“Len, men…… well.”

Levi touched his lips once and gave a somewhat empty smile.

So what comes next?

I waited with a calm face to let him gather his thoughts.

“I think this is something you need to hear, but I’m worried about how you’ll see me afterward.”

What on earth is he trying to say with all this hesitation?

“If it’s something I need to hear, please tell me. I’ll listen with an open mind.”

“Alright. But I must emphasize again, please don’t misunderstand. I’m afraid you might develop strange prejudices about me.”

“What are you saying, Sir Merten? If anyone should fear prejudice, it’s me.”

Think about it—which one of us truly appears strange?

When we met again after several years, I was cutting the Emperor’s gifted dress to shreds with scissors.

As soon as we met, I asked you to enter a fake engagement with me.

And then I collapsed for no apparent reason right after entering the imperial palace to put our plan into action!

Levi couldn’t hold back his laughter as I laid out all these points.

“You’re right. Listing everything at once makes you seem like a truly interesting person.”

“Thank you for saying ‘interesting’ instead of ‘strange.'”

“Because it’s true.”

“Yet you still came all the way to the imperial palace to help me.”

“It was your request, not just anyone’s.”

So stop stalling and tell me what you wanted to say.

Levi nodded, seemingly more at ease after my words.

“Len, men tend to become fascinated by things they cannot possess.”

“Things they cannot possess?”

“Yes, they obsess over what they cannot grasp and will use any means necessary to obtain it.”

At that moment, I vaguely understood what Levi was trying to say.

“Especially those in power, like His Majesty the Emperor.”

“……”

“Your current behavior…… might only be stimulating His Majesty’s curiosity.”

It felt like I’d been struck on the back of my head.

Obsessing over and becoming fascinated by things they cannot possess.

Using any means necessary to obtain them.

This wasn’t just a characteristic of men—it was Ainberg’s nature as well.

A chill ran down my spine at these unexpected words.

“Then what should I do?”

I had only thought about avoiding Ainberg because I feared his gaze and attention.

I never considered that such behavior might provoke him, that it might actually pique his curiosity!

And on top of that, I brought another man while declaring my intention to marry. That arrogant, self-centered man would never simply say, “Fine, go ahead”!

This is a disaster.

What should I do now?

“You’re right, Sir. My actions seem to have needlessly provoked His Majesty.”

Perhaps if I had stayed quiet, maybe everything would have passed by peacefully.

I was the one who made a fuss out of nothing.

Ugh, this impulsive behavior!

Just then, Levi pulled me out of my floundering confusion.

“Len, let me ask you once more.”

“Yes?”

“Do you truly want to escape His Majesty’s attention?”

“Of course. I told you I don’t want honor or power.”

“Until now, I haven’t asked for your reasons. Perhaps…… is there another reason?”

His voice was more serious than ever before, and I almost revealed the secret I had kept to myself.

I felt Levi would understand my situation and never disclose my secret to anyone.

Besides, right now I might just appear to be throwing a childish tantrum.

‘If I were to confess my circumstances……’

After some deliberation, I shook my head.

“Sir Merten.”

Levi was certainly trustworthy, but that might only be because I was Leonora Chadmon.

Revealing that I had transmigrated into someone else’s body, and moreover, that I had been living as Leonora all this time, would be too dangerous.

It would be problematic whether he believed me or not.

“No, I simply want to live an ordinary life.”

“……”

“A long, peaceful, and comfortable life by my father’s side.”

Better to seem like a frivolous woman than a transmigrator. I decided to casually mention Ainberg’s flaws as well.

“And I’m also scared of the various rumors about His Majesty.”

“Rumors?”

Rumors would be better than this. These are facts I directly saw and heard in the imperial palace.

“Don’t you know? He’s violent, indulges in women, and obsesses over unnecessary temple ceremonies.”

Levi seemed unable to respond easily. He couldn’t very well agree with me here.

“I dislike people who can give their heart to multiple others. I don’t want to live such a lonely life.”

