“Why, just why…!”

Odette found it hard to believe the scene unfolding before her eyes.

Leon and Kasha. Why on earth were those two utterly incompatible people entangled here, in such a state?

Their flushed faces, disheveled hair, heavy breathing, and smudged lipstick.

The implications were all too clear.

It was even more so for Odette, who was well-versed in physical entanglements with men.

Odette glared at Kasha as if she wanted to devour her.

‘That wretched thing! A bastard daring to steal Leon from me?’

Moreover, hadn’t Leon coldly rejected Odette just days ago when she had thrown away her pride and approached him?

And now, here he is, holding such an unremarkable woman and breathing heavily!

Odette’s hands trembled with the urge to grab that insignificant woman’s hair and shake her. If it weren’t for Leon, she would have acted immediately.

‘Leon, you’re supposed to be mine. You should only be mine!’

She could feel her nails digging into her palm as she clenched her fists tightly.

Odette Tyrot, the cherished daughter of the Tyrot ducal family.

From birth, she had everything she ever wanted.

It was the same with men. Most men she reached for easily fell into her grasp. In just twenty years, she had mastered the art of handling men.

Though she had restrained herself from meddling with nobles due to the risks involved, she eventually realized something.

The consequences of a one-night fling only applied to those with ambiguous power.

Occasionally, there were men who clung to her without knowing their place. In such cases, her father, Duke Tyrot, would either provide appropriate financial compensation or arrange a suitable marriage partner for the man’s family.

Most would then bow down in gratitude and leave.

One such heir to a baronial family, who had been dealt with recently, was now attending this banquet, firmly holding his wife’s hand. Not even hiding his lustful gaze towards Odette.

And Odette leisurely enjoyed such gazes.

However, separate from her enjoyment, Odette no longer had any interest in the men she had used and discarded.

The man Odette wanted now was Leon Aranias.

And she still had no intention of giving up. She believed that it would just take a little more time, but eventually, Leon would fall into her hands.

‘It was supposed to be like that. It definitely was!’

But now, Leon’s gaze as he held Kasha and glared at Odette was like looking at a street thug or a ruffian.

Meanwhile, the way he embraced Kasha was disciplined and courteous like a holy knight, which made her even more furious.

Odette bit her lip and turned away. At this point, it seemed the only way to feel better was to call her followers and humiliate Kasha.

But as soon as she turned, she had to step back after bumping into someone’s shoulder.

“And who are you?”

As she looked up angrily, there was a familiar face.

‘Simon… Blanche?’

This was the man who, along with Odette, had vehemently insisted on canceling Kasha Lyuschino’s victory at the hunting competition.

She remembered him because he had shown an oddly more aggressive attitude than Odette at that time.

‘But why does this man have such an expression?’

Odette frowned.

Simon Blanche was staring at Kasha and Leon, who were entwined inside the balcony, with a pale face. As if he had just witnessed an unbelievably shocking scene.

‘He seems well past the age to be shocked by witnessing someone else’s secret rendezvous.’

Just as Odette thought this, Simon opened his mouth.

“Was it, was it true? Kasha, you two really…?”

Odette realized that Simon’s gaze was fixed precisely on Kasha.

Though Kasha, receiving his gaze, only returned a cold, contemptuous look.

At that moment, Leon stood up, supporting Kasha. He openly furrowed his brow, showing his anger.

“Lady Tyrot, Young Lord Blanche. Is it not courteous to vacate when you see a balcony has been claimed?”

Odette, who had never learned to control her temper, immediately flared up.

“Sir Leon! Did you say courtesy? What kind of vulgar behavior is this at His Highness the Crown Prince’s banquet? And with such a woman?”

However, Leon only wore a cold, mocking smile.

“Vulgar, you say. How amusing to hear such words from you, Lady Tyrot.”

“Sir Leon!”

“And, Lady Tyrot.”

Suddenly, Leon’s voice dropped low. At the same time, his purple eyes darkened fiercely.

“Such a woman? If you refer to my lover in that manner one more time, I won’t let it slide.”

“Lover? Ha! What, what will you do if you don’t let it slide?”

Though she talked back out of pride, Odette felt weak in the knees when faced with Leon’s fierce expression.

‘Did this man always have such a face?’

The current Leon looked as dangerous and untamed as a wild beast encountered in the mountains.

A new kind of allure emanated from him, having shed even the outward courtesy he usually maintained.

‘…I want him!’

While biting her lip with undisguisable desire, Odette turned her body away. Even the great Odette could guess that there was nothing to gain from continuing this argument while meeting Leon’s eyes.

As she took a step forward, Leon’s voice continued from behind.

“Young Lord Blanche. You’d better leave too.”

