Now that Isolla is about to return to Etra, what’s with that arrogant attitude when things are already not looking good?

‘Ah.’

Is it that Isolla’s opinion doesn’t matter anyway since Etra can’t refuse Hilic’s marriage proposal? Then why did you keep seeking out Isolla in the meantime? Weren’t you interested in her?

‘More importantly, can these two really get married like this?’

Cahirun and Isolla were glaring at each other as if they would devour one another. To anyone watching, it would look like they were fighting over someone they liked rather than a couple about to be married.

“I’m hearing Your Highness’s voice for the first time today. I think it would have been fine if I hadn’t heard it at all.”

Isolla twisted her lips.

“Then you shouldn’t have asked.”

Cahirun raised an eyebrow.

“Oh my, and here I was, trying to strike up a conversation several times out of frustration, only to be ignored.”

“I didn’t want to mix words with you.”

“Why did you decide to answer today to someone you so desperately didn’t want to talk to?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you that.”

My eyes moved back and forth as if watching a table tennis match.

Neither of them backed down an inch, making it look like a battle between spears. Cahirun, in particular, had a completely different attitude from when he was dealing with me. He responded languidly, but his annoyance was evident.

“You don’t seem pleased that I’m here.”

“Fortunately, it seems you have some sense.”

Cahirun glanced at the door as if to say ‘if you understand, then leave’. In response to this clear dismissal, Isolla instead leaned back on the sofa. Cahirun raised his eyebrows.

“Now that you’ve finally started talking, let me ask you one thing. Why have you been visiting me all this time?”

“I had business.”

“After sitting like a stone statue, not saying a word and making people’s insides churn, what kind of business…”

Isolla, who had been frowning and responding to Cahirun, suddenly turned to look at me. Then she let out an “Ah” as if realizing something. Her face, which had been full of irritation, now showed signs of amusement.

“Thanks to Your Highness, I’m currently under marriage pressure from Etra, which puts me in a very difficult situation.”

Cahirun tilted his head as if it was none of his business. He seemed to be getting increasingly annoyed by the endless bickering.

“When I return to Etra, the King of Hilic will send a marriage proposal to our side, won’t he?”

“That won’t happen.”

Cahirun cut her off. Isolla nodded.

“Yes, I don’t think it will.”

With those words, Isolla stretched her lips as if satisfied. It seemed that both had confirmed their lack of intention to marry each other. Though I’m not sure what that has to do with the series of conversations.

Anyway, I hadn’t expected both of them to be so repulsed by each other. I could understand Isolla, but I thought Cahirun had intentions of marrying her. But.

‘Even so, you two are destined to be married soon.’

I looked at the two of them with pity.

The King’s chronic illness would only worsen, and marriage was essential to succeed to the throne. Cahirun, unable to quietly let Eric usurp the throne, would take Isolla’s hand and hold the ceremony.

‘That’s your future, you two.’

“I’m sorry, Reneola.”

With Cahirun’s permission, I was escorting Isolla to the front of the First Prince’s Palace when her sudden apology made me tilt my head.

“I like you, but not as much as I love myself.”

“…Pardon?”

I wondered if Isolla had been talking about me behind my back somewhere, but she kept saying more and more incomprehensible things.

“If it’s you… Yes. It’ll be fine. Actually, what can we do if it’s not fine? You’ve already caught his eye.”

“Princess, what on earth…”

“But well…”

Isolla furrowed her brow, thinking hard about something for a while, then finally seemed to come up with something and said,

“At least his face is decent.”

It was better when he wore that gloomy mask.

Isolla took my hand with a look that seemed sorry, pitying, and somehow grateful.

“He doesn’t seem like the type to let go easily, but if you ever get divorced later, or if you can’t stand it and have to run away, come find me. I’ll help you with all my heart.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about from before.”

Divorce when we’re not even married? Who am I supposed to be marrying? I couldn’t follow Isolla’s words.

“Just, thank you.”

Isolla stroked my hand.

“I’ll be leaving in a few days, but since we’ll probably meet again soon, I won’t say a long goodbye.”

I nodded. Yes, we would meet again soon. Standing next to Cahirun at the wedding venue.

I saw Isolla off without understanding why she kept looking at me with pity until the end.

“Did the princess say anything unnecessary?”

As soon as I returned to the office, Cahirun asked abruptly. Why are they both cutting out the context?

