Chapter 7

Eric, having steadied his mind, looked at Carian with unwavering eyes.  

Although he was reluctant, as soon as the word “imperial order” came from the Emperor’s lips, he, as a Duke of the Empire, had no choice but to carry out the command, no matter the circumstances.  

“I accept… the order.”  

Eric bit his lip and bowed his head.  

Carian, already turning his back on Eric, threw out one last remark.  

“I’m not saying there won’t be a banquet. In a few days, the delegation from the Kingdom of Kettlin will arrive. I’ll host a grand victory banquet to coincide with their visit, so you can look forward to it.”  

Eric, who paused momentarily, left the Emperor’s office without a word.  

Carian stared at the empty entrance of the office for a while, then let out a bitter smile.  

‘Do you hate Bianca that much?’

The middle-aged Emperor, who seemed affable at first glance, was not entirely what he appeared to be.  

The Iron-Blooded Emperor.  

This was another title by which Carian was known in the Lockvela Empire.  

The Emperor was exceedingly generous to those who fell under his protection. However, he was merciless to those who dared to cross the line he had drawn.  

When the former Emperor suddenly passed away in an accident, Carian ascended to the throne at a very young age. The Empire quickly fell into chaos.  

‘I was about ten years old then.’

Most of the nobles, underestimating the young Emperor, formed factions and engaged in power struggles, neglecting state affairs. Moreover, the neighboring countries did not quietly accept the young Emperor’s ascension.  

It was the perfect opportunity to weaken the Lockvela Empire, the most powerful nation on the continent.  

Thus began a period of constant small and large-scale conflicts.  

During that time, the young Emperor of the Lockvela Empire grew into a capable adult and succeeded in firmly defending his nation.  

It was around this time that the chaos among the nobles was completely subdued.  

He ruthlessly eliminated the nobles who rebelled against him, confiscating their titles and properties. As for the neighboring countries that dared to encroach even slightly on the Empire’s territory, he retaliated with merciless invasions, seizing double or triple the amount of land.  

‘If it weren’t for Ian and Christina back then…’ 

Carian’s eyes briefly softened with nostalgia as he recalled the past.  

Ian Herrington and Christina Herrington.  

The former Duke Herrington and his fiancée, who had now cast off all worldly ties and retreated to a remote mountain village to enjoy their second honeymoon.  

They were friends who had always stood by his side, supporting him without any ulterior motives.  

Thus, when a child was finally born to Ian and Christina, whom he had long cherished, Carian naturally envisioned a future where his daughter, whom he had cradled in his arms just a few months prior, would share her life with their son.  

Now, the insolent boy who had turned his back on the Emperor with a disinterested expression after being summoned to the palace was none other than the young man Carian had personally chosen as his future son-in-law.  

Carian forcibly suppressed the smile that threatened to break out at the thought of his old friends. The more he thought about Eric, the more infuriated he became.  

Knowing full well that he had been chosen as the Emperor’s intended son-in-law, Eric had the audacity to father a child elsewhere.  

‘Although everyone is keeping quiet about it, isn’t it fairly common for noble families to have one or two illegitimate children? If it’s dismissed as the mistake of a young and inexperienced Duke, it’s not something that can’t be overlooked.’  

However, Carian remained steadfast in his determination to make Eric his son-in-law.  

The Emperor firmly believed in the beauty and wisdom of his precious daughter, the most remarkable in the world.  

***

Meanwhile, at the same time.  

Eric, having left the Emperor’s office, reluctantly moved toward his destination.  

Located deep within the palace, in its most secretive corner, was the Rose Quartz Palace, where the Empire’s sole heir and the Emperor’s most treasured possession, the Princess, resided.  

The Rose Quartz Palace, true to its name, was a space drenched in pink hues. Upon entering the palace, a garden filled with pale pink roses in full bloom greeted Eric, beckoning him forward.  

Whenever a gentle breeze blew, rose petals fluttered in the air, and a sweet rose fragrance wafted in all directions.  

And in the midst of it all.  

With her long, pale pink hair neatly braided to one side and dressed in a slightly deeper pink gown, Princess Bianca Lockvela stood alone, smiling radiantly.  

Her petite frame, porcelain-white skin, gray eyes, and rosy cheeks made her every bit deserving of her title as the most beautiful woman in the Empire.  

“It’s been so long, Eric! I missed you so much! Were you hurt on the battlefield? Are you eating well? Sleeping enough? I was really worried about you!”  

