As Karina was returning after meeting Princess Elena in the annex palace, she saw servants coming out from the banquet hall. Seeing the trays in their hands that had been used to carry food, it seemed they were coming back after preparing dinner for the knights staying at the annex palace today.

While absently watching them pass through the corridor in a line, she noticed one of them looking around before slipping away to the side. Finding it suspicious, she tried to follow her, but Bernice stopped her, asking where she was going.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Leaving Bernice and her entourage behind, she headed in the direction the servant had gone. Just as she was about to turn the corner, she heard murmuring voices.

“Are you sure you put it in His Highness Aidan’s glass?”

It was a familiar voice. After wondering where she had heard it before, she soon realized it was Kate Spencer’s voice. When she carefully peeked around the curved corridor, she indeed saw Kate Spencer standing face to face with the servant who had left the line earlier.

When the servant nodded, Kate Spencer handed her a small pouch. Based on the jingling sound it made when shaken, it seemed to contain coins.

“Just in case, return to His Highness Lloyd’s palace right away.”

At Kate’s words, the servant bowed her head once more and quickly turned to leave. Kate Spencer watched her retreating figure and then looked around. Karina quickly hid behind the wall to avoid being seen.

Soon after, her footsteps gradually faded away. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be coming toward where Karina was. When she checked the corridor after the footsteps had completely disappeared, Kate Spencer was no longer in sight.

What was that conversation about? Did they put something in Aidan’s glass? Moreover, that servant seemed to be from Lloyd’s palace. Why was Kate Spencer getting help from Lloyd’s servant? Could Lloyd and Kate Spencer be plotting something together?

Her mind became confused in an instant. What did they make him drink? When she thought it might be poison, her heart sank.

No, that couldn’t be possible. At a gathering of all the knights, inside the imperial palace of all places, they wouldn’t dare to try to kill Aidan so openly…. While trying to reassure herself it wasn’t the case, she remembered the previous empress’s death and couldn’t feel at ease. The previous empress had also suddenly complained of breathing difficulties and chest pain before dying. Though all the food and drinks she had consumed were investigated, no particular problems were found, and it was concluded as death by sudden cardiac arrest.

Many people suspected the current empress at that time too, but there was no evidence. Some took her side, saying that the current empress, the then Marchioness of McCoy, had no reason to kill the empress. Marquis Belmont particularly stood up to defend her. He argued that she was already clearly loved by the emperor, and her son was already acknowledged as the emperor’s son, so why would she take the risk of committing murder in the imperial palace.

Though there were strong suspicions, there was no physical evidence, and because she became the next empress for bearing the emperor’s son, no one could mention that incident anymore.

What if Aidan died the same way? The chilling thought sent shivers down her spine. But then she shook her head again, thinking that couldn’t be possible. Even though some things had changed from her previous life, the main flow remained similar.

What happened during this time? The day before the knights’ tournament…. Ah. Karina’s face contorted as she finally remembered. She realized why she hadn’t remembered immediately. It was because it was a memory she didn’t want to recall.

She clearly remembered Aidan being utterly defeated in his first match at the knights’ tournament and being humiliated. She hadn’t been particularly disappointed since she hadn’t expected much, though she did think it was pathetic. What really upset Karina that day was something else.

Currently, the annex palace was housing the knights participating in the tournament and guests from Icinia. However, on the morning of the tournament day, rumors spread widely that Kate Spencer had been seen leaving Aidan’s room. Despite providing separate accommodations at the annex to keep their minds and bodies pure before the tournament, the prince had broken that rule. On top of that, because the tournament results were so disastrous, it became even more of a talking point among the ministers.

He could have lost his right to succession to the throne right then. If it weren’t for House Hewitt backing Aidan, his life as a prince might have hit rock bottom because of that incident. Still, the ministers who had supported Aidan citing legitimacy tried to smooth over the incident, calling it a momentary deviation, a result of youthful vigor. All that remained was the wound in Karina’s heart.

After recalling up to that point, her head seemed to cool down. If only Lloyd were involved, she might have suspected poison, but it seemed Kate Spencer herself had made her servant feed something to Aidan. Of all people, she wouldn’t try to harm Aidan.

Then what remained was…..

