At the mention that her father’s condition was serious, anxiety washed over Laurencia’s face.

She’d already been worried sick since he’d been lying unconscious for far too long. That’s why she’d returned even knowing what state she’d end up in, but hearing his condition had worsened further made her mind go blank.

Her golden eyes, which had been wandering anxiously through the air, fixed directly on Ashar.

“How many spies infiltrated the palace with you?”

“I can’t give you an exact number, but it’s far more than you’re imagining.”

At his answer that went beyond honest to seemingly boastful, Laurencia briefly weighed whether Ashar’s words were truth or lies.

But the answer was right before her eyes.

Deceiving that suspicious Jedrian’s eyes was no easy feat.

The fact that such a man had placed Ashar in that position without suspicion meant they’d meticulously carried out their work over a long period of time.

Trying to imagine the process, it clearly wasn’t something achievable with just a few people.

‘The palace has become a rat’s nest.’

Laurencia’s eyes flashed sharply.

‘Jedrian, looks like you’re done for too.’

A man who had once been a hero, an idol to her, now couldn’t even distinguish friend from foe and had taken them in as his own subordinates—it was laughable.

And on top of that, the fact that he’d neglected her father like this made her blood boil with rage.

She’d believed that if nothing else, he’d at least keep that one promise to take good care of her father.

He was a man who kept his word, and fortunately during the three years she’d been away, no unfortunate news had reached her.

But it had been foolish faith.

‘To have believed a traitor’s words all this time, you idiot!’

“My subordinates and I will definitely be of help to you. Will you still let go of my hand?”

At the man’s renewed persuasion, her crumpled brow gradually smoothed out.

Seeing him anxious about being cast out after endlessly crawling up to her even in this situation was secretly satisfying. Yet watching him struggle desperately not to bend his pride to the very end was pathetic.

Truth be told, her words about casting him out had been sincere. How could she comfortably keep by her side a beast that had snuck into her room and bared its fangs?

Laurencia had clearly heard what he’d said last night.

And in that moment, she’d decided.

To just eliminate the risk factor.

But she too found his existence regrettable—the power he might possess.

Alone, she couldn’t even move freely, let alone evade Jedrian’s surveillance network.

But if she had people to command, it would be much easier to accomplish things.

The problem was that they were spies who would someday threaten the empire.

‘Is it really okay to just leave such people alone, pretending not to know?’

In this troublesome situation, Laurencia’s fine brow furrowed again.

There was no one to trust in this palace anyway. And how were those who followed Jedrian any different from these spies?

More than anything, finding His Majesty was the urgent priority right now. She didn’t have time to search for trustworthy people, so ultimately there was only one choice.

If there was any silver lining, it was that she held the leash on Ashar and his subordinates. And Ashar knew that if her mouth opened, their lives would end that very day.

Yet the fact that he’d revealed everything to her meant that to him too, she was a very useful bait.

Light gradually returned to her golden eyes that had lost focus from repeated deliberation. Only then did she look straight at the man waiting for her answer.

Laurencia, her resolve firm, spoke gravely.

“Swear to just one thing.”

“Name it.”

“That your revenge will end with Jedrian.”

Ashar’s eyes wavered for an instant.

It was the reaction she’d expected. She’d already suspected that Jedrian wasn’t his only target for revenge.

If he’d only planned to eliminate Jedrian, he wouldn’t have made things this complicated.

If he’d set his mind to it, there would have been plenty of opportunities to kill him, yet Ashar had chosen to enter her powerless embrace instead.

That suspicion had turned to certainty after hearing what he’d said last night.

Nevertheless, the reason she bothered to address this even knowing it was a promise he wouldn’t keep was to warn him that she already knew his objective, so it would be best not to try anything foolish.

And.

“I’ll swear too. I’ll repay the rest of your revenge afterward. If my life is among your targets for revenge, I’ll gladly give it. But you cannot target the empire.”

There was also the foolish hope that perhaps during their time together, his heart might change.

After watching her silently for a moment, Ashar suddenly raised one corner of his mouth crookedly.

“Oh my, my heart’s suddenly racing.”

At the unexpected reaction, her expression turned cold.

The more she did, the deeper his smile grew.

“Beyond cunning, you’re quite perceptive too. I’m worried I might actually fall for you at this rate?”

“That wouldn’t be bad either. If I can seduce even you, I might be able to put everyone under my heel.”

