His answer was so brazen that she lost her words. Though that was true, she wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for a prince to be so openly holding hands in such a public place, considering proper decorum.

“They might envy us, but no one will criticize, so don’t worry.”

He wasn’t unaware of what Karina was concerned about. Knowing full well but still being so shameless made him slightly annoying. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to reject his hand completely. She just gave up and let him do as he pleased, turning her gaze away.

Noticing Karina’s surrender, Aidan smirked and looked around. The men’s gazes that had been directed at Karina hurriedly scattered the moment they met Aidan’s eyes.

This is why I can’t let go of your hand.

He swallowed a laugh. Karina was actually oblivious to the attention focused on herself. She seemed to think they were getting attention simply because they were a royal couple. But the men’s gazes directed at Karina were entangled with far more varied desires.

What a funny world. Men openly flirting with another’s woman. And it’s not limited to men. There was even a woman who boldly invaded our bedroom despite knowing we’re married.

Though he acknowledged that this world’s concept of chastity was clearly different from where he had lived, there were parts he couldn’t emotionally accept. If there was any consolation, it was that Karina wasn’t like them.

‘What if I said you could have a lover too? Then it would be fair, wouldn’t it? Though I haven’t actually had an affair, if you feel that unfair…’

‘I have no desire to continue marriage in such a vulgar way. Let’s just divorce cleanly.’

Recalling their conversation from when they first met made him smile. Back then, he actually wanted to postpone the divorce because he thought it better to keep her, the young lady of House Hewitt, on his side since he didn’t know what would happen. He hadn’t really known that in this world, especially in the imperial family, the existence of lovers was tacitly accepted. With the husband cheating from the first night, he thought it fair to suggest she could have a lover too when she was demanding divorce.

Seeing how she had seriously answered that she didn’t want to have a vulgar marriage life, Karina didn’t seem likely to secretly take a lover during their marriage. Rather, she seemed the type to openly ask for divorce if she found someone else.

Well. That’s normal, isn’t it? And that’s why I like Karina Hewitt, who is so perfectly normal.

The problem was other people. Officially, even though everyone could see Karina was Aidan’s consort, some still coveted her. Lloyd was the prime example. At first, she thought he was just crazy. How could anyone in their right mind desire their brother’s wife, even if they were half-brothers?

But thinking about it differently, it wasn’t impossible. Even in famous Western myths and movies, it was somewhat common in royal families for a remaining brother to take responsibility for his deceased brother’s wife. As they say when in Rome do as the Romans do — if it was permitted in this world, it was possible for Lloyd to pursue Karina.

If he died, if ‘Aidan Griffith’ died, Lloyd could freely desire Karina as his consort.

Thinking of it that way, she could understand the ambush on their wedding night. The issue wasn’t that it happened ‘while returning from meeting Kate Spencer.’ What mattered more was that it was his wedding night with Karina Hewitt.

He probably wanted to eliminate ‘Aidan’ before he could be intimate with Karina, before they could become a proper husband and wife.

As she understood why Lloyd had acted so hastily, she also saw how obsessed he was with Karina. Using aphrodisiacs to entangle Kate Spencer with himself seemed less about tarnishing Aidan’s image and more about destroying his relationship with Karina.

The problem wasn’t just Lloyd. She hadn’t noticed while staying only in the palace, but coming to House Hewitt’s party today, she saw numerous men who couldn’t take their eyes off Karina. While some simply admired her beauty, she could see several with lecherous intentions.

‘I’d like to stand by her side, even as a lover.’

‘Just stand by her side? You don’t have any other intentions?’

‘Well, as a man, of course…’

He overheard voices talking while dancing with the Duchess Hewitt. When he looked over to see who they were talking about, their gazes were fixed on Karina.

‘Too late. Someone’s already talking to her.’

Looking where they indicated, some man was indeed approaching Karina to speak with her. Barely suppressing a scowl, Aidan excused himself from the Duchess Hewitt and returned to Karina.

There really wasn’t a moment to let his guard down.

If he left her alone now, it was obvious someone else would approach to talk. Karina, completely oblivious to their intentions, would treat them courteously as guests of House Hewitt. But men were simple. They mistook even a little kindness for interest. Even without any such intention from Karina, many would delude themselves.

“Shall we get some fresh air?”

At Aidan’s suggestion, Karina turned with a puzzled expression. They hadn’t been in the hall long, so she probably didn’t understand why he wanted fresh air already. At the last palace banquet, they had stayed seated for quite a while, so this sudden desire for air must have seemed strange.

Knowing this, Aidan still persistently asked with a smile if she could guide him to a good spot for fresh air.

“This way, please.”

Karina led Aidan to a terrace connected to the hall where the party was being held. The lively music and voices could still be heard through the glass door.

While they could certainly get fresh air outside, his goal of hiding Karina from people’s eyes wasn’t achieved.

“Perhaps I should have said I needed somewhere to be alone with you rather than fresh air.”

He added with a wry smile, and Karina looked at him with an expression that said ‘what are you talking about.’ At his mother-in-law’s birthday party, wanting to be alone must have seemed absurd.

“Please don’t forget you’re the prince representing the imperial family. Everyone inside is focused on your every move, and even the smallest mistake could drastically change their evaluation of you…!”

As she started lecturing with a sigh, he suddenly brought his face close to hers, making her eyes grow round.

“Your High…!”

Knowing exactly what would follow that address, he didn’t let her finish and captured her lips. Instead of just a light touch of lips, he slightly extended his tongue to lick her lips, feeling her flinch. When she tried to push him away and step back, he quickly wrapped his hand behind her head and pulled her close. As their lips crushed together, the pain naturally made her mouth gape open. He immediately took advantage, deepening the kiss.

He caught her hands trying to push against his chest. Gradually, as the heat grew more intense, Karina seemed to give up and relaxed. Only after thoroughly exploring her for a while did Aidan finally separate their lips. But he kept his forehead lightly pressed against hers.

“Not ‘Your Highness,’ just Aidan.”

He added with a smirk, and Karina glared at him. He thought she would continue her unfinished lecture, but she just took short breaths and pushed firmly against his chest with both hands. This time, he yielded to her force.

“Really, what are you thinking… in such a crowded place…”

Karina muttered, turning her head. Though she tried to act nonchalant, her nape was flushed red. The gap between her usually cold and rigid attitude made this incredibly cute.

“It’s just us two here, isn’t it?”

It was true they were alone on the terrace. Though the party hall was clearly visible through the glass doors. Everyone who wanted to see probably saw their kiss just now. Actually, he had intended for them to see.

“You’re not thinking the inside can’t see out here, are you?”

“Of course not?”

When it became clear he was fully aware that everything was visible, Karina’s expression turned even more incredulous.

“Then why such an undignified act…”

“Because I care more about marking my territory than maintaining dignity.”

He answered with a grin, taking her hand in his.

“Shall we go back in now?”

This much should be enough — unless someone was prepared to fight him, no one would openly approach Karina now. So they could return to the hall.

Karina frowned as Aidan led her back into the hall. She couldn’t understand what he had wanted to do. He said he wanted fresh air, but they barely spent any time on the terrace. It seemed like he just wanted to kiss her.

After entering the hall, she looked back at the glass door leading to the terrace. Because it was during the party, there weren’t even curtains drawn, and looking from inside, the outside was even more clearly visible. Everyone who wanted to see must have seen their kiss.

Her face belatedly grew hot. From now on, when Aidan said he wanted fresh air, she would make sure to take him somewhere far from the hall, like the garden. Somewhere not visible to everyone else.