“I’m going to deliver an item to Miss Elizabeth and explain how to use it.”

“I’ll listen together.”

“Do you really have to, Your Majesty?”

“Why? What, is there something to be wary of?”

Nikolai tilted his head sideways.

It was clear he was about to exercise his villain instincts once again.

One could tell just by looking at his bright green eyes flashing fiercely.

“It’s a sensitive and important necessity for women, so……”

Douglas trailed off as if embarrassed.

‘It seems Susan sent menstrual pain relief medication. There’s still some left though.’

The Marquis of Nettleton’s family had many individuals talented in pharmacy rather than literature for generations.

Susan, who had a weak constitution, couldn’t attend the academy.

Instead, she studied the pharmaceutical techniques left behind by her ancestors at home.

After suffering from her father’s gambling debts, she couldn’t afford expensive herb prices.

The person who volunteered to sponsor her then was the original Elizabeth.

Rather than caring for Susan, it was because the medicine she made had amazing effects on menstrual pain and hangover relief.

Thanks to that, I was also receiving help.

“Your Majesty, you must be busy, so shouldn’t you be going now?”

I politely conveyed the request for him to leave.

Nikolai flatly refused.

“I’m not busy at all.”

“Don’t you practice swordsmanship every day?”

“I’m taking a break these days.”

He had a suspicious expression, as if Douglas and I might be plotting something.

Anyway, this is how scary paranoia was.

“I’ll listen too. I’m curious about women’s necessities.”

“Of course you are.”

“Elizabeth. Do you think I only think about women all day?”

“Wasn’t that the case? I apologize for misjudging you.”

Nikolai’s eyebrow twitched.

If Careth hadn’t arrived just then, we would have had a war of words.

Or had a heated discussion about menstrual pain and how to take painkillers.

“Your Majesty. We have no more time to waste.”

“You can handle it alone. I trust you, Careth.”

“You must hear it directly, Your Majesty.”

“Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“The royal physician has confessed.”

Nikolai paused.

As if he had been waiting, Douglas bowed at the waist.

“I will have a brief conversation with Miss Elizabeth. Please take care, Your Majesty.”

Though it was just a greeting, Nikolai frowned as if he had been insulted.

He didn’t forget to give a stern warning either.

“Keep it brief. Don’t forget that Nettleton’s fate is in my hands!”

“Please trust me.”

“How can I trust you? Again……”

Nikolai paused once more.

Careth signaled to the knights.

“Escort him.”

The knights linked arms with Nikolai on both sides.

It seemed quite familiar.

“Excuse us, Your Majesty.”

“Let go. I will walk on my own.”

Nikolai glared at the knights with blazing eyes, then sharply turned his head towards me.

“We’ll discuss the crown prince’s education tomorrow. Over lunch, just the two of us!”

Why are you saying “let’s have a meal” like you’re challenging me to a duel?

And why are you glaring at Douglas?

Bewildered, I only then realized I was left alone with my former fiancé.

“Did Susan send painkillers?”

“That was just an excuse I made to His Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to be alone with Elizabeth.”

Douglas smiled with an innocent face.

‘The naive big brother deer tricked the emperor? Did his liver pop out of his belly? Nikolai is watching him like a hawk.’

To my eyes, Douglas looked like a herbivore in the clutches of a predator.

Douglas pulled out a gift box the size of his palm from his breast.

“It’s true that I have something to give you. Please open the box.”

I untied the red ribbon and unwrapped the pinkish wrapping paper to reveal an engraved crystal bottle.

The pretty bottle was filled with tiny dark red grains smaller than beans.

“It’s spicy pepper, a specialty of the Pimianta region.”

“Pepper?”

“You said you wanted to eat something spicy, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but……”

“Pimianta pepper is so spicy that ordinary people can’t even taste it. It will be perfect for Elizabeth’s palate.”

How did Douglas get this?

Pepper is a luxury item more expensive than its weight in gold.

Douglas looked sheepish, noticing what I was concerned about.

“Actually, the royalties for ‘The Red Star of the Empire’ came in.”

“Really?”

“200,000 copies have been sold. It’s still selling. The publisher gave me a fortune I’ve never seen in my life.”

“That’s great! Congratulations, Sir Douglas!”

I patted the bestselling author’s back.

According to the original story, “The Red Star of the Empire” would become a huge hit and make Douglas even wealthier.

When I touched him, Douglas became shy like a boy.

“I couldn’t have finished it without Elizabeth. And Elise, the female protagonist, wouldn’t exist in this world either.”

“You would have written it someday. You have talent and passion, Sir Douglas.”

“Thank you. It feels like all my fatigue has washed away.”

“How’s your stomach condition?”

“It got better quickly. I took the medicine Susan made and managed my diet. I’m also exercising regularly.”

Douglas bowed his head as if that too was thanks to me.

The original Douglas was a typical otaku character who only knew literature and Elizabeth.

Seeing that Douglas had grown a step further, I felt proud and heartwarmed.

“Now that I look, your shoulders seem to have broadened too.”

“I’m still far from catching up to His Majesty.”

“Pardon?”

“My goal is to have a robust physique comparable to His Majesty.”

On the day he presented the manuscript, Douglas was overwhelmed by Nikolai.

