Leonhardt pressed down firmly with his foot. Anaïs’s hand scraped against the floor, and the blood stained the blue sole of his shoe red.

“Anaïs, it’s just a bracelet. But how much do you think my reputation is worth?”

Leonhardt lifted his foot suddenly and stomped down hard. Anaïs screamed and quickly pulled her hand away. But his shoe was aimed at the diamond choker of the bracelet.

With a few kicks from his foot, the gold plate that had delicately encased the diamonds was crushed beyond recognition.

Anaïs shook her head and begged him to stop, but he didn’t. Instead, he took out another piece of jewelry from the box and smashed it against the edge of the vanity.

“I’ll talk!”

Anaïs cried out desperately. Only then did Leonhardt stop.

“If you treat me like a fool one more time, it won’t end with just these jewels. Right now, some nasty mercenaries are surrounding this house.”

“What are you saying?”

“In the worst case, I’ve ordered them to prepare to set fire to the place. So you’d better answer very carefully.”

“Do you think you’ll get away with arson even if you are a young duke?”

“Look, Anaïs. Please stop saying stupid things. It only makes me hate myself more for being fooled by you.”

Anaïs shuddered at the sinister gleam in Leonhardt’s eyes.

“You must have seen the article, right?”

Leonhardt recited a passage from the article without missing a single word.

“The shameless princess not only seduced an engaged nobleman but dared to appear in attire more splendid than Her Majesty the Emperor.”

“T-that… I didn’t know he was a reporter. I was tricked too!”

“I don’t care whether you were tricked or paid to tell the story. What matters is that if I set a fire, I might be seen as ‘the nobleman who finally came to his senses.'”

This wasn’t the Leonhardt she knew. Of course, except when under the influence of the magic stone, he had always lived with a sense of superiority, but he was never someone who would act or speak so violently.

Ironically, Anaïs felt betrayed. Even though she had deceived him first, how could he even think of setting a fire?

The way he brushed back his blond hair, which had become disheveled while destroying her jewelry, was so casual as if nothing had happened.

For a moment, a demon came to mind. A real demon who would be capable of setting fires without remorse.

“Now that you seem ready, shall I ask my questions?”

Anaïs nodded briefly.

“I’ll ask again, why did you approach me?”

“You already have a pretty good idea.”

“There’s a difference between guessing and hearing it directly. When I pay you back, at least my guilt might be lighter.”

Anaïs realized she shouldn’t have tried to threaten him into meeting her. She thought there might still be some chance to cling to Leonhardt again…

But he had returned as a completely different person.

“Like I said, I was summoned back to my country to be married off. So I thought it would be much better to stay in the Empire and become the duke’s mistress. At least you’re handsome. Better than some old king or nobleman from another country.”

“Then how did you get the magic stone?”

“Her Majesty gave it to me. When she learned that I was targeting you… She said if I had this, I could seduce anyone I wanted.”

“How did the queen get her hands on it?”

“I heard she received it as part of a bride price when marrying off another princess. As you know, her health isn’t very good. So I didn’t hear the specifics. She just told me to keep it with me no matter what.”

Anaïs recited what she had prepared long ago. Of course, she didn’t forget to stutter occasionally and sniffle, acting convincingly.

Her performance seemed successful as always. Leonhardt paused his questioning for a moment, seemingly assessing her demeanor.

“Fine. What did you want to say about the cost of the dress?”

Only then did Anaïs smile triumphantly. She suddenly regained her vigor as if nothing had happened.

“Leon, before you hear this, I want to ask something of you. First, trust me. I’m not trying to threaten you; I’m suggesting we cooperate. We can still be together…”

Her persuasive tone was filled with hidden intentions.

Tsk.

Leonhardt clicked his tongue, cutting her off.

“Young Duke.”

“What?”

“Fix your form of address first.”

Ha!

Anaïs was dumbfounded.

Although he had fallen for her under the influence of magic, she thought there might be some genuine feelings, however slight. Leonhardt had been so affectionate that she was convinced of it.

