Gina didn’t give clear answers. Not selling the master’s information was a virtue of close maids, even to the husband. But since she couldn’t disobey the Crown Prince’s orders either, she spoke vaguely or carefully selected only things that would be okay to know.

‘She’s worth bringing from the Count’s residence.’

Though Gina’s voice trembled and she startled easily, she held her ground. She neither fainted nor lost control, skillfully choosing her words with care. Even under the scrutiny of Lucian’s discerning gaze, her talent shone through.

As he was about to dismiss the maid after hearing most of what he needed, Gina carefully opened her mouth while reading the atmosphere.

“Um…… Your Highness, though it may be presumptuous, lately Her Highness……”

“Speak.”

“Well, Her Highness seems to be preparing something. But I’m worried because she appears somewhat hasty, as if there’s a problem. Since things prepared hastily rarely go well, I wondered if Your Highness might restrain her a bit…… It’s just my thought.”

“Very well, you may go now.”

Lucian said while waving his hand dismissively.

He knew well that Adelia was overworking herself. It was amazing she had hidden her secret work under the pretense of rest until now. It wasn’t strange that the maids found it odd since she was working excessively.

After dismissing the maid, Lucian leaned back languidly on the sofa. He fell into thought while slowly blinking his eyes.

“It doesn’t seem completely impossible……”

From what Ariana and Conrad said, she was clearly weak to faces. The question was whether his face matched Adelia’s taste.

There were many types of handsome faces. It would be fine if Adelia liked the masculine handsome type, but problematic if she preferred the delicate type or innocent-looking people.

For the first time in his life, Lucian fell into concerns about his own face.

* * *

“Your Highness, do you have any plans after this?”

“No. Is something the matter?”

“I have something to discuss. If you’re free, would you like to have tea in my room?”

“Very well.”

After the dinner banquet, Adelia stopped Lucian. She invited him to her room to explain the plan she couldn’t fully explain earlier.

At Adelia’s invitation, Lucian nodded and followed her like a puppy following its owner.

Simple snacks and caffeine-free tea were prepared in the room.

“I wanted to tell you about the plan I mentioned earlier.”

“I’ve been waiting. What is the purpose of that banquet? The celebration of trade with the Holy Kingdom seems like a surface reason.”

“That’s right. The Empire’s founding celebration is still months away. Before that, I want to completely sever ties with Count Vita’s family.”

“You’ve finally decided.”

“Rather than deciding, I was waiting for the right timing.”

Adelia answered with a shrug of her shoulders.

She waited until Count Vita borrowed a lot of money and the creditors became anxious, then loaded three bullets.

One shot will be dealt by sending a demand for repayment of the money borrowed in the name of the Count’s family, all without his knowledge, through the Eileen Merchant Guild.

Another shot through creditors’ demands who lent money mentioning the guild and Adelia.

The final shot by exposing their corruption with massive fines.

Just the second bullet would make Count Vita’s family fortune crumble. After they somehow paid that money, the first revenge would be creating an inescapable debt with the final bullet.

She planned to hold the banquet before firing the final bullet.

“By the time that banquet is held, Count Vita’s family fortune will have declined significantly. They’ll probably try to meet me and demand I resolve it. That’s when I’ll reveal the reason why I have to cut ties with Count Vita.”

Adelia spoke while rubbing her shoulder.

People still thought Adelia and the Count’s family had a normal family relationship. This was why she didn’t sever ties recklessly.

If she just cut ties with the Count’s family, people would obviously point fingers at her saying she took power and abandoned her family.

At Adelia’s gesture, Lucian’s face hardened. He frowned and opened his mouth disapprovingly.

“You’re not thinking of revealing your scars, are you?”

“If I show those while crying, whose side do you think people will take? The abusive Count versus the victim. The result is obvious. And people won’t dare speak ill of me either.”

“I’m worried. Do you really have to do this when people will obviously talk about you?”

In noble society, scars left on the body were a serious shame. People would either whisper about failing to maintain proper virtue in a s*xual sense, or find fault saying what’s the difference from commoners if a noble’s body that shouldn’t easily get hurt has scars.

Whether good or bad, just the fact that people would talk about her made Lucian uncomfortable.

“That’s why I’m asking Your Highness. Please stay by my side then. If Your Highness protects me, no one will dare speak carelessly.”

