In the past, I didn’t know why he would squint his eyes slightly every time he saw me.

It was probably confirmed as a habit that comes out instinctively when observing people. Like now.

“Yeah.”

And Sesenia didn’t ask anything.

Ian was making such an obvious move towards her. Even if Sesenia asked questions here, it was obvious what kind of answer she would get.

“You’re still the same. You believe and believe everything I say.”

“Is that so.”

“You’ve become a bit sensitive lately and grumble… But you like me too much, it’s a problem. I’m really grateful.”

Sesenia knows all too well that this gratitude is not for liking him.

Because Sesenia appeared to like him, Ian might have been able to form a close relationship with Elzere.

Knowing this, Sesenia only smiled.

“Sesenia.”

“Yes?”

“Should I try to become emperor?”

The moment he said that, Sesenia realized for certain.

As expected, Elzere and Ian were already in contact. Whether close or not. The two had already joined forces.

Sesenia tried hard to hide her surprise and looked at him.

“You?”

“Yes. It would be difficult, right?”

‘Elder sister Elzere has finally made her move. I’m really grateful to Elzere. For making me able to give up on Ian faster than I thought.’

She who rejected marriage with the crown prince must have chosen Ian to become emperor.

The prince who had worked so hard for her in the past. The man who loved her so painfully.

So she knew very well that Elzere must have told Ian to become emperor, but she didn’t expect it to be this fast, so a very slight feeling of embarrassment and joy overwhelmed Sesenia.

“Yes.”

And Sesenia had no intention of making him emperor.

She would gather all the trash and throw them away, but not now.

Not even realizing that they themselves were being gathered in one place, not even realizing that they were standing in front of hell, not a cliff.

That was Sesenia’s plan to throw them away at that time.

Now, Elzere had to get engaged to the crown prince.

She had to catch the crown prince’s eye in her place, and the crown prince’s heart had to waver.

The desire to have Elzere had to arise in the crown prince’s mind.

You can’t control a person’s heart at will.

But it’s so easy to make a wrong path look like a golden path, to make them fall into the wrong path.

Especially if it’s someone whose nature you know so well from your past experiences.

“Ian. I’m advising you as a friend. You can’t become emperor.”

“That’s quite decisive. So decisive it hurts.”

To be hurt by something like this. The mental strength of these royal people is worse than cookies. Sesenia stared at him blankly.

“Your mother is from a maid background. A commoner, not even a noble. She only did menial work.”

“Hey.”

“Of course, I’m not insulting her. I’m making you face the facts. And you’re a prince with nothing exceptional about you.”

“……”

“If it wasn’t for the royal family lacking in hands, you’d be a prince that no one would know even if you begged and died somewhere. But is the power of the royal family strong? Not even that. Rather, if only you were born with strong royal power, you… You’re just an incompetent person born wearing only the shell of royalty.”

“Really… You’re quite hurtful today.”

Ian snorted as if dumbfounded.

“Hurtful? This is the problem. Getting hurt by something like this and you want to be emperor? Who would support you, who would believe in you. You have no backing at all.”

“If it’s backing, there’s the Bestel Marquis family, right?”

“Our family? Why our family?”

Sesenia tilted her head as if she really didn’t know anything.

“If I say I’m going to become emperor, won’t your family help?”

“Don’t even think about it. There’s no way that’s possible.”

If it was that easy to become emperor, if he could become emperor with such help, the Marquis would have supported Ian, who had been in contact since childhood, rather than the difficult-to-handle crown prince, the arrogant and haughty crown prince.

The fact that he didn’t do so was proof that Ian couldn’t become the crown prince, the emperor… That no matter how much they pushed, he could only be in that position.

‘Even the crown prince is pretending not to, but he’s keeping a close eye on Ian.’

That was something no one knew.

It was what Helbert, who became emperor in the future, said when he was drunk.

Because the royal family lacked hands, they couldn’t do anything, but in the end, Ian was also a royal who could become emperor.

That’s why the empress and Helbert had been keeping a close eye on him for a very long time.

One of the reasons Helbert chose the Bestel Marquis family was because of Ian.

Among the marquis families, one without major problems and a high-ranking noble of the empire for a long time. Also, a place with a lot of accumulated wealth that can support in any situation. And one more thing.

‘The place Prince Ian had his eye on.’

