The employees quickly disappeared after reading the situation. Marian sighed. This wasn’t what she wanted when she followed him out. The very situation of receiving something from Abel made Marian feel burdened and guilty.

Marian had imperial blood. Should someone like her receive Abel’s generosity?

“……You really don’t have to. I have plenty of clothes to wear now. They’re comfortable too…… We came out because you said you were hungry……”

“Marian. This isn’t because you need them.”

“Then?”

“It’s because Rosette asked to buy them.”

Abel nonchalantly threw Rosette under the carriage. In reality, he didn’t like that she had worn revealing clothes next to Cesare, but what mattered was the result, not the reason.

“Rosette did?”

“Yes.”

Abel played with Marian’s hair.

“She was very upset about you wearing such clothes.”

Abel fingered the frayed ends of her sleeve. Marian stared blankly at her own sleeve. If it was Rosette, that made sense.

“She told me to trust her, and asked if I would make her look unreliable? I was even told to start wearing proper clothes.”

The truth was slightly different.

‘Please stop going around half-n*ked in front of Her Highness!’

Rosette had thrown a fit. Well, the meaning was somewhat similar anyway.

“Then I’ll pay you back later.”

“Sure.”

Abel chose clothes for Marian. They were plain dresses in achromatic colors like what Marian usually wore. While Marian went to change into new clothes, Abel also changed his. Abel puffed his cheek with his tongue. He rummaged through the clothes.

“We need groceries.”

“How much should we prepare?”

“Very poor. No flour and meat is completely gone.”

Even when Abel stayed in that fighting arena, he had never gone hungry.

“There probably aren’t proper cooking utensils either. Prepare everything and bring it to Princess Marian’s palace. For today, just bring some food to eat. Ah, you know you absolutely can’t be discovered, right?”

The employee nodded. Abel lifted his lips in satisfaction.

“And prepare proper bedding too. I hate using such blankets even when out.”

“Yes, Master.”

Abel rummaged through the dresses. Dresses adorned with brilliant jewels, lace, and embroidery were lined up. Abel chose dresses with narrowed eyes. In truth, Abel had little interest in such fashion trends either.

He just knew about Marian.

Marian was tall and thin.

Her skin was pale and her hair was black. Her blue eyes were transparent like pooled water.

Abel chose dresses one by one. The dresses that passed through Abel’s hands totaled eight.

“Keep these altered to Marian’s size and stored. We’ll use them someday.”

Abel smiled crookedly.

“Yes, Sir Abel.”

“And is there any news to report?”

“An envoy from Jains came over this time. They say Jains agreed to provide funds and troops in exchange for marriage with Crown Prince Benjamin.”

“Tsk.”

Even if Abel didn’t go to Lorenzo, this war would happen. But Marian……

‘I hate war.’

Abel furrowed his brows. This war needed to happen for Abel’s benefit. That way Federico would walk the path to ruin.

But…

‘I’ll become Emperor.’

Thinking of Marian made him unsure again. Abel scratched his chin. Was it better to break up the alliance between Jains and Federico, or better to push for the war to happen?

Abel let out a light sigh.

Marian, who suddenly appeared and saved Abel as she pleased, then told him to come as she pleased, kept confusing him.

Marian came out after changing clothes.

Abel turned around and stared at her. She just looked neater than before, just……

Abel narrowed his eyes. Something had changed. Marian had twisted her curly hair up high and fully exposed her neckline. Marian turned her head to the side.

“Is this okay?”

Abel traced his thumb over his lips.

“It’s okay but not okay.”

“What? What does that mean.”

That’s exactly right. It suited her too well, making it not okay. The strands of hair falling on Marian’s nape looked seductive. Someone like Cesare, a womanizer, would definitely drool at such a sight.

“No, no.”

Abel waved his hand. Still, it was better than wearing short and worn-out clothes.

“Try on more, Marian. One outfit isn’t enough, according to Rosette.”

Abel mentioned Rosette. Marian sighed and went to change clothes again. Abel spoke to the employee.

“We need to break the treaty. Find a way to make Jains betray Federico. Anything will do.”

“About that……”

The employee looked around and lowered his voice.

“There’s talk that Federico promised to send Princess Marian to Jains in exchange for this treaty.”