“But… why. Just why!”

Simon’s sudden cry startled Odette, making her stop in her tracks.

“Kasha, what are you really planning! We’re all going to be ruined now!”

“I can’t listen to this anymore. Get out.”

Bang.

However, his cries were futilely blocked by the door that Leon had shut.

“How did things end up like this…”

Odette carefully observed Simon as he mumbled, hanging his head. He was still pacing restlessly in front of the door.

“What should I do now? What on earth should I…”

‘What kind of relationship does he have with Kasha Lyuschino to be so agitated? It was the same at the last hunting competition.’

Odette’s mind raced quickly.

Since the incident at the last hunting competition, Odette had been pondering various ways to bring down Kasha’s pride.

However, as Kasha generally secluded herself in her mansion and rarely appeared in social circles except for major events, it wasn’t easy to plan anything.

‘If that man knows any information that could trouble Kasha…’

Then she must get her hands on it by all means.

Odette didn’t hesitate long before approaching Simon.

“Young Lord Blanche?”

“Yes? Ah, Lady Tyrot. How do you do.”

Simon responded weakly in a dazed tone. Yet, as soon as Odette addressed him, he quickly tidied his clothes and composed his expression.

Well, how often would a bastard from a baronial family have the chance to exchange words with the only daughter of the Tyrot ducal family?

Odette was quite pleased with Simon’s predictable attitude.

Moreover, seeing him up close, his appearance was quite presentable, beyond expectations.

“It’s nothing much. I’m just feeling thirsty. Would you bring me a glass of champagne?”

Odette leaned her head against the wall, feigning exhaustion, and blinked her eyes languidly.

Not forgetting to raise her eyes at the angle that usually makes men weak.

“Ah, of course. Please, wait a moment.”

Simon responded hastily, though flustered.

Asking for champagne was bait to start a conversation. Simon, who couldn’t have missed this, took the bait without hesitation. He quickly disappeared into the banquet hall in search of champagne.

‘He’s easy to handle. That’s good.’

Odette watched his retreating figure with a sneer.

Although it might be too predictable to be fun, it could be useful in recovering her self-esteem that had been wounded by Leon.

‘And if he really knows something about Kasha Lyuschino, that would be the icing on the cake.’

Once again, Odette’s usual confident smile appeared on her lips.

The moon had already risen high above the banquet hall filled with beautiful music and laughter.

Ding ding ding.

As someone tapped a crystal glass with a fork, all eyes focused on one spot.

“May I have your attention! It’s time for a toast to celebrate the blessed marriage of Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess.”

Marquis Anmarie stretched his greasy forehead to its fullest as he cleared his throat.

The Crown Prince and his bride, thoroughly enjoying the festivities, watched him with pleased expressions.

“Ahem ahem. Then, let me start.”

Just as he was about to begin his fervent flattery, someone easily snatched the crystal glass from the short marquis’s raised hand.

“I believe I was supposed to give the first toast.”

The person standing tall and looking down at the marquis was the beautiful holy knight, Leon Aranias.

Feeling as if an extraordinary aura was emanating from him, the marquis flinched and mumbled.

“His Highness the Crown Prince… said you looked tired.”

“No need to worry. I’m perfectly fine.”

Leon said this while calmly looking around.

The nobles who saw him all tilted their heads in confusion.

‘Isn’t his atmosphere completely different from the wedding ceremony earlier?’

Gone was the fatigued complexion and dangerous aura, and Leon had become a completely different person in a short time.

His clear complexion and composed expression, along with his inherently imposing presence. Even his gaze as he looked around was clear and lucid.

Suddenly, his gaze landed precisely on the Crown Prince.

“May I give the toast, Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess?”

Even before Leon asked this, the royal couple had been observing him intently.

Princess Jasmine, wearing a sparkling tiara, glanced at the Crown Prince’s expression and gave permission in a stiff tone.

“You may.”

Having received her permission, Leon bowed his head slightly in gratitude. Then, looking around, he calmly began to speak.

“Today is a joyous day. It is the day when His Highness the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir of the Aranias Imperial Family, has found his perfect companion.”

“……”

The Crown Prince listened to Leon’s toast with a faint smile. The expression of the Crown Prince as he looked at his cousin, who had suddenly become composed, was somehow difficult to read.

He seemed both pleased and amused.

Their eyes, of similar color, met once again in mid-air.

“As his true servant, I am sincerely moved that the Aranias Empire has gained an heir who is good and great without a trace of shame under God’s name. To the conscience of the great Aranias!”

To the conscience!

The people’s shouts following Leon’s lead filled the banquet hall, then slowly settled over the heads where various thoughts had begun to race.