《My Sweet Deceiver》 Chapter 0 I remember you, who was my duty. A day at the hut goes by slowly. But it¡¯s not always the same. Did you know that even the same sky has a slightly different shape every day? There are also many birds that I do not know their name in the forest. Wouldn¡¯t it be great if I could call out their names? Birds communicate in a way that only they can. On some days, they chirp as if they are chatting, and on other days, they are noisy as if they are having a fierce discussion. How great would it be if I could understand their conversations? At the academy, I learned philosophy, mathematics, and speech, but not the language of birds. So, as you say, I¡¯m stupid. Do you know this? The weather here is awful. It¡¯s getting harder and harder to get out of bed. But in the forest, you have to be diligent to survive the winter. At dawn, I wake up from my bed, and it happens even though no one is waking me up. Of course, it is more difficult to not wake up when birds start crying while feeding around that time. A few days ago, I put a trough in front of the hut for the birds in the forest. I put the oats and barley that I got, and it felt like the birds really liked it. Do you like stories like this? I still don¡¯t know you. I wanted to read the countless stories in your eyes. Things like your past and future that I don¡¯t know. I even dreamed that I was drowning in the shade of a tree reflected in your eyes. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks I knew it was a dream, but I didn¡¯t want to wake up. Maybe we were different species. Like swallows and thrushes. Even if I had stayed up countless nights, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to cry. I remember you, who was my duty. Being in the forest inevitably reminds me of you. A few days ago, it snowed heavily, and the snow that had piled up to my knees still hasn¡¯t melted. I thought of you as I was clearing the snow in front of the hut. It¡¯s just a lonely house under the grey sky and in the snowy forest, but I hold you in my thoughts every moment. There was a birch tree. Without any leaves. Birch trees with dry branches stretched out as if supporting the forest. I remember being with you in the birch grove in the summer. There was a birch grove in your place, and the summer greens were in it. How did you feel when you were with me? Were you a little happy? I asked for a reply to my letter that I couldn¡¯t even send. This question will remain unanswered forever. I¡¯ll think as I always have been. Because you ignored me no matter what I did. I believe you will do that again this time. Looking out the window, it is snowing again. Have you ever heard the sound of snow falling? When I¡¯m alone in the forest, it feels silent, as if I¡¯m alone in the whole world. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only When that happens, I stay up all night with an empty wine glass in front of me. In a hut that no one is looking for me, I will endure it as I ponder each day. Remembering you, who was my duty, (To be continued¡­) Chapter 1 ¡°Remy Avery left for Amiens. He cannot enter the capital alive.¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s okay to just go out.¡± To the aide¡¯s report, the man replied sternly. The man picked up a small box lying on the desk, pulled out a cigar, and asked. Soon, the strong scent of cigars filled the room. The side face of the man smoking a cigar looked full of trouble. However, even that appearance was reflected artistically. A statue sculpted by Lellania. It was a nickname for Denis Grammoir. The first prince of the Valloise Kingdom and the undisputed crown prince. He was famous for many things, such as his excellent eloquence, sense of humour, and eyes on the situation, but what was most notable was his appearance. An appearance made by Lellania, the goddess of beauty. Blueish black hair with good texture and green eyes that sometimes look blue and sometimes refreshing depending on the light. Stephen Apollinaire, a romantic poet of Valloise, admired his beauty and even wrote a poem worshipping him. ¡®A statue sculpted by Lellania¡¯ is a phrase from his poem. The poem begins with ¡®A shining beauty¡¯ and ends with ¡®The treasure of Valloise¡¯ disgusted Denis, who was the subject of the poem, as it was written like horse dung on the side of the road ¨C in his opinion. However, even if his opinion about the poem was negative, the poetry book was sold like hotcakes in the market. It was because of the fact that an illustration depicting him was published along with the poem. It was a crude illustration, about the size of a palm, but the women of Valloise carried it in their hearts. So if anyone sees the beauty, how can they not turn around? He had such a look that they couldn¡¯t help but glance at him, even if they didn¡¯t dare look straight at him. Denis, who had been contemplating for a while, striking the desk with his fingertips, quickly put out a cigar, put out the fire, and began to focus on the papers piled up in front of him again. The crunching sound of the pen rubbing against the paper did not stop for a long time. As time passed, Denis rubbed the nape of his neck, took off his glasses and placed them on the desk. He tilted his head to the back of the chair and glanced at the wall clock. ¡®Between one o¡¯clock and two o¡¯clock.¡¯ It was pretty late. He realized that it was late at night. After arranging all the processed documents neatly on one side of the desk, he left the office where he had been staying all day. The hallway was dark. Authority was evident in the straight gait without any disturbance. The moment he left the office, his destination had been decided from the beginning. It is a haven that allows him to sleep comfortably, and at the same time, a place where the cause of his insomnia stays. ¡°You don¡¯t even knock anymore, Prince.¡± When he opened the door, he heard a woman¡¯s voice. The woman, the owner of her room, was spinning a glass of wine in her hand. As if she knew who the guest was this night, she didn¡¯t even look at the side where he was standing. ¡°Knock knock.¡± Denis¡¯ knocked¡¯ with his mouth and gave her a charming smile that anyone would fall for. But still, she was looking out of the window, holding a glass of wine, as if she was gazing at something in the garden. The moonlight was full outside the small terrace window. It was a full moon. Curtains waving with the wind and swaying like waves. Every time the curtains swayed along with the tune of the wind, the scent of the night flowed in. The scent of grass and breeze that can only be smelled in the deep dawn and night. He sat down across from the woman. ¡°Because the night view from my wife¡¯s room is the best in the palace.¡± His manners were arrogant, but the way he sat there seemed indescribably comfortable. ¡°And this is how you are waiting for me to come.¡± He winked. There was an empty wine glass on the table in front of where he was sitting. He picked up the wine and read the label. ¡°Chateau Mouton LaRoute¡± He put down the bottle of wine and grinned. It was a playful expression. ¡°Your taste became like an old man. It¡¯s something the Duke of Taiper would like.¡± ¡°It was a gift he gave me at my birthday banquet. People who don¡¯t know the true taste of LaRoute, which is deep and mysterious, cannot be said to know wine.¡± The woman snapped as if she were saying something obvious, and then brought her wine glass to her mouth. ¡°Yes. I do not know.¡± He readily agreed. The woman lifted one eyebrow for a while and put it down, perhaps because his consent was unexpected. For a while, she drank wine, savouring it as if there was no one in front of her. The man sat down and looked at the woman until she emptied the wine glass, and he without taking a sip. ¡°But why are you not asking anything?¡± He asked as the woman picked up the bottle of wine again. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The woman looked at Denis properly for the first time. ¡°Remy Avery. Aren¡¯t you mad that I put him away? I heard no reviews from you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Denis waited for an answer from her mouth. ¡°I stay in this palace all day long. What do I know? And I don¡¯t have any sort of affiliation with Count Avery.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Denis snorted at her answer. ¡°Didn¡¯t you sit still and deal with the other candidates when you were nominated for the Princess? Amelie with a scandal and Hashelle with death, wasn¡¯t Remy Avery for doing those dirty things? Am I wrong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You must have learned from that filthy noble, the Marquis of Ingeliger. So, you must have become a princess.¡± He said sarcastically. But the woman looked at Denis with a face that was not at all disturbed by his words. Denis hated the woman¡¯s blank expression. If only he could break that mask she was wearing. ¡°My wife is really outstanding. Attitude, manners, and lies. Yes?¡± Denis deliberately pulled out a thorn that she could react to and stabbed her with it. Her forehead slightly frowned at the word ¡°Lies¡±, but she soon returned with a cold expression on her face again. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more I can tell you. My family and I have never harmed the lady.¡± ¡°You never did¡­¡± Denis was about to laugh at the woman¡¯s lies. It was already after he confirmed that Amelie¡¯s scandal had begun from Remy Avery. And the evidence that Remy Avery often met the woman in front of him. The woman staggered slightly and stood up from her seat. There was no emotion to be found on her cold face. She spoke her words sternly, looking at Denis. ¡°¡­I have a headache. It would be better if you just leave, Prince.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°To the Prince¡¯s bedroom. It is already too late.¡± ¡°My bedroom?¡± Denis asked her as if it was the word he had heard for the first time in his life. ¡°Tehez Ingeliger.¡± He stood up, calling out Tehez¡¯s name. There was an unpleasant noise from the chair scratching against the floor. The eye-level changed. Denis, who was looking up at her, now stared down at her. A streak of night breeze blew between them as their eyes met. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. Isn¡¯t that the same for my wife?¡± He took one step closer to her. Denis, who stood in front of Tehez without a moment¡¯s notice, looked down at her and whispered sweetly. ¡°So the wife has to help her husband fall asleep. Is not it?¡± Denis stroked her hair and tucked it carefully behind her ear. The woman¡¯s hair was like a thin thread, and with the slightest friction, it would create static and splatter. Patting her hair. She knew very well what sign it was¡­ ¡°Tehez, make me sleep.¡± At the end of those words, the woman was held in the arms of the man as if it were a set procedure. She saw sweat dripping from the man¡¯s forehead, running down his temple and onto the woman lying below. The man¡¯s shirt was hanging randomly at the bedpost, and the woman¡¯s pyjamas were curled up on the floor. Even if she was a woman with no expression, she did not hide her expression at this moment. The fact made him satisfied. He had a satisfied smile on his lips. Tehez, lying down below, was having a hard time. Pain and pleasure repeatedly flooded in and disappeared like ebb and flow. Her confused hand kept slipping down, wandering without knowing what to do. ¡°Hold it here.¡± Denis clasped Tehez¡¯s hands and wrapped them around the back of his neck. Every part of his body looked ferocious. The man¡¯s thighs, broad shoulders, and a chest woven with muscles as thick as her waist. He had a body that was hard enough that even a single finger wouldn¡¯t go through it. She looked down at Denis¡¯ chest. A tattoo was engraved on the left chest, behind it his heart. An inscription engraved with a picture of Nate, the official religion of Valloise. ¡°God is watching.¡± Tehez put her hand on his tattoo. She could clearly feel his heart beating under her skin. His heart was beating fast, perhaps because of excitement. She snarled, clutching his left chest tightly. ¡°You don¡¯t even believe in God. Who would imagine that there¡¯s a tattoo on the Prince¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Even if I look like this, I¡¯m a pretty faithful believer.¡± After saying those words, he lowered his eyes and even looked virtuous at first glance. Soon, his face was smirking and looked disgusting. But she couldn¡¯t really hate him. ¡°And people can¡¯t imagine it, so you can do it, right?¡± He pulled her waist again. Tehez swallowed the scream and laughed like a man. ¡°You¡¯re a liar, Prince.¡± ¡°Praise, thank you. Perhaps because I heard it from an authority in the field, I feel different.¡± Tehez did not wake up until late in the morning. There was no place that didn¡¯t hurt. When she came to her senses after washing her face, the customer who arrived at dawn had already disappeared. She tried to sweep the place where she lay down with her hand. She didn¡¯t feel any warmth at all. ¡®Last night you didn¡¯t sleep a wink.¡¯ Tehez shook her head. Denis suffered from severe insomnia. Only the three of them knew of this: palace, his aide and her. He had mild insomnia from an early age, but his symptoms worsened after the behind-the-scenes war intensified due to the succession of the throne with Fabrice, the second prince. It was not uncommon to not be able to sleep for one day, and if he could not sleep for three or four days, it was to the point that he had to get some sleep. Although not as much as Denis, Tehez also suffered from insomnia. She was very nervous, so if there was anything that bothered her even a little, she would toss and turn and eventually stay up all night. Yesterday too, if he had not come, she would have stayed up all night like any other day. Remy Avery. The second son of Count Avery. As Denis said, he was the one that Tehez used like an ally. Then he got caught up in fraud. Of course, Remy Avery didn¡¯t actually commit a crime. However, just because Remy worked with Tehez, Denis set him up as an example. To show Tehez. That must have been the reason. A warning not to steer clear of his own affairs, but that didn¡¯t stop Tehez from taking his hand. Because Denis must become the next king. It must be Ingeliger to put Denis on the throne. Tehez slowly began to organize the to-dos in her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have any plans for this afternoon, but you have an appointment with Jacques Rimi¨¨re in the afternoon tomorrow.¡± A woman who stood in front of Tehez, sitting in the office, finished reporting. ¡°Let¡¯s go out.¡± Tehez said with a coffee cup in one hand and a newspaper in the other. There was no news. A fight in the Newb Shabel region, a few days of rain, new technologies that will be presented at the World Fair, farmers who harvested peaches as large as their palms, and a quarrel at a social club. Tehez enjoyed her coffee. She had heard the advice of the royal court that coffee is not suitable for insomnia. Nevertheless, there was nothing like coffee as a way to clearly awaken the mind. Tehez put down the newspaper and stared blankly out the window. As the guest who came last night said, the view outside her room was breathtaking. Her bedroom, with a beautiful view, was on the same floor as her office. A view of the palace garden soaked in the water from the morning dew came into view. Gardeners were pruning geometrically formed garden trees. Vivid and green vegetation. She thought that fresh colour resembled the eyes of someone she knew well. An unbeliever, a pessimist, a friendly deceiver. And¡­ someone who hates her. Tehez lifted her sentimental consciousness to subside ashore. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was time for her to get back to work. (To be continued¡­) Chapter 2 *** ¡°Details.¡± Denis tapped his fingertips on the table while listening to the report. It was a report of a fight in a social club published in the newspaper a few days ago. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just a squabble of gentlemen in a social club. The police officer¡¯s investigation is gradually revealing the inside story. This is Prince Fabrice¡¯s s*x scandal. The suspect now identified is Xavier Belmont. Xavier recruited women from secret clubs and s*xually harassed them. And it appears that Prince Fabrice was a member of this gathering.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Denis looked around the room. The man went on to continue. ¡°No, she was found not only s*xually harassed, but also sadistically tortured. Police are investigating, but they are suspicious of a connection to the recent chain of disappearances in the capital.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± Denis said in a voice of no pity. ¡°What proof say that Fabrice belongs to that group?¡± The man spoke with regret. ¡°There is no definite physical evidence yet. However, it is said that Xavier and Prince Fabrice often hung out together. After a detailed investigation, I think they will be able to reveal the link with the Second Prince.¡± After the report, the man stood in front of Denis motionless. Denis was in agony for a moment. ¡®Did my brother give up the throne and finally go crazy? Or is this another trick?¡¯ When he hung out with Fabrice as a child, he wasn¡¯t this bad. He was reckless, but he was never okay with killing people for no reason. In any case, the news brought by this man was a boon to him. ¡°Find proof that Fabrice was part of it. We¡¯ll decide on a response later.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°Oh, and¡­¡± Denis called the man, who was about to turn around and leave. ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°What is my wife doing?¡± ¡°Madam is having a tea party with the ladies in the garden.¡± ¡°Okay. You may leave.¡± The man went out, and the office was enveloped in silence. Denis picked up a cigar. He had a headache. He always had a headache thinking about this and that. But the Fabrice scandal¡­ How far will this go? Will it be a flame big enough to shoot down the wings of the King¡¯s beloved Fabrice? Denis leaned his head back and smoked a cigar. Cigar smoke filled the room before he knew it. It was a bit complicated to explain the relationship between him and his half-brother Fabrice. In a nutshell, they can never get close. But it was funny that they had been hanging out for a while. Denis and Fabrice both had a sense of belonging after losing their mothers when they were young. Denis was the son of the first Queen, Charlize, and Fabrice was the son of the second Queen, Marianne. Queen Charlize, a commoner, was imprisoned three years after Denis was born due to strong opposition from the old nobles. Queen Marianne, a noble Duke¡¯s maiden from the group of the old nobles, subsequently took the seat of Charlize. So, what would you say about Denise¡¯s relationship with Fabrice? However, when Denis was 9 years old, Queen Charlize died of an illness, and Queen Marianne, who came later, closed her eyes while giving birth to Julien, Fabrice¡¯s younger brother, and the situation reversed. As if the two of them were the only two left in the world, they relied on each other and overcame difficult times. However, as time passed, the situation changed. What separated them was the blood that ran through them. As Denis grew older, he resembled Queen Charlize in appearance. Fabrice, on the other hand, had grown to resemble his father, Elliot, over time. Elliot cared more about Fabrice, who looked like him. As if he had become young again. Born as the fifth prince, Elliot, who was struck by the momentum of his older brothers and sisters, and grew up unable to straighten his shoulders for even once, seemed to be living through Fabrice. He generously supported Fabrice in what he wanted to do when he was young but couldn¡¯t. He seemed to be vicariously satisfied. In addition, it was not only for such emotional reasons that his father cared for Fabrice. Even if Fabrice¡¯s mother was not in the world, her family¡¯s influence did not disappear. The Duke of Briem, who still had a strong power, supported him as being Fabrice¡¯s maternal family. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks But Denis had nothing. Now that Queen Charlize, orphaned and born of a commoner, had disappeared, only a few emerging aristocrats had supported him. Denis¡¯ support among the commoners was a little higher. However, the support of the common people was not a condition that had a great influence on his seat on the throne. Conservative aristocrats despised the common blood flowing through his body. No matter how good he was. What is the importance of blood? During his immature puberty, he wanted to get all the dirty blood out of his body, so he made a commotion of self-harm. Of course, it was all in the past. The scar under the tattoo on his left chest was like a flower that reminded him of his bloodline. The time when he was close, like a best friend with Fabrice, though it was only a few years ago, felt like a long time. It would have been nice if they had made a decision sooner, but their father was miffed and did not support either of them. Meanwhile, Fabrice¡¯s relationship with Denis has drifted out of control. Everything would have been resolved if the Second Prince, whom the King cherished, Fabrice, was appointed as the Crown Prince. There was a principle of priority for the firstborn, but it was not a principle that was necessarily followed. Wasn¡¯t Elliot the fifth prince, too? In addition, the Duke of Briem was making a daily request to seal Fabrice as Crown Prince. Denis was at a loss to understand his father¡¯s true intentions. Rather, if his father had crowned Fabrice, Denis would have been able to leave the palace without any regrets. As such pointless time continued, Denis lost even the reason why he should be the King. At first, he just wanted revenge on the nobles who despised him. But the meaning became increasingly obscure, and emptiness seemed to corrode him. It was lethargic and meaningless. Denis pressed down on his temples. If only he could stop thinking. He rose from his chair in frustration and went to the end of his office room. When he opened the closed window slightly, a gust of wind and a high, clear sound of laughter came in through the window. Tehez Ingeliger. Standing on the edge of his room, the corner of the garden caught his eye. He wouldn¡¯t even dream of seeing the garden from this room. He wouldn¡¯t even let a strand of his hair enter the garden if he knew. He could see the round back of her head waving as if woven with gold thread. Beneath the small back of the head was a dazzling water-coloured dress. ¡®My wife must be in a good mood today.¡¯ It looked like she was sitting with people he didn¡¯t know and talking about something pleasant. Her laughter was constantly heard. Denis leaned crookedly against the wall, puffed cigar smoke, and kept looking at her head. The youngest daughter of the Marquis of Ingeliger and the most honourable woman in the Kingdom of Valloise. If his mother, Queen Charlize, was alive, she wouldn¡¯t have the title of the most honourable woman. But it has been more than twenty years since she left the world, and Queen Marianne, who came after her, also succeeded her. Undoubtedly, she must have been the most honourable woman in the Valloise. Noble blood. Denis remembered the word as if he slurped poison. Denis despised the blood-obsessed aristocrats. In addition, Ingeliger did not scatter her innocent blood to maintain the noble blood. His mother, Queen Charlize, was also one of Ingeliger¡¯s victims. Denis¡¯ situation was ridiculous. He had a national marriage with the daughter of a family he despised, and they met every day. Isn¡¯t he the unlucky Prince who didn¡¯t even have the power to refuse an unwanted marriage? When they recommended her, he thought it would be good if it wasn¡¯t an Ingeliger out of the three candidates. Other than that, he didn¡¯t care who took the seat next to him. But Ingeliger seemed to have decided that Denis was interested in another candidate. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have had to deal with it so hastily. Denis was disgusted with his wife¡¯s bloodline again. He was sure that she wasn¡¯t the only one to judge. She must have been surrounded and touched by her father¡¯s breath, the Marquis. Tehez¡¯s father, Marquis Ingeliger, was also famous for his dirty tricks in the capital. Denis thought that the Marquis Ingeliger would have attached a woman to him because he was after something. Denis didn¡¯t even know what was going on. Well, he was just pretending not to know. He thought he would be unrecognizable if he pretended to be submissive only on the surface, and pretended to obey. It was ridiculous to talk about reason and responsibility with a glistening look of greed. It was a myth. In addition, it was funny that he interfered in the royal affairs. His smart wife wouldn¡¯t know that, but look at her elegant demeanour¡­ There was nothing more disgusting about her pretending not to know anything, nor her graceful gestures and behaviour that didn¡¯t deviate even an inch from her lady-like appearance. Denis suddenly felt nauseous. He put out the fire by rubbing the cigar. Did she feel the gaze? Tehez looked at Denis¡¯ side. It felt like their eyes met. As if her bright smile was a lie, she had no emotion in her gaze after a moment¡¯s pause. Dennis closed the window roughly and strode out of the office. His chest felt tight. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was time for fresh air. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 3 *** *** ¡°Prince Julien. If you keep leaving carrots, you won¡¯t be a knight who will save the Princess.¡± Tehez said with a stern face. It had been a long time since she had come to Julien¡¯s palace. Julien was Queen Marianne¡¯s second son and the youngest member of the royal family. Due to his weak body, Julien received the King¡¯s affection and attention in abundance. Visiting Julien to look good to such a King and stamping his eyes was also one of the paving stones for succession to the throne. As usual, Julien was lying on the bed with saliva flowing out of his mouth. His pale face, slender arms, and dark shadows under his eyes were proof that Julien¡¯s health was not so good because he couldn¡¯t see the sun regularly. ¡°Tehez, I am weak. Can I become a knight?¡± His eyes, as he looked up at Tehez, were weeping. She read through the child. ¡°Of course. Denis was also said to be as small as Julien when he was young. However, he trained hard and became healthy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The boy raised his voice as if he could not believe it. ¡°Really.¡± ¡°But Tehez¡­¡± Tehez nodded her head, and the child muffled his words as he called out her name. It looked like he had something to say. ¡°Yes. My Prince, tell me.¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t my brother come to see me these days? When we rode horses, my brother always rode with me¡­¡± Julien couldn¡¯t finish his sentence and muffled it at the end of his speech. The older brother the child was referring to was Fabrice. The child was close to Fabrice, who was of the same blood and was shunned by his half-brother, Denis. Of course, Denis did visit Julien¡¯s place once a week. But it was nothing more, nothing less ¨C to show the King. ¡°The courtiers are talking about him, but they won¡¯t tell me.¡± In the end, Julien, as if unfairly and sadly, burst into tears that filled his big eyes. The hand that wiped his tars looked small and tender. Tehez reached out to Julien. ¡°Hey, Julien. Come this way. Tehez will give you a hug.¡± She gently held the child. Despite all the good food, the child was light enough for her to lift. Tehez gently stroked the back of the child¡¯s head as he dug into her arms. The child¡¯s cry grew louder. Julien was still behaving like a baby. The front of Tehez¡¯s dress got wet. Tehez tenderly comforted the child. ¡°My dear Julien. Stop crying.¡± Saying so, she stroked the child¡¯s head gently. ¡°Prince Fabrice is very busy these days. Instead, Tehez is here, right? You don¡¯t hate riding horses with me, do you?¡± ¡°Really? Will Tehez ride a horse with me?¡± Julien looked up with tears and a runny nose. She smiled softly, pulled out her handkerchief, and carefully wiped the child¡¯s runny nose. ¡°Now, blow your nose.¡± Then the child blew his stuffy nose obediently. ¡°Of course. But get well soon. Then let¡¯s go horseback riding together.¡± ¡°Tehez is the best! Thank you very much.¡± The child was smiling and still crying. Tehez wiped the water from the corners of the child¡¯s eyes with her hand. The children outside the palace were said to have started earning money. However, the sick child still had a soft scent like the baby¡¯s powder. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t Tehez be my mother?¡± ¡°Oh, no, Julien. Then Queen Marianne will be sad in heaven, right?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The child looked like he was about to cry again. ¡°But I don¡¯t remember my mother. I heard people talking about her, and I heard my mother died a week after I was born. Maybe it was my fault that I was born.¡± The child said, wiggling his tiny hands. ¡°What do you mean, Prince! You can¡¯t say that! Queen Marianne must have been happy to give birth to Julien. It¡¯s obvious.¡± ¡°How does Tehez know?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Tehez could not answer the child¡¯s question, as if she were speechless for a moment. ¡°If it were me, I would. After giving birth to the lovely Prince Julien, I must have been so, so, so, so happy that I would have flown away¡­¡± Tehez¡¯s face patting the child¡¯s back was filled with emotions that were complicated to explain. She soothed the crying child for a while afterwards. The child fell asleep soundly, perhaps because he felt drained after a burst of crying. As she stepped outside, Mrs Emily, a nanny sitting near the door, woke up. Tehez informed the nanny that Julien had just fallen asleep. ¡°Thank you for always taking care of Prince Julien.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s going through a lot. I¡¯m a princess, and I am obliged to look after the royal family.¡± Lady Emily had a sad expression on her face when she noticed the omission of sympathy in the words. However, the expression of unwilling sympathy could also be read. Tehez turned her back on Emily, ignoring Emily¡¯s look. ¡°Miss. I¡¯ll see you later, so take good care of him.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± Mrs Emily was standing still, not knowing whether to comfort herself or pretend she didn¡¯t know. Tehez left her behind and went out into the hallway. The palace of the sick child was absolutely silent. It was sunny outside, but the child¡¯s palace always had a calm and subdued atmosphere. Tehez walked along the vast cloister. Her mood and feelings were also subdued by the words she had spit a while back. It was stupid. She spat it out even though she knew her words would make it awkward. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t stand it without saying that. As if the other personality within her appeared and tried to play mean. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Like a fool. She stood still and caught her breath. She was a princess who could not have children. A baby-less princess. It was the most significant title she had ever received. It¡¯s been five years since they married, and she has never had a child with Denis. There was no big problem in the relationship because of Denis, who was looking for her through his insomnia. Still, it was unbelievable. At one time, she was rumoured to be possessed by an evil spirit. Tehez didn¡¯t care what other people thought. As she became a princess, she never felt free from the evaluation of others. However, the most important thing for her was Denis¡¯ inner thoughts. Denis had never mentioned the issue of not having a baby. Does that mean it¡¯s okay to stay like this, or does that mean it doesn¡¯t matter if they have a baby, or does that mean he doesn¡¯t even care about it that much¡­? Suddenly, Tehez wanted to ask Denis about child problems but was afraid of the answer that would come back from him. When she would hear his sincerity, she feared that she would fall apart. If he asked why she needed something like a child with an indifferent look, she wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it. So while she was in a rush, time passed by. Five years have already passed without being able to do anything. As it is, if there was no news of a child, she would be divorced. There was no need for a princess who couldn¡¯t bear children. When her fears came upon her, Tehez became unbearably restless and anxious. Most of the problems that caused her to toss and turn in her bed were child-related. Of course, during work time, she couldn¡¯t afford to think about anything other than work. Because she was constantly busy. So, she didn¡¯t even think about child-related issues. ¡®But why? Why did I do that today?¡¯ Her anxiety and fear enveloped her. It may be because of the child¡¯s innocent question of how she knows. The child¡¯s question seemed to reproach her. How do you know that when you are a woman who has never given birth? Of course, the child did not ask this. She felt sorry because she felt like she had vented her anger on Mrs Emily. ¡®I have to be careful, though. I¡¯m a princess.¡¯ Tehez clenched her fists until her nails dug into them. Then she took a deep breath. She quickly covered her mind with other things and had to forget about it. Otherwise, she would be engulfed by negative emotions forever. ¡°Are you here?¡± To Daniel, who was waiting in her office, Tehez handed him a handkerchief soaked with tears and runny nose fluid. ¡°Take this away.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± Tehez sighed as she looked at the front of her dress, messed up with tears and runny nose fluid. Knowing that she will always be like this when she meets Julien. Tehez blamed herself for being tight on time for the appointment. ¡°I can¡¯t go to meet that guy Jacques like this. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Daniel also didn¡¯t say much with a frown, perhaps because he knew Jacques¡¯s temper well. He was a filthy picky and sensitive guy, but he was sure to get the job done. ¡°Push the appointment by two hours. I¡¯ll change my dress and go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡ï¡ï¡ï ¡°This is the data you requested last time on trends in other countries.¡± ¡°Is this all?¡± Tehez sat down by the table and drank coffee from her cup. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I barely got this!¡± When Tehez ignored his hard work, Jacques, who remembered the hardships he had suffered in the past, grunted. However, she didn¡¯t bat an eyelid as if she was used to Jacques¡¯ bluff. ¡°It was a lot of work.¡± With a single word, she dismissed Jacques¡¯ hard work. Jacques, who was about to protest, noticed her concentration and bit his mouth. Tehez was sitting in his office, located deep in Hamam, an exotic public bathhouse. Hamam has been a popular social centre in Valloise lately. On the first floor, there was a central bath, and under the colourful ceiling paintings, pillars made of white and fine marble stood out. And between the pillars, there were soft cushions so that you could sit and have a conversation. Unlike Hamam¡¯s interior, Tehez sat down in a simple space without decorations and read the documents. No one knew this office except for Jacques and her. Because it was a separate place from the entrance when Hamam was built. Tehez looked up as she read the information hidden behind a simple fact, between the lines. It was because of the numbness in the back of her neck. In her eyes, the ceiling painting of the central bath came into view. Exotic ceiling paintings using abundant blue pigments looked supremely luxurious. ¡°You seem to have a lot of customers these days.¡± At Tehez¡¯s words, Jacques replied with a smile. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a rumour going around that there¡¯s a lot of valuable information out there. Every morning, the aristocrats line up to get in here.¡± Born to be a merchant, Jacques recited what kind of big names had come recently. Such big-name nobles also appeared in Hamam with their faces covered. That¡¯s why Tehez also decided to meet Jacques here. A place that looks natural even if you cover your face. However, no matter how well she disguised herself, there were bound to be people who recognized the Princess. The fact that her face was widely known to the public made her movements a constraint. It was said that she had political intentions in the teacups she served at the tea party, and her life was analyzed on the front page of the newspaper the next day. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to move. It was because the business had been slowing down since Remy Avery was cut off last time. She needed to quickly find a replacement soon. With that in mind, Tehez asked Jacques. ¡°What is the behaviour of the Marquis of Ingeliger?¡± ¡°There is nothing special about him. He is negotiating an armistice with Honun state at the border of Valloise.¡± That was a well-informed story. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Are there any problems with the negotiations?¡± ¡°Awai Island is the issue.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 4 *** *** Honun was a landlocked country bordering the southeastern border of Valloise. The Honun Kingdom was in a position where it could not go out to the ocean unless it was a route through the island of Awai, Valloise¡¯s territory. For this reason, Valloise and Honun have been in frequent disputes over the island of Awai since a long time ago. Again this time, Honun demanded joint ownership of the island of Awai, and the Marquis of Ingeliger, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had launched a provocation from the border. ¡°That¡¯s what I expected. When do you expect the Marquis to return?¡± Tehez asked what she was most curious about to the casual sheep, Jacques. ¡°Since the negotiations are in the final stages, it is likely that he will come back within a month at the earliest or within two months at the latest.¡± Although it was not unusual for Tehez to secretly investigate the news of her father and hear from others, she did not find it strange. Because she was all too familiar with this. However, when she heard that there was only a month left before the return of the Marquis of Ingeliger, her mood subsided. ¡®A month.¡¯ She continued with a stiff expression, feeling her heart beating fast, which had been dormant all along. ¡°How¡¯s Enland these days?¡± ¡°Cassava leaf blight* is on the run. It is a highly contagious disease. More and more people are starving because the cassava planted in the field has rotted.¡± [T/N: ¡®Cassava leaf blight¡¯ ¨C Cassava Bacterial Blight (CBB) is a severe bacterial disease in plants. Symptoms include leaf spotting, wilting, die-back, gum exudation on young shoots, and vascular discolouration in mature stems and roots of susceptible cultivars. ] ¡°Oh, no. What about the Haz tribe alliance?¡± ¡°A new tribal chief has been elected. He¡¯s the second son of a former tribal chief, and he¡¯s belligerent, but has a rather extraordinary brain.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Tehez raised her eyebrows and looked at Jacques. ¡°Because they are a closed tribe, it is not easy for outsiders to access and get information about them.¡± Jacques answered with his head down, but a raspy voice came out. ¡°I still need it. Gather more information about the newly elected person. This is not enough.¡± ¡°No, you always tell me to gather more information, but you don¡¯t help me, and you don¡¯t hire more people¡­¡± Jacques began to pretend to cry. Don¡¯t be fooled. He was receiving monthly payments from her for the activities, almost the price of a luxurious mansion in the central district of Lubern, and it was obvious that she was exaggerating. ¡°That¡¯s all right. How far have you been with what I was talking about before?¡± Tehez brushed off his pretend and asked. ¡°I¡¯m looking for the right person. I¡¯ll have some good news for you soon.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°I always go through a lot of problems in the process.¡± Tehez patted Jacques on the shoulder a couple of times without sincerity. Still, Jacques was talking to himself so she could hear everything. She stood up, listening to Jacques¡¯ self-talk. The spacious conference room was crowded with people. It was a regular aristocratic meeting. The nobles shook hands and had a private conversation. ¡°It¡¯s hard to see your face these days.¡± ¡°I went to the East for a short vacation. But there¡¯s a terrible rumour in the capital.¡± ¡°What rumour?¡± ¡°People are dying¡­¡± ¡°It has already been fixed. Don¡¯t take it out of your mouth for nothing.¡± The old nobleman thought he was talking about Prince Fabrice, so he gestured and made a young aristocrat join. Count Liddell, whose hair was beginning to turn grey, said to Viscount Isaac sitting next to him. ¡°I heard heard something nice this time.¡± ¡°Yes, Count. I got a black horse from Honun. I was lucky.¡± ¡°Everyone in Lubern knows you¡¯re a horse lover. What do you mean by lucky? Count Liddell gave the young man a scolding for no reason. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not the kind you can get just because you want to.¡± Isaac laughed shyly, scratching his head. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. We don¡¯t have a good relationship with Honun, but you¡¯re getting all the talks.¡± It was then that Viscount Isaac realized that Count Liddell was not talking to him in a good way. In Count Liddell¡¯s words, Valloise was hostile to Honun, and he was accused of buying enemy goods. Oh, my God. Count Liddell was famous for being a conservative noble. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right.¡± He pretended to be busy, shaking the agenda papers of the meeting in front of him. Seeing Viscount Isaac like that, Count Liddell clicked his tongue. *** Meanwhile, Denis and the courtier entered the conference room. ¡°Your Majesty is absent today, so I am in charge of the meeting. Let¡¯s get started right away.¡± Denis glanced briefly at the unoccupied chair and then turned his head to the front. It was the seat of the King and Fabrice. The King wanted to make his own final decision on any issue. He seemed to think that attending the nobility council would undermine his authority. So, except for exceptional circumstances, he rarely attended meetings. And Fabrice didn¡¯t have time to devote to meetings or anything like that. Playing at that time was more important and urgent to him. The first item on the agenda was the revised aristocratic preferential law submitted by new aristocrats. The documents on the table included measures to raise taxes and further strengthen the rights of the currently guaranteed nobles. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Is it the aristocratic preferential law?¡± The Duke of Briem, the head of the old nobles and the maternal grandfather of Fabrice, asked. Then the Count of Lemac, the mainstay of the new noble forces, received his words. ¡°Yes. There is preferential treatment for nobility, but it is not enough. More and more people become nobles by buying titles. And naturally, the rights of the nobility are getting weaker.¡± ¡°You¡¯re introducing yourself.¡± Count Liddell chewed his cigar and spoke to himself. But there was no one in the hall who didn¡¯t hear that. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Count Lemac glared at Count Liddell. It was. Originally, the Lemacs were a family of commoners who used to be landowners. They had ¡®bought¡¯ the noble title and became a Count. As the number of nobles who bought titles increased, it was natural that they had to divide themselves into ¡®Old Nobility¡¯ and ¡®New Nobility¡¯. The old nobles valued their honour, history, and face as true aristocrats. Therefore, they considered the behaviour of the capital-centred new nobles to be vulgar. Conversely, the new aristocrats regarded the behaviour of the old nobles as unsightly except for tradition. They were the same nobility, but they had been dissatisfied with subtly dividing the ranks according to whether they were old or new aristocrats. It was true that the rights of the nobility weakened as the number of nobles increased. The new aristocrats bought titles to exercise their influence and rights as nobles, but they couldn¡¯t stand it when their influence weakened. Denis sat with his arms crossed, watching the two sides fight. ¡°Now, now, everyone, calm down.¡± A man sitting at the end of the seat of the New Nobility came to mediate the atmosphere. ¡°Yes.¡± Unexpectedly, the Duke of Briem agreed. The gazes of the seated nobles all gathered at the Duke. The Duke took the cup in front of him, took a sip of tea, and continued. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t those who are deserving enjoy the rights they deserve?¡± Duke Briem shot a glance at Denis once and put down his glass. Deserving, entitled, and qualified. There was no one in the hall who did not understand the implications of those words. The Duke of Briem did not agree with Count Lemac. It was just like picking up a knife and stabbing Denis, who was standing still. Denis raised his eyebrows once. Still, his arms were crossed. Noticing that the meeting was going crazy, Count Lemac sat down in his chair. No one could stop the Duke of Briem, who was the oldest, and at the same time, the most decisive in the hall in the absence of the King. From time immemorial, the Duke of Briem has hated Denis terribly. It wasn¡¯t just because he was Fabrice¡¯s maternal grandfather. He despised Denis¡¯ lineage, and looked down on his lack of posterity. ¡°It¡¯s already been more than 10 years since I¡¯ve been to the Garden of Light. If I remember correctly. My memory is not good as I get older, My Prince.¡± ¡°Eight years, to be exact.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± In the Garden of Light, when a new member was born to the royal family, the first birthday banquet was held in the garden made of glass. It was called the Garden of Lights because the glass garden was filled with light from the ceiling to the floor when you enter it. Whether it is winter or summer, the temperature in the garden is always mild, making it perfect for a child¡¯s birthday banquet. Duke Briem¡¯s remarks were also a disparaging remark that Prince Julien¡¯s birthday party was the last time the Garden of Light was opened, and again, it was a remark that undermined Denis. Denis looked at the Duke of Briem in silence and turned his head away. Denis¡¯s face was nothing but calm. Since then, similar things have been repeated. The new aristocrats placed their bets on the agenda of the old nobility, and the old nobility voted against the new nobility¡¯s agenda, so none of the items was properly discussed. ¡°The agenda submitted today will be discussed again at the next regular meeting.¡± The regular meeting ended without much profit. In the end, Denis was the only victim in the struggle between the nobles. The conference hall, where people had left, was just silent. Denis sat still without getting up. The man behind him cautiously called out to him. The courtier, who was standing behind him, spoke. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home?¡± ¡°I should.¡± He heard the chair pulling, and Denis got up from his seat. His back looked a little shaky as he left the meeting room. *** After returning from meeting Jacques, Tehez was sipping a glass of wine while organizing her work for tomorrow. It was a deep night with the moon going down. The sound of grass bugs came from outside the wide-open terrace window. And she heard the footsteps of the uninvited guest from afar. It was him. She could paint him without seeing him in person by listening to the footsteps. The figure of him approaching step by step seemed to be alive as her eyelids dropped. Tehez took a deep breath, closing her eyes to erase the afterimage of him. But it was as if he was still alive in those closed eyes. She heard the door open, and the footsteps stopped. ¡°¡­¡± Her face felt hot. He would most likely be looking at her. Suddenly, Tehez¡¯s face turned around with a strong force. Denis grabbed Tehez¡¯s chin with one hand and turned it towards him. She slowly opened her eyes. Even under the moonlight, his beautiful face could be seen. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°My wife, good night.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 5 *** *** Tehez didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she stared at Denis as if to let go of his hand. He was a more certain reality than the afterimage in her closed eyes. ¡°Tehez, my wife.¡± Denis sang her name with a melody, even though he called her. At first glance, he seemed to be in a good mood, and at the same time, he seemed friendly. To the extent that anyone who doesn¡¯t know him can see that he has a lot of affection for his wife, Tehez. But anyone who knew him well would know. He was now distorting their judgement. ¡°What did my wife do today?¡± ¡°I want to answer, but my jaw feels uncomfortable, My Prince.¡± ¡°If it makes you uncomfortable, I have to make it comfortable. Right?¡± Even so, his hand was still firmly pressing Tehez¡¯s chin. Like a person who has no intention of letting go at all. Tehez stared at him. Only then, with a smile, she shook off his hand exaggeratedly. Tehez¡¯s jaw, held in his grasp, was left with a red mark. Denis sat down on the chair opposite her. ¡°I went to see Prince Julien today.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be the end.¡± ¡°I had a headache in the afternoon, so I rested in my bedroom.¡± Denis was staring at her, his expression still unsolved in response to her answer. Tehez sighed inwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what answer you want, Prince. Ask me what you want to hear.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯d like to ask more than one thing. I don¡¯t know what to ask first.¡± Denise replied snobbishly. ¡°Then may I give you an answer? Right?¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m going to ask you?¡± ¡°Fabrice.¡± Hearing Tehez¡¯s answer, his expression did not change. ¡°Tehez.¡± She interrupted Denis and continued. ¡°And why don¡¯t you go to Newb Shabel for a while?¡± ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I told you I had a lot to ask. Why did you go to Hamam today?¡± ¡°I was in the bedroom with a headache.¡± ¡°Wrong, Tehez. I mean your hair. Doesn¡¯t it look like gold? No, your hair looks like gold threads are fluttering in the sun. I can recognize my wife¡¯s hair anywhere.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Denis held her chin. A look on his face said, ¡°Would you like to make an excuse?¡± ¡°I have nothing to say, Prince.¡± ¡°Who was that man?¡± Tehez clasped her hands together without saying a word. It was her mistake. She should have been more attentive. To not get noticed. Tehez couldn¡¯t think of a proper excuse. Any word would have been nothing more than an excuse for this man. Already he was suspicious of Tehez. And he hated whatever she did. Maybe he didn¡¯t even want her to breathe with him. What would you say to such a man? Jacques was collecting and delivering news from outside the kingdom? Would she say she¡¯s been working day and night to put him on the throne? As Tehez¡¯s silence grew longer, Denis said with a smile. It was a sweet voice, as if it had been pickled in honey. ¡°Is he a new acquaintance?¡± ¡°Ah, am I possibly interfering with my wife¡¯s free love? I¡¯ve seen her meet him several times in Hamam.¡± No way. Even she had to come and go through a separate entrance rather than a place used by guests. ¡°Prince. He is the one who helps me with my work. With him¡­ it¡¯s a business relationship.¡± Tehez couldn¡¯t say anything more than this. If she said that she had to go see Jacques in person because her husband got rid of Remy Avery. The last time Denis asked about her relationship with Remy Avery, even her clueless lies were discovered. ¡°Business relationship¡­ Ever since I took away the baby boy, you seem to have just saved another boy.¡± ¡°Prince-¡° ¡°You are under pressure every day to have an heir. My wife must have gone out and met another b*stard, yes?¡± ¡°You are misunderstood, Prince.¡± Tehez hastily took over his words. ¡°Stop it! Tehez.¡± Denis shook his head and shouted. One side of his face, reflected in the moonlight, was distorted. Denis covered his face with both hands and hid his face in the dark. Like someone who doesn¡¯t want to show his own face. Tehez watched him with surprise. He was out of breath, and his chest was rising and falling. The sound of grass bugs came from the terrace window, which was left open in a room where no one spoke. Neither of them said a word until the sound filled the room. Soon, Denis, who raised his head as if his emotions had subsided, stared at Tehez as if he would swallow her up. Looking into those eyes, Tehez felt that no matter what she said, she wouldn¡¯t be able to convince him. It was like a foreboding that came unexpectedly. ¡®You misunderstood me, and I didn¡¯t deceive you.¡¯ ¡®From now on, you and I will live on parallel lines that will never meet.¡¯ Tehez tried to turn a blind eye to her hunch and fixed her head out of the window. Like only fluttering curtains will save her. Looking down at the beautiful garden, which was no different from yesterday. She pressed down her rising emotions. Denis, who had turned his head and looked at Tehez¡¯s face like a stone statue, got up, pulling a chair. Unlike the first time he entered the room, dragging his feet without strength. There was a sound of rustling, cracking, and raging. It looked like he was lying on the bed. Still, he didn¡¯t say anything. She thought that Denis might fall asleep like this. ¡®In the morning, you¡¯ll treat it like nothing happened. We¡¯ll live like this forever.¡¯ Tehez thought as she put the glass of wine to her lips. But then a very small sound was heard. Perhaps it was a tender voice that sounded like self-talk. ¡°Why don¡¯t we¡­ have no children?¡± Denis¡¯ question struck her like a thunderbolt. For some reason, the question sounded like water. He wouldn¡¯t be able to cry, but in an instant, his emotions rushed into her like waves. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡®Do you want to have ¡®our¡¯ children, too? Until then, won¡¯t you leave me?¡¯ The desire to ask a question came up to the end of her throat. Tehez stared piercingly at her thumbs. Her thumbs turned white in her clenched fists. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept even three hours in two days. But it¡¯s amazing how sleepy I become when I come here.¡± Denis put one of his arms over his eyes, as if exhausted, said weakly. ¡°Tehez, I want to sleep.¡± Tehez, who had been sitting motionless, got up from her chair when he said he wanted to fall asleep. She decided to fulfil her most important duty as a princess. *** Sitting loosely with a whiskey glass in one hand, King Elliot looked uncomfortable. ¡°Fabrice, he¡¯s still energetic. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s doing this.¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s still young.¡± Denis replied sternly. ¡°That¡¯s why I told him to keep the engagement period short and have a national marriage first. And he ended up at a breakup party? Stupid thing.¡± The whiskey glass placed in front of Denis was still there. To ease his father¡¯s mood, he made excuses for his brother. Elliot liked to pretend to be a friendly and harmonious family. Even though he knows that Denis¡¯ relationship with Fabrice was bad, it was because of him. He had nothing to prevent from participating in the play, but he had a foul temper. ¡°I¡¯m sure Fabrice learned a lot from this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He needs to learn, too.¡± When Elliot put the glass of whiskey he had finished on the table, a young woman standing on one side, who seemed to have just come of age, filled the glass. Elliot watched with a satisfied face as the woman poured him a drink and returned to her place. Denis saw this and frowned for a moment. Denis turned his head to the other side to avoid being caught with a grimace. The tip of his jaw, which was tightly closed, trembled. Elliot looked very happy. Maybe it was because he drank his favourite whiskey or for another reason. Elliot, who had been looking at the woman with a satisfied face for a long time, turned to Denis. ¡°So you don¡¯t have any good news? Why haven¡¯t I heard of an heir for many years?¡± Today, he seemed to be acting like an ordinary, caring and affectionate father. ¡°¡­I will bring you good news soon.¡± Denis took the conversation naturally, and those were often the words that came in. ¡°It¡¯s been five years since you got married, but there¡¯s no news.¡± Elliot looked at Denis with a face very worried. ¡°Is it possible that the Princess is infertile?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I still have a lot of work to do¡­¡± Denis hastily responded. ¡°Yes. Lots of work to do.¡± Elliot grabbed the chair¡¯s armrests where his arms were loosely draped and he made a click, click sound. It was what he did when he had something to say. Denis had a gut feeling that the main point that called him here today would come out. ¡°I think you should go to Newb Shabel this time. I was going to send Fabrice, but he¡¯s self-contained for the time being.¡± Elliot, perhaps regretting that fact, lost his appetite. ¡°All right.¡± Denis said without delay. ¡°Go, investigate the flood damage and come back. Take good care of the public as the condition will be atrocious, but the only concern is that there will be a shortage of relief supplies, so please discuss it with the Minister of Home Affairs.¡± Elliot, the prepared ambassador, spoke without interruption. He tapped Denis on the shoulder as if encouragingly. ¡®You¡¯re going to send me down empty-handed with no relief supplies and use me as a curse.¡¯ ¡°I won¡¯t let down Grammoir.¡± Denis bowed his head politely after hiding his emotions from his face. ¡°You¡¯re reliable.¡± Denis bowed and left the tea room. He soon ran into Fabrice, who was about to enter the tea room in the hallway. ¡°Good morning, brother.¡± Even though it was early in the morning, Fabrice was dressed splendidly. There must have been a time when he couldn¡¯t even get out of bed normally, but he seemed to have been dressing up in the morning to show his father well. Denis clicked his tongue, obviously inwardly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You must have heard the news of my breakup with Lady Dubeau, right?¡± ¡°Just now. I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Instead, I¡¯m thinking of getting engaged to the Lady Lemac.¡± Fabrice said lightly as if he was buying something on the street. ¡°I see. Congratulations on your engagement in advance. If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Brother, are you going to Newb Shabel? I heard that nothing is okay because of the rain damage to many buildings, so please be careful.¡± Fabrice smiled and waved as if to see his brother off. ¡°Yes.¡± Denis turned his feet away without any regrets. In the end, it was concluded that Fabrice¡¯s s*xual scandal was a misunderstanding. However, it was found that Xavier Bellmont had kidnapped and tortured women, and he was imprisoned. Xavier wept when interrogators asked if he had any conspirators. He said and confessed that he had committed the act alone. However, the mere mention of the name together in the scandal damaged Fabrice¡¯s reputation. For this reason, he had to be self-restraint for the time being, as well as break up his marriage with his fianc¨¦e, Yvonne Dubeau. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°The evidence was already destroyed.¡± Upon hearing the news of Fabrice¡¯s scandal, they immediately dispatched investigative personnel, but Denis could not find conclusive evidence. It seemed that Fabrice had already put his hands on it. Denis had a lot of work to do before setting off for Newb Shabel. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 6 *** *** ¡¸I have a problem with my business, and I¡¯m rushing to Tolrose. Please understand that I couldn¡¯t tell you in advance. ¨C Your Friend¡¹ ¡°He¡¯s interfering again.¡± It¡¯s been a week since Denis left for Newb Shabel. Tehez burned the letter from Jacques. Her assistant, Daniel, shoved the paper into the fire so that no single letter could be glimpsed. ¡°The Prince is¡­ really harsh on the Princess.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Watching the blazing fire, Tehez felt indescribable fatigue. Nothing has been easy for her to get to this position. Had Hashelle not died as a candidate for the Crown Princess, her marriage to Denis would not have been ruined like this. No, she wouldn¡¯t be here to be a princess. ¡®I¡¯ve been lucky to take the place of dead Hashelle.