Chapter 53

On the bed, he was no different from a tyrant.  

The only tyrant she had ever thought of was the deposed Emperor Rufus. But now, it seemed Erhen would naturally come to mind.  

Was that night like this too? No. It wasn’t this intense

… Or so she thought. They had only spent one night together before last night, and she couldn’t understand why he had changed so much.  

Could it be the alcohol? Yes, Erhen was far too weak to alcohol. It might have been because of that.  

Anyway, they had both been drunk that time, and last night, they were intoxicated by the atmosphere. But for that alone to completely transform him on the bed was truly astonishing.  

Lost in thought, Charlotte shook her head.  

What difference does it make? Whether it’s this way or that way, both were good.  

As sunlight poured down on her closed eyelids, Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. She didn’t have the courage to meet the persistent gaze she could feel beside her.  

“I know you’re awake. Open your eyes.”  

A rather affectionate voice echoed in her ears. Charlotte flinched and cautiously opened her eyes, squinting as if winking with one eye.  

“Did you catch me?”  

“Since quite a while ago.”  

Erhen said as he gently played with Charlotte’s hair, which was scattered across the white pillow. His gaze toward her was filled with deep affection.  

He really seemed like a different person.  

And for good reason—last night, Erhen had gripped Charlotte’s chin and locked eyes with her persistently.  

“E-Erhen—”  

“Look at me, Charlotte. Look at me.”  

As if he wouldn’t miss a single expression of hers, trembling with pleasure beneath him.  

“This is… ah, wait a moment…!”  

“You’re sweet.”  

“…Erhen!”  

“So sweet.”  

He had cornered her with a somewhat desperate intensity.  

Thus, such contrasting behavior now felt awkward to Charlotte. She blinked her eyes, observing Erhen as if studying him.  

“Are you really the same person?”  

“……”  

“How can someone be so different?”  

Erhen didn’t respond to her question, seemingly aware of his own change. He avoided her gaze awkwardly.  

“…So, did you dislike it?”  

“No, that’s not what I meant.”  

Well, as long as you’re satisfied, that’s enough.  

He laughed softly. The way he lowered his gaze and smiled was strangely captivating. Charlotte, feeling her cheeks heat up for no reason, pulled the blanket up to her eyes to hide her blush.  

Seeing her peeking out from under the blanket, Erhen leaned down and kissed her forehead affectionately, as if finding her adorable.  

“Did you sleep well?”  

“Your Grace, people don’t usually call it ‘sleeping well’ when they’ve had less than three hours of sleep.”  

“Well, the sun’s already high in the sky.”  

“That’s because you didn’t let me sleep until dawn, Erhen!”  

Charlotte shouted, pulling the blanket down again. She did so with such vigor that the red marks left on her pale skin from last night became clearly visible.  

Flustered by her sudden action, Erhen averted his gaze.  

“…All of a sudden?”  

The tips of his ears, visible from his turned face, were flushed red.  

What’s with this unexpected innocence?  

Charlotte, having completely forgotten why she had shouted, reached out her hand. Her touch, brushing against his earlobe, startled Erhen once again. He quickly covered his ear with his hand and looked at her.  

Her laughter bubbled out at his reaction.  

“You’re cute.”  

A word that didn’t suit him at all slipped from her lips.  

Unlike the night that glittered under the moonlight, the sunlight scattering across her now made her look utterly divine.  

Erhen gazed at her quietly, then spoke softly.  

“That day, you wouldn’t know how I felt.”  

“……”  

“What kind of heart I had to leave your side.”  

The day when he had to force himself to walk away from her, leaving her peacefully asleep. How much he had wanted to abandon everything and simply whisper words of love by her side. And if only he had known that it would mean not seeing her for a month.  

His voice, tinged with self-reproach, was filled with pain.  

Charlotte, who had been silently watching his eyes, took his hand and pressed it against her cheek. The warmth of Erhen’s hand against her skin was so hot it was almost burning.  

Charlotte was so, so happy about it.  

“I know.”  

“……”  

“I know.”  

Smiling radiantly, Charlotte reassured him that everything was fine now.  

Entranced by her smile, Erhen leaned in and gently captured her lips.  

It’s all because you’re so beautiful. Because you’re so utterly lovable. 

That was reason enough for him.  

After the brief kiss, Erhen whispered.  

“You.”  

“……?”  

“You’ve made a mistake.”  

“N-No, wait a moment.”  

With a squeal, the blanket covering Charlotte was pulled away.  

Lifting her in his arms, he sat against the headrest of the bed, placing her on his lap.  

