Though Marquis Belmont wasn’t caught, the investigation into the incident continued under the Emperor’s orders. The situation took an even stranger turn than expected.

A few days ago, a witness appeared who claimed to have seen Emily’s murder — Emily being Liam Smith’s lover who had worked as a maid in Aidan’s palace. Though there had clearly been no witnesses when Aidan checked, this witness appeared from nowhere.

‘It was definitely that person. I saw him stab Emily.’

The witness pointed to Belmont’s subordinate without hesitation. Belmont’s subordinate didn’t deny it either. He had indeed killed Emily.

‘Whose orders did you follow?’

To the Emperor’s question, Belmont’s subordinate kept his mouth shut until the end. Then last night, he was found dead in his prison cell. Given his blue-tinged lips, they said he likely took poison. How he had obtained poison was unknown. The guard testified that he hadn’t left his post, and no one had visited the prisoner.

With no evidence or witnesses emerging, the ministers concluded that he must have secretly possessed the poison and committed suicide to protect his master.

Now, unless they caught Marquis Belmont, there was no one left to reveal the truth of the incident. Aidan still maintained that Lloyd’s knight had attacked him, while Lloyd insisted he had never given such orders. The Empress defended Lloyd’s innocence, convincing the ministers that Marquis Belmont had bribed Lloyd’s knight.

The investigation ultimately stagnated for nearly a month without progress. As the matter dragged on without conclusion, it seemed to gradually fade from people’s attention.

“Are you ready?”

When she heard Aidan’s voice, she turned her head and saw him standing in the doorway, wearing his dress uniform, looking more formal than usual. His uniform was embroidered with elegant gold thread and had so many decorations that they jingled when he moved.

Karina checked the mirror once more and nodded. She too was dressed differently today. She wore an elaborate dress she hadn’t worn even at the palace banquet celebrating their wedding. The blood-red dress was adorned with sparkling jewels everywhere. A necklace with a large ruby hung around her neck.

“Wow.”

Aidan let out a light exclamation. Even in the elaborate dress, Karina’s beauty didn’t dim at all. Rather, her fair skin and light blonde hair that was styled to show her neckline complemented the red dress perfectly.

“I didn’t know someone could suit such clothes so well.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course.”

Aidan approached Karina and extended his hand.

“Shall we go then?”

Karina stared at him when he suddenly started talking in formal speech. The corners of Aidan’s mouth curved in a pleased smile.

“Wow, you both look amazing! You match so well!”

Bernice, who had been waiting outside, exclaimed upon seeing Karina emerge holding Aidan’s hand. She and Kai were also dressed up more than usual.

Today was Duchess Hewitt’s birthday, and they were invited to attend the party at House Hewitt.

“Is it alright that I prepared the gifts myself?”

Aidan asked as they walked down the corridor.

“What did you prepare?”

Though she thought he would have handled it well, she worried he might have done something inappropriate, being from another world.

“Those.”

Aidan gestured toward the window. Servants were loading several boxes into the carriage.

“Don’t tell me those are all gifts for Mother?”

“I didn’t know what she’d like, so I prepared various things.”

His casual response left her speechless. Well, he was a prince after all. Someone with more money than he could spend, so what did it matter?

“So what’s in all of those?”

“Jewelry made with all kinds of precious gems, rare porcelain imported from the East, dresses made by famous designers, oh, and bags made of genuine leather too. I’m not sure if they consider such things luxury items here. Plus, some prepared meat from one cow and two pigs, in case they run short at the party?”

Aidan listed the gifts he prepared, counting them off on his fingers. It seemed he would go on endlessly if left alone.

“Next time, consult with me before preparing.”

Though no one would criticize him for giving too much, it seemed excessive. Karina too had grown up wanting for nothing, but she had been taught that extravagance was wrong. Duke Hewitt’s teaching was that if you had means to spare for unnecessary things, you should help the struggling common people instead.

“If it’s not needed, she’ll donate it herself.”

Aidan added casually. Karina stopped walking at his words.

