Protection? Karina frowned at that word. She couldn’t tell if she should take the word ‘protection’ at face value, or if it was a euphemism for detention. The previous Aidan would never have even imagined detaining someone. But somehow, this man seemed like he would do such things without hesitation.

“Is it really protection? And why are you protecting this person?”

She couldn’t follow Aidan and Kai’s conversation. She didn’t understand from the start why they were mentioning Emily’s lover rather than Emily herself.

“He’s one of Lloyd’s people. Thanks to your advice, we seem to have found a lead.”

Aidan answered simply and stood up.

“But how did you notice that Emily the maid was connected to the attack?”

Though it was a casual question, she couldn’t answer. Looking back, there had been a maid who disappeared from Aidan’s palace after the attack. The answer was clear, but the ‘looking back’ part was the problem. It was something she knew because she had returned from the future.

After silently watching Karina while waiting, Aidan narrowed his eyes when no immediate answer came. However, he didn’t repeat the question.

“I wanted to enjoy a leisurely date, but that won’t be possible today. Take your time thinking about the proposal I made earlier.”

When he seemed about to leave with Kai, she quickly stood up and grabbed his arm.

“Surely you’re not planning to go outside the palace?”

The fact that Emily’s lover was one of Lloyd’s people meant it was certain the attack was connected to Lloyd.

“It’s dangerous.”

Aidan hadn’t fully recovered yet. Though the knights, including Kai, would accompany him, a perfect protection wouldn’t be possible like inside the palace. That’s why he had been attacked on his way back from his secret meeting with Kate Spencer. Moreover, if Lloyd learned that his man was captured by Aidan’s side, he might not stay quiet.

Aidan looked down at Karina’s hand holding his arm. Realizing what she’d done, she withdrew her hand, and his gaze moved to her face.

“How strange.”

He smiled faintly, pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“Didn’t you hate ‘Aidan’?”

He seemed to have assumed she hated him since she wanted a divorce. Had she only hated him? She had found him so horrible that just hearing his name made her shudder.

“Then why are you worried about me getting hurt?”

She hesitated at his follow-up question. Well…

Because you’re Aidan but not Aidan. Because you just happened to enter that body, and it would be unfair if you died getting caught up in the existing situation. Because I know well how unfair it is to die for something that’s not your fault.

Though there were many reasons, they only circled in her throat without being voiced. Partly because Kai was standing nearby, but also because something caught in her chest. Was that really all there was to it?

“I’ll hear that reason later along with your answer.”

Instead of pressing her, Aidan stepped closer to Karina and lifted her chin with one hand. Before she could react, she felt his lips brush against her cheek with a soft sound before pulling away.

“Don’t worry. I told you I’ve lived quite roughly.”

Meeting Karina’s eyes as if nothing had happened, he smiled and turned away. In the end, Karina couldn’t stop him further and could only watch as he walked away with Kai.

Should she have told him that regardless of how roughly he had lived, it might be completely different from the danger he was thinking of? Though she regretted it later, Aidan had already disappeared from view.

Since Kai would be with him, nothing serious should happen.

As she tried to reassure herself, she let out a groan, wondering why she was worrying about him so much.

*

Knock knock. After the knocking sound, the door opened.

“I’ve prepared the clothes you requested.”

The servant showed a set of clothes. Aidan gestured toward the table, indicating to place them there.

“Are you really planning to change into these?”

Kai asked, looking at the clothes the servant had brought. Instead of answering, Aidan approached the table and picked up the clothes. Though the servant offered to help him change, he declined, saying it wasn’t necessary.

“Do these imperial family members not even know how to dress themselves?”

Kai unconsciously responded with “Pardon?” to Aidan’s muttering.

“You heard that? Just pretend you didn’t.”

Instead of explaining, Aidan brushed it off with a grin. Then, humming a small tune, he took off the clothes he was wearing and changed into the ones the servant had brought.

He really has changed.

