When Seiden spoke these stern words, Bellota looked at him in disbelief before finally bursting out with what she had been holding back.

“Then you speak first……!”

Me first? About what? Seiden’s brows furrowed.

“I saw you with Princess Hestina in the garden. Her Highness told you…… to you……”

Seiden’s eyes hardened at Bellota’s words.

“Her Highness said she absolutely needed you……”

As she spoke the words she had been holding back, Bellota bit her lip and sniffled, as if unable to handle the surging emotions any longer. Seiden stared in confusion at the blue eyes brimming with tears.

Bellota’s words were true. While he had gone to retrieve the gift, he had had a secret conversation with Princess Hestina who had followed him to the garden. And Hestina had indeed said she needed him. But that was…….

“I, I…… Princess Hestina is such a good person…… but it hurts when my heart stings every time I see her……”

Seiden’s face contorted further at these words. Her heart stings every time she sees Hestina……?

“Even though I think there must be some reason…… seeing you and Her Highness together……”

Drunk, Bellota was revealing everything she had kept inside, not even knowing what she was saying.

“I shouldn’t dislike it. If I dislike even just you two talking, then I’m no different from those who whispered malicious rumors about Her Highness behind her back……! And yet, I keep……”

At these words, the back of Seiden’s head tingled. So, Bellota was now…… could it be…….

“Are you jealous……?”

At those words, Bellota’s breath caught with a gasp. It seemed even she had just now realized the name of her emotion. However, unable to deny the name of that emotion, Bellota’s face burned red.

Ha…… A dejected yet overwhelming sigh escaped through Seiden’s dry lips.

The situation had become clear. So, Bellota was now feeling jealous. Just like Melissa who had been jealous when Luke cut off another woman’s ham. Because he had been with another woman…….

As soon as he realized this, a pleased smile bloomed on Seiden’s lips. Seeing that smile, Bellota asked in bewilderment.

“Why…… why are you smiling……?”

Though her voice carried a reproach not to smile, such things couldn’t stop Seiden’s joy. Bellota was feeling jealous right now. Clear jealousy bursting forth from passionate love.

Seiden knew all too well what had made Bellota’s heart sting. It was tormenting jealousy that made one’s heart burn unbearably.

“Please don’t smile……”

Having realized the meaning of his smile, Bellota’s ears turned red as she hurriedly covered Seiden’s mouth with both hands. Seiden pulled her slender arms and frantically kissed her lovely face.

Chu, chu, chu.

As endless kisses fell on her forehead, cheeks, and lips, her body, unable to bear it, fell backward. Seiden skillfully slipped his hand behind Bellota’s head to safely lay her on the bed, naturally climbing on top of her as he continued showering her with kisses.

“Mmh, Seiden……! Stop……”

When Bellota, overwhelmed by the rain of kisses that left her unable to open her eyes, grabbed his shoulders and tried to push him away, Seiden finally stopped. He remained hovering close to Bellota’s lips.

Still wearing a pleased smile, Seiden whispered.

“Were you jealous?”

At this, Bellota pressed her lips together, refusing to admit it.

It hadn’t been long since she had self-righteously told Seiden that if you trust someone, you shouldn’t be jealous. Jealousy. To think this petty, childish, burning emotion coursing through her was jealousy…

“Hmm? Were you?”

Seiden coaxed in a languid voice while caressing Bellota’s face. Bellota felt like crying now.

She had been jealous. Of Seiden being with Hestina. Of him having secret conversations with that woman who was as magnificent as the sun and as lovely as sunlight. No, actually, for a very long time. Since there had been talk of marriage between Hestina and Seiden. Since that moment she had decided she should let him go.

“Three years ago, Princess Hestina was the one who revealed the location of the source point in the Rubble Mountains.”

At those words, Bellota’s tearful eyes flew open.

“What……?”

“I’m saying Princess Hestina was the one who stole and sent His Majesty’s map.”

Bellota was momentarily dazed as she recalled the situation then. Soon she remembered that Seiden had found the gorge with the source point in just three days. That had certainly been impossible without someone’s help. And the person who had helped Seiden…….

As she realized this fact, Bellota’s head spun. So that was it. That’s why Seiden had attended Hestina’s birthday banquet as if it were natural and exchanged friendly greetings with her.

“Then earlier……”

“She was asking for help to prevent the same kind of manipulation from happening at this hunting festival as last time.”

“Manipulation……?”

Those words made her recall the hunting festival from three years ago. Back then, Geril and several other nobles had tried to manipulate the competition results by swapping the magic stones containing the prey.

“The magic tower hasn’t developed that potion yet. So she asked me to obtain it for her. But since that potion belongs to Hellers, I was hesitant to reveal this fact to a member of the imperial family. And probably……”

Seiden seemed to think revealing this much might be dangerous, but after a moment’s consideration, he disclosed everything to Bellota.

“Her Highness desires the throne.”

Bellota’s eyes widened at Seiden’s shocking words.

“So she probably wants to keep Prince Derent in check.”

