episode_0037

The residence of Archduke Lenokhonen in the Zodiac.

Violet sat on the sofa, arms crossed and legs crossed. Her brows were furrowed.

“No plans yet?”

“What’s the plan.”

“Regarding Princess Pervace and Johan Harsen.”

At those words, Cassis stared at her with deeply sunken purple eyes.

“Can’t move yet.”

“If you keep doing this, you’ll miss the opportunity to write. What are you going to do if you get engaged?”

“I will think about it on my own.”

Cassis continued, saying,

“I’ll do it myself. You just ignore it.”

“How can I lose interest? What kind of humiliation did I suffer from Princess Perbache!”

Violet gritted her teeth and looked at Cassis. There was resentment in her voice, but he just stared coldly.

“That’s your business. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Are you going to come out like that? I have the evidence right there?”

The evidence was that he had previously mobilized the hyenas to attack Johan Harsen.

At Violet’s words that seemed to threaten, a shadow fell over his face. His eyes sparkled coldly.

“Evidence.”

Cassis’s voice resonated lowly, stimulating Violet’s nerves. Every time her purple eyes twisted coldly, she felt the killing energy sinking down heavily like frozen air.

A cold voice continued.

“If you’re going to threaten me, you’d better stop. It’s pointless.”

His voice was full of coldness. Violet bit her lip and avoided eye contact.

“I have nothing more to talk to you about, so I’ll leave now. Don’t pay any attention to this side from now on.”

Cassis said so and issued an order to banish the guests.

“I’ll watch over you.”

“What are you trying to watch?”

“… … .”

Violet gritted her teeth at Cassis’s ignorance, but had to leave his office without saying anything.

thud.

The door is closed.

“Hmm.”

Cassis turned her chair and looked out the window, her eyes sinking deeply.

‘Johann Harsen, I have not forgotten yet.’

He remembered the moment that guy had humiliated him at the training ground that day. Snap. He clenched his molars. Anger welled up inside him again.

Every time he recalled the words he had said, mocking himself even after reviving some of the hyenas, Cassis’s desire for revenge grew sharper.

This time I will show him no mercy.

There was no more mercy or respite. All the hyenas sent this time were first-class, and they were certain to get the job done.

Cassis was the first to start, but he was so focused on Francia Perbace that he couldn’t see anything.

‘I guess I’ll have to wait until the next time he goes on an outside mission.’

Unlike the 1st Officer, who stands in the front lines on the battlefield, the 2nd Officer often goes on external missions.

That would be the right time to make a move.

Father – Grand Duke Lenokhonen is watching him, but he won’t care as long as he moves the hyenas.

Even then, no evidence was left behind, so even if the other party knew, it wouldn’t have been a problem.

You don’t have to worry about hyenas being caught and divulging evidence. They are bound by an oath, and the moment they tell the truth, they will vomit blood instead of evidence.

‘Johann Harsen.’

The darkness in Cassis’ eyes grew deeper. The humiliation he had suffered from her last time flashed through his mind, further burning the flames of his desire for revenge.

‘This time, you won’t survive.’

* * *

Yohan, who went to work as a civil servant as usual, received a call from the manager.

I don’t know why. Maybe I was given a designated mission this time too.

“Hello, John.”

In the hallway leading to the office, female officers greeted me with smiles.

“Hello. The weather is really nice today.”

“That’s right. On days like this, I should go out and play.”

When John spoke with a grin, the female officers laughed out loud and patted each other on the shoulder, wondering what was so good about it.

“But where are you going like that?”

“I’m going to see the captain.”

“Another designated mission this time?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Take care and have a safe trip!”

After a brief conversation with the female officers, they left. As they left, they kept stealing glances at Yohan and laughing.

The office I arrived at like that. As I opened the door and entered, I saw Fedelian sitting at the desk with a hardened expression.

As you can see from his stern face, he looked quite unhappy. Perhaps it was because of what happened in the audience room last time.

At that time, John blatantly pointed out that the culprit was the crown prince.

“You’re here.”

Fedelian didn’t even look at Johan and focused his gaze on the papers.

“Why did you call me? Are you hoping to drive Seong-eun crazy again?”

John smiled slyly and pretended to be joking, provoking Fedelian.

“If you’re talking nonsense, you’d better stop.”

Fedelian became serious. He was someone you could just laugh off, but it seemed like he was still cold from the blow he had received last time.

“… Anyway. The reason I called you is because I have another mission this time. Unlike last time, it’s a simple one, so read it.”

Johan walked up to the desk, took the documents that Fedelian had handed him, and looked over the contents.

There was no specific destination, and no special mission given. All we had to do was escort the target for a certain amount of time.

“Is it possible to nominate a mission like this?”

John tilted his head and asked. It was a simple matter, but he couldn’t understand why he had to summon a special magician from the civil service.

“Well, only my fiancee would know.”

“… … .”

Johan hesitated at the word fiancée. Could it be that Rudela Bismark had called him again?

‘I told you to call me when you wanted to rest… … .’

I didn’t know it would be that way already. Last time, I even stopped by the Topaz Palace.

“My fiancee has been acting strange lately.”

Fedelian opened his eyes shallowly and looked at John. His golden eyes sparkled and seemed to be interrogating him.

“What happened then?”

“What did you mean by that time?”

“… When I was hiding after being attacked.”

“Nothing special happened.”

John really thought nothing had happened. The only things that had happened were a brief smile and a reprimand, as well as holding hands to keep warm.

