When the trial was over, I made eye contact with Omen.

Throughout the trial, his jaw had been set and his eyes shone with interest.

‘You little bastard.’

Omen grinned at me, his mouth curling up into a full smile.

‘Incredible.’

Omen mouthed.

His laid-back demeanor makes my blood boil.

He should be sitting in the middle of this.

I swallowed hard and returned the smile.

‘Don’t mention it.’

Omen laughed out loud.

***

[I have to go now.]

“What, you’re going again?”

The Grand Duke, who was talking to the crown prince, turned around at the sound of my voice.

I waved my hand gesturing that it was nothing.

“Why suddenly, what are you going to do again?”

[Hey, I came here in a hurry because of you! I’m going to finish what I was doing!]

“……Then when are you coming back?”

The old lady’s leaving again.

As if that weren’t bad enough, I was now in Omen’s sights.

I looked at her, unable to hide my anxiety.

[Aigoo, that snake is really bothering you.]

“Old lady, I’m not just bothered, I’m in danger.”

[You’re not going to die, you punk.]

She said, as if there was nothing for me to worry about.

It’s not like she’s going to be the only one left here.

“Old lady, bring me back to reality too.”

I tried to look as pitiful as possible.

[I told you that reality is dangerous!]

“The Meteor, there’s nothing more dangerous than being hit by that huge thing to death!”

[There is. I’m not taking you with me!]

The old woman rambles on incoherently.

What the hell is dangerous?

I’m a shut-in doing nothing!

I scrunched up my face in annoyance.

“Are you going to keep me here forever?”

[……No, I’m not, so get a grip].

She was clearly hiding something from me.

She has no intention of letting me know what it is.

“Ah, whatever. When you come back, don’t regret it if I’m dead.”

[Aigoo, look at this spoiled little brat!]

I pretended I didn’t hear her when she yelled at me.

[……I’ll tell you you when I come back.]

The old lady, pretending to be beaten, said it like that.

“Really? Explain it to me properly. Do you understand?”

[I understand, so take care of yourself!]

I answered her with a smile.

She was disappearing in another puff of smoke.

“Grand Duchess.”

And just in time, someone called after me.

I turned around, and there she was, still looking immaculate.

‘Ah. ……. I am so unlucky.’

The Queen’s eyes widened and she grasped my hand in her own.

“I’m sorry, Grand Duchess. It’s all my fault for putting you through this.”

“Haha……. No, Your Majesty.”

The queen’s watery hair rippled prettily.

“I just don’t understand how something like this could happen in the Great Hall…….”

If a stranger heard her, they might look at her with pity.

‘Both the Queen and Omen. They’re so good at acting.’

I slipped my hand out of Queen’s grasp.

“You’ve been fighting a lonely battle in the Great Hall alone…….”

The Queen wiped away her ‘tears’ that did not even flow.

From a distance, it would look like she was actually shedding tears for me.

“It’s okay, Your Majesty. Don’t mind me.”

I, too, returned the act with a wicked smile.

The queen’s violet eyes crinkled unpleasantly.

“I was thinking of throwing a little party for you…….”

“No, I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”

I threw up my hands in frustration.

‘Going inside the imperial palace again, I don’t want to go there.’

And of course I’d run into Omen.

‘I don’t know what he’s up to.’

At times like this, it’s best to stay out of his sight.

But the Queen would not let me go so easily.

She grabs my hand again.

Shorter than me, she looks up at me, her eyes shining.

“How could I let this go? I’m sure His Majesty the Emperor feels the same way.”

“…….”

“So please allow me to throw a party for the Grand Duchess, it will make my heart very happy.”

The Queen put her slender hand on her chest.

She really is a tiring woman.

“If I recover my health, I’ll be sure to attend, Your Majesty.”

The Queen smiles, as if she’s pleased with my answer.

“Thank you, Grand Duchess. Then I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

I just smiled.

‘Now go away. Don’t be a pain in the ass.’

I thought to myself.

After sharing a fake laugh with her for a while, someone appeared from behind her.

“Mother.”

It’s Omen.

Half-red eyes swept over me with an unnerving intensity.

I returned the gaze, undeterred.

“The Emperor is seeking mother. You must go.”

“Oh, my God, His Majesty…….”

Omen acted like a doting son.