It was truly an incredible secret. Though there had been news that Princess Hestina had been steadily showing interest in politics over the past few years, the throne? Moreover, since Prince Derent was also suddenly trying hard to gain the Emperor’s favor, this might mean a succession battle would soon begin between the two.

“I don’t want to get involved in such a fight but……”

When Seiden sighed as if troubled, his breath touched Bellota’s lips directly.

“I am indebted to her.”

Only then did Bellota understand Seiden’s dilemma. And the reason why Hestina kept approaching Seiden.

If she were to fight for the throne, Seiden would undoubtedly be an excellent and reliable card. So all of Hestina’s actions toward Seiden had nothing to do with romantic pursuit.

As she realized everything, Bellota’s face burned hot. Oh my.

“I…… without knowing this……”

Unable to bear the rushing self-loathing and shame, Bellota covered her face with both hands and bit her lip. She felt so ashamed of harboring such unworthy feelings toward Hestina without knowing these circumstances. Moreover, having been caught, Bellota couldn’t meet Seiden’s eyes.

If only Seiden would leave her unworthy self alone.

However, Seiden, who had no intention of granting Bellota’s wish, mischievously grabbed her hands. He pulled them down so she couldn’t cover her face again and kissed her trembling eyelashes.

“Without knowing this, what happened?”

At Seiden’s teasing question, Bellota truly felt like crying.

“What happened to make you this embarrassed? Hmm, wife? Tell me.”

Like a fish in water, Seiden whispered mischievously in a delighted voice.

“Stop it……!”

With both wrists caught in his large hands and unable to cover her face anymore, Bellota pleaded desperately. Seiden’s eyes curved languidly. His gaze swept over her lovely face, which had turned as red as the setting sun, as if admiring it.

“But……”

As Seiden stared at the flustered Bellota admiringly, he recalled something. Suddenly, his eyebrows set in a serious expression. When Bellota’s dazed gaze turned to him, she saw his eyes smoldering intensely.

“Then perhaps at the hunting festival three years ago too……”

Seiden remembered how Bellota had grown cold toward him right after Hestina’s sudden confession at the hunting festival three years ago. The awkward, strained behavior Bellota had shown then overlapped perfectly with her current behavior. Then at that time too, Bellota had…….

“N-no, that’s not it.”

Though Bellota tried to deny it hurriedly, her cheeks were too red for her words to seem sincere.

Ha, an incredulous sigh escaped his lips as Seiden’s mouth curved into a loose smile.

“Please…… it’s not like that, Seiden……”

Seeing that smile, Bellota grabbed his face and pleaded. However, Seiden showed no mercy as he captured her lips again in one go, wrapping and exploring with his loosened tongue. It was truly amazing. Even if it was the scent of strong fruit wine, Bellota’s fragrance made Seiden dizzy. Not to mention, a drunk Bellota.

Seiden had brought Bellota straight home from the banquet because she was so drunk she could barely stand. But he had rejected Hestina’s offer to prepare a room in the palace for them to rest because he had not the slightest intention of sharing this rare sight with anyone else.

From now on, Bellota must never drink alcohol anywhere except in front of Seiden. A Bellota all hot and flushed red, whimpering. Something in Seiden rose unbearably hard.

Seiden’s lips moved down along Bellota’s neck.

“Did you drink like this……”

“Mmnh…… wait……”

“Prepared to face the consequences?”

Bellota tried to stop his touches, but her drunken body wouldn’t move properly.

“Of course you must have drunk with firm resolve. That must be it.”

Having reached his own conclusion, Seiden nodded as if that settled everything and buried his lips in Bellota’s collarbone.

“Then now, you must pay the price for getting so drunk you can barely move.”

Bellota realized she could never stop this man tonight. Every part of her body, heated from the alcohol, burned like flames wherever his touch landed. Just as Bellota had expected, Seiden, who had absolutely no intention of stopping, urgently fumbled at the bedside table and grabbed the prepared oil.

Tonight, all the remaining oil would be used up. Realizing this, Bellota closed her eyes in resignation. This was all the price for her unworthy jealousy.

* * *

That night, while Seiden and Bellota were using up all of Yevar’s masterpiece oil, another masterpiece was being born in Hellers’ Tower.

Bang! Booom!

As explosions erupted from the cauldron boiling in the fireplace and the potion inside turned a clear pink, the corners of Yevar’s mouth trembled.

“Heh……”

With his appearance in complete disarray from being holed up in the tower making magic potions for days, Yevar realized he had finally created the potion he wanted. With soot covering his face and hair, he burst into a pleased laugh.

“Hahaha……! Finally, I’ve completed it……!”

Indeed, I am a genius. Unable to contain his overflowing self-love, Yevar hugged and stroked himself. His eyes, which had been immersed in emotion, suddenly sharpened as thick revenge settled in them.

“Now you’re done for, Seiden Blackwood……”

As he imagined how severely Seiden would suffer from his potion, a thrilling satisfaction rose in Yevar’s heart.

“Hahahaha! Hahaha!”

That night, maniacal laughter leaked from Hellers’ Tower for a very long time.