《Reason for Marriage》 CH 1 Prologue Iveca wasn¡¯t thinking much, even after hearing the news that the King himself had come to the Bureau of Judicial Affairs. She only needed to ask whether there was something to discuss with the Attorney General, then look into some case files. Those were her jobs for the day and that was what she was focused on completely. She got up half-heartedly to stand quietly at the very end of the line, before her turn rolled around to hold the King¡¯s hands in hers in greeting. The King who came without warning, Daniel Latnis Ametham, received a long greeting from the Attorney General, Orem, that Iveca only heard in her back of her ears. She bowed, only looking at the tip of his shoes, his hands still in hers, without seeing the King¡¯s expression. Looking at Anriq¡ªthe King¡¯s personal guard¡ªI can¡¯t control my expression, she thought to herself. The Young King was sculpture-like, a handsome man with the royal combination of blond hair and blue eyes. His white skin was gossamer-smooth, he had perfectly symmetrical features, a towering height and intimidating appearance, though that initial shock of seeing him was offset by his gentle voice. Iveca apparently could not overcome her curiosity, as at some point she had raised her head unknowingly and glanced at the king¡¯s golden hair. It was a lot shinier than the blondes her own family had; it was brilliant as on the verge of being perfect. Beautiful. That is the first impression that Iveca got from the King. He looked like he came from a fairy tale. Daniel, who was politely listening to Orem¡¯s long greeting with a smile on his face, shook his head when Orem then offered to lead him to his office. ¡°No, General Attorney. I have business with one of the staff members.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry? A staff member?¡± ¡°I am sorry to bother you during working hours, but I don¡¯t think it will take long to discuss the matter with the staff member in question. Would it be okay for me to talk with them for a while in the garden on the front side?¡± ¡°Yes, of course¡± Orem replied, still scarcely believing this was why the King had dropped by unannounced. Deep in her mind, Iveca thought this was all very strange. If he wanted to meet an employee in person, he could just call for them, surely? Why would he come to this small Bureau of Judicial Affairs by himself? Iveca glanced at the guard again, before correcting herself. Not quite by himself. Daniel smiled again. He was known as a polite king to most, using honorifics if the person he addressed was not close to him, which was unusual for a Royal. But in certain circles, he was known differently; ¡°difficult¡± would be a kind way to describe it. Due to the nature of the Judicial Affairs Bureau, there were many middle-aged people who worked for a long time, set in their ways. and they all insisted King Daniel being ¡®the most terrifying person you¡¯ll meet¡¯. Iveca had also been told that ¡®you shouldn¡¯t loosen up just because he¡¯s handsome!¡¯. It was a far cry from the opinion of him as ¡®kind, friendly, and gentle heavenly prince¡¯ from among aristocrats four years ago, but Iveca suspected that the jealousy of over-worked, under-thanked Bureau workers was to thank for both statements. Orem stuttered over the question that the room was thinking. ¡°Then, who¡­¡± ¡°Iveca der Esselburn.¡± Iveca almost slipped from her kneeling position on hearing her own name come from the King¡¯s mouth. The effect of King Daniel¡¯s sweet reply wearing off, she raised her head to meet his gaze. The King purposely came to the Bureau just to find her? Her violet eyes collided with the King¡¯s blue¡¯s. But why? She forced her curious eyes away from King Daniel and turned to the guard standing behind him. Anriq was just staring at Daniel¡¯s back with no expression. Although Iveca was sure that he was conscious of himself. ¡°Now that I have the esteemed General¡¯s permission, please come this way for a moment.¡± Iveca had no choice but to follow King Daniel out of the Bureau¡¯s small office building. As if he didn¡¯t have any intention to go far, he stopped in a small garden not too far from the Judicial Affairs Bureau. ¡°I am sorry to burden you like this, seeing as we¡¯ve just met for the first time today. You must¡¯ve been surprised to hear your name spoken when Orem asked who I intended to speak to,¡± he said. Iveca smiled, trying to match the King¡¯s grin but instead awkwardly grimacing at him. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I am sure you are busy, so let¡¯s just keep things simple,¡± Daniel said, the smile on his face softer now. ¡°I heard that the Telsey family has a fianc¨¦e. Is that correct?¡± Iveca felt the words catch in her throat. How had he known? She had hardly known for all that long that she was even engaged, thanks to the Bureau. All this had been relayed to her after her memory was erased. A security measure, one which the Bureau seemed all too eager to administer to those who they thought might spill the organization¡¯s secrets. When she had changed jobs, the secrets she knew were too much for her to be allowed to carry around with her. So she was given the two options the Bureau gave everyone and she took the mind wipe. And yet, it was still better than the alternative. So her arranged marriage, a much-celebrated bond between two families, hadn¡¯t exactly taken her heart by storm. She barely even knew the man now. But as her two older sisters had been married off, she was told, she knew she couldn¡¯t escape the reality of an arrangement forever. ¡°It is correct.¡± ¡°Do you love him?¡± Iveca blinked her violet eyes, as though she was trying to force the question out of her head. The Young King, from the clear blue sky, suddenly came and asked whether she loved her fianc¨¦e? Iveca replied stiffly, unwittingly nervous in such a strange situation. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t really know. Truthfully, I haven¡¯t had much chance to get to know him. When I came to my senses, after the wipe, they told me I have a fianc¨¦e. That was the first I really knew of it.¡± Daniel looked at her as if he heard something funny. ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s okay to marry anyone.¡± Iveca cocked her head ever so slightly. ¡°Not for me. Surely you, my King, know better than anyone that being born into a noble family means an arranged marriage.¡± ¡°And that suits you? Working at the Bureau, an arranged marriage. There¡¯s not a lot to look forward to there, is there?¡± Iveca recoiled at the suggestion. She might not have been born smart enough to avoid a job at the Bureau straight out of college, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t her own woman. And sure, her chosen path had not exactly panned out. But she could live with that, because it was her choice and her consequence. ¡°There are things you can enjoy as a noblewoman¡± she replied, ¡°I just have to fulfill my birthright, that¡¯s all.¡± Anriq¡¯s face still remained unchanged behind the King, and Iveca waited for Daniel¡¯s reply with her head tilted down slightly. The King smiled, unseen by the two he was surrounded by. ¡°If that¡¯s so¡­¡± As the King spoke, Iveca raised her head and looked into his eyes. Her reflection shone in the pools she found there, down to the last detail of her brown, unflattering Bureau uniform. ¡°¡­How about marrying me?¡± Iveca didn¡¯t respond, such was the scope of her surprise. He was joking. He must be joking, right? When his face remained the same after a few moments, she whispered back. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t really know your fianc¨¦e from the Telsey family, am I correct? How different is it that a King you don¡¯t know is asking?¡± The smile never left his face. Iveca studied him as intensely as she had ever studied anyone before, looking for the joke so it could be revealed to her. But that perfect face revealed nothing. His glittering blonde hair was unmoved, his statue-like face untelling. And those eyes; blue eyes as clear as water. Looking into them, she felt like a bug trapped under a glass. Finally, Iveca was able to muster a reply, which tripped its way out of her mouth like a mouse on stilts. ¡°Your Majesty¡­ my marriage is not my decision¡­¡± The King interrupted without a trace of malice. ¡°I was originally thinking of speaking to your father, Count Esselburn, directly. But it seemed more polite to talk to the person involved first.¡± The situation had stopped making sense several sentences ago. Iveca felt like she had been hit in the back of the head, and as she felt her mouth gape open and closed, she knew she must have looked like a fool. Then she realized; he truly was being serious about taking her thoughts into consideration. Had he just gone directly to her father, she¡¯d probably already be in a wedding dress by now. Count Esselburn had no reason to not give his third, unmarried daughter to the king. There was no room for her opinion in his mind. Just as her engagement with the Telsey Family. But he had come to her directly to make his proposal. But still, nothing about this made sense. ¡°I¡¯m glad you are not in love with your fianc¨¦e,¡± the King spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes flitted between the King and Anriq behind him, searching for some truth and reason to this madness, but Anriq did not look at her and remained as stoic as he had been the whole time. She lowered her head and spoke quickly. ¡°Why me, your Majesty?¡± ¡°Ask Count Esselburn why. I am sure you will know soon enough, however.¡± That settled it then, thought Iveca. It¡¯s political. If it¡¯s a reason that she needed to learn from her father, it had to be a political intention. Count Esselburn was a neutral representative. Iveca, therefore, had ties to real power. And through marriage, she was there to be taken by the highest bidder. ¡°Although¡­¡± the King spoke again, turning his eyes from her. ¡°What is it, your Majesty?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you something. A favor, if you will.¡± ¡°A favor?¡± Iveca was too stunned to argue the point. ¡°I would ask you not to quit the Judicial Bureau once we were married.¡± Iveca¡¯s mind went into overdrive, the last sentence from the King breaking a barrier of confused numbness in her head. Of course, she didn¡¯t want to quit the Juridical Bureau just because she was married. But in her heart, had already given up her job, because as soon as the engagement was decided, she needed to quit her affiliated agency once again. But now, she was being given a chance to stay¡­ ¡°A hundred years ago, it said that Queen Evena also continued to work in administration.¡± Iveca knew this; but also knew the intentions behind it. She remained at work to keep the King¡¯s favor in the Bureau. Which meant she was to do the same. Could she do that? Her head was twitching, seemingly full of revelation but full of nothing all at once. The King wanted her for her unique position, that much was for certain. He needed support from neutralist aristocrats and someone to do specific work in the Judicial Bureau. She could do both. Some fairy tale romance, she thought. Read latest chapters at ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± he asked. He was smiling again now, looking at her. Blue on violet. Even though it was spoken politely, it was shown from his expression that no further dialogue was needed. The decision was made. ¡°Wonderful. The news about the engagement will be broken today, and soon the national marriage will take place.¡± ¡°Soon?¡± It was starting to get too much for Iveca to even think again. ¡°In ten days.¡± CH 2 Iveca felt a little like she was drowning. The words were finding her ears and hitting her brain; but it was being relayed to her in slow motion. He had proposed, she knew that was a fact. That in and of itself was crazy. But then somehow, despite the competition, he¡¯d managed to say something even crazier. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry?¡± King Daniel was a sea of calm. Ten days, he had said. A royal wedding in ten days! Suddenly, the very slight feeling she¡¯d had before that he cared about her opinion of the matter evaporated as quickly as it had come. One absurd question about her fianc¨¦e was all he had deigned to bother asking her, then straight in with the question that was a solution to all his problems. He had even replied as if he had guessed what she wanted to say just by looking at her expression. ¡°Since you were born as a noble, you said you¡¯d marry as your family decided, right?¡± Iveca knew that her father would be pleased all night with the achievement of his third daughter, as though she had finally amounted to something useful. He would have the wedding ready in three days if he could. King Daniel had adapted a tone, as though he knew the answer to her next question. Of course he would; he had her on the ropes now, didn¡¯t he? ¡°Of course, you can refuse my proposal if you don¡¯t like it. Maybe you don¡¯t want to be a Queen?¡± ¡°We¡­Well, it¡¯s not like that. How could I¡­¡± Iveca needed a minute to think. This was all beyond sudden, a slap to her senses. She couldn¡¯t clear the foggy clouds from behind her eyes no matter how hard she shook herself. The King had all the information he needed. Smiling by way of a goodbye, he stooped into a shallow bow, before straightening up. ¡°See you later, then.¡± King Daniel turned around. Iveca started after him, a thousand questions trying to force their way out at once. But it seemed he did not have any intention of taking her back to the Judicial Bureau as he strode away, leaving her with a barrage of thoughts he had stirred up in her. Only Anriq looked into her eyes for a moment before passing by. And then she was alone. She remained in the garden and tried to organize her thoughts, but there was no path to a conclusion. No, she thought, the conclusion is already decided. If the King wants to marry to a noble family, there wasn¡¯t any need to think about anything else. Or, much to the point, really anything she could do. The idea of returning to the Bureau and facing a second barrage of questions from her curious colleagues was a little too much to bear. Perhaps the King had done her one consideration there; to leave her in the garden alone and return by himself first. That way no one would dare ask too many questions and once he had gone, the excitement of the situation would surely have calmed down. She didn¡¯t walk so much as she tumbled back to her office, tripping over endless thoughts of the situation she now found herself in. This really was a new half of her life. Whatever dreams of a free and independent life she felt sure she had harbored before her memory was erased were gone now; replaced instead by royal proposals from out of the blue. Not to mention another marriage she would now have to break off. It hadn¡¯t even been a month since she had been wiped and now she was set to be a Queen. She sighed as she swept her long black hair back from her eyes. Did she really want to be a Queen at all? * ¡°You proposed to the Esselburn daughter?¡± Daniel¡¯s close friend, Kayden Ruthe, was employed in the Bureau; a natural talent of the sort of magical interest the Bureau had. He looked the King over with dark black eyes; the tone was sour. Daniel smiled gently and nodded, gripping a file in his left hand. ¡°There is no reason not to do it,¡± the King replied. ¡°I hardly think¡­¡± ¡°There is a revolution going on right now. Republicanism is sweeping the continent, threatening to unseat the monarchy, and science and engineering is emerging on behalf of magic. I am tired of having someone of faith staying next to me.¡± He glanced over Kayden as he informed him. ¡°Didn¡¯t everyone expect me to marry a neutral noble daughter, or an affiliated worker?¡± The file Daniel was holding was shifted from left to right hand. It was a personal investigation, and the words ¡°Iveca der Esselburn¡± could just about be seen poking over the top of the folder it was in. A black and white graduation photo taken in college was attached to the front by a clip. ¡°Iveca is both,¡± Kayden replied. He had already known she came from a neutral aristocrat family; her job at the Bureau was the cherry on top for Daniel, he thought. ¡°I know your angle, but it won¡¯t be easy. Even though Lady Esselburn is an employee of the Judicial Affair Bureau, if it¡¯s because of that¡­¡± King Daniel made a noise under his breath, which interrupted Kayden¡¯s words. He tilted his head and turned back. ¡°Anriq.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Daniel sighed. Anriq was his escort secretary and personal bodyguard. He protected his brother, William, who originally was the First Prince, and also the Crown Prince. But after William¡¯s death he had come to him. The King turned to look at Anriq, who was doing a good job of hiding the fact he had been mentioned in the conversation, if he had heard it. Anriq¡¯s job was to chase him like a shadow and guard his back, stony and unmovable. This bit of information had the best, if any, chance of shaking that exterior. ¡°The file mentioned Iveca¡¯s first love, Anriq. Do you have anything to say on the matter?¡± Daniel probed. Silence. Kayden turned away from Daniel and his bodyguard. It was an issue that could be extremely awkward. It was inevitable that the soon-to-be Queen would be investigated thoroughly, which meant this connection would have come up sooner or later. ¡°Have you ever dated?¡± Daniel asked his bodyguard. Anriq shook his head. ¡°Why not?¡± A pause, then a reply. ¡°Count Esselburn took me in and raised me after the death of my parents. It is no surprise that an indebted person should be insensible to the Lady¡¯s impulsive heart.¡± The reply was matter of fact; stoic, almost. ¡°So, it¡¯s not because you don¡¯t like her, then,¡± smiled the King. Daniel was not someone who talked openly and freely to his subordinates. He only spoke informally with his friends and brothers, on the rare occasions he felt like opening his heart to someone. He hadn¡¯t always been like that, but he seemed to have hardened by a habit after a struggle for the throne, expressing a tendency to not show weakness or vulnerability to anyone. Also, the ¡°King¡± honorific gave more choking pressure to anyone he talked to. Daniel laughed without waiting for Anriq to answer, as he was now struggling to hide his feelings. ¡°It was a long time ago,¡± Anriq said, regaining his composure, ¡°Nothing came of it as the affection was one-sided.¡± ¡°The mind is bound to change depending on the situation.¡± Daniel spoke flippantly, as if the history of his bride-to-be and his bodyguard were not a big deal, and Kayden stood there watching the scene unfold without giving too much away. Anriq hesitated before speaking again. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her since I entered the palace. After the Lady entered the Bureau of Investigation, I never saw her anymore. Perhaps her feelings for me have disappeared.¡± ¡°How do you know about her feelings?¡± Daniel queried. Anriq looked down. They shared a moment of silence, before Daniel pulled his eyes away from him and turned to the report again. ¡°There is no real problem here, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Neither Kayden nor Anriq answered that. ¡°However, this issue,¡± Daniel said, pointing at a line in the report, ¡°is quite unique. Abused by the Countess? Is it true?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t abuse in a physical sense,¡± Anriq replied with hesitation, ¡°It is more suitable to say it was a mental abuse. There was¡­ gossip, that the Lady might not be the real Daughter of Count Esselburn. Everyone in their estate was aware of that.¡± Daniel¡¯s expression hardened slightly. ¡°It was a distressing environment for her, growing up. All the members of Esselburn estate are blonde, but she was the only one who had black hair.¡± If Anriq¡¯s words were true, then the steps Iveca had taken in the time since were understandable. The Bureau of Investigation provided separate accommodation. If he had grown up in such a situation, he would have wanted to get out of the house as quickly as possible too. ¡°At the age of seventeen, she was the youngest to enter the Royal College Magic; she graduated at eighteen, then she joined the Bureau of Investigation. After that, she transferred to the Judicial Affair Bureau. That was three weeks ago.¡± Daniel swept his chin with his fingers. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Kayden.¡± ¡°Yes, my King?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me what she did in the Bureau of Investigation, are you?¡± ¡°I am not.¡± ¡°Does she remember anything at all?¡± ¡°If you leave the Bureau of Investigation, you are given a choice; be monitored for life or have your memory erased. She chose the latter. It¡¯s an ancient magic that Queen Evena left in the Bureau, and it would normally last a lifetime. But now the power of the spell is slowly weakening, her memory will likely return. Though it will take some time.¡± Kayden paused, remained silent, and slowly added his conclusion. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s true that, for now at least, her memories from before she was eighteen have been erased.¡± Kayden breathed a sigh. It was clear the King was planning on finding as much wiggle-room as possible to intervene in the Bureau. The secrets handed down to the Bureau of Investigation from Queen Evena were not a matter for Daniel to know. The Bureau sometimes moved without the King¡¯s permission, if it was necessary to make their own judgement for the good of the Kingdom. Kayden liked Daniel; would even go as far as to say he was loyal to him on most matters. But he would never talk about Iveca¡¯s days as investigator. ¡°I see¡± came Daniel¡¯s reply. Kayden knew that wasn¡¯t the last he¡¯d hear of the question. But as he braced himself for more, the King interrupted his train of thought. ¡°The woman that I personally asked you for a favor, did you find her whereabouts?¡± said Daniel. ¡°We¡¯re still looking for her,¡± said Kayden. His face tightened. He worried where this line of questioning was going. ¡°It¡¯s strange that you still haven¡¯t been able to find her.¡± Kayden swallowed, hoping the expression on his face wasn¡¯t too telling. ¡°If everything goes according to plan, you will soon have a Queen. She hasn¡¯t raised any opinions or had any particular discord with the suggestion, so why don¡¯t you just focus on that?¡± said Kayden. ¡°Ah,¡± Daniel shrugged. ¡°There will only be the Queen. It caused quite an uproar during my predecessors¡¯ era, and it¡¯s easy to imagine the same thing happening in my generation. ¡° Read latest chapters at ¡°Then why are you looking for her?¡± questioned Kayden. ¡°Because it¡¯s weird that you can¡¯t find her¡± came the curt reply. Kayden did not answer. Daniel looked at the report as if he didn¡¯t want to hear his answer regardless. He stayed silent as he recalled his meeting with Iveca. The poor thing had looked like a frightened mouse all the way through their conversation. Though, Daniel mused, the topic would have been more than enough to stir that reaction in her. Daniel was lost in thoughts as he recalled Iveca¡¯s anxious purple eyes. Her uptight expression, a creeping voice, shrinking shoulder, eyes full of alertness, trembling lips¡­ ¡°If I may¡­¡± came Kayden¡¯s voice, ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s a woman worthy of Your Majesty¡¯s liking.¡± The words buzzed around Daniel¡¯s ears as he planned his next move. CH 3 Four years had slipped through the fingers of Father Time since Iveca had first joined the Bureau of Investigation ¨C and she remembered none of it. When she had come to her senses after the mind wipe it had transpired that the Third Prince Daniel, who she thought was as far from the throne as it was possible to be, had not only taken the crown but played a heavy part in the Empire¡¯s civil war escalating from stone-throwing and heated arguments to something profoundly more serious. In addition, magic power had been severely reduced to an almost unrecognizable extent, with the focus on the new Bureau of Technology and its dabbling in electrics and machinery seemingly the new darling. Iveca, in her mentally cleared state, had been forced to take all of this in stride. Though as much as she wanted to just let the past be the past, the thought kept niggling at the back of her mind, getting a little louder every day. Why did I move to the Judicial Affair Bureau, and even chose to have my memory erased if I was doing fine in the Bureau of Investigation? What happened? The Judicial Affair Bureau was a slapdash sort of organization with very little actual structure. It had been assigned as a special subsidiary and was only ever made up of a small number of staff. The members of the Intelligence Bureau were usually chosen by the staff of the Bureau of Investigation, who subsequently got their memory erased ¨C if that was the option they chose, of course. The more she thought about it, the less it made sense to her. Just why did she move to the Judicial Affair Bureau if that was the price she had to pay? The Bureau of Investigation had always held sway with her heart, so it made her quite sad that she had no memories of joining them. Time and time again the idea of the past played on her mind, but with no memory of it to speak of, it simply ran off and away like raindrops from a domed roof. And now, of course, she had even more to think about with Daniel¡¯s proposal and the idea of dismissing Iak¡¯s. The whole thing left her feeling dazed. You have barely got a handle on another half of your life you don¡¯t remember; how are you supposed to be a Queen? With the King that you saw for the first time today? But she was hardly in a position to refuse, was she? Besides, there was no reason to resist, especially with the condition that she could continue working at the Judicial Affairs Bureau. Her fianc¨¦e (or at least one of her fianc¨¦es) Iak, told her that she had to quit the Bureau due to the offer of engagement. This was the biggest point on a long list of reasons she was not falling over to marry the man. She hated his insistence that she was his property and she didn¡¯t like the man¡¯s intentions of using her, but she hadn¡¯t said anything when he had proposed. She had all but given up marrying in the name of true love anyway. As Daniel had said, if you were not in love, what did it matter that she was not going to marry Iak now? And maybe¡­ maybe the Esselburn family would finally accept her. Iveca sighed, unable to do anything with optimistic hopes that brutally swayed her feelings. Her father might have thought that she was fortunate to live as an Esselburn, thus she needed to pay the price for not being discarded. Maybe being a Queen would finally be enough for them to sit up and take notice. Then there was Anriq. In her mind, Iveca could sense little pieces of the past with him. Not memories, but feelings, closer to nostalgia than seeing events as they happened. She wished desperately to know exactly what had happened, but all she was left with were the smallest snippets ¨C snippets she wouldn¡¯t have had if the power of magic had not been reducing all this time. At least some good came of it, she supposed. ¡°Anriq, I like you.¡± If I were to become a Queen, Iveca thought, I would see Daniel¡¯s personal escort in the Palace every day. ¡°You¡­ you like me, too, right?¡± Flashes came back to her in seemingly random order, but enough to piece together some things that she knew deep down were already true. Anriq had always been there. On her mind and in her heart. Her only friend and her first love, they had grown up and grown together. Giving up on him and accepting the wedding were two different matters. ¡°You are the Lady of Esselburn, and of course you have to marry the man that your family have decided on.¡± During the lost four years, she did not know what happened between the two of them. ¡°Please don¡¯t turn me into a person who doesn¡¯t know how to be grateful.¡± Any answer she could muster up about the why of where she was now was just so much cold space in her soul. However, her memories up to her 18th birthday, before she lost the next four years, was so clear that she couldn¡¯t help but be bothered about it. She closed her eyes and sighed. Thinking about it all would only make it harder to remember. That night, Count Esselburn had a visitor he couldn¡¯t have possibly expected. On opening his door, Anriq greeted Count Esselburn and his wife, before asking Iveca¡¯s permission to walk with him in the grounds. The night air was chilly as they walked slowly through the small garden. ¡°Are you allowed to come as you please like this, Anriq?¡± ¡°I took a small break from my duties.¡± Iveca frowned. ¡°I thought you only got one full day every ten days. You should have started it this morning, you¡¯ve wasted most of the day now.¡± Although Iveca said it as casually as possible, she could not help but feel awkward. But she knew as well as Anriq did that he was the only person in this house she could feel at ease with. Probably because he wasn¡¯t one of the family too but was an orphan of the Countess. As she grinned to cover the awkwardness, Anriq spoke quietly. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here for long. If I do, I¡¯ll get caught by the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Iveca blinked her surprise. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You are now a soon-to-be Queen, and the Bureau knows that you and I¡­ have a history together. Of course, the King knows this as well.¡± Her expression hardened. Anriq continued in a low voice. ¡°As a friend, I will give you some advice. It would be better for you if you refuse the King¡¯s proposal.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good position for you.¡± ¡°Those are brave words for the King¡¯s personal guard.¡± ¡°That should tell you I mean it.¡± Anriq¡¯s expression was stony. Iveca paused, before seeking out and sitting down on a nearby lawn chair to provide her with some support. Anriq did not sit next to her, instead stood beside her, staring into the brisk night air. His mouth was firmly closed into a straight line. Iveca replied, letting her frustrations get the better of her. ¡°It was your opinion that I should marry the man that my family decided on. Though, naturally, my father would want me to be a Queen should the situation arise ¨C which it has. Besides, the King is a good man. Kind, sweet, merciful¡­¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t there, Iveca.¡± Iveca jumped at the interruption. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°My position lets me see much more than the average person. Since the power of magic has been declining, the King has¡­ changed. It only got worse after they sent his sister away; you know of Princess Ashe, yes? Of course, he may look the same on the outside, but¡­¡± Iveca didn¡¯t reply. Everything Anriq was saying must have taken place in that four-year gap where her memory had been taken from her. She had no idea who Princess Ashe was or anything to do with why magic had been losing power. The most she knew was the rumours she¡¯d heard about the Amenity, but she had no idea what either. ¡°He¡¯s never going to be a nice person again, Iveca. I¡¯ve seen him capable of things far more terrifying than King William before him. Tender, gentle, kind¡­ these evaluations were given by people who fear him.¡± ¡°What you¡¯re saying is treasonous, Anriq.¡± ¡°Daniel has never been vulnerable. He just didn¡¯t care much about the throne when he was a prince. I don¡¯t think anyone could tell the difference.¡± Iveca thought for a moment. ¡°Still¡­ The royal place would be better than here. At least, I won¡¯t be the only one with black hair there. Not an outsider anymore.¡± Iveca meant that with all her heart. A father who always passed by coldly, a mother who turned away when she made eye contact, sisters who didn¡¯t give anything other than the absolute minimum that was required, servants who would openly discriminate against her¡­ she always had to be sorry for someone else with her presence when she was here. If there were any guests in the Count¡¯s estate, she locked herself in her room saying she wasn¡¯t feeling well. She didn¡¯t belong here. Anywhere but here. ¡°Ive.¡± It was a nickname he called her when they were children. She hadn¡¯t heard it for so many years now. She turned to look at him and, despite the outward appearance of the stoic man he had become, that simple nickname transformed him back into the boy she had loved so much. She didn¡¯t speak, instead letting Anriq continue. ¡°His Majesty called you Queen even though he knew you liked me. It¡¯s not a normal situation. Using you¡­¡± ¡°Not normal? That¡¯s for sure,¡± Iveca cut him off, ¡°Well, His Highness can take me in as a charity case then, can¡¯t he?¡± Anriq¡¯s face drastically darkened. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°No, Anriq, you know what? It¡¯s okay if he wants to use me. Hell, I feel more relieved when I think that there¡¯s finally a place where I can be useful.¡± She spoke calmly, despite her words. For so long now, she thought it would be nice if her family could use her for something. It was better than being ignored in the corridors by your ¡®parents¡¯. Sitting on the Queen¡¯s throne was probably the first ¡®useful¡¯ thing that she could prove to be able to do to the Esselburn family. ¡°There¡¯s someone else.¡± Iveca stopped speaking. Anriq hesitated for an exceptionally long time, then stooped to where she was sitting and whispered into her ear. ¡°There was a woman he used to cherish in the past.¡± There was no change in Iveca¡¯s expression. Anriq quickly spoke again. ¡°It was a deep, committed relationship. Then, she disappeared. No one knows where to, but he is still looking for her. You will be a Queen in name alone.¡± Iveca remained silent. ¡°He is already figuring out the weaknesses he can exploit. Our history, for instance. There¡¯s a chance¡­ he calculated that into his plan.¡± Iveca said nothing, but her face told Anriq everything. Her mind was flying, and she didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°It¡¯s not a good place for you at all, Ive. Please refuse the proposal.¡± Iveca finally moved, pushing her black hair over her shoulders. She thought silently. Of course, an opportunity like this couldn¡¯t have suddenly appeared to her like a miracle. There was a chance that King Daniel only wanted to exploit her. What had Anriq said? Her weaknesses? No, she would show that she had no weaknesses to exploit. ¡°My father would prefer the King to Iak Telsey.¡± Anriq looked horrified. ¡°What?¡± ¡°If I refused¡­ Father would be disappointed.¡± Her purple eyes stared at him, unwavering. Anriq could see her heart breaking from those words. Father¡­. Count Esselburn never thought that the girl who looked nothing like him was his daughter. And yet here she was, fighting every impulse she had to fight for a family who didn¡¯t care whether she lived or died. Anriq had no idea how to respond. Raised next to her, growing up with her; he knew her better than anyone but herself. He knew that if he didn¡¯t talk her out of this, there might be no way to regret her mistake. Read latest chapters at ¡°Ive, please. It¡¯s your life, you have to live it in the way that¡¯s best for you. What¡¯s so important about the Count that you¡¯d risk your happiness for him like that?¡± ¡°What came of me leaving the house to live my life?¡± Iveca replied coldly. ¡°In the end, all I did was come crawling back. A failure. Back to this wretched place on my hands and knees; memory wiped, a failure at the Bureau and a failure as a daughter.¡± She stood from the chair as she spoke, fury ripping through her. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes. ¡°Ive¡­¡± Her eyes burned through him. ¡°This is my life. I will live it how I choose. That is the end of it.¡± That was the end of it. Anriq held his sword tightly until his fingers were white, but said no more. CH 4 The silence that had fallen over the gardens seemed to last an age. Iveca had found a spot on the ground and stared a hole through it, trying desperately to keep a lid on the rage that was bubbling up inside her. Anriq said nothing, only occasionally glancing at the woman who had been his only friend for so long. His mind wandered back; their storied past running through his head, his stoic face not betraying the raft of memories that flooded in. He saw them, as children, running through the very grounds they stood silently in now so many years later. As he dwelled on this, Iveca finally spoke. ¡°¡­Were you always pretending to look after me?¡± Anriq raised his head. An inquisitive look, tinged with worry, spread across his features. ¡°Pretending?¡± Iveca shot him a glare. ¡°You never once held my hand, you know. You talked a lot about how much you cared, but¡­ Did you ever show it? You come to me now, begging me not to accept the proposal from the King. But you wouldn¡¯t try to take his place, would you? So why are you trying to stop me?¡± Iveca looked at Anriq with a resentful gaze. Before entering the Bureau of Investigation, she had willed up everything in herself to ask him a difficult question ¨C to get married. To run away together, away from her so-called family and her life here. He had refused, saying that he couldn¡¯t betray the Count¡¯s kindness, and then pledged himself instead to the royal guard. She had never really forgiven him for it. A part of her hated him for it. But so much more of her, in the saddest possible way, knew that he was the only person that she could talk to. She was treated like an object rather than a person in the Count¡¯s estate, and right now she felt like her only true friend was doing the same thing. ¡°Ive¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Ive¡¯ me, Anriq. Four years I knew nothing, no one. And in that time, since you left the Count¡¯s estate, you haven¡¯t looked for me even once.¡± Anriq paused a moment, considering his words. ¡°It has been difficult for me too, you know¡±. Her surprise at his reaction softened her a little, but before she could respond Anriq had already passed her and walked away across the garden. She got to her feet, calling after him. ¡°Anriq, wait!¡± But he was gone, uncatchable in the darkness. She saw the faint silhouette vanish altogether and he was gone completely. Iveca¡¯s mind was racing now. The anger and frustration of before had gone, replaced with a deep confusion and a worry for her current situation. He said the Queen¡¯s seat was not good for me? I guess the same goes for Daniel, if what he has said about him is true¡­ and this missing woman¡­ and Anriq. Iveca never thought she would be so heartbroken to be able to see someone she cared about every day. She certainly wouldn¡¯t make a good Queen for King Daniel if affection were the only standard to be measured. Weakness? she scoffed. She was sick and tired of living with the weight of her own weakness. She knew the rumors about her heritage, and it felt that no matter what she did or how well she did it she would always be living in that shadow. No doubt, she thought, knowing my mother, my real father really was a handsome young stableman¡­ if the looks she got in the hallways were anything to go by, this was probably true. But no matter how curious, or how hurt she was, the moment she publicly asked that question she might be thrown out of the family for good, for rocking the boat and breaking the balance of silence. It wore her down every day and she had no one to turn to. Except for Anriq¡­ Iveca looked still into the dark night sky and raised her hand to cover the moon. She hated herself for being under the moonlight. She was just a superficial Queen that was going to be used. She ran to the Bureau of Investigation to get out of her frustrating life, but then came back, as though she were bonded to this awful place. Maybe she was simply wrong from the start; she was a person who could not even pursue ordinary affection or happiness in the first place. Iveca sat alone in the backyard for a long time. As always, no one looked for her as the sun began to rise. * Usually, a wedding day would be cause for celebration for everyone involved. But Iveca felt no joy at the events unfolding in front of her, not even once they had come to a noisy conclusion. The fact that the Queen was attached to the House of Esselburn, a neutral aristocrat representative, also meant that she once again felt the pressure of what Daniel would do, or would not do, in the future. Everyone knew that King Daniel, the Third Prince, hadn¡¯t fought for the throne. In fact, circumstances seemed to align almost perfectly to thrust the unwilling prince upon it. Which meant no one knew exactly what his goal was. It was these mysteries that plagued Iveca, assigned to a splendid Queen¡¯s Palace after a hectic wedding, while she sat in a chair and let the whirlwind of the day pass over. She had been looked after as a Queen would expect to be; the ladies-in-waiting helped her bathe and even applied a lot of perfumed oil on her, but it did not feel real yet. She took a moment to take in her surroundings. The palace was spectacular and drenched in history; the previous Queen, Testy, who had murdered her predecessor Suzanna, had died here after a guilty verdict at her trial. This place was not one of peace. Iveca always thought everything was momentary, but the things that had happened here remained ¨C soaked into the walls and dripping down onto the current generation. Would she leave a legacy like they had? Not so bloody, she hoped to herself. The King, her now-husband, came into the chamber with a rather tired face. Iveca faced him without changing her facial expression, or letting her body betray her mind. Daniel sat across from her and smiled. ¡°You worked hard today. You should be proud of yourself.¡± They had performed ceremonies in front of the crowd in uncomfortable yet colorful outfits, had their first dance at the celebration party, and received all kinds of greetings and gifts throughout the day. The whole time, Iveca had not let her smile drop but now, in the quiet of the palace, she showed extraordinarily little. ¡°We are supposed to be planning a honeymoon right now, though I hardly think the climate is one for a holiday, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Iveca sighed before she could stop it. She was spared having to explain herself to a curious Daniel by the arrival of the ladies-in-waiting, who had brought tea for them both. Iveca knew that custom dictated she serve the first tea of their marriage, and she had been forced rather unwillingly to practice it repeatedly. As if she did not know how to serve tea. But again, she wore a smile through it. The easier she made things, the easier they would be going forward, she reasoned. She lowered the pot with a trembling hand, while Daniel stared at her with his chin resting on his own hand. It is quite unnatural to have him gazing at me, thought Iveca. She had returned the looks as much as she could, smiling sweetly enough to at least give the appearance of affection for him throughout the whole wedding. But now, the privacy of just the two of them left her feeling rattled by the looks he gave her. Drinking the tea that she handed him, he opened his mouth gently and spoke. ¡°Typically, the Queen attends meetings of the royal or aristocratic families.¡± Iveca nodded. ¡°I do not wish for you to attend these meetings.¡± Without her knowing, Iveca looked at him in surprise. He spoke slowly. ¡°I do not want you becoming involved with any political affair. I hope you can understand my reason for this.¡± Iveca knew, of course. It is not possible for employees of affiliated organizations to express their political preferences, and she was still an employee of the Bureau of Investigation. There was nothing wrong with Daniel¡¯s comments, only the facts, but it was the delivery of the remarks that left Iveca feeling a little nervous. ¡®You are just a superficial Queen that is going to be used.¡¯ Like magic, Anriq¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Looking at his sweet smile, Iveca lowered her eyes for a moment. Well, it was hardly a normal marriage in the first place. If the King liked her status as an employee of an affiliated organization, she couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Is there anything, anything at all, that you wish to be involved with politically, Iveca? If so, please tell me. There may be something that I need to know.¡± Iveca bowed her head with a bitter expression. Her father would, of course, want her to attend the meetings and express an opinion. Not her opinion, but Count Esselburn¡¯s. She had no political convictions herself, but she knew that her father would use her as a mouthpiece at the first chance he got. However, Iveca was quick to work out something her father might provide an advantage to her for. Her position as Queen was likely precarious, to say the least. However, her noble father held sway within the political sphere, and he was sure to want her in her position as long as possible. He would help her, even if it were for his own ends. However, the King¡¯s intention to break her away from any political matters might make this more difficult. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask for something from you, Iveca. It¡¯s a task I know you will do well at.¡± It was a friendly but confident tone. His blue eyes were staring at her as if he could pierce her with them. Her hands shook again and started to sweat. What choice did she really have? ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase, Iveca. I want us to produce an heir as soon as possible.¡± Iveca nearly choked on her tea. Of all the things he could have asked, this was not what she had been expecting. He ignored her reaction, however, and continued. ¡°At the moment, there are only two people in the royal palace with the surname of ¡®Amethane¡¯. Myself, of course, and Giselle.¡± Iveca bit her lower lip. Giselle was the daughter of Daniel¡¯s brother William, Daniel¡¯s niece, and the only child William had produced before his death. Read latest chapters at ¡°A child¡­ was this all you ever wanted from me?¡± Daniel shook his head. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t know why the tragedy of this Queen¡¯s Palace began. A product of your memory being erased.¡± Iveca had only heard small amounts of the tale, and any more she wasn¡¯t exactly chomping at the bit to hear. It was a gruesome affair; Daniel¡¯s mother, the then Queen, died horribly at the hands of a concubine belonging to Daniel¡¯s father. William had died at the hands of the only princess, and the second prince disappeared after being accused of murder. The Princess herself, after William¡¯s death, had married a lord of a distant foreign province, effectively severing her claim to the throne completely. ¡°If I were to die at this point,¡± Daniel continued again, ¡°Giselle would ascend the throne. She is four years old, so obviously an unacceptable course. Giselle¡¯s mother, Roseley, represents the conservative aristocrats. Who knows how badly that would turn out, and how quickly it could destroy any semblance of balance I have managed to achieve in my time as King. However, if I had an heir of my own, the throne passes directly to them.¡± Iveca¡¯s head was spinning. She hardly heard the next words from his mouth, merely mumbling what he had already said under her breath in a vain attempt to make it seem true. She felt his blue eyes on here again and looked up into them, a sea of blue that was doing an excellent job of drowning her. CH 5 An heir¡­ Somehow, even though she knew what the finer details of marriage to a royal included, the thought hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind until his asking a few moments before. The words swam around her ears, building a fire underneath the one true worry she had about this whole situation ¨C she really didn¡¯t know anything about him, did she? Everyone said he was an innocent, friendly, kind¡­ and everything she could remember of him matched up with that assessment. But she had never known him then, either. And now this man she didn¡¯t know was asking these questions, smiling all the while. Strange didn¡¯t seem to cover it. He knew that she could not refuse if she wanted to maintain the things she wanted. After all, the promise that she would keep her job at the Judicial Affair Bureau was one thing; a marriage to a royal meaning that she had a duty to produce an heir was entirely another. Iveca had never felt more like a chess piece, in a game played by figures far too large and mysterious for her to understand. ¡°So you agree to my proposal, Iveca?¡± She nodded, and Daniel smiled larger than she had ever seen him smile before. His smile unfading, Iveca bowed her head slightly. She could hear him take a few sips of tea, see the image in her peripheral, before he put down the teacup and took her hand. ¡°Shall we?¡± he said. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time like the present, Iveca.¡± He continued to smile and pulled her to her feet. She did not resist the movement, allowing him to command her along through the door of the room, down a grand hallway with statues lining either side, before coming to another door. He opened it with a swift motion and led her inside. He must have known this room was here already, as the center of it was all but taken up by a huge bed, all white sheets and what seemed like a thousand pillows. ¡°Iveca.¡± She looked up and met his gaze. The smile on his face was so beautiful that she opened her mouth slightly without even realizing. ¡°There is no need to have such a¡­ determined expression, my dear.¡± She began to blush. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like something, you can say no,¡± said Daniel. She believed this ¨C whatever was going to happen would not be forced upon her. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I¡¯m just a little¡­¡± As she spoke, he pulled her arm gently and brought her over to the bed. Iveca sat gently, trying to make sense of something that didn¡¯t seem could ever make sense. They had to produce an heir, she reasoned, and this part made some sense. She wondered what expression she was expected to actually have. ¡°You can just do what your instincts tell you to do. Follow what feels natural¡­¡± Daniel¡¯s tone was more like reminiscing than instructing. Her instincts? She had no knowledge of this, nothing to guide her and make it feel natural. Daniel smiled at her again, and she presumed she must have had that serious expression on her face again. Iveca recalled the ¡®How to Have a Child¡¯ book, a well-thumbed instructional guide to reproduction that the Bureau library held. She had only read it once, shortly after her arrival at the Bureau, and she tried to remember exactly what the protocol she was expected to follow was. As it happened, she moved onto her back on the bed, raising the hem of her dressing gown and positioning her legs slightly apart. Daniel looked at her blankly for a moment, taken back by how quickly she had assumed the position. ¡°You can do it¡­ if you want¡­¡± Ivecca stared up at him. Daniel blinked in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said you can put it in¡­ if you want.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± She was confused now. Did Daniel not know how this worked either? Surely, it was not the case that the King didn¡¯t know how to have children, but his expression and general bewilderment at her actions was troubling her. She spoke almost verbatim from the book she remembered, explaining the actions and reactions in muted, scientific detail. It would have to do if they were both figuring out how this worked, she reasoned. ¡°You put your manhood into my vagina.¡± Daniel blinked again, but no words left his mouth. She continued explaining with an unconfident voice. ¡°When the semen is released, the sperm and egg meet and the egg is fertilized. The fertilized egg implants safely in the womb¡­¡± ¡°Wait, wait, Iveca.¡± Daniel continued to look down to her, still laying with her legs slightly apart. He was blushing, and Iveca realized that he was embarrassed. Suddenly, she didn¡¯t feel quite so inexperienced. ¡°Did you say your last memory was when you were eighteen?¡± Iveca nodded. Daniel swept his blond hair back from his face, which was contorted with the signs of thought and more awkward questions. ¡°So you never received a formal¡­ education, on sexual matters? Or if you did, you don¡¯t remember it.¡± She thought for a moment, trying to recall something she knew would never return to her, and nodded again. At this, Daniel looked a little more relieved and managed a smile. ¡°That would explain a lot about how you¡¯re reacting to this.¡± Iveca frowned. She was more than clever enough to know what was happening right now, that was why she explained the exact procedure with the information written in the book from the Bureau library. It was Daniel who seemed to be sweating and struggling to understand what was happening. ¡°I read a book,¡± she said calmly, ¡°so I have a good idea how this works.¡± Daniel took his turn to frown slightly. ¡°There are other factors¡­.¡± ¡°I was told that the blood vessels of a man¡¯s manhood swell up before sexual intercourse. Has that already happened?¡± she asked. ¡°Iveca¡­¡± Without changing her expression, Iveca carried on. ¡°¡­ I heard that it feels good.¡± ¡°Did you? From a book, or¡­¡± She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, the voices of the maids in the Esselburn estate came flooding back to her, salacious and snidey. ¡®The Countess loves to play around with men, you know. The Count has been away for three months already, how can she stand it?¡¯ ¡®That stable man is quite handsome, isn¡¯t he? And that body¡­ I might try it while my husband is away in the countryside. It must feel so good¡­¡¯ Iveca tried to stop her thoughts, her trembling breath running wild from her mouth. For an ordinary marital obligation, this was all more complicated than she would have imagined when she read that book. Daniel¡¯s expression had changed. It was softer ¨C the confusion had gone out of it, and been replaced by something Iveca didn¡¯t quite recognize. ¡°Iveca.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± He sat on the bed next to her, his hand reaching out. When it met her he moved it to the nape of her neck, caressing the skin softly. He used his other hand to move himself across the bed towards her. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous.¡± He lay down beside her, his breath ragged as her own now. Turning to face her, he whispered affectionately, reassuring her with his blue eyes. Iveca began to feel very warm. ¡°If something happens that you don¡¯t like, or it hurts, please tell me, okay?¡± Iveca realized that now was the first time he had truly shown a side of himself that could be called vulnerable. Combined with him asking her preferences, telling her he would adjust if she needed it¡­ her heart suddenly felt fuller than it had before. His lips approached hers and she made no attempt to avoid it. It was strange and soft and made her feel breathless, but all she knew was how right it felt. His hand moved from her neck to her waist, touching as much as it could on the way. As they kissed she could feel restraint behind his movements, as he was holding back the urgency. Before she knew it, the dressing gown was being loosened under his fingers. For a moment she felt a pang of shame at her nakedness, feeling her position was far too awkward for the King to enjoy. But while she shuddered in shame, he slowly removed his own clothes, and the temperature between them rose even further. Two naked bodies overlapped without any barriers. As the movement of his tongue that filled her mouth gradually got rougher, she pulled away. He smiled at her. ¡°I think you were right. This will feel very good.¡± It was a relaxed tone, but the smile on his face was already vanishing. One of his hands met hers, pressing it down into the bedsheets, and his other hand moved to her mounds. Taking a firmer grip on her, his mouth moved to her neck and the kissing continued there. ¡°Ah, wait¡­¡± she whispered in a low voice, while his fingers circled lightly near her hardened peaks. ¡°I¡¯ll do it slower¡­¡± Read latest chapters at She groaned, not only out of lust but out of a slight embarrassment as his lips moved from her neck to her collarbone. Every bit of pressure was gentle, but just enough to be felt all the way through her. Eventually, his mouth made it to her mounds, his hot breath on her n*pple enough to make her tremble all the way down to her waist. His tongue, which slightly released and then sucked back the peaks, was soft and slow, tantalizing, her tightly entangled body could not retreat. It was a distant feeling that was difficult to explain. Her whole mind was focusing on the tip of his tongue, which was licking her slowly and pressing hard on her n*pple again. As she gasped, she realized that no book could have taught her this pleasure. She couldn¡¯t help but let the groan come out even after she tried to roll up the sheet tightly under her fingers. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Iveca put her hand into the small of Daniel¡¯s back, feeling his tightly woven back muscles, which tensed with the exertion of his restraint. As she did, the hand that was playing with her mounds moved down to the heat that was radiating from her thighs. She noted that she had pressed her legs together at some point without even realizing. ¡°Open your legs for me, Iveca¡­¡± Daniel murmured, and she needed no more invitation. His tongue began to journey down her body, licking and kissing along her ribs. Buried in sheets, she had nowhere to escape. Her senses reacted to each of his slow movements in a way that made her dizzy, and the heat from between her legs seemed to be spreading throughout her whole body with every touch from him. CH 6 When his breath reached the sensitive area of her lower abdomen, just below her stomach, Iveca gasped and pushed him back slightly. ¡°This is¡­ I feel so¡­ Daniel¡­¡± Daniel slowly raised his head. Blue eyes she barely knew met hers, glinting with determination. Her thighs were still pushed apart, his hands grasping the soft flesh on each side firmly. He put his lips on her belly and spoke, and she felt the vibrations of his voice reach her very centre. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he whispered. ¡°Not wrong¡­ it¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t stop,¡± came his reply. She felt, but couldn¡¯t see, his right hand leave her thigh and trace a line inward to her heat. She did not need to look to see that she was wet, revealing a desire that she couldn¡¯t hide behind a fake smile anymore. One of his fingers gently swept across her clitoris and made her jump, a mixture of shock and pleasure. ¡°Ah!¡± Daniel pounced on the opportunity, her legs pushed as far apart as she thought she had ever had them, and his tongue, which was biting the tender flesh where her thigh met her sensitive inner walls, moved inward and parted her. Iveca could barely see, barely think. The world was fog with one light, the light that illuminated the man who was bringing feelings to her with his tongue she had never thought she¡¯d know. This was so much different to her own explorations, so much more intense and every hot breath he exhaled only made the sensation even more incredible. His soft tongue caressed the centre of her pleasure further and she moaned aloud, pushing herself back up the bed and away from his insistence. ¡°Daniel, stop¡­ just for a moment, please.¡± ¡°Is it not good, Iveca?¡± he whispered to her. He had followed the small path she had taken away from him and began his assault on her with his tongue a second time, and she did not try to escape it again. Wave after wave of pressure and pleasure crashed into her and she shook her back and twisted her body desperately, hands digging into the soft bedclothes. ¡°Because it¡¯s good¡­it feels so good, I can¡¯t¡­¡± Nothing Iveca had read, in any book, could have adequately described what she was experiencing under the mouth of the King. She gasped and muttered with an almost half-remaining consciousness. ¡°I never knew it would feel this good¡­¡± she said. He gently kissed her mound, sending more shivers through her. ¡°It was always going to be this good, Iveca,¡± said Daniel, the confidence of the control he had over her making each word sound like a command. Without waiting for any further answer, he began to caress her again. His fingers pushed and probed at the deep wetness of her sex, and the tip of his tongue lapped eagerly at her clitoris. Iveca gave herself freely to the sensations now, awash with a strong desire she had never felt for anyone else. His mouth continued to move explicitly between her legs until she gasped and twisted her waist around. When the climax hit her, her eyes rolled back to their whites as she clamped a hand over her mouth, to prevent a scream from waking the entire kingdom. Daniel¡¯s hands were still keeping her thighs wide open as she bucked and moaned through her fingers. He lowered his head again, and before Iveca even had a chance to stop her legs from shaking the calm queen¡¯s bedroom was filled anew with her groans. Her entire body ached, both in a good and an exhausting way, and Daniel¡¯s motions on her with his tongue were surely close to knocking her out completely. Daniel seemed to sense this, for the moment she thought she couldn¡¯t take much more she felt his fingers enter her. The stimulus that she felt from within her grew even more intense and she, quite without thinking, grabbed his hair and pulled his eager mouth even closer in ecstasy. His shiny blonde hair was slick with sweat that she could feel between her fingers. ¡°I remember you promising,¡± he said, the vibrations of his low voice making her dance to their beat, ¡°that if it was good, you¡¯d tell me so¡­¡± Iveca could only moan in reply. ¡°You like it?¡± he pressed further, his fingers swirling and playing inside her. ¡°Ple, please¡­¡± As his fingers moved, her body began to shake harder than before. Iveca felt at odds with her movement. Everything seemed to be a pleasure she had never felt before, but the way the body responded was so natural as if it remembered all these things, as though what Daniel was doing to her was only the right thing. ¡°I like it so much, Iveca¡­ Tell me you like it too.¡± She could feel the sheet beneath her was soaked with fluids, her fluids. His fingers moved strongly inside her, beginning to push open the tight path inside her even further. The fingers gradually became three and she could feel her vision blur at the edges. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± ¡°Say it.¡± A command now, an order from the King. ¡°I¡­¡± Iveca was shivering. Even when she opened her eyes, things didn¡¯t appear anymore. When she didn¡¯t answer beyond her stuttering, he bit the tender flesh on the inside part of her thigh gently, as if punishing her. Then in one swift motion, he was back on top of her again. A low voice whispered into her ear. ¡°Iveca, tell me.¡± It was an unimaginable voice from the King who was so neat and gentle. It broke down every remaining barrier to her senses and she knew that whatever he asked, she would do. Right now, she was his. She looked into his eyes, still shaking and panting. He wasn¡¯t smiling, but she could tell he was enjoying her vulnerability immensely. ¡°I can¡¯t wait any longer, Iveca¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ l-li-li¡­ like¡­¡± Burying his head deep in her neck, he nuzzled and gnawed at her skin. Iveca felt his hardness pushing against her. She had no choice, no want or way to stop the huge tip, which felt like it couldn¡¯t possibly be any bigger, from entering her. She turned her head away from him as it found her opening and entered, with it new waves of fiery pleasure and pain, though not one she pushed herself away from, rocked her from her middle outwards through her entire body. ¡°It, it hurts! Ah, ahh¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He slowed a little, still inside her. He kissed her collarbone and whispered, ¡°Even if it hurts¡­ I don¡¯t think I can stop, Iveca.¡± Iveca let out a moan that she didn¡¯t know she was capable of making from deep in her throat. The pain was subsiding but still strong, and at his hesitance she put her hands on his back and pushed, bringing him even further inside her. He hadn¡¯t shown her what he had between his legs at all, but she felt like it would better anything she could be shown judging by the way it filled her. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­¡± said Daniel, his voice softer now. He pushed himself to his limit inside of her now, all the way and he began to gasp. She groaned and followed his movement, raising her hips in time with his downward thrusts. Any thoughts of incompatibility, or strangeness, or strangers were gone from her mind, replaced by his size and power and the way he was making her feel. Their noises began to match each other in their intensity as he began to move his waist faster. His shaft was clenching and throbbing inside her, skin to skin with no boundaries. The liquids they were sharing swirled and mixed with the movements. ¡°Look, Iveca¡­ look at me¡­¡± He moved his hips frantically, kissing her earlobe, her smooth white nape, and tender flesh inside her arms. Iveca looked into his eyes and saw his need for her. Iveca¡¯s mouth gaped in a dizzying pleasure that flashed in fireworks in front of her eyes. She felt like she was going to lose her mind, falling to pleasure that wrapped around her body. His whispers were mixed with the sound of their bodies reaching the natural, desperate conclusion of their lust for each other. ¡°You must not forget this¡­¡± She reached her climax as his own flooded into her, hot and powerful. She grabbed his arm and screamed at the top of her lungs as she felt him throb and shoot more, so much, of the liquid inside her as she tensed and squeezed on him with her own orgasm. He fell into her, breathless and she pulled him into a kiss that seemed to wash all thought from her mind. * Iveca wouldn¡¯t have lied down in bed so easily if she had known he planned to take her more than once in the manner he did. After they did it twice more in a row beyond their first encounter, she, who was still breathing heavily, was finally embraced by him. All the confidence she had in her physical strength had deserted her; she was exhausted to the point she didn¡¯t know she would ever leave the bed. Daniel stared at her with his kind eyes, which had lost the steely edge they displayed when he was making her writhe underneath him. He played with her hair. Iveca was amazed that this man, who she had thought was a stranger even after their marriage, now felt so close just because they had intertwined their bodies together. The questions of whether it was good which he had almost commanded her to answer, and his warm hands and visible need for her that lasted until the end of each encounter were inwardly pleasing. However, there was a feeling of unease she couldn¡¯t quite shake off. ¡°Looks like it was good enough that you wanted to do it again,¡± said Daniel with a wry smile. There was no hesitation to Iveca¡¯s answer this time. ¡°It was really good,¡± she replied. Her eyes betrayed her, however. ¡°What is it, Iveca?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. How could she tell him, after her reaction to his lust and his physical display, that her own mother was occupying her thoughts? Daniel seemed to guess. ¡°It¡¯s your family, isn¡¯t it. You¡¯re worried about what they¡¯ll think of us starting a family so soon.¡± Daniel kissed her lightly on her mouth. ¡°You have to put a different standard on your new family.¡± Iveca leaned still against his chest and heard her own pounding heart. She didn¡¯t intend to correct him, though it wasn¡¯t like he was far off with his guess. It was her mother¡¯s infidelity that played on her mind, and even she didn¡¯t know why at a time like this. Instead, she let herself be strangely excited by the words ¡®new family¡¯. No matter how long she looked at her own family, no one ever told her that she was a part of that family. Even Anriq, who was the only one in the whole house who opened up to her, turned his back coldly when she asked him to be her family. But Daniel was offering her possibly the one thing she knew she always wanted. ¡°Now we are a family, Iveca. And with a little luck, soon an even larger family than before.¡± For a moment, she stared blankly at his graceful face. The strange atmosphere that she ran into while underneath him, unable to stand how her lust was puppeteering her limbs, had already disappeared. His blonde shone like the sun. She felt fascinated by the splendour of it now, not only because it was completely different from her own dark hair, a curse on her very appearance from those she had called family before. She became a family with him. One day, out of the blue, she was married and had a new family. Circumstances be damned; she was happy with that outcome. She realized that her heart was fluttering. The last fragments of guilt she had felt, about their validity as a couple and as parents, owing to the fact they were still almost strangers, was slowly fading away. It would be nice to be in a family with such a wonderful man, who glittered even when he was still. Iveca¡¯s mind drifted to the promise he had made her utter, about her work and being involved with political affairs. He seemed to guess this too, as his next words answered the question that had suddenly bounced into her head. Read latest chapters at ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is your honeymoon, remember. Work can wait.¡± Iveca forced a smile. ¡°What will I do?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to learn about the comings and goings of the palace during the day. There are things you have to do here, duties to keep. But by evening, we¡¯ll both be free.¡± Daniel fondly spoke of the daily routine of marriage life and it soothed the worry on Iveca¡¯s mind. ¡°I¡¯ll come to see you,¡± he said. Her heart squeezed strangely at the words of a gentle promise she had heard for the first time, and she knew it was because the sweet words that fulfilled that long-held deficiency had poured out from such a wonderful man. It was the first time in her memory that the night was not so lonely. Instead of being fed up and getting sick, this was a very magical first night. CH 7.1 Even without her work at the Bureau, Iveca found herself quite busy indeed in the weeks that followed, just as Daniel had said. First, she had to memorize the names of the guard and the handmaids that worked with her, a task she rose to quite quickly thanks to skills gained in her usual job. She had to put the structure of the palace and the ancestor lines of the royal family that the maid spent what felt like countless hours repeating in her head and memorize everything, down to the last name. No matter how smart she was, Iveca knew all of this would take time; there were many things to remember. One afternoon, a woman called for her from the Bureau of Investigation. The name written on a tag attached to the black bureau uniform was Raina Erbet. Raina, who was tall with short brown hair, smiled and talked in a cool, breezy way. ¡°I heard that you do not have your memories from the last four years.¡± Iveca nodded, wondering what this house call was about. ¡°I am here to explain what has happened in that time. The Queen should not know less than the civilians, am I right?¡± Iveca stared at Raina for a moment. She might have been someone who she worked with, side by side in the same uniform once. As much as the filling in of some gaps seemed like a relief to her, Iveca knew that there might be some that she would be better off not remembering. Iveca poured tea for the pair of them, and they sat at a small table in one of the smaller rooms of the palace. Iveca explained that it was easier to think in the less grand rooms, less to distract her when she was trying to remember things, and Raina smiled in agreement. She pulled out a piece of paper and began to write down the main events of the last four years, in not too much detail, but explaining as she went. She started with the tenets of the Bureau itself, which Iveca could remember anyway, but figured it was all part of the process. The prosperity and the well-being of the Kingdom of Amethan is our top priority.Be loyal to the King of Amethan and protect him with all your might.Do not be blinded by personal safety and trust the judgement of the organization.Cherish your colleagues, and also protect and trust each other in the face of death.Always be mindful of yourself for the secrets you must keep. Most of Iveca¡¯s memories of the Bureau of Investigation had been erased, but there was no way she could forget how studiously she had memorized the Bureau¡¯s code together with her colleagues. There were fifteen codes, but the five codes that took precedence over anything were as good as engraved in her head to this day. Iveca listened and nodded as Raina explained, before asking a question of her own. ¡°Raina¡­ did you know me when I was in the Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°Please, my Queen, call me Miss Erbet. I am lower than you, remember?¡± Iveca blushed. ¡°Ah, that¡­¡± She steadied herself, then continued. ¡°Little by little. I will do it little by little. What I wanted to ask, Miss Erbet, was about when I was in the Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°It is a period that you should forget.¡± Raina surprised Iveca with the sternness of her reply. ¡°It was the Queen who chose oblivion over surveillance. There must be a reason for it,¡± continued Raina. So that was it, thought Iveca. In the end, it was a story that they would not tell. So much for that. Iveca stared at Raina quietly as she pushed her short hair back behind her ears. When she spoke again, it was in an incredibly determined tone, as if she was not going to have any conversations outside of what she was here to speak about. ¡°Finally, the genealogy of the royal family is spread out on this sheet here.¡± Raina unfurled a parchment that looked cracked and old, covered with long-dead royalty and endless lines. ¡°It is good to point things out while explaining them, I¡¯ve found. If you want to take notes, you can write them out.¡± Raina took a pen from a chest pocket in her uniform and placed it in Iveca¡¯s left hand. ¡°Thank you,¡± said Iveca, ¡°but truthfully, I haven¡¯t even memorized half of them yet.¡± ¡°I have no intention of explaining every little thing, don¡¯t worry!¡± Raina smiled. ¡°Though I do have this stuff memorized, so if you need help I¡¯m more than happy to try.¡± Iveca smiled. She liked Raina. She wondered if she had liked Raina before her memory was erased. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Raina looked a little excited to be in the position she was in. ¡°Can you tell me what you know about His Majesty Zepeltan, Crown Prince William, Prince Ruben, Prince Daniel and Zepeltan¡¯s only daughter, Princess Ashe?¡± Iveca felt warm at the mention of Daniel¡¯s name. Read latest chapters at ¡°Not much, but more each day.¡± She knew, of course, about the incident that Raina was building up to; the events that had led Daniel to take the throne. About William¡¯s poisoning and the evil deeds of Queen Testy, Ruben¡¯s biological mother. Daniel, who was the third prince, ascended to the throne based purely on awful things that he had no hand in. As she thought about it once again, she wondered how much blood had truly been spilt, throughout history, for that throne. Daniel might have been the first to do it without killing anyone. ¡°Do you remember the events of the Amenity Palace?¡± asked Raina. ¡°I know that one day, the spell that held together the continent¡¯s magic suddenly disappeared, then gradually started to return.¡± ¡°That was what most people think they know. But Your Highness sent me here because he wants the Queen to know the truth more accurately.¡± CH 7.2 There was the root of it. Raina was here on Daniel¡¯s orders; presumably to explain to her more precisely why she shouldn¡¯t be meddling in political matters. But why did the Amenity matter? The disappearance of the continent¡¯s magic was something that Iveca had known about from an incredibly young age anyway. When she suddenly lost those four years, the first difference she felt with her own skin was the change in her magic mana. She was surprised that the magic did not work well still. She was so good at magic that she felt a little deprived, like a child who has its favourite toy taken away because she didn¡¯t know that the decline would be so steep. ¡°Do you remember anything about the Empire¡¯s civil war?¡± Raina inquired. ¡°I heard that Prince Ethan II is leading the rebels as a temporary government. It was said that they cut off the power of the spells that run in the family and attempted to build a republic?¡± ¡°Do you know where the basis of these Republican ideas came from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know that much, I¡¯m afraid,¡± said Iveca, almost guiltily. ¡°The book ¡®My Republicanism¡¯,¡± Raina said, almost with a sneer, ¡°was written by an artist named ¡®Rihan Kadmin¡¯ from Staram Island. We believe, or at least we have found no evidence to the contrary, that it is the basis of all republican ideas. It¡¯s banned in Amethan now.¡± In Iveca¡¯s mind, that made sense. Amethan was a monarchy. Of course, they would go out of their way to stamp out any dangerous ideas such as republicanism. Iveca changed her pen to her right hand and wrote the name ¡®Rihan Kadmin¡¯ in the corner of the royal family tree, as it seemed that there would be a reason to remember that name. ¡°When Kadmin was exiled to the Kingdom of Amethan, the borders became¡­ complicated. At that time, Prince Ethan II made the journey to Amethan and secretly made a request to the Amethan Palace for protection. His Majesty Daniel graciously accepted both Rihan Kadmin and Prince Ethan.¡± ¡°I see,¡± came Iveca¡¯s reply. ¡°This is where the public knowledge diverts from the truth. Prince Ethan stayed at Amenity Palace for one month, and in his time there he used blood magic, his own royal blood, to sever the Amenity¡¯s spell for a week. He was also the one who got Princess Ashe pregnant, despite her being in protective custody. That¡¯s why Princess Ashe left Amethan, Your Majesty, even the Esselburn family don¡¯t have this information.¡± Iveca looked at Raina, her purple eyes confused. ¡°What happened to Rihan Kadmin?¡± ¡°The Emperor called for him, and he was sent out to the Empire. From there, he escaped any eye of the monarchy, then he joined the rebels.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Iveca¡¯s expression was distorted by what she was hearing. Two men asked for asylum and protection and Daniel graciously accepted it, but they both repaid him with a knife in the back? Raina continued slowly, noticing Iveca¡¯s anger. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation decided that all of this was too strange to be allowed to continue, and under its own decision, when Rihan Kadmin was dispatched to the empire, he was made the target of an assassin¡­. but it failed.¡± ¡°Why? Did you send someone who wasn¡¯t good enough?¡± Raina grinned at the question. Iveca looked stung before Raina hurriedly explained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He was a close colleague of mine, so I suddenly thought of something amusing¡­ Rihan Kadmin was excellent enough to be dispatched by the Bureau¡¯s Director, Mr. Lucas himself. What we have investigated is the fact that there was not enough magical power on the site of the Empire during the war. Rihan Kadmin was a better soldier than we had anticipated, even with Mr. Lucas on his tail.¡± Iveca calmly looked at Raina. ¡°Then what happened to the employee? The Empire is at war, and Rihan Kadmin is alive. He failed the assassination, so he couldn¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°That¡­ we aren¡¯t certain of.¡± Raina¡¯s eyes lowered and she quickly changed the subject. ¡°The situation is overly complicated now compared to four years ago. As the spell disappeared and Staram¡¯s illegal goods flooded in, including more copies of that republican book, King Daniel saw an opportunity to establish the Bureau of Technology. We started to pick up things that could be useful.¡± ¡°From the smugglers?¡± ¡°It was an urgent matter,¡± Raina replied coolly. ¡°Then the people who have been doing business properly¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Iveca was somewhat taken back by Raina¡¯s interruption, but she didn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°The lawbreakers, smugglers¡­ they were rewarded for their crimes¡­ It seems unreasonable.¡± ¡°My Queen.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Iveca wondered whether she had been too critical in speaking her mind. ¡°You are a full-time employee of the Judicial Affair Bureau. I heard it¡¯s been a month since you moved. I do hope you understand the King¡¯s decision. Maybe that¡¯s the reason he sent me.¡± Read latest chapters at Raina, for all appearances, didn¡¯t seem that formal. It was strangely inconsistent with the stern image of the Bureau of Investigation that Iveca knew and it put her at ease. However, the tone of the conversation was more serious now than before. ¡°As King Daniel became the King unexpectedly, he had no supporting parties. In the early days of the reign, too many decisions were made in a short time, and there were both formidable gains and losses as a result. Even our Bureau of Investigation, which initially decided to assassinate Rihan Kadmin on its own judgement because they did not believe in His Majesty in the beginning, now distances itself from that decision.¡± Raina glanced at Iveca¡¯s purple eyes. ¡°When it comes to the direction of the country, I believe in Your Majesty¡¯s wisdom and prudence. I trust in the agreements, the decisions he made and recognize the sacrifice.¡± She said it in a way that Iveca took to mean she was trying to be reassuring about her new husband. Iveca thought again how little she knew of Amethan now. Amethan did not change much from her birth until eighteen, but she felt that it seemed there was a wave of change from day to day over the past four years. Crucially, the four years she was missing. And how lonely was Daniel holding the arrow keys alone in this wave of change? CH 8 Raina busied herself with the papers in front of her for a few moments before speaking again. ¡°We ¨C the Bureau, that is ¨C sincerely believe that it is a good thing that King Daniel has ascended to the throne. He is the right person for this troubling era and you¡¯d be hard-pressed to find any one of us who disagreed with that. So, my Queen,¡± Raina grinned at Iveca, ¡°Although it may have been sudden and unexpected; I want to offer my sincere congratulations on your wedding. Please be happy.¡± It was a light greeting with a strangely familiar tone, as though it were given to an old friend. ¡°Raina,¡± Iveca lowered her eyes for a moment, then said in a calm tone, ¡°You knew me, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You knew me at the Bureau of Investigation, right?¡± Iveca clarified. Raina took her turn to shift her eyes to the floor. ¡°My Queen, I have already told you that you chose to forget for a reason. I am not in a position to be talking about the things you have forgotten.¡± ¡°When I lived in the Count¡¯s estate, I didn¡¯t want to get caught being left-handed, so I tried to write with my right hand, but in reality, it was more comfortable to write with my left hand.¡± Raina looked confused for a moment. Iveca blinked, returning her pen to her. Raina took it, and that small act dawned the realisation of what Iveca was talking about. ¡°In the Bureau of Investigation, I guess I comfortably wrote with my left, right? Or else you wouldn¡¯t have placed the pen in my left hand.¡± There was a moment of silence before Iveca continued. ¡°Please¡­ Can you explain a little about me during my time in the Bureau of Investigation? In those missing four years.¡± Raina sighed. She could see the desperation for some sort of answer in Iveca¡¯s eyes, as purple and intense as ever. ¡°I understand your¡­ desire for more information, my Queen. But I didn¡¯t expect to be caught off guard like this.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Those days are gone, my Queen. Please understand this,¡± Raina interrupted. Iveca bit her lip but said nothing more. Raina looked at her for a moment, then asked in a low voice, ¡°Why are you so obsessed with those days of your life?