She said it would throw the Emperor’s dignity to the ground, but he set aside his dignity momentarily before his son.

When the Emperor paused briefly, Lucian couldn’t wait and asked.

“What did she say?”

“‘It’s fortunate the academy has no status. Even if I half-kill you all, it’s just a suspension from school.'”

“Mother did?”

Lucian asked in shock. The mother he remembered from childhood was far from a person like that. Though she was cold to others, she was gentle and kind—he couldn’t imagine her saying such things.

The Emperor smiled softly while remembering that time.

“Yes, those men were sons from high noble families. They probably didn’t know it was her since she was wearing a robe.”

“So did you go help her, Father?”

“No, I watched.”

“What?”

The Emperor spoke proudly, then Lucian asked back with a dumbfounded expression.

He had been thinking of a story where his father had knocked down the men and saved his mother, so he tilted his head, finding it strange.

The Emperor chuckled at his reaction.

“Don’t you know your mother? Ariel was second in the academy’s fencing club then. She always carried a sword at her waist. She kindly subdued those rude bastards with the back of her blade. After calling security and sending them all to the academy’s disciplinary office, she walked out of the alley smiling. I fell for her face then, smiling so triumphantly. Her expression filled with pure emotion was so beautiful.”

Of course, he didn’t think it was love then. He just developed a small interest in an unusual woman.

But as time passed, he realized his gaze kept turning to her, and before he knew it, he found himself thinking only of her.

So for a while, he avoided her thinking something was wrong with himself. Looking back now, it was truly pointless.

“Then when did you realize you loved Mother?”

“About a year passed like that. I met her at an imperial palace banquet. A lady who attended the academy’s fencing club was an outcast in noble society. All the nobles shunned her. Even someone as strong as her couldn’t maintain her dignity when everyone hated her.”

The Emperor spoke while closing his eyes gently.

Recalling memories of his loved one brought both happiness and an ache in one corner of his heart.

But since these were memories of her whom he could never see again, he cherished speaking of them.

“I heard her crying on the terrace and went there as if enchanted. As I wiped away the tears filling her pink eyes, I thought I wanted to protect her. I wanted to ensure she would never be pointed at no matter what she did for the rest of her life. That’s when I realized I loved Ariel. Love can come suddenly like that.”

The Emperor still couldn’t forget that sight.

Despite the nobles’ cold stares and whispers, Ariel stood straight like a noble rose in the middle of the banquet hall. But the Emperor clearly saw her reddened lips from biting them and her dress crumpled from her tightly clenched hands.

Eventually Ariel went alone to the terrace, and hearing faint crying coming from there, the Emperor entered without hesitation.

In her eyes as she looked up at him from where she sat crouched in a corner of the terrace were tears more precious and beautiful than diamonds.

Who is it? Who made you cry?

After that day, the Emperor did everything to win Ariel’s favor. Hovering near her, making conversation, creating connections, giving gifts. Though Ariel refused, the Emperor’s efforts continued.

Only after a year passed did Ariel finally accept the Emperor’s heart.

But misfortune approached what seemed would be only happiness.

“But be careful when speaking of love.”

“What?”

“Love is a good thing. But you can only say you love someone when you can take full responsibility for their life.”

The label of being the powerless prince’s lover was a double-edged sword—far from offering protection, it became a poison that left Ariel even more exposed.

The memory of the humiliation she endured still made his teeth clench in anger. Driven by a single, unwavering determination to protect the one he loved, the Emperor claimed the throne, eliminating his siblings one by one while facing life-threatening risks at every turn.

The Emperor drained the whiskey in his glass and looked straight at Lucian.

“Don’t clip that child’s wings because of your greed.”

Anyone could see Adelia was a shining person. If their hearts connected and she maintained married life with Lucian, it would be difficult to handle guild work like now.

Even juggling imperial palace duties and guild work while dedicating most of her day to work would last at most a year or two. Living like that for life, it wouldn’t be strange if her eyes would close from overwork.

Moreover, being bound to the position of crown princess would bring restrictions to the guild as well.

