The phrase “You know me, right?” instantly painted a scene before her eyes.

The image of a man dragging Ashar over, beheading him right in front of her for all to see, then smiling brightly with a blood-soaked face.

“If he dared to covet my woman, he has to pay the price. Still, at least that lowly b*stard got to taste imperial flesh before dying, so he’ll have no regrets.”

Laurencia’s loosely parted lips pressed tightly together.

Even knowing these were threatening words meant to shake her, she swallowed the answer she’d been about to give moments ago.

“I’m done talking. Now choose.”

The man who’d wiped away his k*lling intent and spoken cheerfully smiled brightly again.

At that cruel smile, Laurencia bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.

She’d clearly been the one holding the knife handle, yet somehow the sharp blade now pressed against her throat.

Truthfully, it wasn’t such a difficult choice.

Just because they’d slept together a few times didn’t make Ashar special to her.

The scales in her heart still tilted to one side.

If she had to choose between His Majesty and Ashar, it was her father without question.

Yet the answer wouldn’t come easily. If this had been before her welcome banquet, the answer would have come immediately without hesitation, but now it stuck in her throat like a lodged fishbone, blocking her voice.

She’d planned to dispose of him with her own hands eventually, but not now, not like this.

Most of all, she still needed him.

Whether for his usefulness or emotionally.

“You’re taking longer to think than I expected. Is this really such a difficult choice? I thought you’d answer right away.”

At Jedrian’s expression growing increasingly cold, her eyes trembled finely.

But still her mouth wouldn’t open.

“Ha! What is this? Did you actually develop feelings from sleeping together? Then you should’ve developed them for me first. I was your first man. We’ve been together for how long, and yet for some b*stard like that.”

His voice was being honed sharper and sharper.

Finally, seemingly twisted with displeasure, the man rose from his seat and stood before her.

Unable to even lift her head, only chewing the inside of her cheek, she felt his rough hand grab her delicate chin and lift it.

At the same time, lowering his upper body, he flashed his bright red eyes and revealed a fact she hadn’t known.

“You know what? I warned that b*stard. If he slept with you, I’d cut off his c*ck right then and strip his skin to feed to the beasts. But right after that warning, he went and took you anyway. What do you think that means?”

In that instant, Laurencia’s golden eyes trembled greatly.

This was the first she’d heard of it.

For a moment, Ashar’s behaviors up until now flashed rapidly through her mind.

The man who’d suddenly become affectionate. While still hiding a sharp blade within, he’d seduced her with fawning gestures.

When faced with being cast out, the man had desperately listed his usefulness in humiliating detail, ultimately exploiting her vulnerabilities.

And now he acted like a lover. Craving love, seducing her, drawing all her attention like he’d truly fallen for her.

But apparently, it had all been an act after all.

The absurd truth was so shocking she couldn’t even laugh hollowly—her complicated mind emptied in an instant.

In the midst of this, she recalled a promise he’d made.

‘Even if a situation comes where you must sleep with me, don’t hesitate. If we can trap that b*stard, I’m willing to sell my body too.’

‘So in the end, you sold your body to upset Jedrian? You fell for such a petty provocation, abandoned the greater cause, and risked your neck?’

“Now do you understand? That b*stard used you.”

Even if he had used her, it didn’t really matter.

She’d known from the start, and she’d felt the same way.

It was just disappointing that the reason he used her was so trivial.

“And you’re still conflicted? You still trust him? A lowly b*stard dared to use you?”

Laurencia’s fine brow crumpled instantly.

Seemingly having erased from memory what he himself had done to her, he ruthlessly tore into Ashar for doing the exact same thing.

When she gave no answer, he suddenly let out a hollow laugh and sneered coldly.

“You’re quite generous with that b*stard. You looked at me like I was the worst scum in the world.”

Seemingly quite hurt by that fact, he sharply raised the corners of his eyes before straightening his posture.

