“Step back immediately.”

It was a voice that sounded like it would explode at any moment. However, Emma couldn’t obey his command.

“I can’t do that.”

At Emma’s bold refusal, Caden’s expression turned even more menacing.

“You, right now…”

“As your secretary, it is my duty to protect you, Your Grace.”

“…!”

“If you strike down His Highness here, you will undoubtedly suffer consequences. I cannot stand by and let that happen. If I am reprimanded for this later… I will accept any punishment.”

A heavy silence hung between the two of them. A bead of cold sweat rolled down the side of Emma’s forehead, dampening her dry cheek.

After a long pause, Caden’s lips finally parted.

“Even if the punishment is a pay cut?”

“…!”

At the mention of a pay cut, Emma felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

‘Even breaking up with a lover wouldn’t hurt as much as this.’

It was a thought that suited someone like Emma, who had never been in a romantic relationship. After hesitating for a moment, Emma eventually nodded with tears welling in her eyes. At that, Caden’s lips curled into a crooked smile. His eyes gleamed ominously, leaving Emma in despair.

‘It’s over.’

She had acted thinking that, at worst, she might get hurt, but it would be better than the Prince being harmed. Now it felt like she had made a grave mistake, one that couldn’t be undone.

“You’d better keep your word.”

After issuing a warning to Emma, Caden finally sheathed his sword.

A long sigh of relief escaped Emma’s lips. At that moment, she felt all the strength drain from her body.

“Ah…!”

Her legs gave out, and she suddenly lost her balance. But before she could fall, Caden’s strong arm quickly caught and supported her.

There was a persistent gaze watching the two of them.

‘What is she thinking?’

Marcus couldn’t understand this woman named Emma. He had heard that the new secretary was competent and adept at handling Caden’s moods, but he hadn’t expected her to be like this.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Emma, who was trembling in Caden’s arms with a pale face.

‘Ridiculous…’

A faint chuckle escaped Marcus’s lips as he watched the two of them. Caden seemed to have completely forgotten about him. All of his attention was focused on the small woman in front of him, a sight that Marcus found utterly unfamiliar.

It was clear to Marcus. At first glance, it might seem like Caden was being rough, but he was undoubtedly treating the woman with care. Even the arm supporting her, as if afraid of hurting her, was barely exerting any strength.

Caden wasn’t someone who protected; he was someone who destroyed.

‘This isn’t like him.’

Seeing someone who didn’t even understand human emotions act like this was almost laughable. Marcus suddenly became curious about Emma Brown, the person who had managed to change Caden.

How many people in the Empire could stand up to an enraged Caden? Even knights and mages with countless battle experiences would tremble before him. Yet the image of Emma standing in his way when Marcus had cast his illusion magic wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘I thought she was just a lovely woman… but she’s recklessly brave.’

He was genuinely surprised by Emma’s boldness and resolve in standing up to Caden.

Marcus’s blue eyes, filled with excitement, sparkled with interest. It was the gaze of a five-year-old child who had just discovered a new toy.

—

“Your Grace, shall we head back now?”

Emma cautiously asked, watching Caden’s mood. The fierce standoff between the two men had thankfully reached a lull. It was a relief that no blood had been shed, but it was clear this wasn’t over. The atmosphere was as precarious as a powder keg that could explode at the slightest provocation.

Emma thought she had to separate the two men somehow. However, there was one obstacle to returning to their lodgings: the Prince was standing in their way, refusing to move.

‘Is he oblivious, shameless, or just stubborn? Why is he doing this?’

Forcing a smile, Emma addressed Marcus.

“Your Highness, it’s late at night. I think it would be best for you to rest now. We should also…”

“I was worried about you, Miss Emma. I wanted to apologize if I startled you unintentionally.”

Before Emma could finish, Marcus interrupted with an unexpected comment.

“I don’t recall being told about bringing a dog this time.”

“What? Are you talking to me?”

Startled by the sudden mention of a dog, Emma’s eyes widened.

“Who else would I be talking to?”

“Well…”

“It’s strange. I don’t remember bringing a hunting dog, yet I keep hearing barking.”

There was no mistaking who Caden was referring to as the “dog.”

“Hah…!”

A blue flame seemed to ignite in Marcus’s eyes as he glared at Caden. The situation was on the verge of escalating into a second confrontation. Feeling a surge of anxiety, Emma began biting her lips nervously.

‘This is going to turn into an all-out fight! If Your Grace gets summoned to the capital for a trial and ends up in prison, what will I do? What about my family? What about the people of Blackwood? That can’t happen. I’d rather get hurt myself. At least then I could claim medical expenses!’

