Damonde frowned at Mercian’s words and said.

“Are you daring to defy the Crown Prince’s words now? Surely you’re not ignoring my words trusting your husband. Currently, your husband is plotting something very dangerous.”

Ah. Is he talking about that nonsensical rebellion again?

Could it be that he’s going to ask me to bring evidence of rebellion directly because I refused my sister’s offer?

How should I refuse?

Mercian felt a sharp pain in her head.

“You misunderstand, Your Highness. How could I dare to defy the words of the Imperial Crown Prince?”

“Then that’s a relief. Shall we talk for a moment, my lady?”

In Damonde’s brightly smiling face towards her, Mercian saw an overlap with Lucienne’s usual appearance when demanding something from her.

Both of them were the types who had to do what they wanted, never allowing a ‘no’…

Mercian looked around the bookstore just in case.

There were clearly a few people until just now, but now only she and Damonde remained in the bookstore, and the door was firmly closed.

As if, someone had arranged for only the two of them to be left alone.

It seems escape would be difficult, right?

Realizing she couldn’t escape, Mercian looked at Damonde and said.

“Then shall we sit at that table over there and talk?”

“Alright, my lady.”

Mercian sat at the table in front of the bookstore counter, guided by Damonde.

“So, what is it you want to talk about, Your Highness?”

“I heard from your sister, Lady Lucienne Beanomal.”

“What did you hear?”

The Crown Prince said, looking at Mercian who seemed to have no idea what she was saying.

“She said that I’m the source of the rumors circulating in the Imperial capital.”

“Pardon?”

Huh? What’s this. How are the words I said to my mother out of concern coming from the Crown Prince’s mouth?

Could it be that Luci told him?

She’s really out of her mind.

I warned my mother that the Crown Prince was a scary person and to stay away, but she told Luci about it?

And then Luci told the Crown Prince?

Mercian was so dumbfounded by Lucienne’s unbelievable actions that she couldn’t even laugh.

If I deny it, would the Crown Prince believe me? Probably not.

But if I say I heard it directly from Ruan, the problem would get bigger…

What should I do?

Mercian pondered for a moment, then looked at Damonde who was quietly staring into her eyes waiting for an answer, and sighed as if she had no choice.

“I’m sorry, but I have nothing particular to say about that matter.”

“Are you saying you didn’t say those words?”

“That’s not it. Actually, this was a small commotion caused because of Your Highness.”

“A small commotion?”

“Yes, at the wedding, Your Highness approached my sister and used a tea party as an excuse to ask her to bring evidence that my husband is committing treason.”

When Damonde gave no response to Mercian’s words, neither confirming nor denying, Mercian continued her story.

“As per Your Highness’s request, my sister tried to forcefully enter my husband’s room, which had defensive magic, to find evidence. She collapsed due to the defensive magic. And as soon as she woke up, she blamed and resented me for not finding evidence, so I got angry too and said let’s cut ties.”

Damonde looked surprised, as if he didn’t know at all, and said.

“Are you saying you said you’d cut ties with the Count’s family?”

“Yes, and my sister seemed to have been waiting for it and said she understood. In that moment, I got upset and unknowingly told a lie to my mother.”

“A lie?”

To Damonde’s question, Mercian bowed her head and answered as if she had no choice.

“I was annoyed that my sister cared more about Your Highness, the Crown Prince, than her sister who lived with her for 20 years. Moreover, the Duke and I are married with a 6-month time limit. My husband doesn’t trust me and has put defensive magic on his room and study. I didn’t like my sister get close to Your Highness, so I lied to my mother. I asked her to stop my sister from meeting Your Highness. I really never dreamed that a childish lie would reach the ears of Your Highness. My thinking was short-sighted. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

One of the things Mercian had become best at after living with Penelope and Mercian for a long time was hiding her emotions and thoughts.

Damonde carefully observed Mercian, who spoke as if she was being mistreated in the Duke’s house, contrary to the rumors that Ruan loved Mercian so much that he kept her hidden in the Duke’s house.

