The atmosphere inside the carriage heading towards the imperial palace was different from when it was going to the Diaz duchy.

Alicia, avoiding Killian’s gaze with a hardened face, and Killian looking at her with eyes filled with emotions difficult to even guess.

The silence that settled between the two was making the air inside the carriage heavy.

‘Was the conversation Cheryl wanted to have with Killian about the rumors?’

Unlike herself, Cheryl who freely visited Killian’s mansion and wanted to talk with him.

Such a natural atmosphere didn’t come from just one or two visits.

That means there must have been frequent exchanges for Cheryl to be so familiar with Killian’s mansion.

‘Why am I hurt even though I knew what kind of relationship they had?’

Until now, she had only heard stories passed on by others, but this was the first time she directly confirmed that the two were close enough to visit the mansion without an appointment.

It was the difference between knowing something in your head and seeing it with your own eyes, but Alicia was so deeply hurt that she couldn’t even notice such a simple fact.

Looking out the carriage window with a gloomy face, Alicia pulled back slightly and drew the curtain as the imperial palace began to appear in the distance.

It was because others shouldn’t know that she had secretly left the palace.

Watching Alicia’s actions, Killian helped by drawing the curtain near him as well.

And silence again.

This time it was a quiet brought on by holding their breath to return to the palace without being discovered.

The carriage slowed down as it approached the palace.

It was unavoidable to undergo a brief inspection before passing through the entrance.

Although word had been sent ahead that Killian would be heading to the palace, Alicia was enveloped in tension at the possibility of being discovered due to some unexpected situation, even though preparations would have been made to ensure she wasn’t seen.

While she trusted the palace and Killian’s handling of matters, after encountering unexpected situations all day today, her body tensed up automatically, thinking it could happen again this time.

“There’s no need to worry so much.”

Killian opened his mouth in a small voice.

Reading the tension throughout her body, Killian calmly explained the situation to prevent Alicia from being more nervous.

“It’s a message from His Majesty. The inspection will be perfunctory, and the carriage will stop at a deeper location than usual.”

“What do you mean by a deeper location?”

“In front of the main gate of the main palace where His Majesty resides.”

“What?”

Alicia thought she had misheard Killian’s words.

The main gate of the main palace?

It was a place where everyone except the Emperor had to walk on foot.

To enter that space, allowed only for the Emperor’s convenience even among the imperial family, by carriage?

“He said he would have all the guards withdraw for a moment, though briefly.”

“What about His Majesty’s safety!”

“He said the captain of the guard will protect His Majesty at close quarters while the guards are withdrawn.”

“That’s impossible…”

“It seems the matter Your Highness has caused is that significant.”

This time it wasn’t her heart that hurt, but her conscience.

She had intended to never be caught this time, learning from past mistakes…

Of course, if that were the case, today’s outing wouldn’t have ended with just this one time, but would have continued for quite a while.

And she would have been caught due to some problem she couldn’t even imagine.

There was no way the Emperor of Eregron would continue to fail to notice the Princess’s outings.

‘But I didn’t expect to be caught after just one time.’

Because of that, one rule created for the Emperor’s safety was broken.

If this carriage contained someone with ill intentions instead of Killian and Alicia, the Emperor would be in great danger.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an easy task with those guarding the Emperor, but Alicia’s face darkened again as she felt she had created the possibility for such a thing to happen.

“There will be a brief inspection. Please state your affiliation and number of visitors.”

Alicia, who had been suffering from guilt, heard the voice of a guard approaching the carriage and shrunk back.

Although they wouldn’t open the carriage door without permission, she couldn’t hide her tension.

“This is the Diaz duchy. There is only the Duke inside the carriage.”

“I will confirm.”

The sound of guards meticulously checking above and below the carriage, and even where the coachman sat, could be heard.

“Please open the luggage compartment as well.”

“Ah, that…”

The sound of the hesitating coachman walking to the back of the carriage, unlocking it, and opening the luggage compartment door could be heard.

“…Didn’t you say this was the Diaz duchy’s carriage?”

“Look at the family seal here.”

“No, but this… Is the person inside really the Duke?”

“Who would dare impersonate the Duke? They’d be done for if caught.”

The latter part was spoken very softly, but if it reached Alicia’s ears, it must have reached Killian’s as well.

As a result, although it was the coachman who spoke, it became Alicia’s role to gauge Killian’s reaction.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

What on earth was in the luggage compartment to make the guard react like that?

“I’ll check inside the carriage for a moment.”

“…But only the Duke is inside.”

“I’d like to believe that too, but after seeing this, confirmation seems necessary.”

“I understand, but…”

What is it really?

Curiosity reared its head.

