“I don’t think I’ll be able to watch tomorrow’s game due to an urgent matter. I’ll probably be back the day after.”

It was a low, soft voice.

“Ah… I see.”

Though her excited feelings subsided a bit, Olivia smiled as she replied, not wanting Edgar to worry.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Pardon?”

Olivia’s gaze, which had been directed at the balcony floor to hide her disappointment, suddenly brightened as she looked back at Edgar.

“I was expecting a more upset reaction.”

Edgar said mischievously, his lips curling up slightly.

“But you said it was important.”

“If you tell me not to go.”

Edgar wrapped his arm around Olivia’s slender waist and pulled her close.

“I could consider it.”

“D-Don’t do this.”

Startled by the natural closeness in broad daylight, Olivia pushed Edgar away, conscious of the glass windows.

Edgar let out a soft chuckle.

The transparent noon sunlight made Olivia’s bright red cheeks stand out even more.

A few strands of hair fell along her snow-white nape.

“You tied your hair up today.”

Edgar whispered in her ear, his gaze lingering on her alluring neckline.

As he lowered his head, his lips touched her smooth neck. Olivia trembled as if electrified.

“Please, Edgar. We shouldn’t do this here.”

“Then. Where would be acceptable?”

Edgar asked playfully with a smile. Olivia continued to squirm in his arms.

“If you keep moving like that, things might get difficult. Not that I mind.”

Edgar said, biting his lower lip.

His languid voice and the charming smile on his face looked somewhat sensual.

It wasn’t an expression suited for the bright midday sun.

Realizing the meaning, Olivia froze stiff as a log.

Though Olivia looking up at him with wide, unblinking eyes was adorably lovable, he released her at that point.

Honestly, he was the one who would be in trouble.

Olivia placed both hands on her chest and let out a quiet sigh of relief. Her whole body felt hot, as if feverish.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Edgar, who had returned to being a proper gentleman, said kindly.

Olivia just nodded, unable to meet his eyes.

“Do well in the game.”

Edgar cupped Olivia’s face gently and pressed his lips to her round forehead.

Startled, Olivia’s eyes flew open.

“Don’t smile too much at Russell Junior.”

Edgar grinned as he pulled away.

“You’ll grant my request, won’t you?”

He lowered his gaze to admire Olivia caught in his embrace.

Her face, flushed red under the bright sunlight, was indescribably beautiful.

This smile directed only at him, these eyes filled solely with him should make him happy. But Edgar felt afraid in equal measure to his joy.

The woman he had wanted was showing unmistakable love for him with her whole body, yet he was afraid it might go wrong.

He was afraid she would leave him if she learned of his wickedness.

Please, let this woman remain ignorant of everything.

So that this radiant smile would continue to be directed at him, Edgar prayed to God for the first time in his life.

Wait, what did I just see?

Elaine and Russell Junior were also frozen, for different reasons.

W-What the hell!

Russell Junior dropped the cigarette from his mouth. His large, deer-like eyes blinked slowly.

Behind the lace curtains draped like a veil of secrecy, the movements of the shadowy, opaque figures were unmistakable.

Don’t they look just like lovers?

No way.

Russell Junior glared at the taller figure before suddenly jumping up with a yelp of “Ah, hot!”

He hopped around like a chicken with its tail on fire, all while spewing curses non-stop.

“He should be focusing on the game as it is. Why is he messing with the player? Isn’t he a real bastard?”

For once, Elaine agreed with Russell Junior’s words.

Because Edgar Lancaster Lancelot was a bad man.

What could Viscount Lancelot be thinking?

The atmosphere between the two was unusual.

Was it truly love? Or just playful curiosity towards an attractive divorcée?

Elaine was filled with regret.

She should have gathered her courage and confessed the truth that day.

The evening before Olivia left for Briar, when they had dinner together.

‘Be careful of Edgar. That man.’

That was all she could say.

‘He’s the princess’s man. You said you’ll keep living here. I mean it’s not good to get involved.’

She had received money from him too. She wasn’t blameless towards Olivia either.

But now. Now that she had made a friend she could call a friend for the first time in her life, what should she do?

The more Elaine grew to like Olivia, the more her fear from guilt grew.

She didn’t want to ruin their friendship.

At the same time, for true friendship, she needed to confess everything to Olivia.

But then she worried about Viscount Lancelot’s retaliation.

Elaine’s worries deepened.

If only it were a feeling that passed lightly like a breeze.

