It was time for Diarob to struggle with government issues.

I was peacefully meditating in the center of Wolfdor’s garden, receiving the essence of moonlight.

Without magic, there had been many inconveniences lately.

In truth, I wanted to resolve this issue quickly.

Why was I doing this when I had the enhancement stone…

It was because my body couldn’t accept the powerful energy of the enhancement stone.

In an instant, I realized the reason.

‘Damn it.’

Vivian’s body was raw, without any training as a mage.

Unlike me, who had been rigorously trained since childhood, this meant that the vessel to receive new magic power had deteriorated just as much.

In this state, even with the enhancement stone, it was no different from useless garbage, just a mere pebble.

The fastest way to receive the energy of the enhancement stone was to repeat intense training.

‘To think I have to start training from scratch again.’

It couldn’t be worse.

That training would look quite shocking to onlookers and might raise unnecessary suspicion about the enhancement stone.

For that reason, I came here to the Wolfdor garden, where only members of the imperial family could enter, even sending away the servants.

Strictly speaking, this was Casius’s private property, but he wouldn’t come here at this late hour.

Moreover, the main reason for choosing this place for training was that it was where magic power was most concentrated.

‘Originally, magic recovery is faster in a good location.’

During my time as an aide, there was no place where magic operation was as peaceful as here.

So I closed my eyes again and concentrated.

I had been repeating this for days, but I resented Vivian’s body for not cooperating as I wished.

After being in the cold water for a long time, I felt a chill creeping up.

Perhaps because of that.

My concentration kept wavering, and other thoughts crept into my mind.

‘I wonder if Father is looking into the magic mirror? Has Casius received a report by now that the trap was made by Rachel? If so, will he accept my proposal?’

If that happens, the situation will improve from now.

I’ll be able to see him at least once a week.

‘Then what should I do next?’

I hadn’t thought about what comes next.

In that sense, it was fortunate that I brought the love guide.

For a love idiot like me, there’s nothing better than that.

I suddenly recalled something I had read in a book long ago.

1st place. Daring slip.]

Originally, in the Empire, such clothes were said to be a symbol of immodest women, but that was only in classical texts.

According to Marianne, these days, daring slips are trendy among noble ladies.

‘Will Casius really fall for me if I wear something like this?’

At the end of my downward gaze, I saw the slip precariously covering my body.

Just imagining being in front of Casius in this attire made me feel strangely ambivalent.

‘Do you really like this kind of thing too?’

It’s just that I don’t know, but since Casius is also a man, he probably wouldn’t deviate much from statistical data.

With such thoughts and ambitious determination, at that moment, I heard the sound of a branch breaking behind me.

“Who’s there?”

Tension rose sharply, and every hair on my body stood on end.

I turned my head to look, but there was no one there.

‘Did I hear wrong? I’m sure I heard something…’

With an uneasy heart, I quickly got out of the lake and moved towards my clothes.

With each step, tension built up, making my heart pound.

In an instant, a shadow fell before my eyes.

‘Damn it.’

In a hurry, I broke off a nearby branch and aimed it at the figure.

“I asked who’s there.”

What nerve. To think there’d be a pervert even in the imperial palace.

The moonlight poured down on the figure’s head, revealing shimmering silver hair.

At that moment, a familiar scent tickled my nose, stimulating an ominous feeling.

‘No way…’

The ominous prediction soon became reality before my eyes.

The pervert I was aiming the branch at was none other than Casius.

His piercing eyes were cast over his returned face.

In a moment, his heavily opened mouth let out an equally low, sunken voice.

“What are you doing here now?”

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

“That’s my line.”

The intense aura was sharp enough to pierce the skin.

As Casius said, this place was clearly the Crown Prince’s private property.

Clearly, the intruder was me, not him.

‘What should I do?’

My mind raced faster than light.

It was a bit cowardly, but in this situation, stirring up sympathy was the best strategy.

“I heard the water here is good for scars, so I came.”

As if trying to gauge whether my words were true, Casius silently stared at me for a moment.

Towards him, I slightly revealed the wounded area hidden in the slip and added,

“Is this Your Highness’s private property? I seem to have made a mistake. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t forget to blink my eyes as if I really didn’t know.

