The prince’s expression as he entered through the wide-open doors on both sides was calm.

Step by step. Edan, walking with a neat gait, was dressed in an impeccably fitting uniform without a single wrinkle. Thanks to his hairstyle swept to one side, his smooth forehead and bridge of the nose were revealed, making his handsome appearance stand out even more.

Nodding slightly in apology to the pouring gazes of the nobles, he kept his neck straight and continued walking with his long legs. As if claiming all the warm sunlight pouring through the windows, his golden hair sparkled as he slowly passed by the empress and princess, standing to the left of the emperor.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”

As Edan raised his head after giving a respectful greeting, his red eyes met the empress’s.

“I greet Her Majesty the Empress, the Star of the Empire.”

A sardonic smile hung on his lips as he bowed his shoulders lightly in greeting.

The empress’s hands tensed at the sight of the pretty smile that could be called beautiful. Of course, it was only for a moment. The empress, who had glared fiercely at Edan as if about to throw her glass, quickly hid her expression and raised her chin gracefully.

“You’re late. Did something happen?”

Unlike her coldly sinking gaze, her voice was considerate without showing any displeasure.

“I apologize.”

Edan apologized in a soft voice and then sat down. Ciela’s complexion turned pale blue as she looked at Edan.

Although he appeared at the right time to interrupt the conversation with the nobles, just moments ago everyone had expressed opposition to the marriage.

It’s a political marriage led by Empress Henzela. As much as she’s already won them over, this shouldn’t be happening.

Edan’s figure was reflected in the polished golden cup held by the empress, shining like a mirror.

His face looked calm, even seemingly languid at a glance. As if he truly knew this marriage would be perfectly canceled.

‘The matter of the political marriage will be canceled soon.’

Recalling the words he had spoken threateningly a few days ago, Ciela’s complexion grew increasingly pale.

“Bring it.”

At the emperor’s gesture, an attendant holding a cushion with a scroll on it approached the table from one side of the council chamber.

The attendant unrolled the scroll containing the details of the political marriage, with Edan and Ciela’s signatures affixed.

“The Grand Duke has agreed as well.”

Emperor Julius looked down at Edan’s clear name written on the scroll. Then he raised his head, scanning the nobles once before shifting his gaze to Edan.

“What choice do I have? I must follow what Your Majesty has decided.”

The emperor also knew that the signature on the scroll was not Edan’s. But the empress wants this marriage. So he was simply checking if Edan was aware of that fact. Edan was obedient as always. He was a prince who, as an illegitimate child, knew his place well and would follow orders as much as he was told.

The empress would make the opposition of a few nobles disappear as if it had never existed from the beginning.

“Is that really the Grand Duke’s signature?”

“What do you mean?”

It was a different noble from the one who had shouted opposition earlier. Glancing at the scroll as if he knew the signature was wrong, he spoke with force in his voice.

“The signature I know of the Grand Duke is different. And…!”

The noble’s gaze turned to Ciela.

“I know Your Majesty wants exchanges with the Eastern Empire, but isn’t that princess a fake?”

Before he finished speaking, complaints erupted from here and there.

“That’s right! This is an insult.”

“Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

“If the Eastern Empire truly wanted exchanges with us, they should have sent a real princess, not such a fake hostage princess!”

“Also, isn’t that princess someone who was once rumored with Prince Killian?”

“That’s right. It’s a political marriage in name only, but it should be seen as disrespect to our empire!”

Faced with the nobles’ opposing opinions pouring out all at once, the emperor looked at the empress in bewilderment.

The always haughty and elegant empress’s expression had hardened cold and stiff.

The nobles gathered here could be said to have long-standing connections with the empress, having received her grace.

Unlike others, they were people who would never oppose the empress’s opinion, and would gladly agree even if the conditions were worse than this for a marriage she had decided on.

But what was going on here?

“So you all oppose this marriage?”

“Yes!”

Everyone in the room shouted in unison as if by agreement to the emperor’s question. The emperor’s frown deepened even more.

At that moment, the empress slammed her golden cup on the table with a bang!

It was such a strong impact that the unrolled scroll rolled up. The empress smiled with her red lips and looked at each of the nobles’ faces.

“You seem to have forgotten, but there was originally no princess in the Eastern Empire. Although adopted, it’s said the emperor of the Eastern Empire is very fond of this Princess Ciela.”

Silence fell.

“There was an unfortunate incident with the crown prince in the past, but that’s in the past. It’s true that the princess’s conditions are inferior compared to the grand duke, but it’s not so bad, is it? After all, marriage is not something that can be perfectly calculated.”

The nobles kept their mouths shut.

It was a clean summary that considered the princess’s position while also taking care of Grand Duke Edan.

The empress, who had dismissed their opinions with a few words, smiled and looked at the emperor.

