“She is a lady of the Ruschello family. It’s a name that might be unfamiliar here in our kingdom, as she hails from the Kingdom of Luna. The Ruschello family is one of the most renowned in Luna, and she is a lady of noble blood.”

This was a completely unplanned statement. Ertel turned her slightly widened eyes toward Icarus.

How on earth was he planning to fix this later?

“I see. She does appear to be a lady from a fine family. Since she is someone you have chosen, I’m sure she must be a good person.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty.”

Pedro addressed Amar, who stood behind the two of them.

“Since your master has chosen her, you must do your utmost to serve her well. The Duke of Juan must remain secure so that his strength can continue to support me.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

The formalities were now complete.

Pedro thought to himself that it was a pity.

Ertel was, in his eyes, a woman so beautiful that any man would covet her. This union was likely formed for some political reason.

The Icarus he knew was not the type to be swayed by a woman’s beauty.

Thus, he did not believe in the sincerity of their declaration of love.

That woman would surely be used.

‘And when she’s no longer useful, she’ll be mercilessly discarded.’

For a brief moment, Pedro felt sorry for Ertel. But this was not something he could interfere with.

“Duke of Juan, I’ve heard that your younger sister, Lady Cogette, will soon enter the palace as a concubine.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since you’ve finally decided to take a concubine, I thought it fitting to present my most beloved sister to the palace. She is a truly exceptional woman, one who will not bring shame to your court.”

“It’s not so much that I decided to take a concubine, but rather that I couldn’t withstand your family’s persistence.”

“In any kingdom, the matter of succession is of utmost importance. Since Your Majesty has shown little interest in marriage, bringing in a concubine will quell the objections of the nobles.”

“Hmm… Have all the nobles agreed unanimously to this?”

“Yes, they have. Unless, of course, Your Majesty finds it difficult to be satisfied with just one concubine?”

Icarus emphasized this last question.

Though his tone was polite, his sharp gaze bore into the king, as if warning him not to consider taking additional concubines.

The king understood the weight of his words perfectly.

‘I cannot afford to upset the Duke of Juan. Not yet.’

“No, my nature doesn’t suit having multiple women to care for. I’d rather focus on one concubine and build a strong connection with her.”

In truth, Pedro was not a king known for indulging in women. He harbored a certain romantic ideal, delaying marriage in search of the first and last woman of his life.

So, having just one concubine was more convenient for him.

However, the fact that this concubine came from the Juan family was what irked him.

“When will she be brought into the palace?”

“She will enter next week.”

“Very well. In that case, we shall hold a welcoming ceremony with the members of the Juan family.”

“It would be the highest honor, Your Majesty.”

“Now, introduce your intended fiancée to the nobles and enjoy the banquet before you leave.”

“Yes, then we shall take our leave.”

After the three of them left the audience chamber, Henry approached Pedro and whispered in his ear.

“Your Majesty, I’ve never heard of the Ruschello family. Even if it’s from another kingdom, this is quite unusual. The Duke of Juan suddenly declaring his intent to marry is rather unexpected, especially since he has rejected all the noble ladies of Elruk.”

“I, too, have never heard of that family.”

“There must be some scheme behind all of this.”

Pedro and Henry did not fully believe Icarus’s words. Nodding, Pedro issued a stern command to Henry.

“Henry, investigate whether this woman, Ertel, truly belongs to the Ruschello family of the Kingdom of Luna.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

>><<

As soon as they left the audience chamber, Ertel spoke to Icarus in an exasperated tone.

“How could you lie like that? And to the king, no less. What if the truth is discovered soon?”

Icarus responded with a hint of disappointment.

“Didn’t you also hesitate to answer and only say your name?”

“Still, it would’ve been better to tell the truth. Even if I am of maidservant origins, the king would have understood.”

“What makes you so sure about that?”

“Well…”

“Well?”

