Nikolai’s brow furrowed terribly.

The strange tension disappeared, and a piercing silence filled the room.

‘Was I too arrogant? But I need Morasyncia’s eyes to figure out Franz’s illness…’

Is it because he’s the emperor? Is it because he’s the villain who controls my life?

Although I accepted the seduction game, I often felt impatient when I was with Nikolai.

The green eyes that looked at me without a hint of wavering were also awkward.

The excessively beautiful face was also difficult to get used to.

When he said things that only lovers would say, like buying me jewels or wanting to win my heart, my heart bounced like a ping pong ball.

Moreover, Franz might have been watching all of this.

My mouth went dry.

Nikolai, who couldn’t know what was going on inside me, asked pointedly.

“Is Douglas so important to you?”

This time it was my turn to furrow my brow.

“This has nothing to do with Sir Douglas?”

“Isn’t it the divine object he offered to save you?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“He brought it with the marriage contract, so it’s fair to consider it an engagement gift.”

“Marriage, what?!”

“You’re asking for it back. Does that mean your love for him hasn’t changed even as you flirt with me?”

“Wait! I think you’ve misunderstood something?”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? That you have a faithful personality. Such great loyalty!”

A dangerous sound flowed from between Nikolai’s molars.

The look in his eyes, blazing with anger, was enough to make my knees weak.

It was how a black panther roaming the plains would look when it found its prey.

‘Don’t be scared, Elizabeth! He’s not a real beast, he’s a person! A tyrant who might do anything, but still!’

Even if the curtain had risen on the play, the actor could be replaced at any time.

Would a director as dogmatic and arrogant as Nikolai tolerate an actress who grated on his nerves?

Moreover, Nikolai believed that I was mocking him.

I wanted to pull his earlobe and shout:

‘I’m doing this for your son! My soul is mortgaged to that damn divine object!’

I suppressed my boiling feelings.

And I put on an expression as close to a smile as possible.

“I don’t understand why Your Majesty is angry.”

“A woman who has contracted with me wants to confirm the love of a trivial man, how can I be generous?”

“Sir Douglas is not a trivial man.”

“If a man who clung to his fiancée because he couldn’t protect his family isn’t trivial, then what is?”

“At least Sir Douglas doesn’t badmouth others behind their backs. He was just trying to keep his promise to protect me at the risk of his life.”

“How touching! How wonderful.”

Nikolai clapped sarcastically.

The killing intent surrounding him fluctuated ominously.

I was worried that Douglas might be in trouble again.

“And what does it matter to Your Majesty who I love?”

“What?”

“There was no clause saying I couldn’t love another man.”

I said sharply.

Nikolai pressed his lips tightly.

“Please don’t be interested in my personal life. I’m not curious about what you do with the empress and concubines in the harem either.”

“…You don’t care what I do?”

“Isn’t that our contract?”

An indescribably complex emotion swept across Nikolai’s handsome face.

But only for a moment, it returned to its picture-perfect expressionlessness.

“Right. I had forgotten for a moment.”

“I’m glad you remembered now.”

“I was foolish.”

“Everyone makes mistakes. It’s good that you realized…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Because Nikolai traced my lips.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Have you forgotten Article 3 of the contract? Physical contact is not restricted.”

“There’s no clause saying you can just force yourself on me like this!”

“Where is this forced? I’m being so gentlemanly.”

‘What kind of gentleman touches a woman’s lips? In a world without hand sanitizer!’

Despite my desire to flare up, my sensitive senses twitched.

I glanced at the table where Franz had been hiding.

Franz was nowhere to be seen. He seemed to have escaped during the commotion.

But it was too early to relax.

A tingling current moved along Nikolai’s fingertips.

Unlike his rude attitude, his hand was as soft as flower petals.

My cheeks flushed hot, as if on fire.

Nikolai’s scent mixed with the familiar air made me dizzy.

The stubbornly furrowed brow, eyes shining nobly like emeralds, and slightly bitten lips were craving something from me.

Something I had never allowed anyone.

“Elizabeth.”

Just hearing my name called made me dizzy.

Saliva pooled in my mouth.

I wanted to push him away, but I couldn’t move as if paralyzed.

Nikolai tilted his head towards me.

His exhaled breath tickled my skin.

His lips slowly descended. I instinctively sensed what he wanted.

I clenched my fists tightly.

When my nails dug into my palms, I barely managed to utter cold words.

“Is this how you seduce women?”

It shouldn’t be him seducing, but me.

If the demon’s charm didn’t reach, I should at least pretend to despise it.

I had to hide even the fact that I had wavered for a moment.

Because I couldn’t lose this game.

“It might have worked until now, but not with me. Go play around with other women.”

Nikolai’s eyebrow twitched.

He looked angry, but it also seemed like he was deliberately doing so to hide his embarrassment.

“Now it’s my turn to ask. Is this Your Majesty’s method of harassing a woman caged in?”

“…”

“If so, Your Majesty will never win.”

A heavy silence weighed down the air.

If Nikolai had boasted about the crime of insulting the emperor as usual, my heart wouldn’t have been this uncomfortable.

At the end of the uncomfortable silence, Nikolai said.

“I’ll reconsider the contract.”