Casius, perhaps believing my words, finally opened his mouth.

“No need to apologize. Just use it until it’s fully healed.”

Until it’s fully healed?

It seemed Casius didn’t know yet that this scar would never disappear.

It was undeniably bitter that his lack of interest in me was evident even here.

Moreover, it seemed I was the only one embarrassed about being in this attire.

He didn’t even seem to notice or comment on my appearance.

No, not just that. He didn’t even show a hint of blushing or embarrassment.

That made me feel even more miserable.

‘Should I be satisfied with just being allowed to come here?’

As I was organizing my thoughts, he opened his mouth again.

“That wound…”

Casius’s gaze lingered for a moment on the wound on my shoulder.

For some reason, where his gaze touched felt itchy.

Looking at those eyes made me have unnecessary expectations.

‘Is he going to ask if I’m okay?’

I didn’t do it expecting any compensation, but human psychology was truly wicked.

Somehow, it felt good.

At that moment, Casius’s hand slowly approached my shoulder.

As his hand got closer, my body trembled as if burning.

Because of that, I unconsciously squeezed my eyes shut.

But nothing more happened.

Through my slightly opened eyes, I saw his hand returned to its original position.

‘What’s this? Did I misunderstand again?’

It felt like I had drunk soup before someone even offered bread.

Unaware of my thoughts, Casius turned his body as if nothing had happened.

The moonlight rippled over his eyes instead of me.

After that, he maintained silence for a long time.

I hadn’t noticed until now, but his side profile in the moonlight somehow looked lonely.

A vacant gaze looking at something unknowable, a pale complexion, tightly closed lips…

Just as my gaze lingered on his lips, he finally revealed the reason for coming here.

“I accept your proposal.”

“The proposal…”

He nodded once and answered stiffly.

“I will visit the Rain Palace once a week.”

I wondered if it was the effect of the revealing slip, but reason soon returned.

He must have just received the report about the trap from Tikan.

After saying that, Casius turned towards me, narrowing the distance, and continued.

“So you keep your promise too.”

His relaxed gaze looked down at me authoritatively, as if it had never been otherwise.

Casius urged an answer with his eyes.

Looking at him, I curved my eyes alluringly.

“Of course.”

His breath touched mine at the close distance.

Perhaps because he heard the answer he wanted, his expression seemed to soften a bit.

But that was all.

He soon turned his body and gradually moved away from me.

Casius’s broad back filled my vision, and my mind quickly returned.

“When will you come this time?”

This was already the umpteenth time I had encountered Casius like this without preparation.

I intended to prepare properly for the next time so it wouldn’t be such a futile meeting.

Casius answered my question without even turning his back.

“I’ll visit on the first day of the week.”

‘Does he intend to quickly deal with the weekly homework?’

Being a born model student, he would surely do the unpleasant tasks first.

It was true that it was bitter to have our meeting treated as mere ‘homework,’ but I was satisfied that there was at least this much progress.

*

A day passed after Casius returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace.

He was looking at the paper with his schedule report with an uncomfortable expression.

Documents that would have been quickly passed over usually lingered on the same page for a long time.

It was because of the inexplicable unpleasant feeling pressing deep in his heart.

Honestly, although making a deal with Vivian wasn’t great, this was a profitable transaction.

It was a big gain to be able to grip and shake Rose Mary’s lifeline in exchange for him heading to the Crown Princess’s Palace once a week.

But he found it difficult to find the reason why he was dissatisfied, even to himself.

Lying down for a moment, he covered his eyes with one arm and fell into thought.

‘Vivian, who would have rushed at me furiously about Rose Mary, is cooperating so docilely like this.’

Although he should be the most pleased with this kind of development, Casius wasn’t.

Everything was flowing smoothly to the point of being anxiety-inducing, but what exactly was he anxious about? Even he thought himself ridiculous.

After that, Casius remained lost in thought for a long time, but he couldn’t ultimately define the displeasure rising within him.

At that moment, Tikan approached him.

“Here is the attendance list for the grand meeting.”

As Casius carefully scanned the list, his gaze stopped at one place.