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With confidence unsuitable for a person who’s hiding, Randell came out from among the trees in the garden and leaped over the terrace railing.

“The Imperial Castle is not prepared for magic.”

That’s a shameless statement.

“Well, it makes sense. Why would the Sage attack the Imperial Castle?”

“That means they’re complacent.”

He folded his arms and looked at Nina. There was no hesitation in his harsh words, but there was concern on his face.

His hand slightly touched Nina’s cheek.

“You don’t have to care about that idiot.”

“Randell, when that kind of thing happens you just have to ask the other person if they are okay.”


“I don’t have the emotional intelligence to say things like that and it’s obvious that you’re not okay.”

“I don’t look okay?”

“Yes.”

“It’s not easy to refuse someone.”

“I would be more than grateful for your resolute rejection.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Randell said so and glanced towards the entrance to the terrace.

“Looks like siblings are trying to confess in pairs.”

“Oh, I think you better go back to the garden.”

He shrugged his shoulders and disappeared. Vialentel entered the terrace at just the right time. It was a bold move of someone who did not care asking for consent.

“Princess.”

As Nina greeted her, Vialentel raised her arm in a snap.

Nina thought for a moment.

Do I have to receive it?

Can it be avoided or prevented?

As she glanced around, the curtains on the terrace had been pulled down. Nina was reassured and avoided Vialentel’s hand.

The Princess face, who had vainly swung her hand in the air, turned bright red.

“How dare you!!”

“There are a lot of flying insects on the terrace, Princess.”

You didn’t try to slap just now, did you?

Nina pretended to be a childhood friend and never lost her dazzling smile. Vialentel’s water-colored eyes stared fearlessly at Nina.

“The day will come when your arrogance will one day be thrown into the mud. You won’t be laughing so much on the day when you and your master’s necks hang from the end of the spear.”

It was straight out abusive language, but Nina didn’t even blink an eye.

“There can’t always be only good things in life.” (Nina)

Nina shook her head as if she had heard good advice.

“Because of you, my Benzel…”

Vialentel gritted her teeth, and Nina politely spoke to her.

“If Sir Benzel had a problem, it was probably not because of me, but because of the princess who was his owner.”

At those words, the princess raised her hand again, but she only trembled and couldn’t move it. Clenching her fists, Vialentel lowered her hands. Her face soon calmed down.

“I was so out of myself that I didn’t look good. Dame Nina.”

She looked at Nina with an expressionless face.

“I understand.”

Nina just showed a smiling face at her, and Vialentel approached.

“I didn’t mean to tell this story.”

Her fingertips ran through the hem of Nina’s dress.

“It’s a unique and beautiful outfit.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s not suitable for a small Viscountess.”

I don’t know what comeback should be done when she straight out uses my identity like this.

“It was a gift.”

At Nina’s words, Vialentel laughed. The fingers who climbed up her clothes fell and wrapped around Nina’s cheeks.

Nina felt sharp nails pierce her cheeks.

“On that pretty face-.”

“I don’t like when she gets hurt, so please stop.”

Randell grabbed Vialentel’s wrist and pulled it away from Nina. Vialentel glanced back at him, then widened her eyes.

Nina nodded inside her heart.

I know, I know. He’s really handsome. He’s not just the male protagonist for nothing. With blonde hair, blue eyes, and the perfect shape, you can even call him a God from mythology.

When Vialentel pulled out her arm, Randell let go of it and she let out a sarcastic scoff.

“Were you hiding a man and having an affair?”

“I’m but a passer-by. People who say that kind of thing are used to doing that, so the Princess’s terrace must be quite crowded.”

“This rude…!”

“I think it would be better for you to step back. Or would you like to call the guards? Personally, I think that would be more fun.”

Vialentel looked at the two of them, then turned around and went out of the terrace. The curtains loudly flapped.

Randel grabbed Nina’s chin and lifted her face.

