Whenever Marcus had that look in his eyes, something big was bound to happen.

It had been the same on that day long ago.

“Your Highness, regardless of how you managed it, sending something like this without warning… couldn’t it be considered a weapon? Depending on how it’s used, even paper can cut like a knife.”

At Emma’s subtle reproach, Marcus smiled faintly. The moment his eyes crinkled gently, his expression shifted from neutral to warm.

“Is that so? My apologies, Miss Emma. I hadn’t considered that. I only came to deliver the invitation at my sister’s request. She insisted I deliver it personally. I had no intention of making you uncomfortable.”

“…Ah.”

In other words, he had intended to make Caden uncomfortable, not her. Understanding the implication behind Marcus’s words, Emma’s expression turned ambiguous.

“But it’s unbearable to even endure.”

Marcus’s cold gaze turned toward Caden. Even the polite smile he had been wearing disappeared without a trace.

Every suppressed word he spoke carried years of accumulated anger.

“Well…”

Emma had no idea how to respond. Who was she to intervene in the relationship between these two men? All she wanted was to quietly disappear from their sight.

“I didn’t want to touch him in the slightest. I only infused a little magic into the invitation to hand it over. Unintentionally, I seem to have inconvenienced you, Miss Emma. Please forgive me, my lady.”

“Oh, Your Highness, there’s no need for you to apologize to me. It’s just that…”

A prince bowing his head in apology? His sweet tone and smile were so disarming that Emma found herself blushing without realizing it.

“Ah…!”

Suddenly, Emma’s eyes widened as she was pulled back with great force. From behind, Caden had wrapped his arm around her waist and drawn her close. In a growling voice, he issued a warning.

“Don’t intervene again. I don’t need someone like you stepping in to protect me.”

“I know. But I was scared.”

Her immediate response caused a faint crack to appear in Caden’s expression.

“…What?”

“I said I was scared.”

“Why, when I’m here? What exactly were you afraid of? Don’t tell me you think that man is stronger than I am…”

“No. It doesn’t matter how strong you are, Your Grace. The fear of someone you love getting hurt… that’s instinctual, isn’t it?”

“…”

“I know it’s presumptuous meddling, and I understand why you’re angry. But I can’t back down. This is about your safety, Your Grace.”

“…”

A suffocating silence fell heavily between them.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Emma’s heartbeat quickened, her lips dried, and sweat began to form on her palms and temples.

She feared Caden might grab her by the throat at any moment, accusing her of trying to manipulate him with such a third-rate performance.

‘Did I go too far? But still…’

It wasn’t entirely untrue. Emma didn’t love Caden, but she genuinely worried about him. Even though it had only been three months, he wasn’t a bad superior, and he was her absolute financial lifeline.

Her wish for Caden to remain unharmed was sincere. Even if her confession was mostly a lie, she hoped the small fragment of truth within it would reach him.

Emma lifted her head and met Caden’s gaze. Pleadingly, she spoke to him.

“You told me to prove my sincerity! Don’t you understand now? The fear of you getting hurt, the desire to protect you, the worry… If this isn’t love, then what is it? If you still say it’s not, then I’ll… oh.”

Emma’s impassioned words trailed off as she noticed Caden’s hardened expression. She held her breath, unsure of what he was thinking.

Finally, a sigh-like remark escaped his lips, accompanied by a crooked smile.

“…You should’ve just stayed quiet.”

Though his tone wasn’t exactly warm, at least he didn’t deny her words.

‘It worked!’

Emma’s face lit up with an irrepressible glow. Her previously pale complexion transformed into one full of life as she began hovering around Caden. Perhaps because the tension had eased, she suddenly felt a pang of hunger.

“Your Grace, aren’t you hungry? I prepared something for dinner…”

Caden didn’t stop Emma as she began chattering about the evening menu. His expression appeared indifferent at first glance, but Marcus could discern the satisfaction hidden in Caden’s gaze as he watched her.

‘Could it be…? No, there’s no way. A beast like him couldn’t possibly feel that way. And yet, this woman openly declares her love for him. What kind of person is she…?’

To Marcus, Emma’s expression didn’t resemble that of a woman in love. She wasn’t one of those socialite ladies who fell for Caden’s polished exterior, nor was she oblivious to his true nature as his live-in secretary.

