The Empress scolded Carlos carefully.

“However, it’s only because she wants to raise the Crown Prince to be worthy of inheriting the great position in the future.”

“You always say that, Mother.”
The Empress called Carlos’s name softly. Her hand, which had been placing pieces on the board, showed a subtle tremor, unable to conceal her surprise.

“Now, are you angry about that, Your Highness?”

The Empress remained silent. Carlos mocked her.

“I won’t marry a woman like you, Mother. Choosing a woman who won’t interfere with my power and living comfortably is not to my taste.”

Looking at the Empress, who couldn’t express anger towards him, Carlos suddenly felt bad. So, he tousled his bangs as his temperament dictated, didn’t even greet the Empress, and left the Empress’s palace.

The Empress didn’t try to stop her son.

‘Stupid woman.’

Carlos despised his mother every moment. It felt foolish to see someone with so much power as the Empress, unable to do anything, just watching and being cautious.

‘…They are really alike.’

At that moment, Carlos strangely thought of Estelle.

‘She was doing quite well in the Libertin Duchy, despite her humble origins.’

“Your Majesty, there’s been a major upheaval in the social circle this time!”

“It turns out that Juti Youngae, who we thought was a victim all along, was actually tormenting the virtuous Blancchat Duchess under the guise of a victim, playing a victim with a self-written play.”

“Many are saying that all the infamy that came from Libertin Duchy’s Youngae was just malicious rumors. Since there wasn’t a single person who knew and spread the truth…”

Even during his sobriety, those who wanted to establish a friendly relationship with the Crown Prince continued to deliver news to him.

‘It’s probably time for a big change, isn’t it?’

With the false accusation cleared, now officially becoming a duchess, the Crown Prince himself probably wouldn’t even remember.

‘…Are you forgetting me?’

Anger surged suddenly.

‘How dare he?’

Carlos had been thinking about Estelle throughout his sobriety.

“Do you have the intention of marrying me, Your Highness?”

“It could be, or it might not be. Depending on how Libertin Youngae behaves. Why, do you want to marry me? But there are plenty of such women, aren’t there?”

The woman who, despite rumors of humble blood, approached the Crown Prince, played with him once, and was then discarded, was different from other noblewomen who approached the Crown Prince. Carlos humiliated her, bringing out her differences and insulting her.

‘I’m still thinking about you.’

Suddenly, the feeling of unfairness arose.

Carlos felt like there was an empty space in a corner of his heart whenever he thought of Estelle. Even if he drank and filled the void with a similar woman, it remained empty.

‘What use did she have anyway?’

Carlos’s dream of being an empress since childhood was firm.

A woman who could stand by his side and assist him, even if it meant confronting his royal bloodline. Carlos didn’t want to face a weak opponent, even if the empress might nibble at his power.

That’s why he let go of Estelle.

‘Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to come back, by any chance?’
It was somewhat troublesome, but the gaze that looked sad when he was with other women was annoying.

“Unfortunately, I don’t really enjoy being with three people, but as you can see, there’s an urgent matter, so I’m waiting for me to finish my duties.”

“But I have to go back on time for the appointment…”

“Then just go. Did I ever need to consider and be considerate of you about what kind of relationship we have?”

However…

“Why isn’t anyone else coming to mind except for that woman?”

Thud!

Carlos forcefully hit his head against the wall of the passing imperial palace.

“That woman is definitely not the type that fits your criteria.”

Above all, she’s someone else’s woman.

“But still, if it’s Estelle…”

A part of Carlos’s chest that had been smoldering suddenly stung.

Doing dirty things with just a woman was not something the Crown Prince should do. If something happened again next time, it wouldn’t end with just sobriety.

“It bothers me to see things going well for you when you’re not by my side.”

Surely, trying to fill that vacancy once might help identify the problem.

“I have to meet her somehow.”

Just once.

Ultimately, if Estelle became the noble Blancchat Duchess and turned into an ordinary noblewoman, confirming that she had become just one of those mundane women…

“It will become nothing.”

Johan’s words were not false.

As soon as we returned to the Blancchat Duchy, we immediately packed our belongings and moved by teleportation to a location near the Hermil Beach. Fortunately, this time, the potion Johan prepared was not used as before.

“It’s a failure, but it should work.”

Although Johan disliked calling it a failure.

“Developing a new potion like this is quite a remarkable feat in itself.”
It was a sudden trip, but still, since it was the first time seeing the sea, my excitement was overwhelming.

“Johan, there’s a sea nearby! Let’s go see it right away!”

“Is the sea that fascinating?”

Johan looked at me, who was excited, and smiled languidly.

“Yeah. Probably because it’s the first time seeing it, my expectations are high. Johan, have you been to the sea before?”

“A few times? I’ve been with my family, and I’ve been here when necessary.”

“How was it when you came then?”

“The sea seen from the Sephirot Coast, as always, was the same.”

Johan replied with a somewhat unenthusiastic voice.

“I thought you would like it, so I also booked a sightseeing cruise around this area. Let’s explore to our heart’s content on that cruise.”

“Sightseeing cruise?”

I blinked my eyes.

‘Will there be a lot of people there?’

As if seeing through my worries, Johan laughed and firmly pressed down my hat.

“Don’t worry. Right now, it’s a time when nobles are all gathered in the capital, so there won’t be any nobles here who would recognize you. Why do you think we came all the way here from the capital?”

“You were worrying about that too.”

“Of course. If it’s your business, I worry about everything.”

I grabbed the hat strap and looked up at Johan. Johan, who was dressed more casually than usual, gently bumped his forehead against mine.

“And I’m here with you. What’s there to worry about?”

Johan whispered with a smile.

“If you’re still uneasy, I’ll go and forcefully cancel everything.”

“Oh, no! Then it will attract more attention, won’t it?”

Johan affectionately hugged me.

“Shall we go, my lady?”

“Sure, my husband.”

I leaned on Johan’s chest.

‘Yes, let’s trust Johan.’

Johan was too sophisticated and affectionate for all of this to be fake.

“But what do people usually do on a sightseeing cruise?”

“Well, I’ve prepared some events for you.”

“What have you prepared so much?! That’s making me nervous for no reason.”

“Look forward to it.”

“…Shouldn’t we just not go?”

“I won’t let you off.”

Regardless of what anyone said, this moment was real.

In a dark prison.

Within a few days, someone approached the weakened Miryu, who had a withered expression like a dead fish. Miryu, who had been making a lifeless expression, blinked her eyes.

“Why are you here…?”