How could she forget.

—I’ve been waiting.

Behind tightly closed lips, her teeth ground together. Unable to hold back, Sezlin struck the bathtub wall. The dull noise scattered through the water. The point of impact gradually began to throb.

No one could remain calm when facing prey they had longed for. It was already remarkable that she hadn’t broken Friedrich’s neck earlier.

Taking a deep breath, Sezlin let out a pained groan. Her breath, which had been held together, dispersed irritably.

“D*mn it!”

He was right there in front of her. Walking so openly through the palace, yet she could do nothing. Sezlin found this extremely frustrating.

She had long prepared herself for this encounter. It was only natural, wasn’t it? Of course she had imagined meeting Friedrich again. There was simply a difference between imagining something in your head and seeing it directly.

“Like a real fool.”

If Ludwig hadn’t intervened. She couldn’t even guess how those sharp eyes would have dissected her.

It was all her arrogance.

Even if she met Friedrich, she had resolved to remain calm. To act as if nothing bothered her. Where had that determination gone? Now soaking in the bathtub was a fool who couldn’t control her own emotions.

‘Let’s not do things I’ll regret.’

While she remembered him, Friedrich did not. Sezlin was the only one who remembered the past. She must not forget that fact.

After closing her eyes deeply and opening them again, Sezlin raised the hand she had struck earlier.

Sure enough.

The area of impact was swollen.

‘Too weak.’

While her skin was naturally delicate, even accounting for that, this body was ridiculously weak. Since she hadn’t received proper care since childhood. Naturally, her bones and body had weakened.

‘Should I exercise?’

It seemed necessary. Even a little running left her breathless. Later, though hopefully it wouldn’t happen, if she needed to escape, she should have the strength to run.

Sezlin put her reddened hand back into the water. A slight ripple disturbed the calm surface.

—I should have visited once. I couldn’t come due to recent lessons.

—It doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’re quite busy.

‘Neither of them tried to hide it.’

She had known for a long time that their relationship was bad. Not just bad. They were enemies. It was natural that every word they exchanged was thorny.

But if it was in front of others, the story changes. No matter how bad their relationship, people typically wear masks in front of others.

Speaking with knives hidden behind their backs. It was the most basic etiquette of high society. Because nothing was as ugly as dealing with matters emotionally.

But earlier was different. The two showed their hostility freely even in front of Sezlin. This meant either they didn’t mind if Sezlin heard.

‘Or they’re in such a state that they’d be satisfied only by tearing each other apart.’

Either way, it was clear that the emotional gulf was deeper than imagined. Hence, he had readily agreed to her proposal to kill his brother.

Sezlin picked up a washcloth nearby. Perhaps from being in hot water for so long, the fabric felt quite cold to the touch. Sezlin leisurely wiped her body along the contours of her skin.

‘I need to return as quickly as possible.’

The place where rumors spread first and fastest. For Sezlin, who had no connections, there was no better place than high society.

By tomorrow, the marriage between the Brioden family and the imperial family would plaster the newspapers. Then, those who couldn’t resist their curiosity would eventually approach. How to manipulate them from there would be Sezlin’s task.

Before, she had struggled even to enter society.

‘I need more information.’

The information she currently possessed was more valuable than anything in the world.

But how to use this information in what situation? That was another matter.

‘There’s also someone I need to meet.’

Currently, there was no duchess in the Brioden family. This meant there was no one to help Sezlin, who would soon become royalty.

But that didn’t mean there was no way. There were often cases where relatives or acquaintances were appointed as godmothers.

Sezlin had this aspect in mind as well.

‘Someone who will support me.’

Someone who could overlook her fallen reputation. At the same time, someone free from the Second Empress’s grasp.

Still, only ‘that person’ came to mind.

Putting down the washcloth, Sezlin gripped the bathtub. Cold air clung to her body that had been submerged in water. After leaving the tub, Sezlin changed into the clothes prepared by the maids. The towel that came with it wrapped around her platinum blonde hair.

‘I should be able to meet this time.’

Last time, April went instead, but now the situation had changed.

Having successfully arranged the marriage with Ludwig, it was time to move in earnest.

“Pull yourself together.”

