He knew her family was a mess, but facing such remarks directly was really amusing.

‘Is that what they call speaking?’

He withdrew his hand that was reaching for the handle.

Adelia was too quiet for him to barge in. Considering her character, she surely wouldn’t just stay quiet.

He crossed his arms and stood firmly in front of the terrace, eavesdropping on the conversation.

Only the knight guarding the window sweated profusely in a situation he couldn’t understand.

Lucian focused on their conversation with an intrigued expression.

For him, who had lived his life amidst courtesy, the raw conversation was truly fresh.

But that feeling didn’t last long.

“Ah, but if the Crown Prince doesn’t care for you because of those scars, let me know. I have plenty of friends willing to help.”

With those words, the smile disappeared from Lucian’s face.

A foul emotion boiled within him.

If he had to describe this emotion, it would be displeasure. Or perhaps a deeper sense of revulsion.

It was a negative emotion strong enough to make his face involuntarily scrunch up.

‘That bastard shouldn’t even be allowed to set foot in the palace.’

Anyone with a sane mind would know such talk is repulsive just by thinking about it.

Lucian’s face hardened coldly.

Before those around him could sense his change, Lucian flung open the window and entered.

“Do people spout nonsense these days?”

Lucian spoke in a low voice as he looked at the young count, who was close to Adelia.

When he suddenly appeared on the terrace, Adelia looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Your Highness?”

With Lucian’s arrival, the situation was perfectly resolved. No matter how much of a scoundrel the young count was, he wasn’t unaware of the Crown Prince’s notorious reputation.

The vile excuses spewed by the young count did not reach Lucian’s ears.

A brief, cold glance at the young count was all it took, it was as though he was looking at an insect.

‘The useless person is lucky.’

If Adelia had tried to punish him with something other than magic, he would have gladly turned a blind eye.

Not only that. If they were unlucky enough to have witnesses, he could silence them and, if necessary, create a new culprit.

In Lucian’s mind, the young count was already categorized as less than an insect. There was nothing harmful about such a person’s death.

Ignoring the young count’s buzzing words, Lucian turned his gaze towards Adelia.

She was looking askance at the young count with an incredulous expression. The magic that had been palpable around her until just moments ago had completely vanished.

Initially, his purpose was to prevent her from using magic. Having achieved his goal, Lucian did not hesitate to turn and approach Adelia.

He slightly bent his knees and leaned forward, extending his hand.

“Adelia. The dance will start soon. I would like to ask you for a dance, so let’s go out.”

It was a deliberately polite and tender gesture.

As they left the terrace, people’s gazes poured over them.

The interest in the Crown Prince and his fiancée, who appeared affectionate, was significant.

“The stares are more intense than when I’m alone.”

“It’s because it’s rare for me to come down from the dais. Once I come down, I have to deal with the nobles until the first dance.”

“I see. I’ll try not to come down next time.”

Adelia nodded in agreement with his words.

It had already been exhausting today. The imperials never came down from the chairs prepared on the dais.

Once you come down, you have to endure the nobles until before you dance.

As they whispered to each other, they soon found themselves at the center of the banquet hall.

Lucian turned as he escorted her by her side.

“Adelia. Would you grant me your first dance?”

Lucian bowed his head slightly and lightly held her hand.

He lifted her dainty hand up to his lips and gently kissed it.

His soft lips marked their presence on her hand back.

When his lips parted, his red eyes gazed intently at her.

His look, with lips pursed, seemed to rush her answer.

Though the answer was already decided.

“It would be my honor, Lucian.”

Adelia called out his name in a gentle voice.

It was an act to clearly signal to the nobles that the imperial family was favorable towards her.

Fortunately, to the others’ eyes, they appeared as a very affectionate couple.

Lucian’s face subtly raised an eyebrow, as if something was not quite right.

Adelia wasn’t interested enough in Lucian to notice such a small change.

Soon the dance music played, and they slowly synchronized their breathing as they moved together.

Adelia was the first to speak.

“Why did you do that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why did you stop me when I was about to push that bastard away, even though you were listening to the conversation outside?”

Adelia pressed on in a small voice, scolding.

“The smell of alcohol was everywhere, and the terrace railing was so low that falling wouldn’t have been strange. Mistakes by drunk nobles are common at banquets, though everyone hushes it up as embarrassing.”

