Tania, who stepped back and stumbled, hit a solid wall.

“Wow, is this how I meet the Queen of Bankers who requires platinum coins to make an appointment?”

Tania turned around and frowned deeply. A handsome man with light blue hair and an attractive face was smiling pleasantly.

“Felice Schwartz?”

“I’m honored that you recognize me, Tania Bangas.”

He was one of the Schwartzes who appeared in the capital every year to attend the nobles’ meeting as the family’s representative.

There was no way she couldn’t recognize the only well-known face of the Schwartzes. Just as Tania was about to say something, a gloomy voice cut in.

“Felice Schwartz.”

His voice, strained to the limit of his patience, was brutally sharp. Felice smiled brightly, hiding the cold sweat running down his back.

“Well then, shall we go out? Our family representative is in quite a foul mood.”

Felice placed Rodrick’s coat that he had brought with him on the table and led Tania out.

Tap. As soon as they were separated from Rodrick by a single door, Tania’s blocked breath was released. She let out a sigh and soon regained her composure.

‘Since I couldn’t get an answer from Rodrick Schwartz, I can ask his younger brother.’

“Young Master Felice Schwartz, may I have a word with you for a moment?”

At the same time Diana collapsed, Tania was also quite disheveled like Rodrick.

Her silver-white hair, which was twisted up, was half loose and tangled, but it rather looked provocatively decadent.

“Of course, my lady. Will you give me the honor of escorting you?”

Felice also responded with a polite smile without backing down. He was also drenched in sweat but didn’t show it.

‘I need to find out what kind of relationship she has with my sister-in-law.’

When the upright knight offered his hand as if requesting, Tania slowly narrowed her eyes.

“How courteous of you.”

Hiding their inner thoughts behind masks, the invisible battle of wits between the two continued as they walked down the quiet corridor.

[This is the timeline separator]

I don’t know where this anger comes from. The nervousness and mixed anger that spread impatiently surged up to the top of my head, threatening to explode.

“Diana.”

The hand moving along her face stopped at her neck. The destructive emotion gradually subsided with her regular pulse.

Sitting on the bed, he tried to calm his turbulent heart as he quietly looked at Diana lying still.

He covered her slightly parted lips with his own.

Refreshment. As the mana swirled into her empty body, she unconsciously inhaled it.

How long did the deep kiss continue? She opened her eyes as if it were a lie. There was no pain.

“Rodrick.”

Through her slightly opened eyes, she saw Rodrick’s handsome face.

“Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

She raised her hand and caressed his cheek, smiling weakly and softly.

He silently turned his head and deeply kissed her palm.

“I’m worried.”

At his abruptly spoken words, Diana opened her eyes slightly wider and laughed. To think this strong man would utter the word ‘worried’.

Those who had only seen his merciless side wouldn’t believe it.

It was evident how much he cared for her, seeing him so unguarded and disheveled.

“Are you afraid I’ll die?”

At those chilling words, Rodrick frowned.

“Don’t say such things.”

“I won’t die when you’re by my side. I was just momentarily off guard.”

She had a stronger survival instinct than anyone else. How could she die after living like that?

“Neither you nor I will die.”

Diana, who sat up with his support, quietly nestled in his arms.

Listening to his regular heartbeat, she closed her eyes. He was always her dependable ally.

“Don’t worry.”

Just because one line of the curse pattern disappeared didn’t mean her curse was completely gone.

Ven said the pain would lessen even if mana leaked out, but the pain persisted. Still, it was fortunate that she recovered faster than usual.

“Let’s go directly to the Schwartz mansion.”

She shook her head.

“No. I’ll stay here for the time being. It’s more convenient to move around.”

At Rodrick’s dissatisfied gaze, a gentle smile spread across her face.

She held his face and gave him a deep kiss. After kissing him with a smacking sound, she spoke soothingly.

“I’ll go soon. As your fiancée.”

“Wrong.”

“Huh?”

He pulled her close again and whispered in a low voice as he kissed her again.

“You have to come as my wife.”

The man who had been trembling with anxiety was gone, and only the cheeky man who desired his woman remained.

She followed his lead, grateful that he endured her complaints.

“Diana Schwartz. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

Rodrick swallowed her delightful laughter. All breaths mingled between their lips, and their bodies and hearts became one as if entangled.

The night was long and distant.

[This is the timeline separator]

The drifting air was so warm and gentle that they wanted to remain in this time and space endlessly.

They were buried deep in the finest bed, embracing each other along with the blanket.

Knock knock.

No one reacted to the knocking sound.

Knock knock.

The impatient knocking continued several times, and the sound of banging on the door grew louder.

As if the door would break, Rodrick put on his pants roughly and opened the door.

Felice, who had been knocking, shrank back as the door swung open.

What is it? As if to say that, Rodrick looked down at Felice with a grim frown.

“No, I didn’t mean to interrupt because I wanted to.”

Felice made a tearful face and spoke as if making excuses.

“Brother, we need to leave now. Did you forget that the nobles’ meeting starts today?”

“Wait.”