When she realized what might have been put in Aidan’s food, her eyebrows furrowed. If it had been the previous Aidan, she would have left it alone since he and Kate were so in love with each other anyway. Though it might have hurt her self-esteem, she would have hated intervening in their relationship more than death.

But now it was different. The current Aidan truly had not a shred of feeling for Kate Spencer.

Haah. After taking a deep breath that made her chest heave, Karina returned to where Bernice and her entourage were waiting.

“Bernice, take the servants and return to the palace first.”

“What about you, Your Highness? Do you have somewhere to go?”

At her question, Karina’s gaze turned toward the banquet hall where dinner was still ongoing.

“Surely not…?”

Bernice, who had turned her head following the gaze, started to say something but quickly covered her mouth with one hand as if catching herself.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I just want to see His Highness briefly before leaving.”

After sending the other attendants ahead and keeping only two knights, Karina headed to the banquet hall. She planned to wait nearby and check on Aidan’s condition when he came out. Even while thinking that Aidan might handle it well, that nothing might happen, she couldn’t shake off her anxiety.

*

As dinner was coming to an end, Lloyd kept glancing at Aidan. There were still no particular signs. Seeing Aidan calmly continuing his conversation with the knights beside him made him increasingly impatient.

Could Kate Spencer have changed her mind? He had even helped by finding a servant who could slip the aphrodisiac into the wine. He could have handed it to the servant directly, but he stayed out of the spotlight just in case. Even if Aidan noticed the presence of the aphrodisiac and things went wrong, he planned to pin all responsibility on Kate Spencer.

“Ah….”

Aidan, who was reaching for his water glass, let out a short groan and shook his head, seemingly feeling dizzy.

‘When the drug starts working, they’ll first feel dizziness. After that, their body will gradually heat up, and they’ll reach a state where they can’t control their desires.’

A smile spread across his face as he recalled the words of the person who had given him the drug. He was certain Kate Spencer had properly spiked the wine.

“Since everyone seems to have finished dining, shall we rise?”

Lloyd asked everyone. As he suggested they should all return to their lodgings to rest and prepare for tomorrow’s tournament, the knights began to stand up one by one.

When he glanced at Aidan, he saw him rise from his seat without any objection, though he seemed to stagger and had to steady himself against the table. He furrowed his brow and shook his head lightly.

Aidan shouldn’t go into heat here. Before the aphrodisiac took full effect, he needed to quickly send him to where Kate Spencer was waiting. Thinking he should hurry things along, Lloyd left the banquet hall first. If he moved, it would be easier for the other knights to move as well.

“Your Highness.”

Just a few steps after leaving the banquet hall, a knight approached and bowed. Judging by his unfamiliar face, he didn’t seem to be from his own palace.

“I was asked to deliver this.”

The knight held out a white handkerchief.

“By whom?”

When he asked, the knight’s gaze turned to the handkerchief.

“They said you would know when you unfold it.”

After Lloyd received the handkerchief, the knight bowed deeply and left.

“What could this be….”

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary woman’s handkerchief. Lloyd flinched when he unfolded it, wondering who would send him such a thing. There was a message written in small letters inside the handkerchief.

‘Tonight, I will come to see you.’

That was all the brief message said. However, the name ‘Karina’ was clearly embroidered in the corner of the handkerchief.

Is someone playing a prank? While squinting his eyes in suspicion, he noticed the Hewitt family crest embroidered in the center of the handkerchief. It was clear evidence that this handkerchief was made by House Hewitt. Other houses’ crests couldn’t be used carelessly.

Is Karina really coming to see me? At night, no less?

The word ‘night’ particularly caught his eye. What is she planning? No, could she have changed her mind? All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.

Yes, what else could she do? It was natural to be disappointed in Aidan, who caused problems with Kate Spencer one after another right after marriage. Now that she’s actually in the imperial palace, maybe she’s finally realized that he would make a more suitable emperor than Aidan.

His steps quickened at the thought of Karina coming to visit. As he hurriedly turned the corner, he collided with a servant coming from the opposite direction.

“Y-Your Highness! I apologize!”

The other person quickly bowed.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Focused only on getting to his quarters to see Karina, he paid no attention to the servant.

Only after Lloyd had hurriedly waved his hand and walked away, disappearing from sight, did the servant straighten up. In their hand was Karina’s handkerchief, which they had deftly taken from Lloyd’s pocket moments ago.