Edgar was a suitable match to enjoy the sweetness and leave without regrets before drowning in the honey pot.

So she prayed that Olivia wouldn’t get hurt.

Elaine could only pray.

Catherine slowly read the letter stamped with the Rondos royal seal.

At some point, her calm eyes began to waver, then soon welled up with tears.

Her hands holding the letter trembled.

“What’s wrong, Catherine?”

Her gaze left the letter and wandered blankly before dropping tears.

Her trembling white hand covered her mouth.

They had just returned to the west palace of Britt after watching Princess Anblyn’s fourth round match.

Irene, who had felt uneasy since seeing the urgent international mail stamped with the Rondos Kingdom seal on a silver tray, called out to Catherine.

“Catherine?”

Catherine, who had been pale and silent, finally burst into tears.

“My brother… My brother…”

Unable to continue, Catherine buried her face in her hands and sobbed, bent over her knees.

Irene picked up the letter that had fallen onto the carpet.

Though the ink was smudged in places, it didn’t hinder understanding the contents.

“…!”

Irene’s hand trembled just the same. The noon light passing through the large windows was so bright it made her dizzy.

「My beloved daughter.」

It was a personal letter from Queen Katrina. Bringing news of her son’s accident.

Irene exhaled a shaky breath after reading the letter to the end.

If God exists, please break this man’s legs if that’s what it takes to keep him by my side.

That desperate, anguished prayer of the past two years had finally been answered.

The epitome of arrogant beauty. Crown Prince Christian had become disabled.

The crown prince’s bedroom was filled with the distinct herbal scent of aromatic candles, despite it being midday with the curtains drawn.

“Get out.”

A small voice growled from the face buried in the cushions.

The once-arrogant voice was now cracked and decayed.

Johan, who had been watching the dust in the thin sunlight streaming through the curtains, pulled up a chair and sat down in a suitable spot.

“The Azent royal family has sent a request to break off the engagement.”

“You cruel bastard.”

Christian muttered, still lying on the bed with his head turned and buried in the cushions.

“Don’t you think to ask after my well-being first?”

“I’m in quite a foul mood myself right now.”

She was a woman he had never once seen play tennis in the three years they had lived together.

Yet surprisingly, Olivia Blanchet had advanced to the finals of the Dumblin Championship.

While he was cleaning up after the crown prince who became paralyzed from the waist down after falling off his horse during a polo match while drunk.

Christian giggled. He sounded like a madman.

Roughly pushing back his golden hair, matted from not washing since the accident, he turned his head.

“I have to live the rest of my life as a cripple, but you’re in a fouler mood than that? Tell me. What is it!!!”

He suddenly screamed, his face turning red, after laughing like a lunatic.

The aromatic candles meant to bring peace of mind seemed to have no effect. They only filled the air.

Moreover, whether the sedatives had worn off, violence was swirling in Christian’s eyes.

He was still unstable, unable to accept his situation.

“Don’t make things difficult for those around you because of what you brought upon yourself. Think about your future.”

“Don’t say it so easily.”

“What changes if I say it with difficulty?”

“You cold-blooded bastard. Get out right now.”

Christian buried his face in the cushions again and muttered curses.

His emotions exploding out of control, he pounded the cushions wildly with his fists while screaming.

Then he stretched out his arm and threw whatever he could grab.

A glass water bottle flew past Johan’s shoulder, barely missing him, and crashed into the corner of the marble table with a sharp sound.

Christian gripped a water glass in his hand.

Johan was starting to get annoyed.

Johan stood up and leaned over.

He grabbed Christian’s chin with his large hand and lifted it.

The crystal glass rolled weakly onto the bed from Christian’s limp hand.

“How… How dare you.”

Christian choked out, gasping for breath, and flailed his arms wildly.

“You dare lay hands on me? I am still the crown prince of this country! The crown prince!!!”

Johan stared intently at Christian. His sharp eyes were bleak.

“If you know that, then act like a crown prince. Stop acting like a child.”

Johan murmured softly as he withdrew his hand.

Christian gasped for breath, rubbing his reddened neck.

Yet his gaze still glared at Johan. Tears were welling up at the corners of his deeply-set eyes.

“Don’t cry in front of me.”

“I’d cry somewhere else if my legs weren’t in this state.”

Christian covered his eyes with his roughened hand and giggled. Tears streamed down his temples.

They were not tears of repentance for his dissolute life, but tears of unbearable anger.