Duke Ivanstein had turned her from a noble princess into a prisoner of war overnight, so despite his seemingly affectionate behavior at the party, Rudrich was certain there might be some fear in the princess’s heart.

Rudrich judged that the best course of action was to separate the unstable princess from Duke Ivanstein.

“It would be best if you left for now, Duke. The princess is unwell and needs rest……”

“I will escort her.”

Genoa cut off Rudrich’s words as if he didn’t need to hear any more. At this rude attitude, Rudrich slightly furrowed his brow and frowned. But looking at Genoa’s calmly composed face, he swallowed a sigh and spoke again.

“Duke Ivanstein, can’t you see the princess’s condition right now?”

“I can see perfectly well. That’s why I said I should escort her.”

“She needs stability.”

“Exactly.”

Genoa tilted his head slightly and glanced at Mel. Then he extended his hand to her and said,

“Come here.”

“……Duke!”

“Let’s return to mansion. You need to rest.”

Even as Rudrich tried to say something, Genoa’s gaze remained fixed on Mel. His tone was extremely casual, but a coldness spread across his composed face.

Mel remained frozen, simply staring at the hand Genoa had extended. Genoa was angry, even though she hadn’t been caught with her scars showing. Mel knew all too well that he became eerily calm when extremely angry.

‘Why……?’

Mel blinked slowly while keenly observing Genoa. Despite her not responding, he stubbornly kept his hand extended without withdrawing it.

Rudrich, perhaps thinking Genoa was pressuring Mel, stepped forward. He stood between him and Mel, blocking her view with his broad back.

“Your Highness.”

Although Genoa called out to him warningly, Rudrich didn’t move. His attitude, acting as if he were a knight protecting the princess, caused slight cracks in Genoa’s calm face.

“Duke Ivanstein, do not ignore the princess’s will and take her away as you please. As long as Reibritton has not completely fallen, she is royalty from another country and a guest of the empire.”

“Then do you intend to keep the princess in your lounge?”

Genoa pressed his fingers to his brow as he spoke. Perhaps feeling tired of Rudrich’s interference, his voice clearly showed signs of annoyance.

“The eyes watching the princess fill the imperial palace. Your manners are widely praiseworthy, Your Highness, but I’d like to point out that they aren’t helping the princess in this situation.”

Rudrich briefly turned to look at the princess. Currently, neither he, nor the princess, nor First Prince Rihast was at the party. Additionally, with Duke Ivanstein Genoa also absent, the nobles’ attention would soon easily focus here, on Rudrich’s lounge.

Rudrich knew that nobles created and enjoyed various rumors about the First Prince and the princess of Reibritton. And he could easily infer that he himself could become the protagonist of those rumors at any time instead of the First Prince. Such scandals would tarnish the princess’s honor.

“The princess will convey her gratitude for Your Highness’s consideration after she has rested.”

Rudrich ultimately couldn’t respond to Genoa’s words. All that remained for the princess of Reibritton was her reputation as a princess with intelligence and wisdom that once tempted the late emperor. Knowing how important that was, he couldn’t rashly intervene.

But concerned about the princess’s reaction, Rudrich turned around and examined her face. Seeing this, Genoa added,

“Don’t worry. The princess will choose to come with me herself.”

“That sounds like you’re going to make her choose.”

“My, how unfortunate that it sounded that way.”

Rudrich didn’t lower his guard. He was one of those who didn’t believe the saying that Duke Ivanstein was a faithful hound of the imperial family.

Rudrich was certain that Genoa Ivanstein was a dangerous man. He disliked the very manner in which Genoa brought the princess of Reibritton as a prisoner and then presented her to imperial society.

The princess was in a position where she could only be used. Rudrich couldn’t grasp what ulterior motives Genoa might have in trying to manipulate the princess as he pleased, which prevented him from lowering his guard.

“I understand Your Highness has misunderstandings about me, but this one is quite painful.”

Genoa placed his hand on his chest as if truly wounded and furrowed his brow. Rudrich briefly gritted his teeth at this detestable behavior.

“The princess must now fully understand Your Highness Rudrich’s deep concern for her, so I shall take her with me now.”

Perhaps reaching the limit of his patience, Genoa extended his hand to Mel again.

“Come here now.”

