I was worried about what would happen if Lord Rodgo couldn’t interpret it, but I felt relieved.

But that was only for a moment, as the enormous presence before my eyes cut off my train of thought.

Eyes filled with angry madness were so blue they took on the color of the dark night.

A feeling that was eerie and terrifying clawed at my heart roughly.

The appearance, different from the cold faces I had encountered so far, was so unfamiliar that my body trembled involuntarily.

Casius took large strides to close the distance and finally stopped right in front of me.

“You seem to find me amusing?”

Less than a step away. An overbearing gaze. A contemptuous expression. The fierce aura naturally made one feel intimidated.

Before me stood an opponent far more formidable than the hundreds of big shots I had dealt with so far. But I blinked my eyes, pretending to know nothing.

“What do you mean?”

My shrunken insides didn’t show on the outside, thanks to years of training.

But I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing this time, or if it worked against me.

“How considerate of you.”

Casius curled up one corner of his mouth and dropped something in front of me.

Though it was a simple stone fragment, I couldn’t mistake its identity.

It was that very ‘mark’ I had sent to Lord Rodgo for interpretation.

On top of it, as I had expected, Lord Rodgo’s analysis of the Snowfel seal was clearly engraved.

Of course, all I could do was play dumb.

“What is this?”

Casius let out a scoffing laugh and glared at me.

His gaze, sharp as glass, pierced through as if cutting into flesh.

“Your acting is quite convincing. Is that also something they teach at Snowfel?”

“I don’t understand what you’re suddenly talking about.”

“Suddenly?”

A manic light soon radiated from Casius’s face as he clenched his teeth.

“This thing was found near the Rosemary mansion, they say.”

As I raised my head, Casius was looking at me with a disgusted expression.

As long as Diarob and I were entangled, I couldn’t escape from this kind of predicament.

‘Those shackle-like eyes will keep piercing me.’

Ah, now I seemed to understand clearly. In this state, I couldn’t sway Casius’s heart at all. Not unless I erased Diarob from my existence.

“I don’t understand why you’re telling me this.”

“What?”

First, I need to remove the Snowfel label from myself. To seduce you.

“I am no longer a person of Snowfel.”

Of course, Casius wasn’t a fool to be swayed by such words. If he were, I wouldn’t have loved you.

Casius stared at me fiercely, as if daring me to speak more nonsense.

“From the moment I became the Crown Princess, I have been using the name of Wolfdor Castle.”

“Don’t tell me you’re under the delusion that you’re a person of the Imperial Family just because you were granted a mere surname.”

“It’s not a delusion, but the truth.”

“Cut out that nonsensical talk.”

“If Snowfel tries to do anything to Your Highness, I won’t stand idle.”

“Are you telling me to believe that now?”

Is this how it feels to stand in front of a wall? Well, considering the atrocities committed by Snowfel so far, this reaction was natural.

Moreover, Casius must be convinced now of what Snowfel has done to me. So how could my words reach him?

“Tell your father this. He will surely pay the price for pulling such a damned stunt.”

Thick veins bulged on Casius’s neck. His gaunt face and the fear behind his anger were clearly visible.

Your pure sincerity, trembling at what might have happened to me, settled so beautifully in the corner of my vision.

Now I seemed to understand. That your sincerity couldn’t be broken by mere persuasion or pretending not to know. To break it, in the end, is this the only way?

“This much won’t be enough to destroy Snowfel.”

At my words, Casius’s face visibly contorted.

The cozy lunch table set for the couple instantly transformed into a negotiation table.

“How sky-high is the arrogance of the people from that great family.”

His gaze was as cold as his sarcastic words.

It seemed he took it as me looking down on the Imperial Family.

“I understand Your Highness’s feelings, but you must think rationally.”

“…”

“Father is not such an easy person. You should seize the greatest thing you can get with this evidence.”

Duke Diarob was meticulous enough to have already grasped Casius’s movements.

‘He must have already dealt with that wizard.’

Moreover, what that wizard attempted was to break the barrier. Even that ended in failure.

That meant there would be insufficient grounds to condemn Snowfel by turning this situation into a territorial dispute.

Of course, that didn’t mean to simply let it go.

Duke Diarob would clearly suffer damage if this issue grew larger.

The crime of invading another territory would worsen public opinion even among the nobles.

