The reason why the emperor suddenly changed the theme of the spring banquet to praise the dukes’ merits.

Wondering if she should find another way due to the strangely excluding behavior towards herself, Alicia’s eyes sparkled as an opportunity to resolve her doubts arose.

It was at that moment, as Alicia was thinking this.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting.”

“What is it, Adrian?”

“I think it’s time for Alicia to return to her room.”

“Brother?”

Adrian, who had interrupted the emperor’s words, turned his head towards Alicia.

“It’s still too early for Ari.”

“Adrian, I know you care for Alicia, but…”

“Father, I apologize. But… not yet… it’s not yet time.”

“…I’m sorry, Alicia.”

It seems it was Adrian, not Alicia, who needed mental preparation.

Alicia bit her lip and lowered her head as she looked at Adrian, who was silently pleading for her understanding with eyes full of worry.

All this time she had believed they didn’t tell her anything because she was lacking, but that wasn’t the case.

‘Could it be Killian too?’

The fact that she thought of Killian even at a moment like this must be due to how deeply her heart was affected.

Alicia muttered that it was an absurd thought, and after composing her expression, she raised her head.

“I understand. I will take my leave now.”

Of course, this wasn’t to say she would obediently withdraw as Adrian wished.

Alicia had become certain that the new demon beasts were somehow related to her, given her brother’s behavior.

So she needed to grasp the current situation in a way Adrian wouldn’t notice.

Fortunately, it seemed her father thought there was some need to inform Alicia about this matter, so she could aim for that.

“I also feel I may not be qualified to hear this conversation, so I think I will excuse myself.”

It was then.

Rayleigh, who had stood up following Alicia, bowed politely towards the emperor.

Even though he was here on behalf of Duke Anderson, so he should be qualified… what was he thinking?

This wasn’t just Alicia’s question, as Duke Fraser, who was on his sixth small tart for dessert, opened his mouth.

“Huh? What’s this? Weren’t you here on behalf of the Prime Minister? You’ve been speaking well until now, but now you say you’re not qualified?”

“I’m merely a messenger delivering words.”

“That seems insufficient, given you’re handling quite a few matters on behalf of the Prime Minister?”

“Ahaha, Duke Fraser, you seem to be overestimating my abilities.”

Thanks to Duke Fraser, Alicia gained some good information.

It seemed Rayleigh was not simply running errands for Duke Anderson, but was deeply involved in matters currently unknown to Alicia.

“As it happens, my father is also heading to the Imperial Palace, so you can discuss with him in advance.”

“Then we’ll entrust Alicia’s escort to the young lord.”

The emperor’s permission to leave was granted.

Alicia approached the emperor and kissed him on the cheek, then curtsied slightly in lieu of an evening greeting. She placed her hand on top of Rayleigh’s outstretched hand and left the dining room.

She felt Killian’s gaze following her back, but thinking she shouldn’t acknowledge it, she moved her unmoving steps pretending not to notice.

The path walking with Rayleigh was accompanied by a quiet silence.

Not knowing what thoughts had motivated his actions, Alicia was in the midst of pondering how to naturally ask questions.

“You seem to have many questions.”

“…Was it that obvious?”

“Well, it’s not your expression, but the doubts that naturally follow when recalling what happened earlier.”

It was a time when the full moon had risen high in the dark night sky, illuminating beyond the large windows lining one side of the corridor.

Alicia stopped walking and faced Rayleigh, who was looking at her with a strange smile.

The face that had wept at her father’s death, the purple eyes that flashed with killing intent when looking at Killian, the mouth that told her to kill Killian and the fingertips that offered poison.

This man may not know it now, but Alicia remembered all of it clearly.

After Duke Anderson’s death, he had led the pro-emperor nobles, but never stood on Alicia’s side.

She had tried resenting him and tried turning away out of guilt.

‘The result was poison, though.’

It was clearly poison offered to kill Killian, but he who knew Alicia better than anyone must have known she wouldn’t be able to kill Killian.

So he must have had that look in his eyes as he offered the poison.

He couldn’t dare tell the emperor to die along with her husband.

“Why are you making that face?”

“…What kind of face am I making for you to say that?”

Until now, to Rayleigh, Alicia Craig was the empire’s princess, a foolish woman obsessed with desperate love, a pretty doll living off the affection of the emperor and crown prince.

A noble princess, but not one worthy of respect.

That was who Alicia was, so he had never properly paid attention to or observed her until now.

But why?

‘I’ve become curious.’

Was it because of her calm and mature atmosphere?

