Frederick was reading the newspaper.

His posture, sitting with legs crossed and back straight, was dignified and elegant.

The front page of a weekly magazine from one of the Empire’s top five newspapers featured a critical article about Arasila.

Everyone was rushing to raise suspicions about the crisis of the once-promising magician.

Frederick leisurely finished reading the article and folded the newspaper down.

Then, Duke Grant, who had been sitting diagonally across from him waiting quietly, spoke up.

“I hear Lord Vandermir has returned, Your Highness.”

“Earlier than expected. It would have been better if he came a bit later.”

Frederick clicked his tongue briefly.

He had planned to approach Arasila during Demian’s absence to find a weak point, but he returned like a ghost.

Truly, Demian Vandermir was a man who was not helpful in life.

“Still, it’s not bad. Our plan is progressing steadily, and the explosion at Gloria’s party seems to work in my favor.”

He tapped the newspaper on the table with his index finger and smiled.

Although he had originally intended something else for his sister’s birthday party, an unexpected accident occurred, making the situation more interesting and dramatic.

Duke Grant replied with a clearly worried expression.

“But Her Highness the Princess’s injury, while not life-threatening, is quite serious… If we’re not careful, Lady Vandermir could suffer irreversible damage.”

“It doesn’t matter, Uncle. Arasila did make a mistake, after all.”

The fact that Arasila is facing a crisis now is purely because she made the lamp incorrectly.

So Frederick had no need to soften his heart.

There was no reason to cancel his plan either.

“And the bigger the impact, the better. That’s how Arasila will realize.”

Frederick’s lips curled up crookedly as he crossed his arms.

“That it’s me she needs in her life, not Demian Vandermir.”

“…”

“Then she’ll stop this foolish marriage game and come to me.”

Duke Grant’s expression grew complex as he looked at Frederick speaking so confidently.

It was a few months ago when he came asking for help. Shortly after Arasila and Demian got married.

‘I want to divorce the Vandermir couple. Please help me, Uncle.’

‘What are you suddenly saying, Frederick? Why do you want to separate them?’

‘Arasila Hugo was originally my person. Demian Vandermir took her without knowing his place, so of course I must reclaim her.’

Honestly, Duke Grant was quite surprised at that time.

Frederick was a man with ambition but surprisingly little greed.

While his desire to succeed to the throne was clear, he had never coveted anything else, but now he was showing greed for the first time.

And for someone who could potentially be an obstacle to realizing his ambitions.

‘Your mother won’t approve. No, if we say we’re putting a divorced woman next to the Crown Prince, there will be an uproar everywhere.’

‘Once I have the power to silence everyone, that’s all that matters. In my opinion, I think I already have about half of it.’

Frederick was the only son of the Empress, and his position was very solid, having been appointed Crown Prince at a young age.

In fact, he had lived a life where he could have anything he wanted, so his obsession with things he couldn’t obtain was great.

He had just never revealed it to others before.

‘Even if I suffer some losses, I will definitely trample Demian Vandermir and bring Arasila to me.’

Frederick smiled, baring his teeth.

His face, capturing the persistence and ferocity of a predator eyeing its prey, was beautiful.

Duke Grant found his nephew both disconcerting and not bad inwardly.

Because love and longing are powerful motivators for moving people.

If Frederick ascends to the throne, he too would stand at the pinnacle of power.

It was better to have the heart to push forward for any reason than to be trapped in boredom and stagnate in place.

So he accepted Frederick’s request for help.

He plotted to interfere between Demian and Arasila on behalf of his nephew, and even brought Nora back to social circles to use her.

It was also he who planned to assassinate Demian by instigating Ken during the Western monster subjugation.

Frederick’s will was melted into all those processes.

‘Isn’t Lady White an excellent card? She has ill feelings towards the Vandermir couple and has fallen from grace in social circles. Even if we use and discard her as we please, the White Duchy won’t care. As long as we give them proper compensation.’

Duke Grant was merely the person carrying out what Frederick wanted.

But at some point, he began to worry that Frederick was pushing things too recklessly, taking on too much risk.

Even with this current situation, although it could cause considerable harm not only to Arasila but also to himself, he insisted that it must be done no matter what.

“…Frederick, is Lady Vandermir really worth going this far for?”

Duke Grant asked, still not quite convinced. His voice was full of concern for his nephew.

“The Crown Princess doesn’t necessarily need special abilities like magic. It’s enough if she supports you well, is politically useful, and doesn’t threaten your power. Wouldn’t it be better to just remain friends with Lady Vandermir like before?”

Frederick nodded with a strange smile at the advice offered as an uncle.

He hadn’t not had the same thoughts as Duke Grant. It wasn’t for nothing that he had remained by Arasila’s side as a friend until now.

However, it wasn’t easy to block the dam of his heart once it had burst.

“When I thought no one could have her, I was content with just a moderate amount of greed. Because as friends, we would never part.”

Frederick could be satisfied if he was the only man by Arasila’s side.

He could even pretend to be a sincere friend for life, as Arasila wished, wearing the guise of the beautiful emotion called friendship.

“But when I realized that someone could indeed have Arasila… I was no longer satisfied with just being the best friend.”

Frederick hadn’t crossed the line because Arasila had declared she wouldn’t meet any man and would become the head of the magic tower.

Although he could have easily pressured the Hugo Duchy to arrange an engagement with Arasila if he wanted, he respected and protected Arasila’s wishes in his own way.

