A foreboding thought flashed through her mind as she recalled the time when horses were said to have disappeared, but Yuriel deliberately ignored it.

Surely Hael wouldn’t have sold Brit, his most cherished possession, with his own hands.

Shaking her head, Yuriel resumed the transcription work she had left unfinished a few days ago.

There was nothing better than this to clear her mind of distracting thoughts.

The books she transcribed were mainly about history, culture, and diplomacy.

This work, which she had started in the past to earn money, was quite interesting.

For her, who had lived confined to this small town of Alphonse all her life, these books allowed her to navigate new cities and learn about cultures she had never seen.

Not only that. The stories of foreign princesses, kings, and queens stepping up to achieve diplomatic successes became Yuriel’s hope.

What would I have done in this situation? What if I were on the opposing side?

Such unrealistic fantasies allowed her to escape reality for a moment and imagine a new world.

The macroscopic national affairs and state matters, when examined closely, were directly connected to everyday life, which was also quite interesting.

It had unknowingly planted a new dream in Yuriel.

A dream of someday escaping this Alphonse.

A dream of standing on her own and being with her mother.

The path didn’t naturally appear; she had to search for it quite passionately.

The light she found at the end was very faint, but it became quite a big hope for Yuriel.

If that dream were to come true, she might be able to escape this wretched Alphonse.

Today, too, Yuriel transcribed “The Diplomatic Principles of Calips” in this manner.

The author of this book, who had suffered hardships due to her background as a viscount’s family, eventually seized the position of empress after various trials.

That alone would have been enough to make her famous, but she was able to protect everything she had with her outstanding abilities even after becoming empress, to the extent of writing such an excellent diplomatic treatise.

Her love, and her daughter who was the apple of her eye.

They say honey dripped from the emperor’s eyes when he looked at the empress.

It was an exceptional case, unbelievable even after seeing it again and again.

After all, most noble marriages were arranged for political reasons, not love.

If that’s the case for nobles, how much more difficult would it be for a royal marriage to be based on love?

In that sense, Yuriel admired her.

Without even realizing it herself.

Of course, such an extraordinary event was historically rare and probably wouldn’t happen in this empire, but imagination is free, isn’t it?

The interest grew even stronger when she thought that such diplomatic writings had made that imagination come true.

Just as she was finishing writing down all the details of the conflict, battle, and negotiations between Country A and Country B, there was a knock at the door.

‘What could it be?’

It wasn’t time to meet the young master yet… Was it the butler?

The young master often gave unexpected orders, so it might be possible.

Starting the meal early today, or perhaps telling her to stand by.

Sighing, Yuriel stepped outside, and a chilly air enveloped her body.

The person who had knocked was nowhere to be seen.

Only a note was left lying there.

As she unfolded it, scribbled letters came into view.

There was still half an hour left until breakfast.

‘Suddenly asking me to come up to the rooftop at this hour?’

Although it was strange, considering the young master’s usually capricious nature, it wasn’t that unusual.

Perhaps he intended to skip the meal today. If that was the case, it might be for the best.

It had always been an ordeal to face the young master for meals from morning since entering this house.

When she didn’t eat properly, his red eyes would stare at her penetratingly, making it hard to breathe.

Each time, she had to consciously force herself to eat repeatedly.

It wasn’t a problem with the food. The food was excellent, after all.

It was rather amusing to think that she could remember the taste of the food even in such situations.

With these casual thoughts, she climbed the stairs rather leisurely.

At the end of the staircase, a large door filled Yuriel’s view.

This place, where she had never had reason to come up before, boasted a size far larger than expected.

Even looking up, the sky hung like a picture above the distant glass dome structure, and below, long ivy plants stretched out.

Well-maintained plants displayed their diverse forms in various places, filling the air with fragrant scents.

The warm temperature, close to that of a greenhouse, and the appropriate humidity created a pleasant atmosphere in itself.

Enough to loosen the tension created by the young master’s whim.

From inside, the voices of two people, presumably the young master and the butler, could be heard conversing.

“Today’s daily newspaper reported on the achievements of the new drug development headquarters. It seems we’ll soon receive a communication from the capital.”

New drug development? Does this mean the young master might leave this mansion now?

After a moment of silence, Cassian’s voice flowed out this time.

“Can’t you manage your voice?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your joy is showing too much. Was your time with me that hellish?”

