[There’s a villa under Marquis Casian’s uncle’s name near the Monster Forest.]

Shortly after, Beriel received a letter from Melissa. It contained writing that said this was the only place Casian could have taken the injured Rihana, along with orders to go there, bring Rihana back, and send Casian back to the Empire.

She could certainly understand the frustration of her fiancé disappearing with his former fiancée, but to send a letter like this at a time when she had already failed to kill someone and couldn’t afford to be caught – it was truly exasperating. 

Perhaps because she was an imperial princess who had grown up protected like a hothouse flower in the royal palace, her lack of caution was problematic.

Beriel sent a reply saying that no matter how secret the letter was, she shouldn’t send communications like this before the situation was resolved, then leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

She had regretted her pointless actions from the moment Raiden consumed the poison. The fact that she had nearly killed Raiden with her own hands while trying to eliminate Rihana still sent chills through her entire body when she thought about it. Not to mention him finding out what she had done.

Knock knock. Then came a knock and Fenor entered.

“Beriel.”

“What is it?”

Beriel looked at Fenor, who had come to her private office, with a puzzled expression. It was indeed very rare for Fenor to visit her private office directly. Having committed a crime, Beriel felt unnecessarily anxious and stared at Fenor with a hardened face.

“What’s in the letter? Does the Empire’s princess happen to know Lady Ariella’s location?”

“…! Did you put someone on me?!”

Beriel asked with a stern expression.

“All documents coming from foreign countries to the kingdom go through my jurisdiction. Even if they’re secret letters.”

“That’s impossible, the letters exchanged with the princess…”

“Don’t think I wouldn’t know just because they go through magic books. You wouldn’t forget that royal blood flows through me…”

Fenor answered calmly. Beriel bit the soft flesh inside her mouth.

She had never forgotten that he was half-royal. Though he and Raiden weren’t brothers, their direct ancestors were connected, which was why Fenor was also born with magical power like Raiden. 

Of course, it wasn’t a tremendous magical power like Raiden, who inherited the full royal bloodline, but his ability to track magic book flows and analyze documents was actually superior to Raiden’s.

“Beriel.”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, don’t bother. I…”

“Lady Ariella intended to embrace you.”

Beriel’s eyes widened at Fenor’s completely unexpected words.

“…What?”

“She had no intention of removing you from His Highness’s side.”

Fenor revealed everything Rihana had said about Beriel. That she knew why Beriel absolutely had to be by Raiden’s side, that Beriel’s abilities were necessary for the country’s sake, and that she would somehow appease Beriel, who kept trying to kill her.

“She said she fully understood your feelings of loving His Highness. Perhaps she knows your heart because she also had a fiancé before coming here.”

“…”

“Lady Ariella said that since she’s now His Highness’s person and Tarecus’s person, she would make good choices for His Highness and Tarecus in all future matters. That was what we were most anxious about. We were the only ones who thought of her as an outsider. She was already Tarecus’s person and His Highness’s person.”

At Fenor’s words, Beriel’s pupils began to shake precariously.

“So Beriel, you should also make the best choice you can. For His Highness whom you love, and for Tarecus. Furthermore, for your family, Taniaran.”

Fenor lightly tapped Beriel’s shoulder with his hand and whispered that he trusted her. She stood frozen for a long time even after Fenor left.

She never imagined Rihana had such thoughts. The fears that the newcomer would take away everything and prevent her from staying by Raiden’s side had ultimately led Beriel to wrong actions, creating this heavy and cruel guilt along with selfish and bitter resentment.

Beriel covered her face with both hands and let out a long sigh.

* * *

Perhaps stimulated by Fenor’s words, Beriel’s contemplation didn’t last long.

Seeing Raiden still desperately suffering while searching for Rihana, she handed him Melissa’s letter containing information about Casian’s villa.

“When Lady Ariella returns, I will gladly accept punishment for my wrongdoing.”

At Beriel’s words, Raiden snatched the letter and began reading it with his eyes. Soon he called Felton in an excited voice.

“Felton!”

Felton quickly entered the office.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It’s near the Monster Forest. Search thoroughly from the outskirts to the borderlands, don’t miss a single place.”

When Raiden gave Felton the letter with his orders, Felton bowed his head after receiving it.

“The second wave will move up from the Pirian Coast two hours after the advance team departs. The advance team moves with me.”

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness.”

Beriel and Felton called out to Raiden with panicked faces at his words. Raiden raised his eyebrows looking at them.

