It happened in an instant. The moment she secured the almoner, Lutz grabbed her ankle and knocked her down. Just before she hit the floor, a large hand caught her back and the back of her head.

Opening her tightly shut eyes, the first sensation she became aware of was the heavy pressure. Lutz was looming over her, his body blanketing hers.

The next thing she registered was his thigh wedged between her legs.

Her attempt to conceal her exposed body had become pointless. Her hand covering her chest had been pushed aside, and her br*asts were pressed against Lutz’s body with no space between them.

It was fortunate that he had protected her from harm, but their posture was so indecent that her face burned. Hinael averted her gaze from his hungry stare.

The weight pressing on her abdomen and chest lifted away.

“Why don’t we try negotiating again, while you’re standing?”

Of course, that was his intention. Hinael pushed herself up, bracing her hands on the floor.

Just as she was about to engage in a proper discussion, as if the patience he had painstakingly maintained had suddenly snapped, he shoved his fingers into the hand Hinael had clenched into a fist.

She put in as much force as she could, but it was no match for the man’s overwhelming strength.

Easily subduing her with just a few fingers, Lutz bent them into a hook and swiftly snatched the almoner away.

“Give that back!”

She swung her arm, but Lutz lifted his hand just barely out of reach.

As he did, the gem set in the goddess’s eye on the almoner scraped sharply across the back of her hand.

“Ah!”

The stinging pain had just set in when Hinael covered his hand with her palm. Pulling it back, she saw a long, bleeding scratch.

Lutz, who had pushed her away without care for her pain, let out a relieved sigh as he twirled the reclaimed almoner. The unstable look he had earlier had now settled.

Hinael, having lost the almoner with nothing to show for it, was dejected.

Without a bargaining chip, what could she do now?

Now that he had the almoner back, it was only a matter of time before he left.

If she let him go like this, her plan would be ruined.

Hinael felt a lump in her throat, overwhelmed by despair. The only thing left was to make a fervent plea.

She stepped back a few paces, then stood up straight. Unconcerned about her exposed br*asts, she clasped her hands humbly.

“Still… since I’ve found the almoner, please hear my request. If you want me to fulfill the duties of a wife, I will fulfill them without fail.”

Instead of the response she had been waiting for, a sharp breath fromLutz’s nose pierced her like a blade. He seemed to be severely irritated by her persistent demands.

Just as she was about to lose her last chance, she noticed his legs bending.

Lutz lowered his nearly 4-cubit¹180cm tall frame to eye level. An expression of benevolence, as if bestowing mercy upon a child, briefly crossed his face, before he affixed a haughty smile at the corner of his lips.

“The duties of a wife…”

Peering down at Hinael, Lutz tilted his head slightly. His insistent gaze, trying to maintain eye contact, was highly domineering.

Was he simply eager to witness the vulnerability of a weaker being up close?

If so, Hinael was willing to oblige, holding his gaze firmly.

Through the open view, Lutz’s figure surged in like a wave.

The renowned beauty that had spread even to the Sarr Kingdom caught her eye first. He’s undoubtedly handsome enough to stir the hearts of women, but there was a limit to describing the aura he exuded. The peril of a well-honed blade lay in wait.

Just making eye contact with him was enough to make her spirit quail.

At this point, she couldn’t tell whether she was afraid of him rejecting her or simply afraid ofLutz himself.

Regardless, as the one who had trampled on the bodies of enemies and sounded the victory cry, he was certainly an object of terror.

She forced out her words in a hoarse voice.

“I will never forget the grace you’ve shown me. So please…”

“Please, take me to Trycas?”

With a pitiful expression, she nodded, andLutz circled around her. He seemed to be savoring the captured mouse, contemplating how to play with it.

Just as a chill ran through her, as if the cold moonlight was sapping her warmth…

“Alright.”

The dark eyes, no different from the night sky, suddenly shone with distinct brilliance.

Seeing the captivating darkness of his gaze, Hinael discovered a faint glimmer of hope.

“R-Really? You really will marry me?”

“If you don’t believe it, why did you ask?”

“I-I don’t mean that! Absolutely not!”

Hinael deeply bowed, then quickly straightened up, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.

“Thank you. Your Highness… thank you so much.”

Now she could send him away and calmly welcome the banquet.

But just then…

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness! Are you sleeping?”

