“I am here to see Your Majesty.”

As evening fell, the imperial palace became completely deserted.

The nobles and officials who had finished their work all returned home to have a cozy dinner with their families.

But coziness did not visit the imperial palace.

It could not be found even among blood relatives.

Although the emperor was clearly his father, Edmund had not used the term “father” long before he received the title of crown prince.

The emperor, for whom Edmund was the only child, did not feel any resentment.

For them, the development of the empire, the continuation of the royal family, and the relationship between ruler and subject were more important than family affection.

As Edmund took his seat, Emperor Odin Wilhelm opened his mouth.

“You’re a bit late.”

“I apologize.”

“What made you late?”

“There was an unusual amount of work to be done today.”

“I see.”

Their stiff and dry conversation lacked any color of emotion or warm temperature.

Even after the food was served, Odin never once glanced at Edmund.

Edmund was the same.

The two continued their conversation without ever meeting each other’s eyes.

“You’ve already passed twenty, haven’t you?”

“I’ve already reached that age while focusing on my studies at the academy.”

In reality, Edmund didn’t need to attend the academy.

He was the future king with a guaranteed future.

Therefore, he could have simply had professional tutors in the palace and received education directly from them.

But Edmund expressed his wish to go to the academy.

Those around him opposed, but the emperor accepted his wish.

After all, there was still time left until his death, and he wanted to grant what his son wanted to do.

There were concerned views that he would play as much as he hadn’t been able to at the academy.

But as if to prove those were just concerns, Edmund lived diligently and received everyone’s expectations.

‘In fact, it wouldn’t matter if he played around.’

The emperor’s assessment of Edmund was that he was a ‘boring child’.

Despite being likely to feel suffocated by the path given to him, he diligently fulfilled that path.

He never once harbored any complaints.

Because of that, he often thought Edmund seemed inhuman.

The emperor picked up his wine glass.

“You’ve also reached the age to marry.”

At those words, Edmund stopped the knife he was using to cut his meat.

He put down his fork and knife and, for the first time, looked at his father.

Odin also looked at Edmund while taking a sip of wine from his glass.

In the gaze they exchanged, there was no trace of affection between father and son.

However, neither of them thought it was strange.

Edmund was just uncomfortable with the suddenly brought up topic.

“Originally, you should have had an engagement ceremony before entering the academy. And you should have had a wedding after graduating from the academy.”

He already knew what Odin was trying to say.

“Are you recommending marriage?”

“Yes, shouldn’t you have children too?”

Edmund knew this fact well too.

As the royal bloodline became very precious, he could inherit the throne without any threats.

In fact, this situation was hard to see as good.

A simple succession structure meant that it was that much easier to face extinction.

The emperor, still with an expressionless face, said to Edmund.

“I don’t care about rumors. It’s clearly to check the power that will become overwhelming when you ascend to the throne.”

At those words, Edmund realized that there were rumors about him.

Rumors were typically known last by the person concerned.

Edmund didn’t know the content of the rumors.

He wanted to ask what on earth he was talking about, but Odin’s words came first.

“How about marrying the young lady of the Hersher family?”

“Your Majesty.”

“It’s not a bad proposal for you either. There are few families as loyal to the royal family as the Hersher family, and their young lady dominates the social world.”

Edmund also knew enough about the Hersher family.

The Hersher family had been almost blindly loyal to the royal family since the empire was established.

And Aria Hersher, the only child of Duke Hersher. How could he not know of her existence?

It wasn’t just because her presence was exceptional.

‘She was one of the people who had been by my side since entering the academy, so I couldn’t not know her.’

He pictured Aria’s existence in his mind.

Her lovely pink hair and comfortable green eyes that put people at ease made her likable to people.

When attending the academy, Aria’s popularity was sky-high.

With her background as a duke’s daughter and the privilege of staying by Edmund’s side, she was often mentioned as a potential crown princess.

But Edmund didn’t care.

Although she stayed by his side, it was more accurate to say that she followed him around as she pleased.

Edmund never sought out Aria first.

So he thought lightly that it would all be revealed as false words as time passed.

