Eventually, Dietrich reluctantly lay down on the bed.

Celiya seemed quite satisfied that Dietrich was lying on a bed rather than the hard floor, and soon fell fast asleep.

Dietrich gazed at the sleeping Celiya, who wasn’t making even the slightest sound, with an indescribable look.

“…”

Seeing Celiya’s face as she slept obliviously reminded him of what his mother had once excitedly told him.

– The princess who will be your fiancée has a truly amazing ability. She can control others’ minds with a fragrant flower scent!

Dietrich thought he really envied that ability of his unseen fiancée.

His own ability was for healing people, not harming them.

– Then is there really any need for me to be engaged to her? Why did their king choose me as the princess’s fiancé? With that level of ability, she should be more than capable of protecting herself.

In response to Dietrich’s words, his mother shook her head and replied.

– No, you must protect her. Your fiancée is very beautiful, so she receives many suitors.

Dietrich couldn’t care less whether his fiancée was beautiful or not. To marry someone he’d never even met.

He didn’t like it. The fiancée’s existence felt like it was only getting in the way of his future.

– Having a strong ability may seem like a blessing, but in a way it’s a poison. They appear very alluring to others, causing strong desire in the opposite sex. Such powerful abilities often even eat away at one’s own lifespan.

Dietrich could understand why that country’s king had chosen him as the fiancé for the princess he cherished so much.

– You told the king of Shan about my healing ability. Wasn’t that supposed to be top secret?

He didn’t like any of it.

In the end, wasn’t it just to use him as a healing tool?

– You and that child are very similar. You’re the only one in the Inata Principality with the ability to heal wounds.

His mother embraced him gently, as if to soothe him.

– Please, when you meet that child, treat her preciously. You’ll understand each other best.

His mother’s words dissipated like fog, and in their place was Celiya, sound asleep with her thick eyelashes lowered.

Dietrich quietly observed Celiya’s appearance.

Even when she had used her ability while caressing his cheek in the prison, he hadn’t thought she was his fiancée.

No matter how great her ability, it would have been insufficient to stop Abelon’s soldiers who had invaded so helplessly, so he’d thought she must have died in that war.

– You don’t need to worry. Just because you were once my fiancé, it won’t change our relationship.

That was more like words of self-affirmation than something said to Celiya.

He hoped this relationship wouldn’t change.

If she came to feel precious to him beyond measure, it would only become a fatal weakness.

Dietrich did not sleep.

No. It wasn’t that he didn’t sleep, but rather that he couldn’t sleep.

Day broke.

The early morning visitor to Ileon was truly an unexpected guest.

Ileon, who always wore a relaxed smile, showed a slightly troubled expression.

“What brings my one and only little sister here?”

Reina coldly stared at Ileon before her.

“Elder brother, what are you up to?”

“…This elder brother doesn’t know what Reina is trying to say.”

“Do you take me for a fool?”

Reina slammed her hand on the desk with a bang.

Ileon watched with interest as her pink wavy hair floated in the air before settling down.

“I told you I’d let everything else slide, but not to touch Dietrich!”

“Why does Reina say I’ve touched that fellow?”

“The rumor that Dietrich ruined the Crown Prince’s face is spreading all over the streets! You orchestrated all of it, didn’t you?”

Sharp as ever.

Ileon’s gaze fell on the red dress Reina was wearing.

The fluttering dress made of thin veil had a black sash around the waist.

Seeing that immediately brought someone to mind.

“Even after being rejected like that, you still have lingering feelings for that man?”

“Elder brother!”

“Reina, the reason you can’t forget him is because he’s the only thing you couldn’t possess. Once you possess him, you’ll quickly grow tired of him.”

Ileon smiled gently. Reina glared at the smiling Ileon with an angry face.

“Do you think I’m trash like you?”

“Trash, you say. You really don’t mince words with your elder brother.”

Ileon smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling, as if not bothered at all.

“I heard our Reina slapped someone at Éclair yesterday.”

Reina hesitated.

“I hear it was people from the Brillion family who were slapped?”

“How did you know that?”

“There’s no news in this Abelon that doesn’t pass through my ears, my lovely little sister.”

Ileon tilted his head, resting his chin on one hand.

“Those lowborn scum called out my full name first.”

Ileon clicked his tongue at Reina, who was rattling off excuses.

“This elder brother is very curious why Dietrich alone isn’t included in those ‘lowborn’ you speak of.”

“Elder brother!”

Reina cried out, flaring up.

“And if you’re going to step on someone, you should do it secretly from behind. Why make enemies by openly confronting them?”

