“Well.”

Teishar looked down at Lorencia once more.

“The word ‘interest’ isn’t enough…”

Even a neglected tree can take root where it stands, but to bloom flowers and bear fruit, it needs tender care. What Lorencia needs right now is precisely that ‘tender care’.

Teishar leaned down and scanned Lorencia’s sleeping face once more. Susanna, seeing Teishar’s affectionate demeanor, said nothing more. She rose on her tiptoes and quietly left the room. Then she gently closed the door.

Inside the room, only Lorencia’s soft breathing and silence settled.

Although Ruans should have questioned Teishar about swinging a sword at him, he couldn’t because of Lorencia.

Of course, Teishar looked at him suspiciously. He regretted leaving in confusion belatedly. And for the first time, he realized. The fact that sometimes knowing nothing can be the most chilling.

“Damn it!”

Perhaps Teishar had relayed the question Lorencia had asked him to Adrian and Charlotte. If so, he couldn’t just sit still. He needed to quickly dispose of all the remaining Digene potions.

Ruans’ footsteps began to quicken.

“Prince Ruans.”

Amidst the chaos because of Lorencia, Ruans suddenly felt irritation welling up at the voice that stopped him. He halted his steps and turned towards the direction of the voice that called him.

It was Illina.

“Lady Illina.”

Her eyes were swollen as if she had been crying secretly somewhere. Just looking at her irritated Ruans.

“Is it true?”

“If you suddenly call me out and ask if it’s true, how should I answer you, Lady Illina?”

“I heard a story…”

“I don’t know what kind of baseless rumor you’ve heard, but if you’re asking because you don’t trust me, then don’t even bring it up.”

“What?”

“The person I need is someone who will unconditionally believe in me regardless of any rumors they hear.”

Tears began to well up in Illina’s eyes. And soon, as tears started to roll down her cheeks, Ruans heaved a big sigh.

“I heard that I won’t become the Crown Princess. I’m anxious.”

“Lady Illina, do you believe such baseless rumors?”

Love and lies are just a matter of trust. Whether one betrays trust or gives trust determines whether it’s love or lies. He still needs Illina. So he can say he loves her as much as he wants.

“I don’t know where or what you heard, but the person who will become my Crown Princess is Lady Illina, the flower of high society.”

“Can I still become the Crown Princess even if I can’t maintain my position as the flower of high society?”

Illina had believed in him and liked him since childhood. She worked hard to become the flower of high society that he wanted. She’s even receiving education in advance to become the Empress in case he becomes the Emperor. That’s why she didn’t get jealous even when he met several women. Because she shouldn’t be jealous of the Emperor having multiple consorts.

Lorencia’s words kept coming to mind. How did Lorencia know about something only Anne and herself knew? Was it really because Ruans told her?

She kept shouting not to say it, but Lorencia ignored her words. Come to think of it, Lorencia had changed strangely since the day she rang the bell. Was even that perhaps ordered by Ruans?

Doubts in Illina’s mind began to grow, one after another.

“Please tell me, Prince Ruans.”

Normally, Ruans would have told Illina that he had no time for idle chat. But now, Illina looked a bit uneasy. Her gaze, her gestures, and her trembling voice – it didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t like it.

He thought that to maintain his current good reputation, he needed Illina, so even if it made him feel dirty or irritated, he should accommodate her a little.

“Lady Illina.”

“Yes.”

Ruans approached Illina with a serious face. Then he embraced the trembling Illina.

“Prince Ruans.”

“You’re anxious because I haven’t told you I love you, right? That’s why you’re asking such questions. I’m sorry, Illina.”

At the sudden embrace, Illina’s heart began to race frantically.

“Call me by my nickname, ‘Ru’. I’ll also call you by your nickname, ‘Lina’.”

“Nickname?”

For a moment, Illina felt confused by Ruans’ sudden words, but soon excitement began to well up in her heart. Unlike nicknames used by family, nicknames mutually agreed upon between a man and a woman hold a special meaning. It signifies that they are people who have allowed each other into their hearts, meaning they are in love.

Ruans embraced Illina even tighter and whispered softly in her ear.

“From the past until now and into the future, the only woman special to me is you, Lina. It’s too late, but I wanted to confess. Lady Illina.”

At Ruans’ confession, Illina was overcome with emotion and sobbed while still in his embrace. At Ruans’ words of love, she finally began to cry out loud. Ruans gently patted Illina’s back.

“I wish you would stop crying.”

“I’m so happy. I thought it was just one-sided love on my part. Sob sob.”

But Illina, being in Ruans’ embrace, couldn’t see. The sight of Ruans grinning, raising his eyebrows, and lifting just one corner of his mouth crookedly in mockery.

“No. Our feelings are mutual.”

Illina cried with joy at confirming Ruans’ feelings. But Lorencia’s words kept coming to mind.

She wanted to ask Ruans, but she couldn’t. What if it were true? Then she would lose everything.

But what if Lorencia was lying? If she fell for that lie and asked Ruans, she would completely lose his trust.

Then she could ask Lorirolls himself. If the letter exists, she could take it and tear it up and burn it. But what if everything really was a plan orchestrated by Ruans?

She had nowhere to retreat to, nor anywhere to move forward.

“Seeing you cry so much is not good, Lady Illina.”

Illina unknowingly bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.

“I’m sorry. I guess my heart is troubled.”

“But Lady Illina. The nickname doesn’t roll off my tongue well. I’ll just call you Lady Illina as usual.”

“It’s alright, Prince Ruans. I’m just so happy that we’ve confirmed our feelings for each other.”

Illina nestled into Ruans’ arms again. She smiled while showing her tears. If Lorencia’s words were true, she might be abandoned in the future. But right now, she was happy. She was afraid yet happy. So she prayed earnestly to God. For this moment of mutual understanding to stop.

“By the way, Lady Illina. Have you met Lorencia by any chance?”

“Yes. I told her to return to the Count’s mansion, but she says she doesn’t want to go back.”

“What reason does she give for not wanting to return?”

Stop recalling what Lorencia said.

“She seems fascinated by the foods she’s never tasted in the Imperial Palace.”

“I suppose there are many foods she’s never tasted at the Count’s mansion.”

‘What if Lorencia’s words are true?’

Stop thinking about it. Monsters can only tell lies. You should believe the person you love.

“Didn’t I tell you to persuade her somehow and bring her back to the Count’s mansion?”

“I’m sorry, Prince Ruans.”

“Lady Illina. You are listening to me well, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am listening.”

Lorencia’s words kept disturbing her mind and heart.

“I’m a bit upset because Lorencia seems to act like she’s something special now that she’s staying at the Imperial Palace and won’t listen.”

“Lady Illina. I’m a bit disappointed that you couldn’t do even this one thing for me, when it wasn’t even a difficult request.”

“That’s… I’m sorry.”

“But I love you, Lady Illina. So I’ll overlook your mistake today. Please return to the Count’s mansion and rest, and think about how to make Lorencia return to the Count’s mansion.”

Illina wanted to ask. ‘Do you really love me?’ And what exactly Lorencia meant to him.