Khalid touched his chin and said, “I’m sorry, but Lady Kennetra might need your attention. She seems to have a lot on her plate these days.”

“Don’t worry about that. But… well…”

“Yes?”

Valia wanted to ask Khalid about his thoughts on Erje. Did he feel anything new when he looked at her? Did he feel a bit concerned or find himself not being able to take his eyes off her?

But if she suddenly asked about her, Khalid would surely find it strange. He was a perceptive person.

“Moreover, Erje seemed more curious about Raul than Khalid. I don’t need to worry or think about it in advance when there’s no contact between them.”

Valia dismissed the concerns and turned the conversation.

“No. Lady Erje is under my care. You focus on what you need to do.”

“…I won’t force you to ask what you don’t want to know. But, Valia, I think you don’t need to take a difficult path by yourself. If Lady Kennetra doesn’t suit your taste, you can dismiss her right away. You are in a position to do so.”

Khalid spoke affectionately and gently brushed Valia’s cheek with his fingers.

He seemed to know that Valia deliberately brought Erje into the palace, and he also seemed to know that it wasn’t an entirely well-intentioned act.

Feeling like Khalid had seen through her inner thoughts, Valia let out an awkward laugh.

It was evident that he cared about her worries.

Erje seemed to be interested in Raul. Khalid didn’t seem to have any interest in her. All the thoughts she had were clearly the result of excessive imagination. So Valia decided to dispel unnecessary worries.

Just as she was trying to calm her mind, Khalid opened his mouth.

“So, let’s go back. What exactly did Raul say?”

She thought she had finally steered the conversation away from the topic of the Emperor and Erje, but it seemed like she was mistaken.

Khalid, not forgetting, brought up the topic again, making Valia feel a bit uncomfortable.

‘Well, what should I say…’

It seemed challenging to completely avoid it.

Eventually, Valia calmly spoke.

“He asked if I held your hand to reject him.”

“Ha…”

Khalid was angry at Raul’s attitude that didn’t miss a single expectation.

Does destiny really exist?
Raul’s obsession with someone to the extent of ignoring his own built reputation was something Valia had never seen before. Could Raul’s mention of their past lives have any influence? In reality, Raul and Valia were supposed to be connected, but was fate forcibly intertwining them because of his interference? Khalid seemed to be consumed by various thoughts that kept circling.

“However, I firmly told him.”

In response to Valia’s triumphant words, Khalid asked, “What did you say?”

“I simply rejected him because I dislike you.”

Well done, right? Valia chuckled while Khalid’s expression gradually darkened.

“So, now you really don’t need to worry about it.”

Today was an unavoidable situation. Did Raul really want to spend time with her as himself? But Valia also understood Khalid’s feelings. To ease his concerns, she approached him a little more.

At that moment, Khalid looked straight at Valia and spoke with a clear voice.

“Jealousy.”

What did he just say?

“Even just thinking about you being with Raul makes me go crazy.”

Khalid’s voice became lower and darker.

“Khalid…”

“So, tell me everything he said. Every single detail. Tell me what Raul said, Valia.”

It had been a long time since he openly revealed such raw emotions. And paradoxically, Valia found relief in that.

She felt like a fool for trying to test him using Erje.

“I can’t stand the thought of what tricks he might have played on you when I’m not around.”

Khalid’s gaze was dangerous.

“Does he still say he likes you?”

Valia was captivated by his gaze and couldn’t make a move.

Her body seemed to tense up.

After swallowing hard, she managed to answer.

“… No.”

“Then did he say he can’t give up on you?”

Valia nodded slowly.

Then Khalid’s expression twisted as if he was holding something in.

“Ha, damn.”

Unable to control his emotions, Khalid wiped his face with one hand, taking a deep breath.

Valia, as if enchanted by that sight, instinctively reached out and pulled him closer, then embraced him.

“Calm down, Khalid.”

Could this person change?

Raul was undoubtedly having some misunderstanding.

Although anger was evident in Khalid’s furrowed brow, ironically, Valia’s lips kept curving into a smile as she watched him.

What had become of her?

His jealousy was uncomfortable and burdensome, but strangely, it brought her greater satisfaction.

“Ever since I heard that you were taking a walk with Raul, I haven’t been in my right mind.”

As he clung to her with obsession and jealousy, a feeling of contentment overwhelmed her.

“How did we end up like this?”

Saying so, Khalid looked up. His eyes were filled with undisguised longing.

He no longer hid his desire.

“How can you become entirely mine? I thought I had everything, but it feels like I’m constantly drifting away.”

No matter how much he possessed and took hold of, it was always insufficient.

Khalid had no intention of letting go of Valia, but even having her in his arms right now wasn’t enough for him to be satisfied.

So, of course, he couldn’t entertain the thought of her being taken away by Raul.

“Khalid.”

As Khalid anxiously tried to unravel the shackles on himself, Valia smiled at him.

“Are you anxious?”

With that, she echoed the question Raul had asked her.