As Kai had expected, Melissa appeared just as the formal dinner was concluding. She even casually claimed she had been invited, but it didn’t bother him.

This wasn’t the first time Melissa had acted this way; sometimes her impulsive behavior was surprisingly helpful. Today was one of those days.

“How do you like this dress?”

Melissa asked, propping her chin on her hand with her elbows resting on the table. Her purple dress shimmered subtly with every movement.

The fabric was infused with diamond dust, creating the illusion that the wearer was a living jewel.

Melissa’s pretty face, looking at Kai, was filled with mischief. Her neckline plunged in a V-shape, revealing her cleavage unabashedly.

Kai’s gaze briefly landed on the small star-shaped mark on her right br*ast, which was Melissa’s favorite feature, before he quickly looked away. Even for a mere mark, it was beautifully shaped.

Melissa’s lips curled with satisfaction at his fleeting glance.

“It suits you.”

Kai replied dryly and then picked up the wine bottle. The attendant standing nearby moved quickly to assist, but Kai raised a hand to stop him.

The attendant politely stepped back, hands clasped. Finding it a bother to pour, Kai took a swig straight from the bottle.

Melissa watched quietly before taking the bottle from him and gulping down the wine. Her lips, stained by the wine, appeared even redder.

Melissa licked the remaining wine off her lips as if she had tasted something deliciously sweet. Though unintentional, it was undeniably seductive.

“Does it really suit me?”

“Yeah.”

Melissa knew that after today, Kai wouldn’t even remember the color of her dress.

But she didn’t mind his indifferent response, which lacked any sincerity. After all, she was the only woman in the empire who could elicit even this much reaction from him.

Kai remained indifferent to the fact that over a hundred beautiful women were eager for his attention.

Yet Melissa’s childish interruptions stemmed from her competitive spirit.

She relished witnessing the disappointment and barely concealed inferiority on the princesses’ faces when she appeared at these formal events, even though she could sense it without looking.

She repeated this bothersome ritual because the joy she derived far outweighed the effort involved. She intentionally minimized her adornments and wore almost no makeup.

Even without such embellishments, she could easily outshine the insignificant princesses from minor countries. It might have been a futile display of vanity, but the thrill of reveling in her own strength and superiority was always exhilarating.

Kai didn’t intervene in Melissa’s antics either. Watching the spectacle was entertaining, and it effectively kept those who overstepped their bounds in check.

Kai, whom she thought would drink more, no longer glanced at the wine bottle. Melissa found this slightly disappointing.

Well, then she would have to create some fun.

“If you let this year pass without doing anything, the old folks won’t stay quiet.”

Melissa fiddled with the nearly empty wine bottle, teasing Kai. Talking about marriage was one of his least favorite subjects.

Her violet eyes sparkled with anticipation for his retort.

However, Kai simply closed his eyes, seemingly exhausted.

“It’s bearable.”

Melissa felt slightly deflated by his bland response.

“That’s a relief.”

Checking the empty bottle, Melissa stood up. It seemed today’s amusement had reached its end. But she had to confirm one last thing.

“What do you think of this year’s princesses? Anyone caught your eye? They seemed quite pretty.”

“If you’re done drinking, leave. I’m tired.”

Though it was a dismissal, Melissa found his response satisfying.

The attendants listening to their casual exchange smiled broadly.

The sight of the empire’s most powerful and beautiful duo together was always picturesque. Many working in the castle hoped these two would marry before the year ended.

“If you can’t stand it, let me know. I’ll come to your rescue.”

Melissa’s playful remark prompted Kai to open his eyes and nod.

“But what’s this?”

Melissa, having risen to leave, paused and asked. Sometimes she would request gifts brought by the princesses if something caught her fancy.

Kai had never refused her requests. None of the gifts presented by various countries held any value for him.

So, no one complained if Melissa took a few things that were, to him, inconsequential. After all, she was the savior of the Emperor’s life and the war hero of the Credion Empire.

Kai, thinking she must have found something she wanted, rose from his seat casually.

“Did they really send this as a gift? While sending their daughter as a hostage?”

Melissa looked incredulously at the golden tea set.

“It seems the princess has really fallen out of favor with her father.”

If the pedigree she brought was fake, then the gifts accompanying it wouldn’t have been left behind either. This meant that the princess who presented these gifts was indeed a true royal with the king’s blood but had been abandoned by her own country.

Kai stared blankly at the teapot that shimmered under the light. He recalled the woman’s face, which showed no particular surprise when she realized the gift sent was insignificant.

In her eyes, a mix of brown and green, there was an emotion he had never seen in the eyes of other princesses.

When Kai saw the woman stepping forward with the pedigree, he was convinced it was fake.

What filled her large eyes was undoubtedly fear. Yet, the pedigree was genuine, and the gift supposedly sent by her father was worthless.

He had expected her to blush with embarrassment or feel humiliated by the mocking gazes around her. Yet, his expectations were pleasantly proven wrong.

She was smiling. Though it was brief, she smiled bitterly, like she felt resigned to the king’s gift sent in exchange for her life, before returning to her seat.

Her steps wobbled slightly, appearing a bit unsteady, but her back remained straight and defiant.

“I want this.”

Kai snapped out of his thoughts when Melissa suddenly spoke. It seemed like it had been a while since he had thought about someone for so long.

He looked at the teapot Melissa was pointing at with a dry gaze. Under the light, the round teapot sparkled brightly.

Just as Melissa was about to reach for the teapot, he interrupted.

“Not that one.”

“Huh?”

Melissa’s eyes widened in surprise. Until now, Kai had never said no to anything she wanted to take.

Sometimes, she would choose gifts as a measure of how much she meant to him.

Even when she took something outrageously expensive or a one-of-a-kind treasure, Kai would simply nod indifferently.

This was merely a golden teapot with a few embedded jewels, something she could easily buy thousands of with her money.

Yet, he refused? Melissa thought she must have misheard.

“Take something else.”

But Kai made it clear he hadn’t misspoken, repeated himself clearly.

“Why?”

Melissa’s brow furrowed slightly. She stared intently at Kai, but he was quietly looking at the ordinary teapot. Suddenly, Melissa felt an urge to kick it away.

“Because I don’t have it.”

After saying that, Kai left the golden hall. Left alone, Melissa glared at the teapot for a long time before grabbing anything within reach and storming out.

“Are you heading to your office?”

As soon as Kai stepped outside, Harman approached and asked in a quiet voice.

Kai was about to say yes but then shook his head and stood up. It was a simple whim. Today, there seemed to be unusually many loud voices.

“No. I need to rest.”

Harman beamed as if he had heard something delightful and praised him for making the right decision, something he rarely did.

“I didn’t think I’d be praised for not working.”

“Anything in excess is not good.”

“You used to nag me for not working.”

“Back then, you weren’t doing enough.”

Harman clicked his tongue, looking at him as if he were a stubborn child.

“I should just pull out that insolent tongue of yours.”

When Kai grumbled, Harman pursed his lips and pretended to smooth out the crumpled tablecloth.

“Now you’re good at pretending to be oblivious, too.”

“I heard this fabric doesn’t wrinkle easily, but I guess not.”

“You’re good at changing the subject.”

“I can’t change the Emperor, though.”

“Your father should have known Harman Teizeze would be such an arrogant and insolent man.”

“He said that’s my charm.”

“You never lose an argument.”

Harman shrugged his narrow shoulders slightly instead of replying. Kai shook his head and strode out of the central hall.

For the first time in a while, a relaxed smile appeared on his lips. In a castle where everyone bowed to him, talking with Harman made him feel like he could breathe freely.