“If it’s my wife’s request, I must accept. Let me know the banquet date and I’ll keep it clear. I should prepare clothes in advance too.”

Lucian’s heart pounded at Adelia’s words asking him to stay beside her. His lips twitched with joy as his wish came from her mouth.

Having already had his feelings discovered by several people, Lucian put more effort into controlling his expression. He pressed down his rising lips and flattened his eyes.

He didn’t want Adelia of all people to discover his feelings.

“I’ll prepare the clothes. They’ll probably be similar in style to mine, is that alright?”

“Of course.”

Lucian nodded quickly. Couple outfits with Adelia—there was no reason to refuse.

Even Lucian who usually disliked banquets saying they were bothersome looked forward to this one. It was an opportunity to stay close to Adelia without being conscious of others, and it wouldn’t be strange to hold her hand tightly.

For the first time, Lucian looked forward to a banquet.

“Um…… Then may I make one request?”

Seeing Lucian express his intention to participate more actively than expected, Adelia carefully opened her mouth.

“Please speak.”

“Could I borrow the holy sword that day?”

“The holy sword?”

“Well…… The scabbard is complete so I wanted to try fitting it……”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to bring the scabbard instead?”

“I also have some other uses for it……”

Adelia avoided Lucian’s gaze and smiled awkwardly.

It was difficult to tell lies while facing such an intense gaze that seemed to pierce through her. Feeling her conscience being pricked, Adelia blinked blankly.

Lucian’s gaze persistently followed Adelia. Seeing her wavering eyes and awkward smile, he could tell it was a lie.

“If you don’t tell me properly, I won’t lend it to you either.”

“That’s unfair.”

“From the looks of it, you’re thinking of doing something dangerous again, aren’t you?”

“Ugh…… I really can’t deceive you.”

Adelia pressed her forehead and shook her head. She had planned to resolve it secretly without Lucian knowing and bury it, but that seemed difficult now.

Adelia decided to hide the dangerous truth and reveal only the surface reason.

“I want to get rid of the one attacking the guild. Their methods are becoming more bold. Since they’ve started showing themselves, we need to start moving too.”

“You mean the King of Silentium? I didn’t tell His Majesty since you changed your mind before entering the palace……”

“I’m glad His Majesty doesn’t know yet. I asked you not to tell him since I thought it would trouble him more if he knew. Thank you for keeping it.”

When she first saw traces of the King of Silentium, she thought she should tell the Emperor immediately. But while spending time with Lucian on the cliff organizing her thoughts, she realized the matter of the King of Silentium could be painful for the Emperor.

Though only the King of Silentium had feelings for the Empress, who wouldn’t be affected by a man who had loved their beloved wife? Moreover, it could only deepen his longing for the Empress.

“Is he still like that?”

“He doesn’t seem to know I caught on. Maybe he thinks I’m just desperately blocking since I’m not responding, but he’s getting bolder and the intensity is increasing. Since it seemed he’d only cause trouble if left alone, I’ve adjusted the guild’s defenses a bit. To counter-attack when attacked.”

“Is that why you need the holy sword?”

“Well, nothing is more powerful than the holy sword, right? Since they destroyed the barrier made with my magic, physical attacks might work better than magic. Will you lend it to me?”

Adelia brought both hands up beside her cheeks. She tilted her head slightly and looked at Lucian with a desperate expression.

Lucian almost immediately handed over the holy sword, but quickly regained his senses with a fake cough.

“Alright. I’ll lend you the holy sword.”

“Thank you!”

“But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“I’ll be by your side when you deal with him.”

“Uh…… I need the holy sword, but not you……”

“Isn’t it natural for me, the sword’s owner, to be where the holy sword is used? If you don’t like it, I can’t lend you the sword either.”

Lucian spoke firmly as he stood up. Instead of questions, her request to borrow the holy sword filled his mind with concerns.

It somehow bothered him that she who took pride in magic would say she’d use the holy sword rather than white magic.

When Lucian took a firm stance, Adelia anxiously grabbed his clothes.

“Wait! Why are you in such a hurry? When did I say I didn’t like it?”

Adelia was the one at a disadvantage. Without the holy sword, all her plans so far would become scraps of paper. Adelia looked up at Lucian with pitiful eyes.

“Let’s go together. I’ll take you with me.”

“Very well, wife. Then you must stay right by my side.”

Lucian said while pushing up the corners of his mouth.