He had thought he was quite good at detecting lies, but he couldn’t read anything from Mercian’s expression.

Like a blank sheet with nothing on it.

Is it true?

Well, if she really thought it was me, she wouldn’t have told her sister or mother.

Moreover, why would she say such things while cutting ties with her family?

By the way, this woman speaks without her voice trembling even while fearing me.

Strangely, he didn’t dislike Mercian’s appearance as she answered his questions looking straight into his eyes.

No, rather, he became interested in Mercian.

An interesting woman.

“My lady, you’re more rash than I thought. It’s fortunate that the Countess came to me directly to speak, if she had gone somewhere else to tell this story, you might not even be alive now.”

Mercian looked at Damonde who spoke as if scolding her, put on an expression as if she really did wrong, bowed her head and said.

“I’m truly sorry, Your Highness. My petty revenge put Your Highness in an awkward position.”

Damonde couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Mercian bowing her head 90 degrees to him with an exaggerated expression as if she had committed a mortal sin.

Strange. Usually when I hear stories from women like this, I get bored or annoyed, but why not with this woman? Rather, she’s cute.

Moreover, it’s quite enjoyable to have a conversation with this woman.

Didn’t she say the Duke dies in a month and a half?

Well, after the Duke dies, if I keep her by my side well and make her my mistress after I become Emperor, it wouldn’t be boring. I’m quite curious how it would feel to spend the night with a woman who was the Duke’s wife.

Damonde looked at Mercian with eyes full of desire and asked.

“My lady, so I was wondering, what do you plan to do after the Duke dies?”

“Pardon?”

Why is he suddenly asking that?

And what’s with that sticky gaze? It’s unpleasant.

Mercian felt uncomfortable and displeased by Damonde’s gaze looking her up and down.

“My lady, if you have nowhere to go after the Duke dies, come to the Imperial Palace.”

Imperial Palace? Why there?

“I’ll prepare a place for you to stay. Since we’ve met like this today, which is also a connection, how about staying at the Imperial Palace as my friend?”

Crazy. I’m absolutely not going.

Mercian felt chills all over her body at Damonde’s words.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry but I’ve already decided where to go. I’ll just accept your generous heart. If you’re done talking now, I’ll return to the Duke’s house.”

Mercian, feeling she no longer wanted to be in the same place as Damonde, stood up from her seat while greeting.

Already? I want to talk more…

Damonde jumped up and blocked Mercian’s way as she was about to leave the bookstore, saying.

“My lady, just a moment…”

Bang!

“My lady, are you alright?”

“Ruan?”

Why is this man here again?

And why did he smash the perfectly fine bookstore door?

Mercian looked at Ruan entering the bookstore while smashing the door.

.

.

.

15 minutes earlier.

“Wow, sending so many desserts, you’re really kind!”

At Edward’s words, Charles brought more desserts from the carriage and said.

“She said to share these with all the people doing construction and the people of the Duke’s house.”

“The lady?”

As Charles was about to return to Mercian, Ruan, who was entering the Duke’s house, asked, and Charles answered with a smile.

“Welcome back, Master. Madam is currently at a bookstore in town. I was just about to deliver this and go to Madam.”

“Then you eat the dessert too. I’ll go.”

“M-Master?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, Madam will be pleased. Then you can ride the carriage, the coachman knows where the bookstore is.”

At Charles’s words, Ruan headed to the bookstore by carriage.

I thought Charles would come, but she’ll be surprised to know I came.

Well, she might push me away coldly again.

I didn’t know, but even when she looks at me with a cold expression as if she has no interest in me, it’s lovely.

Even after the home party ended, Mercian was still the same.

She still didn’t come out of her room, always answered my questions with short answers, and always slept clinging to the edge of the bed.

Of course, she rolled over in her sleep and fell into my arms, but she seemed completely unaware of her sleeping habits.

Thanks to that, I can hold her as much as I want while sleeping.

If she knew about her sleeping habits, she might not even sleep together…

Ruan was in a good mood imagining Mercian’s surprised face when she saw him.

