“I feel I haven’t heard what I want to hear yet.”

“Thank you.”

“I heard that just now.”

“Thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to avenge my father.”

“That’s hardly different from saying thank you.”

What words did he want? 

Alicia tried to read his thoughts while studying his expression, but it wasn’t easy. Then Cassion chuckled and said, “We haven’t had many conversations, but if you think about it, you’ll know right away. I believe you’re quite perceptive, and that couldn’t have disappeared so quickly.”

Ah… Only then did Alicia realize, her eyes widening and her face quickly turning bright red. With her head bowed low, she spoke in a small voice.

“I… I like you.”

Was it her habit to blush and avoid eye contact whenever she felt embarrassed? Cassion burst into laughter at Alicia’s demeanor.

Why was she so cute? Why did she become more lovable the more time they spent together? 

The words he originally wanted weren’t those. He wanted to hear those words of love. But for today, this seemed enough.

Satisfied, Cassion lifted the corners of his mouth and held Alicia’s chin. Their lips met. Now that he had heard what he wanted, it was his turn to grant her request.

He had no intention of leaving Henry alone anyway. He had thought so since kidnapping Alicia, but after hearing Celia’s words, that thought became even more firm.

To think he severed a connection that was meant to be…

He was feeling emotions for Alicia that he had never felt for anyone else. The thought that he might have lived his entire life without experiencing these feelings because of that man made his anger impossible to subside.

But remembering that Alicia was now his lover, that her heart was now turned toward him, he could quickly calm down.

Right now, enjoying time with his lover was more important than feeling anger.

Just as Cassion was exploring Alicia’s mouth, about to share a deeper kiss, there was a knock at the door. The moment their lips parted, Cassion spoke.

“Come in. What is it?”

“A message from the Imperial Palace, Your Grace. They request your immediate presence.”

“What’s happened so suddenly?”

“Henry is appealing to Her Majesty the Empress, claiming that Your Grace has taken his lover. He presented letters exchanged with Lady Shifield and the money he sent her as evidence.”

So it has finally come to this.

He had thought Henry would brazenly make his move eventually, but he hadn’t expected it so soon.

With Alicia and Cassion’s wedding approaching, Henry must have felt the urgency of the situation.

The reason Henry hadn’t taken any action despite Alicia staying at the Lowden residence all this time was because even if he claimed his lover had been taken, if Alicia denied being in a relationship with him, that would be the end of it.

Knowing her heart wasn’t directed toward him, Henry hadn’t been able to claim she was his lover until now. But making such a claim now meant he intended to control Alicia according to his will.

He probably planned to drug her, make her an addict, and manipulate her to do his bidding.

Since no one knew he was growing opium, it would have been a feasible plan.

“What should we do?”

“There’s no need to worry. Alicia, you can reveal evidence of his crimes with your own hands. Let’s wait and see how they proceed.”

Cassion smiled at Alicia, who was looking at him with concern.

* * *

“Duke Lowden, I’ve been hearing various rumors about Lady Shifield, but what’s going on? There’s talk that you’ve abducted someone else’s lover and are planning to hold a wedding.”

“The rumors are distorted, Your Majesty.”

“Well, I suppose they would be. After all, if the Duke were to deliberately seduce a woman, no woman would refuse.”

While Duke Lowden taking Henry’s lover was morally condemnable, it wasn’t a matter for imperial intervention.

Nevertheless, the Emperor had no choice but to summon Cassion because of the protesting nobles.

Whether this guild master became a noble or not should have been of no concern to them, yet they were showing such earnest attitudes about making him a noble that the Emperor couldn’t simply ignore it.

Since Duke Lowden was the one who started this troublesome affair, it could be said that the responsibility for persuading the nobles and quelling their complaints fell to him.

“May I see the list of protesting nobles?”

“That’s not difficult.”

At the Emperor’s gesture, a servant standing nearby handed Cassion a list with their names. There were more names than he had expected. 

This meant that a considerable number of people were addicted to Henry’s drugs. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have protested to the Emperor on his behalf.

‘This is much more serious than I thought.’

With so many involved, it would be quite troublesome, but looking at it differently, perhaps it was for the best. He could clean everything up at once.

“I also had something to discuss with Your Majesty, so this works out well. Could you have everyone else leave for a moment?”

“Is it an important matter?”

“Yes, it could be considered an urgent issue that threatens the peace of the Empire.”

“Very well. Everyone except Duke Lowden, leave.”

As soon as the Emperor’s order was given, everyone except Cassion left, and once alone with the Emperor, Cassion began to truthfully testify about what he had witnessed at Henry’s mansion.

