Back at the mansion, Claire and Cedric removed their disguises. 

 “Are you alright?” 

 “To be honest, no.” 

 Her determination burned even stronger. How could there be no end no matter how deep she dug? That too was a kind of ability. 

 “Wife, you should rest a bit. You shouldn’t overexert yourself……” 

 Truth be told, she was shocked. If there were chains on her mother’s feet, they were likely restraints as well. 

 ‘Can we find the person who made those restraints?’ 

 She fell into a daze. She had no idea where to even begin. 

 “Wife.” 

 Her head suddenly turned toward him. Looking into those blue eyes snapped her back to attention. 

 “I’m sorry.” 

 “If your mother is imprisoned, I will look into it.” 

 “Your Highness?” 

 “Seeing your worried face troubles me. We may not be able to get her out right away, but there must be a way.” 

 She shook her head. If they interfered carelessly and Father noticed, he might hide her mother somewhere they could never find. 

 The fact that no one had ever known about it until now meant it had been thoroughly concealed. 

 “You know too, Your Highness. There must be a reason he revealed Mother’s existence. Probably to pressure me.” 

 Whatever he was trying to gain, Father was currently displeased with her existence. With neither Isabelle nor the divine beasts going according to his wishes, she must be an annoyance to him. 

 “I know. However, I can no longer tolerate the Emperor’s tyranny. I will attend the nobles’ meeting.” 

 “……Your Highness?” 

 Cedric had never attended a nobles’ meeting before. Despite ruling the North, he had lived a life completely separate from politics. 

 For that Cedric to now say he would attend the nobles’ meeting… Knowing how momentous this decision was, she didn’t immediately tell him to do it. 

 “Think about that some more. You don’t need to push yourself.” 

 “Wife.” 

 “I know this isn’t an easy decision for you. Let’s look for other ways together.” 

 Cedric clenched his fist. She didn’t want to touch his pain for her own needs. She could guess why he hadn’t attended the nobles’ meetings. 

 Most didn’t acknowledge him, and though they tried to keep quiet about it, everyone knew his nickname as the Emperor’s dog. 

 Because of that, they thought it wasn’t strange that he would marry the princess, but now that she was by his side, the speculation must have increased. 

 If Father was going to act like this, she couldn’t just sit still either. She had obtained the contract, so she just needed to receive the funds. 

 Cedric gripped her hand tightly. 

 “Alright. I’ll do as you say, so please rest now.” 

 “I will.” 

 He left first, saying he had matters to handle. 

 Left alone in the room, she immersed herself in a warm bath. Submerging her head completely made her mind feel clearer. 

 “This isn’t easy.” 

 Phooooo. She closed her eyes and dunked her head underwater again. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 Cedric called for Alita. 

 “I’ll be going out for a while, so guard the Grand Duchess well.” 

 “Will it take long?” 

 “It shouldn’t. I’m just going to collect a debt.” 

 “Understood. I’ll tell everyone you’re in your office.” 

 “I’m counting on you.” 

 He put on his jacket and left through the back door. After donning a mask, he threw on a cloak. 

 He went to the stable, took out a horse, and immediately mounted it to gallop somewhere. 

 He rode endlessly through forest paths and roads without a single light. Then a faint light appeared in the distance. 

 Arriving at a quiet rural village, Cedric headed straight for one mansion. 

 Going around to the back, he tied up his horse and knocked on the door. 

 “……Shouldn’t a beast at least recognize its master?” 

 At Cedric’s coldly thrown words, the door opened irritably. 

 “What?” 

 Instead of the black-furred beast he expected, he was greeted by Zeno in human form. 

 “Looks like you’ve decided to reveal yourself to the princess? Seems you’ve thrown away the pretense.” 

 “How do you manage to speak so unpleasantly every time? My master should know your true nature.” 

 Zeno held the door and said with a crooked smirk. 

 Seeing Zeno appear in human form made Cedric furrow his brow. 

 “Still as impudent as ever.” 

 “What brings you here? You left me here with no contact until now.” 

 “I came to see the princess.” 

 “……You came to see the princess at this late hour? And I doubt you told my master about it.” 

 Being a beast, he was quick to catch on. Cedric’s blue eyes stared steadily at Zeno. 