Startled by the sudden position, Charlotte looked up. Seeing the expression of someone who endlessly desired her, she was at a loss for words, staring at him helplessly.  

A mix of conditional joy and unconditional sorrow surged within her. Swept away by a wave of conflicting emotions, she was held captive.  

But her thoughts didn’t last much longer.  

As if to banish all distractions, Erhen covered her lips roughly, leaving no room for delay.  

“It’s already too late.”  

With a voice filled with longing, he once again claimed her breathless sighs.  

***

Upon exiting the Department of Public Safety building, Martin greeted Dietrich, who was waiting outside.  

“You’ve worked hard, Chairman.”  

“It’s fine. I got out sooner than expected.”  

“The rescue efforts by the foundation’s associates played a significant role.”  

Dietrich nodded. They made their way toward the carriage parked across the street.  

The death of Oliver Hughes, who had been on the brink of death for days, was concluded as a natural death due to illness. It didn’t take long for Dietrich, who had been detained at the Department of Public Safety, to be released without charges.  

The testimonies of the servants working at Oliver’s house, who had been bribed by the organization, and the lack of family members to question his death, each played their part.  

He had expected to stay at the Department of Public Safety for over a week, but as Martin said, the rescue efforts must have had an impact. The help of those who weren’t part of his original plan was significant.  

As Dietrich boarded the carriage, Martin followed. Handing him a prepared cup of coffee and a newspaper, Martin began his report.  

“Public opinion, led by Sir Schweiger, has formed sympathy toward you, Chairman. Many representatives in the House agree with this sentiment.”  

“Hmm.”  

“As a result, your approval rating within the House has also risen.”  

Listening to Martin’s report, Dietrich sipped the coffee, its aroma spreading subtly in his mouth, as he scanned the newspaper.  

The fact that he had spent several days at the Department of Public Safety without much discomfort was largely thanks to Dietrich’s social status and the daily letters sent to the agency, pleading his innocence.  

As a highly regarded foundation chairman and candidate for Speaker of the House, Dietrich had been treated almost like nobility.  

Martin continued his report from beyond the newspaper.  

“Thanks to this, we expect favorable results in the upcoming Speaker election. The organization is also optimistic.”  

“It’s too early to be optimistic. Many members of the organization are wavering due to the King’s recent actions.”  

“…Yes, I’ll take note.”  

Martin responded with a hint of disappointment at Dietrich’s still-cynical tone, despite the positive developments.  

But Dietrich wasn’t wrong.  

Many people, citing their livelihoods as an excuse, were reluctant to participate in organizational activities due to Michael’s policies favoring commoners.  

Still, those who had suffered under Rufus’s oppression maintained a strong distrust of the autocracy.  

“Oh, and while you were at the Department of Public Safety, Viscountess Lintz visited the foundation.”  

As Martin’s follow-up report came, Dietrich’s eyes naturally fell on the headline of the newspaper he was holding.  

The era of the grand coexistence of declining magic and emerging science—Rosenheim Ducal Family.

While serving as an advisor to the Magic Department of the Royal Research Institute and simultaneously holding the position of the Head of the Engineering Department, the Duke of Rosenheim returned from a long vacation. The article was about his newly published thesis.

Dietrich raised his head.

Although his absence from the institute was officially attributed to a long vacation, the truth was that it had been caused by a surprise attack orchestrated by Malena, a member of the Kopenbach organization. During this time, he also attended a banquet with his former wife, from whom he had reportedly divorced, as his partner.

Erhen Rosenheim.

The King’s Shield and a name that always came up when discussing Rohadin’s magic and scientific technology. A man Giselle had shown interest in. The very person Malena had been desperate to kill at any cost. And Giselle, in turn, had vowed to eliminate Malena…

…and Charlotte’s ex-husband.

To open a channel with the Rothschild family, he initiated a business relationship with Charlotte. However, starting with her, the circumstances surrounding the Duke of Rosenheim began to interlock in strange and undoubtedly deliberate ways.

Surely, it couldn’t just be his imagination.

“Arrange a meal with Charlotte soon.”

“Yes.”

That, too, was something to uncover slowly.

From even before Malena carried out her assault under the name of Kopenbach, the Duke of Rosenheim had been someone who had to be killed as the King’s Shield. Even for the sake of toppling the ruler of Rohadin.

After finishing his thoughts, Dietrich gave further instructions to Martin.

“Let us handle the funeral preparations for the late Master.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

“I was with him even at the moment of his passing; shouldn’t we also see him off on his final journey?”

“Understood.”

Watching Martin nod in agreement, albeit with a slightly puzzled expression, Dietrich lifted the corners of his mouth.

Everything was just beginning.