Curious about her reasoning, Icarus’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“King Pedro seemed to respect and trust all of your decisions, my lord.”

“Hm.”

Icarus didn’t argue, as it was pleasing to hear.

Of course, he had different thoughts internally.

‘No, Ertel. If you had said you were of maidservant origins, it would’ve cast doubt on me.’

The reason he could so boldly lie was his confidence that the power of the Juan family rivaled that of the royal family, making it nearly impossible for the king to act against him.

“Even if the lie is discovered later, it doesn’t matter.”

“…Why not?”

“Because even if he knows, there’s nothing the king can do about it.”

That one statement carried many implications.

If Icarus was darkness, Pedro was light.

Moreover, the look in Icarus’s eyes as he thought of the king was chillingly sinister.

Sensing the tension in the air, Amar, who had been silently listening to their conversation, quickly changed the subject.

“My lord, shouldn’t you now introduce the lady to the nobles?”

“Introduce her? No need.”

“What?”

“We’ll just attend the banquet later.”

“You’re skipping the introductions?”

“Most of them are useless, so there’s no need to introduce her to each one. Lengthy conversations could lead to unnecessary complications or slip-ups.”

“Hm… That does make sense.”

Icarus, his expression softening again, turned to Ertel.

“Would you like to see my office?”

“If it’s where you work, I’d love to see it.”

“Let’s go.”

>><<

After walking down a long hallway, they reached a door with lattice patterns. A nameplate reading “Icarus de Juan” hung on it.

“Amar, wait outside the door.”

“Yes, I’ll stand guard here.”

>><<

Icarus naturally took Ertel’s hand and led her into his office.

Seeing his workspace for the first time, Ertel couldn’t help but gape.

‘As expected…’

The room was comparable to the king’s audience chamber.

The space was filled with Gothic-style furniture, and one wall was entirely lined with bookshelves packed with countless volumes. His desk, situated in the center of the room, was piled high with documents, a testament to his influence over the palace.

Lifting her dress slightly, Ertel walked around, actively exploring the interior. There was a sofa near the fireplace for receiving guests, and the desk was adorned with luxurious items like document cases, quill pens, ink, and paper.

“This seems like a place where one could work very efficiently,” she said, sitting lightly on a chair.

It was an unconscious action.

From a distance, Icarus crossed his arms and watched her with a satisfied smile.

But Ertel quickly realized what she had done.

“Oh, my! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sat in your seat…”

She hurriedly tried to get up, but Icarus quickly approached and pressed her shoulders down from behind.

“M-My lord?”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

“…!”

“You’re going to be my wife, after all.”

The implication was clear: as his future wife, she could do whatever she pleased.

Smoothly, his arms encircled her, pulling her into an embrace. His breath brushed against her ear.

For a moment, Ertel felt her body freeze again.

She silently prayed that Amar, standing outside the door, wouldn’t come in. She was anxious that her flushed face might give her away.

“What’s making you so uneasy?”

As always, Icarus pinpointed her unsettled emotions with precision.

“I… I don’t know.”

“Then tell me what you want me to do.”

“I’m not sure.”

Icarus tightened his embrace.

“Ertel, today I showed you to the ruler of this country. Do you know what that means? There’s no going back now. You’re mine. I’ll make you the happiest bride in the world.”

“Yes…”

“Look forward to that day.”

Ertel, too, looked forward to that day.

The day this sweet lie would end, and the real reckoning would begin.

‘Yes, I’m looking forward to it. The day I become the Duchess and plunge a dagger into your back.’

Until then, Ertel’s mission was simple: not to fall in love with him.

No matter how well he treated her, she would never fall for him.

It was the simplest yet hardest task.

At that moment, beneath the desk, Ertel pinched her thigh. She would not waver, no matter how much he tried to tempt her.

“Ertel, is there anywhere else in the palace you’d like to see?”

“Yes, I’d like to visit the chapel.”

“Alright. Let’s take a look around and then head to the banquet.”