Amelia, who said she would be away for a while at the banquet of Count Perge, did not return for a long time.

She clearly said she was going to the lounge, but would it take this long?

Leoprick excused himself from Count Perge, with whom he was conversing, and headed towards the lounge.

It was a banquet she attended before fully recovering from fatigue.

No matter how comfortable socializing was, he couldn’t help but worry in many ways.

By the time he reached the lounge, he met Arnold running towards him in a hurry.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince! You were here!”

“Arnold, what’s the matter?”

“Well, there’s something I need to report to you for a moment…”

Arnold was a born writer, but he learned basic martial arts and was in good physical shape.

For him to run like that, unable to even breathe properly, what could be the matter?

Leoprick waited for Arnold to catch his rough breath, continuously thinking of the worst-case scenario.

Just in case the worst situation he assumed was reported, so as not to be too surprised.

“I heard there was an intruder at Waynes Castle.”

However, the words that came out of Arnold’s mouth, who barely caught his breath, were something he never expected.

[This is the timeline separator]

The message from Waynes was as follows.

Before Count Daeon, who said he would take a closer look and return out of guilt for not securing Isolde’s Tears, left, intruders entered Waynes Castle.

Although the intruders did not directly speak, it is said that what they were aiming for was the underground warehouse where the auction items were stored.

Reporting this fact, Arnold also conveyed the story that Count Daeon decided to stay in Waynes for a while longer.

“No one was hurt?”

“Although the skills of the intruders were excellent, Count Daeon was the first to discover them, and fortunately, the knights on night patrol noticed quickly, so there were no major casualties.”

“That’s a relief.”

Leoprick was lost in thought for a moment while listening to Arnold’s report in an empty room.

Daeon clearly said he would follow right after Leoprick and Amelia left.

If it was before he left, it meant that the mastermind was also trying to find something at the auction.

“Was the mastermind revealed?”

“They all committed suicide before the interrogation even began.”

“They’re not amateurs.”

Committing suicide before information leaks out.

A fact that mercenaries or assassins should know if they are well-trained.

Leoprick stared out the window with an uncomfortable face, lost in thought.

“How much longer did Count Daeon say he would stay?”

“There was no such mention, and he only said that he would investigate the mastermind of the intrusion along with suspicious circumstances spotted from the lord of Waynes Castle while capturing the intruders, and return afterwards.”

“From the lord of Waynes Castle? What do you mean by that?”

Suspicious circumstances to be detected from the lord of Waynes Castle.

Leoprick thought about what suspicious circumstances could be detected from the owner of the castle when intruders stormed the castle, and suddenly remembered the incident at the festival.

I heard they had a large budget accumulated since the time of the previous lord, but not much was coming up to the capital.

Recalling the conversation he had with Amelia while enjoying the festival in Waynes, Leoprick thought it was also necessary to investigate that while he was at it.

“I was told that even though they reported an intruder and it was quite close to the lord’s office, the lord appeared only after the entire situation was over.”

“You mean the lord appeared last when there was an intrusion in the castle?”

“Count Daeon captured two or three with the knights, and he seemed quite flustered by that fact.”

“Tell Count Daeon to find out about the tax details of Waynes while he’s staying there. Whether there are any secret ledgers, and if not, tell him to secure the property inventory of Waynes Castle.”

Leoprick recalled the lord of Waynes, who looked kind, with a chilling face.

If he’s dirty behind the scenes unlike his appearance, he should be duly punished.

“Understood.”

“If the relationship between the intruders and the lord is revealed during the investigation, or if something related to the lord’s corruption is discovered, instruct them to escort the criminals to the capital without delay.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A concise and cold conversation without any frills.

Arnold glanced at the side face of his master, who was staring out the window with a face that looked like it would cut if touched.

A face that the current Crown Princess would probably never know.

More familiar with this than the sunny and soft appearance in front of the Crown Princess, he opened his mouth, ruminating on the instructions he just received without much reluctance.

“Shall I inform Her Highness as well?”

Most of Waynes’ taxes are paid by merchant groups.

So, just in case, judging that the help of the merchant groups in Waynes might be needed, Leoprick shook his head at Arnold’s question.

“There’s no need to add more work to someone who’s already busy. Since the Jenit Company is also owned by the Vermerian family, we can ask for help from there if necessary.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Then I will do so.”

“Okay. You may leave.”

At Leoprick’s gesture, Arnold bowed his head and left his seat.

He watched Arnold completely close the door and leave, then turned his eyes back to the window.

He wanted to go to Waynes himself and resolve the matter, but considering the upcoming events, it was unreasonable to leave Amelia’s side.

If what the intruders were aiming for was really Isolde’s Tears, the first person he suspected was Lloyd Alois.

The very person who stole Isolde’s Tears and is constantly approaching Amelia.

The intrusion into Waynes Castle was something that didn’t happen in his previous life, so he thought he should find out more, but he still had leeway.

