“It’s a rare poison.”

At the dinner table, Kirshan said.

“It’s so rare that it’s rather well-known. For ordinary people, it only causes dizziness or vomiting, but for pregnant women, it’s fatal. It kills the fetus and dissolves the mother’s organs.”

Roxiana slightly frowned at the horrific description and put down the piece of steak she was about to eat.

“Because it’s a rare poison, it’s difficult to obtain, but that makes it easier to trace its source. I’ve sent people to investigate, so we should have an answer soon.”

“If it becomes known that the queen tried to poison the crown princess, how do you think things will unfold?”

Floyd shrugged at Roxiana’s question.

“Lucas will probably… go berserk, but there won’t be much impact. Most nobles are displeased with Elise Hailis taking the position of crown princess, so they won’t make it a big issue.”

“We should make Elise turn it into a big issue.”

“It would be good to secretly bring that woman, the so-called madam of the salon, into the palace. If she subtly mentions the temple trial, won’t Elise Hailis act on her own?”

While the queen’s attempt to poison someone could be quietly overlooked, if the temple gets involved, it’s a different matter. The world would become noisy, many countries would show interest, and the temple would impose appropriate punishment in the name of God.

In that process, it was clear that a fierce fight would break out in the royal family of Gania.

“While the Gania royal family is in turmoil, we can make our own preparations.”

“That’s right. They won’t have time to pay attention to who’s coming to our party or where I’m heading when I leave the capital.”

Before leaving Torkan, they had made several plans with Floyd and explained them to key figures in Torkan. To gradually implement those plans, they had set a long schedule in Gania.

After dinner, they headed to the city center with Floyd. Since they were planning to stay, they needed to tour the main streets of Atanta City and familiarize themselves with the roads and atmosphere.

The evening in Atanta City reminded her more of the Kingdom of Kanta than the Duchy of Torkan. Streets lit by oil lanterns instead of magic stones.

It was dimmer than the dazzlingly bright streets of Torkan with magic stone streetlights installed everywhere, but as they entered the central area, it became brighter thanks to the lanterns hung outside the shops.

The smell of oil mixed in the air evoked nostalgia.

“Have you been here before?”

At Floyd’s voice, Roxiana broke away from the past. As she turned her head, the present was there, slightly higher.

His face, with deep shadows cast by the lantern light, suddenly seemed fascinating. It was hard to believe that the thick eyebrows, deep-set gray eyes, straight nose, and lips holding a gentle smile below were her present.

“Is there something on my face?”

When Roxiana just stared blankly without answering, Floyd asked while brushing his face with his hand. His long fingers with thick knuckles were beautiful. Thinking that she had been holding hands with those hands until now, her heart suddenly raced.

“No.”

“Which question are you answering?”

“Both. I’ve visited the Robua Palace a couple of times, but this is my first time on these streets. And there’s nothing on your face.”

He took Roxiana’s hand again. His natural motion of interlocking fingers made her heart flutter for no reason.

Despite being in the heart of enemy territory, she wasn’t nervous, probably thanks to Floyd. He and his people were making this place as comfortable as Torkan.

“Coming here makes me realize how bright Torkan nights really are. I used to live in a place like this, but I’ve gotten so used to Torkan that this dimness feels new to me.”

“Demons don’t only live in darkness, but they do prefer it. That’s why Torkan needs to be bright. Because there are cracks everywhere.”

Thinking of the cracks, the red eyes she had seen inside them came to mind, making her heart shrink. It was still like that even though it had been a long time ago. That’s how intense the despair, hatred, and power of darkness those eyes held were.

She was so afraid that she turned a blind eye even though she had the power to eliminate the cracks. Always feeling guilty for giving up like that.

“Do you think I should have taken the time to eliminate the cracks one by one after all?”

“Don’t say such scary things, Roxy.”

His hand holding Roxiana’s tightened. It was almost painful.

“Don’t scare me like that.”

His genuinely fearful gaze made her both happy and sorry. She made him anxious because she didn’t have perfect power, and yet she was reckless.

On the other hand, she felt frustrated. You don’t have to treat me like I’m a fragile glass about to break. Now, the desire to die has completely disappeared.

Roxiana lifted their interlocked hands and lightly kissed his finger joints. His eyes, which had been filled with anxiety, trembled slightly. Looking straight into his eyes, she kissed each of his knuckles one by one.

His Adam’s apple moved.

“Don’t be so afraid every time I say something, Cal. I don’t want to die anymore.”

