“Here’s the apple pie.”

“Thank you.”

The server glanced at Liam as she placed the apple pie on the table.

The white sugar sprinkled on top was dazzling. Crushed apple flesh oozed from the cross-section, and the sweet aroma mixed with cinnamon stimulated the appetite.

I picked up the fork but couldn’t eat first.

Liam sat with his legs modestly together, hunched over with his head in his hands. He looked like someone in despair, but his ears were red.

“Have some dessert. This apple pie can only be eaten here.”

“I’m not eating. The princess can have it all.”

“Really? Oh, no. I can’t do that. Please eat some later.”

“You can eat it all.”

He growled through gritted teeth in response.

Without even lifting his head.

I didn’t wait any longer either. It’s when it tastes best.

I broke off a piece of the pie. The crispy crust breaking apart and the brown sugar sauce oozing out looked delicious.

My heart fluttered.

As I put a piece in my mouth, the rich apple and cinnamon flavors spread. The crispy texture and chewy yet soft pulp.

‘It really is delicious.’

Everything mixed in my mouth, creating an exquisite harmony.

“Ah.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim.

The blissfulness of sweetness spreading throughout my body. When I savored the taste and opened my eyes, there was no apple pie left on the plate.

I had eaten it all in the meantime.

I saw Liam’s untouched apple pie.

‘I told him to eat it, but it’s his, so I shouldn’t touch it.’

Will I be able to come to this shop again? This might be my first and last time.

Conflict washed over me.

My mouth watered. Knowing the taste already, I want to eat more, and the fork trembles at the tip.

“Eat it.”

He sat hunched over with his arms on his knees, looking at me. Furrowing his brow in displeasure.

“I said eat it all. It’s fine.”

He gave permission in an irritated voice.

“Should I eat it instead?”

“If you’re offering, I won’t refuse.”

Since it would be impolite to keep refusing, I brought his plate in front of me.

This time, I tried to savor it by breaking off small pieces.

Looking at Liam, his brow was still furrowed. His hunched back hadn’t straightened either.

The blessing activates the body and gives vitality. My blessing was stronger than other royals.

It must be uncomfortable for a man.

“It’s okay.”

Liam glared at me.

“That reaction is normal. It will subside after a while.”

“I know. Since I know, just eat that. Before I snatch it away!”

He must be embarrassed, so I should be understanding.

I lifted the plate carefully and ate the apple pie quickly so as not to spill.

It’s absolutely not because I was worried about him snatching it away.

* * *

As soon as Liam entered the guest palace where the imperial delegation was staying, he threw off his coat. It landed with such force that Marx took notice.

“Why are you like this after meeting the princess? There’s already a rumor spreading that one of the imperial delegates has fallen for the princess and is showering her with extravagant gifts.”

“What happened to you?”

Liam snatched Marx’s alcohol, poured it into a glass, and sat across from him. His brow remained furrowed.

“I pressured them well.”

“That arrogant king wasn’t intimidated even by the empire.”

“Of course. His Majesty the Emperor has been lenient with Glishia’s affairs until now.”

Marx was displeased with that. While other countries were cautious around the empire, Glishia was arrogant.

They took for granted what they received, as the empire had conceded many things so far.

“I did say I would reveal Princess Leticia’s birth, but it’s just a threat. If the king denies it, the devout people might doubt for a moment, but it will pass without much fuss.”

Marx smiled deeply as he lightly swirled his glass.

“So I said we would block the export of white Lev leaves.”

“Ah, the ingredient for incense used in temples.”

“Yes, a significant portion of the southern production is exported to Glishia. Most of the incense consumed in Glishia uses those leaves.

Of course, there are many devout believers, so the consumption is considerable, but it’s just one consumable item.

But when I mentioned restricting the export of white Lev leaves, not only the king but even the dukes’ expressions changed.”

Marx couldn’t suppress his chuckle.

To them, it was just leaves, but in Glishia, it was a necessity of life.

“It’s an indispensable item for temples and believers.”

“If we wait a little, they’ll suggest changing to Princess Ormia on their own.”

“Still, hurry.”

“Did something happen with the princess? She doesn’t seem to have a personality that would irritate people.”

Liam downed his drink in one gulp and let out a faint sigh.

“You can usually tell what kind of person someone is by their upbringing and circumstances, but Princess Ormia is different. She’s unpredictable.”

“Hmm.”

As the corner of Marx’s mouth curved up crookedly, the end of one of Liam’s eyebrows rose sharply.

“It doesn’t seem to be in a bad way though.”

Liam answered without hesitation.

“It is in a bad way.”

“Please give me your hand.”

I thought she was asking for my hand to give me something. I hoped she might give me her flower.

