“What’s the problem now?”

Jedrian grabbed Laurencia as she turned away, not worth answering, and questioned her instead.

At the question that didn’t match the situation, a hollow laugh finally burst from between her teeth.

Dealing with this madman made her feel like she was going insane too.

Otherwise, there was no way she’d be laughing in this situation.

After mentioning prostitutes that night, the man who kept his word like a blade had actually brought such a woman.

To make her skilled at those filthy acts he’d complained were clumsy.

They say even the smallest creature squirms when stepped on.

Forget being treated as a princess—she could no longer tolerate this man’s behavior, trampling even her dignity.

Laurencia, who’d been hiding her true feelings somehow, finally couldn’t hold back and bared her teeth.

“Isn’t making me your mistress enough—do you need to turn me into a pr*stitute to feel secure? Are you that terrified of my existence?”

“Lauren.”

The man’s leisurely expression turned ice cold in an instant.

But perhaps from the unexpected shock, even his fierce appearance didn’t frighten her now.

Rather, dangerous defiance surged at Jedrian’s hardened expression.

At the same time, Ashar’s words flashed through her mind.

‘Why not seduce him first instead? Isn’t attacking better than being attacked?’

Determination slowly filled Laurencia’s golden eyes.

Rather than being cornered like this every time, following Ashar’s advice and biting first might at least feel satisfying.

Even if the conclusion was the same.

Having decided, she stepped closer to Jedrian. Then, wrapping her arms around the neck of the man still glaring fiercely, she whispered.

“Why so scared? Everything went according to your wishes.”

Jedrian’s brow furrowed faintly. As expected, suspicion immediately clouded his eyes.

But having been close enough to know each other’s smallest habits, Laurencia knew he couldn’t reject her seduction.

Even if he remained wary and suspicious inside.

“If you dislike my caresses that much, you could just teach me yourself. Like back then.”

“…What are you scheming?”

“Scheming? I’m hurt you don’t understand a student’s heart wanting to receive her teacher’s guidance after so long.”

“Lauren.”

A murderous voice wrapped around her nape.

Though the fierce pressure made every hair on her body stand on end, Laurencia continued the act to the end.

“If you really want me to learn from that woman, I’ll learn. But my partner will be my lover.”

She pulled away coldly and frowned like throwing a tantrum.

But unlike her brazen expression, her heart began racing madly.

“What? What the h*ll are you saying, Tavar?”

As expected, Jedrian’s expression crumpled. His fierce gaze soon turned to the aide standing behind him.

Even amidst this, observing his expression keenly, she was certain Jedrian didn’t yet know Ashar had become her lover.

Which meant Ashar hadn’t reported her situation to Jedrian.

Which meant what Ashar said wasn’t complete lies.

Even so, she had no intention of trusting him completely, but perhaps she could lower her guard a bit.

Meanwhile, his aide Tavar quickly approached and whispered something in Jedrian’s ear while gauging her reaction.

Jedrian’s eyes narrowed after hearing his subordinate’s report.

Once Tavar finished reporting and withdrew, he let out a hollow laugh.

“So that’s how it was. I thought something was off when you were so eager to leave that night. You liked that b*stard that much?”

“It was a gift the Lokan personally bestowed. So I treasured it.”

“I said to play with him for one night, not actually make him your lover.”

“His obedience pleased me quite a bit. He’s the only one in this entire palace who treats me fully as a princess.”

Jedrian’s expression grew increasingly vicious, properly blindsided.

He hadn’t planned on innocent Laurencia, who knew no man but him, keeping another man by her side.

That’s why he’d ordered them to seduce her by any means necessary.

If he’d known she’d fall for it this easily, he never would’ve given such an order.

Jedrian, openly displaying his displeasure, suddenly thrust his face right in front of hers.

Laurencia barely held back her feet trying to retreat, painfully digging her thumbnail into her index finger.

He might grab her hair or tear at her chest again, but retreating here would reduce the courage she’d barely mustered to reckless defiance, so she stubbornly endured.

Nevertheless, mockery gradually spread through her inner thoughts.

Because she knew better than anyone why Jedrian was so angry.

“Did you know what he is when you decided to keep him?”

Whatever Ashar’s identity, now that he’d officially become the princess’s lover, Jedrian could no longer harm him.