Though he showed some determination against the emperor, he must have painfully realized his own powerlessness.

Just as I had ignited Douglas’s creativity, Nikolai must have influenced him as well.

‘Douglas’s awakening, huh. I wonder what effect this will have in the future.’

And with Nikolai as his role model.

Isn’t the hurdle too high?

The picturesque upper body I saw on the terrace of Kensing Manor faintly came to mind.

Perfect chest muscles like armor tempered thousands of times with an iron hammer.

Steep abdominal muscles like a sheer cliff.

Though I hadn’t seen many men’s bodies, I could be certain there was no man with a more beautiful physique than Nikolai.

‘No wonder women won’t leave him alone, being handsome and having a body like that. If I’d known, I should have looked more closely……”

I secretly licked my lips.

Though it would be quite burdensome and awkward if a half-naked Nikolai approached me.

But that wouldn’t happen.

What Nikolai wanted wasn’t a one-night puppy love, but an actress to his liking.

His enthusiasm for the seduction game was obviously just entertainment and stubbornness.

Though I inwardly crushed the thought that I was just using him too, every time I did, my heart felt constricted and uncomfortable, as if wearing a whalebone corset.

“It’s a gift I really needed. I was tired of the greasy palace food.”

I deliberately shifted my gaze to the pepper bottle.

Just imagining the spiciness made my mouth water.

“You shouldn’t eat too much at once. Be careful, Elizabeth.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m more grateful that you’re pleased.”

Despite receiving harsh words from the emperor because of me and having his only sister’s safety threatened, Douglas remained constant.

He seemed as happy as if he had the whole world with just one word from me.

He came to the dangerous palace at the tyrant’s summons.

Grateful to be able to see me again.

‘Playing with such a kind and transparent man. I deserve whatever harsh fate befalls me, Elizabeth.’

Though he had the wealth to easily buy a pepper farm, sometimes I needed someone who genuinely cared for me more than money.

Just having such a person nearby made me feel secure.

Douglas was too good for me, who was busy figuring out how to survive.

I couldn’t accept his love. I didn’t know how to repay it either.

‘Am I using Douglas’s goodwill like the original Elizabeth?’

I didn’t want to use Douglas, but I didn’t want to drift apart from him forever either.

If Douglas left, my daily life would become lonelier and more arduous.

Is it impossible to become good friends with my ex-fiancé?

I was exercising selfishness under the excuse of clumsiness and circumstances.

I was also taken aback by the duality I discovered for the first time.

For the first time, I realized that receiving someone’s love is as difficult as loving someone.

What should I say and how should I say it?

It’s not like he just asked me out.

“When I received the royalties, I wanted to give Elizabeth a gift.”

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

“Actually, I wanted to buy jewelry like a necklace or earrings, but Susan stopped me. She said I couldn’t match Elizabeth’s taste with my ability.”

“Tastes change too. These days, doing nothing is the most comfortable.”

Though the original Elizabeth’s jewelry collection was moved to the canary room, I didn’t wear even a common pendant.

I had nowhere to go all dressed up, and no one I wanted to show off to.

“If I flaunt my wealth unnecessarily, thieves might target me. But I’m just not wearing any because it’s bothersome.”

“You’ve really changed a lot.”

Douglas stared at me intently and said as if realizing anew.

Hiding my startled reaction, I smiled seductively.

“Because I came back from the brink of death.”

“The previous Elizabeth was very charming too, but the current Elizabeth is truly admirable to anyone who sees her.”

Thinking it was too direct, Douglas blushed.

My face also flushed hot.

Douglas added fuel to the fire.

“May I take courage from your words about changing tastes?”

“Pardon?”

“As you know, Elizabeth, I am a foolish and frustrating man.”

A suffocating silence fell.

The air surrounding us heated up.

I couldn’t help but understand what he was saying.

What should I do? Is there no way to refuse without hurting him?

Knock knock. Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a knocking sound.

Franz, looking tired, poked his face through the door.

“Miss Elizabeth. How much longer do I have to wait?”

“Weren’t you supposed to be resting today?”

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“Just a moment. I’ll be right there.”

I had momentarily forgotten that I had become the crown prince’s education supervisor.

“I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“Not at all. Thank you so much for the pepper. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Next time, I’ll give you an even better gift. I hope you’ll accept it then too.”

Douglas’s eyes became strangely moist.

He was still polite, but the hesitation typical of a nice guy had disappeared.

My palms became sweaty.

‘He said Nikolai was his role model…… Douglas has changed!’

My heart pounded rapidly.

It felt like something would happen if I left him be.

Like women who are inexperienced in love and unfamiliar with dealing with the opposite sex often do, I awkwardly changed the subject.

“Which merchant did you buy the pepper from? I want to contact them later.”

“I got it through a friend. That friend likes spicy food too.”

“How unusual. What kind of friend is it?”

“It’s Lady Claudia Roselois, who is stationed in the Inted Islands.”

“!”

The guillotine nightmare that had tormented me last night vividly replayed.

Surprise attacks often come when one is off guard.

Despair appears trampling on hope.

Douglas probably doesn’t know how shocked I am at this moment.

An innocent suitor stabbing me in the back.

He pulled out an invisible blade once again.

“Shall I introduce you? Somehow, I feel like you two are destined to meet.”