His voice was lower and slower than usual. And the movements that followed were just as gentle.

A strange mix of pain and pleasure spread like wildfire. It startled her, made her afraid, but whenever she looked up through her shifting hair and met those gold eyes, every thought dissolved.

The knowledge that he wanted her this much gave her a breathless, almost overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

His eyes were fixed on her. His lips called her name. His hands held her close. Watching Kalintz, filled entirely with her, Blair felt herself fill entirely with him.

The night tilted slowly. In that time, the two of them kept filling each other, deepening together, unhurried.

The next morning, Blair woke to the feel of soft blankets around her.

“Ow……”

A groan escaped her at the way every muscle in her body ached, especially around her lower back. She was wriggling under the covers and rubbing at her waist when a low voice came from beside her.

“You’ll need to build more stamina.”

Blair turned her head in surprise. Kalintz was lying on his side with his head propped on one hand, watching her with a languid expression.

“If that much wears you out, what are you going to do going forward.”

“That much……?”

Blair murmured in disbelief.

“After putting me through all that yesterday, you can say that?”

“You didn’t seem to be suffering. If anything, you seemed to enjo—”

Kalintz’s next words were cut off by Blair’s hasty hand.

“How can you say something like that so casually, it’s embarrassing!”

“We did far more embarrassing things, and now you’re suddenly shy?”

Kalintz peeled Blair’s hand away from his mouth and laced their fingers together gently.

“Though I suppose this isn’t bad either.”

He pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand and curved his eyes at the corners. The easy composure of it made Blair feel inexplicably petty, and she shoved the arm he was propping his head on.

Kalintz’s face sank into the soft pillow with a quiet laugh.

The morning light of Valia, already growing warmer, was breaking through in brilliant pieces.

❀❀❀

“I wonder what kind of face he’ll be making.”

Blair murmured as she walked down the corridor toward the luncheon venue.

“Willer Brienne is obvious, but the Grand Duke, I’m not so sure. What expression will he have.”

Grand Duke Clovitz had invited Kalintz and Blair, along with Duke Brienne and a portion of the Eiron diplomatic delegation, to luncheon.

Luncheon in name, but in reality it was a private gathering to discuss what had happened at the hunting competition.

“Brienne will probably push for Valia to investigate. That’s the only way to put forward a false culprit. Grand Duke Clovitz will go along with it too. He won’t have much of a choice, whether he likes it or not.”

“But after today, things will be a little different. We’re going to give him more options.”

Shaking Grand Duke Clovitz, who must have been feeling the frustration of being dragged along by Duke Brienne. That was the goal Blair and Kalintz were bringing to the luncheon.

“Let’s hope the Grand Duke takes the bait.”

Blair nodded quietly and walked on.

The luncheon venue had been set up not in the central main palace but in the eastern detached palace. It was a somewhat remote and modest location for hosting foreign guests.

“They’re going to great lengths to keep it from leaking out.”

Blair murmured softly and stepped inside.

The first thing she saw was Willer Brienne sitting in his seat with a rigid expression.

His clouded gaze moved carefully over Kalintz. Kalintz walked to his designated seat at an unhurried pace, each step deliberate and elegant.

“……I greet Your Highnesses.”

Duke Brienne rose and gave a brief bow. The face that was always arrogant had a crack in it today.

“You’ve recovered quickly. I’m glad it wasn’t worse.”

“Well. It may be fortunate for me, but I’m not sure it’s fortunate for you, Duke.”

At Kalintz’s words, Duke Brienne’s brow furrowed.

“Still, it really was dangerous this time. I nearly died. Or perhaps I might have been left crippled.”

Kalintz returned the exact words the Duke had said at the masquerade, which Blair had overheard.

Duke Brienne clenched his jaw and turned a cold glare on Blair. He had apparently already figured out who had been listening in on his conversation with Count Roman.

“I hear Her Highness the Princess Consort played a significant role. It seems the two of you truly are a fated pair.”

“I’ve been thinking much the same lately.”

