* * *
Having successfully dragged Ronen into his office and shut him in, Adrian swept his hair back and let out a sigh.
“Demon! To tear me away from my angel, you great demon!”
Adrian couldn’t understand what on earth made Ronen call her an angel.
“Is your eyesight all right?”
“What are you suddenly talking about? Send me back to the angel’s side this instant!”
Angel, my foot.
Adrian crossed his arms and looked down coldly at Ronen.
“Do you want to just go back to Sirius? I’ll take responsibility and send you back.”
“No! I’m staying here! In this place where the angel is!”
“Just a moment ago, you were saying you wanted to go back.”
“That was before I saw the angel!”
Ronen showed signs of about to run wild again.
Since Adrian had deliberately brought him to an office where it didn’t matter if Ronen caused trouble, he looked at Ronen as if to say, go ahead and try if you dare.
Ronen was usually emboldened when the other party showed signs of being troubled by his behavior, but seeing Adrian, who didn’t flinch in the slightest, he furrowed his brow.
Just as a cold silence settled between the two, someone entered the office with a knock.
“Adrian!”
“Yeah.”
It was Terni who entered the office. Terni glanced at Ronen, then approached Adrian.
“What’s that? Him?”
“It’s a thing. Something like that.”
Ronen, instantly demoted to “a thing,” scowled with all his might, but Terni accepted it with a nod.
“I see!”
Terni looked at Ronen, then drew closer to Adrian.
Adrian was displeased that Terni had drawn so close, but he was soon distracted by what the man said.
“I found Essen’s location.”
Adrian and Terni’s gazes met in the air.
“What will you do?”
Essen’s location.
Adrian’s gaze briefly rested on Ronen.
“Who else knows?”
“You and me.”
“Keep it a secret from everyone else.”
At Adrian’s words, Terni nodded. Adrian gave a grave command.
“Bring him back quietly.”
* * *
A small party welcoming the visit of the Sirius delegation was held in the main hall of Florence Palace.
To the imperial family, it felt like a light party among relatives, but whatever the reason, since it was a ball held at the imperial palace, all high-ranking nobles attended.
Naturally, that Gabriel was there as well.
Upon hearing the news of Gabriel’s attendance, Adrian immediately brought Artie along.
Even as she was dragged along by Adrian, Artie could not shake her unease.
“Is it really all right for me to go already?”
“There’s nothing to overthink.”
“But…….”
“I don’t expect anything from you. Just stay still and then leave.”
Is that even possible?
Artie’s expression twisted strangely.
“Still……. Wouldn’t it be a little dangerous?”
Adrian stood silently, looking down at Artie with his mouth shut.
Perhaps feeling his cold gaze, her chattering little mouth clamped shut.
“I’ll go.”
Funnily enough, Adrian found this somewhat cute.
Good that she’s quick to read the room.
“It’s just a light family party anyway.”
Artie decided to believe him, just this once.
And her belief was betrayed in one second.
‘You said it was a light family party!’
Vowing never to trust the words of the imperial family again, Artie awkwardly followed where Adrian led.
The party in the hall had long since begun.
At Adrian’s intrusion into the ripened atmosphere, all eyes momentarily turned toward him, but Adrian paid no attention to anyone else.
The gazes that turned to Adrian naturally turned to Artie as well.
Following behind him, Artie felt needlessly perplexed on her own.
“Your Majesty the Empress. Aunt.”
Adrian, having brought Artie to the seat of honor where Empress Ludmila was, gave a proper greeting.
“I apologize for being late. My fiancée is rather shy.”
“Oh my, oh my. I don’t mind at all.”
Empress Ludmila looked pleased, regarding her future daughter-in-law and son, who seemed to get along well, with a generous eye.
At Empress Ludmila’s gaze, Artie’s body stiffened. Artie bowed her head.
“I apologize for being late, Your Majesty.”
“It’s truly all right, Lady Artienne.”
Then Empress Ludmila introduced Artie to Empress Veronica of Sirius, who could be called the guest of honor at today’s welcoming party.
“Veka, this is the one who will become my daughter-in-law. Isn’t she lovely?”
Empress Ludmila spoke with the air of a child wanting praise. Empress Veronica, who resembled Empress Ludmila but with a slightly sharper impression, turned her gaze to Artie.
‘So this is the woman that fellow—who seemed like he’d live alone forever—fell for and brought back.’
She had wondered if he had hastily procured someone, but seeing Adrian’s gaze, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“You’ll make a devoted couple.”
“Thank you.”
At Empress Veronica’s words, it was rather Adrian who looked puzzled.