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never really felt like I belong anywhere. But there¡­ there I felt¡­¡± Her voice cracked and trailed off, but Iveca did not cry. It didn¡¯t take anything special for her memories of the Bureau to be fond ones. Where people didn¡¯t avoid eye contact with her, or whisper behind her back just loud enough for her to hear. That was enough for Iveca. Raina remained silent for a while, examining her new Queen. Dressed in the finery of that ostentatious, royal style the Queen reminded her of a little lost bird, who had fallen from the nest, with no idea how to get to where she felt safe. Raina spoke quietly. ¡°You are a member of the royal family now. Your past is gone and this is your life now.¡± Iveca did not say anything in response. A member of the royal family? No part of her felt like that was the truth, even in this palace. Daniel had told her to work at the Judicial Affair Bureau as normal, married her, and had asked her to provide him with a successor. She couldn¡¯t help but feel like she was further from being a member of the Royal family than anyone else. Anyone else could have been asked, had they been in her position. She knew her life was one of meeting standards. Her old family, the Esselburns, would not accept her if she didn¡¯t meet their standards. The Bureau required grades, aptitude tests, all manner of small and large measures to make sure she was fit for the role. But she felt no sense of belonging to the Royal family yet. It didn¡¯t feel possible to; there had been no test, no way to prove her worth. She was just here. Looking at Iveca¡¯s rather sullen face, Reina lowered her eyes again. ¡°When you were still working in the Bureau of Investigation, you were the wisest and the most rational employee with no close second. You received a lot of love from your colleagues because you were competent and reliable,¡± Raina said, before pausing for a moment, ¡°You chose to erase your memories. So, please believe in that choice.¡± Iveca suddenly felt even more lonely. She knew that Raina could have just chosen to tell her she was a normal, ordinary employee. But instead, if she had meant what she said if she did well in the Bureau of Investigation, there was no way she could have ¨C or would have ¨C chosen to have her erased her memory by herself. Whatever had happened must have been bad enough to make her want to lose four years of her life to avoid even coming into contact with it again. ¡°Raina¡­¡± ¡°My Queen, please don¡¯t be so informal.¡± ¡°Is it not my choice to be formal or informal?¡± Whatever Raina was thinking of saying, she clamped her mouth shut before she did. Iveca¡¯s expression was dark. Suddenly, Raina realized that Iveca was only forcing her expressions at this point ¨C she hadn¡¯t smiled properly so much as she had been forcing the corners of her mouth to go up. Daniel came to visit Iveca as the sunset shone red light through the windows into the palace. She attempted to abandon the genealogy papers she had been studying since Raina left, and grab a teacup to provide a drink for her husband, but as she moved, he grabbed her arm. ¡°I don¡¯t need tea, thank you.¡± Iveca was startled by his sudden movement. The heat of his hand on her arm brought memories of the night before flooding back. The feeling was so intense and the memory so good that she felt the heat spread out from under his hand and throughout the rest of her body, and she did everything she could to not openly blush. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve been working hard,¡± Daniel said. He laughed as he looked at the dense genealogy parchment and paper spread out on the table, covered in handwritten notes. Iveca stared at her husband, almost seeing him from outside her vision, in a third-person perspective. A young king with a gentle, sweet, and beautiful appearance. It only reiterated to her that she still did not know the true reason for this marriage. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break from all this history, hmm?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You should be aware of the past, but you shouldn¡¯t be tied up with it.¡± Daniel thumbed through the letters for a moment, releasing Iveca¡¯s arm. ¡°When the royal family worries too much, they see the past rather than the future. It is difficult to prepare for the future, but it is easy to show off the glory of the past. But the easy way always leads to destruction, in the end.¡± Suddenly, Iveca remembered Raina¡¯s words. He was the right person for this era. So why did such a person choose me? Daniel pulled out a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. She knew the branding from her days at the Bureau ¨C whoever made this pen, also provided stationery for the offices there. Daniel¡¯s voice faded in and brought her attention back. She glanced and saw he had uncapped the pen and drawn five circles on the parchment in front of them. ¡°These are all you need to memorize. Since the Queen still has a lot of work to do in the future, I thought I¡¯d save you some time. There¡¯s Queen Evena, who is said to have established a system of affiliated organizations 100 years ago, and King Karl who married her.¡± No one in the Kingdom of Amethan did not know Queen Evena. Evena, a commoner but a great wizard, had given a tremendous magical blessing to the Amethan palace and its affiliated organizations. She was also cited as the biggest factor in the enrichment of Amethan for over a hundred years, by guaranteeing the independence of affiliated organizations and expanding employment for commoners, so that all could provide for the kingdom. But now, as the mana was disappearing, the foundation she had built was beginning to erode. ¡°William, my first brother, who pledged his allegiance to the Emperor¡­ Ruben, who insisted on technology instead of magic, and stood on the side of the rebels to abandon the empire.¡± The last of the five circles he had drawn was around his name. ¡°Although I support the Emperor, I set up the Bureau of Technology because I could not trust magic anymore.¡± Iveca felt a question bubbling up inside her, about the sibling Daniel had declined to mention and asked out of sheer curiosity. ¡°What about Princess Ashe?¡± ¡°No one knows about what truly happened to her. So, it¡¯s meaningless to discuss her.¡± Daniel¡¯s reply was gloomy. Iveca saw as he twisted the pen in his hands that it was engraved, with initials. E.J. E.J.? She couldn¡¯t stop questioning who that could be. Presumably, it was someone else¡¯s pen ¨C you don¡¯t gift a pen to someone with your own initials on it. But who had it belonged to? And stranger still, was the fact that the pen was a ready-made one, that you could find from a supplier, or in a store. If a precious person had presented it to the royal family, no matter how high-end it was, he would have chosen a custom pen over an off-the-shelf product that was commonly bought on the street. He put the pen back into his pocket and smiled. Iveca was surprised yet again by just how pretty that smile was. The soft curved red lips, blue eyes like the sky, and blonde hair shining in the sunset were so beautiful that it was hard to take her eyes off of him. ¡°So stop memorizing genealogy¡­¡± He took her hand and slowly stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go memorize something else.¡± ¡°Something else?¡± Daniel led her out of the room, and back into the room with the gorgeous bed they had shared the night before. Iveca instantly turned red, but when Daniel casually pushed the painting hung on the wall next to the bed, she was so surprised that she felt her breath hitch. Read latest chapters at ¡°What is this?¡± she said, puzzled. ¡°There are so many secret passages in the royal palace. So that you can evacuate in case of an emergency. Only the royal family knows the exact path, and if you don¡¯t memorize it well, you might wander off and die. There are many traps along the wrong path.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He held her hand tightly and walked down the dark path that the painting had made way to reveal. There was no light, so she could not see anything at all. But the body temperature that connected them through his hand was warm and made her feel safe. Raina¡¯s words, about the Bureau¡¯s trust in her husband, came to her as they walked, once again forcing Iveca to truly think about the situation she found herself in. She didn¡¯t know anything about him. Iveca had to try to put together a lot of information about him from other sources. Anriq, his escort, had been the closest to the truth so far, saying she should not believe as he would take advantage of her. But Raina saw him as others did, wise and kind. How should his wife judge him? CH 9.1 Iveca¡¯s mind began to wander down a path she found all too familiar since this had all started. She found herself married to what appeared to be a sweet and gentle husband, who was also capable of teaching her pleasures that she could not have ever imagined before in bed despite his nervousness. But wasn¡¯t there supposed to be love in a marriage? Hers seemed a thoroughly political marriage that had not troubled itself with love from the very beginning. As the word love played on her mind, she thought, for the first time in what seemed like forever, of Anriq. Daniel always entered her palace alone without a guard. What had happened between the two of them? Iveca thought back to their conversation in the gardens, an age ago, and how he had spoken of Daniel¡¯s knowledge of their shared past. The feeling left her cold. Before she could dwell on it for too long, the King¡¯s voice came back to her from the darkness of the secret passage. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Iveca said in a low voice, still following a complicated path in the darkness through her head to match the one she was on, ¡°Why did you choose me? The question escaped her before she had any chance to stop it. The King frowned, then sat and gestured for her to continue. Iveca hated, loathed even, to see whoever she was talking to hide or just not answer her questions. Of course, she had no choice but to grow up surrounded by that kind of environment, but all that did was stoke the fires of it all the more. For every time she had heard the words ¡°You are someone else¡¯s daughter, get out!¡± from her father, or her mother had said ¡°You can¡¯t take Esselburn as your last name. You are the stableman¡¯s daughter,¡± or her older sisters had quipped and teased her ¡°You¡¯re not my younger sister,¡± or even thought of kicking her out themselves. The not-so-subtle discrimination and stinging gazes bothered her even now, while at the same time kept her from giving up the terrible hope that she still might be an Esselburn. Iveca couldn¡¯t help but constantly be wary of what others might think. None of them were as kind to her as Anriq had been in those days. Anriq drew a line at a decisive moment of her life; even the maid kept a strange distance from Iveca. And now there was Daniel, his kindness clear and obvious but somehow not matching that which she knew from her childhood friend. So she needed her questions answered, she told herself. To figure out how Daniel felt about her. ¡°Even though I¡¯m physically twenty-two, mentally I¡¯m eighteen now. Whatever you want me to do, I am not sure whether I can do it well.¡± No matter how kindly or thoroughly Raina explained what has happened in the past four years, there must be a gap, Iveca thought. She was afraid that she would inevitably miss something in that void. ¡°Iveca,¡± Daniel spoke softly, fondly, ¡°A desire to do well, doubting your limitations, these two things are enough for me. I don¡¯t want you to be perfect; I know you will do well. I will trust you until the end.¡± The words were sweet and touching, but Iveca didn¡¯t respond. His abstract words didn¡¯t give her any information. So, what was Iveca¡¯s job in the Judicial Affair Bureau without getting involved in politics? Daniel seemed to be saying something that he had to think about thoroughly, strangely side-stepping her questions and repeating safe words while hiding something. The King was kind to her but wasn¡¯t honest. Iveca couldn¡¯t help but feel she was not in a position to protest against him, however. ¡°Even so, I am deeply sorry that I brought you here in a hurry, considering you are still eighteen, mentally.¡± Raina¡¯s words echoed in Iveca¡¯s head now. ¡°¡­It was my choice to erase those memories anyway.¡± Iveca, who was not eighteen or twenty-two, replied slowly while continuing to take her steps down the dark road in her head, one so dark that it made someone unable to see anything in front of them. It seemed far too similar to the one she was walking, and ones she knew she would have to walk in the future. ¡°An officer from the Bureau of Investigation came to visit me this afternoon.¡± ¡°What did they have to trouble you with?¡± ¡°It was no trouble,¡± said Iveca, ¡°it just made me feel lonely. To think of my old colleagues. They thought highly of me, I¡¯m told.¡± After Iveca spoke impulsively in the dark, it suddenly occurred to her that Daniel was also a very lonely man. All three of his siblings either died or went far away. Iveca wasn¡¯t the only one who was neglected by her family and who now had no colleagues. But to her surprise, the topic seemed to amuse him, as Daniel replied with a slight laugh in his voice. Read latest chapters at ¡°Iveca?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What would happen if I let go of your hand?¡± Iveca was surprised for a moment and could not answer. If she went back the way she came before, she could return to the Queen¡¯s palace, but that was not what he meant. In the dark secret passageway that made you unable to see what was up front, she could only feel the warmth of his hand and his affectionate voice. ¡°Why have you been following this dangerous path?¡± CH 9.2 Iveca couldn¡¯t tell him that it was the first time that someone had reached out to her to go somewhere together, so she wanted to hold whatever hand that was given to her. When she didn¡¯t answer, his voice continued. ¡°Of course, you are not the only one who is in danger. There aren¡¯t any guards here, after all. If you wanted to draw a secret dagger and stab me with it, there is no way to stop it.¡± ¡°What are you saying¡­¡± ¡°Just because we¡¯re married now, it doesn¡¯t mean that the King and Queen naturally trust each other. We are all but strangers, after all. However, very naturally, I have found myself trusting you. And I have a feeling you trust me too. Like, say, a colleague would?¡± Only then Iveca started to notice what he wanted to say. ¡°We are our only colleagues, Iveca, you and me. No other exists in the entire world. As much as I¡¯ve lifted your status higher and made you lonely, I will always be there for you. To work with you.¡± It was a promise that could only be made by someone who knew loneliness itself. As he spoke calmly about the ¡®future,¡¯ Iveca felt that the words were even more relatable and truthful than the wedding proposal. She knew it in her stomach; she had these same thoughts herself. Iveca felt her fingertips tingling strangely. At the very least, he seemed to be a nice person who knew how to be kind to her. Suddenly, Iveca was startled as she was bewitched by him, feeling her heart swell and begin to beat faster in her chest. Was this¡­ ¡°So from now on, it¡¯s okay if you¡¯re a little clumsy. I trust you will do well. Please don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± He turned to the right and pushed hard on the blocked wall. As the light poured in, she saw a staircase. He fixed his hold on her firmer, by clasping their hands together. ¡°Shall we go up?¡± The darkness was over. *** ¡°This is my bedroom.¡± The room was spacious, but everything was neatly arranged. Rather than displaying random colourful items, neat and proper items were just placed where they needed to be. Iveca was a little surprised by the organized nature. She expected his room to be the opposite of him, somehow, but couldn¡¯t place why. ¡°I¡¯d like you to feel like you can come here whenever you want. Even if it¡¯s just to avoid other people¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Daniel laughed deeply as he looked into Iveca¡¯s eyes, which flashed the embarrassment of her statement. ¡°Anytime. Whenever you miss me.¡± He strode to a small table with a tea set, then poured some tea delicately. Iveca wondered if he refused her offer of tea because he wanted to pour one for her. However, on trying it she found herself a little disappointed; it was much tastier than the one she had. There was a moment of silence. ¡°You can look around if you like. It¡¯s not a place where just anyone can come in, you know.¡± Daniel smiled at her. She nodded and woke up a little, allowing herself a casual walk around the room. She touched the flowers sitting in the vase for no real reason, and even snooped over his densely packed books. As she was thinking for a moment about what to talk about while visiting her husband¡¯s bedroom, she blinked her eyes and spoke to break the awkward silence. ¡°Your Highness, it seems that you tend to go to bed early.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Daniel raised an eyebrow. ¡°To the extent that you seem to wake up early in the morning. But aren¡¯t you tired if you wake up that early?¡± Daniel smiled slightly and asked why she thought so. ¡°The magic orb by the bed is almost ten years old. If it¡¯s not out of life, it means it¡¯s rarely used during the night. And the fact that there¡¯s no curtain in the window even though it directs to the east means you wake up when the sun comes up in the morning.¡± Daniel laughed out loud at her quick explanation, but there was no malice in it. Instead of being startled and complimenting her ability to observe, he slowly stood up and wrapped her cheeks with both of his hands, obviously impressed. ¡°Our Lady from the Bureau of Investigation knows her stuff.¡± He approached slowly and kissed her deeply. As the soft and cautious movement of his tongue gradually became rougher, Iveca became a little dizzy. The fragrant tea scent was infused deeply into the kiss. She broke away for a moment to look at him. Daniel always had a neat face, and his desire was not easily shown in those clear eyes. It was the first time since their first night that she saw a truly joyful expression on his face. The deeply sunken blue eyes were hazy, while his whole body leaned into her as if it was engulfed by desire. Her heart trembled when she thought that the change in him may have been her doing. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°I want you now, Iveca.¡± ¡°I¡­?¡± Read latest chapters at ¡°No. I lied.¡± His eyes flashed playfully. He looked like he wanted to swallow her whole. ¡°I wanted you the second we entered the room.¡± ¡° I didn¡¯t even realize¡­¡± ¡°A proper King knows how to show things at the right time.¡± His voice was strained with the effort of wasting time talking. He had already endured the temptation of Iveca¡¯s soft-scent and gentle skin for long enough, and Iveca was more than willing to give him what he wanted. Once more, his lips met hers. Her soft lips did not refuse but opened slightly to accept him. His hands, which were still covering her cheeks, descended and wrapped her shoulders. He played with her tongue, and when she exhaled a faint moan came from her. CH 10.1 A little bit more, a little bit more¡­ He pushed his tongue further into her mouth as he tightly embraced her. Unable to overcome his grip, she stepped back and leaned on the already closed door, her back pressed against it. Her tongue, which had reacted cautiously to his, was both cute and exciting at the same time. After possessing her lips for a moment, he instinctively tucked his hand into the hem of her clothes. His hand wrapped around her soft skin and Iveca moaned for his touch. He couldn¡¯t resist kissing the rest of her body anymore and proceeded to kiss her on the back of her neck while his fingers flexed and gripped at her. Iveca felt her hands move unconsciously to his shirt and tangle with his buttons, undoing each one with a soft tugging. He hugged her before she had a chance to finish the job and they fell into the bed, his mouth moving towards her br*asts. He kissed and nibbled around them, her n*pples hardening in reaction to his hunger for her. ¡°Uh, wait¡­¡± As Iveca began to twist, his hand wrapped around her waist, while the other gripped her shoulders tightly. Holding her firmly, he kissed her lips again, then whispered to her. ¡°I want to know how good this makes you feel. Last time you were¡­ naughty, so this time you must do as you¡¯re told¡­ I need it, Iveca¡­¡± His voice husked, desire very evident. ¡°And will you tell me, Your Majesty¡­ how good it feels?¡± His mouth moved to her earlobes, gently sucking them between his lips before moving down and kissing her collarbone, rubbing her hard nipple between his finger and thumb as he did. The pleasure was overwhelming, but Iveca was much more welcoming of it this time. With one swift movement, he pinched the firmly standing n*pple between his two fingers. Iveca whispered as she gasped for air. Daniel kissed her deeply on her cleavage, running his tongue between her br*asts as the torturous pleasure of his rough play on her n*pples continued. Contrary to the exhilarating episode of spreading her legs and calmly saying that she could do it, like their first night, she suddenly began to twist her body out of embarrassment. Feeling her body contort, his hands flew to her waist, then to her bare thighs, holding her in place. ¡°Ah, wait¡­¡± ¡°Tell me it¡¯s good, Iveca,¡± he demanded. He was adept at not letting his innermost thoughts out but had no intention of hiding that he had already noticed hers. Soothing her gasping for breath with a hand on her stomach, he moved his hand between her legs to the dampness he had created. He swept her cl*toris with his thumb and Iveca shuddered. Before she could adjust to the sensation, he quickly moved his finger and began violently stimulating her, rough back and forth motions across her wetness and her swollen cl*t. She shrieked, surprised and stimulated in equal measure, and her waist started to bounce off the bed wildly in time with his motions. ¡°Oh, Daniel¡­ oh!¡± ¡°Tell me if it¡¯s good. I know you¡¯re thinking it. You¡¯re wet enough to be thinking it¡­¡± His voice was low, intense. He burned for her, she could tell, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before he had to take what he wanted. He carefully tucked his fingers into her wet entrance. She twisted her body once again, her narrow, damp inner muscles contracting as if swallowing his fingers. Her liquid and his fingers danced together, and Iveca¡¯s moaning became rougher and harsher. As she tried to close her legs again, he kissed her between her thighs. Read latest chapters at His hot tongue circled across the surface of the inside her thigh, while his fingers and thumb worked at her. The two fingers circling deeper and deeper became increasingly rough, and Iveca finally shook her body and let out an exclamation of pleasure. Daniel whispered in a hoarse voice. ¡°Quickly, Iveca. Tell me that all this pleasure is because of me¡­ that you need what I have to give¡­¡± ¡°I like¡­ it. But, but why¡­¡± Before Iveca could finish the sentence, she felt his swollen manhood enter her. She had no idea he had even taken it out and her world exploded with intense pleasure and a little pain. He could feel her holding back her scream. Two body temperatures met. Somehow, he managed to kiss her lips as she thrashed beneath him. Iveca heard herself swear and moan and mutter her want for him, her want for his love and his manhood. She could feel herself squeezing on his hardness and she felt him throb in return. He was already starting to lose control, because of her. While kissing her cheek, he grabbed her by the waist and carefully started the reciprocating motion. As she let out a shallow breath, she groaned. The warm breath that she felt in her collarbone made her feel like she might faint in combination with his thrusts into her. Every moment they pulled away and pushed back together, a dizzying pleasure was accumulated, and as the movement became even rougher, their bodies began to shake violently together too. The tears in her eyes, the groaning coming out of her lips, and the wetness pouring out from her was everything she needed, and he was making it happen in endless waves. CH 10.2 In the royal palace that became his own, locked away from the eyes of the world, he began to take her more roughly. It felt instinctive and natural and she responded in kind, pushing her hips into his to match his increased speed and intensity. His manhood felt like the only thing in the world to her; even his breath on her lips and at her neck was fading into nothingness at the feeling of him filling her. Wasn¡¯t there a magic that could stop time, and keep them here, panting and swearing and soaking the sheets with what they shared? Wasn¡¯t there a magic that could stop Amethan as it was and end the world while he was holding her like this? At that moment, a whisper broke out between her lips. ¡°Ha, it feels so good¡­¡± It was all he needed to hear to move into another gear altogether. His body raised before he took the back of her thigh with one hand and pushed it up towards her body. The new angle eclipsed the feeling she had felt before, as his shaft entered further into her than she had even imagined it could. He was as close as he could be to her now and she had to muster all she could to not scream in his ear at the feeling of it. In the Queen¡¯s Palace, she felt so indifferent to the world of pleasure as she was preoccupied with her work, while now she was explored completely by him. He hooked her leg over his shoulder and moved to push her other leg upward to join it and she obliged him. Her two thin ankles casually hung on his shoulders while he held her waist with both hands. She couldn¡¯t be more at his mercy, but there was no twisting away this time. She could feel him speeding up even further, close to his finish, and that spurred her to her own even quicker. ¡°Ah, ah¡­ Aah!¡± He throbbed inside her with one final pulse and she felt the liquid burst into her, his hot semen filling any gap that his shaft had managed to leave for it. His speed did not decrease as he thrusted, his moans louder as he emptied his essence into her, more than she knew he could have had in his body when they started. Her own orgasm came as he did and her eyes rolled back, her spine arched and her fingers white from gripping the sheets. This was it, she thought, the moment she would stop time herself to preserve. He took a deep breath through his groans and fell over her slender body, feeling the joy rising to the top of his head. He embraced her, trembling, and kissed her forehead. It was over, but neither of them wanted to leave this position, him softening inside her and the waves still coming. He raised his head and kissed the tip of her nose. ¡°Sleep tight.¡± Iveca nodded without hesitation. Her vision was blurry as her eyelids already became heavy. ¡°Don¡¯t ever leave me alone, okay? Just stay with me¡­¡± His strange, desperate voice hovered in her ears. She barely felt him leave her body before her eyes closed, and the night fell. *** Awakened by thirst, Iveca looked around the room. She felt the weight of Daniel¡¯s arm over her and lifted it gently, before sliding out of the bed. The room was bathed in the moonlight now, casting shadows over the neat arrangements. She spotted a jug of water on the desk next to the bed and went to it. Pouring out a glass she gulped it back gratefully. There was no denying that the intimate act was thirsty work. There was something that caught her eye on the neatly arranged desk as she drank. Iveca glanced back at Daniel, to see he was still asleep with his head turned to the other side. She carefully put down the glass of water and pulled out a conspicuous-looking card among the books. She turned it over in her hand and unfolded it, before inspecting it. Rounded letters were embedded in the card, the unfamiliar handwritten message short. ¡°Happy birthday, Daniel. I truly hope you are happy today. ¨C E. J.¡± Iveca held her breath and folded the card again, putting it back in the same place at the correct angle. ¡°There was a woman he loved in the past.¡± Read latest chapters at Like magic, Anriq¡¯s words came to mind. She walked back across the room and laid back in his bed. Daniel, who noticed her presence, began to hold her in his arms. She felt his heartbeat, slow and soft and relaxed. ¡°You were just a Queen that was going to be used.¡± E.J. The pen he carried close to his chest, the note¡­ Even at the touch of his embrace on her, she laid stiff and turned her back. All of a sudden, the pleasure and intensity of what they had before snapped back to cold reality. A political marriage and sex to bear him a successor. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she failed to return to the warmth of sleep. CH 11.1 She should not lean too much on this man¡¯s kindness. Both Anriq and Raina have spoken that his affection was nothing but a packaging. Ivena braced her loosening heart. He was just a person that she had seen three times, maybe as the palace was unfamiliar and she was nervous about her new life, she relied on him more than necessary. She opened her heart to the word ¡®family¡¯ too easily. He was a soft and gentle man, but he was also a king who spoke of marriage at the first meeting, duty at the second meeting, and faith at the third meeting. However, they did not mention each other¡¯s feelings in the process. ¡°Because of the fact that you even liked Your Majesty¡¯s escort and not someone else, you are leaving one weakness to Your Majesty. Maybe he already calculated that, I am afraid.¡± Daniel didn¡¯t talk about her feelings towards Anriq. So instinctively, she knew she shouldn¡¯t ask Daniel about ¡®E.J¡¯ either. ¡°Each of us is the only colleague for each other in the entire world. As much as I¡¯ve lifted you up higher and made you lonely, I will always be there for you.¡± Just because two were colleagues, and also stayed at each one¡¯s side, it didn¡¯t mean that both loved each other. Even at the night she got the proposal, while obviously knowing that the Bureau of Investigation employee was eavesdropping, she was still able to meet Anriq. Her gentle and affectionate husband still has not forgotten another woman. But seeing him being incredibly nice to Iveka, she was sure that he had a purpose with her heart. Even so, she was his Queen. She was able to accept that fact calmly. Since her childhood days, she has been receiving worse possible truths. She just lived silently for eighteen years in the Count¡¯s mansion. That was why, even now, she could stay still in his arms casually. Natural affection, or reliable family, was not something that was given to her in this life. All of a sudden, she tried not to be overwhelmed. *** ¡°He told you not to attend the noble¡¯s families conference?¡± In the next afternoon, a guest who was her father, Count Ewill Esselburn, paid her a visit. From now on, Ewill had to use honorifics while speaking to her third daughter. Iveca thought that it was the first time she had ever been alone with Ewill. Therefore, Ewill, who spoke to her in honorific, was not strange at all. Because in the meantime, they have not been into conversation properly before. She, who had been drinking her bland tea without a hitch, frowned as she was deep in thought on what Ewill has just said. ¡°So, what did you say?¡± asked her father. ¡°I said that I understood.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve said no.¡± Ewill sighed. Iveca sat with her head down and gave no answer. In the end, did she always remain a useless daughter to her father? The father and daughter who were facing each other had no real external resemblance. At least, she had purple eyes like her mother¡¯s¡­. Iveca felt herself shrinking in front of Ewill. ¡°Isn¡¯t a Queen excluded from politics nothing but a scarecrow? If so, why would he dare to ask the Queen¡­¡± She answered carefully, ¡°He told me to stay working in the Judicial Affair Bureau.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It is a matter that was agreed before marriage¡­¡± Ewill touched his forehead. And then he continued with a cold voice. ¡°Nevertheless, quit the Judicial Affair Bureau, and tell him that you are coming to the meeting. How can you treat the Queen as an employee of an affiliated organization?¡± Iveca hesitated a little, then muttered, unable to look straight at Ewill with his pale blonde hair. ¡°Queen Evena has also made it as the Head of Administration Bureau.¡± Read latest chapters at Ewill stared at the Queen that was an Esselburn. He never considered his third daughter, Iveca, as his own. If you counted ten months backwards, the child was conceived when he was in the countryside. Countess Riszora insisted that she was born two months premature, but Iveca¡¯s weight was normal, and her black hair was similar to the handsome stableman who had already been kicked out. The other four daughters resembled him and had pale blonde hair, so the different appearance kept her further away. Her short physique, compared to the rest of his tall daughters, was also a factor that made her feel at odds. The more he looked at the delicate, pretty face, the more it resembled the young and fresh stableman rather than his own. Anyway, the Countess gave birth to Iveca herself, and he hated people talking anyway, so in this case, it didn¡¯t make anything more problematic, but also created a more subtle atmosphere. Iveca worked hard on everything since she was young. When she was given a tutor, the progress was faster than the older sisters, and she was also physically fit. But no one has ever acknowledged her. It was closer to someone who was being ignored. So even when she said she wanted to go to college at a very young age, he allowed it without thinking. After graduating from college, he tried to marry her off, but as soon as she came of age, she immediately wrote an application for a job at the Bureau of Investigation and ran away from home without saying a word. The rest of the family never mentioned her either. As if she had not been there since the beginning, they lived as they had only had four daughters since a long time ago. CH 11.2 ¡°I think¡­ it is right to follow Your Majesty¡¯s will,¡± said Iveca. It was four years. For four years, Iveca never came home. No one was even looking for her, but she thought that it must be pretty for her to hold out there. And about a month ago, Iveca was ¡®delivered¡¯ to the Count¡¯s estate, with all her memories having been wiped out. ¡°My Queen.¡± Ewill started at Iveca with his sunken eyes. ¡°Do you believe in Your Majesty?¡± Iveca remained silent. ¡°It has only been two days. It¡¯s impetuous to see someone for two days and decide to follow suit. In particular, Your Majesty seemed gentle and kind, but there are many secrets and it is difficult to guess what¡¯s inside. I understood that you had a desire to keep the faith between the married couple¡­¡± Iveca quietly listened to her father¡¯s low voice, who was still speaking to her in honorifics. For the first time in her life, Ewill was having a proper conversation with her. Ewill kept quiet for a while, and soon spoke carefully. ¡°I have seen Your Majesty at the conferences for a very long time. I am afraid because I don¡¯t really know what he thinks. Not participating in politics also means separation from the Esselburn family. Think about it again.¡± Iveca has finally noticed Ewill¡¯s intention. But she could not answer that she would do it. When she attends meetings, she must only side with Count Esselburn. But Daniel said that he wanted to ask her a favor as she was the only one who was able to do it. Did he go to the Bureau of Investigation for ¡®the thing that she could do well¡¯? The person who never said that they were family in her entire life was now standing in front of her eyes. And now, she has someone who promised her what she didn¡¯t have for her entire life. Suddenly, she thought that only one person¡¯s opinion was enough for her to speak her thoughts. She, who had never thought she could refuse Ewill¡¯s words, cautiously rebelled. ¡°Still¡­ I want to follow Your Majesty¡¯s will.¡± Ewill cleared his throat disapprovingly for a long time. At first, he chose the position of Queen for her because he thought it somehow would help Ewill and gave him some reputations. However, not long after coming to the palace, she found that the palace was more comfortable than Count Esselburn¡¯s. She even clearly knew which of her father or husband¡¯s requests she wanted to listen to. At least, her husband promised herself a ¡®family.¡¯ She could not even look into her father¡¯s eyes and muttered, ¡°Father, my last memory was the oath that I took in the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Even if Ewill disapproved of this remark, Daniel would smile at her and say well done. ¡°Although now, I am not a member of the Bureau of Investigation anymore, I¡¯ve vowed to protect it for the rest of my life, and even if I didn¡¯t remember, it would still be my faith in life. I respected myself from the past.¡± And even though she didn¡¯t know why she erased her memories, life at the Bureau was her only option. Even now she was not a member of the Bureau of Investigation, she wanted to walk all the way to the end. It was not for the honor of Count Esselburn, not for the Queen also, but for Iveca herself. ¡°To be loyal to the King of Amethan and to protect him with all my life¡­ It was one of the codes I once risked my life on. Following Your Majesty¡¯s will is the path of my life that I decided a long time ago. If Your Majesty asked me to attend the meeting and give my opinion, I would surely help the Esselburn¡­ But it seems Your Majesty wanted something different from me.¡± This time, it was the count who was quiet. ¡°Your Majesty Daniel also told me that he was a partner, and he would always be there for me. He is a Lord who deserves loyalty.¡± Read latest chapters at Iveca said calmly, but strangely, a corner of her heart was bitter. This was how political marriage worked. It was rather comfortable to think of him as ¡®Lord¡¯ rather than ¡®husband¡¯. She forced herself to erase her complicated thoughts. Although the people you have in mind did not think of you in return, you would still be able to trust and get along well. ¡°Your Highness Daniel took the throne by joining hands with the conservative sides, but after he ascended to the throne, he began to recognize all the liberal nobles. It¡¯s dangerous to follow and believe in him. I¡¯m sorry to say this, but if you devote your allegiance with those kind words and deeds, don¡¯t even trust them.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± At Ewill¡¯s words, Iveca stopped for a moment. She only knew how much Daniel¡¯s reference of ¡®family¡¯ meant to her. The decisive refusal of Ewill¡¯s previous offer meant that her heart had already sided with Daniel, who had reached her out in two days, rather than her family who had not recognized her for eighteen years. CH 12.1 Iveca turned her eyes away, hiding her lack of confidence. Her father seemed to have grown tired of talking to her. Iveca wondered whether she had said too much and as she did, he stood up quickly, pulling his jacket across. ¡°I think enough for today, I¡¯ll be leaving now,¡± came his parting remark, which was followed by a more curious one. ¡°At the morning meeting, I saw Anriq guarding his Majesty¡¯s side. It¡¯s a relief that you have an old friend in the palace.¡± Iveca wondered why her father even remembered she had been friends with Anriq, then wondered what he would make of how she had loved him. For all intents and purposes, he thought Anriq as just a childhood friend, with whom Iveca grew up with in the Count¡¯s estate. Now, he recognized his status as an escort guard, who had entered the royal palace as soon as he reached adulthood in recognition of his outstanding combat abilities. Iveca responded calmly to his words, as calmly as she could muster. ¡°I didn¡¯t really get to see him.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Your Majesty always have him around? He always accompanies him. In fact, I¡¯ve never seen one without the other. He must have been guarding the door.¡± Iveca paused at the ramifications of Anriq on the other side of either bedroom door. ¡°Sorry? I had just assumed that if he had come to my palace, Anriq would have returned to the King¡¯s.¡± Her father snorted. ¡°There¡¯s no way. Guardians are always around. That¡¯s what they¡¯re paid for, after all.¡± Iveca¡¯s mind was torn. Of course, she should forget about him. That was her first thought. No matter how much she loved her first love, it was a sin to have another man in her heart when she was a married woman. Also, Anriq was someone who had a history of rejecting her. Her heart quickly shifted both rationally and emotionally to her husband, who was pouring consistent warmth. But on the other side, she remembered how Anriq was the only person who had ever made her feel utterly understood ¨C something even her husband couldn¡¯t do. ¡°Please take care.¡± Iveca was shaken from her daze by her father¡¯s remark. She bowed her head and said her own farewell before he left through the grand doors in a rush. For some reason, it felt like his frame leaving her vision marked the last time she would ever see him, especially if his line of reasoning about her usefulness to the family still stood. Iveca looked at her dark hair in the long mirror for quite some time. ¡°Now, you are a family¡­¡± she muttered to herself. Iveca shook away the feelings of resentment and rejection. Even though she had not met the absolute condition for becoming a family because she still did not know the reason for the marriage, she thought she could think of various moments when Daniel had confirmed it for her. They were a family, no matter what her father had to say, or not say. At the same time, the name ¡°E.J¡± engraved on a dark blue pen clouded her determination. Daniel came to visit again around sunset. Iveca had abandoned the pursuit of memorizing the genealogical trees that had been left for her; after all, he himself had said it wasn¡¯t important, instead focusing on learning the codes that a royal family member must follow. Daniel took the seat in front of her. He was already grinning at something he would no doubt share with her. ¡°You must have memorized everyone¡¯s names, birthdays and the amount of coins in their pocket at this rate,¡± he said. Iveca did not reply. She was now, thanks to her father, conscious of the fact that Daniel never entered her palace without his guards. If that was truly the case, then Anriq would be outside the door. How did it feel to hold your wife and hug her while her first love was standing outside the door? Did Daniel think about it? Was it really okay? It was only then that Iveca realized that her husband was more complicated than she thought. He was a man that, to some extent, was confident enough to use a pen given to him by another woman in front of his wife. He was a man that was accustomed to secrets and silence. Iveca wondered if becoming a King meant that sort of thing happened naturally. ¡°Code of law, eh?¡± said Daniel, interested by the papers strewn in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s only been a month since I moved to the Judicial Affair Bureau. I¡¯m not familiar with the work yet, so I have to look at it from time to time to remind myself of it.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Daniel grinned again, ¡°You will do well, I¡¯m sure.¡± Daniel was a friendly, sweet, and kind king who smiled with his eyes. A man who spoke sweetly and politely. A person who whispered sweet words in bed and gave her encouragement that Iveca had never had before. But Iveca was occasionally embroiled in a strange sense of being out of place. The kindness that he showed might be just for show. She was an eighteen-year-old with memories of being mistreated and experiences of failures; she was indeed a target for anyone looking to use. Still, she liked this unusual affection. She had turned down Ewill¡¯s offer today for it. Read latest chapters at ¡°If you are not in any hurry to read the codes, would you like to see another secret passage?¡± Iveca quickly closed her book. Of course, it was better to go somewhere than to read these boring law books. He gently took her hand. ¡°This one is a bit of a back and forth trek, Iveca. Wear comfortable shoes,¡± he suggested. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Somewhere good.¡± CH 12.2 Iveca enjoyed his temperature on her hand. A soft, warm, connected feeling. Come to think of it, Iveca couldn¡¯t think of a time she had held hands with anyone. She felt strangely relieved when she was with him, and she felt at ease as all the anxiety was pushed back by his affection. There was a sense of stability that was different from the desperation that she felt with Anriq. She followed him and walked through the passage by pushing the picture on the wall like he had yesterday. However, the route was different in the middle of the journey. Left, left, right, right, left¡­ ¡°Your Majesty, it was so fast that I couldn¡¯t keep track,¡± Iveca confessed. ¡°Did you memorize the way to my bedroom?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve memorized it, but I¡¯ve already lost count of the turns to¡­ wherever we are going today.¡± ¡°Then just follow me,¡± reassured Daniel. The voice coming from the dark was refreshing and cool, but Iveca wasn¡¯t convinced. After seriously thinking about how far she could take her complaints to the King himself, she was amazed by the sudden appearance of the banquet hall. There was no banquet, so the hall was dark and empty. Without hesitation, he led her up to the stairs towards the second floor. Suddenly, she recalled that there were no guards attached to them. Daniel didn¡¯t share her concern and, in a familiar fashion, he pushed a still-life painting in front of him and saw a staircase going up open in front of them. Iveca looked at him with surprised eyes. She danced with him right here after the wedding. But she never thought there would be such a secret path, where anyone could have watched them completely unnoticed. He climbed the stairs slowly, and as she followed him up all the breathtakingly high stairs, a cool breeze blew and Iveca was met with a view of the roof of the Royal Palace. Daniel skillfully helped her to take her seat and sat down next to her. A panoramic view of the prosperous capital, Amenity, spread out for miles before them. The Judicial Affair Bureau building, the Bureau of Investigation building, and the mansion of Count Esselburn in the distance came into sight. The view was magnificent. ¡°It is a secret passage that I found while wandering around with Ashe when I was younger. I haven¡¯t been here for years,¡± shared Daniel. The cold wind swept his blond hair. It was fun to see people busy walking around the street as small as ants. Iveca looked from place to place, bewitched, and felt compelled to ask a question. ¡°Why did you bring me here¡­¡± ¡°In case the Queen feels stuffy,¡± he replied, a soft smile hanging on his lips. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You should have lived freely, but it seemed like you had been trapped in the palace for three days. It was supposed to be a special vacation, but you could not even go to a nice place to enjoy yourself. But nowadays, it is a terribly busy and important time for our kingdom, so it is hard to leave. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Even with the view in front of them, Iveca couldn¡¯t help glancing at Daniel¡¯s profile while he was holding her hand tightly. His eyelashes were as long as the ones in the paintings of him. ¡°There will be no freedom in the future. Even if you go to the Judicial Affair Bureau, the guards will always be there. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Iveca nodded. As soon as she ascended to the throne as a Queen, she was basically joined at the hip by three guards on her side. The three; Kenta, Merryn, and Esther, would still be guarding the palace right now. When assigning her escort guards, she noticed that Daniel wanted to put more numbers on her, but she refused. To be honest, she was confident of protecting herself without a guard. But Daniel had insisted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have kept you like this. To be honest, it feels¡­ greedy of me.¡± It was difficult to answer because he looked a little bit sad, and Iveca didn¡¯t want to make him feel worse. But at least it crossed his mind that he was sorry for making her a Queen. By now, the sunset was already over, and the twilight completely colored the entire Amenity¡¯s landscape, with a purple tone almost as deep as her eyes. Why did this all have to be so complicated? Iveca wished Daniel had just been up front with her about everything from the start; all this confusion wasn¡¯t needed. His kindness, his gentleness¡­ Iveca would have rather he ordered her to do worse if she knew what was going on. However, she kept her calm. Now wasn¡¯t the time to question a King. ¡°Your Majesty, what do I have to do for you?¡± Daniel turned his head to her. ¡°What do you mean, Iveca?¡± ¡°What do I need to do in the Judicial Affair Bureau as a Queen, rather than being involved in politics? That is why you married me, right? I¡­ I need to know.¡± Daniel had a slightly troubled look on his face. Read latest chapters at ¡°It was going to be a lot of work, Iveca, so I was hoping you would get some rest.¡± ¡°I,¡± she paused, ¡°I want to prove my usefulness.¡± Daniel was taken aback at her frankness. ¡°Your usefulness?¡± he inquired. Iveca lowered her eyes. Whatever Dasniel wanted from her, it would be easier than turning her black hair to blonde for the sake of family. She wanted her family to be proud this time. She wanted to say to Count Esselburn that she and His Majesty were now a family. ¡°I want you to be proud for choosing me,¡± she said, and she meant it. CH 13.1 Daniel turned his head from the view and stared at her intensely. She turned her head to meet his. As she looked at his blue eyes, now saddened, she felt her heart pounding strangely, as if it were going to take up wings and fly away. She had never been this¡­ flustered by Anriq. Was it because he was so handsome? Or because the sight of the land beyond the roof in front of her eyes was that beautiful? Daniel smiled softly and spoke. ¡°Iveca, even now, all you need to do is to be confident. If you have something you want to say, you can do it without looking around.¡± Iveca did not speak but did not break eye contact either. ¡°I will be honest with you,¡± Daniel continued, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy next to me, that¡¯s all I need.¡± She could not believe the words that she had just heard. Suddenly, he was no longer the king who proposed to marry out of the blue. Iveca was almost afraid to even think of it, but when Daniel had whispered that all she had to do was be happy, she hardly thought she had enough self-esteem to believe in such a fairy-tale ending. As Daniel gently brushed her black hair away from her face, Iveca turned away and spoke. ¡°If there¡¯s something I can do for you¡­ I want to achieve it quickly.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To be recognized as someone who can achieve something.¡± There was silence. Perhaps the King, who had been loved since birth, did not understand her feeling of not being loved no matter what she did. Perhaps he just could not understand it. She would have done anything to become her father¡¯s biological daughter by working hard, if such a thing were possible. If she had the courage or the misfortune to die, disappear from the world; she would not have been a nuisance to her family. Her mother¡¯s sin, the shame of the family, and being an object of countless backbiting words¡­. that was not something that could be eliminated by working hard. What her new family wanted, what Daniel wanted from her, was at least something she could do. She did not want to miss out on his kindness, the constant eye contact, and warm hugs. Even though he already had another woman in mind. She was his family now. By marriage and by his declaration. Iveca lowered her head. Daniel was silent for a moment, then spoke in a strained manner, as though what he had to say was difficult to. ¡°There is something else you can do for me, Iveca. The blue eyes that were looking at Iveca were strangely filled with little sadness. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Make a law for me.¡± Iveca felt shocked and was sure she looked like it too. ¡°Make¡­ a law?¡± ¡°Because you are a member of a royal family, an affiliated bureau officer and was born as a noble, you are the only one who can represent all three of Amethan¡¯s ruling classes.¡± Iveca was too surprised to answer. There were so many things that needed to be consulted before a law was enacted. The crown orders, authority of affiliated institutions, the results of the council of the nobles. The law was only used when a problem occurred or as a last resort. Battles for the throne or something like that. Therefore, it was natural that there were fewer people in the Judicial Affair Bureau than other affiliated agencies. Less power to the people. Iveca shook herself out of her stupor to ask, ¡°A law, why?¡± Daniel¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Iveca, have you ever heard of republicanism?¡± Iveca nodded. It was a rather heavy word in the kingdom. The inevitable conclusion of the Republican Revolution, should it be left unchecked, was to bring down the King and kill him. Of course, any normal King should have had an antipathy to republicanism. Daniel was no different. ¡°The world is too complicated to rely on one person¡¯s judgement. Amethan is peaceful now, but the next ten years could change the kingdom more than the past 1,000 years did. And not in a good way.¡± The past few months flashed through Iveca¡¯s mind at his words. The family tree of the royal family with five circles on it, Reina¡¯s assessment of Daniel being the most suitable King in this era, and Ewil¡¯s advice that he was afraid because he did not really know what the king¡¯s thoughts were¡­ Read latest chapters at Daniel interrupted her train of thought. ¡°I do not want Amethan to be swept away by the Republican Revolution. I do not want to be a victim of a terrible civil war, nor do I want my kingdom to fall. Republicanism is the idea that there is a law above leadership. I think even a monarchy can put the law first. Which is where you come in, Iveca. I would like you to draft a law that satisfies all the royalty, nobles, and affiliated organizations. To stem the tide of the revolution.¡± ¡°Hold on, Your Majesty,¡± Iveca spoke with nervousness in her voice, ¡°If I do, does it mean that the law I make is above the King¡¯s order?¡± Daniel nodded. ¡°As you might have heard from the Bureau of Investigations staff, I brought Ethan Enrich into the palace, and the result was his betrayal. Even the royals cannot make all the decisions wisely.¡± ¡°But more than the authority of an affiliated organization? Especially the authority of the Bureau of Investigation¡­¡± Daniel interrupted again. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation failed to assassinate Rihan Kadmin when given the chance. They are not above scrutiny either.¡± CH 13.2 ¡°Still, if you also put the results of the nobles¡¯ councils meeting under the law¡­.¡± ¡°The nobles sat around, satisfied that the Imperial rebels would be suppressed within a month. Half a year later, the rebel forces are surprisingly increasing, and I hear nothing from the nobles but pleasantries,¡± Daniel elaborated. Iveca went to speak again but stopped herself. Daniel had clearly given this much thought. ¡°The backlash from the vested interests will be severe. It will kill everyone¡¯s authority and the inanimate law will stand alone, untouchable and above all of them. Of course, there will be people who do not agree with this. You and I will have a lot of enemies when it is done. But it is something we need to do. For the many.¡± Daniel¡¯s voice was calm, but it was clear his mind was racing as fast as hers. ¡°The monarchy will be weakened, and the nation will become a little louder in its protests, but in this way, you could prevent a terrible civil war. It is far better than that alternative.¡± ¡°Have you thought about this alone? Before we were married, I mean,¡± Iveca asked, worried about the answer suddenly. He held her hand tighter. ¡°It would be very, very difficult¡­ but if you¡¯re on my side¡­¡± Iveca thought for a moment, mulling over his newest proposal. Difficult seemed like quite an understatement. Daniel noticed her silence and pressed on. ¡°If it is troubling you or does not even fit your beliefs, of course you can refuse, Iveca. It is correct that I chose you because you can give me something in return. But I have no intention of forcing you to do anything.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, of course I¡­¡± Iveca was trying to respond quickly but Daniel cut her off. ¡°Even if you refuse, of course I would still be proud of you. No, there is no one in this world that could not be proud of you, Iveca. You shouldn¡¯t do anything you don¡¯t like.¡± Daniel¡¯s soft words made Iveca speechless, but still he continued as she stared at him. ¡°What do you mean about being recognized as being useful, Iveca? You are not someone who needs to prove themselves like that to me. You never will be.¡± Her mind was tickled, turning over on itself to escape the sensation. The man in front of her, who she had seen only four times including his marriage proposal, was telling her things she did not know she needed to hear. The sad memories that had piled up in her mind one by one were now shaken and distorted, being loosened by his every syllable. The memories of her shrinking body in front of the guests visiting the Count estate, the memory of being a sinner just by standing in front of her father, memories of her disappearance among her sister¡¯s chatter and laughter. All of them were blurring and fading out of view with each word he graced upon her. It did not matter if all these sweet words were a trick to get her consent. Iveca needed them like a bee needs a flower, right here and right now. Daniel was not done. He continued, ¡°I already said we are a family, right? In this world. we¡¯ve done something that only the two of us could do.¡± Iveca took a deep breath and answered as clearly as she could manage. ¡°Your Majesty, I will do my best.¡± It was hard to believe his well-wrapped words. It was absurd to be someone special to him even though she did not do anything; she barely knew him. However, no one ever told her anything like that. And Iveca breathed it, feeling it course through her like a rushing river, replenishing her reserves. ¡°No matter how much I protect you, you will get a lot of criticism,¡± Daniel added cautiously to her unhesitating reply, ¡°Even Evena, who reorganized the affiliated organizations, was said to face great opposition at that time.¡± ¡°I still think it¡¯s a good idea,¡± came Iveca¡¯s reply once more. Iveca thought that the judgement of a person who was willing to give up power that he had was largely reliable. Besides, there was another reason for her to do it. ¡°I believe in myself. I believe in us.¡± Read latest chapters at Daniel looked at Iveca quietly. ¡°I heard that when a member of the Bureau of Investigation transfers to another agency due to unavoidable circumstances,¡± she said, ¡°you will be assigned according to your own wishes. I guess I also thought the law was important, although I wasn¡¯t really interested in it before.¡± Daniel did not answer, but this time he did not need to. Iveca was filled with purpose. She was obsessed with proving her usefulness; she could not brag about becoming a Queen without having something to show for it, after all. The task ahead of her might be difficult, but she was grateful for that. The challenge would prove she was someone who would be worth recognizing. The short moment of dusk that had fallen over them was lost completely, and the darkness was complete above and around them. Iveca grinned at the cool breeze that flicked the dark hair back and forth over her eyes. No matter how complicated Daniel was, no matter how close he was as a colleague rather than a husband, Iveca still liked him. It was sweet enough of him to have guided her through secret passages of his childhood days as she could not go outside in the past three days. He said that he would be her family and told her to be confident even though she did not feel confident in herself. And although everyone said that they could not understand him, she was still grateful for the few things she could understand about him now. CH 14.1 Iveca tried her hardest to put thoughts of E.J out of her mind. As long as the mystery woman didn¡¯t try to compete for Daniel¡¯s affection or anything like that, their relationship would continue to be this good. ¡°Your Majesty, it seems to be getting dark rather quickly, shall we go down?¡± Daniel nodded, but seemed to have fallen into a strange, incomprehensible silence. ¡°And also, there are no guards around, Your Majesty¡­ Shouldn¡¯t you always be accompanied by guards? Because it is dangerous?¡± Iveca asked. He looked at the distant streets of Amenity for a moment, before slowly turning his head and to stare at her. The smile had faded from his expression. For a moment, she was dumbfounded and all of a sudden, he grabbed her cheek and suddenly came forward to kiss her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± said Daniel, ¡°I can protect both of us.¡± ¡°Is that why you go to the gym every morning during the dawn?¡± As his expression showed his curiosity on how she knew about it, Iveca smiled bashfully and continued. ¡°I was chosen to be in the Bureau of Investigation, you know. I was also ranked top of my class in physical education. I can tell if somebody trains everyday or not just by touching them.¡± Iveca¡¯s mind flashed back to when she touched his naked body for two whole days and barely swallowed the words that came after before she blurted them out. ¡°How about the fact that I do it during the dawn?¡± asked Daniel, smiling again now. ¡°The smell of perfume on your clothes has faded. It means you haven¡¯t changed your clothes, and as Your Highness wakes up early in the morning, it¡¯s easy to deduce a routine.¡± said Iveca. ¡°Very clever, Iveca.¡± He kissed her slowly between her eyes, on the tip of her nose, and on her cheek. She felt her body twitch in an instant as his lips found her neck and his tongue began to lick slowly. As always, the beginning of the affair was smooth, and the process was terribly ecstatic. There was a clear consideration of her in between every gesture and breath. The obsessive question whether it was okay was asked and she gasped and barely nodded her head, followed by an urgent gesture of embrace as if he was relieved. Although he could not hide his lust, it was clearly shown that her pleasure came first. However, when everything was over, a strange feeling of loneliness remained. Why was he obsessed with her pleasure? As someone who had low self-esteem, she did not understand. It was something you did to make your children, first and foremost, so why put her first? The thoughts ran wildly in her anxious mind. Maybe this was a reward in exchange for her loyalty. Iveca wondered whether calling him ¡®Your Majesty¡¯ while embracing him added to his obsession. Maybe on other occasions, E.J called him ¡®Daniel¡¯. Iveca shook the intruding thought from her head. However, the feeling of hurt remained. It was a marriage that had been decided in a simple way, but she felt so complicated when she was with this man. Perhaps it was because he was nice to her more than necessary. *** Iveca had two older sisters, and also two younger sisters. Even though they all received home education together, and even had dinner together, they didn¡¯t invite Iveca for having picnics and teatime together with other aristocrats¡¯ girls, or anything else of the sort. Iveca knew clearly what the reason was. ¡°Oh my, Iveca has black hair? How odd!¡± When she was young, every time a new visitor who hadn¡¯t heard about the rumor said the same thing, her oldest sister Sierin used to smile gracefully and answer. ¡°My maternal grandmother had black hair. Iveca looks a lot like her maternal grandmother.¡± However, none of them knew their maternal grandmother. Later Iveca herself used to avoid getting caught together with her sisters. ¡°Father really is too conservative. He said we shouldn¡¯t go to the banquet until coming of age, that¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Read latest chapters at ¡°It would be great if mother would stop seeing Mrs. Eila. Why does she like that crude woman so much?¡± The gossip flowed thick and fast between her siblings, every day. Of course, she could not get involved in the chatter between the sisters, who shared their complaints about their parents. It was not like she heard it from somebody else. It was a subtle, yet complex, atmosphere to be a part of. Alienation was not a situation when Iveca could get information from someone else. Although they were home-educated together, Iveca progressed fastest and did everything better than the others. It was because, among the sisters who always went out with their friends to play, Iveca didn¡¯t have anything to do but study and practice. Whether it was studying, playing a musical instrument, painting, it would turn out great as long as she worked hard. It was not complicated, and the results showed. But even the tutors wouldn¡¯t praise her because of the sensitive atmosphere around her. Even though she was not proud of her birth, she worked harder than anyone for even a short compliment that eventually might come her way. If the tutors gave her compliments in front of her parents, maybe they might smile and recognize her as an Esselburn¡­ or maybe wouldn¡¯t look at her like a cow watching a chicken; a cold, unrecognizing indifference between two complete strangers. However, that day never came. CH 14.2 ¡°Teacher Nila must have no money. Her clothes are the same every day.¡± ¡°How about the shoes? The front part is all worn out.¡± Whenever the sisters were gossiping about their tutors, Ivecca would say, ¡®It¡¯s not like that¡¯, to herself. Nila didn¡¯t buy a new maid¡¯s dress; although the sleeves were shortened. Considering that her contract renewal date was near, it seemed like she was thinking of leaving the Count¡¯s estate. Iveca had no one to talk to, so she had observed everyone by herself. When her reasoning fell right, she kept it to herself. She lived a life where her parents treated her as a stranger, the sisters subtly ignored her, and the servants chattered behind her back. She had been through so much, worked hard for so many achievements, but no one acknowledged them. Although there was no material shortage in her life, she got used to the emotional loneliness. Then one day, when her 10-year-old self was wielding a long sword alone in the backyard of the Count¡¯s estate, a brown-haired boy approached. ¡°You¡¯re short and you don¡¯t have a lot of muscles, so it would be hard to learn long swordsmanship,¡± he said to her, unflinchingly, ¡°besides, I think you¡¯re left-handed. Why did you hold the sword with your right hand?¡± Iveca looked at the boy with a puzzled expression. In this house, he was the only one who had spoken to her first. ¡°I¡¯m Anriq Renka. You are Iveca der Esselburn, right?¡± Anriq was the son of a close friend of Iveca¡¯s mother, Riszora. After losing both of his parents, Riszora felt pity on him and asked Count Esselburn to take him in to the Count¡¯s estate. The Renka family itself was a fallen viscount, and Riszora¡¯s friend was also from a poor aristocratic background, so it was difficult to entrust Anriq to another family. As a son of a used-to-be a commoner family who was later knighted for their military service, his physical skills were remarkable, although at that time he was just ten years old, no one could ignore his dream of becoming a royal bodyguard. ¡°It would be better for you to learn a dagger style, according to your physique. But your body movements are really fast. If you learn a little more from me, I think you will do really well. First, start by holding it with your left hand.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then will you teach me?¡± Iveca smiled, her dark hair tied high and her purple eyes twinkling. She was excited because this was the first time someone said that she did well. Anriq crossed his arms and thought for a moment before asking another question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy? There are five tutors attached to you. Usually, the aristocrats are very busy because they have banquets or tea parties in between.¡± Iveca hesitated nervously. Truthfully speaking, she didn¡¯t really want to learn the dagger, but she wanted to talk to him again in the future. ¡°I¡¯m not busy.¡± After that day, Iveca learned how to throw a dagger, plus self-defense, from Anriq. Anriq, who was the same age as her, apparently was a better teacher than anyone else and Iveca was able to absorb all the lessons. Soon after, Anriq noticed her situation in the Esselburn family, and silently became her only friend. It was because of that kind of background story that no aristocratic ladies came to visit Iveca. She especially avoided social gatherings or tea parties as she didn¡¯t want to embarrass everyone by hearing ¡®Oh my, it was only the third daughter who looks different than the other sisters?¡¯ And even if those kinds of words did not come out openly, she was more afraid of the murmur behind her back. Of course, none of her sisters asked her to go out with them, so that worry was avoided there. Read latest chapters at She kept trying to put off the burdensome invitations to the tea parties and banquets that suddenly poured on her now she was a Queen, even though the lady-in-waiting of the aristocrats were allowed to come along. It was difficult for her to get close to someone, so she put her distance first. Since she had promised that she would not attend the meeting anyway, she also thought that there was no reason for those noble girls to try and build a new friendship with her other than trying to get close to someone in a newfound position of power. But she did not expect that she would never see the only friend from her childhood, Anriq. As he was Daniel¡¯s escort, she thought an embarrassing situation was bound to occur, yet after a week in the palace, she hadn¡¯t seen him at all. Iveca shrugged. What was the point of seeing someone who didn¡¯t want to see her? Anriq said she didn¡¯t look for him for four years. Iveca thought it was impossible for her to do that, but she did not think that Anriq would lie about that kind of thing. Did Iveca really forget Anriq during her days in the Bureau of Investigation? How could she never visit her only friend who made her able to survive through that terrible childhood? However, she decided to believe in one thing. Although she had no memory, she could go on with her life. She was going to live according to the Bureau of Investigation pact she had made with Daniel with no shame, then later decided to transfer to the Judicial Affair Bureau, and she would not meet Anriq ever again. CH 15.1 Daniel appeared quite suddenly in her palace surprisingly early, as Iveca was finishing up some study on the royal lineage. She looked down to re-examine a word, and as she looked up she found him standing there, taking her quite by surprise. ¡°Your Majesty? You don¡¯t normally visit at this time.¡± He visited her every evening after his own work. Through the secret passages, they traveled from place to place inside the palace, chatted sweetly and kindly, and even fell asleep while holding each other. Iveca had grown very fond of it all. However, it was still the middle of the day, so it was a surprise to see him standing there. ¡°Today is the last day of the special vacation period,¡± Daniel said, and laughed softly. Iveca nodded her head shyly. ¡°Tomorrow will be a busy day, so I want to spend a little bit more time together.¡± Iveca looked at him silently. The fact he wanted to spend time with her was lovely, but strange. It does not take that long to make a child, so why did he want to come every day and spend so much time with her? ¡°Would you like to go to the gym?¡± he continued, ¡°for some reason I feel like I want to go today.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Daniel¡¯s words made Iveca excited. It had been a while since she had a chance to have a proper physical workout to keep her on top form. She wasn¡¯t top of her class in the physical arts for no reason. And the workouts she had been getting weren¡¯t exactly helping her fighting skills. He grinned, putting his arm around her shoulder as they left the palace together. Iveca could see the guards lined up outside. She unconsciously scanned the line for Anriq, but Daniel squeezed her shoulders tighter and pulled her in almost like a hug, blocking her sight of the guards. Now Iveca couldn¡¯t even make eye contact with Anriq, who was following them in his duty, let alone say hello. She looked up at Daniel in bewilderment, but he only smiled. The gymnasium that was used by the royal family members was located in the innermost part of the palace. Daniel drew off his cloak and laid it on the ground near a rack of wooden weapons. ¡°I heard that you graduated with a first place in the physical arts.¡± ¡°I did,¡± Iveca responded with a smile. She strode over to a stand with a few steel daggers in it and withdrew two. With two throws, they swished their way through the air into a wooden target, dead center. Daniel looked taken aback, but proud. Looking at Daniel¡¯s proud expression, she was startled. Of course, she knew that he would be surprised as he was amazed by it. But there was something else there, etched in his face, that she couldn¡¯t identify. Sadness, perhaps? As she dwelled on it, she realized that her new status would make her physical art skills reflect badly on her, and the sadness overcame her. ¡°I expect this isn¡¯t becoming of a Queen,¡± she said quickly in a sullen voice. Daniel grabbed her hand tightly. ¡°Iveca, I told you to stand tall. You said you would believe whoever Iveca was during those four years. Because you did well in this kind of thing, so you entered the Bureau of Investigation, right?¡± Iveca stared at her hand in his. He often held her hand. Holding hands didn¡¯t contribute anything to making an heir. Did he just enjoy holding hers? Suddenly she wondered if he ever held E.J¡¯s hand so warmly. Her heart sank. Every time she thought she was getting comfortable, those initials would just pop back into her head once more. Daniel was still talking. ¡°You can come to the gym anytime you want, take any weapon you want. You can show it in front of others, or you can hide it if you want to.¡± Iveca spoke sadly once more. ¡°I will hide it from everyone. I¡¯m afraid that it would become a nuisance. Other noble women may do swordsmanship as a hobby, but they don¡¯t throw daggers like that, I¡¯m sure.¡± Daniel sighed slightly. ¡°Why do you think being the Queen is so different from being Iveca?¡± She looked at him quizzically. Read latest chapters at ¡°I guess the position isn¡¯t something I¡¯m naturally suited to.¡± ¡°You are my Queen, Iveca, why do you really think that way?¡± Iveca had asked herself those questions her whole life, and she assumed that hadn¡¯t changed in the time she couldn¡¯t remember. Why did I, who was born as an Esselburn, always feel intimidated? Compared to her sisters, she was not born ordinary. Still, my parents did give her Esselburn¡¯s last name; did they still recognize her as their daughter? But I was not a blonde. I was the only one with black hair. Look in the mirror. You know yourself best. You didn¡¯t resemble your father at all. But they were not married because they loved each other, thought Iveca, and the sadness seemed to swell even further. CH 15.2 While repeating a bunch of questions and answers that she had asked herself for a long time, Iveca suddenly was flabbergasted. This marriage had already gone wrong from the beginning. No matter how kind the husband or the king, or how well he treated her, or how many sweet words he spoke, in the moment it sounded heartbreaking¡­ She knew clearly that it was a political arrangement, but there had to be at least an element of love in the marriage. Iveca sneered at herself. Her frustration about E.J., a person she didn¡¯t even know, was the reason why she always felt like she needed to prove her quality for the Queen position. Or was it because she lacked something from the very beginning. Being the third daughter of the Esselburn was always uncomfortable. As a daughter of an aristocratic family she was able to receive an excellent education and enjoy her life, but as she wasn¡¯t really sure about her bloodline for the beginning, everything was just unsettling. ¡°Do you know a game called Line Ball?¡± As she tried to keep her mouth shut, Daniel gently changed the subject. It was called Line Ball as it was played by hitting a ball that connected to the rackets with a string. It was more like a game for fun than a competitive sport. It was not that hard, as the children or elderly people often passed their free time playing line ball in the park. ¡°I played with William a lot in the past,¡± Daniel said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t really close with Ruben, and Ashe didn¡¯t really like sports.¡± He pulled out a small ball from the corner of the arena and tossed a racket at Iveca. Out of instinct, Iveca plucked the racket out of the air and quickly hit the approaching ball. Neither Iveca nor Daniel was bad at sports, so the rally went on for quite some time. As they were exchanging the ball, the gloomy thoughts disappeared without her knowing. Eventually, Iveca, who was the first one that got exhausted and started breathing heavily, missed the ball, and Daniel smiled brightly and wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Wow, I never had a rally like this with William when I was a kid. As expected Iveca, you pass!¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to hand over the throne at the right time and then have a rest. Maybe play more Line Ball in the park. Let¡¯s live happier when we get older.¡± Iveca was catching her breath while looking at him. He was saying this like it was an obvious future that could happen. Did he really intend to be with me for the rest of his life? Did he ever slightly think that E.J. who disappeared so long ago would return? After making the law and having royal heirs, would he still stay by my side as expected to? Did he think there was no possibility of breaking up in the middle?Even if we didn¡¯t love each other, was he saying that we could spend our whole life together as friends, comfortably? Families should be mixed by blood and couples should have love for each other. As she was a sinner in front of her father because of her blood, she was surprised by how her husband, who didn¡¯t even love her, was talking about their future in that way. Daniel suddenly held out a pen to Iveca, who was staring blankly at him. The pen that she received carefully was engraved at the top of the tip. ¡®From D.A.¡¯ ¡°This is¡­.¡± ¡°You will use a pen more often at work starting tomorrow, right? It is a gift.¡± Whether he was making fun of her right now or not, Iveca lowered her eyes for a moment. He carried a pen with another woman¡¯s name on it and held out a pen with his name on it. But the reason she didn¡¯t ask about E.J., was that he didn¡¯t talk about Anriq either. Even if the happiness was just an illusion, she didn¡¯t want to break it. ¡°I will use it. Thank you,¡± Iveca answered in a somewhat choked voice. ¡°Although It¡¯s not a high-end pen as it is the ready-made one¡­¡± he said softly, thinking that it was the price of the pen that made Iveca particularly unhappy. ¡°The starting point was Amenity, who has never approved smuggling activity, but when I started the Bureau of Technology and acknowledged the smugglers my status dropped quite a bit. Everyone praises me for making a great decision, but I know there is a sacrifice in every decision. All phenomena have two sides. Iveca, this¡­ I hope you can keep this in mind from tomorrow.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Iveca thought it was rather comforting to receive a purpose for her work. Daniel, who had been looking at her silently, suddenly hugged her tightly. ¡°Oh¡­ Your Majesty.¡± Irritated by the fact that she was sweating quite a bit, Iveca unwittingly tried to push him away but he didn¡¯t move even an inch. Read latest chapters at ¡°Iveca.¡± This was not related to the succession. ¡°It is going to be exceedingly difficult in the future. I will try to protect you as much as possible.¡± Iveca didn¡¯t reply, but returned his embrace. ¡°You can quit whenever you want to. It¡¯s okay.¡± CH 16.1 Iveca looked puzzled, an expression she was sure had taken the top spot on the list of expressions she had made recently. ¡°But if that¡¯s so, the reason why you married me¡­.¡± ¡°As I get older, even if you can be my Line Ball opponent and nothing else, that¡¯s enough. Really.¡± Iveca found Daniel exceedingly difficult. She couldn¡¯t understand what was going through his mind, as he treated her well and was so friendly to her. While talking about making sure her utility matched suitably with his demands, he also said that she didn¡¯t need to do it if it was too difficult. As they got married with a clear purpose, most people would usually say ¡°let us not talk about something useless¡±. Although Iveca thought, Daniel had someone else in his heart, yet kept spending time with her and talking about their future. ¡°You are indeed someone who can do a lot of things for me, but I told you already that I will always be by your side no matter what. If we can be happy together it would be nice. Even if we do not, I will comfort you and say that it is okay.¡± At that moment, Iveca once again was reminded of the fact that no man had ever said that he would always remain by her side. ¡°That¡¯s why the Queen should always stay by my side too,¡± finished Daniel. Somehow, it had only been a week since getting married, thought Iveca. Daniel was still a man with a lot of unfamiliar faces. But why did it feel so easy to show unconditional trust to someone like him, as though she already knew him for a long time? This was also the King that everyone told her to be careful of as they couldn¡¯t figure him out. Iveca hugged him back with her trembling hands. All the same, it was a warmth that she would miss were it gone. ¡°From now on, the two of us are the only ones who stand on our side.¡± Even the families who she had struggled to be since the very beginning, her college classmates who strangely kept a distance just because she came from an aristocrat family, or even Anriq who did not hold the hand that she reached out, didn¡¯t acknowledge her existence that much, or validate her that well. Iveca felt as if a part of her heart was falling apart. Although it was not love, but something in jeopardy, she wanted to keep his warmness. Because of that, Iveca whispered to him earnestly. ¡°I will do well for you, Your Majesty.¡±¡¯ No matter what anyone had said, she wouldn¡¯t let him go that easily. *** The Duke of Muelton felt like he had been stabbed in the back as he heard the news that Iveca der Esselburn was the Queen chosen by that sly King. He had maintained a great power as one of the founding families of the Amethan. The Duke of Muelton, who was also the head of the conservative aristocrats, had supported Daniel since he was a prince and did not doubt that his daughter would become a Queen. Now, as Daniel was showing a nice smile at the conference hall, he gritted his teeth at him. Of course, the King and William came from the same mother and, since he was at odds with Prince Ruben, the Duke of Muelton supported him because he thought that he would pursue a pro-imperialist policy represented by the conservatives. However, when Daniel ascended to the throne, he hadn¡¯t acted in that manner at all. The problem was Daniel¡¯s mistake. First, he secretly brought Prince Ethan into Amethan. The fact that Amenity¡¯s magic had been cut off during that time was not known to the public, only the reformation that compromised the crisis such as the establishment of the Bureau of Technology was common knowledge. Daniel calmed the dissatisfaction of the conservative aristocrats, like giving candies to a crying child, by sending war aid to the Empire. It was difficult to guess what his thoughts were, and Duke Muelton had always felt that the King should have someone keeping an eye on him. Iveca der Esselburn. Duke Muelton once again showed his hollow smile. Count Esselburn was a raccoon-like noble who always remained neutral. Although it would be good for everyone that the first daughter of Count Esselburn became his daughter in law, the second daughter also married to the noble family from the liberal side. Read latest chapters at Because of this double marriage, the Duke of Muelton did not feel that Count Esselburn was entirely on his side. He had to figure out a way to control this, to keep Count Esselburn in his hands and in his sight. After all, aristocrats with weak power were bound to be incorporated somehow, and Esselburn was no different, even if his daughter was Queen now. He gave up the Queen position to the Esselburns because he was confident that he could swallow up Count Esselburn. Then, everything, in turn, would fall into place. ¡°As I said before, the Queen has agreed not to get involved in politics to fulfill her duties as an employee of an affiliated agency.