“Are you saying you’ll stop the seduction game?”

“If you can’t become the crown prince’s education supervisor, the contract won’t even be established.”

I belatedly recalled Article 1 of the contract.

‘Nikolai Rob Evrye and Elizabeth Emster will live together and seduce each other until the winner is determined.’

For me, who had rejected both the empress and maid positions, to stay in the imperial palace, I had to win Franz’s heart first.

‘I need to get Morasyncia’s eyes back. I also need to get information about other divine objects. I need to be in the palace to keep track of Claudia’s movements. I need to win the game to avoid the death ending.’

The conclusion?

I had to continue the seduction game no matter what.

The situation had become the exact opposite of when I was running away saying it was an unfair contract.

“I’ll give you a week. Become the education supervisor on your own within that time.”

Nikolai threw something shiny at me.

The small piece of metal was the key to the canary room.

[This is the timeline separator]

I thought convincing Franz would be simple.

But the next day, and the day after that, Franz didn’t come looking for me.

I lingered in front of the quiet doghole.

‘How much did Franz witness in the canary room? If he saw dad openly flirting with me, he must have been shocked.’

Along with worry, precious time kept flowing.

I rushed to the crown prince’s palace.

The two knight guards Nikolai had assigned followed me like shadows.

Nikolai was using the knights to monitor me.

I had come all this way with difficulty, but Franz wouldn’t even meet me.

‘I showed you my crying face, isn’t that enough? You even stole my food, how can you do this?’

I plopped down on the steps of the crown prince’s palace main gate.

I was determined to wait for hours until Franz came out.

After about two hours, the crown prince’s palace chamberlain appeared with a displeased face.

“It’s troublesome if you keep staying there. It’s useless to wait.”

“I must meet His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“He’s not one to change his mind easily.”

“Neither am I. Won’t you help me, Chamberlain?”

“I can’t, and I shouldn’t.”

The chamberlain flatly refused.

I smiled, narrowing my eyes.

“You’ll want to help.”

“What do you mean?”

The chamberlain’s eyes widened as he was scoffing.

He had received a wink of demonic charm, so it was understandable.

“How about it? Has your mind changed?”

The chamberlain cleared his throat after looking around.

Then he whispered quietly in my ear.

“It’s a secret, but His Highness the Crown Prince is currently at the training grounds.”

“But I didn’t see him come out?”

“There’s a doghole. I mean, a secret passage.”

“Where is it?”

“I’ll guide you. Of course, it’s a secret.”

[This is the timeline separator]

With the chamberlain’s help, I was able to shake off the knight guards and sneak into the crown prince’s private training grounds.

Franz was holding a wooden sword larger than himself and hitting a straw dummy.

His movements were clumsy, but his training attitude was earnest.

His shimmering golden hair and training clothes were soaked with sweat, but he didn’t stop.

‘He seems to be overdoing it. Will he be okay?’

I secretly watched Franz’s training.

The swordsmanship instructor was a large man wearing a neat knight’s uniform.

According to the information Careth gave, he was Simon, the eldest son of the Brenden marquis family, one of the four great noble houses.

He was also the older brother of Empress Rose Brenden.

“A little faster!”

“Yes sir!”

“You’re doing well! Excellent!”

No matter how I looked at it, he seemed like a poor student, but Simon didn’t stop praising him.

Encouraged by his master’s cheers, Franz raised his sword again.

He was staggering so pitifully, but Simon seemed proud of his disciple.

“Once you build up your strength, the wooden sword will feel lighter than it does now.”

“I know.”

“Please tell me anytime if you want to rest.”

“I won’t rest.”

“As expected, you’re admirable! I’ll report Your Highness’s efforts and passion to His Majesty.”

Franz’s face brightened for a moment.

But he looked too tired to continue training.

Somehow his hands were full of wounds.

I wondered if this might be too much for the child.

“Franz. Drink some water first!”

That’s why I had asked the chamberlain to prepare some cool water.

I thought it would be a chance to score points with Franz.

But far from welcoming me holding a crystal water bottle, Franz made a face like he’d bitten into a bug.

Simon approached me and greeted me.

“I am Simon Brenden, His Highness the Crown Prince’s swordsmanship instructor. Though inadequate, I serve as the captain of the 2nd Imperial Knight Order.”

I quite liked his unpretentious attitude.

I lifted my skirt slightly and gave a light bow.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sir Brenden. I am Elizabeth Emster, who has become His Highness’s education supervisor.”

“Congratulations, Lady Elizabeth.”

Simon offered a handshake.

As I was about to grasp that hand, Franz blocked my way.

“Who said you’re my education supervisor? I never allowed it.”

“Franz?”

“How dare you call the crown prince by name. Do you want to die?”

“But…”

“Don’t come looking for me again. This is the last warning.”

It was a vicious look unlike a child.

I thought we had become a little closer.

He seemed to have forgotten that day’s tears and advice.

I might have been mistaken for a moment, and this might be Franz’s true nature.

Simon made a troubled expression.

“His Highness seems tired. I apologize on his behalf.”

“It’s my fault for suddenly coming here.”

“Please don’t say that. Actually, we’ve been waiting for you, Lady Elizabeth.”

“For me?”