Just as the intruder, having swung at empty air, was about to curse and grab Reneb,

“How dare you.”

Icar’s irritated voice grew closer. Reneb scrunched up, eyes tightly shut.

Soon, there was a thud as something heavy fell to the floor.

“Your Highness.”

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Reneb opened her eyes. Icar, who had come close, asked in a worried voice.

“Are you alright?”

Reneb nodded slowly.

“I’m fine.”

Only then did Icar close his eyes, sighing in relief.

“Have they all been dealt with?”

Peeking beside Icar’s broad chest, Reneb assessed the situation.

“Yes, they have all been captured.”

Vain spoke triumphantly, stepping on one of the intruder’s necks. The secret guards of the Emperor had tied up the remaining intruders.

They had subdued them in a blink of an eye.

“Your Majesty, shall we take these men for questioning?”

Dohan asked, and Icar nodded.

“Let’s go, you scoundrels.”

Vain and Dohan led the intruders out of the room. Icar’s secret guards had already disappeared.

Boom!

Then another firework burst in the sky. Reneb and Icar simultaneously looked up.

A large firework in seven different colors, forming a detailed flower, was incredibly beautiful.

“Thank goodness we were able to see the last one.”

True to Icar’s words, neither the colorful fireworks nor the grand firework sounds were heard anymore.

“Sigh… what a waste, after all the preparations.”

Icar sighed lightly.

Actually, Icar had prepared extensively today to formally propose to Reneb.

He had prepared food and drinks tailored to Reneb’s tastes, taken special care with the indoor decorations and clothing,

Even their outfits were coordinated as couple outfits, but not too much.

And the final firework that was supposed to be the grand finale had just gone out.

‘I’ll never let them get away with this.’

Icar’s anger naturally shifted toward the intruders and whoever had hired them.

Trying to touch the future Empress of Basheker, my future wife and the mother of my future child, was more than enough to enrage him.

‘When captured, they’re facing, at the least, the chopping block.’

Icar gritted his teeth.

His mind filled with thoughts of maiming whoever was responsible, just as Reneb spoke.

“Happy Birthday, Your Majesty.”

Her gentle smile was sweet.

It was an odd occurrence.
The anger that felt like it would burst just a moment ago melted away at a single smile from Reneb.

In fact, Ikar had wanted to touch Reneb ever since their lips met by the lake.

But it was clear that Reneb did not understand such feelings from Ikar. Judging by the way he smiled so prettily.

“Your Majesty?”

He tightly wrapped his arms around Reneb’s waist, who still had a lovable face, and pulled him closer.

And their lips met.

Reneb struggled for a moment to break free from Ikar’s embrace, but as the kiss deepened, he did not resist and closed his eyes.

“…….”

When their lips parted, Reneb looked at Ikar with trembling eyes.

Why does he have to be so handsome and shake people’s hearts?

It was serious.

He didn’t dislike kissing Ikar; rather, he felt like his body was getting hot.

Although he felt the urge to get closer to Ikar, Reneb deliberately turned away from that desire and asked,

“Is it okay for the star of today to be here?”

The fireworks were the final event of the birthday celebration. By now, the nobles and attendants in the hall must be in a frenzy looking for the Emperor.

Caressing Reneb’s flushed and soft cheeks, Ikar arrogantly nodded his head.

“Wherever I am, that’s where the Emperor chooses to be.”

As if to say, who dares to question my absence?

And then he kissed him again. More urgently and desperately than before.

With the final firework shot into the night sky, Ashika boarded the carriage with Count Zalts.

The knights in Count Zalts’ employ followed.

How much farther did they go?

The ornate carriage carrying the two came to a stop in a secluded area.

“I’ll go check inside.”

At the knight’s words, Count Zalts nodded. The knight quickly inspected the small villa and reported that it was empty.

Ashika and Count Zalts stepped inside the small villa.

Perhaps because there were few people around, the atmosphere around the villa seemed eerie.

However, the interior was reasonably well-furnished.

It looked pretty good for a place meant to temporarily house Reneb before selling him abroad.

‘I had hoped it would be smaller, dirtier, and more backward.’

After briefly looking around, Ashika wore an expression of discontent.

“The place is rather shabby for a princess, isn’t it?”

Count Zalts wrapped his arm around Ashika’s waist and asked.

Although Ashika was slightly uncomfortable as soon as they were alone and Count Zalts pressed his body close, he didn’t show it.

He still needed Count Zalts’ help, after all.

“It’s decent enough.”

“Just bear with it a little longer. We’ll be arriving soon.”

Ashika nodded lightly.

Count Zalts said he would handle things himself and then report to Ashika.

But Ashika wanted to see for himself. He wanted to see Reneb cry out in despair.