Smooch, a stimulation that stuck stickily and fell off crisply ignited Veronia’s switch somewhere she couldn’t even locate.

“I wish it was a bigger event.”

It seemed to be due to the wine she had drunk hastily. Or perhaps it was because of the night’s scent that needlessly unsettled people’s hearts.

No, it was neither. Veronia thought that the reason she occasionally became impulsive was all because of this man in front of her.

‘How dare he be handsome and kind at the same time. When he’s gentle but his eyes burn like this… I can’t resist.’

Veronia pulled Killian’s hand. Killian, who had been kneeling on one knee, rose from his seat, led by her hand.

Veronia gently cupped Killian’s cheeks with both hands and savored his lips. For a moment, Killian’s chuckling sound was heard between their locked lips, and then his breath deeply burrowed into her.

Killian’s lips were just like his eyes. They seemed gentle but quickly turned rough. The moment she thought they were rough, they became soft again.

It felt as if all other senses had died and fallen asleep, and only the sense of touching each other was alive and dominating their entire bodies.

Their intertwined breaths grew hotter and denser, but Killian’s small laughs kept being heard in between. Veronia separated her lips and looked up at him, asking.

“Why do you keep laughing?”

“…Because I’m too happy. That’s why I keep laughing.”

At his answer without a trace of lie, this time Veronia burst into laughter. Killian opened his mouth with a somewhat serious expression.

“If you don’t like me laughing, I won’t laugh. So please let me continue kissing.”

At Killian’s pleading gaze, laughter burst from Veronia’s mouth again. She gently cupped his cheeks with both hands, smiling brightly.

“How could I not like you laughing?”

Soon, their lips locked together stickily again. They continued their sweet and hot kisses while holding each other in their arms. The silhouette of the engaged couple reflected in the window melted into one.

A week after the funeral, Tate came to visit Sandra.

“I came to check on you, and I’m glad to see you look healthy, Your Majesty.”

As Tate said, Sandra’s complexion looked much better compared to a week ago. She seemed to have returned to normal.

“The living must live.”

“That’s right. You thought well, Your Majesty.”

Looking at Tate with the face of a good son, Sandra slightly raised one corner of her mouth. She thought he was detestable. She wanted to slap him right away. But she had to endure. Any more rampaging would only isolate her.

“I was thinking of leaving the palace for a while to recuperate, but His Majesty said it would be better to go after the Saint’s return ceremony is over. He said to show my face even for a moment.”

“Ah, come to think of it, the return celebration is the day after tomorrow. Elder brother is right. As the highest elder of the imperial family, your presence will make the event even more splendid.”

“…”

Sandra quietly sipped her black tea while listening to Tate’s words. She was tired of hearing such proper words. No, in fact, she was tired of everything in life. There was nothing she liked about anything.

An imperial prince had died, yet they were celebrating the return of a mere saint? And because of that event, even the empress dowager’s recuperation schedule had to be postponed? Sandra thought the world was turning strange.

“How much can we trust Chancellor Drea?”

Tate’s mind became complicated, unable to easily understand Sandra’s intentions for suddenly bringing up Killian’s story. While Tate was pondering for a moment, Sandra spoke again.

“Tate, you must be careful. You’ll be next.”

“What do you mean by my turn? What are you saying?”

“Don’t you think the attack on Caspian started because of Duke Drea?”

“…”

Tate couldn’t agree with Sandra’s thoughts, but he had no intention of refuting them in this place right now. After all, opposing her opinion was a tiresome thing in many ways.

“When Duke Drea turned his back on Caspian, the whole world turned its back on him.”

“…”

Caspian was simply punished for the violent incident he committed. Nothing more, nothing less. But Tate still chose to keep his mouth shut.

“Who do you think will be the next target? It’s you, Tate.”

“Your Majesty…”

“So be careful, Tate. You should be cautious.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Meeting Sandra’s eyes shining with certainty, Tate felt suffocated. He reluctantly nodded.

“I… I intend to return exactly what I suffered to that person.”

“…”

“Are you still monitoring Killian and the Duke’s residence? Your information was always useful. Could I receive that information promptly?”

Although it sounded like a request, Tate immediately noticed that the underlying meaning was an order. And an order that couldn’t be refused at that. He had no choice but to nod again this time.

“Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll share it with you daily through letters.”

