“What is this? It’s not my face, it’s a wolf!”

I inadvertently screamed.

The canvas didn’t depict the femme fatale who conquered high society, but a wolf with flame-red fur.

Franz pointed at the painting with a grin.

“Don’t those fierce black eyes and terrifying mouth look just like Elizabeth?”

“What did you say?”

“Look at that bright red fur. Doesn’t it look like you’re looking in a mirror?”

“I’ll have you bitten by a red wolf!”

I grabbed Franz’s waist with both hands.

I even chomped down on Franz’s wrist as he flailed about.

It must have hurt quite a bit, but Franz rolled to the side, giggling.

It seemed he found this all to be an amusing prank.

‘When we first met, he was like a fighting rooster. The painting he tore up then was a wolf too, wasn’t it? He must really like wolves. Children’s tastes are really…’

Franz was changing little by little.

The wounds on his hands had almost completely healed.

The expression of the boy who always had to be on edge and suspicious of everything had noticeably softened.

I stared at his eyes that simultaneously held childlike innocence and coolness, then averted my gaze.

It was because of me, constantly tracing Nikolai’s traces in Franz.

“Let’s stop. I’m the fool for fighting with a child.”

I plopped down in a chair, smoothing my disheveled hair.

Though not a portrait, it was an incredibly excellent painting.

The red wolf looked as if it might leap out of the canvas at any moment.

‘I can’t believe a 10-year-old child painted this. Did he paint each strand of fur individually? It has a liveliness that even a photograph couldn’t capture. The freedom and wildness of the wolf too.’

If this was what he could do self-taught, what kind of skill would he show under a proper teacher?

Just imagining it made my heart swell.

Even more so when I thought of the person I was trying to invite as Franz’s art professor.

Just then, Franz asked:

“Elizabeth. When is the art professor coming?”

“Didn’t you say focusing on art would ruin your reputation as Crown Prince?”

“I’m such an obedient student. I’m believing in the teacher’s boast that he’ll solve that problem too.”

“You sure have a way with words.”

I ruffled Franz’s golden hair with my hand.

Thinking his words were quite witty, Franz laughed with a sound like bells rolling.

“Please wait a little longer. It’s not an ordinary professor, so it’s difficult to invite.”

“Who are you trying to bring?”

“Have you heard of Owen Black?”

“You mean Owen of the Black Count family? Owen, the God-given painter?”

Franz asked back, forgetting to breathe.

It wasn’t unreasonable for him to be excited.

Owen was a painter who had made a name for himself since his early teens as a once-in-a-century genius.

He had gained great popularity for his precise expressions as if transferring objects directly and his dreamlike colors as if peeking into a garden in a dream.

“Owen’s paintings sold for the price of a large mansion. There were countless nobles begging for portraits too.”

“He wouldn’t have painted just anyone.”

“You know well, Elizabeth? They say he refused even royal commissions if he didn’t like the model. That’s probably why he made enemies.”

“That kind of guts is needed to teach our little one!”

Franz sighed with a look that said to stop talking nonsense.

“Haa… Owen was exiled for treason 7 years ago. The entire Black Count family fell!”

“Do you know why he was accused of treason?”

“No matter how smart I am, I don’t have memories from when I was 3 years old.”

“Everyone hushed it up, but it was because he refused to paint a portrait of the previous empress.”

“Penelope again! The woman His Majesty drove out.”

Franz frowned deeply as if even recalling it was unpleasant.

I was reminded of the royal chronicles Careth had given as a gift.

Nikolai’s mother Brigida died of illness 16 years ago at the age of 32.

As soon as the empress passed away, the previous emperor brought in 20-year-old Penelope as the new empress.

‘Nikolai was only 12 then. It couldn’t have been easy facing a young stepmother. Judging by how he deposed and exiled her, they must have had quite a bad relationship.’

The former Empress Penelope was now the mistress of Warden.

To become the queen of an enemy country right after being driven out of the empire.

It was remarkable skill and impressive execution.

‘The reason Claudia was stationed in the Intend Islands was also to check Warden. The pretext for revolution was also Warden. In the original, Nikolai was indifferent to whether Warden invaded or not because he was lost in Elizabeth’s skirts.’

To prevent the revolution, Nikolai needed to show that he was actively defending the borders.

The problem was that this was an area I, as a mere education officer, couldn’t meddle in.

Nikolai’s heart was also unpredictable.

He would act sweetly as if in a dream, then freeze up in an instant.

Just when I thought we’d gotten a bit closer, that man would distance himself by several steps.

Nikolai, who would completely tangle up my heart and then return beyond his solid castle walls.

I was left alone outside the door.

Soon Claudia would come for Nikolai’s head.

I couldn’t even guarantee my own life.

Nikolai knew nothing.

I couldn’t tell him either.

I could only worry anxiously about a pair of guillotines, about a man who would lose his life at the same time as me.

‘To lose sleep worrying about the emperor as a mere commoner, and even try to meddle in defense matters. It’s fortunate if even a dog doesn’t laugh.’

I swallowed a bitter laugh.

Franz muttered coldly.

“Penelope would frame an innocent painter for treason and more. It’s all because of that woman that Warden is eyeing Hartmann.”

“You seem to have a grudge?”

“One never forgets their enemy.”

