Pedro asked the question as if it were a passing remark, but his ears were wide open.

Even Henry, who was leaning against the wall, had let his guard down.

A completely unexpected answer filled the room.

“Yes, she has returned.”

“!!”

Pedro’s facial muscles, which were supposed to maintain composure, trembled violently.

The confident smile on Icarus’s face was not one of deceit.

The king and the knight captain exchanged glances.

‘What is going on here?’

Icarus continued speaking calmly.

“I plan to hold the wedding again.”

“……!”

“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s concern.”

Pedro’s expression faltered. His eyes, filled with confusion, shook violently.

He recalled what Ertel had said when she stayed in the royal palace’s inner chamber.

She had spoken with a look of contempt, saying she wanted to kill Icarus.

Pedro had strongly believed her.

He trusted that she would never willingly return to Icarus’s arms.

If that’s the case…

‘…Was she kidnapped?’

There was no way Ertel would return of her own accord. Perhaps the Juan family had applied immense pressure.

Or maybe they had used some bait to blackmail her.

As Pedro delved into his own theories, Icarus interrupted his thoughts.

“Your Majesty? You look quite surprised.”

“……Ah. I was just thinking about how happy I am to hear that your bride has returned. I was wondering what to say, knowing how much you must have suffered emotionally as Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“I am grateful just for Your Majesty’s concern. And haven’t you been kind enough to take my younger sister Cogette as a consort and treat her well? I have nothing more to ask for, Your Majesty.”

“Will the wedding be held again at the same chapel as before?”

“Yes, I plan to hold it in the exact same place. I don’t want the records from that chapel to remain as a failure. I will march with my bride as if starting anew, as if nothing ever happened.”

The more brightly Icarus smiled, the darker the shadow grew on the king’s face.

He had no idea what was really going on.

>><<

After Icarus left, Pedro and Henry grew serious.

‘The likelihood that he lied.’

But the confidence in Icarus’s expression lingered in their minds.

Pedro was overwhelmed by a great mental shock.

His strength drained from his body, and he pressed his fingers to his forehead.

“Ha, what a disaster….”

“Wow, I didn’t see this coming either, Your Majesty. Isn’t this a huge problem now? What if Ertel tells him about our plan? Didn’t Your Majesty let something slip to her? Why on earth did you tell her you were planning to kill Icarus?”

Despite Henry’s panicked reaction, Pedro rested his chin on his hand and pondered.

‘Was Ertel the type of woman to reveal everything just because she was pressured?’

From what he remembered, her sharp, intelligent eyes had been filled with a thirst for vengeance.

“Don’t worry about that. She’s not the kind of woman to reveal such secrets. That’s not why I’m feeling uneasy right now.”

“If that’s not the reason, then what is? The two of them seem to have reconciled and reunited. How can you be so sure she’ll keep your secret?”

They were worried about different things.

Pedro instinctively believed that Ertel had been coerced into returning to the Juan family. He thought she must be in a difficult situation.

On the other hand, Henry feared that Ertel had conspired with Icarus again and might reveal the king’s plans.

Furthermore, Henry couldn’t understand why Pedro had so much trust in a woman he had only recently met.

Pedro, looking as though he had just parted ways with a lover, murmured in anguish.

“To think that kind-hearted woman has fallen back into the hands of the devil….”

“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

At a time when state affairs were piling up, this news was like a blow that left him feeling powerless.

There was work Pedro needed to attend to shortly, and Henry reminded him of it.

“Your Majesty, please pull yourself together.”

“Icarus is truly remarkable. I can’t help but admit it. Ertel is a woman who longs for freedom more than anyone else, yet somehow, he’s captured her again.”

“Your Majesty, let’s discuss this matter later. For now, you have work to do.”

“Work?”

“It’s almost time for you to go to the music room.”

“Hm? Oh?”

Lost in thought, Pedro hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

Today was the day of his music session with Cogette. By now, she would surely be waiting for him.

“Today is your date.”

“Hmm… Has it come already?”

