Chapter 26

After that day, hearing Eileen was bedridden, Leios tried several times to head for Ruby Palace. Though the King’s strict order still barred him from entering, Eileen was his priority, and royal orders meant little to him. It was the first time he’d ever considered defying the King. From inheriting the Duke’s title to joining the Royal Knight Order and becoming Captain.

Because of their mothers’ friendship, Eileen and Leios had been close friends, and Adrian and Leios were like brothers. Leios had sworn loyalty to Adrian since he was very young, but that loyalty shattered because of Eileen. Adrian’s attitude toward him also changed completely.

When Leios, having lost his senses, tried to enter Ruby Palace at night, he was stopped by Knight Dane Kratie. Having delivered roses to the Princess before, Dane had guessed at the affection between Leios and Eileen, but this couldn’t be allowed.

Dane knew well what would happen if royal orders were defied and shook her head. She promised to deliver news when Eileen recovered, and Leios waited anxiously for updates. Finally, today, Dane told him Eileen had fully recovered and had only suffered a mild cold.

“She really only had a cold. The maids saw nothing unusual, and the Princess is healthy.”

“I see. Thank you.”

At that, Leios regained his composure. Koniac had been spreading half-frightened rumors in the Knight Order—“The Captain has gone mad! He’ll cut people up with his sword!”—so many were wary of him.

Finally, Leios Dreikan resolved everything he could, and with eyes full of darkness, rose from the Knight Order’s office.

“Where are you going, Captain?”

“I’ll be away for a while. Will you be all right, Kelton?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

With the deputy captain’s reliable answer, Leios nodded and slowly walked the palace’s inner path. Three days. It had been three days since Prince Kallian visited him. And the Princess’s wedding was about three weeks away.

“I’ll tell you how you can become the Princess’s second husband.”

Kallian’s last words buzzed in his head like bees. In truth, he had only one choice. If he could let go of Eileen, he wouldn’t have confessed to her at the banquet. Eileen might not know, but he’d loved her for a very long time.

After the poisoning of Queen Edna, he’d lost his parents and spent four years unable to see Eileen while inheriting his title, but he’d always hoped to confess and continue their relationship. If only Prince Kallian hadn’t appeared.

So even if Eileen became another’s bride, nothing had changed. He’d even considered running away with her, but now that Kallian had said he could be by her side, he had no reason to refuse.

With long legs, Leios strode quickly into the palace’s interior. When he finally entered the corridor of Sapphire Palace, where the guest stayed, Lucan spotted him.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Where is His Highness?”

“He’s inside. I’ll announce you.”

Lucan walked inside and knocked on a door, and the Prince’s voice was heard. Leios watched, then entered the room after Lucan bowed to him.

The dim wine-colored curtains, the tightly woven carpet clearly made from animal fur, and the large walnut desk scattered with books and whiskey—on one side, several smoked cigars lay burnt out. The room was full of items not found in Staerfix; Leios noted that many must have come from Hyksar. Leaning back halfway in the chair behind the desk, legs hooked over the armrest, Kallian raised his head and smirked.

“You came earlier than I expected, Duke.”

“Were you drinking?”

“Ah, I got a little bored. There’s not much for a man to do in wedding preparations, is there?”

Kallian, still holding a lit cigar in one hand, exhaled smoke, filling the room with a thick haze and the heavy scent of alcohol. Though it was just past noon, the atmosphere felt like a decadent night. Only Kallian’s shimmering silver hair proved he was a prince of Hyksar.

“It seems you’re not in a state to talk. I’ll come back later.”

“No, I’m not drunk from this little bit. I’m fine, sit down.”

“I’ll pass.”

“You must have rushed here to talk about Eileen, didn’t you?”

As Leios frowned and turned away, Kallian deliberately raised his voice to provoke him. As always, just hearing Eileen’s name made Leios freeze. Kallian chuckled at this and rose from his chair, heading for the sofa, cigar still in hand.

Seeing Kallian move, Leios quietly sighed and sat across from him. It was better to get this over with quickly. There was nothing to gain by putting off a meeting with such a distasteful opponent. Kallian watched Leios sit upright on the sofa and smirked again.

So stubborn. Certainly a good talent to have as a subordinate—upright, capable, and fitting for the title of Duke. Kallian, with the lazy air of someone half-drunk, looked him over, making Leios uncomfortable enough to speak first.

“I came to hear more about the offer you mentioned last time.”

“Ah, straight to the point?”

“Is there anything else to discuss?”

Still, Kallian liked these types of people. The problem was that he wasn’t his man, but the lover of his future bride.

Kallian drew deeply from his cigar, exhaled slowly, then stubbed it out carelessly on the sofa. The scent of burning leather lingered, but that was it. The extinguished cigar dropped from his hand to the floor.

“Take it.”

Now free-handed, Kallian rummaged in his pocket and flicked something small and shiny to Leios. Leios caught it with a knight’s quick reflexes and opened his palm to see a ring—plain, unadorned, but with a faint magical aura that made one eyebrow rise.