“What do you mean?”

“For the past five years, Jains has suffered from drought, and all their reservoirs have dried up. They say they agreed to have Princess Marian’s power fill them.”

“Ah, ha.”

Without Marian’s consent? Those damn people.

“However, I heard Federico’s side plans to stall and has no intention of actually sending Princess Marian.”

“The longer they stall, the more they can extort.”

The employee nodded.

Abel clicked his tongue. He needed to stop worrying. In truth, it was over from the moment things started wavering. Abel just didn’t want to admit it.

Federico was what Marian had saved.

“Contact the King of Jains and inform him of Federico’s betrayal. Tell him Princess Marian will never go to Jains.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Instead, tell him I will help.”

“You mean…… Abel?”

“Make Jains take Drake’s hand.”

“Yes, Master.”

While Abel was cleanly sorting out the situation, Marian finished changing. This outfit suited his taste better than the previous one. Abel smiled brightly.

“Rosette will worry. Let’s head back.”

“Alright.”

Marian nodded with a tired face.

“Ah, what about the groceries?”

Marian asked awkwardly. Her voice became smaller since it wasn’t something she could obtain herself.

“They’ll deliver them tomorrow. Secretly.”

Marian turned to look at Abel with wide eyes. Abel seemed to be an even more remarkable person than expected. He was someone who could do more than Marian had anticipated.

Moreover, he had more.

Marian felt fortunate that Abel was the first person she found after returning.

She grabbed Abel’s arm, worried he might leave somehow. Abel pleasantly held Marian’s hand. It was time to return to that imperial palace.

**

The next day, dawn broke.

Marian pressed her tired eyes firmly. As soon as Rosette noticed Marian was awake, she rushed in. Rosette looked around the room with a pale face.

“What are you doing?”

Marian asked curiously.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Rosette patted her cheeks. Living with such a rogue made every daily activity feel unsafe. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like that bastard had violated Marian’s bedroom.

Rosette heaved a deep sigh.

“You must lock your door when you sleep.”

“Why?”

Marian tilted her head. She knew Rosette was overprotective normally, but……

“There’s a man staying here.”

Rosette spoke in a low voice. That beast might be listening somewhere. Each day was draining her blood.

“You must be careful. Your Highness is so beautiful that anyone might set their eyes on you.”

Marian burst out laughing.

She heard all sorts of things.

She had been called plain before, but beautiful? The rose-colored glasses Rosette wore for Marian would never come off. Because to Rosette, Marian was the best.

“You absolutely must be careful.”

“Abel isn’t that kind of person, Rosette. You’re worrying too much.”

“Not that kind of…… kup!”

Rosette covered her mouth. This shameless scoundrel. Rosette trembled. Still, she liked all the clothes Abel had bought when he took Marian out last night. That’s why she was forgiving him.

“Anyway. Being careful won’t hurt.”

“Alright, alright.”

Marian got out of bed. Today would be another busy day.

“They say groceries will start being delivered from today. I’m not sure who will bring them or how, but that’s what they said.”

“Oh.”

“Thanks to Abel, we’ll get to eat proper food.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps Liebe might visit along with the groceries. Ah, there was also the Princess of Jains.

‘Why hasn’t there been any response from the Princess of Jains? There was definitely something in her eyes then. Should I probe more? How?’

Marian fiddled with her hair.

“Go tell Her Majesty the Empress that I need clothes to wear when meeting Duke Madrian.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

For now, let’s do what can be done.

Since the Emperor’s order had been given, it couldn’t be disobeyed. This was also the fastest way to make Madrian penniless.

One of Cesare’s many flaws was that he liked women too much.

‘Liebe needs to come soon.’

Marian got up. She planned to take a bath before the Empress’s people arrived. And she needed to be very careful with Abel too. She brought him here to protect him, not to hand him over to them.

**

No matter where she looked, Abel was nowhere to be found. Abel’s room was neatly organized. It didn’t even feel like someone had stayed there.

Her heart sank.

Wondering if he had left just like that, Marian searched the palace. Abel wasn’t in the training grounds, the bathhouse, or the dining hall.

Where Marian found Abel was in an unexpected place.

The kitchen.