A small, slender hand touched my palm.

And then, blessing flowed in through that small hand.

There was no headache or pain tormenting my body yet. It was my first time experiencing direct contact with a blessing, but I had no intention of refusing.

A pleasant dizziness that made my head feel light.

The warmth of the blessing spreading throughout my body.

Everything felt different from the blessing I experienced with the flower.

But an embarrassing reaction occurred.

My body heated up, and a reaction that any man would recognize arose.

It stood up straight.

There was a place that stiffened as strength entered it.

‘Could the princess possibly…?’

Did she do this knowingly to embarrass me?

I tried to pull my hand away in confusion, but my body wouldn’t move as if pinned down.

Liam had no choice but to endure helplessly.

“Thank you, truly thank you.”

Of all times, Ormia smiled with moist eyes and expressed her gratitude.

‘Damn it!’

Liam had to swallow the curse he couldn’t spit out.

He thought she didn’t know what had happened to him.

The princess’s expression as she savored the apple pie like someone who would never eat it again looked happy. But she spoke with an innocent expression, fully aware of Liam’s condition.

“It’s okay. That reaction is normal. It will subside after a while.”

“I know! Since I know, just eat that! Before I snatch it away!”

If she was going to pretend not to know, she should have kept her mouth shut until the end. How embarrassing it was that the heat wouldn’t subside.

She gave the blessing in a place where someone could walk in, knowing what would happen.

‘A shameless, embarrassing woman who knows no shame.’

His body was accustomed to pain.

He hadn’t been allowed proper sleep more than a few times, so he didn’t have the luxury to properly feel his body’s natural reactions.

Liam nervously tapped the armrest.

He had to take Ormia to the Grand Duchy.

She was a benefactor of the Wilboyers and an important Glishian royal.

‘This isn’t good.’

His innocent ears burned hot. Liam muttered again with an ominous premonition.

* * *

The king of Glishia greeted Marx Benum of the empire without hiding his irritation.

Until now, the imperial delegation had been flexible even when they wanted to invite royalty, and had shown ample understanding of Glishia’s position.

But this time was different.

The intensity of the pressure had changed.

Duke Bersi, in charge of the delegation, along with Duke Caland and Duke Windsor, were seated in the king’s reception room.

Duke Windsor was a person who had to be present as he was Princess Leticia’s sponsor.

The king rested his chin on his hand as he reproached Marx.

Today, he intended to pressure Marx into changing from Leticia to Ormia.

“How do you intend to handle this situation? Princess Ormia has become a laughingstock.”

“How can love be a laughingstock? I heard that Princess Ormia has been graciously responding because the delegation is from the empire and she couldn’t refuse. We should be grateful for such generosity.”

“Don’t you think that’s the problem? Ormia divorced not long ago. Such a scandal. What will people think of the princess?”

Caland glared at Marx. The person responsible for the delegation had just been watching idly.

Marx was at ease.

“They would consider it fortunate. An ex-husband who cheated, an abusive in-law family, and a family that doesn’t treat her like their child. At least she’s being courted by a young imperial delegate, so wouldn’t they think happiness has come after misfortune?”

“Marx Benum! What nonsense is this!”

“I’m merely relaying the honest words of the nobles. Your Majesty must be quite troubled.”

The king’s brow furrowed.

Marx had brought up the part that the king was trying hard not to think about.

“Despite being your own daughter, you didn’t even ask about Princess Ormia’s well-being, let alone worry about her when she was injured. All the nobles saw it… My, even I, who was watching, felt embarrassed.”

“…Leticia is my daughter too.”

“Prince Caland only saved Princess Leticia when both princesses were standing close together.”

“Didn’t the imperial guest save Ormia? That’s why Caland saved Leticia.”

Caland’s expression hardened. Duke Bersi clicked his tongue and made excuses on his behalf.

“Let’s leave it at that. But no one among the royalty, not even the dukes, approached Princess Ormia with concern.”

The king clenched his fist inside his sleeve.

There was a widespread rumor among the nobles that one of the delegation members, a man named Hal Runde, was showering Ormia with gifts as he took her around high-end shopping districts. They say he fell in love at first sight.

It would be fine if it ended with just those words, but people were also talking about how he saved Ormia and why he fell in love, recounting the situation at the banquet.

“The Beltoa royals should just take care of Princess Leticia, who isn’t even of legitimate bloodline. We will protect Princess Ormia.”

When the chandelier fell and the imperial delegation cried out while holding Ormia, even the king felt the cold gaze of the nobles.

Though they too were accomplices and bystanders, they covered their own faults and despised the king’s specks.

‘Treacherous bastards.’

Faith may seem solid at a glance, but it can crumble with the smallest crack.