“What is this?”

“Roasted pumpkin seeds. They’re so delicious and savory!”

Dea eagerly rummaged through a small pouch, taking out pumpkin seeds as they came to her hand.

That was the moment. A flash of insight struck her mind.

‘That’s it! The pouch!’

Two days before the banquet, the palace had been turned upside down when Prince Viant lost his almoner. Coincidentally, that day had been Hinael’s birthday, so she remembered the date.

She didn’t know how valuable the item in that pouch was, but the captain of the palace guards, who had picked it up but pretended not to know, was even killed for it.

How could she have forgotten such a significant event until now?

But it was not too late, and she was relieved.

* * *

The long-awaited day had arrived.

Hinael focused all her attention on stealing Prince Viant’s item, rather than on her own birthday, which passed without any congratulations.

Lost in thought, she was brought back by her mother’s low cough.

“Ahem!”

“Ah, I was just lost in thought for a moment. What were you saying?”

“About your marriage to Count Phil. Have you given it any thought?”

“…No.”

“Well, if His Majesty decides, that’s that. But aren’t you grateful? I wonder how a man like the Count could have taken a liking to you.”

Polygamy was only allowed for the royal family, while the commoners, including the nobles, were supposed to practice monogamy. But how could the wealthy be satisfied with just one?

They openly keep mistresses, yet they demand eternal fidelity from their wives.

‘If she knew what that beast had done to me, she would be shocked and horrified.’

Suddenly, her abdomen twisted in pain. Where the baby she had been about to meet had been, a dull ache now lingered.

Hinael carefully placed her hand on her belly, trying not to show her discomfort.

“You’re right, Mother. I have no say in the decision.”

“There’s no need to be sullen. Being the first to marry, ahead of the other princesses, is a blessing for you. It’s all thanks to the grace of Lord Nushka.”

The people of the Sarr Kingdom revered the god of fire, Nushka. But if this was truly His will, it was a curse, not a blessing, for Hinael.

‘Lord Nushka, even if this is your will, I won’t follow it this time.’

Especially since a meaningless death awaited her.

Hinael firmly fixed her gaze and smiled brightly at her mother. It was a fake smile, but her conscience was clear.

“I feel the same way.”

“I just want you to live happily. As long as you can live in peace by the side of the man who looks only at you, I have no other wish.”

For some reason, Hinael had also believed in that. That’s why she had entrusted her life to Chetter without any resistance, just doing as she was told.

Now, with the hope of not repeating the regrettable past, Hinael was filled with a surge of anticipation.

‘Tonight, this will be the golden opportunity to change my life.’

* * *

After finishing her dinner, Hinael went to bed early. Once Dea was fast asleep, she would be free. At times like these, she was grateful for her marginalized status.

When the house fell silent, Hinael hurriedly slipped out of her quarters, timing it with the guards’ shift change.

She headed towards the west wing where the Trycas envoy was staying.

After walking along the secluded path, guided by the moonlight, she spotted the captain of the guards, who had just been relieved and was leaving his post.

‘There he is!’

Hinael evaded the guards. She didn’t have the confidence to approach the captain.

She conflicted for a moment on what to do, but the realization that her fate was at stake gave her a recklessly brave courage. If she didn’t try something, she would end up dead anyway.

After all, by tomorrow, the news of her wandering around the palace would reach the Queen’s ears. Now was not the time to be selective.

She walked straight towards the captain.

As the distance between them closed, the captain’s face twisted in displeasure. He glanced at Hinael distastefully and reluctantly greeted her.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

“I want to talk with you for a moment.”

“Uh… at what?”

“Yes.”

Blinking her blue eyes, Hinael stood upright. Seeing no sign of her backing down, the captain looked around.

The soldiers, who had been staring at them suspiciously, hurriedly moved away when they met the captain’s stern gaze.

He openly heaved a sigh.

“Tch… Since there are onlookers, come this way.”

The place he led her to was a secluded path leading to the royal shrine.

The captain ushered Hinael behind a large tree.

As they faced each other, Hinael greeted him with a faint smile. Determined to get the almoner by any means, she coaxed him gently.

“Shouldn’t you return the item you found?”

