“Were you eavesdropping on our conversation before revealing yourself? Or did you happen to encounter us at an incredible timing while looking for the princess?”

“Would you believe me if I said I accidentally intruded at an opportune moment while searching for Lady Orlean who suddenly disappeared?”

Violet nodded with a slight smile. She fanned herself, trying to cool her slightly reddened face.

“Of course. I believe your words, Your Highness Cheston. Though the timing was too good to be coincidental, I don’t intend to take back what I said. In fact, I’m sure everyone thinks the same?”

“Then it’s my fault. I haven’t shown enough affection, causing the princess’s heart to turn away. I should try harder, shouldn’t I?”

Whitney awkwardly smiled as Cheston kissed the back of her hand. To deceive Violet’s eyes, she had to participate in his act as well. Violet wouldn’t give up, and whatever she did after she left was a matter between the two of them.

“I think it’s because I’m shy and clumsy. From now on, I’ll express myself without reserve. I don’t want to cause any unnecessary suspicion and trouble for Your Highness.”

“Prince Cheston. How much did you hear?”

She seemed to have regained her senses and now watched Cheston’s reaction. It appeared she had realized how irrational her words had been, despite speaking so confidently earlier.

Whitney had to listen to their conversation while practically being held in his arms. Even when she tried to gently push him away, his firm arms didn’t budge. They only tightened to prevent her from escaping.

Cheston glanced down at Whitney slightly, then smiled and answered Violet.

“Ah. I overheard what the princess said, but I wasn’t particularly offended, so you don’t need to worry about it. Or would you prefer me to remember?”

“…No. I hope there’s no misunderstanding about my words. I just wanted to be of help to Your Highness. I could even become a shield for Prince Karl.”

She endlessly tried to appeal to him.

“Do you really think so? If you can’t win my elder brother’s heart, you’ll be worth less than a cheap wooden shield. Above all, if someone were to hear about the feelings you harbor, it could become quite an interesting piece of gossip not only for the Kingdom of Reowen but also for the Kingdom of Petonthra.”

A princess enjoying capturing the hearts of two brothers.

It was just the kind of material perfect for gossip. Knowing this, Violet’s lips trembled. She must be thinking her feelings were trampled on and insulted.

Violet clenched her fists. Anger rippled in her eyes as she glared at him. He continued speaking as if taunting her.

“I think it would be best if we withdraw now, as further conversation won’t do either of us any good. I need to continue what I was doing. The festival is also a time when love between men and women intensifies.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Don’t forget that I too have eyes that see and ears that hear, Princess Violet.”

“You’ll regret what happened today. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.”

There was no affection in her subdued eyes.

“Ah, one more thing. The Kingdom of Reowen has many rats, so stories tend to spread quickly. Her Majesty the Queen is particularly interested in me, so she doesn’t spare her affection.”

Her eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. It was only a matter of time before this entire situation would be relayed to the Queen.

“What are you doing? Hurry and run away. That is, if you don’t want to be expelled back to your country without gaining anything.”

At his words, Violet turned and walked away somewhere.

Whitney was then led by Cheston out of the corridor. She walked out looking straight ahead.

“What happened?”

“I saw as I was coming in after finishing training.”

“…My goodness. So you did eavesdrop on the conversation. Did you keep listening gloomily before stepping out?”

“I thought about just passing by, but if I did, it seemed like I’d become the princess’s plaything. Since someone is only thinking about leaving this place.”

She asked, looking at Cheston’s wet hair. In fact, she also changed the subject to divert the conversation. It was out of a desire not to continue the uncomfortable discussion.

As she gently widened the distance between them, the hand around her waist fell away. She finally breathed easily.

“How long did you train?”

“There was someone acting up, so I exhausted myself trying to calm them down. You must have caught my smell because of me.”

She shook her head. In fact, she didn’t find his sweat smell unpleasant. If anything, that was more of a problem, but Whitney tried to keep her distance because his body scent carried by the wind was even stronger.

“Then why are you trying to keep your distance?”

“That’s… because it’s too close.”

It was too close in many ways. Whitney hurriedly opened another topic to prevent the conversation from flowing in a different direction.

“I think I’ll have to visit the duke’s residence soon. There’s a family meeting.”