It wasn’t simple loneliness.

The moment you fall out of the Emperor’s favor, you become the laughingstock of everyone in the imperial palace.

Moreover, even my father, who should have protected me most, wasn’t on my side.

“If I ever marry, I just want to live comfortably and peacefully as someone’s wife. I don’t want to worry about power, politics, economics, or anything like that.”

Levi remained silent for a while, seemingly lost in thought. After some time, he spoke again with somewhat clearer eyes.

“Then Leonora, how about trying a different approach?”

“A different approach? What if that also piques His Majesty’s curiosity?”

Maybe doing nothing would be better.

It would be truly troublesome if any methods or plans ended up stimulating Ainberg even more.

“Instead of avoiding, confront him.”

Yes, that sounds so easy.

“I was trying to confront him just now, but I failed.”

“No, not confronting him like that.”

“Then how?”

“On the contrary, try focusing your attention on His Majesty.”

“What?”

Irritation surged at his absurd suggestion. I quickly realized my voice was too loud and closed my mouth.

‘What, what are you telling me to do? Focus on him?’

I awkwardly smiled and replied.

“I’m sorry, but that seems quite difficult.”

But Levi didn’t respond to my words.

“Len, try liking His Majesty and becoming enthusiastic about him.”

“So you’re telling me to act like that?”

I’m the one who collapsed, but why does Levi seem to be the one in pain?

I tried to dismiss it with a faint smile, considering it not worth listening to, but he continued.

“Launch an offensive of affection and obsession. Then His Majesty will run away instead.”

“……”

“Because a woman who loves His Majesty is no longer attractive.”

If earlier I felt like I’d been hit on the back of my head, now it felt like lightning was striking my crown.

“Ah.”

“If you continue to reject and push him away like now, there’s no telling what measures His Majesty might take.”

Hearing that he might take unknown measures, Ainberg’s cold face flashed in my mind.

Those seemingly indifferent yet sharp dark blue eyes. How could I escape from those eyes?

“He’ll be desperate to have you. He might even pressure Duke Chadmon and Allentain.”

“……”

“I hope things don’t go that way, but if they do, you won’t be able to run away anymore.”

Unable to run away.

No longer able to escape.

“But conversely, if you whisper words of love to His Majesty and follow him around, his feelings will cool quickly.”

“So His Majesty withdraws on his own.”

“Yes, exactly.”

It seemed perfect in theory.

“But I haven’t been favorable to His Majesty until now. If I suddenly cling to him, it will look strange.”

That man is suspicious by nature.

You can’t fool the Emperor with amateur acting.

“Use the current situation to your advantage. You’re lying sick, and this is the imperial palace.”

Levi extended his hands to both sides and smiled elegantly.

Until now, I thought he was just a kind and gentle person. Today’s Levi seemed very different somehow.

“So you won’t take me home?”

Levi gave a slightly deeper smile than before and stood up.

“Word will spread that you’ve awakened, and His Majesty will come.”

I understood what was problematic about my situation and what might be best to do.

But could I really do it?

“So I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait a moment.”

Alright, fine. I had some idea of how to act.

Though I knew this wasn’t the time to worry about others, I felt too sorry toward Levi.

“I’m sorry. I feel so terrible about you that I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Sorry for what?”

“You even pretended to marry me for my sake.”

As I trailed off with a gloomy expression, Levi bent down and spoke in a caring voice.

“Don’t say such things. It makes it seem like I helped you expecting something in return.”

Sigh, what a kind and good person.

Both when I asked him to fake a marriage and now, Levi was the very model of a kind and gentle man.

“Sir Merten, you’re truly a good person.”

Both in the past I couldn’t remember and now.

This was all I could say to him.

“Len, I don’t want to burden you right now, but when you look at me with that face, my resolve weakens.”

“Sir Merten.”

“Then promise me just one thing.”

“Not just one, I’ll promise ten things if you want.”

Levi gave me a graceful smile that put me at ease, then stood before me.