“Huh?”

“I saw you pick up the almoner at the west wing. Isn’t that the Prince’s?”

“Me!”

“If you don’t return it right away, the Prince might misunderstand that you stole it.”

“S-steal, you say!”

He exclaimed loudly, then quickly shut his mouth lest someone hear. Gritting his teeth, he said grimly,

“What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?”

To be honest, she didn’t know where he found the almoner. She hadn’t even witnessed him picking up.

All she knew was that the person the Prince had killed was the very captain of the palace guards standing before Hinael, and the approximate time of the incident.

The news had spread throughout the palace by the next day, reaching even Hinael, so she thought it must have been a serious matter at the time.

Anyway, since the envoy was staying in the west wing, she just blurted it out without much thought. But lying made her heart pound frantically.

Luckily, it was dark, so the redness of her face went unnoticed.

Hinael looked up at the moon-draped sky and assumed a confident expression. Seeing the man’s flinching reaction, she was convinced.

“Was there something valuable in the Prince’s almoner?”

Hitting the nail on the head, the captain was at a loss. But he didn’t like the sight of Hinael, a powerless princess in the palace, meddling, so he lifted his chin.

“And since when has Your Highness the Princess been wandering around the west wing?”

He twisted his mustache, smirking.

“Do you perhaps have business with the Prince?”

“I’m just curious. I heard the agreement was finalized that one of the princesses will marry the Prince for the peace treaty. Was I mistaken?”

The captain openly showed an incredulous smile. Even among the consort-born princesses, Hinael was far too lacking to be considered.

Though they had lost the war and were essentially war prizes, he must think Hinael was dreaming big of marrying the Imperial Prince.

Hinael brushed it off and brazenly continued.

“I could go right now and report the facts to His Highness.”

“I could also report Your Highness’s actions.”

“Do as you please. I may just be confined to my quarters, but you could have your thieving hands chopped off.”

If he was innocent, he could simply return it right now without hesitation. But it seemed he had missed his chance, since his throat bobbed noticeably.

“You seem to be in a predicament. Has His Highness already started searching for the almoner? If the Prince is looking for it, it must be a very precious item. Even if you return it now, it would be hard to avoid misunderstanding.”

This time, the captain’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“I know His Highness is said to be as ruthless as a war devil. I could at least make an excuse that I was keeping the almoner because I wanted to see His Highness. But you… you knew yet pretending not to, you would be branded a thief.”

Watching his complexion gradually paling, she clicked her tongue in a way that seemed sympathetic.

“My, I wonder how valuable the item inside must be for you to have stolen it.”

The captain anxiously fidgeted with the sword at his waist. He must be racking his brains to find a way out, but his hasty calculations in this situation were truly pathetic.

Even if he racked his brain, what clever solution could he have, cornered as he was?

Hinael had a feeling that her plan was proceeding smoothly. The anxiety had disappeared, and she even felt a sense of ease.

Just as she was about to turn around, pretending to go report him, the captain spoke up.

“Uh… just a moment.”

When they faced each other again, he took out the pouch he had hidden in his chest.

“I, I was actually planning to return it to His Highness the Prince.”

Whatever you say.

Hinael held out her hand to the captain.

“I’ll deliver it to him instead.”

The captain had no qualms, since he thought Hinael was interested in the Prince.

After a moment of hesitation, the captain, seemingly having decided he could escape the crisis, readily handed over the almoner.

Hinael held the almoner up to the moonlight, letting out an admiring gasp.

“Wow! Such an exquisitely beautiful jewel. No wonder it was so coveted.”

“But why do you keep calling me a thief?”

“Let’s just pretend today’s incident never happened, okay? You shouldn’t be acting in a way unbecoming of your status, so try to improve your manners next time.”

Hinael simply stated her piece and carefully tucked the almoner into her sleeve.

When she had taken a few steps, she heard the irritated footsteps following behind her.

“There were soldiers who saw Your Highness and me today.”

“Tell them that I said I would keep the almoner and deliver it directly to His Highness the Prince tomorrow. Say that’s why I called you aside. Pass that on to His Highness as well. That way, the story will line up.”