Prince Khaled’s strongest ally had been the Duchess of Tesa.
If he thought back to Khaled preparing something until the very end, surely there would be some hidden power in the Duke’s house as well.
“My grandfather was a man who truly followed the chivalric code.”
Come to think of it, when Raul was made emperor, Khaled had backed off too naturally, and the Duchess of Tesa was not a threat either. So, Velia at that time only slightly guarded against the Duchess of Tesa and didn’t care much.
Raul didn’t like talking about Khaled to begin with, and the emperor also openly pushed for Raul. Velia remembered that she was just focused on making the opinions of the nobles and citizens of the empire positive. Raul was a man who had a lot.
“What do you plan to do in the Duchy of Tesa?”
“I plan to look around the Knights and meet my grandfather after a long time.”
Velia cocked her head.
Why was he trying to meet the Duke of Tesa right now? By now, he would have passed through the Duchy and reached the Kingdom of Ronica. Yet he planned to stay there again.
‘Does he have something else to prepare?’
She didn’t know much about Khaled.
Velia, who was surprised at that fact anew, leaned toward Khaled and asked.
“What did you usually do in the palace?”
“Well, just killed time. Nobody was interested in the second prince.”
Velia felt a distance in Khaled’s answer. It felt like he was deliberately avoiding the answer. This was the first time something like this happened.
Khaled, who always seemed to give me everything, was now hiding something from me. It was startling.
“You must have had a lot of work, you couldn’t have just played.”
“I guess.”
“…You don’t want to answer?”
Khaled felt the hardened expression of Velia with his eyes as if it was enjoyable.
“I’m glad you’re interested in me.”
“…Khaled.”
“Yes, keep calling my name.”
Velia let out a deep sigh at Khaled’s attitude, who kept bringing up different topics without answering her questions.
“I don’t want to doubt you.”
When Velia’s expression became gloomy, Khaled’s heart sank.
“When I leave for the Empire, the only person I can trust is you, Khaled. If you hide something from me, I won’t have anyone to lean on.”
Velia bit her lip hard.
She felt wronged. Just, the emotions were tinged with a boundless sorrow.
‘What should I do with you?’
Khaled covered his face with one hand.
“Velia.”
“I might sound ridiculous saying this when I also have something to hide from you….”
“No, I was wrong.”
Khaled got up from his seat and approached Velia.
He then knelt on one knee in front of her and pressed his lips against her hand.
“When we arrive in the Empire, I’ll tell you everything. I really mean it. So just wait until then.”
“Okay.”
She had come too far to bargain with his heart.
It was right to lay everything out and prepare together.
That’s the right way.
Velia reached out her arms and hugged Khaled’s neck.
[This is the time separator]Khaled slowly went down the stairs.
At the place he arrived, Raul, who had already prepared to leave, was having a conversation with the King of Ronica.
“I will be sure to convey your message to my mother.”
“Thank you. Please go back carefully.”
Raul, who was having a friendly conversation with the king, noticed Khaled.
Following his gaze, the king, who turned his head, smiled warmly and said,
“Hehe. Then you brothers have a conversation.”
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
King of Ronica disappeared with other nobles and attendants.
Khaled approached where Raul was.
“It’s just the two of us left, Khaled.”
“That’s right. It feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve met like this.”
They exchanged greetings, seemingly not delighted.
After all, in the Empire, they had made sure not to even accidentally run into each other.
The Emperor hardly ever summoned Prince Khaled, and Raul made daily appearances in the Emperor’s office. This freedom of movement was rather beneficial for Khaled.
“Used your brain quite a bit this time, didn’t you?”
Khaled responded to Raul’s question after a moment’s silence by lifting the corner of his lips in a smirk.
“Not that much? If you call this using my brain, I’d feel bad for the talented ones.”
Raul didn’t care for Khaled’s tone or expression, but for the sake of appearances, he forced a smile.
“Don’t think this is over yet.”
Good heavens, the worries he goes through.
Khaled responded with a warm smile that mirrored Raul’s.
Raul’s expression hardened.
“……You don’t think a single gold mine will change anything, do you?”
“Of course. I haven’t even started yet.”
‘The one to become the Emperor will be me.’
Both Khaled and Raul harbored the same thought as they hid sharp blades in their hearts, their smiles never leaving their faces.
All for the day when they could plunge this blade into the back of the man before them.
“Princess Velia, the gold mine, even the monster extermination……. Yeah, you had some good luck this time. I’ll admit that.”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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