“What is this?”

“Something you’ll need to wear for at least three years.”

“You do have a talent for half-explanations.”

Leios’s sharp reply made Kallian smirk as he sprawled on the sofa again.

“It’s made by the Mage Tower in Hyksar. Rare, hard to get unless you’re royalty or a high noble. But it’s necessary.”

“……”

“It erases a man’s seed.”

“Ha.”

“Hyksar royalty seek it often. If bastards show up and claim inheritance rights, it’s a headache.”

To erase one’s seed—in other words, wearing this ring means he cannot impregnate a woman. The reason for giving it was clear. The Prince had said Eileen was obliged to bear his child. So Leios’s seed had to be suppressed.

Leios rolled the plain ring in his palm, then spoke.

“So you mean I should wear this?”

“Staerfix royalty, male or female, can marry multiple times. But to do so, you need the consent of previous spouses. You know that, right?”

In short, for Leios to formally marry Eileen as her second husband, he needed Kallian’s consent. He understood; there were precedents of princesses with multiple husbands in Staerfix.

“If Eileen bears my child, and that child grows up healthy, you may remove the ring. I’ll allow you to marry the Princess formally then.”

“…You truly mean to tolerate my relationship with the Princess?”

“Why, don’t you believe it?”

Kallian leaned his head against the sofa and grinned like a devil. Leios found it hard to believe he would be acknowledged on such simple terms.

“My condition is really just that. As long as we both keep Eileen happy, that’s all.”

“Both?”

“There’s a saying that good things are best shared. Ah, I’d love to see Eileen cry sweetly between us. Wouldn’t that be beautiful?”

“Your Highness…”

Leios’s face hardened at Kallian’s meaning. He’d heard of such arrangements, but those were things done by women in brothels, taking multiple men for money. Eileen was noble, the highest-ranking woman in the country, pure and radiant as Staerfix’s treasure. To suggest such a dirty thing with her—

“How dare you treat the Princess like a woman rolling in the gutter?”

“Is that how it sounds? Ha, she’s already spreading her legs for both of us, so what’s the difference if we do it together?”

“How dare you!”

Bang! Furious at Kallian’s crude words, Leios slammed his fist on the small tea table between the sofas. The force was so great that the table cracked instantly.

That’s why it’s hard to teach uptight model students.

Kallian muttered, glancing at the scene, and Leios gritted his teeth at his shameless attitude.

“I will not defile the Princess.”

“Then you refuse?”

“…Your Highness, do you realize how gravely you insult your future bride?”

“Insult, huh.”

Kallian smirked. Eileen would surely be shocked if she knew about this offer. That pure Princess would never imagine such a relationship. But would she really hate it? Kallian had seen Eileen become even more excited when he used vulgar words with her last night.

Eileen would adapt beautifully, blooming between two men who adored her.

“We’re just trying to make the Princess happier, Duke.”

“Three people mating like beasts, you mean.”

“Yes, and you know better than anyone how lascivious the Princess can be.”

Kallian finally stood and approached Leios. His loose silver hair brushed Leios’s face as if to strike him.

“We’re just awakening new pleasures. It’ll be enjoyable for both of us.”

“…I refuse.”

“Are you sure? Even if you never see Eileen again?”

Leios raised his head with a hardened expression. Seeing Kallian’s despicable face, his grip tightened, but in this negotiation, the Prince held all the power. Leios glared at Kallian, unable to hide his anger.

“Haha, you really are an amusing opponent.”

Finally, the wild beast in the cage was growling. Kallian leaned closer.

“Refuse if you want. But if you do, as the Princess’s husband and Imperial Prince, I’ll use any means to cut off your access to Eileen.”

“……”

“If you want to pine for Eileen forever, go ahead. I won’t force you, Duke. I rather like your uptight side.”

Kallian straightened up, having said his piece. The sudden visit had interrupted his cigar, leaving his mouth feeling empty. He poured whiskey into a glass and downed it in one gulp.

After watching all this, Leios couldn’t answer. Kallian shrugged.

“If you won’t accept, you may as well leave. I need another drink.”

This was the final offer. Kallian made it clear with every gesture and expression. Leios swallowed hard. Raised by noble parents as the next Duke, he’d always walked a straight path. All his teachings had made him who he was—a clean noble, a Duke, a knight.

But this time, he had to step onto the path of corruption for the first time.

Just to keep Eileen by his side.

“Understood. But you must not revoke this offer.”

“Haha… Hahaha!”

Leios finally gave a short answer. Hearing it, Kallian burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. It was an unpleasant sight, but Leios gripped the ring tightly and endured. If he could bear this, he could stand by her side officially.

Leaving Kallian still laughing, Leios exited the room. The clear air of Staerfix filled his lungs, but it stabbed his chest as if blaming him. He felt like a criminal. But he could bear any sin if it meant keeping his love.

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