“Sorry, but it seems we can’t just hear Your Grace’s words and step back, saying ‘Yes, understood.’”
“Lord Roins, can we interpret your family’s actions as aligning with the Laverion Duchy?”

“We are simply following the Emperor’s orders. In fact, isn’t the duke’s current behavior aligning with the Emperor?”

“I merely prevented harm to my fiancée from someone’s prank.”

“I hope the Emperor will understand the duke’s intentions.”

Tension filled the air between the two.

“Don’t worry, Roins. The Emperor will surely understand me.”

With these words, Kaern gestured to his subordinates, and they drew their swords from their scabbards. In response, the royal guard also unsheathed their swords, facing each other.

“Must it come to this? If you withdraw now, the Duke’s actions will not be reported to the Emperor.”

Even to the captain’s final warning, Kaern did not flinch.

“Sigh.”

It seemed that if things continued like this, a real conflict might break out here.

Unable to stand idly by, I moved and stood beside Kaern.

“Kaern.”

With a subdued voice, I called Kaern’s name, looking up at him.

Kaern’s gaze shifted from the captain to me.

We stood there silently, exchanging glances.

“Kaern, I’ll go. Please send me off.”
Feeling the faint remaining fear in my heart gradually dissipate, I spoke with determination, asking them to send me off.

Even if a fight broke out here, Kaern was not going to lose. As Kaern had said, the Emperor, who trusted him more than anyone else, was likely not to say anything about this incident.

However, the problem lay in what would happen afterward.

The cunning Empress would use this opportunity to gather the Imperial faction nobles, politically attack Kaern, and try to sow discord between him and the Laverion Duchy at the Emperor’s side.

And that would be no different from the course of events in the original work, where Kaern learned of Adelia’s death and waged war against the Empire.

‘I absolutely can’t let that happen.’

Just imagining his final moments was enough to make tears well up.

So, I had to prevent it from happening in any way.

“Herena.”

Kaern narrowed his eyes as if dissatisfied with the situation.

I continued the conversation, trying to soothe him with a light smile.

“Kaern, you said you trust me, right?”

“Herena. That’s…”

“I’ll be fine. During the tea party when the incident occurred, many nobles saw me trying to save the Empress. Even if they now try to accuse me, a mere flower petal is not convincing enough.”

“You know they are determined to frame you with guilt.”
“Of course, I know. But who am I? I’m the one and only fiancée of the Laverion Duke, who has the Emperor’s trust, right? And while I’m captured, all Kaern needs to do is find the real culprit behind this incident.”

Kaern was not the type to do nothing while I was in captivity. He was someone who would do anything to save me.

“If you just decide, there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”

Kaern tried to convince me by saying he could hold me back.

“No, right now it’s right for me to go.”

I firmly responded, lowering my head.

“Let’s go.”

And I said it was time to leave, looking at the commander.

“Oh, yes. Understood.”

Carefully sheathing their swords, the guards prepared to leave the mansion.

“Kaern, could you hold my hand?”

Reaching out to Kaern to get onto the carriage, I extended my hand.

Kaern must have noticed my slightly trembling fingertips, but he just clenched his lips a bit tighter and didn’t say anything about it.

Just.

“It won’t take long. Please wait a little until I prove your innocence.”

With a voice mixed with resentment towards the mastermind behind this and frustration at his own helplessness, he earnestly urged me with his words.

“Yes, Kaern. I’ll be waiting. Take care of yourself until we meet again, and don’t skip meals.”

With those words, I boarded the carriage.
And as soon as the door closed, the carriage moved in response to the commander’s shout to depart. When I opened the carriage window, Kaern was staring at me from the same spot. I, too, didn’t take my eyes off him until he disappeared from my sight.