“Why are you being attacked?”

“No, I was wondering how far she was going to go.”

“To think that the idiot who had to taste it to know where it was going to end is my acquaintance.”

“But why did she leave so easily? I thought she would call the guard and have a blast.”

“That woman? Would she publicly disclose and punish you for the shame that has been privately inflicted on her?”

“Is that so? I think it’s because Randell is handsome.”

For a moment, he lost his words, let go of her chin, and said.

“These brother and sister are not helpful like peas on a pod. If two idiots like that are fighting for the throne, it seems like the fall of the empire is just around the corner.”

“Ah, as long as that temper is not targeted at me, she’s a princess I really like.”

“That?”

When Randell made a face that showed how absurd her words were, Nina poked him in the chest.

“It would be better if the friend in front of me didn’t have his uncensored personality.”

Having nothing to say back, Randell bit his mouth. He knows that his personality was bad. Nina on the other hand was immersed in her thoughts.

It bothers me that she mentioned Benzel. What happened to that human death flag?

Randell pressed Nina’s forehead, turning her gaze away.

“What? Come to think of it, what’s going on? You don’t like balls.”

“How did you know?”

“I know. How couldn’t I know?”

His face softened at her words.

“I can’t believe you were dressed in a pretty dress, so I came to take a look.”

He grabbed her hand and twirled her around, making Nina burst into laughter.

“Do you like it?”

“So so.”

“One song?”

“It’s not that I can’t dance, but I choose not to.”

Randell flatly refused. He said he would look like a circus bear doing tricks if he was to be dressed up and dancing.

Soon, came along a complex trumpet sound from within. It was the sound that announces the Emperor’s entry.

“See you later.”

Nina said as she walked over to the window, and Randell nodded.

When she opened the curtains and stepped into the ballroom, Adrian grabbed her arm as if he had waited.

“Oh, Adrian.”

Staring at her face, he frowned as he noticed the red pressed marks of nails.

“It’s nothing.”

Adrian smiled at her, but did not respond and asked something else instead.

“Randell?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

“I see.”

“How did you know?” (Nina)

Instead of answering, Adrian pointed his chin at the entrance and turned around.

“Did you miss me?” (Nina)

Nina chuckled as Adrian was introducing a rare spectacle of reactions.

The Emperor appeared with the support of Princess Vialentel and Prince Faradiv. He went up to the Royal family seat on the second floor, took a seat in the middle, and opened his mouth.

“Welcome to this Emperor’s ball. I have heard rumors that these days a turbulent horde of mischiefs are roaming the underworld of the Empire, but here I declare that the Empire of Ebensel will endure forever.”

Everyone shouted together at the last line.

“Long live the Emperor.”

The Emperor nodded with satisfaction and sat down. As he raised his hand, the orchestra started playing again.

People whispered to each other to understand the true meaning of what the Emperor had just said.

There were also rumors that it was a warning to the Kingdoms outside the empire, there were also speculations that it was a story about the Cult, or a warning word to the aristocrats who have become too powerful these days.

His hair and eyes were also aquamarine, so anyone could tell at a glance that he was part of the same family with Faradiv and Vialentel.

‘Is the water-colored hair the dominant gene among anything else? That’s interesting.’

Wouldn’t it be possible to recognize an illegitimate child at once?

‘Oh, well. Since the Empire of Ebensel allows polygamy to the emperor, there would be no illegitimate children.’


At that moment, a cry was heard announcing the entry of Saint Lucrezia.

Lucrezia, dressed more lavishly than usual, entered the hall. She went up to the family seat on the second floor and greeted the Emperor, letting everyone know that the temple and the imperial family were very close.

“Not good.”

Adrian muttered.

“It’s like a gathering of villains.”

Nina whispered, and he laughed a little.

Meanwhile, Faradiv approached the two of them and said to Adrian.

“Shall we talk for a moment?”

“Let’s.”

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