Even knowing all that, could she still love him? It seemed impossible.

‘Emma Brown. The more I see her, the stranger she gets.’

The fact that a duke infamous as a bloodthirsty madman was acting as though he were protecting a weaker person, and the way Emma had confessed without hesitation despite Marcus’s presence, were both baffling. Though he didn’t know all the details, she was undeniably a fascinating woman.

Marcus’s blue eyes carefully studied Emma. Beneath her oversized glasses was a small face, with delicate, finely crafted features that caught his attention.

Her emerald-green eyes, small upturned nose, and slightly curled pink lips gave her an air of both fragility and charm.

“If you’re done with your business, leave. Tell Ben I received the piece of paper.”

“You dare treat me like an errand boy?”

Marcus growled, but Caden merely shrugged.

“Isn’t that what you are? I have no intention of attending any balls until the day I die, so stop sending me these things. If you deliver that message properly, I’ll overlook today’s rudeness.”

“To think someone like you would dare speak that way to a royal of Sweld…”

“Your Grace…”

Unable to grab his arm, Emma tugged lightly at Caden’s sleeve, signaling him to stop. Her desperate eyes, as if on the verge of tears, made Caden click his tongue in frustration.

“Leave my land, Marcus.”

His voice was cold and mechanical. Marcus glared at Caden with burning eyes.

“The ball is to celebrate the Crown Princess’s birthday. Not attending would mean you don’t support my sister. If you wish, you can throw away the invitation. If you become a traitor, that would be entertaining in its own way.”

“…”

“I see you have not even a shred of reverence for the royal family. As expected, a man without roots wouldn’t know what respect is.”

Marcus’s cutting words made Emma gasp sharply. Caden, noticing her reaction, smirked. Though he wanted to retaliate against Marcus, he decided to end things here for the sake of his timid secretary.

“Leave my land now, Your Highness. Must a lowly commoner like me kneel and beg for you to leave?”

Marcus glared at Caden with eyes filled with hatred.

“That filthy tongue of yours hasn’t changed.”

“Thanks for the compliment. So, are you leaving now?”

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible.”

“…What?”

Caden’s voice, which had been feigning nonchalance, immediately sharpened. With a smirk, Marcus declared confidently.

“It’s late, so I’ll stay the night. If a prince were to become a beast’s meal on the Duke’s land, wouldn’t that be troublesome for you as well?”

It was a thinly veiled threat that any harm to him would fall on Caden’s shoulders.

“Hah…”

“Don’t even think about kicking me out. If Blackwood is your land, then the entire Sweld Empire belongs to the Lindgren family.”

“You, sleeping outdoors? I’d like to see that.”

Caden sneered openly, mocking Marcus.

It was no surprise. Marcus was a royal born with a diamond spoon in his mouth. Even during intense wartime, he had turned his barracks into something resembling a palace. The idea of him sleeping outdoors was laughable.

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, a group of attendants appeared in the distance, calling for the prince. They brought with them an array of supplies—from materials to build a tent, to luxurious ingredients and portable furniture. For just one night, the amount of luggage they carried seemed endless.

“Wow…”

The ten or so attendants worked in perfect harmony. They quickly set up a tent, laid animal fur rugs on the ground, installed portable furniture, and even created a temporary shower facility using magic.

‘That’s not a tent; it’s an inn!’

Noticing Emma’s wide, sparkling eyes, Marcus frowned. At the same time, his lips curved into a crescent moon-like smile. His eye smile was so infectious that anyone looking at him might find themselves smiling along.

“How could you let a lady sleep on such a humble dirt floor? By my standards, that’s unthinkable. Please, come to me anytime, Miss Emma. My residence is spacious enough to accommodate at least one person like you.”

“Oh, um…”

Caught off guard, Emma faltered. Caden’s thick eyebrows twitched, but Emma failed to notice.

“Then, I’ll be waiting.”

Marcus bowed elegantly in the formal style of the royal court, directed at Emma. However, his gaze was fixed not on her, but on Caden. His eyes were filled with contempt.

Leaving a polite bow for Emma and a mocking sneer for Caden, Marcus finally departed.

As Caden glared at Marcus’s retreating figure, he suddenly spoke.