In the silence of the carriage, they simply looked at each other.

The transparent sunlight seeped into the stillness. Over her pale face, as if powdered white, over her bruised violet eyelids, over her lips crusted with dried blood.

Despite the horror, the woman was beautiful. Edgar suddenly felt an urge to rip off that ridiculous hat.

He loosened his constricting tie, feeling thirsty, perhaps due to the early heat of late spring.

“Lanslot sir.”

The woman, interpreting the prolonged silence as rejection, called out to him anxiously. A bit more desperation would have made it even more pleasant to hear.

“Edgar.”

Barely maintaining composure, Edgar slowly pronounced his own name.

“That’s enough. Edgar.”

Her unnaturally red lips closed. The scenery beyond the window changed.

Exiting the high-rise buildings, the carriage began to cross the park. Then, the red lips cautiously opened.

“…Edgar.”

She seemed pleased calling his name.

“Speak.”

Edgar’s lips curved upwards.

“Your wish.”

The commotion, once again, started with Olivia Blanchet.

As the two hottest topics of the Litten social circle appeared, the consulate staff were thrown into chaos.

The most surprised was the employee who had sent Olivia away empty-handed three hours ago.

Is that who I think it is…

The employee, having bet his entire fortune that the woman would be rejected, dropped the cap of his fountain pen in shock.

A gentleman in a bright grey suit approached with an air of elegance. True to his reputation, he was a remarkably handsome man, a worthy rival of Duke Johan Leopold.

The consulate employee stood up immediately upon recognizing Edgar Lancaster Lanslot.

“Sorry to bother you. I’ve brought the guarantor you mentioned.”

The woman’s face was much brighter than in the morning.

“Is the consul available?”

The man with the distinctly cold, ash-grey eyes asked in a voice befitting a noble.

“Th-This way.”

Normally, the employee should have informed the consul first, but he found himself acting more like Lanslot’s servant.

I can’t believe he actually came.

“Shall we?”

The man offered his arm to the woman, his smile impeccably charming. His manner was far from how one would treat a woman he shared a bed with for just one night.

Olivia and Edgar were led to the consul’s office by the employee.

The consul of Londen welcomed Lanslot, treating him with utmost respect, and promised to do everything possible to expedite the procedures.

The power of influence was strong, and everything was smoothly resolved.

The next day, photos of Olivia boarding Edgar’s carriage and the two entering the Londen consulate together were splashed across newspapers, turning the Brit and Londen social scenes upside down.

The Brit Palace had many beautiful sights, and the Botanic Garden of the Western Palace, where Princess Annblin resided, was among the best.

Annblin enjoyed her tea time amidst the exotic plants, but today, her face was shrouded in deep sorrow.

Staring blankly at her untouched tea, Annblin’s gaze drifted to the late spring greenhouse, alive with butterflies. Memories of sharing tea with Edgar here pained her heart.

I was so foolish.

Her vanity-filled youthful decision had led to her misery. She had abandoned Edgar, a man she had discarded for the prospect of becoming a queen.

“Looks like she’s serious about him. Now she’s openly clinging to the Duke of Lanslot.”

“After stirring up such a scandal, she has no shame.”

“It must be serious between them. It’s quite obvious now.”
The ladies’ gossip didn’t penetrate Annblin’s ears. Her eyes welled up as she stared at a photo dominating her vision.

The woman receiving Edgar’s gaze in the newspaper, labeled as ‘Edgar’s Rose,’ was really nothing special, apart from being Johan’s ex-wife.

Could it be just for that reason? To simply provoke Johan?

No, I don’t know.

Annblin bit her lower lip.

She couldn’t fathom Edgar’s heart, not even when they were dating. He was like a river, his depth and course never fully graspable.

And that was why she had chosen Prince Agent, sweet like candy in her mouth, who clung to her.

Hoping deep down that Edgar would cling to her too, he had let her go cleanly.

“What was the reason for their visit to the Londen consulate?” Annblin asked, trying to shake off her gloomy mood.

Neither the reporters nor their speculative articles could provide a clear answer. They concluded irresponsibly that there were no marriage registrations at the consulate.

“I heard from International Bank, Princess,” one of the ladies leaned towards Annblin, lowering her voice.

“That woman. Her face was a mess.”

All the ladies’ eyes widened in shock, then clucked their tongues. It was no surprise, considering the woman’s involvement in a love triangle.

“Why did she appear in such a state at International Bank?”

“Apparently, she was robbed of her bank guarantee and ID.”

“My goodness, what a situation… It’s unlikely she carried around her bank guarantee. Could there have been a robbery at Lanslot Hotel?”