If his past memory is correct, the masterminds can be predicted to some extent.

What he wants to protect in the time he has returned to is only Amelia.

For her and for himself who will stand by her side.

So now, the most important thing first, and the rest can be delegated to others and proceed slowly.

For now, he should be mindful that Amelia doesn’t come into contact with Lloyd.

Because he doesn’t know what Lloyd, who obtained Isolde’s Tears from her in the past, will do.

Although it seems like Amelia is firmly rejecting him now, who knows?

Lloyd, who stops at nothing for his own purposes.

He should tell them to strengthen the guard around her a little more.

After looking out the window a little longer, he soon turned his gaze and took a step.

To stand by her side again.

[This is the timeline separator]

At the banquet, Amelia met Lloyd.

And she turned away from him.

Why?

On the carriage back to the imperial palace after the banquet, Leoprick kept thinking about it.

Could it be that Amelia has figured out Lloyd’s true intentions?

That she realized how sinister and cunning he is, a brutal person who doesn’t care about anything but himself?

In Waynes, on the way back, and at Count Perge’s banquet today.

Amelia rejected and pushed Lloyd away countless times.

She, who would have ran to Lloyd anytime without hesitation.

While feeling doubtful, he really thought she might have cut ties with Lloyd.

Lloyd almost parasitically used Amelia to ascend to the throne.

Everything he had built up, including his reputation, was all achieved through Amelia’s schemes and dedication.

But what if she really took her hands off Lloyd?

The Lloyd he knows will never give up the throne, so he will surely try to find another way.

He may try to find someone to replace Amelia or find a force.

To do so, he may try to repeat what happened in the past.

Leoprick was convinced that the one who sneaked into Waynes Castle was one of Lloyd’s forces.

It was Lloyd who stole Isolde’s Tears, but it wasn’t him who kept it.

Otherwise, why would Amelia have had to find it?

Could it be that someone else kept it by mistake or intentionally sold it?

And if Lloyd, who is trying to regain his past glory without Amelia, says he needs the jewel, and they urgently tried to retrieve it?

He thought the Waynes incident was similar.

On the way from Waynes to the capital, there is one duchy and two marquisates.

And Waynes is adjacent to all three of those territories.

With the sea at the back and large territories at the front, it wouldn’t be strange if some of the lord’s taxes flowed there.

And if one of them sent intruders to the castle, it would explain the lord’s suspicious behavior.

As soon as he returns to the imperial palace, he should send a letter to Daeon to investigate the lord’s office or his relationship with the neighboring territories.

Leoprick was so lost in thought that he didn’t even realize how Amelia across from him was looking at him.

If he had noticed, he would have received a worried gaze and inwardly grinned, missing that moment.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Did you already contact Count Daeon?”

As soon as he returned to the imperial palace, the place he headed to was the office where Arnold would be.

Arnold, who was organizing his desk, gasped when he saw his master burst through the door.

“Ye-, yes! I just sent it and I’m on my way back.”

“Really? You sent it already?”

“Yes!”

Knowing him better than anyone else who never allows delays in work, Arnold had hurriedly finished his task.

But today, Leoprick wasn’t so pleased about it.

He narrowed his eyes and let out a small sigh.

“Unfortunately, you’ll have to send another letter with different content than the one you just sent.”

“Yes! It should have left the castle by now… Pardon?”

At his words, Arnold made a stupid face.

It was a face that said, I sent the fastest cavalry as quickly as possible, what is this about?

But whether he made that face or not, Leoprick hurriedly sat down and picked up a quill pen.

And he wrote a new letter with the contents he had thought of on the way and the instructions he would give to Daeon.

There is circumstantial evidence, so all that remains is to secure physical evidence.

He told Daeon to keep a close eye on the lord of Waynes and carefully examine the surrounding territories.

The territories of Ballua and Felice, who had joined hands with Lloyd in the past, are close by.

It would be reasonable to assume that one of the two was behind this incident.

After quickly writing the letter, Leoprick tightly sealed the envelope and handed it to the dumbfounded Arnold.

“Tell him to catch up with the one ahead and hand this over. Don’t confuse Count Daeon unnecessarily.”

“Uh, uh… Yes! Your Highness! I will do so!”

At the command thrown in a decisive voice, Arnold came to his senses with a start.

Receiving the letter envelope, he dashed out of the office and ran down the corridor like an arrow.

Leoprick, who was watching him, also left the office and slowly walked down the corridor.

Did Amelia really abandon Lloyd?

After returning, he’s been trying his best to turn her heart back to him, but Amelia kept slipping away, seemingly within reach yet out of grasp.

A person who moves far away every time he thinks they’ve gotten a little closer.

What should he do to win her heart?

Leoprick pondered for a moment and hurriedly moved his steps.

When in doubt, the direct approach is the best.

So he willingly decided to utilize everything he had.

Face, body, even down to the scent.

“I was thinking, how about we consummate our marriage?”

He wanted to gradually erode her like that.