"Since there is only one Crown Prince who will succeed to the throne, wouldn't it be natural to come to say hello to His Majesty?"
Genoa smirked at the brazen remark.
Despite the reaction, Methos confidently continued.
"How long will you remain in the shadow of His Majesty the Emperor? Would it be okay for your Majesty's hard work to remain as Your Majesty's achievements?"
He was truly a scoundrel.
The ability to see through and stimulate the opponent's hidden desires was quite good.
Genoa didn't respond in the hopes of seeing how far Methos went.
Nevertheless, Methos did not show any signs of impatience.
The dark pupil, whose insides could not be understood, was only staring at him firmly.
"The destruction of Crawford, I will make it your majesty's work, not your majesty this time."
Methos smiled cunningly as he made an attractive offer.
Genoa burst into laughter.
Isn't that a sweet temptation?
Still, it was about reaching the limit of putting up with my father, who left everything to me and kept nagging me.
what to do anyway. You can't just do a good job for your father.
It didn't take long to make a decision.
"Is there any good way? I think I've already used all the methods I can use."
"Isn't there a method that has not been used yet among the proven methods?"
"Will it work again this time?"
"Of course. It's a no-fail method."
Methos and Genoa exchanged glances meaningfully.
"Your Majesty, all you have to do is send the duke to me. I will take care of the rest."
"Abama Mama, keep quiet until everything is over."
"Is there any possibility? You will be more than happy to receive a surprise gift."
Genoa's sharp gaze briefly touched Methos, who smiled cunningly, and then fell.
It was a warning. I won't let you go if you break your promise.
Methos accepted the gaze calmly.
"good. I will do whatever you want."
Genoa recalled the fiancee of the Duke of Crawford, whom he had met at the Garden Fair.
The orange diamond ring that was shining on the woman's hand.
That would be a good bait.
"How can I contact you in the future?"
"You can contact me here."
Methos handed the square black stone that came into one hand.
It was the first thing I saw, but I could guess that it was a magic tool for communication.
"I'll call you as soon as I'm ready."
"Thank you for listening to my request."
Unlike when Methos first entered, he bowed down to his waist and politely prepared himself.
It was also acting out of necessity, but Genoa was satisfied with the arrogant man bowing his head.
Methos disappeared in an instant using magic, just like when he came.
"Lord, do you believe the author?"
As soon as Methos left, Kassan asked with a firm expression.
"No, I don't believe it."
"Then how come... ... ."
"I just use it. To get what each other wants."
Methos is not a person to be loyal to anyone.
Because he seemed to enjoy it, not just being good at putting everything on my hand and adjusting it.
Perhaps my father and I are also one chess piece to him.
So, I have no intention of making him a subordinate or a servant.
It was enough for him to use him the same way he used me.
When all the work is done, the hound is then dealt with.
"Kasan, if the heart of the guardian tree is found, we must make sure that no one knows about it except you and me."
If you want to grab a hound's leash, you'll need to prepare a prey that the hound will hang it on.
'Don't get me wrong, Methos.'
It's still worth using, so I'm just saving it.
Genoa raised the corners of her lips sullenly.
"All right."
Even when asked to kill his comrades, Kassan responded without agitation.
"Make sure Methos is doing things right."
"Just leave it to me."
Is it because of my anger at the one who threatened me?
Cassan's red eyes lit up softly.
"I still needed a present to soothe the heart of Duke Shabini because of his work as a princess. She is fine."
Genoa smiled as she held up her pen.
*
Four days have passed since Evelynn left.
Now, in three days, the ball will be held, and the next day we will be able to depart for Peyton's estate.
Please don't worry about anything until then.
As I leaned against the window and looked down, a purple hydrangea caught my eye.
It was a flower bed that was hastily decorated by Edwin's order after visiting the Garden Fair.
Edwin's ambitious plan to allow flowers to be seen in the room had caused the gardeners to suffer quite a bit.
The day after the blood moon appeared, Edwin, who was proud that he had kept the hydrangea, came to mind and smiled a little.
"Lina, what are you doing?"
I sighed and looked back at the sound of the door being opened.
"Aren't you surprised now?"
Edwin came closer with regret.
"You don't know Ed."
Edwin was the only one who entered my room so loudly, so I knew who it was without looking back.
Moreover, Edwin was no longer afraid of him, so he was no longer nervous about the sudden visit.
"It's grown a lot."
Edwin patted my head as if in a strange way.
Treating a child like this is everyday life, so I thought it would be the case now.
Every time I turned on the heat, only my heart was wasted.
"I brought you something interesting."
Edwin sat me down on the sofa and opened the booklet he was holding.
"What's this?"
"It's a catalog, but here's something you really like."
In the catalog I saw for the first time, a wristwatch that was unfamiliar in this world was drawn.
It looked similar to the wristwatch he had worn in his previous life, but it looked very expensive due to the splendid jewels.
"Is this the first time Lina sees this too? This is a wrist watch deal. Isn't it strange that Charlotte is a new statue?"
A scene from the original came to mind when I heard the word "The Statue of Charlotte".
At the prom, where the Crown Prince officially announced their engagement to Lillian, the two wore wristwatches of the same design.
'As that became an issue, wristwatches became popular.'
It was not yet the time for wristwatches to become fashionable.
What's more, Edwin said that the first time he got the engagement ring was the day he went to the jewelry store.