Emma tried to comfort herself with this thought. She needed to separate the two men, but no solution came to mind.

‘He must be really upset, right?’

Even without any training in swordsmanship, she could tell from the energy radiating behind her that the situation was dire.

Whether her efforts would work or not, she had to at least try to calm things down. Forcing a smile, Emma spoke up.

“Why don’t you two talk it out? I don’t know what happened in the past, but you shouldn’t do this here! And Your Highness, you shouldn’t act like this either.”

“Me?”

Marcus pointed to himself, his golden eyebrows twitching. Emma nodded firmly with a determined expression.

“Yes. I’m not sure what grudge—oh, ahem! I mean, what happened between you and His Grace, but you shouldn’t come to private property and pick a fight. You know better than that.”

“Know better? About what?”

When Marcus’s golden eyebrows twitched again, Emma muttered under her breath.

“About His Grace’s personality… Uh, never mind.”

She almost said “how awful it is,” but managed to stop herself just in time, sensing Caden’s piercing gaze on her.

“Anyway! Even if you’re a prince, this isn’t right. Trespassing on private property is illegal, and I think His Grace has every right to be angry.”

“Hmm. Are you taking his side?”

Marcus’s blue eyes sparkled with interest.

“No, it’s not like that… I just think it would’ve been better if you visited the Duke’s residence instead.”

“Hmm…”

Marcus stroked his chin, his expression skeptical.

“There’s no need to listen to such nonsense—”

Caden, about to interject angrily, was cut off as Emma quickly took over the conversation.

“You don’t even need to visit! If you write a formal letter, we’ll review it thoroughly and reply promptly, Your Highness.”

Her words sounded polite on the surface, but they essentially meant, “This is all your fault for barging in uninvited.”

“Miss Emma, that’s not what I…”

Marcus frowned, trying to speak, but Caden cut him off.

“Of course it is.”

“Ah…!”

Caden placed a hand on Emma’s shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

“She’s mine, so of course she’s on my side. Did you see that, Marcus? There’s no one on my land who’ll take your side, so get lost. Even after all these years, you’re still as unpleasant as ever.”

“…Hah.”

Marcus’s face twisted in frustration under the barrage of insults.

“Your Grace, could you please put me down now?”

Caden gently set Emma down and ordered in a stiff voice, “Step back.”

His gaze remained fixed on Marcus.

The atmosphere grew tense again, and Emma couldn’t take a single step back. She tugged at Caden’s sleeve, trying to stop him, but he didn’t even acknowledge her.

It was then that something whizzed through the air toward Caden.

“Your Grace, watch out!”

“You…!”

Sensing the danger instinctively, Emma stepped in front of Caden. At the same time, Caden deflected the flying object with a swift motion.

“What are you…!”

Caden’s chest heaved as he tried to contain his anger. But Emma, focused on examining the object that had fallen at her feet, didn’t seem to notice his reaction.

The item at her feet was a purple envelope bearing the Imperial Seal and the name “Beatrix Lindgren,” the Crown Princess.

Emma bent down to pick up the envelope, carefully brushing off the dirt. She held it out respectfully with both hands toward Caden.

“Your Grace, it’s an invitation from Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”

Caden had no intention of accepting it graciously. With an irritated flick of his hand, he knocked the invitation aside. Emma, startled, barely managed to catch it.

“No!”

“No? What do you mean, no…!”

Caden, about to raise his voice again, stopped abruptly. Behind her large glasses, Emma’s green eyes trembled with unease.

Caden let out a deep sigh, his chest rising and falling heavily. His head throbbed as if he were developing a headache. Watching Emma fuss over the invitation as if it were a treasure and tuck it away carefully was irritating to no end.

‘Should I commend her for her loyalty?’

Her behavior was certainly appropriate for a secretary. Caden knew that, but for some reason, Emma’s actions continued to bother him.

For years, Caden had lived without truly feeling joy, sorrow, or pain. His monotonous life had failed to stir any emotions in him. But lately, his emotions have been fluctuating uncontrollably.

He knew well that the cause of this was the small woman before him. To him, Emma Brown was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, disrupting the order of his life with her ripples.

‘She can’t even take care of herself, yet she talks about protecting me…’

She wasn’t a knight, not even a squire, yet she dared to claim she could protect him. It was absurd.

‘Protect who? Tsk.’

It wasn’t just Emma who irritated him. Marcus’s gaze, lingering on her, had been grating on Caden’s nerves all along. Even now, Marcus’s intense stare remained fixed on Emma.

It was disgusting.