Hearing Dea’s voice, Hinael’s face went pale.

Lutz had knocked her over with a loud thud, and she had raised her voice demanding the stolen almoner back. As these events flashed through her mind, she felt her blood run cold at her own foolishness.

Her mouth moved, but no sound came out.

“Your Highness! Are you in there? Why is the door…?”

With no response, Dea began vigorously shaking the locked door.

While Dea was anxiously shuffling her feet, Lutz stood by with his arms crossed, observing leisurely. Realizing he might be discovered, Hinael politely gestured towards the window with both hands.

“P-Please, go now.”

“So you’re just kicking me out now that your business is done.”

“It’s a situation that could be misunderstood if someone sees.”

“I don’t care about that.”

He stood firmly, like someone determined to put her in trouble. With no hint of laughter, his demeanor was bleak, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

With the tables completely turned, Hinael had no choice but to grovel.

“It would be troublesome if you remain here, so please, go.”

She meant to say, ‘Please leave,’ but it sounded like an order, so she pleaded instead. But he didn’t even blink an eye.

“Your Highness! Please open the door. Are you alright?”

She couldn’t delay any longer. If she persisted, the guards would likely be summoned to break down the door.

She had infiltrated with steps as light as feathers, and thought leaving would be simple, but Lutz’s capricious nature was not cooperating at all.

Anchored to the floor as if his feet were sinking into it, he refused to budge, which irritated her. Hinael pushed him quite boldly.

“I’m going to open the door now. So either stay here or leave, as you wish.”

Without looking at him, she abruptly turned her back.

Her heart was constricted with fear that Lutz might be discovered, but she headed straight for the door. With a resigned sigh, she flung it open.

“Phew… You were inside.”

Dea glanced around, peeking in and out.

‘What if the Prince is still standing there?’

Her heart was pounding in her head, making her dizzy.

Hinael steeled her wobbly legs. She focused all her senses on Dea’s expression and any potential sounds from inside.

After a moment, Dea’s innocent gaze returned to Hinael.

“Were you… alone? I thought I heard a noise from inside.”

Realizing Dea had discovered nothing, Hinael feigned composure. Her lying voice trembled unpleasantly, but that didn’t matter.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was trying to get some air, but a cat suddenly jumped in the window and startled me.”

She was grateful she hadn’t stuttered. Dea also seemed not to have noticed anything amiss.

Hinael stood in front of the door, blocking Dea from entering, and gave her a faint smile.

“I chased it away, so there’s nothing to worry about. I was just about to go back to sleep anyway.”

“I see. If there’s anything, just pull the emergency cord.”

“Okay.”

Watching Dea leave, Hinael thought to herself how fortunate it was that Lutz hadn’t closed the window on his way out.

If he hadn’t, she wouldn’t have been able to come up with a suitable excuse and would have stumbled over her words.

Once the minor commotion was peacefully resolved, a sense of calm settled in.

Now that a deal with Viant had been struck, the worries that had heavily burdened her heart had lifted. Even if the incident at the West Palace spread to Dea and reached the Queen’s ears tomorrow, so be it.

Having taken a step closer to escaping the Sarr Kingdom, she could easily overlook the rest.

“Phew… It’s done now.”

Just as she was about to turn to close the window,

“Ugh!”

Seeing Lutz hiding behind the door, she jumped in fright, and quickly covered her mouth before she could scream.

“I hid to avoid creating a situation that could be misunderstood, and you’re set on getting caught?”

“Mmph!”

Her eyes flew wide open, and he removed his hand.

Rubbing her mouth, which had been crushed by his tremendous strength, Hinael eyed Lutz, who was still here, with distaste.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

“I have something more to tell you.”

Lutz looked at the almoner. The cold-blooded man, who seemed incapable of shedding even a drop of blood, had a honey-coated expression as he gazed at the pouch.

“It seems you intend to keep my visit here a secret?”

“Well, it does seem quite suspicious.”

“We were supposed to meet tomorrow.”

She brushed it off, not considering it particularly important. So she was taken aback when he himself arranged the natural flow of time.

“You… want to meet me?”

“If people found out that you recovered the almoner earlier than expected, people around you would ask when and how you found it. To avoid the hassle, come to the West Palace at noon tomorrow. Say you got it back from the captain as you told him.”