“Miss Velista, who is next to Duke Ferial, was so strong that most assassins couldn’t penetrate him.”

Chises flinched when the Emperor mentioned Azela’s name in a low voice as if referring to an obstacle.

“So, first of all, we have to kill her. Now is the right time since she is injured.”

“….!”

His eyes widened at the Emperor’s resoluteness.

Hearing his words, Chises coldly removed the Emperor’s hand that was patting his shoulder without even realizing it. The Emperor frowned when he suddenly pushed off his hand.

“Azela is mine, Your Majesty.”

“…Still that thing.”

“I have told you so many times.”

Chises glared at him with eyes burning with obsession.

Even if it was the Emperor or his own father, it was unforgivable for him to try to take what was his. Likewise, the Emperor also glared at Chises with a face filled with anger. There was silence for a moment.

“Chises. I know what you covet.”

“If you understand, leave it alone.”

“I would have taught you every time that if it’s an uncontrollable b*stard, it’s better to kill them now. You still lack learning.”

The emperor’s words made Chises frown before he hit the desk next to him with his fist.

Bam, a dull sound spread widely through the emperor’s office. Zihat, who was waiting outside at the sudden violent sound, jumped in hastily. As he was about to draw his sword, he was stopped by the Emperor’s gesture.

“…If you want to play with it, just play with it. Don’t go any further.”

“That is for me to decide.”

“Chises.”

As he called his name in a sharp voice, Chises gulped at the intimidating figure though he did not back down.

“Don’t make me kill you.”

“….!”

The Emperor’s short words pierced his heart. Chises, who had been looking at his father in disbelief, suddenly started laughing.

Hahaha.

It was endless laughter. In the meanwhile, the Emperor simply stared at Chises, who was laughing in front of him, with an indifferent gaze.

“That was it, after all.”

“….”

“Did you let me live because I’m an obedient b*stard?”

“Chises.”

“If I became an uncontrollable b*stard, did you intend to kill me, too, Your Majesty?!”

The Emperor sighed and raised his hand to cover his eyes as Chises shouted. The tiredness of not wanting to talk anymore was evident on his face, and he did not deny it. He didn’t want to continue this conversation any longer.

Chises frowned.

“I am the next emperor.”

“….”

Hearing the voice aiming for his power, the Emperor lowered his hand that was covering his eyes as murderous intent flashed on his face. That murderous intent was directed at his son, Chises, who was aiming for his place.

“As expected, because I’m a b*stard who listens to Your Majesty, you liked me and kept me by your side.”

“….”

When Chises gritted his teeth and turned around, the Emperor shook his head as he watched Chises leave the Emperor’s office.

“Zihat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Keep an eye on Chises. If Chises tries to do nonsense, you may kill him without reporting to me.”

“….”

Zihat could not bear to answer the Emperor’s emotionless voice. Zihat lowered his head for a moment before plucking up the courage to open his mouth.

“If the Crown Prince dies, the successor will…”

“There are many children. It’s enough to reappoint the successor with an obedient prince.”

“Understood.”

“And this.”

The Emperor tossed a letter to Zihat, who nodded in response. Zihat picked up the letter that had fallen to the ground and tilted his head, examining it.

Unlike a moment ago, a smile bloomed on the Emperor’s face.

“Send it to the person who runs the boutique shop that Duke Ferial is running.”

“…What is it?”

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The Emperor snapped his finger and laughed at Zihat’s question. Just imagining it made him happy.

“The man I hired, named Benjamin, is dead.”

“….”

“I heard that the woman named Findar, who is in charge of Duke Ferial’s boutique, is Benjamin’s younger sister. Unfortunately, she didn’t know about her brother’s death.”

Saying so, he laughed out loud.

“So I should let her know, too, that it was Duke Ferial who killed her brother.”

* * *

“I’m thinking of having a banquet soon.”

“Banquet?”

As Zagnac laughed as he brushed the cookie crumbs from her mouth, Azela naturally accepted his touch as if it were natural. Meanwhile, a delightful smile was drawn on the handmaid’s faces seeing Azela’s gentle behavior and the way she accepted it.

“I have to let everyone know that you are mine.”

“…Ah.”

“After opening a grand banquet and revealing it, I plan to make you my wife. There are a lot of people targeting you, Azela, whether Count Todd or the Crown Prince. What do you think about having a wedding after that? There are many things to prepare for a wedding, so it seemed like it would take time.”

Azela covered her face with the cup, pretending to drink tea when he said so.

She had a gloomy thought if her soul would be able to hold out until the wedding. It was because she couldn’t help but be depressed at such a happy offer. If her soul couldn’t hold out until the wedding anyway, she wanted to be his wife, even on paper.

“Yes, that’s a good idea. First, put me as Duchess Ferial on the paperwork, and let’s get married after that.”

Zagnac smiled happily when Azela agreed. He spoke again while opening his arms wide and holding her in his arms.

“Duchess Ferial… I never thought there would be anyone called that.”

“I never thought I’d be called Madam Ferial.”

“After the wedding, let’s go on a trip together. You said you didn’t go to many places when you were on the outskirts.”

He would surely know that her soul was ripening and that if he didn’t eat her, he would disappear. It meant that there wasn’t much time between the two of them. Even so, he kept talking to her about the future as if he didn’t care.

“Okay, I want to go far away. I have never been far away.”

No problem was fundamentally resolved. It was just that the two of them got to know each other’s hearts.

Nonetheless, Zagnac gave Azela the feeling that all the problems had been solved and that she shouldn’t worry. Perhaps knowing his intentions, she stretched out her hands and put her arms around his neck.

Zagnac smiled contentedly, feeling Azela’s touch as she hugged him.

“I’ll ask Baharf to bring me the map. Let’s look at the map and decide where to go on our trip.”

With her arms around him, he lifted her up. When he rang the bell, Baharf, who had been out of nowhere, appeared.

“Baharf, bring me the map.”

“Master, a guest came.”

“…A guest?”

“Yes, I brought her here. Will it be okay?”

Bahaf smiled and stepped aside, revealing the figure of a woman standing behind him.

“Findar, what about the store? What brings you here?”

As Findar was Zagnac’s occasional visitor because of the boutique, Baharf also seemed to have taken her in without the slightest suspicion. Eventually, she entered and walked over to Zagnac, who was smiling. Azela, sitting behind and enjoying her tea, just watched it.

Strangely, however, Findar was not smiling at all. She looked different than usual.

“…Findar?”

Azela stiffened and called her by name. In Findar’s right hand was a white piece of paper, and in her left hand was the ornate fan she had lent to her before. Nonetheless, the hand holding the fan was unnatural.

At the odd sense, Azela put down the teacup she was holding and stood up.

And then it was.

“Ugh…”

Without the slightest hesitation, Findar stabbed Zagnac hard in the heart with the small knife he had hidden in his fan. Tears were flowing from both of her eyes.

Azela looked at it with a surprised face.