Marian muttered in disbelief. Abel stood in front of the hearth, showing off his broad back. What was even more surprising was that the sight suited him better than expected.

“What are you doing here?”

Marian opened her eyes wide. Abel turned around with the frying pan in hand to look at Marian. The delicious smell of sizzling oil filled the kitchen. Marian glanced at the frying pan and asked bewilderedly.

“What…… are you doing right now?”

She truly hadn’t thought there would be something this surprising again. Was she seeing things because she hadn’t slept properly due to nightmares? Or was it because she’d been using her brain too much lately?

She never imagined she would see Abel holding a knife in a kitchen rather than on a battlefield.

“Cooking.”

“……What do you mean……”

“It seems like there’s no one who knows how to cook properly.”

Abel smiled brightly. His clear eyes were fixed only on Marian.

“Properly……? You know how?”

Marian asked dubiously. The small kitchen seemed to feel full with Abel in it. Moreover, Abel’s hands looked even bigger than the frying pan he was holding.

Now he’s doing this, no—Abel?

“Rosette does the cooking. Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“That’s not what you call cooking, Marian.”

“What?”

She had eaten stranger things on the battlefield. She had eaten dried-out meat and spoiling bread. Besides, due to the lack of proper ingredients in this palace, going hungry had become routine.

Because of this, Marian had become indifferent to food.

“That’s why you’re so skinny, eating like that.”

Marian gripped her wrist.

“That’s……”

Marian’s face turned pale. Abel took a piece of fully cooked dough from the frying pan and popped it into Marian’s small mouth.

“Oop.”

Marian, who reflexively ate it, chewed. The aroma  of soft butter wafted strongly. The dough melted softly on her tongue.

Marian covered her mouth.

She could also taste the fragrant olive oil.

Marian opened her eyes wide. She tasted a flavor she had never properly experienced before. Abel smiled brightly.

“Is it okay? It’s been a while since I cooked.”

Marian nodded slowly. She realized it had been a really long time since she had eaten proper food. Even at the banquet welcoming the Princess of Jains, Marian had barely eaten.

“It’s delicious……”

Marian muttered softly.

Abel put another piece in Marian’s mouth. Abel smiled pleasantly as he watched Marian eat like a baby bird. It was worth picking up a frying pan after so long. Even though Rosette was glaring with eyes full of jealousy, it couldn’t be helped.

“When people feel satisfied with food, they naturally gain strength. What are you doing today?”

“……I was planning to meet Duke Madrian. Since the Emperor ordered it, I think I need to move.”

Abel put another piece in Marian’s mouth and smiled sweetly.

“Ah, is that so. I’m feeding you food while you’re about to go meet another man.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Eat more.”

Marian chewed and swallowed what was in her mouth.

Once she started eating, it went down well. It was so delicious that her mouth watered.

She felt like she might cry for some reason. Marian pressed her fingers against her eyes. So this is what happiness feels like, to eat something so delicious that you want to eat comfortably.

“Want more?”

“Yes, I want more.”

Marian nodded. At those words, even Rosette lost the strength to stop her.

**

Marian placed her hand on her stomach with a peculiar expression.

She had eaten until she was truly full.

But far from being uncomfortable, she felt energized just as Abel had said. Marian let out a soft breath. She could handle things that would normally have upset her with composure.

The Empress’s maids began bathing, dressing, and applying makeup to Marian.

Abel was well hidden somewhere out of sight.

The maids moved mechanically.

The dress the Empress chose revealed the chest. It was a dress faithful to its role of seducing Cesare. Marian covered her chest with her palm.

“Her Majesty said you must do well. She said to take to heart the gravity of this matter. And.”

The head maid looked Marian up and down. This dress wasn’t meant for Marian. It was chosen from among the smaller ones that the Empress had worn. As a result, it was slightly loose on Marian.

Still, wearing something expensive made her look somewhat more like a princess.

“Remember that if you fail, the consequences will not be light.”

