That night, Idren left her alone and did not return for a long time. Ophelia went to bed without waiting for him.

When she opened her eyes the next day, she saw that new medicine had been applied to the wound on her leg. The wound was finished in the way she had seen once before.

Still half asleep, Idren, who was neatly dressed, said to her as she chewed her breakfast in bed.

“I think I’ll have to go to today’s appointment alone. I have things to do.”

Ophelia nodded to the man who had changed his words in a day. Idren stared at her and said.

“It’s okay if you come back a little late.”

Even if he didn’t say that, Ophelia was going to come back whenever she wanted, but she didn’t bother to correct it.

After finishing the meal, Idren waited for her to get ready and saw her off. He personally put her in the carriage and said.

“Have a safe trip.”

Ophelia realized that he was more attentive than other days. It was true that he was the type to take care of this and that, but today it seemed excessive.

But before she could say anything, Idren closed the carriage door.

Ophelia looked at the knights running at the same speed as the carriage in the slowly departing carriage. They were all faces she couldn’t remember well.

Since the meeting with Netepel was on the boat, the carriage stopped at the dock. One of the knights Idren had attached helped her out of the carriage.

At the dock was a boat sent by Netepel. From that boat, decorated with silk and flowers, descended the attendant she had seen yesterday. The man who said he was Netepel’s attendant.

“Nice to see you again. Princess.”

And the attendant tried to help her board the boat. However, before he could do so, the knight Idren had attached to her extended his hand to her.

The knight helped her board the boat, then whispered softly.

“My name is Hazel.”

When Ophelia turned around at the sudden introduction, she winked at her. It was as if a secret signal had passed between them.

Ophelia turned her head as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

Since the boat was small, the number of people who could be accompanied was limited. If she took her maid with her, only about two knights could accompany her. Since Idren’s knights were six, that would mean four would remain on land.

Netepel’s attendant said that not all the knights could be taken, adding.

“His Highness the Prince was very concerned about safety, so you don’t have to worry.”

But the knight – Hazel – was adamant.

“We all have to go together.”

“His Highness the Prince of Luntalis will guarantee your safety.”

“Of course, His Highness the Prince of Luntalis is a trustworthy person, but my lord is the King of Aglante.”

And Hazel added with a stern face.

“No one is unaware of the fact that my lord and Her Highness the Princess of Leden are engaged, right?”

Ophelia, who had been watching them talk, asked.

“Then why don’t you just ask them to send one more boat?”

Hazel was delighted as soon as she said that. On the other hand, Netepel’s attendant did not look happy at all. Ophelia, who became curious, asked the attendant.

“Is it difficult to get two boats out in this situation?”

“…No. There are enough boats, so we will do as Her Highness the Princess says.”

And the attendant instructed those who followed him to prepare one more boat.

Seeing this, Ophelia thought she should tell Netepel that his attendant seemed dull. Seeing that he didn’t think of it himself, he seemed a bit lacking.

Soon, two boats began to cross the water.

Hazel, who was on the same boat as her, kept smiling. Ophelia turned her head to avoid the red-haired knight whose smile was burdensome.

It didn’t take long to reach the main ship.

When the boat touched the main ship, which was also decorated with flowers and silk, a small ladder was lowered. The ladder was also decorated with five colors. Ophelia stepped on it.

When she had almost climbed the ladder, a hand suddenly reached out. Ophelia grabbed that hand. The hand also grabbed her.

As soon as she realized it was Netepel’s hand, he pulled her up. When she was lifted in an instant and came over into the boat, Ophelia could see a young man with golden hair.

Under the brilliantly shattering midday sun, her friend with red eyes and a beautiful face held her hand and smiled brightly.

“Hello, Ophelia.”

Taeran Rohos had nothing to fear in the world.

He was a powerful figure in the south. All the southern lords were allied with him and treated him with respect.

It was not only the same lords who bowed their heads to him. Leden’s Prince Mahanas also borrowed money from him and called him a friend.

Taeran felt pleasure whenever that extravagant prince was conscious of him. The royals were always lofty, with their noses up in the air. Especially the royals of Mevasa, Luntalis, and Sigrasal seemed to have more of that because of their pride in being chosen.

And one of them, Mevasa, bowed his head to him.

The one who was close to him was not only the Prince of Leden. Taeran was also acquainted with Netepel, the second prince of Egelbamat.

Although the second prince of Egelbamat did not owe him anything unlike Prince Mahanas, just being on friendly terms with an imperial prince was a great thing in itself.

Just as much as he knew how to treat those who owed him, Taeran also knew how to treat imperial princes.

Ironically, what he lacked, while having connections with both the Mevasa and Luntalis families, was a connection with his own country’s royal family, Sigrasal.

He was a southern lord, but in his country Aglante, the central forces were gathered in the north. This was because the capital Edegroon was located in the north.

And Edegroon was already densely packed with existing forces.

