“I regret that the Crown Princess suffered an accident at this hunting festival.”

If he knew about Vivian being attacked by the trap, he would have brought it up by now.

But.

“I am honored by your concern.”

Casius breathed a sigh of relief at the duke’s response.

‘How can he be so calm when his own daughter had an accident?’

Moreover, he didn’t say anything about his daughter staying in Rosemary for two days.

‘Does Diarob really think of his daughter as just a tool?’

If what Vivian said was true, it might be much easier to bring down Snowfell.

‘If I can use Vivian well…’

Finishing his thoughts, Casius spoke sarcastically to gauge Diarob’s true intentions.

“You don’t seem worried that your precious daughter was injured.”

Smiling despite the sarcastic remark, Diarob calmly replied.

“I just realized it after hearing Your Majesty’s words.”

“…”

“My daughter is now Wolfdor, not Snowfell.”

“…”

“Now it’s Your Majesty who should be worried.”

At Diarob’s words, Casius felt anger rising but could be certain.

That Vivian was a tool of Snowfell.

Furrowing his brow, Casius listened as Diarob continued triumphantly.

“Now that you’ll ascend the throne, shouldn’t you be thinking about an heir?”

Casius looked at the duke now openly revealing his ambitions and smiled faintly.

“Of course I must produce an heir. For your loyalty, if nothing else.”

Casius now thought he understood what the duke feared most.

Those who seek to grasp power fear power itself the most.

“So I’m thinking of taking an empress. What do you think?”

The duke’s face hardening like stone was quite a sight to see.

Mocking him, Casius continued.

“Why? Will you handle a royal concubine like the previous emperor did?”

“Your Majesty!”

“Ah, or is it my turn this time?”

Just then, a commotion arose from behind.

As the nobles made way with proper etiquette, a woman with graceful steps revealed herself.

It was Vivian.

Dressed in black, Vivian stood with a pale face as if she had received some shock.

A pure white flower had fallen at her feet.

Casius couldn’t hide his dizzying thoughts.

‘In front of so many nobles, and at this timing…’

Not knowing what she would say, Casius felt his insides burning.

At that moment, Vivian’s lips slowly parted.

*

As I entered where the funeral was being held, the gazes of the nobles naturally turned towards me.

Casius seemed surprised by my sudden appearance, and Duke Diarob also looked displeased at my unexpected arrival without notice.

Looking at them, I calmly opened my mouth.

“I apologize for being late.”

The duke seemed to have many questions he wanted to ask, but he didn’t make any inquiries.

As I naturally took my place beside Casius, Diarob moved to the back.

Only then did the gazes disperse from me.

As the ceremony resumed and I was observing the situation, I whispered quietly to Casius.

“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

Casius’s gaze swept over my body.

“Has your condition improved?”

Although the funeral was proceeding quietly, there was a soft murmur, so Casius’s voice was only audible to me.

It was fortunate anyway. I had worried about what if he thought the trap was Snowfell’s doing, but his softened tone from before helped ease my tension.

‘Well, I did risk my life for him after all…’

Though Casius still hadn’t completely dropped his characteristic wary gaze, it was evident he was making an effort in his own way.

Even asking if I was alright.

In reality, that was probably just basic human decency towards someone who had risked their life for him, but was it because I hadn’t heard such things for so long?

My heart felt strangely warm and fuzzy.

Hope kept welling up from deep within my heart.

But recalling what Casius had said to Diarob earlier, such thoughts quickly cooled.

‘How could I have any expectations after hearing him talk about a royal concubine just now?’

For a moment, I felt self-loathing at my own pathetic self.

Of course, he must have said that out of anger because Duke Diarob had provoked him again.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such things at a funeral.

But just the fact that the topic of a royal concubine was brought up again made my mood sink low.

“I’m not the same as before, but I’m alright.”

That was exactly how I felt right now. No, to be more precise, I couldn’t say I was alright.

After that, Casius didn’t say anything more.

From his expression, it seemed he had many questions but was holding back.

‘With so many eyes watching and Duke Diarob here too, Casius has no choice but to restrain himself.’

After that, Casius would glance at me occasionally, but that was all.

Nevertheless, the tense veins visible on Casius clearly showed he was conscious of me.

At the end of that time, after all procedures were finished and all the nobles had left, he finally spoke.

