Daphne sensed Fabian’s breathing becoming rough and shook her head very briefly.

‘We absolutely cannot give them any reason to find fault.’

Fabian drooped his shoulders and reluctantly nodded.

Moments later, Kartun entered the audience chamber. His gaze was directed not at the Emperor, but at Daphne.

She recalled what he had said in her previous life.

“When coincidences pile up, they’re traps in disguise.”

She remembered it precisely because he had said it while teaching her about monsters that cleverly enchant people.

Kartun gave her a barely perceptible smile as he passed by.

‘You still remember what I taught you? How admirable.’

That seemed to be the meaning behind it.

It was strange. A creeping premonition that she was dancing in the palm of his hand began to rise. Daphne’s nerves were on high alert.

The Emperor rose from her seat to welcome the Grand Duke.

“Looking at it now, the Grand Duke and Daphne must be destined for each other. How do you keep running into each other like this?”

The Emperor laughed brightly and looked at Daphne as if demanding agreement. She smiled and replied.

“Your words are most wise, Your Majesty.”

Partially, at least.

Daphne added quietly, almost muttering to herself. But somehow the Emperor heard it and frowned.

“Daphne, what did you just say?”

Fabian glanced at Daphne. His expression was even angrier than when he had asked her if she wanted the marriage in the central hall.

‘She told me to be careful, but I can’t stay quiet either. The Emperor started it first.’

He was about to shout “You started it first!” to the Emperor, leaving Werner to deal with the aftermath. Of course, it would have been softened to “Your Majesty initiated this.”

But Kartun was quicker.

“Your Majesty, what do you think you heard?”

“I clearly heard her say ‘partially.’ Such insolence!”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Huh? Oh… really?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Right, the Grand Duke is correct. The Grand Duke couldn’t be wrong.”

The Emperor didn’t look like someone reluctantly agreeing out of fear of Kartun. She looked exactly like someone under a spell.

The Emperor took Kartun’s hand and approached Fabian.

“This is Daphne’s younger brother. He just returned home.”

When Fabian grudgingly paid his respects, Kartun spoke as if pleased to see him.

“It’s been a long time. First time seeing you since you were four.”

“Yes. Have you been well, Your Highness?”

The greeting between the two was extremely awkward, and no further conversation followed.

Kartun asked the Emperor for permission.

“Your Majesty, may I have a moment to speak with my fiancée whom fate has brought to me?”

“Are you saying fate is me? To hear the Grand Duke making jokes! Living close by has these pleasures too.”

The Emperor giggled and gestured for them to go ahead.

Fabian absolutely could not tolerate Kartun being alone with Daphne. He grabbed Daphne’s hand and said.

“I’d like to join in on that fate too……”

“Absolutely not.”

The Emperor quickly stepped between Daphne and Fabian and snatched his hand. The shy, blushing demeanor she had shown just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

“I want to hear about Young Master’s studies abroad. Let’s go.”

Fabian was dragged away by the Emperor, his face deeply furrowed.

Then Kartun extended his hand to Daphne, offering to escort her.

“I have things I want to hear from you as well. Shall we go?”

“That works out well. I have even more to ask you. Would that be alright?”

“Anything for you.”

⁕⁕⁕

In her previous life, Kartun and Daphne spent most of their time in the Forest of Sleeping Monsters. During the day, they eliminated monsters, and at night, they camped in fear of surprise attacks.

The times they were alone indoors could be counted on one hand. Perhaps that’s why it felt awkward to sit in chairs and drink tea even now. The well-maintained imperial garden felt much more comfortable.

Their marriage decree had already been officially announced. People quickly sent curious glances their way.

While Kartun looked relaxed like a satisfied predator, Daphne’s expression was not pleasant, which seemed to draw even more stares.

“Soon there will be rumors that the monster Grand Duke forcibly took the Sunshine Smile. I don’t mind, but won’t it be troublesome for you?”

“It’s not exactly untrue.”

“I apologize for using the imperial decree. I became impatient.”

“You don’t trust me.”