Until he saw the Imperial guards spread around the bookstore upon arrival.

“Move aside.”

Ruan spoke quietly to the guard blocking him from entering the bookstore.

“Duke, I’m sorry. His Highness the Crown Prince ordered us not to let anyone in.”

“No one? My wife is in there. Can you handle the repercussions if it becomes known that the Crown Prince and the Duchess are alone in the bookstore?”

The empire would probably be in an uproar.

The guard stepped aside reluctantly as Ruan approached, emanating intense killing intent with each step.

“Duke, violence is not allowed.”

Looking at the coachman blocking his way, Ruan said in a cold voice.

“Go call Cassel.”

“Yes, Master!”

Thinking that only Mercian and Damonde were in the bookstore, Ruan became anxious.

Surely the Crown Prince isn’t trying to do something to my wife?

.

.

.

Bang!

“My lady! Are you alright?”

“Ruan?”

As Ruan broke down the door and entered, Damonde pulled Mercian towards himself.

Ruan’s eyes, glaring at him after smashing the bookstore door, were full of intense anger and killing intent.

A warning gaze full of ‘don’t touch what’s mine’.

I heard the Duke loves the Duchess so much that he hides her in the Duke’s house.

What? So the rumors were true?

But surely that lady just said the Duke doesn’t trust her and even put magic on his room and study.

Damonde looked with puzzled eyes at Ruan, whose actions were completely different from what Mercian had said.

“My lady, are you hurt anywhere?”

Unlike Damonde, Ruan smiled gently and held out his hand to Mercian, and Damonde’s heart started pounding as if he had found a treasure.

What’s with that gaze, that’s clearly the gaze of someone in love.

Haha, that impudent Duchess, did she dare lie to me?

I found it. Ruan. Your weakness!

It really was this woman.

If I were to have this woman. He wouldn’t be able to close his eyes even in death.

This could be really interesting if done well.

Damonde grabbed one of Mercian’s arms as she was about to approach Ruan and pulled her sharply towards himself.

“Y-Your Highness. My arm hurts. Please let go of my hand!!”

Mercian frowned pretending to be in pain to pull her arm out, but Damonde said with a sardonic smile.

“My lady, our conversation is not over yet. Where are you trying to go?”

Didn’t it just end?

As Mercian looked at Damonde as if dumbfounded, Damonde put his hand on Mercian’s face with affectionate eyes and said.

“My lady, only a month and a half left now. When the Duke dies and I become Emperor, I will keep my promise to make you my mistress, so don’t worry too much.”

Mistress? What is this crazy talk?

As Mercian tried to pull away and say something in disbelief, Damonde firmly grabbed her arm with one hand to prevent her from moving and covered her mouth with his hand, saying.

“Don’t worry too much. The Duke only has a month and a half left to live anyway, so he can’t say anything to you.”

“Take your hands off my wife right now…”

The moment Damonde took Mercian into his arms before Ruan’s eyes, Ruan felt an intense pain in his heart.

So much that it was hard to even breathe…

Moreover, what did he just say about making my wife what when I die?

Ruan wanted to immediately behead Damonde with a sword at his words and moved his hand to his waist, but his body wouldn’t move as he wished.

I need to bring my wife back.

I can’t lose my wife to that bastard.

Beep…

A piercing ringing sound in his ears and the thought of wanting to break Damonde’s fingers touching Mercian’s mouth brought another intense pain to his heart.

Huk… W-What is this? The curse was supposed to be lifted…

If I die now, I can’t save my wife…

No. I can die, but I have to save my wife from that bastard.

If I die now, I won’t be able to convey my feelings for my wife.

No. I have to at least convey my feelings before I die…

Ruan clutched his heart in intense pain and barely moved his lips towards Mercian, who was looking at him with surprised eyes and crying out something.

‘M-My lady, I’m fine. As long as you’re safe, so please don’t leave my side. I love you.’

Ruan kept mouthing words that wouldn’t come out until the end, and then lost consciousness.