A low, calm voice. A vein bulged on Daevan’s forehead.

The two people who had been talking to Daevan tensed, their voices trembling.

“Oh, you misunderstand, sir! We were merely joking among ourselves!”

“Ye-yes, how could we say such things?”

“Aha—, is that so?”

Daevan twisted the corners of his mouth in a sarcastic smile.

“Who do you take me for, idiots?”

‘Gulp.’

Even though he wasn’t directly angry at me, a shiver ran down my spine.

‘Daevan is really mad.’

It was completely different from when he fought with Mikael last time. Then, it was just childlike excitement; now, I felt an actual killing intent.

Soon, I confirmed that energy was emanating from where Daevan stood—the same energy that had uprooted a tree and shook the ground last time.

“Da-Daevan!”

I, who had been hiding, quickly stepped out and called out to Daevan.

Daevan turned his head abruptly. Our eyes met, and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Who is that person…?”

“Shh, shh!”

The young man seemed completely unaware of me.

The older man standing next to him elbowed him subtly and spoke with a forced smile.

“Hehe, it’s the princess! You must be looking for the sir! Well, we will take our leave then!”

Seizing the opportunity, the two moved away quickly. Daevan’s gaze followed them persistently.

Only when the two had completely disappeared did Daevan turn his head back.

“Why?”

It was only then that I realized: Daevan was furious from head to toe, and I was standing right in front of him, completely vulnerable.

‘What if his anger turns towards me?’

Even if I could turn back time, my choice would’ve been the same. Daevan had seemed ready to kill them.

Though he was still angry, the flash of killing intent in his eyes had disappeared.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Ah, um, well—.”

I sifted through my thoughts, trying to find the perfect words. What should I say at this moment? It’s snack time, but…

“You weren’t worried that I was going to do something to those people, were you—.”

“Let’s go have a snack together!”

I blurted out before Daevan could read me further.

Daevan closed his mouth and looked at me intently. He seemed a bit surprised.

‘I messed up.’

I regretted my words as soon as I said them; it would sound like an excuse made on the spot.

“You came to find me just to have a snack together?”

My eyes were fixed on the ground as I hesitated to respond. Daevan’s voice was filled with skepticism.

I decided to come clean.

“No, not really, I was just saying…”

“Well, whatever.”

To my surprise, he started walking ahead.

“Aren’t you coming? You said you wanted to have a snack.”

“Ah, yes!”

As we walked down the corridor, Daevan didn’t look my way. He stared ahead or off into the distance as he spoke.

“Are you going to keep looking for me?”

“If I’m not in my room next time, go to Mikael’s room.”

“What’s your favorite thing?”

Count Vasco, who had returned to his room, slammed the door shut. He could hear the servants outside murmuring, but he didn’t care.

Angrily, he pulled off his tie and threw it forcefully onto the floor.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

How dare that little brat!

“Who does he think I am!”

Though less influential than a ducal family, he was still a count, and he had come to deliver the Emperor’s message. Strictly speaking, he could claim to be the Emperor’s representative.

Yet, that wet-behind-the-ears little punk had the audacity to speak informally to me.

Not just informality; his attitude full of killing intent had even subdued Lord Rotail, who had accompanied him, shrinking him back.
The smile he had earlier felt infinitely despicable now.

Count Vasco, who hadn’t cooled down, paced alone in the room, unable to calm his excited mind.

Moreover, what kind of room was he shown to? It was a room in an annex, not even in the main building.

“Like father, like son!”

They had given them a room in the annex, claiming there were no available rooms in the main building.

The size of the main building was truly enormous.

It may not have been as large as a palace, but looking at the expansive grounds surrounding it, it was clear that it could easily rival a palace if they chose to expand it.

Could it really be that in such a large building there was not a single room available for them?

“How dare these nobodies ignore me!”

Count Vasco irritably threw the teacup he was holding. It fell on the thick carpet without breaking, and rolled away.

“Damn it!”

Unable to contain his anger, Count Vasco abruptly opened the door again.

“Do you need something, sir?”

“Prepare to leave!”

“Excuse me?! You won’t even rest before you go back?”

“Yes! Be aware that we’re leaving first thing tomorrow!”

The next day, after eating a hearty breakfast, I accompanied the duke to his office for a visit.

Sitting on his lap, I scanned the list of inspectors.

Small insignia were drawn next to each name, represented by one dot within a circle and three smaller dots, etc.