Kitty carefully chose her words.

As the head of intelligence, delivering uncertain information was always difficult. However, this wasn’t something she could omit from her report.

“Yes. The spies who created danger in the territory during the monster subjugation have no connection to the assassination guild employed by His Highness Gerick.”

“They were mercenaries.”

“Yes. They weren’t affiliated with any guild but were individuals operating independently. Looking at how the Grand Duke’s businesses were attacked, we can tell there was a completely different person behind it.”

“But that wasn’t an attempt to assassinate Ion, was it?”

“There was no intention to assassinate the Grand Duke when attacking the businesses. But eventually, it all connected.”

“We caught all the spies back then, and they haven’t caused any harm since……”

“Has the Grand Duke actually been attacked?”

“Yes. At first I thought it was a mistake, but it ended on an unsettling note when Steven disappeared.”

“It seems they employed independently operating mercenaries for both the spy incident and Steven’s case to prevent us from uncovering who was behind it.”

“A different mastermind than Gerick……”

Erika rubbed her brow with her finger, deep in thought.

Gerick clearly had a motive to assassinate Ion.

Though she hadn’t realized it from the beginning, she could clearly tell from the conversation with Gerick after the assassination attempt at the hunting ground.

However, it wasn’t easy to find anyone else with a motive to assassinate Ion.

“Who could it be?”

“This is just my opinion, but I think it might be Her Highness Evelyn.”

“Evelyn?”

“I suspect she acted to gain favor with His Highness Gerick.”

Erika tilted her head.

From Evelyn’s perspective, wouldn’t it be better if Erika didn’t return to Gerick’s side?

Then why would she need to kill Ion……

“The spies who caused more monsters to gather might not have targeted only the Grand Duke.”

“Then….. me too?”

“Hmm….. She must know Your Highness’s abilities, so it’s strange that she would make such a reckless choice. However, in Steven’s case, there’s a very high probability that Her Highness Evelyn hired him.”

“Go on.”

“Looking at Steven’s background, his younger brother is Her Highness Evelyn’s holy knight. He cared for his brother so much that he gave his own arm for him.”

“Are you saying he committed the act at his brother’s request?”

It was during a visit to his hometown when Steven was a promising knight.

Steven often supervised his younger brother’s training, who wanted to become a holy knight, and that day was no different from any other day when he was training with his brother.

The village was devastated by a sudden monster attack, and Steven fought the monsters to protect his brother. During the battle, his brother was in danger of having his neck cut off by an ogre’s axe.

Steven lost his right arm to the ogre’s axe while risking his life to save his brother.

Afterward, Steven could no longer continue his life as a knight and became a wandering mercenary.

However, he deliberately cut off contact with his brother after he became a holy knight. He was concerned about causing trouble for him.

Given Steven’s nature, there’s a high probability he couldn’t refuse his brother’s request.

“His brother began serving Her Highness Evelyn very closely around the time the Grand Duke had the accident.”

“Hmm….. I don’t know why Evelyn would do that, but it’s certainly suspicious.”

“Shall I investigate further?”

“Yes. Find out more details.”

“Understood.”

Kitty was about to leave with Erika’s orders but turned back.

They had discovered who was trying to assassinate Ion, but hadn’t established countermeasures.

“Should we increase the Grand Duke’s guards?”

“No. That’s not my style.”

“Then how……”

Protecting Ion was important.

He needed to be protected, and she would protect him.

However, Erika wasn’t satisfied with merely protecting.

If she didn’t know who the enemy was, that would be one thing, but she had no intention of responding passively while knowing.

“We need to hold them back so they can’t make a move.”

“Are you planning to move directly, Your Highness?”

“Of course.”

“Then what about us……”

“Take over the assassination guild and collect evidence.”

“By your command.”

Kitty immediately began to move.

With the Ravens mobilized, eliminating an assassination guild would be no trouble at all.

They would annihilate the assassination guild in the way Erika wanted and obtain evidence.

After Kitty left, Erika reflected on the past.

The days when she gave generously to Gerick without reservation.

And not just Gerick.

She had also given considerably to those who stood by his side to strengthen Gerick’s power.

‘I gave too much to someone who didn’t deserve it.’

Erika regretted what she had given until Gerick ascended to the position of Crown Prince.

So much that she wanted to take it all back.

‘I had no eye for people. If I had supported Ion like that, I wouldn’t be dealing with these troubles now. Ion is someone who knows gratitude.’

The biggest difference between Gerick and Ion would be whether they knew how to be grateful or not.

Despite giving so much to Gerick, Erika never heard a word of thanks.

If she gave Gerick one thing, he would ask for two, and if she gave two, he would ask for four. Erika doing something for Gerick had somehow become Gerick’s right.

But Ion knew how to be grateful even for trivial matters, saying it was all thanks to Erika.

At the time, she thought it was natural, but after getting to know Ion, she realized Gerick was truly a shameless person. Despite being like that, he couldn’t stand seeing Erika living well with Ion and plotted against them.