¡± Naturally, Muelton thought his daughter would become Daniel¡¯s partner. However, Daniel chose a Queen from the most precarious of the neutral noble families and separated her from politics. It was a very strange situation not to even show up at the meeting; Duke Muelton was forced to let go of his anxiety as he was wondering if it was just a consideration of the former Queen Testy. Who knows with the Royals nowadays. Daniel and Iveca had been married exactly for three weeks to the day. It was about to become the second most important piece of news from the Royal mouth, however. ¡°We are going to make the Judicial Affairs Bureau independent.¡± CH 16.2 Everyone remained silent, not knowing what Daniel meant by this. They had no idea what it would mean to make an affiliated agency independent. Daniel sensed the confusion in the room and pressed on. ¡°Of course, that will mean separating the judicial power from the executive power. This, in turn, puts the judicial power above the executive power.¡± More murmuring, more snippets of questions. Once again, Daniel sensed the most prevalent one and answered it without being asked directly. ¡°It means that the Kings, aristocrats, affiliated staff, and commoners must abide by the same law.¡± Daniel spoke so easily, and the nobles who attended the meeting chatted among themselves for a while, trying to work out what this would mean for them. To most, it made sense. In order not to be swept away by the Republican Revolution, to some extent; Republican ideas must be adapted to Amethan¡¯s circumstances. Daniel¡¯s words were ideal, in that the rational principles for the majority should take precedence over the commands of any man, but there were certainly some things that they would have to sacrifice in return. It was this sacrifice that plastered dark frowns on the faces of others. One particularly portly nobleman spoke aloud. ¡°Without authority, hierarchies collapse and when hierarchies collapse, chaos arises. Your Majesty, please think again about it. The commoners will climb up without really understanding the subject, and eventually, they will start to demand ridiculous rights. Is the differentiation in people not naturally given?¡± Another man, bespectacled and brimming with consternation, added his thoughts. ¡°Putting the law on top of the people can lead to the illusion that people are all the same. Human beings are a race of people who can easily forget the past and whine for more. If ignorant idiots insist on finding their right, the country will become noisy.¡± All the nobles, including the Duke of Muelton, began to protest in a more united fashion. Daniel only glanced at Count Esselburn. Count Esselburn was looking at the corner of the table with frightened eyes. It was his daughter, after all, who was connected to the Judicial Affair Bureau. ¡°Does Medesto Kingdom ring any bells? It was a much larger and more prosperous country than ours, but it is said to be like hell on earth because of the current civil war. The revolutionary army rose and cut off all the heads of the nobles and divided their estate among those who participated in the revolution,¡± Daniel said calmly, ¡°don¡¯t you think that even the Empire could avoid the civil war that could happen to us if we didn¡¯t sacrifice anything to prevent it? There is a limit in keeping the Republicans quiet using money.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Daniel glanced at his servant who was standing next to him and beckoned him forwards. The servant quickly left his post and laid out a handful of papers one by one in front of the seated aristocrats. ¡°I asked the Queen, who was in the Judicial Affair Bureau, to do some drafts.¡± Count Esselburn felt his heart pounding hard as he read his daughters¡¯ name on the paper in front of him. The day had come. He had been betrayed by the King. The first time he asked for Iveca to be the Queen, he was sure that the King would protect the Esselburn family. Become his shield from Duke Muelton. Historically speaking, young Kings tended to keep in check some great aristocrats who had a profound influence on their ascension to the throne. However, the first betrayal was to exclude the Queen with the last name Esselburn from the political scene. This second betrayal, the worse of the two, was to turn Iveca into such an enemy of all the conservative aristocrats. What on earth was the King thinking of, engraving the name ¡®Iveca der Esselburn¡¯ so clearly? If he said it was led by the Judicial Affair Bureau, there would be severe opposition against him and him alone. It seemed that the name of the aristocratic Queen was brought up to keep them off his own back. He had to speak out and he did, rising from his seat. ¡°Your Majesty. Please consider this again. Just looking at the first Article of this Great Constitution, it doesn¡¯t make sense already.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Daniel replied. He had expected Count Esselburn to be a more vocal opponent of these plans. ¡°No one can decide someone else¡¯s life without going through legal procedures, right? Does this mean that the ¡®who¡¯ mentioned here includes us all?¡± ¡°Yes. If we also abide by the law, the common people will not come forward to break the law out of protest. This will even the scales and protect us. At least, it will have the legitimacy to bind any commoners who want to do so.¡± ¡°But commoners have to obey us even if it is not written in the law.¡± Read latest chapters at ¡°I like all ten clauses that our Queen has decided. This is a Royal Order. Using my right as King, I declare the Judicial Affair Bureau will be independent, and the Supreme Constitution will be formed in the next two years.¡± There was silence in the conference hall. It was the first time Daniel had used a Royal Order in a meeting since his reign began. Even if it was a trivial matter, no one had ever imagined the royal order would be used to stymie all the nobles like this. ¡°Indeed, we will discuss and consider the content and detailed provisions during those two years, and of course, we will accept various opinions and corrections. Do not forget that Iveca also came from a noble family. She will stick to the right line and work out what makes everyone happy.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± came another voice. It was Count Levinain, Head of the Liberal party, who immediately responded to Daniel¡¯s words. ¡°I have no idea how fortunate I am to have such a good monarch, that I do not have to fear being decapitated, like the nobles of Medesto.¡± CH 17.1 Muelton clenched his teeth. The Duke of Levinain used to be on Ruben¡¯s side, not the liberal he had become. However, upon Daniel beginning his reign, the King coaxed the aristocrats that previously sided with Ruben onto his side, instead of driving them away. The liberal aristocrats, who previously predicted their own extermination, would be satisfied with some of Daniel¡¯s occasional liberal policies and would speak of unconditional allegiance if it meant protecting themselves from the Rebellion. But Muelton did not speak up. Instead, he thought it wiser to allow Levinain to dig his own grave by aligning with these plans. ¡°I also agree,¡± Levinain continued, ¡°I believe in the fact that His Majesty is taking great care of us, by welcoming a woman from an aristocratic family to be his Queen and moving our laws and codes into the future, for the good of all of us.¡± Daniel seemed to be waiting for another word, and glanced in the direction of Count Esselburn. However, Count Esselburn, who drew everyone¡¯s attention with such protests originally, stared at the table until the meeting was over and didn¡¯t say another word. There was another man watching the precarious atmosphere of the conference hall anxiously. Daniel was talking to the Levinain, therefore he was unable to see that the Duke of Muelton was approaching Count Esselburn as soon as the meeting was over. However, Anriq, who was guarding the conference hall like a painting behind Daniel, did not miss that moment. ¡°Duke.¡± Ewill Esselburn stiffened, unable to even respond to the greetings of Duke Muelton, who was the most powerful nobleman in the Kingdom of Amethan. ¡°Let me take care of this. Sierin is pregnant with her second child, and Edward is growing well, I take it?¡± Duke Muelton didn¡¯t say much. Sierin was the eldest daughter of Ewill, who had married his son. Edward was Sierin¡¯s eldest son, and also the grandson who was in line to inherit the Esselburn title. ¡°Among the five sisters, isn¡¯t it curious that only Iveca resembles the stable keeper, right? It could end up being a blessing for us, in this¡­ difficult time.¡± After finishing everything that he had to say, Duke Muelton walked away without hearing any answer. Ewill couldn¡¯t be offended by the rudeness, as he wouldn¡¯t have been able to answer if Muelton had given him time to anyway. *** Iveca could be found at the palace gym most evenings after she returned from work in the Judicial Affair Bureau now. She threw her daggers at the target one after another without any expression or words. It was a physical art that Anriq had taught her in the past, saying that it was a suitable combat style for her small body and short arms. There was no particular occasion to use it now, but it was good to get rid of her complicated thoughts through the physical and mental preoccupation of the activity. The two years she had been given by Daniel to form the new committee was the main thing on her mind. During those 2 years, correction, correction, and more correction to the drafts she had made up for him. Referring to the principles of Republicanism that were proclaimed by the previous imperial rebels, she discussed and even debated among a few staff members of the Judicial Affair Bureau, and after a week had created ten articles and handed them over to Daniel. The Attorney General Orem advised his youngest employee-turned-Queen carefully, after his turn to review the documents had passed. ¡°You should expect to receive some backlash, my Queen. Nobles don¡¯t want to be in an equal position with commoners. I¡­ I think it will be difficult after all.¡± Iveca didn¡¯t answer to that statement, but instead questioned it. ¡°What is your personal opinion of all this, Chief?¡± Orem remained silent for a moment before answering. ¡°I grew up as a commoner. There¡¯s no denying the fact that clever commoners have a strong antipathy towards the aristocrats. I always wonder why nobles who are dumber than me have a better life. I¡¯ve been trying to ignore that question. But in Amethan, the path to wealth and fame for a commoner is only when you close your eyes and let your worst traits guide you.¡± Iveca nodded, but not in agreement. Her own position was fortuitous, but she certainly had not utilised her worst traits to get there. ¡°But not all intelligent commoners succeed in joining the affiliated organization. There were people who posed a higher risk to get caught up in republicanism. It was thought that the best way to put their complaints to rest was by not giving them justification. Whether republicanism is right or wrong, when a revolution occurs, many people are hurt. But¡­¡± Iveca knew that the old Attorney General was looking at her with worried eyes. ¡°My opinions do not represent any agency. Presumably, there will be a lot of opposition from the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Iveca was conscious of the remark referencing her previous post. Read latest chapters at ¡°The Bureau of Investigation is the only affiliated agency with an authority. For a while, there were parts even the royal family could not touch. However, if they also need to obey the law, their actions would be severely restricted. And if that¡¯s not the case, the next 50 years will be a significant crisis for the Bureau.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Iveca asked. ¡°Because the magic is disappearing. The Bureau of Investigation is the Bureau where Queen Evena gave her most special demonstration of ancient magic. If the spell goes away, there will be a lot of problems. It was simply a great deal of trouble that was far different than any other agency would possibly face.¡± ¡°Even the unique ancient magic¡­ What is this demonstration? A spell?¡± ¡°If the magical power gradually disappears, isn¡¯t it so that the ancient magic will gradually disappear too? The magic of Queen Evena will eventually fade away. The Bureau of Investigation is predicting around 30 to 40 years from now. It would be 50 years at most,¡± Orem replied. CH 17.2 As she thought over Orem¡¯s advice over and over again, she had thrown all of the daggers she had taken from the rack. Instead, she moved toward the bow in the corner, near the door to the gym hall. Her bodyguard, Kenta, who was quiet as always behind Iveca, suddenly moved to block her path. ¡°Move. I¡¯m here because I have something to tell the Queen,¡± came a voice Iveca did not recognise at first, until she saw Roseley, Daniel¡¯s sister-in-law, standing in the door frame. The woman who had spoken was wearing a slim fitting black dress and looked like she could kill with a stare. She did not move an inch from the hall door, as if telling Iveca to come towards her. The deceased Prince William¡¯s wife, Roseley, took her daughter Giselle¡¯s hand. Iveca put down her bow and walked slowly out of the arena, to where Roseley was standing. Bending her knees slightly to show her respect, she smiled and spoke. ¡°If you can wait for a moment, I will take you to the Queen¡¯s palace, Roseley.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have long to talk, so I came in person. What I want to tell you is short anyway.¡± Roseley cut her off at once. Iveca hadn¡¯t seen Daniel¡¯s sister-in-law since their wedding. She only knew that the little girl holding one of Roseley¡¯s hands was the only child with last name ¡®Amethan¡¯ aside from Daniel. ¡°There is no adult in the palace who can boss the royal family around, so eventually I will have to say something. Being a Queen is not a position where you can play like a commoner, so stop right now.¡± Iveca narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you talking about the Constitution, Roseley?¡± Rosely waved her hand impatiently. ¡°Do you think it makes sense that nobles and royalty obey the same laws as commoners? There must be limits. We are not the same.¡± ¡°I understand your concerns, but I will try to make adjustments so as not to excessively injure the rights of the nobles. If you read it carefully, you can see that there is a way to block the rebellion of the commoners and solve it through dialogue, instead of¡­¡± ¡°Nobles?¡± Roseley stared at her with sullen eyes. Even though she had cut off Iveca, she choked for a moment and stopped after the one word, before gaining her composure and resuming her case. ¡°The rumours that the third daughter of the Count Esselburn does not attend any tea parties, picnics, or gatherings are famous among the ladies of the aristocratic families. As soon as you turned 17, you went to the University that commoners attended. Who are you to tell us how to live? There was also the fact that you hadn¡¯t actually stepped into the Count¡¯s estate in 4 years. How can you claim to represent the nobility, someone who has never been mingled with the nobles? Your last name is Esselburn, but are you really the daughter of the Great Duke? I don¡¯t think I have to tell you the other rumours out there.¡± Roseley raised her hand and ruffled Iveca¡¯s messy dark hair. Iveca felt her body tremble strangely, before a muted anger flushed through her at the intrusion. ¡°The Queen¡¯s Palace is actually a seat of those who were born into noble families and received a high education. People who matter.¡± It was only then that Iveca understood why Roseley was so arrogant towards her position as a Queen. She was saying that the Queen position was not for Iveca, but for people like herself. Rosely was genuinely thinking of her as a disgrace to the aristocrats she was trying to help. Iveca tried to say nothing, but her expression threatened to betray her feelings Rosely didn¡¯t seem to notice, however. ¡°I still tremble when I think about what Testy, who was a commoner herself, you know, managed to do. I hope this time the Queen¡¯s Palace will be a peaceful place. So let¡¯s stop here. Don¡¯t put yourself in this¡­ treacherous position.¡± Suddenly, Iveca thought of the words that the Attorney General Orem said. Read latest chapters at ¡°I¡¯ve always lived my life trying to ignore the question, why do nobles dumber than me have a better life?¡± Iveca did well at college. She would have no doubt done a lot better than Roseley could have. She could, at the very least, take her breath away in this gymnasium in a physical battle. Of course, because she was a Queen, she had a higher status than Roseley. All the daughters of the countess received the very same education as a noble did. She also mastered etiquette from a young age, and even got married through arrangement for her family. But why should it be ignored simply because there was this possibility that she didn¡¯t share the same blood with Count Esselburn? Iveca had passed all the necessary trials to be considered worthy of being here. It wasn¡¯t her fault that she was born with black hair. The fundamental questions Roseley had put forward, in her ignorance, made Iveca¡¯s eyes begin to flash with anger and resentment. ¡°As a member of the same royal family myself, I will give you some advice. If you have children, you will regret the decision you are making. The reduction of the royal power is fatal to the successor. Are you going to make a paper doll-like successor based on your erroneous convictions?¡± Iveca took a deep breath and slowly opened her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think my child will be perfect. There is no perfect person in this world. And if everyone acknowledges him as such, I think it would be a relief.¡± CH 18 Roseley responded to her words with a look bordering on contempt. ¡°So weak. Oh, is it because you have no trust in your bloodline?¡± Roseley smirked. Iveca quietly observed Giselle, who was staring at her with her bright blue eyes. A child¡¯s eyes, full of curiosity. If there was a problem with Daniel¡¯s personal affairs, or heaven forbid the revolution progressed beyond control, this child would become king of Amethan. This meant that Iveca would have to serve the daughter of the woman standing in front of her, who seemed to actively despise her. Was this the right thing to do? She wondered. The feeling of dejection surprised her. One of the laws of the Bureau of Investigation was to show absolute loyalty to the royal family, but she couldn¡¯t help the feeling of reluctance that had swept over her. Roseley was not done with her sermon, however. ¡°I feel you do not realise how powerful the royal palace is, or how dangerous this position is so I will give you one final piece of advice,¡± Roseley sneered as she fixed Giselle¡¯s hand in hers, ¡°the fact that in this enormous palace, only two people have the Amethan¡¯s name is evidence of how terrifying this place is. This is not a place where just anyone can play around for fun. Be careful of your actions and the consequences they may have. They have not appointed a successor yet, after all.¡± And then Roseley turned around and walked away, with Giselle in tow. Neither of them looked back. Iveca slammed the door of the training hall behind them. Strangely, she felt furious. She spun around on her feet, and with heavy footsteps, went to pick up her arrow. She took out her bow, aimed the arrow at the target and pulled the string. The arrow hit the bullseye, but she just stood there chewing her lip as she glowered at the target. *** On the day that Article 10 of the Supreme Constitution was proposed, Iveca knew that Daniel would be busy, so she didn¡¯t think it strange when Daniel didn¡¯t come to see her until nightfall. Judging by the way Roseley rushed to the training hall to find her, it was obvious that many people were going to gather to watch Daniel personally present the new constitution to have their say on the proceedings. It suddenly occurred to her that when Daniel said he wanted her to stay away from politics, to an extent, he meant he wanted to ¡®protect¡¯. All Iveca needed to do was work. Propose a draft, and when Daniel gave his input, edit it. In other words, it meant Daniel was the one receiving all the dissatisfaction and complaints; the ¡°face¡± of the work she was doing. Iveca felt responsible for the hurtful things that must have been said about him in the last little while. But she knew the work was of utmost importance, for her husband and her country. Currently, the re-draft of the first article of the constitution was the one giving her issues. The reason why Article One was originally written as ¡°One cannot make decisions about another¡¯s life without going through a legal process¡± was because the incident with Anriq and Rihan Kadmin would have caused much pain on the people were it not done through the proper channels. Deciding on one person¡¯s destiny, without accountability, could change the world, and Iveca did not want her future child to have to experience such a burden as a result. Iveca could feel herself falling into a deep dilemma, with the book of laws in front of her. This was when her view from her bed was suddenly pushed to the side as the hidden doorway of the secret passage swung open, and she gasped out of fear. ¡°Your Highness?¡± She gasped again, though this time in surprise as Daniel, wearing a dressing gown, fell onto her bed. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I told everyone I wanted to go to bed so they would leave, but they still would not leave me alone. I had no choice but to escape using the secret passage just to get away.¡± Iveca smiled at him. ¡°But why?¡± He lifted his head slightly and grinned back, and Iveca felt her heart skip a beat. She felt hypnotised just from looking at his tired blue eyes and soft smile. No matter how unkempt and dishevelled he looked, he was still as handsome as ever. She felt an impulse to touch his golden locks, which were glinting even in the low light of the room like stars in a dusky sky. ¡°Because I wanted to see you,¡± said Daniel, ¡°no matter how much I waited, the queen wouldn¡¯t use the secret passage, so I thought I should come and see her myself.¡± Iveca just stared at him, unsure of how to respond, before his widening smile told her he was just being playful with her. ¡°And I braved the treacherous dark of the tunnels, to find she doesn¡¯t even give me an embrace. I thought the rebels were bad!¡± His grin stretched across his entire face now. Iveca returned the smile before she slowly stood up and sat on the edge of the bed. He laid his head on her knee. She lifted her hand and gently ran her fingers through his shiny hair. ¡°Today was exhausting, right?¡± she said cautiously. Daniel answered with his eyes half-closed. ¡°Well, there are royals like this, and royals like that. If you catch my meaning.¡± It did not seem as though he would give a proper answer. Iveca softly inhaled. ¡°What did¡­ my father say?¡± She asked hesitantly. Silence. Iveca lowered her head. She had made the clauses herself and she still had the castle of Esselburn. It was her fault for anticipating, even if just a little, that he would take her side. Of course, Ewil Esselburn had only told her to become queen to give strength to his flagging status. He did not promise that Count Esselburn would give strength to the queen. Even so, seeing how disappointed she felt, it seemed she had a lingering sense of hope. A hope she was beyond sick of holding onto. Daniel spoke again after a moment. ¡°Well, he wasn¡¯t directly opposed to the idea.¡± Of course, he would not directly oppose, thought Iveca. After all, it was made by his daughter who was now the Queen. However, judging by how there was no mention of support, Esselburn¡¯s intentions were clear. It occurred to Iveca that Daniel must want to gain acknowledgement from Count Esselburn too, not just for her sake. His kingdom, his life, could be on the line. He needed as much help as he could get. Iveca felt the hand stroking his hair stop without her input. Daniel opened his eyes and looked up at her in confusion. Iveca¡¯s lips shook as she spewed out her words. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°My father¡­ he¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I thought, maybe he would take my side.¡± ¡°What on earth for?¡± He sat up and sat next to her, looking into her eyes. Iveca couldn¡¯t bear to look at him and shifted her eyes downward. ¡°You may not know, but there have been¡­. rumours¡­ that I may not be my father¡¯s biological daughter.¡± Iveca found her shaky voice pathetic, but she couldn¡¯t keep the tone from creeping in. Daniel was a king who knew even about her first love, Anriq, so she believed that he could be aware of this issue too. But in case he was not aware, she believed telling him herself was the right thing to do. If Daniel wanted an alliance with Ewil Esselburn, now had to be the time to make this known. ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ father will not be on our side¡­ If that is the reason why you chose to marry me, then I deeply apologize.¡± Daniel sighed as Iveca¡¯s voice diminished. ¡°I knew everything, Iveca. From the start. There¡¯s very little I do not know about you.¡± He held her cheek in his hand. Her breath seemed to stop. ¡°Iveca, from now on, do not ever tell me that you are sorry. For whatever reason. You can be as open and honest with me as you want.¡± ¡°But your reason for marrying me¡­¡± Daniel cut off her hesitant words with a bright smile. ¡°I married you because I want to become old, and play line ball with you. It¡¯s my only dream.¡± Iveca attempted a smile but found it wouldn¡¯t come to her lips. Daniel sighed, and shifted closer to her. ¡°I know it will be hard. Walking on eggshells for all this time must have been hard. But if you keep telling me you are sorry¡­¡± Daniel paused and gazed at her, his eyes softening, ¡°It¡¯s just, I feel sad. I feel as if I brought you here for nothing, only giving you a hard time. If you keep apologizing, I mean.¡± With those words, rather than feeling gratitude, she felt fear. Perhaps she should not have whined. She, who had never been part of a family, became nervous at his negative reaction, immediately fearing the worst. Daniel stroked her hair once and softly pressed his lips to hers. ¡°You look tired tonight. I will leave now, Iveca. Don¡¯t worry about your father, Iveca. The more I talk to people, the more I see how much thought you put into those clauses.¡± Daniel smiled once more. ¡°You are doing a very good job.¡± He stopped himself, then continued, ¡°You are doing well, but you are allowed to do badly. Is that how I should word it?¡± Daniel¡¯s words didn¡¯t even reach Iveca¡¯s ears. This was the first time he was leaving without an embrace. Perhaps he was disappointed in something and no longer wanted children with her? Maybe it was because Roseley¡¯s careless words from earlier, ¡°my child may not be perfect¡± might come to be true? Daniel smiled and kissed her cheek and Iveca unknowingly grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving. Read latest chapters at ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Daniel opened his eyes thinly and lowered his head. Iveca moved closer to him and wordlessly tightened her grip on his sleeve. ¡°I can¡¯t help myself if you look at me like that, Iveca¡­¡± With a gentle smile, he pulled her into an embrace. He slowly licked her ear, and Iveca¡¯s body shook, feeling his tongue moving down towards her mouth. It took just a moment for his eyes to turn from pure and affectionate, to cloudy with desire. And it took only that same moment, where she noticed the change in his gaze, to feel a strange sense of relief. Between the clothes that were falling from their bodies, their bare skin greeted each other. The air on their skin was cold, but the hands that touched each other felt hotter than anything. She placed her hand on his firmness and gently stroked it, feeling it stiffen even further under her touch. ¡°Ah¡­¡± She heard his low voice as he tried to suppress his moans and she put her lips on his neck. Before she knew it, his fingers were on her cl*toris, caressing it slowly. The heat from their faces and the sound of their moans mixed as they touched each other. Both of them knew the pleasure that was to come, and so with the same expression of restraint and slight frustration, they focused on each other¡¯s senses amidst the tension in the air. As their hands became rougher, all laughter disappeared, and their bodies began to move faster. As one. Daniel lifted her up and quickly sat her on his knees. In an instant, he entered into her, as his hands grabbed her chest and his breath dispersed on her shoulder. She became dizzy from the way his lips wrapped around her peaks and moaned loudly from on top of him. His pushing backwards and forward inside her caused her to tense and shudder, and she could feel her climax coming within a few, exquisite moments. CH 19.1 Iveca felt her hips moving almost of their own accord as she sat on him, Daniel¡¯s moans intensifying whenever she made a move. This was no slow, deliberate act ¨C they were lost in the lust of it, and their bodies were acting on instinct to draw each other close and experience every single movement of the other. ¡°Iveca¡­¡± Daniel started thrusting like he could not hold on any longer, and Iveca¡¯s vision turned white as his eruptions began inside her. His hands were on her hips as he pushed himself in as far as he could and Iveca delighted in his presence inside her; the sweet sensations overwhelming her and bringing her to her own shuddering climax astride him. She smiled as he rushed to reciprocate when she reached out with her hand. Though this happiness came with both pain and bliss, Iveca could feel those moments filling gaps in her heart, even as she felt empty again afterward. Daniel did not let her go until she went limp, and he only returned to his calm self when she leaned against him in exhaustion. He was completely different from the passionate lover he had been just moments before as he consoled Iveca, his hands pressing her into him. Before too long, the topic of conversation had turned to the drafts of the constitution. Iveca didn¡¯t mind this. It felt nice to be able to discuss her ideas and her work. Daniel took his usual, cautious route. ¡°You do not need to do it if you wish. There are other ways. Just the ten basic conditions are admirable.¡± ¡°¡­Your highness,¡± Iveca hesitated before speaking carefully, ¡°I want to keep doing this, really. This role is important to me.¡± ¡°I thought as much,¡± Daniel smiled at her, ¡°you¡¯re hard to deter, Iveca.¡± Iveca paused before speaking again. ¡°There is something more I want to do.¡± Daniel cocked his head out of curiosity. The puppy-like quality of it made Iveca smile. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked. ¡°I want to bring in the commoners¡¯ opinion, at least during the review.¡± ¡°Surely not the institution employees?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Daniel did not answer, but his look turned to one of concern as Iveca cautiously spoke. ¡°I always wondered why I had been so discriminated against, just because of being born with different blood. I thought I would be run out, and I would not be able to sincerely pledge my loyalty to Giselle, even if she is an Amethan.¡± Iveca knew this was dangerous territory to be discussing with Daniel. She was going to tell him about Roseley without thinking if Daniel said something back to her. However, he remained silent, and Iveca found the courage to speak calmly and allay her nerves a little. ¡°I thought commoners may think such things, so perhaps just hearing their opinion¡­¡± ¡°While I know that you have good intentions, Iveca,¡± Daniel said, cutting across her words with an almost indifferent look on his face, ¡°I have different ideas. I always think of power dynamics first and foremost rather than ideologies.¡± His voice was soft but cold. ¡°However, smart and rich commoners are just the sort of ones to be attracted to republicanism. If we let them have some say, they would not be able to say that ¡®the King does not hear us.¡¯ I will accept your proposal for that reason.¡± Iveca felt a little disappointed by his response. She had the approval she had wanted, but she had also thought Daniel would understand more clearly why she was doing this. However, his words told her that he was setting clear boundaries. ¡°Iveca, I am not weakening the sovereign power because I seek justice. I am doing this for us. I want to avoid a civil war; I desire peace, even if it is a precarious one. I spend cash like water, so those with progressive ideas are not swayed by republicanism. It is not because I am merciful.¡± Read latest chapters at Iveca thought Daniel¡¯s blue eyes were colder now. When he spoke like this, she remembered that he was a King. She felt distanced from him as he told her the facts behind his decision. Even if he did not kill someone and was a good man, he was not a King seeking a utopia for his people. If they finished the Magna Carta, Daniel would speak for it using words such as justice, human rights, equality, and freedom. However, he was just afraid for the worst. Was he a great King? Or just a calculating and smart leader? Maybe, Iveca thought sadly, she would never know. ¡°That is why,¡± Daniel smiled like he could read Iveca¡¯s mind, ¡°this is something you have to do, and not a selfish person like me.¡± Iveca understood his words immediately. He was a King first and foremost and did not believe in justice. He was just stepping back somewhat for peace, relinquishing a little control for the ultimate goal. That was why he did not act, or appear to act, in this matter. Daniel did not believe in himself. He, however, trusted her with this. ¡°Iveca, be confident in every step. I am always on your side.¡± His lips brushed her forehead, and Iveca closed her eyes. Obvious words. She did not know how much she had needed to hear them. Her heart trembled. She wanted to be needed by him and give back what she could for his words, repay him in kind. Iveca wanted to stand next to him with confidence. CH 19.2 The ambush occurred when she left work the next day. She had been going to the palace at her usual time when Kenta and three other guards surrounded her. Iveca felt a panic rise in her ¨C there had been no warning. Instead, they formed a protective barrier between her and the rest of the world, a threat she couldn¡¯t even see. It didn¡¯t take long for them to appear, however. Charging at her guard were masked assassins, more than she could count. Her hand went to her dagger instinctively. While the Bureau was a bit further from the palace than it was recommended that she walk, she had not felt danger before. However, people could freely enter the road between the Bureau and the palace, and the assassins had taken advantage of this security lapse. ¡°Your highness, be careful!¡± Kenta cried out, which sparked the battle into a frenzy; blades flashing in every direction. All Iveca wanted to do was help but as she looked at her three guards battling the assassins, she knew the numbers weren¡¯t on their side even with her involvement. A group of the assassins would fight and clear out to be replaced by another group before they were killed. Her guards could not leave their places since they needed to protect Iveca, and it seemed that the assassins would win with this plan by simply overwhelming them. Iveca reached into her uniform to throw a dagger at an assassin about to strike Kenta¡¯s head, before a slow, cold pain entered above her hip into her stomach. Kenta batted away the assassin with his own sword, but the damage was done, and warm blood replaced the cold steel. ¡°Your highness!¡± She felt blood gushing out of her, and she shouted that she was all right. The wound did not seem fatal, and there was no magic. However, she could not hear her own words due to the pain. Some employees from the Bureau of Investigation came into conversation with those from the Bureau of Judicial Affairs. They came up running on seeing the fight. ¡°Your highness! Are you all right?¡± She tried to stay conscious, but her knees buckled under her. The assassins disappeared on seeing the bodies swarming from the Bureau and as some chased after the masked assassins, one supported Iveca under her arms. Those from the Bureau of Judicial Affairs came to her, but she could not see clearly. She only saw a blur of face and pink hair of the one supporting her. ¡°Your highness!¡± The employee was tall and thin, and Iveca willed herself to stare into the woman¡¯s green eyes. She heard a worried voice that she recognised tell her, ¡°do not worry, you only need to be healed.¡± ¡°R¡­ Raina?¡± Iveca murmured without realizing she had before losing consciousness. *** She woke up after all the treatments were over, and her first sight upon waking was Daniel leaping up at her bedside. Iveca realised he had been holding her hand, and she thought this was the first time she had seen him so tired even though she surely had not been out for long. He and his clothes were rough, and his voice was rushed. ¡°Iveca, are you well? What happened out there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Daniel,¡± she murmured, ¡°it was not fatal and as there was no magic involved, I will heal.¡± Daniel sighed at her calm answer. Iveca slowly sat up. Noticing there was someone else in the room with them, she smiled at the employee wearing the uniform that showed he belonged to the Bureau of Medicine. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± The urgency of Daniel¡¯s question made her heart flutter a little. ¡°No, but¡­¡± Iveca looked around with wide eyes, looking for the guards who were standing behind Daniel. She was surprised by their presence, mainly because she had never seen them in her palace before. She saw Anriq¡¯s rigid face as Daniel grabbed her hand tightly. ¡°Iveca, do you remember anything? Was there something you noticed? It will be investigated, of course. We will hunt down every last¡­¡± ¡°¡­We don¡¯t know who is behind this?¡± Daniel grimaced, ¡°Not yet.¡± Read latest chapters at ¡°I did not see anything that would be of much use in tracking them down.¡± Iveca sighed sadly. ¡°What about Kenta and the other guards? Are they okay?¡± She remembered her guards who had circled her at the moment she had been wounded. They had turned their backs at the enemy, which meant they could have been gravely wounded in trying to help her. ¡°While their wounds are not heavy, they are being treated elsewhere. Iveca, are you really, all right?¡± ¡°I think I can walk. May I?¡± She directed the question at the medical staff, and the middle-aged woman with brown hair and glasses nodded hesitatingly. ¡°While your highness can move now, please do not exert yourself.¡± CH 20.1 ¡°The wound is shallow.¡± Iveca turned around to see her waist and spoke in a murmur. The flesh had been punctured, but it didn¡¯t look nearly as bad as she thought it might. However, at her words, Daniel¡¯s face turned to stone, and his voice was surprisingly cold. ¡°How can you think that wound is shallow?¡± Iveca did not expect to see him so angry at her opinion, and she looked around before taking his hand gently. ¡°Your highness, how long have I been sleeping?¡± ¡°Three hours,¡± came Daniel¡¯s reply, ¡°and you barely moved in that time.¡± ¡°Three hours¡­ have you eaten?¡± Daniel didn¡¯t respond, but instead shot her a sheepish grin that she knew meant that he hadn¡¯t eaten anything. ¡°Please go and eat. Unfortunately, I believe I will have to eat what the Bureau of Medicine gives me and will not be able to share a meal with you right now.¡± ¡°No, I will stay here today. I want to make sure you are alright.¡± ¡°With all those guards?¡± Daniel frowned. ¡°Do you want them out? I thought you may feel unsafe when you woke up¡­¡± Daniel furrowed his brow as he answered quickly, but Iveca¡¯s words came rushing out to assuage him. ¡°I am safe in the palace, your highness. But I cannot rest if you¡¯re skipping meals. Could you help me by leaving me be?¡± Iveca managed a smile. ¡°Please?¡± Daniel said nothing in response to Iveca¡¯s plea. He placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her, and Iveca flushed at him doing so in front of so many people. Her heartbeat quickened in embarrassment as he let her go and spoke in a low voice. ¡°If you wish, Iveca. If you think it will help.¡± He kissed her briefly again before standing up and turning around. Iveca had no time to think of his coldness. As soon as he had left the chamber, she grabbed the Bureau of Medicine employee¡¯s arm. The woman turned around, interrupted in her job of telling the maids what meals to give their mistress. ¡°Please¡­¡± ¡°I am Olita Gate, your Highness. Call me Olita, if you¡¯d like.¡± She seemed like a very friendly woman. ¡°Olita, I wish to know something.¡± Olita sensed her urgency. She bade the maids to go back out of the room and sat in front of her. There had been a reason to send Daniel out, she thought, and Iveca spoke cautiously to confirm this. ¡°The King and I have been¡­ well, I don¡¯t know whether I am pregnant yet, but would this be bad for the baby if I was? Is there a way to know?¡± She could hardly control her words as she whispered to Olita. While Iveca did not know whether she was pregnant yet, she did not know whether she could control her face in front of Daniel if the news was bad. Daniel had spoken of an heir and her duty to produce one, and Iveca did not want to see his disappointment. She would only blame herself. However, Olita looked dumbfounded despite her efficient manner up to now. She raised her glasses and tilted her head as she sat silent for a moment. ¡°Your highness, are you not under a birth control pill?¡± Iveca blinked, then stared at Olita. The employee took out her medical reports from a large, leather bag and read them back to her. ¡°You have taken a pill¡­ let¡¯s see, last September, is that correct? The pill was Jegistra, which has no side effects and does not delay or advance your period much.¡± Iveca cocked her head. Sensing her confusion, Olita pressed on. ¡°Jegistra lasts for a year, your highness. You won¡¯t be able to get pregnant until September of this year.¡± Iveca couldn¡¯t quite believe what she was hearing. ¡°When was that report made?¡± ¡°Right before your physical, before your marriage. We did not report anything because you did not ask and there were no strange diseases. We only assumed you knew you were on birth control.¡± Iveca had been working in the Bureau of Investigation last September. She knew that her periods had been regular all her life. She would have taken that pill for other reasons, and she did not open her mouth for a while. However, she thought of something. ¡°Why did you not report to his highness? He did not seem to know.¡± Read latest chapters at Olita spoke in a careful voice after looking at her. ¡°His highness knows.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°We had reported this matter immediately to him. It is a professional courtesy given to all Royals.¡± Iveca was at a loss for words. It was surprising that she had taken a birth control pill eight months back, but to think that Daniel knew, and she didn¡¯t¡­ then, why did he mention heirs? Iveca controlled her breathing. What was going on? CH 20.2 ¡°As you know, your wound is not severe. Take our medicine and eat three meals a day. You may be able to go to work in two days. We will send an official notice about your medical rest to the Bureau of Judicial Affairs. However, you need to avoid exertion, and I will come by once every day for a week to treat you.¡± Olita bowed and went away, but Iveca took no notice. She would not be able to present him with an heir no matter what they did now, and Daniel knew that fact. She could not understand the reason why he said such a thing. Or why they had continued to try and produce an heir when he knew it wasn¡¯t possible. Iveca had been staring where Daniel had been sitting but then noticed the vase on the table had moved. ¡°Oh¡­?¡± She saw that the vase had been turned 180 degrees, as she knew someone who had sent her messages like this. It was something she had played often in childhood. Anriq, knowing that Iveca had a sharp eye, would change something in her room and place memos underneath that object. She checked to see that all maids had gone to prepare her meal before carefully standing up to lift the vase. There was a folded memo underneath, and Iveca came to sit on the bed again before opening it. [Open the second window on the east wall at two o¡¯clock this night. ¨C A.R.] Iveca used all the magic she had to burn the memo at hearing the maids come with her meal. She had so little magic left that just doing this gave her a headache. Evena¡¯s ancient magic would lose its effect soon at this pace. It was then Iveca realized something she had not thought of before. Evena¡¯s ancient magic erased Iveca¡¯s memories, and according to the Intelligence Bureau¡¯s estimates, it would take thirty years to get her memories back. She would then know why she had taken that birth control pill. Iveca thought the very idea scary. *** Iveca stood up quietly. It was two o¡¯clock in the night. She confirmed that there were no maids about after she had asked them to leave, using her headache as an excuse. She opened the second window and had to bite her lips because the movement hurt her wound. Anriq jumped into her palace as he had been waiting on a branch. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Iveca whispered even though she had opened the window. She knew how the situation looked, as the Queen was meeting her first love in her palace in the middle of the night. Anriq controlled his breathing as he stood in front of her and spoke quickly about why he came. ¡°Ive, divorce him.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I said, divorce him. I did not know his highness would use you like this.¡± Anriq¡¯s voice was low and urgent. Iveca looked around anxiously as she thought what would happen if someone came in at this moment. Her heart beat faster in trepidation. ¡°Your life is in danger. I wanted to warn you but did not think they would move so fast.¡± ¡°Who are¡­they?¡± ¡°The aristocrats. They know that removing you would make everything difficult or maybe cancel everything. Ive, enforcing the law on the aristocrats? The commoners and aristocrats following the same law? How can you think of something so dangerous?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no evidence yet, and about the law¡­His highness proposed it, and I think it a practical idea.¡± ¡°You know how many enemies you made by placing your name on that first draft?¡± Iveca nodded, and she had to see only Roseley to know how much the aristocrats hated her. Anriq spoke on, unlike his usual self. ¡°His highness cannot be touched. It¡¯s treason, he does not get out of the palace, and there are many guards. However, you¡¯re easy, you¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± Anriq was silent. ¡°I know that Esselburn will not protect me, but his highness will.¡± Read latest chapters at ¡°Don¡¯t think that. I told you, don¡¯t trust him. If he wanted to protect you¡­¡± Anriq made two tight fists with his hands. ¡°Placing your name on the law was senseless¡­¡± ¡°However, I made that draft. Whose name should be on it then? My name should be recorded, and I would have been angry if my name was not on there.¡± ¡°He should have placed me as your guard. I am the best of the guards. If I had been there instead of Kenta during the ambush, you would have been unharmed. However, his highness has no intention of placing me to you.¡± Iveca looked at Anriq. They had known each other since they were ten and had been raised together in the same house. He had been her only friend, and there had been a time she wished to marry him and have a family. Iveca had confessed her love, got refused, entered the Bureau of Investigation, and had not looked Anriq up for four years. She had taken that birth control pill during that period. Did Iveca have another lover at that time? That was the only possibility left. CH 21 ¡°You don¡¯t know that you are being used right now. No matter how warm and tender his smile is, you shouldn¡¯t believe it. You don¡¯t know how quickly His Highness decided to establish the Bureau of Technology. He is a man who is determined, for his gain only.¡± Suddenly, Iveca remembered Daniel¡¯s firm statement, that all interests were prioritized over ideology. She didn¡¯t know that the idea that she¡¯d envisioned, was only a means of stability for him. No wonder, she would be a useful tool for Daniel. Although she ignored the fact that she had already known, she still felt bitter whenever it came to mind. Iveca shook her head, not willing to share her doubts with Anrig, ¡°He is a good man. He has always been by my side. He cherishes me.¡± ¡°If he cherishes you,¡± Anrig replied through gritted teeth, ¡°he wouldn¡¯t have done something like that. He shouldn¡¯t have put your name on something like that, thus making you a target for countless enemies. I was in the conference hall and Your Majesty has quoted everything that you have in place to quell the backlash; an aristocrat, a queen, or even an employee of an affiliated organization! Now, look at the results, in less than a day, you were almost dead. Don¡¯t you know that it is just the beginning?¡± Anrig shook his head in frustration as he continued, ¡°Let him go, Ive. Just say you want a divorce. You should run away right now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± She shouted. ¡°Ive!¡± ¡°I have already sworn my loyalty to His Majesty since I was in the Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t in the Bureau of Investigation, right?¡± ¡°Nevertheless, I made that decision in the past. If any confusion arises, I will follow my judgment.¡± She glared at him stubbornly. ¡°He said I did well. Each of the ten clauses was written carefully and with deep consideration. He is someone who recognizes and acknowledges my efforts, together with the rest of the Judicial Affair Bureau staff. So, I want to do better. This is something that I can do well.¡± Anrig frowned upon recognizing certain desperation in her voice as she continued to protect Daniel, ¡°He said he would always be there for me. We are partners, we are on the same side.¡± ¡°Please, Ive.¡± Anrig held his forehead as he tried to reason with her, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn¡¯t fall for His Majesty¡¯s sweet words. During the battle for the throne, he met all kinds of noble ladies, seducing them with the possibility that they could sit on the queen¡¯s throne. He gave them false hope and emotional torture, but in the end, none of them were to his liking. It is too easy for him to say sweet things to a woman.¡± Her heart pounded and fell as she listened to his words that cut like a knife. ¡°In addition, I told you before that there is another woman that he was seeing. You wouldn¡¯t even be able to begin to imagine how close they are.¡± EJ¡¯s name came to mind and Iveca bit her lower lip as he spoke further, ¡°Should I explain more so that you are sure? The woman was called to the palace every day, so that is why I know her well. She is the same height as you and also has the same purple eyes as you. It¡¯s uncanny how similar you two look and he might be looking into your eyes while thinking about her.¡± Iveca didn¡¯t want to hear about that anymore and she shook her head involuntarily. ¡°Your Majesty is looking for the missing woman. Do you think His Majesty will still say sweet things to you once she returns?¡± Seeing her eyes trembling, as if she were about to cry, Iveca continued to push her, ¡°She was a woman with pale blonde hair like your sisters. She was fierce and confident¡­¡± ¡°Stop! Just stop!¡± She yelled, unable to listen to another word. She didn¡¯t want to hear any more of what Anriq had to say and she raised her hand to cover her mouth, choking back tears. The words she had heard could never be erased. Anrig was surprised to see the tears in her eyes because he had never seen Iveca cry before, nor had he ever seen her looking so vulnerable. ¡°His Majesty and I are in a relationship that is far from something called love, since the beginning, and you don¡¯t need to get involved with this.¡± Anrig took her hand and lowered it, and without letting go of her wrist, he spoke gently, ¡°Put your hand on your heart and think again. There is no way that someone as observant and good at reasoning as you, have never noticed this. Don¡¯t you feel any sense of incompatibility with His Highness? Truthfully?¡± She couldn¡¯t answer. Although Daniel knew that she could not be pregnant, he still held her every night, up until this day, and talked to her about a successor. It was hard to say that the tremendous pleasure that he gave her, in private, was one of her motivations to give her heart to him so carelessly. As he¡¯d said to her, it was only the two of them in this world, so they had no choice but to feel a strange bond between them. Even though Daniel knew exactly what her situation with Anrig was before, he¡¯d never asked about it, not even once. But he also still used the same pen he¡¯d been given by EJ; a complicated man ¨C with no one ever knowing what he was thinking. When she couldn¡¯t answer, Anrig spoke again in an exasperated tone, ¡°The consequences of every sweet word he¡¯s said will remain unchanged. You stand on your own by His Highness¡¯s side and face every danger directed to your name. Why don¡¯t you know that?¡± ¡°He said it was okay to be bold. He said that he would become my family, even though I couldn¡¯t prove my worth. And he told me not to do it if I didn¡¯t want to, and he said that he would trust me until the end. You don¡¯t know how much His Highness has comforted me.¡± ¡°With those words, in the end, you were just following him like a trained dog. He knew from the beginning what kind of position you were in before, in the Count estate. He knew all the words that he could manipulate you with as he could see you were vulnerable.¡± ¡°A word that could make me vulnerable? Everyone knows that unless you are an idiot.¡± Her voice trembled. Seeing his frustrated expression, she continued to speak slowly, ¡°Still, no one ever said it to me like that, not even you.¡± ¡°Ive. I¡­¡± ¡°I¡­ I liked you,¡± Iveca said while catching her breath. Anrig¡¯s expression hardened as she continued, ¡°But the moment you let go of my hand, I think I must have forgotten you. I guess I knew that you were not a good man for me. So that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t even look for you during those four years.¡± ¡°Ive.¡± ¡°Now I think I understand why I did it that way, Anrig. You were my only friend, I couldn¡¯t help but like you¡­. but in the end, it was me who left you.¡± At that moment, Iveca stopped talking. Looking back, Anrig let go of her wrist, which he was still holding on to, unconsciously. Suddenly, the picture hanging on the wall next to the bedside was pushed aside, and in a flash, the King looked down at them coldly. ¡°Your, Your Highness¡­, W, Why?¡± Daniel sat on her bed, staring at them intently and an awkward silence filled the room. As Iveca stuttered, unable to finish her words, he said with a grin, ¡°For some reason, I was curious as to whether or not you slept well. I was wondering whether you are in pain, or feeling scared, or in case you couldn¡¯t sleep, I thought I should be chatting with you¡­. Well, this is what I felt anyway.¡± His words sounded casual, yet calculated, as they broke the silence in the room. Iveca felt as if she were being pushed to her limit by all of this and a feeling of panic began to rise within her. ¡°You may not have been aware of it, but it¡¯s the first night we haven¡¯t been together. I miss the Queen.¡± Iveca trembled more because he was smiling, and her mind went blank. She couldn¡¯t think of a reasonable explanation as to why this man was here. At two o¡¯clock in the morning, after telling the King that she wanted to be alone, she¡¯d secretly invited Anrig, who happened to be her first love, to the Palace. Even if she was going to be killed like this, she had nothing to say. Anrig knelt immediately and his voice trembled as he too was embarrassed, ¡°Your Majesty, Ive, I mean, Iveca is not at fault. I apologize for my life.¡± ¡°Ive? Iveca?¡± He laughed as he looked down at Anrig, and Iveca was afraid of his carefree smile as her body involuntarily shook. She didn¡¯t know what she was afraid of. The kind words that he¡¯d said at the scene of the accident, about how he¡¯d always be by her side, lingered in her mind. ¡°I am the only one in this world who can call the Queen by her name,¡± Daniel said firmly, and there was anger wrapped around each syllable, not matching the artificial smile which was similar to that of a doll. ¡°Please explain how you can call her a name that even her father couldn¡¯t call her, that recklessly?¡± Iveca saw him speak informally to his subordinates for the first time and it shocked her that he was able to speak so terribly. Would the gentle gestures that he showed when he used to brush her hair, his friendly smiles and warm words, disappear forever? Even if it was an illusion that would disappear one day, she didn¡¯t want to let go of that warmth and kindness now. She was sincere when she¡¯d told Anrig that she couldn¡¯t leave Daniel. After all, he¡¯d become her only comfort, even if that was his plan all along, even if the goal was actually to keep her from leaving him and so he could use her as his chess piece. As the situation unfolded, Iveca suddenly felt the urge to grab him and hold him, even plead to him that she would do better, she would do much better. She didn¡¯t know to what extent she would be useful, but she would do the best that she could. Doubt was not something that could be cherished by someone emotionally below you in the first place. It was not until the end that Iveca had realized the fact that she had a sense of incongruity, which in itself was a luxury. Read latest chapters at Daniel forced a smile and spoke quietly again, ¡°Leave in secret and out of people¡¯s sight. I don¡¯t want to make an issue of this. It is because I do not want to inform the Bureau of Investigation of a matter that would be a weakness for the Queen. If I give you a little discipline, the Bureau of Investigation will step on my tail.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, what I am trying to say is¡­¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Daniel cut him off, his voice sounding venomous now. His voice was so cold that Iveca couldn¡¯t even kneel and beg. Her heart was beating like it was going to explode, and she felt as if she couldn¡¯t breathe properly because of the heavy atmosphere. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone. That¡¯s an order! If anyone asks about tonight, tell them I am in the Queen¡¯s Palace.¡± CH 22.1 After Anriq bowed his head and took a step back, after hearing the direct order, he proceeded to jump out of the open window from whence he¡¯d come, disappearing into the pitch-black darkness. Iveca felt paralyzed by fear, now that they were the only two people in the spacious bedroom, and Daniel stood towering in front of her. ¡°Do not catch a cold,¡± he said, his tone sounding different now, and goosebumps crept up on the back of her neck. ¡°The wound hasn¡¯t healed properly.¡± Hearing his usual sweet words, Iveca shuddered and looked up at him to see him smiling so beautifully as usual. ¡°I got a report from Olita that you can go to work in two days. If you want to rest more, why not take a few more days off?¡± He spoke as if nothing had happened, with kind, gentle words, accompanied by a sweet smile. Although Iveca hadn¡¯t caught a cold, she still felt a chill, and because of that, she clutched the hem of her pajamas trying to cover herself more. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to think that he was somewhat a crazy person, even after witnessing the sudden change in his disposition. Barely able to keep her composure she replied cautiously, ¡°I, I have a lot of work to do so¡­. I will go to work in two days.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go to work. It is terrible for the Queen to be exposed to danger. If you want to stop, tell me. I am thinking of that as an option.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to stop,¡± Iveca said in a hurry, just in case he asked her to quit. She instinctively wondered if this was what Anriq had meant by her acting like ¡®His Majesty¡¯s dog¡¯. Daniel smiled slightly and ruffled her hair playfully, ¡°We also received a report from the Bureau of Investigation. We lost them, but I don¡¯t think we will give up. The guards attached to the Queen were wounded, but I don¡¯t think that we could¡¯ve prevented this, even though there were other escorts, so now the Bureau of Investigation staff will be assigned at the Judicial Affair Bureau as well.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°There were a lot of complex issues, so I didn¡¯t want the Bureau of Investigation to get involved. It¡¯s difficult for me to trust them now. Frankly speaking, I am very wary of them. I previously had a different opinion of Rihan Kadmin.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°Anyway, there were only two people who were assigned by the Bureau of Investigation, but I think I will walk along with you every day, from the Palace to the Judicial Affair Bureau.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t trust the Bureau of Investigation, so it will be a warning for them.¡± Iveca looked at him with big eyes as she listened to his calm, loving voice, which was a gentle tone that couldn¡¯t compare to the rough voice that she¡¯d listened to when she was dealing with Anriq. Rather than feeling relieved, Iveca was more concerned about the sense of incongruity he exuded, to the extent that she couldn¡¯t answer him well, ¡°But Your, Your Majesty, walking yourself?¡± She couldn¡¯t help stuttering in surprise. ¡°Yes, we couldn¡¯t just send Anriq Renka, could we?¡± He said quizzically, and Iveca quickly shut her mouth after he posed that question. As she lowered her eyes, he gently held her waist and pulled her towards him, kissing her tenderly when her face was near enough. His tongue, which at first roamed across her lips, wrapped around hers like a snake, and then began to move more roughly as it slipped in and out of her soft, full lips; it was a passionate kiss that left her breathless. Each time his hand swept across her earlobes, jawline, and collar bone, his kiss became more intense and she panted as she gasped for air. Parting his lips slightly, he whispered, ¡°I am a patient person.¡± Although his voice was quiet, he sounded confident, and his eyes, which she¡¯d barely looked at until now, were shining brightly with desire. She momentarily grabbed the hem of his robe, wanting to be comforted because she felt afraid, but she couldn¡¯t put a finger on it as to what she was afraid of. Read latest chapters at ¡°I love you,¡± he breathed in her ear while supporting her trembling body with one arm. ¡°I was going to tell you when you were better prepared to hear that.¡± She was unable to say a word, as his volatile mood swings made her feel nervous. For him to say, ¡°I love you¡±, was unbelievable, as were the other sweet words that he used to say. It was downright scary. ¡°Sincerely?¡± she asked after a long silence. He stuck his tongue out again as if he didn¡¯t want to hear any of her answers, as if she were being punished. And then, he kissed her as passionately as a couple who were having an intense love affair would; it was a very long kiss indeed. He whispered in between breaths that he loved her more than she could ever imagine, ¡°I love you, I love you, I love you,¡± he repeated. Now she knew that even though it was just a kiss, it could be an overwhelming feeling. CH 22.2 It wasn¡¯t until he¡¯d made her semi-unconscious that he grinned and swept her hair back, ¡°It¡¯s already late. Should we sleep now?¡± Not waiting for her reply, he laid her head down on his arm, using it as a pillow for her, and maneuvered his body until he was comfortable against her. Short kisses were planted on her forehead, cheeks, and the tip of her nose, as he hugged her gently. Iveca was unable to say anything, and she feared asking him if he knew that she¡¯d taken the birth control pill. Taking birth control pills in September last year meant that one had affairs with other men in the days that followed. And now, he¡¯d caught her and Anriq together in the middle of the night. She knew well enough that his attitude of ignoring all these situations was strange. She would prefer that he screamed and got angry, or even asked her what had happened, so she could at least make an excuse of sorts to defend herself. The atmosphere was so bizarre that it was difficult for her to even bring up the story. Nevertheless, Iveca remained in his arms. She pondered about the frustration she¡¯d felt earlier when she had been so overwhelmed with fear that he would never say sweet words with his usual gentle eyes again. Strangely enough, she was desperate for Daniel¡¯s warmth. ¡°Your¡­ Your Highness. It was his first time at the palace. I will never see him again. It is just a misunderstanding and nothing happened.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The answer was short and Iveca realized that he had no longer wanted to talk about this issue. She had no choice but to stop talking, as she was desperate for the warmth of his body and his strong arms that held her so tightly. Anriq had said, ¡°His Majesty was looking for the missing woman. Do you think His Majesty will still say such a sweet thing to you when she comes back?¡± The words were stuck in her head but even if that became a reality one day, and she was abandoned by him, she didn¡¯t care, she just wanted to be hugged by him today. ¡°Love, it¡¯s love¡±, Daniel had said, and even if she couldn¡¯t believe the words, ¡°I love you¡±, that he¡¯d repeated to her, they still made her heart pound and she couldn¡¯t help but feel smitten as he put his lips on her forehead. ¡°Sleep well.¡± His voice was sweet. There was a feeling that could only be acknowledged in the face of a crisis and Iveca thought that she couldn¡¯t have this kind of moment again, since Anriq urged her to divorce him. When she thought back, it hadn¡¯t taken long for her to sink into a deep sea. No one jumped into the sea just to get out again quickly. If you were already possessed by the sea, you had to feel the waves clinging to your body, and you¡¯d be swept away by the waves and would have to split the water until your limbs stiffened. And even if it meant that one day she¡¯d drown, she didn¡¯t want to let go of the only warmth that surrounded her now. Just because she couldn¡¯t believe that he loved her, didn¡¯t mean that she couldn¡¯t love him. Ironically, she could only understand her feelings when he spoke about love. ¡°Iveca,¡± Daniel spoke softly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°As you may have noticed, I am not a particularly good person. I¡¯m a selfish man that is capable of secrets and silences, perhaps some tricks and lies too. It¡¯s hard to tell whether I still have something to hide from you.¡± ¡°It, it¡¯s alright,¡± Iveca stuttered in a whisper. ¡°You are in a high-ranking position so I can understand.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve now said you understand. I won¡¯t forget that, so don¡¯t get too angry later.¡± Iveca nodded quietly wondering what he was referring to when he¡¯d said ¡°later¡±, but she took it as a sign that he wouldn¡¯t talk about it now. Read latest chapters at ¡°Can I tell you a secret?¡± A low whisper reached her ear. The voice filled with bitterness as he tried to mock himself. ¡°I killed my nephew.¡± Iveca bit her lower lip so hard that she drew blood. Nephew? But Gisele is alive and well. It was probably the unborn baby in the womb of Princess Ashe, whom an official from the Bureau of Investigation told her secretly. She held her breath for a moment. ¡°Even though that night, I fell asleep with quite a different thought, at the meeting the very next day, I smiled and treated everyone as per usual.¡± Daniel hugged her tightly as she was unable to answer. ¡°Iveca, no matter what happens, I am not going to be cold to you, because I love you so much, even too much for doing that. So don¡¯t worry about that. But Anriq Renka is different.¡± Iveca bit her lower lip tightly again, feeling a sting from the rawness of where she¡¯d drawn blood earlier. Beneath his friendly tone was a clear warning, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see an old friend get hurt, cut him off. I respect you, but basically, you are mine. I didn¡¯t know that I could be this possessive.¡± Reflexively, she nodded frantically as they cuddled up as if they were the best couple in the world, and they stayed up all night with their eyes closed. CH 23.1 ¡°We met again, Queen. Please take good care of me.¡± Iveca smiled unknowingly when she saw a Bureau of Investigation staff member approaching her with twinkling green eyes and tall stature. The large ribbon tied in Reina¡¯s short brown hair was surprisingly inconsistent with her black uniform. ¡°Reina, are you the staff member that was assigned to me?¡± ¡°There is one more. Sid, don¡¯t be shy, come out.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Before Iveca knew it, a blue-haired boy walked up to Reina and stood next to her. Iveca stared at the boy, who seemed to be in his twenties, with curious eyes. ¡°Nice to meet you, my Queen. I¡¯m Sid Setart. I have been assigned to escort the Queen for the time being.¡± ¡°Please take care of me,¡± Iveca said gently. Reina grinned and spoke to Iveca first, ¡°Queen. How old does Sid look?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Twenty-three?¡± Although Iveca gave her the freshman age, after she finished studying him, Reina shook her head. ¡°No need to count, he is exactly what he looks like!¡± ¡°Oh, sixteen?¡± Reina laughed her head off at Iveca¡¯s response and standing by her side, Sid didn¡¯t say anything and had no expression on his face. She was quite lively for an investigative agency employee, while Sid was the hardest-working investigative agency employee that anyone had ever seen. ¡°He is twenty-nine! He is a young man with a lot of stress.¡± ¡°Oh. It¡¯s, it¡¯s a good thing?¡± ¡°Not at all. He was kicked by the girl he liked because he looked too young.¡± ¡°Reina, shut up,¡± Sid interjected. ¡°Queen, could you please order me to make more noise?¡± Reina giggled. Iveca unconsciously chuckled and smiled. Even though it was only their second meeting, Reina was friendly to her. Having never talked to her same-sex friends or sisters in a fun way, she felt somehow comfortable with her. On the way to the Judicial Affair Bureau, Reina explained their escort plan, ¡°One will be outside of the Bureau, and one will be inside.¡± ¡°Inside? The people of the Judicial Affair Bureau would be extremely uncomfortable.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. But the people of the Bureau of Investigation can completely hide their tracks without anyone knowing. Of course, it would be hard to do it all day long, but it is still possible to take turns half-day.¡± ¡°That is a pretty crucial point, isn¡¯t it? If it is possible to secretly inspect the surroundings,¡± Iveca noted. ¡°It is one of the secrets that Queen Evena left to the Bureau of Investigation. Without these tricks, how could it be said that the Bureau of Investigation knew everything about Amenity? The Queen also did that when she was an employee.¡± ¡°Reina, you talk a lot,¡± Sid said, sounding irritated. ¡°Still, we have to let them know that we are in the Judicial Affair Bureau. You will be surprised if something pops up out of the blue. The secretariat of the Bureau of Investigation is a top-secret matter, but the situation is so special that it can¡¯t be helped, right?¡± Reina replied with a smirk. Iveca slowly nodded her head. Strangely, being with her made her feel at ease, and everything seemed to be okay. Perhaps Iveca and her were previously close colleagues in the Bureau of Investigation and watching as Reina talked with her comfortably, she had strange expectations. The hope was that she might have been loved by her colleagues, because she was wise and competent, although she didn¡¯t know why she¡¯d thrown away her memories. Maybe her past wasn¡¯t as messy as she¡¯d thought. She had not visited the Count¡¯s estate or even Anriq himself for the past four years, so she might not be that lonely among his colleagues and she may have been hiding her presence on various secret missions. After talking with Reina, she thought that there was a good chance that she hadn¡¯t struggled with loneliness during her time working in the Bureau of Investigation like she had done when she was eighteen. She glanced at Sid and spoke cautiously, ¡°Excuse me, did I also know you when I was working in the Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± His answer was embarrassingly sharp and cut like a knife. But then, a more resolute voice followed, ¡°Time has passed, and it was for a good reason. Do not be curious. Reina, do not say useless things anymore.¡± His words were so harsh that the conversation didn¡¯t continue until they arrived at the Judicial Affair Bureau. *** Iveca had gone to work at the Judicial Affair Bureau three days after the attack on her. There were a small number of employees at the law department and the majority of them were older people, so being there didn¡¯t frustrate her in the least. However, one of the Judicial Affair Bureau¡¯s employees, who walked with her on the way home from work, repeated the same story over and over as if he were telling a saga, which drained her immensely. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that a few officers from the Bureau of Investigation suddenly arrived close to the end of working hours and argued about article number ten of the constitution?¡± ¡°The Bureau of Investigation staff members were originally arrogant and they always said that they¡¯d come, but they never came in person, but it seemed that they had been in a hurry that day. Well, it would be upsetting to remove their authority, though.¡± ¡°Besides, the Judicial Affair Bureau will become independent! Originally, the Bureau of Investigation was the most powerful department in the agency, but it would be difficult to accept a position to obey the law.¡± Iveca thought that Sid, who must be hiding somewhere, would be quite upset to hear all of this. ¡°But it was a good thing that because of that we worked until late and the Bureau of Investigation staff members witnessed the attack.¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t have manners though. They worked until late and didn¡¯t even consider our working hours, and then arrived at that time?¡± ¡°Originally, you knew, right, that most of the Bureau of Investigation staff members always thought that they were the best.¡± CH 23.2 The staff members from the Judicial Affair Bureau were still excited and continued the conversation, while Iveca sighed in frustration, but fortunately, the topic quickly changed. ¡°By the way, who is the culprit? Has it been revealed, Queen?¡± Reina asked. ¡°No, I heard that the Bureau of Investigation also lost their leads.¡± Iveca laughed to herself. But once again, the people of the Judicial Affair Bureau said that the Bureau of Investigation was not the same as before, and then it was said that the deprivation was the most severe, as the magic power decreased. And as they started to track down who was behind it, they¡¯d discovered so many possibilities that it was difficult to pinpoint one. Over the past two days, Iveca had also thought long and hard about who could be behind all of this. The first thing that came to mind was the people that stood behind Roseley because she was the first person to openly show hostility towards her. Her daughter, Giselle, was the only one who could succeed the throne now, so she might not want the throne to be weakened. Conservative aristocrats, who were likely to be vigorously opposed, were of course nominated, but it was meaningless to guess because the number was too large. No matter how long she thought about it, the one person that kept popping into her mind was her father, Ewill Esselburn. Of course, the surname of ¡®Esselburn¡¯ on her name was included when the ten articles were announced, so it would¡¯ve been more embarrassing to him and also would have been a huge blow to his resistance towards other aristocrats. The fact that Count Esselburn didn¡¯t take Daniels¡¯s side during the conference, led her to believe this. ¡°But I am glad that you are okay. More than that, there is something I would like to discuss,¡± Iveca said while turning her pen around. She was conscious that she was holding the pen that Daniel had given her with her right hand. She was originally left-handed, but she looked different from her other sisters, and she didn¡¯t want to be found to be left-handed too, so she never wrote or ate with her left hand. Seeing Reina place the pen in her left hand, meant that she lived freely in the Bureau of Investigation. She still wasn¡¯t confident enough to hold a pen in her left hand and never wrote with it, except for a few times when she was very young. Iveca continued with a bitter heart, ¡°It would be nice to hear the opinions of the common people. It cannot be seen as the affiliated organizations that represent the common people. Maybe, the commoners are at a point we never thought of.¡± Iveca swallowed, her mouth had become dry because she remembered the humiliation she had endured from Roseley in the gymnasium at the time. ¡°So in that sense, there was this kind of realization that we usually would take things for granted.¡± She¡¯d once been told these kinds, warm words, that would give her strength when she was talking about something new, ¡°Iveca, be bold in every step. Do not forget that I am always on your side.¡± There were some moments when it was necessary to remember those words and Iveca slowly let out her opinions, ¡°It was sad and I think it was unfair. They could be angry later at the injustice. It¡¯s not like I wanted to be born as a commoner.¡± Iveca thought she had crossed some line. Would not it be an aristocrat? As expected, did she think that she inherited the stable keeper¡¯s blood? Am I sympathizing because I went through some unfortunate events while growing up? Even with the many questions in her head that made her feel intimidated, she was able to continue her words, ¡°The nobles have their hardships. They have a lot of things to take responsibility for, so they have a hard time. I am not saying that the nobles are wrong and the commoners are right¡­ Um,¡± she couldn¡¯t speak anymore. All the people in the Judicial Affair Bureau were commoners. It was what nobles would do if they offended their authority, to discuss difficult and sad feelings in front of commoners; a heavy silence ensued that everyone was conscious of it. It was Attorney General Orem who broke the awkward silence, ¡°It will give a much bigger impact if the representative of the common people is involved in the constitution, as it will be able to win more sympathy from people. However, it would be better to seek advice only. I get tired when there are words like the abolition of class system or the distribution of territories.¡± ¡°Will there be such radical words?¡± Iveca queried. ¡°My Queen.¡± Orem grinned as he stroked his white beard, ¡°It¡¯s all my old thoughts. People who have nothing will naturally complain about the world. And few people might have heard about that kind of complaint.¡± ¡°Well, now¡­.¡± ¡°Now I have a lot more. Having risen to the head of the Judicial Affair Bureau, would not it be a vested interest? Even small amount authority, that has been granted by Queen Evena, was enough to keep my mouth shut.¡± Iveca nodded slowly, and suddenly Daniel¡¯s words came to mind that he was giving away cash to prevent complaints; all interests took precedence over ideology. She thought of herself as she¡¯d grown up wealthier than the commoners, but yet she was not happy at all. For her, not feeling deprived was more important than any interests. When a law bearing the name of ¡®Iveca der Esselburn¡¯ came out in this world, there would be many dissatisfied people, but at least she thought that she didn¡¯t want anyone to feel deprived. Deprivation made a person feel self-loathing, intimidated and insecure, which could make a person weak later on in life, and that was how she felt in front of Daniel. CH 24.1 ¡°Representative of the commoners you said, the country is going to be very noisy,¡± Reina spoke to her first as they came out from the Judicial Affair Bureau, in a gentle tone. Iveca looked at her absentmindedly and sighed deeply, ¡°As expected, the backlash will be huge, right?¡± Reina waved her hands in surprise as she saw the sad expression on Iveca¡¯s face, ¡°No, well, that¡¯s not what I mean¡­. No, My Queen. Rather, it could prevent a civil war from happening. It is about creating a communication platform for people who are full of complaints. Although it would be very noisy, I think it is better than civil war, which is awful.¡± ¡°Be quiet, Reina,¡± Sid warned. Reina rolled her eyes at Sid, ¡°Sid, the Queen may need a companion.¡± ¡°Our mission is to protect the Queen, not to be her companion. Do not be too emotional.¡± Iveca eventually shut up after hearing Sid¡¯s firm words. She also worried about the work that was increasing, nevertheless, she had no choice but to express her thoughts, as Daniel had promised to trust her, and she wanted to do the best she could with any task he had entrusted to her. When she looked back to gather her courage, she thought that it was enough for her to always have just one person smiling at her. Also, the law bore her name, and she¡¯d go down in history. At that thought, Iveca¡¯s heart somehow jumped when it struck her, that even after her death and long after her time had passed, it would be Iveca der Esselburn who had created the first Great Constitution for the Kingdom of Amethan. Esselburn might always be ashamed of her, but she didn¡¯t want to be ashamed of herself; it was all the pride she had left. Their birth might not have been welcomed, but they would be remembered by many in death. ¡°Oh? Your Majesty is coming. I guess he is meeting us after all. He must¡¯ve been quite busy until he left the palace.¡± Iveca looked up at the path in front of them, as the King, with his shiny blonde hair, casually strolled towards them with a group of escorts. She stared blankly at his face that was smiling brightly, ¡°Your Majesty, why did you come here?¡± Even though he¡¯d said that he would come to meet her, she didn¡¯t expect that he would come this far, and it hadn¡¯t been that long since she¡¯d left the Judicial Affair Department. Looking into her eyes, Daniel grinned and hugged her around the shoulders, ¡°I came out early to see you. It¡¯s difficult to wait.¡± ¡°Still, it must have been a long walk.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about that.¡± Iveca suddenly had an urge to tell him what had transpired in the day since she couldn¡¯t share with Reina because Sid had blocked their conversation. She looked her husband in the eye and smiled cautiously. If Daniel came out to meet her in such a casual fashion, as he¡¯d implicitly agreed to bury the terrible memories that they had made last night, she would also like to do her best to keep up with the rhythm, as any sweet wife would do. ¡°To, today¡­. At the Judicial Affair Bureau¡­¡± She stopped speaking, wondering if someone could get bored with this kind of small talk. Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t remember ever having a casual conversation. Even when she was in college, most of the students were commoners, so they couldn¡¯t approach her first because she was a very young aristocrat. Iveca also didn¡¯t have enough self-esteem to be able to approach someone else first. She had never thought that anyone would be interested in what she had to say. ¡°I brought up the issue about the representative for the commoners, and what the Judicial Affair Bureau response was¡­¡± Daniel looked into her eyes and smiled softly. The conversation that had begun with a sense of duty became enjoyable. At some point, she got excited and continued her speech. Strangely, the road that they walked down no longer seemed like such a far distance to walk. When he nodded, listened carefully, and asked for more details, Iveca spoke more confidently. ¡°You did well, Iveca. I¡¯m sure a lot of people will judge your decision as a wise one later. I knew you would do well,¡± Daniel said affectionately. ¡°So the Bureau Head Orem has that kind of thoughts in mind? Interesting.¡± Suddenly, it occurred to Iveca that she was communicating with him. The time when she¡¯d lived alone was forgotten and she was making new memories by being with someone. She was cute, and she liked the way Daniel was smiling at her, and her heart tickled. ¡°Oh, right. We need to increase the number of the Judicial Affair Bureau. Starting next year, I will have to adjust the university quota.¡± Everything relating to work would be delivered to him in the form of a more neatly organized report, even if she didn¡¯t hand it to him herself. So, it was a useless conversation, but it distracted her from thinking about the scary moment when the gunmen had attacked her. CH 24.2 The royal palace, surrounded by beautiful, magical spheres, was visible in front of them, and the quiet trail they walked down received shade from the tall trees with different shades of green leaves. In the distance, there was a lively sound coming from the Amenity¡¯s downtown area, and the blue eyes looking at her were deep and clear. It warmed her heart that someone listened to her story without any purpose, and she looked up at him involuntarily, asking cautiously, ¡°Your Majesty, tomorrow, are you going to meet me again?¡± ¡°Sure, why? Are you bothered by that?¡± ¡°No!¡± Iveca shook her head quickly. ¡°I enjoy your company.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll come out every day until you retire,¡± Daniel joked. Iveca forgot that Anriq was standing behind them, keeping a close watch. Anriq was surprised to see Iveca having a casual conversation like that, which was the first time that he¡¯d witnessed her doing that. His master, who skillfully enforced his will at every meeting, with a friendly and kind face, grasped Iveca¡¯s needs too quickly. His unconditional affection and trust, friendly conversation, and being a good listener showed that he acknowledged other people and accepted them as they were. But if the cost of this engagement were threatening to her own life, wouldn¡¯t it be too unfair? Anriq didn¡¯t trust his master at the end of the day. Then, his thoughts drifted to the woman he had a crush on, Eve Jean, who was dignified, intelligent, and had high self-esteem. In comparison to someone whose mental age was about eighteen, with a lack of affection and emotionally unstable, he couldn¡¯t truly love Iveca. An observant person like Iveca may already know that this friendly routine was somewhat artificial, yet she seemed to turn a blind eye to this. It was clear that she pretended not to be aware because she was afraid to lose her current warmth from the man she¡¯d been married to for a month now. It might be enough time for a low self-esteem woman like Iveca to fall in love with Daniel, but he wasn¡¯t the type to get attached to a wife who was lacking in so many ways within a month. Although he saw that they met at dawn, he discarded their rendezvous as if they were nothing. Anriq thought that he couldn¡¯t be that cool if he already had his wife in mind. Iveca was captivated by Daniel, who had a more stable face than ever before, and Anriq still felt strangely anxious. He hoped that the anxiety wasn¡¯t something that meant that he¡¯d be led to disappointment. Either way, he wasn¡¯t the one who needed to keep that in mind. *** The first attempt at Iveca¡¯s life was poisoning. Fortunately, after the last raid, protection related to everything surrounding her had become stricter. They had discovered that the poison had come from her kitchen before coming to the palace. Several kitchen maids had committed suicide without disclosing who the culprit was. ¡°Just pretend that they don¡¯t exist,¡± Reina said, seeing Iveca¡¯s discomfort due to the extra security personal. It was already the second attempt to kill her in a week, as she¡¯d become a public enemy, but the perpetrator was still unknown, and it wasn¡¯t clear whether the two cases were related. Finally, it was decided upon that Reina and Sid would stick by her side and escort her, even on the weekend when they were not in the Judicial Affair Bureau. ¡°You will feel even more uncomfortable if we are in hiding anyway.¡± Reina, who was with her in the palace now, gave a slight grin. Although the guards were also assigned separately, the Bureau of Investigation said that it would be effective for the investigation staff to stay as close to her as possible to track the current situation. No one could argue that fact, as it was for her safety. ¡°Okay, I get it. But please make yourself at home, both of you. You can also sit down.¡± ¡°That is not possible,¡± Sid replied bluntly. Iveca sighed as she returned her focus to the codes she¡¯d been studying and began to look at them intently again. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the Great Constitution, even on the weekends when she didn¡¯t need to go to the Judicial Affairs bureau for work. She had started with only ten clauses, and over the next two years, they would be added to, to include many more. She liked the job that Daniel had entrusted her with, and since various people had to abide by these clauses, there were numerous, strict standards imposed on each one. It was a lot of work, and she was proud of every single step that she¡¯d made in the right direction. She¡¯d learned that discrimination, couldn¡¯t be described with words: subtle gazes, non-objective standards, or feelings, which couldn¡¯t be notarized as it was difficult for someone to explain feelings; there were no such things in the law. Before the law, she was no different from other women, and it occurred to her that the standard, which applied to anyone, supported human life in all kinds of ways. Daniel said interests should prevail over ideology, but she disagreed with that. Daniel would take care of those things, and that was why she considered herself to be independent of her politics. After a long look into the clauses, she glanced at Sid and Reina and then said carefully, ¡°Excuse me. You can sit down.¡± Reina grinned and shook her head, and Iveca sighed heavily, ¡°It¡¯s because I am uncomfortable. Who¡¯s going to break into the palace and kill me? There are a lot of guards here, so please sit down.¡± CH 25.1 ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down, my Queen.¡± Iveca blinked at the sternness Sid was meeting her with; blank-faced impenetrability that gave nothing away, ¡°But it would be boring to stand still.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Sid, who had blue hair and a boyish face, was a short man. Though his body looked like it knew the way around the inside of a combat gym; firm and slim, muscular to boot. His voice was surprisingly low, coming out from thin lips. Iveca put the pen she was holding in her right hand, switched it to her left, then changed her mind again and Sid could tell there was a question on her mind. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation tried to assassinate Rihan Kadmin. Did his Majesty know about it?¡± Reina and Sid looked at each other. Sid sighed, then answered. ¡°He found out later, but he did not approve of it.¡± Sid shook his head. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation can use its powers to detain, or in this case remove, anyone who poses a threat to the Kingdom of Amethan.¡± He then glanced at the codebook in front of her. ¡°Until the Constitution is proclaimed, of course. Then we cannot touch any of those threats, legally.¡± The word ¡®legally¡¯ was spat out like a bullet. As Iveca listened to Sid¡¯s words, she thought deeply. She then asked cautiously. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just tell His Majesty? I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be open to discussion, especially when it comes to threats to the Kingdom. Rihan Kadmin seemed like a dangerous person. The Bureau of Investigation¡¯s judgment was correct. Didn¡¯t he say he joined the rebels right away?¡± ¡°Your Majesty did not want to throw out someone who, for all intents and purposes, was an artist who had fled from the republican country. Because Rihan Kadmin is so influential on all continents¡­¡± Sid seemed to be deep in thought for a moment, before continuing. ¡°Of course, he had to be conscious of the public to some extent. The potential for use was great.¡± Iveca wasn¡¯t swayed. ¡°Had the King held talks for a few more days, do you not think the outcome would have been different?¡± ¡°He gave the Bureau of Administration personal protection, decreed by royal order. There was no room for compromise and, frankly, little time to waste on a discussion.¡± Iveca¡¯s brows furrowed. It was a lot more complicated than she thought. She pondered for a moment and asked again, recalling Article 1, which stated that ¡°no one¡± could decide someone else¡¯s life without legal process. ¡°At that time, you said that a Bureau of Investigation officer was sent to assassinate Rihan Kadmin, right? Can I meet him?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Reina furrowed her brow. ¡°May I ask why, my Queen?¡± ¡°I heard the backlash against the contents of Article 1 is too strong. The Rihan Kadmin case is a case where the command of the King and the authority of the Bureau of Investigation conflicted. And above all, it was about personal life. I want to use it as an example.¡± ¡°The employee in question cannot be called because he is currently dispatched abroad,¡± Sid replied calmly. ¡°When is he coming back? When can I see him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know that.¡± Iveca tilted her head. It was a tone that seemed to want to cut off the conversation altogether rather than disclosing what she wanted to know. ¡°The officials of the Bureau of Administration have nowhere to go, so we can meet sooner, right?¡± Reina sighed this time. ¡°Let me see what I can do.¡± ¡°Please, as soon as possible,¡± said Iveca, ¡°Also, please let me know when the Bureau of Investigation will return.¡± Reina looked at her quietly, blinked her eyes, then said with a small smile. ¡°My Queen, if you don¡¯t mind me saying¡­ it seems that the work in the Ministry of Justice is suitable for you.¡± Iveca lowered her eyes and lost in thought for a moment, and then she nodded her head cautiously, unsure if she was being paid a compliment. ¡°I think it¡¯s interesting because I have to think from the perspectives of different kinds of people. And it¡¯s good to think about someone else¡¯s point of view.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Reina looked confused by the declaration. ¡°All my life, no one has ever thought about my position. But as you said, if this law is going to be made public, and I think that the state has also considered my position, I would be very proud. Also, His Majesty said I am doing well. So, I live by that standard.¡± She laughed involuntarily. Reina and Sid remained silent, with complicated expressions on their faces. ¡°Are you in a good mood, Queen?¡± Sid glared at her, but Reina could not resist and asked. Iveca nodded her head immediately. ¡°Yes. Every day he praises me for doing well. But I, myself, also think that I am doing well. Even when I was homeschooled, I did better than my sisters in playing musical instruments, physical arts, philosophy, and liberal arts, and I got good grades in college as well, but I think this is the first time I¡¯ve ever felt supported. So, I want to do better.¡± Anriq¡¯s words, ¡°The Queen who was easy to be taken advantage of¡± were hidden inside. She liked the sense of accomplishment she was feeling right now, and she also felt satisfied with her own belief in dealing with the law. She did not feel that Daniel was using her. Because he spoke of people¡¯s interests, he was also thinking about equality. CH 25.2 There was a comforting air about Reina, so Iveca unconsciously poured out her words to her. Because she could not tell Daniel anything about Daniel himself. Envying her sisters chatting about one man or another, she laughed and rested her chin. ¡°Please listen to me. It is okay if you do not say anything. I think you are a nice person. These days, I was thinking about how fortunate I am that His Majesty has a place in my life, and I in his. If I had married the son of the Telsy Family as my father said, I would have likely been ignored for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Queen.¡± Reina called her softly at her proud words. However, Sid stopped her immediately. ¡°Reina, let¡¯s have no nonsense here, please.¡± ¡°Be quiet, Sid.¡± Reina patted Sid¡¯s arm sharply and spoke. ¡°Even if His Majesty doesn¡¯t give you much attention or praise you, in your position I could not think of how you could have done a better job. I mean that, my Queen. And you will also do better in the future. Even if His Majesty had not appeared in your life, someone else would have appeared and stood by the Queen¡¯s side.¡± Iveca stared blankly at Reina. Sid touched his forehead as if he were in trouble, but it did not stop Reina from speaking. ¡°In those eighteen years you might have been lonely, but after that, you would have been recognized wherever you went. His Majesty is a kind and sweet person¡­ but he is not the Queen¡¯s saviour. Do not rely too much on it. You could have escaped from the Count¡¯s estate by yourself, but the timing is¡­¡± Reina blurted her words. There was a strange silence, Iveca looked at her quietly and grinned. ¡°Thank you, Reina. I¡¯m very glad you said that.¡± Sid sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that you feel happy, my Queen, but what bearing does that have?¡± Iveca chose to ignore the statement and again addressed Reina. ¡°I am doing pretty well in the Judicial Affair Bureau, but I wish I could have done something while I was still in the middle of the Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°You would have done well wherever you went,¡± Reina reiterated, though with a sadder tone. Even though she had been attacked and threatened with poisoning, the Queen¡¯s eyes blushed as she poked her nose in the law and said, ¡®His Majesty told me I did well¡¯, like an innocent 18-year old who came of age without the world being properly communicated to her. Iveca smiled and suddenly thought that it was good that they were with her, even if it was just their duty to be around her. There was another sense of closeness compared to her escorts and maids. They were once colleagues who spent time together with her, and when she and Reina had a private conversation, she even felt a strange sense of relief at the connection. So, a part of her was a little excited at the vague thought that her life in the Bureau of Investigation would have been good. At least, if she were as much of a mess as she thought, Reina would not have told her that she had done a good job anywhere quite so insistently. It was okay for everyone to have different thoughts inside. It was great already for her, having Daniel and the staff from the Bureau of Investigation standing in front of her smiling and being so kind to her. In comparison, of course, was her father. Count Esselburn openly ignored her, and she chalked this up to his own, different, ideas inside. But everyone she met at the Queen¡¯s palace, at least on the surface, was warm enough for her. *** ¡°Baron Eribon?¡± Daniel read Kayden¡¯s report with cold eyes. Kayden sighed, noticing the King¡¯s expression of disapproval. ¡°He cut off his tail perfectly. It was highly likely to be a stand-alone action. It could have been conditional on a larger aristocratic family¡­¡± ¡°A mere baron did this to the Queen¡­¡± Daniel was visibly shaking with rage. Kayden spoke cautiously for fear of upsetting him further. ¡°Because he was just a mere Baron, he was able to come out on the surface.¡± Kayden continued to report, contemplating with his dark eyes. ¡°It is going to get worse, your Majesty. I heard that the Queen also said she would elect a representative for the common people, within two years. It¡¯s like giving people on their leash a deadline for their desperation.¡± Daniel had no answer to his comments. Instead, he handed over the report and gave low orders. ¡°I¡¯m going to set an example for what happens when you dare to touch the Queen. Behead everyone involved.¡± Daniel¡¯s blue eyes no longer shone. Kayden knew instinctively that he was trying to suppress what he genuinely wanted to do to the perpetrators. ¡°Yes, your Majesty.¡± Daniel turned to the next report. It was a report on the civil war of the Medesto Kingdom. Medesto, who had a republican revolution going after the empire, beheaded the kings and nobles at will, but the revolutionary forces were divided into two and entered a long civil war among themselves. ¡°You have to live a thousand years with the Queen.¡± Kayden smirked without realizing it. Daniel did not point out his rudeness. ¡°If you somehow stop the civil war, the countless lives that would have been cut off by the war will be able to live a long time too. A noble goal.¡± His hands were busy reviewing the report, but there was a smile on Daniel¡¯s lips. CH 26.1 ¡°As we grow old safely, we will be able to play line ball together in peace. Even if the law weakens us, it will also protect us in the end.¡± Kayden¡¯s eyes stayed on the pen Daniel was using to sign off the orders. ¡®From E.J.¡¯ was clearly visible on the top, just above where the King¡¯s hand gripped it. It was difficult to guess what His Majesty was thinking, or just how much he knew about everything, and how he felt as he was talking about living one hundred years with Iveca. But he already made a ¡®silence zone¡¯ that inevitably had to exist between two of them. The law is not yet in effect. Therefore, for Kayden, the Bureau¡¯s code and organizational judgement came first of all values. *** That night, when Daniel came to the Queen¡¯s palace, Iveca was laid asleep on her desk. When he came in, the two Bureau of Investigation members who were guarding her quickly escaped. Daniel swept Iveca¡¯s black hair away without paying much attention to them. ¡°Iveca?¡± he said, trying to rouse her from her impromptu slumber, ¡°sleep on the bed. If you sleep like this, you will hurt your back.¡± At Daniel¡¯s words, Iveca woke up, her eyes wide open and her appearance a startled deer. She blinked, hurriedly brushed her hair and cleared her voice. Daniel could not resist the smirk on his mouth as he waited for her to scurry herself to what he presumed was an attempt at looking presentable. ¡°You came?¡± she said, the surprise still in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy.¡± It was close to midnight. Daniel smiled and eventually picked her up into a tight embrace. He felt her body tighten a little under him, then relax again. ¡°But I¡¯m sleepy. Can you stop reading the constitution?¡± At his admission, Iveca hurriedly closed the constitution. Somehow his smiling blue eyes seemed to know everything inside her mind. Even if Reina and Sid told her to stop and go to sleep, she rubbed her heavy eyes and shook her head. Because if she were asleep, Daniel would go away without waking her up. She could not even say that she waited, as she did not want him to be burdened. At least on weekdays, she was able to see him every day because he came out to greet her, while on the weekends, there was nothing she could do except walk the halls of the palace and wait endlessly. Without Reina and Sid, the wait would have been more tedious, because Daniel was busy. She couldn¡¯t blame him for the duties of a king. He previously asked her to come through the secret passage whenever she wanted to see him, but she knew it was extremely rare for him to be in his bedroom anyway, given where and when his work needed him, especially now. As she ruminated, he kissed her forehead, and she found herself looking into his eyes like a puppy meeting its owner. Iveca suddenly resisted the feeling of wanting to hug him. Instead, she began to speak cautiously. ¡°As for the contents of Article One, I would like to make a report on its necessity. I think we have found a suitable case to look into.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want to do, Iveca. Because I believe you can do well. However,¡± he looked into her eyes and spoke slowly, ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid of the attack and poisoning? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± She was afraid that Daniel would say, ¡®Don¡¯t do it, it is dangerous,¡¯ so she shouted too quickly. Although it was a pathetic thing to say, she was afraid that he would not find her every day as he was now if she did not work hard or meet his standards. At one point or another it was way too easy for a person to come and squeeze her already-shattered heart into the right shape. It made life more uncomfortable and complicated. However, her waiting was always rewarded, and he created moments that she would like to revisit over and over again. The laughter that spread through his eyes when he came to meet her right in front of the Judicial Affair Bureau, the fingers that gently entangled, and the voice that calmly listened to her thoughts and supported them. There were so many good moments that eventually could bury doubts inside her mind. After all, all she could do was to keep her mouth shut and eyes closed. Didn¡¯t Daniel also bury what happened to her with Anriq in the middle of the night? If what they needed was being a lovely couple in disguise, Iveca was willing to accept the role. That alone was good enough, if it meant she got to be with this person like they were now. The warm tongue that came gently between the lips and the kiss that wrapped her whole mouth, no matter how carefully it started, was also and always good. As she gasped between his effort to push his tongue deeper, her body locked up, partially under his weight. Every time she saw his hungry expression, the one that was only shown when they were making love, tears welled up in Iveca¡¯s eyes. Whenever she felt the touch that hugged her, her body became tighter. She sighed heavily. CH 26.2 ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± Her n*pples were caressed between his fingers and a thrilling sensation scattered throughout her body. His lips, which fiercely kissed the back of her neck, made red marks in their frenzied effort to reach her completely. His desire was engraved with dizzying pain and Iveca didn¡¯t mind a moment of it. Iveca bit her lower lip as he gently caressed her n*pples again, then pressed playfully against her bre*st. He liked to use his whole body to lock her in and keep her from moving. ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting with a long face, working away, while thinking for a whole day about doing this with the Queen.¡± Iveca tried to cross her legs but was stopped by him as he barely nodded his head. Still, he was so neat outside the bedroom that no one could not even imagine him in this kind of form. He was like a different person in bed, and Iveca still had a hard time adjusting to the gap. ¡°Is¡­ ah¡­ is that so¡­¡± ¡°All day, Iveca. If only they could have seen what I was doing with you in my head¡­¡± He grabbed her hand, drawing a line down her own body with it until he reached the heat between her thighs. Holding Iveca¡¯s shy fingers, he gently began to caress her, stroking her cl*toris with his own hand and hers. She struggled in embarrassment, but she would not let go. ¡°I¡¯m used to hiding things,¡± Daniel said, ¡°it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve f*cked my Queen while everyone thinks I¡¯m working.¡± ¡°Ha¡­ Do, don¡¯t¡­. I¡¯m embarrassed, ah!¡± Her fingers were mobilized by a friendly and skilful touch, beyond her control, and Iveca gasped and swallowed a groan. His blue eyes stared at her nakedness, while slippery liquid soaked their tangled fingers as she closed her eyes tightly. It was embarrassing enough to make her whole body explode, but the pleasure was stimulated intensely. ¡°I look like a beast, don¡¯t I?¡± He whispered, deliberately pressing his hard, hot c*ck to her. His hand gestures became more active each time she struggled with her legs as her pleasure wrapped around her body. He pressed and vibrated her cl*toris vigorously until the inner side of her thighs trembled. Her fingertips inside were wet to the point of being unbearable. She did not know if he would accuse her more like a madman if she said that even his low voice sitting quietly in his ear sounded sweet. She shook her head slowly and kissed his lips quickly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Having finally let go of her hand, he gently stroked her entrance and muttered in a dreary voice. ¡°I can¡¯t get my act together even if we are together for a short time.¡± As Iveca took a deep breath at the words she didn¡¯t expect to come from his mouth, his c*ck entered her. Even after all the times she had felt it slide inside her, she never expected it to be so¡­ physically daunting. ¡°Oh¡­ that feels so good.¡± Breathing a sigh of satisfaction, he began to move, filling her inner walls with his huge physicality. He hugged her tightly and she was flooded again with sensation. ¡°You like it, Iveca?¡± ¡°Ah, ha¡­ Ah, ah¡­¡± His tongue re-entered her gaping mouth and began to squirm against hers. The warm body temperature they shared became entangled between their tightly hugged bodies. It was as if she would lose her mind every time he came in, slamming his waist down at her while squeezing her body in between. ¡°Go,good¡­. It, it¡¯s, really good¡­¡± she answered, panting in his breath. ¡°You are so beautiful, Iveca¡­¡± His lips touched her blushing cheek like a reward. The movement below continued at a frantic pace, however. His strength pushed through her body, stroking her, clenching the sheet tightly while groaning at her while a nail cut marked his shoulder. Iveca could feel her limit rapidly approaching. ¡°Ah, ah! Ah¡­¡± Eventually, several times, intense pleasure overtook her body, and he continued to groan until she reached her dizzying climax and tears fell from her eyes. His movements that cut through her tender flesh did not even tire him. As she panted and lost her consciousness in the afterglow after her climax, a moan blew from the man who was driving her so fiercely. Holding her tight to him, he ejaculated with a rough sigh. Feeling the hot liquid flowing through her thighs, she was exhausted, allowing him to fill her at his own pace. It was an hour until she came to her senses. Barely awakened by him stroking her hair down, she sighed with embarrassment, still conscious of the burning feeling underneath. He noticed that she had come to her senses and smiled at her. ¡°Did you like it?¡± ¡°¡­Why do you ask me that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying this because I want you to be happy next to me. I¡¯m just trying to read the situation.¡± After the affair, he was back being neat and tidy, unlike what he looked like in the bed before. She nodded her head slowly. If one looked at the things that he ¡®demanded¡¯ on, everything was as perfect as she could imagine it to be. CH 27.1 Daniel had taken to asking questions in the silence after they had made love. Iveca never minded ¨C it made her feel like her opinion was validated. And usually, the questions were harmless enough. Tonight, however, he had asked her what exactly she liked about their intimate time together and she had to feign taking her time to think about it. The answer wasn¡¯t a difficult one, but she played along. ¡°I like it all. Except for the sleeping parts after.¡± ¡°What else?¡± Daniel said, kissing her ear. ¡°I will take notes and make it better for next time.¡± He gave her a wry smile, and Iveca felt her heart flutter. ¡°That¡¯s enough un-kingly talk,¡± Iveca said, her smile spreading, ¡°don¡¯t you want to hear about what else I like about you?¡± She expected Daniel to act offishly when his question was spurned, but instead, his smile only grew warmer. ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± came his reply. ¡°Well, when you come to pick me up, it¡¯s nice.¡± Iveca curled up in his arms and continued to speak. ¡°You take such a risk to come down, but I like it so I can¡¯t say that you don¡¯t have to come, or that I don¡¯t want you to.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to keep visiting you, because I like it.¡± ¡°But you must be busy,¡± Iveca protested. ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt on your way, don¡¯t wander around unfamiliar places, also¡­¡± His eyes were looking at her, but strangely distant. Iveca pretended not to know about the slight strangeness. His warmth was enough for her to know. ¡°Please don¡¯t go anywhere else alone, Iveca. Promise me that.¡± ¡°But you also have to come a long way alone,¡± said Iveca. ¡°I¡¯m pushed forward in looking forward to being able to walk back together again.¡± Iveca smiled, then turned her head into his chest. I will do better, she muttered to herself. She forced her heart down lightly, after being excited by his soft words. As Anriq said, it was nice to be able to use her just by saying some sweet words. He was someone with a lot of secrets, but things were good even if there were a lot of things that were hidden. Whatever His Majesty wanted her to do, she would do well. Suddenly struggling with strange anxiety and sadness, she closed her eyes tightly. *** The next day, a short administrative office employee with a sullen expression was called to the Queen¡¯s Palace. Her name was Eugene Unit, who took charge of Rihan Kadmin, accompanied him to the Empire, and returned safely to the Amethan Kingdom just a few months ago. Eugene came to the Bureau of Investigation office with a rather annoyed face when the Queen said she had some questions about Rihan Kadmin, for which she had been called to the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s office so many times. However, she was surprised by the attitude of the Queen, Iveca, that it was not as arrogant as she expected. ¡°Did you get a custody order?¡± ¡°Yes, under the order of His Majesty,¡± replied Iveca. Eugene thought it was going to be a more unnerving question than the one Bureau of Investigation¡¯s staff gave her before. The only information Eugene knew about the Queen was that she was a noblewoman, and the Judicial Affairs Bureau was making a new law under her guidance. She had no particular interest in any other gossip. However, she would never imagine that the Queen would be such a small girl with a somewhat intimidated look. Almost all the aristocrats she had met were rather arrogant. ¡°I heard that Bureau of Investigation decided to do the assassination under their authority,¡± pressed Iveca, keen to not let the topic change too often or too quickly. ¡°We were at the scene of the assassination attempt. I shared a room with one of the Bureau of Investigation staff.¡± Eugene, who caught a glimpse of two Bureau of Investigation employees standing at the Queen¡¯s palace, sighed once and continued. ¡°At that time, I could not use magic for a lot of reasons, and Rihan quickly noticed so it was a failure.¡± ¡°It must be embarrassing as you were with the personal protection order.¡± ¡°Well, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. There was nothing I could do. It¡¯s not like I can fight with the Bureau of Investigation staff.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Still, two people who were following orders from different sides could not go together, so we separated and returned home.¡± ¡°Separated? So, the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s staff are back?¡± ¡°I knew that they came back before me. But I heard that all of them died as they crossed over the Empire territory. It would have been impossible for anyone to survive as they were in a civil war.¡± ¡°Ah, do you happen to know what kind of person the employees were?¡± Eugene tilted her head slightly, glanced at the Bureau of Investigation staff that were guarding behind her seat and answered. ¡°Won¡¯t the Bureau of Investigation know better? I only know superficial things.¡± Seeing the hardened expressions of the Bureau of Investigation staff, Eugene sighed once. She was not very fond of the Bureau of Investigation staff. The Bureau of Administration and the Bureau of Investigation have not been on good terms for a long time now, and it only got worse since they returned from the Empire. In addition, that blue-haired Bureau of Investigation staff was once attacked by Rihan, claiming that he was personally aware of Rihan¡¯s skills. CH 27.2 Eugene, who noticed that the Bureau of Investigation staff had not even given details of the incident to the Queen, began to talk in a row. ¡°It could be a disguise, though. I also did not know about it, but there are rumours that the Bureau of Investigation can change their appearance. Amway, she was short enough that I could borrow a dress from. Blonde hair¡­.and had purple eyes.¡± Eugene, who once again glimpsed Raina and Sid¡¯s expressions which were gradually hardening, casually continued to speak in more detail. ¡°Amway, she was a typical Bureau of Investigation officer who was savage and smart. She had a strong sense of responsibility and was good at being an undercover agent. The Bureau of Investigation dispatched her alone to do the assassination, so she must have been really good.¡± ¡®Do you want me to explain more? So, you¡¯re sure? I know her well because she¡¯s been called to the Palace every day. She was a small girl with purple eyes like you.¡¯ Anriq¡¯s words suddenly came to her mind. ¡®She even had pale blonde hair like your sisters. She was a woman with dignity and self-confidence¡­¡¯ Iveca said in a trembling voice, ¡°Do you know where this employee went? The Bureau of Investigation officers said she went abroad as their staff are always all over the place.¡± Iveca remained silent for a moment and Eugene answered thoughtlessly. ¡°His Majesty is looking for the missing woman.¡± Her head was dizzy. Iveca pondered, then she asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Name¡­ do you know her name?¡± ¡°Eve Jean.¡± E.J.? Iveca bit her lower lip. Her heart was beating like crazy. [Happy birthday, Daniel, may you be happy today.] An unfamiliar, confusing round handwriting hovered in her sight. ¡°I heard later that she was a distant relative of Bureau of Investigation Chief Officer Lucas Jean. And the Royal Palace Music Troupe¡­¡± ¡°Eugene.¡± It was Sid who cut her off. Sid was simply calling her name, but Eugene sighed and mouthed with a look of understanding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, My Queen. The Bureau of Investigation doesn¡¯t seem to allow me to speak more.¡± Eugene was somewhat disappointed because Iveca, who she thought would be annoyed at the Bureau of Investigation staff for being rude, did not say anything. After a moment of silence, Iveca smiled forcedly and said, ¡°Thank you, Eugene. It¡¯s been a huge help. With the law above us, there will no longer be different disposition decisions for one person just because some people have different ideas. Eugene rolled her round eyes once, and she calmly nodded her head. ¡°Thank you, Queen. I look forward to good law under your rule.¡± Iveca was slightly surprised because Eugene¡¯s blunt expression contained a clear favor toward her. ¡°¡­I heard that there are a lot of backlashes within the agency themselves. I know it sounds strange, but¡­ I believe in Rihan Kadmin. The Bureau of Investigation did not believe me. Someday, he will return to the Kingdom of Amethan.¡± Iveca tilted her head and looked at Eugene. Did you believe someone who was a Republican, helped Prince Ethan enter the Kingdom of Amethan, and quickly joined the Empire¡¯s rebels? Iveca wondered. ¡°When that happens, I hope that a reasonable and rational system will protect him rather than someone¡¯s emotional decision¡­ I liked the content of Article 1 that was on the controversy. I am the only one who believes in him in the Kingdom of Amethan, but now I feel like I have something to lean on. Those who care about their loved ones will support you. Though, they are not the investigation team.¡± Eugene glanced at the Bureau of Investigation staff with an expression that she had a lot of things piled up. ¡°Thank you for saying that. I was wondering if I did something too big.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible because you are the Queen.¡± Eugene said calmly. Iveca blinked in surprise at the first time that an employee of an affiliated agency said such a thing. Why did she? Eugene spoke slowly. ¡°You have a lot of things you know.¡± It was difficult for Iveca to answer. She had a noble name, had the status as a Queen, and could be an employee of an affiliated agency. But was any of them perfect? She had no blood, no love, and no career. Strangely, she felt like everything was falling apart. She was envious of that Bureau of Investigation staff who had everything that she did not. Blonde hair that she wanted, the ability to be recognized by everyone, the dignity and confidence that came with it, and¡­ a mark that was deeply engraved in Daniel¡¯s heart. Her eyes were burning. After sending Eugene off, Iveca was silent for a moment. Reina and Sid watched her silently. *** A bold, intelligent, and good-natured woman. That night, Iveca laid in bed with Daniel and blinked. He was asleep like a painting after a sweet lovemaking session. Before being nominated as Queen, the people of the Judicial Affair Bureau often talked about Daniel¡¯s ¡°final trial¡± when he was about to be chosen as a King. This was because the Judicial Affair Bureau, which had always existed like a shadow, came to the surface. At that time, Daniel said that he wanted to make Regen Hacart from the Pharmacist Empire family a Queen. The Head of the Pharmacy Empire had already revealed the truth of that terrible fact in front of many people. A girl named Eve Jean. An employee of the Investigation Bureau, who was trusted to be dispatched to the Empire and was even evaluated as a confident woman even by Anriq. Iveca had to think for a while about the gap between these two different women. CH 28.1 Iveca never had to think for long when it came to the question of why she liked Anriq. The answer was too easy. Because he was the only man who talked to her and spent true, meaningful time with her when she needed it most; as a lonely, ostracized girl in the Esselburn estate. Without him, her life would have been much more difficult. Therefore, it was only natural that she gave her heart to him freely. For the same reason, although much further forward in time, she opened her heart to Daniel too easily. Daniel was warm to her, held her hand, told her that he was her family, and came to meet her when he seemingly had no reason to do so other than spend time with her. He was the one who didn¡¯t make her feel alone. He had presented her a job which she could do well, and cheered and supported her whenever she did that job as well as he knew she could do it. One didn¡¯t have to be a king, didn¡¯t have to be so handsome, didn¡¯t have to be good in bed. She would have given her heart to anyone if they didn¡¯t leave her unattended. If they wrapped her in their arms and made her feel like they wouldn¡¯t let go, Iveca would have given herself to them completely, whoever they were. She knew this. But as she pondered the idea of what made her so easy to win over, Iveca realized she had already fallen for it with Daniel, and that pretending not to know whatever she discovered about him had become a painful habit. If it wasn¡¯t for her quick-witted eyes and her vigilance, she could have been just happy with Daniel¡¯s kindness. If it wasn¡¯t because of her personality, quietly keeping doubts in her heart, she would have grabbed Daniel right away and asked about it. The question that had no easy answer, the one that had been keeping her up at night long beyond any lovemaking session. But Iveca was fiercely all of those things, so she just had to stumble over her words and try not to give anything away. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± A friendly voice echoed in her ears. Iveca looked up to see Daniel¡¯s face close to hers. She touched his eyebrows, brushed his straight nose, and tucked her fingers slightly into his pretty lips. His eyes smiled as if they were surprised. His tongue licked her finger gently. Who¡¯s Eve Jean? She quickly kissed him on his chest to hide the sad question that filled every corner of her body, but not before the others came flooding in like a dam had broken inside her. She was not having children now anyway, so why did he hold her? Why did he lay her down every night and enter her so passionately, so insistently? The questions she could not answer were piled up one after another. Did they want to make it easy for me to give my heart away? Did they all know I would give it up like that? She did not like subtle and complicated things. Hidden things. She hated not being able to ask openly. Mother, was I the stable keeper¡¯s daughter? Questions that she could not ask for the rest of her life poured out of control and stuck in her mind. She kept her face down because she did not want to be caught crying. She kissed his belly, kissed his waist, and kissed him between his legs. Anything to make the questions stop for just a little while. There was bitterness at the end of the lovemaking this time. The body temperature transmitted behind her back collapsed. Because she wanted more of it. Unanswered questions encroach themselves into depression. She had lived like that for eighteen years, and it was all she had known for that time. It was all because she put him in her heart too much, too easily. Daniel treated her with the same attitude from the beginning and even let her spend time with Anriq, but she was greedy enough to be depressed all day, over the smallest trace of the woman left behind in Daniel¡¯s life. He gave her affections, and she just needed to do her ¡®work¡¯ to him. Surely that was all he needed her for. The thought alone kept Iveca up all night. When she thought of him, she could swallow her laughter and cried as much as she could, until the dark night passed. And it suddenly occurred to her that it was love. This was love, whether she liked it or not. A heart that had no choice but to hold on despite knowing that it would hurt. The difference between vaguely guessing that someone was in her partner¡¯s mind and actually knowing the woman¡¯s identity was too big of a blow. It was too much to not know, and far too much to live with hidden in her heart every single day. Even her name is Eve. It was the same nickname given to her by Anriq, but everything was completely different from her. There was too much gap between the confident ace recognized by the Bureau of Investigation, and herself who was kicked out with her memories erased due to maladjustment. Her frustration, more than her jealousy, darkened her. For a moment, she thought she was broken. CH 28.2 Anriq was leaving the palace early in the morning on his day off. Every ten days he had one, though it always felt longer than the last time between them. These days, he had a hard time looking at his master, Daniel. He always thought that he couldn¡¯t figure him out, but it never had been as difficult as it was now. And it was hard to bear that the vague object making him struggle to focus and think was Iveca. ¡®I like you, Anriq.¡¯ Since he and Iveca were both at the same age and their birthdays were similar, he reached his coming-of-age day almost at the same time as her. As Iveca was about to graduate from her college, the night before he decided to enter the royal palace as an escort soldier, she murmured and made her thunderous confession to him. ¡®You too¡­ You like me too, no?¡± Her words will never be denied. Anriq always felt sympathetic to Iveca, who existed like an object in the Count estate. It was a sense of alienation that was different from the sense of alienation that he had as a stranger with ¡®Renka¡¯ as a last name. Her Countess morbidly hated her encounters with Iveca, and her sisters treated her like no other while studying together. She was given the same educational opportunities, excellent meals, and spacious room as her sisters, but that was it. Iveca sat in the furthest most corner of the dining room, to ensure people were unaware of her presence and finished her meal halfway through everyone else finishing theirs. When the guests seemed to be coming, she quietly whispered to her maid that she was ill, and then she threw herself into the library. Anriq became Iveca¡¯s only friend but could not be her family. Because he was going to leave one day. Of course, he was thinking of leaving the Count Estate once he came of age. ¡®You are the noble daughter of Count Esselburn, and you must marry according to your family¡¯s arrangement.¡¯ The reason he rejected her was because he still wanted her to keep her ¡®Esselburn¡¯ name. As the bodyguard who was like a weapon of the royal family, they could not get married or create a family until they retired. He could not accept a relationship that he could not do anything but meet once every 10 days. It just wasn¡¯t fair on anyone involved. If he said he was going to quit being an escort, he had a difficult road ahead. He might be able to get into some upper escort squad, but if he did, he would become one of the many fallen nobles who had given up authority for a living. In addition, if Iveca, the daughter of the great nobles, chose him, it would cause great damage to Count Esselburn. Count Esselburn had no sons, so he needed a solid foundation to support his young, adopted children until they grew up and took over the family. So, of course, the five sisters had to marry according to Ewil¡¯s will. It was also the reason why he treated Iveca as a shameful member of his family, seemingly like an equal lady of the countess. ¡®Please do not make me into an ungrateful person.¡¯ It would be a great disgrace to Esselburn if the rumor spread that Iveca had been in contact with an orphan young man. He wasn¡¯t that ungrateful, and he didn¡¯t think Ivecca would be happy to come to him with all he had. At least, the person who Count Esselburn would introduce to her would be in a better situation than himself. Still, it was hard to look into the eyes of Iveca, who was clearly hurt. He knew that she longed for his outstretched hand, but he turned a blind eye and hoped that later she would understand his intentions. But he did not expect her to graduate college and join the Bureau of Investigation at once. And he did not expect her to disappear without contacting anyone for four years. Four years later, she was delivered to the Count estate by an investigation officer, unconscious, and suddenly a Queen with the same expression as when she was only eighteen. And the King was driving into it. With a wistful face, he quashed criticism of Iveca at every meeting. Was it because he was considerate to Iveca or was it because he was scared and wanted to avoid any situation that could make her quit? ¡°Anriq?¡± As he was walking through the palace in thought, a familiar voice called him. It was Count Ewil Esselburn, who was always silent in the conference hall with a hard face. ¡°Good evening.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s your holiday because you don¡¯t stand by His Majesty¡¯s side today.¡± ¡°Yes, I am about to leave. But at such an early hour, how did you come to the Palace¡­¡± Ewil stared at him, as he usually did, and sighed. ¡°If you are not in a hurry, why don¡¯t you go somewhere with me?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way to the Queen.¡± Anriq held his breath for a moment. Daniel used to strangely block the view whenever Iveca and Anriq had a chance to face each other. Was this his chance to see her unburdened? When Iveca first entered the palace, he was never allowed to enter, and any movement of hers within the palace seemed to use a secret passage. Whenever Daniel went to pick her up, he wrapped her shoulder and never let her look at Anriq. The day Iveca was attacked, he left her palace so quickly because he did not want her and Anriq sharing the same space. Ever since he discovered the two of them alone, Anriq thought that he would never be able to face her directly again. ¡°Even If you don¡¯t listen to me, you can listen to your own thoughts.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°You are always in that conference room, too. During the battle for the throne, daughters of all kinds of noble families were enchanted by his sculptural faces and kindness¡­ I did not expect Iveca to fall for it, truthfully speaking. As long as the Queen has the name of Esselburn, I must stop her. If you¡¯ve considered Iveca a friend at all, you should stop her too, because you saw the atmosphere of the conference hall.¡± Anriq lowered his eyes. Daniel would have no justification to blame him if he went with Ewil, not on his own. He was on vacation, and of course his destination was his freedom to choose. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go together.¡± CH 29.1 Reina and Sid arrived a little before Iveca was ready, so she asked them politely to wait for her. In her haste, Iveca carefully but noticeably packed a dagger inside the Judicial Affair Bureau uniform, which Reina spotted immediately. Iveca smiled, though through embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you two¡­ It¡¯s just nice to have something like this. Call it assurance.¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Reina replied coolly. She remembered that Iveca couldn¡¯t throw this dagger when she was ambushed; when she tried to take it out, she got a knife right in her back for her effort. She recalled the situation for a moment, before noticing Iveca clearly had something she wanted to say. ¡°Oh, Reina, I was meaning to speak with you about something. There was a really strange happening during the ambush.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°After I was stabbed, someone grabbed me and supported me, but my vision was very blurry. Obviously, she looked unfamiliar, and her hair was pink¡­ and I called your name without realizing it.¡± Reina said nothing, so Iveca continued. ¡°She was as tall as you, and her eyes shone green. Do you know any investigation officer like that? Come to think of it, it¡¯s like she saved me, but I couldn¡¯t even say hello, given my condition.¡± ¡°There are many people in the Bureau of Investigation, you know,¡± Reina smiled and waved her hands, ¡°I can¡¯t memorize everyone. It¡¯s not like there are just one or two people.¡± As soon as Iveca tried to say something with her eyes sunken, the maid suddenly announced that they had a visitor. A guest this early in the morning? Iveca thought, opening her eyes in surprise. She told them to come in blankly. She swallowed her dry saliva as she was nervous at the unexpected visit. When the maid returned, she was flanked by two men. ¡°My Queen, I¡¯m sorry for our visit being so early in the morning.¡± Ewill Esselburn and Anriq Renka stood shoulder to shoulder in front of her. Iveca sighed and guided them to her table with trembling hands, and had her maid unload the tray. Ewill sat in front of her with a hardened face and coughed uncomfortably. ¡°If you can tell the Bureau of Investigation officers to go¡­¡± ¡°Not a chance, Count Esselburn.¡± It was Sid who answered his words. His tone was so determined that Ewill didn¡¯t push the issue further. Iveca looked back and forth at Sid and Ewill, then blinked her eyes and spoke. ¡°After the attack, I am not to be by myself.¡± ¡°I heard that the motive has been revealed. The Baron¡­¡± ¡°The Baron said it had nothing to do with the first attack.¡± ¡°Hardly.¡± Ewill sighed. ¡°Now the Queen has made so many enemies that it is impossible to even track down who is behind it. At yesterday¡¯s meeting, the talk about representation of the common people came out. My Queen, how far are you trying to go?¡± Iveca circled the teacup lip with her finger without saying anything. Ewill looked for her twice and confronted her twice as if he was scolding her. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up. ¡°It¡¯s an inevitable trend. No matter how much you close your eyes, time goes by. Do you think Amethan will be safe facing the Republicanism that swept the continent?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time for a change. But why should it be under the Esselburn name?¡± Ewill rolled his eyes and looked at her. ¡°From a distance, it might be the right thing to do. We also know that this decision will receive great praise in future generations. But why do I have to sacrifice the name of Esselburn?¡± Iveca lowered her eyes. It was Anriq who broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯ve told you several times to stop, My Queen.¡± Iveca stared at him. He used an honorific with her very rarely, and she knew that this time it was to make a point. She would not be fazed by it. ¡°Your Highness is using the Queen¡¯s background to push his thoughts forward. Otherwise, why would you insist on presenting a ball in the name of the Queen? Surely that wasn¡¯t your intention?¡± Even Sid raised an eyebrow at the harsh remarks. It was ridiculous for a guard to openly discuss the King¡¯s intentions. Reina and Sid exchanged glances, and Iveca lifted her eyes and looked straight at them, a new fire burning. ¡°I created it. Of course my name should be on it.¡± ¡°My Queen¡­¡± Anriq started, but Iveca cut him off. ¡°Why can¡¯t I put my own name while I¡¯ve been thinking about it every day, discussing it with legal staff, and referring to every single word? It¡¯s the right thing to look at from afar, and the future generations might praise it, but why do you keep saying that my name is the actual problem?¡± Reina opened her mouth slightly to Iveca¡¯s sharp voice, which she had never heard since coming to the palace. ¡°It¡¯s something that I can do better than His Highness,¡± Iveca continued, ¡°to the extent that His Highness asked me directly.¡± While her face seemed determined, like it would never yield, she could even hear her own resignation as if she had strangely let herself go. It was Anriq, not Ewil, who met her changed eyes. ¡°Because it¡¯s dangerous. I understand your desire to follow the will, but if you ever considered the incongruity of his attitude towards the Queen¡­¡± CH 29.2 Iveca snapped back again. ¡°At first, I started because I wanted to be recognized by His Highness. Anriq, I do not deny you. He cheered me on saying that I could do it, told me that I was good at it, and supported all my thoughts. I want to look good, I want to be with him forever, and I want to be recognized all the time, so I work harder.¡± Reina¡¯s eyes sank at her calm tone that was not like the usual Iveca. ¡°But now it¡¯s my job that I don¡¯t even want to quit. I had developed my own beliefs to the point that I was afraid that His Highness might tell me to stop. It¡¯s good to have a law clause to lean on when the administrative officer feels alone. It¡¯s not for him. It¡¯s for me.¡± Ewill touched his forehead at her words. ¡°How do you compare that administrative office to me, who¡¯s been living in the same house with the Queen for almost 18 years¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not only because of you. But because of me being alone for those eighteen years.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s painful to be alone, Father. Not like you would know.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve treated you the same way as the other sisters.¡± Iveca slammed her teacup down with such force that Ewill jumped in his chair. Standing up brusquely, she stared down at him and he seemed to shrink back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s almost time for me to go to work.¡± It was obvious to say that she wanted them to leave. Anriq jumped up and stood in front of her. Sid quickly tried to restrain him, but Iveca shook her head and motioned for him to speak. ¡°But what have you done to your father, who now tries to embrace you, my Queen? I¡¯m saying this out of concern.¡± But Iveca didn¡¯t seem willing to care about his words. She snapped back at Anriq in a sharp tone. ¡°Are you worried about me when you curse my husband and stop me from doing what I want to do?¡± ¡°As for His Highness, I do not speak any nonsense. You know it too.¡± Anriq stared at her and immediately spoke informally. Even Ewill looked at him in surprise. ¡°Why are you pretending not to know? Why do you cover your eyes and cover your ears? You are not stupid; you are smarter than everyone else.¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± Iveca¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°What on earth is the reason why His Highness treats you so well? Don¡¯t you think that he likes you? Think for yourself. The only conclusion is that it is because his interests are intertwined.¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes flared again. ¡°It¡¯s very disrespectful, Anriq, to speak to me in that way. I¡¯m warning you. Let¡¯s stop here.¡± Sid stood between Iveca and Anriq. Anriq took a deep breath and grabbed her wrist, shoving his words down as if frustrated. His desperation that she would never see him again unless he was here with Ewill seemed to be clouding his sanity. ¡°I know because I¡¯ve watched him the closest. Your Highness would not like a suspicious child who can¡¯t even make eye contact with people due to lack of affection like you. Please don¡¯t get used to it and wake up!¡± Iveca stared at him and turned her head. She felt exhausted to confirm that she knew enough in front of so many people. Anriq must have been talking about her with Eve Jean in mind. Do the Investigation officers like Sid and Reina know Eve Jean, too? That she had some sort of relationship with Daniel? Then how funny would she have been in their eyes so far? Whenever Daniel came out to meet her, she ran out like a dog welcoming its owner, and she didn¡¯t sleep until late, saying she would wait for Daniel. Regardless of what other people thought behind the scenes, it felt like the packaging she wanted to keep pretty, had been unraveled. Right now, she wasn¡¯t confident enough to look into the eyes of Reina, Sid, and Ewill. She touched the table with trembling hands. ¡°Get out.¡± Anriq started to speak, but Sid squared up to him. Before Anriq could say anything, Iveca spoke again. ¡°It¡¯s an order. Get out.¡± Anriq sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Sid forced Anriq to leave. Ewill hesitated, then he took a deep breath and followed them. Only Reina and Iveca remained in the spacious palace. A heavy silence passed. The morning sun was too bright, and a bird chirped somewhere clearly. Reina smiled awkwardly at Iveca, who was lowering her eyes down, and spoke to her. ¡°Good job, my Queen. I was relieved to see you speak straight in front of others. You can insist on doing what you want to do.¡± Iveca, who thought she would smile at Reina or open her heart sullenly because it was hard for her, said nothing. Reina took a few steps closer and stood in front of her, forcing her voice to become brighter. ¡°To me, the Queen today looked a lot better than the one I saw for the first time. So, please relax.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I feel offended.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Reina was surprised when Iveca spoke informally. You told me with a wary look to speak informally at first, but you said you were more comfortable with honorifics? ¡°I¡¯m just a little tired. I¡¯m sick and tired of it.¡± ¡°A, about what?¡± ¡°I know everything but pretend not to know. It¡¯s starting to weigh very heavily on me indeed.¡± CH 30.1 Iveca raised her eyes and looked at Reina silently. Reina, unsure of how to interpret this look, took a cautious step back. The tension was only slightly arrayed by Sid re-entering the room, though when he stopped to examine what was happening the wall rebuilt itself. Iveca spoke softly. ¡°I like His Highness¡­ Daniel¡­ a lot. Even if he has this other person in his heart, even if he is not being honest with me.¡± She laughed sadly. ¡°But the more I pretend I don¡¯t know, the more I feel like something in my heart keeps breaking. Because everyone else knows what I¡¯m pretending not to know. I don¡¯t think this kind of life will last long like this.¡± Reina frowned slightly. Then slowly, she raised her hand and grabbed Iveca¡¯s arm lightly. ¡°My Queen, if you¡¯re having a hard time¡­¡± ¡°Reina.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Iveca¡¯s expression seemed rather sad, so Reina held her breath slightly. ¡°I like Reina and Sid. You two, I mean.¡± ¡°My Queen?¡± ¡°When I am with you two, I feel like I am with colleagues from the Bureau of Investigation that I can¡¯t even remember. If I had been a good person in the Bureau of Investigation, there would be no way I would have erased my memories and moved away, but more and more often lately, I have wondered if I wasn¡¯t actually a completely bad person¡­¡± ¡°Queen, what are you saying?¡± Reina¡¯s look of confusion matched her tone. ¡°So¡­ I thought about pretending not to know, but¡­¡± Iveca slowly pulled Reina¡¯s hand off her, holding her arm. Then she took the dagger from the inside of her uniform and aimed it at Reina¡¯s neck. Sid and Reina¡¯s eyes lit up with shock. In her head, Iveca recited the tenets of the Bureau. One must place the prosperity and the well-being of the Amethan Kingdom as a top priority. One must be loyal to King Amethan and protect him with all your might. One shall not be blinded by personal safety and trust the judgment of the organization. One must cherish their colleagues; protect and trust each other even in the face of death. One must always take care of their own about the secrets they have to keep. The words swam in her head, the last memory of her time at the Bureau lingering in her mind. She tried to stay calm. Even if her current actions were a bit impulsive, she could not pretend she did not know forever. Today, she had rejected Ewill and Anriq¡¯s advice and kicked them out. She was now pointing a dagger at Reina and Sid, who had been together for several days and even had a conversation about almost everything. And inside, she thought about herself and Daniel. Everything they had been through, and everything that was waiting for them. Were games of line ball worth what she was doing? Iveca shook her head. She loved Daniel. The Great Constitution must be completed. Realizing that she might die at Reina and Sid¡¯s hands if she waited much longer, Iveca spoke in a low voice. ¡°I know that the first attack was undertaken by the Bureau of Investigation.¡± And, as always, the beginning of everything went back to the Bureau of Investigation. *** Iveca graduated from college as soon as she came of age, and immediately applied to the Bureau of Investigation. She knew full well that her observational skills and excellent martial arts skills would shine in the Bureau of Investigation. It was the accommodation she was most looking forward to. However, on the day she joined the Bureau with the intention of severing ties with the Esselburn bloodline for good, she had to face Wiles, the Chief Investigator of the Bureau of Investigation. ¡°A woman of the Esselburn noble family? And only eighteen?¡± Wiles laughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°Why the hell did you come to the Bureau of Investigation? No one from a noble family has ever been hired to an affiliated organization.¡± Wiles frowned as he looked into Iveca¡¯s frightened eyes. In fact, if she was a daughter of a noble family, he was not allowed to speak informally to his heart¡¯s content as a commoner. But anyway, he could not use honorifics to new college graduates. That was a matter of principle. ¡°Because¡­ I want to come.¡± Wiles stared blankly at her report card. She was in the first place in physical arts¡­. And the rest of the subjects were not bad. Wiles sighed, looking at her intimidated face, and took her to the Bureau of Investigation Chief Officer, Lucas. Lucas was equally perplexed. He knew that the Count¡¯s daughter went to college, but he really did not know that she was intending to join the Bureau of Investigation. ¡°Iveca der Esselburn.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°I only have one question, really.¡± Lucas looked at Iveca with his serious eyes. ¡°Are you a woman from the Esselburn family, or an employee of the Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°I am an employee of the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Iveca answered without any hesitation at all. ¡°I really want to live as an ordinary investigator.¡± Lucas swept his beard at the desperate answer. It was impossible to turn back because she had already pledged. The wheels turned in his head. The story behind the third daughter of the Esselburn family was the most well-known secret in the kingdom; he couldn¡¯t have missed it. Everyone admitted that she was born because of the Countess¡¯s infidelity, so she did not really appear on the outside of her estate. And yet, here she was. CH 30.2 ¡°Iveca.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What would you do If I entrusted you with collecting information from the noble family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t go to any social gatherings¡­¡± ¡°With such a na?ve attitude, nothing would be possible. You would have to push yourself hard. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied Iveca, ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you ask me to do.¡± Lucas narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly. ¡°In the Bureau of Investigation, the Count¡¯s maiden is too conspicuous, and we often need to move in secret. If your status gets in the way, it¡¯s a hindrance that will ruin everything before it has even begun.¡± Iveca frowned and looked at Lucas with her anxious eyes. Even in college, she could not make friends because she was a count¡¯s daughter. There were no commoners who dared to talk to the high-ranking nobles of the capital first. She was so much younger than her classmates, and she also lacked the confidence to reach out to other people first. So, she, who was always alone, was afraid that she would be kicked out of the Bureau of Investigation because of her false countess¡¯ name. Still, she had already made an oath, so she would not be rejected at any cost, Lucas said with a grin as he tried to comfort her. ¡°Among the secrets left by the Queen Evena, there is an ancient magic that can change appearance. I usually use it for short-term infiltration, but in your case, it would be better to create a completely different life.¡± Iveca looked at Lucas with her puzzled eyes. Evena, the Queen from 100-years ago, who rebuilt the ethics of the affiliated organization and blessed them with her own ancient magic, left many of them at the hands of the Bureau of Investigation. The secret was only shared only by the Bureau of Investigation, and neither the public nor the royal family knew it. ¡°You have to live a different life now. There is no Iveca der Esselburn, the noble daughter of a Countess, but an ordinary investigation officer whose appearance and even profession have changed. Everyone who has known you will not be able to recognize you.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Magical power is like the air that inhabits the human body, so if you use it skillfully, it¡¯s not impossible to change your appearance a little. There were also open rumors that people from the Bureau of Investigation would change their appearance when interrogating. But she never thought of becoming a completely different person. Indeed, it would quite be disturbing for the public to know that the people of the Bureau of Investigation could change their appearance to their heart¡¯s content. Lucas spoke in a low voice as if he had heard her mind. ¡°You know, the secrets of the Bureau of Investigation and its ancient magic are unknown to the royal family as well. Even if you can notice it to some extent, you can¡¯t ask openly. You can act like a nobleman much more naturally than ordinary people who don¡¯t know much about culture classes or aristocratic life, so you¡¯re a great person to be put into a new type of disguise. Are you ready to live with a new personality?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Iveca nodded her head with her determined look. Ironically, she has never had any regrets about herself until now. Rather, she felt relieved. ¡°Then, let¡¯s create a personality. Able to get along well with nobles.¡± Lucas smiled. ¡°Body and eyes, you can¡¯t change them. But the features themselves stand out a little bit now. Other than that, it¡¯s up to you. Oh, of course, you should use an alias. Should you use my last name? It¡¯s a fallen noble, but it¡¯s a quite known castle. What¡¯s your name?¡± Lucas¡¯s last name was Jean. Iveca hesitated for a moment and replied. ¡°Name¡­ is¡­ Eve¡­¡± ¡°Eve Jean, that¡¯s not bad. Is it from Queen Eve?¡± In fact, it was a nickname that Anriq used to call her, but Iveca just nodded silently. Eve was quite common for the name of a woman because Queen Eve was so famous in Amethan. ¡°There¡¯s a training period before you go into action, but why not try changing it from now on for convenience?¡± ¡°It¡¯s great for me.¡± Iveca blinked her eyes and nodded. Lucas smirked at Iveca, who had a completely bright expression on his face, unlike when she entered before. ¡°You should change the color of your hair. Is there any color you want in particular?¡± ¡°¡­Blonde.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s dangerous to have blondes that sparkle like royalty. Because it stands out. You need to give it up even if you will look pretty with it.¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head. Then with hesitation, she added. ¡°Like our sisters¡­ It¡¯s a light, normal blonde.¡± Lucas did not say anything further. From that day on, Iveca lived as an ¡®Eve Jean¡¯. Eve Jean was a cute-looking woman with curly blonde hair and purple eyes. She was educated one way or another with a completely different appearance from the other. Her physical skill, which was her original specialty, was further perfected by close lectures from her seniors. After she was recognized for throwing her dagger more accurately than anyone else, the training to use all kinds of memorization continued. ¡°I¡¯m weak in close combat, but I¡¯m perfect for assassination.¡± No matter how good she was at something, Iveca, who had never been interested in her tutors, gradually began to be known in the Bureau of Investigation office. What she was good at, what she was bad at, and how she could become an irreplaceable talent by taking advantage of her own strengths. Gradually, she began to look more natural in the Bureau of Investigation. It was the first time that she felt she belonged. CH 31.1 ¡°Do you remember the pledge you made to the Bureau of Investigation when you joined?¡± Wiles spoke bluntly. Iveca¡¯s look was blank, so he continued. ¡°We must be loyal to the King. Congratulations on becoming a useful employee for the Amethan Kingdom to work. Don¡¯t be upset because this is where all the parts are gathered. At least, the parts are unconditionally protected.¡± Iveca felt relieved beyond words. She was no longer a stranger in the Bureau. Of course, honing her physical skills wasn¡¯t the end of her initiation. The faces and names of all the employees in the affiliated organization, the genealogy and characteristics of the long-standing royal family, and the status of key figures in the Amethan Kingdom¡­ There were a lot of things to memorize. By the time she got accustomed to all of that, Iveca received her first assignment. ¡°The flow of money in the Sirelia region is strange. I think it has something to do with the rebels that are slowly rising in the Empire¡­ Soon, the lords of the western region will be holding a big banquet, so it would be better if you came along. To keep an eye on things.¡± Lucas looked at Iveca¡¯s report of her education grades with a thoughtful expression. ¡°It¡¯s an area far from Amenity, so you must be vigilant. If there are lords from other regions than the west, remember them all. And if you ever see an Imperial rebel, shoot him.¡± Lucas chuckled. Iveca knew why she had been assigned this mission. The Bureau was aware of her unique ways of speaking and manners because she had received aristocratic education. Thus, she could infiltrate the banquet and observe the actions of the noble effectively. And assassination wasn¡¯t off the table, either. ¡°One day it will be unavoidable, but when it becomes entangled with the rebels, Amethan will become chaotic. We have to postpone the timing unconditionally.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± In the beginning, ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ was a personality created exclusively for infiltration. Lucas seemed to ponder for a moment, then he looked at Iveca¡¯s young-looking face and brushed his beard. ¡°You¡¯re just too young¡­ and since you are from a noble family, there must be some instruments you are good at, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m best at percussion.¡± ¡°Join the Royal Orchestra. Sirelia requested a performance at this banquet because the date of the tour of the Royal Music Troupe coincided. In the future, you will be able to participate in various aristocratic events with this status.¡± Lucas nodded his head as if he was satisfied with his thoughts. She had to set her age a little younger because she lacked some skills for her to formally become a member of a troupe. ¡°All right, then I¡¯ll make you a document saying you¡¯re a distant relative of mine, so you can join the Royal Music Troupe. If you don¡¯t have much to do in the future, please participate in local tours once a year and gather some information. After all, the Royal Musicians are all from the nobility.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± On her first mission, she successfully infiltrated the banquet, and she was naturally able to spot the suspicious behavior of some aristocrats and was able to report it to the Bureau of Investigation. The Imperium, who was directly connected to the rebels, did not visit the banquet but Lucas was very satisfied with her mission. After that, ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ who made her name in the Royal Music Troupe, was one of the members of the local touring group and used that opportunity to gather information from all over the country. There was a tendency to find out something only by going and observing it in person. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the only thing Iveca had to do. At the end of her tour, she returned to Amenity, wrote reports on the areas she had visited, before which she would be sent to ordinary bureaucratic missions. No one knew except for the Bureau of Investigation staff that Iveca was Eve. Iveca occasionally ran into Anriq, the personal escort of Prince William. Of course, Anriq didn¡¯t recognize her at all. She did not miss Anriq because she had many good colleagues. Eve, who became an ordinary employee of an affiliated agency, escaped from the life as Count¡¯s daughter who had always endured everything and lived a literal life of freedom. She was not ¡®Esselburn Lady¡¯ but ¡®Eve Jean¡¯, an ordinary investigator. So, in the three and a half years she lived as Eve Jean, several things had happened. Upon the death of Prince William, Anriq became the escort of his younger brother Daniel, the third prince and the evil deeds of Queen Testy were revealed through the performance of her junior, Kayden Ruth and Rezen Hakart, who came from the pharmaceutical empire, and after that Daniel became King by winning the battle of the throne. Coincidentally, she did not participate in the final trial that led to Daniel¡¯s ascension to the throne, as she had just been touring the provinces and was not on Amenity until the next day. CH 31.2 ¡°Eve, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life, not seeing the biggest trial in history.¡± Reina giggled with her arms around Eve¡¯s shoulders as she came to work rubbing her eyes at dawn. ¡°Still, I didn¡¯t go through a lot of trouble because Kayden Ruth stopped me, so it¡¯s okay. If you had been there, you would have raked up all the dirty, terrible evidence.¡± Iveca¡¯s face, which was grinning at Reina, showed no uneasy expression from three and a half years ago. The comfortable way of speaking, tired but clear eyes, and not so awkward gestures were all natural. ¡°That¡¯s true. Sid was on the team, and he said he¡¯d seen all the horrible things he¡¯d seen in 10 years. When will you finish your report? Let¡¯s have a drink afterwards, okay. We haven¡¯t seen each other in months.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think a person can stay up for two nights?¡± Iveca stretched and rubbed her eyes. Sid and Reina were much older seniors than Iveca, whom she had never met in college. Her colleagues who knew her since college did not get close to her, but instead, she got close to Reina and Sid, who was on her first mission together. In particular, Reina, who was rolling her eyes at her at the beginning, gave her warm words and took care of her like a sister It was three and a half years. For three and a half years, Iveca had been doing well in the Bureau of Investigation. It was only one of her duties to insincerely become a percussion player in the Royal Music Troupe, Eve Jean, and acted as bubbly, talkative, downfallen aristocrat Lady. Since she was originally an aristocrat, it was easy for her to act like an aristocrat ignoring the commoners. All she had to do was imitate her immature youngest sister, Eria. In addition, Iveca has been involved in many dangerous and secret missions because of her excellent memorization skills. The more work she was assigned to, the more she felt confident as she was being recognized by the Bureau of Investigation. The memory of when she was in the Count estate, who was doing good at everything, but no one paid attention to her, has already become unfamiliarly distant. That¡¯s how much she changed not only her appearance but also her inner self. ¡°Okay, then the day after tomorrow, let¡¯s drink with Sid and the three of us should drink like a fish. Did anything fun happen with some pretty guys in the countryside?¡± ¡°There was a cute-looking boy among the sons of the Lord of Ephesus, so we met lightly and broke up in tears. His looks were my style, but I was a little bit tired of seeing him for more than a month. I managed to stop him from coming along to other local tours.¡± Reina laughed at Iveca¡¯s natural words. Iveca lived as an ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ and was also free to date lightly. Shortly after she joined the Bureau of Investigation, she told Reina about her Anriq. Reina pushed her to forget about him and go out freely. ¡®Hey, what¡¯s bad about commoners? It¡¯s good that you can date anyone without thinking about reputation!¡¯ Reina and Iveca became close because Reina was acting a fool most of the time and was considered a freak among the investigation staff. Reina never judged what Iveca said, no matter how noble she was, and Iveca liked it. ¡®He can¡¯t ignore the Count¡¯s kindness? So, you need to do political marriage? That mean bastard, I would rather be cut off because he did not see me as a woman. And you don¡¯t like him. You were attracted to him because he was your only friend. Was it real? Just go out with another guy. Then you¡¯ll know it¡¯s nothing.¡¯ Iveca took Reina¡¯s advice and had a few casual relationships. At first, she had a hard time because she had no eyes for men, so she suffered a lot and shed tears a few times, but after three and a half years she reached a point where all men looked like nothing. If Reina wanted Iveca to be like her, it was a huge success. ¡°I¡¯ll hear how cute you guys were on the day after tomorrow. Write your report well.¡± Reina messed her hair once and left her desk. Iveca laughed and stretched out to write a report in earnest. Her left hand with the pen moved busily. She was left-handed, but until she entered the Bureau of Investigation, she ate and wrote with her right hand. However, after entering the Bureau of Investigation, she began to write with her left hand by living as ¡®Eve Jean¡¯, and her handwriting became better and much prettier. However, within twenty minutes, she had to face Sid, who brought her a cup of aromatic coffee. ¡°Eve, the chief¡¯s calling.¡± Sid was a man with blue hair and a cute boyish appearance, a typical investigator who looked younger than he was but blunt and quiet. Rather, he seemed to be close friends with Reina, who was lacking here and there. Maybe it was because their opposite personalities complimented each other. CH 32.1 Sid spoke with an indifferent face. Iveca looked disappointed. ¡°Ah.¡± The Bureau of Investigation had almost all of its employees on duty, even though it was late at night. So much for quality of life, thought Iveca. As soon as she got back from the countryside, being called in meant they would give her another mission almost immediately. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Iveca, who had woken up in a sullen mood, put down a cup of coffee that Sid had brought on her desk. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been on board for a drink, but I¡¯ve been up all night for three days in a row, so I think I¡¯ll have to get off work first. I leave it to you.¡± ¡°Oh my God, just say you picked it up on your way here.¡± ¡°See you later,¡± Sid replied bluntly, before walking away. Iveca grinned and took a sip of the coffee he gave her. It must have been quite expensive because she felt her head clear at once. The local tour was fun, but anyway, she slowly stood up. It would be best to remain in Amenity with her friends. However, her mood, which had improved a little, was shattered when she met Wiles. ¡°Eve, this is an emergency. I suspended Kayden Ruth for three months. But now His Majesty Danie has just taken the throne, so the Bureau of Investigation is very busy. There are so many injured people and so many of them have requested sick leave. We¡¯re overrun.¡± Wiles examined the overflowing report. Kayden was Daniel¡¯s close friend since he was a prince. Therefore, it was always his role to give Daniel a report about the Bureau of Investigation. However, Kayden Ruth was suspended as soon as Daniel ascended to the throne for illegally requesting pharmaceutical officer Regen Hakart to investigate his rise to power. That¡¯s why the position of the reporter of the current King was vacant. In the other words, they needed to give it back to Kayden Ruth once he returned in three months. ¡°So, while we suspended Kayden Ruth for three months, you¡¯re going to have to take charge of delivering the report like Kayden was doing previously to the King. You¡¯ve never seen him in person, have you?¡± No matter how much she learned musical instruments during her day as an aristocrat, she was no match for musical members who played musical instruments professionally. She had never been on a major stage where royalty took part. Even if Lucas had been behind her, she still lacked skills. It was not a big problem in performing the work because the primary purpose was to understand the information, not the performance. Listening to her, Wiles nodded as if she had done just fine. She did not want to deliver the report to the new King, but Eve, who still had to be loyal to the organization, said yes. The person in charge of the Bureau of Investigation will directly post the report of serious cases. As a result, it was highly important for Eve to post a comprehensive report, except the usual formal or insignificant synthetic report. Daniel also entrusted Kayden with the delivery of the comprehensive report to him because he wanted to have a regular private conversation with him to his heart¡¯s content, not to rely on him. ¡°Now that he just ascended to the throne, he must have mixed feelings. In particular, he would want to look at the dynamics of the noble families, so you are the one who can give the best advice about Amenity aristocrats. Rather, it would be much more helpful to grasp the dynamics than Kayden, who came from a provincial aristocrat.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I understand.