Sezlin raised her chin brazenly.

“The world should be a bit dangerous.”

Ludwig’s gaze sharpened momentarily, but Sezlin remained confident. She wasn’t wrong, after all. While most noble ladies would keep knights by their side, Sezlin was different. She did have guards, but none of them felt any particular duty to protect her.

She was an abandoned duke’s daughter to begin with. No one would care if she got hurt. That’s why, at some point, Sezlin had devised ways to protect herself.

One of those methods was her handkerchief.

“I doubt anyone would dare touch a duke’s daughter.”

“Visible enemies aren’t the only ones that exist.”

Unfortunately for Sezlin, she had more enemies than allies. It was tiresome to count them all.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, the man at their feet groaned. The more he tried to move, the more blood dripped onto the grass.

“A blind date with a beast. What a unique experience.”

“Beast?”

Sezlin gestured with her chin toward the ground.

Ludwig’s gaze dropped to the ground. Ah, so that’s what she meant. Ludwig, who had earlier referred to the man as a rat, crossed his legs.

“You caused me worry.”

Sezlin smiled silently. At her look that said to clean things up, Ludwig snapped his fingers. Guards who had been hiding immediately appeared.

Even without Ludwig saying anything, they perceptively picked up the man. Sezlin followed the afterimage of the quickly disappearing guards.

‘They say they fought together on the battlefield.’

Though she wasn’t deeply versed in martial arts, she could tell they were skilled. Perhaps they would be monitoring her later.

“Now that the nuisance is gone, let me introduce myself again.”

Her elegant hand rose to her chest.

“I am Sezlin Brioden. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness the First Prince.”

“An honor, is it?”

Ludwig repeated those words, laughing as if it were absurd.

“Well, I appreciate the courtesy, even if it’s just for show.”

His thick eyebrows drew together. Seeing the space between them narrow, Sezlin chose not to add anything more.

Her words had bite to them.

“That’s a beautiful dress.”

“Do you like it?”

Sezlin deliberately extended one arm to the side. Elaborate embroidery and patterns unfolded before his eyes. Seeing this, Ludwig stroked his chin.

“It suits the duke’s daughter well.”

Sezlin stretched her lips into a smile.

She wasn’t naive enough to believe his words at face value. Even to her own eyes, this dress was only suitable for parties. It was flashy with embroidery and patterns, lacking substance, and full of vanity.

In this situation, Ludwig’s words were closer to mockery than praise.

In high society, a dress was equivalent to one’s face. He was indirectly saying she was vain and extravagant.

‘He must have heard the rumors.’

Of course, since he was her potential match, he would have already heard plenty about her reputation.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

“The tea hasn’t even arrived yet.”

“Can I keep a busy person like you for long?”

Sezlin’s eyes curved prettily. From the beginning, her goal in this meeting was clear. She had no intention of offering needless flattery.

Honestly.

That’s what he liked best, after all.

“Please marry me.”

With her hands neatly folded, Sezlin gazed at the man before her. Ludwig’s face changed strangely at her fearless eye contact. Unable to tell whether he was intrigued or dismissing her words as nonsense, Sezlin hastily added:

“I really want this marriage to proceed.”

Because only then could she kill the Second Prince. Sezlin suppressed her true intentions that lingered on her tongue.

Ludwig spoke with a faint smile.

“I don’t think I’d make a particularly good marriage partner.”

Sezlin’s eyes narrowed slyly.

He was right. Ludwig had only recently returned from war. Though he was building his influence, he lacked strong family backing. In other words, his position was unstable. Because of this, even the nobles were hesitant to make moves. The Second Empress and Friedrich were still powerful.

Brioden was the only family to propose marriage to him.

‘Probably because they’re aligned with the Second Empress.’

Sezlin raised the corner of her mouth. Outwardly, the Brioden family maintained neutrality. But in reality, they were merely a force hidden behind the Second Empress. The reason they approached the First Prince before Friedrich was because of his unstable position. Currently, Ludwig needed power, and the Brioden family could provide strong backing.

However, the Brioden family had another objective.

To absorb the First Prince into the Second Empress’s faction. The Brioden family proposed this marriage to Ludwig to serve as that connection.

“Well…”

Sezlin drew out her words.

“I’m in the same situation, aren’t I?”

Just as Ludwig lacked backing, Sezlin had a good family but a poor reputation. It would be fortunate if it were merely poor—it was practically the worst.

This was precisely why the Duke wanted to match Sezlin with the First Prince. After absorbing his power, they needed a puppet they could dispose of at any time, and the disliked duckling Sezlin caught their eye.

“My family will be your backing. Since you’ve only recently returned from war, you need to adapt to noble society.”

“There’s no better family than Brioden right now, is there?”

Sezlin added softly. Her proposal, full of confidence, showed no sign of wavering. Ludwig’s face gradually hardened in response.

Sezlin quietly waited for her blind date partner, who had firmly closed his mouth.

As if giving him ample time to think, her posture remained confident with shoulders squared, exuding composure.

While Ludwig was lost in thought, Sezlin’s platinum blonde hair fluttered lightly. Her silky hair scattered across the table.

At that moment, Ludwig rose from his seat and approached Sezlin. Shortly after, Sezlin looked at the handkerchief placed in front of her.

It was the handkerchief she had just given him.

“I’m sorry, but…”

“…”

“I must decline your proposal.”

Her previously smooth brow furrowed momentarily. Sezlin gradually tilted her head back.

“While your offer is tempting, unfortunately, I’m not in such a desperate situation.”

He glanced to the side. Sezlin turned her head. A maid was approaching with a tray.

“Or perhaps Friedrich wouldn’t be a bad choice either. Since Brioden is a neutral family, connecting with him might be the better option.”

“Your Highness.”

Sezlin calmly called to him. Ludwig was no easy opponent. She had anticipated this kind of response from the beginning.

The conversation was just beginning. Sezlin also rose to her feet. The sound of the tray being dragged was heard nearby.

“I still have something to…”

Sezlin’s lips moved.

At that moment, her vision was blocked. A large hand covered Sezlin’s eyes. Simultaneously, a sharp scream rang out.

“Aaagh!”

“!”

Her small shoulders flinched. Sezlin grabbed the hand covering her eyes.

She felt firm calluses.

“You’ll regret it if you open your eyes now.”

Crack.

The eerie sound of bones twisting echoed.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Ludwig, who had grabbed the maid’s neck, continued.

“That I wouldn’t make a good marriage partner.”

The maid, with a distorted face, dropped what she was holding.

“Kuhak, kuk!”

It was a dagger.

“Your courage to come this far is admirable.”

“…”

“If we married, you’d see scenes like this every day.”

Ludwig tossed the now unconscious maid to the floor. Slowly withdrawing his hand, he looked down at Sezlin’s blue eyes.

“Not very romantic.”

After all.

“It would be like living with a wild beast.”

Sezlin lifted her eyelids.

“I’m sure I wouldn’t be a son-in-law the Duke would approve of.”

Her vision cleared.