Mel carefully took a step forward, having noticed through their conversation that Genoa’s mood was worsening. Rudrich briefly looked at her, sending a silent message with his eyes. It was as if he would help her somehow if she showed even the slightest sign of fear.

Mel appreciated Rudrich’s consideration, but she thought that if he truly wanted to help her, he shouldn’t have been so overtly confrontational. He had made a trivial matter worse by needlessly provoking Genoa and fostering misunderstandings.

The more he acted this way, the more Genoa might misunderstand that some significant conversation had occurred between her and Rudrich—one that warranted caution against him.

‘Being too straightforward, he doesn’t know how to bend.’

Mel learned a bit more about Rudrich. She guessed this was precisely why Genoa, despite having marked Rudrich as the next emperor, didn’t openly support him.

“I’ll say it once more, princess, if you don’t want to go, I can……”

Rudrich offered again, but this time Mel firmly shook her head.

“No, Your Highness. I feel uncomfortable continuing to burden you. Fortunately, Duke Ivanstein has come, so I should return with him.”

“……If that is the princess’s wish, I understand. However, I want you to know that Duke Ivanstein is not the only one who can help you.”

“Thank you once again for your kind concern.”

Mel gave a small curtsy and then placed her hand on top of Genoa’s outstretched one. Genoa’s hand tickled her palm like a snake, climbing up to her wrist before suddenly pulling her toward him. As Mel was drawn into Genoa’s arms almost instantly, the jacket that the Second Prince had draped over her shoulders fell to the floor with a thud.

“……!”

Mel froze, unable to even breathe. What if her scars were visible through the shirt? Just the thought made it feel as if all the blood in her body rushed to her back. Mel squeezed her eyes shut as the scars on her back throbbed and began to hurt again.

“The dress suited you so well. What a shame.”

Mel felt something heavy yet soft on her shoulders. When she opened her eyes, she saw Genoa in his shirt and vest. Only then did she realize he had given her his outer garment. Looking down, she saw Rudrich’s jacket lying carelessly on the floor.

‘I should pick it up and return it.’

Perhaps sensing that Mel’s gaze was directed toward Rudrich’s jacket, Genoa naturally cupped her chin with his other hand and turned her gaze toward himself.

“Will you explain to me how you ended up in this state when we return, princess?”

“……I will.”

Mel nodded without saying anything more. Upon seeing her comply so readily with his wishes, she could feel Genoa’s sharp atmosphere somewhat softening. Of course, Rudrich, who didn’t understand Genoa as well as Mel did, didn’t seem to sense this change in atmosphere.

“Could you send me a word when you arrive at your mansion, Duke?”

It was Rudrich’s way of warning him not to do anything foolish, as he would be watching over the princess’s well-being.

“Yes, I shall.”

Despite understanding the weight behind Rudrich’s words, Genoa responded calmly as if it were nothing. At his tone, Rudrich slightly furrowed his brow, but Genoa led her to the lounge door without giving him a chance to reply.

Genoa gripped Mel’s shoulders as she hunched, worried about other onlookers outside.

“I have a carriage waiting. This way.”

Bane was waiting outside the lounge door. After looking around, he immediately led the way.

Genoa kept his arm around Mel’s shoulders as he followed Bane with long strides. Mel had to take small, hurried steps to match his long legs. While Bane didn’t seem to notice Mel’s difficulty, Genoa silently narrowed his stride without a word.

“……”

Mel looked up blankly at Genoa’s face.

At first, she had been overly afraid that Genoa might notice her scars, but now it seemed she had mistaken his expression for anger. Instead of being angry, Genoa appeared to be deep in thought.

She grew more anxious precisely because Genoa, who had seemed ready to bombard her with questions as soon as they were alone, remained so quiet.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Mel thought of a thousand possibilities by the time they left the imperial palace and boarded the carriage. No matter how much she considered it, she couldn’t figure out why Genoa was acting as if he were angry.

Of course, while it was Mel who had independently thought about and executed both earning the First Prince’s hostility and the Second Prince’s favor, she believed this was exactly what Genoa had intended.

Provoking the First Prince through rumors and giving Mel a dress symbolizing the Ivanstein ducal family to make the First Prince look foolish—all of this was the picture Genoa wanted, and Mel was confident she had been the brush in his hand, drawing an excellent sketch.

‘Could I have misjudged?’