She had wondered why he hadn’t shown up, and it seemed he had been contemplating how to deal with her on his own. Then Estelle suddenly suspected that he might have been the one who sent the assassin.

‘No… that’s not it. If he wanted to kill me, he would have plenty of other methods, so why would he do that? And above all, if he had made up his mind to kill me, there’s no way I would still be alive.’

Lexion Herais was an expert at killing people. He had even mercilessly eliminated his own bloodline for his ambition.

Estelle recalled the political opponents he had removed and Jeff’s final appearance. Distrust toward the man she once loved seemed to be engraved in her heart. And she was secretly relieved by that fact. It felt like confirmation that she had no lingering attachment to him.

“Estelle, will you marry me?”

“……!”

Estelle trembled so violently that anyone could tell she was not sleeping. This time, it was simply impossible to maintain her composure.

“It’s true that I made advances on you at first, but now I truly cherish you, Miss Estelle. Even I just realized that my taste is a rude and violent woman, far from refinement.”

A confession that didn’t hide its blatant intentions. It was completely different from the distant, fairy-tale-like confession of the past. The image of Lexion smiling kindly and asking her to marry him on a day when flower petals were fluttering crossed Estelle’s mind. Ironically, he approached more honestly than on that day when he had spoken lies.

“I know that you like me too, in your heart.”

Where did that insane confidence come from? Estelle gritted her teeth.

“Well, think about it carefully.”

Footsteps crossing the room were heard. The door opened slightly with a click, and the yellow light flowing in from the corridor was cut off as he left.

“What kind of absurd development is this……”

Estelle muttered to herself with a shocked expression. His proposal was too early.

As she remembered, about three months later, Lexion would cause a major incident that would be difficult to manage. When criticism poured onto the imperial family, the Emperor first brought up the topic of marriage to resolve the situation. Lexion accepted this to exclusively possess the Saintess’s power and keep the other dukes in check.

“Is there some other inside story…?”

If… if the affection he had shown all this time was real and not just a facade…… This strange assumption dominated Estelle’s mind.

But she hadn’t acted in ways to please him like before. What had changed him…? Did he have some perverted tendency to like what hated him? Since he was a crazy person, it was entirely possible.

“Marriage……”

Whatever it was, it was absolutely unacceptable. It was the worst possible outcome that she should avoid at all costs.

* * *

“Ugh……”

The next day, Estelle frowned when she saw Lexion bringing a tray of food himself. His walk was so full of dignity that the silver tableware he was holding created an illusion as if it were a holy relic.

“Miss Estelle, it hurts me when you make such an expression upon seeing your husband.”

Estelle, who was terrified, shouted as she watched him pull up a chair and sit down.

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Though your pretense not to know is cute too, please keep in mind that I cannot wait forever.”

Estelle’s heart pounded. Not with excitement, but with fear. He was a stubborn man who would accomplish whatever he said, no matter what. She was full of worry that she might end up marrying him according to his wishes.

Unaware of Estelle’s anguish, Lexion scooped a spoonful of soup with a kind face and held it out in front of Estelle’s mouth.

“Ah, open up.”

“……”

Estelle glanced at the spoon waving in front of her with irritated eyes, then glared at him. This crazy man seemed to have a plan to make her abandon her human dignity, now trying to feed her like a dog.

“Give it to me. I want to eat by myself.”

She reached out to snatch the spoon, but Lexion deftly lifted it. Despite the sudden movement that could have caused a spill, it was impressive that not a single drop fell on the blanket.

“Give it to me! Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Are you going to keep arguing with me? You’re a patient.”

He shamelessly treated her like someone who couldn’t move her limbs. Estelle blushed like Laura, who was standing behind Lexion.

“I’m almost completely recovered!”

“If you keep being stubborn like this, lunch will turn into dinner.”

Estelle couldn’t bear to raise her face in front of Laura, who was looking at them with eyes as if watching lovely lovers. This man had absolutely no sense of shame. It had been truly comfortable when he wasn’t visiting.