The first prince, who would become the next king, was supported by his mother’s country Brinwell and the capital’s Council of Elders. He didn’t need the southern forces.

Therefore, Taeran could not enter Aglante’s upper society, Edegroon.

It was around that time that the rebellion broke out.

It was said that the youngest prince, who was out in the border region, led the army at the border and marched south.

The youngest prince hanged his father and three brothers and sat on his father’s seat. Queen Isde, who fled to her home country Brinwell with her grandson, died from the shock of losing her three sons.

The nobles of the capital, who were the existing forces, were very displeased with the fourth prince sitting on the throne. They openly revealed that they did not want to serve a half-baked king.

Taeran took advantage of that opportunity and made his move. He had already seen the case of Prince Netepel.

It was a well-known fact that Luntalis’ second prince was subjected to all kinds of mistreatment when he was young. However, the grown-up prince was still an imperial prince, no matter what. Even the nobles who had a lot to say about him ended up being conscious of him.

Seeing this, Taeran realized. Just as their mixed lowly blood does not disappear, the royal lineage is also firm.

So when the young king was going through a period of chaos, clashing with the nobles of the capital, he took his side.

The Council of Elders argued that Lemetel’s son, who had fled to Brinwell, should be made the new king, but that was just a stupid thing to say.

The prince was not even five years old. On the other hand, the prince who rebelled and took the throne was a young man in his twenties.

It was obvious who was closer to the throne without even having to measure it.

Of course, the nobles of Edegroon could not readily support the new king as they had ties with Brinwell. But Taeran, who had no ties with Brinwell, could move freely.

And his choice was right. The new king eventually solidified his throne. It happened even before the prince supported by the Council of Elders arrived at Aglante’s port.

Taeran thought he was finally included in the central forces.

The new king was grateful to him. If he just kneaded it well, the young man who was not even twenty-five would fall into his hands.

Since he was born out of wedlock and had no in-laws, if he did well, he might be able to take that position.

As if the heavens were on his side, the young king’s bride was from Leden. She was the young sister of the Prince of Leden, who was conscious of him.

Only then did the other nobles who grasped the situation begin to envy him.

Taeran flaunted his friendship with the king in front of them. The young king also considered him important.

“Release the beasts brought from the southern islands and set up a night banquet playground!”

As he urged the attendants, Taeran recalled what the king had said at breakfast today.

“My schedule is empty, so I can go hunting.”

And the young man looked at him and smiled. Taeran thought it was a smile that showed their friendship. What else could it mean other than saying that he would go to the hunting ground with him, putting aside even his appointment with his fiancée?

Taeran thought he would definitely build a bond with the king at this hunting ground.

Since he was a man who would soon get married, he could give some advice on how to handle women and married life. Taeran thought of himself as a senior-like figure to young men.

Despite his age, he took good care of his body and took pride in that fact.

It wasn’t that important that his wife ran away with their daughter to escape such a husband, or that he had to lay hands on a young child due to decreased sexual function.

What kind of man in the world doesn’t have that degree of flaws? His wife and daughter were complaining a lot because they grew up preciously.

Looking at the attendants preparing the hunting ground according to his orders, Taeran had no doubt that this hunt was an opportunity to get closer to the king.

His expectations were not wrong.

The king listened to him. As he rode alone with the young man into the hunting ground, Taeran taught him how to treat his wife.

“Women are cunning, so if you let them loose once, they will crawl up endlessly. So you have to break them down from the first night.”

The young man seemed to be deeply pondering something as he listened to his words. Taeran felt a slight sense of elation at the fact that he was listening to his words. It was the feeling that a good-looking and high-status young man recognized him.

He added.

“Especially the prettier they are, the more ill-mannered they tend to be, so you have to tame them well.”

“…Do you think so?”

And the king pulled out an arrow and wiped the tip. It seemed he was preparing for prey to appear. Taeran explained to the man who still knew nothing.

“Of course. Let me tell you one more thing, women are most attractive when they don’t know their own worth. They have to think they are worthless to be obedient.”

And Taeran thought the young man behind him was lucky in that respect.

The Princess of Leden, whom he had seen at the banquet, was so good-looking that her body was freezing. She hadn’t changed much from when she was young.

She had innocent eyes, slender and delicate hands and feet, and her flawlessly white skin looked soft at a glance.

Her body was pure, never touched once, and her personality would also be obedient, having been tamed by her brother since childhood.

To have the opportunity to defile such a woman.

Suddenly, a regret arose that he should have bought her first from Prince Mahanas before the Princess of Leden became the king’s fiancée.

But it was already too late. Taeran unintentionally let out his true feelings.

“Your Majesty is very lucky.”

The young man agreed with his words.

“Yes, you are right.”

Taeran realized that his voice was coming from behind him more than he thought. At the ominous sound of a creak, he looked back.

The king was aiming a bow at him.