¡¯ It was perhaps only natural that Denis saw her as the embodiment of slander. Because she was the one who actually sent Amelie, who was nominated, to the scandal. It was because it was Tehez, herself, had made Remy Avery work under the order of the Marquis of Ingeliger to make sure she became the Princess. But Hashelle¡¯s death was only a coincidence. Who would have known that she would fall ill with an epidemic and die in vain? Who would have known that the venerable Prince Denis was interested in Hashelle Machiaire, a native of a provincial aristocrat? Eventually, when both candidates disappeared due to scandal and death, it was Ingeliger¡¯s Tehez who wore the crown. The Ingeliger bloodline that Denis hates. Sometimes Tehez felt Denis¡¯ hatred for her was too much. Maybe it was because he didn¡¯t get what he wanted with Hashelle Machiaire. It was like a button switched wrong. Even though she knew it was wrong, they couldn¡¯t start over. She might have had to ask Denis before holding hands at the wedding for the first time. Why do you hate Ingeliger so much? Unanswered words, unheard answers. They all covered it up, and she just watched as time passed. It must have been a mistake in her complacency that their relationship might get better with time. Even though time doesn¡¯t solve anything. ¡®Or maybe it¡¯s really my fault that I¡¯m the blood of an Ingeliger.¡¯ She flashed a mournful smile. As the night deepened, thoughts continued to flow sentimentally. ¡°It¡¯s late at night, Daniel, so you too should leave the palace. By the way, did you book an appointment with Baron Barbier tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Okay, I see. Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± Tehez left her office after organizing her remaining paperwork. It was a night she couldn¡¯t sleep. *** ¡°You are still busy, our youngest.¡± ¡°Welcome, Brother.¡± Tehez sat at her office desk and greeted to welcome the guest. The meeting was held in a month because their schedules did not match. ¡°What brings you to my palace?¡± ¡°Oh, my God, Tehez. Let me take a breather. You¡¯re still in a hurry.¡± The man, breathing heavily as if walking hastily, took off his coat and draped it over a chair. It was Richard, the first brother of Tehez, who works for the Ministry of Home Affairs. Blond hair and hazel eyes like Tehez. Although he was a little shorter than Denis, he had a high reputation among women in social circles. The women who knew him said that Richard¡¯s charm was a gentle atmosphere and a cheek well that only beats with another cheek. He deserved to be popular because he was a handsome man in a different line from Dennis, who had a difficult atmosphere to approach. ¡°It¡¯s because my brother only comes to see me when he has some business.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Richard seemed to be looking back, then smiled slightly and sat down. It was a gesture to move on as usual. The corners of his eyes were lined with fine lines from the smile he always had on his face. ¡°Do you feel something?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the family, by the way, Tehez. How are you these days?¡± Teherz smiled furtively at Richard¡¯s apparent intentions and pretended not to know he was deliberately changing the subject. ¡°There is nothing special. How about you, brother?¡± After sitting for a while without answering, he brought up the subject. ¡°Well¡­ The Marquis of Benchetrit has set the course.¡± ¡°I know that you would come to me, so it¡¯s Prince Fabrice¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the possibility of it changing?¡± ¡°Not at the moment. From Fabrice¡¯s side to the Marquis of Benchetrit-¡± ¡°He would have offered the mining rights to the Vu Mahe mine. Because that¡¯s what the Marquis of Benchetrit wanted.¡± Richard rubbed his brow and said in frustration. It was a severe and grave atmosphere that was seldom seen in him. ¡°There are not many cards to present here to the Marquis of Benchetrit. That¡¯s the problem.¡± ¡°Then we have to turn the tables.¡± Tehez immediately picked up the pen and started writing something. ¡°Is there something Mr Delphine can do for you?¡± ¡°Are you talking about the head of Rocher? Delphine of the Rocher department store?¡± Richard asked the question as if it was surprising. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s quick to calculate, so this letter alone will make sense. If the table is turned over, we¡¯ll have a usable card ready, so don¡¯t be in a hurry, brother.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m getting advice from a sister who¡¯s in a hurry than I am.¡± Richard smirked. He cleared his throat, stretched his waist, and he looked into the air. There seemed to be words that were difficult to bring up. ¡°Tehez, come here and sit down.¡± He pointed to the sofa across from him. Tehez got up from her desk and sat across from Richard. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Go ahead.¡± Unlike usual, he was not ready to speak his words. He even drank bitter tea, which he did not enjoy very much. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got to go. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s right.¡± Then, he picked up the coat that he had taken off and hesitated as if to stand up. ¡°What makes it so difficult? Just say it comfortably.¡± At Tehez¡¯s words, Richard straightened up again, sat down, and lowered his voice. ¡°¡­Okay, I¡¯ll just ask. Are you on good terms with the Prince?¡± ¡°You took a long time to ask me that, did you?¡± Tehez snorted. Her relationship with the Prince. Isn¡¯t this a story that even the children in Lubern know? ¡°There is nothing to say, good or bad. I have only duties and responsibilities for him.¡± Tehez cut it short. ¡°The¡­ the Prince has no other woman, right?¡± Tehez looked at Richard. Is her brother joking with her? He chewed on his lips and clasped his hands tightly. At first glance, he even looked nervous. Looking at it, she realized he wasn¡¯t joking. Soon she, too, sat down and spoke her words. ¡°There are two things the Prince will never do for the deceased Queen Charlize. The first is drinking, and the second is extramarital relationships. He¡¯s reliable in that aspect, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Tehez. This brother doesn¡¯t want you to get hurt. Please know that I am serious, and I mean it.¡± ¡°By the way, brother. Why are you changing the subject so much? What did you eat wrong?¡± Richard soon brought it up as if he had made up his mind. ¡°What would you do if you were to become an obstacle to putting the Prince on the throne?¡± Tehez was momentarily speechless, unable to answer. But it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t understand the question. ¡°¡­ It¡¯ll be because of the heir.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s already been 5 years since you got married. And yet, there is no child between the two of you¡­¡± It was a natural procedure. Even if Denis became king, if he had no successor, it was obvious that his ruling power would weaken. And if Tehez can¡¯t be the mother of the next king, Ingeliger will not be able to exert a strong influence on the royal family. Tehez grabbed the hem of her dress tightly. ¡°Besides, the Prince has no intention of taking his pick. This must also be because of Queen Charlize.¡± ¡°Tehez, you¡¯ve done well so far. But if things go on like this¡­¡± ¡°Brother, you do know that I know what you mean. That¡¯s enough.¡± Tehez didn¡¯t want to hear him, so she interrupted. ¡°¡­Okay. I¡¯ll go back. I¡¯ll try to talk to father well.¡± Richard picked up his coat and went back to the same hasty pace he had when he came. After Richard left, Tehez let go of the hem of her dress, which she had been clutching. She gripped it so tightly that wrinkles remained. ¡°I¡¯ll try to talk to father well.¡± Bah. Tehez snorted a laugh. Did that Marquis of Ingeliger ever listen to someone say something? The House of Ingeliger was his domain, where the Marquis wielded omnipotent power. Tehez covered her face with both hands and buried her head. An unbearable sense of absurdity came over her. The indifferent words of strangers could be ignored. But not her family. The anxiety she heard from her family brought her down. The only person in her world she recognized as her family was Richard. Shortly after her eleventh birthday, her mother died of an illness, and darkness fell on the mansion. There was not a single person heard laughing and chatting. It was the year Tehez entered the academy that the Marchioness began to get sick. It was a typical winter, just like any other year. With each winter coming, the Marchioness, who had a cold, had to stay in her place with frequent coughing and fever. If they called a famous doctor in Lubern to see her, it would look like a cold to them. However, when she wanted to get better, it got worse and worse again. Eventually, the Marchioness¡¯ cold worsened to pneumonia. Tehez recalled her father, the Marquis of Ingeliger. He was a person who was far from affectionate from the beginning. But after his wife died, he became more and more rigid. He became cruel and ruthless. And she didn¡¯t know what kind of flow it was, but he pushed her into becoming a princess. Had she been able to say no, one less person would have suffered from a marriage of duty and responsibility. Tehez stared blankly at the seat where her brother sat. Richard was the only exception in her world. He was the one who really wanted her to be happy. She should have told shown how she lived in harmony. Having a baby and seeing the baby growing up¡­ Tehez frowned. She felt suffocated. She blamed herself. That it was her fault to be content with having a pretty decent marriage. Even if Denis doesn¡¯t love her. Duty and responsibility, a bit of camaraderie. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Isn¡¯t it the kind of relationship between a married couple? It was self-deception. If she can¡¯t fulfil that duty, what can she do in this marriage¡­? Tehez bit her lip tight. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 7 *** *** Late at night, in the palace of Fabrice, the nobles were talking and laughing. The light was scattering from the chandelier decorated with diamonds, and on the wall decorated with gold were several paintings of Lansay, one of the most famous painters in Valloise. The largest piece was so large that it took up an entire wall, and that piece was the second most famous of Lansay¡¯s works, . It was a picture of a man in a red cloak raising one hand on a running white horse and pointing at the hill. The man¡¯s militant and ferocious spirit was vividly transmitted outside the picture. Lansay had never personally identified the protagonist of this work. However, people guessed that the man in the painting was the first King of Valloise. No one knew why an expensive piece of art costing 7 billion Loise* was hung in Fabrice¡¯s banquet hall, but the nobles were amazed because it had been long since they had seen the real , so the nobles could not help but marvel. [T/N: I guess Loise is Valloise¡¯s currency, and it must be a fictional one. Looked up a bit in Google, and there is ¡®Louis d¡¯or¡¯ which is any number of French coins first introduced by Louis XIII in 1640.] In addition, flowers and colourful sculptures were placed everywhere in the banquet hall, and on the innermost stage of the hall, dancers wrapped in thin fabrics were dancing in the sky. The banquet hall decorated with precious and beautiful things gave off a strangely decadent and bewitching atmosphere. It was like a banquet organized by Fabrice. In a banquet hall filled with supporters, the nobles praised Fabrice¡¯s abilities. Of course, they were all inflated stories. Those who supported Fabrice were not truly loyal to him. Because the current King¡¯s affection was toward Fabrice, they only supported the Second Prince. Otherwise, some looked up to his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Briem, and stood in the line. They were just lighthearted to turn around at any time if the King changed his mind. Perhaps that¡¯s why only opportunists twisted around Fabrice like flies hovering around a corpse. Fabrice smiled contentedly while looking at the faces of the nobles. ¡®I will be King.¡¯ After recruiting the Marquis of Benchetrit as his supporter, Fabrice¡¯s resolve became even stronger. Having been uncomfortable all along with self-reflection, he felt good for the first time in a while. ¡°Prince, welcome.¡± ¡°Yes, Duke. Thanks for coming.¡± Fabrice bowed his head quite politely. It was the Duke of Briem. ¡°What, of course. Seeing you like this today makes me feel like I have to live longer. That way, I can continue to see how you grow strong.¡± The Duke of Briem patted the Prince on the shoulder. He looked genuinely satisfied. ¡°It looks like you can sleep comfortably for the time being. The Marquis of Benchetrit is reliable.¡± Baron Barbier, who was standing next to the Duke of Briem, lowered his eyes in front of Fabrice and spoke politely. But he looked as mean as a hunter with his prey in front of his eyes. ¡°Yes, the Marquis is holding on to the middle. Wouldn¡¯t the engagement end up better?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The rising divinity of the Lemacs will be more beneficial to the Prince than the dying Dubeaus like the old man in the backroom.¡± The low-ranking noble flattered Fabrice by crushing Dubeaus down. Fabrice frowned. Dubeaus, whom they treated as the old man in the backroom, was a family with tradition and honour in the capital. It was not a level of the low-ranking nobles, who were ignorant of the family, to be speaking such of the Dubeaus. As a high-ranking nobleman by birth, Fabrice did not want to even hear the lower-ranking nobles talking in front of him. ¡°I think all of this is happening for a brighter future.¡± Having said that, the nobles bumped their glasses and shared drinks. It was a friendly atmosphere. ¡°Please do your best in the future.¡± Fabrice made eye contact with the nobles gathered in front of them one by one and congratulated them. After the performance, the dancers cleaned up and started going out of the banquet hall. A dancer came up behind Fabrice¡¯s back and swept his broad back with one hand. As Fabrice turned around, the pretty-faced dancer smiled charmingly. Then, pretending to tidy up her revealing dance clothes, she gently touched his thigh. Fabrice took a firm grip on the small hand that touched his thigh and let it go. The dancer smiled at him and disappeared behind the red curtains that were fluttering all over the banquet hall. Fabrice swept his neatly combed hair once, covering the corners of his curved lips with his hand. He placed the glass he was holding on the table. ¡°Please continue your conversation. I¡¯m going to get some fresh air.¡± ¡°Would you like me to go with you?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s Okay.¡± Fabrice, who resolutely refused, strode forward and entered the curtain where the dancer had disappeared. All of this happened in just a few seconds, so other nobles couldn¡¯t even notice. When Fabrice disappeared, someone brought up a name that should never be brought up. ¡°By the way, the First Prince must have a hard time.¡± The man lowered his voice as if someone was listening to him. ¡°Did he go down to Newb Shabel?¡± A man standing next to him spoke up. ¡°There was a flood, and there are no supplies because of last year¡¯s famine. No relief supplies!¡± The man who said so sounded excited somehow. ¡°Oh, my.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough to just stick your face in. Would it be better if I didn¡¯t curse?¡± ¡°Well, with that face, it might be possible.¡± ¡°No, this guy is joking. Oh, yeah.¡± The nobleman who said so shook his head as if he was dumbfounded and drank the wine in the glass at once. There was silence in the hall. It was because half of the people there thought they were serious. It has already been a month since he went down to Newb Shabel in the southernmost part of Valloise. Denis, who had an unobtrusive appearance, was getting things going smoothly, contrary to the worries of others. When the King said, ¡°There are no relief supplies,¡± he had received a promise from the temple to provide relief supplies for the damage. But the effort was overshadowed by the position he had with someone who wanted to meet him as soon as he arrived at Newb Shabel. *** A small room on one side of the bar was closed. There was one person waiting impatiently for Denis to arrive. He was a bright middle-aged man who looked rich at first glance. The material of his clothes looked soft and luxurious, and the jewels attached to them were all of the highest quality. When Denis arrived, a middle-aged man jumped up from his seat and bowed to him according to etiquette. ¡°Hello, Prince. Let me start with my introduction. My name is Vincent Merad, and I work in the trade.¡± ¡°Is that so? Nice to meet you.¡± Denis sat down gracefully. The place that looked like a wall opened swung open gently, and a woman came out and poured tea. She didn¡¯t say a word, and when she was done doing her job of pouring the tea, she opened the wall again and disappeared. It was a perfect backroom. ¡°There is no listening ear here. So you can talk comfortably.¡± ¡°I see. But why did you ask me to see you?¡± Denis went straight to the point. It was not his cup of tea to secretly pursue something in a secret room. Not if it¡¯s his wife. Denis lifted the teacup. ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you long. I¡¯ll give you my wheat and grain as a relief.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Thank you, but may I ask why?¡± Denis looked directly into the eyes of those who offered to help him for no reason. The middle-aged man who met his eyes lowered his head, and he quietly began to tell his story. ¡°I¡¯m a native of Newb Shabel, and I¡¯ve been wheat farming since my great-grandfather started it. And he started the food trade business when he was a grandfather. Nate has granted me grace, and I¡¯ve come all the way here sailing in the wind¡­¡± [T/N: Nate is the official religion of Valloise.] Denis interrupted the man who was about to continue. ¡°Yes, I see. Can you let me know if you want anything?¡± ¡°The Queen knows what I want.¡± Denis looked at Vincent in surprise when he heard a name that could not come out of this place. ¡°It¡¯s not purely a favour. Prince, please include the name of my family on the report when the repairs are complete.¡± *** Denis was smoking a cigar while standing by the manor¡¯s window that had been torn down and was repaired. The direction he was looking at was Lubern, the capital city. He was lost in thought. It was the face of a woman in Lubern that followed him like a shadow. Her golden hair as thin as a thread, blue eyes like indigo, a body that would crumble if pressed hard. It was six years. They had been engaged for 1 year and married for 5 years. The years he had spent with her¡­ Denis breathed deeply into the smoke. After coming to Newb Shabel, he didn¡¯t even know when he slept properly. When he was alone, he felt like his whole body was sinking under the water, to the bottom. It was useless without her, even though he smoked cigars and tried to sleep with sleeping candles every day. He just wanted to lay next to her and sleep in peace. ¡®I am so weak.¡¯ Denis let out a self-pity laugh. In her absence, he felt a long way from how he even fell asleep. He felt complicated when he realized that he was relying on her. She was the daughter of the one who killed his mother. It was funny how he was being swayed without being able to keep his balance. When Denis was burning another cigar, the assistant came in. ¡°Prince, it¡¯s me.¡± The assistant, who informed Denise of his presence, followed. ¡°The repair of the dam upstream of the Shabel River has been completed.¡± Denis didn¡¯t move, as if he had not heard from the man. Looking out the window with his arms crossed, his gaze was still directed toward an unknown place. The man asked again, ¡°When do you want to return to the capital?¡± Only then did Denis turn and look at the man. ¡°Capital?¡± He murmured like a child who had just learned the word. Then, as if waking up from a long sleep, he ordered the man. ¡°After checking the condition of the dam, we will return in two days. Get ready to go back. Please inform the Lord as well.¡± ¡°Yes, I will. And since it¡¯s late at night¡­¡± The man barely managed to stop the words that were at the tip of his tongue. He was about to say, ¡°You¡¯d better go to bed.¡± Of course, he knew that it was impossible, so he couldn¡¯t finish it. Denise smiled faintly. ¡°Can you bring me some wine?¡± ¡°Which one¡­?¡± ¡°Anything. No, is there any Chateau Mouton LaRoute?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll check.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After leaving the room, Denis pulled out another new cigar from the cigar box. Soon, the room filled with darkness began to fill with cigar smoke. After a while, his assistant entered the room with a glass and a bottle of wine. ¡°Fortunately, there was only one left in the wine cellar. Do you want me to pour it for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. You may leave.¡± After the man left the room, Denis picked up the wine bottle and read the label. A woman who drank this. Denis remembered that woman. He didn¡¯t even drink alcohol, but he felt like he wanted to get drunk. ¡®Can I fall asleep when I¡¯m drunk?¡¯ Denis turned the cork with the opener and opened the bottle. The deep and mysterious scent of wine filled the room. No wonder it seemed likeable. Even though he didn¡¯t drink wine, Denis knew it was good. Because it was her taste. After pouring the wine into a glass, Denis took it to the tip of his nose. The scent that filled the nasal passages felt sweeter today. At one point, saliva pooled on the tip of his tongue. ¡®Would it be okay to drink today?¡¯ As soon as the beliefs he had kept were about to collapse, he came to his senses. ¡°¡­¡± Dennis grabbed the handle as hard as he could break and put the wine glass down. As if that¡¯s someone¡¯s neck, he wanted to break it at once. Cigar smoke and wine aroma. Denis felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu as if he had been in the woman¡¯s room in Lubern. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only He staggered helplessly and went to bed. It felt like sleep was encroaching on him. It looked like he could sleep today. He thought he could. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 8 *** *** ¡°Your Majesty the King is looking for you.¡± ¡°¡­Tell him I¡¯ll change my clothes and go.¡± As soon as he returned to the palace, the King¡¯s attendant came to visit Denis as if he had waited. It had been less than an hour since he had returned from Newb Shabel. He could guess how much his father was worried that his confidence and reputation might have fallen due to the flood. ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry.¡± After the attendant left, Denis muttered to himself. ¡°Please bring me the prepared report.¡± ¡°All right, Prince.¡± Knowing that this would be the case, he had put together all the reports before leaving. Just enough to show. Denis pulled a corner of his mouth, and quickly took off his dusty clothes. Inside the luxuriously decorated tea room, Elliot and Denis were sitting facing each other. Elliot, as usual, had whiskey, and Denis was holding a teacup. Eliot drank an entire bottle of whiskey and said to him. ¡°It took a lot of work there. Thank you for coming back.¡± ¡°No. I have arrived safely. Thanks to the grace of His Majesty.¡± King Elliot congratulated Denis on his safe return from the flood damage. ¡°There is something impressive about the report.¡± Elliot had an expression of curiosity. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. There was someone who provided relief supplies.¡± ¡°What can I do for him?¡± Denis said without hesitation. ¡°Give him a title.¡± ¡°A title to him? What else does he want?¡± Denis said with his head bowed as if he didn¡¯t want to. ¡°There is none. I am only apologetic for not being able to raise Your Majesty¡¯s prestige to the Valois*.¡± [T/N: People of Valloise] ¡°Oh, no. Too much modesty is poison.¡± Even as he said that, Elliot chuckled as if he was pleased with Denis¡¯ remarks. ¡°You don¡¯t have a schedule in the afternoon, do you? I¡¯ll take you to a meal.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t ask for anything more, Your Majesty.¡± Elliot tapped Denis on the shoulder, and they walked out of the tea room together. *** ¡°As expected, Princess. The price of minerals is going down.¡± Daniel entered Tehez¡¯s office with a piece of the trend report. ¡°What about the Marquis of Benchetrit?¡± ¡°There are no abnormalities. It seems to be a temporary phenomenon.¡± ¡°Okay. Call Delphine and get him to release more supplies.¡± ¡°Yes, all right. And this week, there will be a ceremony.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯d come to the capital tomorrow? Mr Vincent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. In recognition of his contribution to saving flood damage in the Newb Shabel area, he has been given the title of Baron.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°We will arrange for an early meeting.¡± ¡°Thank you. You may leave now.¡± Even when he was told to leave, Daniel hesitated and stood there. ¡°¡­The physician will visit in half an hour.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± After Daniel left, Tehez got up and opened the window a little. It has been raining since yesterday. The thick scent of grass rushed into the tip of her nose. The sky was all grey. The emptiness and pessimism in someone¡¯s vivid green eyes came to mind. She did not like rainy days. Rather, this weather was his preference. Tehez poured coffee into an empty cup. The coffee was lukewarm, so it was good to control and ease her mind at the moment. When she was allowing herself to relax a little, there was a knock on the door. She placed the teacup on the table in perfect manners. ¡°Your Highness, the royal physician has arrived.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The moment the maid and the royal physician entered the office, they found the perfect Princess, who had erased all her weak thoughts in an instant, sitting in a composed manner. ¡°Your menstrual cycle has been delayed by a week this month.¡± The voice of the royal physician continued. ¡°How is your sleep?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s the same.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you more sleep.¡± ¡°I know that well.¡± The grey-haired physician looked at Tehez for a moment and began to write something down on the file. ¡°I heard that you are not exercising these days.¡± ¡°Be careful.¡± It was Tehez who had been busy with work recently and forgot to exercise. The old lady gave the same advice as last month. It¡¯s been five years. ¡°I recommend that you exercise at least three times a week. And you know it well, right? After having s*x with the prince, make sure you don¡¯t move for about 20 minutes and you must rest your back on a pillow.¡± ¡°I know that well, too.¡± ¡°Excessive tension and insomnia are not good for the baby¡¯s health. So cut back on your work.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight this month compared to last month. Increase your meals.¡± ¡°¡­I will.¡± After the regular check-up, the royal physician packed up and went out of the office, and Tehez, who had been sitting upright, collapsed. She soon buried her face in her hands. If she just goofs around and eats her food, she will be a very desirable princess that the royal family wants. It¡¯s already been five years. Hearing nagging under the guise of having her regular check-ups every month¡­ Meanwhile, Denise was never visited by any physician. Of course, he had his regular check-ups as a member of the royal family, but he didn¡¯t get the same advice as she did. He seemed free from the responsibility of not having children. The infertility was entirely the wife¡¯s fault. Tehez clenched her teeth. It was a gesture of desperation in order not to shed tears over this. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks If she had shed tears whenever she was sad, she might have died drowning in the tears she shed herself. She once thought all the sufferings had hardened her heart. It was valid to some extent, but¡­ ¡®So stupid.¡¯ She didn¡¯t feel any better when she cursed herself. It was still raining outside the window. Instead of someone who couldn¡¯t cry, the sky did not stop raining the whole day¡­ *** ¡°It¡¯s raining. Today is an official schedule after a long absence, so how about wearing this pink dress?¡± The dress that her handmaiden took out was dug up to the collarbone and had delicate flower patterns on a pink background. And it was a dress with three layers of lace and embellishments on the sleeves. ¡°The dress looks so gorgeous. I¡¯m going to the old house, so bring me something decent.¡± ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± ¡°How about this?¡± ¡°Yes, looks good.¡± The dress that the other maid had picked out was a dress made of turquoise fabric, and it didn¡¯t look too exaggerated. On top of that, there were few decorations, so it seemed appropriate for work. ¡°How about these shoes?¡± The shoes the maid brought were white shoes that she liked to wear. But Tehez was not willing to wear them. Sensing her mood, the maid quickly recommended another pair of shoes. ¡°Or how about these new shoes that you bought last time?¡± It was a pair of shoes made of goatskin that she had never worn since they were newly made. The overall colour of the shoes was black, but it was characterized by a flower pattern with red coloured thread on the front. And it was fitted with a slightly higher heel than the shoes she usually wears. She fiddled with the front of the shoes. She remembered whom she was thinking of as she ordered a higher heel than usual. ¡®It¡¯s black, so it shouldn¡¯t matter if it gets dirty from work.¡¯ ¡°Yes, please put them on.¡± *** In a breathtakingly quiet train¡­ Tehez sat quietly with her eyes closed. And Denis was reviewing the papers as he was shaken by the rattling train. After boarding the train an hour ago, they hadn¡¯t said a word to each other. ¡°We will arrive in 30 minutes.¡± A train attendant who knocked politely came and said. Tehez and Denis were on their way to attend the ceremony of a poor mansion located on the outskirts of the capital city, Lubern. Denise was scheduled to deliver a congratulatory speech at the ceremony, while Tehez was to do volunteer work. ¡°Did you not sleep last night?¡± Denis passed his words without taking his eyes off the papers. ¡°A little bit.¡± Tehez barely opened her mouth. Her voice seemed a little hoarse. It was because she went to bed later than usual as she was upset after the royal physician¡¯s visit yesterday. When she woke up, her complexion was not much different from usual. So she thought he wouldn¡¯t notice her condition, but¡­ ¡°How much?¡± Denis took off his glasses and tucked them into his coat pocket. Tehez turned the conversation around as if to avoid speaking a difficult answer. ¡°What about the Prince?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always the same for me.¡± Dennis put aside the documents he was looking at. ¡°Come here.¡± The special room of the train, which only VIPs could ride, was comfortable and spacious due to remodelling. Denis grabbed Tehez¡¯s shoulders and made her sit to his left. He grabbed Tehez by the neck and began to press her with a ruthless touch. Her back neck, shoulders, and waist were pressed tightly, so she complained in a shaky voice. ¡°It hurts.¡± ¡°Be patient.¡± Fortunately, her hazy head seemed to wake up. ¡°Come to your senses when we arrive. Because I can¡¯t keep watching you.¡± After he had finished speaking, Denis opened Tehez¡¯s collar so that his hands could cover the rest of her neck. ¡°I will.¡± *** ¡°Dear distinguished guests, The long-awaited poverty centre has been completed successfully.¡± Tehez sat with her back straight and watched him as he stood in front of the podium. She was fortunate enough to have come to her senses with Denis¡¯ help. It could have made it to the front page of the newspaper if the ¡®Princess¡¯ was found yawning at an official event. On the other side of her seat were members of Prince Fabrice¡¯s side, and behind her were a large number of nobles who had not yet expressed their support. Denis¡¯ resonant voice spread throughout the hall. Even today, his dazzling appearance and mellow voice were added to create even more destructive power. He shines the brightest when he stands in front of a crowd. He deserved the position of ruler. The King. ¡°¡­We will do our best to ensure that there are no more starving or sick children in Valloise. With this, I would like to end today¡¯s congratulatory speech.¡± When he finished speaking, all the ladies clapped their hands. ¡°It seems that the Prince¡¯s appearance is shining today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing new.¡± Tehez could hear the ladies gossiping. At the same time, Tehez could also feel the gaze toward her. Tehez looked ahead with her shoulders set straight, pretending not to know what the ladies were looking at. She couldn¡¯t even pretend to know everything. She could see him coming down from the platform. A natural smile on the lips, a dignified gait. There was even an absurd joke that if they decided who would inherit the throne based solely on the appearance, it would be Denis. That was never to say that Fabrice, the Second Prince, was not a handsome man. Rather, he inherited the King¡¯s appearance. However, since Denis¡¯ appearance was so good that it was said that he was sculpted by the Goddess of beauty, it was impossible to even compare his and Fabrice¡¯s appearance. But, ironically, his appearance also seemed to devalue his abilities. There was also a negative evaluation that he succeeded in anything as he was beautiful. If they had seen him work with their own eyes, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to say that. Tehez swallowed the words she couldn¡¯t get out of her mouth. Thus, Denise was, in name and reality, the object of socialite women¡¯s first love or unrequited love in Valloise. It was the same with Tehez. When she was a child, she secretly liked him. She even dreamed of marrying him. But- ¡°Princess, we will be serving meals for the children soon. We will now go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Tehez¡¯s thoughts ended with someone¡¯s calling. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 9 *** *** The newspaper reporters took pictures of Tehez serving meals. ¡°Look here, please smile.¡± At the same, continuous requests, Tehez smiled, holding a large pot, her hands slightly trembling. Another reporter grabbed the children who had finished eating, interviewed them, and scribbled something in their notebooks. In short, the dining hall was cluttered with children running, ladies and gentlemen who came to serve, and reporters all over the place. It was chaotic. In addition, Tehez was wearing her newly fitted shoes, so it was very uncomfortable. ¡®Don¡¯t show.¡¯ ¡®Should have worn comfortable shoes.¡¯ No one would hear her. Tehez clicked her tongue inwardly. She did her best not to limp despite the aching pain. She was in a layered dress, and sweat kept dripping down her back. ¡°Princess! Give me that heavy pot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can carry this.¡± ¡°Oh, no, no. Please let me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Tehez looked at the lady, who dared to take the heavy pot away from her, even when she said it was fine. The lady had recently got married and became a Viscountess. ¡®What are you up to?¡¯ ¡°Madam! What are you doing?! How can you hold something so heavy when you¡¯re pregnant?¡± Another middle-aged lady came to her, astonished, and took the pot away from her. ¡°That¡¯s all right! I¡¯m in a period of stability, so I don¡¯t mind at this point.¡± Viscountess Darius replied with an innocent smile. ¡®You took the pot to come out like this.¡¯ Tehez, who couldn¡¯t even laugh at the Viscountess¡¯ clumsy tricks, just quietly cleaned up the plates. Both the middle-aged lady and the Viscountess were on Prince Fabrice¡¯s side. ¡°Isn¡¯t it about a year since you got married?¡± ¡°Yes. Thankfully, the baby arrived quickly. I hope that the successor to the Viscount will be born healthy.¡± It was awkward to have a conversation for everyone to hear, present in front of her. Viscountess Darius looked vert anticipative, wondering how Tehez would respond. Tehez, who had her back turned to the Viscountess, took a turn and stood before her. ¡°Congratulations on your pregnancy. Viscountess, I didn¡¯t realize you were pregnant because we haven¡¯t had any interactions. Forgive me for my indifference.¡± Tehez replied bluntly. ¡°No, no. What do you mean by forgiveness? Please don¡¯t say it! I couldn¡¯t tell you because I only stayed in the bedroom because of my poor health after pregnancy.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll pray to Nate for you to have a healthy heir.¡± ¡°Thank you, Princess. I¡¯ll also pray to Nate so that Princess will give birth to a healthy successor.¡± The Viscountess politely bowed her head to Tehez. ¡®I¡¯ve not even conceived, and she¡¯ll pray for a healthy successor?¡¯ Tehez was dumbfounded, and laughter swelled inside her, but she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take care of this one, and the Viscountess can help the ladies over there.¡± ¡°Thank you, Princess.¡± The Viscountess made similar fusses over and over again, and disappeared from the hall. Since then, Prince Fabrice¡¯s supporters have committed a series of inconspicuous acts. Tehez managed to get her act together. She didn¡¯t like them talking about things out of control. Things like children. She had to carry on her service skillfully while discarding the bothering thoughts from her mind. There was nothing easy about it. In fact, she was born the daughter of a high-ranking aristocrat, so she rarely did housework. Tehez had to do her best not to sigh inwardly and show signs of hardships. The corners of her mouth trembled from the constant smiling, all day long. In addition, her eyelids kept dropping as she couldn¡¯t sleep last night, and to make matters worse, her swollen, bruised feet ached with every step she took. She badly wanted to see someone sitting comfortably and chatting in the VIP room in the guesthouse. ¡°Thank you for coming today, Your Highness.¡± ¡°No, please call me again next time.¡± ¡°I wish you safety and peace on your way back.¡± She got on the train with the help of the staff. As soon as the door to the cabin closed, Tehez, who was standing upright, collapsed. She leaned against the back of her seat, staring at the ceiling. She was exhausted, both mentally and physically. Denis glanced at her and slid his tie loosely, which was tied around the collar. She will recover her stamina a little bit if they continue their journey as quietly as they had come. Then, in the afternoon, she would be able to see the work. At that moment, the smell of her body resembling a cool and fresh forest hit him. He walked and slightly lifted Tehez¡¯s skirt. He pulled out her small feet, hidden under the hem of the layered dress, and placed them on his thighs. Tehez shouted in surprise. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see?¡± He grabbed her struggling ankles, ripped the shoes off, and tossed them on the floor. ¡°Let go. It¡¯s dirty.¡± ¡°You should¡¯ve taken a good rest. Don¡¯t you know enough? Your feet are swollen.¡± Denis ran his fingertips down her scaly heel and clicked his tongue. ¡°Aaahh!¡± A groan of pain came out of her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m a princess. How could I have rested there tactfully? And that¡¯s because the shoes weren¡¯t tamed.¡± ¡°Have them off until we get there.¡± Tehez had no memory of being ignored by others for her appearance while growing up. It was partly because of her bloodline and partly because of the appearance she inherited from her beautiful mother. However, there was one drawback. She was a little shorter than the average. So, the problem was that when standing next to him, who was tall, she looked like a young lady who had just debuted in the social world, not his wife. She wanted to be recognized as his wife in front of others¡­ She had worn the black shoes to show him a little bit. The thrown shoes somehow looked like her own self¡­ Denis took out the glasses he had left on his coat and placed them over his nose, and soon started looking at the documents. Tehez wanted to let Denis know. He said she should have been sitting comfortably on the sofa in the VIP room while she was working with her shoes on and lifting heavy pots. ¡°¡­I can¡¯t take my shoes outside without thinking, even though I¡¯m a Princess.¡± She picked up the ruffled shoes and tucked her feet in. Her swollen feet couldn¡¯t even fit into the shoes. She forced her feet into them and straightened her back. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Denis looked at the papers and lifted his head to look into Tehez¡¯s face. Tehez looked out of his window and pretended nothing was wrong. Denis sighed at her and said to her. ¡°When are you going to take those shoes off?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take it off before I go to bed.¡± Denis took off the glasses he had just placed over his nose and put them in his pocket. He rubbed his forehead with his hand as if tired. ¡®Stubborn.¡¯ It was like hearing his own voice. Denis called her in a low voice. ¡°Really? Tehez.¡± Sitting in the opposite seat, he strode toward her. ¡°If that¡¯s what my wife wants.¡± Denise was fiddling with the side hair that had come out of her curls that had been curled since morning. ¡°It¡¯s enough. Isn¡¯t this your husband¡¯s job?¡± Tehez looked at him resentfully, but failed to strike his hand. ¡°No, Prince! If we do it here-¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. People won¡¯t know.¡± Dennis smiled seductively. He knelt down near Tehez¡¯s feet and took off the shoes again. He began stroking Tehez¡¯s ankles, calves and thighs under the dress. Teherz bit her lips tightly so as not to make any sound out of her mouth. It was a gentle touch, unlike the stubborn behaviour. Tehez was ashamed when he touched her swollen feet from standing all day in the new shoes. ¡°It¡¯s dirty, Prince. Stop¡­¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be dirty.¡± He was still teasing Tehez in a playful tone, but he carefully loosened her tight muscles. ¡°Are you very tired?¡± ¡°A little¡­¡± Tehez felt a fever rising at the tip of her ears. It was because he was acting too friendly. Tehez consciously turned her head to look out of the window. After leaving the station, the train was passing through a quiet countryside. Fortunately, there were no people in sight. It was only the two of them. His hands were hot with the heat, and Tehez¡¯s body, which had been very tense, gradually relaxed. Her eyelids were getting heavier. ¡°Please, Denis, stop¡­¡± Tehez stopped him with a feeling of helplessness as she had already been half captured by him. Because she didn¡¯t want to be a princess who nodded on the train. ¡°Sshh, Tehez¡­ Now is the time to sleep.¡± His smiling eyes were mischievous. *** In a deep, warm spring, I buried my face. Cover it with a sweet and moist spring, I couldn¡¯t rest. To the spring beneath the lush valley. Even today, I¡¯m going to drink with a spring that doesn¡¯t go away- ¡°Are you going to stop singing?¡± Tehez cried as she lay on the bed. ¡°Oh, Madam. I can¡¯t miss an opportunity like this.¡± Denis chuckled as he sat loosely on the chair next to the bed. On the train yesterday, she eventually lost consciousness and fell asleep. She went to the poverty centre with a body that didn¡¯t sleep properly, so her soft body couldn¡¯t stand it. When they arrived in the capital, Denis carried her as he didn¡¯t want her to wake up from her sleep. When they got off the train, there was a commotion. He told the courtiers that Tehez seemed to have collapsed from overwork. The maids came in and described how she came back last night and how wonderful the Prince was. Tehez returned to her bedroom like a princess rescued by her knight! At that point, she was unbearably ashamed. She was embarrassed. ¡®What should I do with my face and the prestige of the Princess? Why is that person so mischievous?!¡¯ There was something else that was more shameful. It was the fact that she came back to the palace in such a drowsy state and pushed herself onto him. He shook her up when she fell asleep. Only the long night was clear in the mist. It¡¯s not like she ate something wrong. How did she fall for it? Tehez did not understand herself well last night. She seemed to be possessed by Denis. Because of that, Tehez¡¯s fatigue was further accumulated. After the commotion, the royal physician came in and examined her, who had collapsed from overwork. She was simply asleep, so there was no problem. For that reason, Tehez was lying in bed pretending to be sick even though it was usually time for her work. In fact, her embarrassment was partly because she did not have the confidence to leave the bedroom. ¡°How long do I have to lay down, Prince?¡± Tehez asked sternly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Until you get better, yes?¡± Reading the documents, Denis replied indifferently. ¡°My wife has collapsed from overwork, so I think she should rest for another couple of days.¡± Tehez looked unhappy. ¡°So don¡¯t worry about anything and rest. The visit is over.¡± Standing up from his chair, he stroked Tehez¡¯s forehead gently. Under the bright morning sun, Denis¡¯ eyes looked fresh. ¡°Your husband will go out and work hard to earn money.¡± Dennis made Tehez¡¯s quilt once and went out of the room. The room where one escaped became silent in an instant. Tehez sighed and lay straight. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only She slept quite a lot yesterday, but she felt sleepy. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 10 *** *** As he walked out the door, the assistant spoke to him. Denis nodded his head as greeted by the courtiers passing by the hallway. ¡°How¡¯s the criticism?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Were you worried?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just that Your Majesty seems to be worried¡­¡± The assistant clouded the end of his words. Denis waved the paper he was holding. ¡°What?¡± The assistant said like it was the first time he had heard it. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear it? They say I might get a divorce soon.¡± Denis smiled and tapped the paper with the tip of his finger. ¡°I will sue the reporter who wrote the article.¡± The man shook his head and said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. If it¡¯s a low-grade journalist, it¡¯s understandable. Leave it.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Sir Richard is waiting in the office.¡± Denis raised an eyebrow once. ¡°All right.¡± At night, Denis took off his glasses and tilted his head back. His eyelids were heavy. He hadn¡¯t been able to sleep. He was writing a letter to someone. Even in a complicated situation, with the help of this person, he would be able to overcome it. He was sure. The man would surely help him, and he couldn¡¯t finish the sentence in the end. Holding his pen still, the ink dripped onto the paper. Black ink smeared on the white paper. He was nervous when he met Richard earlier in the day. Richard, his wife¡¯s brother. His words were enough to shake him. No, he was already a fragile tree swaying even in the slightest wind. The wind that shook him was that woman. She was the daughter of the man who killed his mother. She was the woman who took the seat next to him. And she was not afraid to do dirty things to put him on the throne. His wife. At the same time, she was the one who guided him to rest. She was the one who silently hugged the wounds he did not speak of, and the woman who sometimes caused him insomnia. He thought that things that were clear kept getting blurred in front of him. If you think of his mother, who eventually passed away miserably in the end, he should have never kept the woman close. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to cut off that slender, white neck and feel refreshed? There was even a time when he put his hand on Tehez¡¯s neck, who was asleep. The dawn was deep, and no one was passing by. He thought that if he killed her, he would not only be punished but also be doomed. He would also be glad to have avenged his mother¡¯s death, but he stopped, unable to grab hold of it. The slender neck that came into one of his hands, the calmness and pulsating blood vessels that stayed under his hand, made his hand pause. This woman. She was alive. It was something that he realized again. He was afraid of the fragile state of being broken. Like a flower that withers when you break its branch. Truly, it felt like he could take her life in an instant if he grabbed it. So, he was more afraid. He put Tehez¡¯s neck in his grasp, but couldn¡¯t break it, and wept silently in the dark. He didn¡¯t know the names of the emotions that got tangled up inside him. His mother, Queen Charlize, would sometimes embrace him and sing him lullabies. Although he was already old enough to sleep on his own, Charlize still stood by his side when he was barely walking. She sang lullabies, patting him gently on the back with her hands, like twigs that had withered from not eating properly. She cuddled him like a baby who was in his mother¡¯s arms. Denis felt both happiness and sorrow in his mother¡¯s arms. ¡°If you¡¯re still alive like this, Mother, I¡¯m satisfied with that.¡± ¡®Mother¡­¡¯ Denis slept a deep sleep that no one could break, only in his mother¡¯s arms. And, like in the arms of his mother, who embraced him and sang a lullaby, he could only rest comfortably in Tehez¡¯s arms. At that time, he found it difficult to see his mother¡¯s eyes as if he were looking into the eyes of a fish that had already died. The eyes of a mother who was dying little by little, every day, in an imprisoned and desolate place. The dead black eyes did not illuminate anything. When those eyes suddenly came to mind, Denis had a hard time enduring the rising anger and sadness. He lost his mother tragically, and he spent every night with the daughter of the man who made caused the tragedy. It was treachery. His situation was ridiculous. Denis looked down at the tainted paper over the unfinished sentence. He got up and went to the window. It was a window located at the end of the office, with a view of the garden where Tehez often stayed. He opened the window slightly, took a cigar from the box and lit it. The scent of wet grass, dewy in the night, reached the tip of his nose. At the same time, the bitter and pungent smell of cigars permeated the room. Sitting on the throne, punishing those who killed her mother, trying to cruelly abandon her. He was trying to get revenge on his mother¡¯s culprits. But if it¡¯s like this¡­ Denis suddenly felt disgusted and rubbed off his cigar. He then returned to his cold bedroom, knowing that he would never fall asleep. He felt like he had to endure the night alone today. Like a punishment you inflict on yourself. *** Fabrice and a woman were seated at a tea table in the garden of Fabrice¡¯s palace. It was a stiff atmosphere, as if it were trying to negotiate with a trading partner. ¡°I would like to have a national wedding after a year of engagement, My prince.¡± Giselle, the young lady of the Lemac family, who sat in a perfect posture as taught in her lessons, opened her mouth. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, Lady Giselle.¡± ¡°And I¡¯d like to draw up a contract that stipulates this.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Fabrice rarely found it difficult to find words. ¡°Yes, My Prince. With all due respect, my family doesn¡¯t jump into anything that will cause damage.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they don¡¯t.¡± Fabrice stroked his chin as if contemplating. ¡°So, we have to do this in the best interest of all of us.¡± After Giselle finished her words, she raised her chin. The attitude of a businesswoman who would not easily back down from negotiations was seen. Fabrice admired Giselle¡¯s confident attitude. How dare and arrogant to be in front of a noble, a true blood, when you bought the title of a nobleman. Fabrice brushed his naturally flowing hair to capture the frown on her face. ¡°It makes sense.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve drafted the engagement agreement in advance, Prince.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± Fabrice meekly agreed. ¡°However.¡± Fabrice stared at Giselle. Like a beast that doesn¡¯t want to lose its upper hand. ¡°I need time to review, so why not discuss it in detail at the next meeting?¡± ¡°Of course, Prince.¡± Giselle lifted her teacup as if she had nothing more to say. Fabrice also sat silently. It was a starkness that didn¡¯t appear to be engaged. After teatime, Fabrice returned to his office and roughly took off his coat. The servant was waiting for him. ¡°How was your meeting with the Lady Lemac?¡± ¡°She talks a lot and is arrogant.¡± Fabrice, who answered bluntly, threw a bunch of papers at the attendant. ¡°Look at this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a contract.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a marriage contract.¡± Having said that, Fabrice took off the colourful tie embroidered with silver thread in the purple fabric, tied tightly around his neck, and threw it to the floor. Still, not enough, he unbuttoned some of the shirt buttons that were clasping his neck. He frowned as he touched his neck, uncomfortable with the tightness. It was then that he returned to his usual carefree face. ¡°Bring me a drink. Because I feel bad.¡± ¡°The sun is still bright. Prince, and you have an appointment with Baron Barbier soon.¡± ¡°Do you want to die?¡± Fabrice stared at the servant. The servant hurriedly bowed his head. Now Fabrice¡¯s eyes were on the verge of doing anything. The servant was well aware of that look through his many years of experience with him. Fabrice gave the order as if to only get it done. ¡°Cancel the schedule.¡± ¡°Okay, Prince.¡± The servant took out the drink without saying a word and went outside without the sound of footsteps audible. Fabrice, who sat on the bed, mixed white powder with the strong liquor brought by the servant and drank it at once. He knew well that it was time to be careful of everything he did. Even with a single word and gesture, the support fluctuated. Daily newspapers published reports predicting which Prince would prevail and who would become King. Of course, people¡¯s support would be useless in front of the will of the King, who would take off his crown only to pass it on to the next. He could feel the heat and the mood rising. His heart seemed to beat fast. He firmly believed that he was the next King. His father loved him more than the First Prince. It was evident. So, even after he had a breakup, wouldn¡¯t his father have given him a girl from a leading family as his fiancee? In addition, he was the child of Queen Marianne, a high-ranking noble. So, of course, the King must love him more. It would be even impossible to even compare him, especially with commoners. ¡®Dare to dream of the throne because you are the firstborn, a subject to dirty, common blood?¡¯ Fabrice hated his half-brother more than anyone in the world. He seemed to have forgotten even the fact that he had been quite intimate with Denis in the past. It¡¯s enough to get rid of the things he doesn¡¯t like, but it¡¯s not the time yet. To do that, he must gather more forces to support him. It¡¯ll be over when everything¡¯s clear. ¡°Haah.¡± ¡®Can¡¯t wait to kill him.¡¯ He poured the golden liquid into the glass. It can be assumed that the last s*x scandal was also leaked from there. Otherwise, Xavier wouldn¡¯t have gone crazy and gone to the police to turn himself in. And Xavier, who was of good use, was also imprisoned. Fabrice laughed frantically. He was in high spirits. Xavier¡¯s last vividly replayed in his head. He was terrified and incontinent. What was it like to be incontinent in fear? ¡®King, King, Prince. Please s-save me-¡¯ Xavier, who was kicked in the abdomen before he could finish his last words, collapsed with a thud. ¡®Take the body and throw it away.¡¯ If it wasn¡¯t for the scandal, there would have been no insults from the Lemac girl. It was not in his rulebook to leave insults as insults. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only He began to think happily about how he could give it back. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 11 *** *** A small room adjoining Tehez¡¯s office. Several people were busy moving among the documents, materials, and newspapers scattered here and there. ¡°Where are the results of the last investigation ordered by the Princess?¡± ¡°Here it is, Danielle.¡± Ellie handed the material to her. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll find it at first. And then, a survey of aristocratic trends.¡± ¡°Okay, alright.¡± Among the maids, including Danielle, a man came in silently. As if he had bombarded a living room, he immersed himself in the middle of a frantic room, as if he was familiar with it, and greeted her brightly. ¡°Good morning, Danielle.¡± ¡°The Princess is out now, and I cannot tell you where she has been.¡± Danielle didn¡¯t even look at her side where the man came in and shouted out Tehez¡¯s whereabouts. The man glanced at Danielle¡¯s face. Her skin had become rough as if she had worked overtime for several days. And he thought he had seen that dress a few days ago. ¡°It¡¯s not about the Princess. I¡¯m here to see Danielle. Can¡¯t I?¡± The man spoke softly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. How about saying hello?¡± The man approached Danielle with a friendly smile and gently touched Daniel¡¯s shoulder and the back of her neck. Danielle felt good as her neck was loosened by the hands of the man, but she did not express it. ¡°If you fall into the water, your mouth will twitch. And what have you been up to? You were here three days ago.¡± Danielle shook off the man¡¯s hand. Her head was pounding because it was time for the Princess to come to the office. And she couldn¡¯t believe this crazy man was here in broad daylight. ¡°Three days! It¡¯s been three days! Then is it not been a long time? Felt like three years! Did you not feel it.¡± The man was exaggeratedly weeping and clinging to Danielle. ¡°Oh, go away. Go away. You¡¯re distracting me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Danielle, the Prince is out right now, so I¡¯m here to play!¡± In the room, as if he couldn¡¯t hear Danielle¡¯s shout, he sat elegantly in the chair that was barely vacant in the chaotic space. Then he raised one of his hands and called for Ellie. It was like calling a waitress at a cafe. ¡°Ellie, can I have a cup of coffee?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ellie, who was organizing the data, quietly got up from her seat. Danielle then slapped the back of his head and said, ¡°Hey, you go make it! You p*nk. Ellie is a high-end worker, don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± ¡°Hey, what are you wearing on your head? There is an empty sound. Are you like that too?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± After being hit by Danielle, the man pretended to have tears in his eyes as if his head hurt. Then, he got up from his seat and boiled the water naturally. As if he was going to make it from the beginning. He took out a glass bottle of coffee beans as if he already knew where they were. ¡°I heard that there are people who pursue a minimalistic life in the kingdom these days? What do you call such people? What did you say¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Oh, my memory isn¡¯t what it used to be back then. Anyway, I heard it¡¯s their job to throw everything away. Are you like that, too?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I thought you had minimized what was in your brain.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s possible. In my head, my affection and interest in Danielle? That¡¯s the only thing I have.¡± Sylvan opened his eyes and made an innocent expression. ¡°Oh, really.¡± Danielle clenched and opened her fist and looked at Sylvan. Perhaps Danielle and Sylvan¡¯s whining was typical, so the people in the room did their jobs and didn¡¯t care about the two. ¡°But you! Can I come and play with you like this when the Prince is out? Or do you want to come to me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re meritocratic, so you don¡¯t blame yourself for taking a break if you do everything you have to do. Oh, my God. The Prince should know how you look right now. You are only acting cute here, but you tremble in front of the Prince.¡± ¡°You¡¯re as coy as I am. You know we¡¯re being flirtatious, but we¡¯re just not showing off!¡± Not a word was lost against Danielle. ¡°Huh? You should find something to do before the Prince speaks. Well, this little one is out of his mind, and he only does what he is told to.¡± Suddenly Danielle started giving a speech. The expression on Sylvan¡¯s countenance became strange, as if something was expected. ¡°When I was young, before the Princess told me, I stayed up all night to finish my work. Oh, and, when I was young, I couldn¡¯t imagine playing in the middle of business hours like this¡­¡± As Danielle¡¯s nagging seemed to be getting longer, he threw away the coffee he was pouring and got up quickly. ¡°Oops! There seems to be some work that I forgot to do. Ellie, goodbye. Danielle, I¡¯ll be back next time!¡± Then he hurriedly ran away. ¡°No? Hey! You¡¯re saying that adults work their blood and flesh, but you don¡¯t listen, and you dare run away from me? Hey, you p*nk!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to go now¡­¡± The book that Danielle threw away did not reach the man even by accident. It was before he even finished his greetings. The laughter of those who watched the two echoed in the room. *** ¡ºThe death of pr*stitutes occur one after another, the cause of death is being investigated.