Then, from afar, the sound of a horse’s neigh and the powerful sound of hooves came.

Asha looked at the galloping Shepi with wide eyes.

One step behind, Jackal looked back and forth with widened eyes at Asha, Karaf, and the unknown man lying on the ground.

Asha looked at Shepi with narrowed eyes.

She was so grateful that he had come running back, knowing she was in danger.

When Jackal leaned his head in to look her over, it was then.

“……Your Majesty! Banetssa! Are you alright!”

Durando rushed up from behind.

Karaf wiped the bloodstained knife on the ground once, then casually sheathed it, saying,

“He’s not dead, so take him to the torture room and find out who’s paying him right away. You showed up later than me and made me catch the spy myself, so find out what happened no matter what.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Durando roughly tied the spy’s hands and feet and dragged him away.

“Were you very surprised?”

Asha, who had been sitting in place all this time, looked at Karaf blankly at his words.

He bent one knee and sat, looking closely at Asha’s face.

Whether it was the effect of the anesthetic, her eyelids were halfdrooped, trembling.

Karaf took out a handkerchief embroidered with roses from his pocket and gently wiped the blood from Asha’s cheeks, asking,

“Why were you wandering around here alone? Did you get lost while walking with that horse?”

At his teasing question, Asha momentarily flushed but took a hint from his words and replied,

“That is, I was curious about the palace’s structure…… Sonya often gets lost, so I thought I’d know in advance.”

“Yes. This palace is indeed vast and complex. If you wander around like this without a guard, you’re likely to get lost. Like today, you might meet an assassin and exchange greetings.”

Karaf spoke as if it was not a big deal, but Asha felt a chill run through her body.

Jackal felt both pride and guilt at the words ‘without a guard,’ looking at Asha apologetically.

Karaf looked at Asha for a while and then said,

“You’ll have to get used to it.”

As Asha looked at him, Karaf spoke seriously,

“There have always been those in this palace who are after my life. Now that a butterfly has come to my side, they won’t leave the butterfly alone either. They will endlessly try to tarnish and harm its reputation.”

Jackal’s expression became uncomfortable.

He was sure that being by his side would put Asha in danger.
But in truth, Asha had never been attacked by assassins in her previous life.

At that time, the news that Emperor Karaf hated her spread throughout the empire, and it was publicly known that Banessa couldn’t make him bloom.

Now, all the nobles are focused on Karaf’s excessive interest, but in the past, she was like a doll that posed no threat to the surrounding forces.

Asha gave a bitter smile.

She had never thought that there would be any benefit to being disliked and tormented by Karaf.

“Always be where my eyes reach. Then I won’t feel uneasy.”

“…….”

Asha had no reply, but Karaf seemed to have quickly adapted to such an insolent attitude, shaking off and standing up with a face that said he understood.

“Can you walk?”

“……Yes.”

Asha rose from her seat, but her legs wobbled slightly.

Karaf courageously grabbed Asha’s trembling hand.

Jackal glanced at him, eyes flashing.

Asha also stole a glance at him with anxious eyes.

Karaf carefully said, watching her reaction.

“Let’s have some tea with me to calm down a bit.”

It was a date request.

He faithfully followed the book’s advice, ‘Do not ask for a date abruptly, but subtly create an excuse even if there isn’t one.’

Asha nodded her head in surprise. Karaf’s face, turned away, bloomed like a flower.

‘Finally, that damned pink book is having an effect.’

Karaf, pleased yet somewhat serious, held his hand to his mouth and coughed, ‘That book is popular among the common people for a reason…….’

“Let’s go down to the rose garden and drink. It’s a beautiful place with many flowers; you’ll surely like it. If you want, you can bring that Shapie or whatever you like.”

‘……Shapie, you fool.’

Jackal glared at him for calling his name strangely.

“Is that really true?”

When Asha asked with a halfsmile, Karaf answered with an expansive expression.

“Of course. It’s a horse you cherish, so I want to treat it well too. I’ll make sure to serve the highestgrade dessert to the horse.”

Only then, seeing Asha’s pale complexion brighten, he felt proud that he was following the book’s manual very diligently.

The love guide said that protecting a woman in a dangerous situation is also a very good method.

Because it’s easy to mistake a beating heart for love.

Watching Asha stroke the horse’s mane, he reached out a hand to the horse as well.

But Jackal immediately turned up his nose as if offended, whipping his hand to the side.

Karaf’s eyebrows knitted slightly. This was truly the first time he had encountered such a cheeky horse.