“You know what? Elder brother, you’re the most despicable trash I’ve ever seen.”

“Shall I tell you why you can’t have Dietrich?”

Reina kept huffing and puffing, seeing that her insults had no effect on Ileon.

Yet her face showed a glimmer of hope as she looked at him, seemingly curious.

Ileon found this unbearably amusing.

“It’s because you have nothing that he needs. Reina, you have no value or use to him whatsoever.”

“Why do you have to say it like that? Does elder brother even know what true love is? You’re just a gloomy piece of trash plotting schemes behind that smiling face.”

“Love is useless in living life. Especially in your case, when it’s one-sided.”

Reina’s face contorted. Ileon knew very well how jealous and greedy his little sister was.

Even a light scratch brings an immediate reaction.

At the same time, Ileon thought of someone else. A woman who wouldn’t be swayed even with gentle, sweet words came to mind.

Behind that fragile face that looked like it might break was a strong heart.

Though he’d only seen her for a few days, that woman kept lingering in his thoughts.

– Celiya Brillion.

So he’d have to get rid of her.

Along with Dietrich.

Reina tilted her head, finding it strange that Ileon had suddenly fallen silent.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Elder brother.”

“Reina.”

Ileon called out to Reina casually.

“That Dietrich you like so much seems to have already given his heart to someone else.”

Reina’s eyes shook at the words that came out of Ileon’s mouth.

“What? Who is it?”

“They call her the Angel of Brillion, and this elder brother saw her in person – she’s truly beautiful. The Crown Prince must not have liked it, as she was staying together with Dietrich at his mansion. And they’re not even newlyweds.”

Ileon got up from his seat, his eyes crinkling.

Reina grabbed onto Ileon as he was about to leave.

“Wait, where do you think you’re going after saying such ominous things?”

“This elder brother has been put in charge of preparations for the Emperor’s coronation, so I’m a bit busy. It’s chaotic, so could you please leave now?”

Ileon issued a dismissal.

“Where is Dietrich staying? If you’re lying to me, you’re dead.”

Ileon chuckled and ruffled Reina’s pink hair.

Reina jumped up from her seat, flustered.

Ileon smiled gently, his eyes crinkling.

“If you want, I’ll tell you. Dietrich’s mansion is straight down the left road after you leave this palace.”

Reina headed for the door without hesitation.

“Shall I see you out?”

“No, that’s fine.”

With those words, Reina left the room.

Although Ileon was acting the part of a caring elder brother to Reina, who shared his bloodline, even Reina was merely a tool to him.

His little sister, who was born lucky as a direct descendant of the Duke Gredrick family and grew up pampered and willful.

She was quick-witted, but otherwise unremarkable.

“Please be a useful card for this elder brother.”

Ileon muttered to himself. His silver hair, almost gray in color, rippled down to his waist.

Just before leaving the room, he took out a mask from the drawer.

Clatter.

It was a golden mask with no distinguishing features except that the holes were not in their usual positions.

Ileon leisurely left the room, holding the mask.

The Crown Prince’s palace.

“The source of the ruby is a secret auction house.”

“…If it’s an auction, the name of the winning bidder should be recorded.”

“The date of the auction and even the participants are secret, so we couldn’t find out that much. This is all we managed to discover.”

Jeremy roughly grabbed the collar of the knight who had reported.

“Are you playing games with me? Why are you so useless!”

“…I apologize, Your Highness.”

“If you’re sorry, then you shouldn’t do things to be sorry about!”

Jeremy, who had been shouting at the top of his lungs, drew the knight’s sword.

Jeremy raised the sword and sliced off the knight’s leg.

“Gah!”

Thud!

The knight who suddenly lost his leg let out a death cry and rolled on the floor.

“A useless leg, so it doesn’t matter if it’s gone. Don’t you think so too?”

Jeremy looked down at the knight who had lost consciousness after losing his leg, his face filled with ecstasy.

With his melted face contorted in pleasure, it was an unbearably revolting sight to those watching.

The advisor watching this with mixed emotions kept glancing nervously at Jeremy without saying a word.

The surrounding knights were the same.

“What are you doing? Get rid of this thing right now.”

Jeremy jerked his chin at the unconscious knight as if clearing away a bothersome piece of luggage.

Whether he had always been like this, or if it was the result of his ruined face.

Whatever the reason, he had completely lost the loyalty and trust of those who served him.

The knights clenched their jaws as they supported their injured comrade.

Jeremy shouted at the backs of the knights supporting him.

“Today, you must bring my consort before me. Otherwise, you’ll end up like him.”