‘If I break each of those arms one by one and grab her neck, I wonder what expression she’d make, begging me to spare her?’

Maeri had thought about it calmly.

Maeri spoke calmly.

“Even though it looks like that, it was a very high-quality dress. They used incredibly expensive fabric. Probably designed by a famous designer. The Green family is a noble family far from extravagance, but it’s a concern.”
“Yes, that’s right. Do you think the Countess is unaware that indulging in extravagance would bring disgrace to the Green family? Come to think of it, they said the reason for breaking off the engagement with the Duke of Witley is also related to financial issues… Could it be because the daughter is too extravagant, making it unbearable for the Duke of Witley?”

“Surely not. But if that’s the case… Kei will have a hard time. He’s a man with a gentle nature, unable to scold anyone harshly.”

Maeri smiled sadly.

Caroline spoke with pity.

“Perhaps the Green Countess, being the guardian of the relic, had pure eyes for not caring about women’s problems. To choose such a woman, having such a deep person like the princess… ”

“No, Caroline. Kei didn’t make that choice himself.”

When Maeri spoke coldly, Caroline quickly responded.

“That’s right. A man like the Green Count wouldn’t choose such a woman himself. I guess… she must have hung onto him?”

Maeri didn’t say she would do that. Instead, Emera nodded.

“It must be that way. She must have seen the Green Count somewhere and clung to him. Maybe because she’s a noblewoman, the Green Count couldn’t refuse her coldly.”

“Well. If it wasn’t like that, the Green Count wouldn’t have married that woman. If it was a problem that could be solved by begging, wouldn’t the princess have done the same?”

“That’s right, Princess. You didn’t express your feelings for the Green Count, just waited for him…”

Maeri smiled as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

The people in the room felt their hearts ache at Maeri’s smile, which seemed on the verge of breaking.

Our princess is too kind, always suffering like this.

+++

Kei had a splitting headache.

Not long after reconciling with Rishi over the issue of handling the relic, he had managed to anger her again.

‘Jamie isn’t here, and I’m in a difficult situation.’

Jamie would have given appropriate advice. Nathan and Eugene weren’t much help in situations like this.

In the midst of this, Wallace returned with some news.

“Captain, the kitchen is bustling. Sister-in-law asked for a dinner to be prepared for Princess Maeri.”

His heart sank.

Of course, it was customary to open the evening meal to welcome guests, but Maeri was not an ordinary guest.

There was no need for Rishi to step forward and treat Maeri.

Maeri could have given another restaurant for the people she brought to have their meal.

“What should I do, Wallace?”

“What do you mean?”

“Will this dinner pass quietly?”

“Well, enjoying good food can improve your mood, so wouldn’t everyone have a pleasant time? Our chef is skilled, after all.”

As expected, Wallace was not helpful.
Kei was not completely ignorant about women’s subtle conflicts, but he wasn’t foolish enough to overlook the subtle skirmish between Rishi and Maeri earlier.

Kei headed back to Rishi’s room.

Knock, knock.

He politely knocked and waited until Krisina opened the door.

Kristina threw an unkind glance at Kei.

The maids, too, seemed upset because of Maeri.

“Kristina, I want to talk to Rishi.”

“Just a moment.”

Thunk.

The door closed in front of Kei’s face.

After a considerable wait, Kei finally got permission to enter.

Rishi was wearing a wine-colored dress.

The dress, revealing the delicate lines of her body, was so dazzling that Kei instinctively approached her, almost kissing her.

“Speak from there.”

Rishi’s cold voice froze Kei.

“Rishi…”

“What’s the matter?”

Rishi’s gaze was icy.

After exchanging glances with Krisina and Erwel, Kei left the room quietly.

“Rishi, I’m sorry.”

“Fine.”

“I’m really sorry. This wasn’t what I intended. I didn’t expect Maeri to suddenly show up like this.”

“You’re affectionate, Kei.”

“Huh?”

“Calling Princess Minasarik so affectionately. I didn’t know you had such an intimate relationship.”

Kei realized it. He felt like hitting himself in the face.

If Jamie were here, she would have stopped him.

“Rishi, it’s not like that. There are circumstances between her and me. We knew each other when we were young…”

Rishi raised her hand to interrupt Kei.

“I don’t want to hear you bundling yourself with the princess right now. Can’t you understand that?”

While Rishi’s voice was gentle, Kei couldn’t bear it at this moment.

His kind, affectionate, and beautiful wife was terribly angry, and he didn’t know how to appease her.

Having survived countless battlefields and numerous assassination attempts, he had never felt tense and frightened like this before.

Should he say he doesn’t understand at a time like this, or should he say he understands?

Unable to determine even that, Kei only pursed his lips.