“I can do whatever it takes to get what I want. And… Why was the Crown Prince so angry?”

“Angry? Me?”

Ariana pointed to Cyrus’s forehead with her index finger.

“You seem very angry. Are you worried that I might die before repaying the debt?”

“… Is that so.”

The anger emanating from Cyrus’s forehead disappeared. He resumed walking with an expression that seemed uncomfortable for some reason.

“The rumor is spreading on the streets about the Marquisess Youngae and a certain stage actress’s scandal. When a knight comes out soon, the story of any lady’s custody trial will disappear from people’s memories.”

“That makes sense.”
Ariana had expected it. She didn’t think Seojehu would return to Seoryeong without any schemes.

“But even if it disappears from memory, it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I don’t care much.”

Looking at Ariana, who answered calmly, Cyrus asked, glancing at her.

“What will you do now?”

“Well, if I go back to Dongryeong, should I spend some leisurely time as a princess, letting things be?”

+++

While Crown Prince Russell was absent from Dongryeong, Jeor was spending extremely busy days handling the affairs in his place.

Even before the news of winning the custody trial reached him, Jeor received news that Ariana’s party, which had gone to the empire, had returned. His expression wrinkled upon hearing that the trial result was related to the emperor and Crown Prince.

‘This is troublesome.’

As expected, the troublesome matter happened quickly. Just a day after receiving the news, Duke Chordis Ovelier, Jeor’s father and a distant relative of the White family, visited him.

Duke Ovelier was Jeor’s biological father, but he was far from the White family.

The progenitor of the Ovelier family had blue hair like the people of the White family, but as generations passed, the color faded, and now they had completely different colored hair.

Duke Ovelier had brown hair, and the Duchess Ovelier had crimson hair. Their second son, the junior duke, and the young lady also had crimson hair like their mother, but Jeor alone had blue hair.

The reason Jeor, who was the second son of Duke Ovelier with the blue hair, could be adopted by Russell and become a foster child was because of that blue hair.

As soon as Duke Ovelier entered the office and sat on the sofa, he asked.

“Have you heard?”

“Yeah, yeah. Duke Ovelier, isn’t it too impolite in front of the Crown Prince? Not even greeting properly.”

“Get rid of that nonsense. Even if you sit there, you’re my son.”

“Well, when I sent you to Dongjehu, didn’t you ask me to behave properly in front of Crown Prince? Even if he’s not here.”

“Even so, the fact that you’re my son doesn’t change!”

“So, did you come running like this right after the Crown Prince left? You were very indifferent when His Highness was present.”

“When did I ever act indifferently! Anyway, your way of talking hasn’t changed a bit.”

Jeor sat opposite Duke Ovelier, smiling bitterly. Crossing his long legs and sitting down, Jeor looked down at Duke Ovelier, who asked.

“I’m busy, why did you come here and make a fuss? What’s the reason?”

“I’m here to talk about that now, but you interrupted it! Did you hear about the custody trial result of that woman?”

Jeor frowned.

“Be careful with your words. Referring to the princess as ‘that woman.’ It’s an uncalled-for remark even in this situation.”
“Now is not the time for such wordplay! Why would that woman, who lived in Seoryeong Mansion without knowing anything, suddenly come to Dongryeong and covet the position of the princess? Huh?”

“She came back to find her rightful place. Isn’t it splendid?”

“What’s splendid about it!”

Duke Ovelier slammed the table with both fists.

“That woman made moves that even involved the Emperor and Crown Prince. She might snatch your position if you’re not careful, you fool!”

“It’s not about being snatched; it’s about returning it, Duke. Originally, this position was not mine.”

Duke Ovelier’s eyes lifted at Jeor’s leisurely attitude. He looked at his son as if considering him pathetic and said,

“With no ambition like that, you’ve been like this since you were young. It would have been better if the foster child had been born with blue hair.”

At the mention of the eldest son, Peeris Ovelier, Jeor’s expression hardened.

However, Duke Ovelier continued without noticing.

“She escaped from abuse in Seoryeong, shook the Crown Prince’s heart with rumors, and even held a custody trial in the empire, breaking that Seojehu. They say even the Duchess Roberta testified in the trial. And with the Emperor and Crown Prince… Not an ordinary woman. How old did she say she was?”

“You don’t need to worry about it so much, Duke. If that’s all you have to say, you can leave now. As you can see, I’m busy.”

“Get yourself together, Jeor Ovelier.”

“I am Jeor White, Duke.”

“No, even if you die and wake up, you are one of us Ovelier people. Your mother and I have high expectations for you.”

When the word “mother” was mentioned, Jeor’s gaze flickered, which Duke Ovelier keenly witnessed. Duke Ovelier grinned with a sly smile.

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to see my son lose to a woman who doesn’t even know where he came from. Jeor, don’t make this old man step in personally.”

After Duke Ovelier left, Jeor splashed cold water on his face with both hands. A painful sigh escaped between his fingers.

Duke Ovelier knew Jeor’s weakness too well. His mother was Jeor’s only weakness, the one thing he couldn’t completely sever ties with the Ovelier family.

A clear, pure, and fairy-like person.

Jeor recalled the day before Ariana left for the empire. Ariana, who looked at him without any fear in her eyes, exchanging gazes calmly.

He didn’t trust her completely, but he didn’t want to suspect her without any reason.

However, Duke Ovelier’s last words bothered him.

“[Dash]Don’t make me step in personally.”
Jeor knew well how far Duke Ovelier could go for his ambitions. If Jeor acted wrongly, his mother would be in danger.

A knot tightened in his stomach.

‘What should I do about this…?’