But the moment he coldly drew the line, she realized she was the one who had opened her heart while playing the game of love.

‘You’re no different after all!’

Anaïs closed her eyes tightly and reopened them, calming herself. Had she really placed her hopes in someone else again in a life-or-death situation?

Her father who measured how much more he could receive, her family who took it for granted, and Helmut who turned her into a spy through all kinds of punishments. No one had ever given Anaïs proper love.

And now with Leonhardt acting this way, her heart felt like it was shrinking. She bit her lip gently as she looked at him.

With the magic stone broken, his true self was clearly visible. Arrogant and cold-blooded nobility, the very essence of aristocracy.

At the same time, resentment and defiance welled up inside her.

‘Fine, let’s see if you can maintain that high-and-mighty attitude after hearing this!’

She lifted one corner of her mouth and said:

“You sold land to make that dress, didn’t you?”

Upon hearing those words, Leonhardt’s face hardened, and in an instant, he grabbed her throat.

“How do you know that?”

Leonhardt’s contorted face was quite demonic.

Anaïs’s face turned blue as tears rolled down her cheeks. She gagged and choked until she could barely exhale, and only then did he finally release her throat.

She collapsed in a heap, gasping for breath. Leonhardt frowned as if the strange moaning-like sound of her breathing bothered him.

“Have you forgotten what you did to Daphne in the powder room on the day of the ball?”

For a moment, her labored breathing stopped abruptly.

“It was absurd even to my ears. There are several people willing to be witnesses. If Daphne’s side decides to sue you, deportation would be the minimum consequence, and it could even become a diplomatic issue between the two countries. You know how much the Emperor cherishes her, don’t you?”

“That wouldn’t be good for you either.”

At that, Leonhardt grabbed her throat again.

“You should call me Young Duke, Anaïs. I’m not in a good enough mood to tolerate your stupidity.”

As her throat was squeezed again, she clawed at his wrist with her nails. When Leonhardt shoved her away, she fell helplessly. Able to breathe again, Anaïs trembled as she spoke.

“Huk, huk! Do you think you’re any different, Young Duke? The Emperor is already upset because of that dress.”

“Haha.”

Leonhardt laughed bitterly.

“It’s very simple. I’ll just sue you first.”

“What?”

“That day, I lost all feelings for you when I heard what you did. The dress was the result of you and the dressmaker putting your heads together, and I was just the sucker who paid for it. And then I came to my senses belatedly and sued you? It’s a bit embarrassing, but there couldn’t be a better way to extract myself.”

“But you entered with me side by side. There’s no room for excuses there!”

Anaïs spoke with growing anger, emphasizing each word. However, Leonhardt’s expression didn’t change at all.

“I’ll say I was under the influence of the magic stone.”

Anaïs’s eyelids trembled at his threat to reveal everything.

“Be reasonable. If you bring up the magic stone, your reputation will fall so low it can never recover.”

“In the Empire, magic stones are a double-edged sword. As long as there’s someone to direct hatred toward, I can easily become the victim.”

That target was undoubtedly Anaïs. No, it wouldn’t end with just her. The Kingdom of Lucia wouldn’t be safe either.

“Do you have evidence?”

When she asked weakly as if making a final resistance, he smiled slyly and held out a small box. Opening it for her to see, it contained fragments of the magic stone.

They say a person’s true worth is revealed when backed into a corner.

Looking at his green eyes swirling with madness, Anaïs realized she was glimpsing the dark inner self of the sleeping noble young master. And somehow, his madness felt similar to Helmut’s, which she was all too familiar with.

Perhaps because the familiar stood out, her frozen mind began to work again.

‘If he could just sue me and be done with it, why did he agree to meet me?’

Perhaps because she had something he wanted.

She swallowed dryly and asked:

“Is there something you want from me?”

“Now we’re talking.”

Anaïs nodded slowly, indicating for him to continue.

“There must be someone who gave you the magic stone and ordered you to seduce me, right?”