I was taken aback, but if I showed my confusion, I would only raise more suspicion, so I pretended to be nonchalant and glanced at Sicar.

And as I expected, Sicar had no expression on his face even in this situation. I couldn’t understand what he was thinking at all.

I didn’t look flustered, but I still cautiously asked Gillian.

“Everyone in Recador knows about your shellfish allergy. I am no exception. What’s the point of us eating what you cannot? I’ll bring something that we can all eat together.”

Gillian, who had been looking at me calmly, suddenly turned cold.

“Are you saying you’re refusing the gift brought by the King of Recador himself?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Madam. You’re right. It is utterly disrespectful to not eat the food the king himself has brought. Do not refuse, just eat.”

Sicar made a slight bow towards Gillian.

“My wife doesn’t know much, coming from a foreign land. Please forgive her for what she has said.”

“Forgiveness? Of course, don’t worry about it.”

What on earth is Sicar doing?

Kian had never tried shellfish before. He didn’t have the chance to try it while living in the mountains, and he hadn’t tried it since coming here because I warned him not to.

So Kian didn’t even know he had that allergy. He would undoubtedly eat it without a second thought because it tastes good, and then our secret would be revealed.

However, Sicar’s face was so calm that I had no idea what to do.

I was trying to give Sicar a hint with my eyes, but Sicar was already serving the shrimp to Kian.

“Kian. Try it, it’ll be delicious.”

Kian innocently took the shrimp and, as expected, quickly emptied the plate of shrimp, finding it delicious.

Gillian seemed to find this amusing, but I was sweating, my heart pounding, my head spinning.

Gillian, pleased to see Kian enjoying the shrimp, gave a satisfied smile.

“He really enjoys eating.”

‘Sicar! Sicar? What are you thinking? Why are you just standing there?’

I wanted to ask Sicar right then and there, but he was just indifferent to everything, so I didn’t know what he was thinking.

“Kian. Did you enjoy it?”

“Mom. Try it. It’s really delicious.”

“Oh, you must have really enjoyed it. You have some on your mouth.”

I acted nonchalantly, wiped Kian’s lips and felt his face slightly, but he had no fever yet, and showed no signs of shock.

Had Sicar switched the food somehow? I had so many thoughts, but I couldn’t figure anything out.

Frustrated, I felt the need to end this situation as soon as possible.

“Being able to eat the precious dish that you have bestowed is a great honor. We are greatly obliged, Your Highness.”

Gillian gave a sly smile of satisfaction. Looking at her like this, she was not so different from Sicar.

“Do you know that the rumor spread like wildfire in the social circles that the Duke fell in love with the Duchess at first sight and got married?”

Of course, I don’t know. How could I know, being locked up in this ducal house?

Anyway, I answered with a shy smile, pretending I didn’t mind.

“That’s news to me, Your Highness.”

“So, I was very curious about what kind of person the Duchess was. Now that I see you, I think I understand why the Duke of Blake fell in love at first sight.”

He didn’t fall in love at first sight, he tried to kill me at first sight.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but my wedding will be held in the palace next month. I would like to see the Duchess in the palace then.”

“If Your Highness calls, I will go anywhere.”

Gillian smiled as if he was very pleased with me.

“The Duke seems to have made a very good choice in his Duchess.”

“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”

I couldn’t let go of my tension, wondering if there would be any strange reaction from Kian until Gillian left. But strangely enough, Kian was not disturbed at all.

It was only after I had sent Kian to his room that I could ask Sicar what had happened.

“Sicar, what happened? Kian has a shellfish allergy, doesn’t he?”

“So, Gillian brought shrimp to test Kian.”

“Did you know? I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“The late king tried to feed Gillian shellfish several times. So, I had some allergy medicine left from a long time ago. I gave it to Kian in advance, just in case Gillian came.”

‘What? Is that what happened?’

“Why didn’t you tell me? I was surprised!”

“I remembered just before the meal, there was nothing I could do.”

I was so happy I could have cried with relief. More than anything, I felt that Sicar was entirely on my side, like my ally. I almost hugged him without knowing it.

It was the same kind of joyous hug one might give after an intensely desired victory in a game.

“Now a kiss isn’t enough, you’re trying to hug me outright.”

Again, it was like a joyous hug after a game. And I almost hugged him, not actually doing it.

“I didn’t hug you, did I?”

“It seems you were pretty nervous, trying to do something you don’t usually do. If Kian’s royal lineage was revealed, you’d have had to give up your life, which would be useless then. Were you that nervous?”

Is that man laughing at human life?

I gritted my teeth and spoke to Sicar.

“You told me to be a villainess, didn’t you?! I’ll show you what a real villainess is.”

Sicar smiled as if he found it amusing.

“I’m looking forward to it.”