“Valter, I really came here worrying about you. Everything I said about not being rude to Cedric was because I was worried about you. I was afraid of what would happen if you angered Cedric.”

“…Then you can rescue me when that happens.”

“I’ll try my best, but to Cedric, I’m just an insignificant person. I don’t know how much he’ll listen to my request.”

So, she said that preventing any potential problems in advance wouldn’t be a bad idea, and Odette earnestly warned Cedric.
It was only then that Valter recalled Odette not knowing Cedric’s true intentions. And Odette, in turn, could now understand that Cedric wasn’t trying to deceive her but was merely lowering herself in front of him for Valter’s sake.

Odette was genuinely worried about Valter. “So… I said those things because I was worried that I might have upset you. That’s why I came here quickly.”

Seeing his wife explain earnestly, Valter found himself smiling unintentionally. “Why are you so worried?”

“But your voice seemed angry.”

“Do you care about my feelings?”

“Of course. I’m… your wife.”

Odette wiped Valter’s cheek, saying that it’s only natural to wish for his happiness. The sensation of her golden eyes, which seemed like they could taste sweetness when her tongue touched them, looking at him with a concerned gaze, felt both unfamiliar and familiar.

It brought back a sensation that made him recall the past. The reason was simple. Even when Odette used to call Valter ‘Duke Ertman’, she often looked at him like this.

Valter, I hope you become happy, Duke Ertman.

Even during such moments, did that gaze indicate some sign of affection?

Why do people who wish for his happiness always have such eyes?

‘…As if I’m someone special.’

Continuously receiving those eyes makes me unable to discard unnecessary desires.

Valter clicked his tongue inwardly and turned his head.

“Odette, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Is it about Cedric, my brother? Still, there was something wrong with you. Ignoring several letters? Do you know how surprised I was when I heard it was about insulting the aristocracy?”

“I’ll be more careful from now on, so stop bringing him up. If you keep doing that, I might really want to have another private meeting with him.”

“By the way, didn’t you say there was something to discuss with Cedric?”

“That was a lie. I had no excuse to make you wait.”

“What, what did you say?”

Odette’s eyes widened with a sense of betrayal, but Valter faintly smiled and kissed Odette’s forehead.

“So, let’s go back.”

To our home.

Ambitious night.

“As ordered, withdrawal is complete, Your Excellency. We’ve confirmed that there’s nothing unusual in the vicinity and the entire unit has returned to the palace.”

“You’ve worked late, Arnold. You’ve done well.”

Under Cedric’s light praise, Arnold nodded lightly. “It’s Your Excellency’s order; it’s only natural. By the way, I was a bit surprised.”

“Why?”
“Until recently, didn’t you say you would imprison Duke Ertman? However, you suddenly let him go without any issue, so I thought it wasn’t like you, Your Excellency.”

“Ah, that’s right. Originally, I intended to capture him.”

Cedric, as if sharing an amusing story, took off his glasses and placed them on the table. The glasses, which he occasionally wore when reviewing documents at night, and the straight silver hair covering his forehead made him appear even softer.

Thanks to them, Cedric, during such times, seemed more like a personable desk ornament thoroughly distinguishing between justice and personal feelings rather than a cynical crown prince.

If you looked into his inner thoughts, there was a cold-blooded person who, even to his only close friend, unhesitatingly used the term ‘capture.’ Nevertheless.

In Cedric’s right hand, leaning loosely on the desk, the pen spun around casually. “Anyway, trying to imprison Valter would only be a futile gesture, as Arnold wouldn’t stay still. The issue of imprisoning Valter isn’t that important.”

“Then…?”

“Imprisoning Valter would have made it easier to divorce Odette. I hurried back thinking it might be necessary.”

With a click of his tongue, Arnold, feeling like he couldn’t quite understand Cedric’s words, gave him a tap on the back of his head.

In fact, Arnold didn’t quite understand why His Excellency disliked Duke Ertman so much. It seemed Duke Ertman wasn’t persecuting Princess Heir apparent at all.

The Odette Arnold met today seemed to be doing very well. She looked even more radiant than when she was in the palace, gaining weight and exhibiting a healthy glow on her skin.

‘When she was in the palace, honestly… she didn’t leave an impressive impression.’

Although Cedric refrained from making any particular remarks, Odette didn’t make an immediately favorable impression.

She seemed too plain for a princess, and her somewhat withered appearance wasn’t particularly pleasant to look at.

But the Odette in Ertman presented herself as a well-bred lady, fitting the title of Duke’s wife very well.

So, isn’t it natural to find it perplexing?

“Why can’t we go after Duke Ertman, Your Excellency?”