“Aagh!”

By swiftly ducking with a desperate cry, the sword swung by the black-masked man narrowly missed Marquis Belmont’s head. He hurriedly grabbed the sword beside his bed but had no chance to draw it from its scabbard. He barely blocked the incoming sword with the sheathed blade. Marquis Belmont swallowed dryly at the impact that made his wrist vibrate.

If this had been twenty years ago, this opponent wouldn’t have been a match…

Time was cruel. In his prime, he could have handled several of these types by himself, but it had been too long since he’d held a sword. Unlike his mind, his body couldn’t keep up. Just barely avoiding the opponent’s indiscriminate attacks was overwhelming. No, he was reaching his limit even just dodging.

How did they keep finding him? Though he had fled the capital, he couldn’t go to his territory with the palace knights in pursuit. He had been heading to a villa in another region unknown to outsiders when he was suddenly attacked.

His body was pushed back by the opponent’s force until he fell to the floor. A sword immediately descended toward his head. Is this how I die? As he tightly closed his eyes, he heard a sharp clashing sound. He flinched and carefully raised his eyes to see someone had blocked the sword coming at him. The person wasn’t one of his subordinates. Like the attacker, this one was also wrapped entirely in black.

The person who blocked the enemy’s sword quickly slashed upward. The one trying to kill Marquis Belmont collapsed forward with a thud. Soon, the dark red blood flowing across the floor stained Belmont’s clothes.

“Who… who are you?”

Thinking this person was his lifesaver regardless, he asked, but the black-clothed man only stared down at Belmont without answering. His eyes also held a chilling murderous intent. Wondering if this person also meant to kill him, Belmont watched tensely, not even daring to blink.

However, the man silently turned and left through the window as if nothing had happened.

“My lord!”

Belmont’s subordinates finally rushed in belatedly.

“What took you so long! Were you planning to come after I was dead!”

He shouted angrily at his innocent subordinates.

“Are you alright?”

One subordinate helped Belmont stand up. The others removed the mask from the fallen man to check his face.

“Do you know him?”

They showed the face to Belmont and asked. Belmont examined the face carefully but shook his head.

“Probably a mercenary.”

What fool would use their own knight for an assassination? Ah, there was one — that prince who was stupid enough to use his official knight as an assassin due to his arrogance and underestimation of his opponent. Belmont clicked his tongue, thinking he wouldn’t be in this situation if he hadn’t agreed to clean up after Lloyd.

“Who keeps trying to kill you, my lord…”

This wasn’t the first ambush. It was already the third time on his way here. But twice before, the attackers were found already dead before even getting close to Marquis Belmont. His subordinates had found masked men dead near Belmont’s lodgings, just like today.

At first, they thought it strange. When they found the second suspicious corpse, they sensed the dead men weren’t unrelated to Marquis Belmont. And today, seeing the intruder who made it into Belmont’s bedroom, they were certain. All those who had been found dead were also people who had come to kill Marquis Belmont.

Ungh. Marquis Belmont let out a groan that seemed to boil in his throat. He could guess who was sending people to kill him. The Empress and Lloyd would be in the most trouble if he was captured alive and taken to the palace. But he had no idea who was saving him. Who was trying to help him?

Though he ground his teeth at the Empress, he felt frustrated not understanding who was trying to help him and with what intention. At the same time, he thought this might be an opportunity. Who was trying to throw him a lifeline after he had lost his connection to the Empress?

If he could just get through this crisis… His fist clenched as he recalled the Empress who only showed a gentle smile while hiding her true intentions. He would never let this go. Even if he died, he absolutely couldn’t die alone.

*

“His Highness Aidan and Her Highness the Consort have arrived!”

All eyes turned to the entrance at the announcement of Aidan and Karina’s arrival. When Karina appeared holding Aidan’s hand, exclamations of admiration burst forth from all directions. They had never seen anyone who suited a red dress so well.

“Welcome.”