Adrian, having confirmed that only Empress Ludmila and Empress Veronica were at the seat of honor, asked.
“Where is Marie?”
“She said her head hurt and went back earlier.”
Empress Ludmila answered with a worried face.
“She must be truly ill—she couldn’t even answer when Gabriel spoke to her.”
‘Perhaps she was pretending to be sick to avoid answering?’
Adrian seemed to understand Marie’s true feelings, but Empress Ludmila apparently did not, yet again today.
Emperor Carlo seemed not to have come to the party at all.
Well, in this situation, he had shown his face, so he could stay a little longer and then leave—just as Adrian was thinking that.
“Sister!”
He appeared.
Adrian’s new headache.
The moment he appeared, Ronen lightly ignored Adrian and went straight to Artie, clinging to her.
“Sister!”
“Crown Prince Ronen.”
Artie checked Adrian’s reaction. Even Empress Veronica was watching the two with a puzzled expression.
Ronen paid no mind to the atmosphere around him and immediately clung to Artie.
“You’re so distant! Call me comfortably by my name, sister!”
“What? But if I do that, propriety…….”
As Artie trailed off, Empress Ludmila laughed and gave her permission.
“Don’t worry about it, Lady Artienne. We’re practically family already, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. You’re no stranger to me either, so it’s fine.”
Empress Veronica also permitted it as if it were only natural. Empress Veronica even glared at Ronen and warned him.
“Ronen, do not be rude to the future crown princess of Appennino.”
“Ah, of course not!”
Ronen’s eyes sparkled.
“Sister, I missed you. Didn’t you miss me?”
“Didn’t we meet earlier today?”
“Yeah! That’s why I missed you even more!”
Ronen answered innocently, then glanced at Adrian. At the brat’s insolent behavior, as if keeping him in check, Adrian’s face crumpled miserably.
“Sister, let’s go over there and play!”
Perhaps the place with his mother was burdensome, for Ronen tugged at Artie’s hand.
Artie was dragged away without a chance to refuse.
Clicking his tongue, Adrian, not to be outdone, greeted the Empresses and moved from his seat.
“Sister! Have you ever been to the Sirius Empire?”
“No, I’ve never been abroad.”
“Really? If you come later, I’ll show you around the imperial palace!”
“Oh.”
A crown prince giving her a tour of the imperial palace!
As Artie brightened, the back of her head prickled. When Artie subtly turned around, Adrian’s gaze was sharp.
Startled without meaning to, Artie held back tears and answered cautiously. Even so, she couldn’t give up such a golden opportunity.
“I don’t think I’ll ever have a reason to go……. But if I ever do, I’ll ask you.”
“Of course, sister.”
That little brat.
Adrian’s mood plummeted.
Watching Ronen hide his true colors, pretending to be good, and fawning over her was galling.
Just then, the music changed. Ronen held out his hand to Artie.
“My lady, would you dance with me?”
“Dance?”
A sinister aura rose beside her. Artie checked Adrian’s mood and quickly shook her head.
It was a tearful struggle for survival.
“I’m sorry, but today will be difficult. Let’s dance another time if we get the chance.”
“But I want to dance today…….”
Ronen’s shoulders drooped.
Looking at Ronen with his sad, tearful expression made Artie’s heart ache, but her own life was more important.
She had barely managed to keep this life alive!
“Sniff. Sister, you have to dance with me next time, okay? Got it? Promise!”
“Yeah, yeah. All right, promise.”
Watching the two link pinkies in promise, Adrian was dumbfounded. Especially that brat with the face of an angel was even more absurd.
Where had the little demon who had wrecked his office during the day gone, leaving only this loathsome brat pretending to be good and acting cute?
“Sister, what kind of gift do you like?”
“What I like? A life extension?”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“It’s a thing. Something very precious.”
Watching the brat and Artie converse affectionately from behind, Adrian let out a sigh at the gaze fixed on him.
It was Gabriel.
Spotting Gabriel trying to approach, he thought he had to avoid this place by any means.
Naturally, he wouldn’t be avoiding it alone.
When he suddenly grabbed Artie’s shoulder, Artie visibly flinched.
For someone startled, she looked far too frightened, and Adrian didn’t like that either.
“Your Highness?”
“Let’s go over there.”
Where Adrian pointed was the direction out of the hall.
Going somewhere with no people was frightening, but Adrian’s expression was even more frightening, so Artie nodded.
Ronen stared intently at that, then grabbed Artie’s hand and followed.
Beyond the corridor leading out of the hall was none other than a vast greenhouse garden.
The imperial guards stationed at the garden’s entrance greeted Adrian and the two.
“Your Highness.”
A voice came from behind.
