The aspirations of men who harbored grand ambitions to take Celiya as a wife were shattered by Jeremy’s single statement.

The sound of clinking resounded throughout the banquet hall. The glasses held by men fell, staining the floor a dark red.

“Well then, please make sure to attend my imperial coronation ceremony in two weeks!”

Jeremy observed the bewildered people with a satisfied expression. He raised one corner of his mouth and wrapped his arm around Celiya’s waist. It was an act that clearly showed she was his woman.

Leaving behind the astonished gazes, Jeremy downed his wine in one gulp. The startled people stirred.

With the Crown Prince himself declaring Celiya as his mistress, those who had their eyes on her were left like dogs chasing chickens.

This meant he had no intention of letting Celiya out of the imperial palace.

In the banquet hall, only Celiya, the person in question, maintained an extremely calm face.

Crown Prince Jeremy was standing in front of Dietrich’s mansion to escort Celiya.

“Dietrich, do not come to the banquet hall. If discovered, I will not be responsible for the consequences.”

When he had snatched her wrist while keeping Dietrich in check, he had expected such behavior to some extent.

Jeremy repeatedly licked his lips as he looked at her in a white mermaid dress. Just before entering the banquet hall, he whispered to her.

“On the occasion of my birthday, I will bestow upon you a very grand gift.”

This is the result.

He gave a gift that was neither wanted nor would be accepted even if given.

The ambiguous position of a mistress, not a legal wife, who could be discarded at any time when bored.

There has never been such a farce.

The Crown Prince suffered no loss and claimed Celiya, the object of men’s envy.

Most of the men in the banquet hall drank wine repeatedly to cool their burning hearts.

First taken by the Emperor, and now taken by the Crown Prince.

Though imperial power had weakened, they were still royalty. Who would dare oppose the royal family?

The desire to have Celiya all to themselves was overwhelming, but no one was willing to risk beheading to claim her.

Gabriel was observing this situation as if it was laughably amusing.

“Mother, look at that. It seems that fox has even seduced His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Not even a consort, but a mistress. It means he intends to enjoy without giving up any power.”

“She may look unbothered, but Celiya’s heart must be in turmoil. Just when she thought she escaped the Emperor, now she’s fallen into the Crown Prince’s grasp.”

Amidst the commotion, Gabriel was giggling and conversing with Hariel.

At that moment, a chilling voice cut through the air amidst the people’s murmuring.

“Your Highness.”

It was Ileon. As Ileon took a step, people automatically made way. Balt followed behind him, making heavy footsteps.

Ileon parted the crowd and stood before the platform.

He was so tall that even standing below the platform, his eye level was nearly the same as the Crown Prince’s on the platform.

Due to Ileon’s sudden intrusion, Jeremy’s smile cracked slightly.

In contrast, Ileon delivered his congratulations to Jeremy with a face full of smiles.

“I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Ileon.”

“…However.”

Ileon, who had paused speaking, carefully surveyed the banquet hall. His gaze, which had been appreciating the faces of people entangled in various confusions, stopped on Celiya.

A strange light flashed in his unfathomable blue eyes. For a moment, Celiya felt goosebumps all over her body.

Feeling the intense gaze, Celiya looked at Ileon.

Ileon smiled brightly and introduced himself to Celiya.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Celiya. I am Ileon Gredrick of the Gredrick Ducal family.”

The people’s murmuring grew louder. Ileon was originally famous for being kind to women.

However, now that the Crown Prince had declared Celiya as his mistress, Ileon was openly showing interest in Celiya.

Jeremy wanted to scold Ileon outright, but he couldn’t say anything.

After all, Ileon was one of the three most prominent dukes, and he had merely introduced himself to Celiya, nothing more and nothing less.

However, Jeremy instinctively felt an inexplicable unease. He wanted to quickly escape this situation and opened his mouth.

“Ileon, are you done with the introduction?”

“Your Highness.”

Ileon continued speaking with a bright smile.

“May I have a private conversation with Lady Celiya?”

“…”

“Just for a very brief moment.”

Jeremy glanced at Balt standing behind Ileon. Even though their eyes met, Balt did not offer any congratulatory words to Jeremy.

Unlike Ileon, with whom conversation was possible, Balt was not someone who could be reasoned with. Just the fact that he came to the banquet wearing a sword showed that Balt was quite out of his mind.