¡» ¡ºIn-Depth Analysis by Madame Elle ¨C Characteristics of the 1st Princess and the 2nd Preparatory Princess¡¯ Dressing style.¡» ¡ºWhat is the choice of the First Prince at the crossroads?¡» Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks The First Prince, who benefited from the scandal of the Second Prince, fell into trouble again. This is because the fiancee of the Second Prince has been named the Lady of the Lemac Family. The Count of Lemac is an emerging aristocrat who has accumulated capital from the Bank of Lemac Castle and the top of the Great Lemac Fortress. The Lemac family¡¯s claim to continue to support the Second Prince with their abundant capital is gaining momentum. In addition, rumours that an influential figure in the centre supports the Second Prince have also become a fait accompli, raising more support for the Second Prince. On the other hand, the First Prince faced a difficult situation with no tricks. Some people highly value the reigning power of the First Prince, who managed to get rid of the flood damage, while others evaluate that the First Prince did not do anything with relief support through an anonymous helper. In the midst of the conflict between the two Princes, the First Prince is in a difficult situation without a clear expression of support from an influential figure, along with news of his succession that has been unsuccessful for many years. Attention is focused on how to solve the problem. Le Figaro Newspaper ¨C Reporter Jeremy Andr¨¦] *** Tehez frowned. Reporter Jeremy Andr¨¦. It seemed that she needed to find out what kind of greeting it was. ¡°What are you reading with so much focus?¡± Denis, who suddenly came in without knocking, seemed to have gotten used to it now. Tehez, with a surprised expression on her face, naturally folded the newspaper and set it aside on one side of the desk. She turned around as if she was looking at another article. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a tennis tournament coming up soon.¡± ¡°My wife is not interested in sports.¡± ¡°Not these days. I go for a walk once every two days, and I also do horseback riding.¡± Tehez added that it was because of the royal physician¡¯s advice. ¡°I¡¯m sure you are.¡± Denis, who replied bluntly, sat down on the sofa in front of Tehez¡¯s desk and loosened his tie. He also looked dark and tired because he had not slept for several days. ¡°I feel tired.¡± Denis sat down, raising one of his arms to cover his eyes. ¡°Would you like some tea, Prince?¡± Tehez got up and grabbed a teapot. ¡°No more tea. Tehez, come here.¡± Denis tapped the seat next to him. Tehez sat down next to him. ¡°Can you put me to sleep for a while?¡± Denis placed his head on Te Hez¡¯s lap. It was as light as a feather. ¡°Just 15 minutes.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to sleep more?¡± ¡°Well, I have about an hour to spare. There is a meeting in the afternoon¡­ the review is not yet¡­ finished¡­¡± He closed his eyes and then took a deep breath. Tehez looked down at his so-called sculptural face. The neatly curled eyebrows were really long. It was the first time she looked down at his face like this. Because he was the one to always looked down on Tehez. She wished she could rest a little as well. Tehez reached out and picked up a book from the corner of the desk. It was an adventure story of an explorer who discovered a new continent. She didn¡¯t have time to read it, so she couldn¡¯t go forward. ¡®How many times did I read this?¡¯ At noon, the sun rose high and lit Tehez¡¯s office. Suddenly, the sun was stinging, and she stretched her hand over Denis¡¯ face to make a shade. Denis was sleeping like a baby. ¡®My duty, my responsibility¡­ my ruined fist love.¡¯ Tehez was lost in thought as she looked at Denis sleeping under the shadow of her own hand. There was nothing but duty and responsibility between them. In fact, it would have been self-deception. ¡®It must be very difficult to fall in love with someone who hates me.¡¯ ¡®You don¡¯t love me¡­¡¯ Tehez traced Denis¡¯ face with her fingers. As if to touch, but not to touch. ¡°It tickles.¡± Denis opened his closed eyes. The fresh green eyes that had been hidden under the eyelids were revealed. His voice, which had just woken up, and was slightly locked, was attractive. ¡°I didn¡¯t even touch you, Prince.¡± Tehez hid her hands behind her back. Like a kid who stole something. ¡°How many minutes have passed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been thirty minutes, Prince. Let¡¯s go now.¡± Tehez raised Denis coldly. ¡°D*mn, my wife is so cold-hearted.¡± Tehez stood up from her seat, not responding to Denis¡¯ words. It seemed that her legs were a little numb. ¡°Thank you for lending me your lap, Madam. I¡¯d like to thank you.¡± Denis looked at Tehez, and re-tied his loose tie. Tehez stared blankly as he tied his tie. Returning to his usual perfect Prince persona, he looked overly radiant. ¡°Can I ask you on a date?¡± Denis bent over exaggeratedly at his waist, spoke politely, and raised the corners of his lips to let out a cool laugh. It was the smile that made her fall in love. ¡°How about going to tennis together?¡± ¡°¡­Sounds good.¡± Is there a woman in Valloise who can turn down his offer? She was able to affirm that there was none. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was because he was too attractive. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 12 *** *** ¡°Danielle, what was in that bag?¡± Sylvan, holding a drink in one hand and a cookie in the other, snooped into Danielle¡¯s bag. ¡°Stop eating. You¡¯re going to eat it all!¡± Danielle handed the packed food to him despite being mean. ¡°What do you mean, are you eating it for the first time? Let me eat!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so talkative. Leave mine alone! They could hear Sylvan and Danielle sitting in the back seat, quarrelling with each other. ¡°What did Madam bring?¡± Denis pointed to the picnic box next to Tehez. ¡°Well, everything will be delicious because it¡¯s prepared in the royal kitchen.¡± It was sincere. It was prepared by the best chef in Valloise, so it will be quite tasty even if it cools down. ¡°My wife is really not romantic.¡± Denis looked deflated at Tehez¡¯s words. Outdoor tennis. It was the date she promised Denis last time. After watching the game, she brought something to eat for a picnic in a nearby park. Approaching summer. It felt like the hot season was fast approaching due to the recent rain. She looked up at the sky once. The bright, scorching sun felt hot. ¡°The weather is hot.¡± It was a complaint as small as talking to herself. ¡°Princess, your skin is burning. Here, parasol.¡± One of her maids tilted the parasol, which she was holding, further towards Tehez. One by one, the crowd filled up the empty seats. As players appeared on both courts, the crowd clapped their hands. A coin was tossed to decide who would go first in the game. The player from the nobility was the first. Benoit Gobert, a nobleman, was on the right, and on the left, Jannik Mei, a commoner. Benoit naturally passed the ball over the net, and Jannik got the ball and turned it over again. Really, it was a close battle with no way of predicting who would win. Benoit took the points first, and Jannik also scored without losing. ¡°He¡¯s pretty good at it.¡± The loud clash of the ball hitting the racket resounded loudly in the hall. Tehez could hear a small chatter from the crowd in the back seat. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t Benois still win?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Jannik looks like he is in great shape today.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet on Benoit.¡± ¡°I bet on Jannik.¡± It looked like they were betting on the outcome of the match. Tehez knew the rules of the game of tennis, but this was the first time she had seen it in person. She felt alive when she saw the players running around the court and hitting the ball. Denis, sitting next to her, watched the game without taking his eyes off it. The match, which seemed to be boiling, began to change in the second half. As if Jannik had lost his strength, mistakes began to appear. Without missing this, Benoit attacked. The second half was one-sided. A player from the nobility was pushing his opponent. ¡°That player looks like he¡¯s being beaten with a ball.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a commoner, right? I was looking forward to it. Tsk.¡± ¡°What about the bet?¡± People sitting in the hall could be heard chattering. Nothing unusual happened. It was a victory for a player of noble origin. As the commoner was breathing hard, the opponent smiled, wiping off his sweat. Newspaper reporters ran out and began interviewing the winning player. ¡°What¡¯s the winning factor today?¡± ¡°Should I say it¡¯s a skill that I¡¯ve been honing? Haha.¡± ¡°Really! That¡¯s right. We watched a good match.¡± The player who expressed his feelings in a confident tone laughed aloud so that all his neat teeth were exposed. Tehez saw Jannik organizing his luggage across the court where Benoit was interviewed. His back looked all sweaty and grey. The crowd was kicking their tongues, apparently expecting a commoner to win. After the interview with Benoit, the reporters went to Jannik and talked to him. ¡°What was the factor in your defeat today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because I¡¯m not good enough.¡± Jannik replied bitterly. Another reporter then asked him. ¡°If you look at the performance of recent matches, you are on the poor side. What do you think is the reason? Are you in a slump?¡± Jannik bit his lip as if he couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°¡­I never thought of it that way. I never did.¡± ¡°And one more thing. Jannik, there was a rumour about your romantic relationship with the playwright Emma Junes last time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°Wait a minute! Please answer me! Jannik!¡± ¡°Please also answer why you swore in the last game!¡± Jannik roughly packed his luggage into the bag so the reporters wouldn¡¯t follow him and ran across the court and out of the arena. Several reporters followed and ran after him. It was an awful sight. ¡°Shall we go back to the palace?¡± There was no expression on Denis¡¯ face as he stood up. But Tehez knew instinctively. That he was not feeling very well. That he was thinking of a past that he wanted to forget. Tehez hurriedly grabbed Denis¡¯ sleeve as he turned around. But if he goes back like this, he will sink deeply alone again. ¡°Prince! Why don¡¯t you eat the lunch that the chef made for us in the park?¡± ¡°¡­I feel tired. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Tehez hastily suggested something else. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Otherwise, there is a restaurant famous for grilled trout around here. If that¡¯s okay with you, why don¡¯t we eat before we return home?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± ¡°Well, then, there¡¯s a lake just a short way by carriage, from there-¡± ¡°Madam, please let¡¯s go back.¡± Denis cut her off. He was being respectful to Tehez. Denis was usually polite to everyone else, but her. Except when joking around. Being respectful to Tehez meant that he didn¡¯t want to say anything anymore. It was Denis¡¯ way of speaking that she should be respectful to drawing the line. Denis¡¯ mouth, which was closed coldly, did not open until she returned to the palace. It had been a long time since she had spent time with him. In the end, it ended badly. Tehez was disappointing. She returned to her bedroom to pick wine corks to end the day that had ended in a bad mood. She felt troubled. What was she supposed to say to Denis at that moment? Was it right not to offer any consolation? What would be the right thing to say if she was to comfort him? Tehez didn¡¯t know the answer. It would have been easy if the emotions were excluded. What is needed and what is not. Her world was divided into only two things. Take what you need, throw what you don¡¯t. But why she didn¡¯t want him to look sad? Her feelings have nothing to do with his succession to the throne, and she should not worry about such things. Although she tried to ignore it, Tehez kept reminded of Denis¡¯ shadowed face. Denis had an inferiority complex that he was a commoner. That¡¯s why he was more strict with himself to look royal. He was the ¡®son of a commoner.¡¯ That was another name Denis had. Tehez was well aware of how he was treated by the conservative aristocrats. And how badly the media chewed on his story when he lost Queen Charlize. But being aware of it and pretending to know it was clearly two different things. Although she knew it well, she had never brought the matter up in front of Denis. She came from a line of conservative high-ranking aristocrats whom he despised. The youngest daughter of a renowned Marquis in Valloise. Her father was the Foreign Minister, and her brother was an employee of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Besides, she also grew up without difficulty and became a Princess. He didn¡¯t know what she would be like from inside, but on the surface, she was a young girl from a noble family who didn¡¯t know anything about the world. So her consolation to him, who has a sense of inferiority, would probably sound like easy-to-do lip service. If only she could comfort him¡­ Tehez felt her chest tighten. She wanted to know how to fit in his world. She wanted to know how to do it right. She took out a Temalion, not a LaRoute, and poured it into a glass. She opened the window, and as a habit, looked out of the window. She hoped that the cool breeze would soothe her stuffy heart a little. The moonlight fell, and the gentle wind puffed up the curtains like freshly made bread. The garden she looked at casually, under the white moonlight¡­ She should see a silhouette. Seeing a familiar figure, she tried to get up hastily, but her knee hit the table. The wine glass, which had been shaken, fell to the floor. There was a bang, a breaking sound, and the wine glass shattered against the flawless marble. Broken glass and blood-red wine glistened in the moonlight, forming a river. But she approached the window as if possessed by a stranger and knew neither the turmoil nor the pain in her knee. It was him who stood in the garden like the Spirit of the Night. It was Denis in a precarious atmosphere that seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye. Tehez ran out, forgetting her dress was painted red. If it wasn¡¯t a dream, she wanted to hold on to the Spirit of the Night before he disappeared. As I went down to the garden panting, she saw him standing without moving. ¡°Prince.¡± She called him, standing three steps behind him. ¡°Tehez.¡± Denis turned his back and looked at her as if he had just woken from his deep sleep. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you hurt?¡± Denis pointed to Tehez¡¯s skirt. She could feel his eyes scouring every corner to see if there were any injuries. When she looked down, her dress was stained with wine, like blood. ¡°No, no. I just spilled a little wine.¡± Tehez added hastily. ¡°It¡¯s a big deal.¡± Denis relaxed his shoulders and took a deep breath, perhaps reassured by her answer that she wasn¡¯t hurt. Maybe she was out of breath, so her chest increased its volume and then reduced it repeatedly. Tehez was watching the series of actions silently. Under the moonlight, he was breathtakingly beautiful. His face looked pale as usual. Somehow, it felt pitiful or innocent. His shoulders, which were always proudly stretched out, seemed exceptionally small. ¡®A weak look doesn¡¯t suit you.¡¯ Tehez called him carefully, as if watching a wounded beast. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± One step. ¡°Were you taking a walk?¡± One step. ¡°You can¡¯t sleep?¡± The last step. ¡°It was quite hot today, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Teherz approached him, exchanging words. Dennis didn¡¯t seem to have noticed yet that she was coming closer. Tehez reached out her hand, and stood in front of him. He raised his hand and clasped it with hers. She felt the warmth of his cold hands. She wanted to comfort him. He placed their clasped hands on his chest and squeezed them tightly. Her heart swelled as it slipped out of her grip like whipped cream. Tehez looked directly at Denis. Even in Denis¡¯ eyes, a small spark could be seen. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Would you mind lowering your head a little?¡± (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 13 *** *** Tehez grabbed his face with both hands, raised her head and pressed her lips against his. His tepid lips were glad to be warmed by her temperature. The sound of the rustling of leaves spread through the garden, where the sound of grass insects had ceased. Tehez opened her slightly closed eyes and looked at him. Cheeks reddened with heat, wrinkles caught between the brows while concentrating, voluminous eyelashes and closed eyes. All of that ignited her excitement. Tehez caressed his broad back and waist. As she lifted her head, the twinkling grace continued between the two, then broke. His shiny lips looked luscious. Being held in Denis¡¯ arms always gave her a familiar scent. The scent of his beloved cigar and the scent of the refreshing forest. ¡®I want to have you.¡¯ Tehez took a step away, lifted her skirt a little and looked at the red-tinted skirt. She felt his gaze on her from the tip of her skin. She was enveloped in a pleasant sense of exaltation. The moonlight poured on her white legs. Teherz clasped her skirt and smiled an alluring smile. ¡°I spilled wine, and it got dirty like this. It¡¯s late at night, so all are asleep. What do I do? Prince, will you wash me?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Tehez held Denis¡¯ hand and pulled him away. She returned to her bedroom holding Denis¡¯ hand and took off his shirt. As she ripped off his shirt with her desperate hands, some of the buttons fell to the floor and rolled on their own. Denis stopped her as she tried to pull down his pants. ¡°Tehez.¡± He glanced at her legs with wine flowing. Before she knew it, the wine had dried up on her legs. ¡°Prince, does that matter now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s important. It looks like you¡¯re bleeding.¡± Eventually, Denis led Tehez to the bathroom. He took off her dress in a heartbeat and dropped Tehez into the bathtub. ¡°Prince.¡± Embarrassed and confused, Tehez hurriedly called for him. She didn¡¯t mean to do this. He found a bath brush hanging in the corner. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°What kind of perfumed body wash do you use? This? Or this?¡± Denis tilted his head in confusion as he looked at the two bottles. ¡°¡­The one on the left.¡± Teherz pointed her finger at her favourite. His concentration was not as precarious as it was a while ago. She¡¯d be glad if it was a relief, but the atmosphere seemed to be ruined. He opened the bottle¡¯s lid and poured it all over the tub. The smell of roses, which was darker than usual, spread to the bathroom, perhaps due to the wrong amount of usage. Tehez had a throbbing headache. ¡°¡­¡± Denis sprayed warm water over her legs. Then he began to gently rub the dried wine with a bath brush. ¡°How are you? Does it hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Tell me if you are sick.¡± He wiped her legs with a soft touch. In the damp bathroom, Denis was sweating and washing her. Perhaps because he was immersed in the bath, Denis¡¯ forehead was wrinkled, and sweatdrops were rising from his forehead. Tehez pulled up her mouth and smiled silently. Either way, if he felt better, it was a relief for her. Tehez raised her submerged hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead. As Tehez¡¯s hand touched his forehead, Dennis, who was concentrating on her legs, looked up. At that moment, Denis and Tehez¡¯s eyes met head-on. Denis raised one corner of his mouth and laughed playfully. Like a bad boy planning a prank. Denis put down her brush and began to touch her leg with a smooth touch. His hand reached her thigh, which had no wine on it. Ah. Tehez¡¯s heart beat fast. Clearly, it was not an act of washing. Denis¡¯ eyes were those that wanted to tarnish her. *** The door squeaked open and closed at dawn, and she heard someone¡¯s footsteps moving away. Tehez woke up and found the bed empty, as expected. She swept the cold seat with her hands. ¡®You left.¡¯ He never waited for her to wake up. It could have been a consideration of its own to rest in peace. But Tehez¡¯s idea was different. She thought he felt guilty about having breakfast with her in the same bed. The night just a few hours ago was like an old dream. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡®If I wasn¡¯t Ingeliger, would we be different?¡¯ She even imagined such a hopeless situation. Anything could have been done in a night when the boundaries were unclear. On a night when everyone was asleep, he came to Tehez, hugged her, and made her cry in pleasure¡­ She can¡¯t have both his day and night. That would be greed. Knowing that, her greed was growing without knowing the limit. ¡°Princess, did you wake up?¡± There was a call for her outside the door. ¡°Yes, come in.¡± It was time to get back to reality. *** Matthieu Briem, Duke of Briem, was a cold-hearted and sensitive person. It was thanks to his judgment that he made appropriate decisions whenever necessary and put the Duke on top of the rock. His biggest misjudgment was Queen Charlize. In fact, opinions were divided on the matter. Half of the respondents said that Duke Briem was harsh, and half said his judgment was excellent. To listen to those who positively evaluated the case, it was a story after all. He dethroned an ignorant and lowly Queen who was a commoner and had not been adequately educated, and in addition, he appointed the daughter of the Duke of Briem as the Queen and established the foundation of the country. However, the arguments of the opposing camp fiercely refuted the view. The main assertions were that the process of dethroning Queen Charlize was unclear, that he took the life of the deceased and kept it for his children, and that he caused a conflict between the two Princes over the Crown Prince position. However, it was difficult to argue right from wrong over what he had done at this point. It was because he was still a tax collector. When he dethroned Queen Charlize, it was the Old Nobility who participated. Including the Duke of Briem, the Marquis of Ingeliger, the Counts of Liddell, the Count of Grimaldi, the Barons of Fland, etc. Even twenty years later, even with the emergence of new nobles, the old nobles did not lose their power and were firmly defending their domain. At that time, the Duke of Briem and the Marquis of Ingeliger were well-matched companions. But their feud erupted at the time of the new Queen. Matthieu tried to put his daughter on the throne, and the Marquis of Ingeliger tried to put his sister on the throne. The result was a victory for the Duke of Briem. From then on, the two went on as if they were enemies. Such a broken alliance never retook hold. Because the Marquis of Ingeliger had pushed his daughter into Denis, Matthieu¡¯s enemy side. Denis was, in a way, a great man. But it was like putting his daughter in the middle of the enemy camp. Matthieu Briem was now old. All his glory and slander were a thing of the past. His judgment, which was like a sharp knife, often faded, and his memories came and went. He kept forgetting things. The atrocities of Fabrice, which would have been severely reprimanded in the past, continued to pass. So was this case. When Fabrice¡¯s incident floated in the capital, Matthieu found the child who was self-reflecting. He seemed to be reflecting on himself a lot as he sat down feeling weak. ¡°Prince, you have to be careful in your actions from now on.¡± Fabrice grunted and answered. ¡°Okay. I was just hanging out with Xavier. You know very well.¡± ¡°Yes. It must be because the Prince resembles Marianne, and you¡¯re so kind that you can¡¯t throw out bad friends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Grandpa. I made it clear that I didn¡¯t want to go.¡± Saying so, Fabrice took Matthieu¡¯s wrinkled hand. Fabrice called Matthieu his maternal grandfather, not the Duke, whenever he was in trouble. Fabrice knew that Matthieu was weak against his pitiful expression. In the eyes of Duke Briem, who looked up, the strictness that tried to punish him disappeared, and was filled with only affection. ¡°I will surely put our Prince on the throne. By Matthieu Briem.¡± ¡°Really? I just have to stay still, right?¡± ¡°Of course. Just trust me, My Prince Fabrice.¡± Matthieu said so and patted Fabrice on the shoulder. The sullen look did not suit his grandson. Looking at Fabrice smiling broadly, his daughter Marianne¡¯s face overlapped at first glance. His daughter, who died a week after Julien¡¯s birth. Alone without a mother, his eldest grandson was both proud and pitiful, and the Duke did not get angry even if he took the commoners and killed them. And by his standards, commoners were no different from cattle or pigs. Animals that only complain about all day long. Cattle and pigs provide them with labour and food, but they have no complaints. For that reason, Matthieu sometimes thought cattle and pigs were better than commoners. ¡°When we meet again, I will bring reinforcements to support the Prince.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯ll be looking forward to it, Grandfather.¡± Fabrice smiled broadly and saw him off. Matthieu stepped out of the palace with his cane. He had a dulled head. What would he like to put on Fabrice¡¯s back? Even if this old man dies, the family must have the power to safely put Fabrice on the throne and protect him. Matthieu, after careful consideration, interweaved the Lady Lemac nuptials with Fabrice. Of course, it was him who selected the fiance, but the final decision was made by Elliot. The daughter of a new aristocratic family whom he had so much to hate. It was only then that he realized that he was doing something that didn¡¯t add up. ¡®I¡¯ve aged a lot.¡¯ Matthieu gave a self-help laugh. His face was full of wrinkles, reflected in the waving glass of wine. Still, he had work to do. It will probably be the last achievement of his life. Raising Fabrice to the throne. He will not be able to close his eyes until the task is completed. Matthieu drank the liquid from the glass. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was still too early to lie down in the coffin. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 14 *** *** On the day of the conferment ceremony. The momentum of the summer heat in Lubern did not stop. Still, it was a sunny day, and the ceremony was going to go on without any problems. ¡°The weather is hot.¡± Tehez said a little to herself. She couldn¡¯t sleep properly because of the hot and humid weather, and her mind was dizzy. Tehez was inherently vulnerable to cold and heat. It may be because she grew up to be precious, but she was born weaker than others. ¡°You have a bad complexion.¡± The maid looked at her through the mirror and said worriedly. ¡°Make it look lively.¡± Tehez had her eyes half-closed. She felt the brush smeared with fine powder brush against her skin. ¡°What should I do with the hair?¡± ¡°Put them up together.¡± ¡°Would you like the ribbon decoration you ordered last time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it out if you wait a minute.¡± Tehez could hear the steps of the maid going to the cabinet. Another maid sitting next to her began to rouge her cheeks in red. As the soft brush brushed against her skin, Tehez¡¯s eyes closed by themselves. The flickering eyelids were extremely heavy. ¡®Should I close my eyes for a second?¡¯ Then someone came up to her and put a glass of cold juice near her mouth. ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s orange. Would you please give me some coffee?¡± Tehez knew it was handed to her by the maid beside her. ¡°You didn¡¯t even eat breakfast, Madam.¡± But it was not a maid. A voice that would never be heard at this time, in this place. Denis, it was him. Tehez opened her eyes. He was perfectly dressed. He was wearing a black coat embroidered in gold, a tie green like the colour of his eyes, and black trousers with plaids. In addition, his shiny blue and black hair was neatly combed back, revealing his handsome forehead. It was a look that was difficult to see because he usually didn¡¯t put his hair back well. He was always beautiful, but it was hard to take your eyes off his appearance in this attire as if he were the God of beauty. Tehez made a pleasant yet cold voice to greet him. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Denis answered, ¡°Drink it.¡± He still held the glass of juice to her lips. Tehez looked at the glass and took it with both hands. The juice squeezed out of the oranges was sweet and cold, and her drooping body felt refreshed as the fresh juice spread in her mouth. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tehez hesitated. ¡°Okay.¡± Denis handed the glass to the maid when Tehez had finished drinking. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Denis asked again. ¡°¡­I have no appetite.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Tehez didn¡¯t answer. ¡®Should I say it?¡¯ He genuinely didn¡¯t seem to know from the bottom of his heart. At wedding ceremonies, Denis¡¯ birthday banquets, New Year¡¯s banquets, and on occasions like harvest festivals, she never used to eat anything since morning. She wondered if she should let him know that whenever she went out in front of people, she could never eat due to nervousness. Well, he wouldn¡¯t want to know. Tehez recalled something which she didn¡¯t want to recall. After her marriage, it must have been her first banquet with Denis. Due to the pressure and burden of her first event as a Princess, she had not been able to properly eat her meal the day before. She also had trouble sleeping for a few days, so she wasn¡¯t feeling well. She barely woke up after a nap, picked up a few pieces of fruit for dinner, and forced herself to swallow it. She couldn¡¯t even remember in what spirit she ended the party. In that state, she came back to the room after the banquet ended and just threw up all day. Even though she drank a thin, mild soup, she only ended up throwing up more, and in the end, only stomach juices came out of her mouth. So, when she was sick, where was he and what was he doing? Dennis did not look for her as usual. Still, perhaps, his servants would have told him the story. ¡®Did you really not know?¡¯ Would he have pretended not to know, or wouldn¡¯t he have wanted to know? He only came to her in the middle of the night, just as she was getting herself together. Like a thief who broke into her bedroom at night. He didn¡¯t ask her anything even after she had lost weight after a few days. ¡®You just didn¡¯t say anything.¡¯ Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks As soon as he saw her, he poured kisses on her pale, flaky lips that resulted from not eating properly. He held her until dawn. After that, she suffered from severe aches for over a week. ¡®Do you even want to know this?¡¯ As the memory suddenly came to mind, Tehez frowned. All she needed was an easy and quick medicine to relieve her insomnia. Even though he knew she treated herself this way. ¡®Do you want me?¡¯ ¡®Or just my body?¡¯ Of course¡­ Denis didn¡¯t ask again, as if he had accepted her silence as an answer. He didn¡¯t even recommend eating properly. There was nothing to say. Tehez looked through the mirror at Denis sitting on the sofa behind her. Maybe he didn¡¯t sleep well last night either, as he looked dark under his eyes. ¡°Princess, the ribbon is here-¡± When the maid, who had just returned fetching the ribbon, found Denis, she bowed her head to give her respect. Denis waved his hand as if it was fine and got up from the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while, so please take care of the Princess.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± As the maids greeted them with courtesy, Denis shook his head once and left the room at a quick pace. ¡°The Prince must have known that Princess did not eat.¡± The maid who was applying rouge on Tehez¡¯s face said. ¡°No way. Prince and I have meals separately. How would he know?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± The maid hesitated. Then the other maid answered. ¡°Maybe he asked Miss Danielle?¡± Danielle had been away from Tehez for a while on other duties, so she couldn¡¯t ask her directly. ¡°It could be!¡± The maids clashed with each other, saying that it was correct. One of the maids hit the nail. ¡°If not, would the Prince come all the way to the Princess with a glass of juice?¡± Tehez looked at the mirror slowly. A woman with a stiff expression in the mirror could be seen. Tehez kept looking into the seat where Denis sat. ¡®If only I could take a look inside him, even just once.¡¯ ¡®If you could let me just once, I¡¯d really appreciate it.¡¯ ¡°Your dress is gorgeous, Princess.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After getting dressed up, the maids looked at Tehez with proud expressions on their faces. She looked better than usual, perhaps because of the makeup, as she ordered to make her look lively. Although she couldn¡¯t sleep well. Tehez carefully inspected her face several times in the mirror. The face wasn¡¯t supposed to show any tiredness. The Marquis of Ingeliger must have returned from the border, so she had to look perfect. Marquis of Ingeliger. Now that he¡¯s back, she has to brace herself. *** The conferment ceremony was held at the Hall of the Moon, the second-largest banquet hall in Bellyu Palace, the main palace. In the Hall of the Sun, the largest banquet hall, only significant events such as the coronation of kings and triumphal ceremonies were held for generations, so it was held in the largest hall. Tehez thought that Denis, with Vincent¡¯s help during the flood relief, put a lot of effort into this awarding ceremony. Hot weather, brightly lit candles for decoration and bustling people. The tension made Tehez feel her mind drifting away. Tehez clasped her hands tightly and smiled naturally. After years of doing it, it was now an elegant smile that had been trained and refined. As she smiled, she heard the clicks and flashes of the cameras. The ceremony began, and the titles of those who contributed to the settlement of flood damage and those who contributed to the dispute over the border with Honun were awarded. ¡°Congratulations, I¡¯ll have to call you Baron Merad.¡± ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s all thanks to the Princess.¡± ¡°No way. It¡¯s a reward that the Baron gets for the generosity in difficult times.¡± Immediately after the conferment ceremony was over. Vincent Merad and his son Jerome Merad came to Tehez¡¯s palace. It was to say thank you. Tehez greeted the guests without changing the sweat-soaked dress. Baron Merad had a bright smile she had never seen before. At the same time, he looked relieved, as if he had finished the task of his life. Tehez put down the teacup and said. ¡°This is just the beginning, Baron, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Of course, Princess.¡± His son Jerome accepted Tehez¡¯s words. The young man¡¯s face was brimming with determination. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Well, let¡¯s put in a proposal to the Marquis of Benchetrit.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 15 *** *** After business hours, a group of people flocked to the number one department store in Lubern. The luxurious and grandeur built by Delphine, the most famous architect in Valloise, is one of the places that every woman in Valloise wants to visit at least once. The three-story stone building was so splendid that it was said to be the second Bellyu Palace. When you enter the department store¡¯s first floor, the Crystal Staircase in the front is particularly famous. Each handle was delicately decorated, so it was not a waste of time just looking at them all day long. There was something else as famous as the Crystal Staircase. It was a ceiling made of glass, and light from the glass ceiling illuminated every nook and cranny of the department store. ¡°Incredible.¡± The man in the wrinkled coat said to the person next to him. The other person must have been embarrassed by the man¡¯s appearance, so he straightened his collar with his hand. ¡°I know, right. Bellyu Palace is the perfect word for it.¡± Those who visited the department store for the first time were busy looking around, not knowing where to look at the splendour. At the same time, they took pictures, and some people took out a notebook and wrote down something. A woman was looking at such people with a satisfied expression. ¡°Come on, come on in. Welcome, reporters.¡± She took a step forward and caught the attention of the people. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Delphine, the owner of the Rocher Department Store and the top owner of Rocher. Thank you very much for your precious time today.¡± The woman who introduced herself as Delphine was a tall beauty dressed in a black evening dress. The dress, designed to flow through her body, accentuated her voluptuous figure. She greeted politely, and people clapped their hands. ¡°Some of you may have experienced the Rocher Department Store, but others may not. First, enjoy the dinner on the third floor and take your time to look around. We¡¯ll pack everything you¡¯ve chosen today and send it to your home.¡± ¡°Really?¡± People were surprised and asked back. ¡°Of course, our thoroughly trained department store clerks will serve you. So, we will recommend the products that best suit our reporters. So please don¡¯t be shy and accept my little sincerity.¡± Reporters were all smiles and excited as if they wanted to rush out to the product display, regardless of the meal. ¡°First, let¡¯s start with a meal prepared with care.¡± Delphine led people to the Crystal Staircase, the pride of the department store. People looked at everything Delphine was introducing them to. When they went up to the third floor, an open space appeared. About 10 round tables were placed throughout the open area. ¡°We¡¯ve put your name tags on every table.¡± The waiters standing on one side checked their names and guided them to their seats. As soon as the reporters sat down, the band began to play, and the employees started serving the appetizers. The Amuse Boucherau was served in a small bowl of potato soup. After emptying the Amuse Boucherau, the appetizer was served. It was a dish topped with white sauce on cooked stingray flesh and added freshness of lemon. There was plenty of caviar on top of the meat. The servers explained the ingredients to the guests and filled the glasses with wine. All of these things were flowing like water. Reporters were getting more and more excited by the service they had never experienced before. At best, they were only those who had been to trendy restaurants in the emerging areas of Lubern. Reporters were a bunch of people who wrote fake or exaggerated articles to increase sales, which would result in their salaries going up. Otherwise, they have to make a living on a salty salary. Delphine raised the corners of her mouth behind the curtain and looked at the expressions of the reporters. Then, as she had already figured out, she approached the reporters and talked to them. ¡°Reporter Andr¨¦. How do you like our cooking?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s very delicious!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Delphine smiled enchantingly. A blush appeared on the face of a reporter named Andr¨¦. ¡°I read your article about our department store last time, Reporter Andr¨¦.¡± ¡°Oh, did you?¡± ¡°Yes, I thought there would be no other phrase that describes our department store so well. You called it ¡¯a social hall for prodigal gangsters¡¯.¡± After saying that, Delphine covered her mouth and laughed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The reporter bowed his head in embarrassment. ¡°Oh, my. What do you mean by sorry? It is necessary to write critical articles as you did. Thanks to the article, department store sales were pretty good that week. I guess you all wanted to come to the promiscuous lady¡¯s social hall, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Reporter, laugh. Ah, I can¡¯t even joke.¡± ¡°Ha, ha, ha.¡± Jeremy Andr¨¦ grinned, scratching his head. ¡°Oh yeah. I¡¯m going to run an advertisement for a department store, but would you like to place an advertisement where you are at Le Figaro?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re always welcome.¡± ¡°Please talk to the advertising manager in detail¡­¡± ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡± ¡°Reporter, there must be a reason why I¡¯m talking to you right now.¡± Delphine poked his chest with her index finger. Jeremy hesitated as if he didn¡¯t understand Delphine¡¯s meaning. ¡°I am sure you know well that I have a deep connection with Rizhe Palace.¡± Rizhe Palace. It was a nickname for Tehez¡¯s palace. It was the palace where the Princesses lived for generations. ¡°Oh, oh, yes. That¡¯s right.¡± Jeremy agreed with her, despite hearing it for the first time. ¡°She took me back from being a bully. Thanks to Her Grace, I¡¯ve established myself this much in Lubern.¡± Delphine lowered her eyes sadly. There was no man who wouldn¡¯t fall for the sad face of this beautiful woman. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. But these days, she¡¯s been having a hard time, so I don¡¯t feel comfortable.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Jeremy felt like hugging her sad shoulders and comforting her. ¡°It¡¯s because of rumours or articles by the people who don¡¯t know her?¡± Jeremy, who frequently wrote critical articles about the Prince and Princess, felt a prick in her chest. It was a sense of guilt. ¡°Well, I see.¡± ¡°Yes, I must repay her. Would the reporter help me?¡± Delphine clasped Jeremy¡¯s hands. ¡°Oh¡­ How¡­ How¡­?¡± ¡°I think you know that better.¡± With a small sigh, Delphine took a small box out of her handbag. ¡°This is a small token of my gratitude for coming today.¡± ¡°Well, really this¡­ welcome. Thank you.¡± Jeremy didn¡¯t know what he was saying, and he took the box. He opened the box slightly and peeped through the gap to see what was in it. It was a men¡¯s watch famous for its expensive price! He heard only rumours, but it was his first time seeing it in person. Even if he took this and sold it to a store, he would be able to play and eat for three months. As Jeremy raised his head, he saw Delphine smiling softly. Jeremy Andr¨¦, who looked around his left and right, shoved the box into the pocket of his own coat pocket after confirming that people were drunk and no one was watching. ¡°It¡¯s nice to help each other. Right, reporter?¡± As Delphine smiled coyly, Jeremy smiled as if possessed. Delphine wiped the dust off Jeremy¡¯s shirt with her fingertips and shook her head once again. She got up from the seat next to him, and turned to the other reporters. Delphine handed out all the gift boxes she had prepared for the reporters. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks She called the servers. She ordered them to give the reporters lots of drinks and let them be distracted from choosing products from the shelves. She didn¡¯t want to suffer any more damage. Delphine clapped her hands twice and shouted. ¡°Come on, everybody, go get some more wine. No one walks out on two feet today.¡± *** ¡°Tell me again.¡± ¡°Ah, the Marquis of Benchetrit withdrew his support¡­¡± It was when Fabrice was playing poker with the noble children at the social club. He was in a good mood as he was in the middle of scoring points. But that feeling didn¡¯t last long. It was because of the words his servant hurriedly ran to him with a pale complexion. ¡°What? No, why?¡± ¡°V-Vu Mahe mine rights are no longer needed.¡± The servant bowed his head with regret. Fabrice pushed his hair back roughly. ¡°Prince, what¡¯s wrong?¡± A poker player at the same table asked. ¡°Shut up. It¡¯s too loud.¡± Fabrice answered curtly and untied her tie roughly. He picked up his coat and rose from his seat. ¡°You guys play it all by yourselves.¡± He hurried to the palace. He felt like he had to know the whole story. ¡°Tell me more.¡± Baron Barbier, who was summoned to the palace in the middle of the night, had the back of his head pressed down. That was not the point. ¡°Most of the minerals from the Vu Mahe mine are cobalt stones, but the quality is not exceptional. It can be safely used in Valloise. Cobalt, as you well know, ranks in Enland as a superior grade, and Enland has never released it before.¡± ¡°So? What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°Well, but Enland approved it.¡± ¡°What? Exporting cobalts?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. That¡¯s what they said. The price of cobalt from the Vu Mahe mine has plummeted because it is being imported exclusively from the top of Rocher.¡± Fabrice gulped down the strong drink in silence. ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s why the Marquis of Benchetrit withdrew. Noticing that profitability is declining.¡± The Marquis of Benchetrit was a precious card to let go of. If Fabrice can get his hands on him, he can keep the whole central part of the country under his control. ¡°Then suggest the Habiv mine, not the Vu Mahe mine.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡± Vu Mahe was a mine owned by Fabrice, so it was not difficult to present to the Marquis. But Habiv mine wasn¡¯t his. Much of the King¡¯s income came from the Habiv mines. That¡¯s why he shouldn¡¯t have mentioned ownership carelessly. Unless he was the King of Valloise. Even though Fabrice was the son of the King, will the King care about Prince Fabrice enough to give away all of his fortune? Barbier drew the horse. It was because he didn¡¯t know if he could deliver the news he had heard a few days ago. ¡°Huh, the Marquis seems to have completely turned around!¡± The Baron uttered a shout and lowered his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Next week, the only daughter of the Marquis is getting married, and it is said that it¡¯s with the son of Baron Merad, who has been given the title this time.¡± ¡°Who is that?¡± Barbier clicked his tongue inwardly. ¡°This time, he was the one who helped the First Prince when he went down to Newb Shabel to relieve flood damage. So Baron Merad got it from the King. Prince, with all due respect, why don¡¯t you give up the Marquis of Benchetrit¡­?¡± Fabrice stared at Barbier Baron. There was only silence in the room. Fabrice threw the glass he was holding in his hand. Leaving Fabrice¡¯s hand, the glass brushed the Baron¡¯s cheek and smashed against the wall, shattered to pieces. Barbier bowed his head more deeply. A stream of blood flowed from the glass grazed cheek. ¡°What did the Baron do to make things this way?¡± Fabrice beckoned to the Baron. He took out a clean new glass and filled it with a golden liquid. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Commoner. Fabrice didn¡¯t like the way his half-brother was disturbing him in every way. Of course, the throne belonged to him, but it was disgusting to covet what was his, and he hated looking at him. This time, too, must have been the work of the Marquis of Ingeliger, behind the scene. The Marquis of Ingeliger has always been good at scheming. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do anything apologetic.¡± Fabrice was furious to the top of her head, and he wanted to smash everything. ¡°Get out. Call the servant.¡± ¡°Prince! Oh, oh, I have something for you today. It is a hallucinogenic herb that has just arrived from Enland, and it is said to be three times more powerful than the original one. It¡¯s small, but it will definitely be a delicacy.¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯m sure hallucinogens were banned because of their side effects.¡± Fabrice raised his brows. At the same time, he looked at Barbier with a curious face as if he was interested. It was also true that he could not play as he wanted because he had self-reflection that did not suit his temper. ¡°I was lucky to get it. There will be no consequences, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Barbier said confidently. ¡°Bring it.¡± ¡°Have a good night.¡± The Baron closed the door and stepped out. The servants took something wrapped in cloth and entered the Prince¡¯s bedroom. Baron Barbier, whose expression changed as if he had become a different person when he escaped the Prince¡¯s room, said to the knight standing in front of the door. ¡°When the prince sleeps, make sure that no traces are left.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± The Baron took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the drops of blood from his cheeks. The white handkerchief was stained with blood. ¡°Is he supposed to be this stupid? It is pathetic to believe that there is a hallucinogen that is three times stronger.¡± With a thud, the Baron folded his dirty handkerchief back in. By now, Fabrice would have fallen asleep, firmly believing that his drink had hallucinogenic herbs. He just put a lot of it in strong alcohol. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The knight that followed the Baron went back to the mansion late at night. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was a look that could not normally be seen in front of Fabrice. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 16 *** *** The Virgin Road, covered in satin, was laid in the centre of the garden, and at the end of the garden was an arch decoration made of fresh, beautiful flowers and a pedestal. The podium had steps so that the priest could climb up. The podium was carved with a sculpture of Nate with ivory and precious stones. The garden was luxurious and lavishly decorated. There were golden fountains on either side of it, and ornaments with angel sculptures positioned throughout. It was enough to tell at a glance how wealthy the owner of the mansion was. Not only that, but a tent was prepared in one corner to block the rain. This is because the summer weather in Lubern was unpredictable and volatile. The bride¡¯s father, the Marquis of Benchetrit, saw Denis entering the garden, ran out and took his hand. ¡°Welcome, My Lord.¡± ¡°Congratulations on your daughter¡¯s marriage.¡± ¡°Thank you for coming too, Prince.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°After the ceremony, there will be a reception. It will be a great honour if you can keep your seat until then, My Prince.¡± ¡°Of course, Marquis. I¡¯ll be happy to be a part of it, too.¡± The garden was full of guests. The guests wondered if they would be able to see the ¡®rumoured¡¯ Marquis of Benchetrit. ¡°Guests, please take your seats. From now on, under Nate¡¯s care, I would like to start the wedding ceremony. The groom, please come forward.¡± The priest went up to the podium and started the ceremony. Wearing a coat made of high-quality Doeskin and a tie made of white and blue silk, the groom looked handsome. Jerome strode forward and stood in front of the podium. The priest called the bride this time. Sonia Benchetrit, who was waiting in the waiting room, carefully stood at the end of Virgin Road. The eyes of the guests were focused on the bride. The bride¡¯s face, hidden under her veil, was barely visible. People chatted among themselves. ¡°I heard she¡¯s ugly.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t see clearly.¡± ¡°She looks fine¡­¡± Sonia couldn¡¯t even hear those noises as she walked on the path with the children and stood next to Jerome Merad. The priest¡¯s long congratulations followed. ¡°We will be witnesses the scene where both, the man and woman, will become one under the grace of Nate. According to the doctrine, let the two of you swear that you will love and care for each other from this time to eternity.¡± ¡°I, Jerome Merad, swear by the holy name of Nate.¡± ¡°Swear by the bride as well.¡± ¡°I, Sonia Benchetrit, swear before the holy name of Nate.¡± ¡°With this, the two became one. Please bless their future where the two of them will accompany each other as they march along the Virgin Road.¡± As the bride grabbed the groom¡¯s arm, the two began their march. The guests clapped hands in unison and blessed the two of them. Tehez remembered her own wedding as she watched the husband and wife get married. After her engagement, it was a wedding she had been preparing for a year. She picked a good day from the temple, a spring day, but it was a day of intense rain. The reception was prepared outdoors, but she remembered that the rain would seep in even if the tent was pitched, so eventually, the indoor hall was opened to welcome guests. At that time, she was not in a good mood, so she did not even know how the time had passed. Denis returned from thanking those who attended, and there was a faint scent of rain. It was from the outside, as he saw off the guests. Whenever she thought of her wedding, the faint scent of rain always seemed to linger on the tip of her nose. ¡°Do you feel tired?¡± Denis asked a small question. The reception began, and the bride and groom were having their first dance. ¡°No. I thought for a second-,¡± Tehez spoke as she shook her head. ¡°Our wedding?¡± He smiled low and made eye contact. ¡°¡­Yes. Our wedding.¡± It came as new that he and herself were bound by the word ¡®we.¡¯ ¡°You cried that day, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. But¡­¡± Tehez bit her mouth to say she thought of her deceased mother. Between him and her, topics related to ¡®mother¡¯ were taboo. ¡°You were beautiful that day, Tehez.¡± Tehez raised her eyes and looked at him. His green eyes were refreshing. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tehez couldn¡¯t think of a way to hide her flushed cheeks, so she immediately lowered her head. Her ears seemed to have turned red. She was not immune to such words. ¡°Well, of course, you were wearing the most expensive dress in Valloise, right?¡± Denis stroked Tehez¡¯s warm cheeks with his fingertips. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the most expensive. The most expensive dress was of Queen Marianne, who was the Fourth Queen of Valloise¡­¡± Tehez hurriedly spoke to correct the misinformation, but Denis was smiling at her. It was also to tease her. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± Tehez just sighed. ¡°Yes, me too.¡± Denis patted Tehez¡¯s tightly clasped hands. Tehez couldn¡¯t decide whether to get mad at him or not. The first dance of the bride and groom was over. Applause from the guests followed, and the band began to play bright dance songs. It was the turn of the guests to dance. ¡°My wife, hand.¡± Denis grabbed her hand and stepped forward. Tehez followed him. As they stood in the middle of the reception hall, people widened the streets. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°All right, Prince.¡± Under Denis¡¯ lead, Tehez began to move slowly. He clasped Tehez¡¯s back with his hand, and Tehez was almost hugged by him. Tehez had barely recovered her face from Denis¡¯ words earlier. But when she stood close to his chest and danced, her heart trembled. His arms were warm and comfortable. Even though she was just dancing with him, her heart could hardly sink. Although she had done many more things with him¡­ ¡°By the way, is this my wife again?¡± As he got closer again after turning her around once, he whispered in her ear. Tehez noticed that he referred to the Marquis of Benchetrit and Baron Merad. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Tehez quietly confessed. ¡°You can¡¯t just trust me, do you?¡± Tehez didn¡¯t answer. It was impossible to say. As he stretched out his arms, Tehez whirled away from him. ¡°It¡¯s a bad habit not to answer when you¡¯re at a disadvantage, Madam.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Tehez muttered a little. ¡°I wish my wife didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°What? What¡­?¡± Tehez was bewildered by his remark, such as his clear brilliance. She knew long ago that he hated her intervention. But this was the first time she had heard it directly. ¡°Get your hands off. I¡¯ll take care of it from now on.¡± Meanwhile, after the dance was over, Denis released Tehez¡¯s hand. It happened at the same time as she was told to take her hands off his matters. Denis greeted her with his impeccable manners. Tehez let go of his hand and floundered, returning her greetings to him. He ruffled his collar once, conversed with someone from behind, and strode out. Tehez looked at him blankly. She couldn¡¯t understand. Wasn¡¯t it her duty to put him on the throne? But she couldn¡¯t believe he asked to take her hands off. ¡®Is that what he really wants? Or does he no longer need me?¡¯ The bride and groom stood and greeted the guests. As Tehez was rolling her head to try to figure out Denis¡¯ undertones, the bride, Sonia, approached her. ¡°Thank you for coming to the insufficient wedding, Princess.¡± Tehez cut off her thoughts and greeted Sonia. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It was a beautiful and wonderful ceremony today.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the person who introduced him to my father, the Princess?¡± On Sonia¡¯s side, Jerome stood talking to some people. Jerome smiled loudly, as if he had heard something interesting. ¡°It was just that there was a proper greeting at the right time and word of mouth. I haven¡¯t done anything else. The two did it.¡± Tehez cut it off. Sonia didn¡¯t say anything more, but she smiled softly. Sonia Benchetrit, the only daughter of the Marquis of Benchetrit, who commanded the central part. She did not make her social debut at coming of age, spawning a lot of rumours. Some said she was an ugly woman, and others said she was ill, but for no reason whatsoever. Sonia was exceptionally smart. At the age of three, she mastered the official language of Valloise and Enland. And at the age of seven, she not only memorized the entire history of Valloise, but also mastered the most demanding ancient languages, all by herself. The Marquis of Benchetrit was incredibly proud that the century¡¯s genius was his daughter. But he couldn¡¯t brag openly. It was because Sonia was a girl. The Marquis was in agony. Would he let Sonia out into the world or not? There were also several academies for aristocratic women to go to. However, most of them went to the academy for culture and fellowship. ¡®Sonia, would you go to the academy? Or do you want to study at home?¡¯ Sonia answered the Marquis¡¯ question with a snap. ¡®It¡¯s past time to learn something from the academy. I prefer to study alone, father.¡¯ The Marquis of Benchetrit accepted Sonia¡¯s resolution. If you are a daughter of a noble family, marrying and helping after taking bridal classes was considered the greatest success of your life. However, if there was a difference between Sonia and ordinary aristocratic women, it was that the Marquis of Benchetrit generously supported his little daughter. After Marquis of Benchetrit, his little daughter had the power, position and fortune to do whatever she wanted. He didn¡¯t have to send in marriage, and he didn¡¯t have to force the bridal class she didn¡¯t like. Sonia, backed by her father, grew up to be a tomboy lady who was brilliant but had no manners. Even that, the Marquis of Benchetrit was pleased. The reason was that there should be at least one thing she couldn¡¯t do. It was also the Marquis¡¯s intention to support Sonia, 18, without holding a coming-of-age ceremony when she settled down with a new hypothesis of her discovery. However, he could not live with his only daughter forever. As Sonia grew older day by day, the Marquis began to fear. He won¡¯t be able to protect his daughter forever. If he died, the Marquis¡¯ vassals might rush like a pack of wild wolves and bully Sonia. Sonia had to have someone to protect her. It was the result of reasonable inference. He needed to find her a suitor who could protect the Marquis¡¯ property without going against Sonia¡¯s opinion. He set out to look for a suitor secretly on conditions. It was Tehez, the First Princess, who visited him one day. ¡®Marquis, are you looking for a suitor for the Princess?¡¯ ¡®How did you know?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s a man who fits the Marquis¡¯ conditions. Would you like to meet him? However, I have one condition.¡¯ ¡®What is it?¡¯ Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡®Please support the First Prince.¡¯ (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 17 *** *** The Marquis of Benchetrit had yet to publicly declare his support for Fabrice. But he was quietly walking on a tightrope. He looked back at the Princess. She quietly picked up the cup and swirled the tea. It was after receiving the review report of the Vu Mahe mine just in time. If it were for the income from the mines, he thought that even after his death, Sonia would be able to live without any difficulties while doing the studies she wanted to do. However, due to the sudden change in Enland, the price of cobalt stone in Vu Mahe began to fall. The Marquis of Benchetrit was in trouble and reconsidering. If it weren¡¯t for the Vu Mahe mine, he wouldn¡¯t have to support the Second Prince, and he could live as neutral as he was now, serving as the centre of the Middle Eastern part of the coutinent. Just as he was contemplating how to do this, the answer he needed came unexpectedly from the First Princess. ¡®He is the son of a Baron who has been given the title this time. All he asked for was that he wanted to join Lubern, and by agreement with him, agreed to support the First Prince, as soon as he was given the title. However, he is nothing more than a noble who has earned a title commonly referred to in the aristocratic world. It is difficult for him to permeate into aristocratic society.