Natasha hurriedly closed the door of the study. Having wasted time, there was no chance to hide. Now there was nowhere to retreat.

If she hid clumsily and was discovered, it would arouse even more suspicion.

She boldly stepped forward in front of the open door without hiding. Natasha calmly greeted the man who entered after her.

Kyle, who had been grumbling as if annoyed by the nagging aide, hardened his expression fiercely as he stepped into the bedroom. It was because he spotted the woman, Natasha Asthart, at the end of his gaze.

The man frowned prematurely, seeming confused as to whether he might be seeing an illusion due to being drunk.

It was only after some time had passed that Kyle realized the woman standing before him was real, not an illusion. Belatedly understanding the situation, he laughed loudly with a crumpled expression.

“You were making a fuss about being sick, but you had an ulterior motive?”

It seemed the emperor had also heard the news that the Duchess Asthart was ill.

The man approached Natasha closely and immediately circled around her, throwing out questions. His attitude revealed interest rather than surprise.

“This place is known to only a select few, how did you find it and sneak in like a rat?”

“Well, given that the Emperor and Duke Asthart were once close, wouldn’t it be easy to obtain information about Your Majesty’s secret bedroom?”

“Oh really? I don’t recall giving the location of my bedroom to someone who might cut my throat.”

“Even if Your Majesty never mentioned it, that persistent man would surely have found clues.”

She calmly countered the pointed question.

Natasha, having evaded the question, stared blankly at the man opposite her as if anticipating the end of the conversation. Kyle Letius’ figure was captured in her eyes that were fiercely open, refusing to close.

Kyle saw his reflection wavering in those red eyes and let out a mirthless laugh as if astounded. Those dog-like eyes reminded him of someone, making him increasingly uncomfortable.

Kyle, whose suspicion towards the woman had not completely faded, continued his interrogation.

“The door would have been locked, are you claiming Sieghart opened that for you too?”

“Well, are you, the great Emperor, asserting that it’s proper for the Imperial security to be breached by just one man?”

“…What?”

“The door was open. When I pulled the handle, it opened easily.”

Natasha answered while furtively glancing at her own hand. That man would never imagine that the smoke from her hand had opened the door imbued with divine power.

And as expected, Kyle brushed it off as insignificant.

Or perhaps such information was actually unnecessary. After all, the man’s interest was in the shameless dog who had cut her leash and run away, Natasha Asthart.

“Alright, let’s put all that aside. It’s been a long time since we’ve met, and the introduction is getting too long.”

Kyle, who had been ruffling Natasha’s hair, tilted one eyebrow.

“What business brings the lady to me?”

As if very curious about the reason the woman had come to see Kyle Letius directly.

Of course, there was no such business.

‘…But.’

Kyle’s gaze seemed to linger briefly on the study.

‘If he tries to check that place…’

It must be a coincidence. The door to the study is on the side where Natasha is standing. He shouldn’t suddenly check over there.

But, if that man were to check that place even by chance…

Natasha deliberately mentioned Cayena’s matter, trying to buy time and avoid Kyle’s suspicion.

“I saw that Cayena Ten is staying here.”

“Are you talking about that wench again?”

He frowned as if annoyed. He also looked disappointed, as if there was a different story he wanted to hear.

“I heard that Cayena Ten is staying in the Imperial Palace. It doesn’t seem to be the same alliance relationship as before, what kind of relationship is it? Don’t tell me, are you still threatening her?”

“That’s none of your business, is it? You’re being too nosy. Ah, could it be that you still love that wench?”

“…”

“Never mind. I should tell you since you’re curious. You’ll probably be grateful that I punished your enemy for you.”

Kyle, speaking sarcastically, seemed certain that the words to follow would cause Natasha pain.

Assuming that the truth would carve into the woman’s heart like before, Kyle headed towards the couch, swaying as if dancing.

Sitting on the couch, he crossed his legs arrogantly. Excited at the thought of reciting his accomplishments, he began to speak proudly as if telling a heroic tale.

“That wench kept trying to climb up. Despite the clear hierarchical relationship, she treated me like her colleague. When she made a fuss about failing the operation, I beat her brother as an example.”

“…What did you say?”

“And then I sent that bastard’s body to the wench. Only then did she know her place.”

The story was that he had killed one of Cayena’s two younger siblings, the brother. And then sent part of the corpse to the woman.

While Natasha kept silent as if in disbelief, the man continued to talk without stopping.