“Someone will surely try to grab hold of the Eileen Merchant Guild. Though it could be resolved by threatening with force as usual, that anger would go to her.”

Noble opposition and gossip could be ignored. That’s how it had been until now and how it would be going forward.

But just thinking about them speaking ill of Adelia made him feel like the world had turned upside down.

Just the fact that they would dare to casually speak a name too precious and valuable to mention carelessly made his anger uncontrollable.

Lucian clenched his fists with a determined face.

“I’ll create ways. I’ll make it so those things won’t dare speak Adelia’s name.”

“You should have that level of determination to keep such a capable person by your side.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. She can’t be stopped from doing what she wants just because she became crown princess.”

“You speak the obvious.”

Sometimes among nobles there were those who stopped their wives’ hobbies or outside activities. Of course, the father and son could never sympathize with that.

Unless it was work imposed upon them, they had neither the reason nor the desire to stop their wives from pursuing what they enjoyed with clear goals in mind.

As soon as he took the throne, the Emperor gifted the Empress a rare sword and built her a private training ground. He broke the fingers of those who pointed saying it was strange, and actively supported when women entered the academy’s fencing club, working to change perceptions. As a result, the Empress became an idol for female knights, and more ladies took up swords.

“I won’t bind her because of my greed.”

Lucian also had absolutely no intention of interfering with what Adelia did. If he couldn’t find a way after searching, he didn’t want to block her path even if it meant taking on all imperial duties himself.

He felt uneasy that his love might become shackles to someone who could soar to the highest heights if let go.

Various methods crossed Lucian’s mind. Though they needed refining and fixing, it wasn’t impossible.

As Lucian pondered deeply, the Emperor chuckled while refilling the empty glass.

“Of course, this is all assuming she loves you. I’m saying don’t desperately cling to her if she rejects you. Though you can do anything for her, she might not feel the same.”

“If Adelia doesn’t choose me, I’ll have to let her go……”

“Supporting each other from afar can also be called love.”

“……”

“So do your best to win her heart in the remaining time. Though it’s not long, it’s not short either, so if you’re destined, your hearts can surely connect.”

At most two years, at the least a few months. But the emotion of love has many variables and is impulsive. It wasn’t uncommon for people to fall in love in an instant and decide their whole life.

Love was the only emotion that defied reason.

“Thank you, Father.”

Lucian bowed his head slightly toward the Emperor.

Though the advice seemed simple, it was enough to calm his confused heart.

Seeing Lucian more composed than when he first entered the room, the Emperor chuckled and raised his glass.

“No need for thanks. Do well. Both I and your mother would be happy to have a daughter-in-law like Adelia.”

The Emperor clinked glasses, saying it was for his son who had realized love.

* * *

“Where’s Ariana?”

“She was just studying until now, but she’s resting at the moment.”

“I see. Prepare Ariana’s favorite snacks right away.”

After talking with the Emperor late into the night, Lucian visited Ariana the next day carrying lots of her favorite snacks.

‘No one knows Adelia better than Ariana.’

Having heard about love from the Emperor, he was now going to hear about Adelia from his sister.

The Emperor had added at the end that everyone has different tastes, so find out. After hearing that, three people came to Lucian’s mind.

Ariana, who was closest to Adelia.

Gina, the maid who had served Adelia since her time at the count’s household.

Conrad, who uniquely knew the guild master’s identity and had spent a long time with Adelia.

Planning to meet Gina and Conrad secretly from Adelia when the time was right, he visited Ariana first.

“Brother! Welcome!”

When Lucian arrived carrying lots of snacks, Ariana welcomed him with sparkling eyes. More precisely, she was happy to see the snacks rather than Lucian, but with his mind completely filled with thoughts of Adelia, Lucian easily overlooked this point.

“What were you doing, Ariana?”

“I just finished studying and was taking a break.”

“Then would you spare some time for your brother? I brought lots of snacks for you.”

“Sure!”

Ariana smiled brightly as she led Lucian inside with all the sweet snacks he brought.