“Well……”

Marian lowered her voice. Then she relaxed her power slightly. She could see Cesare’s expression becoming hazier. The magical enchantment would continue as long as Marian didn’t let her guard down.

“I don’t work anywhere yet. I haven’t been in the palace long.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose it would be fine if you quit, right?”

“Pardon?”

Marian’s eyes grew round. Even without Marian’s intention, the conversation was flowing favorably. Cesare tapped Marian’s cheek with his finger.

“Is there a reason you must become a maid?”

And he even asked questions that Marian needed.

Marian stammered.

“Well……”

Cesare smiled gently.

“Speak freely, Ellie. I might be able to help you.”

It’s easy to seduce such young maids. Those uneducated ones quickly throw themselves at you with silly grins once you give them what they want. Cesare traced Marian’s waistline with his fingertip.

“And you might be able to help me too.”

Marian cursed internally.

“……I need to save my younger brother.”

“Younger brother?”

“Yes. Our family was poor, so all the children were sold. But when he was very young, my younger brother was sold as a fighting slave. I need to earn money to bring him back.”

“That…… I think I can help with.”

Cesare let out a snicker. It wouldn’t even cost much. What’s so difficult about getting one fighting slave out? Besides, in the illegal fighting arena, that bastard was there too.

‘Abel Drake.’

It wouldn’t be bad to go see what state he’s in. I wonder if he’s been tamed by now. Cesare grinned. The Madrian ducal family’s rise to become the Empire’s finest had the Drake family’s downfall as its backdrop. It was Cesare’s grandfather who had thrown them into the mud.

The thought of those proud eyes submitting improved his mood.

“Really?”

Marian smiled brightly.

“How can I help you?”

Cesare played with Marian’s ribbon. He pulled it slightly then let go, smiling gently. His eyes grew cloudy as he considered today’s schedule.

Was there anything more important than laying a woman in bed right now?

Cesare’s lips moved slightly.

This was the only interesting thing in this boring world. Cesare untied the ribbon around Marian’s waist. The apron rolled onto the grass.

“Shall we discuss that after saving my brother first?”

Except for her height, she was perfectly to Cesare’s taste. He could roll around with this woman for a few days and then discard her. Her delicate yet voluptuous figure visible through the thin fabric made Cesare’s body stir. A pleasant scent wafted strongly from the woman.

“Or, we could start with something else.”

Cesare pulled Marian’s waist close.

Marian barely restrained herself from piercing Cesare’s waist with magic. She gritted her teeth. Not yet, she still needed this bastard.

“My brother first…… my younger brother first……”

Marian smiled sadly as she untied the ribbon at her neckline, slightly revealing her chest. She placed the ribbon in Cesare’s hand and whispered.

“I won’t disappear.”

That too was a perfect lie. After all, this appearance was nothing but a fabricated illusion.

Marian clutched her skirt. She was prepared for everything. This body would turn to dust and disappear after death anyway. If there was anything she could do by offering this body, she would do it.

Even if that meant rolling around in Cesare’s bed.

Cesare rubbed his lips against Marian’s cheek, not caring about passersby. People turned their heads away rather than watch his vulgar hand gripping her b*ttocks over her skirt.

Cesare laughed pleasantly.

**

“Whew, I almost killed him.”

She didn’t know how many critical moments she had passed through. Cesare was a lecher, a pervert, and a son of a b*tch. Whether in the carriage or the dressing room, he molested Marian. The problem was that no one pointed out such behavior.

‘Did I cast the magic too strongly?’

Otherwise, how could he cling to her like a beast, disregarding time and place? Marian rinsed her mouth with water. At least she could catch her breath after slipping away saying she needed to use the bathroom before the fight started. Marian glanced behind.

That place was filled with unpleasant excitement mixed with dust. Familiar nobles gathered around Cesare. They were his followers.

‘So they follow him even to places like this.’

Marian turned her head to the opposite direction again. It seemed to be immersed in deep darkness. Abel would be there.

‘Cesare clearly said he would show me the inside if my younger brother doesn’t participate in the fight today.’

Marian traced the inside of her mouth with her tongue. She would have a chance to see inside there even without pushing herself now. Marian gritted her teeth.

‘Right, don’t be hasty.’

Marian turned around and sat back beside Cesare. Cesare grabbed Marian’s waist, who was dressed like a street courtesan, and sat her on his lap. Cesare’s followers cheered. They whistled while glancing at her plump br*asts exposed white.

Marian let out a small laugh.

“Your Grace, I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman!”

“That’s right! As expected, Your Grace has excellent taste.”

“She rolled in like a pumpkin vine.”

Cesare responded with a drunken face. He fondled Marian’s exposed skin.

“Indeed, she’s better to look at than Her Highness the Princess who looks like a stiff log…… huh?”

The ruffians snickered.

That’s when it happened.

“The pride of our fighting arena!”

The man wearing ridiculous jester clothes as an announcer raised his voice. Everything disappeared from view. The door opened and the man hiding inside revealed himself. He was black, as if soaked in darkness. Marian’s eyes widened.