“Estelle… open your mouth. Or would you prefer I put it in myself?”

His voice was forceful, unlike his eyes that held a hint of amusement. Hah, damn it. No matter how much she resisted, he was a man who didn’t know how to give up, so this was only a disadvantageous battle for her.

With a sense of resignation, Estelle closed her eyes and slightly opened her mouth. She kept waiting… but when she didn’t feel anything touch her, she slowly lifted her eyelids.

“……”

Lexion was still holding the spoon, staring at her mouth with strange eyes. Feeling somehow creepy, Estelle pressed her lips together.

“Ah… I was just wondering if it would fit inside your mouth since it’s rather small.”

Lexion made an innocent face as if he had no ulterior motive, then gently pushed the spoon against her closed lips.

“…sh*t.”

Estelle cursed quietly and opened her mouth again. The cold sensation rubbed against her tongue as the smooth soup flowed in. Lexion’s clouded gaze continued to cling to her lips.

“I’m full.”

“Already?”

Her statement that she wanted to stop eating was not accepted, and Lexion, who insisted on feeding her until the bowl was completely empty, put down the spoon with a satisfied smile.

“Miss Estelle looks pretty even when licking food.”

Lexion wiped the soup on the corner of her mouth with his thumb and elegantly smiled as he immediately brought that finger to the tip of his tongue.

“Huh.”

Estelle looked at Lexion’s vulgar action with disgust, but he returned to a holy face as if nothing had happened, then stood up in a slightly uncomfortable posture and left the room.

* * *

In a forest thick with blue undergrowth, Lexion on horseback put on leather gloves. Receiving sunlight filtering through the leaves, he adjusted his bow and spoke to Peter, who had a sullen face.

“Are you still upset?”

“How dare I answer anything to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Peter had kept his facial muscles tight since before coming to the hunting ground, apparently deeply hurt by the previous rebuke.

“You’re not a child, how long are you going to keep this up?”

“You probably don’t know yet, Your Highness, but I have the soul of a sensitive boy who gets hurt easily.”

“Last time was your mistake. Don’t you know that the moment politics enters our relationship, friendship ends?”

“It wasn’t politics, it was my family matter.”

Lexion asked in a playful tone, apparently finding Peter’s outburst amusing.

“The family you always curse?”

“Even if I curse them, I’m the one who can do it because they’re my family! You played with my younger sister!”

“I never touched her.”

“That’s even worse! You’re giving her false hope right now!”

“Maria is perfect for getting rid of annoying bugs. She’s a clever girl.”

Peter stuck out his tongue.

“The ladies who admire you should know what you’re really like… they would be so shocked to learn they’re being treated as bugs.”

Lexion chuckled and lightly tapped his horse’s stirrup to move forward. Peter grumbled quietly and followed after him.

“Why did you suddenly call me? From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like His Noble Highness called me to apologize for what happened last time.”

“I thought we might go hunting after a long time.”

“Hunting?”

Peter glanced at the sturdy frame and rippling muscles that couldn’t be hidden even by the elegant riding attire. What a lucky bastard. Even to another man, he looked impressively masculine. One could almost understand the feelings of women who screamed and fainted whenever hunting competitions were held.

“You used to say hunting was boring. What changed your mind?”

Peter yawned lazily as Lexion wandered through the forest for a while, seemingly looking for something.

“Let’s just catch anything. Why are you looking around like that? I, being refined, am terrible at barbaric hunting. Let’s just find a place with a nice view and have a drink……”

“Shh.”

Suddenly fixing his gaze on one spot, Lexion gestured to silence Peter and drew his bowstring. There, a massive deer was peacefully grazing, unaware of the predatory intent.

It was clearly not within arrow range. But Peter pulled on his reins as if already knowing the outcome. The Lexion he knew had never once missed his targeted prey. Whether it was a beast or a human.

Whoosh!

The arrow that split the air flew like the wind and pierced the deer’s neck precisely. The beast collapsed on the spot without even making a sound.