“If you need company, I can accompany you. My presence might be helpful. I’m also worried because it’s dangerous outside the palace.”

“Nothing will happen. My aunt will also be attending.”

“Are you going to drive that woman out?”

“Yes, we can finally put everything back in its place.”

Cheston nodded. Whitney carefully continued.

“If I become the head of the family, then this contract will end too. Still, please don’t forget that I and the Rubeness family are on Your Highness’s side.”

“…Let’s talk about that when the time comes.”

He escorted Whitney to her room and immediately disappeared. However, her gaze wouldn’t leave the closed door due to his lingering scent on the tip of her nose.

Cheston came out after washing and shook his hair. Sometimes when he saw her wavering gaze, he felt hopeful, but although she seemed to have a lot to say, he didn’t have the confidence to listen to her story till the end.

So he avoided it. What would Whitney do if he didn’t agree to break off the engagement? She valued the contract very highly. The penalty amounting to half would be important, but she thought mutual trust was crucial.

‘Trust…’

Was there no trust as fiancées? In fact, the trust in their alliance relationship seemed solid. He reflected on his actions, but he hadn’t done anything to cause her misunderstanding.

That point made him even more frustrated.

He pondered how he could shake her heart a little, but unless he pushed himself into a fire pit, she would remain steadfast.

In fact, he knew that he could create an opportunity to start over with Whitney only after ending the contract he had made with her. Knowing this, a sense of regret engulfed him. After all, it was only him who became greedy for a relationship that was predetermined from the beginning.

He hadn’t expected her to become the head of the family so quickly. Judging from the movements of the Rubeness family after returning to the capital, they seemed to have completely sided with the king.

While sponsoring the people in their name, they never failed to mention the king’s name, so they were making good on their gratitude for being allowed to enter the capital. His father had also arranged a seat in the council for Margrave Rubeness. Thanks to this, rumors were circulating that the Queen’s close associates were on edge.

Rumors that the flow of power was changing quickly spread to the ears of the upper nobility, and they seemed busy weighing their options.

‘Despite not getting any answer, they’re persistent, so something must be urgent.’

There must be a desperate reason for them to need to be on his side. Either they’ve fallen out of the Queen’s favor or they’re planning to demand something from the King through their connection with him.

“Your Highness. Why are you reading letters you won’t answer anyway?”

“It’s interesting. It’s pitiful to see them trying to side with me now, and their struggle doesn’t feel entirely unrelatable.”

“…Should I throw away the letters from now on?”

“There’s no need for that. It’s fine to keep watching how long they’ll keep this up. It might not be bad to know about them in case we need some of them later.”

Aaron nodded and withdrew. Cheston finished reading the letter and threw it into the fireplace.

The one benefiting from their fight was none other than Cheston. There were families secretly approaching him, but he didn’t respond. The moment he responded to their letters, all his actions would be interpreted differently. For now, it would appear that he was simply building up his strength to protect himself from the Queen’s tyranny, but if he started creating more factions from here, it would look like he had jumped into the succession battle.

He had no desire for power. It didn’t matter to him what happened to this country. Either way, whether the Kingdom of Reowen prospered or fell, his situation would remain the same. Perhaps he would gain more freedom if it fell?

For Cheston, power was merely a means to survive. He had no loyalty to the kingdom, so if it were to fall, he could apply for asylum in another country and live as a knight. Someone might say he says such things because he was born in the palace and has lived a wealthy life.

If you repeatedly cross the threshold of death against your will, caught between those trying to kill you and those trying to save you from death, your thoughts would change. Perhaps it’s fortunate enough just not to go mad.

If anyone envied living in this hellish mire, he was willing to switch places anytime. However, survival would depend on that person.

The Reowen royal family bestowed kindness upon its people. As always, what is shown and what is real are different. Cheston was simply disgusted by such hypocrisy.

He kept Whitney by his side to protect her, but now he had to send her away to protect her. Before Karl’s interest turned more towards her. Before the Queen strangled her, Cheston gave up for the first time what he had coveted.

At least the fact that he could see her from afar remained unchanged, so it was better to watch from a distance rather than becoming a chain that would strangle her neck.