“What kind of words do you mean?”

Cahirun stared at me for a moment before turning his gaze to the documents.

“So she didn’t say anything.”

Did these people conspire to make others frustrated?

I looked glumly at Cahirun as he skimmed through the documents without replying. Then suddenly, I recalled what Princess Isolla had said.

‘Wait a minute.’

Could it be that Isolla misunderstood the relationship between Cahirun and me? Yes, that was the only reason for her to say such things out of the blue. I don’t know where she got such a misunderstanding from, but.

‘In a different sense, I did catch his eye.’

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of how she could think that way about us, who were clearly in a superior-subordinate relationship.

“What are you thinking about, laughing to yourself?”

Cahirun asked, resting his chin on his hand while staring at me. If I tell him about this misunderstanding, he might ring the bell for me to wake up at 3 o’clock instead of 4. I shook my head, pretending not to know, and Cahirun raised an eyebrow but didn’t ask further.

“I’ll be away from the palace for a day or so in a few days. I’m thinking of inspecting the Hambert territory.”

Isn’t Hambert the region where it’s been raining continuously? Damn. I’m already tired just thinking about it.

“I’ll prepare for it.”

But when the boss says go, you have to go. What can you do? I answered weakly, and Cahirun smirked.

“You stay here.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard the rivers have overflowed everywhere and it’s a mess. It’ll be hard to move around.”

“Really?”

I thought I’d be trudging through mud all day, but hearing I don’t have to go, I clapped my hands in delight without realizing it. Moreover, if Cahirun wasn’t around, it meant I could sleep soundly.

“Seeing you so happy makes me want to change my mind.”

Cahirun narrowed his eyes and glared at me. Since he was the type of man who might really change his mind at any moment, I quickly hid my expression. Cahirun chuckled and called me closer.

Cahirun tapped his finger on an envelope on the desk. Curious, I looked at it, and he said nonchalantly,

“Information about me to be delivered to the Second Prince’s consort.”

“Ack.”

I coughed, choking on dry air. Cahirun, who had come around the desk, patted my back.

“Are you that moved?”

“Ah, no… Why, why are you giving this to me…”

“Didn’t you want to help the Second Prince’s consort by leaking my information?”

I rolled my eyes while coughing lightly. Wait, why is he saying this with a smile? Is he playing some kind of mean prank? But it didn’t seem like it.

‘What’s going on? Why is he doing this? Why is he giving me this?’

I couldn’t understand why this man was suddenly acting like this. After a brief contemplation, I came up with two plausible theories.

One was that he was testing me. To confirm if I really liked him and entered the First Prince’s Palace for that reason. But Cahirun never believed for a moment that I liked him.

The second was that the information he handed over was fake. He was planning to use me in reverse to catch Floria’s weakness.

‘It must be the latter, right?’

If so, if I deliver this and get into trouble, my heart will be in trouble too.

Yes, I decided not to take it. I resolved to stick to my claim that I didn’t want such information and that I really entered the First Prince’s Palace because I liked him.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, the corners of Cahirun’s lips twitched. He sat on the desk with a face that was clearly trying to hold back laughter and poked my forehead.

“This little head of yours is working busily, isn’t it?”

Cahirun waved the envelope in front of my eyes.

“This is information about an iron mine I’m planning to acquire. I received information that there are other minerals besides iron buried there. If that’s true, it’s a gold mine that will rake in money.”

“Why are you telling me such important information? If I really take this to Lady Floria, you’ll suffer a loss, won’t you?”

As I looked at him suspiciously, Cahirun raised one corner of his mouth.

“I’m glad you’re worried about me.”

Is this really a joke? I narrowed my eyes.

“I won’t suffer any losses. If you really don’t need it, forget it. But this is real. I swear on my honor.”

Cahirun put on a confident expression and withdrew the documents.

As I watched the documents move away, I felt my resolve weaken. In fact, it was about time for Floria to call for me. If I went empty-handed then, I couldn’t guarantee how she would react.

In the end, I accepted the documents he offered. If it had been the First Prince with whom I had no personal relationship, I might have hesitated to extract Cal’s information, but there was no reason to refuse when he was handing it over himself.

However, by accepting this, the reason I had been claiming with a straight face for entering the First Prince’s Palace—

“No matter how much you like me, it’s not easy to cut ties with your sister, is it?”

Cahirun smiled broadly.