As he listened to Cassion’s words, the Emperor’s eyes grew wider and wider before his expression stiffened completely.

* * *

Thanks to the relentless rain during the rainy season, the stifling heat had subsided somewhat. 

Though a fairly cool breeze was blowing, the Claude Empire was still so hot that sweat would bead on one’s forehead even without much movement.

However, in contrast to this weather, an unseasonable cold wind was sweeping through the Imperial Palace, creating days that felt like walking on thin ice.

It all began when Henry was caught growing opium. Since most people had been unaware of its existence until now, it was natural for the Claude Empire to fall into confusion.

To resolve this, the Emperor arrested everyone connected to Henry and immediately executed him as an example to all.

Also, among the nobles who had taken his side, those already addicted to the drug were imprisoned rather than executed.

The Empress, who had been Henry’s backer, avoided punishment by placing all blame on Henry and claiming ignorance. She was merely confined to her palace for a month without permission to go out, but she couldn’t avoid damage entirely.

Having lost Henry, who had been her biggest financial supporter, it became impossible for her to secretly gather illegal funds. Moreover, because she immediately betrayed him, more than half of her supporters turned away, rapidly weakening her influence.

During this process, an unexpected person was revealed as an accomplice: Lady Shifield.

‘I’m innocent! Innocent, I tell you! I didn’t know what kind of medicine it was!’

She could be considered an accomplice because she was found in possession of a vial containing the drug. Though she claimed ignorance, there was nothing to prove it, so she couldn’t escape punishment.

A note from Henry had been discovered, promising to forgive her entire debt if she followed his instructions.

Alicia thought Lady Shifield probably knew nothing about the opium. Henry and she were merely using each other for their own needs, so he wouldn’t have mentioned important matters to her.

However, Alicia believed it was no coincidence that Lady Shifield possessed the drug. Had she not been caught this time, she would certainly have tried to make Alicia take it.

Before she was captured by the imperial knights, Alicia had received a letter from Lady Shifield asking to meet when she had time.

She had said she wanted to apologize for her past wrongdoings, which made Alicia wonder if she was sincere, but realizing belatedly that this wasn’t the case left her feeling empty.

‘I was never family to them, just a convenient chess piece to use until the end.’

The mere thought of Lady Shifield and Natalie weighed heavily on her heart.

If only she had treated me like a real daughter, their relationship might have been different. There was some regret left.

After the situation had mostly settled, Alicia visited her father’s grave with Cassion.

“Father, I’m sorry I didn’t know. I’ve finally avenged you.”

A bitter smile formed on Alicia’s lips as she gazed at her father’s grave.

What was so important about that drug? What was so important about money? Why did her father have to be sacrificed for such things?

Looking up at the clear blue sky that made her eyes sting, Alicia’s eyes reddened. Though she tried to hold back, her eyes quickly became moist.

Wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, Alicia tried to force a smile. With a future that could have been filled with pain and despair now promising only happiness, what reason was there to cry?

Alicia turned around to look at Cassion, who was standing behind her.

“Thank you. Because of you…”

Cassion’s index finger blocked Alicia’s lips, forcing her to stop mid-sentence.

“I’ve heard your thanks many times, which is enough.”

“No. Without you, I couldn’t have enjoyed the happiness I have now, so I want to express my gratitude every time.”

“Are you happy?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

Alicia gave him a bright smile.

“Then now you can truly accept my heart.”

“What do you…”

Before Alicia could finish speaking, Cassion knelt on one knee and took out a ring from his pocket, holding it out to her.

“Will you marry me? I will protect you forever.”

“Didn’t you propose last time?”

She had accepted his proposal, and they were in the midst of preparing for the wedding. However, given the circumstances, they had postponed the wedding date by three months.

In this situation, Alicia couldn’t help but be surprised by Cassion proposing again. And in front of her father, no less.

“This time, your true feelings will be in it.”

Ah, a small sigh escaped Alicia’s lips. Come to think of it, when she accepted Cassion’s proposal, hadn’t she been suppressing her feelings for him? Thinking they might change quickly.

But now she knew that wasn’t the case. Hadn’t she confirmed his feelings multiple times already?

The image of the man who worried about her even when he was the one in danger briefly flashed before her eyes and disappeared.

As Alicia stared at Cassion, her gaze deepened, and a smile gradually spread across her face.

“Marriage to Duke Cassion. It would be my honor.”

Alicia lifted the hem of her dress slightly with an elegant gesture and gave a light bow.

There was no guarantee that there wouldn’t be difficult and painful times ahead. There would be days of tears. But with Cassion, she felt she could be happy.

With him by her side, she felt she could overcome any adversity.

Happily ever after.

fin.