I can feel the heat rising from the Grand Duke’s sharp gaze.

‘This heart of mine is a damned thing, constantly pounding.’

It was dark anyway,

I ducked under the covers, afraid to show my red face.

“I, I see.”

I replied stupidly.

The Grand Duke’s small chuckle tickles me.

“No cuddling today?”

I took a deep breath under the hot blankets.

He doesn’t seem to be bothered.

I’m getting flustered all by myself.

“No, it’s okay, I can sleep tonight.”

What do you mean, cuddling in this state?

This is all because of the memory of him saving me.

When he saved me from almost dying, it’s natural that it stays in my heart.

‘That’s why I’m nervous.’

I squirmed and shifted my position.

“Flotty.”

“Y, Yes?”

A gravelly voice came from behind me.

“This will never happen again.”

“…….”

“No matter what.”

The Grand Duke looked like he was about to say something more, but he said nothing more.

Good night.

I never realized how much those words tickled my heart.

I had to soothe my flushed face with my hands.

* * *

‘Ha…….’

The invitation flew in.

I had hoped so badly for it not to come.

The Grand Duke and I sat across from each other at one of the tables.

“I should burn it.”

The Grand Duke, who had been staring at the invitation, which was beautifully emblazoned with imperial symbols, jumped to his feet.

“No, don’t!”

I hastily grabbed his hand.

“It’s a party in my name, so I don’t want you to burn it.”

“Ah.”

The Grand Duke sat back down obediently.

Wanting to go, not wanting to go.

“Flotty, I’m serious.”

“About what?”

“About burning it. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go.”

The Grand Duke was deadly serious.

I’d be lying if I said his words didn’t sound tempting.

‘There’s no point in running into her when the old lady is not even with me…….’

Nothing good can come of it.

But we can’t avoid her forever.

“His Highness the Crown Prince…….”

“…….”

“He doesn’t look well.”

The Grand Duke smiled bitterly as if he’d expected me to say it first.

“Yes. You would have noticed it.”

I watched him as the trial continued.

It’s not as a matter of health, but as if something was eating away at him…….

“Your Majesty, I wanted to ask you something…….”

I’ve always gauged the timing of when to bring it up.

This time, I’ll be sure to ask.

“By any chance, Your Highness, does the reason for that have anything to do with… the black lion?”

I asked as cautiously as I could.

The Grand Duke’s mouth dropped open.

“Ah, I must have asked too many questions, I apologize,”

I said.

I should have waited for him to speak first.

I fumbled with the invitation.

“T, this. I’ll have to go to the party……”

“The black lion in the blood of Noctis.”

My hand stopped dead in its tracks.

“All royalty has half of that blood in them.”

He continued slowly, his voice low.

“Of those, the one born with golden eyes becomes the emperor.”

At those words, I thought of the crown prince’s glowing golden eyes.

I was puzzled why it was different only for him, from the setting that all blood-related family members are the same.

It’s the color the one who is to become emperor is born with.

I nodded cautiously.

“Flotty.”

“Yes.”

“He doesn’t have the blood of a black lion.”

“…….”

I was silent.

I couldn’t process his words all at once.

‘Black lion blood must be mixed with imperial blood.’

‘A crown prince with the golden eye is to become the emperor.’

‘However, he does not have the blood of a black lion.’

The three sentences swirled dizzily in my head.

“What the…….”

“Look into my eyes.”

The moment I heard those words,

the day he first met the Grand Duke.

The huge beast I had seen the day before appeared behind him.

‘A black lion…….’

Its violet eyes looked as if they could devour me in an instant.

“W, why is the lion suddenly…….”

“Because I have all the blood my brother should have.”

I had never seen such a smile.

A smile of disgust at how awful he was.

A smile of self-loathing.

And the lion behind the Grand Duke was gone in the blink of an eye.

“My brother was meant to be emperor, and I was born to rob him of all that power.”

“…….”

“My brother must take my place, but he has no power over the Queen and Omen.”

The Grand Duke curled his fist into a pitifully tight ball.

Like he was holding something in.

“That’s why I’m hung up on defeating the Queen.”

Something you were born with, even if you didn’t want it.

Something different from everyone else.

Something that forces you to take a path you don’t want to take.

I saw myself in him.

I saw my mother in him, the one who ended up dead.

Maybe that’s why.

I cradled the man’s head in my arms, which looked like it might crumble at any moment.

“This isn’t what Your Highness wanted.”

“…….”

