It may not be simply a matter of not sleeping together.

Kasha recalled their appearance when they briefly encountered each other at Elor Bay.

They looked like a couple with an unbeatable relationship, but unlike before, the crown prince avoided contact with her to the point of awkwardness.

‘Why on earth?’

The crown prince looked as healthy as could be. The crown princess was the same. Moreover, she was an immensely charming woman even from an objective point of view. Her love for the crown prince was also so pure and devoted that no one was unaware of it.

And that’s not all.

The union of the two was a celebration for the two countries, and everyone blessed them. Their second child would likely be adored by the entire continent. As soon as the second child was born, the crown prince’s power would become even more solid.

‘Nevertheless, the reason why the crown prince doesn’t touch her.’

The endlessly spreading branches of speculation and thought somehow converged to a single conclusion.

And that very conclusion fit perfectly with the ‘answer’ she had been agonizing over for the past few days.

Her heart began to beat audibly.

‘Could it be, could Crown Prince Nigel really be…’

In an instant, her mouth felt dry.

Gulp.

Kasha picked up the glass with trembling hands and swallowed the drink.

Her hands were already damp with tension.

Perhaps noticing it, Leon gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb that was holding her hand.

The rough texture of his thumb, full of calluses, calmed her tension little by little, but it wasn’t enough.

She suddenly flipped her palm over and clasped Leon’s hand, interlocking their fingers. Leon turned to look at her, surprised by the sudden reaction.

Kasha’s deep pink eyes were sparkling with slight excitement. Recognizing it, Leon had a puzzled look, but Kasha could only bite her lips without a word.

He would never know. How much she wanted to confess everything to him at this very moment.

‘Leon. I think I may have found him. The one who put that terrible curse on you.’

The one who commands Simon Blanche and Marquis Viscount like his limbs, and has the power to make them disappear without a trace if he wishes.

The one who sees Leon as a thorn in his side and wishes for his downfall.

The one who has the motive to shake the Osilote ducal family to its roots by using the death of Eve, Leon’s sister.

The one who has a very close relationship with Jasmine, who brought the perfume, one of the clues of the mastermind, into the empire.

‘It’s none other than Crown Prince Nigel.’

Nigel was the perfect fit for each piece of the puzzle left by the mastermind.

There was only one thing that didn’t fit the big picture – the fact that the mastermind of the previous life used a folding fan. It’s usually women who use folding fans.

But even that may have been a kind of stereotype. Is it right to confine a person who commits evil against the entire continent to the framework of stereotypes?

Moreover, the curse of lust directed at Leon. It is the curse of the first demon stone, Honor. The power that Honor possesses is none other than charm and fame.

The crown prince ascended to the throne about a year ago. Right after Kasha broke the seal on the demon stone and had it taken away by Simon.

It was said that as soon as he returned from studying abroad at that time, he captivated people with his amazing charm and outstanding eloquence.

Since then, he has been making strides on the diplomatic front, capturing the surrounding countries while sweeping up the trust of the imperial people.

Everyone who attends events where he appears cheers for him and doesn’t object to anything he does. To an unusual degree.

Kasha recalled the conversation she had with Margaret a few days ago. Margaret explained in detail the bad relationship between the Osilote ducal family, Empress Ann, and Crown Prince Nigel, and added:

‘Actually, now that I say this, I think that the crown prince’s intention to spare the duke of Osilote was not entirely out of mercy… Looking at the path the ducal family has walked since the crown prince’s accession, it’s actually close to a downhill road. But it’s strange. Why have I never thought of this until now? I’ve always thought that the crown prince was a merciful person.’

Crucially, the curse of lust directed at Leon. If it had rebounded onto Nigel, that might be the very reason why Nigel can’t have physical contact with Jasmine.

‘Because sexual relations under the influence of the curse of lust are dangerous enough to bring about the death of the partner. He would be reluctant to engage in such a risky relationship with her, a princess of a nation and the crown princess.’

With the single hypothesis that Crown Prince Nigel might be the mastermind, every situation was perfectly explained.

Gulp.

Savoring the taste of the drink going down her parched throat, Kasha realized that her thoughts had reached a conclusion.

And all the while, Leon kept stroking the back of her hand.

As if to say it’s okay. As if to say don’t worry. As if to say I will protect you no matter what.

And there was also Anthony, who was watching them with a strangely precarious smile.

Wow. Clap clap.

Meanwhile, Jasmine’s dance had ended.

“As expected, you’re amazing, Jasmine. Oh my, it seems the treasure I snatched from the Kazim Kingdom turned out to be more fatal than I thought, what a disaster.”

Hahaha.

The crowd laughed raucously at the crown prince’s humorous praise, and Jasmine smiled satisfactorily, wiping the slightly oozing sweat.

“It doesn’t seem easy to beat our table, but will any other table dare to challenge?”

At the crown prince’s provocation, a young aristocrat from Count Vistas’ table, which had been murmuring for a moment, stood up, scratching his head.

“I cannot dare to match Her Highness the Crown Princess’s amazing skills, but I shall present my humble abilities, so I beg for your generous understanding.”

