Laurencia returned alone to her palace late at night and stared out the window with a hardened face.

Just one person had left, yet the entire palace felt empty.

Thinking that the man who’d barged in at all hours acting arrogant was now gone made a corner of her heart ache.

She must have been lonely all this time.

Considering how much she’d given her heart to an enemy.

Or perhaps physical intimacy was more frightening than she’d thought.

Her pale face, which had been wearing a bitter smile, quickly turned cold.

She clenched her neatly clasped hands tight.

Now was the time to think of a different man, not the one who’d left.

Her cruel first love who’d repaid sincerity with betrayal.

Her cruel first man who’d stolen her virginity and casually thrown her to another man.

A devil-like man who still whispered love with a beautiful face despite all that.

Jedrian.

While it was fortunate his heart was still with her, she feared his tenacious obsession would hold her back until the very end.

But there was no more time to hesitate, no more room for it.

Before Ashar ruined things, she had to meet her father first, even if it meant nestling in Jedrian’s embrace and shaking her hips like a pr*stitute.

As she calmly settled her mind and quietly gazed at the world dyed entirely black, he inevitably came to mind.

‘He should be gone by now.’

Then, a knock sounded.

“Your Highness, it’s Emily.”

In that moment, Laurencia’s eyes sank coldly.

The maid she’d looked for before leaving had only now arrived.

As she slowly turned around, Emily soon hurried in with her body hunched and bowed her head deeply.

“You… called for me…”

“When did I call for you that you’re only coming now?”

At the princess’s appearance—cold as usual but never this sharp—Emily immediately prostrated herself flat.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I was hungry so in the garden I se-secretly—”

“Secretly stole something to eat?”

“No! That’s not—”

In that moment, Laurencia suddenly grabbed a flowerpot from the windowsill and threw it at Emily.

Even while throwing it, her fingertips trembled with a ‘what if’ feeling, but Laurencia widened her eyes, recalling what Ashar had said.

A moment later, a scoff escaped from her sharply glaring mouth.

Normally there should have been a dull sound followed by a desperate scream.

But as expected—no, as she’d heard from Ashar—the thrown flowerpot was caught in Emily’s hands, her expression completely changed.

Dismay appeared on Emily’s face, who’d instinctively caught the pot.

“Hmm, I really didn’t know there were this many rats.”

“How did you…”

“Finding out the identity of someone like you is hardly a big deal. I have no business with you, so bring your master.”

At the word ‘master,’ Emily’s expression contorted. Her eyes narrowed, seemingly suspicious whether Laurencia knew who the master was.

At that laughable sight, Laurencia snorted and openly spoke that name.

“How about this? Should I tell Lokan about this? That the King of Morzen, Rubid, deceived you and planted a spy in my room?”

Adding a threat, Emily’s eyes widened and she immediately prostrated herself.

“Forgive me, Your Highness.”

Her tongue clicked naturally at Emily’s completely changed eyes and manner of speech.

The acting was so high-level she wondered if they recruited spies from opera troupes. But that skill was definitely not something opera performers could imitate.

Even to her eyes, having learned some swordsmanship, Emily was far more skilled than expected.

Soon dismissing useless thoughts, Laurencia glared sharply at the spy prostrated before her and commanded again.

“Bring your master. Now. Immediately.”

Emily, who’d hesitated briefly, finally bowed her head.

“I will convey this.”

“Don’t just convey it—bring him before me no matter what. Tell him if he doesn’t come now, next time he’ll see me together with Lokan.”

At Laurencia’s firm command, Emily soon rose and quickly left the room.

‘Rubid.’

That man too had a sinister heart after all.

* * *

Though it was well past bedtime, Laurencia, dressed more elegantly than ever, sipped her tea with a noble bearing.

Rubid glanced at her and casually joked.

“Isn’t the dinner invitation time a bit too late? I came rushing over just as I was about to go to bed.”

“Mm, that’s why I prepared dessert. Your subordinate seemed to like dessert.”

Remembering Emily’s random question about dessert during the day, she openly sneered.

