Today was the day of Princess Anblyn’s second round preliminary match. The stands were already full, showing the princess’s popularity.

Olivia visited the stadium with Elaine.

As spectators, not competitors.

‘Let’s go together tomorrow.’

On that night when they walked hand in hand with Edgar along the starlit riverbank, his warm, large hand did not let go even when they arrived in front of the house.

Not until he pulled out tickets from his chest pocket.

‘No. That would be too petty.’

She didn’t want to stoop to the princess’s level.

Moreover, it was better for her to focus on the match in order to properly gauge her skills.

“Did something good happen yesterday?”

Elaine asked mischievously.

“Ah, nothing happened.”

“Since when?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that.”

Edgar’s breath brushed past her ear like the wind.

“Then why is your face turning red?”

“Elaine!”

Elaine laughed brightly. Embarrassed, Olivia buried her face in her hands and lowered her head.

It was then that Princess Anblyn appeared on the court.

The princess walking calmly onto the green grass looked like a swan.

The bustling crowd suddenly fell silent.

Anblyn, dressed in a pure white one-piece uniform, met her eyes. She gave a relaxed smile.

“I came to watch last year too, but she really plays well.”

“Yes.”

Olivia nodded in response to Elaine’s words, her gaze fixed on the princess’s uniform.

Anblyn briefly stared at Olivia.

She had no intention of giving her all in a match she was destined to win anyway. If only to make Olivia Blanchet let her guard down.

Anblyn lightly warmed up.

The movements of her fingertips and toes were as graceful and beautiful as if she were performing ballet.

“My, how seductive she is. This isn’t something that can be imitated.”

The noble ladies seated around Olivia deliberately spoke loudly as if for her to hear.

Every time Anblyn moved her arms, the white organza frills that just covered her shoulders fluttered like butterfly wings.

The flared skirt that came down to her shins was elegant like a ballerina’s tutu while allowing for unrestricted movement.

It was identical to the design that Madam Lauren had brought out on the day she bowed to Olivia.

If she had thoughtlessly worn the same outfit…

The thought alone was horrifying, and Olivia shook her head.

The referee announced the start of the match.

Anblyn, who had the serve, held the ball and steadied her breathing. Just as she was about to toss the ball high into the air.

Edgar?

She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Following the Dumblin match viewing rules, a man in a white suit was lazily walking down the stairs between the seats.

With both hands in his pockets.

His appearance was no different from when he came to watch her match last year.

Still arrogant, bored, and painfully beautiful. No, he was much more beautifully colored than that day.

So the crooked smile on his lips was unbearably painful as he looked towards her.

The hand gripping the racket trembled. An uncontrollable hatred washed over Anblyn like a tidal wave.

Her amber eyes, darkened with anger, shook with resentment.

The puzzled gazes of the spectators naturally followed the princess’s line of sight.

Elaine and Olivia also belatedly turned their heads.

She must be crazy.

Olivia was shocked.

Edgar Lancaster Lancelot, the princess’s former lover, was approaching, drawing everyone’s attention.

Towards Olivia Blanchet.

Was there really a need to be this cruel?

I only wished for our end to be beautiful. Was that such a wrong desire?

Anblyn’s eyes grew cold and still as she stared at Edgar.

She had lived a life where everything was prepared at her feet from birth. Thus, Anblyn had never wanted for anything.

Except for one thing, the man named Edgar.

Edgar sat down next to Olivia as if it were only natural.

He tilted his head slightly towards the woman and smiled, crossing his long legs.

If it weren’t for that woman, if only… then we wouldn’t have been this broken.

Even if we didn’t love each other like before, we wouldn’t have hated and hurt each other.

All because of a woman like that.

You abandoned me.

The hand gripping the racket trembled.

Anblyn, who had always maintained grace and composure in any situation, simply could not keep her composure at this moment.

Her pale face burned red with anger.

The venue buzzed with murmurs.

Good heavens!

The spectators alternately gazed at the princess who had become the protagonist of a tragic love story and the shameless couple with looks of shock and sighs.

This year’s Dumblin Championship was truly the best. Honestly, the love triangle was more exciting than the princess winning every time.

“I’ve seen it all now.”

“For the first time, the admission fee doesn’t feel wasted.”

People clicked their tongues and busily gossiped.

This was no different from a battle between the princess who brought her ex-husband’s fiancée to Olivia Blanchet’s match and the Viscount Lancelot who brought his new lover to his ex-lover’s match.

Where else could one find such an entertaining spectacle?

People squirmed in their seats, itching to run out and spread the news.

