Casian received news about Rihana that afternoon.

He was shocked to hear that Rihana had gone to the neighboring country to capture the Tarecus prince alive with only six knights. He dropped all his work and headed straight to the Princess’s palace, cursing continuously along the way.

How hard had he worked all this time to keep Rihana out of harm’s way? 

Just when he was about to demand an explanation for how she’d been assigned something more dangerous than staying by the Emperor’s side, the Princess brought up the rebellion story she’d heard from her brother.

“Soon when the rebellion starts, there’ll be bloodshed in the palace. So we need to prepare. If the Tarecus prince is in His Majesty’s hands, at least the Tarecus Kingdom won’t dare invade the Empire.”

“Why does Countess Ariella have to do it!”

“Why are you asking me? His Majesty decided it.”

Casian shut his mouth tight at Melissa’s sharp gaze.

Certainly, seeking out Melissa without thinking it through was a mistake. She was particularly sharp when it came to anything about Rihana, and knowing this well, Casian had been careful not to even mention Rihana’s name in front of Melissa. Melissa didn’t reveal to Casian what she’d heard at Rihana’s mansion.

She still liked this man. No, she only liked this man.

It was a very different emotion from wanting to possess Raiden’s shell with his dazzling golden hair and sculptural beauty. This was definitely love, and Melissa intended to protect her love. But at Casian’s next words, Melissa couldn’t help but be flustered.

“I see. Then I’ll go to Tarecus as well.”

“…What?! What do you mean!”

“Excuse me.”

“Lord Casian!”

The flustered Melissa grabbed Casian’s arm. Casian shook off her arm with seeming gentleness but cold ruthlessness as he spoke.

“My fiancée has gone to risk danger in service of His Majesty the Emperor’s command, so as her fiancé, I can’t just sit still.”

“My lord!”

“Please tell His Majesty the Emperor not to worry, as I’ll definitely bring back the captive.”

“Lord Casian! Casiaaaan!”

Melissa’s screams poured out behind Casian’s back as he left without looking back.

Casian quickly got into his carriage and sent up a communication orb. The moment his aide’s face appeared above the communication orb, Casian commanded him.

“Gather all the troops. Even those stationed at the frontier.”

-What’s happening?

“My fiancée has been assigned the mission to capture the Tarecus prince alive.”

-What?!

Casian spoke with a resolute face to his surprised aide.

“So I’m going with her as well.”

* * *

Returning to the royal palace, Raiden made a map of the imperial palace interior he’d investigated while serving as Rihana’s guard and entrusted it to his aide Beriel.

Not only the passages connecting the Crown Prince’s palace, the Princess’s palace, and the Emperor’s palace in the center, but seeing the places that seemed likely to be secret passages marked in red throughout, Beriel was once again amazed by Raiden’s remarkable eye for detail.

Princess Beriel Taniaran of the Tarecus Kingdom, who served as Raiden’s aide, had been friends with Raiden since childhood and was the one who shared his first time with him.

The Tarecus Kingdom had a long-standing custom: the first experience of adult royalty was to be with someone of noble blood chosen by the king and ministers. 

This was partly because the number of royalty born with magical power was small, and also to confirm whether they could produce offspring before planting noble seed in the future queen. According to records, some royalty couldn’t perform nighttime duties due to the magical power they were born with.

Due to this custom, Raiden had also had his first experience with Beriel. The first time naturally ended awkwardly and uncomfortably. There was no nervousness about embracing a woman’s body for the first time. He’d studied theory like studying kingdom history since childhood.

Just like royal seed was precious, they ensured he learned everything about that aspect without lacking. So even though he’d grown up without knowing women’s bodies, he already possessed theory like he’d experienced countless women’s bodies. 

Just like Rihana was well-versed in theory thanks to Letia, he was the same. The only difference was that unlike Rihana, he’d experienced actual practice once.

Anyway, for Raiden, his first experience was just a natural duty, just an ordinary act, and he thought it was the same for Beriel, his partner. The customs and traditions of where one was born and raised naturally became accepted throughout life.

After that, Raiden never touched any other woman, and Rihana was the first woman he’d embraced by his own will.

“Then I’ll send this to Felton and…”

Knock knock. Beriel, who was showing Raiden the map and talking, stopped at the knocking sound. The door opened and Raiden’s right-hand man Fenor entered.

“Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

When Fenor glanced at Beriel and said it was about Empire matters, Raiden gestured for Beriel to leave. Beriel bowed and went outside.

Though she was his aide, Empire matters were connected to Rihana, so it was better for Beriel not to know. She was still on her father’s side, and everything that entered her ears would enter her father’s ears. Since both the king and Beriel had opposed him going to the Empire, they would certainly be sharply wary of Rihana’s story too.

“Report.”

Raiden spoke to Fenor as soon as Beriel left.

“A message that the Empire’s Emperor has ordered Countess Ariella to kidnap Your Highness.”

Raiden’s eyes widened to the point of popping out at Fenor’s words.

“…In detail.”

Raiden spoke with effort, his throat seeming blocked.

Rihana, who was supposed to go to the frontier, was coming to the Tarecus Kingdom to capture him alive. Initially it was a situation where she’d come with only six knights, but he added that her fiancé Casian was also coming with the Marquis house’s troops.

“The order states that if she fails to capture Your Highness alive, she cannot return to the Empire.”

Raiden unconsciously bit his lower lip hard.

This was definitely not the Emperor’s command but the work of the Princess, who was frantic because she couldn’t remove Rihana from before her eyes. Casian following along probably wasn’t part of the Princess’s plan, but anyway, not being able to set foot on Empire soil if she couldn’t capture him alive was the same as saying they’d completely exile Rihana from the Empire. 

Of course, her fiancé Casian would somehow bring Rihana back to the Empire, but Raiden had no desire to entrust Rihana to Casian. Since returning to Tarecus, what he’d been continuously working on was bringing Rihana to his side.

He had to make her his person without any damage to her family or reputation. For that, he needed to consider the possibility of Rihana continuing as head of the Ariella Count house and the possibility of finding someone from the Ariella family she could trust and safely entrust things to.

“What will you do?”

Raiden tapped the desk with his index finger, lost in thought for a moment.

“Me getting captured…”

“Your Highness!”

“Right, that won’t work.”

Raiden shrugged like it was just something he’d said casually. Fenor looked serious and firmly stated that was absolutely not allowed.

He’d been uncomfortable ever since his lord returned and immediately ordered him to plant someone in the Empire’s Ariella Count house. Raiden had shown so little interest in women that he’d even wondered if he might prefer the same gender. Even after his first experience according to kingdom custom, he’d shown quite an indifferent reaction.

Seeing such a person show infinite interest in an Empire Count made his instincts sharp. Perhaps his lord had fallen in love for the first time. 

Relief that he didn’t prefer the same gender—since that connected to the kingdom’s succession issue—coexisted with regret that he’d set his heart on an Empire woman of all people.

Anyway, the Raiden he knew was definitely someone who would give his liver and gall if he fell in love. That was why even such jokes made his spine tingle.

“Then I’ll have to finish it before then.”

“What do you mean?”

“The justification to keep my person by my side.”

Raiden spoke to Fenor with a raised corner of his mouth.

“Where are Bran del Kadelai and Duchess Pellentes now?”

“They’re in the main palace.”

“Bring them to the west palace immediately.”

* * *

Rihana’s face hardened at Casian’s words. She found it difficult to understand what he was talking about. It was already uncomfortable that he’d insisted on taking the seat next to her in the carriage, saying he’d follow her to Tarecus, but Casian’s even more uncomfortable and awkward words kept making Rihana’s expression stiffen.

“So, what Your Lordship is saying is… you were trying to send me to the frontier to save my life?”

“Yes. I learned in advance that a rebellion would occur, and I knew you’d be in the greatest danger first if you stayed by His Majesty the Emperor’s side. Knowing that, the only thing I could do was use Her Highness the Princess’s power to send you to the frontier.”

So right now, this man was saying he’d gotten involved with the Princess for her sake.

“I couldn’t tell you beforehand because you might not have gone to the frontier if you knew this fact. You and your family have immaculate pride as His Majesty the Emperor’s sword and…”

“No, wait. Wait, wait, wait.”

Rihana raised her hand to stop Casian’s words. Casian stared intently at Rihana’s face, which had turned pale white with all the blood drained from her already white face.

“I know you must be confused. But Rihana, I was by Her Highness the Princess’s side to protect your life.”

Ha, a bitter laugh escaped automatically. For her sake, he said. She suddenly became curious whether this man really knew what he was babbling about with his own mouth.

Casian let out a short sigh at Rihana’s cold gaze directed at him.