She had hoped for a denial, but Kartun remained silent. Annoyed by this, Daphne spoke sarcastically.

“At least I’m not being sold off this time, so I suppose this marriage is better.”

Regardless of the circumstances, it was a harsh experience for a refined noble lady.

Kartun gently stroked her hand resting on his arm, as if offering comfort. Though he wore gloves, his warm body heat reached her. It felt somehow tender.

Daphne decided to speak honestly today.

“Your Highness.”

He looked down at her—she didn’t even reach his shoulder—and met her purple eyes.

“I’m confused.”

“I’m sorry. Have I failed to earn my future bride’s trust?”

“Of course. Your actions lack consistency.”

“What do you mean?”

As if he didn’t know.

He smiled mischievously, as if he already knew everything but found it amusing to tease her.

“You appear whenever I’m in trouble and help me. Of course, your words are harsh and your methods not entirely satisfactory.”

“My, how cold. I’ll try harder in the future.”

“But I know your concern for me is genuine.”

When Daphne said this, she felt Kartun’s arm tense slightly.

“But then when you act obstructively like this……”

“That’s too harsh. I mustered all my courage to propose, and you call it obstruction. Even I can get hurt by that. I may be strong against monsters, but people are still difficult for me.”

“It’s not just you.”

Daphne spoke in a deeper voice.

“I was betrayed by a fiancé I’d been with almost my entire life, and if that wasn’t enough, I was deceived by someone who was once my rival and driven to the edge of a cliff.”

“Once… not forever?”

At his question, Daphne shook her head firmly.

“The moment Leonhardt turned his back on me, I abandoned him too. So Anaïs was my rival only until I abandoned him.”

Was he satisfied with her answer, or did he just pity her?

He covered the back of Daphne’s hand with his large one and patted it gently.

“It’s the same now. When you treat me this kindly, even I might misunderstand.”

“You’re welcome to.”

“Misunderstandings always come with a hefty price. I’m too poor for that.”

“Your husband is wealthy, so don’t worry.”

Daphne gradually slowed her steps.

Before them stretched the garden known as “Nymph’s Flute.”

In the center of flowerbeds planted with various types of roses stood a fountain. The fountain was made of ceramic pipes of different lengths and thicknesses. When water shot through them into the air, each produced a flute-like sound of different pitch.

The sound was so clear and transparent that it was named after the flutes played by nymphs.

“Thanks to Your Highness, I get to enter here as well.”

This place was an imperial treasure, a space only accessible to the imperial family. In the vast and splendid garden, only the two of them were present.

“Has Her Majesty never brought you here?”

“She says the hissing sound bothers her.”

The two smiled simultaneously, thinking of the fastidious young girl.

Daphne suddenly asked Kartun as if something had just occurred to her.

“But today, Her Majesty seemed… different from usual. Like a niece following her uncle’s lead……”

Though she approached the subject indirectly, Kartun went straight to the point.

“She’s enchanted by the magic stone I gave her. The stone doesn’t simply detect poison. It can control people even more powerfully than the orange one.”

Daphne couldn’t hide her surprise at his straightforward admission.

“Is that so surprising? You know Leonhardt was enchanted by the orange magic stone.”

“How do you know that?”

“Perhaps it’s from spending so long with monsters. At some point, I became sensitive to magical energy.”

“I picked up fragments of the magic stone Anaïs had at the ball when it crumbled.”

“I did that. Her behavior was so despicable.”

“I heard magic stones only crumble when their power drains rapidly. How is that possible?”

“I’ve developed the ability to absorb power from small magic stones.”

Again, he revealed this without any attempt to hide it.

“How is that possible……”

As Daphne trailed off in surprise, Kartun shrugged.

“Well… I suppose after rubbing shoulders with monsters for so long, I’ve become similar to them.”

For a moment, Daphne almost said she would ask Zenos about it.

‘He’s no longer the comrade who risked his life fighting alongside me.’

She couldn’t carelessly reveal cards her opponent didn’t know about. When Daphne remained silent, Kartun subtly broached the subject.

“Does this frighten you?”