It was comical considering how he used to panic as if he would catch fire even if a finger touched him in the past.

He actually had the power to do that.

‘Should I just seal his mouth with flames.’

Facing Esben, his flames had become stronger. It might be better to burn his mouth shut rather than listening patiently one by one, especially since there were hardly any ice attributes left to counter flames due to Esben’s antidote. Moreover, all the remaining ones were within my grasp.

‘In addition, there are almost no ice attributes left to counter flames with Esben’s antidote. All the remaining ones are in my grip.’

It was when I observed Duke Hart and his aides, who were blabbering without knowing my thoughts, that Hadel twisted his lips.

‘If it were Marian…’

But when I thought of Marian, who might be somewhere in the palace, the violent thoughts subsided as if they were lies.
Hadel suppressed the boiling emotions and responded with a calm tone.

“Choosing a companion is not just about seeking benefits. I have no intention of abandoning my principles.”

The eyes of those facing Hadel flickered with desire. The desire to gain more power, to lay the groundwork according to their advantage.

However, if it were Marian, she would have dealt with them openly, gently rejecting their proposals. So, Hadel imitated her in his words.

“Isn’t it foolish to keep dealing with something that cannot be negotiated? Even if it’s not the position of a queen, there are plenty of positions that can request deals with me.”

It required much more patience to cajole and persuade the man in front of him than to threaten him with flames.

Yet, Hadel chose that path.

‘I want to be someone Marian isn’t ashamed of.’

Even if it’s frustrating and difficult right now, Marian seemed likely to choose a path like this.

Duke Hart returned with a frustrated expression on his face. Hadel, who he thought could be easily swayed, seemed perplexing to him because they were not in agreement.

Hadel felt deep fatigue from the conversation that was lengthy but lacked substance.

‘Tired.’

As he walked to his bedroom, massaging his stiff neck, Hadel bit his lips.

‘But if we keep conflicting like this, they will try to resolve it with force.’

What should he do then?

‘It’s most exhausting not to have someone trustworthy. I can’t even trust the bodyguards surrounding me.’

Although Marian spoke of catching the hidden woman as if it were a game, it was not an ordinary issue. The palace was filled with people manipulated by the nobles.

Esben from the past might have solved such a situation with the brainwashing magical tool created by Runicia.

‘But that’s beside the point.’

He couldn’t become someone who defeated others like Esben did. Hadel shook his head.

‘Ultimately, until I create loyal subjects, I’ll have to bring people from the north and use them as tools. Lure them by using the excuse of supplying scarce resources…’

Even on the way back after finishing work, his mind was filled with thoughts. Exhausted as he was, when he opened the bedroom door, Marian was once again sleeping soundly on Hadel’s bed.

Her face, with closed eyes, looked even younger than usual. Her long eyelashes trembled intermittently.

‘Small hands, small face.’

How could she have stood on the battlefield being so small and delicate?

He never said it to Marian, but the time he quietly gazed at her sleeping figure was Hadel’s favorite time of the day amid his daily routine.

While quietly watching her like this,

“Come here.”

Even when she was drowsy and tired, she extended her hand toward Hadel.

Having never experienced love from family, Hadel, who was permitted to be embraced like this by her, felt his heart flutter each time she allowed him into her arms.
It felt as if someone was comforting me, saying that I could be happy for a long, long time. I felt like crying and wanted to burst into laughter because of the joy.

‘It’s only you. The one I want to look good for and the one I want to treat well.’

When embraced in the sweet-smelling arms, desires that had been hidden suddenly surged, and though I tried to keep it hidden, Marian, oblivious to it all, patted his back like comforting a child.

“Don’t worry, Hadel.”

Who was comforting whom?

Hadel, enjoying Marian’s comforting touch, lay beside her, half-asleep.

Her voice, chirping like a small bird, was bright and cheerful. However, she was not simply a straightforward person; rather, she often felt too elusive, like the wind.

It wouldn’t be strange for her to disappear suddenly at any time.

“You’ve returned to your homeland after a long time. So, what did you want to do?”

He answered that there was nothing specific he wanted to do, casually talking about his ex-fiancée and turning things upside down without a care.

“Yeah. It’s a miracle.”

Hadel hugged Marian tightly while she cheerfully laughed, pledging to cherish the miracle that had entered his arms.