He said to ask if there was anything she was curious about, but is this okay too?

It was the moment Alicia was deliberating.

-Knock knock

The guard’s voice could be heard carefully knocking on the carriage door and asking for understanding.

“I’ll check inside for a moment. Please open the carriage door.”

“…How bothersome.”

Killian, who had been quietly watching Alicia’s expressions change from depressed to self-reproaching to depressed again and then unable to suppress her curiosity, sighed.

“Are you really Duke Diaz?”

Perhaps because he didn’t like seeing Alicia flinch every time the guard’s voice was heard?

Killian furrowed his handsome brow, lifted the curtain on his side, and opened the window.

“What is it?”

“I see Duke Diaz. We need to check inside the carriage…”

“I’ve been summoned by His Majesty.”

“I apologize. We must follow protocol.”

“Protocol, is it…”

Ah, that’s the expression he makes when hearing something he doesn’t like…

The sound of the guard swallowing dryly could be heard as he sensed the change in Killian’s atmosphere.

Alicia was feeling guilty towards the unnamed guard now facing Killian.

The guard, dutiful to his task, had found himself in an awkward situation because of her.

‘Please just let it pass quietly.’

Feeling that an innocent person might suffer harm because of her, Alicia desperately mouthed words to Killian, pleading.

He would surely be able to read what Alicia was saying from her lip movements.

With the belief that Killian could certainly do so, Alicia had been moving her lips for quite some time when she froze at the sight of him chuckling.

‘Why, why is he laughing like that?’

It wasn’t a sneer, nor a laugh of disbelief.

It was a laugh as if he had seen an amusing, cute act.

Seeing that laugh, it wasn’t just Alicia who felt confused. The guard, who had been facing Killian with all the courage he could muster, froze in place as if he had seen something unbelievable.

“Here is His Majesty’s invitation. Check it. It has His Majesty’s permission to enter the palace without inspection.”

Without regard for the frozen state of the guard, the Emperor’s invitation extended by Killian falls to the ground.

Startled by this sight, the guard reached out his hand, inwardly praising his own quick reflexes for snatching the invitation before the Emperor’s seal could hit the ground, and let out a sigh of relief.

“Have you confirmed?”

“Y-yes, I have confirmed. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Before the guard’s greeting was finished, Killian closed the window and drew the curtain again, then looked at Alicia with his arms crossed.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Duke.”

“Yes.”

“I really must say again… Your personality is quite… something.”

“That’s quite a belated observation.”

How did she end up falling for such a man with such a difficult personality?

Alicia’s sigh lengthened as she averted her gaze from Killian, who still stirred her heart.

“The Princess will reflect on her actions by staying confined to the Princess’s Palace for the time being.”

“I’m sorry.”

Called before the Emperor along with Killian, Alicia was able to see her father’s extremely angry appearance for the first time in a very long while.

He was a father who rarely got angry with her over trivial matters…

“Don’t feel too upset. This punishment is because your father is worried about you. And this time, I’m a bit angry too.”

“I’m sorry, Brother.”

Alicia, who had left the Emperor’s office first, leaving Killian behind, sincerely apologized to Adrian who was waiting for her outside the door.

It had only been half a day’s outing, but her brother’s complexion looked half-dead.

“I thought you had graduated from being a tomboy.”

“People don’t change that easily, it seems.”

“Ari.”

“I’m sorry.”

If you’re going to be so serious, don’t use my nickname.

Alicia apologized once again to her brother, who was too soft to even properly scold her, and then immediately returned to the Princess’s Palace.

There was one more person waiting there whose anger she needed to appease.

“Princess Alicia!”

“Aimee…”

“Where on earth did you go without any guards!”

“Outside?”

“Your Highness!”

“I’m sorry, are you very angry?”

Aimee grabbed Alicia’s hands as she spoke with an awkward smile, and began to examine every inch of her body.

“Goodness, what is this bandage? Are you hurt? Mina! Go fetch Dr. Dalton right away!”

“Yes, Mrs. Campbell!”

Aimee’s face turned pale blue upon discovering the white bandage wrapped around Alicia’s wrist.

“It’s nothing.”

“How can this be nothing!”

If she were my own child, I’d spank her legs to make sure she never does this again!

Unable to commit such insubordination against her mistress, Aimee gritted her teeth and turned her head towards another being to vent her anger.

“Marisa!”

Marisa, who had been standing against one wall with an impassive face, approached Aimee at her call.

-Slap!

Aimee struck Marisa’s cheek.

Alicia, seeing Aimee hit someone for the first time, hurriedly clung to Aimee’s arm as she was about to move her hand once more.

“Aimee, wait! Marisa is innocent!”