“The person I was trying to avoid marrying is no longer in this world. I no longer need to marry the Crown Prince.”

“Hmm. You’re not wrong. But you’re going to marry me, right?”

Because both of them still had an enemy in Hiscliff.

Yurisien’s lover who deceived her. A prince coveting the Crown Prince’s throne.

According to Yurisien, if Hiscliff became emperor, the downfall of Benjamin and Yurisien was predetermined; they had to join forces to stop him.

“Isn’t it arrogant to think that the only way to stop him is by marrying the Crown Prince?”

“The one who holds Windsor’s heart will become the emperor.”

“So you hold my heart?”

Yurisien’s eyes, glowing the same color as the ruby around her neck, scrutinized Benjamin. He smirked bitterly.

“Not yet, it seems. All the more reason to persuade you, no?”

“Windsor isn’t everything.”

“It sounds like you’re saying that almost everything is possible with Windsor’s power, except ascending to the throne. Is this the opinion of the Princess of Windsor?”

Again, that phrase. Yurisien was about to dismiss it casually but corrected herself.

‘Casual in front of the Crown Prince?’

That was impossible. She declared firmly.

“No. It’s Yurisien’s opinion.”

“Hmm, go on.”

“Because objectively speaking, a Princess who regained the Duke of Windsor appears stronger than a Crown Prince who just returned after spending 15 years in the temple.”

Benjamin burst into laughter at her slightly uplifted chin.

‘A naive woman who believes the sky she sees from the well is everything.’

The Crown Prince who hid his appearance for 15 long years had returned. What did that signify? It meant he was prepared to overturn the flow of power at any moment.

However, he was biding his time because he hadn’t yet confirmed what kind of symbiotic relationship existed between Gretta and Kendalry.

‘I suspected there was a hidden motive between the marriage of Hopgrand Countess Yurisien and me, but I never thought it would involve the Empress.’

Yet, how did the Empress manage to rescue Kendalry, who had been locked in the Duke of Windsor’s underground dungeon? And that too, defeating Kalri?

Benjamin was also going to the duke’s residence to investigate this.

‘Yurisien doesn’t seem to have noticed yet.’

Of course, he understood why Yurisien continually worried about him. She didn’t yet know the extent of Benjamin’s influence.

‘She doesn’t even know who exactly belongs to the Coferador Guild.’

Benjamin reached out his hand. Despite her past experience with Hiscliff, Yurisien neither flinched nor stepped back.
Even if the heart is injured, the body knows that there is no need for the victim to live in fear of the world. Benjamin liked this confident and strong aspect of Yurisien.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Benjamin lifted a handful of Yurisien’s hair. The man who had kissed those long locks that spread fear like seaweed devouring people underwater, met his gaze.

“I specialize in protecting things more than you think.”

Whether it’s the position of crown prince, lineage, the emperor’s throne, or you, it doesn’t matter.

The whispering voice was too low to hear clearly, but it was enough to make Yurisien’s heart race uncontrollably.

Inside the carriage returning to the ducal mansion, Yurisien thought while still feeling his pounding heart.

‘I really don’t know what kind of confidence he has.’

He was incessantly, continuously thinking of Benjamin.

In every scene that came to mind, Benjamin was smiling splendidly and warmly. There was no way the palpitations of the heart could stop.

Moreover, this trembling was a bit different when thinking of Hiscliff. A bit more… dangerously trembling, as if he could fall recklessly for Benjamin with just a small mistake.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Mitchel, who had been hiding, approached Benjamin, who was pensively watching the place from which Yurisien’s carriage had left. She handed him a half-mask with no insignia.

“Let’s go.”

“It will take Yurisien three days to get to the Duke’s territory.” Benjamin said, putting on the hood after wearing the mask.

“The schedule will be tight if we’re to stop by the Hopgrand Count’s territory on our way to the Duke’s mansion. Hurry up.”