“Why did you come here?”

Olivia, who had become embarrassed, quietly glared.

“I thought it wouldn’t be bad for a first date. Do you dislike it?”

“Yes.”

Edgar burst into laughter at the short and clear answer.

He barely suppressed the urge to kiss those pretty glaring eyes.

He didn’t particularly mind doing it, but she would surely dislike it. So he decided to hold back. Because he didn’t want to be hated.

Edgar simply smiled as he looked at his woman.

Was he a man who smiled like that?

The man’s smiling eyes curved charmingly.

Flames shot up in Anblyn’s eyes.

At that moment, bang! A powerful hitting sound echoed across the court.

At the same time, the spectators held their breath.

Edgar turned his head away from Olivia. His gaze collided with Anblyn’s.

As if aimed at Edgar, the ball that had been flying quickly towards him fell hopelessly behind the baseline.

But it was a clear warning.

Don’t look at that woman with those eyes.

Edgar smirked. His gaze returned to Olivia.

Anblyn began to waver.

“Love, fifteen.”

Anblyn had lost a point.

“Stop looking. Please.”

Olivia whispered softly.

“Would you not mind if I looked at other women?”

“……”

Edgar pulled up one corner of his mouth crookedly.

An eye for an eye.

A tooth for a tooth.

Edgar laughed silently.

That day, the princess played her worst match since she started tennis, but there was no upset.

The winner would be Anblyn anyway.

It was an unchanging truth, like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

Evangeline Seymour peered into the transparent liquid contained in a bottle the length of her ring finger.

The bottle, transmitting the gaslight, took on a crimson hue.

The end justifies the means.

This was the spirit of the Seymour family, who had risen from mere merchants to tycoons.

Evangeline, who had been repeatedly defeated by Sarah Pavlova, had to admit that she could never beat Olivia Blanchet on skill alone.

As regrettable as it was.

“Is this it?”

“Yes, miss.”

The maid placed a water bottle purchased from Halo Department Store on the table.

It was the same product used by Olivia Blanchet.

Evangeline stood up and walked click-clack to the dressing table.

Opening the bottom drawer, she took out a black velvet pouch, returned to the maid, and handed over the pouch containing a gold bar.

“If you succeed tomorrow, I’ll give you this much more.”

The maid accepted it with a bow, not hiding her greedy expression.

“You can trust me, miss.”

The maid’s smile was eerie.

The plan was to spike the drinking water Olivia would consume.

It was the most powerful sedative, a somewhat dangerous drug used in large doses to subdue patients in mental hospitals.

Accompanied by sudden drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, fluctuating blood pressure, dizziness.

She wouldn’t die, but it would be a mess of a match that would make her wish she were dead.

“You may go.”

“Thank you, miss.”

After the maid left the bedroom with a deep bow, Evangeline buried herself in the cozy bed and giggled.

It was because she was already starting to get excited.

It was a chance to overcome a wall that had been so solid and insurmountable.

To become a member of the royals, along with the most noble princess in Brit.

Ah! How ecstatic!

That night, Evangeline fell asleep dreaming sweet dreams.

It was near dawn. Johan, who got off the carriage, entered Londos Palace.

His long legs stepped with impeccable posture and discipline, unlike someone who had taken the train all night from Remond Station.

Johan, whose rather impulsive decision to go to Ritten had been thwarted and who had been dragged here, was in a very bad mood right now.

Meanwhile, the Queen’s office was just as tense.

“I’ve been waiting.”

The Queen said to Johan Leopold, who was approaching. Johan, who had paid his respects properly, sat down.

Queen Katrina was staring straight ahead with a silent gaze.

The end of her neat eyebrow under her blonde hair, pulled back without a single strand out of place, twitched slightly.

The sunken eyes overnight looked ominous.

“What’s the matter, Your Majesty?”

Katrina’s lips, painted red, trembled. Slowly closing and opening her eyes, she spoke gravely.

“…Chris. …had a riding accident.”

The knuckles on the back of her naturally intertwined hands protruded.

“…He’s still unconscious.”

Although the crown prince was known as a prodigal, he was Katrina’s most painful finger and beloved child.

Johan silently ran his hand over his sharp eyes.

An extreme sense of fatigue rushed in all at once.

“We should call in Mikhail.”

“He would have been contacted.”

Johan nodded briefly.

“From today, I’ll need you to work hard.”

“Your Majesty.”

Johan’s voice resonated heavily as he gazed at the suddenly terribly emaciated Queen.

“I believe I’ve done my duty as a royal as much as I could.”

Katrina looked across at her nephew.