‘So that’s the only way after all.’

The resolve she’d steeled herself with crumbled like a sandcastle.

In the end, he was telling her to use her own body.

Just like that day.

He was telling her to do the acts that pr*stitute had made her perform, but willingly this time, and to cry out in pleasure.

She’d already prepared herself to throw away her body without hesitation.

That didn’t make it okay though.

She’d made that vow only to avoid despair, but she couldn’t help the self-loathing—what made her different from that woman named Margaret?

Ashar, who caught a glimpse of Laurencia’s darkened expression, deliberately took a step back.

“If it seems too difficult, we could find another way—”

“No, I’ll do it. It’s not that hard.”

Her eyelashes trembled finely as she answered firmly.

Right, what would be so difficult about it?

It was something all humans did, and depending on how you looked at it, it could even be a noble act.

Though it depended on the purpose and who the partner was.

“Are you really sure you’ll be alright?”

When the worried voice asked again, she slowly raised her head and looked at Ashar.

His blue eyes gazed at her with apparent concern.

But Laurencia knew. His true feelings weren’t worried about her in the slightest.

“If I’m not alright, will you seduce him in my place?”

Her voice was calm, but her tone had become stiff again, making it impossible to tell if her words were a joke or a complaint.

Ashar, who had been quietly facing Laurencia trying to gauge her true feelings, gave a bitter smile and deflected with a joke.

“If it were possible, I would have done it already. It’s just unfortunate that he has no interest in men.”

Laurencia’s brow furrowed noticeably. Her expression said she was hearing all kinds of absurd things.

Ashar, who had been chuckling, soon asked again with a serious expression.

“Really, are you alri—”

“You’re persistent. Enough of that—if you’ve thought of anything else, talk about that instead.”

She coldly cut him off and took a sip of tea.

His lips moved soundlessly, unable to finish his words.

Soon shrugging his shoulders, Ashar decided to stop with the insincere concern.

Once the most important topic was finished, he spoke of the next plan without hesitation.

“I don’t think starting from a submissive position would be good. Since he’s already ravished you several times…”

When he stopped speaking again, Laurencia frowned and snapped in an irritated voice.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Um…”

“You must know that your pathetic consideration only makes me look more pathetic.”

“Hah…”

This time it was an action that came out unconsciously. Ashar made an awkward expression.

Even though he knew it had nothing to do with him, when it came to talking about her intimate relations with that man to her face, somehow his words got stuck.

He smacked his lips, and from her mouth poured out words that couldn’t be more expl*cit and sharp.

“Yes, I slept with him countless times. So were you trying to say that if I take a submissive position, he’ll be sick of me?”

“…”

“Then what should I do? Should I climb on top of him? Should I go to my father’s office where he is now and sit on the desk? And spread my legs to seduce him!”

Her resounding shout circled through the air before slowly sinking into the encroaching silence.

Her chest heaved repeatedly, unable to control her anger.

She glared fiercely at the man who just stared silently into space, then slammed down her teacup with a clack and stood up abruptly.

Unable to contain the anger that had suddenly surged up, Laurencia ended up fleeing the spot.

Returning to her bedroom, she stood looking out the window. Her delicate fists, clenched tight, trembled.

She’d pretended to be fine—no, she’d repeated to herself countless times that she was fine—but the shame and humiliation weren’t easily shaken off.

“Haa…”

All that came out from her frustration were sighs.

Wouldn’t it be better to just give up everything and go wherever Jedrian told her to go, and live like an idiot for another few years like that?

Since she couldn’t even guarantee whether she could really bring him down this way, weak thoughts kept slashing at her barely formed resolve.

Doubt kept swelling, wondering if she was just creating good opportunities for him with pointless foolish actions.

Whether the owner of this palace was in despair or not, the flowers blooming abundantly in the garden swayed gently, each boasting its own beauty.

It was frustrating that she, who used to walk through that garden with her only concern being which flower to pick to decorate His Majesty’s room, now had to worry about such absurd things.

“Are you afraid, or do you hate it?”

The man who had followed her all the way to the bedroom scratched at her insides again.

Grinding her teeth, she pretended not to hear and just stared out the window.

“If you’re afraid, let’s find another way. But if you hate it.”

After pausing briefly, harsh words flowed from his mouth.

“Let’s stop here. I can’t pursue a great cause with someone who isn’t desperate. I don’t want to risk my life on such a person.”

Laurencia’s expression twisted violently. Without even a moment to calm down, her fists trembled again.

Yet still, he twisted her feelings to the very end.

“When we should barely have enough trust and faith in each other, we don’t even trust each other and can’t even communicate. I must have misjudged you.”

“A great cause? That’s a funny thing to say for a spy who infiltrated secretly.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Laurencia turned around and sneered, twisting up the corners of her mouth.

“Is your great cause telling a woman to sell her body? Is hiding behind her and watching your so-called great cause? Silvarnel’s great cause is truly pathetic.”

Ashar’s expression hardened like ice in an instant. Murderous intent inevitably filled his blue eyes.

A grinding sound flowed from between his teeth, his jaw muscles tense with force.

She let out a mocking laugh at the sight of the man whose anger had surged.

As Ashar’s insides turned over, conversely Laurencia’s insides felt much more refreshed.

He glared like he would pounce immediately, then took a deep breath and exhaled, containing his anger.

Then Laurencia’s expression turned cold again.

Watching her, Ashar raised one corner of his mouth in a sneer and approached languidly.

“Try not to provoke him like that. It’ll only backfire.”

Like he had no more intention of being considerate, a despicable smile hung on the corners of his mouth.

Her golden eyes flashed sharply, wary of the man drawing closer.

When the man who had been sauntering over stopped at a distance where their toes could touch, strength filled her slender body.

An unbearably arrogant gaze looked down at her. Laurencia’s eyes meeting that gaze were equally cold.

The gazes directly facing each other were nothing short of murderous.

In the precarious atmosphere, Ashar opened his mouth first.

“You have a talent for turning allies into enemies.”

“I’ve never thought of you as an ally.”

“Then you kept me by your side while thinking of me as an enemy?”

“No, you’re nothing to me. Just something useful I picked up out of necessity. Though you don’t seem to have as much value as I thought.”

Ashar’s eyes twisted slightly. In contrast, the corners of Laurencia’s mouth rose leisurely.

Suppressing his rising irritation, he made a despicable counterattack.

“Ah, you called me a son of a b*tch. Haven’t you considered that this son of a b*tch might bite?”

“All you know how to do is make pathetic threats.”

“Do you want to confirm whether it’s a threat or real?”

Ashar stepped even closer, making a show of it.

Her expression, which had been trying to appear relaxed, immediately stiffened.

“Oh my, are you scared?”

Laurencia looked with contempt at the man approaching like he would toy with her, and a voice mixed with resignation flowed from her mouth.

“You’re like him. You and Jedrian are both equally despicable. It’s ridiculous that such a b*stard talks about punishing anyone.”

Ashar’s movement stopped abruptly. The despicable smile disappeared and an expression like he’d received some kind of shock appeared.

His straight brow gradually twisted. Like he’d been possessed by something and then released, his flustered state was evident.

Just then, an unexpected voice interjected between the two.

“What are you two doing?”

At the languid yet relaxed voice that nevertheless carried distinct murderous intent, both their expressions stiffened simultaneously.

Soon a bitter laugh escaped from between Ashar’s crumpled teeth.

He was dumbfounded at himself for not sensing the presence that had approached right up close.

He’d made an absurd mistake just trying to win against the woman before his eyes.

‘Stupid b*stard.’