‘I didn’t expect it to become reality.’

Edmund covered the bitter taste in his mouth with a smile.

Then he asked simultaneously.

“Is it an order, or a recommendation?”

Looking at Edmund, who asked whether it was an order as emperor or a recommendation as a father, Odin laughed and asked.

“You seem to dislike it.”

Until recently, he thought he wouldn’t care who became his wife.

In any case, whoever it was, a crown princess was needed.

The person who would become empress following him, barring any major changes.

Unless he declared not to take another after marrying and his partner died.

A position that had to be filled at least once.

He had too much to do to worry about such a position.

If he hadn’t met Clea, he would have given an immediate answer here, thinking that someone like Aria Hersher would be fine.

But Admund’s thoughts had changed since then.

“It’s not that I dislike it, but there is someone else I like.”

“Someone you like? How truly fascinating.”

Odin didn’t have any particular interest in Admund. But being his son, he could easily understand what kind of person Admund was.

For Admund to directly say that there was someone he liked was truly unlike him. Odin was simply surprised.

“Who is it?”

“It’s difficult for me to say at the moment.”

“If you don’t tell me, I won’t approve.”

“I haven’t asked for the other person’s opinion yet.”

“Even without asking, wouldn’t anyone want that position?”

A position every woman would wish for at least once.

Throughout history, the process of choosing the crown princess had never been without fierce competition.

There were many stories passed down from his grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and even further back.

But Admund didn’t particularly want to go through such a process.

‘What about you?’

Admund was curious about Clea’s opinion.

How would she react?

Honestly, the only woman who caught his eye now was Clea.

He felt that his feelings for her were gradually developing into affection.

He wanted Clea to become the crown princess.

But this could be a burdensome proposal for her.

Although she seemed fine now, she had been part of the Odoi family until recently.

Thinking that he should at least confirm her intentions first, Admund imagined for a moment.

‘What if she refuses?’

After hesitating briefly, Admund decided he wouldn’t mind if she refused.

He already had no intention of letting her go.

He had told her enough.

That even if she wanted to escape now, she would never be able to leave his side.

The more he got to know her, the more Admund felt drawn to Clea and simultaneously felt an impulse.

When they met on the bridge and he learned that she had left her family. His proposal for her to come with him wasn’t simply out of a desire to help.

It was because he felt an impulse to be with her without the interference of the Odoi family anymore.

He wanted to keep her by his side, fearing she might disappear somewhere.

The traces Clea left on him, every word she said to him, were all new stimuli for Admund.

Throughout his addiction to this strange stimulus, he hadn’t thought of anyone but Clea.

He tried to hide his expression, pretending to be nonchalant.

But Odin, who was watching him, easily noticed how Admund was feeling right now.

“Your eyes have become fierce.”

“I apologize. I was momentarily lost in thought.”

“Haha, interesting. Very interesting. The day has come when you can’t control your expression in front of me.”

Odin was very intrigued.

He was truly curious about who this woman was that could stir Admund’s emotions like this.

However, somehow Odin felt like he knew who she was.

“If you get her approval, you must bring her before me once. Otherwise, I won’t approve the engagement.”

“…I’ll try asking her.”

“Ha, earlier you asked if it was an order or a recommendation. Now you’re assuming it’s a recommendation.”

But Odin didn’t mind.

He was the master of the imperial palace.

He was someone who could easily hear about anything that spread within the palace walls.

An interesting piece of news had reached his ears. Thinking that he would confirm it himself soon enough, Odin ignored Admund’s response.

‘Following the disappearance of that daughter from the Odoi family, a woman suddenly appearing in the crown prince’s palace, and now a woman the crown prince likes.’

Seeing the puzzle pieces fitting together, Odin briefly recalled the woman named Clea Odoi and wondered.

He hoped to hear directly how she had managed to capture the heart of Admund, who had a heart of ice.

‘I should arrange a meeting soon.’

Odin, who intended to secretly arrange a meeting with her through someone, suppressed a laugh as he watched Admund continue his meal, oblivious to everything.