Count Crient, Daniel Crient, immediately wrote a letter to the Duke’s family.

In essence, the letter stated, “I will re-educate my daughter within the family to correct her rudeness, and I apologize.”

It was merely an attempt to cover up, but it should buy a little time for the next move.

The father and daughter, who shared lunch, exchanged updates after a long time.

“Father, how is Elsier?”

“Your younger brother? Don’t even ask. He’s been hitting other kids so much it’s driving me crazy.”

“Haha, it seems another letter has arrived from the academy.”

Times like this, casually conversing with her family, was so precious to Ellen.

In the past, she found her much younger brother incredibly annoying, but at this moment, while talking with her father, she missed that young brother so much it was unbearable.

Ellen continuously asked Daniel about various updates, and Daniel, thinking it was good to have come up, answered each one.

As the meal was coming to an end.

Knock, knock, knock.

They heard a knock from outside.

The father and daughter exchanged puzzled glances.

“…Is there anyone who would come to visit?”

At Daniel’s tense question, Ellen nodded and said.

“Either the Duke or the Crown Prince. It must be one of them.”

She left a short answer and stood up to head towards the door.

“What is it?”

Upon receiving the guest’s permission, the servant waiting outside delivered the news he brought.

“A gentleman who introduced himself as Keira has asked to meet Count Crient if he is here.”

At those words, Ellen glanced at her father and replied.

“If it’s not too much trouble, please invite him in.”

The servant bowed and hurriedly went down.

“The Crown Prince is more impatient than I thought.”

It was a remark that would normally have prompted Daniel to caution her.

But unlike usual, he was silent now.

He thought that one day he might actually meet the Crown Prince, but he hadn’t expected it to be right now.

* * *

Early morning at the imperial palace, before noon.

Kaiden made a decision.

“…I must go out.”

He abruptly stood up and walked briskly.

The news brought by his returned aide, Raven, was as follows.

First, on the investigation into Ellen Krembell.

Apparently, there had been a major overhaul of staff at the Duke’s residence.

Raven speculated that it might have been due to Duchess Krembell’s demand for a divorce, leading to various discussions.

Kaiden agreed.

There was no other reason he could think of for the sudden change of staff at this point.

And the next piece of information was about the gambling den from before.

It had been established for about two years and had already created numerous victims.

However, they still couldn’t determine who the leader was.

Kaiden dismissed Raven, telling him to return, and Raven advised him not to act rashly.

After Raven disappeared, Kaiden was left alone, and his colorful swearing began.

Damn it, sh*t, hell…

He didn’t even want to think about how much of a joke the imperial family must have seemed to that person.

Kaiden vowed to uncover who the mysterious opponent was, cursing inwardly once more.

But as he fumed for a long time, a truly strange suspicion arose.

How could a mere woman know about a place that even Raven, who had set out to investigate, couldn’t find?

It was an illogical story.

‘Perhaps it really is Krembell…’

Thus, one doubt led to another.

The gambling den, Krembell, Duchess Krembell.

His thoughts kept circling among these, and before he knew it, he was constantly recalling her from that day.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

What on earth had happened for Duchess Krembell to change so drastically, like a different person?

That, too, left him with a peculiar unease.

He thought she was just a girl chasing after her husband, but in just a few months, she had become a daring gambler.

With such strangeness and concern, he couldn’t get her out of his mind since that day.

So Kaiden thought.

There’s nothing they could confirm immediately, and the person with the clue is nearby.

In that case, he must go and question her directly.

As Kaiden rose from his seat, the chamberlain following him lamented.

“Oh, Your Highness! If His Majesty finds out, he will surely be furious! I’m telling you, my head will roll!”

“His Majesty isn’t that heartless. Go and call Sir Coenheim.”

Coenheim was from his maternal grandmother’s family and was currently the best card he could play.

“Why don’t you just officially leave the palace?”

“No. This isn’t that kind of matter.”

Kaiden merely stated his business and quickly set out to escape the palace again.

Sir Coenheim, who was dragged out by the chamberlain’s sudden appearance and had to listen to complaints all the way, immediately sent a message to his close friend, Sir Cheshire, who was discreet.

Of course, for Sir Cheshire, it was an untimely summons, so when he arrived, he unleashed all sorts of curses at Sir Coenheim.

But as soon as Sir Cheshire saw the Crown Prince, disguised and outside the palace, he fell silent.

“Please, return.”

The knights’ plea was earnest, but the Crown Prince’s eardrums were as thick as his face.

In other words, he didn’t listen.

“Tell them that if Crient is here, I wish to meet him.”