¡± But there was another reason her heart twisted strangely. She must see Anriq regularly when she enters the palace to deliver the report to the King, Daniel. The man who bowed to become the King¡¯s weapon, flatly rejecting her outstretched hand, considering that he had no emotion, no family, and no life. However, Anriq could not recognize Iveca anyway. It was because she would enter the palace as Eve Jean, not as Iveca der Esselburn. She had to stand in front of him as a cute woman with curly blonde hair tied high, not a timid woman with black hair hanging down. Did she still like him? Iveca could answer that she did not at once. As Reina said, when she was at the Count estate, she was just desperate because he was the only one with her. As she freely came out into the world and lived her life, the purity of her first love faded. What did she do with him? She just learned how to throw daggers and played a few more games. She could not think of any memories afterwards. The moment he rejected her hand, it was nearly forgotten. But something embedded the last words he said into her heart. ¡®I am a descendant of a fallen aristocrat who has no estate, and I will be a royal guard. Countess Esselburn is an ancient aristocratic family with a long history and tradition. Since the count has no son¡­. Countess Esselburn will adopt Sierra Lean¡¯s son.¡¯ Adopting a grandson was expedient to keep the surname ¡®Esselburn¡¯. ¡®And the rest of the sisters, of course, have to get married to get empowered politically. Aaron needs to have a stepping stone until he becomes a normal adult and succeeds the count. I¡¯m not on the same level with you, alright? Sierra Leone is married to the eldest son of Duke Muelton. I¡¯m not the least bit helpful to Esselburn¡¯s name.¡¯ As she returned to her seat and took another sip of Sid¡¯s coffee, she filed a comprehensive report with tired eyes. It was all old stories. When she thought about herself, she felt unfamiliar. CH 32.2 ¡°It¡¯s neatly organized. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Working on delivering the report to Daniel for about a month, Iveca learned some facts about the new King. Contrary to the Wiles¡¯ expectation, Daniel knew the movements of the aristocracy more accurately than anyone else. It seemed to be because he had held many meetings and fought for the throne since he was a prince and was close to various aristocrats. It was also known from Iveca¡¯s report that he met several aristocrats¡¯ children during the struggle for the throne. What she understood was not only his taste of the young ladies but also the characteristics of each noble family. I can see it with my eyes, like, really see it. Iveca thought, staring blankly at Daniel¡¯s long fingers as he read the report. Young kids who would have answered everything with such pretty faces. And behind him stood Anriq like a picture, without giving her any attention. ¡°You said you are Eve Jean, right?¡± Anriq was supposed to respond upon hearing the word ¡®Eve¡¯, but there was no change in Anriq¡¯s expression. Indeed, it was a common name because many women who read the biography of Queen Eve used to name their daughter¡¯s Eve. ¡°Very interesting. They are betting on my marriage?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trend among aristocrats these days.¡± ¡°Did you put it on the report because you thought it was something I should care about?¡± Daniel smiled kindly and used honorifics to her, a mere member of the Bureau of Investigation. But what Iveca has noticed so far was that the honorifics he used were just a means of making people feel distant, not an expression of politeness. Iveca replied indifferently. ¡°You can see what people think. The opponent with the lowest dividend right now is the daughter of Duke Muelton. It means that everyone thinks you¡¯re going to marry her, so you shouldn¡¯t trust the list of aristocrats lining up for Duke Muelton.¡± The King would already have some idea, but once asked, she continued calmly. ¡°The people who share the line with Count Esselburn are more loyal to the countesses. The dividend of Iveca der Esselburn, the third daughter of the Count, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, is 1992 times, so it is almost impossible.¡± With those words, Daniel seemed to have finally developed an interest in Eve Jean, an investigation officer who was standing in front of him. ¡°Wiles recommends you and says you will give me expert advice on the aristocracy.¡± ¡°I used to be a member of the Royal Music Company, and as a child, sometimes he entrusted myself to various aristocratic families.¡± Iveca recited Eve¡¯s identity, which Lucas had given her, and Daniel didn¡¯t seem to have questions. He smiled as he was interested. ¡°Then, you, as an officer of the Bureau of Investigation, who do you think I should marry?¡± You have to find someone to marry. Why are you asking ridiculous questions to an investigation officer? Iveca murmured inside but briefly swallowed dry saliva, looking at his sculptural handsome face. Any woman who would marry this young king would be quite insecure. He was kind to everyone, and he was ridiculously handsome. A painting-like man with blonde hair that glistens beyond her dim blonde hair, with deep eyes and shining blue eyes. ¡°Whether I can marry a woman that I like, you know about that?¡± She thought for a moment and answered. ¡°I think it would be easier for you to marry the woman you like.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°There is a limit on how much weight a person can carry. The weight of the throne is enormous, so the weight that can be devoted to love should be, of course, small.¡± ¡°Tell me the details.¡± She replied calmly to his light request. ¡°Affiliated women ignore aristocratic children. They do not have the freedom to get married, they talk about other people behind their back, and they only focus on beauty and grooming, and they think it¡¯s happiness to live in luxury.¡± Seeing the excitement in Daniel¡¯s blue eyes, Iveca continued. ¡°All that can be said is because there is no weight from birth. I maintain the aristocracy under the weight of the family. There is a duty of hereditary succession to decide the policies of the country while continuing the revival of the family. The Fallen Nobility is plentiful at his feet, and one must be careful that his downfall does not come in his generation.¡± CH 33.1 Although she was in the middle, Iveca felt like she was living two different lives. The attitude of commoners and aristocrats in life had always differed, although, if she hadn¡¯t come to the Bureau of Investigation, she would have taken it for granted. ¡°For that, the marriage of aristocrats is, of course, an important strategy. Historically, many families have escaped the crisis through well-established marriages. The weight differs from the beginning as an organization¡¯s employees, who live and end their own lives, are individuals after all. Behind the scenes, beauty, grooming, luxury, and pleasure are a careful calculation that happens because you can¡¯t risk everything on love, and it¡¯s inevitable because of the weight of the family. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair for the employees of affiliated organizations or even royalty to ignore the aristocratic children.¡± ¡°That¡¯s funny. You are saying those kinds of things even though you are an employee of an affiliated organization.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a family name to protect. So, I live as my heart desires.¡± Iveca answered as ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ and smiled. There was something she had to see as she was out of her circle. Living a half-life as Eve Jean, not that she did not understand what Anriq said. No, she knew it very well since she was young. The era when the third prince became King, which no one expected. Count Esselburn had no heir yet. His five daughters were merely chess horses, only good for marriage. The bloodline must prosper the blood of the Esselburn family for the next 1,000 years, as it has been for 1,000 years from the days when they were born into an aristocratic family. Ewill might not think that she was his daughter, but he would have wished for her marriage as a woman with the last name ¡®Esselburn¡¯, but she ran away altogether. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be back in two days.¡± After looking at Daniel¡¯s long eyelashes once and Anriq¡¯s expressionless face once, Iveca bowed politely. *** That evening, Iveca, Reina, and Sid had a drink in the largest bar in front of the Royal College of Magic. ¡°What do you think, Eve? Is he nice?¡± Reina¡¯s tongue twisted and asked, giggling. Iveca shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Well, he¡¯s always the same.¡± ¡°No fun. Do you have any interesting information about whether he looks very good up close, or that he is not as good as you think before?¡± Sid sighed and looked at Reina. ¡°Please, Reina. Please refrain from talking behind his back. You know that there might be someone listening.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure the Bureau of Investigation is listening.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Iveca smirked and drank. Every time she saw Sid, she found his low voice and blunt personality interesting, even if it did not suit his boyish appearance. ¡°Eve, you¡¯ve got to do a good job. Who knew that you¡¯ll fill in the most boring and blunt Kayden¡¯s vacancy and become his closest aide? Tell him something funny with your soft voice. With love and care, as you do with your lover.¡± ¡°I will. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m an expert. Today¡¯s report¡­ it even said the stakes for the next Queen. Well, I guess even Kings get tired.¡± ¡°Oh my, the next Queen? Let¡¯s say you¡¯re a dating expert and you¡¯re whispering next to him about how to handle the aristocrat¡¯s lady. Of course, before that, tell us who she is. I have to put all my money on it.¡± Sid looked displeased throughout, but Iveca chuckled as she bumped her glass into Reina¡¯s. Joking about casual relationships with Reina has been one of Iveca¡¯s long-standing hobbies. Reina said with her eyes shining, ¡°Eve, tell me something interesting about your trip to the countryside.¡± ¡°Nothing much. I just only met one cute looking guy who also acted like an immature aristocratic noble heir. I was tired of seeing him often, so I said goodbye forever while I was on tour.¡± ¡°What are you sick of? You said he was cute.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t look good for a long-term relationship in the future. I guess I don¡¯t like cute and young men.¡± Sid, who always kept silent in his seat when two women chatted, emptied the glass in front of him without saying a word. Iveca continued, resting her chin on her drunken, drowsy drunk face. It was cute to see her stomping around with her slightly loose tongue. ¡°Should I give you some dating advice?¡± Iveca held up one of her fingers and gave her a serious look on her face. ¡°Affection is inertia, purity is self-deception, and lust is fantasy.¡± Reina giggled and clapped as she spoke emphatically. Sid looked unhappy, but Iveca did not stop. ¡°If you shut up and meet anyone, it¡¯s all the same, anyway.¡± ¡°Shut up and meet anyone, that¡¯s great!¡± ¡°Oh, cancel. Not anyone, but someone who¡¯s handsome. If it¡¯s a feeling that¡¯s going to sparkle for a moment.¡± Reina giggled and added that she was happy to have Iveca back. ¡°What the hell happened to you?¡± Looking at Iveca, who was being sceptical of her continuous love affair, Sid clicked his tongue with a pathetic face. Iveca shrugged lightly. ¡°Because It¡¯s good to have a handsome face, if I may.¡± CH 33.2 ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°I told you, affection is inertia, purity is self-deception, lust is fantasy, love is not worth it. Just run some missions and have a drink with your colleagues.¡± Iveca muffled her voice, and she grinned. ¡°I guess it¡¯s my mother¡¯s blood, who couldn¡¯t stand half a year without my father and experimented with a young, handsome stableman, which also ran down to me.¡± Iveca had completely overcome herself in the past, to where the trauma that once had been a heavy burden on her was now a joke. She realized firsthand that her emotions, her personality, and a person¡¯s disposition depend on the situation. If she had a few close colleagues that had a good relationship with her and she could share her feelings, her self-esteem would rise quickly. She used to congratulate herself that it was a wise choice to leave the Count and live as Eve Jean. ¡°Eve is right. You can choose anyone. After all, they are all there anyway, and there are one or two noble girls who fell in love with His Majesty Daniel and harassed their father during the battle of the throne. Friendly, soft, fairytale-like prince.¡± Reina made an exaggerated gesture, and Sid spoke firmly. ¡°He hasn¡¯t been on the throne for long. You are just too busy to care about such things. And the Queen¡¯s seat is not a place for you to discuss as a joke.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with talking about the Queen¡¯s position¨Cit¡¯s not like he¡¯s going to give it around.¡± Iveca groaned and pinched her nose. Reina asked with her eyes wide open. ¡°Why? I¡¯ll do it if you give it to me.¡± ¡°There is no freedom, wait for a King who¡¯s busy all day, and I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s an administrative officer or the pharmaceutical empire, but if you become a queen, you will hardly be able to take on the duties of the Bureau of Investigation. Are you crazy? I¡¯d rather¡­¡± She grinned and lifted the glass. ¡°Seriously, shall I aim for Kayden Ruth¡¯s position? If I become one of His Majesty¡¯s closest aides, a promotion must be on the horizon, right? Should I do it before our seniors do?¡± Of course, it was purely a joke. Iveca had no intention of continuing this tedious work even after Kayden¡¯s return in the next three months. Daniel was also not interested in Iveca, and she was just an employee. A replaceable one, at that. ¡°Be careful of what you say. Reina, you need to abandon your childish side. You¡¯re the only idiot in the entire Bureau of Investigation.¡± Sid sighed and said, but Reina and Iveca did not listen with their ears as always. This was because nothing has happened in the past three and a half years. Perhaps because of that, they were not aware of the fact that a young man with thick glasses, wearing a hood in the seat behind them, sat until the end of their drinking party. It was the following evening that Iveca took Sid¡¯s advice heartily. *** Originally, it was normal to report every two days in the morning, but an emergency broke out and Iveca had to submit the report the next day in a hurry near midnight. This is because the emperor of the Empire caused a huge landslide to defeat the rebels. Although it was foreign affairs, the Empire was a country that showed loyalty towards the Amethan Kingdom, and the landslide was even close to the Amethan border. The Foreign Office¡¯s comprehensive report would arrive later with an official announcement, so it had to be delivered quickly, even if it was urgent. It was already past midnight when Iveca entered the palace in a hurry, and she had to go directly to Daniel¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Wait there a minute, please. Your Highness is dressing.¡± It was Anriq who almost ran and intercepted her when she arrived in front of Daniel¡¯s bedroom. Daniel also seemed to have woken up after receiving an urgent message. ¡°I can¡¯t keep her waiting long because she¡¯ll be busy with all this sudden happening. Let her in.¡± Daniel¡¯s voice in the door was unclear. ¡°Come on in.¡± Anriq opened the door, and Iveca carefully entered the King¡¯s bedroom. It was colourful and beautiful, but smaller than she thought. Daniel was sitting at the table with a rather dishevelled face. She blinked at the King¡¯s bedroom for the first time. It was on the east side, but there was no shield by the window, and if it was midnight and he just woke up, he must be the one who went to bed early and woke up early. ¡°You can leave, Anriq.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I am with an employee in a Bureau of Investigation uniform. You can count on it.¡± Iveca looked foolishly at Daniel, sitting at the table with a report. It was surprising to see the neatness that she has always seen as an audience. The silk indoor clothes were simple, and the opening peeped the slick collarbone and hard muscles that drove her mind to distraction. CH 34.1 The dishevelled blonde hair was strangely more pleasing to the eye than his almost unrealistically perfect figure. The eyes that were out of focus, his gestures that seemed to flinch strangely; both of them caught her eye and held it. Daniel¡¯s eyes slowly came to focus as he was reading the report Iveca gave him. The fact that there were Republicans behind the rebels in the Empire was also serious to Iveca. She stood still and waited for his approval. ¡°Eve.¡± He called her name for the first time. ¡°Republicans deny hereditary succession.¡± ¡°There are many characteristics, but denying hereditary succession seems to be the most attractive factor for the rebels in the Empire. Because the Emperor of the Empire is so tyrannical.¡± She answered in a sharp voice, and Daniel thought for a moment before asking. ¡°What do you think?¡± Iveca was astonished because it was the first time Daniel spoke informally to her, no, to someone. There wasn¡¯t even a friendly smile he always wore all the time. ¡°Last time, you made a long-winded argument about hereditary succession and the weight that comes with it. Tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a long-winded argument, I am just telling the truth.¡± Iveca was a little embarrassed but replied professionally. If the King asked for her idea, she had to answer. ¡°I don¡¯t think of denying heredity as the only advantage.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°For example, if a leader is completely out of the weight of the nation like a term ¡®it was mine and should be passed on¨Che may still reside there for the duration of his term. Oh, sorry. I used vulgar words.¡± ¡°Speak comfortably. It¡¯s a royal order.¡± If one didn¡¯t obey the royal order, he had to stand trial. The weight was too heavy for her joke that Iveca flinched inside. It was natural for the King to speak informally to his subordinates, but she was under a strange pressure because of a unique aspect of the conversation. Still, Iveca replied in a calm voice, trying not to be intimidated. ¡°If the state was not mine, wouldn¡¯t I be irresponsible? I think the Republican blind spot is that we have to rely on pure convictions for the public good of the individual.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°But the law is above the leader, so the leader cannot make a big mistake. I found it inhumane and unfair to put inanimate objects on top of all humans.¡± ¡°Putting inanimate objects on top of all human beings¡­. That¡¯s one way to phrase it.¡± Silence passed. Daniel just glanced into the report and did not approve it, so she had to keep waiting. Indeed, the King¡¯s thoughts on the republican ideas were likely to be complex. Even she, who lived as Eve Jean, has been flabbergasted by the claim of the abolition of the status system, and what kind of emotion would the King have towards the Republican idea that wanted to bring him down? ¡°All right.¡± He clenched his jaw and grinned. The blue eyes that looked straight at her shined almost supernaturally. ¡°If you want to take Kayden Ruth¡¯s position, you must have the courage to speak about the merits of Republicanism in front of the King.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± In a conversation that followed so naturally, Iveca had to doubt at first whether what she had heard was right. But after slowly recounting his words, Iveca felt her heart drop. Soon, her legs were shaking. He spoke in a languid, sweet voice, but a scornful smirk hung over his face. His face was even pretentious, as it showed that the friendly smile that he had given usually was also artificial. ¡°I speak informally to Kayden. So if you want that position, listen to me too.¡± ¡°Yo, Yo, Your Highness¡­¡± Everyone jokingly said that the Bureau of Investigation staff knew all the conversations in the Amethan Kingdom, but they were the Bureau of Investigation staff. It was a bar in front of the university, and there were no investigation officers around. Iveca had a brain freeze over what had happened. She wasn¡¯t embarrassed by anything as she went through all the ugly gossip in the Bureau of Investigation, but this time she was blind. What the hell did I say at the drinking party¡­ Even if she was immediately executed for contempt of the royal family, she had nothing to say. ¡°I apologize. If there is any disciplinary action, I will humbly accept it.¡± ¡°Why are you taking disciplinary action? Behind the scenes, they also speak ill of the emperor.¡± The rigid Iveca¡¯s voice was followed by a soft-spoken one, yet a frown was displayed. ¡°But if I put you on the Queen¡¯s seat, it would be a greater punishment than disciplinary punishment. I won¡¯t even give it to you.¡± He looked so pretty that he poured out sarcastic words as if they were funny, which made her feel a little bit strange. She did not know what Daniel was thinking about, but she did not expect him to spit out such a bad, sarcastic tone. Still, Iveca bowed her head in silence as an employee of an affiliated organization who had to devote her allegiance to him. ¡°Be gentle and tell some funny stories beside me. You said you are good at it.¡± CH 34.2 He grinned as if he was bewitching, but Iveca swallowed her dry saliva because of her estrangement from the King¡¯s usual appearance. It was unbelievable that such a sweet King could humiliate people like this. Many people predicted that there would be a unique personality hidden behind the King¡¯s picturesque smile, but she did not know of anyone who encountered this situation. ¡°It¡¯s the King¡¯s order.¡± The young King, with his blue, deep eyes, smooth appearance like a carved stone, and a solid body that matched his beautiful appearance, was openly teasing her. She answered in a low voice, sighing. There was nothing she could do about what had already happened, anyway. ¡°Maybe¡­ You were there. There were no investigation staff, and you knew exactly the mundane jokes that weren¡¯t worth reporting¡­¡­ I believe you¡¯ve been hiding.¡± Daniel was no longer panicked but gave a slight look of surprise at Iveca¡¯s calm reasoning. Iveca, who deduced a positive answer from his silence, continued in a low voice. ¡°We went to a bar in the university district where students who had just come out from college secretly took off their school uniforms and went there. It¡¯s not a good place to get a sense of people¡¯s lives. I think the reason you went undercover in such a place was pure because you longed for your past.¡± Her face, which had turned white, suddenly returned to its colour, and her voice regained composure. Iveca continued without hesitation. ¡°But the past never comes back, and people change with the environment.¡± Daniel was silent. ¡°You suddenly ascended the throne that you did not want and I know you miss your free past.¡± That the King went to the bar where college students were going meant that he cared more about the happiness of the past than now. She was a timid child when she had just left the Count¡¯s estate, but as she gradually became a different person, Daniel would also be a different person for his new throne. People were not that free from their environment. ¡°But in a new environment, there will be new people to match with you. If you live like that, you will become a better King than anyone else.¡± After finishing her words calmly, Iveca lowered her head once more. ¡°I hope the conversation will be smooth enough and pleasant for you.¡± It was advice that started with reasoning, identified his feelings, and then followed suitably. Daniel looked at her as if he were looking at a strange person. Iveca knew well that even if she said sorry and kept quivering under his stare, her earnestness would not work for those who held the blade of forgiveness. Because she lived eighteen years trembling and it did not work for her family. That was why she complied with the King¡¯s demands neatly and ended the situation. The King¡¯s disposition that she had observed for a month as more heartless than she had expected, but it was not vicious. She knew that if she answered this much, he would let her go now, even if there might be further disciplinary action against her. But Daniel tilted his head and grinned. ¡°This is how you do it with your lovers? With love and attention?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Daniel¡¯s face lit up with interest as he looked at Iveca¡¯s face, which swallowed a sigh. In fact, for a month, he did not show a slight interest in the investigation staff. Two days ago, he just thought it was unique to be an employee of an affiliated organization but speaking up for noble girls. Her sister, Princess Ashe, was one of those pathologically disliked aristocratic children. Perhaps she did not like the entire relationship leading to a political union. However, he thought it surprising that an employee of an affiliated organization made a statement acknowledging the political spirit itself. His close friends went away, and his brothers tried to kill each other. One day, suddenly, people he believed would be with him left, leaving only the lonely throne. So last night, when he went out on a hiking trip with a lonely heart, he found Eve, who was laughing and chatting with her colleagues and drinking excitedly. ¡®Eve, you must do a good job. Who knows that you can fill the most boring and blunt Kayden¡¯s vacancy and become his closest aide. Tell him something gentle and funny. With love and care, as you do with your lover.¡¯ ¡®Really, shall we aim for Kayden Ruth¡¯s seat? If I become his closest aide, I¡¯ll be promoted quickly, right? Should we do it before the seniors?¡¯ Unlike the hard and formal expression that she used to present the report every day, her relaxed face was strange, so he sat still on the back seat. Then Daniel, who was at first taken aback by the bluffs that continued to make no sense, eventually burst into laughter. This was because the cute appearance, who had unrelenting skepticism about love, and jokes that she was aiming for the position of Kayden Ruth, was different from the hard-boiled Bureau of Investigation staff that he saw every day. CH 35.1 However, he was just trying to make fun of it impulsively, thinking the gap between them was disgusting. But her face, who responded with a clearer and more businesslike attitude than expected, was just confident. So, he delayed the approval of the report and looked at her with a twirling smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you show a little more love and attention like you do to your sweethearts? Ah, but it was fun to see how you felt with all this reasoning.¡± Iveca felt like her ears were burning. What the hell were you saying about all the crazy stuff at a drinking party¡­ But she could not refuse the King¡¯s offer. Believing in Daniel¡¯s humanity, whom she had met for a month, she continued with closed eyes. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t just end with these words.¡± She continued, judging that it would be better to change the person in charge by hurting Daniel¡¯s feelings or not at all than to suffer until Kayden returned by vaguely wrapping it up. ¡°One cannot show enough love and attention in a short time without touching fingertips.¡± Daniel, who seemed relaxed at those words, smiled as if he was bewildered. Iveca quickly bit her lips, wondering if it was the right decision to say such words. But Daniel clouded her thoughts as if he were more embarrassed about it. ¡°What do you mean¡­ Fingertips¡­¡± It was as if a child were rambling. Iveca replied cautiously, blinking her eyes. ¡°It means physical contact.¡± Silence passed for a moment. It was the first time that the King, who had always taken the initiative in dialogue, showed such unnatural embarrassment. Iveca looked at Daniel quietly as she said hurriedly. ¡°Whoever it is, it makes me feel guilty to think that way about someone who isn¡¯t married¡­¡± Iveca¡¯s mouth opened, noticing that Daniel¡¯s tone of voice continued as if he was making an excuse and that there was a sense of shame talking about this topic. What kind of king is suddenly ashamed of such a subject! It seemed like it was the first time that the two of them talked about such a physical relationship. Somehow dumbfounded, Iveca asked blankly. There was a royal order to speak comfortably. ¡°Excuse me, Your Majesty¡­. With a woman¡­ Have you ever held hands?¡± ¡°When dancing or escorting?¡± As she heard his voice grow quieter, Iveca forgot she was trembling a little ago and asked carefully one more time. ¡°Ha, have you ever kissed?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never imagined it. It¡¯s just that the idea itself¡­¡± Iveca spoke bluntly to the shy King, as she worried about the future successor of the Amethan royal family. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a guilty thing to think about someone who¡¯s not married. In particular, Your Majesty cannot be free from future succession issues. If the Queen cannot have a child, you also need to have one from the concubine¡­ It¡¯s also the weight of the throne. Maintain the Amethan dynasty. It is a continuation of the 1,000-year history that has been passed down until now.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s natural, so you should never feel guilty. The previous King loved one woman, but he had three concubines. If he had only had a relationship with the woman he loved, you would not have been born in this world.¡± Iveca paused for a while because she felt that she shouldn¡¯t have said the last word. Why did she make so many non-considerate remarks today? Perhaps it was because His Majesty, who always flowed softly like water, was dealing with her in a way that was different from his usual attire and tone. Because he was the one who was constantly changing according to the environment. Fortunately, Daniel did not seem offended by her and instead looked at her quietly while searching through her gaze. ¡°Then have you become entangled with others without love?¡± Iveca nodded her head easily. ¡°Because love and sparks are different. Lust is like a fantasy, and it has no substance. Before you fill it, your body feels like it¡¯s too sweet, but when you¡¯re full of it, it¡¯s nothing. So I don¡¯t think too deeply about it.¡± Daniel no longer made fun of her but signed the report with his mouth shut. Eve accepted the report and bowed. ¡°Then have a good night, Your Majesty. If you are uncomfortable with my remarks, tell the Bureau of Investigation to change the person in charge¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Iveca¡¯s words were immediately cut off. ¡°Try a little harder.¡± In an artificial and arrogant tone, he grinned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Because tonight was a lot more fun than being with Kayden. You know what? Why don¡¯t you come sooner?¡± Iveca¡¯s ears were red. CH 35.2 ¡°I¡¯ve been around the provinces for three months now, haven¡¯t I? But in those three months, so much has happened that I¡¯m stunned.¡± Because Reina was on a business trip, Iveca had to have lunch with Sid alone. Sid raised his eyebrows as if to talk while eating without saying a word. Iveca frowned and dipped the salad with a fork. ¡°I wonder if Princess Ashe was evil enough to poison Prince William, and Prince Ruben, who had longed for the throne, suddenly left with everything down, and I know nothing about King Daniel, who now sits on the throne. I thought he was a sweet man¡­ Something feels strange when we¡¯re together.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to say that Daniel heard everything that happened at the last drinking party. Sid already thought she said everything she could not say as she did with Reina, but if she talked about it, she won¡¯t be able to say anything anymore. Sid said as he ate quietly. ¡°He¡¯s a good man. I can bet you at least a three-month salary that he won¡¯t be a tyrant. But royalty is always different inside and outside. I don¡¯t know what he is thinking inside. That¡¯s what it is as a monarch. I heard everyone is panicking now because he did not throw away the progressive nobles after he ascended to the throne.¡± ¡°Well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too involved. After all, in two months, Kayden will come back.¡± Sid said firmly. Iveca laughed bashfully. ¡°Still, he is handsome. Is it the essence of a handsome man? When I look at it, my eyes feel like watching something luxurious.¡± ¡°Do you want more salad?¡± ¡°Ah, thank you. But Senior, why aren¡¯t you eating today?¡± ¡°The chief turned the snack around in the morning. You probably did not get it because you were on your way reporting.¡± ¡°No wonder! Everyone did not go to lunch¡­ But why did you come?¡± Iveca rolled her eyes and spoke, but Sid bluntly scratched the back of his ear without changing his expression. ¡°I don¡¯t skip meals.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t get too close. For an employee of an affiliated agency who is close to the royal family, the ending has never been good.¡± ¡°His Majesty did not even think well of me.¡± Iveca sighed with her lower voice. ¡°He hasn¡¯t been interested in it for a month, but I¡¯m not even halfway through. Anyway, it¡¯s not my favourite job. No fun.¡± Sid shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I think it¡¯s better to run on the field.¡± Iveca was famous in the Bureau of Investigation for throwing daggers quickly and accurately. Supporting the skills learned from Anriq, the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s training was added to help her deal with all kinds of memorization well. She has been involved in many dangerous tasks, but each time Iveca had achieved quite excellent results, and the achievements completely overshadowed the shy bastard of the past. ¡°Hold on, Kayden is coming soon.¡± She could not believe that she would wait for her unfamiliar junior, Kayden. Iveca sighed. At least she would not have been so uncomfortable if she had not noticed the conversation at the party. *** Two days later, when she entered the palace with an urgent report, she was told that Daniel was hunting with some nobles. Since it was a report on the rebel forces of the Empire, Iveca did not hesitate to borrow a horse and head to the hunting ground. After learning that the idea of forming a rebel army was republicanism, Daniel¡¯s mind was focused more on it than anything else. The report was quite urgent because it included the Staram Island that they were watching on. Judging from his usual behaviour, it was unlikely that he would enjoy hunting, and he would just treat it as a social gathering with nobles. He would not want to delay an urgent report just because he was hunting. Having entered the hunting grounds without difficulty, she heard Daniel¡¯s location from the maids and steered her horse towards it. As she drove her horse without thinking, she suddenly saw Daniel caught in her sight, and she was bewildered. Daniel¡¯s profile pulling a bow in the hunting ground was new, so she paused. There was a moment of cruelty in the cold eyes while preying, and the tension shown in his tight lips. The unshakable posture and firmly standing muscles were anew. Iveca looked at the King¡¯s bow without knowing why he was hanging it around. She stood in dazed until Daniel¡¯s arrow flew swiftly in a parabola to hit a beast, and as the hound ran out, Daniel looked straight at her. When he looked at her, his cruel eyes vanished, and his friendly eyes smiled. But Eve noticed that the sweet face was his consciousness for the surrounding people. This was because the sarcastic informal language remained. CH 36.1 ¡°Eve, why are you here? Did something happen?¡± He inquired, his tone one of distress. ¡°I¡¯ve been dispatched to deliver an urgent report,¡± she said, puffing out her response, trying, unsuccessfully, to catch her breath. She wearily dismounted, the fatigue from the long ride evident in her sluggish movements. Daniel sat on his horse, with Anriq, his perpetual shadow hovering nearby. He passed his bow to the escort guard next to him and received Iveca¡¯s report. As he read the report, he knew that if it was indeed Starram, the man solely responsible for the Empire¡¯s civil war, behind it, it would not be easy to capture him. His features morphed further into a mask of worry the longer he read. Iveca felt pity for him, the source of which she could not decipher. As soon as Daniel was crowned, the international situation rapidly deteriorated, and he was left trying to put the pieces back together. The Empire, which had been the dominating political force, controlling relations due to their mastery over magic; was slowly collapsing as the magic disappeared. However, the Amethan Kingdom was small, originally granted legitimacy and was recognized by the Empire. Now, more than ever, their leader had to be vigilant, ensuring that he didn¡¯t get dragged into the destructive civil war. Iveca, a neutral aristocrat, was well aware of how difficult it was to maintain neutrality. Both sides tugged, trying to gain advantage, and a delicate hand was needed to preserve the balance. She knew that power was key in a situation like the one facing Daniel. ¡°Anriq, a pen,¡± Daniel barked at the man next to him. Iveca sensed a sudden movement in the bushes to her left. Finding an internal reserve of energy she whirled, and in quick succession loosed three daggers in the creature¡¯s general direction. Everyone around her stared slack mouthed, for no one else had seen whatever had moved. An overwhelming nervousness consumed her. She had reacted without thinking. A frantic thrashing came from between the branches, until, after what seemed like hours, a deer emerged from the bush, bleeding from three knife wounds. She had hit her mark without fail. ¡°Oh,¡± Iveca sighed in relief, exhaling the breath she had been holding. ¡°I was worried that something would happen to you before you could complete signing the document. I reacted instinctively. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she explained to the king. ¡°Well, this is to be expected from a Bureau of Investigations operative. They moved much faster than the rest of us,¡± Anriq said with a little laugh. A young nobleman appeared from the direction of where the deer had been hiding. He was disheveled and looked confusedly down at the dead deer lying in a pool of its own blood. ¡°What happened to the deer I was hunting,¡± he inquired, clearly confused at the chaos in front of him. The situation was quickly explained to him, and he accepted it without much issue. Iveca felt guilty for causing an unnecessary disturbance, but there was nothing she could do about it. Daniel wasn¡¯t the only one who watched her, interest piqued, as she wiped her daggers off and placed them once again in their respective places on her uniform. Anriq¡¯s piercing eyes examined each of her movements, dissecting everything she did. Tying back the strands of her messy blond hair, which had come loose from her lightning fast reaction to the deer, she accepted Daniel¡¯s approval report. ¡°Inform Lucas and gather any information about Starram. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know anything about the island and its soldiers. We need to figure out the percentage of their army that can¡¯t use magic. This is of the utmost importance; therefore, I want you to report whenever you have any relevant information,¡± Daniel ordered. ¡°Of course,¡± Iveca replied in subservience. She made a hurried bow and attempted to once again regain her place on her horse; however, the young nobleman whose dear she had killed, admiration in his gaze, stopped her. ¡°Please, Bureau of Investigation operative, show us more of your skill before you go? Which sword are you trained in? Please teach me,¡± the young man implored. Iveca blinked, looking at the noble young man speaking to her. He may not recognize Iveca, but she recalled his face. He was a cousin on her mother¡¯s side, the Duke of Redelton. She remembered a conversation that her sisters had been having, discussing their cousin, who was rumored to use ladies¡¯ and their easily affected sensibilities to his own advantage. Disgusted by him and his way of conducting himself, she turned herself away from him and responded, ice in her voice, ¡°It¡¯s not entertainment, killing animals for amusement. It¡¯s the art of killing people. Knowing this, do you still want to learn?¡± Disregarding any response he would have made, she dismissed him, mounted and galloped off. She was sure that he arrogantly announced to everyone, ¡°Iveca has become arrogant, just because she is now an employee at an affiliated agency.¡± However, Iveca had no intention of being goaded into a response by someone she had never talked to before that day. Instead, she turned in her saddle, throwing five daggers, one after another, at the zelvoka tree right next to him. CH 36.2 The young man hadn¡¯t had enough time as to so much as flinch. In terror, he squeezed his eyes shut. The five daggers were stabbed into the zelkova tree at the exact spacing, angle, and depth to have mutilated him if she had been less skilled in her knife throwing abilities. ¡°You¡¯ve seen my skills. No one in the Bureau of Investigation can handle daggers as well as I can. Treasure the memory, for, next time, I might not miss,¡± she yelled triumphantly over her shoulder. Daniel dumbfoundedly grinned at her back as she disappeared into the distance. He had heard other men mutter about how all women were the same. Clearly, none of those men had met Iveca, he thought, smirking to himself. Even the King¡¯s presence was not enough to cow her sharp tongue or dull her quick wit. She was fearless, and did not hesitate in the face of danger. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before this story is exaggerated to ridiculous degrees,¡° Daniel muttered, his words laced with an undertone of amusement. Next to him, Anriq recalled a flash of light glinting off a dagger thrown by the investigator. This strange woman, who threw with her left hand, reminded him deeply of Iveca, who he had not seen in four years. Her appearance and mannerisms were nothing like the girl he used to know; and he concluded that that couldn¡¯t possibly have been her. Anriq noted Daniel¡¯s goofy grin, and concluded that he must like the interesting woman. *** Two days later, Iveca brought a report on the affiliated organization¡¯s transfer list to the office. There were eight affiliated bodies of the Amethan Kingdom, each entry determined by college grades. While transferring was rare, in special cases it was done. ¡°Tell me about Gordon Emerson¡¯s injury¡­ Also, I hear talk of Kayden being discovered due to the color of his eyes? Care to explain?¡° Daniel demanded of Iveca. ¡°Well, no matter how good a Bureau of Investigations operative¡¯s disguise is, the color of their eyes can not be altered. Kayden¡¯s black eyes are unusual and were recognised,¡° she explained. Fortunately, Daniel did not dig any further. ¡°Gordon Emerson is moving from the Bureau of Investigation to Intelligence¡­ He must be seriously injured?¡± The King could not have possibly known the names of all his affiliated staff. However, he remembered Gordon Emerson because he played a major role in raiding illegal magic shops during Daniel¡¯s ascent to the throne. He stood out in memory even further due to the diagnosis by the Medical Bureau. Gordon would be physically impaired for the rest of his life. ¡°Moving to Intelligence is a wise move for older parts,¡° he said, keeping the bitterness from reflecting in his tone. ¡°I would hate it if I was in his position. Being watched for the rest of my life by people who used to be my colleagues.¡± If you left the Bureau of Investigation without fulfilling your term of office, especially when transferring to another agency, all your memories of working in the Bureau had to be erased. Alternatively, you would have to be monitored for the rest of your life. The memory erasure magic, blessed by Evena, was a massive part of the legacy of the Bureau of Investigation. Most secrets are remained that way, even from the King. However, the entire nation knew about the memory wipe. The Bureau believed that erasing their operations memories was a testament to their thoroughness. ¡°We¡¯re all prepared to do that kind of thing,¡± Iveca stated, attempting to ease the guilt of the young king. ¡°If it was to help continue the Amehtan Kingdom¡¯s freedom, no one in the Bureau of Investigation would hesitate to do whatever is necessary.¡± A long silence hung in the air between them before Daniel broke it, his voice low and deep, ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t feel comfortable with them paying the consequences.¡± Iveca sighed internally; what the hell was she supposed to do? Concluding that she was powerless in a situation like this, she decided to put the troubling thoughts out of her mind, they weren¡¯t going to help anyone. Even though the King would not like the fact that the sacrifice had been made, or making the payment for that matter, there was nothing to be done. Her heart went out to the man, he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His expression brightened suddenly, and smiling at her, he handed her the report, unsigned. ¡°I am not ready to pay it yet. I¡¯ll sign it later,¡± he said, smirking. ¡°What?¡± she asked, genuinely confused. ¡°Before dinner tonight, come to my bedroom,¡± he said, winking at her, moving closer, until she could feel the heat radiating off his skin. It was absurd, and absolutely unexpected. ¡°In casual clothes,¡± he whispered into her ear. Iveca stared blankly at the sleek, well-dressed man sitting in front of her, wondering why he asked her to his room. She could think of only one reason. *** ¡°Hey, keep calm and continue working. What are you doing?¡± As Sid walked down her hallway, she tugged painlessly through her hair, seemingly unable to concentrate. As Iveca looked up at him, her expression was complex and unreadable. Sid frowned, looking straight into her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, a note of worry in his tone. CH 37.1 ¡°¡­No, nothing.¡± Iveca hoped the pause wouldn¡¯t raise too many more questions. She could not say outright that the King called her to his bedroom. That would raise some questions. However, for someone who has never thought about kissing a woman without holding her hand properly, wasn¡¯t he being too straightforward? Did he call her for a strange favor? And how could she discuss all this so it could make sense to her? The thoughts rolled over in her head and Sid, expressionless, stood by her desk and tossed two candies toward her. ¡°What do you want for dinner? You¡¯re going to have to eat sometime, especially with all this overtime you¡¯re working.¡± ¡°Are you working overtime, too? Didn¡¯t you work outside this morning?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no wiggle-room for going home early on this floor.¡± Iveca shook her head sullenly, remembering Daniel¡¯s words to come before dinner. Before long, it was time to go. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible. I have a prior appointment.¡± ¡°Did you have another friend?¡± ¡°What do you mean by another? I don¡¯t even have one. But Senior, you don¡¯t think we are friends, right?¡± Sid pulled her hair one more time without answering her joke and disappeared without saying goodbye. Iveca took the candy he had tossed and swallowed her sigh. Did it have a sexual connotation? But then he showed a sense of shame even with the slightest sexual nuances. He was not the sort of person who would ever call a Bureau of Investigation officer to sleep with him. Iveca pulled at her hair nervously. If it was sexual activity, should she say no? Could she refuse? No, was there any reason to refuse? She was the one who proudly said she could sleep in front of him, even if she did not love him. Asking her to wear her casual clothes, she pondered for a while in front of her locker. Comfortable clothes? Pretty clothes? Plain clothes? Accessories? Iveca had been agonizing for a long time before finally changing into her prettiest clothes and fixing her makeup because she was nervous. Be bold, be bold. Don¡¯t think too deeply. Whether she refuses, she should not be too shabby in front of him, anyway. Even if she dressed up like this, she would hardly be as good looking as Daniel still. She went to his bedroom only once when she had to report to him urgently at midnight. Imagining his solid body and disheveled blond hair made her body tremble a little. Suddenly, she thought she did not particularly dislike his call. He was young, handsome¨Ca King, of all things. If he had only been the son of some countries¡¯ lords, she would have fallen in love with him at first sight. Rationally, of course, it was absurd, but Iveca knew from experience that instinct won easily when there were two young men and women who appreciated each other¡¯s looks. When she came out from the dressing room after brushing her hair down for a long time, Sid, who was on her way to dinner with Reina, squinted his eyes. ¡°Eve? Where are you going? You put in more effort than usual.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I have an appointment.¡± ¡°With a man, is it?¡± It was a mistake not to answer that immediately. Reina smiled and put on an insidious look. ¡°Tell me about your date. I¡¯ll tease you from tomorrow morning, just so you know.¡± Sid walked out of the Bureau of Investigation building without saying a word. After Reina tapped her shoulder, she pursued Sid. Iveca went to her seat, grabbed her report, and took a few deep breaths, and then headed for the Palace. It was not yet dark, but she felt strange going to the King¡¯s bedroom. He glanced at Anriq, who was guarding the bedroom door, and then knocked. When he asked her to come in, she unknowingly fixed her dress. The moment she swallowed her dry saliva and opened the door, Iveca stopped in surprise at a situation she had never expected. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Daniel grinned. ¡°I¡¯m going to go undercover.¡± Wearing a brown wig, hazy, thick glasses, and a hood, he looked more like a grim sorcerer than a sly King. He was dressed like that, so even in the bar that day, she had no idea that he was there. Iveca was a little embarrassed about what she thought by herself all day, she was a little embarrassed with it. ¡°Now? So suddenly?¡± ¡°If it was Kayden, I would have had dinner with you today.¡± Iveca tried to ask back because she did not know what he meant, but she opened her mouth halfway when she saw him pushing the bookshelf to the side and opening the secret passage. ¡°I¡¯m going out now, but the escorts will follow me anyway, so you don¡¯t have to worry about the surrounding area. I would appreciate it if you could just play the role of Kayden.¡± In the end, everything ¡®takes the place of Kayden Ruth¡¯ and she giggled at her karma. She sighed and nodded. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to see what¡¯s in front. Hold my hand.¡± She carefully took his hand. She almost embarrassed herself for having dressed up so much. Yes, this man was very innocent, but she had only imagined the word ¡°bedroom¡±. The path she walked while holding Daniel¡¯s hand in the winding maze was strangely long. Both were silent. CH 37.2 ¡°Excuse me, Your Majesty¡­ with women¡­ Have you ever held hands?¡± ¡°Only when dancing or escorting.¡± She suddenly remembered a conversation they had before. So, was she the only woman who has held his hand for such a long time? Iveca, strangely enough, thought that the body temperature in her hands was something that she would never get used to. ¡°Is it okay if you let me know this path? I am just a mere employee, after all.¡± ¡°Kayden knows a few.¡± He could keep her mouth shut easily. She was sure he would never give up teasing her in the future. It was hard to believe the former Daniel, who was kind and courteous, even existed at this point. It was only after a long walk that the streets of Amenity, the capital city, came out. Coming out of the back door of a shabby store, they let go without saying who came first. Daniel, whose eyes did not even show because he was wearing a hood, grinned. ¡°I¡¯m having dinner.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Even though she knew that there were guards around them who were stuck like shadows, Iveca thought it was like just the two of them. He walked around the street as he was familiar and entered the little restaurant in front of the Royal High School. Iveca did not attend the Royal High School, so it was the first time she came to the restaurant. Daniel asked as she looked around her awkwardly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from Amenity?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°If you were a Royal High School student, you would of course know this place.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± She blinked her eyes stupidly. The royals did not attend elementary or middle school but attend the Royal High School and University. But she did not go to any high school and went straight to college, so of course, she knew nothing about high school life. He grinned without asking her questions about her embarrassment. He, who skillfully ordered her share, spoke to her first, who was still sitting awkwardly. ¡°When Kayden and I first came here, we were both very surprised. It was so delicious. Later, I brought my sister, Ashe, and she liked to.¡± ¡°Well, but¡­¡± Iveca muttered, concerned about just how much of her embarrassment was showing. It was a place where poor commoners ate a meal based on hygiene and the price of the food. In a small restaurant where she would not have even stepped if she had lived only as a Lady of Esselburn, she wondered a little if the King could eat such food. The concern deepened after the food came out, because it certainly had a stimulating taste, but it was not healthy food. It was tempting in the mouth, but she knew these foods were naturally poisonous to the body. Recognizing her worried eyes, Daniel laughed aloud. ¡°We all knew that it was an unhealthy food.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, of course, it has an amazing taste, but the quality of the meat is incredible and it¡¯s all stimulating when you slowly savour it. You¡¯d better not eat it too often.¡± ¡°I said I knew already.¡± He laughed, though she hadn¡¯t thought her reaction was that funny. Because she was vigorously moving her fork apart from her hard words. Iveca sighed slightly and shrugged her shoulders. ¡°You bought it for me, so I will eat it well.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll think of it later.¡± Iveca almost gasped a little as Daniel grinned and brushed her brown hair. She thought that he had become ordinary because of his disguise, but she was embarrassed because he saw the compliance buried in his ordinariness again. ¡°So, we used to say, ¡®Let¡¯s eat it only on someone¡¯s birthday¡¯¡±. ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± She opened her eyes wide. ¡°Then whose birthday is it today¡­¡± ¡°Who could it be?¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s birthday¡­ a¡­.¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± Daniel said, spitting out the word and looking around her for a moment. ¡°Call my name. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s a common name.¡± ¡°Well, then¡­. Isn¡¯t Daniel¡¯s birthday in three days from now?¡± He did not point out her grammar that had become a mess. ¡°The official announcement was in three days¡­ but I was born today. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean. Only my parents, brothers, and Kayden knew about it.¡± Daniel explained with a grin. Of course, he was born on the same day as the emperor of the Empire, and his mother, Suzanna, who could not even hold a birthday banquet at will, announced it three days later. It was no good that it was the birthday of the emperor, not anyone else. ¡°This year, there was no one to eat with me on my birthday.¡± She was looking at the man who was going to celebrate his birthday more glamorously than anyone else, and she did not know why she felt touched by his words. Who the hell she felt sorry for? The opponent is the King who sits on the highest seat in the Amethan. Even with that thought, Iveca could not help but smile. CH 38.1 ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re taking over Kayden¡¯s seat, because I could force you to sit in front of me.¡± He shrugged as he said it, as though the action would belie some sort of apathy he didn¡¯t have. Iveca lowered her head. ¡°It must be hard. Seeing your sister in custody like that¡­¡± At least there was his sister in the palace, she thought. After her being detained for killing Prince William¡­ Daniel had lost everyone he had been close to in the past 6 months. Older brother, younger brother, and close friends. He smiled softly, which surprised her. ¡°She¡¯s the only one who knows that I wasn¡¯t particularly greedy for this position. That I¡¯m afraid of taking a step-by-step approach into an unknown quantity.¡± Iveca lowered her eyes. After living alone for 18 years, she was living happily with good colleagues with a sense of belonging in an organization that she liked. It was heartbreaking to even imagine the loneliness of the King who was walking exactly the opposite path to herself. ¡°But it was difficult for Gordon to approve the transfer. A lot of loyalty was sacrificed for this throne.¡± Iveca shook her head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t part of this plan, but if I were in that position, I would not have hesitated at all.¡± ¡°What if you get injured? You might never be in the Bureau of Investigation again.¡± ¡°I¡¯d risk my life for it.¡± His eyes met hers. He was half-joking as he forced to bring her today, but the pride in her position was also unusual. He could not continue his words as the dagger that was flying rapidly from her left hand suddenly came to his mind. Iveca continued calmly. ¡°Just as royalty and nobles who tried to keep the bloodlines and legitimacy¡­ The Bureau of Investigation guards the Amethan Kingdom. We just knew we needed the truth and acted accordingly. Per the code of the Bureau of Investigation, which refers to truth, justice and patriotism.¡± ¡°When you die, all these joys are going to be over. The Amethan Kingdom will not remember you. Because there are a countless number of affiliated organizations.¡± ¡°This is not something that the King is supposed to say. Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Did you forget the King¡¯s command? Speak comfortably.¡± ¡°We believe in the royal family who will repay so much sacrifice and loyalty to their rule. This country is yours, and you should cherish it. I believe that the royal family will lead the way with ethical norms and justification before politics turns into an animal fight of nobles.¡± She could not use the word ¡°Your Majesty¡± and refined it to ¡°You¡±, but Daniel did not take issue with it. However, he stared at her. ¡°It is certainly important to find justifications on behalf of the various interests of the nobles.¡± She ruffled her long wavy hair back and looked into his blue eyes. ¡°Our employees are like saddles for horses. You can¡¯t control where the horse is going. But if the King, who is the jockey, can drive the horse safely even a little more because of our presence, they satisfy us with that. In the proves, there may be interference from the nobles who tell you to go there and there, but the goal is not the same to lead the horse to a safe place for as long as possible. There is only one rider, so of course you will be lonely¡­. Please keep in mind that there are beings like us who are working hard for His Majesty, so please don¡¯t think that you are alone.¡± She wanted to tell him her story. Many people trusted and relied on him, so he should never think of being alone. She had always had unnecessarily deep compassion for those who were alone. Daniel did not avert his eyes. She grinned. ¡°You are one person, but when I hear the story, you seem to represent everyone. So, I guess I¡¯ll keep asking you this and that.¡± The King, who was truly alone after ascending to the throne, impulsively talked about anything to a female employee of the Bureau of Investigation. ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid of this place. I have never coveted the throne. Not since I was young.¡± He just thought that ascending to the throne was revenge for the forces that killed his brother and mother. However, the reality does not end after ascending to the throne like a fairy tale. The weight of the days that must continue since then was intact on his shoulder. Iveca sighed slightly, looking at his normal-looking face. It was because she knew the burden. Suddenly, Daniel¡¯s way of speaking became serious. ¡°If there was a war, and we had to defeat foreign forces, I would sacrifice my life to defend the country¡­ It¡¯s not like that now. Wars are waged in empires every single day.¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a war? Isn¡¯t only a rebellion to be suppressed¡­¡± ¡°Does it look like a simple rebellion to be suppressed?¡± Iveca did not answer that. It was a period with an extreme prediction that the continent would become a battlefield by spreading into a bigger civil war. The public still knew very little about it, but within the Bureau of Investigation, they were convinced that the Republican government was behind the rebels and that the Republic of Staram was also behind it. CH 38.2 ¡°Your Majesty.¡± It was too heavy to talk about this kind of thing on his birthday. After all, even at this moment, he was thinking about the Amethan Kingdom while he was eating dinner and drinking. She got up impulsively and pulled Daniel¡¯s hand, which looked somewhat vain. It was an instinctive choice. Still, since she was ten, she ate cookies with Anriq on every birthday and she drank with her colleagues after entering the Bureau of Investigation. She felt lonely if she thought she would spend her birthday alone again. For her birthday, she wanted to make the day a little more enjoyable for this man, rather than making him smile like this. It was her price for the little heart he showed her. She had even heard that he was afraid of the throne, but there was no reason why she could not comfort him just because he was a King. She grabbed his hand to celebrate his real birthday when no one can be there now. Daniel looked at her with her slightly startled eyes. ¡°The salaries of affiliated organizations are quite high. I will buy you a present.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the general store at the top of the door. The things there come with a warranty, so it goes halfway.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t want anything¡­¡± ¡°You must have missed your school days, but I will buy you a pen that students use a lot. Please use it when paying. Last time I saw you borrowed it from an escort.¡± As she dragged him along the streets of Amenity at her momentary impulse, she felt an itch in the depths of her heart at the warmth of his hands wrapped around her hand. Oh, was it okay to hold the King¡¯s hand carelessly first? But he did not seem to hate it. It was nice to have compassion for the King who suddenly became alone. She wanted to be nice to him. As if possessed, Iveca went to the general store at the top of the street, then chose a pen that was a little on the cheap side. She said that she would engrave the gift giver¡¯s name, so she said, ¡°E. From J.¡± Daniel grinned, took the pen she gave him and put it into the palm of his hand. Three days later, incomparable gifts would overflow before him, but Daniel liked hers the most, even if it was a small gift to him. ¡°I¡¯ll use it well, thank you.¡± It was still light. Iveca felt strange. In the sunset light, Lake Menata sparkled and gleamed, and the people of Amenity were having a peaceful evening. In the distance, the royal palace was wrapped in a magic sphere and shone like a dream. Iveca looked up at Daniel, who was smiling like a picture. Suddenly she remembered how she felt when he was sitting alone in a bar in a college town, and his heart was depressed. Iveca thought for a moment as she looked at Daniel¡¯s profile while she was looking out over the lake at sunset. He was always smiling sweetly and kindly, but¡­ she knew the sort of meaningless smile that was scattered among all kinds of aristocrats. ¡°Eve.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why do you look like that?¡± ¡°¡­Look like what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like looking in a mirror.¡± Maybe it was because she was wearing thick glasses under her ruffled hood, so Daniel felt a lot closer than usual. She laughed and joked about it. ¡°Well, you must be as pretty as they say then.¡± Daniel said nothing, so Iveca continued. ¡°Now¡­ are you okay? Being alone.¡± ¡°Well, in fact, I am used to it.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°One day, my mother passed away in the hands of the concubine.¡± Iveca could not bear to connect the words. It was a fact that the entire nation knew that Daniel¡¯s biological mother and Queen Suzanna drowned in the scheme of Testy, the concubine of the King. ¡°I was willing to risk my life to help my older brother, William, but¡­ my dearest sister killed my older brother.¡± It was a royal business, so it was just finished as a topic of discussion, but Daniel was the only one standing in his place in the storm. She realized how lonely he would be as he spoke so tenderly that she could not say anything. ¡°One of the three brothers is dead, one is far away, and one is in captivity. The first older brother, who never even questioned his personality, was a cruel person who had no compassion for the weak, the second older brother, who always spoke of his distant ideals, was a poor person who could not even protect the woman he loved, and the younger sister who he thought was the closest and resembled him was also a human, who met a clever man who deceived her to kill. I¡¯m used to being alone. Maybe it¡¯s because I don¡¯t like it, and I miss Kaiden and Rezen, who know what I was like when I was in school when I did not have any worries. The moment William died, and I needed to enter the battle for the throne, I knew I would be lonely too.¡± CH 39.1 Despite the sweetness of his speech, she couldn¡¯t help but notice a deep sense of emptiness. An emptiness that, almost incredibly, seemed to run deeper than her own; a woman who shuddered at the pain of her family¡¯s treatment of her every single day. Daniel continued to talk to her and the idea she could give him no comfort made her feel awful. ¡°I¡¯m confused, lonely, and embarrassed by how sudden all this has been. It¡¯s hard because I¡¯m not sure about all the decisions I must make from now on. I¡¯ve never been so unhappy with myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s natural to be shaken by the changes in the environment,¡± she answered in a low voice, though her eyes were still elsewhere. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it soon and be a good King.¡± ¡°What are you watching so intensely?¡± Iveca bowed her head. She listened to him while she had been staring blankly at the kids playing line ball in the park near the lake. Iveca opened her mouth impulsively. ¡°I grew up very lonely too. I had four sisters, and they always played line ball two by two. I was never included.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Daniel seemed genuinely concerned. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m always alone. So, I tried to hang on to the only man who seemed to be with me.¡± Iveca paused to watch the game before continuing. ¡°I thought I would always live alone after being dumped by him, but I got good colleagues after entering the investigation office, so the loneliness of the past is now far away. You can¡¯t choose your family, but you can choose who you want to keep.¡± Iveca smiled brightly at Daniel. ¡°Line ball is easy to play, so it¡¯s a ball game for kids and seniors, right?¡± Suddenly, she thought he wasn¡¯t a King; he wasn¡¯t a man; he was just a simple friend she met every day. ¡°I never played line ball when I was young, but when I become old, I will play line ball with the closest person I am with every day. I believe that there will be someone who will be with you. You may be alone now, but in the end, you will be happy with other people in the new world.¡± ¡°Eve.¡± Daniel smiled bitterly. ¡°You are a good person. I think it¡¯s fortunate that Kayden went far, so I could spend my birthday with you. He¡¯s terrible at consolation. How long has it been since you joined the Bureau of Investigation? Are you my junior in college? It would have been nice if I knew you in advance.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t the same at all before I entered the Bureau of Investigation. I was always depressed, and because of a terrible lack of affection, I could trust no one and had a lot of doubts about everything. But since I lived looking around for 18 years, isn¡¯t that inevitable? As the environment changed, I gradually overcame it.¡± ¡°Eighteen¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Your Majesty would like me at all. So, I¡¯m glad we only met this late.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like how I am right now the most.¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°I can stop the war¡­ at a cost. It¡¯s a more difficult, blurry, and most dangerous path to take. I¡¯m embarrassed to show myself being confused and unable to hold my mindset.¡± ¡°Get used to it, and if the environment changes, it will change again.¡± She smiled softly. ¡°I got so much better after joining an affiliated agency. I think it¡¯s because it¡¯s the first recognition I¡¯ve achieved on my own. I like myself enough to never leave the affiliated organizations even if you give me billions of won. If Your Majesty leads the Amethan well, it will be incomparably better than it is now.¡± It was a strange day in many ways. Maybe it was because it was his birthday. Iveca pulled out a card that she secretly scrawled from the general store in her pocket. He was not very surprised and accepted with a smile. Since it was only made one evening and she did not do much, there was nothing special about it. It¡¯s not just ¡®Happy Birthday, Your Majesty¡¯, but ¡®Happy Birthday, Daniel. I hope you are happy today ¨C E.J.¡¯ in a short phrase. ¡°In the Bureau of Investigation, doing what I can do well and having my colleagues support me has changed everything for me. Daniel is cautious, so you will do well in everything, and eventually, many people will cheer for you, so you will be happy.¡± ¡°Things I can do well¡­.¡± ¡°Did you see that dagger throwing? It is the treasure of the Bureau of Investigation. I¡¯m good at acting, too. It¡¯s high quality.¡± Iveca spoke confidently and smiled. ¡°Daniel, please do well, too. I want to grow old, and I have to play line ball by then. If there is a war, the Bureau of Investigation staff will die the most. Even though death is not scary, that does not mean I want to die.¡± CH 39.2 Daniel looked at her silently, then looked around once more at the people who were having a peaceful daily life at Lake Menata, looked at her again, and nodded slowly. She suddenly thought it was an excellent decision to dress up nicely, anyway. This is because I thought I got close to Daniel in an instant today. ¡°Tell us about your date.¡± Reina¡¯s words suddenly came to mind, and she blushed a little. She just followed the King¡¯s undercover, but why does it feel like we were only looking at each other without seeing others? In addition, we talked a lot about each other¡¯s personal stories that we never talked about at the palace¡­ But Iveca forcibly stopped contemplating, thinking that the dull King would never think of such a thing at all. Daniel also spoke his words in a low voice. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°For being with me when I feel ugliest, most difficult, and most alone.¡± Impulsively, Iveca grabbed Daniel¡¯s hand first. Their fingers were tangled, and she thought it was more like a date than any other date. *** ¡°Eve. Let¡¯s go eat lunch.¡± Iveca raised her head at Sid¡¯s words while organizing the comprehensive report. It was already lunchtime. She jumped to her feet with a smile. Reina was away from her work, so the two of them had to go to a restaurant. ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t Senior off today? You¡¯ve been up all night all week.¡± ¡°Because an incident broke out.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain because I haven¡¯t organized it yet either.¡± Sid spoke bluntly and took a step. Iveca stretched and pursued him. Sid, in a black Bureau of Investigation uniform, was like a high school student in a school uniform, but he never smiled, and his voice was so low that she did not think he was cute. Iveca yawned and ate on the plate, and Sid, who was eating in silence, suddenly asked. ¡°You will not meet him anymore?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A month ago, the day you went out dressed up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It seemed to mean Daniel¡¯s birthday. In an instant, her face turned red. This was because she was ashamed of herself that she did everything she did while thinking impure thoughts alone. The next day, Sid and Reina thought she was dating someone after Reina asked with excitement, and she replied that she only had dinner once. Sid stared at her silently as she immersed herself in her thoughts for a moment, saying nothing. ¡°Are you still seeing him?¡± ¡°We meet, but it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± We met almost every day. She needed to report to him every morning. ¡°Then why do you meet him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sort him up soon.¡± She replied as she scratched the back of her nose. It wasn¡¯t wrong to say that Kayden was back in a few more weeks. After a brief silence, Sid coughed a few times, and then he asked again. ¡°Why did you plan to sort him off? Does he look ugly?¡± ¡°No, He¡¯s the most handsome person I¡¯ve ever met.¡± ¡°Then did he have an unpleasant personality?¡± ¡°No, he smiles well, and he¡¯s sweet. It¡¯s kind of mischievous at first but in a good way¡­ I did something wrong in the first place¡­¡± Iveca wondered why she was having this conversation with Sid but replied in deep thought. ¡°Then why¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just, he doesn¡¯t suit me because he has too many things. Well¡­.¡± ¡°What about that guy?¡± ¡°What?¡¯ ¡°What does the man think of you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I don¡¯t think he has any special feelings towards me? I don¡¯t even do anything.¡± She tilted her head with her contemplative eyes. ¡°Whenever you meet him, he will keep asking about you.¡± When Sid said that he started eating silently again, saying nothing. She chewed food with a fork and thought for a moment about the King who kept asking about her whenever she went to report every day. After his strange birthday, Daniel instructed her to sit down once she entered the office. Then he poured the tea by himself and asked her all kinds of questions. At first, she was surprised, but now, she was looking forward to the tea Daniel poured for her and the refreshments that always changed. Questions were mostly about the world, about abstract concepts, and her. Confused by all kinds of questions, he would tell her to simply answer in as much detail as possible, saying that was under the King¡¯s command. ¡°Eve, where is the ¡°IMES¡± in the third row?¡± Such a simple question with fixed answers was very rare. ¡°What did you do today? Where are you going now after submitting?¡± Questions about her day, which no one was curious about, were asked almost every day. ¡°What do you think the imperial rebellion will be like? Will it be over in 5 years?¡± There were often times when it was a question that no one could predict, but everyone was curious about. ¡°Eve, if you had poor grades, where would you go besides the Bureau of Investigation?¡± However, it was embarrassing when she was asked questions that even she had never thought about it. CH 40.1 When she found herself at the mercy of Daniel¡¯s often relentless questions, Iveca had initially had to brace herself for them, as they washed over her like a crashing wave. However, as she warmed to their time together, the questions took on a much more friendly feeling; a feeling that he cared to know the answers. ¡°So what department would you like to work for?¡± Daniel¡¯s eyes were flashing, and Iveca knew she was in for an interrogation. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought ¡­. I¡¯ve enjoyed everywhere I worked. I really can¡¯t think of any specific department.¡± ¡°Are you good at magic and kendo, like the medical department?¡± Iveca shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t have much respect for life, not in that sense, anyway. I think I¡¯m more talented in getting rid of people than in saving them.¡± Daniel smiled, though Iveca was only half-joking. ¡°What about the finance department?¡± ¡°You have to risk your life for sums and numbers. It¡¯s the worst of them all.¡± ¡°What about the Legal Affairs Bureau? Do you like to take the side of the nobles, the staff of affiliated organizations¡­ your King?¡± Another smile from Daniel. Iveca returned it playfully. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± ¡°The Legal Affairs Bureau has so few people it doesn¡¯t even have a TO. But I think I¡¯ll do well if I do it. I¡¯m naturally interested in it. Come to think of it, I think it might be the best option for them all. Well, it¡¯s much more interesting than departments such as administrative offices and pharmacies, at any rate.¡± On his birthday, they ate together for a day and had a comfortable conversation, and Iveca felt more comfortable with Daniel than expected as if repeated exposure to him had permeated. Daniel always asked her questions comfortably and was not angry no matter what she answered. Like a comfortable tea time, she gradually liked the times. ¡°Eve.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What do you think love is?¡± Iveca had to think for a long time. And she carefully asked back. ¡°Your Highness, what do you think?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯ve never told a woman I love her¡­ yet.¡± Then, have you ever said that you like her? With a strange feeling pressed down, she held a warm teacup and waited for an answer. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. I just thought I shouldn¡¯t just do it.¡± When she finished eating the cookies, he picked them up from her plate and put them in her mouth. The touch of his finger surprised Iveca, and her eyes got bigger. ¡°You know better, living freely outside the palace. Tell me. What do you think love is?¡± After swallowing the cookie in a hurry, she replied slowly, conscious of the warmth left on her lips. ¡°Well¡­¡± Her eyes became thinner. It was to choose her words. ¡°I think there was only one person I liked. Rather, I¡¯ve never even dated him.¡± ¡°What makes him different from other men?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so hard to express in words¡­¡± She sighed. Anriq came to mind. Because he was the first and last man she would cry for. After hesitating for a long time, she continued to whisper. ¡°Just, love didn¡¯t matter. Doesn¡¯t matter¡± Her unexpected words made Daniel wonder. Before going to the Investigation Bureau, Iveca sighed, recalling the night she asked Anriq to be her genuine family. ¡°When I love people, I feel very lonely. The pain and loneliness that only I know, the frustration and sadness of the heart that I can¡¯t convey, the resentment and endless thoughts that suddenly burst into tears¡­ Even though the quiet pain gnawed at me and wandered around¡­ but what doesn¡¯t matter is love. If it¡¯s not love, I¡¯ll let anything leave me so lonely.¡± There was silence again. In that silence, Iveca noticed Daniel had a little sympathy for her. His eyes contained pity for her, who calmly described all kinds of emotions rather than understanding. ¡°Life is fleeting, and our struggles are forgotten, and only records remain, so we will continue our boring history.¡± Iveca spoke slowly. ¡°That¡¯s why this heart that doesn¡¯t even remain on the record may be for nothing, but I think it didn¡¯t matter. Even if it becomes a shape that no one can understand.¡± There was a moment of silence. She wondered if Kayden would have answered all of Daniel¡¯s questions so seriously. Did Daniel have Kayden every day to talk with him about the thoughts he had buried deep in his heart? She was lost in other thoughts as she gracefully put down the teacup with a perfectly aristocratic gesture. Her purple eyes reflected in the tea water left in the teacup were swaying as if they were her heart. ¡°Hey, your highness¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why do you keep asking this and that?¡± He looked at her quietly, and suddenly held her chin and remained silent again. It¡¯s also the first time he¡¯s openly lost in thought, so she endured the gaze and waited in a straight position. Expecting how great an answer would come out, she was slightly disappointed by the shorter answer. ¡°Because I want to know.¡± CH 40.2 She couldn¡¯t say anything to the king, so she responded little, but for her it wasn¡¯t bad for Daniel to ask about her thoughts. This is because there have been no people curious about her thoughts until now. Of course, there was no such thing as childhood, and Reina and Sid did not ask each other endless questions, perhaps because they met as adults. It was a tea party culture that only aristocrats usually enjoyed talking about how they were doing while drinking tea. People in the investigation bureau were so busy that it was difficult to meet the time, and no matter how much time they set, they drank alcohol or coffee and did not drink tea leisurely. So she thought that this time, which she had never done before, seemed to fill her childhood deficiency. If the sisters who alienated her know of her current situation, they will be surprised. Iveca, who was far from any noble young man, drinks tea that the handsome young king himself drops off every other day! And Daniel¡¯s questions always seemed to focus solely on her. So, in organizing her thoughts and speaking, she was happy to look back on herself. Of course, Daniel¡¯s expression of listening to what she said about herself was also good. The report delivery schedule, which begins with his question, accumulated time. Despite being busy with their own lives, she and Daniel did not halt their tea time. ¡°I was so glad to have colleagues from the investigation bureau. When I just joined the company, I couldn¡¯t even talk properly while looking into people¡¯s eyes. But my colleagues helped me succeed in what I could do well, listened to me well, stayed by my side, and cheered me on, so I got a lot better. I will live with gratitude for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°You look happy.¡± Daniel held his chin and murmured as he looked at her. ¡°What I like are good colleagues and peaceful daily life. I don¡¯t want to be a queen.¡± She thought Daniel¡¯s latter word was sarcastic. He didn¡¯t seem to forget the conversation he overheard at the bar. But Iveca somehow thought it wasn¡¯t bad that Daniel overheard their conversation that day. Whenever he took a pen with her name engraved on it, she felt strange pride. Repressing the urge to sweep his sparkling blonde once, she smiled softly. *** ¡°Kayden will be back soon. They suspended him for three months, but I was busy with my work, so I told him to come up a few weeks early. His Highness also said he would meet Kayden as soon as he came up.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Wiles¡¯ indifferent words, Iveca nodded, her heart feeling strange. ¡°Then, am I assigned to another job?¡± ¡°Yeah. Staram side is unusual these days. Strangely, smuggling has increased a lot. There is a lack of manpower there, so it¡¯s better to apply there first. Reina will like it.¡± Iveca originally thought the comprehensive report review work for King was very boring and preferred to run on the spot, but this time it was strangely not interesting. Reina followed her next to her, returning to her seat. ¡°What did the manager say? Will you join our team?¡± ¡°Yes. Smuggling is all about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. I thought I was going crazy because there weren¡¯t enough people. But why are you so down? Nothing happened, right? ¡°What? Maybe because I haven¡¯t slept enough?