Kyle says he then threatened to kill Cayena’s family, and succeeded in extracting an apology filled with her screams.

But Kyle didn’t stop there and framed Cayena’s family members with crimes, causing them to be expelled from their hometown.

“I sent a man to the wench who had no place to go because she had no money saved up. A savior who would willingly lend a huge sum that even banks wouldn’t lend. How much of a benefactor must he have seemed to a wench who was rejected even by banks for lack of collateral?”

Kyle lit the pipe that was sprawled on the couch and continued speaking.

“As our clever lady might have guessed, that guy was also a loan shark. Haha, that woman won’t be able to pay back even the interest in her lifetime, but she ignorantly signed the contract and took the money!”

He says that Cayena, who later realized she had fallen into a trap, came to the emperor and begged until her hands were worn.

There, Kyle toyed with the woman.

He said he frightened the woman by saying that her younger sibling and future children would have to work to the bone to repay that money. That he would ensure three generations couldn’t escape the pit of poverty, the emperor proudly added this time as well.

“I told that woman who asked what I needed that was tormenting her. I said I needed an interesting toy, an obedient dog.”

“…”

“Female dogs lose consciousness after being hit a few times so it’s a bit boring, but still quite usable. The face is also passable enough to use as a plaything.”

Afterwards, the emperor described in detail how atrociously he had treated Cayena. Why the woman had to wear gloves on both hands, and why her pronunciation had become slurred.

Unable to bear it, Natasha retched repeatedly. It felt like her ears were festering from hearing such a vile story.

She finally understood why Cayena, who had despised her so terribly, tried to turn a blind eye to her affairs and join hands.

“…You devilish man.”

“What?”

“No, you’re the devil. A human couldn’t commit such acts. Rejoicing in others’ pain, using others’ misfortunes as nourishment for your own happiness…!”

Huh, the man who let out a short breath threw the pipe. Kyle, who had risen from his seat, soon circled around Natasha and began to refute.

“You always belittle and dislike me without knowing your place. A devil? Why am I?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? That’s because you oppressed the people around you…”

“You criticize and hate me for just such reasons? What a saint you are.”

Kyle, who had been muttering, finally gripped the woman’s shoulder tightly. The grip was so strong that the pain choked her breath to the point where she couldn’t even scream. It felt as if her collarbone had been crushed into bone powder.

“If harming innocent people is a sin, then your family is no different! And you, who share blood with those family members, are no different!”

Sudden words burst from the other’s mouth.

The subject he mentioned was none other than the Charliee royal family that Kyle Letius himself had massacred.

Is he trying to mock the deceased? Just as Natasha, unable to easily grasp the point, was about to argue, the strength of the hand pressing down on her intensified.

“I had hoped you would come with a different topic this time. That wench’s story is too stale and boring.”

“…Ugh!”

“You still seem to be unaware of ‘that’ story. That bastard Sieghart is quite thorough. Is he acting out of character and loving you? When will he go berserk again, claiming revenge?”

He then pushed Natasha hard.

The woman who collapsed helplessly raised her head while sitting. Her vision was forcibly narrowed due to her disheveled hair.

What dominated Natasha’s view was the chandelier. Kyle Letius’ dirty face, spewing out words while bulging veins, was obscured by the brilliantly shining crystal.

However, the sense of hearing that awakened in place of the limited vision was a different story.

“The lovebirds of the Asthart family? Don’t make me laugh. At best it’s a hypocritical relationship like that of a crocodile and a plover bird!”

A fishy laugh was heard.

“Selfish Natasha Asthart.”

Next came the man’s calling.

“You only think Sieghart is your enemy?”

‘How on earth can you live together with Sieghart, smiling? How shameless!’

“Don’t make me laugh, your family was the origin after all.”

‘Even though you both have committed sins, you act as if you’re the only victim.’

At some point, Ash Callent’s voice overlapped with Kyle Letius’.

“Shall I tell you that bastard’s real name, Natasha?”

The man who had crouched down to meet her eye level finally grabbed Natasha’s hair.

“Shall I tell you the true identity hidden behind Sieghart Asthart, who claims to love you, that he’s been hiding his whole life?”

‘Natasha, just as you can’t explain everything to me, I too cannot confess everything to you.’

“Enoch Callent.”

‘So just this once, pretend you didn’t hear anything.’

“That group executed by the Charliee royal family several decades ago. Sieghart Asthart is the only surviving bloodline from there.”