 “I came to collect a debt from the princess, so guide me. Though I have much to discuss with you too…… the princess is the priority so I’m holding back, but don’t test my patience.” 

 “Holding back? You? Why?” 

 “Because I learned what you did before leaving the residence.” 

 Cedric tilted his head to the side and tapped his fingers against his neck, his eyes flashing. 

 “You haven’t forgotten, I’m sure.” 

 At that moment, reading the killing intent in his eyes, Zeno’s yellow eyes narrowed vertically. 

 His body instinctively backed away to survive. Zeno knew Cedric well. 

 ‘This guy is insane.’ 

 That one fact had been firmly imprinted during his stay at the Grand Duke’s residence. So when madness flickered in those blue eyes, he instinctively flinched. 

 “If you understand, then guide me.” 

 Beasts really do need to be repeatedly educated or they forget. 

 When Cedric’s blue eyes glinted, Zeno bit his lip resentfully and said,

 “……Follow me.” 

 He followed the slightly cowed Zeno up to the second floor. They seemed to be living by the light of small flames. 

 Seeing the precarious flames that looked like they might go out with the slightest breeze made him feel a bit sorry. 

 Stopping in front of a room, Zeno changed into wolf form. Then he scratched at the door with his paw. 

 Scratch, scratch, scratch. 

 Watching Zeno scratch at the door made Cedric’s lips twitch. The longer he watched, the cuter it seemed. 

 ‘……Cute?’ 

 He must be going crazy. Goosebumps rose all over his body and he tore his gaze away from Zeno. 

 Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch scratch. 

 When the door didn’t open, Zeno scratched faster than before. 

 “Wooooooo.” (Open the door.) 

 “……Why are you howling like that? I told you people come when you howl at night.” 

 “Woof.” (Someone came.) 

 Though he couldn’t understand what was being said, seeing him looking at himself, he must be talking about him. 

 “An unwelcome visitor has come.” 

 Spotting Cedric, Isabelle frowned. At her questioning look that seemed to ask why he was here, he immediately got to the point. 

 “I need the princess’s help.” 

 “……My help?” 

 Isabelle’s expression was subtle. 

 “While I’m glad you suddenly came asking for help, it also makes me uneasy. Let’s hear what you have to say.” 

 Cedric and Isabelle sat down in chairs. Of course, Zeno was present as well. 

 “I want you to return to the imperial palace.” 

 “……Ha.” 

 Her eyes twisted sharply. To ask her to return when he hadn’t obtained anything from Father. 

 Isabelle let out a hollow laugh and stood up from her seat. 

 “I’d rather spend my life running than die by Father’s hand.” 

 “It will be fine if you return with this guy.” 

 “……You want me to take the wolf? If I go to the imperial palace, I’ll never be able to leave again.” 

 “Grrrrrrrr.” (This crazy bastard finally–!) 

 Zeno showed his teeth in rebellion. No matter how he thought about it, this was the best solution. 

 He bent down to whisper in Zeno’s ear. 

 “Originally I planned to rip your muzzle off as soon as we met, but since that would put Claire in danger, I’m holding back.” 

 “Grrrrrr.” (Going on about my muzzle again.) 

 “Pretending to be obedient isn’t hard, is it?” 

 Cedric said while patting Zeno’s head. Though his pride was hurt by the touch, he couldn’t help his ears folding back. 

 ‘Damn it! Damn it!’ 

 Even as he bared his teeth and growled, his ears would fold whenever touched. 

 Cedric scratched under Zeno’s chin as he stood up to look at Isabelle. 

 “Don’t worry about this fellow. And if marriage is the problem, there’s a solution.” 

 “……There’s a solution?” 

 “We just need to create a scandal that even the Emperor can’t handle.” 

 “A scandal? You think Father would allow that?” 

 “Why would we need the Emperor’s permission? It’s a scandal after all. Moreover, if we bring the divine beast, the Emperor won’t say much.” 

 “Grand Duke, you make throwing things away seem so easy.” 

 “Throwing things away? I’ve never thrown away anything that was mine.” 

 Cedric pulled up the corner of his mouth at Isabelle’s words. Neither Zeno nor Isabelle belonged to him. 

 “Unless it’s not mine.” 

 If that wasn’t the case, he didn’t care what happened. Sometimes one must be cruel to protect what’s theirs.