The feeling that she had made a mistake grew stronger.

Was it a failure?

‘I can’t just leave empty-handed after all this!’

She spoke sincerely.

“I have no intention of causing trouble for His Highness.”

“That’s not it…”

He started to speak but then pressed his forehead, showing a hint of annoyance. Realizing something was wrong, she carefully observed his mood. The prince shook his head, his eyes cold.

“You were colluding with the King of Hermannon to deceive me.”

“…….”

“Anything else to say?”

She pressed her lips together, then spoke calmly.

“I did need a title. In a way, thanks to His Highness, I could become a princess.”

The prince’s eyebrows raised sharply.

All sorts of dangerous and cruel rumors about the imperial people swirled in her head.

But she was from Amtein, known for its filthy dealings.

She had seen and experienced too much to be frightened by mere rumors.

“I never dared to hope for marriage with His Highness. I never even thought His Highness would marry a kingdom girl, let alone someone like me.”

The Fifth Prince nonchalantly brushed off his weapon, pointing it towards the ground, and I swallowed hard watching my blood droplets cleanly flick off its tip.

He no longer had a murderous intent but also seemed uninterested.

‘This is not a good sign.’

“Fine. I have no intention of having any kind of relationship with you.”

“…….”

“But my brother thinks differently.”

His eagle-like eyes stared directly at me.

“And you are a princess in name.”

My mouth went dry.

‘Why is he saying this to me?’

What’s his intention?

I carefully chose my words, not to offend him.

“Even if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter to me. Use me. Even if we have to marry under duress, I will step aside whenever you wish. I can even be a shield.”

“A shield?”

“If you have a same-sex lover, use me as a shield…”

“That’s enough.”

Embarrassed by his quick response, I shut up.

I carefully watched the prince’s reaction.

It was ambiguous, difficult to read.

A chill sound made me flinch.

Whether I looked or not, the Fifth Prince casually hung his weapon on the wall.

I watched his every move tensely.

“What do you gain by doing all this?”

The conversation quickly reached its core.

I took a deep breath and blurted out.

“A tie with His Highness.”

“What do you want from me?”

“Citizenship in the empire.”

The prince furrowed his brow, surprised.

“Why would a Liorian want citizenship in the empire? The empire may be big, but the kingdom is better for living.”

“…….”

“Not gold or power, but mere citizenship.”

I shook my head.

“It’s not mere. What I want isn’t so easy.”

“…….”

“I want citizenship that makes me untouchable, even if the kingdom tries to kill me. For example, even if I’m accused of being an imperial spy or even if the king tries to kill me, a citizenship that makes it impossible.”

There was desperation in her words.

If she had the empire’s citizenship, and the empire, wary of the kingdom, guaranteed her safety, she wouldn’t die unjustly accused of treason.

“Ha ha.”

Startled, I looked up.

The prince was laughing. He looked at me squarely, stroking his face, his black eyes sparkling. It was the first time I saw interest in his eyes.

“Yes. That can’t be called ‘mere.'”

“…….”

“Seeking extraterritorial rights, do you wish to become royalty?”

I was taken aback by the excessive term.

But after a moment’s thought, it was true. The rights I wanted were those only available to the imperial royalty.

It was excessive.

‘But I need it.’

In a royal state, falling out of favor with the king meant death.

I was destined to be sentenced to death by the king himself in the near future.

To defy the king’s orders, I needed the promise of a higher authority, the Emperor.

He was right.

Extraterritorial rights.

That was why I wanted citizenship in the empire.
The thought that I had made a mistake became even stronger.

Was it a failure?

‘I can’t end this without any gain, especially after being so close!’

I said earnestly.

“I have no intention of causing any trouble for His Highness.”

“That’s not it…”

He started to speak, then pressed his forehead, indicating slight irritation. I realized something was amiss.

Noticing my glance, the prince shook his head, his eyes bleak.

“You were conspiring with the King of Hermannon to deceive me.”

“…….”

“Anything else to say?”

I pressed my lips together, then spoke calmly.

“I did need a title. In a way, I became a princess thanks to His Highness.”

The prince’s thick eyebrows shot up.

All sorts of dangerous and cruel rumors about imperials raced through my mind.

But I was from Amtein, known for its sordid dealings.

Having seen and experienced much, I wasn’t easily scared by rumors.

“I never dared hope to marry His Highness. I never thought His Highness would marry a kingdom woman, especially not someone like me.”

The Fifth Prince nonchalantly brushed off his weapon, which was aimed at the ground. I swallowed hard as I watched my blood droplets flick off its tip.