“What do you mean, ‘Has it come already?’ It hasn’t even been that long since you received the invitation.”

“I must have completely forgotten.”

Or rather, perhaps he had wanted to forget.

Hearing Pedro’s muttered words, Henry sighed.

“If she finds out, the consort will be very upset.”

Though he wasn’t in the right mindset to go on a date, Pedro reluctantly stood up under Henry’s urging.

>><<

Pedro’s steps toward the music room were weary and heavy.

His mind was filled with thoughts of another woman.

‘If I had known she would so easily fall into the devil’s grasp,’

‘I wouldn’t have sent her away from the palace.’

He regretted not holding onto her somehow.

[Then, farewell.]

Her voice, calm and fearless, still echoed vividly in his ears.

Looking back, she had been pretending to be strong.

Even though she must have been scared deep down, with no one to lean on, she had acted tough as she left.

‘I shouldn’t have let her go like that.’

Lost in these thoughts, Pedro arrived at the music room.

He took a deep breath and adjusted his expression.

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

A sweet, melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, greeted him.

Standing there was Cogette, wearing a blue dress with a plunging neckline, sleeveless arms covered in long gloves, and a long train trailing behind her.

She leaned gracefully against a massive, golden harp.

The sight was as stunning as a masterpiece painting.

It was clear that she had practiced diligently for this day.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Your Majesty.”

“The harp is magnificent. It suits you well.”

Pedro sat gently beside Cogette, who smiled in satisfaction and began playing the harp.

She accompanied the soft, flowing melody with her singing.

“Rose, O you who sit upon the throne ♪ Once, you were a simple bloom encircled by modest petals ♬ But to us, you are a full flower, overflowing beyond measure ♩ A boundless presence….”

Her performance, worthy of a noble salon, was truly healing.

Pedro leaned his head back for a moment, letting the music soothe him.

Cogette, with her keen senses, noticed that Pedro seemed different from usual.

‘He seems a bit absent-minded.’

She stopped playing for a moment.

“Your Majesty, is something troubling you?”

“No. Continue.”

“You seem deep in thought.”

“I’m simply immersed in your performance.”

“Hmm….”

Cogette grew anxious at his distant attitude, which seemed to push her away whenever she tried to get closer.

She had wanted to spend this intimate time with him so she could ask him something directly.

“Actually, I’m the one with something on my mind.”

“Speak freely.”

“When will we share a bed…?”

Pedro had expected this question to come up eventually. Henry had even warned him about it.

[The consort will eventually voice her dissatisfaction directly.]

[Prepare yourself for it.]

“As Your Majesty’s official consort, I feel sad that you haven’t visited me at night. I wonder if it’s because you don’t find me attractive….”

“How could I not find you attractive? Lady Cogette, weren’t you a celebrated figure in society even before entering the palace?”

“I don’t care about being a celebrated figure. I want to be enough for just one person.”

Pedro flinched at her boldness.

He hesitated, unsure of what to say.

He wasn’t ready to share a bed with her yet.

“To be honest, I’m not emotionally prepared for that yet.”

“Pardon…? Emotionally prepared?”

“It’s just the way I am. I tend to be shy at first. Once we’ve built a closer bond and grown more intimate, everything will naturally fall into place. Until then, can you wait for me?”

“……!”

“When the time comes, you won’t even have to ask. I’ll come to your chambers myself.”

For a moment, Cogette chuckled inwardly.

‘Oh my, look at this man.’

Pedro’s shy demeanor reminded her of an innocent boy going through adolescence.

No man had ever resisted her charms before. She was used to men seizing any chance to be with her.

So Pedro’s hesitation felt refreshing and novel.

‘This man really is different.’

Cogette decided she simply needed to deepen their bond over time.

“If that’s what Your Majesty says, then I’ll wait patiently.”

With a more relaxed expression, she changed the subject.

“Your Majesty, my brother is planning to hold his wedding again soon. If the opportunity arises, let’s go on a double date with them. It’ll be fun.”

“……!”