“Maybe it’s because Prince Sinclair’s plans didn’t work out as he intended, so he’s feeling impatient.”

“Well, he probably hoped I would kill him because of that incident. Even though I only have 6 months left to live, he can’t ignore my existence.”

Recalling how the Crown Prince had sent people several times to try to kill Sinclair while bringing him back to the palace, Ruan smiled and asked:

“What about Prince Sinclair?”

“He is currently confined in the prince’s palace. Even though he fell into a trap, he’s still a prince, not just a common soldier. Since he attempted to rape a woman and she died, it’s expected that he will be exiled to a remote area.”

“His Majesty the Emperor will have one less worry. So what about the young lady from the viscounty?”

“According to our informants, she went to the duke’s residence.”

“The duke’s residence. I’m curious. I wonder what decision my wife will make…”

As Ruan thought of Mercian, he recalled how she had been squirming in his arms yesterday, dreaming of eating, and a smile unconsciously spread across his face.

What’s this? Why is that guy suddenly smiling like that? It’s scary…

Could it be that he’s thinking of killing her if the duchess betrays him by following her sister’s words?

“Let me know if the young lady from the viscounty leaves the duke’s residence.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Oh, and Cassel, I’m curious about something. If someone with insomnia could sleep deeply and soundly without sleeping pills, what do you think might be the reason?”

“Well, insomnia is usually one of those conditions that’s hard to cure. I’ve heard that one of the causes of insomnia can be psychological factors, so perhaps something psychologically stabilizing is allowing for better sleep? But why do you ask suddenly? Don’t tell me you didn’t take your sleeping pills last night, Your Grace?”

“Psychological factors, huh. So did I fall asleep next to my wife because I felt psychologically stable? Or was it because of that soft, squishy feeling?”

Ruan muttered, recalling Mercian’s soft flesh that had clung tightly to his body.

Come to think of it, I did keep feeling the urge to touch her…

I wanted to swallow up that munching mouth, and how adorable she looked eating food in the morning.

“Your Grace? Are you listening to me? Your Grace?”

“Yes, Cassel. Then report back to me later!”

Seeing Ruan give an answer completely unrelated to his question, as if he hadn’t been listening at all, Cassel gave up and bowed his head before leaving the room.

So the Crown Prince has already approached the young lady from the viscounty.

Ruan stood up and walked to the window, looking outside.

The warm sunlight streaming through the window felt like his own heart when looking at Mercian.

Strangely, I miss my wife.

I wonder if she’s meeting with her sister right now?

How will she react when she hears that I’m preparing to stage a rebellion?

Will she look for evidence of rebellion for her sister’s sake, for the family’s sake?

Or… will she reject the proposal for my sake?

That won’t happen, right?

Ruan smiled unconsciously as he recalled Mercian searching through the study with her round body, trying to find something at Lucienne’s request.

Should I plant some evidence so my wife doesn’t work in vain?

I may be fine with dying, but if I die without getting rid of the trash, it could cause problems for my wife later.

I should at least guarantee her minimum safety, right?

No, if that bastard were to harbor any ill intentions towards my wife…

Ruan felt an inexplicable irritation just imagining it.

[This is the timeline separator]

Daemond Arponbak.

Known as the little devil of the imperial palace, he was a violent, arrogant, and selfish crown prince.

Born to Emperor Biseluke and Antwart through a political marriage like all imperial marriages, he naturally ascended to the position of crown prince.

Having grown up under the overprotection of Empress Antwart since childhood, he became arrogant and selfish.

Biseluke, who had simply thought he was ill-mannered and would improve with age, became disappointed as Daemond became increasingly difficult to control, and began to consider Harmen, the son of Empress Marianne, as the crown prince.

Though usually quite dull, Daemond noticed that Biseluke was thinking of Harmen as crown prince instead of himself.

After that, Daemond tried to kill Harmen whenever he had the chance, so Biseluke entrusted Harmen to Ruan.

Although Ruan didn’t particularly want to get involved in the imperial power struggle, he accepted the emperor’s request thinking that Harmen would be better than putting Daemond on the throne.

He had accepted with a light heart, thinking that since he was going to die in 6 months anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to clean up one piece of trash before dying.

Yes, I absolutely cannot tolerate that bastard coveting my wife!

Ruan resolved to eliminate Daemond before he died.

[This is the timeline separator]

Beanomann Viscounty.

BANG!!

“Lucy? What on earth is the matter?”

“That stupid wench!!”

Penelope looked at Lucienne, who was throwing things around her room in uncontrollable anger, with a bewildered expression.

“Aaargh!!!”

“Lucy!”

“Mother, how could you have given birth to such an ignorant, unreasonable child?”

“Lucy, did you go to meet Mer?”

“Really, I was just saying it for her own good…”

“Lucy, please calm down. You already have gastritis and a weak heart, you shouldn’t get so worked up. First, take a deep breath and sit on the bed.”

Lucienne sat on the bed, led by Penelope’s hand trying to soothe her.

“Haa. Haa… Whew.”

“There, are you feeling a bit calmer now?”

“I’m sorry, Mother. *Sob* I’m just so upset because of Mer.”

As Lucienne began to cry pitifully as if Mercian had done something terrible to her, Penelope gently stroked her back and asked:

“There, there Lucy. Don’t be so upset. What did Mer say to make my sweet girl so angry? She didn’t look down on you just because she became a duchess, did she?”

“That’s not it…”

[This is the timeline separator]

Canoloup Duchy.

“What? Who’s doing what?”

Mercian asked in disbelief at Lucienne’s words.

“I’m saying that Duke Ruan Canoloup, your husband, is planning to stage a rebellion.”

Ruan is doing what?