“Th-That’s not possible. I was just so happy thinking that you might be cured, young master…”

After that, there was talk of the party that Lady Blanchet was preparing, an order to attend it at least once, and stories of young ladies from families aiming for engagement.

The future of the young master naturally flowed into Yuriel’s ears as she stood in front of the door.

A future that belonged only to the young master, where she should not be, should disappear.

Soon, the Lady of the Blanchet family would come down here to Alphonse herself, they said.

She must be coming to take the young master away.

Although a terminally ill son might be an unnecessary existence, once cured, he would be the rightful heir to the Blanchet family.

Considering that he had found a cure at an age far too young to end his life, it should be a good thing.

It should also be a blessing that the young master, like any other noble, would meet a suitable young lady of his class and live a proper life.

However, maliciously, she couldn’t bring herself to feel that way.

Her heart sank at the sound that the young master might be given life.

If he leaves like this, what will happen to her and her mother who are dependent on him?

Will they be thrown out onto the streets? What about her mother’s medicine that the young master had been providing?

Even if he hadn’t been summoned to the capital, she would have had to prepare for his end someday.

She had always imagined the young master’s end. It’s natural for those watching a terminally ill patient to be prepared for such things.

The problem was that she hadn’t thought the young master would disappear this quickly.

She had vaguely bound herself with hope that it would come in the distant future, after her mother had found more stability.

As the conversation continued, Yuriel’s anxiety reached its peak.

Finally, as the butler’s report ended and the space fell silent.

Yuriel reached out her hand towards the door.

With a slight creaking sound, a gap opened.

As she stepped through it, she suddenly held her breath.

Through the hazy smoke, something close to a naked body came into view.

Her body froze like a person caught stealing, at the naked body she had inadvertently seen.

As if shackles had been placed all over her body.

While she couldn’t move an inch, something she shouldn’t see was clearly captured in her vision.

‘What is this…’

Countless thoughts flashed through Yuriel’s mind in an instant.

Is this also part of the young master’s prank to simply embarrass her?

Even if that were the case, she had no way to refuse.

Yuriel bit her lip tightly and entered.

A rustling sound echoed through the space, and the previously exposed body slowly turned towards her.

The lower half was submerged in water, but the upper body was completely exposed.

When the red gaze flickered and reached her, Yuriel’s breath stopped.

The light in his eyes above that gaze was fierce, as if it would devour her.

It was a different look from his usual mischievous expression.

His face, which had been distorted as if unable to hide his anger, changed to a different expression upon seeing her face.

However, even that was not the face of someone who had expected her. It was the expression of someone who hadn’t anticipated her coming here at all.

The butler standing beside him discovered her and his expression turned grim.

For a moment, the butler’s words from before flashed through her mind.

The butler’s voice, gritting his teeth, rang in her ears.

“How dare you enter here so recklessly!”

If it had been his order, the butler would have known.

Now she understood.

Someone had played a prank on her, and she had clearly fallen into that trap.

So… coming here had been wrong from the start.

As dizzying thoughts took over her mind, her eyes met the young master’s.

What thoughts were contained in those red eyes that didn’t even try to avoid her gaze, she couldn’t even begin to guess.

In that state, he slowly raised his hand.

At that simple action, the butler glared at her as if he would kill her and disappeared outside.

Click, the door closed, and until only she and the young master were left, he stared at her intently.

His suffocating gaze touched various parts of her body.

It was the young master who was naked, but it felt as if she had been completely stripped.

Her lips wouldn’t move, so she couldn’t even attempt to make excuses.

Her mind instantly turned blank.

There was no room to think about who might have done this.

Would she be thrown out now? No, it would be fortunate if she were just thrown out.

As she tightly closed her eyes, there was a splash, followed by the sound of footsteps filling the space.

Until those steps stopped right in front of her, Yuriel couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes.

A soft hand grasped her chin.

Through her barely opened eyes, she saw red eyes that had come close enough to be right in front of her nose.

Yuriel’s body trembled as she saw herself reflected in Cassian’s eyes.

“Why are you so surprised.”

“……”

“Didn’t you prepare yourself for this much when you entered here?”

The trembling from Yuriel’s face was fully transmitted to Cassian’s hand.

Feeling that vibration, Cassian curled up one corner of his mouth mischievously as usual.

“I didn’t know you had a hobby of voyeurism.”