¡¯ ¡®So, he is going to get connected with my daughter, who is from an old aristocratic family, and settle down in the aristocratic community of Lubern?¡¯ The Marquis sat down with his arms crossed. The Princess¡¯ words did not have much credibility, and it was because he had seen a lot of people who wanted to covet the Marquis¡¯ wealth. ¡®Yes. But of course, this doesn¡¯t mean the Marquis would not get benefited from this.¡¯ The Princess quietly began to persuade him. ¡®Because he is the husband the Marquis is looking for his daughter.¡¯ ¡®How can you be so sure?¡¯ The Marquis replied, intending to listen to the Princess. The Princess pointed her fingers one by one, explaining the benefits the Marquis would gain from the marriage. ¡®First, Baron Merad¡¯s wealth is overflowing, and he will not covet the fortune of the Marquis. Wasn¡¯t that the most important thing? Second, Baron Merad is from the South, so he doesn¡¯t have any connections in the capital, which means that Sonia doesn¡¯t have to socialize as she does now after marriage. I mean, even if she stays in the mansion for her research work, no rumours will spread in Lubern. And lastly¡­¡¯ As she spoke up to that point, the Princess smiled. ¡®Lastly, this is a marriage that the Baron leans heavily on, so can¡¯t he give the Marquis the conditions the Marquis wants? For example, a prenuptial agreement.¡¯ A prenuptial agreement. Those last words touched the Marquis of Benchetrit. ¡®Would the Baron accept the prenuptial agreement?¡¯ ¡®Feel free to suggest anything you want.¡¯ The Princess replied readily. ¡®What does the Baron gain by doing that?¡¯ After some time, the Marquis was persuaded by the Princess¡¯ words. ¡®He¡¯s only a Baron now. But if he sows the seeds of marriage with the Marquis¡¯ family, the descendants will reap the fruits.¡¯ The Marquis looked at her in silence. The Princess looked at the Marquis and smiled. The Baron did not wish for present interests. He hoped that he would settle successfully in Lubern and that his descendants would remain in the lineage of the Marquis in the next and subsequent generations. A person who was barely a nobleman from the South would be able to act as the ruler of the capital at once. *** This is how Sonia and Jerome got married. Sonia married a man she had only met three times, but she seemed to like her husband. Jerome was still talking to people. It was the feeling of his bright and cheerful aura that had reached her. Sonia looked affectionately at Jerome and said, ¡°He has a good heart, and his face is more beautiful.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± At Sonia¡¯s honest words, Tehez also laughed. ¡°I said I liked him because he had a look that I liked. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have done it if my father had pushed me to marry him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad Baron Merad passed on something good to his son.¡± ¡°Of course. Thank you, Princess.¡± ¡°I wish you a happy life. I have to go now.¡± ¡°Thank you. I wish you peace and safety on your way home.¡± Sonia greeted Tehez with her clumsy manners. Tehez returned to the palace alone. The rain, which had not fallen until the reception, began to fall when she got into the carriage. Tehez opened the window of the carriage slightly. A mist rose from the heavy rain. She couldn¡¯t see an inch ahead of her. She was lost in thought as she heard the rain hitting the carriage roof. It was because she remembered what Denis had said. To take her hands off. Tehez stared down at her shoes. Those were the black shoes tailored for her height. The shoes she wore when she went to the poverty centre. Such happy moments felt like a distant past. ¡®Will this moment pass like that?¡¯ Tehez closed her eyes to the sudden fatigue. While she wasn¡¯t happy with herself, she found it funny that she said those words of happiness to the new bride at that time. *** After having a conversation with the Marquis of Benchetrit in his office, Denis returned to his seat and noticed that Tehez had disappeared. ¡°Where¡¯s the Princess?¡± ¡°Princess has returned to his palace.¡± When he asked the knight, who was guarding the entrance, such an answer came back. Denis stared at the seat where she sat. Then he stared at a couple who had just been married today. The two were holding hands, arm in arm, smiling cheerfully. Suddenly, it began to rain. ¡°Get inside now! Jerome!¡± ¡°Open the tent!¡± ¡°It¡¯s raining too much, Master!¡± In an instant, the garden was filled with water. It rained as the reception was coming to an end. Eventually, the wedding ended in smoke without opening the tent. By this time, the weather in Lubern was nothing more than a wild foal. A lady with the umbrella, people running indoors, a man hiding under the tree, servants wandering around looking for their owners. Denis stood blank like a lost child. ¡°Prince.¡± Dennis did not answer. Deep in thought, he didn¡¯t hear even after being called a couple of times. Sylvan shook his arm slightly to wake him up. ¡°Prince, your clothes are wet. We should better go back now.¡± ¡°Yes, we should.¡± Like an ebb, a mist of water rose in the garden where people were gone. Small belongings such as fans and ribbons, finished plates, garbage, and flower decorations were mixed together. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks He felt the starkness that he couldn¡¯t think of as a space where people stayed until a while ago. It looked like ruins. Only then did Denis return to the carriage with the wet clothes clinging to his body. The carriage that he rode with was taken back by Tehez, so he took the carriage lent by the Marquis of Benchetrit. Sylvan had a servant bring an umbrella. But it was no use because Denis¡¯ clothes were already soaked. Instead, Sylvan wrapped Denis¡¯ body with the blanket that was in the carriage. Perhaps the best carriage was lent by the Marquis, the carriage was spacious and comfortable. But Denis just seemed to be in deep agony. Sylvan watched him and talked to him. ¡°Prince, what did you say to the Princess earlier?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When you danced together. Since then, it looked like she had been feeling under the weather.¡± ¡°Why is Sylvan worried about my wife?¡± Denis¡¯ tone was sharp. ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Denise said quietly. ¡°I told her to take her hands off. From my work.¡± He couldn¡¯t say anything because he was speechless for a moment. ¡°Why did you do that? The Princess¡¯ ploy is useful to the Prince. It helps.¡± Denise smiled as he looked at Sylvan with a pale face wet from the rain. ¡°Did I have an aide who had the right to ask me why? I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over the top. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Denis turned his head. Sylvan also bowed his head and said nothing. The heavy rain was still pouring as they got off the wagon. The servant came out with an umbrella to greet him. ¡°How have you been, Your Highness?¡± Denis strode into the palace. ¡°Would you like to soak in warm water first? If you stay like this, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± His voice was visibly hoarse. In addition, his lips looked pale as well. Recognizing that Denis was in a bad mood, the attendant quickly went to order the bathwater. *** Plip, plop Water drops condensed on the ceiling and made a sound. Denis¡¯ bathroom was so damp that nothing could be seen in the front. Denis was immersed in water, recalling his last meeting with Richard. ¡®What brings you here?¡¯ As soon as Richard sat down, Denis asked. ¡®I¡¯m here to say hello.¡¯ Richard slowly put down the cup and looked at Denis. ¡®Looks like we were supposed to say hello.¡¯ ¡®Of course, I¡¯m Tehez¡¯s older brother.¡¯ Without losing a word, Richard grinned while replying to Denis. ¡®State your business first. I don¡¯t have much time.¡¯ ¡®Divorce Tehez, please.¡¯ ¡®Huh. When did you push me for it and now asking for a divorce?¡¯ Dennis raised his eyebrows. ¡®The Marquis of Ingeliger will not leave Tehez alone. Please divorce her first.¡¯ Richard, who called his own father, The Marquis of Ingeliger, had a stern look on his face. ¡®Well, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a very good idea. She is safer under my protection.¡¯ But Richard shook his head. ¡®You must be well aware that the child has not spared any effort in vain to put the Prince on the throne. The more you splash water at Tehez, the more she can¡¯t get out of this mud fight.¡¯ And he continued to speak in pain. ¡®And the Marquis¡­ the Marquis is a man who does what he says he will. Now that man is silent. Silently waiting for Tehez to give birth to a descendant, but if there is still no news, she will be kicked out.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s-¡¯ ¡®I mean, if there¡¯s no child, she¡¯ll be removed. You know what I mean by removal, and if it is that person¡¯s way.¡¯ Denis looked at Richard without saying a word. ¡®Before that person¡¯s patience runs out, you should rather cut him off. That would be the only way to save Tehez.¡¯ The memory ended there. Divorce was something Denis had never thought of. If he had to kill her, he would have killed her, but he didn¡¯t mean to let her out of the cage. She even interfered with what he was doing to show that he could ascend to the throne on his own, but he left most of it knowingly. It would be more correct to say that he didn¡¯t pay attention. She was well aware that she was forcing herself to do something that was not even her temperament. Even though she looked strong on the outside, in reality, she was weak. The evidence that she suffered from insomnia must be the proof. She liked to sit still, drink her tea, and look down on the garden. She also liked the forest. He remembered that she had spent her entire day in the woods, when they had previously gone to the East for a trip. Denis wanted to define his feelings for her. He selected the name tags he could put on one by one. ¡®Is it a sense of homogeneity?¡¯ He thought she and he had a lot in common. Things like losing their mother when they were young, liking quiet things, or suffering from insomnia. ¡®Or is it compassion?¡¯ He thought it might be compassion. It didn¡¯t make sense to have compassion for someone you hate. But it was true that there had been quite a few times when the woman he thought about looked pitiful. Plip, plop Drops of water, condensed on the ceiling, fell to the floor. A drop of water brushed over his eyebrows and ran down his left cheek. Like tears. Denis got up and came out of the water. The water was cold. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Like a child who woke up from his sweet dream, the reality was cold. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 18 *** *** ¡°Let¡¯s see how heavy you are.¡± ¡°Ah! Brother! Let go of me!¡± Julien struggled when Fabrice glared at Julien as he picked the boy in his arms. Still, a smile appeared on Julien¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re a lot heavier than last time.¡± When Fabrice put Julien down, Julien replied proudly. ¡°Of course, brother! I¡¯ve been eating a lot lately! Let¡¯s ride a horse together.¡± As Julien got on the horse with the attendant¡¯s help, Fabrice jumped and got on his horse. Then they started going around the mage. Fabrice strolled, then kicked his feet and started running. Julien and Fabrice had just come out of an outdoor horse racecourse at the back of the royal palace. Elliot was resting in a tent under a beautiful tree. He sat comfortably under the awning, sipping whiskey. Julien¡¯s condition has improved considerably recently, and the father and son had come outside together. Elliot smiled proudly at Julien¡¯s appearance. Wasn¡¯t he always lying in his bed? He felt satisfied to see his youngest son laughing and chatting like his age. The staff chief helped Elliot by saying kind words. It was a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the first time in a while. ¡°I am moved to tears because Prince Julien is so healthy, Your Majesty.¡± The staff chief made a gesture of wiping tears with a handkerchief for nothing. ¡°Oh, my God, you¡¯ve got a lot of tears, so you must be old.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, 40 years have already passed since I entered the palace.¡± Elliot shook his head and glanced at the staff chief. A few strands of white hair remained on the crown of his bald head. Elliot and the staff chief had been together since the days when the top of their heads were full of hair. Like the staff chief, he must have been old by now. The futility of time approached. ¡°So, are you going to quit and return to your hometown?¡± Elliot hinted at him. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Your Highness. I will support you until I die and lay in the coffin.¡± Elliot smiled as if satisfied with the answer as the staff chief refused with a wave of his hand. Meanwhile, Julien and Fabrice, who finished their horseback riding, tied up their horses and came to him. ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Our prince!¡± Julien ran to Elliot. Even though he was eight years old, Julien was in his father¡¯s arms without hesitation. When Elliot held Julian in his arms, the child smelled of horse dung and sweat, and Elliot was happy to smell it. Fabrice wiped off his sweat and sat down beside them. Elliot looked at Fabrice. Fabrice looked like him. The same was true of personality as well as appearance. ¡°Father, can I have some crepes?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Elliot personally took out the crepes from the picnic box. It was Julien¡¯s favourite food, with ham, vegetables, and apples. Fabrice was eating crepes while unbuttoning three of his shirt¡¯s buttons. ¡°Let¡¯s have a national wedding as soon as possible this time. Keep the engagement short.¡± ¡°Yes, alright.¡± Despite Elliot¡¯s absurd remarks, Fabrice answered without panicking. Because he thought there must be a reason for calling him to meet Julien today. ¡°Your grandfather was very worried.¡± Fabrice took a sip of the juice and looked at Elliot. Most of the Duke¡¯s worries were that Fabrice would not become the King. And 80% of the trouble was because of Elliot¡¯s lukewarm attitude. ¡°I will be very careful.¡± ¡°If you like entertainment, there¡¯s enough to do when you¡¯re the King.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Fabrice answered meekly. It was foolish to say no in front of the King. Fabrice was suddenly afraid of how much his father knew about him. ¡°Father, is brother going to be the King?¡± Julien, who was listening next to them, said. ¡°Maybe. Or, Julien, will our Prince be the King?¡± Elliot said with a smile, wiping Julien¡¯s chin with his handkerchief. ¡°If I become king, what will happen to my brother and the First Prince?¡± At the child¡¯s innocent question, Elliot stroked the tip of his chin. ¡°That¡¯s right. Julien. There are three princes, but there will be only one King, so what should I do?¡± ¡°Um¡­ can¡¯t the three of us take turns doing this?¡± Julien replied innocently. ¡°Haha, I guess so. That should be it. Our Prince is very smart, huh?¡± Elliot smiled broadly. The courtiers also smiled happily. After spending time outdoors, Elliot ran to a room located in the corner of the main palace with a recalled expression on his face. The room Elliot entered was just as ordinary as the other rooms looked from outside the door. But on the inside, it was different. The room, made of three rooms, was stacked with exotic items that are not often seen in Valloise. A candlestick made by cutting the horns of a buffalo was placed randomly on the table, and a large fox was hung on the ceiling next to it. And the headdress made of peacock feathers fell on the floor. It was a dark place with an unknown scent. Elliot went in without hesitation. ¡°Where are you?¡± Elliot shouted and called someone. There was no answerback. Instead, a pointed, round object fell to the floor and slammed into his feet, making a thumping sound. It was a sheep¡¯s skull. Elliot kicked the object without hesitation and went deeper. Entering the innermost part, there were red insignia all around, and a three-tier platform was seen in the middle. It seemed to be a place for religious ceremonies. The woman, who was bowing and praying in front of him, had just finished the ceremony, and she took off her robe and greeted him. She was a woman with an exotic appearance not often seen in Valloise. Most of the Vallois was tall with fair skin, the opposite of which was the woman. She had a small, toned-down body, dark skin and a low nose, small black eyes, and stiff hair. ¡°Did you have a good time?¡± Saying so, the woman took Elliot¡¯s coat and removed a stick with beads and a piece of paper written in unknown letters. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Of course. I wish you¡¯d come with me.¡± Elliot¡¯s appearance as he took off his coat and the woman who was taking care of him was perfectly natural. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that we hold a memorial service at this hour?¡± The woman grinned at him lightly. ¡°I did. I want you to go with me next time. There are a lot of good places in the palace.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a promise.¡± Elliot said with a stern expression on his face. ¡°Okay.¡± The woman snorted. The woman naturally laid Elliot next to her and unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing. Elliot laid down and looked at the woman¡¯s face, as if she were lovely. Every time the buttons were released one by one, the fluffy chest hairs hidden in the navy shirt stuck out their heads. ¡°Then what shall we do today?¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m always curious about.¡± The woman gently stroked Elliot¡¯s shoulder and waited for him to speak. ¡°Huh? You know better. What is my wish?¡± The woman massaged Elliot¡¯s neck and head. Elliot responded to her touch. ¡°You remain on the throne until you die.¡± The woman answered instead of Elliot. Elliot smiled as if satisfied with her answer. He naturally slipped his hand into the woman¡¯s skirt. It was a skirt that was open on both sides, a type of attire that could not be seen in Valloise. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hand it over to anyone. You help me.¡± The woman answered with a smile. ¡°I will make that wish come true. My lord.¡± *** Denis was heading towards the central temple of Lubern. Even if he was a prince of a country, there was someone he could not meet. Even if they met, they were someone who could not sit face to face and talk. That was Pope Felix Clair, Pope of Nateism. Valloise had Nateism as the state religion, so all the people of Valloise believed in Nate. However, it had not been strong enough to overshadow the term ¡°national religion.¡± However, the atmosphere has changed since the current Pope came to power. Never in Valloise¡¯s history has Nate been so revered. A person who was more frugal, honest, and respectable than anyone else. Maybe someone with more authority than the King. He was the current Pope. ¡°The Holy Father is now in the prayer room. Could you please wait a moment?¡± If he had not sent a letter to the Pope in advance, they would not have met today. Denis clasped his hands together and posed as if in prayer while sitting in the chapel. No matter how unbelievable it was, he didn¡¯t know what action was appropriate in the temple. Denis closed his eyes and organized his thoughts. He had things to say and hear when he met the Pope today. As he closed his eyes, the sleepiness that had rested on the tip of his eyebrows seemed to subside. He hadn¡¯t slept properly for weeks. It¡¯s been weeks since he didn¡¯t see Tehez since the last split at the Marquis of Benchetrit¡¯s mansion. She didn¡¯t come looking for him unless he found her first. So, it means he hadn¡¯t been to Tehez¡¯s room for weeks. The fact dawned on him. ¡®Get your hands off. From now on, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡¯ What was the look on the woman¡¯s face after he said that? He felt stabbed by what he had said. The more conscious he became of her, the more he struggled to escape from her shadow. It took him a day or two to fall asleep with twice as many sleeping candles as usual. There were days when he lost all my physical strength through vigorous exercise and then fell asleep as if fainting. There were days when he gave up sleeping and worked all night. It was pointless. In the end, Sylvan was angry and shouted at him. ¡°If you stay like this, you will die, Prince! Just go and have her put you to bed!¡± ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯d be better off dead.¡± At dawn, Denis sat down on a day bed in a hazy mind and answered with a sly smile. He didn¡¯t even drink a sip, but he felt drunk. ¡°Oh, really! I don¡¯t know, then.¡± Sylvan closed the door and left. Denis raised one of his arms and placed it over his eyes, closing his eyes. Nothing meant anything to him after losing his mother, who was the only meaning in his world. He wandered in the midst of meaninglessness and lethargy. He made up his mind to get revenge, but he knew that the dead would never come back alive. Those were the days he endured. Between revenge and helplessness, or meaninglessness. But the woman kept trying to mean something to him¡­ ¡°The Holy Father said that his prayers are over. Follow me, this way.¡± Denis awoke from his thoughts. He closed his eyes for a moment, and seemed to have awakened a little. With the guidance of the priest, he gradually entered the depths of the temple. When the priest opened the door, he saw an open room with a small table and chairs. ¡°Thank you for coming a long way.¡± The Pope came first and sat down. He was an old man with fully grey hair. He had been reigning as Pope for 30 years. Denis straightened his expression. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°No, Holy Father.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 19 *** *** The Pope poured water into the teapot and began to boil it. When the water boiled, the kettle squeaked. Then the Pope rose from his seat, took the tea out of the tea container, and brewed it. The tea container was a small wooden box gilded with handles and locks. The front of the tea container was engraved with a picture of the Nate scripture, a grape vine, a cat, an olive tree, and a sheep. The tea container was a very expensive item that ordinary people could get even if they worked all their lives. Until then, there was no word between the Pope and Denis. It was to see who would say what first. As the Pope poured tea, a deep scent bloomed from the teacup. ¡°It¡¯s a good tea.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it.¡± Denis looked down at the teacup and said, ¡°The picture in the pot reminds me of a verse from the scriptures.¡± ¡°Are you talking about the sheep who has repaid the favour?¡± asked the Pope. ¡°Yes. This is a verse I loved as a child. It said that the olive tree took pity on the sheep who had been starving for several days and allowed it to bear fruit.¡± Denis grabbed the cup and took a sip of the tea. ¡°It¡¯s a phrase that I really like, too. ¡°Then you know the back part, too.¡± Denis looked at the Pope. While bewildered by the out-of-the-ordinary scriptural story, the Pope kept his mouth shut and continued his behind-the-scenes story. ¡°As time passed and the olive tree grew old and sick, people started to cut it down. Then the sheep sacrificed itself to stop the people, and eventually died. And Nate, taking pity on that fact, gave the sheep a new life. ¡°You know it very well, Holy Father.¡± Denis smiled a little. As a Pope, it was natural to know the scriptures well. ¡°That¡¯s true, but-¡± The Pope replied defensively. ¡°I was impressed by the sheep who never forgot to pay back the favours even as time went by. How about you?¡± ¡°So do I. Nate has a clear distinction between lessons and rewards.¡± ¡°Good. Then the Holy Father would not have forgotten the debt you owe me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I want you to pay me back.¡± Denis¡¯ eyes, looking at the Pope, were indifferent as if they contained nothing. ¡°¡­Why are you only mentioning it now?¡± The Pope gathered his brows as if he was uncomfortable with the topic Denis brought up. ¡°Because this is the most appropriate time. You are aware that I am having trouble with the succession of the throne.¡± Denis hit the nail. ¡°I need help from the temple.¡± *** In the carriage returning from the temple¡­ Denis leaned his head back and closed his eyes. ¡®Will the Pope accept the proposal?¡¯ In fact, it was a threat under the guise of a proposal. Since he mentioned Queen Charlize, the Pope¡¯s weakness, he thought that the Pope could not ignore him. God is watching. Denise raised his right hand and placed it over his heart. He retraced the words engraved under the layered garments. If there was a real God, he wouldn¡¯t have thrown the saint¡¯s child into the mud like this. No, he would not have taken the saint¡¯s life in vain. A smile broke out. The clatter of horses¡¯ hooves hitting the ground sounded like a lullaby. He was so tired that he couldn¡¯t sleep. Denis opened his closed eyes and looked out the window. Before he knew it, he was near the palace. ¡°Can I get off here? I¡¯d like to take a walk.¡± The carriage stopped, and Sylvan prepared to get off. Denis raised his hand and stopped him. ¡°Sylvan goes back with the coach.¡± ¡°But Prince¡­¡± ¡°This forest belongs to the royal family, so what¡¯s the matter? It¡¯s within walking distance from here to the palace.¡± Sylvan made a troubled expression on his face, and then resigned. ¡°Okay. Please come back before the sun goes down, my Lord.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Denis got out of the carriage and looked at the forest. It was a birch forest owned by the royal family. The dense birch trees were swaying in the wind, and the sound of the trees shaking sounded just like water flowing. He moved slowly. The scent of fresh wood brushed the tip of his nose. The birch seedlings, which were offered by an aristocrat more than a hundred years ago, became dense forests and a place where royal people sometimes came to relax. It was also said that the previous King loved the birch forest and made a treehouse in the middle of the forest and visited the forest every day. As evidence, decades later, Denis could still see a well-managed treehouse. He also came to the birch forest after a few years. A two-hour walk across the promenade led to the west gate of the royal castle. He moved as he listened to the whispers of the birch trees. He loosened the tie around his neck. A gust of wind scattered his fine blue-black hair. Denise suddenly felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Lolling around with her in the birch forest. Was it a dream or a hallucination? A familiar scent seemed to pass by in the wind. Light floral and perfumed scent. He turned his back and looked behind him. She was standing with a surprised look on her face. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯m out for a walk. The royal physician told me to take a walk often.¡± The woman murmured perplexedly. The woman stood alone without a maid behind her. She didn¡¯t think she¡¯d meet him here either. ¡°Oh, yes.¡± The wind blew between him and her. The hem of the woman¡¯s dress swelled up in the wind. Denis lay down his coat on a flat lawn under the treehouse. The woman was still absentmindedly nailed to the spot. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°What are you doing? Sit down or go back.¡± The woman looked confused. However, she thought she would not be kicked out, so the woman carefully sat down next to where he was lying. Denis quietly closed his eyes, listening to the hem of the woman¡¯s dress rubbing against each other. ¡°Then why is the prince here at this hour?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking a walk, too.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The woman was hesitating to ask anything more. ¡°If you have something to say, say it quickly. I¡¯m a little tired right now.¡± ¡°Did you not sleep?¡± She asked in a worried tone. The question was so sweet that he felt emotional. ¡°As you can see.¡± Denis¡¯ voice was silent as he answered. He had not been able to rest properly for several weeks, and when he came to see the Pope, he had no energy in his body. That¡¯s it. Denis clicked his tongue inwardly. They heard birds chirping in the distance. As he lay still in the birch forest, his nerves, like a sharpened knife, seemed to be dulled. Lubern¡¯s short summer was coming to an end. After the short summer, the long winter will come. ¡°¡­Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°Should I quit being a Prince and live in the South?¡± He threw his hand lightly over his eyes as if joking. Tehez did not respond. ¡°If you don¡¯t like the South, what about the East?¡± He remembered that she liked the eastern forest, where they went on vacation. It had already been two years since he had spent time in the woods with her. ¡°Until then¡­¡± The woman took her words off carefully. ¡°Until then¡­ will you need me?¡± He thought the question sounded somehow desperate. ¡°Yes, my wife.¡± His voice was sweet, as if he had never turned her down. Tehez was upset by his answer. She wanted to ask he told her to take her hands off his matters. ¡®Is it because you don¡¯t need me anymore?¡¯ ¡°Then why did you tell me to let go?¡± She ended up asking. Tehez lowered her head. She wasn¡¯t confident to look him in the face and hear an answer. Denis answered kindly. ¡°Well¡­ could there be a better way? I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I had to say that. I¡­¡± It was like an excuse. Instead, he continued. ¡°I will tell you when I no longer need you. Got it?¡± Tehez raised her head. ¡®That means you still need me.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a straightforward answer, but at least it wasn¡¯t that he was going to throw her away right now. Tehez was a little relieved. He yawned tiredly. She asked without missing a moment. ¡°Can I put you to sleep? My prince.¡± It was such a sweet suggestion. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t refuse and looked at Tehez. There was an ocean in her eyes, and he wanted to rest in peace in the ocean. ¡°Yes, Tehez.¡± He pulled Tehez¡¯s arm. ¡°Put me to sleep, please.¡± A small body was pulled over him. The familiar body temperature and slender shoulders in both hands were very pleasant. It felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was back in place. It fit perfectly without a single point of error. Denis shuddered all over. The weight of the woman he hadn¡¯t seen in a while seemed lighter. The woman was looking down at him. Her hair fell down and embraced him like a golden curtain. Blue waves fluttered in the eyes of the woman where he got lost. Denis looked down and looked up at the woman, and the sentiment was different. It was a strange feeling. Denis glanced over the woman¡¯s face and noticed a tiny spot under her chin. It was something he couldn¡¯t see well when he looked down. He stroked her mole gently with his index finger. The little discovery made him feel more refreshed. ¡°Would you mind lowering your head?¡± The tip of Tehez¡¯s nose that approached collided with his nose. Denis swallowed her lips like a hungry man. There was a splash, a wet sound. The sound of birch swaying came in like waves. The incessant tide and ebb eroded him. He saw the light leaking through the birch trees. Between the leaves, between her fluttering hair. Maybe it wasn¡¯t deja vu? Denis laughed softly. It was a satisfactory smile for the first time in a while. He felt drowsy as the welcome guest came to visit him. The eyelids closed comfortably. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Finally, he was submerged in the ocean. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 20 *** *** Two years ago. On the train, Denis was reading a poetry book. Tehez watched the passing scenery. She kept her eyes fixed outside the window for hours without getting tired of it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± She turned her face to him. The woman¡¯s face was full of anticipation. It was Denis and Tehez¡¯s first vacation after marriage. It was their first time leaving as a couple, but it was also Tehez¡¯s first visit to another region since she was born in the capital. They had just transferred from Lubern to the eastbound train from Villefort, the transportation hub. It was a way to escape the summer of Lubern, so wherever she was, she liked it. ¡°Is this your first time going to another province, Tehez?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She blushed and lowered her head. She thought he¡¯d think she was tacky. Recently, overseas travel had become popular in Valloise. However, she had never been around the country properly. In fact, it would have been fair to say that she never had a chance to travel. After losing her mother, she was raised by her father, who focused only on his work. Tehez was brought up solely for a purpose. The purpose was to graduate from Academy with excellent grades when she was young, become a Princess when she grew up and make the family prosperous. Other than that, she wasn¡¯t interested in anything else. So she didn¡¯t enjoy the social presence that other ladies often do, and she didn¡¯t like buying dresses, dressing up beautifully, or socializing. Because those things were not necessary for her purpose. Tehez lowered her eyes and looked at her own outfit. The pure white dress¡­ if anyone who knew her passed by, would have cursed it for being too informal for the Princess to wear. But Tehez didn¡¯t care. Since it¡¯s summer vacation. It had been a long, long time since Tehez went on a vacation. A leisurely time when you don¡¯t have to worry about how you look, and what other people¡¯s actions mean. ¡°Then am I the first?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The one who travels with you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez replied softly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make it a memorable time for you.¡± Denis raised his chin and smiled confidently. He seemed to be in a good mood because it¡¯s been a long time since he had this kind of relaxation. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m really looking forward to it, my Prince.¡± The landscape began to change. Buildings and people had disappeared, and they were passing through dense forest. ¡°We¡¯ll arrive in a little bit more.¡± ¡°Have you ever been to Skane, Prince?¡± ¡°Yes, when I was young.¡± Denis added indifferently. ¡°I don¡¯t remember well. It¡¯s the first time since then, and it has probably changed a lot.¡± She felt the train slowing down. It seemed they had arrived. ¡°Let¡¯s get off, Tehez.¡± He dismounted her large bag from the luggage compartment, took it in one hand and went out into the train aisle. Tehez followed him out. The platform of the train station was crowded with people. The platform was crowded with people who wanted to catch the train, people seeing their families off, people waiting for someone, people who sold fruit, drinks and snacks, and pickpockets. ¡°Huh? First prince?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the First Prince!¡± Someone recognized him getting off the train and shouted loudly. In a flash, people gathered. Denis glanced behind him among those about to chase after him like a swarm of thieves. Tehez also turned her head to look behind her. A massive crowd of people was coming, and she felt like she was going to miss Denis in the crowd. Gradually the distance between Denis and her widened. Tehez opened her mouth to call him. At that moment, a warm body temperature grabbed her wrist. A familiar hand. It was him who came against the crowd. Denis grabbed her wrist and suddenly started running. Tehez also ran after him. Trying to keep her feet running to keep up with his muscular body running was beyond her power. She wondered how much they ran. As they ran between corridors, past the platform, through the station, they came to a narrow alley behind the train station. A carriage was parked at the end. ¡°Hurry up.¡± He added before she could answer back. ¡°Before people come after us.¡± He pushed her into the carriage and shut the door. Soon the carriage began to run. ¡°I called in the carriage in advance. We are going to ride this to the villa.¡± He said, tossing his sweaty hair. His straight forehead could be seen through his blue-black hair. He unbuttoned his shirt, soaked in sweat and clinging to his skin. She could see drops of sweat running down his neck and between his collarbones. At the palace, Denis was dressed to perfection for all four seasons. Shirt, tie, vest and coat. But today, he was on his way to vacation, so he was only wearing a wide shirt. Perhaps it was hot, he opened the window and flapped his shirt with his hands. She could see his chest through the loose buttons. She repeated to herself that she did not see anything. When Tehez saw the scene, she swallowed saliva without realizing it. Seeing her sitting blankly, Denis asked, wondering if she was in any pain. ¡°Where are you hurt?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± ¡°But why.¡± Tehez felt her face flush red in an instant. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Denis stared at her. She was more relaxed than usual, but she wore a long dress. ¡°Then take it off,¡± he said with a smirk. It was the expression he made when he teased her. ¡°That¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°Oh. Do you want me to take it off for you? Do you want that?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°It¡¯s really all right, Prince.¡± Denis was looking at her playfully. ¡°Ah, really. My wife needs a lot of help.¡± Dramatically speaking, Denis pulled the end of the ribbon on the front of her dress. The ribbon slipped loose, and the front of her dress opened, revealing her collarbone. ¡°Prince, it¡¯s all right. Really.¡± ¡°What?¡± He began to unbutton her, regardless of Tehez¡¯s resistance. ¡°It won¡¯t be hot this way, Tehez.¡± He was smiling with great delight. Tehez distorted her expression. He was in the mood to make it happen. She wanted to reject him, but at the same time, she didn¡¯t want to. Her heart was pounding with tension, and she could hear the sound of her heart. He stared at her, untying the front of her dress. The ribbons and buttons were undone, revealing her plump breasts through the sheer undergarments. He gave her a satisfied look as he looked at the condition he had created for her. Then he came up to her. She could feel something burning in Denis¡¯ eyes looking at her. He put his lips between Tehez¡¯s chin and neck, where her pulse was beating, and breathed in. He left a deep kiss. ¡°Your smell, I like it.¡± He went back to his seat with a light touch. He clasped his chin and looked out. A cool breeze blew through the loose dress. She was burning to the ears, and her face was about to explode. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± When the coachman stopped the horse, Tehez hurried to the front. Trembling with tension, her hands kept slipping, unable to lock her buttons. Denis, staring at her, took one of the white bundles from his own bag and tossed it to her. ¡°Put this on.¡± It was his shirt. Tehez took it silently and put on his shirt. She didn¡¯t know when she took it, but it was as big as a child wearing adult clothes when she put it on. ¡°Is it okay now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He opened the door and got off first. He waited under the carriage to escort her. Tehez stood still and saw his eyes waiting for her to get off, and her heart throbbed again. She grabbed him by the arm and stepped down the carriage. ¡°Wow.¡± Raising her head and looking straight ahead, she saw a small villa built in the middle of the forest. There were only pine trees all around the cottage built of logs, and the foot of Mount Skane could be seen behind the cottage. Tehez witnessed a beautiful natural landscape that she had never experienced before. ¡°This is-¡± ¡°Yes, this is where we¡¯ll spend our summer.¡± When Tehez finished admiring them, an old couple appeared in front of them and greeted them. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Laurent Colaro, who manages this villa¡­¡± The man with a kind face said his name, and the old woman next to him took over. ¡°I¡¯m Aida. Thank you for coming a long way.¡± ¡°Thank you for coming to meet us.¡± Denis politely greeted them. ¡°No, I was going to go out to the train station¡­¡± The man who introduced himself as Laurent was at a loss for words. Dennis said with a smile. ¡°I told you not to come out. Shall we go inside now? I wonder if it will be the same.¡± Under the guidance of the old couple, Denis and Tehez entered the villa. As soon as they opened the door to the villa, she could see a pine forest spread out through a large window. Tehez swallowed the admiration that was about to burst out of her mouth without noticing it. Seeing Tehez¡¯s curious face, Denis smiled a little. The space they entered was a small living room. On the left wall was a large stone fireplace. And there was a red carpet in front of it, and two single-seater sofas were placed around the fireplace. Across the fireplace and beyond the door on the right was a small room with a dining table for four and a kitchen. It was small, but it had a seating area and a dining area separated. ¡°It looks pretty much the same.¡± Denis said as if lost in old thoughts. ¡°You have a very good memory, Prince.¡± ¡°Take a look around the second floor.¡± When they went up the stairs, there was a bed with cozy-looking bedding on the second floor. Behind the head of the bed was another window overlooking the dense forest. Tehez looked out the window and saw the foothills of Mount Skane. ¡°It¡¯s a really nice place,¡± Tehez said after a long time. ¡°Right? Lady Charlize loved this villa very much.¡± Tehez asked in surprise. ¡°Are you talking about Queen Charlize?¡± ¡°Yes. Was it when the Prince was 4 years old at that time? He has stayed in this villa before.¡± Aida said, reminiscently. He never mentioned Queen Charlize during his coming to Skane. Tehez¡¯s heart became heavy in an instant. ¡°It was when I was young. Now that we¡¯ve looked around, shall we unpack?¡± Denise turned around. ¡°Oops. You must be tired, but it¡¯s been a while since I talked excitedly.¡± Laurent scratched his head in embarrassment. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and go. Honey, my Prince. Then I¡¯ll see you at dinner time.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Aida.¡± Aida stabbed Laurent in the side and quickly disappeared downstairs. In an instant, two were left alone in the villa. Tehez was still confused. She didn¡¯t know if she could ask him about Queen Charlize. ¡°Tehez, change your clothes.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince. I¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what Aida said. I¡¯m here to rest.¡± ¡°Yes, but-¡± ¡°You also want to get some rest.¡± ¡°Yes. All right, Prince.¡± Tehez did not bring up the story of Queen Charlize. Instead, she decided without a second thought to follow his advice, saying that he wanted to rest. ¡°Would you like to change clothes and go outside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Okay, change and come down.¡± (To be continued in the next episode.) Chapter 21 *** *** He didn¡¯t have to change because she was lightly dressed from her departure from Lubern. Tehez pulled out her bag and stopped while organizing it. It was because she suddenly felt anxious when she was left alone on the second floor. He felt like a different person in Lubern, and today in Skone. He was more friendly and kind than usual. Tehez didn¡¯t know if he had any other ideas or if he was purely capricious. ¡°Tehez! Are you done?¡± She heard him calling from downstairs. Tehez woke up from deep thought. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there, Prince!¡± She quickly took off her dress. After changing into a light dress, Denis took her hand and led her outside the villa. There was a stream flowing right in front of the villa. ¡°That¡¯s right upstream of the Yev River. It will flow through Gotted Azur into the sea.¡± Denis said, pointing to the stream. Gotted Azur was the most famous marine city in the east. Tehez had only seen it in pictures. She also remembered seeing an inscription saying that the cruise ship on the Yev River, which crosses the middle of the city, was particularly cold. How could that little stream flow unbroken along the way to the city, which takes a day and a half by train, and join the sea? ¡°You can enjoy salmon fishing from now on.¡± ¡°Salmon fishing?¡± ¡°Yes. Do you want to try?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve only eaten it, but it would be my first time catching it myself¡­¡± It was all her first time. She had always wanted to show him her dexterity. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll talk to Laurent. We have plenty of time.¡± Tehez looked up at him softly. He looked at the scenery with a relaxed expression. ¡®Is it really a dream? If this was a dream, I never want to wake up.¡¯ ¡°What?¡± ¡°No, nothing.¡± ¡°And if you go back, you can hike Mount Skane. If you go over there, there is also Skane Forest.¡± Tehez blurted out. ¡°All right, Prince.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Denis chuckled. It was a boyish smile full of mischief. He must have heard that she liked mountains or forests. Even so, she wanted to speak at that moment. Impulsive. Tehez felt warm and fuzzy inside her heart. ¡®If this feeling is happiness, I wanted to be happy for a long time.¡¯ *** The chilly morning air woke Tehez. The temperature dropped sharply at night even though it was summer because it was under the mountain. Thanks to that, she could sleep soundly without waking up in between. Yesterday, she went to bed right after dinner after looking around the villa. Both of them fell asleep as if it were a lie that they usually suffered from insomnia. Denis was still sleeping next to her. He looked comfortable sleeping like a baby. Tehez crept out of bed not to wake him from a long, deep sleep. Then she put on the shawl she had thrown on the sofa and went out of the villa. When she carefully closed the door and came out, a landscape quite different from that of yesterday¡¯s, spread out before her. It felt as if the air moistened with the dew of the night was seeping into her skin. Mount Skane, located behind the villa, was hidden by clouds, and the summit was invisible. The stream right in front of the villa was full of mist. And the sound of birds coming from somewhere¡­ Tehez turned her head and chased the birds. Little birds and blackbirds, unknown names, were flying through the trees. She wanted to understand what they were talking about. Tehez only stayed for one day, but she liked the laid-back vibe of Skane¡¯s villa. She wished she could live like this with him. Tehez sat on a broad rock near the river listening to the sound of flowing water. The sun was coming up. She felt like she was falling asleep again. By the time she was dazed by the sun, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± With his robe on his arm, Denis stood behind her with his arms crossed. ¡°Did you wake up?¡± Tehez rose from the rock, dusting off her clothes. ¡°Yes, you weren¡¯t there.¡± His voice, which was lower than usual, was good to hear, perhaps because he was still half asleep. And the messy hair on his right side made him look cute. Tehez looked at his hair and smiled softly. She wasn¡¯t going to tell him until they had breakfast. It¡¯s going to be a little fun for her. ¡°Let¡¯s go in. It¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez put her arms around Denis¡¯ and went back to the villa. She told in advance to have a simple breakfast, but Aida¡¯s ¡®simple¡¯ was very different from Tehez¡¯s ¡®simple¡¯. At the palace, when Tehez got busy, she sometimes only had coffee for breakfast. When she said that, Aida was ecstatic and said that breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and she carried food to the table without a break. Denis was so familiar with Aida¡¯s actions that he quietly prepared his breakfast portion without saying anything. ¡°Princess, you must have a good breakfast. It is this meal that energizes you to work throughout the day.¡± ¡°But this is too much, Aida.¡± In front of Tehez, buttered brioche and fresh croissants from the oven were piled up, and next to them were six kinds of jam, including figs, strawberries, blackcurrants, orange marmalade, raspberries, and cherries. On top of that, there was a bowl of salad made of fresh vegetables from Aida¡¯s garden. Aida was squeezing oranges and making juice next to her. It was already after a bucket of juice was served enough for 10 people, but Aida did not stop squeezing the juice. It was like a juice maker. ¡°You can¡¯t skip meals. See, you are so thin. You need to gain more weight.¡± Aida put a bowl full of food in front of Tehez. ¡°Yes, Tehez. I agree with Aida. You need to gain some more weight.¡± Denis, who said so, was drinking coffee with a satisfied face, probably because he had finished all the food in front of him. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree? Go ahead and eat.¡± Gaining strength from Denis¡¯ consent, Aida began to feed Tehez all the food on the table. Tehez stared at Denis, but Denis shrugged his shoulders. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Aida, can I have some more coffee?¡± He just said that, and his expression was absurd. At that moment, Laurent, who came in through the back door, shouted in surprise. ¡°Hey! Are you going to make the Princess explode?¡± Laurent put down the fishing rod that was in his hand and hurriedly put away the food. ¡°When this person feels good, her hands get bigger. I¡¯m sorry, Princess.¡± Tehez, who was already full, couldn¡¯t say it was okay with empty words. At that moment, Laurent, who stopped Aida, was like an angel who came to save her. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough. Thank you for the meal.¡± Tehez quickly rose from her seat. She couldn¡¯t eat anymore. Denis rose slowly as Tehez rose from her chair. ¡°Thank you for the meal. Aida, thank you for your hard work. You have been working since the morning.¡± ¡°No, Prince, I just wanted to treat you better.¡± Aida said, wiping her wet hands on her apron as if it were a pity. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here for two weeks, so please take good care of us.¡± Denis glanced at Laurent. It was an unspoken gesture that Aida would have to work well every morning from now on. Laurent nodded as if he understood. *** ¡°Laurent, where can we fish?¡± Tehez and Denis had just come out to fish salmon with Laurent¡¯s guidance. Laurent showed the fishing rod and explained. ¡°You have to go into the water and throw a sharp thrust towards the front. The flow rate is quite strong, so be careful not to fall.¡± Laurent threw a fishing rod to demonstrate. A light spatter was sucked into the river. Laurent prepared skillfully. After a while, the bob went under the water and came up again. Laurent, who had been concentrating on the rise and fall of the float, pulled the fishing rod hard at that moment. Tehez saw an object desperately biting and running away. Laurent¡¯s fishing rod bent like a bow. It looked like it would break soon. Tehez watched the process closely. As Laurent pulled it, a large thing split the water and jumped out. It was a salmon! Tehez looked at it with her eyes wide open because it was her first time seeing a live salmon. Laurent picked up the fluttering salmon with a scoop net. ¡°This is how you do it. It¡¯s very easy, right?¡± Laurent smiled proudly. It was salmon as big as Tehez¡¯s forearm. ¡°Lauren, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Tehez clapped her hands. Laurent greeted her with an exaggerated courtesy. He looked like a theatrical actor. She burst into laughter. ¡°Well, then give it a try.¡± Tehez and Denis each grabbed a fishing rod. Denis looked at the river, and sat slightly above where she was standing. Tehez stood where Laurent picked up the salmon and decided to throw the rod again. Tehez swung her fishing rod like Laurent. The heavily bent fishing rod dropped the bob on the back of Tehez. The stick that fell behind her did not come back up. It was stuck between the cracks in the stones. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Wait, stay still, Princess. I¡¯ll take it out for you.¡± Several times since, Tehez had repeatedly thrown the bob, remembering Laurent¡¯s posture, but the bob continued to fall in front of her nose or behind her back. She heard a soft laugh behind her. ¡°I¡¯ll do it alone now, Laurent. You should go now.¡± Laurent stretched out his hand to help her several times, and soon she turned stubborn. ¡°Can you do it alone?¡± It was a voice with a hint of laughter. ¡°Yes, I can.¡± Tehez answered gravely. She glanced at Denis¡¯ net. In that short period of time, there were two large fish in it, perhaps because he caught salmon. Tehez swung the fishing rod vigorously. This time, she will properly hang the fishing rod, catch the salmon, and dry it. She had a good feeling about this. The bob fell in the right place. She smiled at the thought of finally making it. When she lifted the fishing rod slightly, something did not come up as if it had been caught. It was heavy. Tehez pulled hard. She tried to squeeze her pounding heart and grabbed the fishing rod again. Prince, I think I caught salmon. As soon as she was going to say that, the stick that had stuck between the stones jumped out. The reaction knocked Tehez, who lost her balance and fell. Unknowingly, she was floundering and was swept away by the current. In an instant, the water dug into her ears and nose. The water where she fell was not deep, but she was washed away by the current and kept flowing into the depths of the heart of the river. ¡°Tehez!¡± There was a thumping, rushing sound, and Denise lifted her by her waist. Cough cough Tehez coughed, spitting out water from her mouth. ¡°Are you okay?¡± asked Dennis in an urgent voice. ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez answered, drenched in water. Her hands were trembling, perhaps because of the surprise. Denise got wet with her water and brushed her back, which was clinging to her clothes. ¡°It¡¯s all right now.¡± It was a gesture of relief. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Then, holding her in one of her arms, he strode towards her villa. (To be continued in the next episode) Chapter 22 *** *** Aida and Laurent had returned to their home, and the neatly organized villa was quiet. Denis made Tehez sit on a chair, as she was trembling. Water dripped from her on the clean floor. Denis ran on his long legs, gave her a thick towel and warm water, made a fire in the fireplace, and told her to go and wash up. ¡°I heated up the water. You¡¯ll catch a cold if you don¡¯t wash up quickly.¡± Despite the middle of summer, the fireplace that Denise prepared made the villa hot like a steamer. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Why? Do you want me to wash you?¡± Only then did Dennis seem to be able to relax, jokingly sweeping up his entire hair that was drenched in sweat. His shirt, wet from the river water, was clinging to it, illuminating his body softly. ¡°¡­No.¡± Teherz dragged her clingy dress into the bathroom. She was submerged in a bathtub full of hot water for a long time. When she came to her senses, she felt like going crazy with shame. ¡®I¡¯m not good enough in front of him.¡¯ She wanted to show him her proficiency in everything. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Tehez?¡± She heard a call outside. She got up quickly and wiped the water off her body. ¡°I¡¯m going out.¡± Her face flushed with the heat of the bath. ¡°Drink this.¡± As if he had changed his clothes, Denis, with a smooth face, handed her something. It was hot tea. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find a teapot. Drink this and rest,¡± he said, blushing her face. Tehez looked down at the cup. Her own eyes were reflected in the scarlet tea. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± She meant it. Denis patted her on the head and went out. He seemed to be going to organize the fishing equipment he threw away earlier. Tehez¡¯s whole body felt tired after drinking hot tea. It was because she fell into cold water and had been in hot water for a long time. She took a few sips before placing the cup on the table and went upstairs to the bedroom. She put on the duvet, and it smelled good, well dried in the sun. Tehez fell asleep in an instant. Sleeping for a while felt like a long time. The sun had already set outside the window, and it was dark. Tehez rose with a heavy head. As she sat on the bed, the wet towel on her head fell off. The damp towel that had just been on her head was warm. Come to think of it, her whole body was hotter than usual. It felt like the world was spinning. ¡®Where did the Prince go?¡¯ Tehez stumbled out of bed. ¡°Prince?¡± A lower-than-usual voice came out. She looked around the living room, but he was nowhere to be seen. She became increasingly anxious. Like a child who lost her mother. Where did he go in the middle of the night? She sat in front of the fireplace, staring blankly at the burning fire. Her whole body seemed to sink. Her head was heavy, and her neck was tingling. Although she had slept for a long time, she continued to feel hazy. Then the front door opened, and he came in. Seeing her sitting by the fireplace, he was delighted. ¡°Woke up?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How do you feel? Let¡¯s eat this first and take some medicine.¡± What he was holding in his hand was a small pot. Inside the pot was freshly boiled soup. He poured her soup into a bowl and led her to the table. Tehez was dragged helplessly and sat down in the chair. She couldn¡¯t swallow the soup properly because her mouth was dry. Denis sat in front of her and watched until Teherz had emptied the bowl. By the time he saw the bottom of the bowl, he had brought medicine and water. ¡°Swallow it.¡± Tehez meekly picked up the pill and swallowed it. The scent of cinnamon and herbs spread wildly in her throat. ¡°You are going to feel better, so rest again.¡± Denis led her back to the bed and covered her with the duvet up to her neck. Tehez lay down and looked at him from afar. ¡°What do you need?¡± The tone of the question was very friendly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then-¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± Tehez was speechless. It felt like something was coming out of her throat. ¡°Why are you being nice to me?¡± ¡°Is this what you¡¯re good at?¡± He replied with a grin. ¡°Yes, I saved you from drowning, I took care of you. My wife becomes like a baby when she¡¯s sick. Pampered.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not-¡± Tehez tried to refute his words. ¡°Yes. Maybe¡­ That¡¯s possible, Tehez.¡± Denis looked down at her. ¡°I feel at ease here. I sleep well, and I feel relaxed. I think that is the reason.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not a palace. I¡¯m a little bit¡­¡± Teherz could guess what Dennis had to say. She seemed to be able to read his expressionless face. He kissed her lightly on the forehead. ¡°It¡¯s late at night, so the baby should go to bed now.¡± He arranged the blankets and went downstairs. ¡®What do you mean a baby?¡¯ Tehez felt the fever that had gone down, rise again. The next day, when she woke up, Tehez¡¯s fever had miraculously gone. Denis was squatting like a shrimp on the bedside on which she was sleeping. With his haggard face and the water glass and pills cluttered on the side table, she could feel that he had cared for her all night. Denis got up, rubbing his eyes, as she removed her blanket. ¡°Sorry, did you wake up?¡± ¡°How¡¯s your fever?¡± Denis¡¯ large hand covered her forehead. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°It fell off.¡± Denis felt uncomfortable after sleeping in that position, so he got up, stretched, and turned his head from left to right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was sick¡­¡± ¡®And for putting you in trouble.¡¯ Tehez swallowed without saying those words. ¡°Well, don¡¯t you say thank you at times like this, Madam?¡± Denis looked at her and smiled naturally. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tehez gave a small greeting. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go eat breakfast.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Perhaps the news had also reached Aida, she put down plenty of meat and vegetables in front of Tehez. ¡°You¡¯re going to eat all the soup today.¡± Aida¡¯s expression was very serious. Aida thought that because Tehez ate too little, she fell ill. Since breakfast, Aida has been serving her meat soup for hours, and no one stopped her today. Both Laurent and Denis seemed to have tacitly agreed with Aida¡¯s actions. Tehez stared blankly at her plate placed in front of her. Ribs, potatoes, and carrots were piled high. ¡°Thank you. I will eat well.