You’re really saying the most ridiculous things. A man with only 6 months left to live is staging a rebellion to do what exactly?

You want me to believe that now?

Mercian felt irritation rising as she watched Lucienne speaking in a small voice, looking around nervously.

Ah. I was just about to finish making the butternut squash soup, and now I have to listen to this nonsense here?

“Is that so? Thank you so much, sister. For coming to tell me such an important secret.”

“Yes, you should be very grateful. I stopped the Crown Prince from ruining your wedding yesterday, you know.”

“You did? How? Did you give him some of the gold coins from the dowry?”

“What are you talking about? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t know since you’re not me, but a woman of my beauty doesn’t need to prepare anything special.”

I don’t want to ask why, because I know what you’re going to say, Lucy, even without asking. But if I don’t ask, I’ll be the one who suffers, right?

Mercian asked, seeing Lucienne looking at her as if waiting for her to ask the reason:

“Why?”

“Well, obviously any man would find it hard to just pass by when they see my beauty. Yesterday, I bowed my head and politely asked His Highness the Crown Prince, who was about to ruin the wedding right then. I asked him not to ruin my sister’s wedding. Even though you don’t like me very much, you are my only sister to me.”

As Lucienne spoke as if Ruan and Mercian’s wedding had been possible because of her, Mercian fell into thought.

You want me to believe that now? That a crown prince would let go of a potential rebel just because of the beauty of a woman he’s seeing for the first time, no matter how stunning?

It’s obvious. She must have been told to seduce me well and find out information about the duke’s household.

Does she think I don’t know that all of this is not because of me, but because she wants to become the crown princess?

If I were still living at the viscount’s house, I might have listened to my sister’s words. But things are different now.

I’m going to live well here for 6 months, and after that, I’ll go live alone in the countryside.

Even if Ruan really is planning a rebellion, I’m not interested.

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to get involved in this fight.

Having finished her thoughts, Mercian put on an expression of being extremely grateful for Lucienne’s consideration and said:

“My goodness, so I was able to finish my wedding safely yesterday all thanks to your outstanding beauty, sister. I’m really, really grateful. I don’t have anything to give you… Oh! That’s right! The three dresses I bought at the dress shop a few days ago, I’ll send those to the viscount’s house. Even I think those dresses would suit you better than me, sister. Well then, take care and see you next time, or rather, let’s not see each other if we can help it.”

Dresses? Do you think I came here for some measly dresses?

You should follow my words and find evidence of your husband’s rebellion and bring it to me.

Lucienne grabbed Mercian’s wrist as she stood up and said urgently:

“Mer, aren’t you worried? Your husband is planning treason! If this gets out, you and your husband will be dead, you know? And our family too…”

“Oh, I’m worried. That’s why I’m going to tell Ruan.”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re going to tell him to kill the Crown Prince?”

“Oh my? How did you know? He only has 6 months left, so he should rule the empire for at least two months before dying, right? So I should tell him not to think about rebelling in 6 months, but to rebel tomorrow instead. If he succeeds, I’ll become an empress, not just a duchess. Well, since you contributed to this rebellion, I’ll ask Ruan to give you a reward by marrying you to a good man when he becomes emperor. So, sister, just go back and wait for Ruan to succeed in his rebellion. When he succeeds and becomes emperor, I’ll contact you right away. Now, I’m really busy, so I have to go. Sorry, but I don’t think I can see you out. You know the way out of the duke’s residence, right?”

Mercian stood up as if she had no more to hear, greeted Lucienne, and left the reception room.

Angry at Mercian’s dismissive words, Lucienne waited for a while longer in the reception room, but Mercian did not return.

.

.

.

“That stupid wench!”

Lucienne, who had finally returned without even being able to say a word about monitoring the duke, muttered, unable to contain her anger.

Penelope felt worried as she listened to Lucienne’s words.

“What if His Highness the Crown Prince finds out that you couldn’t get anything from Mer? Won’t he leave us alone?”

“Mother, don’t worry. His Highness is already head over heels for me, so you don’t need to worry about that. But I’m supposed to meet him tomorrow, so I’ll explain it well.”

“What? You’re meeting tomorrow? Oh my goodness. Seeing how quickly he’s calling for you, maybe you really will become the crown princess.”

“Of course, Mother. Just trust me.”

Just you wait, Mer. How dare you disrespect me.

I’ll definitely find evidence of the duke’s rebellion and make sure neither you nor the duke gets away with this.

Lucienne hugged Penelope tightly and made a vow to herself.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Where’s my wife?”

As Ruan entered the duke’s residence and asked Edward, Edward tilted his head and replied:

“She said she was going to the garden earlier.”

“The garden? I see.”

When Ruan hurried into the garden, Mercian was nowhere to be seen in the spacious garden.

“Did she go back to her room?”

Ruan knocked on the door of Mercian’s room, but there was no answer, so he opened the door and entered, only to find the room empty.

What’s going on? Did something happen?

Or is she in the study looking for evidence of my rebellion?

Ruan went to the study, carefully opened the door, and thoroughly searched the study, but Mercian was nowhere to be seen.

Then could she be in the kitchen?

Ruan quickly made his way down to the kitchen, just in case.

“Chef, have you seen my wife?”

“If you mean the madam, she took a basket of apple pie I made earlier.”

“Apple pie? I see.”

Maybe she’s in the garden and I just didn’t see her. I should look from above.

Thinking that he could see the entire garden at a glance if he opened the window in his room, Ruan left the kitchen and hurriedly returned to his room to open the window.

As soon as Ruan opened the window, he made eye contact with Mercian, who was sitting on a large tree branch visible right away, leaning back with a blissfully happy expression while eating pie.