“I know you don’t want to die, but you recklessly charge in when you think it’s necessary. Do you know how anxious that makes me?”

“Even though you save me?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to save you. That no matter how much heat I breathe into you, your body will remain cold and unable to hold warmth anymore.”

This time, he pulled Roxiana’s hand and kissed the back of it long.

“I’m terrified, Roxy.”

Roxiana, who had been looking up at him, noticed the glances of people around and quickly tried to pull her hand away. But she couldn’t overcome his strength.

Noticing Roxiana’s embarrassment, a mischievous light entered his eyes. He narrowed his eyes and whispered with his lips still on the back of Roxiana’s hand.

“It seems there’s an inn right next to us.”

Belatedly realizing his meaning, Roxiana blushed. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.

“In inns like these, the sound carries to the next room, you know.”

Floyd suddenly turned his head and surprised Roxiana with a kiss on her lips, saying,

“Were you planning to make sounds that shouldn’t be heard in the next room?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Roxiana, about to protest, realized he was teasing her and pressed her lips tightly, glaring at him. He smiled brightly and ruffled her hair as if petting her.

She didn’t dislike that gesture, which was usually reserved for children, but she turned her head away pretending to dislike it. He hugged Roxiana tightly and kissed the top of her head, saying,

“Ah, you’re so adorable. How can someone so cute exist?”

Her ears burned at the raw compliment.

“How am I cute? I’m this tall…”

“You’re small. So small and cute that I’m worried someone might snatch you away.”

“Okay, I get it. I get it, so please let go now. People are watching.”

“I don’t mind if they see, but.”

Fortunately, Floyd loosened his arms. Roxiana quickly escaped from his embrace and fixed her disheveled hair and clothes. Floyd watched her happily, then pointed at the inn with his thumb and said,

“Shall we go in then?”

“Are you teasing me again?”

“This time I’m serious.”

He took Roxiana’s hand and walked towards the inn entrance. Once inside, instead of heading to the counter, he went to the stairs next to the door. There was a restaurant-cum-bar in the basement of the inn.

As they sat at an empty table, Floyd said quietly,

“This is the best place to hear both public sentiment and rumors at the same time.”

Roxiana felt embarrassed, thinking she was the only one having lewd thoughts. Thankfully, the bar was dark.

“What would you like?”

Floyd asked the apron-wearing waiter,

“What’s popular here?”

“If you’re here for drinks, the bacon, fried egg, and french fries set is the most popular basic side dish. If you’re here for a meal, the chicken stew is popular.”

“We’ll take the first one.”

“And for drinks?”

“Two beers.”

“Ladies often like our house-made cherry wine.”

Floyd glanced at Roxiana as if asking for her opinion. Roxiana said,

“Then one beer and a bottle of cherry wine.”

“Alright.”

After the waiter left, Roxiana looked around the bar. There was a candle on each table, and the place seemed to be doing good business as there were hardly any empty seats.

It wasn’t just travelers; there seemed to be many local residents. Some people had loud voices, some soft, so the bar was noisy.

As she drank and listened, she could start to pick out sentences from what had initially seemed like just noise.

“Did you hear that story? They say the child in the crown princess’s womb isn’t the crown prince’s.”

“When is that story from?”

“What, does everyone know about this?”

“Of course. They say there’s not a man in Kingteren who hasn’t shared a bed with the crown princess.”

“Ha! This is ridiculous. A woman like that became our crown princess? What is the royal family doing? Why haven’t they kicked out such a woman yet?”

“In my opinion, I think the crown princess might be using black magic. Like black magic that controls people’s minds.”

“Does such a thing really exist?”

“I don’t know. But if not, what reason would the royal family have for keeping such a woman? She betrayed the princess who was her friend in Kanta, lived like a prostitute in Kingteren… There’s no reason to keep her in the royal family.”

“I heard from a girl who’s a maid in the palace that her personality is quite something too.”

“With a woman like that entering the royal family, Gania’s time is running out. If they keep such a woman in the royal family, Gania will be ruined.”

“Come on, could a country really be ruined because of one woman?”

“Haven’t you heard that story? About how the Bezhinan Empire was destroyed because of Countess Fuocella.”

“That’s a story from 100 years ago. In times like these, a country wouldn’t be ruined because of one woman.”

“You never know. The Grand Duke of Torkan has come to Gania, right? I find that very scary. I feel like something terrible is about to happen.”

Roxiana perked up her ears as Floyd was mentioned.