Etienne looked at Fernando with an expression of incomprehension. He was no different from usual, even when he was excited as if betrayed, unlike when he was excited before.

“You… Was what you said earlier all a lie?”

“The feelings I have for you are not a lie.”

Fernando shook his head, drawing a clear line. However, it was not an answer that eased Etienne’s frustrated feelings.

So, as she was about to question further, Reinhardt hugged Etienne and whispered soothingly.

“Sorry, but she’s my lover now. So, let’s stop with the confessions.”

“There’s no law that says you can’t confess.”

“Is that so? I guess I’ll have to create one when I become emperor.”
“I will oppose it in the Grand Council.”

The verbal battle between Reinhardt and Fernando was as intense as the physical fight earlier, but it lacked vitality.

It was only now that Etienne realized that the two of them had fought as if it were all a performance and intervened as if demanding an answer.

“Why did you cause such a thing?”

As if asking them to explain, Etienne, addressing anyone, prompted Fernando to speak first.

“When I heard that you were dating His Highness the Crown Prince, I felt something strange.”

Fernando recalled the moment he first thought something was amiss.

When he heard about Etienne from Hana, he was more surprised than anything, thinking it had come to that. However, when Prince Rudvi was mentioned, he had a bad feeling.

“So I came to His Highness the Crown Prince’s room… and found this.”

Fernando pulled something out of his bosom. An item confined with water, apparently just a brooch at first glance.

“Why is this?”

“Holding this makes anger boil up. I confined it in water as soon as I felt the urge to kill His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah…”

As if finally understanding, Etienne turned to Reinhardt.

“That’s right. I used you, Etienne, to shake Fernando’s emotions, and instigated the incident with this item hidden in my room.”

Reinhardt looked at the brooch and suddenly clenched it in his hand.

“Now that I am to become the emperor, I thought I would cause any trouble, but…”
The candlelight cast a dense shadow on his face. It was almost as if that darkness represented his heart, and Etienne felt sorry for it. He raised his hand to cover Reinhardt’s face.

Even though he had escaped death, the situation he found himself in was pitiful.

“Etienne.”

At the sudden sound of Fernando’s voice, Etienne turned his head and was startled, closing his eyes. Fernando’s hand was close to his face.

However, Fernando’s hand did not touch his face. Etienne opened his eyes and saw Fernando’s hand hovering in the air.

“You don’t have to look so pitiful.”

Fernando lowered Etienne’s hand, which was about to touch Reinhardt’s face.

“Any danger is worth facing when you’re with the one you love.”

“Fernando.”

With words that seemed to support their love, Etienne felt sorry for him. So he quietly withdrew his hand, but Fernando’s words did not end there.

“Of course, love can be shaky, but I won’t give up. Don’t worry about that. I’ll protect you.”

Instead of Etienne, Fernando patted Reinhardt’s cheek. Placing his hand on the cheek and even using his thumb to stroke, Reinhardt was startled, leaning back.

“Opposite of protecting in this manner.”

“Didn’t I pamper you a lot earlier?”

Fernando, as if determined not to let go, continued to move his hand along his face.

“No courtesy toward the royalty.”

He didn’t miss a chance to tease, and Fernando didn’t take his hand off his face, following his gaze.

“No respect for the royalty.”
Despite saying it was arrogant in words, Reinhardt couldn’t hide his gratitude towards Fernando. Knowing about the situation between Etienne and me, he thought about and moved against Prince Ludwig’s scheme.

Now, thinking about how much his heart might be hurting, I couldn’t help but be concerned.

“Still, don’t confess too much to Etienne.”

“You know that I like Etienne.”

Fernando replied calmly, showing no sign of disappointment. Perhaps, if Prince Ludwig wasn’t involved, things might have turned out differently from the beginning.

Acknowledging Etienne’s feelings calmly and checking how I feel… Therefore, rather than feeling sad, he might have wanted to show her more of his feelings.

Feeling that sentiment, Etienne couldn’t even bring herself to say sorry to Fernando.