When Rubid glanced over, Emily bowed her head deeply, looking ashamed.

Though knowing there’d be no room for excuses, Laurencia waited to see what excuse he’d make.

But the words from his mouth were even more shameless than expected.

“Still, that child has quite a few talents, so she must have been useful while by your side. Isn’t that right?”

The golden eyes that had been drinking tea while looking at nothing sharpened.

Glaring fiercely at the man who had no intention of making excuses, Laurencia soon set down her teacup.

If he wouldn’t speak, she’d have to ask directly.

“What’s your reason for attaching your subordinate to me?”

Rubid’s eyebrow twitched instantly.

At the address ‘you’ toward her lord, Emily’s expression also sharpened.

Nevertheless, Laurencia, clearly indicating she wouldn’t treat him as a king anymore, tilted her head as if telling him to answer.

After briefly composing his expression, Rubid drew a good-natured smile.

“I was simply curious. About what kind of person my future wife would be.”

“Ah… So you sent a spy to find out in advance how much you could use a princess inadequate enough to go as Asram’s queen.”

“That’s quite a leap. I was simply, purely curious.”

“Pure? Ha! To think the word ‘pure’ would come from the mouth of someone who secretly sent a spy.”

When she not only used ‘you’ to address a king but now crushed him with the word ‘someone,’ k*lling intent immediately shot from the side.

Just as Laurencia’s sharp gaze was about to turn toward Emily, a sharp voice flowed from Rubid’s mouth for the first time.

“How insolent. How dare you.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Emily quickly prostrated herself and bowed her head deeply.

At the absurd situation, just as she was about to say something, the man who suddenly rose from his seat bowed politely.

“I will apologize on behalf of that child’s rudeness. Her loyalty is excessive, but she has a good nature, so I ask that Your Highness understand generously.”

At Rubid’s unexpected action, Laurencia’s brow furrowed slightly.

A king apologizing on behalf of his subordinate’s mistake.

It was something she couldn’t even imagine.

Glancing aside, she saw Emily grinding her teeth and trembling while glaring at the floor.

Though it was her king who’d done something unbidden, Emily’s reaction seemingly resenting her made Laurencia feel unfairly wronged.

“Sit down. At this rate, I won’t be able to sleep peacefully not knowing when your subordinate’s sword might aim for my neck.”

“What nonsense. You don’t need to worry about that.”

Only then did Rubid sit, and when he nodded, Emily rose from her position and bowed politely toward her.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“I don’t need an apology you don’t mean.”

When she coldly dismissed her, Emily retreated again.

A moment of silence flowed, and Laurencia was about to lift her teacup again.

An unexpected name flowed from Rubid’s mouth.

“Did Ashar… leave safely?”

The golden eyes that instantly turned cold stared sharply at Rubid.

Yet he smiled faintly and spun words that could be true or false.

“I wanted to at least exchange greetings, but it’s quite regrettable to part like this again.”

“So you did know he was here. Is that why you deliberately leaked it to me?”

“I only conveyed it because I thought you should know. Your Highness knows well the reason Ashar infiltrated the imperial palace, don’t you?”

This time her cold gaze turned toward Emily.

“It was you who reported that fact.”

“Even if Emily hadn’t conveyed it, I had my suspicions. Given Ashar’s temperament, I expected he’d infiltrate even at the risk of his life.”

“I’m curious why people close enough to know each other so well fell out.”

“Didn’t Ashar tell you?”

“He’s not someone with as loose lips as some.”

“Seeing that you know he and I fell out, his lips don’t seem that tight either.”

Rubid, who’d countered openly, smiled broadly.

At his smile, Laurencia’s eyes narrowed.

He seemed more sinister and clever than expected. Perhaps even his servile behavior had been an act.

Fortunately, he was still showing her goodwill.

Laurencia’s eyes gleamed as she looked at another double-edged sword.

She’d called this man—who might be useful or poisonous—tonight to propose a deal.

But seeing him now, it seemed better to grasp a weakness first.

Laurencia gazed at the maid who only looked innocent-faced but was quite to her liking.