¡± Tehez raised the fork like a general going to the battlefield. Tehez chewed the meat slowly. It was delicious as it was a soup made by Aida with all her heart and soul. But as she ate it, it didn¡¯t decrease in amount. It seemed that the enemy continued to pour in, and Tehez became a cornered general. ¡®How can I eat all of this?¡¯ She ate so hard, but she felt like she hadn¡¯t even eaten half of it yet. At that moment, Denis, who was finishing his meal, called Aida. ¡°Aida, can you get me some apricot jam?¡± ¡°Apricot jam?¡± Aida, who was watching Tehez from her side, spying on her, rummaged through the cupboard. ¡°There¡¯s no apricot jam¡­¡± ¡°Is there none?¡± Denis looked up at Aida affectionately. He looked like a child asking for more candy from his mother. Aida hurried out through the back door, saying she might be in her house. Denis said as he looked at Tehez, as she sat in her bewilderment. ¡°Tehez, stop eating and go up to your room and rest.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Tehez mumbled and got up from his chair. ¡°Hurry up. The medicine is next to the bed. Eat that and sleep.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m all better now, Prince.¡± ¡°Madam will take off for three days.¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± Tehez looked at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°That¡¯s what I decided.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez glanced at him, and he gestured his chin to the second floor. It seemed to mean to go up quickly before Aida came. In the end, Tehez was lying on the bed, just as he said. Even though her body got better a long time ago, she had only one week left from her two-week summer vacation. After getting better, Tehez suggested Denis to go fishing for salmon she couldn¡¯t finish. But what came back was a cold refusal. Instead, Denis asked her how it was like to go to Skane Forest. ¡°How about having lunch there?¡± ¡°I like it.¡± Tehez and he went to Skane Forest late in the morning on a sunny day. Denis tied the picnic box tightly and pulled the bicycle. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it, Prince.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just go, baby.¡± The road to the forest was a small path, so it was a good atmosphere to stroll. It wasn¡¯t a bad feeling to walk through the thick bushes. ¡°Prince, are you good at riding a bicycle?¡± ¡°Yes. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never ridden it.¡± ¡°There are many things you haven¡¯t done, Madam. Ah, is it because you are a baby?¡± ¡°¡­Stop teasing me.¡± Denis laughed out loud at Tehez¡¯s slightly sulky voice. It was a sweet laugh. After walking for about half an hour, they arrived at a wide-open space in the middle of the forest. It was carefully crafted to see if it was what people were looking for. Denis sat down there. He lay down comfortably without saying a word and took out a book of poetry he had been reading from the train. Tehez looked at him blankly. Tehez rose from her seat while watching him concentrate. She went around the forest. There were trees all over. She sat in the shade of a tree and raised her hand to obscure the light streaming through the trees. Lying under the light, he looked as small as the palm of her hand. He was covered with one hand. Tehez was able to recognize him in detail, even though he was far away. The frown on his forehead when concentrating, the fingers flipping through the pages, and an elegant posture while lying languidly with arms crossed. ¡®Even among thousands of people, I will recognize you.¡¯ The warm wind was making his hair flutter. He was extremely beautiful. He looked like a masterpiece hanging in an art gallery. Tehez raised her knees and buried her head. As he said, she was really a baby. It should be fun to be with him, but she felt like she was sinking. Like a child who doesn¡¯t want to see the ending of a fairy tale and doesn¡¯t want to turn the last page. Were the main characters still happy? Without breaking up, just like that¡­ Then she heard a voice calling her. She lifted her head and looked at Denis, who called her tenderly. ¡°Tehez, come here.¡± Tehez took a step from the shadows to the light. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was a dream she never wanted to wake up from. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 23 *** *** In a quiet office. A woman was sitting by the table, and another woman was kneeling in front of her with her head bowed deeply. ¡°Okay. What are you going to do?¡± The woman, sitting on the chair, looked down and asked. ¡°Just let me do anything. I want to get back at Duke of Briem.¡± The woman, kneeling on her knees, with bloodshot eyes and a desperate face, looked up at the person sitting in the chair. ¡°How can I trust you?¡± The woman on her knees, without saying a word, pulled a dagger out of her arms. Startled by the flashing blade, the escort knight behind her tried to step forward. But the woman raised her hand and stopped her. The woman on her knees untied her hair, grabbed a handful and cut it off. She then politely offered her hair with both her hands. ¡°Instead of my neck, I offer my hair. If I do anything that offends the Princess, have my title taken next time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Forever and ever, my life will belong to the Princess.¡± The woman sitting in the chair beckoned with a stern face, and Danielle took the hair. ¡°If so¡­¡± As Tehez held the hair, the woman on her knees smiled happily as if she had heard an angel¡¯s voice. She asked the woman with a face that looked like she had already achieved what she wanted, as if confirming again. ¡°Are you sure you can do anything?¡± ¡°Of course, at the cost of my life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s never too late to discuss life after it goes wrong. It can be tough.¡± ¡°I will do my best.¡± Tehez said, looking down at the woman¡¯s determined face. ¡°Then I will wash your identity. First of all, go into the Duke¡¯s house as a maid.¡± ¡°I will take orders.¡± The woman answered without hesitation. ¡°I will tell you what to do later. It is most important to win the trust of the Duke.¡± ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡± The woman bowed politely and walked out of the room. Tehez gently pressed her temples to see if she had a headache. ¡°Would you like some more warm tea?¡± Danielle asked Tehez. ¡°I¡¯m feeling stuffy, so I want to eat something cold.¡± ¡°Then can I get you some ice?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s stop by the temple for a while on our way.¡± On the way to the carriage, Tehez pondered how to roll the card in her hand. She knew the name of the woman she had met today. Fantine Creon. The eldest daughter of an aristocrat, who was almost wiped out due to Duke Briem¡¯s ??trickery. The Creon family had been famous for gold mines since ancient times. When it comes to ¡®Creon Gold Mine¡¯ in Valloise, there was no one who didn¡¯t know about it. The amount of gold mined in Creon mines was half the gold in circulation in Valloise. It was the Duke of Briem who made Viscount Creon collapse in an instant. It was a small and trivial reason why he coveted the Creon Mines. Tehez thought of the lowly greed of the Duke of Briem, who eventually drove Viscount Creon into the abyss. ¡°Have you heard the latest news from Viscount Creon?¡± Tehez asked Danielle a question, and Danielle answered as she traced her memory. ¡°I understand that there has been no clear progress recently. I heard that he lost his counterfeit contract trial with the Duke of Briem, and that he was unable to pay off his mounting debts and put his title up for sale.¡± ¡°It seems that the title has not been sold yet.¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t think anyone offered to buy it.¡± ¡°Gold mines with dwindling yields would be unattractive.¡± At Tehez¡¯s words, Danielle nodded her head. ¡°Besides, the court case was seen as offensive to the old nobles, including the Duke of Briem.¡± At Danielle¡¯s words, Tehez recalled the trial of the Duke of Briem and Viscount Creon a few years ago. The Duke of Briem brought out the old contract he had received from his predecessor, Viscount Creon, and filed a lawsuit against Creon. The contract stipulated that Viscount Creon would provide the Duke of Briem with gold mined from the largest gold mine in the estate for a fee. But the fee was subtle. It was supposed to pay 30% of the wheat harvested from the estate of the Duke of Briem as a commission. It was a remarkably small, unfair contract compared to the value of the Creon gold mine. Then it was discovered that the contract offered by the Duke of Briem was a forgery. However, as a powerless low-ranking aristocrat, fighting the Duke of Briem, a great aristocrat, was like a battle in which victory and defeat were decided. Viscount Creon, who lost the trial, shrank day by day due to the enormous legal costs, fees that were not paid to the Duke of Briem, and the reduced gold mine output. That was how Fantine Creon decided to take revenge on the Duke of Briem. Tehez checked the progress in her head. Some unexpected parts were in the middle, but it wasn¡¯t bad if evaluated in a broad frame. If all goes as expected, Fantine Creon will be useful. Tehez quietly shook her head. *** ¡°We¡¯re here, Princess.¡± A gloomy evening. Tehez arrived at the temple. Perhaps because it was not a holy day, only a few priests and individuals came to pray in the temple. One of the priests met her and greeted her. ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Good morning, priest. I¡¯m sorry for being at this late hour.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°The temple is always open to believers.¡± The priest spoke with a seemingly benevolent expression. ¡°Thank you. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to share the tea with the Bishop.¡± Tehez beckoned, and Danielle came out from behind carrying a small object wrapped in expensive silk. When the priest opened the silk, what was inside was a tea canister. The tea in the tea canister was a commodity commonly consumed by nobles. However, the tea canister was made of sandalwood, which grows only in the southwestern part of Valloise, and a verse from the scriptures was embossed. ¡°Precious¡­¡± The priest was speechless for a moment. Because that tea canister was a luxury that ordinary people would never see in their lives. The priest, who had a bright face, spoke louder. ¡°I pray for Nate¡¯s blessing to the believers. The Bishop is now in the prayer room. I will let you know when he¡¯s done praying.¡± The priest led her to the central chapel of the temple and told her to wait a moment. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tehez nodded and sat in the chapel, swiping her hand across the chair. The chairs, which probably existed since the time the temple was built, still looked shiny. Tehez raised her head and looked straight ahead. The shortened autumn sun shone on stained glass, illuminating the statue of Nate hanging from the ceiling of the chapel. God was looking down on her. Tehez saw God looking down at her without moving. Even though she knew there was no such thing as a God, when she had to decide something, she found herself in the temple. Tehez laughed at her own behaviour. She once prayed hard when she was young. At that time, it was because she really believed that God was the one who could accomplish anything. But she never had her prayers answered. She prayed to God to heal her mother, who had been ill for a long time, but her mother eventually closed her eyes. She begged to change her father, but his abuse got worse with each passing day. She prayed that she could do her minimum duty for him who didn¡¯t love her, but her God did not grant her the blessing of pregnancy. Perhaps she would never receive that blessing. She stared blankly at the statue. The still face of God. Whenever the things she wanted desperately were thwarted, Tehez used to become discouraged. She couldn¡¯t understand why it always happened to her. After her countless setbacks, Tehez finally figured it out. If there¡¯s anything you want, you have to do it yourself. Whether it¡¯s right or wrong before God. So, she thought it wouldn¡¯t matter if she wasn¡¯t forgiven for the sins she had committed. She only knew that she just did her best to achieve what she wanted. Tehez knew that she was doing the unforgivable to put him on the throne. However, she hoped that he could be crowned with the fruit of her sins. ¡®Don¡¯t let this all go in vain.¡¯ It was her last wish. As long as he ascends the throne safely, she can leave her seat next to him without regrets. ¡°Princess, the Bishop has come out of the prayer room. Come here.¡± Tehez stood up at the priest¡¯s call. She went into the room where the Bishop was waiting. The Bishop greeted Tehez with a gracious smile. ¡°May the Grace of God be with you.¡± ¡°And with you as well, Your Holiness.¡± The Bishop was making tea. Tehez sat proudly at the table, wondering if the Bishop liked the tea canister she had gifted. ¡°Why did you find me today?¡± ¡°I wanted to repent. I feel like I haven¡¯t been able to keep holy days properly these days.¡± Tehez replied, with her smile faded. ¡°You¡¯re always welcome. What do you want to confess? Nate is a forgiver of any sin.¡± ¡°¡­That I¡¯m working really hard ¡­. He just needs to know that.¡± ¡°Nate knows your hard work.¡± ¡°Does he really know?¡± Tehez asked the Bishop. ¡°Of course. He is looking at all things in the world.¡± ¡°Then I shall not be forgiven.¡± Those were the most sincere words she ever spoke out of her mouth. Tehez looked at the Bishop with a smile. He looked at her for a few seconds, wondering what she meant. Squeak The sound of boiling water came from the teapot placed on the brazier. Tehez added, as if her previous comments were a joke. ¡°Because I am not faithful. If God is watching, that is enough.¡± The Bishop answered her with a frown. ¡°There¡¯s no way Nate would drop a faithful person like you into a brimstone fire. Believe it, believer. You will go to eternal paradise.¡± Indeed, it was the Bishop¡¯s logic to measure faithfulness by the size of the material offered to the temple. ¡°Thank you for those kind words, Bishop. Thanks to you, I will sleep peacefully tonight.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The Bishop cooled the boiling water a bit, brewed the tea and set it down in front of her. Tehez could guess that the colour between the ends came out very well. She took the tea offered by the Bishop as if it were precious. The tea smelled good. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only It was a five hundred Louis tea. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 24 *** *** ¡°So, you¡¯re going to build an academy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Denis, who entered Elliot¡¯s tea room after a long time, wondered. There were always maids standing behind the King, but they were all removed. ¡®Is it a whim?¡¯ ¡°How are you going to raise funds?¡± Elliot said, reading carefully some of the reports Denis had brought. He had a serious attitude when looking at the file. ¡°These are donations and my personal wealth.¡± ¡°Possession?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What kind of money do you have?¡± Elliot asked so out of sheer curiosity. For Fabrice had a lot left to him as mines and estates, but Denis had nothing but one of the western estates. The territory was not so large that the yield was small. ¡°I¡¯m going to make it now.¡± Denis, who only said so, smiled quietly. Elliot was silent for a moment as if he were thinking at Denis¡¯ words that the national treasury would not be spent for this. There was no reason to refuse. Instead, the plan was in good shape to include his achievements. Academy for the common people. After ripping off the serious expression, Elliot opened his mouth as if he had thought for a moment. ¡°Hahaha, make it an official approval. You¡¯re going to make some appearances now.¡± ¡°Thank you, and I want to do a small social contribution project. I¡¯m going to do this on my own.¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to you to do that. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to do it in practice?¡± Elliot readily approved. ¡°Thank you.¡± Denis bowed his head politely. He came out of Elliot¡¯s tea room. He got permission sooner than expected. Denis stopped and looked up at the sky for a moment. The sunlight coming through the window was no longer hot. The wind was changing its direction. The season was changing. He walked out, greeted by courtiers passing by the main palace. Denis¡¯ offer to build an academy for commoners was not a coincidence. As most of his approval ratings came from emerging aristocrats and commoners, he decided that he would have to come up with policies for them. The establishment of the Academy was just the first step. Previously, there were many educational institutions, but the threshold was high for ordinary people to enter. It was because the tuition was so high that only aristocrats could not afford it. The goal was to lower the tuition fee and improve the quality of education so that commoners could study for anyone who wanted. His goal was to produce progressively educated people. Although it would take some time, he thought the path was the right one. Besides, if the talented people who studied at the Academy he founded were to take on important posts at the Royal Palace of Valloise¡­ it would be of greater strength and help to him. Denis looked down at the report in his hand once again. Even though it was just a few sheets of paper, it felt heavy. Maybe it was because of his will that was in it. What was more important than the Academy was the social contribution project. He was glad Elliot didn¡¯t notice. It was intended to actively raise the support of commoners and lower aristocrats through social contribution. The first was to create a public medical institution so that commoners could easily enjoy medical benefits. What Richard, his wife¡¯s brother, said crossed his mind. ¡®The Marquis of Ingeliger will not leave Tehez alone. Please divorce her before that.¡¯ Denis stopped walking. He had come to a conclusion after a long thought. Neither the throne nor the woman gives up. Somehow he didn¡¯t even know the order was reversed. She was just a trophy woman to ascend to the throne, but now he needed the throne to have the woman. If he were to sit on the throne, there wouldn¡¯t be many people who would harass the woman by talking about divorce. The woman will become a Queen. Anyway, the woman was the bloodline of Ingeliger. The youngest daughter of a venerable noble family and the only Queen in Valloise. Denis was quite satisfied thinking about the throne and picked the name the woman would have. The woman¡¯s well-being would not be in jeopardy, and she would not have to get her hands dirty. And if the woman¡¯s situation stabilized, maybe their heir would come. It wasn¡¯t without that thought. He thought it was right for him to reap. He got the answers to the questions he struggled intensely with when he was immersed in the water. Compassion and homogeneity were both correct answers. With that conclusion, he felt a little more excited than usual. It was also worth paying for his responsibility for the woman as he had spent the past few years with her. Whatever the outcome, the woman was working for him. That was true. Not once had it cost him any trouble. He never wanted it, so he thought it was entirely up to the woman to endure. But it was a different story when it came to the opponent he had to win against. Denis turned around and went to a large man-made pond near the main palace. It was the pond where he once fell into the water when he was a child. The water near the pond was not deep, but the centre was quite deep. The pond was full of lotus flowers and weeds, and birds were living in a large tree nearby. He rummaged through his pocket and found a few peanuts. He put peanuts in his palm and raised his hand high. Unknown birds came up and circled around his head, stealing peanuts and running away. Denis smiled a little. Taking care of the woman was like taking care of homeless birds. He felt as if a wounded kingfisher had been held in his arms. So small and fragile, so it was like it could crumble if he held it hard. No human being could easily pass by a wounded creature. The birds soon lost interest in him when all the peanuts on their hands disappeared. Instead, they circled near the pond and hunted fish. He brushed his hands off the crumbs and looked at his face reflected in the water. He was going to do the bare minimum for the woman. Unlike before¡­ He¡¯s got a goal. In the midst of meaninglessness and helplessness, significant things had happened. There was no need to think about what the woman meant to him anymore. However, to ensure that the woman was not thrown out, he had to quickly seize the throne. This was the biggest problem he faced. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks To do so, he would also have to avoid getting his hands dirty. He concluded so. The whole stream of thoughts was clear. The problem and its answer. Amid all the opacity of the past days, he felt like he had finally gotten a clear answer. He was in a good mood for the first time in a while. Denis decided to leave the palace after standing by the pong for a long time. There was a place he had to go. Denis said to Sylvan, who was accompanying him from behind. ¡°Sylvan, can you bring me a bottle of whiskey?¡± ¡°Whiskey¡­¡± Sylvan was about to respond to his words, but he quickly changed his expression and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± The only time he looked for whiskey¡­ was when he went to Queen Charlize¡¯s grave. Denis got into the carriage with a bottle of whiskey that Sylvan had brought. Sylvan sat across from him in silence. ¡°You don¡¯t have to follow me.¡± Denis lightly patted Sylvan and smiled. ¡°No, Your Highness.¡± Sylvan sat silent for another lengthy time after simply rejecting his words. The carriage arrived at the foot of Mt. Phi before they knew it. Since the mountain was rather steep, they could only go on foot after that. Denis and Sylvan silently walked up the mountain. When they reached the top of the mountain, they saw a small stone monument. Sylvan was gasping for breath, probably because it had been hard on the mountain climb after a long time. Denis swept the tombstone with his hands. It was covered with white dust. It was because he hadn¡¯t found it in a while. The tombstone placed alone on the top of the mountain looked particularly lonely. He poured the whiskey he had brought into the glass and put it in front of the tombstone. Sylvan did not appear to have moved from his place. Denis smiled bitterly and offered his greetings. For generations, members of the royal family were buried in a royal cemetery inside the temple. So did Queen Charlize. Next to Queen Charlize was Queen Marianne¡¯s tomb. It was paradoxical that the two people, who were reluctant to even stay in the same space during their lives, were lying right next to each other. The two were buried side by side for eternity. So Denis made a vow every time he went to the royal cemetery. He promised to set his mother free someday. Thinking of his mother, who couldn¡¯t rest even after her death, Denis had a hard time sleeping every night. The first thing he did when he became an adult was to move the tomb of Queen Charlize. Denis took her ashes from the royal cemetery and buried them at the top of Mount Phi. Instead, the royal cemetery contained not the remains of the Queen, but the clothes she wore during her lifetime. Denis looked down from the mountain. A cool breeze brushed his hair. From the top of Mount Phi, you could even see out of the capital if the weather was good. His mother¡¯s ashes were buried there, hoping that his mother, who had never left the capital for the rest of her life, could look far away. He hoped his mother could see this scenery. Denis sat on the dirt floor without dignity and captured the farthest view as far as his eyes could reach. Actually, he wanted to bring his mother¡¯s favourite things, not whiskey. Flowers or food. But he didn¡¯t know¡­ He didn¡¯t know what colours she liked during her lifetime, what books she liked to read, and what songs she often sang. In his memory, his mother was just drunk and distracted. Whiskey was the only thing his mother liked at that time. Why was it so easy for a person¡¯s life to be ruined? Queen Charlize was just a young lady who had just become a saint when she first met Elliot. The person took a woman, who was determined to throw herself at God, and eventually made her throw herself at him in the end. She was the one who gave him half her blood. How ridiculous and absurd. When he first learned the truth, he held onto his mother and cried. As a child, he knew no other way to soothe his mother than to cry. It was, of course, Queen Charlize, his mother, who comforted him when he cried. What did his mother think to endure that time? Did she blame him for being seated in her stomach, or did she feel betrayed by the temple that gave up a saint to Elliot through political judgment, or did she hate the King who had torn her peaceful life to the core? Perhaps if Denis hadn¡¯t been born, all this tragedy wouldn¡¯t have happened. If Elliot hadn¡¯t fallen in love with her after encountering her at the temple¡­ Or if the priest¡¯s immunity in the temple was not guaranteed in exchange for handing over her body as a vessel for the King. ¡®Did you regret having me, or were you happy?¡¯ It was all a mystery. He crammed the emotions that were rising inside of him. He stroked the old envelope inside his coat pocket. He found it last night while cleaning her belongings. This will be the first step to starting over. Denis got up and brushed off the dirt on his clothes. He turned back and looked at the tombstone. It was the last greeting for the next time. It was time to climb down the mountain. Sylvan, who had been sitting quietly like a statue, opened his mouth. ¡°Your Highness, may I ask you one thing?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is there a change in your heart that I am not aware of? You¡¯ve been looking for the Queen, haven¡¯t you?¡± Since they had been together for a long time, Sylvan seemed to have noticed something. Denis raised his eyes and looked at Sylvan. His green eyes contained a light that had never been seen before. ¡°I truly decided to become a king. Do you understand what this means?¡± ¡°¡­Until now, it was not the Prince¡¯s true intentions. However, you must have had a reason to make up your mind.¡± Sylvan nodded his head as if he felt relieved. ¡°I plan to do my best. I have something to take.¡± ¡°I will do my best to assist the Prince.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Denis looked at Sylvan and smiled. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 25 *** *** ¡°My Prince.¡± Denis fell asleep, and rubbed his eyes gently. When he opened his eyes, the noonday sunlight hit him. ¡°Mother.¡± He was sleeping on his mother¡¯s lap as a pillow when he got up. Denis turned his head and looked around him. He found himself in the forest he had never seen before, alone with his mother. There was no shade on Charlize¡¯s face, who was smiling lovingly as she looked at her son. Her two cheeks seemed to have grown moderately fat. A gracious figure that doesn¡¯t seem to have known any troubles or pain in life. Denis had not seen his mother in a long time, so he grabbed Charlize¡¯s hand without realizing it. Charlize also took Denis¡¯ hand. Lukewarm warmth¡­ It was the body temperature of a living person. Somehow, it felt as if he had never parted with his mother¡­ It felt as if his mother was present at his coming-of-age ceremony, his engagement to Tehez, and even his wedding. Denis didn¡¯t know where this strangeness was coming from, so he held Charlize¡¯s hand and stood still. ¡°Why are you so lost? Aren¡¯t you awake yet?¡± Charlize smiled as she looked at him, who was lost in a trance. ¡°No, I think my mother was there the whole time¡­¡± ¡°Well, where would I go? I¡¯m with my Prince.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Charlize grabbed his hand and led him into the woods. ¡°It¡¯s your first time here, right? Let me show you.¡± Charlize took Denis to the depths of the woods. His mother told him the name of a tree he had never seen before. She picked a fruit and put it in his mouth. The fruit was red in colour, resembling a small raspberry. But when he tasted it, it was sour. When he frowned, his mother laughed mischievously and ate the fruit. ¡°Hahaha!¡± She bit the fruit, and the juice splattered around her mouth like a stream of blood. As she wiped the juice with her cuff, it continued to drip red blood. Soon her white sleeves were dyed red. It was strangely quiet in the forest. There was not even a rustling sound. Denis looked to his left and right. ¡°Mother. Where are we going?¡± ¡°Ah. You¡¯ll find out when you go.¡± As if familiar with the forest, Charlize made her way forward through the growing trees. Each time she did, the stinging branches of the trees rubbed against her, scarring her face and arms. ¡°It¡¯s right here.¡± The destination was a cliff. When he looked down, a valley of strong currents flowed under the cliff. ¡°Mother. It¡¯s a cliff, it¡¯s dangerous. Let¡¯s go that way.¡± ¡°What?¡± His mother¡¯s innocent-looking dress was stained with red blood. ¡°Mother!¡± When Denis reached out for her and shouted, Charlize jumped down the cliff before he could stop her. ¡°Ugh!¡± Denis jumped to his feet. A familiar room. Surprise, he was still panting, and sweat formed on his forehead like droplets. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± He rubbed his forehead and caught his breath. It was a nightmare. He thought he got a little better. It seemed to be because he had been to his mother¡¯s grave during the day. Denis got up and opened the window. It was still three o¡¯clock in the morning, far from dawn. The cold air seemed to calm him down a bit. If he fell asleep again like this, he would mostly have nightmares. Once the nightmare began, he usually dreamt of it for three days. He pondered whether or not to go back to sleep. What should he do¡­? As he stood by the window, a thought suddenly crossed his mind. He went out of the palace dressed in a robe. The early morning air was chilly. He felt like he was wide awake. He leapt along at great strides. To a familiar place where his rest dwells¡­ The woman must be sleeping, so he was going to sleep next to her, sharing warmth. Next to her, he thought he wouldn¡¯t have a nightmare. Standing in front of the woman¡¯s bedroom, he gasped for air. It was almost because he ran when he reached the woman¡¯s palace. He breathed in front of the door and opened it as gently as possible so as not to wake the woman. He looked through the door at the woman¡¯s bed. But unexpectedly, there was no one in the woman¡¯s bed. It was an unexpected situation, so when he hurriedly opened all the doors, he saw a silhouette. In the corner of the room, a woman was sitting on the sofa, looking at him with a puzzled expression. The sound of music could be heard. ¡°You have to knock, Prince.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, my wife.¡± Denis smiled naturally and walked slowly towards her. Denis slumped into his seat. He felt comfortable. Everything felt comfortable. Whether he saw it or not, the woman was sitting deep on her sofa, listening to music on the gramophone. Today, it was not wine. It was music. ¡°Did you not wait today? I¡¯m disappointed.¡± He meant there were no wine glasses. Denis said so, and the woman opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s Maurice Debussy¡¯s lullaby. I wanted to go to sleep with a clear mind.¡± ¡°I had a nightmare.¡± ¡°So, did you run to my palace?¡± Tehez said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± At his calm response, she raised an eyebrow. The gentle sound of music filled the silence between the two. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Denis leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. His eyes drew a pattern on the ceiling of the woman¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°You will¡­ become a queen.¡± ¡®You will be the queen, and I will be the next king, sitting next to you.¡¯ ¡°Cause I¡¯m never going to leave you.¡¯ Denis spoke his conclusions. It was an affirmation. He had never told her anything so sincerely. When he spoke those words, there was no answer from the other party, who was expected to respond immediately. Until only the sound of music filled the room. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± After a while, the woman spoke up. Somehow, it was a contradictory answer that sounded like someone else¡¯s business, not hers. But, not noticing the subtlety, he looked at the indifferent woman¡¯s face. There was no emotion on her face, which was no different from the usual. She opened her mouth, and made a muffled sound. ¡°You know what?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was told¡­ if you drink alcohol every day, fertility could be affected.¡± The woman looked straight at him. ¡°Then stop.¡± Denis replied simply. The woman turned her head and concentrated on the music again. As he listened to the music she called ¡®lullaby¡¯, he seemed to feel more and more sleepy. The repeated peaceful melody appeared to slow the heart rate. ¡®Do lullabies work for adults too¡­?¡¯ If so, would he be able to sleep on his own if he heard a lullaby every night? Without him coming to her room¡­ He had such a useless thought¡­ When Denis began to doze off, Tehez turned off the gramophone. ¡°I want to have it, too.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Denis answered between consciousness and unconsciousness. It was amazing that he felt so comfortable and sleepy when he came to the woman¡¯s room. He lowered his head, buried deep in the sofa. Consciousness was slowly leaving him. So he didn¡¯t listen to the woman¡¯s last words. It was because he was already deeply asleep. The woman spoke in a whisper. ¡°Our child¡­¡± Tehez saw him sleeping, and she brought him a blanket. She carefully covered him so that the cold wind wouldn¡¯t get in. She went to her bed and curled her body up like a shrimp. It was dawn without nightmares for those who could not sleep and those who slept comfortably. *** Since the Duke of Briem was a long-established family, the scope of the maids¡¯ work was clearly defined. Fantine was assigned to be a laundromat maid. It was because she was old, and the letter of introduction said she had previously worked at a laundromat. ¡°Sarah, you go to the laundromat.¡± ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± Sarah Mustier. It was a new name for Fantine. As soon as Fantine was assigned to the laundromat, she attacked the maids she worked with. There were two people in the laundromat except her, two doing all the laundry in this large mansion. So the intensity of the work was quite strong. Julie and Carol. The two and Fantine exchanged greetings. Fantine eavesdropped on their conversation and got to know their personalities. Julie was quiet and timid but had thin ears*. [T/N: To have a thin ear means to be easily influenced by other people¡¯s opinions, to easily believe what others say.] Carol was talkative and clumsy but had a lot of pride. Fantine decided to first target Julie, who had thin ears. After Carol had been away for a while, Fantine spoke to Julie. ¡°Hey, Julie. Where are you from?¡± ¡°I am from Amiens. Sarah, and you are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from Laho.¡± ¡°Laho? I¡¯ve never seen anyone from Laho.¡± Julie said brightly. Indeed, she must have not met anyone from Laho. Laho was a small neighbourhood with few residents because it was close to the Haj community. ¡°Really? I¡¯ve even seen the Hajs in person.¡± Fantine looked at Julie and smiled. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. They look really different from us. They are short and have dark skin.¡± Fantine described the appearance of the Hajs. ¡°It¡¯s fascinating.¡± Julie said curiously and put the laundry into the washing machine. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve been to the mountains to dig up herbs before, and I stumbled across the community.¡± Fantine said so much and stopped talking. Julie looked at her puzzledly. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if you can say anything about the Haj people. Can you?¡± Fantine said with a worried expression. ¡°Well. I don¡¯t know¡­ can¡¯t I?¡± Julie also answered with a worried expression. At the time when the first King of Valloise established Valloise in the present territory, indigenous people lived on the vast continent. Because they were a nature-friendly race, they lived by hunting and harvesting without damaging nature as much as possible. They were called ¡®The Hajs.¡¯ In their language, ¡®Haj¡¯ meant ¡®the offspring of a mother¡¯. The Hajs served the land as their ¡°mother¡± and cherished natural objects as their¡¯s mother¡¯s offspring. But Theodore, the first King, invaded the territory of the Haj tribe and drove them into what is now a small territory. Since then, the momentum of the Haj people has gradually declined, continuing only to the point of existence. Due to such a history, the story of the Haj has been the subject of sharp debate at times. Therefore, it was also one of the topics that were not usually brought up in social conversations. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later when it¡¯s quiet.¡± Fantine lit a spark by agreeing. It was to make Julie, who had thin ears, get caught. Julie nodded, as if understanding. If Julie was included, Carol would come over as her pride would let her. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only After Fantine gave Julie a friendly smile, she pretended to be absorbed in the laundry. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 26 *** *** Danielle was preparing to leave the palace, organizing the files and documents. As she was busy every day, her desk was always strewn with objects and documents as if it had been hit by a bomb. Ellie and the other maids had already left the palace. She was tired. Danielle yawned quietly. She would go back home early today, have beer and sleep. She didn¡¯t think there was a better way to end the day. She had been with Tehez for more than 10 years since she served the Princess from Ingeliger¡¯s mansion. Time flies. Meanwhile, Tehez got engaged and married, and Danielle was still alone. It was common for people to forget their commitments when immersed in their work, so even if she met gentlemen, they often broke up with her. She said so when she argued with the man she met last time. ¡°Since I¡¯m busy, shouldn¡¯t the gentleman adjust?¡± When she said that, what did the man say¡­? She didn¡¯t even remember his name. ¡°Miss Danielle, I want a woman who can help me raise my children in my house. You¡¯re too enterprising.¡± She smirked. A woman who can raise children and help. This would never be possible in Lubern or Newb Shabel. What would she do with the man? It was just that they were not meant to be together. Daniel tried to get up after putting the papers to be seen tomorrow morning again on top. Knock, knock The face poking its head through the crack of the door after knocking was Sylvan. ¡°What?¡± Danielle asked sternly. ¡°I¡¯m here to see if you have already left, Danielle.¡± ¡°What would you do if I left the palace?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a shame, but I¡¯ll have to wait for another time. The weather is cool, so why don¡¯t we go to dinner?¡± ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Ah, no, that¡¯s not it. What do you do when you go home alone and have dinner at this time? Let¡¯s have a drink together and talk about the world.¡± Danielle was shaken by Sylvan¡¯s offer that she would have normally rejected. Even if it was autumn, and her heart was just churning. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Sylvan replied with a surprised expression, as if he did not know that she would agree. ¡°You can only be fooled. Let¡¯s go. Where are we going?¡± Danielle got up with a bag around her shoulder. ¡°It is a new restaurant, and the Enlandic fish dishes are amazing! It¡¯s great with sparkling wine.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Sylvan nodded his head and led her. The restaurant that Sylvan guided was in Palio Street, an emerging district of Lubern. Perhaps it was true that it was a popular restaurant because customers flocked to the restaurant as soon as she entered, and it was packed. The restaurant was decorated like an old diner made of rough stone and logs. Enland¡¯s paintings and photos hung on the walls. On the right side of the restaurant, there were tables with a single wooden plank on oak barrels, making it look like a bar, and on the left side of the restaurant, red chairs were placed on a red tablecloth and decorated like a classy restaurant. And right next to the table, you could see the outside of the window, where trees were arranged in harmony, and cheerful music was playing inside. ¡°It¡¯s pretty good.¡± ¡°Right? Have a seat.¡± Danielle naturally sat down as the chair was pulled out by Sylvan. Sylvan ordered sashimi, fried shrimp, mussel soup, and wine when the waiter brought the menu. ¡°When have you been here?¡± ¡°I came here last time. It was delicious, and the atmosphere was nice. I thought I should come here with Danielle later, so I remembered it.¡± ¡°With whom? In this kind of atmosphere, would you have come with a woman?¡± Danielle asked in a passing tone. ¡°Woman? Well, a woman-¡± The conversation was cut off when the server brought wine. Sylvan didn¡¯t further answer. ¡°Well, anyway, is it okay, Danielle? Sylvan smiled and tilted the glass to Danielle as if toasting her, and Danielle also gave him a toast. A refreshing sound came from the wine glass that clinked. Delicious food in a lively atmosphere and even a comfortable partner. It was the opposite of the uncomfortable atmosphere she had experienced while dating recently. Danielle was assimilated into a relaxed atmosphere, and her mood was rising. It¡¯s already her second bottle of wine. Sylvan was constantly talking about rumours and interesting stories in the palace, and Danielle laughed. ¡°Again, again, I heard something funny!¡± ¡°What is it again?¡± Danielle was drunk and listened to Sylvan¡¯s story with her head down. ¡°The story of the resignation letter written by an employee of the Ministry of Justice who left the palace 10 times in three months.¡± ¡°Three months? Wow, that¡¯s crazy.¡± Danielle, too, had a sudden rush of work that she couldn¡¯t leave the palace for a fortnight last year. She couldn¡¯t possibly have completed it. Anyway, she got to sleep at her home. ¡°Yes. I think it was time for a new law to be enacted. His boss told him to save time when he left the palace, and he bought him an extra bed. So, it is the story of putting up with a pile of horse dung on his boss¡¯ desk on the last day.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Danielle hit the table in exhilaration and laughed. One by one, people were leaving, and the restaurant¡¯s business hours were coming to an end. ¡°Customers, the restaurant is closed.¡± It was almost midnight before they knew it. When the man who seemed to be the owner came and spoke to Danielle politely, she got up as if it were a pity. ¡°Oh, I just remembered something funny.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have to go home.¡± Sylvan whined. ¡°Hey, tomorrow is your day off. Let¡¯s go for the second round.¡± Danielle led Sylvan out of curiosity. However, no bars were open as expected. The one place where the door was opened was so full that they couldn¡¯t find a place to sit. Unsurprisingly, Danielle and Sylvan were walking around the streets of the capital city, despite the fact that she was curiously dragging Sylvan¡¯s arm. The night was getting deep. ¡°Hey!¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Yes, Danielle.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to my house.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home. I have a lot of beer at home. I¡¯ll give you unlimited beer, so let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Can I follow you? I¡¯m not going to be found dead the next day, right? ¡°Did you just live by being fooled all the time?¡± ¡°Yes. My mother told me that if you close your eyes, you will cut my nose.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you know I won¡¯t cut your nose even if you close your eyes. Come with me.¡± She dragged his arm around and grabbed the carriage. She thought as she stood at the front door and put the key in the lock. Oh, it¡¯s been over a week since she hadn¡¯t cleaned the house. ¡°Hey, wait a minute.¡± She quickly opened the door and ordered Sylvan to wait outside for 10 minutes, then threw a pile of her clothes and rubbish into the small room. ¡°Come on in.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Sylvan looked around Danielle¡¯s room. ¡°More than I thought¡­¡± ¡°More than you thought what?¡± When Danielle got angry, Sylvan quickly praised her. ¡°You¡¯ve done a great job, and the room is amazing, Danielle!¡± ¡°Yes, sit there. I¡¯ll give you the beer I bought from the artisan¡¯s shop.¡± She took out the beer and dried squid from the cupboard. ¡°No, this is¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a dried squid. Only if you eat this can you say that you really drank beer. Here we go again.¡± ¡°You have something in common with me, Danielle.¡± ¡°This kid. You know how to eat?¡± Danielle and Sylvan talked all night long. ¡°Why¡­ Why aren¡¯t you getting married?¡± ¡°There is no one¡­¡± Both were already drunk, and their words were slowing down. ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°If it were me¡­ would you do it?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°What?¡± Danielle felt sober. ¡°Would you¡­ why?¡± ¡°You know, you¡¯re charming. So cool!¡± ¡°Hey, you¡­ Why are you seducing me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Sylvan answered with a flushed face due to drunkenness. He looked cute and stupid. ¡°Keep on¡­ Then this woman will attack you.¡± ¡°Do you have to say that in words? We can just do it.¡± ¡°You-¡± Danielle pressed her lips against his plump lips. Danielle¡¯s reason had already flown away. *** ¡°Arghh¡­¡± Danielle got up from the bed and held her head. She drank sparkling wine, red wine, and beer when she got home, and she felt like she was going to break her head from a hangover. She looked at the clock and saw that it was already noon. ¡°Hey!¡± Danielle shook up Sylvan lying [email protected] next to her. ¡°Wake up.¡± Sylvan woke up. ¡°What? Where are we?¡± ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t you remember?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Danielle?¡± Danielle laughed in vain. When Sylvan woke up, he saw her and himself [email protected] and quickly got out of bed. Only then did he seem to have understood the situation. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did anything happen yesterday?¡± He was careful to ask if he already felt something intuitively. Danielle got up from her seat and gulped down the water from the kettle. She answered by roughly wiping the water off her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Sylvan bowed his head and examined his body thoroughly. ¡°My mother was right. I heard you would cut my nose when I close my eyes.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Danielle snorted as she looked at Sylvan as of it was absurd. ¡°When I closed my eyes¡­ ¡­I lost my precious thing instead of my nose¡­¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You said you liked it, too¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m no longer¡­ pure.¡± Sylvan bowed and pretended to cry. ¡°Stop being noisy, get dressed quickly. Let¡¯s go get a hangover soup. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever drink with you again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that! Danielle, please drink with me!¡± ¡°What logic is that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to know. It¡¯s the logic of a person who¡¯s embarrassed because he lost something precious.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, okay, okay. I¡¯m sorry. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Only in words? You have to take responsibility for me.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Danielle grabbed her head. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only She had a strong feeling that there would be no end to this. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 27 *** *** In the office above the temple, the Bishop and the priest were talking. On the occasion of the holy day, they could see the believers entering the temple one by one. ¡°It¡¯s the order of the Holy Father. We have to make sure the followers support the First Prince.¡± ¡°Even so, isn¡¯t First Prince more popular among the believers than Second Prince?¡± ¡°Of course, but¡­ ha, I don¡¯t know.¡± The Bishop sighed. ¡°The Holy Father didn¡¯t say the exact words. He just asked me to help the First Prince. And there¡¯s some kind of pressure coming from the First Princess, too. We can¡¯t just sit back and watch the situation.¡± The priest listened silently to the Bishop. ¡°What¡¯s the point of helping the First Prince in a political battle? There¡¯s nothing to gain. Don¡¯t we just have to deliver the doctrine well to the congregation?¡± The Bishop said so and held his head in a troubled manner. But even as he said it, the Bishop was well aware. Nate religion had been maintained as a state religion in Valloise because it was politically well-connected. So, this was only a way to maintain the religious power. The temple would also mean that the First Prince was chosen against the will of the present King. It was nothing short of an open fact that the present King¡¯s intentions were on the Second Prince. But the temple proclaims its support for the First Prince? If so, it would be a signal that the secret relationship between the royal palace and the temple, which had been maintained until now, was broken. Perhaps the battle for strength between the temple and the royal palace may begin again. The priest could not understand what the Holy Father meant by supporting the First Prince. The Bishop was silent, sipping hot tea. The priest looked at the Bishop. As a mere priest, it was impossible for him to disobey the Bishop¡¯s words. Whatever his intentions, he must obey the will of his superiors. Whatever the will of God, it was the will of the Pope that mattered to him. ¡°All right, yeah¡­ I¡¯ll do my best.¡± *** ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you came.¡± ¡°Yes, I was a little busy¡­¡± As the priest greeted him in a friendly manner, the man entered the temple, scratching his head, perhaps embarrassed. The temple began to be packed with believers. Each dressed in the best clothes they had taken out of the closet and sat solemnly. After the hymn, it was time for the priest to deliver the doctrine. He opened the scriptures and recited verses. ¡°Well, look at this scripture. What does it say?¡± The priest, who drew attention with his resonant voice, began to read the scriptures. ¡°The fallen will not find eternal rest in Nate¡¯s arms, so be on the lookout for sin to overtake you.¡± The priest asked in a loud voice to the left. ¡°Everyone. What is a sin?¡± ¡°Sin is unbelief.¡± The believers answered here and there. ¡°That¡¯s right. Everyone. So who¡¯s clean in front of Nate?¡± ¡°He is the one who keeps the doctrine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The priest nodded. Then he raised his finger and pointed to the sky. ¡°Look. What did Nate say to those who do not obey the doctrine?¡± When the priest asked, the believers answered. ¡°He said they would fall into the brimstone fire.¡± ¡°Right. Look at this country now.¡± The priest lifted his finger even higher. ¡°Should we not allow a distrustful and disobedient person to rule this country? Shall we let the people of this country fall into a brimstone fire?¡± When the priest spoke of ¡®the one who disbelieves and does not keep the doctrine¡¯, he emphasized it as if to emphasize his point. The further back he went, the louder his voice became. When the priest finished speaking, his face became red with fever. The faithful also responded with a loud voice to the priest¡¯s passionate delivery of doctrine. ¡°No! No!¡± The priest said as if waiting for the answer. ¡°Then who should rule this country? It is the faithful and pure who should lead this nation! A person who has no sin in front of Nate should be the King. Who is that person?¡± People were buzzing, and there was no answer. The priest shouted loudly. ¡°Who is he? Son of a saint!¡± Only then did people reply loudly to see what the priest wanted to answer. ¡°He¡¯s the First Prince!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Dear believers. Let¡¯s make a country that Nate will be satisfied with. Let¡¯s make it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Son of a saint!¡± ¡°Son of a saint!¡± The believers chanted ¡®the son of a saint¡¯. *** Delphine was passing by and watching the place. Next to her stood the Bishop, highest after the Pope. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing to say.¡± Her speech was imbued with happiness. ¡°Yes.¡± Delphine looked at the new temple being built next to the old one. The new temple was to be built splendidly and magnificently with the latest construction methods. Not long after the construction began, the excavation work was still in progress. Even they had to take a break from work on Holy Days, so the ground was dug up and left unattended. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see the new temple built.¡± Delphine looked around the ground and said, ¡°You¡¯ll see it soon.¡± ¡°If that happens, I want to be the first to pray.¡± ¡°It will be so.¡± The Bishop smiled calmly. It was a seemingly benevolent smile. Everyone becomes benevolent under capital. Delphine laughed inwardly. ¡°If you need anything else, feel free to contact the department store. Not too long ago, I grabbed some money from the cobalt stone trade.¡± Delphine said, winking at the Bishop. ¡°I see, Lady Delphine.¡± ¡°What a believer. If you have a thin faith like me, just call me the boss. Or just call me by my name.¡± The Bishop replied with a smile. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°The size of your faith will show the size of this temple. You have the greatest faith in Lubern.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, if you say so, I won¡¯t say no.¡± Arriving in front of Delphine¡¯s carriage, the Bishop and she exchanged greetings. ¡°I¡¯ll see you next time. I wish you peace.¡± ¡°Yes, you too, Bishop.¡± As Delphine got into the carriage, the woman who was riding inside spoke to her. Delphine was not surprised and locked the carriage door. The carriage slowly started to depart. ¡°What about the Bishop?¡± ¡°It¡¯s over already. So stop worrying.¡± Delphine reproached her. The carriage slowly began to circle the city centre. *** ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What? How are you at night these days?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± ¡°No, why can¡¯t a sleeping pill with a great effect be developed quickly? Our Princess¡¯ beautiful skin will be damaged.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already damaged, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Delphine gently placed the back of her hand on Tehez¡¯s face and wiped it away. Tehez, too, was accustomed to receiving her hand. ¡°What are you talking about? Consistent maintenance is the only way to survive. Stop by the department store for a while. There¡¯s a new cosmetic solution.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m here because I have work to do today.¡± ¡°No! Stop doing what you have to do. There are a lot of them every day! Go to the department store today and have a look.¡± Delphine folded her hands and continued to stare. Tehez nodded her head as if she had lost. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go to the department store!¡± The carriage stopped in front of the department store, and Delphine pulled Tehez¡¯s hand. Tehez was surprised to see a full line of customers from the entrance of the department store. ¡°Miss Delphine, aren¡¯t there too many people?¡± ¡°Then you can do it like this.¡± Delphine wrapped the scarf around her neck so that her face was covered. Tehez was dragged into a department store in a bewildered way. The colourful dresses and parasols, shoes and jewellery, and the smell of mixed perfumes made her feel dizzy. She was not accustomed to wandering around like this during the day. ¡°Come this way. Here is the new lotion. Let¡¯s try it.¡± Delphine turned and opened the slender glass jar of the shimmering liquid. She spread it a little over Tehez¡¯s hands. ¡°What do you think?¡± There was the scent of the forest and wild roses. Tehez felt refreshed. ¡°Does it smell good? It¡¯s made with only wild roses and oil, so it¡¯s soft and good. This is a gift.¡± ¡°Put it in. I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Tehez waved. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Look at there!¡± Delphine led Tehez near the perfume stand. ¡°I¡¯ll recommend something that suits you. Well, let¡¯s see.¡± Delphine looked at her face and supported her chin as if pondering. ¡°You¡¯d like this is better.¡± What Delphine took out was a perfume with a flower tree branch and a sculpture of an angel on top of a dome-shaped perfume bottle. ¡°I think a gentle floral scent like this would suit you a lot better than a strong scent. Give it a try.¡± When Delphine sprayed the scent, the scent spread out as if a flower field had spread out in front of her. ¡°It is a fragrance made from tuberose and jasmine. Doesn¡¯t it look like a field of pink roses spreading out in front of you?¡± ¡°It really is.¡± ¡°This is also my gift.¡± ¡°Miss Delphine, that¡¯s too much. I can buy this much only.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m the owner of this department store. Do you have more money than me?¡± At Delphine¡¯s words, Tehez couldn¡¯t refute. ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Ah! Then there¡¯s a good way! King¡­¡± Delphine, who was going to refer to him as Prince, hurriedly changed the title. ¡°Choose a present for your husband. You can buy it yourself.¡± ¡°For my husband?¡± ¡°What do you think? It¡¯s a good idea, right?¡± Tehez was worried. The Prince¡¯s birthday party was celebrated every year, but she had never given any present to him on a day other than their anniversary. This gift was too personal. It was a gift for lovers. ¡°What else are you thinking about? How about perfume? Your husband must have a favourite scent, right?¡± Delphine grabbed Tehez¡¯s hand. It was a shelf where men¡¯s perfumes were displayed past women¡¯s perfumes. ¡°Ms President, welcome.¡± The clerk recognized Delphine and greeted her politely. Tehez, who covered her face with a scarf, luckily didn¡¯t seem to get noticed. ¡°Yes. She is going to gift it to her man. What are some popular scents these days?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a popular product these days¡­¡± The clerk spoke and took out several perfumes from the display case. ¡°First of all, it is a fragrance that can be used regardless of the season. White musk and jasmine were used as the main fragrances.¡± As the clerk sprayed perfume, a sweet and relaxing scent spread. Tehez saw a vision of him sitting alone in the autumn sun for a moment. But it didn¡¯t suit him. She would have liked a cooler scent for him. Forgetting that she was turning down Delphine¡¯s offer earlier, she focused on choosing a perfume for Denis. Knowing that the first perfume was not to her taste, the clerk quickly showed her the next perfume. ¡°How do you like this scent? Inspired by the scent of leather, the main fragrances are labdanum, marjoram and cedarwood.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only When Tehez smelled the scent, she remembered the feeling she felt him touching her heart. She remembered the glow and sweat of the man who was wavering on top of her. She thought the cool, woody scent would suit him, but when the unexpected scent reminded her of him, Tehez felt her face flush red. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 28 *** *** ¡°D o you like this scent?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Tehez had to agree. ¡°Would you like to gift wrap this, Madam?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± The clerk skillfully placed the perfume bottle in a paper box and tied it with a ribbon. Tehez paid the price and got her hands on the packaged perfume. She ended up speaking on impulse. The innate scent seemed to follow her over and over again. ¡°Come to my office for a moment, and let¡¯s talk there.¡± ¡°No! I think we should just go.¡± Tehez was polite to Delphine when she spoke to her in public and was about to reveal who she was. ¡°I will go now. See you next time.¡± Tehez was seen off by Delphine and rode the carriage back to the palace. Tehez looked at the box in her hand. ¡®Can I give this to him?