¡± Only then did Iveca notice she looked weak. And she knew that disappointment was pouring in from deep inside. You said it was more fun and more enjoyable than Kayden, but eventually, you replaced me with Kaiden as soon as he came up. Then, why did you keep asking about my thoughts, my past, and my characteristics? Iveca, did you think you became a little closer just because he asked about this and that? Iveca berated herself and became sullen unexpectedly. ¡°No, you, I think this is a man¡¯s problem. Is it because of the guy you dated?¡± ¡°What? Never mind. Nothing happened.¡± At Reina¡¯s interrogation, Iveca shook her head. ¡°I heard he¡¯s handsome and has a good personality. I heard you have a lot of things in common and he¡¯s interested in you. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Sid said that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that he¡¯s working for the investigation department, do you? He thinks it¡¯s Ves Jean from the Royal Band, right?¡± ¡°Senior, let¡¯s talk about something else. I don¡¯t want to think about that.¡± ¡°Oh, my. I guess you¡¯re okay with him¡±. ¡°He doesn¡¯t care about me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. I¡¯ve even heard that we won¡¯t see each other in the future.¡± It was to return the seat to Kayden, but Iveca grumbled unknowingly. It wasn¡¯t wrong because it felt that way to her. ¡°Oh?¡± Reina lowered her shoulders as if she was disappointed. Then she put her hand on Iveca¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Then, never talk about him in the future.¡± CH 41.1 ¡°What?¡± ¡°As people begin to think about things more and more, they start to become certain about what it is that they want.¡± Silence hung in the air. ¡°Then, once you are certain of what you want, you can no longer let go of it.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Iveka said, squeezing her eyes shut. ¡°Then it was wrong from the beginning. I shouldn¡¯t have said that to the seniors.¡± She had no idea where things had gone wrong. It must have been because they had spent his birthday together. They had shared a meal together, before taking a walk near Lake Menata, which many people did every day. She had done similar things with other men, so why was this different? Iveka realized that she was alone. Her love affair thus far had been mild in nature, only possible because she concealed her identity. She hid the fact that ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ of the Royal Orchestra was also an employee of the Investigation Bureau. He was the first person she had told about her double identity. She could not help it, she talked to him so often, her secrets were bound to come out eventually. She had slipped up that day at the park, telling him more than she had planned to. ¡°You know Reina?¡± Ivekaasked blankly. ¡°I¡­ I think I like the reflection of myself in his eyes.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how he sees me. Thoughtful, competent, I can deal with extreme pain, and have no knowledge gaps¡­¡­ That¡¯s how I express myself to them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Reina frowned, a crease appearing in the middle of her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s natural to want to appear beautiful in front of people. It¡¯s not a crime to want to be accepted by someone. I think he¡¯s really meant to be your partner. Isn¡¯t it love when you¡¯re happy?¡± Iveka said nothing. She thought that it would be better if Kaiden came back soon. It would be easier for her to catch smugglers if he was around. Iveka knew that the time had come for her to let go, but she was no longer sure that she could. *** The king was always busy. Of course, not every king was always busy, but Daniel always had things to do. He met with a lot of people each day, finding out valuable information. In addition, he exercised each morning, keeping his body in shape. He approved almost every official document issued. Despite everything that kept him busy, he looked forward to Iveka¡¯s comprehensive report. Anriq noticed that Daniel took a personal interest in the woman. He asked her for her opinion and actually listened to what she said. Daniel took an interest in her personal life. Moreover, Daniel had been preparing flavours of tea that he did not like. Daniel had not asked any personal questions to a pharmacist, who had clearly had her eye on becoming queen. Instead, he asked the woman from the investigative department questions. He would laugh and smile at her simple answers. Sometimes, Anriq would find him standing in his room, looking at the card she had given him. As Anriq observed them interacting on the king¡¯s birthday, it was obvious that they had crossed the line between being only the king and his subject. Anriq was not sure when that had started, but it was clear that they were comfortable with each other. When the two of them had been sitting in the park, sharing a cup of tea, Anriq noticed the king¡¯s expression. It was different to how he looked when talking to anyone else. He seemed to be teasing her. However, in a conversation with investigative director Lucas, Daniel told Kayden to return to the post of delivering the comprehensive report. Anriq was not in a position where he could ask his king why. However, it soon became clear. Daniel¡¯s half-brother Ruben had entered the monastery while volunteering there. ¡°Staram? Is something going on?¡± Ruben was a progressive member of the royal family who quarrelled with Daniel over the throne. He was confident that the empire¡¯s rebellion would end in success. Of course, the rebels had a great interest in the electrical technology of Staram Island. ¡°The smuggling of items from Staram is increasing greatly. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any particular demand, but I¡¯m working on something.¡± ¡°You are the king, you have other things that take up your time. Why don¡¯t you let the investigation department take care of that?¡± ¡°There are always signs before something big happens. It¡¯s important to look out for those signs before it is too late. If Staram side wins, there will be great tragedy across the land. I¡¯m asking you because I think it¡¯s better to ask my brother than the investigation bureau.¡± Daniel placed the report next to him and lowered his eyes. ¡°If there¡¯s room to compromise, I¡¯ll do so.¡± ¡°What are you doing¡±? ¡°Anything I need to.¡± CH 41.2 Ruben crossed his arms and looked coldly at his young half-brother, who had ascended to the throne. ¡°You said that the king should not make excuses for not knowing something. This is a time where not knowing information can get thousands killed.¡± Prince William was always on the side of the Empire, and the second prince, Ruben, was on Staram¡¯s side. Ruben sighed as he saw Daniel proudly declaring that there was no such thing as a belief. ¡°I¡¯ll find out. If it is indeed Staram smuggling, it was a long time ago. But I¡¯ve planted a lot of people there, I used to be very interested in it. If you step on your tail again, you¡¯ll catch something.¡± ¡°Please be careful. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt your volunteer work, but something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± Daniel put a hand on his forehead and frowned. ¡°If I had prepared to take the throne since I was young, I would have planted people¡­.¡± ¡°Arthur,¡± Ruben said, waving his hands and shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re already the king, thus, the investigation bureau is enough¡­ Are you going to leave the queen¡¯s seat empty forever?¡± Daniel¡¯s expression stiffened slightly at his words. ¡°Does the noble family leave you alone? Muelton was drooling over the seat, claiming it was going to be his daughter¡¯s seat?¡± At his words, Daniel dipped his chin, as if he was unimpressed with what had been said. His blue eyes were inscrutable, and he muttered something to himself. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I¡¯m going to find the right person,¡± Ruben said, then yawned in a joking tone. His limbs were splayed, and he slouched in his chair, almost laying down. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about love to me. If you want to be queen, you¡¯re like my mother, a bad person. And if you are actually a good person, you will be used by the people around you. They will walk over you to get what they want.¡± ¡°What if a woman didn¡¯t want the position of queen?¡± ¡°That is a tragedy. However, I have come to realize that there are more women like that than I had originally thought.¡± Silence hung in the room. ¡°You know, I believed that you wouldn¡¯t think about such things because you live in the palace.¡± Ruben glanced at Daniel¡¯s calm face, surprised by what he had said. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Daniel sighed as he looked at Ruben, who seemed incapable of adjusting his posture, even in front of his king. ¡°It must be hard for a woman who lives a free life to try and conform.¡± ¡°One more time?¡± Ruben got up, moving towards Daniel, interested. He grinned and looked at Daniel and clasped his chin in his hand. ¡°Have you ever been on a date with a girl at a restaurant in downtown Amenity?¡± ¡°I did once. It was only that one time, and I didn¡¯t go there with the intention of sharing a meal.¡± ¡°One time is enough. One word is enough.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It stays with people. Anyone who saw you will remember you there, on a date.¡± Ruben smiled bitterly, his eyes were filled with a touch of melancholy, remembering someone or sometime. Daniel remained silent, as he seemed to know who his brother was remembering. ¡°But there are some people, the closer you get to them, the more you begin to dislike them. There are others who, the closer you get to them, become increasingly desperate and needy. You only need to experience this once before you become more cautious.¡± He said nothing in response. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s better not to. They are a liability as soon as they enter our hearts. It¡¯s not safe for us to fall in love. Falling in love might be instantaneous, but it is more complicated for us. Love is something that will restrain you, limit you, for the rest of your life. You will be putting everyone at risk,¡± Ruben muttered to himself. His eyes damp with regret, he suddenly raised his eyes and chuckled. ¡°By the way, I wanted to know if there was anyone that comes to mind?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Now, as I have been speaking, was there someone that came to mind? Because if there was, then it¡¯s already very bad.¡± Daniel remained silent for a long time. Then he sighed and said ¡°Yes¡±. ¡°She has no idea, and it is clear that she doesn¡¯t want the position of queen. She is just a typical investigative officer. Besides, I don¡¯t know why the conversation has taken this turn, but it¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°It is like that. If you are falling in love with her, it is exactly like that,¡± Reuben stretched out and replied sullenly. Daniel rubbed his forehead. ¡°But as time goes by, I think I will become more and more greedy. It seems like she will have to stay away. She craves information, always asking questions. I want to be selfish and keep her by my side. She is still a stranger to me. I want to know everything about her. But keeping her near me is dangerous. And she wants to be a good person. I am not sure she can be if she becomes queen. I know not what to do.¡± CH 42.1 ¡°So you¡¯re leaving then? Just packing your things and going?¡± ¡°She is a free woman. If I force her to stay it will be like locking her in a gilded cage, stealing her freedom from her. She loves her life, her job as a Bureau of Investigation operative. She would hate being queen. It would be difficult for me to give her happiness, I am always busy and can¡¯t always spend time with her.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. This is a precious moment that you have to hang on to. Take a break from palace life. I can show you places to go.¡± ¡°No. Obviously, the international situation is not too serious yet, but we have to stay alert.¡± Daniel said and shook his head. He forcefully swallowed his words, as he wanted her to be able to play line ball when she got old. ¡°If I am around her any longer, I might not be able to let her go at all. I¡¯m terrified that I won¡¯t be able to resist using my power to force her to stay. I have been tempted before, and the feeling is only growing in intensity,¡± Daniel said with a forced smile. ¡°I sent off my parents, Kayden, Regen, my brother, and Ashe. It¡¯ll be okay. There are other things to worry about than women¡¯s problems.¡± *** Daniel and Iveca finished their last report calmly, no emotional outbursts. Kayden returned after his three months of suspension. Iveca watched Daniel as he signed her report, using the pen which she had given to him. ¡°Eve, you¡¯ve done a great job,¡± the king said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Kayden arrived yesterday. I told him directly that I wanted him to submit the comprehensive report in person. He accepted the responsibility.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard,¡± Iveca said, standing stiff and straight, trying to remain calm. However, she would have been lying to herself if she didn¡¯t admit that she was disappointed. She wondered why he was drawing things out now that Kayden was back. He created a strange intimacy with her, but she didn¡¯t know why. As soon as she left, she would be alone again. No one would ask her how her day was, no one would offer to pick up her car, no one would ask for her opinion on various topics. Of course, she still had Reina and Sid, but her relationship with them felt different to the one that she shared with Daniel. He seemed to be genuinely curious about her, and what she thought. ¡°Do you have any new assignments yet?¡± Daniel asked. ¡°I¡¯ve temporarily been assigned to Staram smuggling case.¡± ¡°¡­Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Iveca said. It was over. Now she would only ever be able to see Daniel from a distance at an official event if they happened to both be there at the same time. At banquets, he would dance with noble ladies, and choose one of them to be his queen. He was so handsome, diligent, friendly, and had a kind smile. All the noble ladies said that they were thrilled for days after having a few conversations with him. She had seen him every day for three months. Accidental events had blurred the line between them. A strange bond had formed between them. She could not help falling for him. But Iveca knew that she would be able to move on, forget about him. She had done it before with other men. She had forgotten about Anriq, who she had wanted to be with so badly. *** Iveca was assigned to the Staram smuggling case, going down to the provinces to spend her time dealing with hectic problems. She decided that if she left Amenity, and buried herself in her work, she would soon forget her light crush. A month had passed since they calmly returned to their seats. Rihan Kadmin, a famous artist from Staram, crossed the border creating a lot of attention that was focused on him. Taking advantage of the chaos, Ethan, the second prince of the Empire, secretly entered the palace. Iveca was on her way to Rento, the southern part of the Amethan Kingdom, to track Staram¡¯s smuggling ring. She had infiltrated for a full month but had only caught loaches. Clearly, the item smuggling ring in Staram had a unique way of moving goods. ¡°I¡¯ve been there, Sir. This is a related report. I understand that there is a huge force called ¡®King¡¯, but I can¡¯t get a grasp of anything else.¡± Iveca teamed up with Reina, but they were not able to uncover anything new. Wiles received the report with a serious expression on his face. After a month, the Bureau of Investigation was confused. Of course, they knew that something big had happened. However, there was a strange tension that could not be dismissed. ¡°Eve!¡± ¡°Yes sir?¡± ¡°The Chief of the Bureau of Investigation told me that he had something to say to you when you come. Take a short break and go inside.¡± CH 42.2 Iveca frowned. Take a break? Things like that were not said lightly in the Bureau of Investigation. It meant that she was being given time to prepare herself. She stood still for a moment, before entering the Director¡¯s office. Lucas, the director of The Bureau of Investigation, looked very worried at first glance. ¡°Whenever I go on business trips to the provinces, big things keep happening,¡± Iveca said in a joking tone as she stood in front of him. ¡°Is there going to be a battle for the throne? Maybe Staram¡¯s celebrity suddenly falls over, or maybe the rebel leaders come into the palace?¡± Iveca thought to herself. Clearly, she was about to receive a very difficult order. As a low-level employee who had not been around for long, there could be no other reason for her to be meeting the director alone. This was the first time that she was meeting him in the Director¡¯s office since she had first joined the Bureau when he had created a personality called ¡°Eve Jean¡± for her. ¡°Eve.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What do you think about Rihan Kadmin?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. We haven¡¯t heard enough information yet to judge.¡± Lucas then presented a report. It contained the details of Rihan Kadmin¡¯s entry, which Kayden had personally interrogated. He hated the republic, hated the monarchy, and fled to Amethan¡­ However, Rihan Kadmin was the one who spread the idea of ¡®republicanism¡¯ across the continent. Not only did he write a book that reinforced his ideological ideals, but he was so popular that it quickly became famous. Turning over the report, Iveca¡¯s expression grew more and more serious. Lucas folded his arms and spoke slowly, ¡°The king has ordered the Bureau of Administration office¡¯s staff to protect themselves. But there are many suspicious cases. Especially Rihan Kadmin¡¯s boarding house, which is connected to the smuggling route. I believe this has been planned for a long time, I don¡¯t think that everything is a coincidence. The second prince, when he was running away, accidentally came across Rihan Kadmin, and they came into Amethan together?¡± ¡°However, his Majesty¡¯s order to protect himself must have been unavoidable. It is difficult to dispose of a monarchist who has been exiled in such a public manner.¡± ¡°The king wants to use Rihan Kadmin as an example. I believe that he¡¯s thinking of using him for publicity, evidence that the Republican government also has blind spots.¡± She said nothing, just listening to his words. ¡°But the Empire called for Rihan Kadmin directly. His Majesty the Emperor said he wanted to see the performance and told him to join the tribute procession. I¡¯m going to send it to the Empire soon.¡± ¡°Then what¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous. It would be a great tragedy if the Emperor were to find out that he was protecting him in the Kingdom of Amethan,¡± he said looking at her, a complicated emotion behind his eyes. ¡°I have decided to get rid of Rihan Kadmin.¡± Iveca did not avert her gaze. She could guess why he was telling her these words directly. ¡°It¡¯s the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s dogma. I don¡¯t want to put the burden of killing an artist in exile.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Soon, Rihan Kadmin, his representative, a procession of tributes, and a band for the performance will be dispatched to the empire¡­¡± Iveca calmly waited for Lucas¡¯s order. ¡°You¡¯re the right person for this job.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Since your name is already on the Royal Band, you don¡¯t have to worry about infaltrating with a false identity. You are the most capable assassin we have.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Iveca said without hesitation. Each of the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s officers had to trust the organization¡¯s judgment and follow it. Iveca had no intention of rejecting the Bureau¡¯s order. Lucas covered his eyes with his hand, his face looked more tired than ever. ¡°It is difficult to organize additional personnel. It¡¯s an unofficial, secret mission, and I¡¯m on the verge of borrowing the hands of other department employees to chase after the smugglers. Besides, the Empire is at war.¡± ¡°Until now, I have risked my life on every Investigative Service mission, Director,¡± Iveca said and grinned to lighten Lucas¡¯s burden. ¡°You can¡¯t let yourself get caught in the Empire or the Amethan Kingdom, so make sure to aim for the right time. It would be best to shoot when you¡¯re in battle.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lucas presented Iveca with the plan, which included the departure date, schedule, and list. Iveca accepted the plan, bowed, and left the director¡¯s office. It¡¯s not the first time she¡¯d been ordered to be an assassin. She had killed numerous criminals thus far. She usually struck from afar, with a positioned knife or dart. She was not as physically strong as other operatives, but this was where she excelled. However, this would be the first time that she was sent to a foreign country in a civil war alone. CH 43.1 As soon as she left the director¡¯s office, three officers surrounded her. She was silent for a moment, while Reina, Sid, and her junior, Kayden, each had a cup of coffee while sitting in the lounge. Eve smiled at her junior, Kayden, although he was actually a year older than her, and opened her mouth to speak, ¡°Oh, congratulations on your wedding. I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t able to make it, but I was in the countryside.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Seniors, I am curious as to why you waited in front of the director¡¯s office?¡± ¡°I questioned Rihan Kadmin.¡± ¡°I saw the report.¡± ¡°I think you should be careful. He was more of a soldier rather than a singer. I know your skills, but in my opinion, you should never take his threat lightly,¡± Kayden said in a blunt voice. Sid nodded his head in agreement with Kayden¡¯s statement. ¡°I was in the middle of a raid once, and he noticed me tailing him right away. He managed to protect all the administrative staff and defeat me in the process.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still behind, Sid Senior?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t use magic. So your personal protection is on hold for the moment. Still, he¡¯s a very dangerous opponent, so don¡¯t fight one-on-one.¡± Iveca nodded deeply. When the battle broke out, it was not a difficult mission; throwing a dagger in the midst of the chaos. If it didn¡¯t work out, it would be difficult to win in a situation where there are only two people left, or if we are forced to use magic as a last resort. Iveca grinned at her colleagues who were looking at her with worried expressions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do well on my own. Besides, I¡¯m good at acting. If it doesn¡¯t work out, would it not be a perfect chance to try to seduce him?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen Rihan Kadmin?¡± Sid asked and crossed his arms, an expression of dumbfoundedness on his face. ¡°He¡¯s much prettier than you. Don¡¯t waste your time worrying about things that don¡¯t concern you. Follow your orders, they are straightforward enough.¡± Raina tried to change the mood.¡°Eve, you¡¯re so good at using knives. You¡¯ll do well. And no matter how pretty Rihan Kadmin might be, Eve is also really cute! He¡¯s currently a hot topic among noble women these days. Try to seduce him. Let¡¯s go and do a good job, then we can have another drink at Amenity.¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Iveca smiled and shrugged indifferently. There were some personal conversations for a while. ¡°I¡¯ll go now,¡± Kayden said. ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± As Kayden left the lounge, he turned towards Iveca, looking as if he suddenly remembered something. ¡°His Highness has asked me twice whether you¡¯re doing well. I kept answering, saying that you were on a business trip to the provinces.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± He nodded, saying, ¡°I think it would be nice of you to go and see him when you came back there. He did not say anything, but he seemed to be curious about how you were doing.¡± Iveca nodded slowly, ¡°I will be sure to do so. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.¡± On a business trip to the Empire with everyone¡¯s worries and support, Iveca failed gracefully. *** Three weeks later, Iveca appeared at the border all alone, her body bloody and brushed. Sid took her in his arms, careful of all her wounds, taking her back to Amenity. Iveca¡¯s eyes were foggy as they treated her injuries at the medical office. Sid stood by her and calmly listened to what had happened. She told him that Rihan Kadmin was much better than she had thought. Even in the middle of battle, he managed to avoid her danger, and not be exposed to her poison. He had beaten her until she was barely able to move. She had been unlucky in various ways. The battle quickly moved towards the Palace, it became harder to kill without anyone noticing. Soon war broke out in the Imperial Palace itself. However, the Emperor had already used up all his magical power, and he was helpless. Rihan Kadmin did not fall for anything she did to try to seduce him and he paid her no mind. To make matters worse, she had no choice but to move in urgently as she was unexpectedly caught in a monopoly with the Emperor. Iveca had become panicked, this was the first assassination she had not been able to pull off successfully, and her life had hung in the balance. Kadmin had always been one step ahead of her all the way. At a loss, Eve was forced to ask Eugene Unit, a Bureau of Administration official, for help, revealing that she was a Bureau of Investigation employee. ¡°As long as this is going on, we can¡¯t all travel together. I will be leaving in the morning, I won¡¯t get killed in someone else¡¯s war. I am going back to Amethan.¡± CH 43.2 Eugene decided to split his party into two groups and enter the country separately. Iveca, who failed at her assassination, had no choice but to listen. As such, she travelled across the continent to collect the escort and band, but was caught up in battle and attacked by bandits. ¡°They¡¯re all, all¡­. dead,¡± Iveca told Sid with a blank expression, unable to shed tears. ¡°They were citizens of Amethan who did nothing wrong¡­ I could not protect any of them..¡± ¡°Eve, you were the only one from the Bureau of Investigation office there, and the escorts were not well trained. How can you protect so many people by yourself?¡± ¡°It¡­ It¡¯s my first time in a war¡­¡± ¡°I never thought that I would be so helpless, with no one to protect me. I never knew that failing the mission meant that I would have to pay such a high price. I hide my identity, but we¡¯ve been on a tour, and we¡¯ve been close to each other¡­¡± ¡°Eve!¡± Sid said firmly. ¡°You are alive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the only one¡­¡± ¡°It may sound selfish but¡­¡± he said and sighed. ¡°¡­That¡¯s all I need. If that¡¯s the case¡­ I think it¡¯s a relief. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s ever faced Rihan Kadmin directly. So listen to me. It¡¯s not your fault, and anyone else would have failed as well. Don¡¯t blame yourself.¡± ¡°I failed my mission¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t hope to succeed on every mission.¡± ¡°I heard that Rihan Kadmin joined the rebels. That¡¯s all the only thing the rebels were talking about. Because I¡¯m not good enough¡­ I made a mistake¡­ I couldn¡¯t even save the general manager, Justin, who went on a business trip with me¡­ Perhaps we could have changed something. But I failed, and that is no longer possible.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself. Director Lucas will feel uncomfortable seeing you like this. I told you, we are all happy, as long as you¡¯re back alive.¡± Iveca placed her face in both hands, shaking with pent-up emotion. Sid was right, she needed to get control of herself before she talked to Lucas. She forced a false sense of calmness over herself as she left the infirmary. The mission had failed, and the Bureau of Investigation knew that there was no one to blame. She nevertheless could not do anything with her trembling hands. For the first time in her life, she felt strongly threatened, her life in the balance as Rihan pushed her against the wall. When none of the daggers she had thrown with such confidence hit him, she was greatly embarrassed, for she had never missed a target before. She had always known that in a battle she would not be able to save everyone. But she had never imagined that she would be so thoroughly wiped out. The Amethan¡¯s guards were trapped in a corner and killed. Iveca threw a dagger crazily and rushed in, pulling her knife from the dead body, but it was not enough. There were just too many opponents. Enemies streaming in endlessly¡­ Iveca, who had only dealt with criminals in her bureau, was amazed at the scale of the fight. War was like that. Everyone in sight went mad, fighting, bleeding. Each time she dreamed, the faces of all the dead floated before her eyes, haunting her, not allowing her to rest. She lay under a dead body for hours until she could be sure that the men that had killed her party were gone. She crawled out, running for her life, fear chasing her. Even after arriving at Amenity, she felt guilty because she was the only survivor. And what bothered her more than anything else was the idea that Amethan, her home, might be heading for war because of her failure. Rihan Kadmin joined the side of the rebels, which would make the Empire¡¯s job even harder. Sid stood by her side as she told her story. ¡°Eve.¡± She looked at him. ¡°I was really worried about you.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything in response. ¡°Thank you for coming back.¡± Iveca broke down at the kind words. *** At that moment, Kayden handed a new report to Daniel, his face gloomy. The report contained information about Rihan Kadmin joining the rebels. Daniel read the comprehensive report sent to him by The Bureau of Investigation with no expression. He groaned a little when the Bureau of Investigation decided to deal with him. ¡°¡­The Bureau of Investigation was right. Eventually, he managed to enter the rebel army.¡± His eyes stopped as he saw the name Eve Jean as a dispatched employee for the murder. He startled to his feet. ¡°What about Eve?¡± he demanded. ¡°What do you mean your majesty?¡± ¡°Are they alive? Did they come back? Is she still at the Empire?¡± ¡°¡­She came back, Your Highness,¡± Kayden replied, with a puzzled look. He had never seen his king lose his composure, even when his brother William had died. Daniel hurriedly handed over the documents. He had not read the other letters. After discovering the phrase ¡°Returning alone and undergoing treatment¡±, he spoke in a low voice to Kayden, ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I need to see her with my own eyes.¡± CH 44.1 ¡°¡­She¡¯s being treated at the Medical department.¡± ¡°Medical department? That means she¡¯s hurt. Then I¡¯ll personally go.¡± ¡°The Bureau of Investigation has assigned professionals to her already. They¡¯ll be monitoring her status. We also need you to write a report detailing the incident immediately. If you depart now, it will interfere with the flow of work, and Eve, who I know personally, would never want Your Highness to visit her in such conditions.¡± Daniel remained silent. ¡°However, if you still insist,¡± Kayden looked straight into Daniel¡¯s eyes and assured him, ¡°I will request that they submit the report themselves.¡± ¡°Is the damage quite severe? God forbid, if it¡¯s a fatal injury, or if it¡¯s not fatal but there are multiple injuries. This is Eve we¡¯re talking about here, the Medical department should be providing the best medical staff.¡± ¡° Your Majesty.¡± Kayden smiled slightly, as he was not familiar with Daniel¡¯s blunt yet surprisingly caring personality. ¡°It¡¯s a treatable injury. There isn¡¯t any cause for concern, so you should be able to see her tomorrow. I¡¯ve already stopped by the Medical department on the way here and made sure that they would provide the best medical staff to treat Eve.¡± Having been reassured, Daniel slowly sat back down and began reviewing the report again, but his hand trembled slightly. While observing this, Kayden noticed a small engraving ¡°From E.J.¡± on Daniel¡¯s pen that he carried everywhere. He knitted his brows. Eve Jean? After some time, Daniel did inquire on how Eve was doing. However, Kayden felt that the question seemed to have come after much patience and deliberation. It was like he had been holding it in and could no longer endure his anxiety. He thought it queer that Daniel did not pay such attention to other affiliated employees. Meanwhile, Kayden was surprised at Daniel¡¯s rather excessive reaction to Eve¡¯s injury. He finally decided to ask Daniel about the matter; not as a loyal servant, but as the long-time friend that he had now become. ¡°Sir, did you have something of a special relationship with Senior Eve?¡± ¡°No¡­ there wasn¡¯t anything between us,¡± he sighed. But Kayden looked as if he didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°We had a meal on Amenity Street and took a walk on Lake Menata. That¡¯s it.¡± Kayden stared blankly at Daniel and said with a shudder. ¡°But such a woman¡­ You¡¯ve never done this before with anyone else, have you? Your Majesty spending time with such a lady alone? Taking a walk around Lake Menata? Is that nothing special to Your Majesty?¡± ¡°¡­.I must have been nothing special to Eve.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± At Daniel¡¯s somewhat sullen remarks, Kayden slowly nodded his head, frowning. ¡°I¡¯m sure that might be true.¡± ¡°It pains me to hear you agree so quickly to it.¡± ¡°Being honest is a virtue of a good friend. But Senior Eve, well¡­¡± The reason Kayden¡¯s last word was blurred was due to the fact that Eve¡¯s true identity was the third daughter of the Esselburn family. She had never released the magic that changed her appearance. She used to tell him over and over that she would like to live and die as Eve Jean. Thus everyone in her bureau treated her as ¡®Eve Jean¡¯, and her views on the matter never went any deeper. However, if she was the woman on the King¡¯s mind, then it was an altogether different story. Things would get very complicated if he wanted her to be the future Queen. Quitting the Bureau of Investigation would unravel her magic, thus exposing her true identity. On the other hand, it was also impossible to send her back to the Esselburn family out of nowhere. Moreover, no matter how much Daniel thought about it, Eve did not seem to want the Queen¡¯s position. Daniel saw Kayden¡¯s disheartening dark expression and said, ¡°Do not say it.¡± ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Pessimistic words.¡± Kayden merely looked Daniel in the eye, no words coming out of his mouth. ¡°I will make a very important decision soon regarding this matter,¡± continued Daniel. In the end, Kayden withdrew from Daniel¡¯s office, only saying that he would send him to Eve tomorrow. Alone and tired, Daniel let out a sigh and took out a notebook from his bookshelf. [What sort of mission did you get? Where are you going?] [What are you doing today?] [The prince is here. What do you think?] [I want to save the chaotic Kadmin. What do you think? Just in case. Can we go out for dinner when you come back?] [I should¡¯ve gone to that bar. I think we could¡¯ve talked more about fun stuff.] [The little boy you were with before was a close junior?] [I can¡¯t sleep well these days. When do you usually fall asleep? Do you sleep well?] [Since when have you been so good at throwing daggers?] [Do you often think about our dinner that night? Like I do? Or was it just another normal day for you?] After Kayden submitted the comprehensive report and left, Daniel could not help but jot down the questions that came to his anxious mind. He took out the pen he always carried and wrote down another series of questions which reflected his inner thoughts. [Did you get injured? Where does it hurt? Are you in pain?] He hesitated for a moment, stared at the ¡°From E.J¡± engraving, then slowly moved the pen again. [I miss you, but I know that it would be a nuisance to everyone if I were to see you. You know, I still don¡¯t like the fact that my desire towards you could put you in that terrible seat, do you?] [But I¡¯ll wait all night for you to come tomorrow. When you come to see me, wouldn¡¯t you consider it a little annoying?] ¡°Eve¡­¡± He murmured out without thinking. CH 44.2 Even though much time had passed and Daniel hadn¡¯t seen her on purpose, he continued to long for her. He thought he could give up on her if her figure never came in front of his eyes. People naturally fall in love with one another in an instant and leave their mark at will. And some marks were not something that could be erased just because people were busy and could not meet each other over extended periods of time. Eve was not like other people to him. The mere thought of her getting hurt somewhere made him feel like an intense fire was burning in his stomach. The jeweled crown in all of its glory was shaken by the simple fact that it¡¯s wearer could not be right in front of her. He was worried, so he could not get an ounce of sleep because he missed her and could not help but to endure the torment that kept him awake all night. It was his delusion that made him think that he was holding out remarkably well even after he let her go. In fact, he was staggering without even realizing it. It was only for enduring, and was not a substitute for being mentally fit. Thinking that she could disappear from this world made his vision blurry and unfocused. It was an apprehension that he could not do anything about. Withstanding his weak headache, he stared blankly at the dawn. The sun had started to rise. The time waiting for her passed so slowly that his whole body felt numb. *** Iveca was a bit perplexed at Kayden¡¯s request to hand in her comprehensive report on his report. Her first thought was that Daniel might be held responsible for this. She had been quite exhausted since she had failed to assassinate Rihan Kadmin. Of course, she was not weak enough to show off her uneasiness after returning to the Bureau of Investigation. She had just returned and poured all of her emotions onto Sid, therefore, it felt as if she had completely regained her normal state of mind after leaving the medical office. She made a quick report to Lucas, patted Reina on the shoulder, and wrote the report in her usual cold handwriting. So even when she went to meet Daniel, she slowly stuttered in, keeping a straight face. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Daniel stared at her. ¡°¡­This is a report of the incident. If you have any doubts or questions, please ask me right away.¡± His eyes were blank, and he accepted her report and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Your body.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is your body okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. The Medical department treated me well.¡± She answered without any expression. He quietly poured some tea and asked her to sit down. Iveca sat in front of him and picked up a sweet biscuit. The scent of the tea he gave to her was good, but she carefully and slowly brought it up to her lips because she did not feel as comfortable as the last time she came into his office. ¡°His Majesty ordered that Rihan Kadmin be protected. If you are accused of trying to assassinate Rihan Kadmin under the authority of the Bureau of Investigation, then this could be considered to be on an investigational level¡­¡± ¡°Eve, I have no intention of saying anything about the Bureau of Investigation. Because not all of my thoughts are right. Isn¡¯t it the authority of the Bureau of Investigation to have the say on matters like that?¡± Everything he said was right. But his expression had been stiff, so Iveca could not relax. There was no smile hanging on his face like a bait, and she could even feel a strange anger in his gaze towards her. She sighed and spoke despite the heavy atmosphere while touching the teacup for no reason. ¡°Then, what is it that makes you so angry?¡± His expression was strangely transparent yet still blank, so Iveca could not continue to talk and blurred her words again. It was definitely a time when the King was in a bad mood in many ways. ¡°The reason I was angry with the Bureau of Investigation was that I thought I would not be able to leave Director Lucas alone all night¡­ Because he sent you to that battlefield by yourself.¡± Iveca was rather startled by his unexpected words. It was difficult to pinpoint his context and what he was getting at. He glared at her with a stern expression that was different from the expression he usually gave her, not touching his steaming tea that he had already poured. He was strangely different from the last time he saw her, and certainly in a very different mood. Iveca replied cautiously as she sighed. ¡°It was a reasonable decision given the circumstances. If you look at the last report¡­¡± ¡°I know. If you were just another Bureau of Investigation employee, I would not have been awake all night, trembling with anger and relief.¡± Iveca seemed suffocated for a moment. She was at a loss for words. The oozing scent of tea was so strong that the tip of her nose went dry. ¡°What were you going to do if you died? If you died there I mean.¡± His voice was calmer than ever yet still stern, but there was a strange tremor. Taking this into observation, she replied calmly. ¡°It is a death in service to the Kingdom of Amethan, and as an officer in the Bureau of Investigation, it is only natural for us to obey the judgment of the organization. I¡¯ve never once treasured my own life since I joined the Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°Eve¡­¡± ¡°If you were to tell me to go again, I would go without a moment¡¯s hesitation.¡± CH 45.1 ¡°Eve.¡± He urged adamantly. ¡°Your Majesty, you should not regard a meager employee as someone special. As I told you before, we are but tools for the Kingdom of Amethan. I urge you to not judge the organization based on a fleeting acquaintance.¡± ¡°Eve!¡± He said again, his voice dangerously low. Iveca shrank, her body stiff in the uncomfortable silence. Iveca could not stand the cumbersome atmosphere that had thickened the air and placed her teacup on the table with a start. ¡°Love me.¡± He spoke, and Eve gasped at the unexpectedness of his words. She had never thought he¡¯d utter them. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like you committing to threatening situations.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She urged on, wanting to comprehend what he was trying to say. ¡°The other day, when I asked you what love was¡ª¡± He spoke with a falter. His eyes then bore upon her, looking at her with solemnity and genuineness. ¡°You said that love blooms when nothing else matters.¡± She blinked back foolishly. ¡°I want you to love me so much, it doesn¡¯t matter if you leave the Bureau of Investigation. I abhor the idea that you put yourself through dangerous situations most of the time. You can work anywhere else, given that you don¡¯t have to risk your life.¡± ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Iveca protested half-heartedly. ¡°I forgot I was your King the day I treated you. Even if you don¡¯t prefer to be by my side, I wish to be by yours¡­ somehow. Oh, damn,¡± The King cursed. The King insisted he wanted her by his side. How was she supposed to interpret his words now? She didn¡¯t deem herself ignorant but now she couldn¡¯t understand the expression in Daniel¡¯s eyes. Her eyes trailed away for a second and they caught the escort guard, Anriq¡¯s bewildered eyes. He stood straight, his demeanor picturesque, but his eyes gave away his inner disoriented thoughts¡ªcausing Iveca¡¯s breath to ease. She didn¡¯t deem Anriq to be a problem, she¡¯d forgotten her feelings toward him long ago but she couldn¡¯t forget that he was a persistent symbol of her past. Daniel has proclaimed that he liked her, so what? Only men were able to profess such thoughts and think nothing of the future. But¡­no woman in Amethan would have the same opportunity of getting away with a light romance with the King himself. If it isn¡¯t a light relationship, would I lie to him and the whole country for the rest of my life as a Bureau of Investigation¡¯s officer? Iveca questioned herself. Was the Queen¡¯s position compatible with the Bureau of Investigation staff? The Bureau of Investigation was too vague compared to other affiliated organizations. Iveca looked away, her eyes brimming with questions. What did he mean, when he told her to love him? His straightforward manner was out of the ordinary, totally different from when she¡¯d seen him dealing with his other subjects. Her heart pounded mercilessly, her stomach hollow. She had to grip her hands to stop them from shaking. She hated feeling this way but she knew her emotions and her body language translated to excitement. The realization gave her a start, she was both confused and surprised at her reaction but she did not hate it. The King touched his forehead and spoke; ¡°I got comprehensive reports each day, and every time I got them, my mind traced back to you. Yes, I deemed myself arrogant, I thought I¡¯d forget feeling this way if I saw you, at least.¡± Iveca felt the blood pounding in her ears and her flight instinct kicked in, yet she was trapped and wasn¡¯t in a position to run. She had to force herself to sit as still as a stone and listen to this unbelievable conversation while maintaining her labored breathing. ¡°I¡¯ve had to endure thinking about you all this time, and it was painful. I felt restless like I was starving and you were what I needed.¡± Iveca sat in stunned silence, not daring to speak in case her words betrayed her feelings. ¡°I cannot sleep well, I cannot stop thinking about you. I was intrigued by you the second I met you and against my best intentions, I kept enduring it. I wanted to keep tabs on every Bureau of Investigation office whenever there were notices about ambiguous business trips to the provinces.¡± Iveca¡¯s heart dropped, she could not face the King looking at her and her eyes blinked down at her clasped hands. ¡°This is how I define love. Your absence, even for an hour, destroys my world gradually and renders me senseless.¡± The silence stretched on as the King continued. ¡°During my time as a King, I have faced far more suffering and adversities than most people. But the day I could not meet you, my day broke down little by little, and the moment I saw your name in that fucking report¡­¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± Iveca stammered. ¡°It felt like walls were closing down on me and my foundations were crumbling. I¡¯ve considered burying my heart for you Iveca!¡± The King spoke out, the emotion in his voice piercing through her. ¡°Why¡ªWhy me?¡± She managed to choke out, despite the barbed wires that were slowly enclosing her throat. Daniel bore his eyes into her, his smile sad and desolate. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡ª I¡¯ll get going for now. I was just caught off guard.¡± She spoke out dumbly. She then watched him as he slowly approved her report. ¡°You will need time, I know that my heart is a nuisance to you, so write another report.¡± He spoke out with finality. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°What kind of a man does Eve Jean like? Write it down in great detail. You came into my heart uninvited but it has now made me even more determined to claim yours.¡± For the first time, Iveca found herself speechless. ¡°I¡¯ll figure everything out, so just write down anything of significance.¡± Iveca dropped her gaze. CH 45.2 After leaving the King¡¯s office, Iveca headed straight to the training ground. She needed to compartmentalize her invading thoughts and emotions but could not seem to succeed without exerting her body. The King, whom she¡¯d met after two months had now confessed his emotions to his heart¡¯s content. Daniel hadn¡¯t always been open with his emotions and Iveca felt shocked at knowing he¡¯d deliberately sent her away because of his feelings towards her. She felt touched by his thoughtfulness. The Queen should not be dead. She liked her life at the Bureau of Investigation and her feelings hadn¡¯t yet changed. How had she now become the Queen with a false identity? Iveca couldn¡¯t refuse him at once because her heart sped too fast. How could she find the resolve to reject him on the spot? He¡¯d confessed his feelings and while she¡¯d looked into his blue eyes, her tongue wouldn¡¯t move with her thoughts. Feeling disillusioned, Iveca entered the training ground where the other members of the Bureau of Investigation conducted physical training. However, today, the ground was empty as everyone was on their respective duties and only her manager Wiles trained alone. ¡°Eve? What are you doing here at this hour?¡± He asked, sweat trickling down his face. ¡°I finished my report early today, and I am a little tired,¡± She explained with a grin, pretending to be calm. ¡°What are you doing at this hour, manager?¡± She inquired of him, hoping to keep the conversation steered off herself. ¡°Well, I am the physical education instructor in college, right? I¡¯ve got to work on building up my body whenever I have time,¡± He replied and Iveca nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here for a little while, please refrain from mentioning it to the office,¡± she asked him tiredly. ¡°Buy me a cup of coffee later, and I¡¯ll pretend you never came.¡± He replied playfully with a dumbbell in his hand. Iveca picked up a dagger and flung it towards the target without hesitation. She needed utmost concentration and immersion for her skill and it helped focus her thoughts. She grabbed the hilt of her dumbbell for another throw and then it came to her; That moment. The imperial army kept pouring in like wet cement, multiplying one after another no matter how much she attacked. She¡¯d throw a dagger and kill one person, and five more appeared behind her. No matter how fast she threw, she could not keep up with the imposing currents and she wasn¡¯t confident in her skills in close combat. General Manager Justin, her royal music director, who loved and cared for her despite her false identity, died instantly. She screamed at the throngs of her people, willing them to leave but they were too slow, and everyone she knew fell in front of her. She hadn¡¯t thrown a dagger since, and this was her first time. She tried to course her strength into her hand but it trembled helplessly. Iveca began seeing spots behind her eyes as the undercurrents of her memories rushed forward¡ªlike a dam that had broken and the water spilling out mercilessly. She remembered Rihan Kadmin and cringed as she recalled how easily he¡¯d blocked her throw despite her accuracy. He¡¯d pushed her body and pressed against her and it was the first time Iveca had foreseen her death. However, he managed to get away without being injured, and Iveca had to live with the fact that she¡¯d let a dangerous killer live and be free. Lucas was so worried that he used his authority of the Bureau of Investigation, but she had screwed it up. Her left hand did not move, despite her willing it to. The moment she¡¯d grabbed her dagger, a trauma she¡¯d dredged deep within herself, hoping she¡¯d forget, welled out like a pus-filled wound, threatening to break and infect her body. She was filled with crippling fear and the sense of helplessness she¡¯d felt during the war returned. Despite everything she¡¯d tried to protect her people, she¡¯d failed and she was the only one who¡¯d survived. Despite pretending she was okay, and despite suppressing the toxic self-loathing she had for herself and pretending to be normal around other people, Iveca could not hold those feelings back the second she¡¯d held that damned dagger. She couldn¡¯t throw it, she couldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t do anything to save them. No matter how much she threw, there was no end to the enemy, and she quickly ran out. The visions of her running through the corpses covered with blood, her colleagues¡¯ dead bodies piling by the second ceased her breathing as if she¡¯d been punched in the gut. What was the point of all of this? She didn¡¯t deserve to survive. Everyone had died but herself. The hallucinations of the war and the imperial army kept flashing before her eyes and she felt herself shivering uncontrollably. ¡°Eve! Eve, wake up!¡± She heard a distant voice calling her. She came to and saw Wiles shaking her shoulders, freeing her from her hallucinogenic dreams. ¡°Eve! Are you okay?¡± Wiles asked, his voice pained with worry. ¡°M¡­Manager.¡± ¡°What is wrong? What is going on with you?¡± He asked insistently but she could not answer. She felt the dagger slip from her fingers and nausea suffocated her. Iveca couldn¡¯t sleep. She did not let herself go to her dormitory, but rather holed herself up in the training room, staring at the target menacingly. However, when it was time for her to throw a dagger, her mind kept reeling and eventually, her hands shook so badly, she couldn¡¯t throw. She couldn¡¯t even reach half the distance between herself and the target. ¡°Eve, stop it.¡± Sid, who had been watching her wrestle for hours, touched her shoulder with a concerned face. ¡°I¡¯ve been through what you¡¯re going through, and it¡¯s natural how you¡¯re reacting. Stop forcing yourself to come to terms with this so quickly.¡± Eve kept her eyes trained at her target and tried to ignore Sid. ¡°I¡¯m weak at arm-to-arm combat and I lose my strength easily. These days, magic is not as easy as it used to be,¡± she confessed in a low voice. ¡°And If I can¡¯t even do long-distance combat, I¡¯m useless for the Bureau of Investigation,¡± she continued. CH 46.1 ¡°You¡¯ll get better eventually, it¡¯ll get harder the more you force yourself. You need to let yourself heal,¡± Sid coaxed. Eve didn¡¯t hear anything the man said, instead her eyes saw red as she focused on the damned target in front of her. She held up the dagger again, her joint convulsing as she tried to aim but she failed. The mental block that weighed against her just wouldn¡¯t let her. To her, the dagger wasn¡¯t just an object. There were no arrows, stingers, ropes, or anything she wasn¡¯t able to throw with her left hand. To her, the dagger was now competition, and she was competing against herself. She¡¯d failed and the continent had faced an upheaval. Her failure had let a murderer like Rihan Kadmin walk away and endanger hundreds of innocents. Her incompetence let a lot of people die, innocent civilians of Amethan, with no faults to have deserved such a fate. ¡°Still, there is an employee of the affiliated agency, and there is also a person from the Bureau of Investigation, so there is no burden of entrusting the rest of the people in one person.¡± But now, she¡¯d failed her mission and returned alive, alone. Eve groaned as she beat herself over her repetitive thoughts. She¡¯d trusted her skills and herself too much. She¡¯d only survived a few street rats and criminals but they were nothing compared to hundreds and thousands of skilled soldiers that blasted towards her and her men on the battlefield. Now, as she looked at the target, all sorts of horrors lurked around her vision. She kept losing her concentration and her dreaded hand shook again, making bile rise her throat angrily. ¡°Eve.¡± Sid sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it slightly. ¡°Stop it, just go and rest,¡± He urged again, his voice strained with worry. ¡°How can I rest?¡± She muttered, her vision blurring. ¡°In this state, I cannot continue to be in the Bureau of Investigation,¡± she exhaled, her heart clenching as she spoke the words. ¡°We can all wait, take some time off, and rest,¡± Sid spoke from behind her. Eve looked down, her face burning as she stopped herself from replying. Manager Wiles was already giving her organizing duties rather than actual work. If she left now, she¡¯d have nowhere else to go to. ¡°I¡¯m- I¡¯m sorry, I need to go, I just remembered I had some duties to tend to.¡± Eve was tired of talking to Sid, his incessant worrying wore her out even more. He sighed in return. ¡°And what job would that be?¡± He asked. Eve stiffened, momentarily hurt at his words. Was her uselessness so apparent to everyone around her? ¡°Eve, you need to rest. Take some time off, whether it¡¯s an annual leave or a sick leave, this is an order.¡± Eve laughed weakly at Sid¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t written a letter yet, and there was still a report that she needed to submit to the King. Eve sat at her desk, wracking her brain but she couldn¡¯t write anything. The answer was set. Daniel had told her to leave the Bureau of Investigation, but Eve knew the second she left, she would no longer be ¡°Eve Jean.¡± That part of her personality would be erased forever, four years of her life disappeared like a whisper. *** ¡°Eve, you have to at least write a year¡¯s song, there are quite a few dates that have been carried over from last year,¡± Wiles moaned as he prodded at Iveca, though to no avail. He was already conflicted over her appearance at the bureau despite her obvious mental state and he was now concerned that she was detaching herself from everyone and everything except work. She¡¯d formed a hectic routine where she would finish every single piece of paperwork assigned to her and then rush to the battlefield, fighting herself. Wiles felt sorry for her, unhappy at her state- just like everyone else at the Bureau of Investigation. It was hard watching her drive herself to the ground each day, in a cold sweat in the training ground. Wiles decided to keep sliding her assignments that did not require combat, and rummaged through the documents for a newer one to keep her engaged. ¡°Princess Ashe sneaked into Amenity,¡± he said quickly. Ashe was Daniel¡¯s younger sister, and Eve heard that while she was in custody for a crime, she¡¯d borne Prince Ethan¡¯s child after which Daniel sent her to a distant municipality. Wiles stood before her, the case file in hand, and spoke carefully; ¡°The situation with Princess Ashe is greatly complicated. She has given birth to the child of a temporary rebel governor while being the wife of the Lord of the Republic of Liszt, making her deeply embroiled in a controversy. She isn¡¯t an Amethan anymore, and her personality is cold and clever- she succeeded in poisoning Prince William. You have to be careful.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Eve replied. ¡°Tomorrow, the King is going to visit his sister at an inn, your mission is to infiltrate the procession and learn everything that goes on between the King and his sister. The spy we sent today reported that the Princess is visiting because she missed Amenity, but I wouldn¡¯t take that up to chance. A person like her will not make any moves for such a simple motive.¡± CH 46.2 Iveca nodded blankly, all she had to do was hide, spy on the royal siblings, and report back without leaving any traces of her existence. After her last conversation with Daniel, she¡¯d avoided him, and he hadn¡¯t called on her either. She understood that he didn¡¯t want to burden her with his feelings, and of course, she hadn¡¯t managed to write a single line of the report he¡¯d asked for. Still, that couldn¡¯t stop the tiny tingle of excitement that surged through her body when she realized she¡¯d be seeing him again, albeit behind shadows. It also made her feel pathetic but she couldn¡¯t control her emotions. Viewing him from a distance, longing to run her eyes on his beautiful sculpted face and hearing his vaguely sweet words pour from his mischievous smirk. She would then remember his words; ¡°Love me.¡± He¡¯d commanded her even then, although his tone had wavered slightly. ¡°You came into my heart even if you didn¡¯t try, but I¡¯m more determined to try than ever to get into your heart.¡± How could she explain his words to herself? How could she tell him that he didn¡¯t need to try either? He was already in her heart and she was in his. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t write her report, she didn¡¯t want to. He didn¡¯t need a report, he was in her heart, claiming it as his. *** Iveca hid and watched from the background as the King met his sister Ashe at a luxury inn in Amenity. She was beautiful like her brother, her blue eyes shining brightly like Daniel¡¯s. Ashe, the royal daughter, killed the man who had proposed a political marriage to her. Daniel was suddenly made the King, despite his disinterest in the throne. Ashe was detained and there she¡¯d borne the child of a rebel governor. Daniel couldn¡¯t beat the child to remain in Amenity so he¡¯d banished his sister and her child to Lizst. Iveca had read it all in the report on the siblings. The Princess of Amethan, once rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the continent, now stood with choppily cut hair and a worn-out old dress. She looked at the King and smiled wearily, ¡°You should¡¯ve put some grain in the way if you feel sorry.¡± The princess wasn¡¯t able to grow her hair long since she had to preserve soap. Living in the poor Republic of Liszt had done a number on her. Although her tone was cheerful as she conversed with the King, it could¡¯ve been a tactic to extract sympathy from the King. She was still a royal daughter below the layers of her defenses, and one could be completely unbeknownst to her inner thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll send along sanitary products this time,¡± Daniel sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t need high-quality products, but do send a lot of cheaper products so I can share it with the other residents,¡± she replied earnestly. Daniel clenched his jaw, letting out air slowly. He looked like he was truly sorry to view the state of his closest half-sister. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me that way, I¡¯m completely happy,¡± Ashe urged and she reached out to her brother. He didn¡¯t reply in return, instead looking at her with serious contemplating eyes. ¡°Lord Ergon doesn¡¯t touch me and I¡¯ve found happiness in my freedom. You always knew that, didn¡¯t you? A place where I could be utterly free, where the size of the house I lived in, or the clothes that I wore didn¡¯t matter. Cannon is the land of my dreams; a place where there are no struggles because it is okay to remain contented, a place where there is no loneliness because it is okay to remain isolated.¡± Even Daniel, who¡¯d sent her away to Cannon in the first place, and he, could not have foreseen this. Her words seemed like a polite thank you to him. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, my brother. You did well by me by sending me here, I am indebted to you,¡± said the princess. An intimate conversation ensued between the brother and sister. Iveca looked at the two of them with a strange feeling. They looked at each other as if they were staring in a mirror. Their attractive appearances and their irresistible personalities were similar. They looked at each other with compassion and longing. Despite the warm smiles and sighs, there was no actual trust to support this conversation. They still cared for one another though, that much was apparent. Both the participants in the conversation had no trouble hiding their actual feelings and thoughts with smiles and small gestures. Which was why Iveca was uncomfortable. She understood they would never be the same again despite their efforts to be painfully polite to one another. Iveca understood a little more about Daniel and his aversion to companionship. He¡¯d lost people in life- people like his sisters who did not value their relationship with him and chose to betray him. How did it feel like, to resemble a brother so closely and be thick as thieves with him- only to be banished to another place far away? ¡°Oh and Daniel? I have something to say,¡± Ashe spoke. ¡°What is it?¡± Ashe looked at him, her face indifferent as she said; ¡°The child- the child is dead.¡± CH 47.1 ¡°What did you say?¡± Daniel exclaimed, frowning as his blue eyes flashed with emotion. ¡°I- I was drugged unconscious by a man we weren¡¯t able to identify, and the child just¡­ disappeared,¡± The Princess explained, her eyes avoiding the King¡¯s. Iveca watched them, shock permeating her at the news she¡¯d just heard. Ashe¡¯s child, the cause of great unpleasure, had suddenly died? ¡°When?¡± Daniel demanded, moving towards his sister. Ashe smiled sadly but did not reply. ¡°Ashe, when did this happen? You need to tell me everything,¡± Daniel repeated, his voice dangerously low. Ashe looked straight at him then, as she replied, ¡°I have nothing further to say on this matter. It was unfortunate but it happened, and that is all.¡± Iveca felt a stirring of pity for the dainty but tired-looking Princess. She watched her demeanor; the lonely voice and tired eyes. ¡°He was a heretic child, as you might already know,¡± She said and her brother didn¡¯t reply, a firm look plastered on his face. ¡°Whispers on the street suggest it might be the Emperor¡¯s¡­ or it could be heresy¡± Iveca stared at the pair blankly, as the Princess calmly spoke of the possibility that the child¡¯s father had eliminated it, but she could see Daniel¡¯s anger rising between them. Ashe seemed to be appeasing the King, smiling as she assured him it was okay. ¡°Ashe¡­ your child-¡± ¡°I am happy here, don¡¯t you worry,¡± She replied. Iveca knew then, Ashe was not an ordinary woman. Her child had disappeared, was presumed dead yet she claimed it was okay. Her eyes were bright and her smile perfect, but Iveca watched her as she constantly rubbed the ring on her finger. Her ring had too rough of a design to belong to Amethane. The work was delicate but didn¡¯t seem like any of the designs that were trending. It didn¡¯t seem valuable or worthy enough. So why was Ashe, who claimed she used her soap sparingly, not selling the useless metal off to buy useful commodities? Iveca¡¯s attention shifted back to the royal siblings. Their conversation had drifted towards the domestic and foreign news, mainly revolving around the Bureau of Technology or Staram. ¡°Daniel, your name will go down in history,¡± Ashe was saying. Iveca looked at him then. While she had been in the empire, the King had created a new affiliated organization called the Bureau of Technology and had achieved major reforms and developments. ¡°You¡¯ve successfully held Amethane at its helm in this changing and developing world. Your success with this bureau will hush the republicans. Who will bother with Confucius of the Republic when they see the work you have done?¡± Ashe spoke confidently, an air of pride surrounding her words. ¡°Ah, is that so?¡± Daniel replied, scratching his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Many have been affected negatively by my reforms too, all those who conducted legitimate businesses now have their positions narrowed. Despite my best efforts to provide balance, it hasn¡¯t stopped.¡± Iveca was aware of the effects of the bureau. She knew about one of the upper ranks who had been driven to bankruptcy after the establishment of the bureau. The pen she had devised was also on the verge of bankruptcy. Times had changed and the pen which was a bestseller among others had no meaning. Daniel pushed for the establishment of the Bureau of Technology despite being aware of its effects. He judged that it was time for reform, and it indeed was. Iveca continued listening to the siblings converse. The King was promising his sister safe passage back to Amethane and the recovery of her citizenship if Egon died or lost his place. Their topics varied as they talked back and forth. ¡°When do you plan on getting married, brother?¡± Ashe asked suddenly and Iveca stiffened as she subconsciously tilted forward to hear what the man would reply with. ¡°Well¡­ there is a woman who¡¯s caught my eye these days,¡± He confessed, his manner hesitant. ¡°She¡¯s short, cute, and very determined,¡± The King continued shyly. Iveca felt tears well up around her eyes. She was grateful for her hidden presence, she couldn¡¯t bear anyone to see expression at the moment. More than that, she was surprised at Daniel¡¯s stripped manner of expressing himself. He¡¯d been outright when he¡¯d told her his feelings earlier as if he¡¯d been completing a chore. But now¡­ he was almost too sweet. ¡°The best thing about her is how brave she is, despite everything that comes in her path. She has a will of iron and doesn¡¯t give up no matter what,¡± It was then that Iveca felt her whole world shatter around her, her breathing ceased as she remembered that the woman Daniel knew was Eve Jean, someone completely different than her now. She was the brave and clever girl, not her. Iveca felt like an imposter. CH 47.2 ¡°I¡¯m not surprised to hear your tastes retaining their consistency,¡± Ashe laughed softly. Iveca seemed to collapse internally. She was no longer that person, she couldn¡¯t even hold up a dagger now and every day was spent trying to prove what remained of her abilities so she wouldn¡¯t be asked to leave her bureau. She hadn¡¯t been sent on a proper mission in weeks, and why would she? She couldn¡¯t even face a wooden target let alone a real live one. She had to have a reason for a relationship. Her family relationship fell apart since she couldn¡¯t meet the conditions for blood ties. How would a relationship based on the truth uphold? ¡°Your description matches that of Reagen! After exhausting all the noble ladies with the chase, I believe you¡¯ve chosen the woman from the sub-organization? Hah, you really do want to prove to be a King Karl descendant,¡± Ashe said. Iveca¡¯s mind traveled to Reagen Hakart, a woman the King had previously courted. Reagan was a capable and dignified pharmaceutical empire employee. It was obvious that she was loved by him. Her words and actions had pleased him so far. She remembered a conversation between them. The King had interviewed Iveca and after their meeting the King had told her he liked all her answers, aiding the countless things he liked about her. Iveca smiled bitterly. Those answers were conjured by Eve, not her. Eve was someone she had created to shield herself, the lonely emotionally starved girl who was easily intimidated, unconfident, and who struggled both with and without affection. She realized she liked how Daniel viewed her, a strong, thoughtful person who was competent at what she did. Eve Jean was someone she had created to fend herself from everything and everyone else. Eve wasn¡¯t her, she- Iveca- was a complete mess. She was incompetent, she couldn¡¯t bear her pain well, and had several things lacking- things that the King wanted from her. Iveca suddenly snapped back into her reality. She saw that both the King and his sister had left for some time now, but she was the one left behind, staring blankly into the world before her. *** ¡°Eve, why don¡¯t you take a sick leave?¡± Reina asked carefully, eyeing Iveca as she said it. Iveca lowered her eyes, her back tired from standing for too long, and replied calmly, ¡°What happens if I take a sick leave and it doesn¡¯t go well?¡± Reina mulled over the idea for a second before she replied, ¡°Well, there¡¯s an annual leave left.¡± Iveca scoffed at that. ¡°I¡¯ve used up my annual leave¡­what if I don¡¯t manage to throw a dagger at all?¡± She murmured to herself, her voice tinged with desperation and worry. Sitting next to Reina, Sid pursed his lips, remaining silent. He was aware that the employees who couldn¡¯t perform combative abilities couldn¡¯t retain their position at the Bureau of Investigation. The same thing had happened to Gordon, who had been badly injured and transferred to the Bureau of Intelligence. It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t thought about moving into another affiliated organization. She couldn¡¯t perform menial jobs for the bureau and expect to keep her position. She needed her body to work. But she also knew that the moment she left the bureau, she¡¯d lose whatever magic which had conjured her features into that of a different person. How would she adjust to going back to being Iveca de Esselburn after four years? She couldn¡¯t bear going back there. There was a possibility that she¡¯d be transferred to the Bureau of Intelligence but where would she live, how would she learn? Leaving the Bureau of Investigation meant she couldn¡¯t be Eve Jean anymore. If Iveca returned, she¡¯d immediately be married off to some man by the Count. She was going back¡­ her existence becoming unbearable again. Being used as a pawn in a political marriage was the cost of bearing the Esselburn name. She had to quit all affiliated organizations. Ewell would want her to live like a ¡°Great Nobel¡±. Eve swallowed bitterly as she thought about how she could last in an organization that didn¡¯t find her useful. She then forced herself to smile at her companions. ¡°Eve, don¡¯t give yourself a hard time here. You can apply for a new job,¡± Sid spoke slowly. ¡°Sid, as soon as I go back, I will be subject to a political marriage. The Count is disappointed, the heir he adopted is too young and half of them are Mueltons¡± Iveca stately matter-of-factly. ¡°Eve could ignore the Count¡¯s administrations, Iveca cannot.¡± ¡°Eve! They aren¡¯t your family! Why would you abandon your life here for a family that isn¡¯t even looking for you! Why would you go back to a family who gave you nothing but grievances?¡± Eve sighed bitterly. How could she explain her reasons to commoners like Reina or Sid? They weren¡¯t aware of the responsibilities that came with bearing a name like Esselburn. The family had given her food, education, space to live, and treated her equally to her sisters. That was the value of the name she bore and the obligations she had to fulfill. CH 48.1 The memories of the event had quickly faded in people¡¯s minds, most of them forgetting the entrance and exit of Esselburn¡¯s third infant. However if Iveca appeared in Amenity after having spent four years in and out of the Bureau of Intelligence, she¡¯d immediately be the target of the people¡¯s gossip. She was already a disgrace to the Esselburn name, she couldn¡¯t bear to tarnish the name any longer- she¡¯d already been doing that with her name. She¡¯d have to accept any political alliance offered to Ewell, it¡¯d be too shameless not to. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you believe we¡¯ll view you any differently once you¡¯ve stopped being Eve Jean, is that all our companionship was to you?¡± Reina asked her. ¡°If I¡¯m Eve Jean, you¡¯ll no longer be my colleague and we won¡¯t be bound to each other,¡± Iveca replied. Reina stared at her as if she¡¯d grown horns. Iveca sighed and stared at a spot between her feet. Reina stepped forward and said, ¡°Look, we¡¯re more than colleagues. It doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯ll fall out of contact the second you step away from your post.¡± Iveca stepped back and smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m going to be monitored, my every move observed for the rest of my life. My seniors won¡¯t view me on the same level as them,¡± She replied calmly. She realized she¡¯d never truly belonged, no matter how homogenous the group she was with was supposed to be. She¡¯d never felt a complete sense of belonging, and now going back to her family, she would be alienated by her sisters. She was used to it though. Reina stared at Iveca for a second, disappointment blurring her eyes before snorting and storming off the training ground. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Sid asked as he walked towards Iveca. Iveca looked at him and he stared back with emotion in his eyes. She couldn¡¯t bear to see his face and looked away, stabbing the surge of guilt she felt for resenting any person who could retain their job at the bureau. ¡°Eve,¡± Sid called and touched her arm slowly. Iveca didn¡¯t reply, choosing to look over the training ground. ¡°Eve Jean, look at me,¡± Sid spoke louder now and forced her to turn her gaze towards him. ¡°Are you okay? What is going on?¡± He asked and then sighed when she didn¡¯t reply again. ¡°Is it leaving the bureau? Or the arranged marriage?¡± He prodded on. Iveca raised helpless eyes towards him and he paused for a second before nodding. ¡°Will you marry me?¡¯ He asked and Iveca jolted towards him, her eyes wide and confused wondering if he¡¯d been hit over the head somehow. ¡°We can extend our bond from being just colleagues and I can be near you so you find your sense of belonging,¡± He explained shyly, his voice trembling. ¡°What¡­ what are you talking about?¡± She asked finally, her voice trembling like his. Wasn¡¯t he aware of her situation? After leaving the bureau, she¡¯d have to return to her household and be bound to a political marriage. Ewell would never give her off to a commoner who belonged to an affiliated conversation. She realized Sid stood in front of her and forced herself to regain her composure. ¡°Senior, you¡¯ve¡­ gone too far,¡± She tried to say jokingly, forcing her mouth to lift into a smile, but her voice rang with panic. He was joking, wasn¡¯t he? He¡¯d always been aloof and professional around her. She¡¯d never felt any emotions from him in the span of four years they¡¯d worked alongside one another. ¡°You do know what my predicament is, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ll be forced into a political marriage and it won¡¯t change,¡± She explained, her heart sinking at his expression. ¡°You can run away then,¡± He said simply and Iveca stiffened. ¡°How are you going to fend for yourself when you leave Amenity? I can be a martial arts teacher,¡± he asked. Iveca then realized he was extremely good at hiding how felt. She knew his agility better than anyone else but he was better at hiding his feelings. She looked at the dagger in her hand and threw it at the target. She missed but her strength seemed to surge back into her. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I can¡¯t-¡± She spoke and both of them were interrupted by the sound of a door opening. Their eyes trailed towards the door, expecting Reina, but instead saw the dark-haired Kaiden Ruth walking towards them. CH 48.2 ¡°Eve, I want you to come with me,¡± He said when he finally reached them. Sid frowned and Iveca mirrored his expression. ¡°What is wrong?¡± She asked but the man kept a sheltered look in his eyes. ¡°I wish to take this conversation to somewhere private,¡± He finally said and despite the confusion at her beckoning, Iveca felt relieved that she wouldn¡¯t have to face Sid and his words anymore. She nodded and walked after him. Sid looked at her, expressionless, but Iveca knew he must be disappointed in her, scarred by her rejection. Being rejected by his comrade who he¡¯d dedicated to protecting with his life. She was sad that she couldn¡¯t figure out his feelings despite knowing him for four years. Sid had hidden his feelings well but she was also surprised at how out of touch she was from her comrade¡¯s emotions. Her heart broke as she realized how difficult it must¡¯ve been for him to confess his feelings, and she rejected him. She turned her attention back to Kaiden as he walked silently beside her, their direction towards the palace. Iveca¡¯s expression faltered as she realized they were heading for the dance hall that the family used for royal balls. She hurriedly spoke to her junior. ¡°Kaiden, why are you asking for me, where are we going?¡± She asked and he humphed. ¡°It is my obligation,¡± He spoke and she wrinkled her brow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She asked. ¡°You are His Majesty¡¯s oldest friend¡± He replied and she shut her mouth momentarily. ¡°Does this mean I don¡¯t have to go?¡± She asked but heeded no reply. She couldn¡¯t bear to see Daniel¡¯s face. How could she explain to him that the woman he knew, he loved, was nothing but an illusion? She¡¯d only used the good things about her created personality and enforced them. Everything about her would disappear once she left the Bureau of Investigation. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it wise to take you to him either but I can¡¯t understand what is going on with him and you¡¯re the only one who can comfort him. It can¡¯t be helped,¡± He explained Iveca considered his words for a minute before asking what was wrong with him. ¡°King Daniel does not make acquaintances and drop them so easily. He hates things that bother him more than you know. I¡¯ve never had tea with him,¡± He said and continued walking. Iveca bit her lower lip as she chased him down the hallway. They reached the gymnasium and Iveca noticed the guards who lined outside. Anriq noticed her, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Is His Majesty still inside?¡± Kaiden asked Anriq who nodded. Looking down at Iveca, he lowered his voice, ¡°It¡¯s your choice, do you want to go in?¡± Iveca gulped, looking at him. If she crossed those doors, she¡¯d face the man she truly loved and not bear the fact that he was in love with a girl that wasn¡¯t her true self. His love for her might be an illusion, but her love was true. ¡°Could you at least tell me what is going on? Is this about Princess Ashe¡¯s child?¡± She inquired, hoping to delay the time. He nodded grimly. ¡°Who got rid of it?¡¯ She asked and he looked away. ¡°It wasn¡¯t under my jurisdiction so I do not know.¡± Iveca mulled over it for a moment, watching Kaiden¡¯s behavior, hoping he¡¯d let on more than he told. ¡°He does not show it but it doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t need comfort,¡± Kaiden said. Iveca took a step back, clearing her dry throat. ¡°You¡¯d hate it, more than ever, to show yourself broken down in front of the one you love,¡± She said ¡°Sure, I used to think that way but then I fell in love and got married and my views changed,¡± Kaiden replied. ¡°It means that I can understand more broadly and deeply in this field than His Majesty,¡± His words ringing out with a certain cold arrogance. Iveca didn¡¯t have the energy to point it out and looked towards the door. Kaiden took it as his cue and bowed to her politely. ¡°I should get going,¡± He said while turning his back to the panicked Iveca. *** Iveca opened the door to find the King seated in a chair in the corner of the gymnasium, chin on hand, looking as perfect as a picture. However, looking at the scattered arrows and swords thrown haphazardly on the floor of the gym, Iveca¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I¡¯m sure Kaiden sent you,¡± Daniel smiled as his eyes remained on the floor. Iveca willed herself to speak but couldn¡¯t, choosing to stare at him and feel pathetic. ¡°I¡¯ve already calmed down, you can tell him to not worry. I¡¯ll go back to normal and start working tomorrow,¡± he said. CH 49.1 Iveca stood before Daniel, listening to his usual sweet voice, but this time tangled with a strange sombreness. It broke through his disheveled hair and uniform. She stared silently at his blue eyes, impulsively closing the distance between them, making him look up at her. ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of it all,¡± He said, his voice lethargic, looking up to see her reaction. He grinned but the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°To be of royalty is a great burden, we have to face our blood at some point,¡± He confessed, clearly aggrieved. Iveca swallowed, carefully preparing herself to give him the right response. ¡°Do you mean Princess Ashe¡¯s child?¡± She asked, reflecting on his words, ¡°Facing one¡¯s blood.¡± He spoke, his voice tight but precise, showing no emotion, ¡°The child proved to be a nuisance in many ways, and to be honest, I wanted to get rid of Ashe the second I heard she was pregnant. I¡¯ve received decisive evidence that connects Amethan with the rebels. I cannot risk compromising my military while knowing that.¡± Iveca didn¡¯t reply, listening silently to the man. He continued, ¡°Not wanting to get my hands dirty, I asked my staff to tip the Revolutionary Army about my sister¡¯s pregnancy, instructing them to either take them or get rid of them completely, out of Amethane. Everything would¡¯ve been done quietly if it weren¡¯t for those damned Republicans, they screwed us over.¡± Iveca mulled over that, remembering the last time she¡¯d seen the siblings together, talking about the child¡¯s disappearance. At the child¡¯s disappearance, Daniel would have tracked the person responsible and it wouldn¡¯t have been so troublesome if Ethan, the rebel governor, and father of the child, had removed the child. Iveca realized what¡¯d happened, Ethan¡¯s subordinate, who¡¯d received the information midway had eliminated the child. In essence, Daniel¡¯s information was what had killed the child, even if it hadn¡¯t been his intention. ¡°Do you know what my first thought was when I first heard about the child?¡± Daniel laughed humourlessly. Iveca shook her head slightly and he ran a ragged hand down his jaw. ¡°Ashe killed my brother, she pushed me into this.¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes widened but she couldn¡¯t reply. ¡°The child didn¡¯t do anything to me though, and I know I did everything right by my calculations. The child¡­ and Amethane- Do you think I should have been chosen as King?¡± He asked, his composure finally breaking. It was a difficult problem to work around with; Iveca had seen the horrors of war firsthand while visiting the Empire and also seen the immense power of the emperor. If they¡¯d discovered that the General of the Rebels was hiding in the royal palace, Amethane would have disappeared from the map. ¡°I became a King who killed his nephew, just so I could stay in power,¡± He heaved slightly and ran a hand through his messy hair, making them stand further. Iveca couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak, instead of looking at the man in front of her. In front of the world, he was a kind and just man who had ascended the throne after winning through a bloody war, the young and handsome King of Amethane who differed from other families, who didn¡¯t use dirty tricks to kill his family members. Iveca knew deep inside that he was a different man than everyone viewed him to him, despite differing from his brothers, he was still one of them. ¡°I was delusional enough to think I¡¯d change but I still haven¡¯t,¡± He said and Iveca watched him slowly change in front of her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Iveca asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to return to my normal state, this is the end of my grief for my sister and her child, the end of my self-loathing. When I leave the gymnasium, I will bury all my emotions and forget anything ever that happened between us. I will focus on Amethane so you can grow old safely and go back to playing line ball,¡± Iveca broke, her tears streaming down her face as she grieved for the man in front of him. The King, who was looking at her with indifference in his eyes now rose in surprise, worried for Iveca. ¡°Eve¡­ why?¡± He asked but Iveca turned away from his embrace, wiping her tears furiously. CH 49.2 ¡°Is it because you don¡¯t like my world? You don¡¯t want to be a queen?¡± He insisted but Iveca shook her head. ¡°Is it me? Am I too complicated and statistical for you?¡± He asked and Iveca noticed a strange sadness in his life. He wasn¡¯t dejected because of his self-loathing for murdering his nephew, he was simply let down because of her rejection. His eyes held the same expression Sid had a while ago. Iveca bit her lower lip as she contemplated why the men liked someone like her- a complete facade? ¡°If I leave, I will be the same as before, I¡¯ll ask you for your report and you¡¯ll give it and I¡¯ll figure out if you like me or not. If you don¡¯t like me, tell me right now, while I¡¯m at my lowest,¡± Daniel beseeched Iveca, his voice desperate. Iveca stepped back, her face stony. He was putting her in an impossible situation. Kaiden had told her she was privileged to be able to comfort this man, she was the only one who could do it for now. After he left the gymnasium, he¡¯d go back to being the cold-hearted king and his subject. If she left this gym, she¡¯d no longer be able to return to the Bureau of Investigation. After this, Sid¡¯s confession, and her weakness, she didn¡¯t know if she could handle coming back to the bureau or have normal conversations with her friends again. In the bureau, she was already useless, she couldn¡¯t even defend her people properly. There were no more reasons for her to have a relationship with the bureau anymore, she would be left alone from the moment she opened the door to the gym. Iveca had to make a decision. She needed to end it, today was the last day of Eve Jean. She faced the King, sliding out a dagger into her hand. ¡°Here you go, Your Majesty, my lowest point.¡± Facing the target, she aimed and hesitated. Daniel, who had seen her capabilities on the battlefield, now frowned. He saw her dainty hands tremble until eventually it fell from her hands and the room resonated with a click. ¡°After failing you at the Empire, I can¡¯t even bring myself to throw a single dagger.¡± ¡°Eve¡­¡± ¡°I no longer consider myself as a competent officer of the Bureau¡± Daniel watched her with disbelief, his eyes widened at her trembling hands and her broken voice. She continued, ¡°Despite knowing it to be a reality, I can¡¯t accept it but I know I have to someday, and I will do that as soon as I leave this gym.¡± Iveca felt all of her strength give out, and despite his presence, she crumpled to her knees and sobbed in her hands. ¡°I¡¯m not a competent officer anymore and I can¡¯t stay but I¡¯m going to miss it so much,¡± She said in between. Iveca felt pathetic, spilling out her guts in front of the man who was already feeling down in the dumps. She was supposed to be strong, not this quivering mess. He¡¯d be disappointed to see her like this. ¡°Eve,¡± He said and bowed down to meet her eyes. She met him and he said, ¡°Leave the bureau,¡± He said softly, ¡°Be my Queen, you don¡¯t have to work in the bureau or throw a dagger, you¡¯re my Eve Jean.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t useless, you can still be valuable in so many other ways, you can do so much more as my Queen¡­Love me, Eve,¡± The King said, sweeping his long fingers on her eyes and wrapping them around his cheeks. ¡°Do not cry, my darling, it breaks my heart,¡± He cooed softly and Iveca felt herself growing more and more comfortable in his embrace. But she knew it wasn¡¯t possible, she couldn¡¯t do what he asked of her. If she left the bureau, she wouldn¡¯t be who he knew her to be. Above all else, how could she put away all else and depend on one man? ¡°How can I make you mine?¡¯ He asked and she felt his breath on her face. ¡°I, who¡¯s responsible for my nephew¡¯s death, am blinded by and I wish¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you want me as I do you? Are my words and affection not enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spent nights wondering why you didn¡¯t come to me, considering you had so much. What should I do to make you see me?¡± CH 50.1 A wave of trepidation washed over Iveca as she looked up at him. A dark possessiveness had entered the king¡¯s striking blue eyes, and his usually smooth voice was rougher and deeper than she¡¯d ever heard it before. ¡°Is there something special about the ground under my feet?¡± ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°Or are you on your knees, pleading to be mine?¡± he said, then pausing, ¡°In fact, I think I¡¯d love nothing more than to hear the word ¡®please¡¯ on your beautiful lips¡­.¡± ¡°Why on earth would you think¡­¡± His hand gently, but firmly, wrapped around her neck and he pulled her up to him. Iveca¡¯s breath caught in her throat as he leaned so close that his hair tickled her cheek. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced by something darker. ¡°Do you not find me as attractive as the man you met within the countryside? On your business trip.¡± ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s not like that¡­.,¡± she stuttered, trying to understand what was going on. Was he angry? ¡°How.. how can I think of you that way, Your Majesty? How can we ever be more than¡­¡± ¡°Why not? Who I am standing in front of you, if not a man?¡± he growled, pressing himself even closer to her, wrapping her in the intoxicating scent of deep woods, and earth, and cool breezes that was all him. ¡°How, how can you be normal¡­ you¡¯re the King of Amethane.¡± ¡°I am still the same,¡± he growled softly, as he moved his face so close to hers that she could feel the heat from his breath against her lips. Iveca squeezed her eyes shut, just before their lips met. Her whole body felt weak, and her mind emptied of all rational thought as he cupped her face, and pressed his warm tongue between her lips, urging them to open for him. Her lips parted, and he pushed inside, claiming her mouth. Heat pierced through her, tingling through to her lower abdomen, and warring with the strange sadness his closeness invoked. A closeness that could only ever be temporary for someone like her. She could hear the sound of her own breathing, and the roar of her heartbeat in her ears, as he expertly twined his tongue with hers, before sucking and thrusting his tongue deeper within her warm mouth, eliciting a moan from her. His arm wrapped around her waist as he devoured her mouth, and he pulled her flush against his hard body, holding her tightly as if he would never let her go. Another moan ripped from her involuntarily, and he greedily swallowed the sound and emitted his own deep rumble in response as he alternated between exploring her mouth with his thrusting tongue and delivering gentle bites to her lips. Somewhere in the back of her foggy mind she knew that kissing him was more than just escapism on her part, it was a potentially self-destructive mistake that she could not take back. But the moment their lips met she was helpless to control the wild connection between them. A physical current that blazed so intense she felt as though she might be consumed by it. She had been afraid of this moment for a long time. Afraid to give in to the temptation for this very reason. He loosened his hold on her only a little when she pulled back from the kiss, gasping for breath and face flushed with arousal. She wanted to hide inside the moment forever but forced herself to finally open her eyes and look up at him. The king¡¯s usually gentle eyes flashed with dark intent, his lips reddened from kissing her and his breath rapid. His expression was almost animalistic in its intensity, and for a moment he looked as though he wouldn¡¯t release her. She pulled back further, almost fearful at his intensity, and he finally loosened his hold and reluctantly allowed her to step out of his embrace. *** Washing up alone, Iveca tried to calm herself from their earth-shattering kiss. She attempted to settle her racing mind. She wanted to make this decision with a clear head. This would be the first time she went to his private quarters, to his bedroom, without any official reason. Without any report. The Bureau of Investigation would stop now. There was no reason to stick with her anymore, since she couldn¡¯t even play the role anymore. She¡¯s even struggled to be herself with her coworkers, who were once as close to her as family. Of course, Daniel¡¯s proposal to be his queen would be rejected as well. He loved Eve Jean, not Iveca. And the secrecy clause of the Bureau of Investigation also applied to the royal family, and it would be more than just a nuisance to the Bureau of Investigation if in the end classified information was discovered by the king because of her. In addition, even if she betrayed the Bureau of Investigation, revealed everything, and returned as Iveca der Esselburn to sit on the throne as the rightful queen¡­ Could Daniel continue to love her? Her, whose background was so completely different? Daniel, whom she had loved, did not change, but Eve, who he loved, had changed completely. Eve was not who he thought she was. Therefore, if she left the Bureau of Investigation, she would also have to erase her memory. She did not want to be monitored for the rest of her life anyway, and she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be happier just because she kept her memories of her time in the Bureau. Rather, whenever she saw colleagues in the Bureau uniform, she struggled with feelings of anxiety and insecurity. No, she would be better off to be free from that. She probably wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up the charade, and control the expressions on her face, if she ran into Sid or Reina. When she returns as Iveca der Esselburn, she will naturally have to engage in a political marriage according to the will of her father, Ewill. Which means she will have to endure the heartbreak of watching Daniel, a royal family member who must sire a successor, also be publicly married to another. You could just think of it all as a dream anyway, she thought to herself. Iveca saw the determination on her face in her reflection in the water. She would do this. She would finish the dream on her own terms. And what was a dream, if you couldn¡¯t have at least one thing you desired? For four years, Iveca der Esselburn, a ¡®wild¡¯ woman, freely became another person and worked for the Bureau of Investigation, but now she had awoken from the dream and returned to the real world. He was a man she really shouldn¡¯t have. But he was the man she wanted more than anything else in this chaotic world. And knowing that Eve Jean had no tomorrow in this dream, in her dream, she allowed herself to give in to the almost primal pull to Daniel that she had fought so long. Even the bittersweet knowledge that all these memories would be erased didn¡¯t stop her feet from moving her toward the entry into Daniel¡¯s bedroom. She would finish this beautiful dream the way she wanted. CH 50.2 The tenuous calm she had managed to muster while washing herself vanished the instant she crossed the threshold into his room. She dropped her bathing robe, letting the fabric pool at her feet. She trembled, facing him naked like this, in his bedroom, she had never felt more vulnerable in her life. Raising her eyes, she met his fierce stare from across the room, the heat in his eyes almost scorching in its intensity. He wanted Iveca, and Iveca wanted him too, right now at this moment. Without a single word, he stalked toward her like a predator toward its prey, and in an instant, he grabbed her up and carried her to his bed, laying her down on the silken sheets, his warm weight pressing on top of her. After this night, after failing to complete the mission, the man who killed his nephew would once again sit neatly in front of everyone, wearing a mask and smiling. After this night, she would run away, and he would move on. Even though she knew she would soon be forgotten, she tried to engrave every moment, every touch, into her mind. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung desperately, their limbs entangling and his warmth pressing her into the sheets. His warm lips rained almost kisses along her jaw, and neck, then back up and all over her face, before pressing against her own plush lips. She could feel his hard length pressing against her thigh, and she was shocked at its size. ¡°I can¡¯t hardly think around you¡­¡± he growled. At his low voice, she clasped her legs tighter around his waist, and whispered, ¡°We have tonight.¡± Closer. Closer. After this night, she didn¡¯t want to think, and she didn¡¯t have to think. He bent his head lower and trailed his tongue down her throat and over the upper swell of her bre*sts, before he latched on to one of her peaked n*pples and began to suck on it, alternating between gentle bites and licks that sent a jolt of pleasure straight to her core. She moaned as she arched into him, offering herself up. The laving of his wet tongue over her n*pples was almost more than she could bear, and her aching p*ssy grew wetter and wetter with every suck and lick. While he clung to one of her n*pples with one hand, rolling the tight bud between his fingers and thumb, he crushed her other n*pple with his mouth. She twisted her hands in the sheets beneath, arching further into his touch, and felt the silken length of his hard cock brush against her knuckles. An almost pained sound left his throat at the brief touch, so she twisted herself around just enough that she could gently clasp his length in her small hand. He was so thick that she couldn¡¯t get her fingers to wrap all the way around him, but she started to gently pull up and down his length anyways. Daniel lifted his head from her bre*st and grimaced in strained pleasure as she kissed along his collarbone and slowly swept her small hand up and down the hot length of his cock. Above her, leaning on one strongly muscled arm to hold most of his weight off her, his jaw tightened in pleasure, and she watched as he briefly closed his eyes, and let out a low suppressed moan. ¡°Does this feel okay?¡± Iveca whispered in his ear. ¡°It¡¯s so good.¡± he rumbled, as Iveca kissed and nipped at his broad shoulder, leaving a red mark. His thick cock jerked in her hand, and to her surprise grew even harder. A bead of clear cum glistened on the broad head. ¡°Hold on,¡± he said hoarsely, pulling her hand away. Before she could say anything, he grabbed her by the waist and pushed both of his hands between her legs. Leaning over her wet core, he parted her pink folds with his strong thumbs, exposing her completely to his hungry gaze. A low grumble of approval emanated from his chest as he brushed over her swollen clit with the pad of his thumb. ¡°Oh, Your Majesty!¡± Iveca was shaking now, her back arched up off the bed. She could feel warm juices dripping over her glistening folds and onto the silk sheets. Every time his thumb circled, her eyes closed in ecstasy and a moan escaped her tight throat. She had to squeeze the sheet in her grasping fingers instead of grabbing his cock again. ¡°Ah¡­ Stop¡­ Oh¡­ Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Call my name,¡± he commanded, staring at her exposed p*ssy, gritting his teeth as though he was trying to restrain himself. She managed to mutter, gasping as she felt her swollen p*ssy begin to contact with waves of pleasure that grew higher and higher, ¡°Daniel¡­¡± she groaned, using his given name, a name she had only called him on his birthday. He moved further down her body, and pushing her legs wide open, he settled his broad chest between her thighs, his warm breath inches from her spread p*ssy. Slowly he lowered his head, and she felt the first slow lick from his hot tongue, as he growled in pleasure. He slowly lapped at her clit, before licking lower, over her glistening p*ssy lips and around her tight wet hole, lapping up her juices like she was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. ¡°¡­Ah, ah!¡±, as if from a distance she heard her own moans and unintelligible sounds of pleasure. All she could see now was the top of his golden hair between her legs as he ate at her p*ssy like a starving man. The room around her began to fade away as her vision grew hazy, and she clung to the sheets beneath her. Her legs began to shake involuntarily, and her abdomen tightened almost painfully as she balanced on the razor¡¯s edge of overwhelming pleasure, her whole body drawn tight like a bowstring. He licked slowly upward from her soaked opening to her swollen clit, before sucking her clit into his hot mouth. He sucked and licked until her entire world focused into a pinpoint of extreme pleasure, intense waves of release rising and peaking, one after another, with every pull of his mouth on her clit. ¡°Ah.. ha haa¡­ Ah!¡± She knew she was calling out too loudly, but she no longer had any control over the sounds coming from her mouth. The climax went on and on, as her body continued to arch and convulse against his mouth, her p*ssy juices glistening across his greedy mouth. ¡°Ahhh, ahh¡­¡± Finally, the last spasms of pleasure finished, and she lay there like a rag doll, panting. ¡°You can no longer deny that you want me,¡± he said in a low voice, his tone self-satisfied but hungry for more. ¡°Can I do whatever I want?¡± he asked, giving her spread p*ssy another slow kiss. ¡°And know that if you agree, there is no going back. I will take what I want.¡± Limp and covered in a sheen of sweat, unable to answer, she just nodded her head. He moved back up over her, and she felt his hips settle between her spread thighs as he braced himself above her on his muscled forearms. His intoxicating scent wrapped around her, the smell of earth and woodlands, and she pressed herself against his chest. She felt the broad head of his cock press against her slick core. His cock was bigger than she could have had imagined, and she fought against a brief tremor of fear. He looked down on her, his gaze raking hungrily over her flushed bre*sts and peaked n*pples, before he met her eyes, holding eye contact with her as he pushed into her by an inch. His jaw tensed as slowly pushed further in. ¡°Ah, ah!¡± ripped from her throat. The feeling of something so hot and thick stretching her was almost too much. Even though she had thought she was impossibly wet, her p*ssy felt stretched to the brink, burning as it tried to accommodate his girth. The feeling was overwhelming, and she felt tears bite at her eyes as he pushed in another inch, and she felt her p*ssy open up for him in one sharp burst. The careful control that she had seen on his face disappeared as he sank deeper into her impossibly tight sheath, and she felt his hips buck almost involuntarily once he was fully seated inside her, a deep groan of pleasure rumbling from his chest. He began to move inside her, and the burning she¡¯d felt was replaced by a pleasurable ache. There was no longer any trace of restraint or gentleness on his face as he looked down on her, but rather a fierce look of possession darkened his features as he bent to thrust his tongue in her mouth. He gripped her wrists in his hand, pinning them above her head, and then began to piston his huge cock in and out of her soaking sheath. CH 51.1 ¡°It¡¯s too¡­too¡­mmmmmm¡± The words trailed off, lost in ecstasy. He kept his rhythm, driving himself into her hard, fast, as she gasped, and her legs trembled. Her legs and hips ached from being too long in this position, but it was a whisper, drowned out by pleasure. ¡°Wa ¨C wait¡­aaah¡± She struggled out just that much, then submerged into bliss again. The room around her faded and blurred as the sensations of him, his hands, his cock overwhelmed her body. Her hands grasped at him, as he kept on, hungrily, like a beast suddenly freed. Waves of passion broke through her, and she felt herself surrendering to that same animal frenzy. ¡°W¡­wait¡­ah¡± Iveca¡¯s gasping breaths filled the room. Then Daniel suddenly shifted, hoisting her hips upward as he lifted her legs and pressed them back to her shoulders. With this sharper angle, he drove deeper into her, each thrust pulling a gasp from Iveca. His hands roamed her with passionate caresses ¨C her hips, bre*sts, stomach . . . ¡°St ¨C st ¨C stop¡­wa ¡­ ¡° She felt the wave starting to break, the slight acceleration of his thrusts, the growing urgency in his movements and hers. She felt herself tighten around his cock as her fingers dug into his shoulders. She looked up at his face, lost in ecstasy like herself, bestial and wild and yet strangely vulnerable. Only I see him like this, she thought, and the notion somehow sped her ascent. ¡°Aa¡­ Aaaa¡­ aaah¡± Her wave broke, as did his. Her body seized and bucked as he exploded inside her with a low groan. She tried to cry out, but the sound was lost in her shuddering gasps. Their bodies stayed clenched until the last of the shudders subsided. Their release complete, they relaxed. He collapsed on top of her and Iveca could feel the warmth of his orgasm trickling down her thigh. He held her tightly, careful not to withdraw from her. She half-heartedly pushed at his shoulder. ¡°I told you to stop . . .¡±, she said, her breath still catching up. ¡°Sorry.¡± He didn¡¯t sound sorry, and for a time they merely lay together, their labored breaths the only sound. He kissed her face, gently, licking away the tears from her eyes. ¡°You drive me out of my mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ it¡¯s too rough.¡± Her eyes still watering, she murmured something angrily, so softly it was lost even in the quiet of the room. He hugged her again, gently, and kissed her cheek. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll be better,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep asking if you enjoy it.¡± She didn¡¯t reply, her eyelids drifting closed. He let the silence hang for a moment and felt her shift against him, relaxing into sleep. He leaned in and bit her gently on the cheek to start her awake. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep,¡± he said. ¡°These are precious moments.¡± She shifted again, laying closer against him. Her eyes opened, just slightly. ¡°Then tell me anything.¡± Silence hung again, and her eyes started to close. She gave the faintest whimper, as though powerless to stop it. Daniel wavered, as though powerless himself to grant her request, but whispered just to keep her awake. ¡°What ¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡°Anything,¡± she whispered back. Her eyes blinked fully open for a second, and she caught his eyes. ¡°Honest stories.¡± ¡°Well,¡± he breathed. He hesitated a moment, brushed her hair, then spoke softly just as her eyes began to close again. ¡°Do you know how hard it is to be constantly scheming, questioning, when you want to live a good life?¡± ¡°You must be tired,¡± she teased. ¡°It¡¯s disillusioning.¡± She moved deeper into his arms, letting the sound of his voice lull her. ¡°My nephew¡¯s death was a mistake, so I feel sorry for Ashe. I feel like a monster, but I feel glad for Amethan.¡± She already knew all that. ¡°I¡¯m sad that you¡¯re no longer an officer at the Bureau of Investigation, but I hate it when you cry, when you lose hope. And I hate that the scheming, the calculation always resumes.¡± Her eyes closed as she settled deeper into his voice. ¡°I wish I didn¡¯t have close colleagues. I hope you¡¯re not needed elsewhere. I hope your violet eyes look only at me and search nowhere else.¡± She drifted on his words, even if they were only pleasant fantasies. ¡°Abandon the Bureau of Investigation. Forget about your comrades, the war, all of it. Stay in this moment with me, only with me.¡± Her body drifted ever deeper into drowsiness, until his words faded away and she slept deeply. She awoke briefly, stirred by his warm breath on her shoulder. She felt him curled up close behind her, his arm holding her close, his hand grazing her chest. She moa*ed softly as she started to drift away again. His hand moved to her bre*st, squeezing gently as she felt his other hand glide across her hip, her thigh, and meander toward her pleasure. She felt kisses travel down her spine, and she twisted, now completely awake. ¡°¡­Majesty?¡± ¡°No,¡± he whispered. ¡°My name.¡± ¡°Daniel.¡± She blinked. Morning light streamed in through the windows. Had she slept so long? Then she heard his voice again, mixed with laughter. CH 51.2 ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for a long time for you to wake up.¡± He held her in place, and she realized her borrowed clothes were already pushed up to her chest. The tingling warmth of anticipation began to spread between her legs, and pressed against her, she could feel his own response growing. Each kiss on her back made her twitch. Each caress of her nipples made her shudder. ¡°Ooooh¡­ Ah¡­¡± ¡°Open a little bit more,¡± he whispered. She didn¡¯t respond at first, so he intertwined his leg with hers and gently spread her. His fingers quickened their dance in her garden, and her hips instinctively began to move in response. ¡°Wait¡­wait¡­¡± He made a low moa*, then seemed to pull suddenly away before grabbing her ankles and pulling her to the center of the bed. Her eyes opened wide and met his, already clouded with his desire. He smiled and kissed her ankle. ¡°Now again.¡± He lowered his head down between her legs, and the touch of his tongue sent a shock through her. She gasped, and whatever words she had meant to say were lost. Self-conscious, she wanted to push his head away, but only gripped the sheets, unable to resist the thrill of him between her legs, unable to stop herself from climbing to her orgasm. ¡°Aah, ah¡­ good, it¡¯s good¡­ a, a little bit more¡­¡± ¡°If you like, then¡­¡± Her legs trembled in his hands. She shuddered, bucked again. Her mind when blank in ecstasy. She moa*ed, but in her climax her voice cracked, and the moa* broke into choking gasps. ¡°Be my Queen. This damned palace would be heaven for me if I shared each night with you like this.¡± Releasing her legs, he moved up, hovering above her writhing body. He grabbed her wrists, pulling her hands free from their grip on the sheets, and climbed onto her. Descending from her climax, she came back into herself and looked up at him ¨C his blue eyes blind with passion, his disheveled golden hair, his lips still wet with the juices of her ecstasy, and the lustful hunger written across his face, which made her shudder again in anticipation. He drove his cock inside her suddenly. For all her anticipation, shock rippled through her at the feel of it. Her own movements aligned with his thrusts, rougher, deeper, and she thrusted with him as if by instinct. ¡°Good¡­so good¡­ Oh my god¡­W-¡­wait¡­¡± He withdrew suddenly, startlingly, then hooked one hand under her shoulder and effortlessly flipped her over. ¡°This way,¡± he breathed hoarsely. ¡°I want to see your back.¡± ¡°Y-¡­yes,¡± she whispered. She shivered, readied herself, eager to feel him inside her again. He lifted her up to all fours, gripped her hips and thrust suddenly into her again. She cried out, gasping with each thrust. Her hips danced against him, matching his speed, shifting to take him in at one new angle after another, each one a different sensation, a new shock of pleasure. She groaned with an ecstasy that came from a deeper, more primal place than before. ¡°Be my Queen,¡± he breathed again. She didn¡¯t respond, didn¡¯t look back at him, just lost herself in the sensations. The silence was broken only by their labored breaths and the wet, slapping sound of their colliding bodies. ¡°You¡¯re safe here. You¡¯ll have everything here.¡± He leaned forward over her, gripped her shoulders, kissed her on the back of the neck. Her vision seemed to go white from the sensation of his thrusts, more forceful now. She could feel his hot breath on her shoulders, and it made her body shake. ¡°No one can hurt you. No one can take my woman from me,¡± he grunted, his words barely formed as he moved faster. ¡°Ah, ah¡­ Daniel, wait¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do everything for you. Be everything for you. Stay with me. Always¡­always¡­good¡­¡± His rhythm accelerated again, became more reckless as he hurried toward their climax. ¡°Oh, w-¡­wait¡­aaaah¡­,¡± she tried to protest, but couldn¡¯t. She was carried along in his movements, climbing fast. Her body throbbed. She wanted to see him, see his face, but couldn¡¯t raise her head. She was locked in movement with him, faster, harder. He kissed her neck and breathed more words like a stuttered moa*. ¡°If you¡­tire¡­of my bed¡­I can¡­take you¡­in the sun¡­the audience room¡­where¡­first saw you,¡± his voice was rougher now, ragged with exertion and pleasure. ¡°Or¡­if you¡¯re too shy¡­hidden among the books¡­in my study¡­the gymnasium¡­the street of Amenity¡­anywhere¡­everywhere¡­until you¡¯re satis- ¡°. The blank white of her vision suddenly flashed into a brilliant light as she climaxed, even as his own spasm hit him mid-sentence. She felt his warmth rush inside her again as her body shook wildly, as she felt him shake inside her, over her. They fell together onto the bed, spent. She lay, gasping, wanting to feel his lips again, wanting him to kiss her, but he only held her from behind, as though he wanted to stay hidden. She wondered if he didn¡¯t want her to see his expression. Why? What was he afraid she¡¯d see? Disappointment, perhaps, at her silence? At her resistance to his pleas? CH 52.1 Iveca felt completely spent. She had come into his bedroom carelessly, just to feed her desire and to feel his body for a night. But their tireless passion, their yearning, had turned that night into two. She was at least fortunate that she faithfully took her contraceptive pill. The Bureau of Investigation would have to know already that she had entered the King¡¯s bedroom and stayed for two full days. Sid must know, too ¨C and that thought left a strange ache in her heart. He had been her treasured colleague for four years, and the same he¡¯d finally given her his desperate confession, Iveca had held another man. And Daniel had held the woman he¡¯d desired the same day he¡¯d learned that he had killed his own nephew. Love could be a cruel and selfish thing. She slowly rolled over and slipped back into his arms. She let thoughts of Sid and the Bureau fall away. ¡°Is it okay for you to stay here like this? Don¡¯t you have things to attend to?¡± ¡°The King can take a day off. I can attend to the throne well enough at the dinner meeting tonight.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®a¡¯ day?¡± she couldn¡¯t help giving a playful smirk. His eyes darkened slightly, seeming to focus elsewhere. ¡°I haven¡¯t rested a day since William¡¯s death.¡± He swept her hair away from her face and kissed her deeply once again. Iveca shifted out of his arms gently, fearful she wouldn¡¯t be able to walk if they made love again. His eyes focused on her again. He whispered drowsily. ¡°You¡¯re the only exception for me¡­.¡± She stared at the ceiling, saying nothing. ¡°Tell me you¡¯ll quit the Bureau of Investigation and become my Queen.¡± She didn¡¯t reply. Daniel sighed, shifted, buried his face in her shoulder. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be my Queen, I just have to give up the crown¡­¡± For a Bureau of Investigation employee, loyal to the king and country, the words were like a slap. She couldn¡¯t hide her stunned expression. ¡°What are you saying?! You can¡¯t!¡± ¡°I can. It¡¯s not even a difficult process,¡± he said, waving his hand casually. ¡°Though if I do, by the time it¡¯s done I¡¯d be too old to play line ball. Dilemma.¡± The next in line to the throne was William¡¯s daughter, Giselle, who was so young she was still learning to pronounce words properly. If Daniel left his crown to her, Amathane would fall almost immediately into the grasping hands of the nobles. If that came to be when the continent was already changing so rapidly, Amethane as it existed today would be lost forever. Whatever anyone ¨C including Daniel himself ¨C thought, only he could navigate the hazards of the throne with things the way they were now. He was just calculating enough to keep emotions tethered, just selfish enough to preserve his power and the strength of the state. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have to do anything, Eve.¡± ¡°Then I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be happy.¡± ¡°Well, that would be a problem.¡± She would have to disappear from his life. ¡°Are you going to quit the Bureau of Investigation?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t decided yet. But even If I did quit¡­¡± Iveca stroked his golden hair, focused on it. She remembered how it caught the light, how it had drawn her from the beginning, like a flame. But she would have to turn away from it soon, for both their sakes. ¡°I want to find something that I can do well and keep doing it.¡± She didn¡¯t know whether Ewill would ever allow her to quit, but she had no intention of doing it. It was the first identity she¡¯d ever gained, the first credential she¡¯d ever earned. Even if it meant being moved elsewhere, she didn¡¯t want to give it up. ¡°So where would you go?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯d have to think about it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see you going from the Bureau of Investigation to the Bureau of Administration. Though if you were Queen Eve, I could make you the Bureau Head.¡± ¡°That¡¯d be an abuse of authority. And I don¡¯t think I¡¯d go there.¡± The Bureau of Investigation could move her, hide her. ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ would disappear. Even Daniel wouldn¡¯t be able to track her down. ¡°Besides, the Bureau of Administration is always the same no matter who runs it, right? I¡­ I like something that only I can do. I want to engrave my name onto something, make it my own.¡± Her surname had been ¡°Esselburn¡±, but she¡¯d never been known by it. If she had to leave everything else behind, she wanted to take that with her, at least. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll bear that in mind,¡± he whispered, kissing her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever you want. Anything.¡± ¡°Daniel.¡± She spoke calmly, her words measured and dispassionate. ¡°Eve Jean, the confident and competent Bureau of Investigation officer that you love, doesn¡¯t exist anymore. Remember I told you I was once a gloomy, depressed kid. Now I feel like I¡¯m back to that. No self-esteem, no confidence.¡± CH 52.2 Iveca felt so removed from who she had become, who she¡¯d been when they met. How could he love this version of her? ¡°I¡¯m terrified your heart will go cold because Eve Jean is gone, because it¡¯s just me now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s afraid. You know too much of my heart, of its flaws. I¡¯ve shown you the worst of me.¡± ¡°No¡­ all those things, those emotions, they have a reason. They¡¯re not you.¡± Iveca kissed him lightly and smiled. ¡°There are a lot of women like Eve Jean. They pour out of the college every year ¨C confident, clever, working hard in the Bureaus.¡± ¡°Eve, what do you mean¡­.¡± ¡°I love you,¡± she said suddenly, cutting him off. ¡°I love you so much. In another world, I¡¯d keep you in my heart until my last day. The reasons I¡¯m refusing to be Queen are about me, my life, not you. Don¡¯t take that on yourself.¡± ¡°Eve¡­,¡± he whispered hoarsely, ¡°saying that¡­ refusing me. Do you think I¡¯ll accept that answer?¡± His arms slipped around her again, pulled her close. She stiffened for an instant, then relaxed again in his arms in spite of herself. ¡°You can¡¯t run away, Eve. I¡¯ll bring you by my side anyway. You know I can, but I want you to choose me.¡± ¡°Daniel . . .¡± ¡°You know your usefulness to the Bureau of Investigation office is over. I know you¡¯ve already thought about that.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If you leave the Bureau of Investigation, there¡¯s a price.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. Leave the Bureau of Investigation, let them monitor us for the rest of your life. I always keep secrets.¡± Her eyes flicked to his for just a moment, then she looked away. ¡°No¡­you¡­you don¡¯t want to erase your memories, do you?¡± She said nothing, kept pointedly looking away. ¡°Even if you do, I can still make you my Queen. Then what would you do?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be me.¡± ¡°How would it not be you?¡± ¡°Just¡­,¡± she waved the question away. ¡°We can talk about it later, not now. I still don¡¯t know that I¡¯m leaving the Bureau.¡± The lie tasted sour in her mouth. She knew she would leave the Bureau, and not to be his Queen. He¡¯d never find Iveca, because Iveca wouldn¡¯t exist. Her appearance, her name, everything about her¡­it would all change so much he wouldn¡¯t recognize her if they met again. Just like Anriq, who grew up with her and didn¡¯t recognize Iveca as his childhood friend. ¡°No. You can¡¯t erase your memory, no matter the cost,¡± he whispered, leaning in close. ¡°You¡¯d give up your memories of me, of us? Leave them to me alone? How could you do that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t belong in the Queen¡¯s seat. It¡¯s better we forget each other.¡± ¡°Why are you so cruel?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who asked me if you were as good as the cute boy on that business trip to the countryside.¡± He winced slightly at the retort, but persevered. ¡°You can do whatever you like, so long as you stay by my side¡­¡± ¡°As can you. If I erase my memory, I won¡¯t even remember if you tell me everything.¡± She played it as if she was joking. She met his eyes and smiled clumsily, disarmingly. If he believed she was serious about leaving the Bureau and erasing all her memories, she knew he would have her locked in this bedroom for the rest of her life. ¡°If you haven¡¯t decided yet,¡± he said, ¡°why do you seem so serious¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m always serious with you.¡± ¡°Fine. Erase your memories. Then I¡¯ll make you Queen.¡± ¡°Not now?¡± ¡°Now, if you would, but you won¡¯t. I can¡¯t force you. I can only beg.¡± ¡°Would you force it after?¡± ¡°No,¡± he whispered. His fingers traced lightly along her neck, shoulder, chest. Her skin flushed red at his touch. ¡°A few secrets that I keep to myself¡­¡± His fingers began to taunt her n*pples. He shifted downward to kiss her stomach, her hip. ¡°Ah¡­,¡± she gasped. ¡°With a few lies that come too easily for me¡­¡± His lips grazed her womanhood. Each time he whispered, his hot breath stirred her, making her toes curl. ¡°Ahhh, ah, ah¡­that¡­stop¡­Aaaah¡­¡± ¡°¡­I won¡¯t let go.¡± ¡°Oh¡­wait¡­ ah¡­. Ah¡­¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t erase your memories. I¡¯m warning you¡­¡± ¡°Wha¡­whatever you want¡­¡± Iveca slid her legs around him. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, his hair. ¡°Your¡­heart¡­wants¡­¡± They were irresponsible words, born of an irrational, intimate moment. It was language that would be gone from her memory tomorrow. Desire wound with a desperation which only he understood. ¡°As your Majesty¡­wishes¡­¡± Even if the memory of him was stripped from her, she held onto the thought that she could somehow stay by his side. Even if everything about her changed, if she became someone new again as she once became Iveca, would something in him recognize her, or she him? Was that just an irrational love¡¯s wish, spinning dreams and promises that couldn¡¯t be, that dulled her fears of the future? CH 53.1 ¡°Promise me, Eve,¡± Daniel whispered. He whispered it several times, holding her tightly as she shuddered through the aftershocks of her climax. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me here alone. My life without you would be meaningless now. Don¡¯t abandon me in this dark palace.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Ahh¡­,¡± she sighed. The sounds were meant to be words, but she couldn¡¯t focus enough to form them. ¡°I thought I had been waiting for you in this darkness, but I had just been clinging to it, wrapping myself in it. Don¡¯t surrender me back to it, please.¡± This time, Iveca didn¡¯t even sigh in response. She just let herself be lost in the tremors of pleasure still echoing through her, still tingling like small shocks that traveled her head to toe. *** Later, when she could clear her mind again, she finally left his bedroom. She contacted Lucas, the Director of the Bureau, to schedule a private treatment the next day, as soon as possible. Her mind was set. But as she was leaving her dormitory in the morning, someone grabbed her arm. Reina. ¡°Eve,¡± she said. ¡°Oh, Senior!¡± Iveca gasped. Focused on the treatment ahead, she hadn¡¯t noticed her approach. ¡°What happened to you?¡± The short words seemed heavy with questions. Iveca looked at her blankly, as if not understanding. Reina sighed, running a hand through her brown hair. ¡°Why did you go into King¡¯s bedroom, and why did you talk to the Director¡­,¡± she began. ¡°How is Senior Sid?¡± Iveca interrupted. ¡°¡­He¡¯s on annual leave,¡± Reina said after a beat. ¡°Why?¡± Reina said nothing, gave her a knowing look. ¡°Senior, did you know?¡± Iveca asked calmly. Reina hesitated a moment, muttered something under her breath, and let out a heavy sigh like a surrender. ¡°I just listened to it yesterday. Drunken mumbling.¡± Iveca gave a blank response, waiting for more. ¡°I had no idea, either. If Sid had given me any indication, wouldn¡¯t I have been arguing with you about it all? I may not be as invested in it, but I¡¯m not stupid.¡± ¡°Is Senior Sid okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, he was just drunk and fell asleep.¡± Iveca¡¯s face darkened. Too many precious hearts wounded. Too much pain. She hadn¡¯t wanted any of this, hadn¡¯t asked for it. All she wanted was to stop seeing it, stop feeling the wound of it. That¡¯s why she was choosing the treatment ¨C to wash it all away. ¡°Why the face, Iveca?¡± Reina asked. ¡°Someone¡¯s heart isn¡¯t moved by someone else ¨C is that your fault?¡± She waved her arm with a dramatic sigh, trying to lighten her mood. Iveca¡¯s legs felt weak. She stepped to a bench by the wall and sat. After a second, Reina joined her. ¡°Sid¡¯s a nice guy,¡± Reina said. ¡°But maybe not attractive as a man. Not in that way. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just that I like other men more¡­¡± ¡°Is that the truth?¡± Iveca said nothing. The silence extended, making Reina anxious until she filled it with more words. ¡°Well, he looks so young, so baby-faced. Like a younger brother, right? Right?¡± ¡°Like that¡­yes. Think of it that way.¡± ¡°There¡¯s your answer. Okay, I¡¯ll tease you about it for the rest of your life.¡± ¡°Senior, is it cruel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better,¡± Reina said. She wrapped her arms around Iveca and leaned in close, drawing Iveca¡¯s eyes to her own. ¡°It¡¯s hard to be a rival with a King. Disloyal,¡± Reina told her softly. ¡°He¡¯s not a rival. We don¡¯t have a good relationship now anyway.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I always tell you, Senior?¡± Even said. ¡°Affection is inertia, purity is self-deception, and desire is illusion.¡± ¡°Eve.¡± ¡°It was just a fantastic night. We both need to forget it anyway.¡± Reina¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Eve, no one knows what happened between you and His Highness, but would His Highness think the same? You¡¯re not a fantasy to him. You¡¯re more. Are you sure you can handle that weight?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t handle it,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°You know my situation.¡± She cast her eyes down to the floor. ¡°I¡¯m going to run away,¡± she added softly. ¡°Where?¡± Reina asked ¡°To the past?¡± Iveca replied. Reina started to speak. ¡°You¡­,¡± she said, but she fell blank, and no more words came. ¡°I can¡¯t stay in the Bureau of Investigation any longer anyway. I¡¯m not needed here anymore. I was just dragging along, but I won¡¯t do that anymore.¡± ¡°No, Eve. If you put a little more effort¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see the Director, apply for a transfer and ask for my memory to be erased.¡± ¡°Eve, how can you¡­.¡± ¡°If you happen to see Iveca later, don¡¯t be surprised when there¡¯s not much to her. She was always a timid, gloomy little thing, always intimidated. Completely different from the one Senior knew. She won¡¯t be much fun to talk to.¡± Iveca took Reina¡¯s hand. Her eyes were calm, confident, but regret still hung in her voice. ¡°A child of low self-esteem, couldn¡¯t speak properly, constantly chewing at her nails, looking shyly at others while craving their attention¡­¡± Tears welled up in Reina¡¯s eyes. As a friend, she wanted to argue with Iveca¡¯s choice, steer her from it. But as an employee of the Bureau, she couldn¡¯t argue with it. She understood better than anyone the damage the Bureau of Investigation could do to someone¡¯s life. CH 53.2 ¡°Meeting Seniors, I¡¯ve already changed a lot, became brave, cheerful, confident¡­,¡± Iveca said. Her face was stoic, but tremors of emotion infected her voice. ¡°They were the family I never had. That¡¯s why I was always so obsessed with them.¡± ¡°Eve¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why it was always so difficult for my former self to find that confidence, to forge bonds with even a few people ¨C someone to spend time with, share joys and sorrows, and talk about¡­about everything.¡± Iveca had no tears, but merely clasped Reina¡¯s hand and smiled faintly. ¡°Thanks to the Seniors, I was able to live a completely different life, and it was wonderful. I¡¯m grateful for it. If you see Iveca from afar later on, remember the person you made from that crippled child, and be proud.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Reina asked, wiping her tears away. ¡°Where are you going to relocate? The Intelligence Service?¡± ¡°No.¡± Iveca blinked at the blue sky. Today, the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s Eve Jean would be no more, her pale blonde hair that made her resemble her sisters would disappear. Her whole appearance would vanish like a mirage. ¡°How about the Legal Affairs Bureau?¡± she said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°They can accept requests from the Bureau of Investigation anywhere. And I think I¡¯ll be good at the Legal Affairs Bureau. I know how to represent a lot of people.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Reina muttered. She sniffled, clearing out the residue of her tears. ¡°Well, the department is small and there¡¯s not a lot of work there. It may be a bit boring just digging into the laws.¡± ¡°Oh, Senior. I¡¯m not going for that reason. I just thought dealing with the law would suit my background. I like doing what I¡¯m good at. And maybe I think the work will do me some good, as well.¡± Reina squeezed her hand, tried to manage a flicker of a smile, but couldn¡¯t hold it and shuddered into more crying. ¡°But anyway, I don¡¯t know how far I can go,¡± Iveca added bitterly. If Iveca de Esselburn appeared again, she would be forced to be part of the Esselburn. Perhaps she¡¯d get that marriage after all, and Iveca, who had a mental age of 18, would inevitably follow Ewill¡¯s will. Would she be able to attend to the Bureau of Judicial Affairs then? ¡°Thank you so much, Senior. Thanks to the Bureau of Investigation and the Seniors, I was able to become a completely different person because of you all. Make sure to tell Sid that.¡± Fighting back tears, Reina couldn¡¯t respond. This was their last conversation, she knew, the last with the Eve she had known. A black-haired noble-turned employee in the Bureau of Judicial Affairs would no longer recognize Reina. The nights when they drank after completing missions together, giggly chatting all night, and teasing each other with wide eyes while working overtime¡­those memories would be hers alone now. Another person would continue in her body, but Eve Jean would no longer exist in the world. ¡°Of course, His Majesty¡­ I loved him, but I think the people who had the biggest influence on me were the Bureau of Investigation and the Seniors. So, at the end of the day, I¡¯m a Bureau of Investigation employee, not just a woman who fell in love.¡± ¡°Eve¡­ hu¡­uuuh,¡± Reina tried to rally enough to respond, but the crying still overwhelmed her. ¡°As an employee of the Bureau of Investigation¡­ I swore secrecy even in front of the King¡­ They should protect me even from His Highness, right?¡± Iveca said brightly. She made the words like a joke to hide the tinge of worry in them. ¡°His Highness will feel betrayed because I¡¯ll be such a different person when he sees Iveca¡­ in case he finds her. He¡¯d probably let her stand by him at first, but he¡¯d tire of her before long. It will be tragic, but I won¡¯t remember it anyway.¡± ¡°Hu¡­uh, if you say it like that,¡± Reina said, composing herself just enough to push fragments of a reply through her sobs. ¡°I guess so¡­. His Highness, uh¡­huh, ¡­ is¡­no one can really understand what he feels inside. He¡¯s a very calculating person. Even¡­huh uh¡­if he keeps you by his side¡­ huh hu¡­he¡¯ll take advantage of you. I¡¯d rather you¡­huh¡­with Sid¡­ hu uh¡­ I can¡­arrange it when it¡¯s settled¡­. Hu uh¡­His Highness will never know¡­I¡¯ll do it.¡± Iveca pulled her in, threw her arms around her. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can say goodbye to Senior Sid,¡± she whispered, hugging Reina tightly. ¡°Please deliver my gratitude well.¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes scanned the Bureau¡¯s dormitory. Perhaps she would rejoin the Count of Esselburn. She had no idea how frustrated she would be after all her memories were erased. She would likely think that her last four years had been a complete failure. She would get even gloomier. She looked toward the royal palace. It seemed so far away now. She would leave Daniel without a goodbye. She was the Bureau¡¯s, not his. ¡°Don¡¯t be like me,¡± she said to Reina. ¡°Don¡¯t be someone always with something to hide, someone complicated. Find someone who is bright and confident by nature. There are so many of them¡­.¡± CH 54.1 It was heartbreaking to think of him placing another woman to be his Queen, but sooner or later he would know of the truth anyway. After all, it was rare for a King to choose the woman he loved as Queen, so Iveca didn¡¯t think she had done anything particularly malicious to him. If he would never see ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ again, he would eventually forget her, who was merely an employee of an affiliated organization. Iveca thought it best; she always used to say that romance is self-deception. She once believed she could run away and live a free life with Anriq, but now I don¡¯t think of him at all. One. The prosperity and well-being of the Amethan Kingdom are the utmost priority. Two. Be loyal to King Amethan and do your best to protect him. Three. One will not be blinded to individual safety but believe in the organization¡¯s judgment. Four. One must cherish each colleague ¨C protect and trust each other even in the face of death. Five. One must always withhold the secrets that need to be kept. Iveca shut her eyes as she quietly memorized the pact. It would be a lie if she said she didn¡¯t want the queen¡¯s position. Even under her lifelong surveillance, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about revealing her identity to Daniel. It was a choice she longed to choose, but she belonged to the Bureau of Investigation, thus a choice she could not make. One must always withhold the secrets that need to be kept. The secrets of the Bureau of Investigation, she must keep until her death. That afternoon, with all of her memories erased, Iveca was ¡®delivered¡¯ to the Count of Esselburn in a lost state as she officially became a member of the Bureau of Judicial Affair. *** One. The prosperity and well-being of the Amethan Kingdom are the utmost priority. Two. Be loyal to King Amethan and do your best to protect him. Three. One will not be blinded to individual safety but believe in the organization¡¯s judgment. Four. One must cherish each colleague ¨C protect and trust each other even in the face of death. Five. One must always withhold the secrets that need to be kept. Iveca recalled the last memories that lingered in her mind. Reina, with a dagger pointed at her neck, was completely baffled. She was speechless as she stared at Iveca. The Bureau of Investigation had constantly placed the prosperity and well-being of the Kingdom of Amethan as its top priority. Perhaps they must have judged that the Great Constitution she had created was not conducive to the prosperity and well-being of the Kingdom of Amethan. Iveca had long expected backlash from the Bureau of Investigation. The General Attorney Orem had been addressing the issue from the beginning. ¡®The Bureau of Investigation is the only affiliated agency with a special authority, and there is an autonomous part that even the royal family could not touch. But if they also have to abide by the law, their behavior will be severely restricted.¡¯ In fact, when the Supreme Constitution was announced, numerous members of the Bureau of Investigation came to the Judicial Affair Bureau. ¡®The staff of the Bureau of Investigation are arrogant. They never even step foot in this office, but now there are crowds of them. After all, I would also be upset if my authority got removed.¡¯ ¡®Besides, the independence of the Judicial Bureau! Originally, the Bureau of Investigation was the most powerful organization among all the agencies, but it must be difficult to accept that you are in a situation in which you need to obey the law.¡¯ There were plenty of reasons why the Bureau of Investigation would not like the Constitution. The Bureau of Investigation was the most concentrated organization among its affiliated organizations. If an institution maintained independence even when the King had to obey the law, it would have been very unpleasant. Perhaps if the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s authority judged that the Bureau was more necessary to the Kingdom of Amethan rather than the Grand Constitution, there was enough incentive to eliminate her. ¡°Queen, wait a minute¡­ Please calm yourself down¡­¡± Even Sid, who usually didn¡¯t really show any expression, stuttered in surprise. ¡°I¡¯m very cold-headed and calm right now,¡± replied Iveca. She looked straight at Reina¡¯s green orbs, not sparing Sid a brief glance. Reina¡¯s breathing had become ragged in this unexpected situation. Iveca¡¯s low voice echoed quietly in the space. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to kill your comrades here, then tell me, Sid. The Bureau of Investigation has a pact. One is to cherish each colleague. Protect and trust each other even in the face of death.¡± ¡°My Queen,¡± Sid pleaded. ¡°It¡¯s not me, but isn¡¯t Reina still your colleague?¡± Iveca¡¯s words were crystal clear. It would have been a lie if she didn¡¯t get a strange jealousy while watching Sid, whose face remained calm despite the circumstance. Iveca, the Queen of a country, was so nervous that she couldn¡¯t control her expression, even though she knew both of them could guess that she wouldn¡¯t hurt Reina that easily. CH 54.2 While she was once her colleague, Iveca was attacked by her because they thought that Iveca was interfering with the Bureau of Investigation. When she was caught in a secret meeting with Anriq, Daniel was also conscious of the Bureau of Investigation when he released Anriq. Perhaps he also knew that the Bureau of Investigation could harm her. If the Constitution was created in between two years, the Bureau of Investigation cannot get rid of anyone on its own. ¡°Queen, please,¡± Sid pleaded again, more desperately. ¡°If you can¡¯t say it, I¡¯ll say it.¡± Iveca needed enough people from the Bureau of Investigation by her side, even though she might become the target of the Bureau itself. She wanted to feign ignorance and display obliviousness all the while hiding her growing doubts and sad convictions. Perhaps she thought that maybe it was okay to be killed by the Bureau of Investigation, if it was the organization¡¯s decision. But Iveca couldn¡¯t accept such kind of deception anymore. Knowing everything, she thought it meaningless to live enjoying the peace created by faking ignorance. She had growned weary, she wanted to break all these theatrical illusions. ¡°Reina, you¡­ You lied to me.¡± ¡°Q, Queen.¡± ¡°You memorized all these complicated royal family members but you don¡¯t know all the members of the Bureau of Investigation? It doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± said Iveca. When Iveca was told the description of the Bureau of Investigation¡¯s employee who had fled when she was attacked for the first time, Reina replied at once that she did not know of the employee¡¯s identity. However, Iveca couldn¡¯t have forgotten the unusual pink-haired woman, who had a similar physique to Reina and the same green eyes. ¡°Of course, it didn¡¯t really matter,¡± Iveca began. No one had to be faithful to her anyway, so Iveca didn¡¯t take it seriously. But she hadn¡¯t forgotten that Reina was lying to her. ¡°During the first attack¡­ when that woman attempted to take out the dagger with my left hand, another attack immediately came in,¡± she paused. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation must be well aware that I am left-handed and that I am good with daggers. But that¡¯s a fact that no noble family knows. Even Esselburn.¡± After the raid, Iveca remembered the conversation members of the Judicial Affair Bureau had. ¡®Didn¡¯t you know that a few officers from the Bureau of Investigation suddenly came almost at the end of the day and argued about Article 10 of the Supreme Constitution?¡¯ ¡®But thanks to that, I worked until late, and I¡¯m glad that the officers of the Bureau of Investigation saw the attack.¡¯ ¡®They don¡¯t have manners, do they even consider our work time because they came late?¡¯ Since then, the employsee of the Bureau of Investigation had never visited the legal office. Reina and Sid were able to be attached to Iveca for the sake of her protection as she was being attacked by an unidentifed gunmen. Perhaps it was a tool to seek a second opportunity if the attack failed due to the guards accompanying her. Or, it could have been a play to attach them to her from the beginning. The most important thing was that the gunmen who attacked her were somehow connected with the Bureau of Investigation, and both Reina and Sid withheld the truth before her. Iveca recalled Sid, who did his best to stop Eugene from mentioning Eve Jean when she visited. The woman Daniel had in his heart was Eve Jean. Maybe Sid and Reina were on Eve Jean¡¯s side, as they were her true colleague, and harbored dislike toward Iveca, who had been shunned by her maladjustment, but took Eve Jean¡¯s place as a Queen. Even so, would it be too detestable for Iveca to be happy? Even if she was merely an imaginary Queen? After moving from Count Esselburn to the Imperial Palace, Iveca believed that many things had changed, but in fact, nothing had changed. She felt like she had settled down, but she merely pretended not to know. She couldn¡¯t even tell the truth because she was afraid that the frail cliff on which she was stepping right now would collapse. No matter how hard she struggled, if this was the best way for her to live, if she couldn¡¯t take it any longer, she too had to make her own decision. ¡°Sid, answer me. The first attack was done by the Bureau of Investigation, right?¡± Sid looked confused. Reina didn¡¯t say anything, but sighed and muttered, ¡°Yes, Queen.¡± ¡°Reina!¡± Sid shouted, but Reina looked at Iveca with her resigned green eyes. ¡°As expected, you have great logical skills. Who would say no here.¡± Iveca tightened her grip on her dagger. ¡°If you know everything, why did you keep us by your side? How did you talk to me casually and laugh? Wasn¡¯t it painful?¡± Reina asked, her voice trembling. ¡°You know¡­¡± It was a short answer, but Reina¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. This is because she felt Iveca¡¯s loneliness, even though she was wrapped in the King¡¯s intimacy. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would be this cruel¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m used to things like this.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Reina looked at Iveca with teary eyes and said, ¡°Queen, if it bothered you that much¡­ you can kill me. It¡¯s okay.¡± CH 55.1 ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Restless, Sid intervened quickly. His eyes trembled with confusion. It was clear that he wanted to prevent Iveca from killing Reina. ¡°Queen, you need to calm down first¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m calm already.¡± Iveca replied coldly, taking a deep breath, then removed her dagger from Reina¡¯s neck and threw it casually against the wall. Sid made a strange expression as he looked at the dagger that was thrown under the wall clock. ¡°If the Bureau of Investigation decided to get rid of me anyway, I would be dead within two years.¡± ¡°Queen¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just sick and tired of all these dramas¡­ So now, I¡¯ll give you a choice,¡± said Iveca. ¡°What?¡± asked Sid. ¡°If you¡¯re going to kill me, kill me now.¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes were unshakable. Resolute. ¡°If that¡¯s the judgment of the Bureau of Investigation, I¡¯ll follow it.¡± Both Sid and Reina merely stared at Iveca with puzzled eyes. ¡°One will not be blinded to individual safety but believe in the organization¡¯s judgment,¡± Iveca stared at the dagger, ¡°I also remember this much.¡± She spoke her words calmly and quietly, without taking out any measure to defend herself. ¡°If it is the organization¡¯s decision to get rid of me, I will follow it. Of course, you won¡¯t care, but I will never forget once I was in the Bureau of Investigation, too.¡± With those words, tears eventually began to fall from Reina¡¯s eyes. Sid also bit his lower lip and slowly blinked his squinted eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m also an employee of the Judicial Affair Bureau. If you don¡¯t get rid of me now, I¡¯ll file a complaint for an investigation towards the Bureau of Investigation, cut off my limbs, and complete the Grand Constitution in the meantime,¡± Iveca continued. ¡°Uh, what to do¡­ Queen¡­having thoughts like that is¡­¡± Reina stifled her sobs, to no avail. ¡°You can kill me,¡± Iveca said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s not a very regretful life except the fact that I need to let go of the Supreme Constitution.¡± Of course, she constantly remembered Daniel¡¯s face, but she ought to suffer on her own. By his side, she was as broken as she was happy. Perhaps even if she were to die now, Daniel was a clever and meticulous man, therefore he would be able to find enough people to replace her. After all, the person in his heart was not her. Such a wonderful woman who was completely different from herself, even she wanted to be like her. ¡°Now this is the chance. Kill me. It¡¯s okay. The Constitution is not complete, the Bureau of Investigation can still use its power, and I am prepared to follow that decision.¡± Iveca spoke without remorse nor fear, but Sid and Reina, who once had been her dear colleagues, couldn¡¯t bear to attempt such murder. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me? I see. It would be a great nuisance to the Bureau of Investigation to murder a member of the royal family. I didn¡¯t think about it.¡± Iveca stood from her seat and took her steps to the window. ¡°I¡¯ll go out and die on the balcony of the royal palace on my own. Then, everyone else will see my suicide.¡± ¡°My queen!¡± Reina grabbed her shoulder in surprise. ¡°You can testify for the last time. The pressure of Count Esselburn seemed too much of a psychological burden.¡± Reina warped her arms around Iveca¡¯s waist as she twisted her body around and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Why are you like this, Queen?¡± ¡°What are you doing? When did you ever attack and stab me in the first place? I said I would die on my own. What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± Iveca¡¯s voice began to become more and more intense. ¡°Please¡­. Please don¡¯t do this.. Queen, please¡­¡± Tears dropped from Reina¡¯s eyes. Her arms trembled while they gripped Iveca¡¯s waist. Iveca couldn¡¯t understand it, so she smiled in vain. It was hard to believe even with the tears since she knew Reina was lying in front of her. ¡°I hate hypocrisy like this. I know everything, so drop your pretenses. I am fed up with all those people around me, who are always different inside and out.¡± Sid couldn¡¯t bear to remain a spectator; he blurted out: ¡°We have secrets, and we must admit that our outside and inside are inevitably different. But you have misunderstood something.¡± His eyes had also gone red, as if stopping the tears that threatened to fall. ¡°We will never forget that the Queen has served in the Bureau of Investigation.¡± What does it even mean? Iveca rolled her eyes. ¡°Today¡­ You¡¯d better not go to work. You¡¯re so emotional right now.¡± ¡°Emotional? What are you talking about?¡± At Sid¡¯s words, Iveca was furious. Reina, who saw her explode for the first time, trembled and hugged her tighter. ¡°Then, what do you want me to do? I said I can die the way you guys want but you said I can¡¯t. So, why the hell are you doing this to me? Why!¡± Iveca screamed. She lost her strength and collapsed into Reina¡¯s arms. CH 55.2 ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call the medical department?¡± Reina asked Sid quietly as she carefully laid down Iveca on her bed. Sid frowned and answered cautiously, ¡°Then His Majesty will know too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°Now the Queen¡¯s emotion is very unstable. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a good choice to see His Highness. I think she simply lost consciousness¡­¡± ¡°Towards His Highness¡­. What was she even thinking? I can¡¯t even guess how far she knows.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that the Queen is the only person who knows the answer for it.¡± Sid sighed as he squeezed his bloody eyes shut. Reina looked at Iveca, bit her own lower lip and closed her eyes. Reina muttered in a whisper as she tucked Iveca¡¯s hair behind her ear, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better not to tell them first,¡± said Sid. ¡°But you should still contact the Judicial Affair Bureau. It can be difficult to go to work as she needs to meet with some people.¡± Sid sent an errand to the Judicial office ¨C a maid who was originally guarding the door, then leaned against the wall with a complex look. There was silence for a while. ¡°Sid.¡± Reina, who sat next to Iveca while looking at her, broke the silence. ¡°Hiding everything like this¡­. Isn¡¯t it too painful for the Queen?¡± Sid was silent. ¡°She had laughed and talked to us casually. What are you going to do when she wakes up? Are you going to let her live in misery like this?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°¡­.I hate that the Queen is unhappy. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t trust His Majesty. What is he thinking exactly>¡± Sid didn¡¯t respond to that comment, but it turned out that he rather agreed. Daniel was actually providing all the things that could make unhappy Iveca to be happy. The only family she has, the only colleague, the only friend, as well as things that only she could do well. They were anxious because they couldn¡¯t guess what the reason was. ¡°If His Majesty really loved Eve¡­¡± ¡°¡­.Would things go this far?¡± ¡°No matter what hypothesis you make, everything just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Did Daniel really know that Iveca was Eve? It was the secret of the Bureau of Investigation, but the story about the ability of Bureau of Investigation¡¯s employees to change their appearance was actually known among civilians. The Bureau of Investigation told Daniel that Eve had left and so he ordered them to find her. Iveca thought that it was the end of their relationship; but then he had put Iveca in the position of Queen, complicating their fate. Reina thought that even if he knew that Iveca was Eve, if he truly loved her, he should not do such a dangerous thing. He made Iveca¡¯s name known to everyone, even though he should have kept it a secret. It only occurred to her that he was using Iveca¡¯s position and powers. And if he didn¡¯t know that Iveca was Eve, the problem would have become more serious. Reina thought he was putting Iveca on the brink of chaos by mulling and appeasing Iveca¡¯s weaknesses. It was literally like holding Iveca¡¯s heart hostage. Either way, in Reina¡¯s opinion, Daniel was a dangerous person to Iveca, and Sid had no choice but to agree because Daniel was such an obscure and calculated monarch. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell her. Even just a small part,¡± Reina muttered as if she had made up her mind, ¡°I can¡¯t take it to see her having such a hard time.¡± Sid did not answer anything. As usual, his silence meant he would not stop her. ¡°Sid, you know, right.¡± Reina continued quietly, even if he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°The magic power is actually disappearing. Even the ancient magic will be released after 30 years¡­ I was thinking of waiting until 30 years later. There were so many things I wanted to stay, but at this state, I don¡¯t think the Queen will be able to live until 30 years later.¡± *** ¡°I was surprised that you didn¡¯t go to work.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s really okay.¡± Iveca smiled at Daniel, who came late in the afternoon. ¡°When I met my father in the morning, I had a headache and wanted to take a day off. I¡¯m not in the mood to read the law.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Daniel spoke softly with his lips on the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you. You know how to rest when you¡¯re tired. Do everything you want to do in the future. Anything is fine.¡± He let her go of her hand with a slight bite of her finger so that it wouldn¡¯t hurt, then immediately swept her black hair as if he couldn¡¯t take his hand off her. ¡°Is there anything else you want to do?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Iveca made a thoughtful expression, then answered with the corners of her mouth raised. ¡°I want to go for a walk. Because I haven¡¯t been out of the palace all day.¡± CH 56.1 ¡°Really? Where should we go? Just tell me. I will go anywhere in the world with you.¡± Daniel smiled brightly, slightly kissing her lips as he swept her hair behind her ears, and continued in a tone of excitement. ¡°Well, shall we go to the garden? The flowers must have bloomed beautifully. Or should we go up to the roof and watch the sunset? Didn¡¯t you say you liked it? Or not¡­ It¡¯s a little dangerous, but would you like to go to Amenity for a hidden trip? There are a lot of people who hold grudges against you, so I don¡¯t really recommend it, but the palace is a little bit cramped indeed.¡± ¡°No,¡± Iveca shook her head slightly. In the midst of this, his hand couldn¡¯t let her go, and also the fact that she liked his lips on her was a little bit pathetic. He must have acted knowing that she liked it. ¡°Just¡­ just the Judicial Bureau office,¡± she muttered meekly. ¡°Pardon?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°The road connecting the Judicial Affair Bureau and the Royal Palace¡­¡± ¡°Iveca,¡± Daniel frowned as if he was confused. ¡°It¡¯s the road that we go back and forth every day. I am always there to meet you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I want to go there,¡± Ivece mumbled, ¡°Because Your Highness came to pick me up every single day.¡± ¡°Then, what about it?¡± Daniel inquired. ¡°You always walk alone on the way to pick me up. It is such a one-sided thing¡­ You will be lonely then.¡± ¡°On my way to the Judicial Bureau office, I¡¯m not lonely at all thinking about the stories that I will tell Iveca on my way back. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll walk this road together again.¡± Daniel looked at her and smiled quietly. ¡°Did you like it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Her answer came quickly. It was a thoughtless conversation, but Daniel looked at her endearingly and kept his silence for a moment before kissing her lips briefly again. ¡°Thank you, Iveca,¡± he said with complete honesty, ¡°thank you for saying that you like it. Please remember that.¡± ¡°Remember what?¡± ¡°Remember to tell me if you like something.¡± The conversation went around strangely. When Iveca tilted her head, he held her hand and smiled affectionately. ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk. I promised you that I would do whatever you wanted.¡± Iveca¡¯s lips curled into a shy smile. After all, the time she spent with him was perfect and peaceful, as if she were looking at a beautiful painting. The feeling of desperate love, moments that seemed ethereal, a touch she never wanted to let go¡­ *** ¡°The Queen is very unstable in terms of emotions right now. I¡¯m not sure if it would be a good idea to see Your Majesty. I thought she just lost consciousness¡­¡± Earlier, Iveca hadn¡¯t actually fainted. When Sid and Reina didn¡¯t act as she expected, Iveca faked her emotions. She was never the type to lose her composure, let alone collapse. However, when Sid and Reina hadn¡¯t done what she wanted, she decided to drive the situation to the extreme. She had presumed wrongly, and so she had to acquire information. Iveca had thought that Sid and Reina were capable of harming her, at least secretly, or the two would accidentally reveal information new to her in the midst of the turmoil. But they only spoke of things Iveca couldn¡¯t understand. When she feigned losing consciousness, Sid and Reina didn¡¯t even decide to call the attention of the medical staff. After a few hours, Iveca woke up as if she had come to her senses and was soon greeted by Daniel. Her thoughts drifted to Sid and Reina¡¯s conversation. ¡°I hate that the Queen is unhappy. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t trust His Majesty. What is he thinking exactly?¡± Iveca deduced: It was certain that the Bureau of Investigation and the King were wary of each other over her. ¡°If His Majesty really loved Eve¡­ Would things go this far?¡± It was also certain that Daniel had a relationship with a woman named Eve. ¡°No matter what hypothesis you make, everything just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± It was also a fact that the Bureau of Investigation couldn¡¯t grasp the truth. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Iveca looked up at Daniel as she walked along the sunlit path. She could not have known his true feelings that neither the Bureau of Investigation could have grasped. She liked her current daily life, like a well-wrapped gift, but thought she no longer wanted to remain in oblivion. If the secret that everyone wanted to hide surrounded herself, she would find out about it somehow. Alone, persistently, quietly. ¡°I have a nickname,¡± said Iveca. ¡°Nickname?¡± Daniel aske with an eyebrow perched. ¡°Yes. My friend gave it to me when I was young¡­ It¡¯s Eve.¡± CH 56.2 Daniel¡¯s face, which had been smiling at her warmly all the time, stiffened. Iveca maintained her cool and asked, faking innocence, ¡°Your Majesty, can you call me by that name?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Danie¡¯s expression hardened, and Iveca waited for his answer without saying a word. Daniel had no idea that she was aware of Eve Jean¡¯s existence. Would he be able to simply separate the name of the person he had in mind from herself? She asked a rather provocative question, and her heart ached at the disapproving silence that lingered between them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Daniel began, slicing the bitter quietness. ¡°Iveca is just Iveca. I don¡¯t want to call you by a nickname that someone gave to you.¡± After all, was ¡°Eve¡± only meant for that girl? There was even a slight anger in his eyes as he looked at her. Iveca looked away from him. ¡°Ha, indeed.¡± She tried desperately to conceal the hurt and bitterness in her voice. She wanted to forget what had just happened. ¡°Eve.. it¡¯s a common name. There are so many people who admire Queen Evena.¡± Daniel didn¡¯t answer, he merely grabbed her hand and intertwined it with his. Iveca felt an odd aura coming from him at this moment, so she couldn¡¯t get him to talk about ¡®Eve¡¯ anymore. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell her. Even just a small part.¡± Beside him, Iveca repeated Reina¡¯s words in her mind. ¡°I can¡¯t take it to see her having such a hard time.¡± Reina would tell her something. As she pondered on Sid and Reina¡¯s conversation, it didn¡¯t seem like she was in a situation where her bureau was looking for a chance to get rid of her, as she initially thought. But she could only make out bits and pieces from their hushed conversation. ¡°The magic power is actually disappearing. Even the ancient magic will be released after 30 years¡­ I was thinking of waiting until 30 years later. There were so many things I wanted to stay¡­¡± Thirty years later, the release of ancient magic meant that her memory, which had disappeared, would then return. However, although it was said that it would be 30 years, it could take 40 years or longer. It was too much of a time to wait blindly; she wanted to relieve her frustration as soon as possible. It wasn¡¯t even a variable that she could consider. *** ¡°Queen.¡± The next morning, Reina and Sid appeared as usual in front of Iveca, who was dressed in a neat Judicial Affair Bureau uniform. ¡°Would you like to go to work?¡± Reina¡¯s eyes were swollen as she tried to speak her words casually. ¡°You came early.¡± Iveca also greeted them with a dry tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a cup of tea. Sit down please.¡± Sid and Reina sat in front of her with clumsy footsteps. She had just arrived this morning and brewed fresh tea leaves, but she knew it wouldn¡¯t taste very good anyway. Sid and Reina did not speak anymore after taking a sip as a courtesy. ¡°We are indeed commoners.¡± Reina chuckled dryly and said embarrassedly, ¡°Coffee is better.¡± Iveca also took a sip to match them, but she didn¡¯t want to drink more because it didn¡¯t taste better than plain water. Iveca didn¡¯t give much answer to the desperate excuse, but muttered in an unenergetic voice as if she had lost all enthusiasm in the world, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I looked unpleasant yesterday.¡± ¡°No,¡± Sid answered immediately, but Iveca lowered her eyes and spoke to them in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m so depressed and sensitive these days. I¡¯m not as excited as I am. As you all know anyway, Essselburn, His Majesty, and the Bureau of Investigation are only thinking of using me or abandoning me.¡± ¡°Queen, what are you talking about?¡± asked Reina. ¡°But still¡­ I can¡¯t say anything to Esselburn, His Majesty, or the Bureau of Investigation. It¡¯s one-sided for me, and I¡¯m desperate.¡± Iveca sniffled, glancing at Sid and Reina¡¯s expressions. After overhearing their conversation yesterday, where they said they were too concerned about Iveca hurting herself, Iveca decided that gaining sympathy was her best strategy to bring out some of the truth from Reina. Her calculation was proven correct, as Reina sighed and answered. ¡°Honestly, I do not know the feelings of His Majesty or Count Esselburn, Queen. But maybe what the Queen thinks is right,¡± she paused, ¡°but not for the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Sid remained silent, and Reina continued her speech without hesitation. ¡°At first, I tried to hide it but¡­ I will just tell you everything.¡± Iveca looked at Reina quietly. ¡°Instead, please believe me. I¡¯m saying this with the intention of being punished quite harshly. The promotion to manager position may be several years away. Sid, if you want to succeed, go now.¡± In an attempt to lighten the gloomy atmosphere, Reina cracked a joke, but even the humor didn¡¯t reach her. CH 57.1 ¡°Several many years, huh. You¡¯re forgetting the basic rules now, it¡¯ll be far away from forever.¡± Contrary to Reina¡¯s expectation, the atmosphere turned more somber from Sid¡¯s serious response. However, he sat still and like Reina, he expressed his intention to tell Iveca some of the hidden truth even at the risk of being disciplined. ¡°Severe punishment¡­ I don¡¯t want you guys to have that. After all, if it¡¯s a secret for a person like me, it won¡¯t be a good thing anyway.¡± Realizing that the only thing that could move them was sympathy, Iveca bowed her head without saying any more words. Whenever she made this expression, she could see Reina was at loss. It bothered Iveca that they could be severely punished, but the selfishness in her heart could not be helped. She was desperate. Although she hated herself for putting others at risk because of their sympathy for her, she couldn¡¯t stop there, as she had already made up her mind to know everything about her. ¡°Now that things have come to this, the truth is better than being misunderstood. I made the decision myself, so you don¡¯t have to worry about my punishment,¡± said Reina. ¡°Truth?¡± ¡°You are very observant. Why can¡¯t you see other things as well?¡± ¡°What do you mean by other things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the first attack. That¡¯s right. The Bureau of Investigation arranged it. Those who attacked the Queen were also employees of the Bureau, and those who ran out of the Judicial Bureau to save the Queen were also members of the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Iveca looked at Reina¡¯s green eyes quietly. ¡°Originally¡­ originally, he was supposed to pretend to be a raider, chased away by us, and disappear. But the Queen was going to use a dagger. If the Queen used her dagger, someone would die. How could we just watch then?¡± ¡°Therefore¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we had no choice but to stab you somewhere that wasn¡¯t a vital point. I needed to stop you from throwing the dagger. In fact, the medical department also said it was a simple wound. Why didn¡¯t you find anything suspicious about that?¡± At Iveca¡¯s suspicious look, Reina banged her chest frustratingly and accurately pointed to the side where Iveca was injured. ¡°Queen, this is not a vital point at all. Actually, there wasn¡¯t even a lot of blood at that time¡­ The Queen lost consciousness because you were just so surprised. All your organs were intact, Moreover, anyone who really tried to assassinate you would have poisoned the weapon. ¡°Then why¡­ Why did you make such a play?¡± ¡°Of course¡­¡± Reina looked at Iveca for a moment, whose eyes were filled with confliction, and said, ¡°To protect the Queen.