Aristie’s cheeks reddened at the unexpected answer. She had to admit that Khalid was definitely a few steps ahead when it came to dealing with people.

She almost smiled along with him, but this time she couldn’t. After all, the conversation they were about to have could not possibly be had in such a cheerful atmosphere.

“So, what brings you here today?”

After the maids served tea and withdrew, Khalid opened the conversation.

Aristie spoke in a low voice.

“I heard the news.”

“What news?”

“News about Miss Estelle. That she was adopted into Marquis Vascus’s family.”

“Ah…”

Khalid’s smile faded and then disappeared tactfully. Just hearing Estelle’s name, he could understand why Aristie’s expression had hardened.

At the three-way meeting, he realized that the relationship between the two women could never improve. Not now, and certainly not in the future.

So since then, he had been careful to keep the two from being associated as much as possible. But the situation changed as Estelle made her mark. Now that she had become a noble lady, it would be impossible to avoid encountering each other in social circles in the future.

“I heard about that too.”

Khalid’s voice sank.

In other words, it meant that he had not been involved in Estelle’s adoption into the Marquis’s family.

“I hope there’s no misunderstanding. I didn’t know about it either.”

“I know.”

That you’re not that kind of person. But…

“She’s a woman with no material desires, so she’s never asked me for anything. I knew she was an extraordinary woman from the start, but I didn’t realize she would catch the eye of Marquis Vascus as well.”

Saying that while subtly showing satisfaction inevitably leads to resentment.

‘Stop!’

Aristie once again chastised her inner turmoil that was about to surface. Like before, every time Khalid took Estelle’s side, she found herself inexplicably upset and perplexed.

She came here today to report only facts, excluding personal emotions. Whether those emotions were about Khalid or Estelle, now was not the time to dwell on them.

“Did you… have any particular incidents with her?”

Right. So this is absolutely not a question driven by personal emotions. At least, she needed to know how close they were to be able to persuade him.

“Particular incidents?”

Khalid lightly asked back, not understanding the meaning, but suddenly froze. Then his golden eyes quickly darkened.

Those eyes, now closer to honey color, were a unique sign revealing Khalid’s flustered state.

“No! There were no such incidents. I told you, Estelle is just a conversational partner.”

Khalid unnecessarily cleared his throat and, after averting his gaze, added,

“Besides, wouldn’t that go against imperial law? I have absolutely no intention of going against the country’s laws under any circumstances.”

The imperial law he mentioned referred to the duty of the Light Dragon, specifically the law regarding the first night with the Empress.

Originally, the Ferzen imperial family is said to be descendants of the Light Dragon. This is because their distant ancestor was a dragon.

A great bloodline. Based on the power inherited from it, the Ferzen clan was able to build a powerful empire. Such dragon clans are known to have only one mate in their lifetime, and when they become one with their mate, it is said that a golden mark is engraved on their heart as proof.

However, such abilities have long since disappeared over generations, and now they are only passed down as legends.

Only the taboo that one cannot embrace another woman without spending the first night with the Empress, who is the mate, is still defined and observed as imperial law.

However, it’s also true that there are no other restrictions except for having a relationship. Khalid hesitated a little, then emphasized again to prevent misunderstanding.

“You can believe me. Estelle and I are definitely not in that kind of relationship. I just find that we get along well in thought, so we interact, but I’ve never thought about it in the way you mentioned.”

So, I mean physically, he added quietly and turned his head with a face mixed with determination and embarrassment.

The side of his face revealed under his black hair formed a perfect line like a sculpture. Between the loosened shirt collar, firm chest muscles were tantalizingly visible.

Perhaps he didn’t pay attention to his attire due to the unexpected visit. Usually, he’s neater than this.

With that face. With that body.

‘Why are you being so sheepish? If you insist on meeting to the point of revealing it to me, you’ll soon start thinking in that direction.’

Despite Khalid’s assertion, Aristie felt bitter. No man would be able to resist if a woman like Estelle started seducing him in earnest.

Still, considering it fortunate that nothing had happened yet, she opened fire to expose Estelle.

“I have something to say about Estelle.”

At that moment, Khalid’s aura became subtly defensive.

“I’ll listen. Tell me.”

Aristie folded her hands demurely. She had thought thoroughly about how to broach the subject in the carriage on the way to the imperial palace.

And this is what she chose.

“One day, a woman suddenly appeared and gained Your Majesty’s interest and trust. And not long after, she won people’s hearts in the same way. She also rose to a high position.”

Khalid was silently listening to Aristie’s words. His expression was close to being impassive.

Until he heard her next words.

“Have you ever thought that this image resembles that of a heretical cult leader?”

A heretical cult leader?

Khalid’s brow furrowed at the uncomfortable expression.

“Cult leader? What do you mean by that?”

“Doesn’t her method of burrowing into people’s hearts like a snake, projecting the charm they desire and swaying them, resemble that of a heretical cult leader?”

It was a statement that seemed to contain overt malice. But that was Aristie’s honest impression of Estelle.

“Is that… suspicion about Estelle?”

Khalid asked, looking at Aristie with complex eyes. Aristie spoke again in a grave voice.

“I know how rude my words must sound. What I’m about to say will be even more absurd.”

Yes, I understand completely. Even I couldn’t believe it until I heard the news that Estelle had become the adopted daughter of the Marquis’s family.

“That’s why I’ve kept quiet until now, but now I must speak up. To prevent the situation from growing worse. If things continue like this, a dark cloud will loom over the empire as foretold in the prophecy.”

Facing Khalid, who couldn’t grasp her meaning, Aristie calmly recited the content she had kept inside. From the general stories Estelle had babbled about, such as the world inside a book and the villainess from another world, to her vicious threats to cut off her own neck and ascend to the position of Empress.

As he listened to the story, Khalid’s complexion gradually darkened until it finally turned ashen. He couldn’t make heads or tails of what he was hearing.

“Estelle… you say?”

“Yes.”

No, that can’t be. Khalid reflexively denied it.

These were words that were hard to imagine about the Estelle he had come to know.

It wasn’t just him. Marquis and Marchioness Vascus, as well as others who had met Estelle, were all busy praising her. The content was also in line with his judgment. Innocent, intelligent, lively, and without greed, they said.

But now this woman without greed is aiming for the position of Empress? A villainess from another world? Mentioned in a prophecy from over a hundred years ago?

No, more than that,

How should one take the claim that this place is a world inside a novel created by someone!

Moreover, all these claims came from Estelle’s own mouth…

“Aristie…”

Khalid called her name but couldn’t continue.

He didn’t know what to say, but at least he couldn’t bring himself to say he would believe her story.

“Do you have any evidence?”

Feeling he should at least show an effort to believe, he asked a question.

“Evidence…”

Aristie hesitated, then answered with a reluctant look.

“The recent actions of the Vascus family are the evidence. Their fortunes, which were faltering due to successive business failures, have been on the rise lately, haven’t they?”

“What does that have to do with your claim?”

“Estelle said she came to know this world well through books. She said that was also the secret to catching Your Majesty’s eye.”

“……”

“I think the recent success of the Vascus family is along the same lines. Because it roughly coincides with the time they met Estelle.”

No, that’s just circumstantial evidence, not proof. Aristie herself must know this.

Yet she brought it up because there was nothing else she could present as evidence.

“…I did hear from Estelle before that she sometimes feels the future.”

Khalid spoke with difficulty.

“She said she had a fever in the past, and it’s been like that since then.”

It was a story he hadn’t brought up because he didn’t feel the need to. But when he thought it might be related to the reconstruction of the Vascus family, Khalid disclosed the circumstances.