She had to answer carefully here.

She needed to convince the Emperor with this one response.

“Though I wish to return to my homeland, I don’t want to go with Declan. I want to be under Duke Evanwood’s protection.”

“Ah, yes. Duke Evanwood. He was here not long ago.”

A peculiar look flashed across the Emperor’s face as he glanced at the silently standing Declan. However, it was so brief that Vanessa wondered if she had imagined it.

“He would probably want to protect you too. Have you met with Duke Evanwood?”

“Yes, he visited the Drake mansion yesterday.”

“I see. I doubt Jurgen welcomed him.”

“…It wasn’t a pleasant meeting.”

“Hahaha.”

When Vanessa answered indirectly, the Emperor laughed heartily, seemingly amused. Then, with an expression of great curiosity, he posed another question.

“Then let me ask something else. Why don’t you want to marry Jurgen? What’s the reason?”

“That’s…”

Vanessa hesitated to answer, her lips trembling. Glancing sideways, she saw Jurgen almost glaring at the Emperor, looking displeased. His intense demeanor made Vanessa pale as she carefully chose her words.

“…I simply have no intention to remarry yet. That’s all.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Vanessa nodded again in confirmation, but the Emperor didn’t seem convinced. Soon after, he crossed his arms with disapproval and spoke in a somewhat grumbling tone.

“This is boring. I was expecting a more interesting answer. I was curious about how the princess views Jurgen.”

“……”

Vanessa remained silent and bowed her head. She didn’t want to discuss such personal matters before the Emperor. Especially not with Declan present. It was a subject she particularly didn’t want to address in front of that bastard.

“Well… I understand the princess’s wishes. You want to return to your homeland… What do you think about this? Jurgen.”

The Emperor’s next target was Jurgen. The Emperor continued his question in a generous voice, seemingly unbothered by his impudent subject who sighed deeply with obvious displeasure.

“What do you want to do? Do you intend to force the marriage even though the princess is unwilling?”

To this, Jurgen raised his golden eyes and answered in a frighteningly calm voice.

“Don’t you already know the answer?”

“How could I? Even though I know you well, I’m not a mind reader.”

“…I have no intention of letting Vanessa Roengreen go. Your Majesty entrusted the criminal’s disposition entirely to me, and she is clearly my captive. Whether she wants it or not, I will do as I please.”

By the end, his voice almost sounded like the growl of a beast marking its territory. For a moment, Vanessa had a vision of shackles being placed on her ankles, but she still gazed desperately at the Emperor with a glimmer of hope.

However, the response she received was utterly dismaying.

“Well, if that’s how it is, there’s nothing to be done.”

“……?”

The Emperor shrugged his shoulders, dropping his hands as if giving up. Vanessa stared at him with wide eyes, unable to believe it. Surely… not?

“If that’s your will, Jurgen, I have no choice but to take your side.”

‘What?’

Vanessa’s mouth gaped in shock. The absurdity of it all made her dizzy. She doubted her hearing, wondering if she had misheard, but the Emperor drove the point home deliberately.

“I fully support you. …Well, I apologize to the princess. This is truly regrettable.”

Don’t be ridiculous. She almost blurted that out. Vanessa forcefully suppressed the bitter laugh that threatened to escape.

If you were going to go along with Jurgen’s wishes anyway, why did you even ask me?

The sense of being completely played filled her with resentment. Though she tried to stay strong, pressing strength into her stinging eyes, a single tear eventually rolled down her cheek.

“Oh my.”

The Emperor murmured, looking sympathetic. Of course, he didn’t appear genuinely sympathetic. From any angle, it was merely an act.

There was no one on Vanessa’s side in this place. These men, all of them, only thought about using and treating her as they pleased. Vanessa found this unbearable.

Jurgen grabbed her shoulder. It was impossible to tell whether it was meant to restrain or comfort her. —No… comfort? That couldn’t be. This ruthless man wouldn’t offer comfort… Vanessa roughly shook off his hand and carelessly wiped her wet face.

Though she had many things she wanted to demand from him, she couldn’t recklessly start an argument in the Emperor’s sanctuary.

So Vanessa just glared fiercely at Jurgen while harboring dark thoughts in her heart. If you’re determined to do with me as you please, I’ll use you too, she thought.

For the chance to get revenge against that bastard Declan standing over there, anything would do… No matter how much you hate me or what secret you’re hiding— I’ll devour even that hatred.

‘I’ll make you desperately obsessed with me.’

She would definitely see this irritatingly indifferent and cold face stained with clear and intense emotions. If nothing else, she was confident in her ability to drive men mad.

Her navy blue eyes blazed like blue flames. Jurgen met Vanessa’s fierce glare straight on.

Deep interest arose in the Emperor’s eyes as he observed the two, but Vanessa, caught up in intense emotions, failed to notice his gaze.

Meanwhile, Declan was watching Vanessa with dark and ominous eyes.

