She’s a woman who would say ‘It can’t be helped’ even as death approaches.

Liam understood a bit about what kind of person Ormia was. This woman would do things her own stubborn way no matter what anyone said.

“Ah, warnings are useless for this princess. She won’t listen no matter how many times I tell her.”

Liam straightened up from leaning in to look at her.

Her arm was wounded and bleeding, with a bandage wrapped around her head.

Ormia had no will to take care of herself. As someone willing to endure a certain level of sacrifice, Liam’s words didn’t reach her.

“Fine. I’ll do as I please too.”

Liam leaned back languidly against the backrest. It wasn’t permitting her behavior, but a declaration that he would act as he wished as well.

“Um, you two.”

Marx and Benjamin were also in the room, concerned about the nobles’ gossip.

Benjamin let out a deep sigh.

“Now that we know you’re both willful, let’s stop this conversation and discuss how to deal with this situation.”

“Ah, Benjamin. How insensitive. It was just getting interesting, why did you interrupt?”

Marx, who had been leisurely sitting and drinking wine while observing, scolded Benjamin.

“The royal family could barge in at any moment.”

“Ah, right.”

“Don’t ‘ah, right’ me! The empire invited Princess Leticia, so what will they think if we shelter Princess Ormia like this? If we show such an image in front of people, negotiations will become difficult.”

“Dealing with such things is what makes a true aide.”

“I’ll write my resignation letter when I return to the empire.”

“Haven’t you had quite some success in investments with the valuable information you hear working beside me, besides your salary? You’d give that up?”

“Let’s quickly come up with a solution.”

Without bringing up the resignation again, Benjamin looked at Liam, who had caused this incident.

“I’m sorry.”

“What wrong has the princess done? Ha, it’s Lord Ha’s fault. Come on, Lord Ha, tell us. Why did you make such a provocation when you could have just quietly rescued her?”

Benjamin’s pronunciation became slurred, awkwardly calling Liam ‘Ha-hal’ when referring to him, conscious of Ormia’s presence.

Marx opened his mouth with an expression of finding it extremely amusing.

“Come to think of it, there’s a method used since ancient classics. One that needs no explanation and everyone easily accepts.”

“Huh? There’s such a thing?”

The conversation couldn’t continue due to a visitor.

“I’ve come to escort the princess.”

Duke Bersi entered. His gaze swept around the room before stopping on Ormia.

“I hope you’re not badly hurt. His Majesty is worried about you.”

Ormia erased her fierce demeanor from her staring contest with Liam and stood up obediently like a docile woman.

Liam watched her and raised one corner of his mouth. He didn’t like any of it.

Including Duke Bersi, whose eyes met his.

“You said some quite rude things in the hall, but wasn’t Princess Leticia the one invited by the empire?”

“We didn’t say we changed which royal we were inviting.”

Marx answered with an amused voice.

“I thought it was intentional since you acted that way in front of others. We’re carefully reviewing this invitation with the officials, so it’s troublesome if you cause confusion like this.”

Benjamin’s gaze turned to Liam. He blamed him, saying they wouldn’t overlook this after all.

“We’ve also become quite troubled.”

Marx grinned. Then he answered in a direction no one in that place had thought of.

“This Ha Rund here fell in love with the princess at first sight, you see.”

Everyone in the room, including Duke Bersi, looked at Marx in surprise. Even Ormia.

“He says he fell for her, finding her so pitiful. It’s understandable for a young man to get angry when the princess he loves suffers such a thing. Please understand. There’s nothing to be done if it was for love.”

“Marx.”

Liam looked at him in disbelief, but Marx’s mouth kept running.

“The empire respects individual emotions. He was like a block of wood, but now he’s come to Glishia and learned love, so we intend to support him.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ll take note of that. Princess, shall we go?”

Duke Bersi’s cheek twitched as he turned around. Being quick-witted, he realized it was an act. With a look that said ‘Let’s see how far you’ll go with this’, Liam approached Ormia.

Ormia’s eyes widened as she listened calmly, hiding her bewilderment.

Kneeling on one knee, he untied his cravat and lightly tied it around Ormia’s wrist. Though a fragment had grazed it, it was so small and didn’t bleed that only a red mark remained.

“I’ll come to get it back tomorrow.”

“Don’t force the princess.”

Duke Bersi expressed his displeasure, but Ormia herself gave permission.

“Yes, alright. Tomorrow.”

“Princess.”

Liam looked up at her and kissed the back of her hand.

“I’ll happily await tomorrow.”

