At Killian’s fingertips twitched slightly as he listened to Emperor Adolf.

In his arms, a little kitten named Reinette was peacefully asleep.

“It might be a small fox, but the sack is quite big.”

Hearing his father’s rumbling laughter, Killian gradually raised his gaze to look at Emperor Adolf.

Emperor Adolf looked down at the sack again and spoke.

“When I try to kill the cub, the mother rushes out, and when the mother rushes out, the cubs follow one by one.”

“…”

“What do you think that is?”

“Well…”

As Killian calmly responded, and Emperor Adolph stared at his son.

“It’s maternal instinct. Foolish maternal instinct from a celestial being who doesn’t know how to predict the future of their own child, foolish maternal instinct.”

With a chill gripping his spine, Killian tried to meet his father’s gaze without averting his eyes.

“Foolish maternal instinct that doesn’t know that if I oppose, the children will end up dying one by one.”

As Killian swallowed his simmering hatred and exhaled calmly, his chest trembled.

“That’s why you’re an animal, ho-ho-ho.”

From the side, Lady Gisela chuckled mockingly.

Killian’s eyes, blazing red like fireballs, glanced briefly at Mrs. Gisela.

If it was Mrs. Gisela who had manipulated his mother out of her seat, it was his father who had thrown her out and dumped her off to the side of the palace.

Killian closed his eyes quietly, as if sealing the heat in his heart with the cool air. The anger that vividly emerged, a sharp blade, swept through his entire body.

He was about to kill the cubs, but the mother rushed out…….

The mother rushes out, and the cubs follow…….

Was this the reason Empress Elyse advised him not to visit her often?

The anger that clearly surfaced became a cutting dagger, slashing through him.

He stared at his father, his face still relaxed, his eyes heavy with anger.

Emperor Adolf, conscious of the bodies in the pouch, kicked it with his foot and spoke,

“Mother, the cubs may lack luster and be plain, but the fur of the cubs, nurtured with care, is different. Catherine even praised their beautiful fur, and personally caught them.”

Killian’s red eyes slowly sank, but he managed to keep the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

Without blinking an eye, he could feel his father, who had lured the mother away from her cubs and killed them all without batting an eye, scanning him to see if there was any change in Killian’s expression.

A person seated on the imperial throne should not easily waver in the face of various deaths; it was his father’s principle, and he was undoubtedly observing his son’s reaction.

“A satisfactory hunt?”

Killian deliberately looked down at the sack and asked casually.

What would his father’s reaction be when he found out the entire empire was holding a slaughtered cat in their arms?

A sinister curiosity flickered within him.

“I don’t know if it’s worthy to be called a hunt, but it was a delightful pastime on a late night, so it was sufficient.”

Emperor Adolf gazing at him with a satisfied smirk.

Killian recalled the cold cat in his arms.

The fox and its cubs inside the sack might have a future similar to his and the cat’s.

However, who dared to push his future into death?

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your willing face, Father. How about I prepare an even greater amusement for you? What do you think?”

He was determined not to let Reinette be exposed, even if he had to hold her tightly.

“Oh, you?”

Emperor Adolf, with a satisfied look, asked him.

“Yes. I will arrange it.”

If he revealed one, then yes, he must tie his father’s hands and feet…

“Shall we plan a hunt that even Mother has never experienced, in her honor?”

Entering his mother’s territory to catch and kill the mother fox and her cubs.

The cruel woman who requested to catch them because they were pretty.

The nobles who worshiped their cruelty and contributed to rejecting their mother.

He couldn’t enjoy the pleasure of watching them die neatly and painlessly.

“Will you permit it?”

Even if he couldn’t protect his mother when she was young, he must protect the little cat in his arms.

“Of course. Hahaha.”

“Oh my, planning such an exquisite scheme!”

Lady Gisela applauded, expressing her admiration towards Killian.

Killian softened his sharp gaze and looked at her.

“Madam, you’re invited as well.”

He was afraid of dreaming, but now he would chew it up and swallow it.

Anything by his side would not be kept away.

He would bring his mother, who had to live silently, out into the world, and let everyone they persecuted live in complete freedom.

“Well, it’s an honor for me then!”

Surprised by the unexpected suggestion, Lady Gisela smiled even more brightly, sending Killian a friendly glance.

It was an attitude that convinced him she had turned favorably towards him.

“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll be off.”

“Oh, yes.”

As if offering a way, Emperor Adolf suddenly blinked.

Pointing at the sack, now even darker with blood, he asked his son,

“Aren’t you going to see it too?”

Killian gazed into his father’s blurry eyes,

like a pond that missed the time to be cleared, murky and abandoned.