Marian stared at the head maid with cold eyes. In the past, she would have shrunk at those words. She might have even thrown herself into Cesare’s arms out of fear.

‘How stupid I was.’

Marian swallowed a bitter laugh.

“I’ll remember.”

Marian answered concisely.

**

Marian looked up at the Madrian ducal estate. Her expression froze cold. Coming here brought back all sorts of thoughts.

She remembered the first day she set foot here.

It must have been the first day after marriage. Everything had already been falling apart since the wedding ceremony.

The Empress had whispered to Marian.

‘Don’t be too happy, Marian. Do you know what kind of man your husband is? He’s the type who goes crazy for any woman wearing a skirt. Such a man might cherish you too. Because you’re a woman. But will that life be happy?’

The Empress had looked desperate to make Marian unhappy. She always was. Marian hadn’t done anything, yet the Empress hated her. It felt unfair then, but it made sense. After all, Marian was evidence of the Emperor’s infidelity.

Marian smiled bitterly.

‘Be unhappy, Marian. Completely ruined.’

And it really turned out that way.

Click.

Though they must have received notice from the imperial palace, no one came out to greet her. This was the current state of the imperial family. No one welcomed or respected them.

The head butler came out belatedly.

“Your Highness. Have you waited long?”

“No, it’s fine. Where is Duke Madrian now? I believe we had an appointment.”

“Ahem.”

The head butler cleared his throat.

“He slept in. He should be ready and out soon, so you’ll need to wait. I’ll show you to the reception room.”

Right now, Cesare wasn’t alone. Even now, a woman’s sensual moans continuously flowed from Cesare’s bedroom. During this time, Cesare had only sought out a woman named Ellie. Fortunately, Cesare had many women, so he quickly forgot about Ellie.

The one with Cesare now was Yulian.

The head butler glanced awkwardly at Marian. Her indifferent and neat face looked cold and elegant.

The princess couldn’t say anything about Madrian’s rudeness. That too was truly fortunate.

“You can wait here, Your Highness. I’ll bring some refreshments.”

Marian nodded and was about to enter the reception room when a short scream that sounded like someone’s last breath echoed. Marian burst into a wry laugh at the same time.

‘I’ve experienced this before somewhere.’

There was no need to think hard about it. Cesare didn’t discriminate between night and day, nor did he care who his partner was. How many times had she seen maids running out of Cesare’s office, adjusting their uniforms? They all started out full of dreams, learned reality from Yulian, and ended up quitting the ducal household.

Is it Yulian in the bedroom now?

Marian calmly entered the reception room. The head butler, who had been frozen, quickly followed her in. The head butler watched Marian’s reaction.

‘Did she not hear?’

But the voice had been quite loud.

‘Does she not know what it was?’

If so, that would be fortunate. Marian issued orders as if nothing had happened.

“Go bring some tea. And tell His Grace that I am waiting.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The head butler ran away. Marian pressed her forehead. Cesare hadn’t changed at all, staying exactly the same. Who would have thought that would be so welcome? Marian felt no remorse for anything she was about to do. Cesare was simply getting back what he deserved for his sins.

“……Filthy bastard.”

Meeting a miserable end while under a siren’s enchantment spell. It couldn’t be a more fitting end for Cesare. Marian let out a cold laugh.

Cesare appeared an hour after Marian’s arrival.

His slick face with neatly combed hair was disgusting just to look at. Nevertheless, Marian smiled brightly.

“It feels like it’s been a while since we met, Cesare.”

“Yes, Marian. Have you been well?”

“Of course.”

Cesare looked Marian up and down. Though the effort was commendable, Marian still looked like a crow. Whoever chose the dress had made her look even worse by emphasizing her thin figure.

Her exposed chest was so frail it killed Cesare’s mood.

That was also thanks to having just spent time with Yulian.

Cesare also knew what the imperial family was trying to do by pushing Marian. They needed money after losing precious slaves when the illegal fighting arena burned down.

He had heard that the imperial family was looking into illegal gambling houses these days.

Cesare scraped the inside of his mouth with his tongue.