The fierce expression on his face revealed his thoughts.

If he said one word, he would leave. So let’s keep our mouths shut and stay quiet, then part ways cleanly when our business is done. And Veronica had no choice but to follow his warning.

When enough people had gathered, the emperor raised his hand.

A signal sounded and the precious artwork brought from across the sea appeared. As the cloth was removed, a painting in a very large frame was revealed.

“Oh, this is.”

People crowded around the painting. Since it was a precious artwork, there was a rope preventing people from getting too close, with palace servants guarding on both sides.

The painting, said to express the grandeur of the gods, showed its worth even to those ignorant of art.

It was obvious from the fact that the emperor excitedly hosted a banquet inviting the nobles.

Those who saw the painting were busy critiquing it.

There was nothing but praise for how valuable it was, who painted it, how it came to be, and so on. From behind, the emperor watched them contentedly.

Veronica, who had glanced at the painting through the gaps in the crowd, stood far back.

Cassian stood beside her. He seemed uninterested in the painting.

Glancing at his face that looked eager to leave, Veronica pondered how to soothe Cassian’s mood as she watched the people gathered closely together.

But as people who came to see the painting and greet Cassian came in succession, she missed the chance to talk.

After quite some time had passed boringly, Cassian straightened up.

“It seems enough time has passed.”

With that, Cassian suddenly turned his back. Veronica quickly grabbed and stopped him.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve escorted you enough, isn’t that sufficient?”

“So you’re saying you’re going to leave me behind now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

His resolute attitude was very different from usual. Veronica felt uneasy.

“His Majesty is here.”

“So I’ve mingled appropriately, haven’t I? His Majesty probably isn’t interested in us right now.”

“…Throat.”

“…?”

“My throat is dry.”

Cassian frowned.

“Are you telling me to bring you a drink?”

“Would you do that for me?”

“Do you realize you just said something very rude?”

“I suddenly find it difficult to walk.”

Veronica brazenly clutched her leg. No matter what, asking a royal to run an errand. But if she used her leg as an excuse, the situation changed.

He closed his eyes once and opened them as if suppressing his temper.

“I’ll bring you a drink.”

Cassian turned irritably. It’s unclear if he heard her saying she’d be at the balcony.

Veronica headed to the balcony first. She needed a place to be alone with Cassian. They couldn’t have a proper conversation in a space with so many people.

Fortunately, there was no one at the balcony. Veronica waited there for Cassian to come.

She tapped the floor with the toe of her shoe in impatience.

Surely he hadn’t run away in the meantime? As the thought occurred that it was highly likely, Veronica regretted sending him alone. She should have stuck close to him somehow!

Just as she was about to turn to go look for him, footsteps approached. It seemed Cassian was coming.

“Cassian.”

“Well, who do we have here!”

But the owner of the footsteps wasn’t Cassian. It was an unfamiliar plump man. Upon discovering Veronica alone on the balcony, he grinned slyly.

“Isn’t this Miss Veronica of House Hardness.”

“Who are you?”

“How disappointing. You don’t know me.”

The man introduced his family. Hearing it, it was a family she had no particular acquaintance with. Yet the man pestered her, saying how disappointed he was that she didn’t recognize him.

Cassian might come soon, she couldn’t waste time with someone like this.

As she gave him a look to quickly go away, the man, oblivious, suddenly started boasting about himself.

Meanwhile, the subtle glances he was sending were incredibly rude.

Up close, his face was slightly flushed, seeming drunk.

To be so drunk as to lose judgment at an occasion like this, others would surely tsk if they saw.

“Who are you waiting for, to be alone like this? Perhaps you were waiting for me.”

The joke he made was not funny. If he knew the balcony was often used as a place for secret meetings, he wouldn’t be laughing. Veronica frowned.

“Get lost.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m waiting for someone, so please leave now. You seem quite drunk.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I don’t get drunk this easily!”

What nonsense was he spouting when he was drunk enough to slur his words slightly. Veronica didn’t hide her annoyance.

She shook off the hand that kept trying to touch her arm and stepped back. But unfortunately, she backed up against the wall. The man staggered closer.

“It’s my first time seeing Duke Hardness’s daughter up close, and quite…”

The look in his eyes as he scanned her up and down was filled with impure emotions.

Veronica wanted to spit. She was actually considering spitting in his face if he came any closer.

The man’s thick hand reached out towards Veronica.