¡¯ ¡®No, I don¡¯t know if he likes presents¡­¡¯ Seeing her thinking like this, Tehez laughed at herself. Every day was a thin ice sheet for the succession to the throne, and she couldn¡¯t believe she went to the department store and bought a present for him. No matter how swept away by Delphine, she couldn¡¯t be her usual self. Why? The thought of never giving him a proper gift seemed to have guided her. On the contrary, he also never gave her a personal gift. Other than sending jewellery to the annual birthday banquet. Tehez couldn¡¯t imagine him choosing a gift. Good. They were not even lovers¡­ Even as she thought to herself, the words ¡®not even lovers¡¯ came and stuck in her chest. They were only on duty and responsibility. ¡®I can¡¯t call you my lover¡­¡¯ Tehez gripped the pitiful paper box. So, as long as she¡¯s with him¡­ She won¡¯t be able to think about what to give as a gift or won¡¯t be able to see the scene where she would hand over the gift and wait to see his reaction¡­ She guessed so. Because he was a real man. He really was. He was by no means a whisper of lies. As his wife, while Tehez was by his side, he would not look at any other woman or give his affection. Because he was the man who said he couldn¡¯t love her. Tehez remembered Denis¡¯ words she had heard on their first night. His words were an arrow to her that pierced her and became an incurable wound. Nevertheless¡­ Tehez put down the object and looked out the window. Such a small gift complicated her mind. She¡¯d not give this present to him. It will be sealed in her drawer forever¡­ ¡®¡­Until the day I leave his side¡­¡¯ *** The Bishop, who had had a pleasant conversation with Delphine, frowned. It was the complete opposite of the previous situation. The Bishop did not say a word and silently watched the man sitting in front of him, emptying his teacup. Denis, the man sitting in front of the Bishop, jumped to the main point without giving an introduction. ¡°I know my mother left me a legacy. Please return it.¡± ¡°¡­When you came of age, I gave it all back, Prince.¡± The Bishop answered, avoiding his eyes. ¡°Can you tell me in front of Nate that you are sure?¡± ¡°¡­I gave you everything back, didn¡¯t I? The Bishop replied in a fit of anger when Denis mentioned Nate. ¡°You must see what I brought today.¡± Denis showed the Bishop the edge of the old envelope he had in his arms. The seal of the Temple was clearly engraved on the letter. The Bishop frowned. It was a seal that only the Pope could use. ¡°If the Bishop refuses, I will ask the Holy Father.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Bishop, who spoke after a long time, seemed not to be happy with the situation, twisted his lips and asked him to wait for a while. He called the priest and told him to bring the books. The priest returned after a while and put a thin ledger down in front of Denis. At first glance, it looked like an old, shallow booklet, but Denis recognized that it was a ledger of hidden property that had never been handed over to him by the Temple. Denis turned the pages of the old ledger and memorized them one by one. ¡°Two mansions in the capital, four buildings, 500 gold bars¡­ is what you return when I become an adult, but you didn¡¯t give it to me. When I became an adult, you only gave me a deposit of three hundred equities in my mother¡¯s name.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The deposit in the borrowed name is 500 million Louis. If I don¡¯t find this, it will be returned to the Temple after 30 years, right?¡± Denis raised his long fingers and pointed them one by one. ¡°Aha, three billion Louis bearer bonds due next year! Oh, what a pity. It¡¯s a bearer bond, so if I didn¡¯t look for it, it would have been the Temple¡¯s share.¡± Denis pretended to be sad in a voice that was not at all sad. The Bishop just gulped down the tea without saying a word. It looked like he was burning inside. ¡°And two paintings by Lansay and five paintings by Pissarro. If it¡¯s a painting, it won¡¯t be easy to track the funds, and people will line up to buy Lansay and Pissarro¡­ It was an appropriate choice, but it¡¯s a shame. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The Bishop also knew that Denis was making fun of him. However, since what he had stolen was discovered, he just stayed silent without saying anything. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Denis agreed to the Bishop¡¯s words and put down the ledger. ¡°It was left to the owner, but wouldn¡¯t it be in trouble if the storekeeper coveted it?¡± After saying that, Denis raised one corner of his lips and smiled. ¡°Now that I have returned it, please go back. Prince, it will be difficult if you keep coming back.¡± ¡°What are you having trouble with?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°It gets in the way.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± Denis said sadly. ¡°I¡¯ll disturb you often in the future, so I ask for your understanding and forgiveness in advance. Ahh. And I¡¯m going to build an academy, so please donate. I¡¯ll use it for good.¡± Denis¡¯ expression was one of the brightest the Bishop had seen recently. Denis came out with a thin ledger and handed it to Sylvan, who was waiting nearby. Sylvan also heard from Denis and knew what the ledger was about, so he carefully received it. ¡°I was also promised a donation.¡± ¡°Good for you, Prince.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Denis smiled in a good mood, responded to Sylvan, and got into the carriage. ¡°Sir Olivier decided to come in the afternoon.¡± Sylvan once again informed Denis of the schedule. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®You¡¯re back.¡¯ Denis rested his chin on his hand as he looked at the scenery out the window. Just getting his mother¡¯s lost property back was a huge achievement today. He thought his mother would leave him no legacy. This was because Queen Charlize had no interest in fame or wealth all her life. He lost his mother and didn¡¯t even think about organizing her belongings. Because it was such a sudden loss. Moreover, he was only nine years old, and Queen Charlize was an orphan. The Queen¡¯s funeral, watched by all the people, was held in a considerably grand way. However, it was up to Dennis to clean up the ruined royal palace where all the funeral procedures were over, and no one cared. It was the irresponsible neglect of adults. Indifferent, he simply put all of his mother¡¯s belongings in a small room inside his palace and locked it. To lose someone like that was to lock a part of his heart. Would it have been different if Queen Charlize had left a note for him? Or, if she had given him a clue before she died, he would not have found his mother¡¯s legacy so belatedly. To start over, the first thing he did was to organize his mother¡¯s belongings, so he could open the long-locked door and find an old letter. The things that came with her when the Temple sent her to the palace, and the things that she had put into her own name when her spirits fluctuated. If it had been discovered earlier, he might have been living in a quiet and secluded neighbourhood rather than trying to inherit the throne as he is now. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking in vain, knowing that assumptions about the past were meaningless no matter what. It was eating him from inside, little by little, every day. He thought it would be better if time, sorrow and wounds could pass like this. He wished they could all disappear without any meaning. The time when she wanted to hold on to his time. She made him want to be something he could be. She made him want to find it. [T/N: I believe ¡®she¡¯ refers to Tehez here.] Denis stared blankly out of his window. People passed by. He looked carefully at the faces of the passersby. He knew she wasn¡¯t there. *** ¡°Prince, Prince.¡± Denis, lost in thought, woke up to Sylvan¡¯s call. ¡°My Lord, how have you been?¡± As soon as the tall man entered Denis¡¯ office, he put down his bag and hugged Denis warmly. Denis naturally tapped the man on the shoulder. ¡°How long has it been?¡± Even though Denis didn¡¯t offer him a seat, the man took off his coat and sat down on the sofa. ¡°I think it¡¯s been six years.¡± Denis counted and sat down opposite each other. ¡°Yes. As soon as the Prince¡¯s engagement was over, I left for Herzan.¡± ¡°It tickles. Just call me by my name comfortably.¡± ¡°How could a son of a Count call the Prince by his name?¡± As the man exaggerated, Denis grinned. The man, who had been pretending to be polite, untied his tie and crossed his legs comfortably, looking around Denis¡¯ office. The man was Olivier, the eldest son of Count Chabrol. Denis and Olivier had graduated from the Academy the same year. He was one of the few close friends of Denis during his academy days. After graduating from the Academy, Olivier was expected to inherit the Count, but he unexpectedly left for Herzan to study. It was because he wanted to study music. Olivier¡¯s story was published in many newspapers when he left to study abroad, as it was a shocking case of refusal of the title. ¡°I don¡¯t think much has changed since I was away. Isn¡¯t the King still the same?¡± Denis understood what Olivier meant. It meant that the King was still weighing between him and Fabrice. Denis answered politely. ¡°Of course, he is still healthy and unchanged.¡± Olivier had a sad expression on his face. His expression looked so sad, it was as if Olivier had heard the obituary of someone close to him. On the contrary, Denis¡¯ expression seemed brighter. ¡°That¡¯s why I need you.¡± Olivier looked at Denis and said, ¡°If there is anything I can do to help, I will do it.¡± ¡°Be the chairperson of the Academy that I will build.¡± ¡°Prince, that¡¯s¡­¡± Olivier, as if hearing those unexpected words, dragged on. ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone I can trust. I need someone who is totally on my side, Olivier.¡± Olivier¡¯s brow furrowed as if he was in trouble. ¡°Give me some time to think, Prince.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait long. I want you to make up your mind as soon as possible.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only At Denis¡¯ last words, Olivier fell into deep thought. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 29 *** *** ¡°The engagement will be held next month, Princess.¡± After watching the opera, Fabrice and Giselle were riding back in the same carriage. The public¡¯s opinion about Fabrice and Giselle¡¯s engagement wasn¡¯t too bad. It was thanks to an interview Yvonne Dubois gave in a newspaper. [¡®I realized that I didn¡¯t belong in the royal seat. I just hope I will rise to a higher position in the future.¡¯] The interview not only completely cleared up the scandal about Fabrice, but also raised public expectations for Giselle Lemac. Giselle¡¯s dress looked even more glamorous, as if she had recently realized her popularity. Even though she didn¡¯t look like her usual self, she was portrayed as a young girl who was sensitive to popularity. Fabrice laughed at Giselle inwardly. Giselle had just reached adulthood, and it had only been two years since. She was a young girl, who knew nothing about the world. ¡°That¡¯s right, Prince.¡± Gisele¡¯s proposed engagement agreement was eventually reached by both parties after many twists and turns. Giselle looked at Fabrice with indifferent eyes. ¡°Please be careful before the engagement ceremony, Prince.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°As long as the Prince doesn¡¯t make any mistakes or accidents, they will crown you as the next King.¡± Mistakes. Accidents. Fabrice twisted the corners of his lips. He knew that the accident Giselle was referring to was not an accident like a carriage accident. She referred to the accidents he had committed. ¡°I know, Princess. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Fabrice shook his head and answered. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll do what the contract states.¡± ¡°What?¡± Fabrice could not remember what was in the 40-page contract. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t have an accident.¡± Fabrice laughed out loud at her answer. ¡°It sounds like you are going to lock me up, Princess.¡± ¡°I just hope that doesn¡¯t happen.¡± At Giselle¡¯s answer, Fabrice finally burst into laughter. ¡°What?¡± Fabrice shouted as Giselle¡¯s words ignited his anger. ¡°Don¡¯t talk bullsh*t! I am the Prince of Valloise, the one who will become the King!¡± ¡°You are still a Prince.¡± At Giselle¡¯s cold words, Fabrice stood up as if to grab her by her neck. Fabrice raised his hand threateningly. Giselle looked up at Fabrice. She wasn¡¯t in the slightest fright. Two pairs of eyes met in the dark carriage. Meanwhile, the carriage stopped. ¡°We have arrived at the mansion.¡± They had arrived in front of Giselle¡¯s mansion. Fabrice was still standing up and huffing. Giselle opened her mouth and spoke boldly. ¡°Please escort me. Prince, you can¡¯t break up your engagement again.¡± Fabrice seriously thought about just twisting the woman¡¯s neck right away. Giselle was silently waiting for Fabrice. Fabrice brushed his hair roughly. His well-groomed hair was ruffled wildly. If she got off the carriage without an escort, it would be the seed of rumours again. A Prince who doesn¡¯t even escort his fiance. They would write an article that would chew him and his plans again. It wasn¡¯t long before the scandal was settled. He didn¡¯t want to think complicated. With his head hurting, Fabrice opened the carriage door and stepped out. In front of the carriage, the butler of the Lemac mansion was waiting. ¡°Welcome, Your Highness.¡± Fabrice turned a blind eye to the butler and raised his arm towards the carriage door. Giselle stuck her head out from the dark carriage. She stopped between the open carriage doors and looked down at Fabrice. An intense stare. As she didn¡¯t step out of the carriage soon, Fabrice looked up at her with an annoyed face. Only then did Giselle get off with her escort. It was so graceful that Giselle and Fabrice looked like a Queen and a knight on a street march. ¡°Hope you had a good trip, Miss Giselle.¡± ¡°Thank you, Prince.¡± Giselle grabbed Fabrice¡¯s arm and smiled as she thanked him. The blush and shy smile on her face looked like a young girl in love. Fabrice saw the woman who had changed her face in an instant and decided to revise his assessment of her. She was not an easy woman. ¡°It was great. Thanks to you, Prince.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± Fabrice turned his back. As he jumped up and grabbed the carriage¡¯s door handle, Giselle called him out. ¡°Prince, next time, I will invite you to our mansion. May you be at peace on your way.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Fabrice quickly pushed his body into the carriage and closed the door. He left without looking back. Giselle looked at Fabrice¡¯s carriage until it became a small dot. ¡°She¡¯s crazy.¡± Fabrice untied his tie, which had been holding his neck tight. He had not yet reached the palace. A harsh breath escaped his mouth. It didn¡¯t suit his temper to be treated like this. He needed a place to unwind. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks As soon as Fabrice arrived at the palace, he called Barbier Baron. He needed a more powerful hallucinogen than last time. It was because he could not feel it three times as much. After all, his body had already been soaked with drugs. However, Barbier, who arrived as soon as he called, spoke in a voice that was not confident, unlike the last time. ¡°Prince, it seems there¡¯s a rumour that you had a party in the palace last time. How about having fun outside the palace?¡± ¡°Where outside the palace?¡± ¡°I have a small townhouse that I have set aside. I beg you to rest in peace with the women I have arranged for you.¡± Saying so, Barbier bowed his head. There was a saying that the walls of the palace have ears. Fabrice, who was just leaving, also seemed to be worried. Fabrice answered after much consideration. ¡°Yes, show me where it is.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Baron Barbier¡¯s mansion was close to the slums. The Baron said to Fabrice, who was looking around as he got out of the carriage. ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s the perfect location. There are always new girls coming in from the back door.¡± Baron Barbier said as if he could buy fresh milk, which he squeezed out every morning. Fabrice felt uncomfortable when he saw Baron Barbier rubbing his hands and flattering him. However, he didn¡¯t point it out because he felt good when he thought about what was to come. Baron Barbier opened the mansion¡¯s gate with a key, revealing a desolate garden. ¡°The garden has not been cleaned and decorated yet, but the inside is very neatly organized.¡± And when he opened the front door, Fabrice saw the inside of the building adorned with all kinds of splendid things. The walls were full of hunting trophies, tapestries, and paintings, and there was also a carpet from Enland, where you could relax your feet. The excessively luxuriously decorated mansion seemed to have satisfied Fabrice¡¯s heart, and he had a satisfactory smile around his mouth. ¡°You must have paid attention.¡± ¡°Oh, of course, Prince. And if you look at the bedroom¡­¡± Baron Barbier guided Fabrice as he spoke. When he opened the door located at the end of the hallway, a dreamy bedroom appeared at a glance. There was a large bed in the middle of the room. A curtain was hung over the four pillars of the bed, and the dark-red curtains were embroidered with golden thread, making it appear dazzling at first glance. A small incense burner was placed on the bedside table, and a large gold-bronze incense burner was placed on the tea table next to the bed in the middle of the room. The incense burner was already burning, and it was emitting enchanting incense. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten the tools you were using yet.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°If you wash up first, I¡¯ll let the women in.¡± The Baron reached out his hand and opened a door, and four women were standing side by side. It was the bathroom. Inside was a bathtub with steam rising. ¡°They¡¯ll take care of your bath, Prince.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fabrice looked at the faces of the women slowly, and smiled contentedly. After the introduction, the Baron bowed his head and greeted Fabrice. ¡°Have a comfortable night.¡± ¡°Well, thank you. Go out.¡± Barbier hurried out through the back door. As he made his way through the narrow alley connected by the back door, he arrived at the back of a building. The entrance was invisible as it was full of garbage and food. Still, he accustomed himself to digging through the pile of junk and found the door. It was a small door. As the Baron knocked, the door opened, and he entered the door. The door the Baron entered was the kitchen of a certain business. The chefs were constantly cooking, and when he came in, no one cared about the Baron. As he left the kitchen, music played in the dim light. And a scent that somehow lifted the mood. He heard loud laughter and screams, but he didn¡¯t care. While the half-covered people walked to their rooms, holding glasses of wine, he could see people playing cards through the crack in the slightly open door. The Baron went up the stairs to the second floor. Before he stepped upstairs and knocked on the door of a room, he brushed the dust off his shoulders and knocked. The door opened from inside. A familiar person was sitting under the bright light of a business atmosphere, quite different from the downstairs. That person was the first to ask about the women¡¯s well-being. ¡°Are they safe?¡± ¡°Of course, they have made a bath from the herbs, and there are many sleeping incense burning in the room, and he should be getting a good night¡¯s sleep by now in the bathroom.¡± ¡°I am afraid that the Prince will harm them somehow.¡± All the women, who were chosen to attend Fabrice today, were elite trained personnel. She still looked worried, though she let those women go in as if they were slum women. The Second Prince was an altogether unpredictable and elusive object. It would not be an exaggeration to worry about whether something would happen. Danielle comforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯re all highly trained personnel, so they could beat him to death if they had to.¡± ¡°Well, he shouldn¡¯t be dead yet. Can you give me the story for tomorrow?¡± Then Danielle went out and came up with the manuscript. The owner of the room accepted the draft and began to read it quietly. ¡°The Second Prince in Revelry? Isn¡¯t this an ordinary title?¡± ¡°Would you like them to write the headlines in a stronger tone?¡± Danielle took out a small notebook and began to take notes of her owner¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s right. There has to be a photo. It is important to take this opportunity to show a Prince who has lost his morals.¡± ¡°All right¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve made enough room, Baron? ¡°Of course. It¡¯s going to emphasize the extravagance and profligacy.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After looking at the article for a long time, the owner pretended to show Danielle that this was enough and handed over the draft again. ¡°Sure. Now go in and have him take a picture.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to give it out when he hands it over to you.¡± Tehez pointed to the pockets she had handed over to Danielle. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The pockets were full of silver. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 30 *** *** Tehez watched journalists posting provocative articles and decided to tame them. With nothing less than money. It was because she knew that feeding them money was the easiest and fastest way rather than intimidating or harming them. That¡¯s why she had Delphine provide reporters with nice meals and gifts. The results of that work were only coming out now. While Danielle was away, a well-dressed, handsome man came in looking like an employee and set the food down in front of the Baron and Tehez. ¡°Please eat while working.¡± The man smiled charmingly and placed a wine glass in front of Tehez. He poured alcohol for the Baron and placed a tray full of food, stuffed with what appeared to be freshly cooked meat. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure.¡± The man was smiling as if to bewitch the Baron. ¡°Eat.¡± The man offered food to the Baron, and Tehez naturally picked up only the glass of wine placed in front of her. The Baron also picked up the tequila without paying attention to the food. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to chew on something because he was so nervous about making a mistake until he lured the Second Prince to the ¡®battlefield¡¯. But how could the woman be so nonchalant? The Baron looked at her again and again, and she looked amazingly calm. ¡°The Baron should take refuge with his family for a while. You¡¯re taking a rest in the mansion I¡¯ve arranged.¡± Saying so, she lifted her eyes to look at the Baron, and his eyes shone. ¡°Is there anything else I should do?¡± ¡°Even though it was a risky business, you¡¯ve worked hard enough.¡± Having said that, the woman looked at the Baron and smiled a little. She then handed him one of the relatively heavy pockets behind her. ¡°If you want anything while you¡¯re resting, use this money. It¡¯s small, but it¡¯s my sincerity.¡± When the Baron opened the seal, it was filled it heavy money. 10 years. Enough to eat and rest. ¡°H- Princess, this is too much. I can¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say no, Baron. I heard the Baron¡¯s eldest daughter plays the piano very well. Please use this money to fund her study abroad.¡± ¡°Still, this is¡­¡± Barbier hesitated, fiddling with the fabric of the luxurious bag. However, when Tehez was not bitten, he immediately gave up and took the bag. ¡°You thought well.¡± Baron Barbier thanked her once again. Then, he said, ¡°I had a question for a long time.¡± ¡°What were you curious about?¡± ¡°I was really curious to know where all this money is coming from.¡± Barbier was the soon of poor aristocrats, who had been poor for generations. It had already been decades since he came to the capital from the West, but he was still unable to escape the status of an ¡®aristocrat from the countryside.¡¯ How much trouble did he put into for the higher nobles when he came to the capital? He sought invitations to banquets held by high-ranking nobles and tried to communicate, but in vain. The old aristocrats of the capital did not pay much attention to the insignificant Baron. It was because they had been a lot of such people. Because there must have been a lot of aristocrats who struggle to get in the line. That did not mean that the Baron could get along with the new nobles, not the old nobles. Even those who became nobles with enormous wealth did not join the Baron to the group. The reason was that he was born different from the new nobles. Although he was torn apart, it was because his grandfather was an aristocrat, and Barbier couldn¡¯t really be considered a ¡®new aristocrat.¡¯ In the end, Barbier had no choice but to survive on his own. The safety of his life and family was in his hands. He had invested in trendy items in the capital with the intention of creating tax, and sold his products to get investment information, but he had never made much money. Since then, Barbier has lived his entire life, realising that wealth is a distance entity for him. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to make money? We¡¯re here to help.¡± As he was contemplating whether he should go to the West, there was a helping hand that came to him. She was the First Princess. Barbier had nowhere else to retreat, so he held her hand. And Baron Barbier¡¯s world, which was narrow and broke, widened in an instant just by meeting her. She was a person who sat still and made a massive amount of money that he could not imagine. She doesn¡¯t flatter anyone. She doesn¡¯t go to parties. How was that possible? He was in awe of her before he could even feel her condescension. ¡°I do not know.¡± Tehez smiled softly with a cheerful face as if she was going to tell the Baron a secret. She immediately gave the correct answer. ¡°The answer is information. When information is given or taken, the timing is the most important.¡± ¡°I see. I don¡¯t know if I can say this, but I respect you.¡± It was the Baron¡¯s sincerity. ¡°Don¡¯t think that, Baron. The Baron knows very well that I¡¯m not doing this to make money.¡± True. The Princess was doing all this with only one motive. To crown the First Prince. ¡°I also wish the First Prince ascends the throne.¡± ¡°Nice. I have a carriage ready. I¡¯d like to go back and pray a lot in the temple.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Barbier greeted her and walked out of the door. There was a lot of money in his hand. Although he did not know the cause, he knew well that the money was good. When everything was sorted out, he would be able to return to the capital again. As the Baron left, Melby, standing behind Tehez, came up to her and offered her food again. ¡°Princess, did you have dinner?¡± ¡°No, because I don¡¯t feel like eating.¡± Tehez refused. ¡°I specially asked the kitchen to make this, so why don¡¯t you eat even a little?¡± Tehez looked at Melby, who smiled charmingly, without saying a word. ¡°He¡¯s sleeping.¡± Was Fabrice really sleeping now? She wished he was. Melby looked into the woman¡¯s eyes defiantly and answered. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± ¡°Do you need money? You must have used up all the funds I gave you last time, right?¡± ¡°Oh, my God.¡± Melby laughed as if he was dumbfounded. ¡°There are a lot of people who give me money besides the Princess. Gold coins are worth my feet.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Tehez asked, genuinely clueless. This woman was the only one who didn¡¯t fall for him. He was the most famous escort in the country. A man who was said to be sculpted by the Goddess of beauty. He worked as a server in a gambling house, and was in charge of gathering information by using his outstanding beauty. He got a lot of Louis gold coins by having love affairs with the noble ladies, his side job. Occasionally, their husbands would come and thresh Melby, but it didn¡¯t happen often. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Because in most cases, the marital relationship of the aristocrats was often bilateral. They often pretended to be an ordinary friendly couple who overlooked each other¡¯s love. But this couple was unique. Denis and Tehez. Melby started at the woman¡¯s chin. They both lived inside the walls made by their love for each other, do they? It was as ridiculous as a goat walking on two legs like a human. Melby remembered asking Tehez such a question once. ¡°Princess, are you not in love with him? If it¡¯s the Princess, there would be many men who would throw themselves at you.¡± And what did the Princess say? ¡°Stop talking nonsense and focus on work.¡± Melby had a small smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you. Do you skip meals every day?¡± Melby pushed the plate of food and came closer to Tehez. His strange and alluring scent permeated Tehez¡¯s nose. ¡°Melby.¡± ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± He had the most confident smile. ¡°The perfume smells too much. Can you open the window for me?¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± He got up and opened the window, pretending to be okay. ¡°When is Danielle coming back, Melby?¡± ¡°Ac-¡± ¡°Go down and get Danielle.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Again, it was Melby¡¯s defeat today. *** ¡º The Second Prince ¨C As soon as self-reflection is over, there was a party in a frenzy¡» ¡º The Fluctuating People¡¯s Heart ¨C Where is the Crown going?¡» ¡º Exclusive ¨C Shocking confessions of feelings of Miss A who served the Second Prince!¡» The temperature was getting lower. Tehez sat in her office early in the morning and read the newspaper. It was also confirmed that all those who were sent for the task were safe. Fortunately, no one was hurt or sick. Because of the delay there, it was dawning when she returned to her palace. She couldn¡¯t even sleep. As soon as she arrived, she sat down at her desk. She felt very refreshed. ¡°The article came out well.¡± Danielle and Eli breathed a sigh of relief at Tehez¡¯s words. She snapped her fingers. She looked like she was thinking of something. ¡°Now, let¡¯s raise the Prince¡¯s support.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Danielle informed Tehez of the schedule. ¡°You have an appointment with the Marquis this evening.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know it well.¡± Tehez yawned slightly, and Eli placed the steaming hot coffee on the desk. ¡°Thank you, everyone. You all may leave.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tehez was sitting in her office, sipping coffee and reading papers that had been pushed aside. Her eyes felt tight. It was because she didn¡¯t sleep well yesterday. How long has it been? Knock, knock ¡°Yes, come in.¡± Tehez said without raising her head, knowing that Danielle had always come to see her. Danielle always knocked and said, ¡°It¡¯s Danielle,¡± and came in. Someone else was coming in with clear, loud footsteps. He approached her with a bright smile and looked down at her while holding a plate of food. ¡°I heard you didn¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez replied calmly. She had skipped her meal, waiting for the morning paper. Denis placed the plate on the tea table and called her with a gesture. Tehez got up from her seat as if possessed and sat down in front of Denis. It was a sandwich. ¡°You work while you eat, wife.¡± Tehez was stunned by his friendly behaviour and couldn¡¯t help but accept it. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My wife works, and I, her husband, have to take care of her.¡± Tehez didn¡¯t answer. She couldn¡¯t tell if he knew something or not. ¡°By the way, where did you go yesterday? My wife¡­¡± In the end, she thought he had come to her to ask this. She brought up the answer she had prepared. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was late because I was praying at the temple.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Denis was staring at her. She knew he knew it was a lie, but she didn¡¯t know if he was going to let it go or if he was just going to stare at her. Tehez put the sandwich in her mouth and murmured. She was not sure if she was chewing properly. He abruptly got up from his seat and staggered towards her. Tehez was startled by the sudden approach and swallowed the food she had been chewing. ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± He was looking down at her. He lifted her hair and inhaled the scent as if kissing it. ¡°Why does someone who¡¯s been to the temple smell like perfume?¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Denis added with a gravely dangerous smile. ¡°It smells like a man¡¯s perfume, too.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 31 *** Sorry for the late update. There will two bonus chapters ???? *** ¡°I do not know. I do not know.¡± Tehez grabbed it and looked at it. ¡°Uh-huh?¡± Denis nodded lightly. But he had a look of disbelief. Denis put a hand on her shoulder, and with the tip of his finger, lifted a strand of hair. A brown hair. It was Melby¡¯s. Tehez snorted inwardly. She wondered if this was done on purpose. The smell of perfume and the hair. He kept clinging to her side, and tucked his hair into her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not going to say anything about this, are you?¡± ¡°Ah, you are mistaken. It is not what you think, Prince.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what?¡± He looked down with his arms crossed as if to say something. ¡°Oh¡­ Are you meeting the brunette priest in the temple? Can I guess who the priest is now? Hmm?¡± ¡°Prince, I¡­¡± ¡®I didn¡¯t go to the temple, and I didn¡¯t meet a man there.¡¯ So, where did you go, and what did you do? Wouldn¡¯t he ask this? Of course, if Melby is a man, she¡¯s a woman. But she has never been close to him. Of course, they are close, but that doesn¡¯t mean anything personal. Of course, she met Melby in private, but that¡¯s¡­ Tehez couldn¡¯t understand why her head, which used to work well while planning strategies, kept getting tangled in front of Denis. ¡®What am I supposed to say?¡¯ ¡°Tehez.¡± Denis swept his hair over as if something were disturbing. ¡°Say it.¡± Tehez looked into Denis¡¯ deep eyes and said. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Will you trust me and forgive me no matter what I do?¡± ¡®I wanted to ask if you would accept me as I am, even if I didn¡¯t say anything.¡¯ ¡°¡­That is what God does. Not a person.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Tehez replied calmly. ¡°I have sinned¡­¡± Tehez hurried as if confessing. ¡°Are you saying you have sinned with that man?¡± Denis¡¯ eyes shone sharply. ¡°Prince, do you really think I¡¯d have an affair with another man?¡± Denis answered Tehez¡¯s question after a while. ¡°If I knew that, ha¡­¡± He ruffled his already dishevelled hair and sighed. She couldn¡¯t hear what he spoke. ¡°What?¡± Tehez did not hear his answer properly, so she asked. ¡°I said no, Madam.¡± Tehez stared at him for a moment, then lowered her head, unable to face him. ¡°You will find out in the newspaper soon, Prince.¡± ¡®What all have I done for you¡­¡¯ ¡®I have no intention of wanting to be forgiven by God.¡¯ If there was anyone she wanted to forgive her, it was Denis alone. That was all there was to it. He was the only person she wanted to forgive her, and the only one she wanted to be understood by. Denis waited patiently for Tehez¡¯s next words. But Tehez spoke no more. ¡°Is that it? ¡­Okay.¡± It was a tired voice, as if submerged in water. He stood up frustrated and went to the window. Then he turned around and said, ¡°Tehez.¡± Tehez turned and looked at his back. ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°It would be funny for me, a non-believer, to bring it up.¡± ¡°There is no God who wants you to sin.¡± His talk about God somehow sounded like he was telling his own story. Tehez couldn¡¯t figure out what kind of expression Denis was making now, as his back faced her. ¡°And whatever happens¡­ don¡¯t hide it, and talk about it.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± ¡°Lastly¡­¡± For a moment, Denis stopped her. ¡°I don¡¯t want your blood sacrifices.¡± Tehez answered bluntly. ¡°All right.¡± Denis, standing by the window, came and sat in front of her. He looked a little tired. ¡®Could it be that you haven¡¯t slept properly?¡¯ ¡°Have you not been able to sleep, Prince?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t come to my room.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t there.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± A moment of silence passed. Denis spoke as if evoke the atmosphere. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the World¡¯s Fair next week.¡± ¡°Okay, Prince.¡± ¡°And eat all of this.¡± The sandwiches were small enough to fit in one bite. However, it was more than the amount she usually ate. Tehez let out a small sigh and answered. ¡°Okay, Prince.¡± ¡°Tehez, don¡¯t you have anything else to say?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that¡­¡± ¡°Then?¡± Denis stared at her sternly. ¡°Then tell me you love me.¡± She was speechless for a moment. When it came to speaking, he was the most confident. More than Tehez. That was the only thing he got good at while being a Prince. Things like words and smiles that he never cared about. But it wasn¡¯t like he didn¡¯t mean it. Tehez felt like a helpless knight deprived of her weapon in front of Denis and his provocation to say ¡®I love you.¡¯ ¡°Why can¡¯t you say anything? You are so good at lying.¡± Tehez put down the sandwich and looked at him. Denis was also looking at Tehez with observing eyes. ¡°Is it because it¡¯s true?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Is that possible, Prince?¡± Tehez opened her mouth with a trembling voice. She only hoped that the truth hidden in her would not be revealed to him. ¡°I love you. And you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Well.¡± Denis scratched his forehead with a puzzled look, not knowing she would ask him back. After a moment of silence, he spoke in a determined voice. ¡°Listen, Tehez. From the time we got married to the present.¡± Waiting for the words to fall from his mouth, Tehez swallowed. ¡°I don¡¯t love you.¡± ¡°This is my conclusion.¡± Tehez¡¯s heart dropped with a thud. I don¡¯t love you¡­ ¡°Instead, I just feel responsible for you. I¡¯ll work for you, just like you¡¯ve been working for me. This is¡­ kind of a reward.¡± Having said that, Denis looked relieved. This is kind of a reward. It was wrong to expect, perhaps because of his kindness. Denis didn¡¯t love her. Still, the fact seemed to pierce Tehez in the heart. She opened her mouth slowly, clearing her voice. ¡°¡­Then why are you always taking care of me?¡± The sandwich brought by Denis caught her eye. Denis, who followed her gaze, answered plainly. ¡°It¡¯s like taking care of a kingfisher in a cage, Madam.¡± ¡°¡­You know that, in the fall, kingfishers leave for the warmer south, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I mean¡­¡± After saying that, Denis raised his hand and took her hand. He kissed the back of her hand deeply. ¡°I have to feed it well, put it to sleep sleep, and make sure it doesn¡¯t leave. That¡¯s the duty of the owner, right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the bird¡¯s destiny to leave when the seasons change?¡± ¡°Since when did you become a fatalist, Madam?¡± Denis picked up her last piece of sandwich and brought it to her lips. ¡°Wasn¡¯t my wife a fateful pioneer?¡± Tehez gently took a bit of the sandwich he gave her. There were only bread crumbs left in the bowl he had brought. Then she looked at him proudly. Her God was always merciful, seemingly indifferent. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know the Prince.¡± That was Tehez¡¯s honest feelings. ¡°Really? I don¡¯t know you either. I think we¡¯re on the same page in that respect.¡± Denis raised the corners of his lips and smiled. It was a smile as refreshing as lemonade in midsummer. *** The grand table was lined with food. Various dishes in large quantities were placed on the top. The splendid and magnificent dining hall seemed to have a banquet. However, there was no sound of dishes, let alone a friendly conversation. Across the long table, only two people were sitting and eating. A middle-aged man and a young woman. Some might find the strange stillness strange, but to the people present, it seemed quite normal. While the middle-aged man slowly sliced the steak and drank wine, the young woman¡¯s plate was clean. Breaking the frozen silence, the middle-aged man said. ¡°It seems that the meal is finished to some extent, so why not go to my study room and talk?¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± A small shoulder followed behind the large man who strode ahead of her. The intimidation that surrounded her man was weighing down on Tehez. The heavy study door closed silently. On top of the large fireplace was a sculpture of a beautiful deer¡¯s head, and below it was decorated with rifles. Every time Tehez entered the man¡¯s room, she felt eerie. It was because the black, shiny eyes of the deer seemed to follow her. The man¡¯s room, which boasts the best view in the mansion, was always cool and looked dry like the man. In the middle of the room was a sofa made of high-quality buffalo leather. The man soon took out cognac and two empty glasses from the cupboard and sat down in front of her. Even though he knew she couldn¡¯t drink high alcohol, he, who always wanted her to kneel in front of him, always took out her share of the cup. When she was young, she drank cognac that she couldn¡¯t even win, but¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t drink.¡± The end of Teherz¡¯s words trembled. The man looked at her with a frown. ¡°Is it coming?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± The man kicked his tongue and poured cognac into his glass. He tapped the handle of the sofa irregularly with his fingertips. Tehez was afraid of the words that would come out of the man¡¯s mouth after that hand stopped. ¡°Okay. What is the Prince doing these days?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same as usual.¡± ¡°I am well aware of that. There must be something only you know. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± The man turned the glass gently and faced her with the amber glowing liquid escaping into his mouth. Tehez felt like a fish pierced by a harpoon by the man¡¯s gaze. She did not want to appear withdrawn in front of such a man, so she straightened her posture. The man, who had been savouring cognac for a long time as if she were not in front of him, asked in a lower voice. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you have checked whether it was possible for you to carry a child?¡± He looked like a low growling beast. ¡°Yes? When your father asks you a question, you must answer, hmm?¡± ¡°Yes, Marquis.¡± Tehez sat with his back straight, trembling. ¡°Or is the Prince the problem?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Tehran immediately responded. The man took a sip of the remaining cognac and gave her a final warning. ¡°You have to do it right, daughter. This father is not very patient.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your job?¡± Tehez answered right away as if she were memorizing it. ¡°To crown the Prince.¡± ¡°Yes, you must do your best. Get out.¡± The huge man was staring at him like a mountain. Tehez had to squeeze out all her strength not to stumble as she turned around. She did not even know in what spirit she got into the carriage. She thought she had been trained in the words and deeds of the Marquis. Every time this happened, she couldn¡¯t help but see herself hurt by the words of the Marquis. Tehez exhaled heavily to calm down her bated breath. If there is no result, she will be thrown away. The Marquis of Ingeliger was such a man. A man who has nothing to fear to have what he wants. Not just a noble family, but a man who has the desire to be a member of the royal family and further wield greater power. It was her father, Marquis of Ingeliger. What was the look on his face when finally his daughter married the First Prince? The Marquis smiled with full satisfaction that he had finally taken a step. The face of a perfect predator. Tehez still remembered that smile. The Marquis of Ingeliger had waited over five years, and tolerated it. Tehez barely caught her breath and sat down on a chair. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The night mist outside the window seemed to hold her tight and not let go. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 32 *** Sorry for the late update. There will two bonus chapters ???? *** A dimly lit room with no sunlight. A man was chained to his chair, unconscious. A woman was looking at the man in front of him. The woman¡¯s eyes were as cold as if they were measuring the value of an object. As she beckoned, a tall man came out from behind her and poured cold water on the man. ¡°AAHH!¡± The man raised his head as if the cold water awakened him. A bewildered look could be seen through his wet, drooping hair. ¡°Why are you here¡­?¡± As if he had been asleep for a long time, his voice was tight. ¡°Prince, are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°Princess! What are you doing?!¡± As if to regain his consciousness, Fabrice shouted at the woman standing in front of him. It was his prospective fiancee, Giselle, who had tied Fabrice up. Behind Giselle, several strong men were waiting threateningly. Giselle told him as if nothing had happened. ¡°You are out of your mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping me. Send me back to my palace. Right now.¡± ¡°Prince, it is foolish to enter the palace now.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There are royal knights and reporters everywhere trying to find the Prince. It was difficult to get you out of the mansion.¡± Giselle said as if she was not interested in Fabrice¡¯s condition, who was hurt in several places as a result of dragging him. Fabrice rolled his eyes, not understanding what she was saying. Why are the knights and reporters trying to find him? Yesterday, Barbier had brought him to the mansion- Suddenly, Fabrice felt out of place. It was because he had no memory of what happened after since he fell asleep while taking a bath in the mansion. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± ¡°Barbier!¡± Fabrice roared in evil. ¡°You crazy b******! How dare you hit me in the back!¡± He shook his whole body and shouted like a madman. As if Fabrice kept screaming, Giselle frowned. Still, Giselle beckoned lightly as he continued to scream. The two men, standing behind, came out and stuffed the cloth in Fabrice¡¯s mouth. Fabrice¡¯s voice, which was blocked by the cloth for a moment, couldn¡¯t be comprehended as any language, but only heard as screams of death. ¡°ARRHHH, ARRHH!!¡± ¡°Prince, I told you. I will make sure there are no more ¡®accidents¡¯.¡± She said, focusing on ¡®accident¡¯. ¡°If you keep doing this, I will have no choice but to fulfil what is written in the contract.¡± She spoke in a regrettable tone. ¡°AGGHHH!¡± Fabrice shook his body in anger, blood-red eyes glaring at Giselle, but Giselle didn¡¯t budge and gave orders to her servants. ¡°The Prince is soaked in water, so you have to change his clothes. It¡¯s too dirty.¡± Giselle looked at Fabrice from top to bottom. Aside from getting wet with water, Fabrice¡¯s clothes were impeccably dirty. But Giselle just looked at him as if she were looking at some filthy trash. Her eyes were scornful. ¡°And bring him to me when he calms down.¡± With that order, Giselle went out of the room. As the door closed, several men surrounded Fabrice threateningly. No matter how much he trained in the palace, he was [email protected] and alone. Five men surrounded him with knives and guns hanging from their waists. They smelled wild, which couldn¡¯t be described. It was a feeling for the first time in his life, but Fabrice recognized it. Animal fear. The fear that he might really die. Fabrice¡¯s temple was dripping with sweat. ¡°Prince. If you resist, you won¡¯t see a good thing. I¡¯ll remove the cloth, so please be quiet.¡± Among them, the tallest man made an eye contact with Fabrice. ¡°HMM!¡± ¡°Can you do it?¡± ¡°HMMM!!¡± Fabrice nodded desperately. ¡°Release him.¡± The other man roughly pulled out the cloth covering his mouth. ¡°Haaah, thank you.¡± Fabrice thanked him with a sense of shame. ¡°Change the Prince¡¯s clothes.¡± Two women came out and bowed their heads. ¡°Don¡¯t touch these women, Prince. Even if I don¡¯t tell you, you must not do that.¡± The big man said with a sneer. ¡°No, of course- of course not.¡± After hearing Fabrice¡¯s reply, the men went out. But they seemed to be standing in front of the door and guarding Fabrice without going far. He worked his brain out as he changed his clothes. There was not a window in the room. He couldn¡¯t even tell where he was or what time it was. Even when he talked to the maids, they were silent. What¡¯s going on? Was it only possible to find out after talking to a crazy woman who is his prospective fiancee? Why was she keeping him in custody like this? After changing clothes, the maids brought a meal. There were only bread and warm soup, but Fabrice drank it in a hurry, forgetting his face. It wasn¡¯t until after the meal that Fabrice could go to Giselle¡¯s place. He moved like a sinner, his arms tied. The mansion had no windows in the hallways. It seemed to have been made like this on purpose. After going up the stairs to the right, left, and right, Fabrice was led to the room through the door. It looked like a woman¡¯s office. Various documents were placed on the desk. ¡°You came earlier than I thought, Prince?¡± Giselle grinned and made him sit on the sofa. ¡°You must have been wondering. Where is this place?¡± ¡°Now tell me, Princess.¡± ¡°What is it? It¡¯s a safe house. The King and the Duke of Briem are looking for the Prince. And there were reporters all over the capital. As soon as you leave this mansion, the Prince will be in their hands.¡± ¡°Well then, hand me over to the Royal Knights.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± At Giselle¡¯s resolute refusal, Fabrice had no choice but to put on a puzzled expression. Wouldn¡¯t it be all over if he just gave himself up to them? Fabrice tried to persuade Giselle with a sense of desperation. ¡°Grandfather won¡¯t punish me. He will never punish me, Princess. You¡¯re just worried about my safety.¡± Giselle listened to him with an expression of ¡®okay, let¡¯s listen¡¯ on her face. Fabrice¡¯s fingertips trembled when he saw the cold-hearted woman¡¯s expression. He spoke desperately. ¡°I¡¯ll go for self-discipline for a few months, and the chaos will subside. And I¡¯ll ask him to make sure the rumours don¡¯t spread. Okay?¡± ¡°I said no.¡± Giselle flatly refused. ¡°Why..?¡± ¡°Prince, the problem is that you don¡¯t get punished.¡± Giselle, who interrupted Fabrice and added a word, smiled seductively. Fabrice read the madness in her eyes. A stream of sweat ran down his back. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you did something bad, you should be punished. That¡¯s the only way to fix you. We have less than two weeks until our engagement.¡± Giselle tapped on the sofa handle with her neat fingernails. Fabrice concentrated on her words. ¡°But if you keep having accidents like this, what should my family and I do? What can you do to make me trust you?¡± ¡°I-!¡± Fabrice tried to refute. But Giselle threw her words without mercy. ¡°So I can¡¯t let you go.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Fabrice raised her voice to refute. ¡°I told you before. My family doesn¡¯t jump in for losses.¡± That¡¯s what she said when they had first met. Of course, he did wrong. ¡°You¡¯re staying in a safe house this week. I¡¯ll let you go on the day of engagement. And if you do wrong in the future, you¡¯ll be punished. Do you understand, Prince?¡± ¡°What kind of punishment?¡± ¡°Well¡­? That¡¯s up to me.¡± Giselle¡¯s smile was so refreshing. But Fabrice was afraid. It was like a woman he had never seen before. It was a big mistake to belittle the woman for being young. ¡°Then let¡¯s take it easy today. Shall we start with this?¡± Waking up from the sofa, she took a small box out of the desk drawer. He thought there was something in there that he shouldn¡¯t know. Giselle opened the box carefully, pretending to be a precious object. Inside the seemingly expensive wooden box was a wh!p, like a snake. ¡°What are you going to do with this?¡± Fabrice turned white without knowing what was coming at him. ¡°Please bring the Prince to the room.¡± She was smiling brightly with a wh!p in her hand. *** Denis sat in the office smoking cigars and thinking. The sculptured face looked full of worries. Sylvan was sitting next to him, reviewing the papers. ¡°What should I do¡­?¡± That¡¯s what Denis had been like since a few hours ago. It was Fabrice¡¯s s*x scandal. A picture of him lying on a bed was on the newspaper¡¯s front page, with evidence that was incomparable with Xavier¡¯s last s*x scandal. With all the vulgar, stark headlines. A few days ago, Tehez said, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you read the newspaper, Prince,¡± this was the result of what she said. ¡®You¡¯ve been out to make this up.¡¯ Denis had discarded the dirty imagination of the brunette and Tehez. He was still in a bad mood, though. Apart from the Fabrice case, it was because of feelings for Tehez. He wanted her to live in peace. Just in the palace, like a bird in a cage. But she betrayed his expectations every time. Denis thought about his feelings for her. When he thought of Tehez, he felt that he had become strange. When he thought of her, every corner of his heart pounded. ¡®Debt, is it?¡¯ Denis thought so. By the time Denis was lost in his thoughts about Tehez, a knight came into his quiet office and said, ¡°Your Highness, the Second Prince could not be found.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve searched all the social clubs, bars and casinos, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We¡¯re also searching for empty houses in the capital, but¡­¡± As if there was no achievement, the knight blurted out the end of his speech. ¡°All right, you can now stop searching.¡± ¡°Okay, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Where did he go? Did he rise to the sky? Or is he hiding under the ground?¡± Sylvan was sorting out the list of nobles in the capital who were close with Fabrice, picking out the candidate Fabrice might be with. ¡°Well,¡± replied Dennis, puffing up cigar smoke. The suspicious thing about this case was that Fabrice, the person involved, was not found. He wished Fabrice could show up and tell him if it was true or fabricated. Whether it was because he hid from fear after the incident or whether there was a problem with his life, Fabrice continued to lose contact with him. The King released a group of knights to the outside of the capital, but none of them could find Fabrice. The longer this situation lasted, the worst it was for the King. He must want to put his beloved son on the throne without any noise, but his son was causing trouble. Should Fabrice be reported missing, or should he be hidden? Should it be false, or should it be true? The King must have a lot of trouble. Denis had no choice but to watch the situation calmly. Daily newspapers covered Fabrice as an article on the front page, and citizens urged the royal family for an explanation. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The atmosphere back in the day was unfamiliar. (To be continued in the next episode *** Chapter 33 *** It was an open fact that the King cherished the Second Prince and delayed the Crown Prince¡¯s appointment, and for this reason, Denis and Fabrice were fighting for the throne. Citizens criticized the morality of the Second Prince and began street protests to punish him severely. Although there were not many people, it was a big problem in itself that there were negative opinions about the royal family. Will the situation be resolved quickly, and only Fabrice will suffer, or will the credibility of the entire royal family be harmed? In the latter case, Denis will also be unable to avoid the storm. While he was smoking cigars nonstop, he heard a knock outside. It was Danielle, Tehez¡¯s assistant. ¡°Danielle, what brings you here¡­?¡± Sylvan greeted her with a bewildered look. Danielle greeted Denis with courtesy. Denis only nodded his head and looked up at the ceiling. Without further ado, Danielle only got to the point. ¡°Prince Fabrice has been contacted.¡± ¡°Where, what did you say?¡± Sylvan asked urgently. ¡°He¡¯ll be coming to the engagement. There are no injuries anywhere. We have confirmed the letter to the King.¡± Danielle said without hiding anything. It was an attitude that she didn¡¯t need to hide anything when Denis noticed that Tehez was doing the back work. ¡°Where did the letter come from?¡± asked Denis. ¡°We are tracking. It is definitely within the capital.¡± Danielle said with a bow. ¡°All right. You may leave.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Sylvan hurried out after Danielle. Daniel was making her way to the Princess¡¯ office at a brisk pace. ¡°Danielle, why don¡¯t you slow down? I need to talk to you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Danielle frowned and gestured to speak quickly. ¡°Why are you avoiding me since the last time-¡± ¡°Is that important to you at this critical time?¡± Danielle looked like she was very bothered by Sylvan. Danielle ignored him completely, and he felt like he was going crazy. ¡°No! It¡¯s because you avoid me every day! You are never there in your seat when I come to see you.¡± ¡°Who is avoiding you?¡± Danielle said in a tone of dismay. ¡°Then you aren¡¯t?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Isn¡¯t that baseless confidence? Any reason why I would deliberately avoid you? Go work.¡± Danielle glanced at Sylvan, turned her back and left the place. Sylvan stared blankly at Danielle. The next day Articles that people were protesting on the street went down, and there was a small article saying that Fabric was found somewhere. It was a poor follow-up article compared to writing provocative articles as headlines every day. As if someone was deliberately trying to divert people¡¯s attention. Instead of articles condemning the Second Prince, several articles were published, introducing new products to be unveiled at the World Fair. And, unexpectedly, the story of the success of a young man, who had become successful after being in a poverty centre for several months, due to Denis¡¯ visit was widely published. He was able to settle in the capital safely with the help of the royal family, and the main content was that he wanted to repay the favour to the royal family. *** A loud bang resounded through the room. The face of the woman standing in front of the huge man was turned sideways, and the slapped cheek swelled in an instant. ¡°Straighten up.¡± The woman straightened her head. The man hit the woman on the cheek again without stopping. It sounded like something was exploding. Blood was flowing from the mouth of the woman, who was hit in the same area in a row. The woman¡¯s right cheek swelled abnormally. The man was staring at the woman, huffing and puffing to see if his anger was relieved. ¡°Who told you to drop the Second Prince, to hurt the royal family?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes looked dry without any emotion. ¡°Answer me!¡± The man roared out. ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°Then? Why did you do such a stupid thing? What if the First Prince gets hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses. Because I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Do it right.¡± The man gulped down the cognac and slammed the glass on the table. Even then, the anger did not go away, so he poured the cognac into the glass again and drank it as it was. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± The man asked, raising his head. The woman said without hesitation, as if she was memorizing a spell. ¡°To crown the First Prince.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t go around doing less. Else I¡¯ll really kill you then.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± The man said, pointing at the woman with his index finger. ¡°Remember, you¡¯re in my hands. Do not forget.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Only then could the woman leave the Marquis¡¯ room when he waved his hands, ordering her to leave. When she closed the door, she saw her brother waiting nervously in front of her. ¡°Tehez! Are you okay? Oh, my-¡± Richard looked at Tehez¡¯s messed up face and wept. Richard took Tehez to his room and ordered the maids to bring ice and poultices. ¡°Oh, my. Your face¡­¡± Richard looked painfully at Tehez¡¯s increasingly swollen cheeks. ¡°It¡¯s all right¡­¡± When Tehez saw Richard crying, she shed tears without realizing it. ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± Richard hugged her in his arms. She felt something in her chest. The words ¡®Don¡¯t cry¡¯ seemed to signal. Like a sign that it¡¯s okay to cry from now on. Where did the woman who stood resolutely in front of the Marquis of Ingeliger go? And at that moment, Tehez seemed only a pitiful and tender lady of her age. ¡°Brother, please save me¡­ please.¡± ¡°Yes, Tehez.¡± ¡°Please, please. Please save me.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Tehez buried her face in Richard¡¯s arms as if she were being childish. Richard was also shedding tears as he wiped her crying face. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Tehez. Hmm?¡± Richard carefully wiped tears flowing down Tehez¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You can¡¯t do anything if you cry.¡± Then, the maids brought ice and poultices and put them down, and Richard roughly wiped his tearful face and told Tehez. ¡°Warm up first.¡± Richard put the ice bag that the maids brought to her face. ¡°Brother. How long¡­ How long do I have to live like this?¡± ¡°Tehez¡­¡± Richard looked sorry and eventually lost his words. He couldn¡¯t speak. It was probably because he knew. That the Marquis was a bond that can never break until he dies. Tehez spoke to him with a face swollen with tears and bruises, with a towel soaked in ice melted against her cheek. ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± Richard looked at her without saying anything. The opening ceremony of the World Fair was only four days away, and Fabrice¡¯s engagement was a week away. *** ¡°What¡¯s happened to your pretty face¡­?¡± Danielle couldn¡¯t keep up with her words and looked at Tehez with a complicated expression on her face. It had been like that ever since she returned from Ingeliger¡¯s mansion. The opening day of the World Fair Since the King was giving the opening speech, all members of the royal family had to attend. Even Julien, who was lying on the sickbed. ¡°It¡¯s a relief, though. That¡¯s how it ended.¡± Tehez responded by reading the newspaper as if she was not impressed by her condition. It wasn¡¯t once or twice. She knew that the Marquis would call her after finding out that things went wrong. To a certain extent, it was expected. Richard was no different than ever. It was only a moment when she cried and clung to Richard. She didn¡¯t really want him to do anything for her. She knew Richard wasn¡¯t in the right place. While growing up, it was Tehez who was exposed to the Marquis¡¯ direct abuse. The Marquis didn¡¯t touch anyone except for Tehez. But every time Richard saw Tehez being called by the Marquis, he always grew anxious about whether he would be next. Even though he knew he would never be. It¡¯s been like that since she was a kid. When she used to return after being hit, he used to cry more than her and take her to his room and treat her bruises. And that was the end. It was like a cycle that repeated over and over again. Even after she got bigger and older, it didn¡¯t change an inch from when she was young. Tehez gave a self-help laugh. Because she thought that the same wouldn¡¯t happen again in the future. The unchanging Marquis, the unchanging brother and her unchanging self. She cut off the thought of treating herself and glanced at her mirror. It was more important for her to think about what she could do in the future. Daily newspapers published interesting articles that raised expectations for the World Fair. Like how many countries participated, and what new inventions will be introduced. Like what celebrities are planning to visit Valloise from other countries. The street protesters went down all at once. The same was true for articles critical of the royal family. Naturally, the public forgot about the street protests and focused all their attention on the world fair without noticing whether it was the result of artificial control. It was a great relief for Tehez. However¡­ Tehez started thinking a lot about unexpected variables that suddenly appeared. A street protest against the royal family. It was a significant event for the first time in history. Tehez clearly admitted that it was her own misjudgment. Now, they were not just citizens who trusted and followed the royal family. They know how to judge right and wrong on their own. It was something she hadn¡¯t thought of before. Once the people know that they don¡¯t need the royal family anymore¡­ Tehez suddenly became afraid. It was not a question of whether or not Denis could be King, but the position of the King itself may be lost. Please, she hoped it was her delusion. It was a shame because she had bought the reporters in advance. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have avoided a bigger fire. Before negative publicity about the royal family spread further, she ordered all articles related to Fabrice to be taken down. Although it was an article that she had paid for on purpose. Tehez felt sick to her stomach as she tried to hide it. As if it had never been there from the beginning. However, until Denis ascended to the throne, the throne had to be protected. Separately, the reason behind the arrest of Fabrice was not yet known, which was a disturbing factor. She shook her head as to whether the sudden appearance of the variables would do her good or bad. Nothing was certain yet. The investigation to find the force that detained Fabrice was underway by Jacques. By all means, she hoped that the force that captured Fabrice would help Denis as well. Wasn¡¯t there a saying that ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend¡±? Then, Ellie cautiously entered her powder room. She was about to go to meet Jacques. ¡°Princess, I have something to tell you.¡± Ellie came quietly and whispered in Tehez¡¯s ear. ¡°We have secured new recruits.¡± Tehez nodded her head as if she understood, and Ellie backed away. Now, it was most important to appear flawless at the opening ceremony. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like makeup will cover it all up, Princess.¡± There was a black bruise on her swollen cheek. ¡°Put my hair down to cover my right cheek, and take out that big blue hat. To hide my face in the shade of the hat.¡± The maids rummaged through the powder room and brought in big-brimmed hats. ¡°Since today is the opening ceremony, it is a happy day, so it wouldn¡¯t be strange to decorate the hat. Decorate it more lavishly to make the hat stand out.¡± The maids brought peacock feathers, ivy fur, lace, and jewels. Then they began to decorate the hat so that there were no gaps. It was evident that she was determined not to show any bruises. ¡°The Prince is coming to escort you soon.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Tehez had been avoiding meeting him since she visited the Marquis. It was only a few days, but she wanted to meet him after the bruise on her cheek subsided. She didn¡¯t want to show him this. She didn¡¯t even want to buy his sympathy on purpose. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Because she always wanted to show her perfect side in front of him. ¡®I hope he doesn¡¯t notice.¡¯ Tehez inwardly offered a prayer to her uncaring God. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Chapter 34 *** Not long after, Denis entered the powder room. Elegant footsteps. ¡°Good morning, Madam.¡± She could see him perfectly dressed in the mirror. Tehez closed her eyes tightly and opened them. ¡°You are here, Prince.¡± Tehez glanced at Denis¡¯ face. ¡®Are you feeling well, and have you slept well?¡¯ ¡°Like it?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Tehez questioned his sudden remark. ¡°My face. Isn¡¯t that why you always look at me?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, very much. I like it.¡± Denis smiled on his face as if he liked how Tehez noticed his joke. Fortunately, he was in his usual mood. She was also perfectly dressed. He only seemed to wonder who she was. Because the mood in her head and outside her head was completely different. The watery velvet dress that came up to her neck was neat and decorative. But on top of her head¡­ it was so flamboyant. It was a rather dizzy look with peacock feathers, flowers and jewels, and all sorts of other splendid things on top of the hat. That being said, she didn¡¯t look strange to him. Her elegant figure, pure white skin, and bright red lips contrasted with it still made her look like an unmarried lady, despite being a woman who had been married for five years. As Tehez checked her dress and looked in the mirror, one of her maids came out with a jewellery box. ¡°Princess. Lastly, the earrings.¡± She didn¡¯t have to wear a necklace because it was a dress that came up to her neck, but she thought she needed earrings. Tehez picked the jewellery with her fingertips. When she couldn¡¯t make a choice, so the maid recommended one. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try the blue diamond earrings the Prince had sent?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Denis, who sat on the sofa, pensive, staring only at her back, lifted his head when he was brought up during the conversation. He looked at the jewellery box and Tehez alternately and seemed to understand what the maid was talking about. Tehez tilted her head, picked up the right earring and slipped it into her earlobe hole. Denis got up from the couch and walked toward her. ¡°Can I help you?¡± She was just about to put her left earring on. She didn¡¯t have a swollen left cheek, so he wouldn¡¯t even notice if he came close. Tehez asked him, placing a pair of her earrings in the palm of her hand. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do, but have you ever done it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good at putting everything in the hole.¡± No wonder he sounded so proud. As if belatedly understanding Denis¡¯ words, the maids in the powder room ran away with embarrassed faces. At last, only Tehez and Denis were left in the powder room. ¡°Do you agree, Madam?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hmm? As an experienced person.¡± Denis insisted on Tehez¡¯s answer. ¡°¡­Yes, very much. So, would you please put the earrings in with that fantastic skill?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll do it with all my heart.¡± Denis carefully picked up the earring that was on Tehez¡¯s palm. He gently tucked it into her earlobe hole. It was a friendly touch. ¡°What do you think?¡± He lifted his hand and asked Tehez. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°Then shall we go now?¡± ¡°Yes. Please come this way, Prince.¡± Tehez naturally took Denis¡¯ hand, who was about to stand on her right, and made him stand on her left. With his hair and hat down to the right, she hoped he wouldn¡¯t notice. But. Feeling something strange, he stood tall and grabbed her chin with one hand from the front. ¡°Ahh.¡± Tehez groaned involuntarily as her swollen right cheek was pressed. ¡°What is this, Madam?¡± Denis¡¯ voice was lower than before. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Prince.¡± He laughed as if he were dumbfounded. ¡°It¡¯s none of my business after seeing this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s a bad habit not to answer when you¡¯re at a disadvantage? Madam, who made this happen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to tell.¡± Tehez answered, avoiding his blazing eyes. ¡°Oh, are you going to say that I hit you and make it to the front page of the newspaper?¡± Denis snorted. ¡°It¡¯s a good strategy. A violent Prince hits the Princess right before the official event. Good, isn¡¯t it?¡± At that moment, Tehez moved her lips and forcefully said, ¡°There was a difference of opinion between the Marquis and me.¡± Tehez pretended to be quite dignified and lowered her head. Her fingertips were trembling. The last secret she wanted to hide until the end of the world was revealed. How ridiculous would Dennis think of her? That she was a child, who was not respected even by her father. For a moment, Denis bit his lip and spat out a swear word in a low voice. It was a harsh swear word that he would have never uttered. His face turned red in an instant, full of anger. He gently stroked her swollen cheek. Compared to his very rough breath, it was a fragile touch. ¡°What is it that made this happen?¡± To his words, which sounded like talking to himself, Tehez answered, ¡°With his hands,¡± in a small voice. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Where else? Are you okay?¡± Tehez lifted her head and looked at Denis¡¯ eyes. His eyes, as vivid as summer, were full of worries about her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not hit anywhere else,¡± Tehez reassured him as he looked at Denis, then added. ¡°It wasn¡¯t okay¡­ but it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stand on your right, and never stay away from me.¡± ¡°Okay, Prince.¡± Tehez put her arms around his and walked out with him. *** At the same time¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± Elliot rubbed his face on the woman¡¯s shoulder and shook his head. ¡°Would you like to go with me today?¡± He knew she couldn¡¯t, but Elliot just wanted to ask her for nothing. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Sherazad looked at Elliot¡¯s face, smiled, and put the coat he had taken off. ¡°I knew it. You never say anything you don¡¯t mean. That¡¯s why I like you.¡± Elliot clapped, praising Sherazad, as if he had forgotten that he had been rejected. Sherazad naturally smacked his hand and straightened his hair. Elliot¡¯s well-groomed hair was dishevelled before he knew it. ¡°When you come back from today¡¯s event, I will pray for you.¡± ¡°Will you do that?¡± Elliot was taken aback by Sherazad¡¯s words, tangling up again. ¡°Of course, of course. You should be getting ready. Hurry up and come back.¡± ¡°All right, as long as you wait.¡± Elliot fastened his tie around his neck, kissed Sherazad on the cheek, and disappeared quickly. After Elliot left, a look of tiredness was visible Sherazad¡¯s smiling face. She cleaned the bed that had left his traces and washed her body. There was blood all over her neck and chest. Sherazad clicked her tongue. She remembered the first day she met Elliot. She was lying on a hunting ground located east of the royal palace. She knew in advance that Elliot was coming out to the hunting grounds that day. After a while, the hounds came near her, barking, and spun around her. She shook her body and acted like she was terrified. Fweet The whistle blew, and the servant looked at her and raised the flag. Many people came in. She lowered her head and wrapped her body around her as if embarrassed. She didn¡¯t even have proper clothes. ¡°Chief! There¡¯s someone here!¡± When the servant shouted, a man came running. After that, Elliot approached her at a leisurely pace. ¡°What kind of person is in this place¡­?¡± The chief looked at her with a puzzled look on his face. After that, she saw a man approaching in luxurious clothes. The King. The knights asked her. ¡°Who are you? Why are you in a hunting ground that is inaccessible to anyone other than the royal family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­ I don¡¯t remember. Please save me.¡± Sherazad removed her hand that was covering her body and fell at the feet of the knights. ¡°Please!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The King came and asked the chief. ¡°It is a woman who has lost her memory. I¡¯ll kick her out.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the story?¡± Sherazad bowed down before Elliot. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. Please don¡¯t kick me out.¡± Elliot bent over and looked at her face. It was an unusual dress that was not common in Valloise. Besides, she had a pretty decent body. ¡°You¡¯re not a citizen of Valloise, are you? It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen that dress.¡± Elliot spoke to her. ¡°I do not know. When I opened my eyes, I was here.¡± Elliot glanced at her exposed legs. Her dark skin had no scars on her legs, but her ankles were swollen. Elliot licked his lips and said to the chief. ¡°Take her to the palace and look after her wounds.¡± ¡°What?¡± The chief asked back. Do you mean taking a woman who doesn¡¯t know who she is to the royal palace? ¡°She may be an assassin.¡± ¡°This one slender woman? I¡¯m speechless. How much have I underestimated your knowledge?¡± Elliot turned around as if he didn¡¯t want to answer the question. The chief beckoned the knights to put the woman on a stretcher. The chief did not bring his swear words out of his mouth, but his expression was not good. That¡¯s how Sherazad entered the royal palace. You could say she was pretty lucky. It was a simple plan to pretend she had lost her memory and fell on the royal hunting grounds, but she didn¡¯t think it would be easy to succeed. Because she had heard the King was very suspicious. But fortunately, the King took her to the palace. She would have used another method if she had failed, but she had easily entered the palace with a poor plan. After taking a bath, Sherazad changed into a white garment that could not be found in Valloise. She stood in front of the wooden statue, bowed and prayed. ¡®God of the Earth. Mother. The mother¡¯s daughter prays in a faraway country. Pity the ignorant in this land. The poor daughter tries to exalt her mother¡¯s name. Give me strength and wisdom.¡¯ Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The wooden statue was looking down at Sherazad lovingly. She put her hands together more reverently, finished her prayers, and bowed. (To be continued in the next episode *** Chapter 35 *** ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a new beginning. Advances in science and technology will make our lives more prosperous in the future.¡± Standing on the podium and giving the opening speech, Elliot¡¯s face looked much better than before. Recently, Eliot has been living in the Palace, leaving his affairs behind. After Elliot¡¯s speech, colourful firecrackers exploded behind him, signalling the opening of the World¡¯s Fair. ¡°Shall we go?¡± It was crowded with people who came to watch the opening ceremony. Escorted by the royal knights, they opened the way for Tehez and him. ¡°Prince!¡± ¡°Look here!¡± People shouted with arms outstretched at Dennis. Dennis naturally raised his hand and waved it. More people shouted. ¡°Son of a saint!¡± ¡°Throne to the Son of the Great Saint!¡± Dennis smiled gracefully. Some even called Tehez¡¯s name. ¡°The Crown Princess! Look here!¡± Tehez greeted them by waving her hand toward those who called her. Then the people who chanted Dennis¡¯ name saw her and murmured. They seemed to be followers of Dennis. ¡°Look at that fancy hat.¡± ¡°Jewels hanging around! How extravagant!¡± When they saw Tehez¡¯s hat, which was adorned to cover the bruises on her cheek, they cursed her. From the beginning of her marriage, there were quite a few people who hated Tehez. It was because Dennis had an unwanted marriage with Tehez, and it was widely known. Besides, she hasn¡¯t been able to have children until now. Some people treated her like a royal nuisance. Those who used to chant Dennis¡¯ name, called Tehez. ¡°The Princess who can¡¯t have children, step away!¡± The moment she heard those words, Tehez¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. But she soon smiled as if she had not heard anything. When Dennis and Tehez entered the pavilion, the crowd was controlled. People¡¯s shouts were cut off for a moment, and she felt disconnected from the outside world. As she entered her pavilion, Dennis looked down at her without a word. Tehez took the lead. ¡°¡­You know it¡¯s alright, right?¡± Dennis took her hand in silence and slipped it into his arm. She felt the warmth of a big hand. Tehez walked along with him, speaking in a low voice like a passing horse. ¡°We¡¯ve got the Second Prince.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Dennis responded as if nothing had happened and then led her. ¡°Come this way.¡± As they entered the centre of the exhibition hall, the first thing they saw was a giant celestial sphere. Stars and planets were moving in a large, transparent sphere that seemed to touch the ceiling of the exhibition hall. Tehez looked at the celestial sphere with round eyes. ¡°Awesome.¡± ¡°Yeah, you have eyes to see. This sphere was created by Paul Algeron and will teach visitors about astronomy during the fair.¡± After looking around the central exhibition hall, Dennis and Tehez moved to the international pavilion. It was a space where neighbouring countries showcased their styles, and there was also an exhibition hall for countries with little exchange. Tehez stopped in front of a piece of art. ¡°¡­¡± Tehez stared blankly at the picture hanging in front of her. It was a picture so large that even with both arms outstretched, it could not be held. The painting depicted a vine with a bunch of grapes on it. As she looked at the painting, one of the guides came up to her and spoke to her. ¡°Do you like this piece?¡± ¡°Yes. I think it would be cool to hang it in the Palace.¡± Tehez answered, but she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the painting. ¡°It would be perfect for hanging in the Princess¡¯ Palace. This work symbolizes fertility.¡± She looked at the guide with puzzled eyes. The guide started explaining to her excitedly. ¡°If I can tell you with this painting, it is a work called that Herzan submitted. Herzan had not had any exchanges with Valloise in the past, but through this World¡¯s Fair, we decided to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± He continued to talk nonstop as he was excited to explain the work to the Princess. ¡°And as for why I said it suits the Princess¡¯ Palace is because the grapes gathered together represent fertility. And the word for vine has the same sound as the Herzan language for descendants, so it means that offspring will continue to thrive.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Tehez got a little tired from the nonstop talker. But she did not express it, and she nodded at the guide¡¯s explanation. ¡°Thanks for the explanation.¡± ¡°If you can recognize these works at a glance, you have an excellent eye, Princess!¡± The guide lifted Tehez¡¯s mood. Tehez withdrew from the painting and went to another pavilion. Dennis continued to stand silently to her right. ¡°Are you bored, Prince?¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I think I¡¯ve seen everything.¡± ¡°Shall we go back?¡± ¡°Before that, there is a place for you to stop by.¡± Tehez took his hand and came out. A crying child appeared before Dennis as if he had been waiting at the entrance. Tehez naturally took hold of the child, made eye contact with her, and comforted her. She took the child¡¯s hand and said to Dennis. ¡°The child seems to be lost, so you need to find his parents. Why don¡¯t you go to the fair support centre with the child?¡± He knew that she knew he didn¡¯t usually like children. ¡°You¡¯ve made up something again.¡± Tehez didn¡¯t answer. Dennis, who understood the silence as an answer, took the child¡¯s hand and spoke softly. ¡°What¡¯s the little gentleman¡¯s name?¡± The child answered. ¡°This is Joel, Prince.¡± The child answered with a whimper and a steady answer. ¡°Joel. That¡¯s a cool name. Follow me, I will find your mother.¡± Tehez, as Dennis disappeared over there with the child, she winked at Danielle. At her glance, Danielle whispered something to the reporters. Then the reporters followed him. It was something she had planned in advance for Dennis¡¯ image. Fabrice¡¯s s*x scandal operation ended in failure. Whether it was true or not, it doesn¡¯t matter now. Keeping it as it is would be the best way. But Tehez was upset. Clearly, there would be another chance to destroy Fabrice in the future. If there were an article about Dennis helping a lost child at the World¡¯s Fair, which had the nation¡¯s attention, it would undoubtedly help Dennis¡¯ approval rating, even in a small way. To do that, she bought a child to play in advance. She also gave press guidelines to reporters to write articles in a positive atmosphere. ¡°Shall we wait for the Prince for a moment?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± Tehez led the attendants into another pavilion adjacent to it. Since it was the opening day, people were busy. ¡°There are a lot of people.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the First Princess!¡± When the people spotted her, they pointed their fingers at her and yelled at her. ¡°A fool who can¡¯t even have children!¡± Perhaps the person who cursed her earlier, spoke in a more excited tone than before. ¡°Get away from the Prince!¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was the second time today. Tehez felt tired for a moment. At the beginning of her marriage, there were even rumours that she was a woman with an evil spirit. Because of that, there were times when she did not attend official events for a while. Tehez stared blankly at the people who spread the slander. It would be ridiculous for her to respond one by one to people¡¯s light puns. She turned her head. Tehez stopped the knights from running out to find the culprit. ¡°Leave it. They will say what they want to say with their mouths. How can you stop them?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t sit idly by. Punish severely before they say anything worse.¡± Yarol, who had been quietly behind, spoke softly. At that moment, someone threw a whipped cream pie at her. ¡°¡­¡± Immediately Yarol, with his sword drawn, leapt out in front of her, and the knights surrounded her, and put her on alert. Perhaps because of the sudden tension in the atmosphere, people also buzzed and looked at Tehez. Meanwhile, Tehez made eye contact with a man who had turned white, and he seemed to be the culprit. He excitedly tossed the pie, but it seemed he didn¡¯t know she¡¯d get hit. ¡°We¡¯ll find the culprit right away!¡± Tehez said, restraining the knights. ¡°Looks like his hand slipped. Let¡¯s go back to the Palace.¡± Then she wiped off the whipped cream with her handkerchief. However, the cream marks were still clearly visible. ¡°Princess.¡± Danielle had deterred her from going back, and it meant setting an example. But Tehez put her hand on Danielle¡¯s shoulder and shook her head. It was an outright rejection. ¡°Do we have to use force on a good day like this? I have a headache. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Tehez patted her head for nothing, repeatedly asking Yarol to go back. When she returned to the Palace, Tehez called in Ellie before she could even change her dress. Ellie noticed why she had called her in and immediately announced Fabrice¡¯s location. ¡°I have verified the source of the letter. It is a mansion on the outskirts of the capital. A congressman caught the Second Prince after confirming that he was entering the mansion where he was imprisoned later. I was going to take you to the Palace right away, but I was forced to take you to a safe place.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s dead.¡± At first glance, Tehez¡¯s words sounded like she wanted Fabrice dead. Ellie then said cautiously. ¡°And it is Lady Giselle Lemac who was the owner of the mansion and the one who detained the Second Prince.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Tehez asked, wondering if she had heard it wrong. ¡°We have confirmed that it is the mansion owned by Giselle Lemac, the fiancee of Fabrice.¡± ¡°Huh!¡± Teherz lost words to say and only uttered exclamations. She was an unexpected person. ¡°And the Second Prince is in bad shape¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean he is in a bad condition?¡± Tehez ended her sentence in doubt. Ellie said hesitantly. ¡°Second Prince was out of his mind, so I couldn¡¯t figure out the exact circumstances. But given the shape of the wound on his body¡­ I think he has been whipped.¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Wounds the Prince¡¯s body? That¡¯s too with a whip? Tehez had a throbbing headache. ¡°Did she notice what we took him?¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have noticed right away. But by now, she would have discovered why the Prince was there¡­¡± Just as they found Giselle¡¯s mansion here, Giselle will find the ones who took Fabrice to that place. ¡°I can¡¯t do this. Treatment comes first for now. When the Second Prince wakes up, check the whole story.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°And if you notice anything, let me know. Then I¡¯ll have to do something.¡± ¡°Okay, Princess.¡± Ellie bowed as if she understood and went out of the room. Tehez retreated, thinking about the new woman, Giselle. She suddenly looked down at her chest. She hadn¡¯t changed her dress yet, so the cream mark on her chest was clear. ¡°¡­¡± She lay face down on the desk in a sudden surge of fatigue. Tehez had looked sideways at the culprit trying to throw something. But at that moment, she decided to get hit without avoiding something. Sometimes a picture was more touching than a hundred words. Today¡¯s work will definitely be published in the newspaper. That way, even those who were neutral or indifferent to her would feel sorry for her. If that happens, her husband Dennis will also be the subject of those sentiments. It is said that a gangster had stabbed the first king during a state speech. Immediately after the war of conquest, the territory increased, but the lives of the people did not improve at all. Rather, many were drafted into the war, losing their loved ones, and starving to death due to the procurement of war supplies. When the people tried to get up with the idea that they would all die at this rate, such an incident happened. At that time, the first king finished his speech even after being stabbed with a sword wielded by the assailant, and as a result, his approval ratings soared. As a result, the first king recovered and remained a respected king. So, this case will also increase Dennis¡¯ approval rating as a result. However, the culprit wouldn¡¯t have predicted and tossed the whipped cream pie at her. Sympathy and compassion. Because people sometimes make important decisions based on irrational moments of emotion, not rational judgments. If you think about it rationally, yes. That was the perfect explanation. ¡°¡­¡± There was a time when she couldn¡¯t overcome the feelings of irrational moments when she knew she was a human being. ¡®Did I do something so wrong that I had to hear a blatant swear word?¡¯ If marrying him is wrong in itself, she will be a sinner forever. There¡¯s no reason not to cry. If only every problem got solved by crying. She knew from experience that it was quicker to fix her mind at that time. She was an adult and a Princess who had to take responsibility. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only She calmly went to the powder room to change her dress. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 36 *** *** Tehez changed her dress and sat down at her office desk when Danielle came with chocolate and coffee. Tehez bowed her head down to the papers. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Princess, may I ask you a pretentious question?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± She turned to Danielle. ¡°Why did you say to leave him alone?¡± As if she was still angry with her, said Danielle, looking straight at Tehez. ¡°Thank you for your concern. But even if I had gotten angry there and caught the culprit, there was nothing that would have helped the Prince, and it would have been just a waste of time. If that can raise the Prince¡¯s approval rating even a little, I can¡¯t ask for anything more.¡± ¡°Do you even have to do that?¡± Danielle replied that something was hurting her self-esteem. ¡°Am I doing worse than that right now? As long as the Prince can sit on the throne, I don¡¯t mind hanging from the wall.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine you are thinking about that! Don¡¯t even put those words in your mouth. I understand how serious Princess is. However-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. I must enjoy the coffee. You may leave.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Danielle put down the tray without saying a word and left. *** After returning the child safely to his parents, Dennis found out that Tehez had already left. ¡°¡­¡± Nothing special happened except that he ran into a number of reporters and was photographed on his way out of the support department. The woman¡¯s assistant and escort knight, who were waiting at the entrance, spoke to him. ¡°Prince, due to the attacks of the people, Princess had returned to the palace. She asked us to let the Prince know she was sorry.¡± ¡°What attack?¡± ¡°Someone threw the pie at the Princess¡­¡± Danielle bowed her head. ¡°Thanks for letting me know.¡± Dennis looked back. People were smiling happily while looking around the exhibition hall. For a moment, the faces of the people appeared distorted. Dennis asked Danielle in a friendly tone. ¡°Do you think we will get a divorce?¡± Danielle hesitated and replied, ¡°No.¡± Dennis had a smile on his lips. ¡°Otherwise, I look like an unscrupulous person to abandon my wife for not having a child.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Denied vehemently denied it. ¡°Absolutely not, Prince.¡± She emphasized on the disapproval again. Dennis looked around. People were still staring at him. they were interested in him. People who praise you in front of you will curse you when you turn around, so you never know when things will change. Dennis was disillusioned with such people. He suppressed the feeling of wanting to scream. There were many eyes watching him. Instead, he stopped and brushed his face and hair. ¡°Sylvan.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± Dennis called Sylvan and said. ¡°Can you call the policeman?¡± Sylvan heard his instructions and ran away. He had a place to go. Dennis paused in front of a familiar door. His wife must be beyond that door. Dennis, who was worried about her, was ridiculously hesitant at the door. The reason for visiting Tehez was not clear. During that time, he didn¡¯t care what she did. Because he thought everything was hers. Pain and sorrow. But when he decided to take responsibility and then tried to comfort her, was it out of compassion? Or was it because of responsibility¡­? There would be no problem if he didn¡¯t open this door and go back. Still, why did he keep hesitating? ¡°¡­¡± Dennis put his hand on the doorknob and lowered it repeatedly. Then Tehez shouted as if she noticed someone was standing outside the door. ¡°Danielle? Come in.¡± Dennis, who had only been fiddling with the doorknob, entered the room. Of course, she must have thought it was her assistant. Seeing him, Tehez put on a slightly surprised expression. ¡°Why at this hour¡­?¡± Tehez thought Dennis had come to ask why she had suddenly disappeared, she hastily excused. ¡°Ah. There was an accident, so I came in first, Prince.¡± The woman was working as usual. He answered politely. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°No, you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Dennis came over, leaned his body against her desk where she was sitting, and loosened the tie around his neck. Then he faced her. The woman sitting on the chair looked smaller today. Tehez turned the chair and looked at him. ¡°¡­I do not know.¡± ¡°Did you sleep well yesterday?¡± Tehez couldn¡¯t understand the context of his words. It was late in the afternoon when he asked if she had slept well. ¡°As usual.¡± ¡°How do you feel?¡± Having said that, Dennis picked up a piece of chocolate that was on the desk and put it in his mouth. The bittersweet taste of chocolate spreads in his mouth. ¡°¡­All right, why are you asking?¡± ¡°If you say no, then¡­ I wanted to help.¡± Dennis wiped the chocolate off the tip of his fingertips on the handkerchief and stroked the woman¡¯s side hair. That was the only way he knew how to comfort her. The way the woman comforted him¡­ For a moment, Tehez¡¯s face turned red. ¡°What? Need help?¡± ¡°Here¡­¡± Dennis gently embraced Tehez, who was sitting on the chair, and placed her on the desk. Papers were crumpled under the woman¡¯s bottom. One of the loose shoes came off and rolled up. Little feet dangled in the air. ¡°Wait, the papers¡­¡± Tehez hurriedly cleared the paperwork underneath her in bewilderment. Looking at the folded papers, she sighed sadly at it. Dennis saw her figure and said in a playful voice. ¡°Is your job that important? More than me here?¡± Tehez looked at him in bewilderment. ¡°What do you mean, Prince?¡± Irrespective of Tehez¡¯s reply, he continued. ¡°If I were a prince, you would surely be a Princess. Beautiful lady.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Dennis lifted a handful of Tehez¡¯s golden hair and kissed it. Just like the men who bet their tricks on women on the street. ¡°Tonight¡­ do you want to hang out with me? I know a good place.¡± Tehez laughed silently at his prank. Dennis placed his head near Tehez¡¯s chest and hugged her lightly. Tehez unconsciously stroked Dennis¡¯ fine hair. His soft hair ran down between her fingers. Her voice, which had subsided, was slightly exhilarated. ¡°I can¡¯t because I¡¯m already married.¡± Dennis said in an exaggerated tone. ¡°Oh, no. I can¡¯t let a beautiful woman like you go.¡± Dennis lightly kissed the back of Tehez¡¯s hand. As his soft lips touched the back of her hand, Tehez felt her heart tickle. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do as you please? You¡¯re attracted to me, too. Is it not?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Dennis said, still kissing her on the back of her hand. Dennis¡¯ demeanour, acting like a playboy, made Tehez¡¯s face hot. When there was no answer, Dennis brought his lips to the pulse near Tehez¡¯s ear and left a small kiss. ¡°¡­!!¡± He was holding her neck with a face genuinely absorbed in the role. In the end, Dennis couldn¡¯t resist licking Teherz¡¯s neck and leaving a red mark near her collarbone. Tehez¡¯s shoulders shrugged. ¡°Please, if we do this here¡­¡± He stroked the marks on Tehez¡¯s neck with his thumb. Red marks on white skin. He was utterly satisfied. ¡°Who made that decision? I¡¯m hearing this for the first time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He thought as he stroked Tehez¡¯s face, which was bruised blue. A blue bruise didn¡¯t suit this woman. Red is what suits this woman better. Tehez didn¡¯t answer. But her eyes were moist. Dennis wiped the corners of her eyes as if there were tears in them. His fingertips were hot. ¡°Look forward to it. I¡¯ll satisfy you more than your husband.¡± He looked at her and smiled seductively at her. He fiddled with the hem of her dress and licked her skin with his tongue. ¡°Did you take a shower?¡± ¡°No, I did not.¡± ¡°But why does it taste sweet?¡± It was like talking to himself. ¡°The chocolate¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± His long fingers picked up the chocolate. Her tightly closed lips parted, and her straight teeth took a bite of the chocolate. Then, the thick liquid chocolate hidden inside the hard chocolate came out. His pink tongue cleaned the drippings from the corners of her mouth. Hot eyes like noon in midsummer. ¡°¡­¡± Tehez looked at him, forgetting how to breathe. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± He smiled with his eyes and licked the chocolate off her hand with his tongue. ¡°I wonder if it tastes sweet here, too.¡± Dennis¡¯ eyes were looking down the hem of the woman¡¯s dress. Tehez unconsciously tried to stick her knees together. But his two hands were holding her knees tightly. ¡°Shall we find out now?¡± *** [It will rain. I wonder if your body is healthy in the cold weather. I¡¯m doing fine. Everyone in the house likes me. I am very happy about that. Everyone wants to meet my mother. I look forward to the day when I introduce you to them.] After reading the cryptic letter from Fantine, Tehez smiled. It seemed that she had safely entered the Duke of Briem and completed her mission. To other people, it must have looked like a regular greeting letter. Fabrice¡¯s engagement ceremony was only two days away. Fabrice, who had just woken up yesterday, seemed somewhat unstable. ¡°Where am I? D*mn it, aren¡¯t you all in one?¡± She had no choice but to lock him up in the room because he was making a fuss. It must have been a huge psychological shock. When he finally calmed down and listened, he confessed that Giselle had whipped him. Upon hearing the news, Tehez told him to return to the palace tomorrow after treatment. Giselle might have contacted her at this point, but she kept quiet. Tehez had strengthened the surrounding perimeter. ¡°Princess, this is Danielle.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Danielle came in and said to her. ¡°An article about the Prince of the World¡¯s Fair has been published. One is the article Princess was talking about, and the other is, I think you should see it for yourself.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Tehez saw the article Danielle had delivered. It was a good story that Dennis found the parents of a lost child at the World Fair. And the other was an article she hadn¡¯t thought about. It was that they had caught the culprit who threw a whipped cream pie at her. ¡°Why is this¡­?¡± Tehez finished reading the article. [¡­The perpetrator will be punished for harassing the royal family. However, considering that he is a first-time offender and has an accompanying family, it is predicted that he will be sentenced to a fine.] ¡°A punishment?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems that the lower court has ordered the culprit to be caught and punished.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez patted her forehead. Ellie hurriedly opened the door to Tehez¡¯s office. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You¡¯d better come out for a second.¡± Tehez got up from her seat and followed Ellie¡¯s lead. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± Workers were placing down something large piled on cloth. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a picture. The Prince has sent it.¡± The attendant greeted her with courtesy and answered. ¡°Did the Prince send me the painting?¡± Tehez did not readily understand the words, so she repeated them all the time, like trying to understand something. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right, Princess. The Prince said, ¡®I am sending you because you seem to like it.¡¯¡± ¡°Thank you. Let me open it.¡± When Tehez ordered, the workers opened the cloth wrapped around the painting. It was the painting she saw at the exhibition a few days ago. A painting of grapes, a symbol of fertility¡­ Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Tehez looked at the painting, speechless. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 37 *** *** As if waiting for her reply, the attendant looked at her blankly. ¡°This, what the hell, why this¡­?¡± ¡°What would you like to say to the Prince?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell the Prince myself. You can leave now.¡± ¡®Why the hell did you send me this picture?¡¯ Tehez visited Dennis¡¯ office for the first time that day. ¡°The Princess has come.¡± Dennis was in his office, in the midst of reviewing paperwork. Hearing the servant¡¯s words, he raised his head curiously. ¡°Are you talking about Princess?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°She¡¯s asking to come in.¡± Dennis took off his glasses and placed them on the desk. Tehez¡¯s expression as she entered the office was somewhat unusual. Seeing Tehez¡¯s expression, Sylvan quickly ran out of the room, feeling something was about to happen. There was only silence in the room after Sylvan had left. ¡°Madam, what brings you here?¡± ¡°What do you think it will be, Prince?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Dennis touched his forehead with his hand without saying a word. ¡°Well, did you want to see me?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Tehez sniffed. ¡°When I say painting, you know it well.¡± ¡°Ah. Looks like the painting arrived today.¡± Dennis smiled brightly and looked at Tehez. ¡°I don¡¯t need a gift. Take it back.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want anything that symbolizes fertility.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And, did you think I would like it?¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d like it because you looked closely at it¡­ I must have offended you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± An apology fell from his mouth. The noble Prince¡­ ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s sad. Receiving back the first gift I gave to my wife.¡± Dennis covered his eyes with his hand, as if saddened. Tehez said in a firm voice. ¡°Don¡¯t give any meaning to it. Technically speaking, it¡¯s not the first time. Don¡¯t you send me jewellery on my birthday every year?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you thought it was a real gift. Didn¡¯t your assistant receive what my assistant ordered?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never even looked at it properly, your gift.¡± Dennis was right. It was the first gift he gave Tehez in their marriage, and he also prepared it himself. ¡°Tehez, why didn¡¯t you tell me then, hmm?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Tehez asked. ¡°You should have said at least one word that you didn¡¯t want to see a picture like that while the guide was chatting.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do I have a knack for knowing that you don¡¯t speak your feelings loud?¡± His words sounded like he was blaming Tehez. ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, Tehez did not answer. How can a Princess say such a thing? ¡°I am the Princess, so why do you say that?¡± The Royal life covered her mouth and ears, even though it was something she chose. Her words and actions were always limited. When she did something out of the ordinary, she often became a prey for people. ¡°¡­¡± Once she opened her mouth, it would be unstoppable. She felt that all the emotions she had accumulated up until now would burst out at once. So, she kept her mouth shut even more. Dennis walked out of the desk and stood in front of her. He bent his back and met her eyes. ¡°Look. You still don¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°¡­ Aren¡¯t there many things the Prince doesn¡¯t even talk about?¡± Tehez managed to refute his words. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Dennis straightened his bent back and admitted. Then he lifted a strand of her hair¡­ ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you as much as I can, and you tell me, too, hmm?¡± He looked down and smiled brightly like a boy. She obviously came to be angry, but for some reason, she couldn¡¯t get angry just looking at that face. Even though she wanted to ask why he gave her a gift, what his intentions were, if he gave her the painting hoping for a child, how much he paid for it, etc. ¡°You will, right?¡± Just by looking at his eyes, it felt like all the languages ??in the world had disappeared. ¡°Yes, I will.¡± She just had to say yes. ¡°Good.¡± He smiled, stroking her hair. ¡°¡­ I¡¯d also like to thank you, Prince.¡± In the end, that¡¯s how she ended up shutting her mouth. She could give him the perfume as a gift in return, which she thought she would have to keep in that drawer forever. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Gift¡­¡± ¡°You prepared a gift for me?¡± He replied, seemingly surprised. ¡°Yes. I would like to give it to you tonight, in my room¡­ Would you like to come?¡± It was as natural as breathing for him to come to her room, but when she tried to invite him, she was strangely shy and embarrassed. ¡°Oh, my God.¡± Dennis smiled as if he had noticed her. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. Tonight.¡± ¡°All right. I will leave now.¡± The moment Tehez was about to turn around, he said. ¡°Ah, wait.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I mean, you¡¯re just leaving¡­ Oh, I think I should take a picture to celebrate. ¡®Today, my wife came to my palace.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a camera now, so I¡¯ll give you a present.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Dennis took a step closer as Tehez opened her mouth to refute. Dennis and Tehez were not even an inch apart. Tehez closed her eyes involuntarily. Dennis snorted, apparently figuring out what she was expecting. ¡°A child who has done a good job should receive a gift.¡± Dennis took Tehez¡¯s hand, opened it, and placed something on her palm. They were candies. Three little candies. ¡°You should only eat one a day. Else your teeth will hurt. You can go now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re not going.¡± Tehez felt like she had been beaten by him. *** Tehez glared at the door without drinking the wine, just taking out the bottle. Soon it was time for him to come. Every time she flashed back to what had happened to her during the day, her heart pounded. Tehez closed her eyes at that moment, and felt ashamed of herself and wanted to hide. Besides, what was the point of treating her as a child again? ¡®I¡¯m a fool.¡¯ Tehez laughed inwardly at her situation. ¡®Why do I always fall in love with him helplessly?¡¯ She heard the man¡¯s footsteps. Tehez got up and went to the door. Dennis opened the door, and he was standing in front of her. He smiled with pleasure. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Did you come to greet me? Thank you.¡± As he walked inside, he sat down on the sofa he always sat on. The weather was getting colder, but she still had the window open. He looked at the curtains waving at him and said. ¡°It¡¯s cold now, Tehez. It¡¯s better to sleep with the window closed.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Tehez admitted without saying a word. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You are answering me nicely today. Good.¡± ¡°Stop being nice, Prince.¡± It was the second time after the day. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not even a baby.¡± ¡°Ah, wasn¡¯t my wife a baby?¡± Dennis replied as if he were hearing it for the first time. He was still trying to make fun of her. Tehez didn¡¯t answer. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her several times and thought she was a baby. Was it in Skane? She was like a baby there. Really¡­.¡± His words reminded her of events in Skane. Falling into a river while fishing and catching a cold¡­ Tehez, with her face flushed red, refuted his words. ¡°No, Prince. By all means, I¡­¡± ¡°Then you can show me that you¡¯re not a baby, okay?¡± ¡°Uh, how¡­?¡± Dennis gave her a chin, pointing to her chest. ¡°I think you would know that.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you let me see you.¡± Tehez smiled aloud at Dennis¡¯ words and asked. ¡°Will you be satisfied with that?¡± ¡°No way.¡± After those words, Dennis got up and approached Tehez like a signal. Tehez lay on the bed and looked at him [email protected] He was looking at her affectionately. Her figure was reflected in his darkened eyes. ¡°Tehez, but what about the gift?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you now.¡± She got up from the bed and put on the robe hanging haphazardly from the head of the bed. She brought him a present. Tehez handed it to him as if nothing had happened. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, throw it away.¡± ¡°You want me to throw away the first gift my wife gave me? I¡¯m not that harsh, and my wife should know.¡± He got up, leaned against the head of the bed, and began to unpack the small box. Tehez stood in front of him, eagerly watching his reaction. His muscular arms moved and carefully unwrapped the ribbon of the little box. He picked up a bottle of perfume. She could see a glittering liquid. ¡°Thank you, Madam. Can I spray it now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He sprayed the perfume, and the erotic scent spread throughout the bedroom. ¡°Did you think of me after smelling this scent?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I thought it would fit.¡± ¡®To you at night¡­¡¯ Tehez didn¡¯t have to add the words. ¡°Come here, Tehez.¡± He called her after he sprayed the perfume. His hoarse voice was terrific. ¡°Do it one more time to commemorate wearing perfume.¡± Tehez caressed his chest. The corners of his mouth were up, and the expression was, obviously, an excited one. Even if it¡¯s not love. Tehez was pleased that she was the one who made him excited. A mere fact of their lives. ¡°Come on top of me.¡± Tehez climbed up, taking off her robe again. *** Fabrice¡¯s engagement day. It was doubtful whether Fabrice, who was sent back to the palace yesterday, would appear in proper form. It was already his second engagement ceremony, but she couldn¡¯t understand the King¡¯s intention to hold the engagement ceremony by opening the Hall of the Moon. ¡°You seem to care about him at all.¡± Tehez sighed and spoke to herself. She couldn¡¯t sleep a wink because she was held by Dennis until dawn. But still, she had to get up and get ready. She wanted to go her bed and sleep as soon as possible. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The Hall of the Moon.¡± Danielle, who was waiting next to Tehez, frowned. She didn¡¯t seem to understand it either. ¡°It¡¯s used, so I think it¡¯s necessary to decorate it like new and send it out.¡± It was a harsh criticism. Tehez laughed out loud at Danielle¡¯s words. ¡°That would be true. The louder the packaging, the worse the contents.¡± Meanwhile. Fabrice rolled his head as he changed into a morning coat. There were many things he didn¡¯t like. He had dry skin because he hadn¡¯t slept well for days, barely covered by clothes, covered in wounds, and the fact he had to be engaged with the woman who attacked him. ¡®Should I tell the truth to father?¡¯ ¡®That my prospective fiancee wh!pped me?¡¯ Fabrice shook his head. Even in his head, it seemed like it wasn¡¯t supposed to be done. The last time, it was Xavier, and if he says he did it again this time¡­ When he arrived at the palace yesterday, Elliot¡¯s attendant was waiting for him with a suppressed expression on his face. ¡°I felt restless before my engagement, so I went for some fresh air.¡± ¡°Is everything in the newspaper true?¡± Fabrice was trying to make an excuse. However, even before he could speak, the attendant, who had looked after the King, eventually distorted his expression and cut off his words. ¡°Your Majesty was very angry. Please be considerate, Your Highness.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The attendant did not even listen to Fabrice¡¯s answer and walked away. Would it be an illusion if the servant who went away without listening to him felt like a father who turned his back on his son forever? Embraced with anger and anxiety, Fabrice finally took out all the alcohol from the cupboard and drank it, even though the next day was the engagement ceremony. Fabrice, with his fuzzy head, counted those who owed him. Baron Barbier, who blew the back of his head and hid his tracks, the b****rds who made a fuss about scandal in the newspaper, and Giselle Lemac wh!pped him, who had never been hit before. He looked into where the origins of all this started. It was from then. The day it became known that he was going out with Xavier. Fabrice firmly believed that the Marquis of Ingeliger was behind the incident. Fabrice remembered the time when he met the Marquis in the hall of the royal palace. ¡®It¡¯s been a while, Your Highness.¡¯ The Marquis smiled and greeted him. The Marquis and Fabrice were not in a good relationship to greet each other warmly. Still, the Marquis was very friendly with him. Fabrice was afraid to ignore him, but shook his head and accepted his greeting. ¡®Are you newly engaged? Congratulations, my Prince.¡¯ ¡®Thank you.¡¯ After Fabrice thanked him, he tried to pass the Marquis, and the Marquis spoke to him from behind. ¡®Live long this time, my lord. You have to live a long, hundred years to live.¡¯ After saying that, he smirked and disappeared. Fabrice heard it as a rumour that the Marquis was the one who broke his engagement with Dubeau. Unless¡­ Suddenly, unbearable anger came rushing in. His fingertips were trembling. His vision was not clear. Fabrice wrinkled his face. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡®I will kill you.¡¯ (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 38 *** *** ¡°Prince, it¡¯s time to go to the banquet hall.¡± Fabrice, who had been sitting blankly, was brought up by the attendant. All of the maids who made him wear clothes were all gone. ¡°Listen.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°After the ceremony, call the man I used to deal with Xavier to my palace. I¡¯ve got work to do.¡± If it was the one he used to deal with Xavier, he was referring to a professional assassin. When the scandal broke out, he dared to pull out Xavier from prison and kill him. The servant answered without complaining. ¡°All right.¡± Fabrice took out a bottle of alcohol that had been placed roughly, poured it into a glass, and drank it. As he got drunk, he could feel his stiff head spinning. He must be sober. Because it starts now. Fabrice tightened his tie. As Fabrice entered the Hall of the Moon, the people who had been chattering shut their mouths for a moment. Fabrice walked out, looking only in front of him, not paying attention to anyone. The engagement ended by signing each other¡¯s engagement letters and then sharing them. It was not officiated by a priest like a wedding. So the ceremony was not long. Even so, there were people who held it magnificently and long as if it were a wedding ceremony. Like, Fabrice¡¯s first engagement. But. At the second engagement, Fabrice pretended to be sassy with a crazy woman. He didn¡¯t want to share the engagement letter with her. He just wanted to run away quickly. ¡®Why don¡¯t you just sign the engagement letter?¡¯ As he was thinking about that, Giselle slowly walked in from behind. The guests clapped in admiration for her beauty. Fabrice looked behind. Giselle, wearing a diamond necklace and earrings in a dress embroidered with white lace, looked pretty decent even though he considered her crazy. Giselle smiled, and she naturally folded her arms around Fabrice¡¯s arm. Then she whispered into Fabrice¡¯s ear. At first glance, the look on the face of the whispering couple looked lovely, regardless of its contents. ¡°You ran away very well. Do not think about running away today.¡± Having said that, Giselle grabbed Fabric¡¯s arm tightly. Ugh. Fabrice forced a groan that was threatening to burst his throat. ¡°It¡¯s all over on your face. Let¡¯s proceed with the engagement.¡± Giselle raised her head proudly and gestured to the courtier standing behind her. Fabrice and Giselle were given an engagement letter. [¡­ I swear to be engaged.] Upon seeing the words on the engagement letter, Fabrice was not willing to sign it. Hah. ¡®To be engaged to this crazy woman. You¡¯re going to punish me if I run away?¡¯ Fabrice took the pen and looked at Giselle. One of Giselle¡¯s eyebrows was raised unnaturally. It was an unspoken pressure to sign quickly. ¡®Er, I don¡¯t know.¡¯ Fabrice scribbled his signature and threw the engagement letter to the courtiers. ¡°You have to do the first dance.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Fabrice wanted to throw away the dance and everything. Giselle naturally wrapped her hand around his neck and whispered sweetly in his ear. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be wh!pped again, do you? Get up quickly.¡± Fabrice forced himself to stand up, and took Giselle¡¯s hand. The guests clapped their hands, leaving their seats for them to dance. Giselle smiled sweetly and whispered to Fabrice. ¡°Abandon your vain hopes, Prince. Now the Prince is mine.¡± Giselle said so and patted Fabrice¡¯s waist. It was still a painful spot because the wound remained. ¡®This crazy girl.¡¯ Fabrice frowned. ¡°Smile, Prince.¡± Others would see them dancing, whispering affectionately into their ears. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°You have to call me a little more friendly while we are engaged. Call me by name.¡± Fabrice spoke up after a while. ¡°Me? Do you think I¡¯ll do it?¡± Fabrice snorted. ¡°You haven¡¯t come to your senses yet. Would you like to be punished tonight, too?¡± Sh!t. ¡°Princess, do you think I¡¯ll stay still like this? I am a stubborn person.¡± Giselle laughed out loud as if she had heard a funny joke. ¡°Yes, I suppose so.¡± Fabrice bit his lip at the thought that Giselle was making fun of him. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about being silly. I¡¯ll carry out the contract.¡± When she finished speaking, the song ended. Giselle greeted gracefully according to etiquette, but Fabrice ran out of the hall without even saying his goodbye properly. He didn¡¯t want to be with her anymore. *** Tehez watched Fabrice¡¯s engagement ceremony closely. ¡®Didn¡¯t she notice that we had taken Fabrice from that place?¡¯ Tehez unwittingly grabbed Dennis¡¯ arm. For a moment, Dennis looked down at her with a questioning look. ¡°Are you having a hard time standing up?¡± he whispered softly. Tehez shook her head. Even if it was difficult, she could go back only after the ceremony was over. ¡°Now that the first dance is over, I think we can go back.¡± ¡°Your Majesty is still there.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks At Tehez¡¯s refusal, Dennis responded with a playful tone. ¡°Your Majesty probably didn¡¯t stay up all night like you did.¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve been up all night because of someone, and I can¡¯t believe you said that.¡± To Dennis¡¯ words, Tehez responded in a fit of rage. Dennis then held her hand in his arms and let go. ¡°Tell me if you¡¯re having a hard time. My wife is always quiet, which is a problem.¡± ¡°¡­I will.¡± Tehez nodded slightly. *** Elliot, who watched Fabrice¡¯s behaviour, finally showed his dissatisfaction. ¡°He has lost his mind.¡± Elliot eventually returned to his bedroom and became angry. The servant skillfully soothed him. ¡°It is because he is still young. In a few years, he will be reliable.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this already his second engagement? Yet he acted so stupidly!