Sezlin once again carefully examined herself in the mirror. After confirming that all her wounds were hidden, she immediately went outside.

“Have you come out, Lady?”

Joanna, who noticed Sezlin coming out of the bathroom, quickly approached. Sezlin, who had roughly shaken the moisture from her hair, held out the wet towel.

Joanna skillfully received it and stepped back. Sezlin pressed the back of her hand against her heated cheeks. After being in a hot place for so long, her body had become somewhat languid.

“I heard they brought in new tea leaves from the East yesterday. Shall I prepare some?”

“No need. Tea can wait.”

Fatigue came before tea. After relaxing her body that had been traveling a long distance, she wanted to sleep quietly today.

If possible, she wanted to skip dinner too…

“Lady. His Majesty has sent a letter.”

“They won’t leave me alone.”

Questions immediately arose on Asha’s face, but Sezlin had no reason to answer her curiosity.

“Just give me the letter.”

“Yes, Lady.”

Sezlin, who had entrusted her wet hair to Marilyn, received the letter. She slowly untied the golden string and unfolded the paper.

After a brief moment.

Sezlin carefully folded the letter she had opened. A faint smile filled her face reflected in the dressing table.

D*mn.

“His Majesty is calling.”

It seems skipping dinner would be inappropriate.

* * *

<Now that we’ve become family, shouldn’t I see my daughter-in-law’s face?>

‘Daughter-in-law.’

Sezlin covered her mouth with the letter sent by the Emperor. A sneer escaped without her realizing.

‘The Emperor wasn’t particularly competent either.’

He might think he was doing his job well and had strong imperial authority, but in reality, he was merely moved according to the tastes of the Second Empress, who had the nobles’ support. The Emperor’s achievements? There were none.

If he had truly been intelligent, he should have expelled the Second Empress and her forces long ago. It was quite a spectacle how he was wrapped around her skirt.

“What are you thinking about?”

Ludwig, who was walking down the corridor with her, suddenly asked. He too had received a letter from the Emperor just now. Sezlin pushed her arm, which was linked with his, further inward. Like a loving couple. Sezlin embraced his firm arm to her chest.

“It seems His Majesty was curious about me. Enough to call me directly.”

“There’s no answer to senility.”

Sezlin’s eyes narrowed slyly. Seeing him speak so openly, there must be no presence nearby. Feeling more at ease, Sezlin added:

“Still, he is your father.”

“Father, you say.”

Clear contempt poured from his voice as he referred to the Emperor. As with Friedrich, his hatred for the other party was clearly visible.

“Were you alright earlier? Meeting someone you want to kill.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

She had no intention of telling the truth from the beginning. Sezlin pushed her earlier emotions beneath the surface.

“Everyone will attend the dinner, right?”

“I suppose so. But.”

Ludwig slightly lowered his head. In his tilted view, white bandages caught his eye. It was because the flowing sleeve had fallen down while they linked arms.

“Did you get hurt in the meantime?”

His brow, which had been straight, narrowed with displeasure. Sezlin, who hadn’t seen his face contorting, answered in a calm voice.

“Don’t worry. It doesn’t hurt.”

Just a sprained wrist. Compared to the Duke’s beatings, it was rather laughable. How many worse wounds had she had?

Sezlin pulled up her fallen sleeve again. Ludwig, who had been watching this closely, quietly looked ahead.

“If you’re uncomfortable, you can go in first.”

“It’s our first gathering. I’ll need to return to society soon, so I can’t leave early.”

In her heart, she wanted to throw away all this dinner business out of annoyance, but the timing was inappropriate.

“!”

A servant who spotted the two from afar hurriedly grabbed the handle. Carefully observing their steps, the servant tactfully opened the door.

“His Highness the First Prince and Lady Brioden have arrived!”

Long eyelashes fluttered. The closed door moved little by little. Sezlin embraced the arm she was holding even more. The arm trapped in the unfamiliar embrace stiffened like stone. Ludwig glanced at the arm being embraced. Gone was her confident attitude, replaced by tension as if standing before a beast.

‘Interesting.’

Strangely, it caught his eye. A formless emotion briefly crossed his face.

Ludwig looked ahead again.

Though the trapped arm was quite uncomfortable, he didn’t pull it away.