“You knew?”

House Hewitt consistently participated in relief efforts not only for struggling noble houses but also for common people every year. They had even established and operated a small organization, run by the Duchess Hewitt, with over 90% of its operating funds coming from House Hewitt’s donations.

“Rather than saying I knew, it’s more accurate to say I looked into it. I was curious why so many people follow House Hewitt. It wasn’t just among nobles either. They’re even more popular with commoners, so I looked into why.”

When had he done this? Recently, Karina noticed he was handling more and more things without her even realizing it. Now he seemed to manage well on his own without her having to explain various things.

At this rate, did they even need to fill out the full half-year?

“You’re not upset?”

She tilted her head at his question.

“I thought you’d be upset that I investigated your family.”

Ah. She could see why he might think that.

“Is it really what you’d call an investigation?”

It was something anyone could look into if they were interested, and House Hewitt wasn’t operating their charity organization in secret.

“What if I say that’s not all I looked into?”

“…What else did you look into?”

“Just this and that. Not just House Hewitt, but I looked into all the other noble houses too.”

Karina closed her mouth and stared at his face. Was this man confessing to her that he had been investigating the nobles?

“Did Your Highness find anything concerning in your investigation?”

Instead of getting upset or scolding him, she asked a different question. Seeming to like her response, Aidan smiled slightly.

“Not at all. No house is as clean as House Hewitt.”

As Aidan said, as far as Karina knew, her parents lived lives without a single thing to be ashamed of. So there was no reason to be upset even if Aidan had investigated various things.

More importantly, he said he had looked into all the nobles. Aidan was continuously expanding the territory he understood. He had started with his own palace. Then the entire palace, and now he was moving on to all nobles residing in the capital.

She could see him making preparations step by step. At first, such behavior had seemed merely fascinating and surprising, but now she had grown accustomed enough to observe it from a distance.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable for you to visit House Hewitt?”

She suddenly thought of the previous ‘Aidan’ and asked. Every year, House Hewitt held parties for the Duke and Duchess’s birthdays. The previous ‘Aidan’ had always avoided attending these parties with various excuses.

He probably felt awkward meeting the Duke and Duchess of Hewitt. Being the worst husband, it was natural that he couldn’t face his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

“Why? Should there be a reason to be uncomfortable? Don’t tell me I did something to make them dislike me even before the wedding?”

Aidan frowned and asked seriously. Watching him ask if the previous ‘Aidan’ had done anything wrong enough to be marked by the Duke and Duchess Hewitt, she felt she was needlessly worried.

“Rather than doing anything specific…”

The words that he didn’t want the marriage to Karina rolled to the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them. It felt petty to say it out loud. It would sound like she had forced through an unwanted marriage with ‘Aidan’.

“Duke Hewitt seems quite favorable.”

Aidan muttered.

“Have you met Father?”

Though they must have encountered each other several times at ministers’ policy meetings, Aidan’s tone suggested he meant more than that.

“We occasionally have tea and drinks together?”

Aidan’s answer surprised her.

“He says he’s surprised every time we talk because your personalities are so similar.”

She had never imagined he was spending private time with her father.

“Why…?”

“Isn’t it stranger to ask why? It’s natural for me to maintain good relations with Duke Hewitt since there’s no one I can trust more than him.”

Now that she heard it, it made sense. It seemed strange only because she had lived for three years with someone who never did such obvious things.

“Besides, they’re your parents.”

Aidan smiled gently while looking at Karina. They had just finished walking through the palace corridor and stepped outside, where sunlight poured over his head.

“I need to make a good impression in case you try to run away from me later, so they’ll help me.”

She couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious.

“Somehow… that’s a bit scary.”

Karina replied as she climbed into the carriage with Aidan’s help.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything to you though?”

Aidan responded playfully to her comment about being scared.

“Just… it feels like Your Highness is gradually infiltrating everything around me.”

Aidan didn’t deny it and just grinned. His reaction suggested it was too obvious to need words.

*