Icar’s eyes curved beautifully.

Just then, the wind that blew through the open window gently shook Icar’s bangs.

He squinted one eye, perhaps because his disheveled bangs were bothersome.

He then swept back the fallen hair.

Thump.

Suddenly, Reneb’s heart started to beat rapidly.

Only belatedly did she realize that she was staring at Icar, even having stopped chewing her food.

‘Was that white wine I drank earlier?’

Picking up the glass and smelling it, Reneb confirmed it was water, then drained it completely.

After dinner, Icar suggested a walk, and together with Reneb, they strolled through the garden.

It was a bit chilly, but not cold enough to shiver.

The scenery of the palace garden looked different from day to night.

The streetlights along the walkway were adorned with colorful jewels, and the dazzling light radiated onto the ground.

Reneb alternated between looking at the rubydecorated streetlights and the red light on the floor and asked,

“Whose idea was it to decorate the streetlights with jewels?”

“A hobby of the previous emperor.”

Walking a little further, this time the light from the opaldecorated streetlights illuminated the path.

“It seems the previous emperor was quite the romanticist.”

“This walkway seems to please Your Grace quite well?”

“It’s a bit excessive, but it’s pretty nonetheless.”

Reneb looked at the purple streetlights ahead and recalled the dress sent by Icar.

“Oh, by the way, thank you for the dress you sent.”

“I brought a distinguished guest from a faraway land, so I thought extravagant hospitality was appropriate.”

A distinguished guest…

Reneb blinked, looking up at the black sky dotted with stars.

I could describe a hostage like that.

“Your Majesty’s words make sense.”

“Tell me if you need anything else.”

Upon hearing Icar’s continued words, one thing came to mind.

What she wanted most now was Lucius’s downfall. If he fell, the empress would follow the same path.

Of course, it was annoying that Esika, who had no connection with Lucius yet, might escape the rage.

“You seem to have something in mind.”

Icar turned his head towards Reneb, one corner of his mouth twitching up.

Reneb stood still in front of a tourmalinedecorated streetlight. Icar, who had also stopped, looked at Reneb with a languid expression.

“You seem to have a significant request.”

“What are Your Majesty’s plans for Paradium after three years, that is, after the peace treaty ends?”

Icar’s red eyes, which had felt comfortable until a moment ago, turned cold in an instant.

“…”

She was briefly reminded why epithets like warmaniac and murderer were attached to him.

“I suppose.”

Icar, who gave a brief reply, began to walk ahead.

“That’s something I need to think about more.”

Reneb swallowed dryly, watching Icar’s broad back. Icar did not threaten or intimidate.

Yet his cold red eyes seemed to say,

Don’t cross the line.

Reneb firmly imprinted Icar’s gaze in her mind.

(This is a time separator.)

Returning to his office, Icar roughly brushed back his falling bangs.

Duhan and Bane, who were reading documents, looked up simultaneously. Bane hesitantly opened his mouth at the sight of an obviously angry Icar.

“…… Your Majesty? Are you alright?”

Icar muttered lowly, dropping his eyes for a moment.

“Is the investigation into Lady Siren far off?”

“We received a report just a while ago.”

As Duhan stood up with the documents, Icar nodded as if to say go on.

“Combining the characteristics Your Majesty mentioned, the location we are looking for indeed lies near the border of Siren’s dukedom.”

Duhan pointed to the border area near Bashuker and Paradium on the map and continued.
“It seems to have been sold now, but I hear that the villa of the Siren Countess was around here before the territorial dispute erupted.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’m told that crossverification has been completed by calling in a few local natives.”

“I see. Any other nobles in that area?”

“It appears that some of the vassal families of the Siren Countess had villas nearby. Shall we investigate them as well?”

“Do so.”

As Icar nodded, Bane, who had approached the window, whistled.

Soon a bird flew to the window, flapping its wings and landed.

(This is a time separator.)

‘If I’m not careful, I might live even shorter than my previous life?’

Sitting in front of the console, Reneb looked down in thought. As she recalled yesterday’s events, a chill ran down her spine once more.

In the original work, Lucius was described as a tyrant, and he was actually so in her previous life.

Since Reneb was young, he took good care of her, although it was not as bad as in the original work.

The harsh treatment of the aristocracy never changed, whether it was the end of a mistake. It was the same for her.

But experiencing it, Icar added to it.

While Lucius seemed dirty and something to be avoided, Icar instilled a fear as if she would be consumed without a chance to resist if he became hostile.

‘Ugh, stop thinking about it.’

Once again feeling a chill, Reneb shivered.