‘This can’t be!’

Duke Hersher couldn’t believe what he had heard with his own ears.

It was hard enough to believe that ‘that’ Admund and Clea had a secret meeting, but to consider an even deeper relationship on top of that.

However, since he had heard it directly from him, the Duke couldn’t deny it this time.

He addressed the figure he saw in front of him.

“Lord Philip, it’s been a long time.”

“Ah, Duke Hersher. It has indeed been a while. Have you been well?”

“I just met with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Is that so.”

He wanted to confirm once more.

Whether the conversation he had just had was an illusion or not.

“His Highness said that he has someone he’s promised a future with.”

“My, so it has reached your ears as well, Duke.”

“…I didn’t quite catch who it was. Could you perhaps tell me?”

“Didn’t you say you just met with His Highness?”

Oberon was quite a perceptive person.

He thought that since Admund had granted an audience to Duke Hersher, he must have definitively settled the matter of marriage with Aria Hersher.

Oberon had also heard the news that Admund and Clea had gone out together for a date in the middle of the night yesterday.

Having predicted that something had passed between the two, he could sufficiently guess how the conversation between Admund and Duke Hersher might have gone.

So he roughly understood why Duke Hersher was asking him this question now.

‘It seems he can’t believe it’s true.’

It seemed he wanted to cover up his suspicion that Admund might be using rumors because he didn’t want to marry Aria.

Oberon recognized that the situation had become quite awkward for the Hersher ducal family.

The Hersher ducal family is very close to the current Emperor Odin, like his arms and legs.

However, thinking about the complicated relationship between Admund, who will be the future emperor, Clea, who will be his wife, Lloyd, who will become the Grand Duke, and Aria, who was once called the future Crown Princess.

Oberon got a headache just thinking about it.

Wishing for the Duke to face reality as soon as possible, Oberon told him the truth.

“I’m uncomfortable saying directly who it is, but I can assure you it’s the person His Highness mentioned.”

“…Is that so.”

Through Oberon’s answer, the Duke realized that his thoughts had been read.

But he wasn’t uncomfortable.

Having realized the truth, he was calmer than expected.

Perhaps because he had received such a big shock when he first heard it directly from Admund, the second time was somewhat more acceptable.

“Then where is that person now.”

The Duke, who had not believed the rumors at all before, now decided to believe the rumors he had heard.

According to rumors, Clea Odoi had left the mansion where she lived and was now living with the Crown Prince in the Crown Prince’s palace.

No one knows who spread these rumors.

So he thought it was absolutely untrustworthy, but now the situation had changed.

“I can’t arrange for you to meet her.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me.”

“I haven’t told you anything, Duke.”

Hearing Oberon’s words, the Duke moved his steps.

He realized how complacent he had been until now.

He had let his guard down because Admund hadn’t allowed anyone by his side all this time.

Among the high-ranking families who could become his companion, Aria was the only one without a fiancé. And Admund wasn’t the type to have a secret meeting with an engaged woman.

He just thought that if he waited for the right time, she would take that seat. So he had only created an atmosphere within social circles without making it seem like coercion.

His heart was stirring with regret for having been so complacent.

Come to think of it, Aria wasn’t even Admund’s fiancée at present.

He felt frustrated that he couldn’t even express why Admund had secret meetings with someone else, leaving Aria aside.

Duke Hersher thought.

If he were to intervene now to try to rectify the situation, would this nonsensical affair be resolved?

‘If so, I need to move quickly.’

His steps quickened at the thought of making Aria the Crown Princess by any means necessary.

* * *

“Has he left?”

“Yes, he has left.”

Duke Hersher’s figure had completely disappeared. Clea had been watching his retreating figure from afar.

Oberon, who had noticed Clea’s presence early on, had chosen his words carefully.

He had even considered the possibility of her appearing directly in the middle of the conversation.

‘That would be the worst-case scenario.’

Duke Hersher took great pride in his family.

If Clea herself were to appear here, there was no telling what the Duke might say to her face.

And since she wasn’t the type to just listen quietly, there was a high probability it would escalate into an argument.

He wondered what would happen if Admund were to hear about it, a small curiosity arising.

“So, Oberon, it seems you’ve decided to acknowledge me after all.”

“I made it clear before, didn’t I? I will act for your benefit from now on.”

He had said he would help her get revenge on Lloyd Percy, who was once her fiancé.

Clea still thought he had been joking.

But Oberon wasn’t joking at all.

