‘Do I have the right to think like that?’

After rejecting him completely, pretending not to notice while having someone dying in pain by her side.

But somehow, imagining this man gently stroking another woman’s hair and kissing her made anger well up inside.

Even now.

She gripped the blanket and raised her head with tightly pressed lips. Her eyes were full of resentment.

“You’re treating me like a fool. And it seems you no longer need me…”

She felt anxious about not being able to prove her usefulness. Because she thought that was the only way she could be loved.

Though she knew what he needed most was a bedmate, she couldn’t reach out. The brands and scars engraved all over her body held back her wrist.

Don’t do it, he’ll be disgusted when he sees this body, won’t he?

She didn’t want to show him her body that had her dirty past engraved on it.

Just imagining showing him her shameful parts made her feel embarrassed and humiliated. How much would he think of her as a promiscuous and dirty woman?

The anxiety, sadness, and resentment piled up in layers in her heart all welled up at once. She didn’t want to reveal her emotions to him like this.

How unsightly.

Harboring complaints about herself yet blaming others.

This was nothing but whining. It was an unrefined, ugly emotion to give to a man who was already busy and overwhelmed.

Melissa bit her lip while holding back tears that were about to fall.

Her small lips quivered and trembled. As she tried to speak but her throat closed up and she took a moment to steady her breath, Reizen’s hand came and gently cupped her cheek.

It was a large and warm hand.

Though he only held her cheek, it was large enough to engulf half her face.

“Don’t cry.”

Though she hadn’t shed tears yet, at his words telling her not to cry, tears helplessly welled up and fell.

“You were worried about me?”

I’m happy. His gentle voice rang out.

Reizen pulled the crying Melissa onto his lap. Then he held her in his arms like soothing a child, stroking her hair and pressing his lips to her forehead.

Hot yet soft, ticklish breath touched her forehead and pulled away.

Melissa felt like her insides were melting at that tender kiss. Like hardened oil responding to warmth, her heart lost its form and softened.

The part of her forehead where his lips touched stung as if burned. Melissa covered her forehead with both hands.

Reizen grabbed her hands and naturally pulled them down while meeting her eyes.

Outside, the rain still fell.

“Melissa.”

His wet voice mixed chaotically with the sound of rain shaking the windows.

“It’s not that I don’t need you.”

After catching his breath for a moment, Reizen held Melissa tightly. His hands holding her firmly were trembling ever so slightly.

“Rather, you.”

Melissa, leaning against Reizen’s chest, waited for his next words. Reizen looked down at the woman listening to his heartbeat against his chest and whispered softly.

“I hope you don’t become a variable.”

***

“Salute!”

The police force lined up at the police bureau saluted in unison. Selheim, who came to inspect the police bureau, nodded in response to the police chief’s salute.

“Let’s go in without making a fuss.”

Public interest was hot recently due to the noble murder cases.

Why, when you get your foot cut by an axe you’ve never seen before you might think ‘ah,’ but when you get your foot cut by an axe you trusted, don’t you feel betrayed? It was similar logic.

The one pointed out as the culprit was Prince Reizen.

The deaths of commoners being revealed one after another from the noble murders numbered dozens.

The case that branched out like a tree had now grown like a snowball and was tightly squeezing that child’s neck.

Since the case had already grown as big as it could, even if he tried to run away there would be no hole to escape through. That’s how abundant the tightly woven evidence and testimonies were.

Moreover, both the nobles and police bureau were all on his side.

When he had the imperial family in the palm of his hand to do as he pleased, wouldn’t it be shameful if he couldn’t make one half-brother kneel?

‘Should have gotten rid of him earlier.’

Whether that child fidgeted in front of him and rose to the position of legal official, or got involved with the commoner parliament, or whatever he did wherever, Selheim actually didn’t care.

Only the Empress was throwing fits saying Reizen was bothersome, and Selheim had just moved in coordination to calm Isabella down.

You need to be worth dealing with to be dealt with.

