“I’ll go to the imperial palace. However, I get to choose who will be my scandal partner that Your Highness brings.” 

 “Understood. Don’t worry about that, I’ll bring them by whatever means necessary.” 

 Only then did Isabelle accept. 

 Zeno bared his teeth and growled in protest, but they knew he would follow along once things got started. 

 After all, he immediately agreed to go to the imperial palace when told it was for his master, Claire. 

 “There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.” 

 “You’re unusually talkative today, Your Highness. Coming at this late hour and staying so long, there’s plenty of room for misunderstanding.” 

 “……You mentioned Claire’s mother was alive. You said we could find out if we went to the imperial palace.” 

 “Sister told you that too?” 

 Isabelle’s golden eyes grew round. She thought Claire wouldn’t tell, but perhaps they really were sharing their hearts. 

 “Do you know where she is?” 

 “It’s probably changed by now, so it’s as good as not knowing.” 

 “I have one more task for Your Highness when you go to the imperial palace.” 

 She finally looked like she understood everything. 

 “So you’re trying to get me into the palace to find out where she is.” 

 “You can’t run forever. If you have abilities, face him.” 

 “Haven’t you met Father too, Your Highness? If I were capable of that, I wouldn’t be doing this.” 

 Cedric smiled at Isabelle and pointed to his eyes. 

 “Don’t meet his gaze. And just keep thinking about other things.” 

 “……It can’t be that easy.” 

 Isabelle lowered her eyes and gripped her dress skirt. Her golden hair made her face appear even more delicate. 

 “I’m not used to this kind of life.” 

 Though she looked pitiful with her eyes tightly shut, that was all. 

 In the room filled with soft light, Cedric sneered at Isabelle’s trembling voice. 

 Just because something unfamiliar happens doesn’t mean everyone runs away from it. 

 Isabelle had lived within the Emperor’s love and protection until now. Even as she tried to escape that fence, she was trying to enter it again. 

 “If you want to survive, if you want to break free from his grasp, make an effort. How long will you hide waiting for someone else to solve your problems?” 

 Cedric told Isabelle as he stood up. 

 “Either face him and fight, or run until the end. The choice is yours, Your Highness.” 

 He left the room after saying those words. Zeno hurriedly followed. 

 “How will you contact us? Is my master alright?” 

 “If you don’t want anything to happen to Claire, watch the princess well. There will be many things needed when you go to the imperial palace.” 

 “Things needed?” 

 Cedric grabbed Zeno’s clothes. At their sudden closeness, Zeno’s face twisted in disgust. 

 “I know you’re crazy, but this is too much.” 

 “When you go to the imperial palace, as a divine beast, you will be imprisoned. You’ll be fitted with restraints there, making it hard to move. So turn the palace upside down before they put the restraints on.” 

 “……What?” 

 “Look carefully at the places I’ve marked. Claire will send a friend, but I trust you more.” 

 Zeno’s eyes wavered at those words of trust. Earning someone’s trust tends to stir emotions. 

 “Does Claire know about this?” 

 “I’ll tell her tomorrow, so you don’t need to worry.” 

 “You should tell her soon. My master hates lies.” 

 Cedric grinned and grabbed Zeno’s chin. Those yellow eyes glaring at him still held rebellion like before. 

 “Claire may be your master, but she’s my wife.” 

 “……So what?” 

 “It means we know each other better than anyone. Even the deep, intimate parts.” 

 He released Zeno’s chin and straightened his collar. Then he patted his shoulders and said,

 “So I’d appreciate if you refrained from acting like you know my wife.” 

 If you don’t want to see me truly go mad. 

 Though he didn’t finish the sentence, Zeno bit his lip with an expression that seemed to understand the unspoken words. 

 Indeed, once tamed, he seems to understand well. 

 Cedric carefully returned to the mansion. When he glanced up at Claire’s room, the lights were out. 

 “Your Highness, you’ve returned?” 

 “Where’s Claire?” 

 “She’s asleep.” 

 At this hour? 

 He felt relieved that his outing hadn’t been discovered, but also worried about Claire falling asleep so early. 

