“There is nothing, he said?”

Jeremy flew into a rage upon hearing the knight’s report.

“Your Highness, he spoke with absolute certainty that there was nothing. We searched the manor earlier and found absolutely nothing either…….”

“Are you calling this pathetic excuse a justification?”

Jeremy violently grabbed the reporting knight by the collar.

Facing Jeremy head-on, the knight instinctively frowned in reflex.

“Look me straight in the eye. Who is your true lord? It’s me—this very man! Not some worthless dog like him!”

“Your Highness…….”

“You didn’t even search the estate properly, just took his word for it! How dare you!”

Jeremy appeared visibly unstable, his mental state clearly deteriorating.

He hadn’t been like this before his face was disfigured.

Unlike his previously composed demeanor, Jeremy now radiated desperation.

Suddenly, Jeremy snatched the sword from the knight’s waist.

And with one swift motion, brought it down upon the knight’s neck.

Slash—

Blood erupted in all directions, splattering even the armor of the knights standing nearby.

“Guh!”

The knight clutched his throat, looking up at Jeremy with a face full of resentment.

To meet such a meaningless end after years of loyal service.

Soon, the knight’s body went limp.

The servants watching from the side were overwhelmed with shock.

“Now then, anyone else who dares speak up—try giving me a proper excuse.”

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, the aide desperately grabbed Jeremy’s wrist.

“Your Highness, precisely in times like this, you must keep a firm grip on your senses. Perhaps seeking help from Her Majesty the Empress…….”

At those words, Jeremy’s mad eyes turned sharply toward the aide.

“I have no mother.”

“…….”

“What about the knight named Ben? Why is there still no news from him?”

Jeremy shook off the aide’s hand and hurled the sword he was holding onto the floor.

Clang!

The sharp sound echoed through the corridor.

Two men had now died by Jeremy’s hand today alone.

Resentment against Jeremy was growing, both among the knights and within the palace.

If word of these events spread beyond the palace walls, Jeremy’s position would become even more precarious.

He was thought to be clever, unlike his father—but now he appeared utterly insane.

The aide began seriously wondering whether he should switch allegiance to someone else.

Yet, Jeremy was the only one who carried royal blood, and the Empress had the powerful backing of the Gredrick Duke’s family.

While he was deeply conflicted, several knights who had gone outside returned from the far end of the corridor.

“Your Highness! We’ve found the knight named Ben. He was discovered in a deserted alley near the harbor.”

Jeremy’s violet eyes, visible through his melted skin, flickered sharply.

“Was he captured alive?”

“He was already dead when we found him—murdered after being attacked by someone. And we found this in the hand of the corpse.”

The knight pulled out a brilliant, lustrous red ruby from his clothing.

“Anything else?”

“We thoroughly searched even the inner lining of his sleeves, but found nothing except this ruby.”

Jeremy stared at the red ruby.

Was it mere coincidence? After all, ruby was Empress Erpia’s favorite gemstone.

Though fury surged within him, Jeremy forced himself to calm down and spoke evenly.

“Conduct a thorough investigation into the origin of this ruby.”

“Yes, sir.”

Thud.

Dietrich set down the basket of food onto the table.

Inside were red cherries and fruits, freshly baked egg tarts, and fresh milk, all neatly arranged.

Celia, watching him, asked Dietrich.

“How do you plan to deal with the consequences?”

“…….”

“If the Crown Prince finds out you lied about it being gone while I’m still here, he won’t let you off easily.”

Without a word, Dietrich placed a cherry into Celia’s mouth.

Celia chewed it slowly, her eyes fixed on Dietrich.

“Are you worried about me?”

Celia asked directly.

“Yes.”

Dietrich’s hand, which had been carefully removing stems and handing her cherries, paused for a moment.

“……Take care of yourself first. I have everything under control.”

As if to silence her, he brought several cherries close to Celia’s lips.

Instead of questioning his thoughts, Celia simply ate the cherries pushed toward her.

The soft, red cherries melted sweetly inside Celia’s mouth.

“It’s just like watching a bird eat.”

Dietrich gave a faint chuckle, while his hands continued busily picking cherries.

Feeling slightly guilty eating alone, Celia asked him.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I don’t need to.”

Celia took an egg tart from the basket and brought it to his lips.

Dietrich slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

“I don’t particularly like sweets.”

“Then how about trying to like them from now on?”

“A person can survive perfectly well on minimal food. So sweets or bitter things—they’re all the same to me.”

Celia wondered if Dietrich’s words weren’t just about food, but reflected his entire philosophy of life.

She didn’t press him further. Forcing him to eat something he disliked felt wrong.

Instead, she took a bite of the egg tart she had brought to his lips and said.

“You’re exactly like a monk. Will you suddenly vanish the moment I close my eyes?”

