When I came out of the library, the sun had already tilted for a long time.

“Haah…….”

I don’t want to face the world. It would be nice if there was no one in the study.

But I couldn’t avoid it forever like this. If I wanted to avoid it, the only way was to dismiss the aide and leave the palace.

I had to bear the consequences since I chose this result.

It’s a pity that dear Klaus is involved. He had to endure this awkwardness without any fault.

“As usual. Just like usual.”

I muttered as if casting a spell several times.

“I’m back, Your Highness Crown Prince.”

I hoped the room would be empty, but unfortunately, Klaus was still in his place.

Well, being a crown prince addicted to work, where else could he go? I knew his diligent personality well, yet I still foolishly hoped.

“It took quite a while.”

Klaus’s mouth opened. My heart pounded, but at the same time, I felt relieved.

“I apologize. Actually, I discussed with Viscount Poyerbach about tax revenue.”

I hoped the room would be empty, but unfortunately, Klaus was still in his place.

“Well….”

He didn’t say anything.

After the report, there was nothing more to say. Hesitating for a while, I slightly bent my body, prepared to withdraw, and turned around.

“Are you going to keep avoiding like this?”

An unjust feeling surged up.

Avoiding? I actively tried not to avoid and returned to this study.

I turned my body to look at Klaus.

“…….”

However, I couldn’t say anything. He had such a pained expression.

And what made him like this was me.

“….I’m sorry.”

I didn’t make excuses.

In the end, I hadn’t eaten anything all day.

I didn’t even want to eat anything, and if I put something in my stomach, it felt like I would vomit it right back up.

“Ugh…….”

I couldn’t even drink tea. The scent of tea made me nauseous.

“Huu……”

I must go to the pharmacy tomorrow. I needed medicine to settle my stomach.

By the way, I should see Lumi soon.

I needed to figure out what Lumi was thinking and use him to understand the movements of Marquess Mecklinger.

A hidden sword, coated with honey on the mouth and a hidden knife in the stomach.

That was my attitude towards dealing with Lumi.

They say people in love can do anything. That’s exactly how I looked. Ironically, despite rejecting Klaus’s confession, I was so proactive in stabbing Lumi in the back.

I was really no good, Musel.

“It’s okay; I’ve decided to live for Klaus’s happiness anyway.”

Muttering that, I sat in front of the desk. I wrote a note to send to Lumi.

“Alright, let’s send it like this.”
I deliberately chose strong expressions. That way, won’t Lumi get angry and come running immediately?

I felt sorry for Lumi, but it couldn’t be helped to take the initiative.

If my heart softened and I tried to compromise, I would only be manipulated by him until the end.

And going this forcefully had its own reasons that I believed in.

There was no way the meeting between Lumi and Klaus today could have been romantic.

Klaus met Lumi right after I rejected his confession; do you think there would have been a warm smile there?

Lumi must have been confused as well. And while trying to figure out what was going on, receiving such a strong provocation like this…

“…I will be in control.”

I wouldn’t stop Lumi from reacting, and I wouldn’t be pushed aside by the nobles, including Lumi, trying to sway public opinion to their side.

Lumi, you may want to become the heroine and desire Klaus, but it will be difficult to defeat me for such a reason.

Because I sincerely love him.

It was time to slip a note to Lumi through the crack in the door to be sent the next day, as I was about to step out to go to work.

“Musel Kyeong!”

“Oh, Gretchen.”

Maid Gretchen approached, shaking hands as if she were glad.

“Oh, why does your face look like that, Musel Kyeong? You look exhausted as if you stayed up all night.”

“Maybe because I went to bed late.”

Not really, but I also looked at myself in the mirror and was a bit surprised. Can my face become so wrinkled in just one day?

Gretchen shrugged her shoulders.

“Everyone’s acting strange. Even the head chef was depressed all day yesterday.”

“The head chef?”

“Yes. His Highness barely ate half of his meal. He looked extremely depressed, saying it tasted so bad.”

“Oh, dear. But be careful not to talk about such things recklessly, Gretchen. It might lead to speculation about the Crown Prince’s condition.”

When I warned her, Gretchen’s complexion suddenly changed dramatically.

“Oh! Musel Kyeong, what I said was an absolute secret!”

“I know. Still, be careful next time.”

Gretchen vigorously nodded with a tearful face and hurriedly ran back the way she came.

“…….”

Feeling sorry, I watched Gretchen’s retreating figure.

She asked me to keep the secret, but I intended to give her a gentle warning.

The amount of Klaus’s meal was one of the confidential matters that should not be disclosed because it was an important clue to confirm his health status.

Although Gretchen had no ill intentions, I couldn’t help it because Klaus was much more precious to me.

Rules and principles were there to be kept; if I accidentally broke them, I had to pay the price.

“Sorry, Gretchen.”

She wouldn’t hear it, but I apologized.

Today, Rutz was in charge of Klaus’s security. As soon as I entered the floor with the study, he appeared, and I greeted him lightly.
“Today, Rutz is accompanying you, right? I’ll count on you.”

“Haha, Musel Kyeong. I went to a pub yesterday, and the owner said that. ‘What’s the handsome friend up to these days?'”

“Even without that, I’ve been craving that seasoned meat from that place. I should visit soon.”

Strangely, conversations with Rutz made my heart feel at ease. Perhaps because there was no pressure.

“It might be awkward to drink alone, so why don’t you join me, Musel Kyeong?”

“No need to worry; I truly wasn’t drunk.”

In response to my words, Rutz brushed it off with his characteristic hearty laughter.

“Alright. Since you think I wasn’t drunk, just don’t drink alone next time.”

I decided. Next time, I would really drink just a little.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached. Klaus was coming.

“!”

We quickly finished the morning greetings. Then, before Klaus appeared, I swiftly entered my office.

“Phew.”

Standing in front of the desk, I adjusted my appearance and prepared to greet Klaus.

After a while, the door opened, and he entered. I bowed my head in greeting.

“Did you sleep well, Your Highness?”

“……. ”

Without any response, he went straight to the sofa and sat down.

As if sensing the awkward atmosphere between Klaus and me, the chamberlain looked at me as if checking.

But I couldn’t say anything.

As usual, I began with the accumulated administrative reports overnight.

“There’s a message from the palace. His Majesty said that this year’s hunting competition will be hosted by Your Highness and requests confirmation.”

The hunting season for the capital nobles was in winter.

Therefore, as spring approached and the hunting season ended, it was customary for the imperial palace to open the hunting grounds for the prince and hold a hunting competition.

As it was hosted by the imperial family, all self-proclaimed nobles participated.

In the original work, this event also took place, and Eveline and Viscount Poyerbach, the couple, participated as well.

The hunting episode occurred when the confrontation between the heroine and the villainess was at its peak.

Villainess Elfriede, using the pretext of the hunt in the dense forest, armed herself with a bow and dagger, attempting to harm the heroine Eveline.

Fortunately, Eveline, noticing the suspicious signs, overcame the crisis by sticking close to the male lead Klaus throughout the competition.

It was only natural that their relationship deepened even further.

What would happen this time? Since the original and the story have changed, this hunting competition episode will also change in some way.