Kai felt it again as he watched Aidan. Though he had sensed subtle changes after the attack, now that Aidan was up and moving around, the changes seemed even more pronounced. It wasn’t just his manner of speaking and expressions that had changed. Even his basic lifestyle attitudes seemed completely different. Starting with how he was now refusing the servant’s help and changing clothes by himself.

Though he had never particularly looked down on or mistreated his subordinates, Aidan was fundamentally someone who was born a prince and took being served for granted. Yet he could also be incredibly servile to those he considered above him. But now, all of that had disappeared.

“Let’s go.”

Aidan said after he finished changing. Kai swallowed a groan as he looked at him. Was it really okay to go out like that?

Aidan was now wearing a knight’s uniform, and not even a high-ranking one but that of a common knight. As someone who served him, Kai found it quite uncomfortable to see his charge wearing a subordinate’s clothes.

“It’s better than advertising that the prince is walking around, isn’t it?”

Unlike the serious Kai, Aidan replied lightly and took the lead.

“Ah, it might look odd if I lead the way too.”

He stopped before entering the corridor and nodded for Kai to go first. It seemed pointless to try to stop him. Kai took a deep breath that made his chest rise noticeably and opened the door first.

*

“…set it again?”

Walking down the corridor lost in thought, Karina hadn’t properly heard what Bernice was saying.

“Sorry. Could you say that again?”

“The date for the first night together. I was saying, shouldn’t we set it again?”

“First night?”

“You didn’t properly have your wedding night, did you? I was a bit upset with His Highness then, but… seeing you two earlier, you seemed to be getting along so well. So shouldn’t you properly have your wedding night now?”

“Ah…”

She didn’t know how to respond. First night… As long as she was married to him and serving as the prince’s consort, it was natural. However, she hadn’t experienced this natural occurrence even in her previous life. Back then, it was because Aidan had shown no interest in her whatsoever.

“I wonder if I need to consider such things when dating?”

Bernice tilted her head at the question that seemed more like talking to herself.

“Dating? You’re already married, aren’t you?”

Right. She swallowed the words that had come to the tip of her tongue. Having never been like a real married couple, she found herself hesitating even at the suggestion of dating.

“Even if you don’t say it, His Majesty must be waiting for your second generation too. Not to mention the ministers. Your baby would be so beautiful.”

Bernice let her imagination run wild, asking if she could take care of the baby when it was born. However, Karina couldn’t agree with even a single word more. If there hadn’t been a baby in her previous life, would there be one now? No, before that, would it be right to have her first night with the current Aidan? They were going to divorce anyway.

Yet refusing to have their first night together also seemed strange. If their relationship was distant like before, people might gossip but wouldn’t dare suggest their first night together. This time, the situation was different. Aidan was too openly showing his affection. She thought it was all an act, but seeing him suggest proper dating, it seemed that wasn’t the case either.

Dating. Dating…

The more she thought about it, the more unimaginable it felt, creating a truly strange feeling.

“His Highness’s behavior at the banquet must have left quite an impression. Everyone keeps talking about it when they gather.”

Bernice changed the subject. Karina remained silent at the mention that opinions about Aidan were changing completely from before, just because of his smooth relationship with Karina Hewitt. This was what Father had hoped for when he sent her to be Aidan’s consort. In her previous life, Aidan hadn’t cooperated, so they hadn’t seen this effect, but the current Aidan was utilizing this point too well.

That must be why he wants to date too.

‘Actually, that’s just an excuse. I’m attracted to you.’

His words came to mind, destroying her attempt to define their relationship as purely public.

If he was sincere, her hesitation was purely a personal matter. Aidan, and dating… She couldn’t connect the two because the memories of the past three years remained too strong.

“Your Highness, you have a visitor.”

A servant who had hurried from the opposite end of the corridor approached and announced as soon as she spotted her.

“A visitor?”

She found it strange as she hadn’t made any appointments.

“Prince…”

Prince? Hadn’t she had just parted ways with Aidan? Not understanding what this meant, she narrowed her eyes, causing the servant to look troubled.