“Ah, and I’m going to sell that later, so don’t spread rumors.”

At this, Derek unknowingly let out a laugh.

“Hahaha. Of course. If the effect is certain, I will side with you, princess.”

“Then you will be on my side soon.”

“Hahaha.”

As they gazed at each other and laughed cheerfully, a chilling aura blew in from somewhere.

“You seem to be enjoying yourselves?”

Slowly turning her head at the cold voice that even chilled her shoulders, she found Khaled looking at them with calm eyes.

“……Khaled?”

Velia, startled at the sudden appearance of Khaled, called out his name. But Khaled, without responding, naturally walked over and sat next to Velia.

“What is the discussion that you’re enjoying so much? I am curious.”

His demeanor was distinctly hostile.

Velia sighed, guessing why he was behaving this way, and asked,

“Why are you here suddenly?”

“I hurriedly rushed over because you were dining alone with an outsider.”

But hearing such words in public was a different story than anticipating them.

Velia tried to stop Khaled, flustered, but he didn’t budge.

“Haha. Indeed, you two get along well.”

Derek said, his voice full of mirth. Khaled then wore a fatuous expression.

“I heard the two of you showed a very affectionate side during the engagement ceremony.”

Khaled examined Derek’s expression with displeased eyes.

“I’ve always thought so, but seeing you together, you indeed suit each other well.”

“Hmm!”

It wasn’t a remarkable comment, but Khaled’s expression softened, apparently pleasing him.

Derek, indeed, had a natural knack for dealing with people. Velia, watching this, smiled in satisfaction. If he stepped into the social circle, she was certain he’d adapt quickly and secure his position.

Therefore, she had to make him one of her own. In this sense, her proposal was absolutely necessary.

“I’ve decided to introduce Derek to Cloje. He’s agreed to help the Ronica Kingdom in my absence.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Khaled, remembering the sharp look Cloje gave him occasionally, stroked his chin. Once the conversation seemed to wrap up, Derek stood from his seat.

“Then, I should be on my way.”

“Alright. I hope to hear good news when we meet again.”

After bidding them goodbye, Derek left the restaurant.

Then he placed a hand on his chest, where the note was kept, and took a deep breath.

‘I need to analyze the ingredients of the medicine first.’
Derek did not fully believe Velia’s words, but he began to consider the hypothetical scenarios.

If this could truly heal his mother, then he would stand by her side. So he thought.

Entering the Duke’s mansion to cure his mother was not a difficult task. Besides, Princess Velia had said she didn’t care if the Duke’s house fell into ruin.

This was a proposal that held no loss for him.

After Derek left, Khaled and Velia spent the late afternoon together.

The weather was good today. No, not only today, but the weather had been good recently. The floral scent carried by the wind was fragrant.

“Velia.”

Velia, who had been blankly staring out the window, turned her head at the sound of her name. Khaled was staring at Velia blankly.

Her silver hair fluttered gently in the wind, it was mystifying. How could someone who looked so frail and delicate move so powerfully?

The burning sunset dyed her red, but Velia still looked as if she might disappear, fragile.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Because you seem like you might disappear.

Because it feels like you’ll leave me.

Because it seems like you would easily let me go.

“Khaled?”

What can I do to ease this anxiety?

Khaled chuckled quietly.

“Just… you’re beautiful.”

“Do you always say I’m pretty when you don’t know what to say?”

“It’s true.”

Velia pouted her lips out.

Khaled looked at Velia and thought.

What should I do to keep her by my side forever? What should I do to make her truly love me?

Even if it was obsession, he had nothing to say. But this was Khaled’s way of loving.

‘I’ll let you think you’re shaking my collar.’

She mustn’t know that the tangled thread on her frail wrist is tied to his collar.

For a long time, he acted as a quiet hunting dog, so she wouldn’t notice.

And when she no longer cares about the collar she’s holding, that’s when he would take her hand.

“Where does all your food go?”

She was so thin.

Her wrist was so small it could be enclosed with one hand.

“Tsk. You should eat more. That’s why you’re always low on energy.”

At Khaled’s words, Velia blushed.

“Hmm. I just realized that the empire’s food is a bit salty. Is it okay for you to adjust?”

“Yes.”

She had been an empress for a long time, so she had enough time to get used to the empire’s food.

Then Khaled changed the subject after a sip of tea.

“…I’m getting ready to leave soon. I plan to stay briefly at the Duke of Tessa’s territory before going to the Imperial Palace.”

The Duke of Tessa’s territory was in the west of the empire. It was an ideal location for orchestrating something as it bordered the Kingdom of Ronika.

Velia knew that the Duke of Tessa was the leader of the west, but the Duke’s power was considerably weakened by the time she became the empress.

‘The influence of a household wouldn’t diminish abruptly… so their power must still be lacking…’

All that the Duke’s house possessed were an old knight order and honor. However, Khaled’s statement about planning to stay at such a Duke’s house was significant.

Velia, who suddenly became curious, asked Khaled a question.

“What kind of person is the Duke of Tessa?”