“Don’t think about stopping me. She’s my companion. If there’s anyone who can comfortably leave finding their companion in others’ hands, bring them before me.”

“…”

“…”

“Fenor.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ll leave persuading His Majesty to you.”

Fenor frowned very briefly but soon bowed his head with resignation. Raiden told Felton to move quickly, and Felton sighed and turned around.

Beriel, who hadn’t thought Raiden would go personally, briefly regretted speaking up, but quickly changed her mind seeing Raiden’s face brighten just from obtaining information about Rihana’s location.

There had never been a place for her from the beginning. Though she had been under the delusion for many years that Raiden would become her man, she now realized that was indeed just a delusion. 

If there had been even a little hope in her relationship with Raiden, their relationship would have changed long ago.

From beginning to end, Raiden had never had romantic feelings for her. What she had mistaken for special treatment was ultimately because she was his reliable right hand, like Fenor and Felton.

Beriel finally realized her mistake and squeezed her eyes shut.

* * *

Because Raiden departed before receiving permission from the King of Tarecus, Fenor had to struggle with the aftermath.

The King of Tarecus was shocked to hear that his only prince, not content with being endangered by poison, had headed to the Monster Forest with his unwell body to find the Empire’s Count.

“When exactly does that boy plan to mature!”

“The antidote worked well, so there shouldn’t be any danger. Most of the shadows are attending His Highness.”

“Sigh. This isn’t the first time he’s acted recklessly without caring for his body, which is why I worry so much. For someone who will become Tarecus’s next king to not cherish his body so… The boy who’s about to marry should feel sorry toward his future companion.”

“Lady Ariella went first with her unwell body to find His Highness’s antidote. In the end, both of them are the same.”

At Fenor’s words, the King of Tarecus nodded, saying that was true.

“Yes, that’s right. Come to think of it, they’re alike.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The King of Tarecus nodded and smiled with satisfaction, then clicked his tongue and spoke to Fenor.

“Still, I can’t overlook the danger, so make him return immediately.”

Suddenly, Fenor’s complexion darkened.

He knew this would happen. The king was definitely the type to do exactly this.

This was the king who had turned serious upon hearing about the poisoning and shouted to search the entire palace thoroughly to catch the culprit who poisoned the prince. 

Normally, they would have delayed news from the western palace reaching the king’s ears as much as possible, but this time they couldn’t hide it since Rihana from the Empire was also involved.

However, the king didn’t know the circumstances of how his son and prospective daughter-in-law came to drink poison, or that the Taniaran family was involved in the incident. 

This was partly because Raiden had always kept his subordinates’ mouths tightly sealed regarding his problems, and also because the King of Tarecus particularly lost his reason when it came to Raiden’s issues. 

While he was restless worrying that Raiden, who would become Tarecus’s next king, might go wrong, he was also the type overflowing with paternal love, so his subordinates generally didn’t tell the king about Raiden’s every move.

Fenor trembled remembering when Raiden had crossed over to the Empire hiding his identity. Back then, the king’s nagging had been so severe that he grew thinner day by day. 

Beriel had been in sync with him, urging them to call Raiden back every other day, making it hard only for Fenor, who was secretly exchanging information with Raiden.

“Tell the prince right now. Say it’s my command.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

In the end, even knowing his son wouldn’t listen, the king always nagged Fenor. Fenor turned around, wondering when he would be able to escape from this father-son power struggle.

Coming outside and heading to the western palace, he suddenly thought the day was particularly clear. The weather was so clear that he had to squint when he looked up, and Fenor let out a long sigh.

Wasn’t this perfect weather for quitting?

Fenor recalled one of his wishes – quitting his job – as he hurried toward the western palace. 

Everyone said he was upright, loyal, and a worker who only knew the kingdom and royal family, but the reality was different. Fenor always dreamed of quitting and wanted a comfortable, leisurely life.

A carefree life. That was truly the future Fenor wanted, and he was determined to live such a life someday. But quitting was still a distant future matter, and now he had to deliver the king’s words to the prince first. There needed to be a record to have room to escape the king’s nagging.

He knew Rihana was safely with her former fiancé and Raiden had gone to get her, so there was nothing to worry about. 

He was more worried about those who had to endure the king’s nagging until Raiden and she returned to the kingdom. Fenor let out another long sigh thinking about his pitiful situation as a salaried worker.

Indeed, today was perfect weather for quitting.