“Let’s talk.”

I too had a mountain of things to discuss with Casius, so I was glad he spoke up first.

I could roughly guess why Casius wanted to talk with me.

‘He’ll want to keep secret that such a trap appeared in Rosemary.’

“Please speak.”

“It’s not appropriate here. Let’s go to the office.”

After finishing his words, his gaze had already passed me and was fixed on something behind.

When I turned my head slightly, Duke Diarob, whom I thought had returned to the mansion, was there.

He was clearly waiting to have a word with me.

‘He must be curious about Rachel’s belongings.’

But Casius, not knowing this, seemed uneasy.

If he tried to catch me for this trap incident, it would surely cause trouble.

Above all, this matter was related to Rosemary.

‘Casius would try to prevent anything involving Rosemary, even if he didn’t care about himself.’

The fact that that feeling hadn’t faded, and that it would continue to be so in the future, made me both anxious and grateful.

“I’ll tell Father I have a prior engagement with you. Please wait a moment.”

*

I couldn’t remember the last time I had come to the Crown Prince’s office so amicably with Casius.

As Vivian, this was the first time.

Though it wasn’t a particularly special space, the fact that Casius, who disliked letting me into his space to this extent, had opened the door even this much was quite a big improvement.

‘If I had taken porcupine-level poison arrows for him, would he open his heart to me too? If that were the case, I’d have already gone to the other world before then.’

As I was having such trivial thoughts, Casius opened his mouth before refreshments could even be served.

“I was very worried after Bi collapsed.”

The trembling tips of his eyelashes and slightly stiff eyes.

It was clearly evident that this was an act.

Other ladies might not have noticed at all, but I was someone who had watched him closely for many years.

Casius clearly had something he wanted to ask of me now.

Pretending not to notice this, I responded to his words.

“I am honored that you were concerned for me.”

“It’s only natural since you almost died in my place.”

Only the clattering sound of teacups vibrated above the space where tense atmosphere had settled.

Still enjoying his bitter coffee, he downed it in one gulp and continued.

“Why did you make such a choice?”

This was such an expected question that it wasn’t difficult to answer.

“It’s not strange for a wife to save her husband’s life. Anyone in my situation would have done the same.”

Casius lost his words for a moment and examined me.

He seemed to want to ask if we weren’t that kind of typical married couple.

Facing him straight on, I continued calmly.

“I told you before. I love Your Highness.”

An incredulous gaze pierced through me.

Casius always had that expression whenever I said such things, so it wasn’t strange anymore.

In fact, even I still couldn’t find a reason why I, as Vivian, should love Casius.

‘What kind of crazy woman could love a man who hates her this much?’

Excluding objective reasons that even I couldn’t understand, I carefully packaged my bullshit and spat it out.

“I can do anything for Your Highness.”

That’s why I’m sitting here. Enduring all this pain to save you.

‘So Casius, can’t you understand and fall for me?’

Of course, all of this was just an echo of my heart that he would never hear.

“You say you can do anything for me?”

“Of course. Love makes one do such crazy things.”

Rolling his eyes for a moment, Casius seemed to feel no need to beat around the bush anymore and got straight to the point.

“Then I’d like you to keep quiet about what happened there.”

It was the most concise way of saying he didn’t want the talk of the trap to get out.

As expected, Casius seemed to have already guessed that the trap was not Snowfell’s doing.

I leisurely put down my teacup and smiled at Casius.

“Indeed, if Father finds out I was caught in a trap, he might make a big issue of it.”

“…”

“If that happens, Rosemary, which hosted the hunting festival, might have to take great responsibility.”

The reason I deliberately reminded him of facts he already knew was simple.

It was to let him know that I too was aware of what kind of repercussions this could cause.

Because what I’m trying to do with you now is a deal.

Casius could have said right away that he wouldn’t do so, less anxiously, but for a deal, it was necessary to take some time to build tension.

‘Though it’s ridiculous that I have to make deals with you in the current situation…’

But for now, I had no choice but to grab and use even such a petty thread.

“So I had a horseback riding accident.”

Casius, who had been looking dumbfounded for a moment, finally understood the meaning of my words and his face gradually relaxed.

Looking at me as if entranced, Casius soon smiled.

“Thank you for understanding my words.”

“But there’s a condition.”