The smell emanating from Anthony. No, the terrible stench.

After the Curse of Lust was lifted, it became very rare for human desires to be perceived as smells.

However, there were some who sometimes stimulated his sense of smell, just like when he was under the curse. None other than Crown Prince Nigel, his father Grand Duke Osilote, and Anthony himself.

Until now, he had tried to ignore it, thinking it was some kind of remnant left behind by the curse’s aftereffects.

But was it really a coincidence that this terrible odor was only felt from those connected to Leon by blood?

Moreover, today’s Anthony exuded an unusually terrible scent of blood. A stomach-churning stench almost on par with Nigel’s.

Leon felt a sharp sense of tension, like when he used to stay up all night before a major battle in the war. A feeling of instinctive unease that grated on his nerves layer by layer.

He had no idea why it was being triggered towards his own younger brother facing Kasha.

Perhaps if it wasn’t a matter involving Kasha, Leon might have tried hard to ignore that instinct. Because Anthony was none other than his own brother. His other half, whom he had cherished more than his own life.

But right now, that very Anthony was smiling at Kasha with an annoyingly bright smile.

“Elder brother looks very happy. It’s really nice to see.”

“…Yes.”

Leon noticed the tension settling on Kasha’s back as she conversed with Anthony. Her white hands resting on her knees were also unnaturally clenched tight.

As soon as he saw that, the warning Anthony had once given him came to mind.

‘Elder brother. You’ll definitely regret it, you can’t trust that woman.’

And one more thing. He remembered the fact that Kasha had fled Elor’s villa right after Anthony appeared.

Something was wrong. As soon as he realized that, Leon’s hand reached out without hesitation. He clasped Kasha’s hand and called her name.

“Kasha.”

At that, Kasha immediately turned to look at him.

Kasha’s eyes, which had the color of the most splendid flower petals yet carried a desolate light. As soon as he saw them, he could tell right away. That she was once again, at this moment, struggling to overcome something.

As soon as he realized that, his inner conflict ended.

Leon tightened his grip on Kasha’s hand. Fortunately, she did not reject him.

“You look tired, shall we go in now?”

“…I’m fine.”

Kasha shook her head resolutely.

He tried to persuade her a bit more, but for now, he closed his mouth.

Perhaps today as well, she had come to this gathering with some purpose. Otherwise, there would be no reason for her, who did not enjoy social activities in the first place, to attend a picnic where she would have to see Leon’s face.

As Leon closed his mouth, Kasha turned her gaze and looked straight ahead. It was a rather determined gaze, as if conscious of Anthony. Fortunately, Margaret soon spoke to them from across the table, and they began to converse warmly.

Taking that opportunity, Leon sent a silent warning glare towards Anthony.

A warning to stop whatever he was doing, whether it was suspecting Kasha or attempting anything more than that.

The gazes of the two brothers intertwined sharply over Kasha between them.

Anthony’s gaze faltered for a moment. Leon was a precise and strict person, but he had always been kind and affectionate to his younger siblings. It must have been an unfamiliar experience for him to be glared at by his elder brother with such a cold gaze as if looking at a stranger.

But that was only for a moment, and a slow smile spread across Anthony’s lips.

Surprisingly, what that smile contained was rapture. The rapture of someone who had faced what they had most anticipated in their entire life.

‘Anthony, you… What are you thinking?’

Leon’s eyes sharpened.

Ding-ding-ding.

Just then, someone cheerfully tapped a crystal glass. The gazes of everyone who had been engaged in lively conversation immediately gathered on the central table.

“Well then. It seems everyone is seated, so shall we liven up the mood with some entertainment?”

Crown Prince Nigel stood up from his seat and flashed a charming smile in all directions.

At that, the young nobles all cheered in unison and toasted each other.

“His Highness the Crown Prince knows how to party hard too!”

“Having experienced many countries, you know how to properly enjoy culture, right?”

“There must be a reason why the Princess of the Kazhim Kingdom, famous for her passion and high spirits, fell for Your Highness.”

People whispered as they looked at the Crown Princess, whose cheeks were flushed as if drunk and whose eyes were fixed only on the Crown Prince.

Her gaze was solely glued to the Crown Prince. It was undeniably the face of a woman who had fallen completely in love.

However, in fact, Jasmine’s complexion had not been very good throughout the picnic today.

Although she was acting with proper dignity in front of everyone, she was originally from the fiery Kazhim Kingdom. No matter what, it was obvious that she was feeling anxious.