Duchess Hewitt, today’s party’s host, came forward to greet the couple. Happy to see her daughter after so long, she opened her arms and hugged Karina tightly. Karina also hugged her mother and kissed her cheek while offering birthday congratulations.

“You look so beautiful today. One might think Your Highness is the guest of honor rather than me.”

Duchess Hewitt said with a bright smile, seemingly satisfied with her daughter’s appearance.

“Please don’t say that. Mother, you’re more beautiful.”

“Karina speaks the truth.”

Aidan added as he handed a large bouquet to Duchess Hewitt.

“Karina’s beauty comes from taking after you, Duchess.”

The Duchess’s smile deepened at his charming grin.

“Your presence alone is an honor, yet you’ve prepared such beautiful flowers. I’m overwhelmed.”

As she accepted the bouquet with thanks, Aidan shook his head.

“This isn’t the real gift.”

At Aidan’s signal, his knights entered carrying large boxes one after another.

“My goodness, what is all this?”

Duchess Hewitt asked in surprise.

“I hope at least one of these will please you…”

Aidan smiled good-naturedly while giving a slight bow.

The party guests watching them all envied Duchess Hewitt. When Karina first announced her marriage to Prince Aidan, half the people envied her becoming a princess, while the other half clicked their tongues, saying she’d be princess in name only to an unrecognized prince. But now, people’s view of Aidan had clearly changed.

It started with his victory at the knights’ tournament, and since then, word of his erudition he had shown during policy meetings had spread among the nobles. Moreover, he had clear legitimacy. Even among the neutral ministers, whispers now suggested Aidan might be more suitable as the next emperor.

When such a prince, with his exceptionally handsome face, smiled warmly while showering gifts and birthday wishes, it was natural to envy Duchess Hewitt.

“May I request the first dance?”

Aidan invited Duchess Hewitt to dance.

“Surely you haven’t danced with Duke Hewitt yet?”

Duchess Hewitt smiled and shook her head at Aidan’s playful question.

“You’ll understand if I dance with another woman just for today?”

Karina let out a laugh at his referring to her mother as ‘another woman.’

“By all means.”

With Karina’s permission, Aidan took Duchess Hewitt’s hand and led her to the center of the hall.

“He’s truly wonderful. Why didn’t we see it before?”

“Who knew His Highness Aidan had such a caring side? I suppose he was just lost before.”

The noble ladies couldn’t take their eyes off Aidan as he perfectly escorted Duchess Hewitt. Their mouths overflowed with praise for every aspect of him.

Well, his handsome face is worth looking at.

Karina sighed softly as their praise ultimately turned to his striking appearance.

He certainly wasn’t bad to look at. It was impossible to imagine this was the same person who had learned to dance by watching her and Kai because he didn’t know how. Though he’d had no chance to dance since the palace banquet, strangely, his skills seemed even better than before.

He truly was strange. Not only did he learn quickly, but he seemed never to forget what he learned. He could apply ten things from learning just one. It was now amazing that such an unfairly talented person could exist. Thanks to him, Karina’s palace life had been peaceful lately.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

Duke Hewitt said as he stood beside Karina, offering her one of the wine glasses he carried.

“I was really worried at first about how things would turn out.”

Right after the wedding, Karina had asked her father to support her opinion if she decided to divorce when she felt Aidan wasn’t himself. Such words from his daughter right after marriage must have troubled Duke Hewitt.

“Better than expected… I think we’re doing well.”

Two months ago, when she burst into his bedroom, she had no hope or expectations. She only wanted to end things with him.

But now… At some point, she had started thinking maybe she could envision a future with him.

“Though I’m concerned that Marquis Belmont hasn’t been caught yet.”

Duke Hewitt muttered to himself.

“Still, perhaps it’s time to consider having an heir with His Highness.”

“Suddenly talking about an heir…”

“It’s not sudden at all. It’s already been two months since your marriage. The ministers are starting to hope for good news from you both. Though he hasn’t said anything, His Majesty likely feels the same.”

Just two months and already…