She swatted it away and pushed him with her foot, but the man didn’t budge and just laughed happily. She briefly considered slapping that face to bring him to his senses.

At that moment, the man grabbed Veronica’s shoulder. Veronica immediately spat, but the man didn’t seem to realize it was spit as he brought his slack face closer.

She pushed him away, clutching at his collar, but his strength was considerable. Curses came out as his hands groped her body.

“If you’re drunk, you should just go home quietly. How dare you touch me!”

“Haha! Your words are harsh as rumored.”

“Not just my words, but my hands are harsh too. Want to see?”

Veronica’s hand immediately slapped the man’s cheek.

With a smack, the man’s face turned to the side and finally the smile disappeared.

Shocked at being hit, the man trembled, then grabbed Veronica’s shoulder.

His other hand rose as if about to hit her. Veronica snorted.

The seam ripped, creating a gap. Even amidst everything, his greedy gaze fell there. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

Veronica opened her mouth to bite the man’s thick arm that had torn her clothes.

“I brought whatever I could find, so don’t complain.”

At that moment, Cassian returned. Entering the balcony, Cassian discovered Veronica and the man clinging to her, and stopped in his tracks.

“Gasp, Lord, Lord Theron.”

Only then coming to his senses, the man hurriedly backed away in surprise. Veronica clutched her torn shoulder, breathing heavily.

Her disheveled appearance made the situation clear. Even so, the man’s behavior of looking to Cassian made her want to vomit.

“This situation, well, that is.”

The man tried to explain. Veronica watched with fire in her eyes to see what nonsense he would spout.

She was ready to tear that face apart if he dared say she had seduced him. And then Cassian, who seemed to be assessing the situation until then, slowly parted his lips.

“I’ve intruded.”

What? Both their eyes widened at the same time.

Cassian calmly added as he set down the glass he was holding on the railing.

“Don’t mind me, carry on with what you were doing.”

And he really tried to leave.

“Uh, huh?”

The bewildered man looked at Cassian’s back, then unconsciously glanced to the side. Then he hiccupped.

Veronica’s face as she looked at where Cassian had disappeared was terrifying. She had no expression, which made it even scarier.

The man failed to notice her clenched fist trembling slightly.

“Lord Ibella Heighton.”

“Y-yes?”

“If you lay a hand on my body one more time, I won’t end it this lightly.”

After the chilling warning, Veronica kicked the man in the shin. Then she turned away, leaving behind the man who collapsed with a scream.

She walked across the banquet hall and snatched the person in front of her. Cassian’s face showed surprise as he turned back.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“What are you suddenly chasing after me and saying?”

“I asked if you don’t have anything to say to me.”

“No, I don’t, but.”

Cassian answered, frowning one eye. As soon as she heard those words, Veronica exploded.

“Aren’t you being too much?!”

“What now.”

“You saw that situation just now and just left?!”

Moreover, he even left behind kind advice to not mind him and carry on.

Veronica was furious. Wasn’t her appearance just now a situation calling for help? Yet this man abandoned her and left!

“Lower your voice. There are many eyes watching in this place.”

“If you were thinking of watching eyes, you shouldn’t have done that. What exactly did you think of me?”

Her lips trembled and her whole body shook.

As the commotion drew gazes from around, Cassian first took her and left the banquet hall.

Only when they reached a place with no people did he stop. Veronica shook off the hand holding her and asked.

“How could you do this! Even if our relationship is a political marriage, how could you treat me like this? What kind of insult is this?”

“I simply judged it was a situation I shouldn’t carelessly interfere in. It could have been a personal moment, couldn’t it?”

“What? So you’re saying I brought a lover to this public occasion? That I was having an intimate moment with that lover, so you left to give us privacy?”

How could he… Veronica gritted her teeth.

This person’s words now meant he thought the fiancée had brought a lover while he stepped away briefly and was in the midst of a tryst.

How on earth could he think that looking at that scene? Didn’t I say I’d wait for you to bring a drink? Even setting all that aside, at an occasion like this, what exactly do you think of me!

“You said it yourself. That it’s not uncommon to have a lover.”

“That and this are different issues! Your words now mean you thought I was a loose, vulgar woman, don’t they!”

“I didn’t particularly have that in mind, but.”

The blue eyes shifted away briefly before returning to her.

“It seems I did think that way. Given how you’ve behaved towards me so far. Reflect on your own actions.”

“You… bastard.”

“What did you just say?”