People tilted their heads in confusion, wondering what she could be anxious about when she was still in the midst of her honeymoon and had a husband who doted on her attentively – and the most powerful man in the empire at that.

They could only guess that it might be because she did not get along well with Princess Melissa or something like that.

Even the outfit Jasmine wore today seemed to directly reveal that anxiety.

A glamorous orange dress in a tube top style that exposed her shoulders and chest, heavy makeup, and a hair ornament with dozens of sparkling diamonds. It was a bit excessive for mere picnic attire.

Towards the precarious appearance of the Crown Princess, who seemed to be desperately flaunting her charm, the Crown Prince cheerfully laughed and clinked glasses with her.

“Since the tables happen to be divided into three, how about having one representative from each table showcase their talents to entertain everyone? I will bestow my prize upon the table that receives the loudest applause.”

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, a fiery response erupted.

“Excellent!”

“That’s a wonderful idea, Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Haha. Then shall we also select a candidate from our table?”

At the Crown Prince’s words after he sat back down, his table immediately became abuzz.

Even the great nobles, who would normally decline to show off their skills outdoors like this, raised their hands one after another as if intoxicated by the atmosphere.

However, as soon as one person stepped forward, they all gave up on participating. It was none other than Crown Princess Jasmine.

“I had a dance I wanted to show Your Highness.”

At Jasmine’s rather seductive words as she lowered her eyes, Nigel nodded with a grin.

“As expected, our Princess is straightforward. A traditional dance from the Kazhim Kingdom is no ordinary spectacle, you all have gained great fortune today.”

“I’m really looking forward to it, Your Highness the Crown Princess!”

Everyone spoke in unison. It was indeed a great honor to watch a dance personally performed by the Crown Princess.

“Bring me my veil and fan.”

Jasmine commanded her maids with a haughty face, her expression carrying a certain determination.

As if they had been given prior notice, Jasmine’s maids quickly gathered the items. The musicians who accompanied them also took their positions in an orderly manner.

As soon as the preparations were ready, Jasmine stood with a red veil draped against the backdrop of the sunset-lit riverbank.

The orange dress flowing along her sensual figure, the sharp gray eyes peeking out from between the fan and veil.

Just her standing there exuded an exotic atmosphere. As the people’s cheers died down, the musician began to play.

Tra-la-la, tra-la-la-la

The stringed instrument, a traditional instrument of the Kazhim Kingdom, sent a fast and lively melody into the river breeze.

It was a melody that strangely stirred sensuality. At the same time, Jasmine began her flamboyant movements. It was a captivating dance with complex hand gestures and charismatic facial expressions as the main features.

The deeply intoxicated people did not notice, but in fact, Jasmine was dancing while looking only at Crown Prince Nigel.

Watching Jasmine, who bent her waist at an amazing angle and scattered the veil in the sky, Kasha thought.

Why is courtship necessary anew between a fully married couple?

Why is that woman, who has everything, so desperate now? Even with her destined partner, her love of the century, right before her eyes.

At that moment, a slender drink glass was suddenly held out in front of Kasha’s eyes.

Staring at the pale yellow drink with round bubbles popping, Kasha silently turned to look at Leon who had offered it.

“Quenching your thirst at least won’t interfere with your thoughts.”

It seemed Leon had been watching only Kasha the whole time, not Jasmine’s dance. Considering he had read her thirst that she herself had not even noticed.

She took the glass without a word. And then she realized that his other hand, which had handed her the glass, was still tightly holding her hand.

He would probably never let go first unless she rejected him first.

And no matter how coldly she rejected him, he would approach her again as if nothing had happened and reach out his hand the moment she wavered.

The man who had shown a hurt expression at her one-sided termination of their contract relationship. His kiss, which he claimed was a remnant of the curse’s aftereffects, was only sweet.

She, who had already shared a kiss with him when he was under the curse, could tell. That he was lying.

The reason why he, a holy knight, shamelessly uttered lies just to hold onto her.

And now, the reason she couldn’t bring herself to reject his hand.

Thinking about that, Kasha suddenly realized.

The meaning behind Jasmine’s desperate dance moves.

She wanted to be loved by her husband.

To the point where she had to throw away her pride as a princess of a nation and the Crown Princess and struggle desperately.

‘The reason Nigel, who outwardly shows impeccable behavior as a husband, makes Jasmine anxious.’

Perhaps the old Kasha might not have been able to guess the reason.

But she, who had felt Leon’s heated gaze on her, his ragged breath against her lips, the force of his two hands writhing with desire, now knew.

‘Crown Prince Nigel is not sleeping with Jasmine.’