Expectant gazes gathered toward Viscount Valjis, who spoke in an exaggerated tone. He was the nephew of Marquis Anmari, the leader of the Crown Prince faction. He was also a wealthy man who owned the largest opera theater in Arkin and a profound artist.

He performed a beautiful epic poem with melody like a one-man play.

With his calm stage manner and amazing skills, the mood of the banquet ripened even more.

As Viscount Valjis finally stepped down to great applause, the crown prince praised him with a smiling face.

“Excellent performance. I am immensely pleased that everyone is enjoying themselves so merrily. Alright, then it’s the last table’s turn now, isn’t it?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the heated atmosphere faltered.

Those seated at the third table, singled out by him, were even more so. They just looked at each other’s faces, not knowing what to do.

Princess Melissa, the host of the table, quietly lowered her head.

Most of those seated at her table were unpopular and unsociable people. At best, only Baron Leon and Viscount Daril had enough prestige to draw everyone’s response.

But the problem was that these two would never do a talent show at an event like this even if they died and came back to life.

Moreover, it was clear that Crown Princess Jasmine and Viscount Valjis had already prepared the stage knowing that this situation would occur. If they stepped up clumsily, they would only be humiliated.

‘The crown prince is blatantly pushing the princess into a difficult situation.’

Kasha thought, looking at the princess’s elegant but stiff side profile.

‘The really strange thing is this. No one finds the crown prince’s actions odd or unpleasant.’

Kasha didn’t know Princess Melissa well. But her quiet and calm presence was enough to be loved by all. Given her personality, she didn’t seem likely to make enemies in social circles either.

Yet despite the fact that she was being blatantly persecuted, no one sympathized with her.

Everyone was glaring at her.

As if she were a traitor who had ruined today’s banquet perfectly led by the crown prince.

‘It’s unnatural. Everything.’

They were acting like people mesmerized by a cult leader. These fox-like aristocrats who were worn out in social circles.

And it’s not just them.

Even those who weren’t particularly followers of the crown prince, like Daril and Margaret, felt no antipathy toward him at all.

‘If they are all being drawn to the power of the demon stone, everything makes sense.’

Kasha thought.

But there was one thing that bothered her.

‘If his charm is really due to the demon stone, why am I not affected by his charm?’

As far as Kasha could see, only she and Leon among the banquet attendees felt uncomfortable with the crown prince.

Leon was involved in the curse of the demon stone, so that was understandable. But why Kasha?

‘Could it be… because I’m the one who broke the seal on the demon stone?’

Leon had also mentioned that his curse seemed to manifest a little differently for Kasha. So it’s not an entirely implausible premise.

‘But it wouldn’t hurt to be a little more cautious.’

Crown Prince Nigel is currently the second-in-command of the empire. She can neither recklessly interrogate him, nor should she do so.

Even if Nigel wanted to behead someone on the spot right now, no one could stop him. Whether it was Leon’s neck, Kasha’s, or even Daril’s.

Therefore, she had to be extremely careful. Because in this life, she had people far more precious to her than Simon of her past life.

Just as she thought that.

The crown prince raised his voice again in a pleasant manner.

“Oh my. This will damage my sister Melissa’s prestige, won’t it? How can there not be a single person who knows the art of poetry and music among the many people seated at that table?”

Hahaha.

Everyone held their stomachs and laughed at the crown prince’s joke, which wasn’t funny at all.

Even Princess Melissa smiled along, raising the corners of her mouth that trembled slightly.

Kasha slowly looked around at everyone.

The crowd that seemed to be chanting soullessly under the crown prince’s direction.

If the demon who made that demon stone saw this scene right now, wouldn’t he be immensely satisfied?

Kasha looked straight at Crown Prince Nigel.

By chance, it felt like their eyes met head-on.

If he were truly the mastermind, he would have been observing Kasha closely all along.

The magic tool maker who escaped from his grasp.

Kasha boasted about having a contract relationship with Leon, his eyesore, and was the one who prevented Eve’s kidnapping.

He, who already held absolute power, would likely be aware of the entire situation. What could be the reason he has kept Kasha alive so far?

Perhaps there was a reason he couldn’t easily touch Kasha? Or was he still looking for an opportunity to use Kasha?

Kasha surreptitiously withdrew her hand from Leon’s firm grasp. At the same time, the crown prince raised his voice again.

“Well, the mood is broken but it can’t be helped. Then let’s−”

Kasha stood up, pushing back her chair, cutting off the crown prince’s words.

“Wait a moment. May I perhaps… represent our table?”

Everyone was momentarily at a loss for words at her unexpected remark.

Kasha looked around at everyone’s faces with an expressionless face.

Only Leon looked up at her with an unsurprised face.

He just looked at her calmly with eyes that seemed to hold an inexplicable conviction. His citrine-colored eyes shining in the darkness seemed to say:

Do whatever you want.

I’ll be behind you.

Suppressing something that welled up in her chest, Kasha raised her voice.

“There’s a song I’d like to sing for you.”