Even faced with Fedriol’s unreasonable accusation, Cariel’s composure didn’t falter. She replied with a calm smile,

“Your Highness, I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“I’m saying the game you’ve offered up doesn’t meet my standards.”

Fedriol’s abrupt remark sent a ripple of unease through the gathered nobles.

Of all the tributes brought today, the finest game undoubtedly came from the House of White. This had always been the case since the founding of the Pensia Empire—and this year was no exception.

The House of White had always demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the Imperial Family, and there wasn’t even a speck of doubt about their devotion.

For Fedriol to call their loyalty into question—it was almost unthinkable.

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, everyone glanced around anxiously, but no one dared to speak up.

At last, Fedriol rose from his seat and approached Cariel. Standing before her, he leaned in and whispered quietly into his ear.

“If I were you, I would bow my head and beg for forgiveness for my incompetence—
and offer up this worthless creature instead.”

No one else could hear what passed between them, so the murmur of the crowd only grew louder.
But Karsten and Meliover caught every word.

Karsten, forced to watch his father’s humiliation up close, trembled with rage. Fedriol’s gaze fell on Karsten’s quivering hand, and a self-satisfied smile curled at his lips.

“Are you cold, young lord?”

Fedriol’s taunting voice seemed designed to provoke him, and Karsten looked ready to leap at him then and there.

Sensing this, Meliover gripped Karsten’s hand tightly.

“Karsten.”

She whispered, her voice low and steady. Only then did he manage to suppress his impulse.

Still, Fedriol let out another derisive laugh, further goading him.

At that moment, Cariel bowed her head to the crown prince and spoke softly.

“It seems my offering did not please Your Highness.”

“Indeed.”

“Then please forgive my lack of loyalty.”

Cariel lowered her head again, offering a humble apology and openly admitting fault.

“That’s not it, Duke.”

Yet Fedriol still didn’t seem satisfied.

“Didn’t I make myself clear?”

“……”

“I said that if I were you, I would bow my head and beg for forgiveness.”

It was clear to everyone now—Fedriol fully intended to force Cariel to kneel before him. The prince’s hardline attitude sent another wave of unease through the gathered nobles.

“Has the Duke of White done something to offend His Highness?”

“Who can say… I wonder what this is all about…”

“Hush…”

Listening in on the exchange, Cariel kept his expression composed. Then, right before Fedriol, he sank to his knees. When he lowered his head in deference, the restless murmurs around them fell instantly silent.

“Please forgive my shortcomings, Your Highness.”

Fedriol looked on, thoroughly satisfied with Cariel’s submission.
But then—

“Even if this humble life is not enough to please you, I can only hope Your Highness will see the sincerity of my heart in wishing peace for the Imperial Family.”

A faint crease appeared between Fedriol’s brows. Cariel’s words, tinged with an undercurrent of instruction, seemed to irk him.

He moved closer to the kneeling Cariel, keeping a sharp eye on Karsten, who was struggling to restrain himself from lashing out.

Swallowing his humiliation, Karsten laid his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Just then, standing before Cariel, Fedriol suddenly burst into raucous laughter. His abrupt laughter left everyone around them bewildered.

“Why is His Highness the Crown Prince behaving this way?”

“What’s with the sudden laughter…?”

After a long bout of laughter, Fedriol wiped the tears from his eyes and turned to those around him.

“Do none of you find this situation amusing?”

His question caused the nobles to glance nervously at each other, but none of them dared to answer.

Fedriol’s expression hardened at this, and he jabbed a finger at Cariel.

“Is the Duke of White kneeling in apology to me.”

Fedriol’s finger, which had been pointed at Cariel, now shifted to the stag she had presented,

“Or to this dead stag?”

“……”

“You don’t think I can tell the difference?”

Fedriol’s continued provocations made Karsten flinch. Watching him coolly, Fedriol swung his foot and kicked the stag Cariel had offered. The animal, hunted with such effort, was sent tumbling across the ground.

Planting himself where the stag had been, Fedriol spoke,

“Once more—swear your loyalty properly, to me.”

“……”

“Not to some worthless stag, but to me. Do it with sincerity.”

At his command, Cariel bowed his head to him again.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

“There was never a moment more humiliating than that.”

Recalling that disgrace, Karsten clenched his fists tight.

Breti, seeing this, was struck by the sudden urge to take his hand.

“If that was all the loyalty the Imperial Family expected, I decided I would never show it again.”

“…Ah.”

“And so, for two years, I never set foot there again.”

“…”

“I’m not oblivious, you know.”

“About what?”

“I know exactly what people are saying about me.”

Karsten couldn’t help but be aware—after all, the rumors were all about him.

“Treason against the Imperial Family, they say. An insult to the throne. They claim the day will soon come when the House of White rules the Empire…”

Karsten had heard all those rumors, but chose to ignore them. He couldn’t bear to relive the humiliation he had experienced that day. He knew that, as the head of his household, he shouldn’t have behaved that way, but he simply couldn’t free himself from the anger he’d felt back then.

Breti gave a small, understanding nod.

“You knew all along.”

“I did. And I know it was no good—for me, for you, or for your mother.”

“Your Grace…”

“From now on, I promise I won’t let my own feelings make trouble for you or your mother ever again.”

As she listened quietly, a dull ache spread through Breti’s chest. She couldn’t begin to imagine what he had been through in the last two years. Shortly after the incident, he had been forced to inherit the dukedom following his father’s sudden death. He must have been so lonely and miserable, enduring harsh words and rumors in silence.

Before she knew it, Breti had raised a hand to gently cup his cheek.

“Don’t offer up any game to the Imperial Family this year, Your Grace.”

Karsten looked genuinely startled by her touch. Yet he made no move to pull away—in fact, he found himself wishing she would stroke his cheek even more.

Perhaps sensing his feelings, Breti began to gently caress his face.

“You don’t need to harm any more animals just to prove your loyalty to the Imperial Family. Everyone already knows.”

With her soft touch, the storm of emotion inside Karsten slowly subsided. It felt as if the humiliation from three years ago was finally being soothed.

“Everyone knows how hard the late Duke worked for the Pensia Empire—how hard you work, even now, day and night.”

Breti spoke from the heart, hoping her sincerity would reach him. But Karsten couldn’t focus on a single word she said. All he could feel was his heart pounding wildly in his chest, right where her hand touched his cheek, until he was lost in a rush of confusion.

‘This feeling…’
‘Why am I feeling this way? As if… As if I might actually be in love with her.’

The realization left Karsten dizzy. He’d always dreaded reaching this conclusion, but in the end…

“Your efforts will never be in vain, Your Grace. I truly believe that.”

“……”

“Truly—!”

Karsten caught Breti’s hand where it touched his cheek and gently pulled her closer.

At last, their lips met.