“Your Highness, have you already returned?”

Ian, entering the study, paused, his gaze lowering. Nathan, whom he naturally assumed would be empty, was there.

“You’ve been here all along?”

“I think I need to work overtime today. There’s a lot of work.”

Ian, as if tired, approached Nathan, who was pressing his tired eyes.

“Nathan, make sure to discard any drinks or water you bring to me for a while.”

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“You, too, refrain from coming to the palace and drinking something secretly in the bathroom.”

“Why would you say such a thing all of a sudden? Is someone trying to harm you, Your Highness?”

“Yes, that’s why listen to me for now. Don’t drink any liquid. Whether it’s tea, milk, juice, or water, secretly dispose of it in the bathroom, and don’t even think about bringing drinks to the palace for a while.”

“Why are you suddenly saying this? Could it be that someone is trying to harm you, Your Highness?”

“Yes, so just follow my instructions. Never drink any liquid. If someone offers you a drink, accept it, but discreetly dispose of it.”

“I understand. I will handle it well.”

Nathan responded in a resolute tone. Since the rumor spread that Calisto would appoint Ian as the Crown Prince, Nathan had been showing a determined attitude, as if he were the future Crown Prince’s aide.

“By the way, did you have a good time at the banquet?”

Ian, taking off his outer garment, smirked involuntarily. Nathan’s eyes, scrutinizing the rising corners of his mouth, narrowed.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“What?”

“You were speaking so menacingly a moment ago, but why are you suddenly laughing like that? In fact, it’s scarier this way.”

Ian, thinking of the kiss with Rosabella, loosened his tie in a rough manner. Kieran, who had been closely examining the high-soaring corners of Ian’s mouth, squinted.

“What’s going on?”

“Just a moment ago, you were speaking so menacingly, but why are you suddenly laughing like that? It’s scarier this way.”

Thinking about the kiss with Rosabella, Ian unraveled his tie roughly. A kiss, it seemed, was not just an act of touching lips.

‘How can I feel this sensation?’

The soft and warm feeling aside, being embraced by Rosabella in his arms was so tender and lovely that it was unbearable.

Even though they only shared breath, it felt like their hearts had gotten even closer.

“I’ve already prepared my heart.”

Not only did he offer his heart, but also the embrace and the kiss, all of them were Rosabella’s first. She was his first and irreplaceable lover.

“What preparation are you talking about?”

All his firsts from now on belonged to her. So, of course, his first partner to stand on the formal stage would naturally be hers.

“I will introduce Rose during the Crown Prince appointment ceremony.”

“Surely I said the glass was completely empty, didn’t I?”

“Yes. I didn’t see him drink, but the tea cup was definitely empty.”

Sophia replied with a subdued voice. She was Evelyn’s longtime maid and a loyal servant. A few days ago, the person who put poison in the tea cup for the lady of the Poinaris family was Sophia.

‘I trusted Sophia, so why is there no significant reaction from Ian?’
The lady of the Poinaris family lost her life in just one day. Since Ian was instructed to bring him tea with medicine two days ago, he should have felt some abnormality in his body by now.

However, there were no stories circulating about Ian being bedridden or suffering.

“I think I should drop by myself.”

“Is Your Majesty going to visit in person?”

As Evelyn got up, Sophia hurriedly followed her. Dylan had said it would take at least a week, so she had to wait a few more days, but an impatient feeling kept rising.

Passing through the empty dining room, Evelyn headed straight to Ian’s study. She approached the door, guarded by a servant, and he quickly knocked on the door and opened it.

“Your Majesty.”

“Crown Prince, you didn’t go to the Knights today, did you?”

Despite the sudden visit, Ian’s expression seemed calm. Evelyn, with a gentle smile, sat on the sofa.

“Yes, but why did you come all the way here?”

“Empress, as Her Majesty the Empress has no intention of changing her mind about appointing the Crown Prince, there must be some countermeasure. I came to inquire about the Crown Prince’s well-being.”

Ian, sitting opposite her, chuckled briefly.

“It seems there are two suns in the empire.”

“Two suns?”

“One refers to Her Majesty the Empress, and the other is said to be Her Majesty the Empress, who has elevated the status of the Riley family… Even if I become the Crown Prince, will I be able to reach the lofty sun?”

‘Surely, he has changed. It’s not the same old Ian.’

Evelyn subtly bit the inside of her lips. Ian had strangely changed since the day he lay down all day after having been unwell for a day.

The look he sent her a moment ago, which seemed like a blunt knife, was so threatening that it made her fingertips twitch.

“Lately, I feel unusually energetic. Perhaps it’s all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s care.”