“You didn’t ask for it, and it’s unfair that you were born that way.”

“…….”

“Don’t drag yourself down.”

A strand of fine hair falls across my chest.

“Is that comforting?”

“Perhaps.”

The Grand Duke’s laugh echoes through his hair.

“More.”

At that moment, the Grand Duke leaned a little further into me.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist.

I didn’t move for a long time as I held him.

‘I thought it would be a relief to have my questions answered.’

Instead, it made me feel somewhat…….

Maybe it’s because it’s the first time I’ve seen the Grand Duke so vulnerable.

It’s a very strange feeling.

It’s like my heart has gone soft.

“Because I was born to take what belongs to my brother.”

“…….”

“It is only right that I should help him, like a shadow.”

I stroke the Grand Duke’s hair again and again.

Just because I felt like I had to.

The Grand Duke said nothing after that.

We just stayed like that.

***

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a party.

‘You still have a great eye.’

As I walked in with the Grand Duke on my arm, I was greeted with stares from the nobles.

No wonder I’m the hot potato of social circles.

“I see they’re still talking about the oracle.”

“They’re talking about the believers and the unbelievers.”

A funny thing happened, and the nobles couldn’t miss it.

Even if it turns out to be fake, there will always be those who don’t believe in it.

Like these people.

“Your Highness, Your Grace.”

Duke Kellus leaped from among the ladies to greet me.

“Duke Kellus, it’s been a long time.”

“Thanks for your concern.”

The Grand Duke gently smoothed back a stray strand of my hair.

“Then you two must speak, Flotty.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be there for a moment.”

He gave me an affectionate smile.

Behind the Grand Duke, I could see the nobles waiting to greet him.

“Good. Go, then, Denver.”

When the Grand Duke left first, Duke Kellus’ eyes lit up.

“You look good together, as always.”

“Well, we’re a couple…….”

Duke Kellus smiled widely.

“Come this way. There’s a group of people here who don’t gossip.”

I returned her smile with one of my own.

‘You have a good sense.’

She could tell I was uncomfortable with being the center of attention.

“What’s it like to manage a manor, I’m sure it’s new to you.”

“I have a lot of help from my vassals. They’re pretty good at keeping me in line, so they’re nice to me.”

“That’s a relief.”

I followed her escort to where the ladies were gathered.

The conversation with the ladies was very light and simple.

Small talk was exchanged, and I blended into the conversation.

“So, when……,”

“Kyaak!”

When I thought this is going to be a quieter party than I thought,

There was a problem.

“Your Highness, are you okay?”

“Oh my God, your dress is…….”

All was well until someone poured champagne down my back.

I slowly turned around, feeling the cold seep into my dress,

“Oh, my hands slipped.”

There was the woman I’d glimpsed in the temple.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

A woman whose name and title I didn’t recognize.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Duke Kellus whispers quietly to me.

“She is the Duchess of Hartion. She’s known for her piety.”

Okay, that makes sense.

She’s obviously drunk.

Her unbridled hostility directed at me

Her sneer

She’s one of those believers.

“Madam, please apologize properly.”

Duke Kellus stepped forward to stop her, but the woman was reckless.

“Ah, Your Highness, is it true?”

“What?”

“You’re the protagonist of the great new oracle.”

“…….”

“That’s right, the protagonist of the oracle is about the person who will destroy the Empire.”

I could barely make out the words on her twisted tongue.

I crumpled my face in annoyance.

‘There’s a drunk everywhere.’

“I thought you had two lives.”

“……what?”

“A drunken duchess causes a scene with the Grand Duke’s wife.”

“…….”

“It seems like you’re begging to be killed.”

I covered my mouth, fanning myself with the fan I’d brought with me.

‘I am the woman who deals with the Queen and Omen.’

I’m not going to be deterred by the taunts of a brat like you.

The woman squirmed, unable to control herself.

Finally, she says something she shouldn’t have.

“A Grand Duchess who’s a daughter of the family that committed treason?”

“…….”

“A cursed child who made a name for yourself in society. There’s nothing else to see here.”

I had no intention of overlooking this despite her being drunk.

I took the champagne in my other hand and poured it over her head.

Sticky champagne soaked her hair and the front of her dress.

“Gah!”

“Oh my.”

“W, what the……!”

“Haven’t your shoulders been heavy lately?”

“W, what are you talking about!”

“The child who died because of you, is hanging on your shoulder, crying.”

The banquet hall froze like ice.

And Mrs. Hartion’s face became quite a sight to behold.