Thus, he boldly ventured out without permission today as well.

* * *

The Crown Prince, who held the lives of the two knights, the chamberlain, and all the palace guards in his hands, arrived in front of a woman.

In the quiet room.

Breaking the silence, Ellen asked.

“You have business with me. What is it?”

The Crown Prince gestured toward where Count Crient and his escort knights were and asked.

“Can I speak here?”

“I’m fine with it.”

“Then, I’ll get straight to the point. Would you consider working by my side?”

His abrupt words lingered in the quiet place.

Past the father and daughter sitting on the sofa, between the two large knights standing shoulder to shoulder.

His blue eyes, shining especially bright under the sunlight, met Ellen’s gaze.

“So, Your Highness. What I just heard…”

“I asked if you’d consider working by my side.”

Faced with that unexpected question, Ellen didn’t know whether to be pleased or displeased with the situation.

She asked a question first.

“What exactly is this ‘work’ you’re referring to?”

“It’s nothing much. Just that I’d like you to share the information you know with me, like before.”

Clatter, the sound of Ellen setting down her teacup echoed.

“That information… Surely you have more of it. Don’t you?”

Even without her answering, the Crown Prince already knew the answer.

So Ellen asked instead,

“Information. It seems you trust me, Your Highness.”

“Regardless of what intent your information holds, I cannot tolerate the fact that such illegality was taking place in the capital.”

“I understand it as you needing me, separate from trust. Am I wrong?”

“You’re not wrong. However…”

A slight hiss escaped his teeth.

It was a smile far from the kindness he usually displayed.

“Then let me ask you.”

His lips parted, and the words that came out were unexpected to her.

“This was your goal all along, wasn’t it?”

“……!”

“Am I wrong, Miss?”

His straightforward probing caught Ellen genuinely by surprise.

To come at her so suddenly.

“I sought you because I needed you. Didn’t you also seek me because you needed me? You wanted to move me to do something. Isn’t that right?”

The Crown Prince asked with a lazy smile.

Did this man really die at the hands of Gillian, leaving his back exposed?

The Crown Prince she knew wasn’t like this.

He was someone who always wore a faint smile.

Someone who playfully treated her, always on the outskirts, as family.

But perhaps the person she knew was entirely different from the man before her now, Ellen thought.

“Then let’s get straight to the point.”

He spoke very clearly, as if driving in a wedge.

“You must want something from me. I’ll give it to you. In return, what you must give me is…”

The eyes she thought held gentle warmth now trapped her with a sharp glint, measuring an enemy.

“…You.”

“…Pardon?”

Ellen was flustered.

Me? He wants me? What does that mean?

“I thought about it, and as the Crown Prince of this nation, I have no choice. Isn’t it too wasteful to leave a clue rolling around in front of me?”

“So, you intend to keep me under surveillance…?”

“The phrasing is poor, but it’s not wrong to understand it that way.”

Kaiden didn’t deny her words and spoke calmly.

‘Look at that. He’s always smiling with a gentle face…’

It was all a mask.

He had a truly unexpected side.

In a way, it was also astonishing.

“Your personality is quite different from what I’ve known.”

“That’s what I want to say to you. And if I didn’t have at least that much decisiveness, I wouldn’t be sitting here at this age. So, will you join me or not?”

Kaiden indicated with his entire being that his mind was already made up.

Ellen pondered for a moment.

‘Does he really not intend to question me about anything right now?’

There were many things he might be curious about.

For instance, how did she know such secretive details?

Or whether what she said was true, and if so, why she decided on divorce.

Why did she tell him everything?

Typically, someone of imperial blood would test the waters repeatedly before stepping forward. They would even make others cross first.

But this man didn’t seem to have any such intention.

His eyes, with clear pupils, focused on Ellen.

“…Alright. Then, Your Highness, I have one request.”

“Speak.”

“Please ensure the safety of me and my family.”

“That goes without saying.”

“And help me divorce Krembell.”

“About that, is there a reason you made such a decision?”

“You must have seen for yourself.”

Ellen said with a sly smile.

“I judged that it’s the only way to ensure my family’s safety. So I will provide you with all the financial and informational support you need, Your Highness.”

“Alright… Divorce aside, it seems you didn’t understand me properly. I clearly said the price is you.”

“I will help to the best of my abilities. Of course, Your Highness will—”

“No, that’s not it.”

He lightly waved his hand and said.

“I’m proposing marriage to you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your Highness!”

Sir Cheshire, standing behind him, exclaimed in surprise.

Sir Coenheim and Count Crient, who also widened their eyes, were no different.

The only one who truly understood his words was the one who uttered them.