They had sent invitations to the banquet as they were fundamental to Abelon, but they didn’t really expect them to come. The three dukes hadn’t even attended the Emperor’s funeral.

Nevertheless, the three dukes received no rebuke. As descendants of the founding meritorious families, they were practically symbols of Abelon.

Thanks to two of the three dukes personally attending, the fallen dignity of the imperial family was revived. Therefore, they couldn’t be treated carelessly.

If he didn’t even allow a few words of conversation, he would be subject to people’s criticism.

He wasn’t afraid of criticism, but he was afraid of the dukes turning their backs.

He had already declared Celiya as his mistress, so she wouldn’t escape from his grasp just by exchanging a few words with Ileon.

Jeremy reluctantly removed his hand from Celiya’s waist.

“Well, if the duke wishes, so be it.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Having obtained permission, Ileon bowed and extended his hand to Celiya.

“Lady Celiya.”

Celiya took Ileon’s outstretched hand. Unlike his gentle expression, the man’s hand was terribly cold.

Ileon left the banquet hall with Celiya.

Balt smirked at Jeremy, who was staring intently at Celiya’s retreating figure, and uttered insincere words.

“Your Highness, I hope you have an enjoyable banquet.”

After leaving the banquet hall, Ileon immediately entered the maze garden. The sky, where the banquet was in full swing, had already turned dark.

Ileon seemed to know the palace geography very well, following the moonlight into the depths of the garden.

“Lady Celiya.”

Only after reaching the innermost part of the garden did Ileon release Celiya’s hand.

His long silver hair with deep hues shimmered in the moonlight. Ileon placed his hand on his chest and spoke politely.

“Were you surprised when I suddenly asked to talk? The situation seemed awkward.”

“…”

“To become the Crown Prince’s mistress not long after being implicated in the assassination of the Emperor. Did Lady Celiya agree to this?”

Celiya clearly remembered what Dietrich had told her. As Dietrich had said, was this man before her eyes her real enemy?

Was killing the Emperor really a useless act?

Would it be good to use her ability now, when no one was watching?

When Celiya didn’t say anything, Ileon smiled, closing his eyes.

“You don’t need to be so wary. I only asked to talk because I want to save you.”

“Why do you want to save me?”

At Celiya’s question, Ileon laughed, bringing his sleeve to his mouth.

“What if it’s a feeling born from sympathy and compassion?”

“…I simply cannot understand why you would show me kindness for that reason alone.”

Celiya sneered. She looked up at Ileon with a disgusted face.

“Do you also just want to do something to me, Duke?”

“Ah, hahaha!”

At Celiya’s words, Ileon burst into loud laughter. He laughed so loudly that Celiya, who had spoken, felt embarrassed instead.

Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, Ileon said,

“I highly appreciate your self-confidence, Lady Celiya.”

“…If not that, then for what reason do you say you want to save me? No matter how I think about it, you have no reason to save me.”

“I am very generous towards things I find interesting.”

“What about me has caught your interest, Duke?”

A gaze like sticky swamp mud fell on Celiya. However, the way he looked at Celiya was quite different from other men.

Rather than a lustful gaze, it was closer to an observational look, as if he had discovered something interesting.

“Lady Celiya.”

Just being called by name made Celiya feel as if her spine was chilling.

Though he might appear gentle on the surface, Celiya judged that he was by no means a gentle man.

“I know very well that you are the one who assassinated the Emperor. You entered the Emperor’s bedchamber and stabbed his neck with a dagger, didn’t you?”

Ileon spoke as if certain. His gaze lingered persistently on Celiya’s red lips.

“It’s alright. I’m not trying to reproach you.”

Celiya tried to fathom Ileon’s true intentions, but he was so adept at concealing his thoughts that there were no gaps.

“Are you saying this to get a hold of my weakness?”

“How could that be? What would I do with Lady Celiya’s weakness?”

“If not that, then why are you telling me this?”

“Lady Celiya.”

Ileon whispered softly into Celiya’s ear.

“Did that Dietrich tell you to be wary of me?”

Even Celiya, who hadn’t been flustered until now, couldn’t help but be surprised this time. Seeing Celiya’s wide-eyed expression, Ileon smiled faintly.

“I see.”

“…What exactly are you?”

“Be careful of that man. This is what I wanted to tell you.”

Ileon carefully kissed the back of Celiya’s hand and raised his head.

“If you let your guard down, you’ll be devoured without a single piece of flesh left.”