Or was it from seeing her trying hard to hold back her gaze that kept wanting to turn towards Killian?

Or was it because of those beautiful sky-blue eyes that sometimes looked at him with a strange gaze that was neither hatred nor sadness?

“Have I done something wrong to Your Highness?”

Rayleigh asked Alicia, who was still looking at him with that strange gaze.

If Duke Anderson were here, he would have scolded him to stop talking nonsense and do his job properly, but right now in this place, there was only Alicia and himself.

“You look at me as if… you feel guilty about something.”

“…”

“Or is it resentment?”

Yes, guilt and resentment.

That was it.

Rayleigh found the exact name for what had been lingering in his mind.

And the wavering sky-blue eyes told him that was the correct answer.

‘But why?’

There are no points of contact between Alicia and Rayleigh.

She blindly pursued only Killian, and he was a thorough bystander who only bowed his head in greeting when she appeared, just as he would with any other noble.

In what part of such a relationship did Alicia come to harbor ‘guilt’ and ‘resentment’ towards him?

“You’re saying… nonsensical things.”

Yes, it doesn’t make sense.

It shouldn’t make sense, but… why does this feel like the right answer?

“Rather than that, I have something I want to ask.”

Is she trying to escape this situation?

Alicia changed the subject.

It was too obvious a tactic, but thinking he wouldn’t get any answers right now anyway, Rayleigh simply bowed his head and waited for Alicia’s question.

“The new demon beasts, that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

“If you say it’s a problem…”

“It called my name.”

“…You said you encountered it?”

“Yes, I encountered it.”

If she hadn’t encountered the demon beast, could she have remained indifferent?

No, since it was related to Killian, she couldn’t have completely ignored it.

“Did that demon beast cause problems?”

“Hmm… for now, His Majesty is calling it a mutant.”

“A mutant…”

“It’s characterized by higher intelligence than existing demon beasts, limited ability to speak human language, and black crystals protruding from its back.”

Whether those crystals protruded from or were embedded in its back is still not clear.

Even Killian, an expert on demon beasts, hasn’t yet figured out the sequence of events, so it’s impossible for others to give a definitive answer.

But it’s clear that the appearance of those black crystals brought about changes in the demon beasts.

“Then, those…”

“I apologize, Your Highness. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Is that so?”

Though she didn’t have high expectations, as Rayleigh was known to be tight-lipped despite his seemingly light demeanor, she was a little disappointed.

But Alicia, skillfully concealing her emotions, looked at Rayleigh with a gentle smile.

It was then.

The clouds covering the moon parted, and the soft moonlight that came through the window enveloped Alicia’s body.

It was a sight of Alicia never seen before.

The mystique given by the moonlight, combined with the aura of one who had once reached the highest position, created an otherworldly atmosphere.

‘A fairy? Or a goddess?’

Rayleigh stared, entranced, at the golden hair and fair skin softly glowing in the moonlight, and the gentle yet strong-looking smile, forgetting what he had said and what he was supposed to say next.

“This is far enough for the escort.”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems someone has come to meet me.”

While he was standing there dazed, it appeared the head maid of the Princess’s Palace had come looking for Alicia.

Although Rayleigh spent more time holding a pen than a sword, he had definitely learned how to wield a sword befitting the heir of a noble family.

While not as talented as Killian, he had shown some aptitude with the sword.

That he hadn’t even sensed someone approaching so close was both embarrassing and bewildering, leaving Rayleigh unable to even fake a smile as he belatedly noticed Alicia bidding farewell.

“Then, I hope you have a good night.”

What was it that he had seen just now?

Left alone in the corridor after Alicia’s departure, Rayleigh absentmindedly looked up at the moon beyond the window, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fist.

All five fingertips still tingled with a prickling sensation, as if static electricity had built up.

It seems that smiles that bewitch people do exist after all.

Recalling the smile that had adorned Alicia’s face, Rayleigh let out a hollow laugh.

This must be how it feels to be suddenly hit on the back of the head while sitting quietly.

No, perhaps it’s closer to the feeling of tripping over your own feet while walking on flat ground?

Or maybe…

“I don’t know.”

This was the first time in his life he had felt this way, so he didn’t know what to call it.

Would he get an answer if he asked his father?

His father, who seemed to know everything about the world, would surely be able to answer.

But why?

He felt that he shouldn’t tell anyone else about this feeling right now.

Something so fragile and delicate that it might shatter just by naming it.

Rayleigh continued to gaze up at the moon for a while, massaging his still-tingling fingertips.