“When Earl Caliet lost his castle to Lexus’ blade, I saved his grandson. I did.”

Lenisha smiled brightly.

Lotera was the one who stood at the highest place, the ‘possessor’.

Lenisha had learned how to share what she had gained from the Duke of Lotera all along.

She learned how to protect the socially weak and take care of them.

Though it led to making a mistake with Lexus, that wasn’t always problematic.

It made connections like this.

Even after becoming empress, Lenisha strived to practice Lotera’s teachings.

She never forgot that she was of Lotera’s bloodline, looking down from above.

“I’m counting on you again, Casius.”

“No, I apologize for my incompetence, Lenisha.”

“Just having you by my side gives me strength.”

Lenisha’s smile blossomed.

It was genuine.

Casius was a weapon that could threaten other nobles just by existing, and was soon to become a sword to challenge Lexus.

But within it, there was another meaning implied.

Being by her side.

Casius supporting Lenisha at her side.

Just that gave Lenisha sincere comfort.

Casius was the one who had protected the last moments of the Duke and Duchess of Lotera.

With Casius by her side, it felt like her parents were firmly watching over Lenisha.

Casius blushed.

Whenever Lenisha carelessly uttered sweet words, his blood vessels expanded, and the blood circulated quickly.

The reason for his unknowingly reddening cheeks must be that.

Lenisha clearly knew when she was most beautiful.

Without thinking, Casius kissed Lenisha’s hand.

It was an impulsive act.

Lenisha’s words sounded like a confession to Casius’s ears.

Was it because Casius was foolish?

Casius pressed his lips to Lenisha’s hand for a long time.

Lenisha blinked her eyes.

‘Lenisha.’

It brought back the sensations of last night.

Lenisha bit her lip.

Casius stood up and leaned his head towards her.

Lenisha closed her eyes for the hesitating Casius before her lips.

Casius pressed his lips to Lenisha’s.

Casius was not skilled in making pleasant stories.

However, he knew how to collide with all his heart.

Casius savored Lenisha’s lips.

Lenisha involuntarily shuddered.

The hand that held her, Casius’s hand, was trembling.
Lenisha had, in fact, thought it easy.

Spending the night with Casius, that is.

She had never considered that Casius would shake her throughout.

It was natural.

After all, what mattered most to Lenisha was surely revenge.

Yet, she had thought about Casius all day.

The night she had spent with Casius.

“Huu.”

Casius had acted as if Lenisha were a fragile glass doll.

Lenisha was not at all familiar with this situation.

Casius, with his impatient eyes, looking at her as if she was everything to him, was too unfamiliar.

More so than the first time, yesterday.

Casius had been more affectionate and polite, and cherished her.

Lenisha paced around the room, biting her lips nervously.

She knew that there was no escape from the shackles made by emotions.

That it would eventually push her into a deep mire, ensnaring her.

Now, Lenisha had something to do.

Offering Lexus’s neck before her parents’ spirits!

That would be the only courtesy for her parents, who still could not sleep peacefully.

To her parents, who did not blame her until the end…

“Mother, Father.”

Lenisha was not in a position to be shaken by such a matter.

The changes brought about by Casius were certainly good, but she should not have been shaken so.

‘Even though I know….’

The touch that groped her down, the tenderness that stroked her hair.

The loveliness of asking if she was okay while looking into her eyes.

Having to act excessively relaxed to hide her own embarrassment.

The excited voice and the seductive gestures towards Casius were to hide Lenisha’s own confusion.

Lenisha had been shaken like a fragile wildflower in a storm, and she realized she could not easily forget that moment.

Lenisha let out a long breath.

“Don’t do this, Lenisha.”

Casius is sweet poison.

It tastes sweet and you want to keep drinking it, but in the end, it paralyzes reason.

She must not swallow it anymore.

Lenisha stopped with a sharp look in her eyes.

If it becomes a variable, then don’t swallow it.

For now, Casius is the most important and necessary card.

Casius and the knights following him were Lenisha’s most potent weapon.

If there were feelings that would dull that weapon, she should get rid of them.

Lenisha had made a decision.

She would not spend the night with Casius anymore.

Perhaps last night had been there to make this decision.

To warn her, who had become complacent.

Lenisha clenched her fist.

Last night is the last. Absolutely the last.