¡± For a moment, a strange atmosphere lingered between them. Iveca was about to open her mouth to ask Reina something, but the door suddenly swung open. Someone rushed in, calling her name in an urgent voice. Iveca, as well as Reina and Sid, jumped up in surprise. ¡°Iveca!¡± ¡°Your Majesty?¡± She didn¡¯t know where he came from, but Daniel, who came running alone without an escort, was panting for his breath. Ignoring the astonished expressions in Reina and Sid¡¯s face, he quickly glanced over the three teacups on the table, then hurriedly grabbed Iveca¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Are you okay?¡± he asked again. ¡°What?¡± Aside from the absurd informal speech, Iveca was surprised once more because his blue eyes seemed to hold a mix of emotions. She hurriedly tried to get up, but with that movement, her head twirled, and she lost her balance slightly. Daniel caught her in a hurry as she staggered, then he glared at Sid and Reina. ¡°What did you do?¡± His gaze was ablaze in fury, ready to sentence anyone to death at any moment. ¡°Your Majesty? This situation is¡­¡± Reina stammered, at a loss. She tried to stand, but even her mind spinned. She quickly grabbed the table for support, barely regaining balance. ¡°My servant has just confirmed that the tea leaves going to the Queen¡¯s Palace have been replaced,¡± said Daniel. Even Sid, who was the most calm and collected in the room, stood abruptly once he heard those words, but unfortunately, he also couldn¡¯t get up at once. Daniel said sharply, holding Iveca tightly in her own arms, ¡°I am well aware that each of the members of the Bureau are weapons for the organization. But you can¡¯t do anything to Iveca. Don¡¯t take Iveca from me twice because of the Bureau¡¯s judgment.¡± CH 57.2 With her hand tightened into a fist, Reina spoke with such resolution that it seemed she was prepared for whatever punishment is bestowed upon her. ¡°Iveca is a valuable agent for us. It¡¯s hard for us to see Your Highness take advantage of Iveca¡¯s wounds anymore.¡± The tension between Daniel and the Bureau of Investigation worsened. Iveca couldn¡¯t understand anything. It was certain that they were both referring to something in the past, and she was the only one who didn¡¯t know. But there was something more urgent than that. Daniel held Iveca in his arms so desperately, but Iveca knew that she was actually feeling fine, except that she had stumbled for a moment when tried to stand. It was the same for Reina and Sid, who had regained their balance. Judging that all the tea leaves entering the palace should undergo rigorous toxicity testing, these tea leaves were not poisonous, but that which slowed the body¡¯s reaction. Hence the purpose of bringing in these tea leaves, which were replaced just before tea time¡­ ¡°Your Majesty, be careful!¡± Iveca squirmed and wriggled out of Daniel¡¯s arms. She thrust her hand into her pocket and pulled out her daggers, immediately throwing all out of the window. Rather than a conscious action, it was an instinct that the body remembered when a crisis was imminent. Recently, Iveca has always been with people from the Bureau of Investigation, and she had excellent physical skills herself. Even if an enemy sent a proficient assassin, it would be difficult to harm her. More so, it was impossible to impair Iveca¡¯s protection, when several knights guarded the room. Then, the only place they could attack from was from the windows. Iveca could hear someone falling from a tree; perhaps one of the assassins was hit by one of her daggers. She continued calmly, her eyes never leaving the window, ¡°It¡¯s not poison, so there must be further attacks.¡± After Sid and Reina looked at each other in alarm, Sid jumped out of the window and Reina remained next to Iveca and Daniel. In an instant, an assassin appeared before them. Reina rushed in front of Iveca to block the intruder. ¡°Move away, Queen! The Queen is not good in close combat.¡± Reina, who stepped forward at lightning speed, was pierced by the assassin¡¯s sword directly with her shoulder. Despite the injury, she managed to push him out the window with magic. The assassin fell. Blood dripped down Reina¡¯s shoulder as she turned around. ¡°Reina!¡± Iveca was startled and called her name, but Daniel grabbed her and did not let her go to Reina. The assassins seemed to be preparing for another attack. In that state, Reina and Daniel stared sharply at each other as if to protect their Iveca from each other. Fortunately, not long after, Sid jumped back through the window, dragging a beaten assassin. ¡°A total of four assassins were found, of which three bodies were found. Two of them were taken care of by Reina and the Queen, and one I killed. Their bodies were left in the garden and will be further investigated by another bureau¡¯s staff. One survived.¡± He spoke in a hard tone, reporting to Daniel and Iveca. Recognizing that the ambush was over, Reina hurriedly pulled out a bandage from her arms and began to perform first aid on her own. ¡°We planned to go straight to the Bureau of Investigation to interrogate him, but we brought him because His Majesty didn¡¯t seem to trust us. This raid really has nothing to do with us,¡± said Sid. ¡°It seems another attack was carried out.¡± Accepting Daniel¡¯s anger, who started speaking formally again, Sid calmly replied, ¡±The first attack was done alone. However, please note that there were no deaths at that time. The Bureau of Investigation does not sacrifice innocent blood. However, it was almost dangerous in many ways, and I sincerely thank the Queen for her quick response.¡± Daniel nodded curtly at Sid and Reina, and slowly refined his expression. ¡°I accept the opinion of the Bureau of Investigation. I will take this person first and hand it over to the Bureau of Investigation. But¨C¡± Iveca interrupted Daniel. She gently grabbed Daniel¡¯s arm and shook her head gently, ¡°His Majesty¡­ we were talking. I want to finish talking to them.¡± ¡°The Queen was injured in the first act. I am having suspicions now, and until the truth is revealed, no one from the Bureau of Investigation is permitted to be around you,¡± Daniel announced. ¡°If they were going to harm me, they could have done it sooner. Besides, while Reina was trying to save me, she got hurt. There¡¯s more we have to talk about, so please hold your doubt, at least for today.¡± Iveca pleaded, but Daniel remained unmoved. ¡°Please.¡± CH 58.1 ¡°¡­All right. Then I¡¯ll start digging who¡¯s behind this first. And in case something goes wrong with your body, I will send a person from the Medical Bureau right away.¡± Iveca nodded, thinking that he should show Reina to the Medical Bureau first. Daniel made a face that he was unhappy until the end and eventually turned around at Iveca¡¯s unwavering expression. Hugging an unconscious assassin, an escort warrior lifted him up, and they disappeared like a tide like the way they appeared. Daniel glared at Sid and Reina once as a warning until he left the room. Afterwards, Iveca slowly approached Reina and wrapped the bandage around her arm more tightly. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation is really weird,¡± Iveca began. She knew that there was no hesitation in Reina to come forward as soon as the assassin rushed in. Iveca suddenly wrinkled her nose. ¡°During the first attack, you also saved me without taking care of yourself like this.¡± ¡°It was all for the Queen. I told you before.¡± It must have been quite painful, but without making a single moan, Reina just stared at Iveca¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t even trust His Majesty when it comes to the Queen¡¯s safety. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be in a lot of danger, but I just decided that I needed to be more vigilant. I thought that we had no choice but to stick together and protect the Bureau of Investigation staff. Rather than being mere bystanders, we have strengthened our guard by decorating your work before the full-fledged attack. In fact, there was a poisoning conspiracy shortly after. Everyone was nervous with the first attack¡­¡± Iveca looked at her blankly, silent for a moment, before finally muttering: ¡°Why¡­ Why are you guys protecting me? If I had judged that it was dangerous, I would have strengthened my escort by telling His Highness. The reason why the Bureau of Investigation has to come forward like this was¡­¡± ¡°The Queen already knows why,¡± Sid intervened. ¡°What?¡± ¡°One. We cherish our colleagues, protect, and trust each other even in the face of death. You even memorized it.¡± Iveca¡¯s hands trembled as her head seemed to ring. ¡°We will never forget that the Queen was with the Bureau of Investigation before,¡± said Reina. ¡°It was not because of your status as Queen. We still think that the Queen is a colleague of the Bureau of Investigation, so we decided to protect her by ourselves.¡± Iveca had never thought of that. She had never imagined that the people of the Bureau of Investigation would still consider her their colleague and acknowledge her as a member of the organization. Familiar with being kicked out, she had always thought that she was kicked out of the Bureau of Investigation or that she ran away as she could not stand it. Reina got mad at her for not seeing anything else. It couldn¡¯t be helped. It was a hypothesis that could not be established in the first place, because she didn¡¯t think that the Bureau of Investigation would work for her. It wasn¡¯t within her imagination that someone was doing it for her behind her back. ¡°Yesterday, I said it was not the Queen, but Reina who was my colleague. That¡¯s a slip of a tongue. The Queen is also my colleague. That¡¯s a fact that doesn¡¯t change,¡± spoke Sid. ¡°Ha, but the Bureau of Investigation is not pleased with the existence of the Constitution,¡± replied Iveca. ¡°It was decided by the King and Queen of Amethan. The purpose of our existence is not power, but the well-being of our Kingdom. Of course, I¡¯m going to follow it.¡± Reina sullenly added, gazing into the purple eyes of Iveca which was still in shock. ¡°As long as the Queen does not kill us, we will never harm the Queen.¡± ¡°But I am no longer a member of the Bureau of Investigation¡­ why¡­¡± ¡°There are memories we had together. I don¡¯t think the Queen has it. We can give our lives to the Queen just by remembering those memories despite one-sidedly.¡± It felt like she was overwhelmed with warmth inside her heart. Iveca never thought that she would be receiving such consideration and favor. She had never experienced such loyalty, so she only had doubts. ¡°When I was there¡­ were I a good employee?¡± she asked. ¡°Absolutely. Even now, when it comes to assassination, you have a better sense than us.¡± ¡°Then, were¡­ were I a good, good colleague?¡± ¡°No.¡± Reina replied, wiping away her tears. ¡°From a certain point, you became a colleague who really broke my heart. Just looking at you makes me sad¡­ I just want to keep telling you not to worry. It¡¯s okay¡­¡± ¡°Reina.¡± Iveca looked at her quietly. ¡°I just need treatment, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Slowly, slowly, Iveca said quietly. At those words, Reina¡¯s pupils shook. ¡°¡­At the time of the first attack, the woman who caught me was Reina, right?¡± ¡°Queen, no¡­¡± ¡°Obviously, the pink hair was different¡­ but those green eyes are just like Reina¡¯s¡­ Her height and body shape were similar¡­ Most of all, I think I unconsciously called her Reina¡­¡± CH 58.2 ¡°Queen, no¡­¡± ¡°When I asked you about her, you said you didn¡¯t know her. That¡¯s the first thing you lied about to me.¡± ¡°Wait a moment, Queen. It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°You pointed out the exact area where I was stabbed earlier, remembered my muscle condition, as if you were directly there and saved me.¡± Sid frowned and sighed. In the end, he remained silent, with a look of reproach that Reina was likely to cause an accident. Reina looked elsewhere, not knowing what to do, and Iveca realized that she had accurately pointed out the truth she tried to conceal. ¡°There were rumors like this,¡± Iveca began, ¡°People in the Bureau of Investigation can freely change their appearance. Of course, it was just what everyone said. There¡¯s no evidence or anything. Maybe the color and body shape of your eyes¡­ It must have been hard to change it.¡± ¡°I know her well because she used to call me to the palace every day. She was short and she had the same purple eyes as you. He might be thinking about her while looking into your eyes.¡± Anriq¡¯s words, which were painfully engraved in her heart, came to her mind. ¡°She could be in disguise anyway. I don¡¯t know, but they¡¯re also saying that the Bureau of Investigation agencies can change their appearances. Anyway, she was short enough to wear the same clothes as me. Blonde hair¡­ Her eyes were purple.¡± Eugene¡¯s indifferent words plunged her into deep frustration too. Looking at Iveca¡¯s disgruntled expression, Sid and Reina looked at each other in confusion. Iveca no longer asked them any questions; she was now thinking about the last remaining secret. ¡°Thank you.¡± Iveca muttered, delicately winding the bandage one more time. ¡°You still think of me as a colleague. Even though I look like this, even if I am a person who violates the rights of the Bureau of Investigation. You said that you would protect me¡­ thanks.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that¡­¡± Reina sniffled her nose. ¡°No matter what you look like, no matter who you are, we care and love the Queen.¡± At that time, an employee of the Medical Bureau arrived to see Reina¡¯s wound and prescribed that the tea they drank slowed down their simple physical response ability and that it would be normal after an hour or two. While Sid and Reina were being treated side by side by the medical staff, Iveca felt heartbroken. She knew nothing and she had a mechanism to protect herself while she was sad. When she sensed danger, she had her husband running frantically, leaving behind even his escorts. She thought she was alone. But she felt warmth, and she felt like she had the courage to challenge another truth. *** After a sweet yet intense affair, as always, Daniel tenderly spoke to Iveca, stroking her hair while she laid in his arms. ¡°We caught who¡¯s behind it as well. Don¡¯t worry, Queen. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Daniel did not say how he dealt with them. He didn¡¯t want to tell her about the cruel treatment the assassins received. However, he added that he did not hide his disapproval. ¡°The Bureau of Investigation staff¡­ I¡¯m a little nervous if the first attack is true. Even if it¡¯s cumbersome, how about we stay together? I always wanted to be in front of you. After seeing that in person today, I think I¡¯m going to get even more anxious,¡± he said. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Iveca wriggled and slightly escaped from his arms, looking into his eyes. ¡°I have a favor.¡± Daniel was a little surprised by Iveca¡¯s sudden remark, yet delighted to hear that Iveca wanted something first. He kissed her collarbone deeply and smiled, ¡°Say something.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Eve Jean? Please answer me.¡± It was a name he didn¡¯t think would ever come out of her mouth. Daniel had never been flustered in front of others, but he hesitated for a moment. It was too sudden. No matter how much she looked back on the situation, all she could find on him was a pen he always used. However, Iveca didn¡¯t think she could deduce anything from that pen, as only her initials were engraved, and there were so many gifts and rewards of that kind. Besides, didn¡¯t he pretend to be using that pen because it was great and even gave her one as a gift? Even in front of the King, the Bureau of Investigation was thoroughly hiding the existence of ¡®Eve Jean¡¯. The Bureau of Investigation would never have mentioned Eve Jean¡¯s full name to Iveca. Daniel¡¯s hands trembled slightly. He could not find the words to say. ¡°I thought His Majesty had that woman in mind.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°It was someone that you used to coax and be nice to, like this.¡± Daniel felt like had been hit in the head. He asked, struggling to speak straightly, ¡°When did you start thinking that way?¡± Iveca did not hesitate and answered right away. ¡°From the beginning of our marriage.¡± CH 59.1 What he was really surprised about was that all of these times he had never felt such an emotion from Iveca at all. He knew that she was pretty good at understanding people in her own way, but he didn¡¯t know that she had kept a lot of thoughts to herself for a long time, without saying a word. ¡°In a common sense¡­¡± Daniel was carefully wording his thoughts. ¡°¡­assuming that a husband has another woman in his heart¡­ how can we even get along like this¡­¡± The air was calm, and so were their words, but Daniel¡¯s heart dropped. At that moment, he realized that he was truly flustered. He couldn¡¯t even remember the feeling of being flustered to the point that he couldn¡¯t even look at other people¡¯s faces. ¡°I¡¯m used to these kinds of things. That¡¯s how I grew up. Like those who think that I didn¡¯t share the same blood with the Esselburn, they didn¡¯t really show it on the outside.¡± With Iveca¡¯s calm answer, Daniel had no choice but to sigh. He got a headache as soon as he remembered all her words and actions towards him so far. He had been complacent. He let out a light sigh. Iveca always smiled peacefully whenever she saw him, said she liked the time with him, and seemed happy to do what she wanted to do. ¡°And¡­¡± Iveca¡¯s eyes were slightly watery. ¡°I love your highness. Sincerely.¡± Daniel seemed to stop breathing for a moment; he stayed still and looked into her clear purple eyes. Iveca¡¯s desperation was clear. ¡°So I just wanted to be next to you even if you were someone who loved another woman. Even if my heart feels anguished and my soul is broken,¡± she continued. Even though he knew she had forgotten Anriq, he couldn¡¯t help but feel anger and depression inside his head when imagining the two of them together. He could not bear to worry that Iveca¡¯s eyes would be looking at him with a mix of fear, as he swallowed the urge to kill Anriq several times. Would it feel like if Iveca was in love with someone else and hugged her? Just imagining that she was thinking of another man while laughing with him and sharing her warmth seemed to make his blood boil. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m okay with it. But¡­ It¡¯s hard to pretend not to know anymore. Because I get miserable, I keep thinking about strange things and wild thoughts.¡± ¡°No!¡± Daniel hugged her tightly and whispered, ¡°Everything else is okay, but it¡¯s hard to think that you¡¯re having a hard time. Don¡¯t even think about that.¡± He had already decided to make her stay next to him. He would not let her have a hard time at all, he would do anything that could make her happy¡­ On the contrary, he didn¡¯t mean to give her even a little bit of sadness. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you know Eve Jean, but for the time being, you don¡¯t have to worry about her at all.¡± ¡°But why¡­¡± But Iveca didn¡¯t stop asking questions that would actually drive him into the corner. ¡°Won¡¯t you call me Eve?¡± He didn¡¯t answer for a moment. The fact that she, who had lived with him without showing any indication, brought up this story tonight meant that she never intended to let it go. It was hard to predict where she knew from, so he was cautious about every word he was going to say. No matter how he wanted to hide it and moved on¡­ a clever person like her would somehow find out¡­ What if she suffered alone and eventually let go of him because she was having a hard time? ¡°Please call me Eve, Your Majesty.¡± It was a small but clear voice. It didn¡¯t make sense, but suddenly Daniel wondered if she knew everything. He couldn¡¯t hug her here and said that name casually. He didn¡¯t even want to do that. ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± He spoke in a low voice, near her earlobes. He didn¡¯t even remember the last time he cried, but he found himself crying in a voice that he was unfamiliar with. Even when his parents died, his brother also, or when his sister left, when his nephew was killed, or even when Eve disappeared. ¡°It¡¯s a nickname given by your first love.¡± Iveca¡¯s body stiffened. It was the first time that Anriq was openly mentioned in front of her since he witnessed their secret meeting the other day. ¡°I¡¯m different from him. Any trace of another man is unacceptable.¡± His whispers continued as it felt like he was holding back storms of emotion, which was not graceful at all. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t even know how lucky I am that the name ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ has disappeared from you.¡± As expected, tears also flowed from Iveca¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why¡­ why did you leave me? Please don¡¯t leave me alone. I begged so much that I can¡¯t live without you. Why¡­¡± Iveca couldn¡¯t give any answer. Because she really didn¡¯t remember. Daniel didn¡¯t want an answer from her either, he was just hugging her tightly. His hot and damp tears wet her shoulders. CH 59.2 ¡®You have the same birthday as the Emperor of the Haemille Empire, I cannot help it.¡¯ That was when Daniel asked why he could not say that today was his birthday. Her mother, who was a Queen at that time, stroked her hair and spoke softly. ¡®Everything is for your own good, so you need to understand. It¡¯s all for peace. There¡¯s no need to make a controversy, right?¡¯ Ever since birth, Daniel was a person who merely kept an appropriate distance as ¡°The Third Prince of Third Level Country¡±. While the two older brothers growled toward the throne with their respective mothers on their backs, Daniel naturally adapted to his position. It was all for peace, and there was no need to create controversy. Since he was very young, he thought that he would marry any of the foreign women according to the law. His mother and brother would recommend a woman from a country that would properly help them in their position¡­ In a way, he was no different from Ashe, whose dream was to marry the right man from the right country. In other words, they were poised to play the role others put on them properly. No matter how much others said that they had a beautiful brotherhood as if they had jumped out of a fairy tale, there were no emotions in the play. It was because he knew that living as quietly as possible was the most appropriate utility as a royal family. ¡°Daniel, are you not greedy for the throne?¡± Whenever William asked the question jokingly, he answered casually. ¡°I have so many thoughts. So I think I¡¯ll be unhappy even if I become a King.¡± That was true. Those who struggled to become kings thought that the above two brothers were enough. Her mother, who was the Queen, died suspiciously, and Ruben¡¯s biological mother, who was the second prince, became the Empress. Of course, he wanted revenge, and he believed that William, his brother of the same mother, would take care of everything if he safely ascended to the throne. He thought he understood everything, but in the end, he would only see another blood shed. Kaiden¡¯s parents also died during his mother assassination. Kaiden and Daniel promised each other to get revenge when they were children. While Kaiden lost his laughter as he was endlessly sinking into darkness, Daniel still maintained a gentle attitude toward everyone and got along well with others. Even if his mother was unfairly murdered, his role that was given to him did not change. A younger brother without any presence who helped his blood-related brother, William. He didn¡¯t know if Kaiden, who talked about revenge together, would feel a little betrayed if he knew, but he wasn¡¯t particularly unhappy after her mother passed away. He was quite satisfied with his life when the four of them went to college ¨C his close friend Kaiden, bright and cheerful Ashe, and Ashe¡¯s friend, Lizen. Maybe he was tired of all those things that happened to him from birth¨Ckilling, looking out for each other, and having secrets, exercising, taking classes, and eating together without thinking¡­ He wanted to avenge his mother¡¯s death, but he often felt a desire to live with the flow. Of course, he had no choice but to hide such feelings from Kaiden. And it was Ashe who killed William and broke all this. At first, of course, he thought Ruben and his mother, Testy, had killed William. Not only his friends, but also the nobles who were on William¡¯s side all came out to support him. He too could not bear to see the person who killed his mother and brother ascend to the throne, so he took part in the battle for the throne and¡­ He was always able to do well in any role that others expected him to do. But he knew very well that wearing the crown would be irreversible and would put him at the center of all the darkness and debates that he had been sick of. His friend, who had both financially and materially helped him ascend to the throne, began to drift away, and Ashe began to be calculating against him, asking him to decide her own marriage right away. Perhaps the reason why he decided to raise Lizen as a Queen, who he had not been interested in so far, was because he thought that he symbolized the times when he was at peace. However, Lizen was smart, and she figured out their relationship faster than he did. ¡®I don¡¯t know your highness very well. And your highness doesn¡¯t really know me either. We met quite a lot. But¡­ Did we get to know each other more?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t answer that because he didn¡¯t think at all that he wanted to know her. She was bright, and they used to be close¡­. Then, suddenly he thought that if Kaiden had been a woman, he would have raised him as her Queen. After all the facts were revealed, Ashe calmly admitted that she had deceived him. Daniel didn¡¯t really resent her because he thought that he would have acted like that too. However, he found that the few things he cherished had all come to an end. In the end, he was left alone in the highest place with his crown on. CH 60.1 It was not an era where simply wearing a crown was enough, and Amethan was too weak compared to the Empire. Daniel was too busy balancing between the aristocrats that have been divided because of his two brothers. He could have been doing well as a King, but it was extremely tiring and exhausting. ¡°You¡¯re the King, and you shouldn¡¯t make excuses that you didn¡¯t know anything.¡± It was an advice that Ruben had given him. It would be an international crisis, which would eventually become a catastrophe, if he were to lose his senses even for a split moment. Even foreign countries seemed to be promoting separation within Amethane, which was troublesome. As Daniel was going to spend the rest of his life worrying about all of those, grasping all the variables and formulating plans cautiously, he didn¡¯t really look forward to the rest of his life. ¡°Now¡­ Are you okay? Being alone.¡± From birth to the throne, everything was just a life where he only needed to do well on the path directed by others. ¡°Daniel is careful, so he will do well in everything, and eventually many people will cheer for him, so he will be happy in the future.¡± It was the moment when his life began to run wild beyond his control. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°For being with me when I feel the ugliest, in the most difficult and lonely time.¡± He couldn¡¯t forget the warmth that had been gently entangled in his hand at that time. He wanted to know her so much that he was out of control. He had so many questions that he wanted to ask her endlessly. But there had to be some sort of distance in every relationship, and theirs was no exception, and it was regrettable. Daniel had never felt that way from his mother, or friends, or brothers. There was something he desperately longed for. It was not the path others wanted him to take, but somehow, he found a path that he wanted to create. Even if others didn¡¯t support him, it was a path that he couldn¡¯t bear to give up. Like Amethane, who faced an upheaval once because of Rihan and Ethan, Daniel also had entered a new phase in his life. Maybe that was when his life really began. *** ¡°I don¡¯t know where she is. She went to an affiliated organization.¡± When Daniel asked where she was, Kaiden replied briefly, ¡°It seems that she has erased her memory and left Amethane altogether. She was a woman who liked to have a free life.¡± It hasn¡¯t been 24 hours since he hugged her. Of course, he thought that she would come if he called her today, but the answer he received was preposterous: ¡°She erased her memory and quit the affiliated organization.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t think she was completely transparent towards him, but he didn¡¯t know the girl she loved would suddenly disappear from his sight. One day, she suddenly came barging in his monotonous life, allowing Daniel to experience multitudes of colors and feelings. And like nothing happened, she left. She had caused so much change in his life, yet she dared to remember nothing. To lose all the bittersweet memories they had shared. As if everything were meaningless. He had trembled in naked honesty in front of her, and all his pleas for her to stay by his side were all but thrown away. Ignored. Forgotten. The contrast between their feelings crushed Daniel¡¯s heart. ¡°¡®Affection is inertia, innocence is self-deception, lust is illusion.¡± He remembered the words she had spoken with sarcasm. Even if she had never uttered a word or showed an intention to accept his proposal, even as a joke, she had told him she loved him. But the consequence to her confession was her disappearance. She turned her back from him and left without so much as a letter. He stared at Kaiden. She was a bureaucrat, and what the bureau said to protect their staff was incredible. Kaiden¡¯s reply would not be an excuse prepared to deceive him. Rather, it seemed he was implying that he ought to forget, as she had done. He also knew best that when the officers of the Bureau of Investigation left the organization, they couldn¡¯t know the truth no matter what. The Bureau of Investigation officers were loyal to Amethane and the King, but they were unconditionally guarding their own sanctuary. And in that sanctuary, there was the ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ that he was looking for. Even if he made a fuss to wipe out the entire Bureau of Investigation, they would never open their mouths. ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Rather than arguing for nothing, he quickly finished his calculations in the direction where he could get more information while pretending to back away. For Daniel, the Bureau of Investigation and he would have to face each other. He and his trying to find her, and the Bureau who was trying to hide her somehow for unknown reasons. The only thing he wondered was, why did they want to hide her from him? Did they think he would harm her or force her to stay next to him? Of course, he intended to respect all her intentions. However, he was willing to persuade her, who told him she loved him¡ªto even beg her on his knees to stay by his side. It is a personal affair, and the Bureau of Investigation has no right to stop him. CH 60.2 Eve hadn¡¯t asked him to stay away from her nor was she scared. If that was the case, why did she hug him yesterday and said that she loved him? He had to find her and ask for all the reasons behind it. ¡°We must find her. Find her.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the King¡¯s order. Unconditionally, find her and bring her to me.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± Kaiden left after conceding to Daniel¡¯s order. Daniel cupped his chin and thought for a long time. Kaiden was the same as the Bureau of Investigation; he would not let him know her whereabouts. But he would find her, he had no intention of giving up. She said she loved him. He was bitter and resentful that she had suddenly evaporated the next day after making love to him. Even if she didn¡¯t remember him, he would keep her by his side. He would make her remember him. Remember everything. Remember that she loved him. ¡°How are you going to handle it? You are the one who put me in this situation, Eve.¡± He hadn¡¯t talked to himself in a very long time. His stomach was burning, and his heart was pounding. She had left him. All the memories they created together were erased from her mind. Daniel never thought that she would be so cruel to him, but the thought that she was Eve was enough. The reason he didn¡¯t break down at all was because he was determined to find her. ¡°If you erase your memory, I¡¯ll use all the secrets and lies to make you a Queen somehow¡­ It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know what kind of human being I am.¡± There was something that the Bureau of Investigation was not able to grasp. Due to the ample time they spent and the numerous conversations they held, Daniel knew a lot more about her than anyone expected. Even if the Bureau of Investigation knew almost everything about her, they couldn¡¯t have known all of her and what they spoke during their tea time. Daniel remembered everything she said¨Che couldn¡¯t forget¨Cto the extent that he could roughly infer her whereabouts without the help of the Bureau of Investigation. ¡°I got so much better after joining the agency. I think it¡¯s because it was the first time I was recognized by my own achievements. I like myself enough to never leave the bureau even if you give me money worth billions.¡± She couldn¡¯t have left the agency. He waited for nearly a month, pretending to be completely entrusted with Kaiden¡¯s work. He couldn¡¯t even sleep because he was worried that he would not be able to find her forever at night, but he needed to pretend to be calm. He shouldn¡¯t rush around for no reason, so the Bureau of Investigation wouldn¡¯t have to interfere, protecting her. Soon, the Bureau of Investigation would become occupied with a new operation, and Daniel stifled the urge to turn everything upside down just to see her. One day, when he had endured enough, he slowly raised his hand and rang the bell. Although he was not as meticulous or competent as the Bureau of Investigation, he was more than persistent. A servant approached at the sound of the bell. ¡°Bring the list of transfers from all affiliated institutions up to the most recent one.¡± *** Originally, horizontal movement between affiliated organizations was not performed well. There were more than 20 people on the moving list, which he wondered if there were only one or two. Almost all of them had left the Bureau of Investigation. He remembered that Kaiden had said that he had issued all the applicants he had received since a long time ago. Looking back now, he could clearly see the intention. Naturally, there was no name for Eve Jean. He only selected women from the list. If she was in her fourth year in the Bureau of Investigation, she should have been older than him, but she didn¡¯t have the right age. Come to think of it, he thought it was a normal graduation, so Daniel had never asked about her age. There were 7 people who were younger than the expected age because there was a possibility of skipping middle school or high school. Excluding married women, there were 4 of them. Two went to the Intelligence Bureau, one to the Medical Bureau and one to the Judicial Affair Bureau. ¡°The Judicial Affair Bureau is so small that there is no overtime. Still, I think I¡¯ll do well if I go there. I¡¯m naturally interested in human relations. Come to think of it, I think it¡¯s really okay. Well, it¡¯s much more interesting than departments like administrative offices and pharmacies.¡± Once, he had asked her where she would have applied, if it was not the Bureau of Investigation. At that time, the only place that heard a positive answer was the Judicial Affairs Bureau. As if possessed, he stared at the name ¡®Iveca der Esselburn¡¯, who had transferred to the Judicial Affair Bureau. The dark-haired woman staring straight ahead in the black-and-white photo had unfamiliar features. Count Esselburn¡¯s daughter¡­ She said she was in an agency? Also to the Bureau of Investigation¡­ CH 61.1 ¡°The marriage between noble families is, of course, an important strategy. Historically, many families have escaped crisis through a well-established marriage. From the beginning, the weight is different from the affiliated organization¡¯s employees who live their life as their own¡­ I think it¡¯s unfair for the employees of affiliated organizations and royal family to ignore what the nobles go through.¡± It was the first conversation that piqued Daniel¡¯s interest in her. It was fascinating that an employee of an affiliated agency made a remark which showed their consideration for the nobles so casually. Hence Daniel thought she could represent people from all kinds of positions; he remembered saying that she would fit well in the Judicial Affairs Bureau. ¡°Anriq.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The guard behind Daniel replied immediately. He had never been particularly interested in him, but he knew before entering the Palace he had been under the Count of Esselburn. ¡°Did the Count of Esselburn have five daughters?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± ¡°Are they all married?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°Only the oldest two got married,¡± replied Anriq. ¡°Do the rest have fianc¨¦es?¡± ¡°Perhaps the two below know that there are planned marriages coming.¡± ¡°And the other one?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know?¡± Daniel arched his eyebrow, inquisitive. ¡°The third one, after graduating from college, immediately entered the Bureau of Investigation, where her whereabouts are currently unknown. I haven¡¯t paid a visit to the Count for a long time, so I am not aware of the latest news.¡± ¡°Whereabouts are unknown? Why did she choose such a unique career path?¡± inquired Daniel. ¡°Just¡­ she hated getting married and living like a ¡°plant¡± in a noble society, bearing the name of Esselburn.¡± Unlike his usual quiet personality, Anriq¡¯s words stretched longer. Daniel wondered for a moment, but eventually thought it might be because they had grown up together, and so he let it pass. Daniel glanced at the personal information sheet that his people had given him. Iveca der Esselburn didn¡¯t go to high school¡ªshe enrolled straight to the university. ¡°She¡¯s not from Amenity, isn¡¯t she?¡± Daniel asked. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°If you were a royal high school student, of course, she would definitely know this place.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± When Daniel had gone on a local trip to Amenity with Eve, he recalled how she was a total stranger to high school life. He placed his chin on the top of his hand. It seemed like he had to meet Iveca der Esselburn. *** Daniel was incapable of obtaining the most important information unlike Kaiden, but he was able to learn about Iveca der Esselburn from a distance. ¡°That¡¯s her,¡± he mumbled under his breath as he watched from a distance a woman in a brown Judicial Affair Bureau uniform leaving work. She had unfamiliar features, unconfident body gestures, and she wore an unhappy expression that seemed somewhat unfortunate. Her black hair glistened under the sunset. If she was a complete stranger, she would probably pass by in front of him without leaving any impression. But when he saw her faint purple eyes, he stood motionless as if he had been nailed to the spot. ¡°Here¡¯s the sentence, about Gordon Emerson¡¯s injury¡­ The reason Kaiden was caught in disguise was because of his eye color. Please tell me about it.¡± ¡°No matter how much the Bureau of Investigation changes their appearances, they are incapble of altering the color of their eyes, and Kaiden¡¯s black eyes are so rare that¡­¡± Puzzles began to form in Daniel¡¯s head. The reason why the Bureau had to hide her from Daniel, the reason she said she loved him but never accepted the position of Queen, the reason why she was able to brutally erase her memories without telling him anything, and why Count Esselburn¡¯s youngest lady had been long missing. The reason why she left him alone in a dark, bitter road. *** In his life, there were many things called ¡°different naturality¡± because the blood of the Royal family has been running in his veins. He had never thought of doing anything like love. When he was a prince, it was natural for him to marry an unknown foreigner for his older brother¡¯s sake; it was natural to delay his birthday by three days; it was natural to remain silent about his mother¡¯s unfair death; and it was natural to live like a non-existent shadow, fearing that he might cause a nuisance to his older brother, the Crown Prince. However, it has never been natural to be alone. He had friends, he had an older brother, he had a sister around the same age. Fate led him to the throne, and for a while, he felt terribly lonely being alone. The King¡¯s seat was not to be shared with anyone, even if he might be able to meet his friends, find his half-brother, or discuss affairs with his younger sister. They were loyal to him, but they had to obey because he was King. Such relationships led to many secrets. He only realized later the consequences of the throne, which he had no choice but to surrender to. After a while, his loneliness became the norm in his life. So it was okay for him to find her alone. There used to be a lot of people who cared for her. He knew from the moment he first saw her giggling and drinking with her colleagues. It was a normal life that she could be loved, recognized, and socialize with people around her. If he hadn¡¯t known that she had risked her life to go to war, he wouldn¡¯t have even asked her to stay with him. But what if she was alone now? CH 61.2 At the same time, rumors were circulating that Iveca would marry the son of a neutral aristocrat. Daniel then told Kaiden that it was time for him to get married, and he ordered a background check on a few women from neutral aristocratic families. Among them was Iveca; Kaiden had no choice but to cooperate and bring him a dense report. She was an unmarried daughter of Count Esselburn. She joined the Bureau of Investigation 4 years ago, recently transferred to the Judicial Affair Bureau, engaged to Iark Telsy, a former member of the Foreign Affair Bureau. ¡°Iark Telsi¡­ He¡¯s a little bit inferior for the countess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite difficult to get a good aristocratic family to match because of her lacking social status and birth scandal,¡± Kaiden replied with a voice as he was unwilling to answer. No matter how hard he tried to hide her from Daniel, it was a matter of a national marriage. He couldn¡¯t tell him a lie, even if he wanted to keep his mouth shut. ¡°It¡¯s been three days since she moved in,¡± Daniel pointed out. ¡°Well, in cases of all noble families in this country, it¡¯s all political marriage.¡± Considering her idea of political marriage, she was likely to marry a man who probably did not refuse the idea itself but actually lacked in many ways. As soon as the engagement was concluded, Iark quit the diplomatic service. The purpose of the man marrying the daughter of a high-ranking aristocrat whom he did not know very well was clear. And there was a high possibility that a woman who insists she would never quit her agency not come to terms with an arranged marriage. ¡°Just¡­ she hated getting married and living like a ¡°plant¡± in a noble society, bearing the name of Esselburn.¡± It was a fact that Anriq knew, and so did he. At the end of her ¡®another¡¯ life, she couldn¡¯t throw her dagger, and when he saw her trembling in the gym, the deepest part of his heart felt like it was being squeezed. Was she such a useless person that she needed to go back to the life she hated so much? *** Daniel visited the Judicial Affairs Bureau office to see her. She was wearing a uniform and bowed her head like the people that gathered in a crowd before him. Her purple eyes trembled uneasily. He just wanted to talk to her. ¡°Excuse me for the first time. You must have been very surprised.¡± He led her, who was actually quite panicked, out into the garden. She was showing the energy of unhappiness all over her body. She was calm and quiet, but the aura she evoked was something. ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± There was the first thing she said to him. His heart began to beat. Obviously, the person in front of him was different, but his senses, which had always remembered the woman she loved, were alive. He didn¡¯t know what expression to make at times like this, so he had no choice but to show his usual robotic smile that he used to others. He didn¡¯t know what to say, so he had no choice but to ask questions he was most concerned about. It was about her engagement. ¡°I just woke up and they told me that he was my fianc¨¦e¡­ We don¡¯t know each other very well yet.¡± She told him. He stared at her quietly. He felt as if his anxiety, which he had been pretending not to feel, disappeared. It was because his heart was burning at the thought of the bitter chance that she liked her fianc¨¦e and that she wanted to get married soon. She would have no idea how nervous he was until he asked about her engagement and how restless he came here. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re okay marrying anyone.¡± Eve had said that she could make love without actually being in love. He wondered if there was a man that meant so much to her. She answered him calmly. ¡°Since I was born in a noble family, I can¡¯t help but be married to someone whom they have chosen.¡± ¡°If you went through college and work as an employee of an affiliated organization, you could have complained,¡± Daniel said. ¡°There are things you can¡¯t enjoy because you are a noble.¡± It is her. With a brief conversation, Daniel was completely convinced that Iveca is Eve Jean. This consistent thought, a resigned tone, a bitter belief in herself. It was exactly the same atmosphere as when Eve had told him about the aristocratic political situation. ¡°You must fulfill your duty and destiny that have been given since birth.¡± He stared at her purple eyes. He had found his love. He could tell just by feeling. He knew that it didn¡¯t actually make sense, but he lived and would live for this moment. But she didn¡¯t remember him. She didn¡¯t remember any of the blinding streets of Amenity that they walked hand in hand, how cute the awkward voice she used to call Daniel, and how happy they were as they held so many conversations over the afternoon tea time. CH 62.1 The Reason for Marriage - Chapter 62.1 - Sweet Escape 4-5 minutes Daniel was the only one left with the memory of the night when they each consoled each other, swept away tears, and shared pleasure¡ªpleasure that made him lose his senses and rationality completely¡ªwhen they couldn¡¯t control their own excitement. They hid the longings of their hearts every day in between tea times, and it was more painful that they could barely meet in a month or more. As Daniel and Iveca faced each other in this sunny garden, Daniel was trembling on his own. He held himself as he stifled the urge to scream at her about how could she be so cruel. All kinds of storms raged in his mind. The memories of being alone made him terribly lonely. She, who was making him so desperate, was making him lonelier than anyone else. He thought he could always look at her like this, but she bowed her head in discomfort. ¡°Well, then¡­¡± It was a rare, very impulsive decision in his life. He had waited too long, and he needed her so desperately. ¡°Why don¡¯t you marry me?¡± In fact, he didn¡¯t even think about proposing. He just wanted to see her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it similar to your fianc¨¦e from the Telsy family that you don¡¯t know well since I am also a King that you don¡¯t know well either?¡± Rather than marrying a fianc¨¦e who doesn¡¯t love you, would you rather stay with me? I would give you everything you want. I would do everything to make sure you smile and won¡¯t look so unhappy again. ¡°Why me¡­¡± asked Iveca, obviously bewildered. ¡°Ask Count Esselburn why. I¡¯m sure he knows enough.¡± The rumor that Daniel would marry a neutral aristocrat was all over the place. There was no reason to refuse this marriage as Count Esselburn was in an unfortunate position because of the Duke of Muelton. The four years that have been erased from her¡­ Her family, her friends, her colleagues, her self-esteem, her work¡­ Daniel promised to give her everything; she wouldn¡¯t have to spend her days with such a gloomy disposition as if she had given up all her cares in the world. He would pave the way for her so she could spread her wings again and live a meaningful life. On this dark road where you left me behind, he would do anything for her happiness. ¡°I¡­ like to do something that I am the only one who can do it. If I can engrave my name on something, I can proudly leave a legacy.¡± ¡°If there is anything I personally want from you, I don¡¯t want you to quit the Judicial Affairs Bureau,¡± Daniel said as he recalled some thoughts Eve had shared with him. He knew what she would do well; she had showed him the path already. ¡°Still, on the idea that the law is above the leader, so a leader cannot make a big mistake, personally, I find it inhuman and fair at the same time to put an inanimate thing on top of all humankind.¡± She didn¡¯t have to worry about the things she could do or accomplish, nor to be able to do something revolutionary that she would be proud of as Eve or Queen¡­ Daniel only thought of getting old together with her, playing line ball. The desire to never miss her again in his entire life was so persistent and monstrous that he was forced to propose in an urge as he stared at her depressed face, but he was trying to be calm about it. He tried to deny it, but he couldn¡¯t fool himself. He always tried not to be conscious because he knew he had to be considerate of her, but it was actually a path that he had been thinking about for a long time. ¡°Just try to erase your memory. I¡¯ll make you a Queen no matter what.¡± He wasn¡¯t originally a good and gentle person. His greed and longing could not contain his selfish calculations¡ªto the point where he loathed himself for his unchanging desire and ceaseless rationalization. ¡°A few secrets that I only know¡­ A few lies that are too easy for me¡­ I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Daniel was prepared to do everything for her to save her from her misery, but he did not know that it was also his desire and selfishness. Stay with me. Stay with me. Don¡¯t leave me alone. Don¡¯t go anywhere. Ever since she held his hand first in Lake Menata, he has always needed her. CH 62.2 The Reason for Marriage - Chapter 62.2 - Sweet Escape 5-6 minutes Looking at the detailed report that Kayden brought, he was absolutely convinced. Everything fit like a puzzle. High school gaps, early admission with 4 years age difference, and her family background. ¡°Eve Jean, a confident and competent investigative officer you love¡­ she¡¯s not real. As I said before, I was originally a gloomy and depressed person. Now that I¡¯m not useful anymore, I¡¯m already returned to the old days. I have low self-esteem and have no self-confidence.¡± Not knowing how far he knew, Kayden continued to look sour. He had no choice but to be wary of Daniel. He had already told him that there was no Eve Jean, and certainly, he was right. She was a different person. ¡°The whereabouts of the woman I personally asked for?¡± Daniel had asked the Bureau of Investigation for the last time just before Iveca was greeted as Queen. Perhaps if all his guesses were correct, it was obvious that Kayden would rather keep Eve¡¯s secret than his friendship with him. ¡°I¡¯m looking for it,¡± replied Kayden. His answer was short and concise, and even seemed rather insincere. ¡°It¡¯s strange that you still haven¡¯t found it,¡± retorted Daniel. ¡°¡­I will give you advice off the topic. If all goes according to the plan, you will soon meet the Queen. She hasn¡¯t eaten yet, and there are no fuss at all with the arrangements. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to forget about the other person for now?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Is that where the Bureau of Investigation stand for now? They couldn¡¯t stop him for making Iveca as a Queen, but he couldn¡¯t associate her with Eve¡­ Their distrust of Daniel was buried in Kayden¡¯s blunt words. They seemed to be worried about how far he knew and what he was thinking. ¡°There will be no other woman except for the Queen. They already caused an uproar with my ancestors, imagine the same thing happening to my generation. Terrifying.¡± ¡°Then why are you still looking for her?¡± Kayden asked, his tone blatantly sarcastic and unapologetic. Daniel stared at him. If Kayden had told him the truth at that time, would Daniel have been able to tell the truth too? But he knew that he had to do it all by himself if he wanted to keep her by his side. *** Daniel had never imagined that Anriq would be her first love. A corner of his chest tightened as he recalled her describe her childhood in front of him. At that time, that ¡°one thing¡± of her that she lightly passed on was Anriq. Daniel sighed and shook his head. He was just a little perplexed, but nothing of his original intention has changed. Her position as Queen didn¡¯t actually mean much. He had already confirmed that she had indeed loved him. If he heard it once, he would be able to hear it twice. The thought that he could give her all his love so that she wouldn¡¯t, even for a splitting second, think in fear that she might be a nuisance to him, allowed him to bury his jealousy in his heart. Now that he could have her by his side for the rest of his life, he was fine with anything. So he married her, who doesn¡¯t remember anything about him. To be honest with her, he didn¡¯t want her to do anything after he seated her in the palace and surrounded her with all the good things. The thought of her returning alive from the war alone made him frantically anxious, and he was so anxious that he suddenly felt dried in his mouth when he remembered that she had already disappeared one day. He wanted to make sure with his own eyes that somehow he was by her side, even in the midst of his hectic and frenzy schedule. No matter how many times he told her that it was okay to just be the way she was, if he stayed by his side, she could be whatever she wanted, the urge of wanting to prove her usefulness over and over again was no difference from back then. She couldn¡¯t be happy by him side if he didn¡¯t solve the issue. He knew her well, so he eventually asked her to make the law. Frankly speaking, it was something that she could do well, and although her identity and background were actually helpful¡­ Daniel didn¡¯t really want to put her in this position. The Monarchy in Daniel¡¯s opinion could have been implemented in other ways anyway. It was obvious that she would be exposed to dangers in the process. But he had to do it. No one else knew, but he knew her all too well. What kind of expression would she make if Daniel told her that they had actually met, that he loved her so much that he couldn¡¯t live without her by his side, and that she came to him like fate one day and taught him love, consideration, and suffering. Perhaps she would be careful not to say a word, fearing that he would be disappointed because she was not who she was at that time. Now she was too vigilant and had low self-esteem. If he had recklessly brought up his former lover, she would have been in pain like a crumpled cat. So, he decided to hide the story of ¡®Eve Jean¡¯. Besides, he didn¡¯t like her only because she threw her dagger so well, or because she looked cute, or her bold way of speaking. Well, those things may have influenced his first crush. But now it was all irrelevant. Because he loves Iveca. CH 63.1 ¡°Well¡­ it seems like love that didn¡¯t have any meaning at all.¡± Everything she said was right. ¡°I guess it meant nothing at all. Even if it is something that no one can understand.¡± Even if no one understood¡­ he loved her. It wasn¡¯t like he loved her for a reason. It was the first time he had such a blind feeling. All of his emotions and actions have been overflowing with logical reasoning, but looking at her, he couldn¡¯t think of anything that mattered when it came to her. Rather, he thought it was fortunate that she could share her weak and dark past with him where he would be able to comfort her through all the times she had to overcome by herself. He would make her happy. Sitting on the queen¡¯s seat would put her in dangerous and difficult situations, but Daniel was certain that it would bring Iveca happiness. Like Queen Eve, who has made tremendous reforms, Iveca would also go down in Amethan history. And like King Carl, his greatest achievement would be to discover her. ¡°Because of the way I¡¯m dressed¡­. I can¡¯t show you everything, but¡­¡± One day in the gym, she pulled two daggers out of the sorted weapons and threw them without hesitation. A small dagger was pierced into the center of the target, one after another. Right here, she trembled, saying she couldn¡¯t throw any more daggers. He felt like his heart was breaking as he looked at her dagger that couldn¡¯t leave her hand. Forgetting all the trauma, she was smiling at him as brightly as before. He felt a little sad, recalling the memories he had alone. He was a King who had no enthusiasm in the first place, and he had never thought deeply about becoming a King since he was young. To be honest, he had only one real goal. For her to grow old peacefully and play line ball together, without getting caught up in the horrors of war again. He was a selfish King who thought only about Iveca to the bone¡ªthat her life flowed beautifully and peacefully by his side. Paradoxically, that¡¯s why it was Iveca, not him, who really had to change this era. *** It was only natural for him to be alone, loneliness was something that he had to accept. But she shouldn¡¯t feel that way. He did his best for her. Of course, when she looked at him with distrust, his stomach turned when she still talked about her ¡°utility¡± in a timed manner. It was not anger, it was sadness. If only she could remember him. If they could talk about those times they spent together. He wouldn¡¯t have to have her by his side with this one-sided feeling. There were things that she could see after it was all over. There were words that could only be said over time. There were so many memories he wanted to share with her. There were so many things he couldn¡¯t say. He had heard that Lake Menata was so beautiful, but that day, when they walked hand in hand, she was prettier than the sunset reflected in the waves¡­ That afternoon when she brought her report, he was so excited to prepare some tea and food¡­ Now that he thought about it, it was clear that they liked each other in the conversations that they had. And he was so touched that she was throwing her dagger again¡­ There was nothing that he was desperate for, but with a lot of things to say, he had to be wary of her surroundings. He knew better than anyone else that she was constantly in danger as she listed the Great Constitution, and he couldn¡¯t believe anything that surrounded her. That included the Bureau of Investigation, which rights have been drastically reduced because of the Constitution. He wasn¡¯t sure if the Bureau of Investigation would still keep her as a colleague. It was inevitable for him to not assign Anriq, who had the best skills among all guards, to her. He had to remember her alone, protect her alone, and love her alone. ¡°I think I get lonely when I love people by myself.¡± Inevitably, he had no choice but to be lonely, because the memories he embraced were his. He had to express only some parts of his heart without telling the truth because he was afraid that she would suffer now. The anguish and loneliness that only he knew, the frustration and sadness of his heart that he couldn¡¯t convey, the sudden surge of injustice and the endlessly pouring thoughts¡­ When he looked at her sleeping in his arms, he felt as if his chest tightened. Anriq had called her Eve. The name ¡°Eve Jean¡± must have been coined for her memory with him. He couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t want to call her Eve ever again. If it¡¯s not love, I would let her leave me and let myself alone. Daniel was never a stranger to loneliness, and all things similar to that. It was natural for him. So for a very long time, it was okay to be alone with just the two of them like this. It was an endless wait anyway. CH 63.2 Mana was disappearing, and the ancient magic of Queen Eve would also be lifted. The Bureau of Investigation had sent a report that it was expected to be 30 years. Of course, it was just a prediction, and it could have taken 40 or 50 years. It was a first-time occurrence. Since she was attacked, he went to the Judicial Affairs Bureau to pick her up every day. He was very busy. The road from the palace to the Judicial Affair Bureau was quite long, and he had to walk the long, long road by himself in time for her arrival. ¡°Your Highness, how could you get this far¡­¡± There was still a long way to go before she could find her memory and he could tell the whole story. ¡°I came out early to see you sooner. It¡¯s hard to wait.¡± He could wait for so long, alone, until she found her memory and remember her love. But¡­ He wanted to be with her a little sooner. ¡°Still, you must have had a long way walking alone¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t know if the days when he had to wait with all these memories alone would be 30, 40, or 50 years¡­ ¡°It didn¡¯t matter.¡± It didn¡¯t matter. ¡°When we come here, we come together, but when you pick me up, you walk alone. It is such a one-sided thing¡­ How lonely you would be¡­¡± He felt it every day that he was fine to be the loneliest for the person he loved the most. It was all okay because he loved her. ¡°On my way to the Judicial Affair Bureau, I was not lonely at all thinking of the story to tell Iveca on the way back. I¡¯m sure that we¡¯ll walk this road together again.¡± A long time later, when she remembers everything¡­ Then there would be a lot of stories to tell. There were so many things he hadn¡¯t told her yet. From their first meeting to their marriage. He would tell her all about his heart, how he always kept her by his side, what he was thinking, and the fact that he was always waiting for her. Eventually, she would whine at him as he made her his Queen, but she would laugh brazenly that she was better off than marrying the fallen nobleman of the Telsy family and quitting her affiliation job. If she were angry, he would beg until she was satisfied, and if she was embarrassed, he would hold her until she was even more embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s actually nice to meet you.¡± Fortunately, she liked to meet him. ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt on the way, don¡¯t get lost or go somewhere unfamiliar, and¡­¡± She would come to him after some time after all, but Daniel could always wait¡­ He didn¡¯t want her to be with a strange person and get hurt, or even have a hard time. ¡°Please don¡¯t go anywhere else.¡± She couldn¡¯t go anywhere he couldn¡¯t reach forever. She always said the present without thinking, but he remembered everything. All the time he looked into her eyes and thought of his own past and distant future. ¡°Thank you Iveca.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Thank you for saying that you liked it. You have to remember it.¡± If she was complaining later, or if she was being sad about it, it was just that he had been waiting for her for 30 years¡­ He would hang on her again, saying that she liked it before as an excuse. She had asked him the reason for this marriage from the beginning. After all that time, he would be able to answer honestly. The only reason for this marriage was that he loved her so much that he couldn¡¯t stand it if he didn¡¯t have her around no matter when, no matter what she looked like. *** He didn¡¯t know how she knew Eve Jean. He had no idea what she was thinking when she knew the name. She even thought that he had another woman in his heart when he treated her so warmly¡­ She really thought he was using her. He felt like he was hit on the head. He didn¡¯t know she was the type to hide something this much and hurt herself so much. How deceptive it was for a person to know someone. He was confident that he knew her better than anyone else. So he finally found her, but he had no idea that she was rotting inside. ¡°I love you, Your Majesty. I mean it, sincerely.¡± Although her appearance had changed differently, her unexpected calm, and confident confession had not changed. ¡°So I just wanted to be with someone who loved another woman. Even if I feel rotten inside, and my soul is ruined.¡± Maybe¡­ He was actually afraid that they didn¡¯t know each other anymore, so that was why they were suffering from the wounds the love inevitably gave. ¡°Call me Eve, Your Majesty.¡± CH 64.1 At those words, Daniel felt his tears welling up. It felt like the castle he built alone collapsed, and the times he had endured alone burst out uncontrollably. It has been a long time ago during his younger days he ever felt that way. How could he call her Eve? And now I didn¡¯t even want to call her by that name anymore. It¡¯s the truth that he hid so that she didn¡¯t suffer, so that she didn¡¯t feel intimidated, and not struggle¡­ but maybe it was related to the Bureau of Investigation, so he thought it would be best to hide it. Even in this situation, he could help but say nothing. ¡®Affection is inertia, innocence is self-deception, lust is illusion.¡¯ Because to him, his love is only her, his true self is only for her, and his lust is only her. Nothing could replace it, just her. So he began talking of all the stories that he wanted to tell her. *** Lucas and Daniel had a strange relationship. They recognized each other¡¯s expertise and abilities, but they also never trusted each other. It was the assassination of Rihan Kadmin that brought distrust to the surface. Even after that, they did not bump into each other directly, but they were constantly conscious of each other with Iveca in between, so it was the same as continuing an invisible war of nerves. So they met on the way to the Queen¡¯s Palace and were awkwardly courteous to each other. It was almost the first time the two met on the street rather somewhere with an audience. ¡°Are you invited for a teatime, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe we¡¯re the ones who were invited to the first-ever teatime that Iveca¡¯s hosted.¡± This was the first time Iveca officially sent an invitation to hold a tea session. They walked side by side at a reasonable distance. It was Lucas who broke the awkward silence first. ¡°The staff that I had attached to you seemed to have made inappropriate remarks and actions. Both were suspended for three months and placed on probation for exposing secrets under the influence of personal feelings. We¡¯re discussing an additional six-month pay cut.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it contradictory to punish Iveca for having her close colleagues attached to her from the beginning and being swayed by her personal feelings?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°But they wanted it so badly¡­¡± ¡°In my personal opinion, there¡¯s no need to cut salary by six months,¡± Daniel said with a gentle smile, ¡°anyways, they also need to be credited for protecting Iveca from the threat of assassination.¡± ¡°I will consider it.¡± ¡°And one more.¡± Lucas knew that when Daniel showed his gentle smile like that, he would express his tough opinion. With the Queen¡¯s Palace already in front of them, Daniel spoke kindly. ¡°Now, stop telling lies in front of Iveca. After all, Iveca would dig In through the cracks and eventually find out the truth.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°No matter what the Bureau of Investigation has in mind, let¡¯s not make Iveca suffer any longer. It¡¯s really hard to fool Iveca, and whether it¡¯s good or not, it seems she is the one getting hurt in the process.¡± ¡°I will obey the King¡¯s command.¡± The two, who had properly agreed upon entering, walked in side by side after that in silence. *** ¡°Oh, you two came together,¡± Iveca said as she stood up with a smile on her face. She had been nervously waiting for the two of them. ¡°We met earlier on the way here.¡± ¡°Please, sit over here.¡± Looking at the two men sitting next to each other in front of her, Iveca placed down her tea and gave her a brief overview. However, the awkward atmosphere did not dissipate. Lucas and Daniel have worked together on numerous issues and fully respected their respective areas. Yet now, they look quite uncomfortable with each other, so Iveca was a little embarrassed. In the end, she sighed a little and said calmly, deciding to get the point quickly. ¡°We¡¯re here because I think I need to clear up some misunderstanding.¡± She paused for a moment and explained quietly. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t remember anything¡­ But if I put together the stories I heard from His Majesty and the Bureau of Investigation staff, I get a picture to some extent. But if there is a misunderstanding, it inevitably creates discomfort. It seems to me that between me and His Majesty, also I and the Bureau of Investigation were all having a different story in mind.¡± ¡°Iveca.¡± Daniel spoke with an elegant smile. ¡°To be honest, I want to be careful of anyone when it comes to your safety. How do you trust the Bureau of Investigation? They might get rid of you because they are afraid that you will reveal secrets or maybe because you are trying to reduce the authority of the Bureau of Investigation.¡± CH 64.2 ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Lucas answered with a cough. He was surprised to see Daniel, who usually doesn¡¯t show his feelings and thoughts, making it so obvious. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you too. I think it¡¯s us who are more concerned about the Queen¡¯s safety. How can we believe His Majesty? Of course, I can understand the big picture of the country you two are drawing, but it didn¡¯t help you with your safety.¡± However, thinking that the obvious logic makes much more sense than the kindness that other the party offers, Lucas continued as if he could not lose. ¡°And we¡­ we judged that His Majesty is not someone who truly loves and cares for anyone. Especially if the target is a Queen who has sufficient availability.¡± ¡°¡­Lucas.¡± ¡°I was just talking about the outcome of the Bureau of Investigation. Oh, I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s comforting or not, but Kayden Ruth disagreed,¡± said Lucas. ¡°Who on earth agreed with such nonsense?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°¡­.All the rest.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Daniel shook his head as if he were dumbfounded. Iveca laughed unconsciously. That¡¯s what everyone thought of Daniel. Anriq and Ewil, even herself. He was consistently warm and gentle to Iveca, but it was her who didn¡¯t really believe it. But last night, Iveca saw his tears. After finishing his story, he hugged her and cried for a long time without a sound. It might be sad that no one recognized such love and purity, but Daniel seemed more concerned that her heart might be shaken by her own justice. ¡°We thought that if you were genuinely concerned about her safety, you should make a request to the Bureau of Investigation first,¡± spoke Lucas. ¡°¡­.I don¡¯t trust the Bureau of Investigation, how can I make a request? And they said it was true that the first raid was the work of the Bureau of Investigation.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t trust His Majesty, so we created an opportunity to go out on our own. We think that the Bureau of Investigation staff could be attached only when a picture emerges that we rescued the Queen.¡± Iveca sighed and tapped her table briefly to refresh her mood at the conversation that had suddenly become aggressive. ¡°I didn¡¯t call you two to run parallel lines. I¡¯m just trying to clear up the misunderstanding.. Have I been patient?¡± The two men who were facing each other at Iveca¡¯s cautious words waved their hands in surprise. ¡°We are clearing up the misunderstanding, Iveca. It¡¯s not a fight.¡± ¡°Queen, we are just talking. It¡¯s okay.¡± Iveca smiled quietly. Everything was due to being wary of each other, and it was the result of each other¡¯s longing to protect Iveca. ¡°By the way¡­ Well¡­ I am actually not ¡°Eve Jean¡±, anyway.¡± Daniel and Lucas¡¯ expressions hardened as she grabbed the teacup and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m no longer needed by the Bureau of Investigation, and I don¡¯t remember being with you, so why do you guys have to protect me?¡± ¡°Queen.¡± Lucas looked at her with a smile. ¡°¡¯Jean¡¯ in ¡®Eve Jean¡¯ is my surname. At that time, it was just a surname that I gave to you without much thought. I could not give favor to anyone as a Director, but to me, the Queen was like my own daughter.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Daniel leaned back disapprovingly and muttered. ¡°You sent a daughter-like employee to the battlefield alone.¡± ¡°It was in a similar direction to the announcement of the Grand Constitution in the name of the beloved Queen.¡± For the first time in his life, Lucas saw Daniel as a young man of his age. In the meantime, he always felt as if he came from a book, mysterious and flawless. However, he was strangely proud of him, who seemed to be falling apart as a human being in front of Iveca. ¡°For a person to cherish another¡­ they don¡¯t need any utility, Queen.¡± Iveca blinked without realizing it. It was what Daniel said every day to herself, who kept saying no. Holding back tears, she nodded hard. Now she was loved for her mere existence. The stability she had never experienced in her life, and her confidence in love and happiness warmly enveloped her body. She always thought she was alone, so she thought she was shabby. But apparently, she wasn¡¯t alone for a long time and she wasn¡¯t aware of it. She was valued so much by the two men who didn¡¯t trust each other. Iveca ended up smiling brightly. The two men, who had never talked to each other properly, were saying things that were somewhat identical to one another that she couldn¡¯t help but accept. ¡°Yes¡­ Thank you, really. Both of you.¡± It would have been very unfortunate if she suddenly became a Queen one day and was protected by the Bureau of Investigation just because she was Eve Jean who has lost her memory. CH 65.1 Iveca really wanted to meet Reina, but she did not see her until the season changed as Reina received her three-month suspension and probation. ¡°It could be a problem when you want to become a director,¡± she said. Reina shrugged her shoulder as it was insignificant to her, as Iveca worried that she might be a major stumbling block to her promotion. ¡°But I have no intention of becoming Sid¡¯s supervisor either. So it¡¯s okay. After all, the head of our generation will be Kayden Ruth. He also has been suspended for three months, but his other achievements are overwhelming. So, I don¡¯t mind it at all.¡± Reina smiled wildly and she made it clear that she didn¡¯t want Iveca to feel uncomfortable with this topic any longer. Even if she turned back the time, she would make the same choice. Their conversation, which had just entered a new phase, continued without the end clear. It was full of things Iveca wanted to ask, words she wanted to hear, and things she wanted to say. ¡°I have a question,¡± Iveca began, tilting her head, ¡°Why did you have to change your appearance then?¡± During her first raid, she wondered why Reina protected her with her pink hair, her first ever-seen face, and not her real face. Reina sighed and clasped her chin. ¡°Even if we had no intention of harming you, it was quite risky for us to attack the Queen. If we make a mistake, the entire Bureau of Investigation could be blown away.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Iveca asked. Reina replied, ¡°The Bureau of Investigation has attacked the Queen¡­ what would everyone think? The Grand Constitution was created because of the Queen, and the Bureau of Investigation was angry, or something like that. All the law enforcement officers said the same thing.¡± She continued slowly, ¡°So it was a very top-secret matter that really shouldn¡¯t be found out. But the more witnesses, the better. Everyone changed their appearance before the words came out. Just in case someone remembers, ¡°Oh, that employee at that time!¡±, so that we didn¡¯t get caught.¡± ¡°The Bureau of Investigation¡­ is very thorough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how desperate it was for us,¡± Raina grinned over coffee, ¡°Protecting the Queen.¡± She used to bring coffee directly from the Bureau of Investigation, saying the tea was not getting better. When Iveca first tasted coffee, she shook her head, saying that it was not her cup of tea. But in the end, she waited for the coffee that Reina brought regularly. ¡°Were you close to me?¡± Iveca asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Reina replied coolly. ¡°We used to talk about this and that. In the midst of my busty schedule, we drank often.¡± Iveca never thought that she would have a same-s*x friend. She didn¡¯t get along well with her sister, and there wasn¡¯t a single aristocrat who get along with her. Even now, her relationship with other ladies was awkward, and she found it difficult to decide on what to converse about with them. ¡°What¡­ did we talk about?¡± she inquired further. ¡°Oh, we talked about everything, but we talked about men a lot too.¡± ¡°Were we talking about men? Were we talking about His Majesty?¡± Looking at Iveca¡¯s round eyes and red cheeks, Reina shrugged as if she were whining. ¡°Once Queen ascended to the throne, do you know how much wary I am of His Majesty? I was so upset¡­.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Comforting you by saying that you are good, talking to you, becoming close to you, and cheering you on¡­ Those things were all natural to us, but you sounded so grateful when he said he would do that for you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I was very worried. I¡¯m afraid His Majesty was coaxing you for the sake of using you. I feel sorry for the Queen who was so innocently moved by that. But now that I think about it. I might have been jealous.¡± Reina continued, ¡°It feels like the time we used to hang out with, and the meaning that it was special to each other, was taken away from us. That¡¯s how it felt.¡± *** ¡°Oh, it was the same for me,¡± Daniel said indifferently. ¡°I was so jealous of your colleagues at the Bureau of Investigation.¡± Iveca held Daniel¡¯s hand and smiled without answering. No matter how busy he was, Daniel still came to meet her. After leaving the Judicial Affair Bureau, His Majesty was always waiting for her in the same spot without a moment¡¯s delay. After being kicked out for having a huge conflict with Iveca, Anriq offered to quit his guard duty and go down to the province. But instead of accepting his resignation, Daniel gave him a long vacation. Daniel didn¡¯t want to let him meet Iveca at all, but it was in consideration that quitting impulsively could be a great regret in his life, as it was a place that he was dreaming about for a long time. Even if Anriq already disappeared, Daniel desperately wanted her to focus on himself and not look elsewhere when walking with her. ¡°So, you don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡± CH 65.2 The cool autumn breeze was nice. Iveca didn¡¯t ask about the ¡®jealousy¡¯. She would know the detail when her memory came back anyway. Those years didn¡¯t seem like much, so it was all good now. ¡°Daniel, I¡­.¡± These days, she started calling his name. It was so awkward at first, but it was because he earnestly asked for it. Now, she could casually look into his blue eyes and whisper his name. ¡°Actually, I wanted to get along well with my sisters. We had tea time, we went to picnics. But now, it doesn¡¯t matter at all. I knew that smiling at the people who loved me and not clinging to the people who made me feel lonely was the way to make up for my weaknesses.¡± Iveca said with a smile. ¡°Even if it was not my sisters, I have nothing to regret now that I have someone who can play tea time and picnic with me, and play line ball when I¡¯m old.¡± It was true that when she first decided to marry him, she wanted to be accepted by the Esselburn family somehow. Maybe her father, her mother, her sisters, would like His Majesty¡­ But now that all the expectations were blown away by the meeting, she felt nothing. ¡°To be honest, I really wanted to be loved by my family¡­ I think I¡¯ve overcome it now.¡± It was because she knew that the deficiencies of her unhappy childhood were not a hinder to her happy ending, so she decided to leave it all behind and look at a new future. ¡°Iveca, family reminds me of¡­ I have a favor to ask of you.¡± Daniel smiled and looked her in the eye. ¡°There¡¯s a law that says you have to marry a foreigner unless you¡¯re a royal to the throne.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± In Amethan, there was a law that said that royalty who did not become a King must marry a foreigner because they feared that they would threaten their successors in alliance with internal nobles along with diplomatic issues. This was why Daniel thought during his growth period, ¡°My spouse is a foreigner who doesn¡¯t even know his face anyway.¡± ¡°I always didn¡¯t understand my brothers. Especially the second brother who was trying to take the throne because the woman he loved was Amethan national¡­ Did he have to go that far? I thought he was crazy because he was blinded by love.¡± He continued, ¡°But after I met you, I understood how he felt¡­ if the other party was Iveca, I would have done more and not less. I¡¯ll kill two of my brothers and sit down on the terrible throne to keep you around.¡± He kissed her lips slightly and went on. ¡°When I get married, I have to marry someone I love. For the sake of our children, why don¡¯t we get rid of the law? It was my sister¡¯s request.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. We¡¯ll have to consider it. Maybe love is also something that royals deserve.¡± Iveca nodded enthusiastically. She was naturally well aware of the tragedy that happened because of the law. Perhaps it used to be a law that was so old that it was quite burdensome to fix, but now Amethan was facing a major reform that would completely upset the national system, so it was not that difficult. But at the mention of ¡°our children¡±, Iveca burst into question she had endured for a long time. ¡°Daniel, but you know what?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°At first¡­ Why did you say you wanted to see the future soon? You know I won¡¯t be pregnant until September.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Daniel looked slightly perplexed. His wife was so observant and had such a good memory that she eventually discovers even the smallest truth. His ears blushed in embarrassment. ¡°¡­Actually, Iveca is my first¡­ we spent the night only once.¡± ¡°Once..?¡± Iveca questioned suspiciously, and Daniel continued with a slight sigh. ¡°Five times to be exact. It¡¯s one time, then counting the number of times I came. I can¡¯t wait to hold you again, but Iveca looks so innocent and I don¡¯t want to look like a beast rushing¡­¡± ¡°Then you lied?¡± ¡°Still, I kept my promise. I couldn¡¯t get my act together that night, and I jumped on like a brat¡­ The next time we had a relationship, Iveca promised me that she¡¯d do what she wanted. I tried desperately to see if you are satisfied or not on your wedding night.¡± Iveca blushed as she recalled the first night he asked if she liked it or not. She was ashamed of the question at the time, but apparently, there was such a reason. ¡°All right.¡± Iveca grinned and smirked. Daniel hold her hand and said with a gentle smile. ¡°After retirement, I¡¯ll be playing line ball near Lake Menata. That¡¯s my dream.¡± ¡°¡­ not my dream?¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s the same dream,¡± Daniel smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s do well together so that our dreams can come true, Iveca.¡± ¡°Yes. Together, let¡¯s do well.¡± Iveca replied brightly. It could have implied a rather heavy subject, but there was no discomfort or anxiety. Because neither she nor her husband was alone anymore.