 After changing clothes and entering Claire’s room, he found her sleeping face-down in an uncomfortable position on the bed. 

 Soft breathing sounds filled the room. 

 “Did she wait for me?” 

 That would be nice. But somehow he doubted she would have waited up for him. 

 He carefully lifted Claire and laid her properly on the bed. 

 ‘She wouldn’t notice even if someone carried her away.’ 

 It was understandable since she’d met the Emperor while tense. 

 As he was about to cover her with the blanket, arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down. 

 “Mmm……” 

 She furrowed her brow and mumbled as if dreaming. Though Cedric couldn’t understand her words, he knew she needed his embrace. 

 He held Claire and gently patted her back. Whatever dream she was having, he hoped it was a good one because of him. 

 “Everything will be alright.” 

 Like reciting a spell, Cedric whispered in the sleeping Claire’s ear. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 Claire’s eyes flew open. 

 ‘When did I fall asleep?’ 

 After soaking in the warm bath and coming out, she felt drowsy and threw herself on the bed. 

 Based on her lack of memories after that, she must have fallen asleep. 

 She seemed to have had a pleasant dream. Perhaps that’s why she didn’t feel tired. 

 ‘I must have slept well for once.’ 

 This refreshing feeling was welcome after using her head thinking all day. 

 Sleeping well wasn’t the problem. While the physical refreshment was good for her, the issue lay elsewhere. 

 ‘Why! Why! What in the world is this situation!’ 

 A firm chest lay before her eyes. 

 She couldn’t have gone to his room while sleeping, and she didn’t think she had sleepwalking problems. That wasn’t it. 

 Because this was the room she was using. 

 She couldn’t remember why or how she had fallen asleep in Cedric’s arms. 

 ‘This is driving me crazy.’ 

 Moreover, she had slept with her hand on Cedric’s chest and even drooled. She quickly wiped away the drool while trying to organize her thoughts. 

 ‘He definitely said he had lots of work to handle in his office.’ 

 She rolled her eyes in confusion. 

 ‘I can’t think of anything!’ 

 If she had been drinking it would make sense, but she hadn’t touched alcohol yesterday. 

 Finally coming to her senses, she carefully turned her head. She planned to get up without waking him, but his strong arm was wrapped around her waist. 

 She slowly exhaled and tried to gently remove his fingers. But that proved impossible. 

 “……Are you awake?” 

 At his voice still heavy with sleep, she nodded. Cedric held her tight and said,

 “Today, I’d like to rest like this together without thinking about anything.” 

 “But there’s work……” 

 He slowly opened his half-lidded eyes to look at her. 

 “I stayed up almost all night. The work is done, so just a little longer……” 

 His hand on her waist pulled her closer. He lowered his head to kiss her forehead and said,

 “I want to stay like this. Can’t you spare me this much of your time?” 

 Even the sunlight flooding the brightened room wasn’t as dazzling. His disheveled black hair, eyes drowsy with sleep, face slightly bent toward her, and red lips. 

 His thin robe had fallen open, perhaps due to his broad chest, but Cedric seemed unbothered by his exposed body. 

 The problem was that it made her think all sorts of things. 

 Gulp. Her mouth was causing trouble again. No matter how much she swallowed, her lips remained dry with burning desire. 

 ‘This is dangerous if we stay like this.’ 

 She might become harmful to Cedric. Her imagination ran wild about the sleeping man. 

 ‘Perverted, degenerate.’ 

 Self-reproach was useless. This was, well, all because of Cedric sleeping so sexily in his robe! 

 Unaware of her thoughts, he tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her closer. This buried her face in his chest. 

 “……So just a little longer.” 

 He spoke as if pleading, his words still slurred with sleep. 

 Unable to resist his pull, she closed her eyes while held in his arms. 

 His request to spare him this much time made her reflect on whether she had made him feel lonely. 

 “Alright.” 

 So she couldn’t get up. To be honest, his embrace was so warm she didn’t want to. 

 She thought it wouldn’t be bad to spend today entirely with him. 

 After all, taking time to care for each other was important too.