Bang. Closing the door, he strode to the bed.

A white naked body shone above the sunlight. She was wrapped in a sheet. As she raised her arms, he reflexively hugged her.

He wanted to stay immersed in this sweet scent like this.

“Have a safe trip.”

“You’re sending me off too quickly when we won’t see each other for a while, don’t you think?”

The year-end meeting was long as all families participated, so he had to stay at the Imperial Palace for a whole week to attend.

She also had to be busy preparing for the New Year’s ceremony.

“If you’re late, there will be gossip.”

“Right.”

He had no particular feelings about the meeting, but he readily agreed to her words.

“Ah, even if Uncle Gordon picks a fight, endure it and ignore him.”

“……”

“Rodrick?”

“I’m off. Contact me right away if you feel unwell again.”

No matter where you are, I’ll come running to you. With those last words and a short kiss, he left the inn.

There was no response to her words about not responding to provocation until the end.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Diana, may I come in?”

After taking a bath with Jane’s assistance, she was drying her hair.

“Come in, Sister Tanya.”

Tania, dressed in a glamorous evening gown, sat across from her with an alluring smile.

Diana chuckled at her face that seemed to have a lot to say.

“What are you curious about?”

At her words, Tania’s gray eyes flashed.

“Everything. All that has happened so far.”

While calming the excited Tania, Diana took her time.

“But before that, there’s something I want to ask you, Sister.”

There were other matters, but this was why she sought out Tania.

“Do you know where our elder brother is?”

“……”

Tania, who had been leaning forward with her legs crossed, leaned back and rested comfortably against the backrest.

“Elder brother’s business place is empty. Then the person who benefits the most is you, Sister.

It’s a big loss for elder brother, but there’s no one he trusts as much as you to leave his place.”

Their relationship was subtle. They were competitors in the same industry, but also someone they could trust to watch their back.

On top of that, their love for Diana was second to none. Although the direction was different for each of them.

Tania suppressed the urge to put the cigarette holder to her mouth out of habit, as her mouth itched.

‘Debir Beatus, your younger sister is not weak.’

Tania shrugged and revealed a fact that only she knew. Diana frowned at the following words.

“The Imperial Palace. That guy is trapped in the Imperial Palace right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it seems he’s looking for something. He said he won’t come out until he finds it. It’s been quite a while since he went in, so I wonder if things got complicated.”

Tania’s guess was half right. Tania thought he had entered the Imperial Palace to negotiate for the family head’s seal.

However, he had personally entered the Imperial Palace to find clues to the curse connected to Diana.

The only person who correctly knew the reason he entered the Imperial Palace was his right-hand man.

“Then, are you in contact with Sister Vanessa?”

“Only our company’s designers come and go. She doesn’t take any calls at all.”

According to the designers and tailors, Vanessa’s condition was not good.

Even if she becomes the Crown Princess like this, it’s only a matter of time before she is dethroned.

As she pondered whether to tell her everything, Diana answered clearly.

“I see. Thank you, Sister.”

“You’re not going to ask more?”

“I’ll ask when I meet them in person. I think I need to see both your and elder brother’s conditions directly. More importantly, Sister, can you recruit a designer for me?”

“Don’t tell me? You’re attending this year’s New Year’s ceremony?”

“Yes.”

Tania didn’t hide her curling smile. Finally, she could dress up Diana. The preparations were already complete.

Every year when there were various events, Tania reserved the first waiting spot at the top-class salon for Diana.

“My pretty investor, leave it all to this sister.”

Tania, who was fiercely burning with passion, was indeed worthy of being called the White Witch.

[This is the timeline separator]

Thump. Thump. The footsteps crossing the Imperial Palace corridor were filled with indifference.

They arrived late when all the nobles had entered, walking down the empty corridor.

The Imperial Palace attendant guiding them gulped nervously. His head bowed involuntarily at the dignity felt from behind.

“This is the Grand Assembly Hall.”

In the Grand Assembly Hall, many nobles were finding their seats or quietly talking among themselves.

Despite the large number of people, the Grand Assembly Hall was solemn without chaos.

They were tense, waiting for the throne’s owner who could appear at any moment.

Imperial Palace knights were standing at attention between the wide open doors of the Grand Assembly Hall.

They couldn’t hide their curious eyes as they looked at Rodrick, Felice who was assisting him, and the famous Duverc Knights.

“Presenting Lord Rodrick Schwartz and Lord Felice Schwartz.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Rodrick. They were directly seeing the famous envoy of the North.

The man who rejected all the victory parties personally bestowed by the Emperor whenever he won a war.

Under his black hair with a tinge of blue, his blue eyes were dangerously attractive.

People couldn’t easily open their mouths as they looked at the man who gave off the feeling of a beautiful beast.

In the Grand Assembly Hall that became quiet in an instant, he swept his gaze over them as if searching.

The surrounding nobles held their breath at his gaze that seemed to be hunting for prey.

The place where his gaze landed like a needle was the seat of the Beatus family, where Diana’s uncle Gordon was sitting.