* * *

After Duke Bersi left with Ormia, they also returned to the annex. As soon as they arrived, Marx opened a bottle of wine.

“As expected of Liam! Love. The greatest source of courage and the best spell to make all foolish actions understandable.”

“Are you crazy? Me, in love? Loooove?”

“Why act like that after doing so well?”

“Apart from the empire’s invitation, we should frame it as the impulsive foolishness of a man in love. The empire is blameless, and it all becomes the fault of a man blinded by love. It’s absurd, but an effective reason.”

“If it becomes like that, people won’t find it strange if the two meet, and besides.”

“Are there other effects?”

“It’s amusing. I find it very amusing.”

Benjamin ignored Marx, who was chuckling with his shoulders shaking.

“Since the princess agreed, meet her boldly now. The two of you meeting will further highlight the effect the princess wants.

It will emphasize that you were moved by the princess’s pitiful situation, and the incident at the banquet hall will be on people’s lips due to you falling for the princess at first sight. People love cross-border love stories, after all.”

Sitting on the sofa, Liam thought for a moment before muttering.

“I should do it spectacularly.”

“That’s right. Pressure the King of Glishia. Stimulate him so he won’t forget today’s incident. He might not have a conscience or sense of right and wrong, but he should know shame. Trample mercilessly on that high nose of his as God’s representative.”

“There’s no one better at scratching people’s hearts than Lord Marx.”

Liam glanced at Marx and raised the corner of his mouth. It was quite a villainous, sinister smile that made Benjamin’s shoulders shudder.

“I’ll do it spectacularly.”

“To your heart’s content.”

Benjamin looked back and forth between the two, suddenly feeling uneasy even though he didn’t know what they meant.

“What are you going to do? Tell me too. And please don’t cause any more trouble, okay?”

* * *

The ones who hate the Beltoa the most are the Wilboyers.

They were unjustly driven out and suffered endless torture as punishment. What’s even more cruel is that the Beltoa, who could end their pain, abandoned them.

Water is right in front of them, but they die of thirst.

Anger and hatred towards the Beltoa had seeped into their bloodline even before birth, and they heard resentment towards the Beltoa before they were old enough to understand reason.

Along with the bone-deep pain, the Wilboyers nurtured their hatred for the Beltoa.

But Ormia Beltoa was different.

If they were a blazing bonfire piled high, Ormia was the ashes left after ten times, a hundred times that amount had burned completely.

When you stir those ashes, embers endlessly burn inside.

She knew the danger of the chandelier falling and knew everyone would worry about Leticia. Knowing this, she didn’t avoid it but watched such a situation unfold.

She’s willing to burn herself to achieve her goal.

“I’ll gladly help. But in my own way.”

The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily at the thought of changing her expression that remained indifferent even in mortal danger.

“She’s come out.”

The nobles stepped back, avoiding Ormia as she descended the stairs. It also looked like they were respectfully making way for her.

He had deliberately asked to meet Ormia in the central garden to depart.

As he had requested, she had bandages even on the small scratches, looking like someone who had just returned from the battlefield yesterday.

“Gasp, she must have been badly hurt at the banquet.”

“No one looked after the princess when she was in that state? Not even His Majesty?”

“It’s Ormia princess after all.”

“Even so.”

Ignoring the nobles’ whispers, Liam strode up to Ormia and held out his hand.

“I’ll escort you today.”

With the watching nobles behind them, the carriage slowly left the royal palace.

Ormia, who had been quietly looking out the window, opened her mouth as soon as they passed the main gate.

“Lord Marx’s method was appropriate. If you and I become a topic of conversation, the incident at the banquet will also be mentioned. However.”

“However?”

Liam’s brow furrowed, wondering what she would say to irritate him this time.

“Won’t you be uncomfortable? People will misunderstand that you like me.”

For a moment he was at a loss for words, but Liam answered.

“It’s already happened anyway. Whatever is said when I take the princess to the empire.”

Ormia seemed to accept that, but her small lips quivered.

“I’m sorry.”

Her apology irked him. Why should the victim apologize to him?

Liam couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

How could someone have such a personality?

As Liam observed Ormia, the carriage arrived at the noble shopping district. People on the street stopped in their tracks at the appearance of the royal carriage.

When Liam escorted Ormia out, some people recognized her by her hair color.

After the banquet ended, rumors had been spread about how shocked Ormia was by the incident and how sincere he was towards her.

“Princess, let’s go in. I’ll gift you the finest items befitting your dignity.”

Liam looked at Ormia with a gentle smile.

As if he were a man in love.