✦ ✦ ✦

And so, the matter of Vanessa and Jurgen’s marriage was settled.

Though she was furious, there was nothing she could do. When the all-powerful ruler who controlled this world was completely on Jurgen’s side, what more could be said?

Declan likewise couldn’t go against the Emperor’s will, so he too showed signs of resignation without making any further appeals.

Declan left the audience chamber playing the role of a good brother until the end, and the Emperor made an unexpected proposal to Jurgen and Vanessa who remained.

“Well then, let’s go to the Pantheon together. The High Priest of the Pantheon has business with the princess.”

“…Pardon? With me?”

Vanessa was so surprised by this incomprehensible statement that she momentarily forgot her resentment. What business could the High Priest of the Pantheon possibly have with her? …Could it be about her misfortune?

‘If so, I should certainly meet with them…’

She glanced at the Emperor, hoping for a more detailed explanation, but he deliberately ignored her gaze.

In the end, Vanessa headed to the Pantheon without receiving any further explanation. Throughout the carriage ride, she maintained an uncomfortable distance from Jurgen, not exchanging a single word with him.

…Actually, she held some expectations of him. It was something she had become half-convinced of after the kissing incident. That perhaps, besides hatred, he might harbor other feelings for her as well…

Whether it was longing or desire, or—though completely unimaginable—affection, if he didn’t just hate her, he might understand her situation and— if she could persuade him well regarding the matter regarding marriage, he might back down… those foolish expectations.

‘How stupid. What was I hoping for? From that cold-blooded man.’

Even if his only feeling for her was hatred, Vanessa tried not to hate him.

…To be honest, watching how he treated his vassals and the people in his territory, she thought he might actually be a good person.

But such soft sentiments were now over. She intended to hate him with all her might from now on. Whatever he was hiding, she would uncover all his secrets. If it turned out to be something ridiculously trivial, she might truly want to kill this man.

Soon after, the carriage came to a stop, and as soon as the coachman opened the door, Jurgen jumped out first and, as always, extended his hand to Vanessa. His escort was irritatingly natural and courteous, with an expressionless face.

Vanessa glared at him, gritting her teeth, then grabbed her dress and jumped down from the carriage. It was absolutely unladylike, but more than that, Vanessa didn’t want to accept Jurgen’s escort.

After adjusting her dress, she strode purposefully toward the Pantheon’s entrance, brushing past him as he stood there looking dumbfounded.

It would have been nice if she could magnificently ignore Jurgen like that, but unfortunately, her foot caught in a gap between the tiles and she fell. Her damned misfortune had activated without any sense of timing.

The Emperor, who had arrived in another carriage, happened to witness this scene and burst into hearty laughter, finding something amusing about it. It was an insensitive lack of consideration for someone embarrassed from falling.

In that moment, Vanessa was shocked to feel murderous intent toward the Emperor. Though she quickly suppressed it, it was true that for a moment she had found the Emperor so detestable she wanted to kill him.

As she groaned and tried to get up, someone helped her to her feet. When that now-familiar scent wafted over her, Vanessa tried to push him away in horror.

However, Jurgen firmly gripped both her shoulders and wouldn’t let go.

“Stay still unless you plan to fall again in an unseemly manner.”

Jurgen warned sternly while forcefully holding Vanessa’s hand. Vanessa tried to calm her boiling insides with slow, deep breaths, and instead squeezed Jurgen’s hand painfully hard.

When she even dug her nails in, Jurgen raised an eyebrow and glared at her. But Vanessa no longer backed down or felt afraid.

She figured that since she was already caught in this evil dragon’s fangs, what did it matter if she acted rebelliously?

Far ahead, the Emperor was climbing the white steps of the Pantheon. Vanessa glanced at his back from the corner of her eye and whispered to Jurgen with fierce anger.

“I’ll make you regret deciding to marry me to death, Jurgen Drake. You’ll clearly realize just how ill-fated a woman I am. Congratulations in advance on becoming the second Leroy Terevron.”

“……”

To that provocation, Jurgen…

Just smiled.

He pulled up one corner of his mouth crookedly into a terrifyingly evil sneer, then suddenly wrapped one arm around Vanessa’s waist and pulled her close.

Then he pressed his lips close to her ear and whispered.

In a low, thin voice, but as desolate and chilling as the north wind in midwinter.

“Good. I can devour even your misfortune.”

“……!”

“I’ll chew and swallow you down to the bone, Vanessa Roengreen. My stomach won’t be very comfortable.”

“You crazy—!”

Just as she was about to snap back, the Emperor happened to look back, and Vanessa hurriedly covered her mouth.

Jurgen continued to escort Vanessa forward, still wearing that terrifying smile. Despite her attempt at strong provocation, Vanessa’s heart was pounding so hard she thought she might die.

‘Son of a b*tch…’

It wasn’t for nothing that the nobles of the South ground their teeth and called him the mad dog of the North.

Jurgen Drake was indeed, a goddamn son of a b*tch.