“Now you’ve come to find me. I almost thought you had forgotten me forever.”

Margaret lifted her eyes quietly and glared at Bake. But Bake paid no attention and grabbed Margaret’s wrist abruptly.

Margaret, who was suddenly dragged here forcibly, wrinkled her expression.

“What are you doing right now!”

“…”

“Let go right now! I’m [Dash].”

“I missed you.”

The outstretched arms wrapped around Margaret’s waist.

“I told you to let go!”

“Margaret.”

“…”

Margaret struck Bake’s shoulders with her fists, but eventually gave up and let her hands fall. In fact, she had only clenched her fists, and there was no strength in her hands from the beginning.

Until just a moment ago, she hated him so much, but when she saw his face, she couldn’t get angry.

Even at a glance for a short moment, Bake seemed exhausted enough to be recognized immediately.

Margaret, who had her eyes rolled up in the warmth of the man who embraced her tightly, eventually closed her eyes.

“…Why did you come so late?”

“It’s the emperor’s fault.”

“…The emperor?”

Margaret flinched at Bake’s whispering voice. Bake, on the contrary, exerted more strength in the arms that were embracing her.

“Don’t speak too loudly just in case. You don’t know where that spy is watching from. Got it?”

“Uh, yeah…”

“I made a deal with the emperor. Thanks to that, I could come to see you.”

“…Did you make a deal because of me?”

“Exactly, for you and our child.”

“…”

Margaret cautiously opened her closed eyes. Her eyelashes were already wet.

“I’m sorry for saying harsh things. That wasn’t my true intention. I just didn’t know.”

“You didn’t know?”

“Yeah, I didn’t know. What you meant to me.”

“…”

In fact, we were too familiar. We spent a long time together, so we took each other for granted. So I didn’t know. That the void left by you would be so large.”

Bake’s thin and long fingers gently stroked Margaret’s hair. Margaret didn’t say anything, but she didn’t reject Bake’s touch either.

“…You don’t know how hard it was for me.”

“Sorry, it’s all my fault.”

“Bake.”

“Of course, I know it’s shameless for me to say this. But I don’t want to regret it again. I don’t want to lose you.”

A short sigh-like sound flowed from Margaret’s lips due to the tightening. Bake embraced Margaret even more affectionately.

Margaret finally moved her hand, which had been hesitating in the air. Her hand now settled down on Bake and gently swept over his back.

She had missed him continuously. It was too familiar to let go easily.

Margaret cautiously raised her head. As if waiting, Bake immediately met her gaze.

The gazes of the two collided quickly in the air. The sound of swallowing dry saliva sounded particularly loud.

“…The situation is not good.”

In the strange atmosphere, strength was put into Bake’s hand.
Margaret looked up at Bake with wet eyes.

“The situation is not good? What do you mean?”

“He suspects me. Instead of me, he’s trying to choose Duke Pierren.”

“So, you decided to take the emperor’s hand?”

“That’s right. But I don’t trust him. More accurately, I can’t trust him. How can we trust the creator who made us like this?”

Bake’s hand briefly tensed and then relaxed in Margaret’s hair. His hand still gently caressed Margaret’s hair, expressing affection.

Margaret no longer hesitated and leaned towards Bake. Along with her movement, Bake’s hand naturally moved a bit lower.

Her hair, which had been consistently cared for, was now unbelievably soft. Even if it belonged to an ordinary noble, it would be trustworthy enough.

But it was too short.

Bake lowered his hand but stopped.

“So, what are we going to do?”

“For now, there’s nothing we can do, but I don’t plan on holding hands continuously. Frankly, I’d rather trust Duke Pierren much more than the emperor. Right?”

Bake, trying to contain the emotions that wanted to burst out, carefully modulated his voice again. It wasn’t the time to get angry now.

“I heard recently that the emperor frequently looks for you.”

“There’s nothing special.”

“Don’t worry. Don’t misunderstand. From the beginning, isn’t the emperor trying to find my weaknesses by doing so?”

“…”

“How much you love me, I know better than anyone else. And everything you’ve done for me, more than anyone else.”

Bake laughed. It was the affectionate smile of the husband he had shown to the previous Riviana. And at the same time, it was the attitude of the lover that Margaret had longed for.

“As soon as this matter is settled, come back to the mansion.”

“…Which mansion?”

“Well, it’s obviously the Crayton. The second-largest mansion next to the palace in the capital.”

For a moment, Margaret’s eyes sparkled. Bake’s smile deepened a bit more at that sight.

Margaret took a short breath, cautiously checked Bake’s reaction, and then spoke carefully.

“…Then, what about Riviana?”

“There’s no place for that woman.”

“No place?”

Margaret widened her eyes. It was an expression of disbelief.

But Bake pretended not to notice and crumpled his face like a piece of paper.