Adelia habitually lifted the corners of her mouth and half-closed her eyes.

However, her tone was stiffer and more displeased than usual.

Lucian, who had been silently listening to her, chuckled.

“Are you laughing now?”

“When you get angry, you tend to act emotionally. Did you know that?”

Lucian’s red eyes followed her persistently.

His gaze was a mix of scolding and concern, watching over Adelia.

Knowing that her emotions often got the better of her reason, Adelia’s gaze sneakily escaped his.

“That’s true but… I didn’t intend to kill him. I just wanted to shut him up. It wasn’t white magic, so there wouldn’t have been any trace.”

Adelia pouted as she made excuses.

She felt burdened by the persistent gaze that seemed to accuse her of wrongdoing.

“There would have been traces left.”

“What?”

“Do you know that the entire palace is under a protective magic?”

“Everyone knows that. And I know how to bypass that protection.”

It was an obvious statement. Unpermitted magicians can’t exert their power in the palace. Perhaps because she was a white mage, but she knew she wasn’t affected by that magic from her actions until now.

At her answer, Lucian suddenly closed the distance between them.

He leaned in slightly and whispered in her ear.

“There’s a magic in the banquet hall that records magical power. If you use magic, it will likely leave a record.”

“Record of magical power? I haven’t heard of that…”

“It’s not well known, but it’s a fact that can be discovered if one is determined enough. If it had been your intention to kill, I wouldn’t have stopped you… But if that guy lives and searches for evidence, he could definitely find the record.”

“Ah…”

Adelia slightly opened her mouth in astonishment, learning something new.

It’s commonly thought that the terrace is a secret place where no evidence would remain.

That’s why everyone enjoys secret meetings there, and it’s where covert political discussions take place.

“It would be troublesome if there were evidence. It would be nice if you told me this kind of thing in advance.”

“Did you expect me to cause trouble at my first banquet?”

Lucian returned her whining with a scolding tone.

Adelia’s lips protruded poutily. She maintained her smile, but her cheeks puffed up adorably under her delicately curved eyes.

The teasing tone carried a faint concern, leaving her unable to retort.

Lucian poked her cheek lightly.

“Dead men tell no tales. Please handle it cleanly next time.”

“People usually say not to do it at all. To tell me to kill without leaving a trace…”

Adelia brushed off Lucian’s hand, grumbling.

She felt oddly toyed with by his hand.

“A death wouldn’t harm the empire in this case. Rather, it could be a death that benefits the empire.”

“That’s true.”

Unlike Lucian, who was accustomed to death, Adelia held a skeptical view on taking lives but agreed that the young count’s death could be beneficial to the world.

“But his life isn’t mine to take. I can’t kill him.”

“Isn’t the entire family your target for revenge?”

“That’s true, but there are others who hold deeper grudges against that man than I do. I’ll leave it to them.”

Surprisingly, Adelia didn’t harbor a great hatred for the count. He was more of a bystander than an active perpetrator of violence. While neglect is also a form of abuse, her memories of the direct violence were more vivid.

Adelia found the young count repulsive simply because she detested his behavior.

Therefore, she thought it right to leave his punishment to those who harbored deep grudges against him.

“That makes sense.”

Lucian nodded in agreement.

On the day Adelia made her suggestion, the investigation into the young count’s family by the shadows had already been completed.

Having heard all about the young count’s disgusting misdeeds during the process, Lucian thought Adelia’s idea wasn’t bad.

If giving that worthless life to those who suffered could resolve even a tiny bit of their anger, it would be the most valuable thing in his life.

“As long as he doesn’t die, right?”

Lucian asked in a light tone. Despite feeling an odd sense of dissonance, Adelia focused on her steps and casually replied,

“A few injuries and breaks here and there don’t matter as long as he remains alive. That way, he can experience his dreadful end for a bit longer.”

“Is that so…”

Lucian trailed off, slightly lowering his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

At that moment, Adelia sensed that something significant would happen to the young count soon.
 
But she had no intention of stopping it.

‘He deserves it.’

Adelia gracefully turned.

They were close together for their conversation.

The words exchanged softly in each other’s ears were far from affectionate.
 
Adelia maintained her smile throughout, while Lucian seemed a bit softer than usual.

To others, they appeared like a couple whispering sweet nothings and expressing tender affection.