That’s what he thought the marquis family was.

Although it was unclear what intention Ian had in maintaining ties with the marquis family from a very young age, that’s how it looked from the outside.

So they chose it.

Taking away the Bestel Marquis family, which could uniquely support Ian from behind, that was the reason they chose the Bestel Marquis family despite there being other prestigious high-ranking noble families.

“What do you mean it’s not possible?”

“Everything. Haven’t you heard the news yet? That our family is pushing for an engagement with Crown Prince Jeonhwa? I thought you knew since you mentioned it last time.”

“It’s not official yet. The engagement between elder brother and the Bestel Marquis family.”

“Won’t it become official soon? Father is pushing for it.”

“Elder sister Elzere said she would never get engaged. And you won’t either, right?”

“Let’s say elder sister is like that. But Ian, how are you so sure I won’t?”

“That’s……”

Because Elzere said so. But as if not wanting to reveal that part, he bit his lip.

“Tell me. How are you so sure about my feelings?”

“Ah. You like me. So there’s no way you’d get engaged to elder brother.”

Elzere must have said. That the current Sesenia would never get engaged because she wants to win against her. Knowing that she would resist even more fiercely than in the past, Elzere must have told Ian too.

That neither she nor Sesenia would get engaged to the crown prince, and that she would trust you.

Otherwise, there’s no way Ian could be so sure.

That’s why Elzere must still be on a hunger strike like in the past.

So Sesenia found his appearance ridiculous.

“You don’t know. I could suddenly get engaged.”

“Why. That’s nonsense.”

“Why? People’s hearts can change. I could suddenly see the crown prince and fall in love at first sight, saying ‘Will you get engaged to me?’ Couldn’t I do that?”

Ian’s expression hardened.

“That’s nonsense. You like me.”

“You don’t know. I could fall for the crown prince at first sight, don’t think so extremely. Or is there another reason for you to think so extremely?”

“……Rather than a reason….. I just thought it wouldn’t happen because I can see that you like me. And Sesenia. We’ve been together for so long, shouldn’t you make me emperor?”

“Is the position of emperor that easy? I’m afraid of the empress and the crown prince.”

“Hey!”

Ian burst out as if feeling wronged.

“You can’t do anything to the crown prince or the empress either. What can I do in that situation? Besides, it’s not me but elder sister who will inherit the marquis family. You know too. Elder sister has started the successor training. So what can I do?”

“That’s……! You just shouldn’t get engaged to the crown prince!”

“Ah, so if I don’t do it, it helps. Why?”

“Why……”

“Ian. I like you, but I’m going to live as I want. And I don’t want to do that just because not getting engaged helps in some way you’re not telling me about. You know well that I can’t go against father’s wishes.”

“Still, don’t do it for me. Okay?”

Even at that pleading look, Sesenia didn’t bend her will at all.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Tell me for sure.”

“Well. I’ll think about it.”

“Is it hard to say for sure? You like me.”

“When you say it like that, all my feelings of liking you are about to disappear. Ian.”

Sesenia looked at Ian who was grabbing and shaking her arm, and shook off that arm.

“How can you do this? I trusted you.”

“What did you trust? Instead of doing this, talk it over well with father and elder sister. I’m just a person who moves according to their will. I’m not someone who can help you. Understand?”

“……”

“I’m saying this because I’m tired, but shall we stop talking now? I’d be grateful if you leave, and if you don’t, I’ll leave.”

“……I’m really disappointed. Sesenia.”

Even so, when Sesenia didn’t even give him a glance, Ian left outside, thoroughly upset.

“What business did Prince Ian have that he’s leaving so agitated?”

As if passing the baton, as soon as Ian left, the Marquis hurriedly entered.

With no time to rest between their visits, Sesenia sat on the windowsill.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes, yes. But did something happen? Why was the prince so agitated?!”

“Ah. That. He was earnestly begging me not to get engaged.”

“What? How unexpected! I didn’t think he was like that, but he earnestly begged?”

Having no intention of hiding it, Sesenia opened her mouth in a tired voice.

“Yes.”

“Even though he seemed to be meeting Elzere often lately, I left it alone, but he did such a thing to you. This won’t do. I’ll have to ban Prince Ian from entering.”

“I would be grateful if you did that. I was feeling a bit tired just then.”