Now, it was best to use that point to gain practical benefits.

Take the most valuable thing Snowfel currently possesses into your hands, Casius.

“Use that mark as leverage to take the Benedic trade route.”

“…”

“Outwardly, the Benedic trade route may not seem very favorable, but in reality, it’s Snowfel’s best source of income.”

The Benedic trade route was Snowfel’s most crucial financial lifeline.

When I was Rachel, I discovered during my investigation of Snowfel that quite a lot of secrets were entangled there.

If Casius had seen my report, he surely wouldn’t be unaware of that place.

Perhaps because of this, Casius’s eyes trembled.

‘He must be trying to gauge whether I’m speaking from knowledge or not.’

He didn’t seem to think I would have said such things knowingly, as his eyes soon sank into thought.

The voice that came out shortly after was as cold as the north wind in midwinter.

“Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to make a deal with me now?”

A face that seemed to be getting goosebumps looked down at me.

Deal. Yes, that’s a word that fits the current atmosphere perfectly.

After all, I’m telling him while cutting down my own family, so it’s natural to want something in return.

I hesitated for a moment.

Should I ask to set a time for a meeting, or perhaps ask to be allowed to participate in state affairs?

Fundamentally, to seduce, shouldn’t I be sticking close to your eyes?

But that’s what the lowest negotiators at the bargaining table would do.

A negotiator who looks one step ahead should hide their true intentions deep inside. To charm the other party and gain something more valuable.

There was no better opportunity than now for that.

“Of course not. I don’t want anything.”

“What?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m Your Highness’s person now.”

For a very brief moment, Casius’s eyes wavered ever so slightly.

As if surprised that I didn’t mention any conditions.

But that wasn’t immediately reflected in his attitude.

“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

“If you don’t believe my words, check for yourself. With Your Highness’s discernment, you’ll surely realize that the Benedic trade route is Snowfel’s golden egg.”

The Benedic trade route was a maritime passage bordering three kingdoms in total, with tremendous potential value.

Currently, it’s being used as an abandoned route with nearby kingdoms’ passages still open, but their movements were not ordinary.

It wasn’t just because of that possibility that its value was highly regarded.

I knew the secrets of that place well. Enormous resources were hidden there.

For example, ancient relics.

If Casius takes it, I might get a chance to see it once too.

It might even be a great help in regaining magic power.

Of course, the bigger purpose was this.

“Cut off Snowfel’s source of funds first.”

“Are you telling me to believe the words of someone who is Snowfel to the bone?”

“The choice is yours, Your Highness, but you won’t regret believing my words.”

Now, blue eyes full of bewilderment rather than anger wavered while fully taking me in.

‘Surely, if it’s Casius, he’ll figure out that my words are true.’

When this is over, won’t Casius trust me a little?

A faint hope made my heart flutter like a gentle breeze.

*

Casius, having left Vivian behind, stood under a shadowy tree outside and took deep breaths for a long time.

The Benedic trade route was the last place Rachel was investigating.

And there, an incredible relic was hidden.

Numerous books said to be hidden in a deep sea cave were ancient texts that the Empire had been searching for over a long period.

There was an oracle that deep power was hidden there.

Rachel tried to uncover that tremendous secret until the moment she left, to help him.

Thinking about it still made Casius’s heart ache.

But.

‘Vivian, why would that woman?’

To begin with, Vivian wasn’t such a brilliant woman to read the political situation so well.

‘What kind of trick is she pulling now?’

Returning to his room, he began to search through everything about the Benedic trade route as if being chased by something.

Wondering if there was something he had missed.

But the conclusion was the same.

The Benedic trade route was clearly going to be a golden egg, whether considering the value of the hidden relics or the current political situation.

While thinking it impossible for Vivian, that woman, to know even such things, the eyes that spoke with certainty flashed through Casius’s mind.

At that moment, Tikan entered the room and stood before him with a serious expression.

Instinctively sensing it wasn’t good news, Casius’s face hardened.

And as always, the ominous premonition didn’t miss the mark.

“Snowfel’s wizard is dead.”

At Tikan’s words, Casius’s clenched fist trembled aimlessly.

Casius’s expression crumpled like the papyrus in his hand.

Watching this, Tikan bowed his head and reported in a low voice.

“It seems Snowfel has already made its move.”

“…!”