Why would a person who was not interested in jewelry even looked through the catalog?
Normally, I would have used it as a kindling.
"Where did this catalog come from?"
"Charlotte sent me to the mansion. VIP customers."
"A VIP?"
"Yeah, I didn't even buy a few, but I'm a VIP. It's funny."
The diamond necklaces I bought at that time were the price of several houses, so it was not enough to simply say how many.
"Look at this watch. This deal came as a set for couples to wear together. Wouldn't it be nice if we did it?"
When I asked why I was so excited, I thought it was because it was a couple item.
"Lina likes this. What couples do together."
That's what you like, not me.
I wanted to say this, but I couldn't get it out of my mouth.
"It's the first time I've seen something like this."
"Yes? Some watch bands are gold and some are platinum, so which one suits you?"
Edwin muttered as he flicked the pictures from the catalog on my wrist.
"Hmm, I don't know how to look at it this way. Anything that Lina does is pretty, but I want to do the prettiest thing."
Edwin began to think about it as seriously as he did when he made a plan to subdue Raven.
"Ed, don't you like anything?"
"What Lina likes, the thing that suits her best."
"What is it?"
When he burst out laughing at the unfamiliar words, Edwin erased his laughter and said seriously.
"Because my standards are always low."
My heart was pounding at the firm eyes staring straight at me.
As my face heated up, I secretly avoided my gaze, and Edwin gently placed a hand on my forehead.
"Well? I think I have a little fever. Are you sick?"
His worried gaze and friendly voice tickled my heart.
I usually have this kind of contact, but today, the warm hand that touched my forehead was especially bothering me.
I quickly grabbed Edwin's hand and shook his head.
"I'm not sick."
"I can't believe it's always okay."
"It's really okay."
"really?"
"Yes."
Edwin was relieved only after asking several times. My cheeks, which had heated up in the meantime, also subsided.
"I can't. Just looking at the picture, I don't know. I will have to see and decide for myself."
"The drawings are rather detailed, so I think you can decide just by looking at this... ... ."
He would have to leave the Imperial Palace if he had to wait a few days, so he discouraged Edwin, wondering if there was any need to leave the mansion.
"no. There is a big difference between the picture and the real thing. Above all, I said that there are only a few of the couple watches as they are limited edition. You must hurry."
"Huh... ... Aren't you going to leave now?"
"What can't be done?"
"Didn't you say you have work to do?"
"Now this is more important."
Edwin was burning with a sense of mission that he must purchase a limited edition couple's wristwatch.
"After going out, let's take a look around the city. Last time, you couldn't even look properly because of the fake."
"Is it fake?"
"That noisy woman."
Edwin frowned, as if annoyed just by mentioning it.
It was then that he realized that the fake Edwin was talking about was Lillian.
"I found out that you can take a boat on Lake Ethlon. You haven't been on a boat."
"A boat?"
"Yes. It's a sculpture boat that can be ridden by two people, but it's fun to see the scenery around the lake."
He was reluctant to visit Charlotte, but boating was a bit tempting.
Edwin's smile widened as I showed a sign of concern without refusing right away.
"Want to ride? It's my first time on a boat too. So let's go."
Edwin hugged my shoulder and choked.
"I still haven't been able to find out who the owner of the samurai is... ... ."
The Crown Prince and Raven are also a problem, but the biggest reason I hesitated was because of the workhorse.
Until I found Sephiroth's sword, I wanted to avoid risk factors as much as possible.
"Have you ever felt a strange aura again after that?"
I shook my head.
Ever since the day I saw her, I always looked around, but I didn't feel the unpleasant energy I had back then.
"If he had been trying to spy on us, he would have sent another workhorse."
"Am I being careful because I can recognize the samurai?"
"It could be. No need to worry about anything."
"But wouldn't it be dangerous outside the mansion?"
Inside the mansion, the Knights of Wolf are with them, and Edwin has enough control over the situation.
But when you go out of the mansion, there are a lot of variables, don't you think?
No matter how strong Edwin was, he could not control everything.
"Lina, look at me."
Edwin gently grabbed my shoulder and made eye contact.
"As long as the Emperor and Crown Prince are alive, they cannot escape their surveillance and pursuit."
Even though I already knew it, the future seemed even more bleak when I pinpointed that fact.
"I can't change that Lina is Jueri."
Can't I get away from them for the rest of my life?
"Are you going to spend the rest of your life in hiding? Do you want to live in fear?"
Like someone who has opened my heart, I have pierced my heart.
That was the starting point, and the injustice I had been holding down for so long suddenly lifted my head.
I hate life like a piece of thin ice, where you never know when you'll be found out or when you'll die.
scared.
I also want to live comfortably and freely.
I was trying to forget my fears with comfort, saying that Edwin would be all right.
Why is it that even a wizard I don't know appears and bothers me?
I leaned my face against my wide chest as if tears were about to burst out.
pounding.
It felt like a constant heartbeat was beating me, so the intense emotions subsided a little.
Then I felt a gentle hand wrapped around me.
"I didn't mean to scare you."
A voice of regret came from overhead.
"Remember when you met Raven in the West?"
I nodded slowly.
How can I forget those intense memories?
"At first, I was scared and trembling, but later we looked straight at each other. Who was dead then?"
It was Raven.
I thought it would be me who would be eaten when I met them, but I was the winner that day.
Because Edwin was by my side.