“Ha! So you harbor such ambitions too? Well, I’ve underestimated you far too much.”

Like he was genuinely surprised, he kept letting out hollow laughs.

Soon the laughter disappeared from Ashar’s expression, and the light atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

With a rather serious face, he finally uttered an unbelievable promise.

“I’ll promise you this much. While I’m joining hands with you, I absolutely won’t do anything as cowardly as stabbing you in the back. So you shouldn’t hesitate no matter what moment comes either. Even if a situation arises where you must sleep with me, don’t hold back. If it means we can trap that b*stard, I’m willing to sell my body too.”

“It’d be best not to pull unnecessary tricks. But if such a situation does come.”

Laurencia slowly closed her eyes then opened them, and looked straight at Ashar.

“I’ll buy you readily enough.”

* * *

Ashar’s gaze, leaning crookedly against the bedroom entrance, was fixed on one spot.

Unlike usual, Laurencia’s fully adorned appearance was truly beautiful enough to immediately understand why she was called the “Flower of Armazé.”

Like a red rose in full, luscious bloom—Ashar couldn’t take his eyes off her appearance.

At first he’d pretended it was nothing, but before he knew it, his blue eyes were filled with l*st he couldn’t hide.

Even knowing this, Ashar didn’t bother hiding his expression.

It couldn’t be helped.

Since that night when he’d seen her snow-white n*ked body, his long-starved body had unfortunately gone into heat.

At first that fact had been extremely unpleasant and irritating, but now he’d decided not to blame natural urges.

Blaming them wouldn’t improve the situation anyway, and he couldn’t avoid her either.

Also, rather than pretending otherwise on the surface while doing shameful things alone imagining her, he’d decided to just think of it as natural order.

Just like it’s natural for bees to seek beautiful flowers, he’d decided to acknowledge that lusting after a beautiful woman was simply being a man.

Wouldn’t it be fine as long as he controlled his will properly?

Having rationalized it thus, Ashar openly watched Laurencia’s enchanting appearance with lewd eyes.

“It’s done, Your Highness the Princess.”

Laurencia, her grooming complete, looked at her reflection in the mirror from various angles, then glanced through the mirror at the maid standing behind her.

The face was familiar since she’d come in to attend her a few times, but this was the first time she’d observed her so carefully.

‘I thought she was Jedrian’s lackey, but was I wrong.’

Her fairly mature figure suggested she was around the same age as herself.

The atmosphere emanating from her freckled face and her extremely hunched posture revealed that her personality was timid.

However, Laurencia was certain that appearance was false.

If she’d had a timid personality, she couldn’t have stolen alcohol, even enduring beatings, to seduce a man.

When she’d heard that story from Ashar, she’d been so dumbfounded she’d let out a hollow laugh.

“What’s your name?”

“What? Ah, ah… E-Emily, Your Highness the Princess.”

The maid who’d suddenly prostrated herself flat trembled violently. The gaze looking down at that pitiful movement naturally turned toward Ashar leaning by the door.

He shrugged with a nonchalant expression.

Even though the maid he’d recommended was so frightened, his expression was indifferent.

He’d said he’d only been a bit nice to her to use her, and truly his face showed not a trace of pity.

Shaking her head slightly, she commanded the maid again.

“Stand up.”

“Y-yes. Your Highness the Princess.”

Emily’s shoulders, as she stood up hesitantly, hunched even more than before.

Still, her fingertips were quite deft, so it seemed fine to entrust her grooming to her.

There were also maids Jedrian had sent, but they were all daughters of nobles attached to him.

In other words, they were Jedrian’s eyes.

Rather than keeping such traitors by her side, it was far better to keep a cunning maid nearby.

Suddenly, words Ashar had said came to mind.

‘A sinister partner is much better than a stupid ally.’

Now agreeing with those words, she glanced at Ashar and scoffed.

He widened his eyes like asking what was wrong.

Perhaps because they’d been stuck together constantly for nearly two weeks, only not sleeping together?

Ashar’s behavior no longer felt impudent to her.

She’d just recognized him as “that’s how he is,” and now it felt natural.

He, who had only been watching from a slight distance, approached.

His bright blue eyes gleaming meant he’d had another wicked thought in the meantime.

Seemingly with no intention of hiding it anymore, at the lewd look he readily displayed, Laurencia clicked her tongue.