“Yes. Princess Ketven drank the poison and collapsed. Thanks to the 2nd Prince and the Duke, they prevented her from being captured on the spot, but it’s still a confusing situation.”

“There was someone trying to apprehend her on the spot? Who dares to take the Green Countess?”

“Lord Virchen.”

“Did that greedy guy get a taste of the princess’s money?”

“Anyway, since things turned out like that…”

Before Jamie could finish speaking, Kay jumped off.

Simultaneously, Kay transformed into a giant black wolf.

Krrrr[Dash]

With a threatening growl, the horses reared up, neighing and screaming, raising their front legs.

“Oh, Commander! I’m still on the horse, so if you do that…”

While Walras was muttering, Kay had already disappeared, leaving no trace.
The eagle Jamie sat on Walrus’s crown and tapped Walrus’s head gently with its sharp claws.

In response to that affectionate comfort, Walrus said, “It hurts, those claws!”

+++

Lishi sat slantingly on the sofa and sighed.

‘I never dreamed the princess would drink poison on her own. I’m still naive.’

When Maery collapsed, Lishi was genuinely surprised after a long time.

However, it wasn’t confusing enough to be flustered. Rather, it was more surprising that Lacojen stepped in to help Lishi.

‘I never expected the Second Prince to help me…’

In her past life, Lacojen, consumed by a sense of inferiority toward Iovet, attempted assassination upon his ascension to the throne, only to be caught and eventually executed.

A cowardly and clumsy person, twisted by a sense of inferiority toward Iovet, a greedy person who died coveting something unattainable.

That was Lishi’s evaluation of Lacojen. So when Lacojen came to participate, it was merely irritating.

‘I didn’t pay much attention to the Second Prince, who would die soon after becoming the emperor. But when this matter is settled, I should express my gratitude.’

Through Lacojen’s actions, Lishi learned the lesson that evaluating people based on events from their past lives is not the right approach.

‘Anyway, how should I resolve this matter?’

With Alford captured, dealing with Brittany was not difficult.

But Maery was sure to be upset.

‘I have to find evidence that the princess is involved in this matter. That way, she won’t expose me in the future.’

Knock[Dash]

“Come in.”

Without much thought, she answered the door.

The door opened, and Nathan cautiously poked his face in.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Oh, Nathan.”

“Eugene is also here. Can we come in?”

“Come in.”

Nathan and Eugene came in with slightly awkward expressions. Nathan was carrying a large wooden box.

“What’s going on?”

“Something bad happened earlier. Since the commander is absent, I thought your heart might be heavy… Uh, I thought maybe playing a game together could lift the mood.”

Nathan placed the wooden box on the table. It was a game where small wooden soldiers were used to capture each other’s territories.

Lishi stared at the wooden box. For some reason, she felt like she was about to cry.

In her past life, even if Lishi was falsely accused, there was no one to consider Lishi’s feelings. Even those who knew that Lishi was not guilty turned a blind eye to her. The frustration, sorrow, and melancholy of being falsely accused—all of it, Lishi had to endure alone.

But not anymore.

There are people coming in now, cautiously watching and trying to console her.

Even though she knows things are different now, the warmth suddenly coming in like this makes her chest feel warm.

“Sister-in-law, if you’re not confident, you don’t have to do it.”

Eugene, who was observing Lishi’s expression, said calmly.

Nathan poked Eugene’s side.

“Hey, don’t provoke Sister-in-law now. We agreed to let her win.”

“Oh, oops.”
“Oops, what a load of nonsense. Anyway, my eyes roll whenever a game board is placed in front of me.”

Eugene, who was indifferent to everything, had such a side, and Lishi didn’t know.

Lishi chuckled and said, “There’s nothing to lose. Come at me with all your might.”

“Sister-in-law, if it’s a game, Eugene is the guy who goes crazy. Especially in this game, the commander has never beaten Eugene.”

“Then I’ll win in place of my husband.”

Nathan, with his small, frail, and confident sister-in-law, was adorable, but a game was a game.

Since Lishi had provoked, she had to face the competition without mercy.

‘What if Sister-in-law loses and bursts into tears? There’s no commander around to comfort her.’

Such worries from Nathan were groundless.

In the first round, Lishi easily won.

“Let’s play again, Sister-in-law.”

The second round, where Eugene, burning with eagerness, challenged again, was also won by Lishi.

“Now, wait a moment! Sister-in-law, let’s play again.”

Nathan, in disbelief, challenged for the third time, and again, the winner was Lishi.

Lishi, who had taken away everyone’s territory with toy soldiers, crossed her legs triumphantly and clenched her fist.

“Say that again. Who was going to lose to whom?”

At Lishi’s arrogant words, Eugene stood up abruptly.

Nathan, fearing that Eugene, who was crazy about games, might hit Lishi, tried to stop him in surprise.

At that moment, Eugene knelt in front of Lishi with one knee and bowed his head.

“I pledge lifelong loyalty, Sister-in-law.”

“Why is my subordinate pledging loyalty to my wife?”

The answer came from behind.

Whenever he came, K was leaning against the door, waiting.

K’s panting breath, the heat emanating from his body, and the clothes he was wearing.

Nathan could tell that K had run here as a wolf, judging from his hurried breathing, body heat, and the clothes he was wearing.

The clothes K was wearing were clothes hidden around the mansion’s surroundings for such situations.

“Commander.”

Having betrayed K and pledged loyalty to Lishi, Eugene spoke calmly to K.

“Sister-in-law is a strategist.”

“Eugene, you need to stop the habit of pledging loyalty to the one who beats you in a game.”

“Oh my. Has Eugene pledged loyalty to someone like this again?”

“He has. To my mother.”

As K responded to Lishi’s words, he approached and kissed Lishi’s cheek.

“You look happy. I was worried, unable to breathe and ran here.”

“Thanks to you.”

“I don’t think it’s my merit.”

“Am I jealous again?”

“No way. I’m a man with a broad mind, like the sea, Lishi. I don’t get jealous if my wife drags two strangers into the room and enjoys playing games with them, laughing beautifully.”

“That’s fortunate. Anyway, being a man with a broad mind.”

With a slight grimace, Lishi lightly slapped K’s chest so as not to hurt.

Seeing Nathan and Eugene exchanging glances, they picked up the game board and left the room.

“You didn’t have to hurry back like this, K.”
“You didn’t have to hurry back like this, K.”

“My wife was accused, so I couldn’t come back leisurely. I heard from Jamie about the situation. Have you thought of a solution?”

Lishi was pleased that K believed she could handle these issues. On the other hand, she was grateful for the look in his eyes that suggested he would help at any time.

Leaning towards K, Lishi whispered the solution she had in mind into his ear.

“The problem is…”

Lowering her voice, her lips got closer to his ear. Her lips lightly brushed against his earlobe as she spoke.

Suddenly, K grabbed Lishi’s wrist. His pupils darkened.

“Lishi…”

His low voice penetrated Lishi.

“Right now, this is too stimulating.”