Would that alone move a woman’s heart? Even that hard Rudel? It didn’t make sense.

“I see. I’ll go now. The mission is about to begin, so go to the Topaz Palace.”

Fedelian waved his hand as if he wanted Johan to disappear from his sight quickly.

When John saw that, he smiled inwardly, said goodbye, and left the office.

‘You seem very angry.’

That makes sense. I bet you wouldn’t have thought you’d say that in front of the Emperor.

It could have been considered an insult to the imperial family, but the reason John could take such a gamble was because he knew the emperor well.

The emperor’s values are that anyone is fine as long as they do their job well.

So that’s why that gloomy and sinister Fedelian took the crown prince’s seat.

Even though he looks like that, he is a first-class knight and externally he is a perfect crown prince.

‘Shall we go and meet Rudella?’

He could tell Francia later. Thinking so, John left the office.

* * *

After arriving at the palace, John went straight to the Topaz Palace.

On the way, I saw a garden full of lilies in bloom, and today, perhaps because the sunlight was particularly strong, it looked even more beautiful.

The pure white lily was a flower that always went well with Rudel.

As I was crossing the garden and heading towards the Topaz Palace, I saw Rudella looking up at the sky while being hit by the cold wind.

“… What are you doing here?”

John, standing next to her, slowly opened his mouth.

“You’re here.”

Rudel turned her head as if she had been waiting and smiled faintly. However, her gaze was slightly turned away and was not looking at Johan.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“The wind is cold.”

“It’s okay because I’m strong against the cold.”

Rudella stood up and straightened the rumpled hem of her empire dress.

“I’m going to the zodiac today.”

“Are you trying to cheat?”

“That’s right.”

As she spoke, Rudel looked somewhat stiff. Her actions were awkward and she seemed nervous.

“Escort me until evening. That is your mission.”

“… I see. I’ll do my best.”

“There’s no need to be so formal. Isn’t it just wandering around the zodiac?”

At John’s serious attitude, Rudella covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.

“Then go.”

Rudel took the lead. Johan bowed his head slightly and followed her.

As we crossed the lily garden and arrived in front of the palace, the coachman greeted us politely as if he had been waiting for us.

“Are you here?”

“Let’s go right away.”

“Yes.”

John held out his hand to her from the side of the carriage for escort. Rudella hesitated for a moment, then took John’s hand with trembling hands.

She got into the carriage, and John also got into the carriage and sat down across from her.

Inside the carriage, the two sat in silence for a while. Rudella tried to hide her discomfort by tapping the window frame with her fingertips while looking out the window.

“Is there anything inconvenient?”

John asked cautiously. Rudella looked at him in surprise at his low voice.

Our eyes met for a moment, and then she blushed again and looked out the window.

“Oh, no. Not at all… … . Would it be inconvenient?”

It wasn’t the first time that she had ridden in a carriage alone with him, but it was the first time that Rudella had acted this way.

As the carriage slowly passed through the flower-filled garden, John quietly watched the scenery passing by outside the window.

“The road to the zodiac is so quiet.”

John muttered softly.

Rudel nodded quietly.

“That’s right. But it’s been a long time since I’ve looked at it so calmly… … .”

But Rudella fell into silence for a moment, unable to finish her words. She looked out the window, fiddling with her hands as if anxious, then glanced at Johan cautiously and then hurriedly looked away again.

“… No matter how I look at it, something seems to be wrong?”

John, who found her attitude strange, asked. She has been acting suspiciously since last time.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just, that… … . No, that’s not it… … .”

Rudella stammered and shook her head. She seemed to have something to say, but chose to keep her lips pursed.

“I see… … .”

Since it was something he couldn’t ask about, all John could do was say that he understood.

“What are you going to do when you get to the zodiac?”

“Uh, um. First of all… … .”

“First of all?”

“I’m trying to think while looking around the zodiac.”

Rudel had no plan. Calling Johan was just an impulse.

“I see. Sometimes it’s good to just wander around the streets without a plan. I guess you’ve decided to take better care of your stress management.”

When Johan smiled faintly, Rudella froze for a moment and then smiled awkwardly.

“That’s right. I’m going to manage my stress like you said.”

“Good idea. Stress is the root of all diseases.”

In fact, the reason Rudella had been having such a hard time lately was because of Johan, but she had to keep her words to herself. If he found out about her feelings, she would never see him again.

“But you don’t make eye contact today either.”

“Was that so? I’m not sure… … .”

“It’s been like that since the last time I visited the Topaz Palace.”

John asked deliberately, as if he was asking a question. He had to figure out what she was thinking. If she had feelings for him that were more than friendly, he had to distance himself from her.

Even if that weren’t the case, she was the Crown Prince’s sharp blade. It couldn’t hurt to be careful.

“Hmm. Hmm.”

She cleared her throat for no reason and opened her eyes wide to look at John. For the first time, their eyes met properly.

Her brightly shining sky blue eyes trembled endlessly. She seemed to be desperately trying to keep her gaze from rolling to the side.

“… Are you okay?”

“That, that, that’s okay. No problem. Hmm.”

She smiled awkwardly and blushed. Seeing that, John felt even more lost in the maze.

I don’t think there’s any strange intention. I think it’s right to harbor feelings that go beyond goodwill…

No matter how much I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

That Rudella?

John arrived at the Imperial Street in an awkward mood, unable to fathom her intentions.