His father, who had been seeking greater thrills and pleasures beyond mere hunting, now seemed to desire more than just a hunt, judging by his current state.

A father who wanted to show his son a bloodied animal and see how he reacts…….

There was nothing surprising or disappointing anymore.

Clenching and unclenching his jaw in an effort to stifle the contempt that was leaking out of him, Killian smiled and spoke softly.

“I’d love to see it, but I have a prior commitment. Didn’t you tell me to explore society?”

“Oh, I see… You’ve grown a lot.”

Emperor Adolf laughed heartily, apparently taking unexpected pleasure in his son’s answer, but not really listening, and Killian watched with a soft smile as his father patted him on the shoulder a couple of times.

“I’ll be going now.”

As Killian finished his farewell and moved away from both of them, Lady Gisela’s gaze subtly followed him like a snake.

Just now, Killian had exchanged greetings with Emperor Adolf in a manner not much different from how he treated someone absent.

Lady Gisela vividly remembered the elegant and graceful face of the Crown Prince, who had passed by her so smoothly.

His gaze showed no sign of acknowledging Lady Gisela for even a second.

The Crown Prince treated her with open disregard the moment she let her guard down.

Catherine Harmon Gisela, whom no one in this castle could stop.

This was clearly a bold challenge from the young Crown Prince toward her.

Watching the Crown Prince’s departing figure, Lady Gisela squinted her eyebrows sharply and took a deep breath.

While it might seem that the Crown Prince had become more favorable, he had not completely succumbed to her tricks.

If he had, he wouldn’t openly ignore her like this.

How much more of the potion should she give him?

She had to make him feel like he was receiving a miraculous remedy when his complexion turned pale and his nerves became sharper.

Although Killian’s reactions were too lukewarm compared to the considerable amount of dark magic potion he had consumed so far.

It couldn’t go on like this.

She shouldn’t assess whether Killian was addicted to the drug based on his individual actions.

Even though it was extremely dangerous, she needed something more potent.

“What happened to that maid?”

Lady Gisela, keeping a slight distance from the Emperor, inquired of her maid nearby,

“Have you still not found her?”

The silver-haired maid, who had been in charge of the Crown Prince’s bedroom, had suddenly disappeared from the palace without a trace since the day Gisela had ordered her to bring information about Killian.

Even with just a passing glance, her appearance was memorable, with a face too beautiful to be wasted just as a maid. Gisela recalled ordering her to find information about Killian.

The maid claimed to have stopped because of poor health, but Gisela found it suspicious. Why did she quit just when Gisela ordered her to become Killian’s informant?

It was undoubtedly the Crown Prince’s doing. Tonight, the Crown Prince was out for a night excursion, something unprecedented.

Previously, he had visited a boutique to meet a woman, and now this maid entered his room quite unexpectedly. Also, appointing her as his personal maid, ordering her to clean his study daily, was peculiar.

“It was that woman.”

Bit by bit, the pieces of evidence related to the Crown Prince and the beautiful silver-haired maid fell into place in Gisela’s mind.

“Find her at all costs. Bring her to me, even if you have to kill her. She must be completely separated from the Crown Prince. Understand?”

“Yes, Madame.”

After issuing the command with a malicious smile, Gisela laughed cruelly, as if pitying the pathetic situation of the Crown Prince and his maid.

Even though the Crown Prince seemed to be showing signs of the potion working and opening up to her, she couldn’t let herself be swayed by one maid.

Whatever was near Killian Günther Reinhardt must be eradicated to keep him lonely and isolated.

Trustworthy people should be her alone, so that she could wield this power, even in the distant future.

Like the Emperor, addicted to the potion and opening up to her, seemed to believe that she was the only trustworthy person.

Gisela, walking lightly and gracefully like a feather, approached the Emperor and lightly hold his arm, her face adorned with a coquettish expression.

“Your Majesty. Before you sleep for the night, how about a delicious late-night snack?”

* * *

The prince arrived at the Duhsen Marquisate in deep Winston at dawn.

Baron, after instructing Harrid to bring Sanua, took a seat.

“Your Highness, Sanua Nelas will be here shortly. Please wait a moment.”

Killian, gazing down at the slumbering cat, leaned deeply into the sofa, closing his eyes and tilting his head back.

Though he might be tired from the long carriage ride, his attention quickly shifted to Reinette.

“……”

Killian recalled Reinette’s smiling face, playfully teasing him about a side of him he didn’t know.

And then, he looked at the cat in his hands.

“Your Highness, will you take the child back once she wakes up?”

Baron asked, drawing Killian’s gaze to him.