Though he ruled the empire, as merely the emperor’s proxy with the Lokan’s position, he couldn’t arbitrarily ignore royal authority.

Of course, if Ashar broke imperial law, as current ruler he could legally deal with him.

Or the only other way was disposing of Ashar without anyone knowing, but the cunning man wouldn’t create his own weakness over mere jealousy.

So she brought him up without hesitation.

Taking this chance to verify if Ashar’s words were true, she officially announced he’d become her lover before Jedrian could make a move.

She didn’t care if jealousy-blinded Jedrian killed Ashar. Instead, she’d gain one of his fatal weaknesses.

As expected, it was fine if he left things alone too.

Even a rusted sword was better than having nothing at all.

“I know. That he’s a lowborn wretch who crawled from the very bottom.”

Knowing full well the question’s intent, Laurencia pretended ignorance and belatedly gave a different answer.

Jedrian’s crimson eyes flashed fiercely. His face was thoroughly upset.

She wanted to scratch at that wound more, but knowing how cruel the retaliation would be, she decided to shut her mouth here.

No need to invite trouble.

“Knowing that, you’re determined to keep such trash as your lover?”

She was about to retort that since he was just a lover anyway, what did status matter, but shut her mouth again.

His crimson eyes gleamed like a beast on the verge of rampage.

The man who’d sent that slave himself yet now acted like throwing a tantrum was utterly pathetic, but showing that would cause immediate trouble, so she carefully composed her expression too.

But the man, already thoroughly provoked, finally retaliated with vile methods.

“Fine, that aside. Sorry, but your partner today is me. So quit complaining and follow.”

Jedrian roughly gripped her delicate wrist and strode into the palace with long steps.

Even while being dragged so forcefully she practically ran, Laurencia didn’t bother resisting.

She’d already prepared herself for whatever would happen.

Rather than foolishly provoking his anger further with pointless resistance, submitting to being bitten and escaping quickly was the wiser course.

The moment they entered the bedroom, he shoved Laurencia onto the bed like tossing her aside.

“Ah…!”

Her slender body helplessly collapsed onto the bed.

As Laurencia grimaced and barely raised her upper body, Jedrian fixed his gaze on her and conspicuously unbuttoned his shirt while asking someone.

“Now, tell me. What should I do to make her writhe with pleasure?”

Startled, Laurencia’s gaze turned toward the door.

Margaret, who’d followed at some point, smiled strangely and asked in a gentle voice.

“Do you wish to take her by force? Or do you want to please Her Highness?”

Jedrian, having already unbuttoned his entire shirt, smiled sinisterly while untying the ribbon at his wrist.

“I’d like her to cry from too much pleasure. She looked so pretty crying while sucking my c*ck, it appeared in my dreams.”

“You want to see that again. Then there’s a perfect position.”

At their conversation, Laurencia’s face turned white as a sheet in shock.

She felt chills from the two gazes looking down at her with smiles, like observing a rare animal.

Margaret stepped closer with light steps and smiled brightly at the pale Laurencia.

Unlike her respectful greeting earlier, her eyes held no reverence for the princess.

Far from reverence, she seemed to lack even sympathy as a fellow woman.

“Lay Her Highness upside down. With her head hanging below the bed, it’s easier to take the member in her mouth. That way you can admire and touch Her Highness’s lovely body, pleasing both eyes and hands. If you simultaneously lick Her Highness’s s*x, you can both feel pleasure.”

“Oh, I didn’t know such a position existed.”

Laurencia backed away hesitantly, avoiding the man stepping closer.

But her ankle was quickly caught and dragged down helplessly.

“L-let go! Jedrian!”

She struggled frantically like going mad, but couldn’t match the man’s strength.

Still, Laurencia fought desperately.

She couldn’t show such a lewd sight before another person.

That was absolutely unacceptable.

Finally cornered in this terrible situation, half out of her mind with desperation, Laurencia blurted out words she should never have said.

“I won’t let this go! I’ll kill you!”

After her desperate cry, a cheerful response flowed out.

“Then you’ll have to kill me. Tavar, remove her.”

“L-Lokan! Mmph!”

When she came to her senses in the quiet stillness, all traces of the woman called Margaret had vanished.

Only then realizing what she’d done, Laurencia stared blankly at the man smiling at her like she’d done well.