Rather, Selheim felt sorry and pitiful seeing that child like a puppy desperately clutching at the base of a tree he couldn’t climb.

Everything Selheim had from birth, that child had to climb desperately just to barely stand at his feet.

That desperate climbing appearance was laughable and amusing. Since he was one of few blood relatives, it was endearing enough to overlook, and sometimes when they exchanged words the responses weren’t bad. He was fun to tease since childhood. But the endearment should have stopped there.

Should have just watched. Rather than trying to grasp in hand.

If he had done that, things wouldn’t have grown this big…

The police chief’s room was hung with numerous trophies and medals. The middle-aged man who was once a rowing athlete still showed off his vigorous strength and sucked up saying he would serve His Highness for a long time.

Selheim smiled gently while lifting his tea. The tea leaves imported from the east had a bitter taste along with a subtle floral fragrance.

It was a mysterious harmony. Flowers and bitter water.

“Is this the item you were looking for?”

The police chief held out a velvet box. When he opened the box on the table, cufflinks set with sapphires were revealed.

“As you said, we also deleted all the photos. And except for already distributed copies, we bought up all the newspapers in circulation. You don’t need to worry.”

It was quick and efficient work that pleased him.

“Our police chief… will live long?”

The police chief’s eyes grew busy at those words with unclear meaning. He seemed to be trying to interpret what they meant.

Selheim quite liked such behavior from the chief. Unlike some others, he knew his place and maintained a humble attitude. After all, a fully grown dog is cute when it doesn’t bite its master.

“Since you seem to exercise diligently. You’ll live long because you’re healthy.”

“Ah.”

So it was that primary meaning. Thank goodness. Such a relieved laugh flashed across the police chief’s face for less than a second.

“The Special Investigation Department is also continuing to press hard so results will come soon. We plan to summon him for questioning tomorrow.”

Selheim nodded once as if that was the right answer. The police chief continued while watching his expression.

“Since the evidence is clear, we’re thinking of forced arrest. However, arresting a member of the imperial family requires Your Highness’s approval. If you’ll permit…”

“Call many reporters to the front.”

“Of course. We’ve even prepared a platform across the street for good photo angles for the reporters.”

“How thoughtful.”

The police chief’s lips rose prominently at the continued praise.

“I’ll do my best until the end so you won’t be disappointed.”

Without answering, Selheim put on the cufflinks. The item made with precise craftsmanship like a watch hadn’t had its pattern worn down or shape distorted even after time passed.

Melissa Grey was a woman educated all her life to become the Crown Princess. That must mean she wasn’t someone who would commission or gift just any item…

The entire way back to the imperial palace, Selheim habitually fiddled with the bumpy button surface.

Nineteenth birthday.

In front of the man who had grown tall enough to imitate an adult, a pretty fourteen-year-old lady blocked his path.

The man with silver hair grown to his shoulders bent down with a white smile to meet her eyes.

“Hello, little lady. Do you have something to tell me?”

He knew she was following from behind the garden but pretended not to notice. He thought she would give up and turn back if he kept a proper distance, but he ended up speaking to her because her persistent following was cute.

“If you don’t go to the banquet, His Majesty will be angry.”

“Really?”

She was his fiancée, a stubborn and pretty young lady.

Why was she acting like this when they had grown up seeing each other’s good and bad sides since childhood? She could just get Duke Grey’s escort for a mere banquet.

“Selheim. Aren’t you coming?”

A noble lady who came to the garden with him whined while pulling his arm.

With the woman next to him whining to hurry up and go, he gently caressed young Melissa Grey’s cheek. It was soft and plump as baby fat hadn’t gone away yet.

He smiled and said:

“If His Majesty asks for me, will our little lady explain well? I have urgent business.”

“Then let’s go together when your urgent business is done. I’ll wait.”

Selheim laughed out loud at those bold words.

“How do you know what that urgent business is?”

“Is it something that needs my help?”

“Later? Not now.”

“When is later?”

Removing the complaining woman’s hand from his arm, Selheim came back, met her eyes and answered.

“When we get married.”