But Arasila suddenly married Demian one day without a word to Frederick.

It was a clear betrayal.

Since Arasila had first betrayed his heart, Frederick no longer felt the need to hold back.

As much as she had invited someone to break her, he felt he needed to possess her even if it meant destroying her.

“It’s all Arasila’s fault. If she had kept her word, I would have kept my promise to remain friends.”

Frederick let out a regretful sigh. Duke Grant still couldn’t hide his unease as he spoke.

“Then, will you proceed with the plan as scheduled?”

“Of course. Uncle, just do well what I tell you to do. I don’t accept any other personal opinions.”

Frederick stared at Duke Grant with eyes that had grown cold, in contrast to his smiling lips.

“Do you understand, Duke Grant?”

The Duke stiffened, feeling the unspoken pressure in that gaze. The scarlet eyes were clearly warning him that he had crossed a line.

“…Yes, I understand. I will contact the White Duchy immediately.”

Duke Grant bowed his head respectfully, setting aside his position as family. Frederick looked satisfied.

He hummed a tune with an excited expression and muttered.

“I hope the plan I’ve prepared will have good synergy with this accident.”

Demian set out to uncover the truth behind the explosion accident. He was passionate as if it were his own affair.

Arasila drew some inexplicable comfort and strength from that sight.

The fact that someone cared about her affairs as much as she did was incredibly reassuring.

“By when do we need to find out the truth to minimize the damage to you, my lady?”

“We need to prove it wasn’t my mistake at least before the internal investigation of the magic tower is completed.”

Because of this accident, Arasila was very likely to receive a severe punishment.

Even if it wasn’t intentional, she had injured a direct member of the imperial family and caused a social disturbance, damaging the image of the magic tower.

The magicians who usually looked at her unfavorably would surely be preparing something, so that punishment would certainly not be small.

So if she wanted to avoid disciplinary action, she needed to explain her innocence as soon as possible.

“I understand. I will surely prove your innocence, my lady.”

“Thank you, Demian. But don’t overdo it.”

“Yes.”

Despite the obedient answer, Demian’s face burning with determination seemed unlikely to do anything in moderation.

Somehow, he appeared more proactive than when he himself was in trouble.

Suddenly, an eyelash stuck to Demian’s cheek came into Arasila’s view. She leaned forward and reached out her hand.

“First, I’ll find a way to approach the exploded lamp. I’ll ask His Highness Prince Lucas…”

Demian, who had been continuing to speak, froze when he felt the warm fingertip touch his skin. He belatedly looked at Arasila who had suddenly come closer.

Because the eyelash was harder to remove than expected, Arasila was getting closer and closer.

The touch on his cheek and the face right in front of him.

Demian inhaled silently. He could feel the heat rising in his ears and cheeks.

His gaze kept going to her plump and moist lips. Even though the heat was rising faster because of it.

While Demian couldn’t do this or that, Arasila finally removed the eyelash and looked at him with a smile.

“Ah, there was an eyelash stuck here…”

Before she could finish speaking, Demian abruptly turned his head. His expression wasn’t clearly visible as he covered half his face with his large hand.

What’s this, did he get upset because I touched his face without permission?

Looking at Demian who had desperately turned his head away, Arasila said with an awkward expression.

“Ah, I’m sorry. Did you feel uncomfortable because I suddenly touched you?”

“…That’s not it, you’re too close.”

“Pardon?”

“Your face is too close… it’s embarrassing.”

Arasila blinked a couple of times. She had leaned her body close to Demian to remove the eyelash that was stuck firmly to his cheek.

A posture so close that others might misunderstand they were about to kiss.

“…Oh.”

Arasila, who had just realized this fact, quickly pulled her body back.

Demian’s two ears visible through his hair were bright red. His two cheeks, firmly covered by his hands, were also flushed.

Suddenly, sweat began to form on the back of Arasila’s neck. Even though winter was approaching, she found herself fanning inexplicably hot.

The flow of air was strange. The two couldn’t look at each other directly and stared into empty space.

Just sitting there without saying anything, yet this strange tension making their fingers twitch, what was it?

Just as Demian opened his mouth to say something, a loud knocking sound somewhere between tap-tap-tap and bang-bang-bang rang out.

“Commander, it’s me. May I come in?”

It was Colin. Demian cleared his throat softly and granted permission to enter.

Then Colin urgently opened the door wide and came in. Unlike his usual calm demeanor, his face was anxious and flustered.

“What’s the matter, Colin?”

“There’s something you need to check urgently.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a newspaper published an hour ago. Please take a look.”

Colin approached with heavy steps and held out the newspaper with trembling hands. Meanwhile, he glanced at Arasila as if checking her reaction.

Arasila felt an unnecessary sense of foreboding. Colin had never looked at her like that before.

Demian silently received the newspaper and immediately stiffened his face after checking the article on the front page.

An uncomfortable and awkward silence filled the room.

He remained motionless holding the newspaper as if someone had cast a freezing spell on him.

“What’s wrong, Demian? What on earth is it? Is there another article criticizing me?”

“…”

“Demian.”

There was no answer no matter how many times she called.

Frustrated, Arasila snatched the newspaper from his hand.

Demian tried to stop her a beat too late, but Arasila had already read the headline of the front-page article.

“Exclusive) The secret relationship between the Crown Prince and Lady Vandermir! Are they lovers?”