Even now, he was working hard, mobilizing his people to investigate all sorts of wrongdoings committed by Lloyd.

Among them were things prohibited by the empire, which left him speechless.

The more Oberon investigated, the more he realized that the power of rumors was greater than he had thought.

He intended to hold Lloyd accountable for his misdeeds that had gone unnoticed, overshadowed by the bad rumors about Clea.

Although it wasn’t often on people’s lips yet, it was only a matter of time before it spread.

The wrongdoings committed by the heir to the Grand Ducal family, the highest-ranking family in the empire after the imperial family, would be exposed in detail.

Nevertheless, Oberon’s mood was very low.

The more Oberon prepared for a counterattack on her behalf, the greater his sense of guilt towards Clea grew.

Clea had been a victim who couldn’t even loudly explain herself while consistently suffering at Lloyd’s hands.

It was certainly wrong that this manifested as bullying towards Aria. But at least Oberon concluded that Clea hadn’t unilaterally bullied the innocent Aria without reason.

Oberon’s sense of debt added weight to his resolve to show loyalty.

“Come to think of it, His Highness the Crown Prince was wearing his buttons fully fastened today as well.”

“So?”

Oberon cleared his throat and glanced at Clea.

However, Clea was giving Oberon, who had broached the subject, a look of incomprehension.

“Couldn’t you restrain yourself a bit? I’m afraid others might see.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What do you mean, what’s wrong?”

“I like leaving marks on what’s mine. That way, no one else will try to claim it, right?”

Clea said this while revealing her sharp canines in a grin.

The reason why Admund always desperately tried to cover his neck was fully revealed. Oberon, looking at her weapon, felt a chill run down his spine.

Clea smiled, seemingly enjoying the sight of Oberon shrinking back.

“There have been people eyeing Admund lately, so shouldn’t I be on guard?”

“There’s no need for that. If you just show the ring on your finger well, I think no one will try anything.”

“My, you have a good eye for detail.”

“You’re wearing it so obviously and you say I have a good eye for detail?”

Oberon could roughly guess what had happened late last night.

When he entered the Crown Prince’s palace early in the morning, his bedchamber was a complete mess.

Some of the room’s items were scattered about in a broken state, and empty bottles were strewn all over the place.

And most embarrassingly, Admund’s upper body was nakedly exposed.

Traces of the previous night were deeply etched on his body, enough to make Oberon’s head throb.

His face reddening just at the imagination, he mentioned something else to change the subject.

“By the way, did you know that my younger sister recently returned from studying abroad?”

“Ah, I did hear about that. Oberon, I never thought you’d have a younger sister.”

“I treated her like she didn’t exist. It’s not really something to worry about. Anyway, my younger sister hopes to meet you.”

“Me, of all people?”

“Yes. She seems very curious about you.”

For Clea, who couldn’t remember anything related to Oberon’s younger sister Rupia, her existence was very intriguing.

It was unexpected that she wanted to meet her.

“If it’s about bullying, I’d rather pass.”

“If it were about bullying, would I have brought it up?”

“You might have. Who was it that made me sign a gag order?”

“Please forget about that.”

“How could I forget? The image of you glaring and rushing at me for anything related to Admund is still vivid.”

“Ha!”

Oberon, seemingly annoyed, pounded his chest and glared at Clea.

Clea watched the scene of Oberon’s frustration with a smile.

“Still, she is a daughter of the Philip family, so it might be good to meet her.”

“I’ll tell you in advance, she’s an odd child.”

“I was also called an odd child when I was young. So you shouldn’t be sure until you meet her in person.”

“Since it’s a meeting between odd people, perhaps you’ll get along well.”

Clea was somewhat looking forward to it.

She was curious about what kind of freshness this person named Rupia Philip would bring.

On the other hand, Oberon, watching this from the side, barely held back a sigh.

‘I’m not sure if it’s right to let them meet.’

He had reluctantly asked Clea because his younger sister kept insisting at home to arrange a meeting.

He had no choice when she even resorted to near-threats of going to the imperial palace herself if he kept refusing.

He actually desperately hoped that Clea would refuse the meeting.

But contrary to his wishes, Clea accepted it without hesitation.

He earnestly prayed.

‘I hope nothing happens.’

He already had a mountain of work to do.

As Oberon, who didn’t want any more work added here, he hoped that nothing would happen except for the two becoming friends.

He just wished they would sit face to face, have a light cup of tea, and that would be it.