Spotting Eric crossing the garden, Bianca ran toward him, her small feet pattering against the ground. Her adorable steps might have brought a smile to anyone else’s face, but Eric’s stiff expression remained unchanged.  

“Your Highness, Princess, I trust you have been well.”  

“Eric, you don’t look happy. Did something go wrong again? What’s the matter?”  

Standing before him, Bianca widened her eyes and studied Eric’s reaction. Her innocent and childlike expression seemed to say, ‘I don’t know anything.’  

Looking at her, Eric’s face showed a hint of disdain.  

The relationship between Eric and Bianca was rather peculiar.  

The Emperor’s only daughter and the heir to the prestigious Herrington Dukedom seemed like a perfect match on the surface.  

From a young age, the two had been inseparable, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  

Now, they maintained a relationship that was somewhere between being each other’s only friend and something more ambiguous.  

Of course, if one were to ask whether there was genuine friendship between them…  

“I am here solely to fulfill His Majesty’s order to greet you, Your Highness. If you have no further need of me, I shall take my leave.”  

Every time Eric saw Bianca’s seemingly harmless yet carefully crafted expressions, he felt a wave of nausea.  

Few people truly knew what lay beneath her façade. But Eric, more than anyone, had seen through her true nature.  

Even in the face of his scoffing reaction, Bianca remained cheerful.  

“Yes! Now you’re acting like the Eric I know!”  

Bianca beamed and pursed her lips.  

“I heard you had a child! How adorable must they be? Do they have blue eyes like you?”  

“Your Highness, you seem to be quite curious.”  

“Well, of course! It’s the child of the Duke who might become my betrothed. Isn’t it natural to be curious?”  

Bianca’s bright eyes sparkled as she gazed at Eric. Instead of answering, Eric rubbed his forehead. A headache was beginning to throb.  

Certainly.  

She’s not in her right mind.  

“And what about the lady who bore your child? How beautiful must she be to have captured your heart so quickly? Hmm?”  

As she playfully squinted her eyes and chuckled softly, Bianca added casually, 

“That’s something even I couldn’t manage! Quite the accomplishment!”  

“Please refrain from prying.”  

“I just want to help! Surely His Majesty must have scolded you. Knowing Father’s temperament as I do, what if he harms that lovely lady and your child?”  

“I believe you know better than anyone that His Majesty would never do such a thing, Your Highness.”  

Although the Emperor coveted Eric as a son-in-law, he wasn’t petty enough to threaten Euphrasia and Louis, who were innocent.  

Eric stared at Bianca with his piercing blue eyes.  

“The best way for you to help me is to avoid entangling yourself with me as much as possible, Your Highness.”  

“…You’re no fun.”  

She muttered softly before collapsing into his arms as if she had lost her balance.  

Closing her eyes, she leaned in, her lips seeking his.  

Slowly, her face drew closer to Eric’s.  

Their lips were about to touch when…  

“You haven’t changed a bit, Bianca. Still playing such crude pranks.”  

Eric, who had been watching her silently, finally spoke.  

Bianca, still pressed close to him, opened her eyes and licked her crimson lips.  

Gone was the innocent Princess; in her place was a woman exuding an unsettling, seductive allure.  

“Eric. Don’t be so defensive. The more you resist, the more intrigued I become.”  

Bianca was, in every sense, a creature of curiosity.  

From birth, she had lacked for nothing and always obtained whatever she desired.  

Her life was perpetually dull, and whenever something piqued her interest, she clung to it with an almost frightening obsession.  

For instance.  

Once, she had invited the author of a romance novel she particularly enjoyed to the Rose Quartz Palace.  

She demanded that the author complete the story as quickly as possible, and the writer, once invited, was unable to leave the palace for nearly two months until the novel was finished.  

To ensure the writer didn’t attempt to escape, Bianca personally placed a chain around their neck—an extra measure, she claimed, to prevent any mishaps.  

Bianca’s actions were devoid of malice. However, she was oblivious to the fact that her innocent whims could cause immense suffering to others.  

For her, nothing mattered more than her own amusement.  

Her relentless obsession with things that caught her interest had long led Eric to conclude that she was far from sane.  

It was fortunate that she hadn’t taken an interest in him, who was as dull as dry wood.  

“Ridiculous. You act as if you care about me, yet your words are empty.”  

Eric scoffed and took a step back.  

Bianca shrugged and continued, 

“Of course, I wasn’t talking about you. I meant your child and the child’s mother. Don’t try so hard to hide them. Hide-and-seek happens to be one of my favorite games.”  

Her calm response was accompanied by a dangerous glint in her eyes.