“No, rather, you’re being too carefree.”

“Worrying won’t improve the situation in this predicament.”

“…….”

“And why should I be anxious when you’re here?”

At that, Dietrich stopped what he was doing and looked quietly down at Celia.

Her reflection appeared in his calm, deep red eyes.

“You.”

Dietrich reached out toward her as he called her name.

His large hand gently brushed her lips—specifically, wiping away the crumbs.

“Never trust anyone in this palace, not even me. Understand?”

Dietrich’s words sounded strange. Almost as if he genuinely cared for her safety.

“No, I’ve decided to trust you.”

Well, half of him, to be exact.

She’d trust him fully only when he revealed everything.

Dietrich’s gaze darkened. He leaned toward Celia, who was still seated.

“Why? Because I accepted your test so easily?”

“Don’t call it a test. It was just a simple kiss.”

Dietrich seemed slightly angered by Celia’s words.

His brows furrowed as he continued.

“Simple? Do you usually kiss just anyone like that? And you chose a kiss as the method to test someone?”

Celia couldn’t understand why Dietrich was angry.

Her appetite gone, Celia placed the half-eaten egg tart back on the table and asked.

“Why are you so angry?”

Dietrich didn’t answer. A deep shadow passed over his furrowed face.

“You’re not just anyone.”

“…….”

“I am your master. You’re the one who said it yourself—that you handed me the leash.”

He hadn’t killed her despite having the chance, and appeared every time she was in danger to save her.

He was the only man who looked at her without desire—so of course she had to test him this way.

“Were you really that offended by the kiss? You were the one who tried to test me first.”

He was the one who handed her a dagger and told her to stab him.

“I’m even offering my abilities if needed—what more do you want? This isn’t a losing deal for you.”

For a brief moment, a faint sadness flickered across Dietrich’s face.

Celia couldn’t understand why he looked sad.

He was the one who tried to use her first, yet now he looked as if he were the one wounded.

The sorrow on his face lasted only an instant—vanishing so quickly that Celia couldn’t tell whether she had imagined it.

Dietrich, now expressionless again, spoke in a chillingly cold voice.

“Fine. You’re right.”

“…….”

“It’s just a transaction—nothing more, nothing less. But…….”

Trailing off, Dietrich gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Celia’s cheek.

“No matter how hopeless your situation seems, value your life. Don’t make me lose the desire to protect you.”

With those final words, Dietrich turned and left the room.

Celia stared at the closed door and thought.

Dietrich wasn’t a bad man at all.

Compared to Ileon, who casually disfigured people’s faces, he was like an angel.

She didn’t know what burdens he carried, but surely, like her, he had his own complicated circumstances.

‘Except for my kingdom, the only nation with abilities was the allied Inata Duchy.’

No matter how hard she tried not to be curious, she found herself drawn to him.

She felt reassured by his calm actions, by the touch of his hands that carried not a trace of desire.

-Don’t trust anyone in this palace, not even me.

She knew she shouldn’t.

Yet strangely, she wanted to trust him anyway.

Celia half-slumped in the chair, closing her eyes.

She picked up a cherry from the table and ate it, but could no longer taste its sweetness.

The palace where Ileon resided.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Why do you look so urgent?”

“Your Grace!”

Erpia tightly gripped Ileon’s sleeve as if it were a lifeline.

“Everything has gone terribly wrong. Ben betrayed me—he gave the poison not to that girl, but to Jeremy!”

“Ah…….”

Ileon feigned a look of regret.

“I just met with His Highness earlier, and his appearance was truly alarming.”

“Why would Ben do such a thing? He served me faithfully for over twenty years—why would he betray me? Jeremy firmly believes I was the one who ruined his face! All the evidence points to me. Don’t you find this suspicious, Your Grace?”

Ileon offered tea to Erpia, who was speaking without pause.

“Your Majesty, please calm down first. How about a cup of chamomile tea? There’s no better tea for calming the mind.”

Erpia nodded and sat down.

Ileon poured the tea himself and handed it to Erpia.

“Someone must be framing me! I have to ask…….”

Erpia’s suspicious gaze turned toward Ileon.

“You wouldn’t happen to be the culprit…….”

“Your Majesty.”

Ileon cut her off.

“After all the years I’ve served you, are you now suspecting me just because one lowly knight named Ben betrayed you? I find that quite offensive.”

Ileon stood up, visibly offended.

Erpia quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

“I’m terribly confused right now. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Grace.”

“…….”

Reluctantly, Ileon sat back down. Relieved, Erpia took a sip of chamomile tea and continued.

“There’s no way Ben could have done this alone. I have no idea who the real culprit could be.”

“……I think I know who it might be.”

Erpia’s eyes widened like saucers, urging him to continue.

“Who?”