“What did Penelope do to you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

An aura unbefitting a child flickered in Franz’s lime-green eyes.

That killing intent. It was exactly like Nikolai’s. Blood really doesn’t lie.

“Owen Black was dragged off to the northern coal mines instead of being hanged. It’s not even known if he’s alive or dead.”

Franz grumbled.

It was as if he resented me for instilling false hope.

But Franz didn’t know it was too early to be disappointed.

Especially with a teacher who knew the original story inside and out.

“If I make Owen your art professor. What will you do for me?”

Not all teachers would demand payment, but Franz needed to learn too.

That there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

“Do you know how difficult it is to restore the rights of a traitor? The House of Nobles will make a huge fuss.”

“Do you think I care about that?”

“The problem is you care too little. Do you know what Elizabeth’s reputation is like these days?”

“I told you I’m not interested. I can do anything for our Crown Prince.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.

After all, Franz’s future would only be guaranteed if the imperial family was protected.

‘If I get Boritz and now Owen too, that’s taking away two of Claudia’s comrades. Even if they try to start a revolution, it won’t succeed as easily as in the original!’

I smiled triumphantly.

Franz was looking up in admiration at his true teacher who would stop at nothing for his sake.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“His Imperial Majesty has commanded me to deliver a letter.”

What the servant held out was a golden envelope half the size of a palm.

The imperial seal of three swords and a heart was stamped on purple wax.

I tried to remain calm, but my hand trembled slightly as I broke the seal.

It was the first time Nikolai had sent me a letter.

Large beads of sweat stung Nikolai’s eyes.

Not only his black hair, but his training clothes were also soaked with sweat.

Every time the sword threatened to slip from his slick grip, he gritted his teeth.

He wanted to pour everything out along with the sweat.

It felt like he couldn’t endure otherwise.

“Let’s go, Blackwing.”

Nikolai coaxed the black horse he had personally fed since childhood.

Blackwing was following the hours-long training well.

Though it would have been understandable to resist by kicking up dirt, it obediently complied as if understanding its master’s complex state of mind.

“Hya!”

With a resounding shout, Nikolai swung his sword.

The armored wooden dummy was split in two.

Squires ran up to clear away the broken dummy and set up a new one.

It was already the dozens-th one.

The emperor’s mounted training showed no signs of stopping.

“Are there no knights who wish to spar?”

Unsatisfied with the wooden dummies, Nikolai glared at the captain of the knights.

The old knight nearing his sixties seemed both fearful and concerned about the young emperor’s passion.

“You’ve already done hand-to-hand combat and sword duels. Now you want to do mounted combat again?”

“I intend to focus on mounted training for the time being.”

“Not only the knights, but Blackwing is also very tired. Your Majesty should rest as well.”

It was the right thing to say.

But he couldn’t stop.

The moment he put down his sword, he would undoubtedly run to Elizabeth.

When he was with her, it took only an instant to lose his reason.

He would be intoxicated by her sweet scent, unable to hide his rising desire.

Taking advantage of his weakened willpower, the wolf would whisper again.

「Come on, Nicky. Let’s quench that thirst quickly.」

The moment he tried to kiss her, the wolf had whispered.

A dizzying vertigo and sense of failure washed over him.

「What are you doing? Elizabeth is waiting, isn’t she?」

It was the same that day he fell into the lake.

The wolf had tried to indulge in her scent through Nikolai.

He couldn’t stand how it would squeeze through gaps in his control and pop out at any time, constantly interfering with his emotions.

「Kiss her, Nicky. She wants it too!」

He wanted to stop the wolf.

He had to use any method.

Knowing it was cowardly, he fled into the water.

He didn’t expect Elizabeth to jump in to save him.

‘Elizabeth… I want to monopolize you. I want to possess all of you alone.’

He bit the inside of his cheek until it bled.

This feeling had to be his alone.

He could no longer forgive the bewitching and insolent wolf.

He had forgotten his father’s dying words the moment he started following her.

He had thrown away his duties and authority as emperor.

He liked Elizabeth and wanted her.

However, he didn’t want to connect Elizabeth to the humiliation he had to endure in exchange for borrowing the wolf’s power.

What was the way to escape this accursed wolf?

The only way was to pass it on to Franz along with the throne.

Hundreds of blades stabbed his heart.

He had promised Laila he would protect Franz.

He had sworn to raise this child to the most noble position.

But was that really the best choice for Franz?

The dazzlingly brilliant crown was nothing more than a luxurious shell.

Even the lofty imperial throne was no different from shackles weighing down the heart.

A life of struggling alone amidst the scheming and infighting of the imperial court, at the mercy of the goddess’s wolf.

If he passed on that cursed fate, Franz would be unhappy.

After learning that Franz painted, it became a certainty.

The captain of the knights shook him from his endless thoughts.

“Your Majesty. There is a request for an audience. What shall we do?”

The shadow that had fallen over Nikolai’s face cleared in an instant.

His heart, which had been darkly oppressed, brightened like the newly risen sun.

‘Elizabeth has responded to my invitation…!’

He had written in the invitation asking her to come to the training grounds.

But he didn’t really expect her to come.

He had turned away from her lips.

He had disappointed her once again.

But Elizabeth was trying to give him a new chance.

Nikolai commanded in a stern voice:

“What are you all doing? Hurry and clear away all these dangerous things!”