Hello, Readers! I am celebrating my birthday with extra chapter updates, so please enjoy this special chapter release of 4 bonus chapters! 🥳

(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

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The dance ended with Henry’s strange remark. He seemed completely unbothered by what he had just said.

‘He doesn’t mind if I have a child? He’d even prefer if it was my child?’

What nonsense was this? My mind went blank, unable to believe what I’d just heard.

“Ha- ah, let’s talk for a moment, Your Highness.”

“Alright then.”

Skipping the next dance. I urgently pulled Henry to a corner of the hall.

Fortunately or unfortunately, as it was only the second song, people were too busy dancing to notice.

‘Could it be that he doesn’t believe what I said? Does he think it’s a joke?’

Well, Oscar and I did have different hair and eye colors. We didn’t look alike in other ways either.

But they say there’s no arguing with someone who’s determined to insist.

“Is it because we don’t look alike that you don’t believe me? Oscar is the spitting image of his father. It’s shocking how identical they look every time I see them.”

“I see.”

“No, really, he’s my child!”

“I believe you, Nuna.”

Henry arched an eyebrow dismissively, conveying that the matter was trivial.

“So if you believe me, why are you acting like it’s nothing? I even deceived you!”

“Yes. I am hurt.”

He placed his hand on his chest while answering with a clear face. He didn’t look hurt at all.

“But it’s all in the past. Getting engaged through deception wasn’t right, but you must have had your reasons. I understand.”

“…You don’t have to understand.”

“But you confessed honestly. And I caused you trouble with those rumors too. This works out better. Let’s call it even.”

What?! Call it even? Who decided that?

It was absolutely ridiculous. I felt dizzy at this completely unexpected response.

“Your Highness. Why are you doing this? There are many better marriage prospects than me. The Duchess even introduced some.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Even if you’re fine with it, will your subjects stay quiet?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re a member of the imperial family! You can’t marry someone like me who has a hidden past. Especially with a child.”

A basic requirement for an imperial marriage partner was to be an unmarried noble.

While I was technically unmarried, I had claimed to have a hidden child, which would be unprecedented in imperial history if revealed.

It was obvious that his supporting subjects would rise up in fierce opposition.

“Ah, that.”

Henry smiled and whispered in my ear.

“Don’t worry. When I become Emperor, I’ll change the law if I have to.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears. Such nonsensical words made my whole body shiver with goosebumps.

‘This is insane! Is this really something worth changing national law for!’

I had to bite my lips hard to keep from cursing out loud. This man had clearly lost his mind.

‘At this rate, he’ll accept anything, so I need to find another excuse.’

I needed some new and powerful strategy. After a moment’s thought, I quickly came up with a clever plan.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry but that’s not the issue right now.”

“Then what is the issue?”

“…The problem is my heart. I still can’t forget that man. Even though he abandoned me, I’ve tried to forget him but just can’t…”

I deliberately let my voice trail off while fluttering my eyelashes.

“……”

When I made this pitiful confession with a lonely face, Henry was momentarily silent.

‘What can you do when I say I still love the child’s father? You can’t change my heart even with national laws.’

While I was secretly pleased with what I thought was a clever excuse, Henry responded with a sympathetic expression.

“Ah, I see. Of course, you couldn’t forget easily. Especially since he’s your child’s father. I completely understand how you feel, Nuna.”

Whether it was just with me or not, Henry’s understanding was excessive to a fault.

‘He says he completely understands. Does that mean he accepts it?’

Somehow, it felt like I might be able to escape this time.

“Thank you for understanding. So please forget about me and find someone good.”

“I’ll wait until you can forget. Until then, let’s be friends, Nuna.”

As expected, that was my misunderstanding. When nothing I said seemed to get through to him, I wanted to scream ‘Argh!’ internally.

“Your Highness. Are you planning to wait for me until you grow old and die?”

“That depends on you, Nuna. I’ll do my best. Please give me a chance.”

He was disgustingly persistent.

Anger welled up inside me, but I suppressed it. Gritting my molars, I spoke more firmly.

“I told you to forget it. I have a child, and I couldn’t forget that man even after years. At this rate, I probably won’t forget him for the rest of my life.”

“That’s the same for me. Why are you asking me to do something you can’t do yourself?”

Wow, I really lost this one. Henry was even more insane than I had imagined.

They say you shouldn’t deal with crazy people – just run away.

As I judged further conversation pointless and turned to leave, Henry grabbed my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t stand listening to Your Highness’s sophistry anymore. I want to be alone, so please don’t follow me.”

My mouth felt parched as if I was about to get sick from anger.

Since Leon told me not to drink alcohol, I needed to gulp down some ice-cold lemonade instead.

***

I left the banquet hall and entered a room with a terrace at the end of the corridor.

Customarily, the rooms on the banquet hall floor were kept open as lounges.

Looking for somewhere quiet as my mind was in chaos, I somehow ended up here.

‘Is it because the party just started? It’s really quiet.’

The second dance had just ended, and the party was only beginning.