Anger apparently boiling over, the man’s chest heaved repeatedly as he arbitrarily repackaged his own atrocities.

“Honestly, where else would you find a man like me? You know well that if I wanted, I could have this empire and you anytime. Yet I’m only doing what I must as Lokan, standing in for His Majesty who’s unwell. You don’t actually think I’m doing this for some petty cause, do you?”

The words were so shameless they were absurd—she nearly laughed hollowly.

But Jedrian’s expression was more serious than ever.

“I’m just doing this to look good to you. Only hoping you’ll look at me like before. So why don’t you understand my sincerity? What do I have to—!”

Startled by the suddenly thunderous shout, she reflexively squeezed her eyes shut.

“How far do I have to go crazy before you’ll see my sincerity?”

At the instantly lowered voice, goosebumps rose chillingly.

The chronic condition it caused made her tremble with fear without fail.

Nevertheless, slowly opening her eyes, Laurencia looked at the detestable man with indifference.

Her already closed heart remained unmoved no matter what he said.

“D*mn it!”

Why was he suddenly so angry?

Almost like he was jealous.

This was the first time she’d seen Jedrian like this—it was surprising yet quite refreshing.

Today he seemed a bit more human.

Actually, the more surprising thing was something else. If it were the old him, Ashar would probably already be dead.

Yet instead of k*lling him immediately, he was kindly offering her a choice—it seemed unlike him.

Perhaps he was hiding another ulterior motive.

Her golden eyes, which had been mocking, sank heavily.

She didn’t know why Jedrian was acting this way, but that didn’t change the situation.

The die was already cast, and she had to make a choice, whatever it was.

The answer in her heart was already decided, but for now it seemed better to take a step back.

She didn’t understand herself for retreating when faced with this golden opportunity to meet her father, but it still felt right.

Laurencia made her decision reluctantly.

“Just one week.”

She decided to run away from here for now.

“Give me time.”

To cowardly tuck tail and run, just like Jedrian had on the first day of the banquet.

The man immediately narrowed his brow and asked with an incredulous expression.

“Why? So you can spirit that b*stard away in the meantime?”

“I have no intention of risking my life on something impossible. You taught me that.”

Laurencia didn’t avoid Jedrian’s gaze filled with distrust.

The moment she avoided those eyes, the predator waiting for an opportunity would bite straight into her throat.

Watching her persistently as though trying to read her intentions, he soon sat down with a relaxed expression.

Sitting crookedly as usual, crossing his legs, he spoke arrogantly.

“Right, I did teach you that. But I don’t understand why you keep risking your life over trivial things.”

Sensing Jedrian’s eyes had turned vile, Laurencia closed her mouth and lowered her gaze.

In times like this, not provoking him was the best strategy.

Most of all, if he demanded she choose right now, there’d truly be no way to avoid it.

As she gazed at him with a deliberately calm face, Jedrian, who’d been tapping the armrest, unexpectedly accepted readily.

“Fine. I’m in no rush. But there’s a condition.”

At the word “condition,” wariness immediately rose in her golden eyes.

At her sharp reaction, Jedrian frowned and muttered.

“So wary. How hurtful.”

“What’s the condition?”

“What else? Don’t roll around with that b*stard anymore.”

At Jedrian’s somehow strange behavior today, Laurencia felt an odd sensation.

She wanted to test him, but if the conversation dragged on it would only create unnecessary trouble, so she decided to retreat for today.

“Alright. Then, I’ll—”

As she stood up, Jedrian leisurely lifted his teacup and shook her heart once more.

“Get things sorted out and come back. We need to go see His Majesty. He must miss you so much.”

Laurencia shot a glare at the man smiling leisurely, then immediately changed her expression and answered sweetly.

“I will.”

And as she hurried to leave before he could grab her, the persistent voice followed to the very end.

“And keep your promise too, unless you want to roll around with me until you’re sick of c*ck.”

At the vile threat choking her throat to the very last, defiance rose in Laurencia’s eyes.