Maeri tightly gripped the hem of her dress with her small hand. Tears gathered but didn’t flow.

Smiling with watery eyes, Maeri, betrayed but enduring like a delicate and pitiful woman, looked like a woman who truly loved someone.

“Well then, excuse me. I just wanted to talk about the past since we haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

“I see.”

Kei stopped speaking at that point and didn’t open his mouth again.

As Kei was about to leave the room, he turned around as if he had remembered something.

“Is it okay to blow a kiss?”

Before Rishi could respond, Kei pressed his palm to his lips, then blew a kiss toward Rishi.
“Kei, just because you got married doesn’t mean we become enemies, right?”

“Of course not, Princess. However, it might be better to keep a little distance unless the princess calls me Kei instead of addressing me as Lady Green Countess.”

Maeri’s pupils shook.

Rishi could tell that the shake was genuine. Rishi, too, was surprised by Kei’s firm attitude.

“I’ll take my leave first. Please have a comfortable night.”

Kei affectionately raised his hand on Rishi’s shoulder and turned away.

While walking led by Kei, Rishi felt Maeri’s gaze touching her back.

Even without turning around, she could anticipate what expression Maeri would be wearing.

+++

Being born as the princess of Minasarik, feeling this sense of humiliation was the first time since dealing with Eldi.

Maeri expelled the maids and paced around the room boldly.

She couldn’t control the rising anger.

She almost threw a dish from the dining table at Rishi.

“That woman is probably playing with Kei, shaking him. If not, there’s no reason for Kei to treat me so coldly.”

She saved Kei’s life when he was young.

If it weren’t for Maeri, Kei would have died right there, and Kei was well aware of that fact.

Kei, who was indifferent and callous to every woman, was not as cold to Maeri.

She thought it would be like that for a lifetime.

Maeri approached a large glass box on the bedside table. Inside, there was a frog.

“Ron, do you know my heart?”

The frog croaked.

Externally, it looked like an ordinary frog, but in reality, it was a mutant frog with venom.

Maeri gazed lovingly at the frog Ron and whispered.

“I wish I didn’t have to use you. Don’t I?”

+++

The next day, Jamie and Eldi returned.

But they were not the only ones.

“Why did you… come here?”

“Hahaha! Since I succeeded in the long-awaited extermination of the Lamba tribe, shouldn’t we raise a toast!”

Mir was also with them.

“I never dreamed that the extermination of the Lamba tribe was your long-awaited wish…”

“You don’t show much interest in me. Sometimes, giving some attention to a friend is not a bad idea. Anyway, where is the beautiful Lady Green Countess?”

“Why are you looking for someone else’s wife as soon as you return from an expedition?”

“She’s an astonishing beauty, isn’t she? Heroes naturally like beauties. Seeing a beauty makes you feel better. Hahaha!”

His confident words left no room for a retort.

“If you like beauties so much, why not go and see Princess Maeri?”

“Princess Maeri? Ah, the Princess Maeri of the Minasarik Kingdom? I’ve heard that she’s incredibly beautiful. I haven’t had a chance to see her until now.”

“That’s convenient. She’s here right now.”

“Oh, really? I must go see her right away!”

Watching Mir disappear towards the main hall, Kei let out a deep sigh.
Mir had an outstanding appearance despite his personality.

It would be great if Maeri could fall for Mir at first sight.

“Princess Maeri is here?”

Jamie, who was silently standing under Mir’s pressure, asked. The faintly spreading smile that was always on Jamie’s lips was nowhere to be seen.

“Yeah, she barged in recklessly yesterday.”

“That’s quite a problem. Is Lady Iris all right?”

“She’s fine. Maeri acted a bit rudely for a moment, but there haven’t been any issues since then.”

“Is that so…?”

Jamie’s expression was incredulous.

“Well, that’s not important right now. We need to hear the report, Kei.”

Upon Elde’s crooked remark, they headed to the study.

As soon as they entered the study, Elde lowered his voice and spoke.

“The Pope will visit soon. It seems he wasn’t convinced about the story regarding the Lamba tribe.”

“I expected as much.”

Kei had anticipated it.

While the Emperor might be unaware, the Pope knew a lot about relics. There was a high chance he was also knowledgeable about the Sleeve Stone.

“With the upcoming wedding and all… It would be best to depart today or tomorrow if possible. You know the Pope’s temperament, and the Prince, too.”

“That’s true.”

If it weren’t for Maeri, they would have left immediately, even today.

Thinking only about Maeri’s issues made Kei’s head throb with pain.

“What should I do? I can leave today if you want.”

Elde, the deputy commander of the Holy Knights, was now supposed to return to the Sacred Kingdom.

“Elde, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Stay here until I return and teach Rishi some magic.”

“You have magical talents, too, to your sister-in-law?”

“Not exactly. If she learns how to read the flow of mana, she might grasp how to handle relics to some extent.”

Elde squinted his eyes.

“And as a side effect, it’ll help protect my sister-in-law from Maeri’s magic.”

“Your sister-in-law has magical talents too?”

“Not really. It’s more about learning how to read the flow of mana. If she learns that, she might get a sense of handling relics.”

Elde squinted his eyes.

“And, incidentally, it will help protect my sister-in-law from Maeri’s magic, too.”

“What are you going to do? Pass the buck to your sister-in-law?”

“No. Prioritize what Rishi wants. But if, in your opinion, it could lead to something fatal, then…”

Kei’s pupils glinted coldly.

“You can kill.”

Elde, who could read the colors of souls, always had a reason for feeling uncomfortable about someone.

However, Kei, being the benefactor of life, the Princess of Minasarik, had tried to treat Maeri well.

But even that was over now.

Nobody should treat Rishi lightly.