“Your Majesty, it seems the lords have now understood. Now…”

“No!”

Someone shouted again, cutting off the empress’s words as she tried to quickly wrap up the situation.

“This marriage absolutely cannot happen!”

“Your Majesty! It must not be!”

The voices that burst out all at once were indistinguishable as to which family or who they belonged to. In fact, there was no need to distinguish. Opposing opinions flowed from everyone’s mouths.

The empress was so flustered that not only did her eyebrows rise sharply, but her eyes widened involuntarily. Ciela’s eyes, who had been keeping her back straight even while hearing humiliating words, were the same. Anxiety swept over like storm clouds before a tempest.

Until then, Edan, who had been quiet, exhaled a thin breath. Looking straight at the empress, as if it was awkward that things had turned out this way.

“Oh my, how unfortunate. Your Majesty.”

A gentle smile spread across Edan’s lips as he lightly wrinkled one eye.

The nobles were all thinking the same thing, as if by agreement.

‘Crazy prince!’

Yet they were suspiciously not looking at Edan.

Not long ago, Edan had visited the nobles’ mansions in turn. The first was the Duke of Ford. It was a sudden but polite visit. At least on the surface.

‘Cough! Hack!’

Edan, who entered with two subordinates, forcibly opened the duke’s mouth and put powder in it without saying anything. Then, as if making a request, he said in a gentle tone.

‘I would like you to oppose my political marriage at the council.’

With his mouth full of unknown powder, Duke Ford burst out shouting between coughs.

‘Grand Duke! What… cough! What kind of outrage is this! Hack, hack!’

White powder spewed into the air and scattered. The powder filling his throat made him even more furious as it choked him.

‘Outrage? I’m asking you a favor.’

Lightly dusting off the white powder on his jacket, Edan looked down coldly at Duke Ford.

‘The powder you swallowed is a hallucinogen.’

‘Wh-what?’

‘Within the next 2 hours at least, the things you fear most will appear before your eyes. Then you’ll hear terrible screams that could be called the sounds of hell. And you’ll feel snakes and maggots crawling all over your body.’

‘Grand Duke…!’

Duke Ford’s hands trembled.

He couldn’t dismiss it as nonsense. It wasn’t even 2 hours, in less than 5 minutes Edan’s face slowly began to distort as if into a demon. When he shook his head it returned to normal, but a chilling shiver ran down his spine.

‘Who knows what will happen if you don’t drink the antidote in time. Let me give you a prophecy that’s not a prophecy – all those who drink that powder will go mad and die…’

‘Why are you doing this!’

Duke Ford, terrified, cut off Edan’s words.

‘You could have asked with words! How can a person…!’

Edan sneered at Duke Ford, whose complexion had turned purple with fear.

‘Of course not.’

The back of Ford’s neck went cold.

‘I’m asking you this way, going to such efforts, because I know it’s not something that can be done with words.’

Crazy bastard. Crazy bastard. Crazy bastard!

The bitter taste of the hallucinogen filled his mouth to the point of numbness.

‘Just because of such a marriage…’

‘Yes. It’s just such a marriage, so please oppose it. It’s no big deal, right? 10 minutes have passed.’

‘…!’

After enduring for about an hour, Duke Ford finally surrendered.

‘I will strongly oppose the Grand Duke’s marriage at the council. Now please give me the antidote…’

‘Thank you. Ah, if you go back on your word after I give you the antidote, your wife is next.’

Edan turned around with a satisfied smile, his eyes glowing with madness. He was out of his mind.

And it happened not just to Duke Ford, but to other nobles as well. The methods varied slightly, but it was an unheard-of brutal threat holding their lifeline. Despite the days of disregard for being an illegitimate prince, when he set his mind to it, they couldn’t even properly respond.

‘That bastard is crazy.’

The nobles’ throats went dry as they glanced at Edan with his bright smile.

Unaware of this, the empress was losing her composure, and an overwhelming silence filled the council chamber.

“Let’s take some time.”

In the end, the matter of the marriage was given a week’s grace due to the emperor’s mediation.

“I will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

As if willing to accept, Edan nodded, neatly and elegantly arranging his collar.

The nobles rushed out of the council chamber without looking back.

“I will also take my leave.”

“Grand Duke.”

The empress called out to Edan as he rose from his seat.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Edan stopped in his tracks and looked at the empress.

“Are you saying you don’t want to get married now? Are you defying my words?”

Edan slightly raised and lowered one corner of his mouth, as if surprised by the empress’s words.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty? I clearly said I would follow as ordered.”

“What?”

“It wasn’t me who opposed the marriage. It was Your Majesty’s loyal subjects.”

Edan concluded the conversation with a calm smile, slightly bowed his head, and turned around. There was no hurried or careless movement anywhere in his leisurely gait as he left the council chamber.