The queen blushed like a shy girl, hearing the emperor call her.

“I’ll send an invitation.”

With that, the queen moved away from me.

And in her place, I was left with Omen.

‘Why does this guy keep…….’

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

You don’t avoid poop because you’re scared.

You avoid it because it’s dirty.

I turned away before Omen could speak.

“Ugh!”

But my body jerked to the side as a nobleman quickly swept past me.

“Oh my.”

“…….”

“You’d better be careful.”

It was Omen who caught me from falling.

His arm around my waist.

And his face that leaned in close.

“My brother will be angry if you get hurt.”

A pair of grim eyes curved into half-moons.

Then his full lips curl upward in a smooth line.

“Are you going to keep holding me?”

Crazy.

I quickly balanced myself and stand up.

Omen lazily unwraps his arms from around my waist.

‘You’re an asshole.’

I brushed my hand away from where his hand had been.

Omen laughs again at the sight of it.

“The Grand Duchess amuses me for a different reason every time.”

“……Let’s stop this. There’s a lot of eyes.”

I say, and glance in the direction of the Grand Duke.

Omen shifts his gaze to follow mine.

“What did you do?”

“What?”

“You know what I mean.”

Omen was insistent.

Like he wouldn’t let me go until I answered.

“Not the clichéd answer that brother saved you.”

“…….”

“Since we’ve become a little more honest with each other.”

Omen said, adding a playful hand gesture.

I,

“Shit…….”

I let out a small expletive.

It was a line that could be misunderstood by anyone who heard it.

“Are you curious?”

“Yeah, a lot.”

I took a step forward toward Omen.

Omen smelled of a strong, indescribable scent.

“Be careful.”

“…….”

“If you ask me any more questions, you might get hurt.”

Omen’s eyes narrowed.

“Goodbye then.”

I said my piece and turned away.

I choose to ignore Omen’s voice behind me.

“I look forward to it. The day I get hurt.”

***

“Ughhh…… I’m tired.”

It was over.

The old woman left, and the priest disappeared into the dew of his executioner.

There was still an invitation left for the Queen to send, but…….

For now, I’m tired, so let’s not think about it.

I changed into my indoor dress and flopped down on the bed like a corpse.

“Ugh…….”

At least I can stretch out and sleep for a while.

With that thought, I rolled around on the wide bed a few times,

Click.

Someone opened the bedroom door and walked in.

“You look good.”

Yeah, who else would walk into this bedroom but the Grand Duke.

“I’m so relaxed, my body is sagging…….”

I rolled back into my seat.

The Grand Duke let out a muffled laugh.

“You’ve had a hard day.”

“Are you finished with your work?”

“Roughly.”

The Grand Duke looked as tired as I was.

“You didn’t sleep well last night, Flotty.”

“No, I slept well.”

I left out the part about “Since you held me all night.”

I blushed unnecessarily.

The Grand Duke blew out the candles that lit the room, then lay down beside me.

“That must have been hard, and I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

His voice echoed softly in the silence of the bedroom.

“No, Your Highness, I was surprised when you arrived.”

I buried my face in the cozy comforter.

“Why were you surprised?”

“Because I didn’t know you were coming.”

I just wanted him to come.

But the fact that the Grand Duke would actually come looking for me was something I did not expect.

I closed my eyes and remembered the day.

It’s horrible to relive the High Priest’s face, but the moment he saved me isn’t so bad.

The way he got angry when he said he was worried……

‘What am I thinking?’

Startled out of my thoughts, I opened my eyes.

And before I knew it, my eyes met the Grand Duke’s who turned toward me.

“So, you thought I’d leave my wife in such a place?”

The Grand Duke’s eyes are strange.

They are dark as night, but I can see them so clearly.

I stared back, mesmerized.

“Is this also… an effort to make it look like I am the only one you love?”

What am I talking about?

Was this also an act of pretending to be in love? I really ask difficult questions.

I fidgeted with the quilt in some sort of shame.

The Grand Duke was silent for a moment.

“No.”

“……Then?”

A strange silence settled over the short distance.

“I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”

“…….”

“I’m worried about you.”

“…….”

“I’m not pretending.”

My heart thudded and shuddered at the words that pierced the silence.

[T/N: AHHHHHHH!!!]