Erika couldn’t forgive Gerick at all. It was a different dimension from his betrayal of her.

Erika was determined to return to Gerick as much as she had suffered.

‘First, the branches……’

“Erika!”

“Ah, you startled me.”

Ion, who had burst into the office, hugged Erika tightly from behind.

Lost in thought, Erika couldn’t resist the sudden embrace and was pulled into his arms.

Ion kissed the top of her head repeatedly while holding her.

Smooch, smooch, smooch……

Erika pushed Ion away at the loud kissing sounds, but Ion was relentless. He clung to her even more conspicuously, showering kisses on her forehead and cheeks.

Eventually, Erika broke into a broad smile.

“You seem to be in a good mood?”

“Of course I’m in a good mood when I come to see you.”

“What have you been doing?”

“It still doesn’t feel real, but you brighten up everything around me just by existing. You’re my goddess of fortune.”

Ion’s shamelessness had recently reached its peak. He didn’t know how to be embarrassed or how to hide his inner thoughts.

Erika wondered how he could say such things without changing his facial expression, yet she found herself not disliking it.

It was awkward and embarrassing to hear each time, but strangely, it felt good.

It was also somewhat addictive.

Now she would even feel disappointed if Ion didn’t act this cringingly sweet.

“You’ve done a lot of work today, right? Let’s rest now.”

Ion lifted Erika up and moved her to the sofa.

Then, as if it were natural, he sat her on his lap. His hands gently caressed her waist.

“News came from the territory that Henri has almost completed the wide-area shield.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He says he’ll install it when we return to Sheffield.”

“So Sheffield will now be counted among the safe cities?”

“I suppose so.”

“This is all thanks to you, Erika.”

“Yes. I’ll accept that. It’s because I kept Henri with us.”

“That’s right.”

Ion tucked Erika’s hair behind her ear.

Just looking at her made him feel like he would die from love.

Ion’s touch gradually became more intimate as he played with the hem of her clothes. By now, she could tell what he wanted without him saying it.

Erika swatted his hand away.

“You don’t want to?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but I still have work to do.”

“Give me the documents? Do you want to read them now?”

“On your lap?”

“Yes. I’m happy not being separated from you, and you can ask for my opinion right away, so you don’t have to work twice. It’s good for both of us.”

“Are you sure? Isn’t it just good for you?”

“Really? Is it really only good for me?”

Ion looked at Erika with a lecherous expression.

Meanwhile, Ion’s hand had already slipped inside Erika’s dress.

“Haven’t you come to enjoy it quite a bit too?”

“Hmm hmm.”

Erika turned her head away primly.

Her held her chin, making her face him.

His lips descended upon hers.

Their lips, tasting the soft sensation, locked together more intensely.

The office grew hot.

Erika and Ion were quite compatible.

Not only in daily life, where they respected each other’s opinions and communicated well rather than having a one-way relationship, but their physical communication was even better.

Ion, who used to fear her rejection, was no longer there.

He had become confident with the certainty that Erika felt the same way he did.

“Tell me. You enjoy it too, right?”

“That may be true….. but don’t you think we’re doing it too much?”

“What’s the standard for ‘too much’?”

“……Does everyone do it three or four times a day like us?”

“Probably not?”

“See, I told you we’re doing it too much.”

“We’re newlyweds.”

“Newlyweds?”

“That’s how it is during the honeymoon phase. That’s why people take vacations and such.”

“Are you saying that during the honeymoon phase, people do it this much?”

“Everyone would probably want to in their hearts. But they wouldn’t have the stamina? But you and I are different.”

“Ah……”

Erika finally understood what Ion meant.

They both had excellent stamina—too excellent.

In truth, Ion and Erika could stay up all week and still be fine.

“In that regard, I think we’ve been blessed by God.”

Well, well, he’s even bringing in God’s blessing.

Erika looked at Ion with an incredulous expression.

It was amusing how he nonchalantly packaged his lustful intentions as God’s blessing.

“If it’s special because we’re newlyweds, does that mean it will become less frequent someday?”

“Well, I suppose so……”

Ion vaguely evaded her question.

That might be true for others, but Ion had no such intention at all.

He planned to stick to her no matter what.

Now, the thought of being separated from her was unimaginable.

“So, Erika, let’s quickly wrap things up and go inside.”

“I shouldn’t keep putting off work……”

“There’s nothing urgent, right? Hmm?”

Ion placed his chin on Erika’s shoulder and wheedled.

With each of his breaths tickling her ear, Erika’s resolve weakened.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“As expected, Erika is the best.”

Ion lifted Erika into his arms.

The so-called princess carry.

His steps were hurried as he carried her to the bedroom.

Puki, whom they met in the corridor, couldn’t meet their eyes as he asked.

“Your Highness, dinner……”

“Send it to the room.”

“Ahem. Understood.”

Though he should be used to it by now, it was still too much for Puki, who wasn’t yet married.