I was apparently the only one who had sought out the lounge so early. Fortunately, it wasn’t crowded. I was leaning my elbows on the terrace, looking outside.

Taking off my stifling mask and feeling the cool night breeze, my complicated feelings began to settle somewhat.

“Huh, I still don’t understand.”

I muttered to myself in disbelief.

Demanding to break off the engagement without context.

Making up a story about having a hidden child.

Even going so far as to say I couldn’t forget the child’s father!

Why on earth was he still pursuing me? It made no sense. If there was a reason for all this, why had he ignored me until now?

Moreover, the more I thought about it, Henry was quite cunning. Why?

1. He secured regular meetings with me using imperial honor as an excuse.
2. Using the pretext of making impressions, he naturally introduced me to his patron, Duchess Arwen.
3. He countered my trump card of “I have a hidden child” with “I’ll change the law.”

Really, at this point shouldn’t this deserve a #StrategicMale keyword?

‘If I let my guard down for a moment, I might end up becoming Empress. Then the empire would fall along with Oscar’s rampage. And the game would reset again.’

Even imagining it briefly made me dizzy.

At this rate, I might trigger an ending just by breathing. Such pointless worries crossed my mind.

“Is taking Oscar and leaving the secular world really my only option?”

While I was lost in such idle thoughts, I suddenly heard the door opening.

‘Who could it be?’

When I reflexively turned around, a masked man entered.

“Lady Hayworth.”

The stranger suddenly acted as if he knew me.

“Who are you?”

“It’s me, Kane Osborne.”

The man greeted me while removing his mask.

‘Kane Osborne’ was the eldest son from the maritime trading family who used to propose to me constantly.

‘He’s the one Leon had to knock out when Oscar almost went berserk.’

I thought he’d given up since he hadn’t come around after that, but to run into him in a place like this? It gave me an eerie feeling.

“What do you want? No, wait, how did you recognize and follow me?”

“How many years have I loved you? How could I not recognize you? More importantly, I have something to tell you.”

“What?”

What nonsense is this? Regardless of my shocked response, Kane’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“I saw the newspaper article. And I know the golden lion mask belongs to His Highness the Prince. You finally fell for his tricks and came as his partner, didn’t you?”

“What?”

No, how do you know that?

From recognizing my mask to everything else, Kane Osborne was saying increasingly creepy things.

“I can’t stand how angry this makes me. I even understood that Oscar fellow or whatever his name was! After testing me so much, you’re going back to the Prince?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Prince doesn’t know you. Only I can truly love and understand you.”

I froze in shock for a moment. My instincts were warning me to get away. I hurriedly moved toward the door.

“I’m sorry, but someone’s waiting for me, so I need to go.”

“Going to the Prince, are you?”

That seemed to provoke him further, and as I tried to slip past Kane, he grabbed my wrist. My heart felt like it dropped in that instant.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t stand it anymore. Since you seem not to understand my feelings, I’ll have to prove them to you right here.”

Click. The sound of the door locking was followed by increased pressure on my captured wrist.

“I’ll scream. Let go while I’m asking nicely.”

“Go ahead and scream. The ball just started, who would pay attention to this area?”

“What did you say?”

“If someone comes, that’s even better. I’ll say we were having a secret meeting. Besides, isn’t this a masked ball?”

Seeing Kane’s deranged eyes, alarm bells went off in my head.

“I warned you to let go.”

I recalled the self-defense moves Leon had taught me and kicked his shin with all my might.

“Agh!”

As Kane faltered, I tried to escape but was caught again by his rough grip.

“You insolent woman, you dare hit me?”

“Yes, I hit.”

Still in his grip, I twisted Kane’s arm and slammed him against the wall, restraining him.

“And I twist too.”

“Aaagh! Aagh! It hurts! He-help!”

“Go ahead and scream. The ball just started, who would pay attention to this area?”

I threw his own words right back at him.

“Le-let, g-go, my ar-arm…!”

“You want me to break it? Alright.”

When I pressed harder, Kane shuddered in visible agony.

“Uwaaah! N-no, ah, aah…!”

“Do you still love me like this?”

“Y-yes. My heart’s never beaten so fast…”

I knew he wasn’t right in the head, but he was literally insane.

“I don’t care about your hopeless preferences, but don’t bother others.”

“Aagh, ugh…!”

“Answer me.”

“Ugh, urgh, yes…”

Now that I’d gotten his proper response, should I give one final threat and return to the party?

“Next time, I’ll really break it. Live your life properly.”

The man nodded frantically. Having received his answer, I released the hold and dusted off my hands.

‘This should be enough, right?’

I was about to leave, ignoring Kane who had collapsed with weak legs.

“Aagh!”

Another sharp scream came from behind.

‘What now?’

When I turned around at the loud noise, Kane was being held up by his neck by someone.

“Keck, ugh, urgh…”

Kane let out painful groans. To lift an adult man with one hand – it was an astounding display of strength.

“Pardon the interruption.”

A heavy ornament fell from Kane’s weakened grip.

“He was about to strike you with that.”

The mysterious man remarked casually.