Marian’s slender fingers tangled in the iron bars separating the stage and audience seats. Marian’s eyes sparkled.

Clank, clank!

The harsh sound of chains echoed through the arena. Even the trembling in Marian’s pupils froze.

‘Abel!’

He was entering the arena. Rough chains bound his ankles and wrists. His exposed skin was covered densely with wounds and his eyes were fierce.

Crimson filled with hell’s sunset.

Marian unconsciously shifted her hips.

At that moment, Abel and Marian’s eyes met. Marian’s pupils sparkled with joy. A mage knows how to recognize another mage. Abel must have noticed Marian’s true identity hidden behind the veil.

She thought it was an eternal moment.

An intruder intervened. Cesare grabbed Marian’s cheek and turned her face toward him.

“Ellie, do you like that beast?”

Cesare mumbled with unfocused eyes.

“You can’t have him. He’s a filthy beast who doesn’t know his place.”

Cesare giggled and pulled Marian. He pressed his damp lips against Marian’s soft ones. A hot flesh pushed through between them.

“Mmph!”

Marian grabbed Cesare’s shoulders. Unable to push him away, she breathed heavily. Cesare’s hands freely roamed over her skin. The crowd’s cheers grew louder.

And Abel’s gaze was fixed on them.

Abel’s pupils froze.

He had been thinking of Marian today, and here she appeared before his eyes. In a rather shocking and unpleasant manner.

Bang!

The blade aura bursting from Abel’s swung sword roughly scraped the iron bars. Screech—a spine-chilling sound shook the arena. People with rising competitive spirit clung to the iron bars clutching money. The commotion separated Marian and Cesare.

Marian and Abel’s eyes met, and then Abel and Cesare’s.

Abel bared his teeth at them.

The bell rang.

Abel kicked the ground.

**

Meanwhile, in Benjamin’s office.

Benjamin’s sharp eyes scanned the newspaper.

[Federico’s Noble Princess Marianne, Marriage to Duke Madrian Imminent? Is Princess Marianne Really Leaving the Imperial Family?]

“Ha. Such a lucky wench!”

Benjamin sneered and crumpled the newspaper. The secretaries, sensing Benjamin’s displeasure, buried their heads in their desks.

Benjamin exhaled roughly between his lips.

Marian was born with excessive ability. Shouldn’t that ability have belonged to Benjamin? Being a bastard with unmanageable ability is why such nonsense spreads. Saying a princess shouldn’t leave the Imperial Family…

The extremists even claimed Marian, not Benjamin, should inherit the throne.

Benjamin’s eyes blazed. His pupils were red as he breathed heavily.

“Your Highness.”

The bravest secretary opened his mouth.

“It seems many are discontented with the recently changed tax policy. That’s why such articles……”

The secretary trailed off. Antipathy toward the Imperial Family was growing steadily.

The Emperor was preparing for war by collecting taxes even forcefully. Directing people’s attention outward was also the Emperor’s scheme.

But with forced conscription alongside the tax policy, it was natural that people praising heroes increased.

“Is that tax for me? Really? It’s for Father, no, rather for Federico! Should we just watch while Lorenzo disrespects us and covets our land?”

The secretaries swallowed their words about how wrong it was to start a war in such peaceful times. The Emperor’s secretaries must have said this countless times. But the stubborn father and son, who believed only their opinions were right, wouldn’t bend their will.

They were even pushing forward Crown Prince Benjamin’s marriage to fund the insufficient war chest.

War would eventually break out.

The secretaries heaved deep sighs.

“……That Marian wench.”

Benjamin ground his teeth. Should have sent her to a distant foreign country instead of to Madrian. Marian’s existence would continue to be a shadow obscuring Benjamin.

“…… Is there no way to hasten the marriage between Marian and Madrian?”

He would feel better if she was removed from the Imperial Family. He could clearly envision Duke Madrian’s face contorting in displeasure. If possible, it wouldn’t be bad to bundle both Madrian and Marian together and send them overseas.

Better yet if it was to the battlefield.

“…… The royal wedding must proceed as scheduled. The High Priest personally chose the holy day. In the current situation, going against the temple’s will……”

“Agh, tsk.”

Benjamin clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“Nothing goes as I want.”

Benjamin’s eyes gleamed coldly. He traced his lips with his tongue.

“Still, we must eliminate the risks before the marriage. If that wench bears a mage child with imperial blood, would Madrian stay quiet?”

“Then……”

“Aren’t there…… drugs that can make a woman unable to bear children? Look into it from now. Discreetly.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

**

The gladiator beneath Abel’s feet stirred. The bright red blood spreading on the floor seemed surreal. Abel’s greatsword was stuck in the floor beside the gladiator.

The commotion mixed with excited people’s shouts grew louder.

Even then, Abel’s eyes remained fixed on Cesare. More precisely, on Marian, who sat on Cesare’s knee clutching the iron bars, watching only Abel.