“What do you mean, Yujin?”

Sabina’s face crumpled with frustration.

Rumors about Yujin and Sabina had circulated in social circles, but Sabina had always neither confirmed nor denied them, leaving things as they were.

This was only natural. By allowing the impression that Yujin Esrenche was her follower, her influence in society grew.

“A proposal? When did that happen? You never mentioned anything like that.”

Repeating herself in confusion, Sabina grimaced and questioned Yujin again.

“Is this a joke?”

Yujin faced Sabina with a stiff, doll-like expression. His blue eyes showed not a trace of affection.

“I understand your surprise, but it is true. Please follow His Majesty’s command.”

“Are you saying all of this is true? That His Majesty ordered me to marry?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Hah.”

Sabina sneered.

“His Majesty has really made up his mind, hasn’t he? Sending me off like this without even giving me a chance to explain?”

Her resentment toward the Emperor turned into sharp mockery directed at Yujin.

“To someone like Esrenche, no less?”

It wasn’t Yujin who was disturbed by her words.

Even as the Emperor was sending his daughter away, he wanted everything to be done with proper decorum, so some of the Esrenche retainers had accompanied Yujin, bringing gifts and a proposal letter.

They were visibly shocked when Sabina belittled Esrenche.

“Someone like Esrenche!”

“How can you speak of Esrenche like that?”

“Hmph! Did I say something wrong? Tell His Majesty I can’t accept this rushed marriage. Even if I fall dead right here, I refuse!”

The imperial scribe, who had come to be the final witness to the proposal, was also very surprised by Sabina’s response. He hurriedly tried to console her.

“Your Highness, it seems you are not in a calm state of mind after being confined for so long. Let’s discuss this inside…”

“Are you saying I’m not thinking straight right now?”

“Your Highness!”

If no one had been watching, the statement might have been brushed off. But there were too many eyes and ears.

Sabina even glared at the frightened scribe.

On the other hand, Yujin wasn’t surprised by Sabina’s reaction; he had expected it. He bowed neatly.

“Since Your Highness is so adamantly opposed, I have no choice. I will inform His Majesty that it never happened.”

“Wait, wait a moment, Count Esrenche!”

If this marriage fell through, the Emperor’s wrath would be immense. The scribe desperately held onto Yujin, who was about to leave.

However, Sabina still failed to grasp the situation and responded curtly with her arms crossed.

“Why are you holding him back? Let him go. Do you think I can’t find a better match than Esrenche?”

“You will not.”

“What?”

At Yujin’s sharp reply, Sabina let out a hollow laugh and raised her head. Yujin met her gaze with cold eyes. His expression was dry, but his words were sharp.

“Have you forgotten that Esrenche holds evidence of the wrongdoings you’ve committed? It seems there is no friendship left between us now, so I will reveal everything to the world.”

“Wait! Wait, Yujin!”

Sabina had been using Esrenche as a convenient tool while committing various misdeeds.

Though she appeared naive about worldly matters, her pale face showed that she was well aware of her actions.

Sabina approached Yujin with an awkward smile, grabbing his arm again.

“Why do you keep saying hurtful things lately? That’s why I end up speaking sharply too.”

Though she seemed to be soothing him, it was all about blaming others.

Yujin lightly furrowed his brows.

“Are you blaming me now?”

“Is it because I treat you harshly that you’re upset? Still, stop with the empty threats.”

“Why don’t you think I might be serious?”

Yujin slowly bowed his head toward Sabina and added in a voice only she could hear, “Do you think I want to marry a woman who might set me on fire at any moment?”

Sabina’s pupils contracted sharply at his words. Suddenly, the man in front of her seemed unfamiliar.

“…Yujin?”

Yujin, looking relieved as if he had said everything he wanted to, bowed once more and turned away. “Then, be at peace.”

There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his retreating steps.

Sabina’s eyes trembled slightly. ‘How could you do this to me? You always followed my orders.’

It felt like being bitten by a dog she had never taken seriously before. Yujin’s slow-moving figure was etched into her vision.

Sabina bit her lip hard. ‘Yujin knows about the drug’s power.’

The fact that Yujin knew the true effects of the drug, which even Sabina didn’t, could only mean one thing. ‘Was it a trap you set?’

Not only did he dare to betray her, but he also tried to pin the blame on her.

“Yujin!”

It was a complete misunderstanding, but Sabina, having lost her composure, couldn’t make a rational decision.

Without hesitation, she hurled the glass bottle she was holding at Yujin and recited the incantation Autumn had taught her.

Then, a tremendous flame erupted inside the bottle, and the glass shattered under the pressure.

“Ah!”

Like a firework exploding, the terrifying flames surged toward Yujin.

At that moment, it was as if an invisible shield blocked them, causing the flames to bounce away right in front of Yujin. The flames, failing to attack Yujin, began to fiercely burn the surrounding ground.

People turned pale as they alternated their gaze between Sabina and the flames.

“What is happening right now?”

“The bottle Her Highness threw just now…”

It was evident to anyone that Sabina had tried to kill Yujin.

But Sabina couldn’t respond to the suspicion. Some of the flames had caught onto the hem of her skirt.

“Eek! My foot! Someone put out this fire!”

No matter how much she jumped, the flames wouldn’t extinguish. Sabina shouted at the guards who were staring at her blankly.

“What are you doing! Get some water quickly! Put out this fire!”

“It’s useless.”

A calm voice echoed in the ears of the guards who hesitated, unsure of what to do. Yuri, who had been hiding, slowly revealed himself.

“It’s a magical potion. It won’t go out until everything inside has evaporated.”

Magical potion. The term clarified the chaotic situation at once. Only then did people realize that the glass bottle Sabina threw at Yujin contained a magical potion.

Yuri twisted his lips as he watched Sabina jump around. “You really haven’t changed at all, Sabina.”

If things didn’t go her way, she wouldn’t hesitate to inflict terrible harm on others.

Sabina’s current behavior was no different from when she had forced Yuri to drink a brainwashing potion in their childhood.

Desperately, Sabina called out to Yuri. “Yuri! Use magic! Use magic to save me!”

Her eyes were filled with hope that he would extinguish the flames just as he had deflected the ones aimed at Yujin.

But Yuri shook his head coldly. It had already been proven on the day of the royal wedding that the flames couldn’t be put out until they died down on their own. No matter what magic Colin used, the flames wouldn’t extinguish.

“Take off your clothes. The flames won’t go out, so that’s the only way.”

“Ah, my leg! My leg…!”

But in her panic, it was impossible for her to easily remove her clothes.

After a lengthy struggle, Sabina finally managed to remove her clothes, but by then, the skin on one of her legs had already turned a bright red.

“Call a physician quickly!”

The palace was thrown into chaos in an instant. The scribe, who had come to witness the marriage between Princess Sabina and Count Esrenche, turned pale.

The retainers of the Esrenche family, who had long considered Princess Sabina as family, were also shocked and dumbfounded.

Yuri stood with his arms crossed, observing the spreading chaos. The more chaotic it became, the better. After all, the emperor, who adored his daughter, might cover up the incident where Yujin nearly died.

‘There’s nothing more I can do anyway.’

Since there wasn’t much of the potion, the unquenchable flames eventually died down after burning the grass thoroughly.

‘It’s her own fault.’

Who told her to commit such terrible acts against others?

While Yuri watched the commotion in the palace with indifference, someone tugged at his sleeve. It was Yujin, looking bewildered.

“How are you here?”

Yuri shrugged.

“Titi told me to keep an eye on you. She said you’d probably provoke Sabina.”

“…Titiana did?”