“Thank you. As expected, you’re the only one I can trust, Tate.”

Ho ho, Sandra laughed softly and gulped down her black tea. Looking at her relaxed face, Tate spoke in a worried voice.

“But the Chancellor is no ordinary opponent. He’s not only excellent in many ways, but he also never shows his emotions, so he doesn’t make mistakes. And he has deep trust from people. He has no particular weaknesses.”

“…”

“If we make a mistake, Your Majesty might end up getting hurt instead.”

“Have you forgotten, Tate? I’m no ordinary opponent either. So there’s no need to worry.”

“…”

“And there’s no person without weaknesses. Especially those with many precious things tend to have more weaknesses. Didn’t I tell you this last time?”

Sandra said, twitching her bright red lips.

“Even if I end up getting hurt, that person will suffer twice as much. Because I’ll make sure of it.”

Seeing her eyes glaring somewhere in the air, Tate felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.

‘You’re planning to do something soon.’

He swallowed hard and held his breath. It seemed he should minimize his involvement with her in any way.

‘If you don’t feel like it, you don’t have to go. I can explain it well to His Majesty.’

Veronia, who had finished her grooming with the help of maids, recalled what Killian had said a few days ago as she checked her reflection in the mirror one last time.

Although the thought of facing Jonathan made her stomach churn and her head spin already, Veronia decided to attend the event.

‘It’s an important event for a project I personally participated in, and if I miss it without a special reason, it might raise unnecessary suspicion.’

She shouldn’t show her face often in front of the imperial family and nobles. But Veronia thought it was even more dangerous to hide even when she absolutely had to step forward. Killian seemed to think similarly, as he quietly nodded at her opinion to attend.

Her appearance in the mirror was flawless. The green velvet dress emphasized practicality rather than glamour, making it suitable for today’s outdoor event.

The veil covering her facial scar had white background with green and gold embroidery, which she liked because it was neither too flashy nor too plain.

As Veronia turned to leave the bedroom after her final check, there was a knock and the door opened. It was Killian.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

When Killian extended his arm politely towards her, Veronia naturally linked arms with him. It felt strangely familiar now to be with him.

“I checked everything that was completed yesterday, and it was excellent. As expected, your imagination is groundbreaking.”

“Did it work properly? Are there any parts that need to be modified or supplemented?”

“No, there were no strange parts at all. The site manager said so too.”

“That’s a relief.”

Veronia sighed in relief and smiled brightly.

Today was the day to officially introduce to the world the moving stairs of the annex palace and the fire suppression device for the orphanage, which started from her planning.

Since it was a project carried out under Emperor Jonathan’s name, interest was high. The event was said to be attended by Jonathan, as well as several members of the imperial family, nobles, and newspaper reporters.

Perhaps sensing Veronia’s nervousness, Killian looked at her face carefully and smiled gently.

“Don’t be nervous. Everything has been prepared perfectly. And…”

“You’ll be by my side too. Right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Killian’s lips touched her forehead briefly and then parted. Veronia thought once again that she was fortunate to be wearing a veil. She didn’t have to reveal her blushing face.

“I present myself before His Imperial Majesty. I am Nia Lampert.”

“Welcome, Lady Nia. I finally meet you today. I’m pleased to see you.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty.”

Jonathan greeted Veronia with a bright face. The imperial family and nobles attending the event all seemed inwardly surprised at the emperor’s rare smiling face.

People thought it was her status as the Chancellor’s fiancée that made her stand out. Not knowing Veronia’s true feelings, of course.

‘So you’ve become able to put on such a benevolent expression after becoming emperor, Jonathan.’

It seems the saying that position makes the person is true after all. Veronia bit her lips, holding back a wry smile.

Jonathan’s smile in her view looked merely detestable. The cheek that had been hit by him for no particular reason during her time at the imperial palace seemed to throb needlessly.

Tate was standing guard next to Jonathan. Compared to Jonathan, Tate was more observant, suspicious, and clever. So he was the one she had to be most careful of during today’s schedule.

‘I should avoid exchanging words with Tate as much as possible.’

Jonathan, unaware of her inner thoughts, spoke in a friendly tone.

“I’m grateful that you accepted the invitation. I have high expectations for the results you and your colleagues have created today.”

“I earnestly hope to live up to Your Majesty’s expectations even a little.”

Veronia bowed her head in a demure posture.