Blair looked the Duke straight in the eye and answered without missing a beat. His expression was twisting further when—

“His Grace Grand Duke Clovitz.”

At the chief chamberlain’s announcement, Grand Duke Kazhar Clovitz entered.

“How are you feeling, Prince. I heard you’ve nearly fully recovered.”

The Grand Duke’s expression as he said it was even darker than Duke Brienne’s.

“Thanks to your concern, my recovery has been swift.”

Since Ariela’s connection to Kalintz was a secret, Kalintz kept his answer vague.

Grand Duke Clovitz offered the usual formalities, expressing condolences to the princess consort for the shock she must have suffered.

After a few more rounds of pointless pleasantries, Duke Brienne began to speak in earnest.

“With all due respect, Your Grace. This incident is deeply regrettable. The sole heir to the Eiron throne nearly killed by a mutant. And forbidden alchemy was used, no less.”

Blair’s face tightened at the sheer audacity of it. Grand Duke Clovitz’s expression was no different.

“I believe Valia must make a clear effort to uncover the truth of this matter.”

“……I had already intended to do so. That is precisely why I arranged this luncheon. We will take responsibility and find the culprit—”

“If I may.”

Kalintz’s voice cut through sharply.

“My view differs somewhat.”

Looks tangled with unease, confusion, and suspicion flew toward Kalintz from around the table.

“I have no intention of making this incident an official matter.”

“Your Highness.”

Duke Brienne cut in as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but Kalintz paid him no mind.

“I mean that I have no intention of making it public, nor of turning it into a diplomatic issue. Which also means I do not wish for a Valian royal investigation.”

Grand Duke Clovitz’s eyes went wide with surprise. Duke Brienne and his associates were no different.

“Your Highness. Something like this should first be discussed with our delegation—”

“The opinion of the one who ‘nearly died or was left crippled’ ought to carry more weight than yours. At least on this particular matter.”

Kalintz cut him off coldly and turned to address Grand Duke Clovitz.

“Your Grace. I have no desire to waste time on an investigation. And I imagine Your Grace would not wish to burden Valia with such a thing either.”

Grand Duke Clovitz’s eyes deepened.

A waste of time. A burden on Valia. Every word carried the unmistakable implication that the culprit was already known.

A suffocating silence followed. Duke Brienne stared at Kalintz with a rigid face.

A moment later, Grand Duke Clovitz, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth.

“If that is the Prince’s wish, I will cooperate. If you need any personal assistance, please let me know at any time.”

“!”

Duke Brienne’s face went rigid in an instant. He was clenching his jaw so hard, his lower jaw was visibly trembling.

The luncheon, which had continued in cold silence, wrapped up quickly.

“Then let us conclude here.”

Grand Duke Clovitz’s expression was still stiff, but it was subtly different from when they had first sat down.

“Oh, and there is something I would like to ask the Princess Consort of Eiron briefly.”

There was a lukewarm hesitation in the Grand Duke’s voice. Duke Brienne’s venomous gaze followed close behind.

“You mean me.”

Blair answered, certain he had taken the bait.

She followed Grand Duke Clovitz out.

Kalintz was reluctant, but when Blair gave him a look that said it was fine, he relented and let go of her hand.

“Have refreshments brought up to the second floor.”

“Pardon? Oh…… of course, Your Grace.”

The chief chamberlain looked momentarily flustered at Grand Duke Clovitz’s instruction.

Why is he doing that. What’s on the second floor.

Blair’s curiosity didn’t last long. Grand Duke Clovitz stopped in front of an ornate door beautifully carved with magnolias in relief.

Could it be……

Blair stepped into the spacious room and saw the portrait of a young girl hanging above the fireplace. She was certain.

“This is Queen Rhea’s room.”

“You recognized it from the portrait alone?”

Grand Duke Clovitz asked, sounding surprised.

“The magnolias carved on the door as well.”

Magnolias were also Queen Rhea’s favorite flower. The garden behind the queen’s palace even had a small flower bed planted with nothing but magnolia trees.

“Yes. She loved that flower from the time she was small.”