There’s no way he fell in love and got married. The only person Kay can love is Princess Mary, me. I, who saved his life a long time ago, am the only one worthy of his love.

“Prepare to go to the Green Viscount’s mansion.”

“That’s not possible, Your Highness. Lord Green has already married…”

“Even if we’ve known each other since childhood, if he’s married, we can’t meet. Get ready to leave right now.”

“I cannot do that. His Majesty instructed me not to allow Your Highness to visit the Green Viscount’s mansion for a while.”
Mary’s pumpkin-colored eyes stared quietly at the aide. The aide was visibly uneasy, but didn’t backtrack on the words.

Eventually, Mary gave a faint smile.

“I understand. If Abamama’s intention is so, then it must be done that way.”

The aide displayed a noticeably relieved expression.

“Stop, leave me alone. All of you, leave. I want to be alone. Ah, only Jane stays.”

The aide and maids bowed their heads and withdrew. Now, Mary’s room only had Jane, her chief maid.

“Jane, do you know how heartbroken I am?”

Jane silently nodded.

“It’s painful. That Kay married another woman, and my aide follows only Abamama’s will, not mine.”

“…”

“I don’t need dogs that only show loyalty to Abamama. Do you understand what I mean?”

Jane nodded again.

“Yes, go.”

Jane disappeared from Mary’s sight in an instant.

Although she was positioned as the chief maid, in reality, Jane was a skilled assassin. Her sharp dagger would soon reach the aide’s throat. The aide wouldn’t see the sun rise tomorrow.

Although it was regrettable to lose the aide who had been with her for years, Mary wasn’t sad. She didn’t need aides who didn’t follow her orders.

Mary picked up a newspaper and aimed her gaze at the portrait of Lishi included in the wedding coverage.

“You’re the same, Iris. I don’t need things like you in my life.”

+++

Now, even in the middle of the day, the weather had become chilly with a cool breeze. The once-green leaves on the trees had turned yellow and red.

Kay sat on a garden bench, silently observing Lishi gazing at the autumn leaves.

It had been a day since he learned the surprising fact that Meritium was coming out of the Lavent gold mine. Yesterday, he was too preoccupied with sending soldiers to Lavent to ask anything, and today, he still couldn’t bring himself to ask Lishi.

‘Lishi, how do you know all of this? Do you really have the power of prophecy?’

If he asked, Lishi would probably just give him a faint smile. It was certain that Lishi wouldn’t tell him the answer he wanted to hear.

‘Then I’ll probably be hurt.’

He had decided to wait without impatience, but each time such a surprising event occurred, he couldn’t help but become curious about her true identity.

‘Whatever your identity is, my feelings won’t change.’

Lishi confessed that she loved him even though she knew he was a Suvian. Kay knew how difficult it was to love a Suvian, who was treated worse than animals, enduring treatment worse than even animals.

From the moment he decided to live for the freedom of Suvians, he searched for hidden Suvians, all with stories of betrayal and abandonment by family, lovers, and friends.
Some people, upon learning that their mothers or fathers, husbands or lovers, or friends were Suvians, reported them to the authorities and ended up being chased and harassed.

One Suvian had a husband and a son, but as soon as her husband discovered she was a Suvian, he reported her to the authorities. He even refused to accept the child she gave birth to, forcing her out of the house.

People found Suvians repulsive, disgusting, and contemptible, yet they were also afraid of them. Kay was such an existence.

It was an incredible stroke of luck for Kay to find a family that accepted him in his wolf form from the moment of his birth.

“Dash, you were so small and cute; I was surprised. I like puppies.”

My father used to laugh heartily while telling the story of Kay’s birth.

“Because you were born a month earlier than expected, it was fortunate that we couldn’t call a doctor.”

His mother had just a month left until she gave birth, but she unexpectedly went into labor while taking a short trip with his father. She gave birth to Kay in the carriage.

If Kay had been born in a place with a doctor or midwife, his life would have disappeared before he could even see the light of the world properly.

He had been so lucky, and now there was a woman by his side who loved him. Moreover, she was the most amazing woman in the world.

Even if she had some secrets, what did it matter?

“Kay, my face will be pierced.”

“I was thinking about piercing it a bit. It’s too perfect now.”

“Don’t you like perfection?”

“Who wouldn’t be attracted to me? Everyone will.”

Kay lightly kissed Rishi’s smooth cheek. He kissed her so much that there were even kissing sounds, all because he enjoyed the soft and smooth texture of her lips being pressed against him.

Rishi slightly wrinkled her nose and laughed.

“It tickles, Kay.”

“Shall we go see a play tomorrow? We can go to the theater, have a cup of tea at a tea house, take a walk around the streets, and then come back.”

“Is this the date plan we were discussing earlier?”

“Since your man, who has no experience with dates, gathered to plan, it may not be impressive, but it should be enjoyable.”

The somewhat enjoyable date was postponed.

On the day they planned to go on a date, while getting ready to go out, they heard news that Crown Prince Iyo was entering the court wearing a coat.

“Why is Iyo…?”

Answering Kay, who looked puzzled, Rishi calmly said, “He probably came to meet me. Since there are things we need to discuss privately today, Kay, please leave the place.”