. Rudella had sharp eyes from the beginning, and they were far too sharp for her to serve as the crown princess.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that Rudella might betray him before then.

But Fedelian judged that the possibility was not very high.

Because she was Bismarck’s puppet, and she was supposed to be the empress.

* * *

The Zodiac Perbache Mansion.

John was lying in bed, shaking.

Although the wound on his abdomen had healed, he was still anemic and needed rest.

“How is your health?”

“It seems to have improved considerably.”

John, whose complexion had returned, smiled lightly.

“Still, you have to take it easy. You just got back.”

Francia stroked his body with a worried look in her eyes. Her face looked gloomy.

“You were carrying the amulet I gave you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Can I see it once?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Francia took the ruby from John’s hands and fixed her gaze on him.

The spot where the star engraved on Ruby disappeared was as if it were empty.

Two stars have disappeared. That means two lives have been saved, including Rudel.

“As expected… … .”

She whispered softly, and with her fingertips she traced the traces of the disappeared stars with an uneasy look in her eyes. There was bitterness in her actions.

“What’s the problem? Is the jewelry damaged or something?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Francia’s expression hardened for a moment, then she looked at Johan with a bright smile and took out a pendant.

“What is this?”

“It’s good.”

Francia herself placed the pendant around John’s neck.

“This is also one of the treasures of the Pervace Dukes. It is an artifact that glows red when there is a threat nearby.”

“This is so precious… … .”

“I’m giving this to you because many dangerous things happen to John. So that he can always come back to me safely.”

Francia squinted one eye as she was satisfied with the way Johan looked with the pendant. As expected, he looked good in any jewelry he wore.

“Good.”

John smiled, fiddling with the pendant around his neck.

“Thank you.”

“What is this?”

Francia, who handed over the pendant, smiled and buried her face in Johan’s chest.

She took a deep breath and looked up at his face with a satisfied expression.

“Anything going on in the cave you were hiding in?”

“What if something happens?”

“Uh uh… … .”

Francia glanced away and continued speaking.

“Something strange happened with Lady Bismark or something. It makes sense, since you were alone in the cave, right?”

“… … .”

John stroked his chin as he recalled the memory. Nothing in particular had happened, but he remembered her attitude being strange.

“Hmm. There were times when I avoided eye contact, fidgeted, or blushed, but I guess it was because it was unfamiliar wilderness and there was a campfire.”

Francia’s eyes, which had become sharp as a woman, gradually grew colder.

“That’s what I said… … .”

A subtle tension flowed through the short mutterings. Francia’s lips tightened as she mulled over Johan’s words about Rudella often blushing and fidgeting.

It was just a simple suspicion, but there was an inexplicable sharpness in those eyes.

“John.”

Francia said softly.

“Yes?”

“I told you so.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t seduce other women.”

“I just focused on the mission?”

John tilted his head. He didn’t know why Francia was acting like this all of a sudden. He was just concentrating on his mission, and now he’s seducing a woman? What does that mean?

“A woman’s intuition cannot be ignored. You can tell right away that Rudela Bismark is in love with Johan.”

“That person is the one who will become the crown princess, and the future empress… … .”

“But you never know. You could throw everything away and choose Yohan.”

Even though I was overly kind to Rudella Bismark so that she wouldn’t feel unnecessarily anxious, does that make sense?

Johan, who decided that it couldn’t be true, smiled lightly and patted Francia’s head.

“No way.”

“Hmm… … .”

Francia stroked her chin and narrowed her eyebrows. Her red eyes sank. It was the look she showed when her worries deepened.

“John.”

“Yes.”

“I mean.”

She said, gently scratching John’s thigh with her fingertips. It was a strangely lewd touch.

“I don’t think John would betray me, but if he had something to do with another woman, I wish he would tell me honestly.”

“… What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It’s because John is so handsome and has a charm that unconsciously attracts women.”

Francia’s fingertips, which had been gently scratching her thighs, gradually rose up to touch her chest. A ticklish feeling came over her, along with a strange sense of pleasure.

“There will definitely be accidents. For example, when you drink alcohol.”

It was true that he was weak to alcohol, and he couldn’t say much because he had been drinking the first night with Francia.

“When that time comes, please tell me honestly.”

“… … .”

“I won’t be angry.”

Her eyes were hard. She wasn’t joking.

“Honestly, I don’t think I can protect Yohan perfectly. An accident will happen someday. Yohan has a weakness for alcohol… … .”

As Francia spoke, her voice grew quieter and quieter.

“Of course, I don’t know what I’m going to do to that woman… …. If there’s been a change in John’s heart, I hope you let me know.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but… … .”

John put his arm around Francia’s shoulders to reassure her, who was full of doubt, and laid her back on the bed.

“Huh?”

Francia widened her eyes at John’s sudden actions.

“Enough with the weird talk. Let’s take it easy and relax today.”

“Yes… … .”

When he hugs her and strokes her head, Francia’s stiff face quickly relaxes and she buries her face in Johan’s chest.

and.

“Ughhh.”

Take a deep breath.

“Haa… … .”

She exhaled with a face of rapture. She was enjoying John’s scent.

Her ears turned red, and she opened her lips and looked up at John.

“… Are you okay with the wound on your stomach?”

“I’m fine.”

“Aren’t you feeling dizzy or anything?”

“I feel better now that I’ve had some rest.”

The corners of Francia’s mouth went up at John’s answer. Her breathing became increasingly ragged, and her face grew hot.

“Shall we do it today?”

“… … .”

“Don’t you want to do it?”

“That’s not it, but… … .”

When Francia glared at him with her red eyes, Johan glanced away.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to move well because my body isn’t normal.”

“That’s okay.”

Swish. Francia slowly pulled out her dress strap and slightly raised the corners of her lips. Her red eyes stared at Johan with a mischievous light.

“I’m going to lead today.”

Francia climbed onto John, pinning him down. She held his arms down, preventing him from moving, and pressed her entire body against his.

“Just stay still. I’ll take care of everything.”

With a whisper, her hand slid gently down on John, subduing him.