¡± The servant quickly shook her head for fear of sparks. ¡°You don¡¯t even know how much I have wiped his back, and he¡¯s being reckless!¡± ¡°You know. Of course, you don¡¯t even know.¡± ¡°No one you know can act like that.¡± Elliot turned his back and took off his clothes roughly. The door slowly opened, and Sherazad entered. The server looked at her and was delighted to see her. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Sherazad put a hand to her lips, looking at the servant, and gestured her to be quiet. She sneaked behind Elliot and hugged him from the back. Elliot was furious. ¡°Who are you?¡± But when he saw her face, he softened his anger and lowered his voice. ¡°It was you. It is you.¡± Seeing the King¡¯s mood change, the servant quickly went outside. ¡°You must be in a bad mood.¡± Sherazad fiddled with the buttons on Elliot¡¯s shirt. Her face, with a smile on her lips, was charming. Elliot naturally took off his clothes under her care. He had a more relaxed face than before. ¡°It¡¯s not good. The second one¡¯s in trouble.¡± ¡°You mean the Second Prince who looks a lot like you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elliot sighed. ¡°Why does it matter? You just need to stay here in good health for a long, long time.¡± Sherazad only spoke what he wanted to hear. ¡°Yes, yes. That¡¯s what I have to say. How long can I stay like this¡­?¡± Elliot frowned as if he had a lot of worries. Then, Sherazad gently touched the frown between his brows with her index finger. ¡°All the nobles are raging to decide on a crown prince quickly. What should I do with this?¡± ¡°What are you so worried about? If it¡¯s noisy inside, you can turn people¡¯s eyes outside.¡± ¡°How?¡± Elliot looked at Sherazad. ¡°If you are the King of this country, what can¡¯t you do? And please bring up the article I mentioned earlier. It will put your mind at ease.¡± ¡°As expected, you have the answer. You¡¯re the only one.¡± Elliot rubbed his face against Sherazad¡¯s chest. ¡°Of course.¡± Blinded by love, Eliot firmly believed Sherazad¡¯s words without a single doubt. He came to believe that if he served Mother Earth, he would be immortal. Of course, that was an exaggeration. Sherazad was a priest with a big dream. Hundreds of years ago, there was a grand dream of spreading the love of Mother Earth in Valloise, with revenge for the loss of Haj territory. Moreover, Sherazad had personal reasons for having to overthrow Elliot. It was the revenge of Louise, Sherazad¡¯s mother. A few years ago, Elliot came out to hunt near the territory of the Haj tribe. It was because there were many animals in the Haj territory. Elliot mistook Louise, who was praying nearby, for an animal and shot an arrow. Louise, who was knocked unconscious by an arrow, came to her senses in three days. However, Elliot had already left for Valloise. Louise was angry and tried to protest against Valloise, but the tribal chief ripped it off. He said he could not protest against Baloise, a powerful country, for that matter. It was the sorrow of a small, weak country (Haj). To make matters worse, the leg that was hit by the arrow became infected and gradually rotted. Louise struggled with pain every night. ¡°Sherazad, please avenge this mother. Please¡­¡± In the end, Louise ended her miserable life by throwing herself off the cliff. Sherazad recalled her mother¡¯s wish. What did the man, who came to her, say when he saw her? ¡°Don¡¯t you want revenge?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Sherazad crossed the border without hesitation, holding the man¡¯s hand. The woman¡¯s job was to please the King. Sherazad, who miraculously pretended to be a poor woman who fell on the royal hunting grounds, was able to enter the main palace easily. Since then, it has been a bolt from the blue. ¡®How can such an idiot rule as a King?¡¯ Sherazad questioned that. Of course, that¡¯s why she was able to knock Elliot over without much trouble. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Sherazad smiled as she looked at Elliot, who had closed his eyes loosely under her. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 39 *** *** Midnight. Fabrice¡¯s mood was also rising. Soon it was time for Gaspar to come. Fabrice was holding a festival of his own by taking out all the alcohol he enjoyed drinking. At that moment. A gust of wind blew, and a shadow flickered across the window, then disappeared into the darkness. As if it were an illusion. It was so fleeting that he thought he had seen nothing for a moment. Fabrice tapped his fingers and hummed. A man in a black mask bowed down in front of him. ¡°Long time no see, Prince.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say hello. I have something to do for you.¡± Greetings were not important to Fabrice. ¡°Kill Marquis Ingeliger.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°I will send the reward to your assassination squad. Send me his eyes.¡± ¡°I will do as you command.¡± Gaspar, who answered without a moment¡¯s pause, disappeared into the darkness again. Fabrice chuckled and laughed. He can take revenge on the Marquis of Ingeliger, who had been a thorn in his eyes for a long time. Just thinking about it made Fabrice feel so much better. *** The Duke of Briem did not like the clutter in Lubern. Lubern was shaking as if something was about to explode. He could have read it if he had been clear before, but with his flat head, he couldn¡¯t figure out the cause. Instead, he invited young nobles from within the Old Nobility to his home. Even though they were young, they were all middle-aged. ¡°The atmosphere in the capital doesn¡¯t seem to be very good these days.¡± Having said that, the Duke of Briem looked around the crowd. He turned his head and averted his eyes as if he had nothing to say. ¡°I heard that the temple is preaching strange doctrines these days. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s why.¡± Said the aristocrat who belonged to the younger side of the pack. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the story of a saint and her son.¡± Mathieu Briem had no choice but to hold his cane hard at the words that came out of the young man¡¯s mouth. Is that referring to the deceased Queen Charlize and her son Dennis? ¡°How did the story¡­¡± One nobleman could not continue to speak as if he realised he would get in trouble. Those who took part in the dethronement of Queen Charles twenty years ago were still sitting there. Not a few people visited the Duke of Briem today. They turned pale when the name of the dead Queen was mentioned. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but it is said that the doctrine that defends the First Prince is preached in the temple.¡± ¡°There are a lot of commoners there, and the flow is extraordinary.¡± Mathieu Briem recalled the saint, Queen Charlize. The temple and the saint were inseparable from each other. He thought he covered the fire well, but it had come back to life. Mathieu shook his head furiously. He wanted to crown Fabrice flawlessly clean, but obstacles kept appearing. Should they hit the temple or the First Prince, who was the source of all this? Mathieu immediately scrapped the hypothesis that temples should be the one. Even for the Duke of Briem, who was second only to the King, the temple was a difficult opponent to touch. Considering how Pope Felix Claire got to that position, it was right not to touch him as much as possible. The answer was simple. You just have to remove the source. Mathieu decided to use the trick he had left as a last resort. ¡°What should I do with a tree that stretches its branches arbitrarily?¡± After opening his mouth like that, Mathieu had a kind smile on his face. It was like talking about how to manage your garden as a hobby. But what the Duke of Briem was talking about wasn¡¯t just about trees. Who did not readily understand the Duke¡¯s question asked him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be pruned?¡± Mathieu looked at him and asked. ¡°Right. But what if it¡¯s a tree that doesn¡¯t fit in my garden?¡± Then the nobles, who noticed something strange, looked at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to uproot it in that case? So it won¡¯t grow back.¡± Those who understood the words of Duke Briem nodded their heads. At the same time. The Duke of Briem did not know that the beacon was dark underneath. He was thinking about how to hit the first prince without knowing what disturbing smell was spreading in his mansion. Fantine soon recruited nearly half of the people in the Duke¡¯s house. The final target was the Duchess. ¡°Sarah, are you going to pray tonight as well?¡± [T/N: In case you have forgotten, Sarah Mustier is Fantine¡¯s new name.] ¡°Sure, everyone, come to my room.¡± Fantine said with a generous expression on her face. ¡°You guys, don¡¯t get together and chat. Go work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maids who had gathered were scattered. The maid approached Fantine and caught her trying to turn around. ¡°Sarah, Madam is curious about you.¡± She got caught. ¡°What¡¯s the matter¡­?¡± Fantine had a naive but frightened face. ¡°She¡¯s curious about the ritual you¡¯re doing. Go straight to her room.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Fantine hurried into the Duchess¡¯s room, the best room in the middle of the second floor. ¡°Hello, Madam. This is Sarah.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Welcome.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks The Duchess greeted her with a generous expression on her face. ¡°Sit down here.¡± Anne, the Duchess, recommended a seat in front of her. Fantine refused, waving her hands. ¡°Madam, how can I, as a maid, sit face to face with Madam? Please give me your orders.¡± ¡°If you keep standing, I have to look up. It¡¯s uncomfortable, so sit down.¡± ¡°If you really feel uncomfortable, I¡¯ll sit down. Thanks, Madam.¡± Fantine carefully sat down. ¡°Yes, I heard you have such a flamboyant talent?¡± The Duchess asked her straight away, without changing the subject. She seemed to be curious as the rumours circulated in the mansion. ¡°I have no talent, Madam. I¡¯m just a little-¡± ¡°A little?¡± Anne looked at Fantine. ¡°I have a slightly better eye than others.¡± ¡°Eye?¡± ¡°Yes. Having your mother clear your head and open your eyes so you can see the near future¡­ So, how big are you?¡± ¡°I still have little faith, so it¡¯s not that insignificant. I only see it for about half a day.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± The Duchess looked at Fantine curiously. ¡°Because she is your mother?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the new mother of the Earth. She is a Goddess who loves nature and intervenes in the providence of all things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fascinating.¡± Anne marvelled at her words but wondered how it was possible to see the future. Fantine did not miss the moment and told the Duchess. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯d like to do a memorial service for Madam, but is there anything that upsets your mind these days?¡± ¡°Upset¡­¡± Anne bit her lips as she was about to say something. It seemed like she hadn¡¯t completely trusted Fantine yet. ¡°Then I will pray for your heart to be at peace. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯d like to say later, let me know, Madam.¡± ¡°Well, thank you. Why don¡¯t you take this and eat it?¡± Anne handed her the cookies that were placed in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Madam. How could the maid put her hand on the food her master would eat¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving this as a thank you for coming today, so just take it and eat it alone or share it with others.¡± ¡°Thank you very much, Madam.¡± Fantine nodded her head repeatedly and gave the Duchess her greetings. When Anne motioned for her to leave, Fantine could escape from the Duchess¡¯s room. When she came out of her room, Carol was hanging out in front of the Duchess¡¯s room. ¡°Sarah, why did Madam call you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use if you know.¡± Fantine replied bitterly. Carol, who found out that Fantine was popular with others in the mansion from some point on, often picked fights with her. ¡°Why, why! It¡¯s funny that you¡¯re going in and out of Madam¡¯s room! You are a maid of the laundromat.¡± ¡°You know what? You¡¯re a laundromat, too.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°If you are jealous, tell me that you are envious. I will teach you how to pray!¡± Fantine snorted her and walked past Carol. Seeing Fantine¡¯s back like that, Carol trembled. *** The way out of the King¡¯s office. Dennis ran into the Marquis of Ingeliger. ¡°Oh, no, Prince. To meet you in a place like this!¡± The Marquis of Ingeliger laughed exaggeratedly as if delighted to see his son-in-law. ¡°Good morning, Your Highness. How are you?¡± ¡°Yes, Marquis. It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Dennis shook his head and greeted the Marquis. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you since the last ceremony. So, how many months has it been?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He slapped Dennis on the shoulder and treated him as if he were his subordinate. Dennis brushed the Marquis¡¯ hand with a light touch. He said impatiently. ¡°Do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°Oh, my. You are a busy person, I see¡­¡± The Marquis of Ingeliger put on a funny expression for nothing. Dennis looked at the Marquis expressionlessly. ¡°If you are not busy, would you like to stop by my office for a while? I have a good tea that I got during the last armistice negotiations, and I have something to tell you¡­¡± ¡°Do it now.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s going to be long. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about the Princess.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Dennis frowned. He didn¡¯t want to hear it, but it felt like he had to. ¡°Come to my palace in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Hahaha, I see. Sure.¡± Dennis shook his head and hurried out of the room. *** Dennis returned to his office and washed his ears. ¡°Prince, why are your ears-¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard something dirty, so I have to wash it. And could you bring me a new coat?¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s dirty.¡± Sylvan was puzzled and received Dennis¡¯ coat. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only He looked closely to see if there was any dirt on it, but he couldn¡¯t find any dirt. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 40 *** *** The Marquis of Ingeliger entered his office. Denis sat down at the table without saying a word. The Marquis of Ingeliger, sitting next to him, did not bring up the main point, but kept talking nonsense. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you earlier that there was a tea that Honun gave me as a gift during the armistice negotiations? I brought this tea because I wanted to share the taste of this tea with you.¡± ¡°There is a lot of tea in my room.¡± Denis turned down the Marquis¡¯ tea at once. ¡°Let¡¯s finish what you said in the hallway, Marquis.¡± ¡°Ah, ah¡­¡± The Marquis continued as if he had just remembered. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, but as you know, the Princess still can¡¯t have children.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How important is the bloodline? You know better about the importance.¡± ¡°Just get to the point.¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t have children, you need to pick a rear guard, Prince.¡± The conclusion. Denis¡¯ brow furrowed. He opened his mouth after a while and asked. ¡°¡­ Isn¡¯t the Marquis the father of my wife?¡± ¡°Ah, of course, I am. But the royal family is more important. The legacy is more important. She, being my daughter, is a tiny part of it, Prince.¡± ¡°The legacy.¡± Denis repeated the words once more and laughed. ¡°It seems that what is important to the Marquis and what is important to me are different.¡± ¡°No way. It¡¯s the exact same thing. It is the throne of His Majesty, and the descendants of his immediate family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worth listening to. Please go home now.¡± ¡°Your Highness.¡± The Marquis changed his mind and said. ¡°You must sit on the throne quickly. I can¡¯t just wait.¡± ¡°I intend to do the same.¡± ¡°And you also need to get rid of unnecessary things along the way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Unnecessary. Denis realized again how his wife was treated by her father. That fact made him angry. Denis warned the Marquis in a low voice. ¡°¡­ Marquis, you won¡¯t understand anyway, so I¡¯ll just tell you. From now on, it would be better to live upright in front of Nate without a single word of shame. Stop raising your hands. I will no longer tolerate you being rude to my wife.¡± The Marquis refuted his words and made excuses. ¡°Of course. But there was something about it. For parents, children are children no matter how old they are. And-¡± Denis cut off the words of the Marquis firmly. ¡°You¡¯d better stop making excuses. If you touch my wife in the future, the Marquis will be rewarded accordingly. I¡¯ll do that. Sylvan, please send the Marquis off to his carriage.¡± ¡°Yes, sure, Prince.¡± When Sylvan stood up and pulled the Marquis¡¯ arm, the Marquis slapped Sylvan¡¯s hand away. He opened his coat. ¡°You look a little different. Your Highness, I wonder if there¡¯s been any change in your mind.¡± After unbuttoning his coat, he looked down at Denis, as if he were looking down at a little thing. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad idea to gradually find out whether I¡¯ve changed or not. Goodbye.¡± The Marquis glared at Denis once before turning away. Dennis picked up a cigar that he had been refraining from smoking recently. The room was ventilated by opening the window. It was because the office was filled with terrible musk, a perfume used by the Marquis. Denis smoked a cigar and rubbed the nape of his neck. He only had the Marquis alone for a moment, but he felt tired. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, why don¡¯t you go to the Princess?¡± Denis looked at Sylvan with a puzzled face. ¡®How did you get to know my heart?¡¯ Even so, he had just remembered the woman. ¡°You look tired. Hurry up and go.¡± Sylvan waved his hand as if expelling Denis out. Denis stood up reluctantly at Sylvan¡¯s order. ¡°Then finish off your work, Sylvan and leave the palace.¡± ¡°This is one of the nicest things you have said this week, Prince.¡± Denis snorted at his assistant and left the room. It was to go to the place where his rest was staying. Denis was wandering. She wasn¡¯t there in the office he visited, knowing it would be difficult to find her at this time. Instead, only her maids, whom she always carried, were working. ¡°Where did the Princess go?¡± Daniel asked with a calm face. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be the time for a walk, so she¡¯s taking a walk right now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was such a time.¡± When Denis replied to himself, Danielle added, ¡°It¡¯s on the advice of the royal physician.¡± ¡°The royal physician¡¯s advice? What¡¯s wrong with Madam?¡± At Denis¡¯ question, Danielle immediately put on a disrespectful expression. Then she added. ¡°She said that moderate exercise is good for her health. In addition, the Princess is healthy without any particular pain or problem.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s skinny because she doesn¡¯t eat well, but she¡¯ll get better with time.¡± At Danielle¡¯s reply, Denis looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°So, where did she go?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± At Danielle¡¯s words, Denis went to the place. The small backyard in the woman¡¯s palace could be seen from the outside. He wondered if there was someone. However, he couldn¡¯t find any human there¡­ Denis thought of a place for the woman to go. It wasn¡¯t as much as he thought. He decided to go to the birch grove where he had last encountered her. It¡¯s quite a distance to walk, but did the woman really walk there? When he couldn¡¯t see the woman he was trying to see, Denis grew somehow impatient. Denis remembered where the nearest horse was. He was going to go to the birch grove on horseback. He moved quickly. As he made his way across the main palace gardens to the stables, he heard the familiar laughter. Tehez¡¯s laughter. Denis headed towards the place where the sound was heard. He took a step forward cautiously. Without even making the sound of stepping on the grass, he crept closer. Beyond the garden tree, the familiar back of the head was visible. Hair like golden threads on the round back of the head. Tehez was talking to someone. Being friendly with a man he saw for the first time. The man beckoned somewhere on Tehez¡¯s shoulder. As if something was on it. When Tehez looked carefully in the direction the man was pointing, but couldn¡¯t find it, the man smiled and tried to place a hand on Tehez¡¯s shoulder. He looked like he was going to brush it off himself. But Denis¡¯ eyes could only see that the man was trying to touch Tehez¡¯s body. Denis ran out, unable to measure the uneven path below. Then he grabbed Tehez by the shoulder. ¡°Prince!¡± Tehez¡¯s face reminded him she was talking about something pleasant. ¡°Did I disturb you? It sounds like you are having a good time.¡± The man standing in front of her recognized that he was the Prince and greeted him courteously. ¡°Prince, Sasha is a classmate who studied with me at the academy.¡± ¡°Good morning, Your Highness. My name is Sasha Vadim, a new employee of the Ministry of Justice.¡± ¡°You said you didn¡¯t intend to enter the palace, but you ended up in the palace.¡± Teherz smiled at Sasha and looked sideways. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°The Vice-Chancellor is here in the palace, but what about the chief?¡± A man called Sasha responded friendly to Tehez¡¯s words. At that moment, Denis couldn¡¯t resist calling her name. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± Tehez turned her head to look at him. ¡°Something came up.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Urgent. To my palace.¡± He replied, implying that it was a secret and he couldn¡¯t bring it up in front of others. ¡°Sasha, see you next time.¡± The friendly man also greeted Tehez. Denis strode to his palace. Watching him walk without looking back, Tehez knew he was angry. Because Denis always walked according to her stride, and now Tehez was running almost at Denis¡¯ pace. Before she knew it, she had almost reached the front of his palace. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± Denis didn¡¯t like something and messed up his hair. His chest felt tight. His mood became more complicated when he saw her worried about him with the look on her face. It felt like something was on it. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Prince? You said it was urgent¡­¡± Denis sighed and beckoned to her. ¡°Never mind. Just go.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tehez, who answered with a bewildered look on her face, soon turned around, and Denis called her back. ¡°Wait, Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The reason why the royal physician told you to take a walk.¡± At Denis¡¯ words, Tehez looked at him with incredulous eyes. Denis said, suppressing the rising anger. ¡°Are you going to keep your mouth shut again? That mouth seems heavy only in front of me.¡± ¡°No, Prince.¡± Denis growled at Tehez¡¯s objection. ¡°Your husband is me, Tehez. I¡¯m not your colleague.¡± ¡°¡­You didn¡¯t ask me, did you? ¡°Ha! Does my wife only answer questions? I never knew you about that. She must have been an idiot.¡± Denis made sarcastic remarks. ¡°¡­¡± At his prickly words, Tehez bowed her head and cast his gaze to the floor. He regained his lost sanity instantly in the chilly atmosphere. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to do this.¡¯ Denis messed up his hair again. He just didn¡¯t like her being friendly with another man. He just wanted to ask if she was close to him. Why was it that the only words that came out of his mouth were sarcasm? ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to say I was an idiot. It was harsh. I apologize.¡± He added an apology in a crawling voice. ¡°I was just worried, Tehez.¡± Hearing that he was worried, Tehez looked at him as if she was understanding something. Then she let out a small sigh and answered. ¡°¡­All right.¡± Denis grabbed Tehez¡¯s shoulder and said. ¡°Have a good walk. Don¡¯t go the other way. Go straight back to your palace. Understand?¡± Tehez looked at him silently, and he insisted on an answer. ¡°You have to answer, Madam.¡± ¡°Yes. Okay, Prince.¡± ¡°Even if you run into people, don¡¯t talk to them, and don¡¯t answer them.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Denis instructed her as if sending a little child an errand. Denis returned to his office haphazardly. He roughly tossed the coat he was wearing on his chair and loosened the tie around his neck. Denis told Sylvan to leave the palace if he was done early. Denis clicked his tongue. He had difficulty concentrating, even looking at the documents lying on the desk. It seemed that nothing was going to happen today. In the end, Denis went to Tehez¡¯s palace early evening. With the pretence of going to her for an apology. ¡°Prince, what brings you here so early¡­?¡± Tehez was still wearing her outdoor clothes. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± Tehez approached him with a worried look and warmed his face with her small hand. He liked Tehez¡¯s caring touch so much that he wanted to pretend he was sick for nothing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Shall I call the royal physician?¡± ¡°I want to rest. I think I¡¯ll be fine if I rest.¡± She took Denis¡¯ hand and laid him down on the bed. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my work yet, so I¡¯ll come when you¡¯re resting.¡± ¡°Tehez.¡± Denis grabbed the hem of Tehez¡¯s dress as she was about to leave. ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry about earlier.¡± Hearing his apology, Tehez stopped. She answered in her small voice. It was a lukewarm reaction, neither cold nor hot. ¡°¡­ You¡¯ve already apologized.¡± ¡°Still.¡± ¡®That¡¯s how I feel at ease.¡¯ Denis looked up at Tehez. ¡°You have a childlike side to you, Prince.¡± ¡°Yes. Little children can¡¯t sleep alone. You should put me to sleep.¡± Tehez looked at him with strange eyes, and finally laid down next to him as if she had resigned. ¡°You seem to be different today than usual. What happened?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Denis added with a sigh. ¡°¡­I thought it would be nice if I went to the academy too.¡± ¡°Did you not go?¡± Tehez asked curiously. He had graduated from the Royal Academy before she entered. ¡°I wanted to go back.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± Denis didn¡¯t bother to add the word ¡°with you¡±. It seemed that he was still conscious of that man. And because he couldn¡¯t understand himself well. ¡®And why do I feel so at ease when I only come to this room?¡¯ The turbulent heart gradually subsided. Knock ¡°Princess, are you there?¡± It was Danielle with an urgent voice. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s urgent. The Marquis is unconscious because of the terrorist attack.¡± Tehez jumped up from her seat. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Denis, who had been falling asleep, also rose. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 41 *** *** Tehez hurried to the Ingeliger mansion. She stopped Denis, who was following her. It¡¯ll be a bigger deal if the Prince comes forward, so she will go to finish the work. Denis asked Teherz several times again as if he worried about letting her go alone. But she was stubborn. ¡°Be careful.¡± Denis saw her off her until the carriage in which she rode disappeared. While travelling through the night streets to the mansion, Tehez was in a complicated mood. She thought the relationship would end when one person died, but the Marquis was unconscious. All of a sudden¡­ Tehez clasped her hands tightly. When she arrived in front of Ingeliger¡¯s mansion, she found the mansion¡¯s lights on. A few servants were walking around outside, and in front of the mansion¡¯s gate, passersby could be seen sneaking around. Alone without an escort knight, she got off the carriage and ran into the mansion. The housekeeper shouted in surprise as she saw Tehez coming in. ¡°Princess!¡± ¡°Where is the Marquis?¡± ¡°They took him to the bedroom.¡± She went to the Marquis¡¯ bedroom on the second floor. Richard was talking to the senator. When he found her, Richard shouted. ¡°Tehez!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, brother?¡± After Richard had let the senator go, he told Tehez. ¡°He was shot in the chest.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tehez doubted her ears if she had heard correctly. ¡°And his eyes¡­¡± Richard couldn¡¯t keep up with his words. ¡°He lost his sight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Tehez was so startled that she couldn¡¯t even shut her mouth. It was a bullet shot, so why were his eyes gone¡­? ¡°Fortunately, the bullet deflected his heart. He was shot and passed out, but the assailant took his eyes¡­ It looks like a pagan. The wound was so serious that he was unconscious. They¡¯ve taken emergency measures, but they can¡¯t guarantee life or death.¡± Richard frowned as if frustrated, and folded his arms. Tehez went close and saw the Marquis¡¯ face. The face and chest of the Marquis, who was asleep as if he were dead, were bandaged. ¡°Who is the culprit?¡± ¡°It happened in the middle of the night, so it¡¯s not going to be easy to catch the culprit. I¡¯ve reported it, but¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And, as you know well, he has so many enemies.¡± At Richard¡¯s words, Tehez felt frustrated. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this. You go back to the palace, Tehez.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that, brother. What if the culprit is aiming to hurt the Prince, not father? That¡¯s all the more impossible.¡± Tehez instructed Danielle. ¡°Block the article that comes out tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Yes, all right.¡± It was good that the article didn¡¯t appear until she fully understood what had happened. ¡°And call Jacques to investigate this case separately.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡®What more should I do now?¡¯ ¡°Brother, strengthen the boundaries of the mansion.¡± ¡°It has already been ordered. And I got in touch with Max.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez clasped her hands to hide the tremble. ¡°No matter how foolish you are, your father may die, but isn¡¯t it too much to not be able to be by his deathbed?¡± Tehez did not respond to Richard¡¯s words. Max Ingeliger. Second son of the Marquis of Ingeliger. A prodigal idiot who was also famous in Valloise, a [email protected] He had seldom been at Valloise since he became an adult. He spent most of the year wandering. Even if he returned occasionally, he didn¡¯t come to the mansion, but only met his friends and went back. Tehez essentially didn¡¯t fit in with Max. Max was free-spirited and tended to speak and act as he pleased. His crude words and deeds often offended her. Besides, Max had many bad friends, whom she hated. The last time she saw his second brother was six years ago. On her engagement day. Max went abroad without attending the reception. Attending the engagement was apparently the limit of his patience. ¡°Yes. If it is an ordinary person, I will protect the Marquis, so please keep your eyes closed.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯d rather do it myself. You need to rest in your room.¡± ¡°I will be back at dawn. From tomorrow on, brother has to do it, so just rest.¡± ¡°Okay, well, I¡¯ll leave it up to you. Let me know as soon as there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°Yes. Get some rest.¡± Thud The door closed, and Tehez pulled a chair next to the Marquis¡¯ bed and sat down. When all the noise was cut off and quiet for an instant, Tehez felt the situation unrealistic. She doubted that the man lying on the bed was indeed the Marquis of Ingeliger, whom she knew well. Who could have imagined all of this? It was more like a dream. Tehez felt complicated on the inside. She wanted her father to die, who tormented and abused her. However, when he finally stood on the threshold of death, she hoped that he would come to his senses safely. ¡°¡­¡± She looked around the familiar room. When she was very young, she sometimes came into her father¡¯s room and played. At that time, her relationship with the Marquis wasn¡¯t so bad. ¡°Why did you do that to me, father?¡± Tehez asked the Marquis, who could not hear. The bruises on her cheek that her father had struck her were just now gone. There were still more of the unrecovered wounds within her. ¡®Why did you be so harsh on me?¡¯ ¡®Am I really a useless child?¡¯ Tehez wanted to ask the Marquis so many things. She thought that one day she would be able to ask. But seeing him lying down like this¡­ Her heart, having lost the resentment, was wandering. Tehez looked at the Marquis without a word. At the same time. Fabrice was in a good mood. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks It was because Gaspar had brought the Marquis¡¯ eyeballs. ¡°How did you handle your work?¡± ¡°The bullet went through his chest. It will be difficult to be alive.¡± Fabrice listened to Gaspar¡¯s words and gladly answered. ¡°Good job, well done! I¡¯ve paid you well, so check it out.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Gaspar bowed down to Fabrice and disappeared again like the wind. Fabrice unwrapped the finely wrapped package, as if it were a gift, and looked at it. ¡®I like it.¡¯ He immediately laughed like crazy. Tehez stayed in Ingeliger¡¯s mansion until dawn and returned to the palace at dawn. When she returned to the palace, Denis stood impatiently as he had been waiting. His bloodshot eyes showed that he had not slept a wink. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°He is still unconscious.¡± Tehez replied bluntly as she watched him naturally follow him into her bedroom. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I will be fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Marquis that I¡¯m worried about.¡± Tehez clenched her hand and answered. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Thank you for your concern.¡± ¡°Did you sleep?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°How about dinner?¡± ¡°Not even that.¡± ¡°What the hell were you doing?¡± Denis took her hand and led her into the dining room. ¡°I, I will.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do it alone, so I have to help. Wouldn¡¯t that be your husband¡¯s duty?¡± Tehez responded slightly to Denis¡¯ words. ¡°I¡¯m doing good, but the Prince comes to see me only when I¡¯m not doing well.¡± ¡°What?¡± Denis folded her arms. ¡°Then I¡¯ll watch you today, so do what you do. Eat and sleep.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see, Madam.¡± He looked as if he would not accept a rebuttal. ¡°What about the duties¡­?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯ll work out somehow. Let Sylvan do it.¡± Tehez remembered Sylvan¡¯s face, who had been in a bad complexion. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Prince, he looks tired recently.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t because of fatigue. It is because of the wounds of a broken heart¡­¡± Tehez asked worriedly at Denis¡¯ words. ¡°Did Sylvan break up?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t. It looks like it¡¯s going to happen¡­¡± Denis was unable to speak any further. ¡°Anyway, you don¡¯t have to worry about Sylvan. He is living well.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You need to only care about yourself.¡± Denis¡¯ eyes were warm as he said that. Tehez was somewhat embarrassed, so she answered in a small way. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t starve yourself to lose your strength.¡± ¡°All right, don¡¯t worry and go home, Prince. Don¡¯t you have a meeting today?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t turn around. Eat and get some sleep, Tehez.¡± Immediately noticing that she was changing the subject, Denis asked her again. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Having said that, Denis stroked her hair and looked at her face without saying a word for a long time before leaving. Tehez could barely hold back in front of Denis, but as soon as he left, she felt her face redden in an instant. ¡°Princess, this is Danielle.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Danielle came in with a morning newspaper and immediately addressed the main point. ¡°There is no article about the Marquis accident in the morning newspaper. An independent accident investigation is underway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. What is the progress of the police investigation?¡± ¡°There is not much progress. But from the professional standpoint, they suspect he¡¯s a hired assassin.¡± ¡°He is an assassin.¡± Tehez pondered over Danielle¡¯s words. Accidental crimes can be removed from the options. So, who was behind it? Tehez pondered as she tapped the handle of the chair with her fingertips. ¡°Keep both possibilities open and investigate. The first was a crime due to personal resentment against the Marquis, and the second was a crime to damage the Prince.¡± Even as Tehez said so, she saw the latter possibility low. Unfortunately, the Marquis had built up a grudge against people from all walks of life for decades. Moreover, it was also famous in Lubern that the Marquis and Denis did not have a very good relationship. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better to kidnap her, the Princess, or choose another way to attack Denis? ¡°How¡¯s the capital city?¡± ¡°There were no rumours, so there was no particular atmosphere.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything unusual, let me know right away.¡± ¡°Yes, Princess. And don¡¯t you think you should eat?¡± Daniel looked worried. ¡°There are a lot of people who are taking care of my meals today.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t had a proper meal since lunch yesterday.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have something light.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Denis returned to his office only after seeing that she had returned safely. Since Tehez rushed to Ingeliger¡¯s mansion yesterday, he had sent his own investigative personnel to investigate the whole of the case. The problem was that there was no evidence. ¡°I can feel the touch of an expert,¡± said Sylvan. Denis also agreed. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will give up its tail easily.¡± He went to the street where Marquis Ingeliger was shot, but it was cleared without a trace of blood. Who was the culprit? Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Denis took off his glasses as if he had a headache. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 42 *** *** At that time, guests came to Fabrice¡¯s palace. Fabrice had slept late the night before and had not yet woken up. ¡°Princess, the Prince is still¡­¡± The bewildered attendant stopped. ¡°Open the door.¡± As she ordered, the man behind her opened the door. Giselle entered Fabrice¡¯s bedroom without hesitation. She then slapped Fabrice on the cheek and woke him from a deep sleep. The beating hand was fierce. ¡°Prince, it¡¯s time to wake up.¡± ¡°What, what!¡± When Fabrice, who was not awake from his sleep, saw Giselle and the knights surrounding his bed, he began to get angry, wondering if she could not understand his situation. ¡°This is not the time to be angry. You ignored me.¡± Giselle looked down at Fabrice, who was still lying on the bed. She had cold eyes. ¡°Please get the Prince.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The knights forced Fabrice to stand up. ¡°What? Let go of me!¡± At the cruel touch of the knights, Fabrice struggled. ¡°Prince, why don¡¯t you go on a date with a woman after a long time?¡± Giselle had the maids change Fabrice¡¯s clothes. The knights surrounded him in a daunting way, watching him. Giselle smiled at the attendant, saying she had a date with Fabrice today, and dragged him away. To a safe house. Giselle called to Fabrice in her honey-soaked voice. ¡°Prince.¡± Fabrice, who barely came to his senses, glared at Giselle. ¡°What are you doing, Princess?¡± ¡°A date. First, let¡¯s start by looking at the mistakes.¡± Gisele smiled and gestured, and the knights who bound Fabrice¡¯s arms tied him to a chair in the room. Giselle naturally took out the wh!p she had kept in the drawer and lifted it. ¡°Why did you take it out? Untie me right now!¡± ¡°Prince, what did I say? What? Answer me.¡± Giselle¡¯s expression of asking like that even seemed friendly at first glance. ¡°Princess, Princess. Let¡¯s talk about this first. Hey, this is too violent.¡± Giselle looked at him with the wh!p in one hand. ¡°I made it clear the other day that you would be punished if you did something wrong, but I guess it wasn¡¯t enough.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, but first of all, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Giselle looked down at Fabrice as if she were disciplining a child. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± ¡°What¡­ What I did wrong- I killed a person yesterday. The Marquis of Ingeliger, you know well¡­¡± Fabrice responded to Giselle¡¯s words steadily even though he was sweating. ¡°Yes, I know the Marquis of Ingeliger. He had meals with my father once in a while.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. But I had an accident yesterday¡­ I had to kill him. I had no choice but to kill him.¡± Fabrice rolled his brain for his dear life. He had to find a reason to kill him. ¡°The Marquis is not dead, Prince.¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± Fabrice looked at Giselle, forgetting that he was tied up. ¡°He didn¡¯t die. He is in a coma. You left a lot of traces. Bloodstains, pieces of cloth, knives. My knights worked hard to clean up, leaving no traces.¡± Fabrice ended up spewing harsh words out of his mouth. ¡°What! Crazy b**t**d! He said he killed him! He tricked me!¡± Fabrice yelled at Gaspar, who wasn¡¯t even there. ¡°Ah. My ears hurt.¡± Giselle spoke to herself like a sigh, then swung the whip loudly. There was a thud, and the wh!p wrapped around Fabrice¡¯s body. ¡°AAAAAHHH!¡± ¡°Prince, from now on, only answer my questions. Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Answer me.¡± Fabrice forcibly endured the crushing pain and answered. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°Last night, you hired an assassin to try to kill the Marquis of Ingeliger, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± ¡°Why did you do that?¡± ¡°That b**t**d! He made me like this! Me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± Giselle wh!pped again at Fabrice. The sound of flesh and whip clashing with each other resounded through the room. As if the flesh had been torn off, blood began to flow from Fabrice¡¯s back. ¡°Tell me what the Marquis of Ingeliger did.¡± ¡°H-he spread rumours¡­ the s*x scandal in the newspaper, right? He told me to stay on my own for several months, and in the meantime, I couldn¡¯t even go out of the palace, and my marriage got broken. And now, I¡¯m here.¡± Who could that be all to blame? Fabrice was being wh!pped here because of the Marquis of Ingeliger. Didn¡¯t the rumour break up his engagement? Fabrice grew more emotional and almost screamed at her, but he forced himself to lower his voice as he looked at Giselle¡¯s bloody wh!p. ¡°Hmm.¡± Giselle was silent for a moment, as if lost in her thoughts. ¡°Is there any evidence that the Marquis did it?¡± ¡°Who would do that if not that b**t**d? It¡¯s obvious! Who else!¡± ¡°So, you got your revenge on him? But you failed?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°First of all, my family and I were almost in danger again because you were determined to get revenge. You must be punished accordingly first.¡± Giselle swung the wh!p as soon as she finished speaking. ¡°AAHHHHHHHHH!¡± Fabrice lost his mind. He raised his hands, which were tied up and didn¡¯t even touch, and prayed. ¡°Please, Princess, Princess, please save me. I am going to be the King¡­¡± ¡°Yes. You are the future king, so I shouldn¡¯t be too harsh, right?¡± Giselle smiled brightly and wrapped the wh!p neatly in order. ¡°Prince, can you really, really, do something not to get punished? You got it, right? ¡°Yes, of course. Let me go.¡± ¡°Sure. Release the Prince.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Then the men, apparently waiting outside, came in and released him. ¡°Oh, thank you, Princess.¡± ¡°What? The Prince is dirty. Wash him clean.¡± The knights recklessly dragged Fabrice and plunged him into the bath. When the boiling water suddenly came into contact with his wounded body, Fabrice screamed. It was as if the wound that had just opened was so painful that it stabbed him with a knife. After throwing him in the bath and the knights exiting, some maids came in and served him. Fabrice couldn¡¯t get his act together. He felt that he had finally woken up from drinking the day before. But suddenly, he was dragged here, wh!pped by a crazy woman, and fell into the water again. Fabrice wanted to return to his comfortable palace quickly. This time, he would tell his father and break up with this crazy woman. Even though his father would get angry at him. The King may have been angry, but he never touched Fabrice. Elliot will ask his son to reflect on himself for a few months. He¡¯d be much better off being with this crazy woman. He summoned the maids who had been waiting for him without a word. ¡°Hey, let me out. If you do that, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± The maids ignored his words and continued to concentrate on their work. ¡°Hey, look, what¡¯s your name? Huh? Please, please. Help me out, will you?¡± As Fabrice raised her hand and grabbed the maid¡¯s arm, the maid screamed. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhh!¡± ¡°Oh, no!¡± As he tried to shut the mouth of the maid in bewilderment, the knights waiting in the hallway came in. The giant man blinked at the maids and said, ¡°Stop taking a bath and change his clothes.¡± Then the maids got him out of the bath. He had been immersed in hot water and was forced to stand up, revealing his naked body. ¡°And Prince, do not rebel.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Fabrice was shameless, but at this moment, he was ashamed. Showing his drooping and bloodstained body in front of these men. ¡°Please close the door¡­ Please, I¡¯ll stay quiet¡­¡± As he begged, the man glaring at him returned to his place. He thought it would be impossible to escape on his own. Fabrice realized the reality in front of him. He was compelled to comply. When he was washed and put on new clothes, he managed to return to his original pristine appearance. His finely combed bangs looked more gentle and polite than usual. In addition, Giselle¡¯s physical punishment had softened the momentum a lot, and it was almost as if he was steady. Fabrice was taken to the dining hall and seated in front of a large table. Giselle was already seated at the table and was eating. ¡°Are you hungry? Please eat, Prince.¡± Gisele smiled brightly and gestured, and a large steak was placed in front of Fabrice. Fabrice stared blankly at the plate in front of him. It looked pretty appetizing. ¡°You don¡¯t like the food?¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Fabrice quickly picked up the tableware before Giselle would wh!p him again. ¡°By the way, Prince.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°When did you start talking down to me like that?¡± Giselle was holding a knife and smiling. There were bloodstains on the knife she was slicing the rare steak. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I apologize from the bottom of my heart. Princess. I¡­ It¡¯s my fault.¡± Fabrice apologized immediately so as not to offend her. ¡°Don¡¯t talk and act recklessly without my permission. You get it, right?¡± ¡°All right, princess.¡± Giselle seemed to be happy with Fabrice¡¯s answer, smiling brightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take care of your wounds after dinner. Hurry up and eat, Prince.¡± Fabrice was afraid of Giselle. He was seriously scared. She looked really crazy for taking care of his wh!plash wounds. But Fabrice chewed the steak without complaining. He had been drinking alcohol since yesterday, so he had a hangover and an upset stomach. But he didn¡¯t show anything and just looked at Giselle. As Giselle said, she called Fabrice to her bedroom after finishing the meal. It was the room where he was locked up the other day. ¡°You¡¯re hurt badly. What do I do?¡± She said as if she was really sad and was worried about him. ¡°¡­¡± Giselle brought medicine and bandages and began to apply them to his back. When she applied medicine to the wound, a twisted pain hit Fabrice. ¡°Ughhh.¡± Still, he couldn¡¯t even shout recklessly. He might be flogged again. ¡°You¡¯re in a lot of pain, aren¡¯t you? Hang in there for a second.¡± Giselle carefully laid Fabrice in bed after all the wounds had been treated. ¡°You¡¯d better get some rest today. If you¡¯re resting, I¡¯ll wake you up.¡± Giselle opened the quilt in a friendly voice and said, ¡°¡­So when am I going to the palace¡­?¡± Fabrice barely opened his mouth and spoke. What Fabrice was most curious about at this moment was when he could escape from this crazy woman. ¡°I think it¡¯d be nice to return after the wound is healed. I think so, but what do you think, Prince?¡± Giselle, who said so, squeezed Fabrice¡¯s arm. He held back his scream in his mind and managed to answer. ¡°¡­I think I¡¯d like that, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I think the Prince and I are on the same wavelength. Please make yourself comfortable, Prince.¡± Singing ¡°Ta-da!¡± The door closed, and Fabrice was left alone in the room. His back was sore, and he couldn¡¯t even lie down straight. He lay down on his side. He was in pain even when he turned to the side. He buried his face in the pillow and lay face down. It was okay. Instead, he felt suffocated. It was impossible to tell whether it was day or night in the room with thick curtains. It was somehow like his future. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Fabrice shed a single tear involuntarily, saddened by his condition. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 43 *** *** After locking Fabrice safely in her bedroom, Giselle returned to her office. She then examined the credibility of his testimony. ¡°Anghel.¡± A man called Anghel showed his face in the dark. He was a man with dark skin and a large build. His thick arms were full of geometric tattoos. He had a skin colour and physique that was not common in Valloise, so it can be noticed at a glance that he was from another country. Anghel, originally from the Haj, was a sl*ve. He couldn¡¯t stand his master¡¯s beating, so he got on a boat and fled to another country. The place where he floated to was Valloise. Anghel, a sl*ve, met Giselle when he tried to steal her bag. Normally, anyone would have called the police. Giselle, a fickle young girl, had changed her heart and got Anghel. Since then, Anghel had Giselle as his master. Of course, he was not an aide in her social life, but a helper in such dark work. ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± ¡°Do you think the Marquis of Ingeliger spread rumours about the Second Prince?¡± ¡°There is a possibility, but when the scandal broke out, the Marquis was absent due to an armistice agreement. It is believed that a third person intervened.¡± ¡°A third person?¡± Anghel said with a smile. ¡°He must have a reason to drop the Second Prince.¡± ¡°Oh. So, what about the First Prince?¡± Giselle was listening to Anghel with interest. ¡°If he wanted to do it, there was no way he couldn¡¯t do it, but there is little chance that he did the backstabbing because of his perceived tendency.¡± ¡°Then who do you think it would be, Anghel?¡± Anghel said flatly. ¡°First Princess. She¡¯s the most likely one for now.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the First Princess¡­ Isn¡¯t she timid? She doesn¡¯t show her face well except at official events. I, too, have been in the social world for several years, but there were only a few times that I have seen the face of the First Princess.¡± Giselle asked Anghel back when an unexpected person was mentioned. ¡°Of course, she is. On the surface. However, more than four people have been identified as members of a private intelligence group run by the First Princess. They¡¯re all big names. We found out that the last import of Enland¡¯s cobalt stone was also carried out with the design and planning of the First Princess.¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± Giselle added to Anghel, as if asking to keep talking. Anghel continued. ¡°A recent epidemic in Enland had cut cassava yields in half compared to the previous year. Then the King of Enland was thinking about importing cassava from abroad. At that time, the First Princess exchanged the special grade cobalt stone in Enland with cassava, which is not used for food in Valloise.¡± When Anghel finished speaking, Giselle laughed aloud. ¡°This is going to be fun.¡± ¡°She is evaluated as a difficult person, Miss,¡± said Anghel in a low voice. ¡°Anghel, don¡¯t worry. You know my personality.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Whether she becomes the queen or I become the queen, one of the two will have to die to end the game.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Anghel did not answer. The silence was also an answer. ¡°But why is Anghel saying this now?¡± As Giselle smiled and looked at him, Anghel hurriedly knelt and answered in a loud voice. After the sound of kneeling, the ground vibrated. ¡°Sorry, it took me a while to find it because there were no traces at all. I continued the investigation and only recently came across the full picture. I had no intention of deceiving you.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. Please forgive me.¡± Anghel begged as he knelt on his knees and hit his head on the floor. When his head hit the marble floor hard, there was a crack sound like the breaking of walnut shells. Even so, Giselle sat silently for a few minutes, and Anghel pressed his palms to the floor and remained motionless. Giselle asked Anghel in a low voice. ¡°So, did she take the Prince out of the safe house last time?¡± ¡°It is expected that the person from the royal family did it.¡± She thought she had kept Fabrice safe, but when he disappeared, Giselle tried to find out who did it. However, she couldn¡¯t catch the tail easily, perhaps because the investigation was slow or because the skill of the person who took out Fabrice was exceptional. However, Anghel finally found out who took ¡°her¡± Fabrice. ¡°Ha ha.¡± Giselle smiled contentedly. ¡°Wake up, Anghel. Who would think that I was tormenting you, huh?¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss. Thank you.¡± Anghel¡¯s forehead, standing up, was bleeding. ¡°Oh, my. Your forehead is hurt. I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Giselle said with a refreshing smile. ¡°No, Miss! This wound is nothing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re brave. Anghel, don¡¯t make mistakes next time, okay? ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡± ¡°Yes. So? Then go out and get good results.¡± Giselle clapped her hands with a happy face. Anghel went out with a stiff face. *** Mathieu Briem thought in the dark. The final day was the next eve. There was still a week or so left. He scrutinized his plans so far. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks He didn¡¯t want to do this. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m getting older and more sensitive?¡¯ He struggled to ignore the slightest bit of conscience he had left piercing him. From his mother, to her son. The First prince. He rationalized that this event was only a small stream in the great history of Fabrice¡¯s succession to the throne. He was going to send the First Prince in the easiest, fastest, and surest way. Rebellion. What a sweet thing to say. Mathieu pulled out a small picture from the drawer of his desk. It was a picture of Marianne taken at her coming-of-age ceremony. His young-looking daughter¡¯s face was now blurred. ¡®My lovely daughter. My one and only daughter.¡¯ ¡®If you were alive, you would have started to have grey hair by now.¡¯ ¡®Would there be wrinkles around your eyes?¡¯ ¡®My daughter, who will never be seen again.¡¯ Mathieu stroked Marianne¡¯s smiling face. ¡®When can I die and go to see you?¡¯ Mathieu rubbed his darkened eyes. Tears did not come out. It had been ten years since his daughter died. Still, whenever he thought of Marianne, it was inevitable that he would become emotional. ¡®Daughter, I will make your wish come true. I must make sure that your son succeeds to the throne.¡¯ Mathieu gave a wild smile in the dark. He got up from his seat and went to the bedroom. His wife, Anne, was lying in bed and reading something, so she hadn¡¯t slept yet. ¡°It¡¯s late at night. What are you doing?¡± Mathieu asked, taking off his robe. The Duchess, Anne, answered, hiding the book she was reading. She was startled, and Mathieu questioned how she responded. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s nothing. Hurry up and go to bed.¡± And what was that dubious answer? Mathieu glanced at the book Anne was reading. It was a fairly thick book with an old-looking leather cover, with nothing written on it. Mathieu, skeptical of her actions, looked at her with suspicion. ¡°You didn¡¯t get anything weird from somewhere, did you?¡± ¡°What do you mean by weird! It¡¯s just a book.¡± To Anne, who was furious, Mathieu said as if asking. ¡°You¡¯ve had something suspicious things once or twice.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Anne retorted in a small voice. ¡°A few years ago, didn¡¯t you bring a wandering wizard and make a fuss about divination or summoning?¡± ¡°Why are you bringing up what happened a few years ago now¡­?¡± Anne¡¯s voice crawled away. ¡°And it was because I missed my Marianne so much¡­¡± Anne, the frail Duchess, finally began to whimper. ¡°I wanted to see my daughter, Marianne, so what should I do?¡± Mathieu soothed the Duchess with a troubled face. It was not that he was ignorant of Anne¡¯s desire to see her daughter. Rather, he felt sorry. However, it was impossible to set up an altar while chanting spells in Valloise, where the punishment for pagans was severe. ¡°Stop crying.¡± ¡°I miss Marianne¡­¡± Mathieu patted Anne. At the same time, he retraced his memory. Even a few years ago, Mathieu Briem remembered vividly. How hard it was to deal with the strange things and the wizard that was in the mansion at that time. All the goods were burned down, and the wizard was driven out of the gate. Fortunately, he had noticed before she was turned into a heretic. He firmly joined the group and spent a while looking at the temple. Who wouldn¡¯t have reported them as pagans? Oh, how anxious he was. After barely stopping crying, Anne blew her nose, and Mathieu soothed her and said, ¡°If you¡¯re driven to paganism, you¡¯ll be in trouble, so take it easy.¡± Mathieu replied, and turned back to his usual self. Anne replied in a disquieting tone. ¡°¡­Yes, I will. Go to sleep.¡± Mathieu soon fell asleep. Anne, who waited until he fell asleep, took out the hidden book again and read it with concentration. The book was a scripture handed down in the ¡®Mother of the Earth¡¯ school that Fantine had given Anne. The Duchess was already absorbed in the Haj religion. It was thanks to her that she experienced several miracles. She had a splitting headache, but when she prayed as Fantine recommended, she felt better, and she almost fell and hurt herself in the mansion, but she was able to avoid the accident by predicting it in advance. Anne, the Duchess, had been unusually interested in religions other than Nateism. On several occasions, Mathieu was almost in trouble because of this. It wasn¡¯t because he was in power, but she would have already been driven into a heretic if it wasn¡¯t for him. Anne, who confirmed that Mathieu was snoring and sleeping deeply, sneaked out of the bedroom. Then she went to a small room that was used as a warehouse. The room was where Anne set up an altar on Fantine¡¯s advice. Of course, from Fantine¡¯s point of view, it was to leave clear evidence of the Duchess¡¯ pagan worship. Anne went to the room, stroked the mother¡¯s wooden statue, and prayed. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Not knowing what was happening inside the house, Mathieu Briem was only trying to put Fabrice on the throne. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 44 *** *** ¡ºUnidentified body found on the banks of the Alir¡» ¡ºAmbush arrest at the base of the unfavourable forces, ¡®Trial in progress¡¯ ¡» ¡º Fire breaks out in slums, Investigation is getting difficult¡» On the 20th, a fire broke out in Lignol, a representative slum district of Lubern. This is the third time following the 12th and 29th of last month. The fire on the 20th caused one death and three serious injuries, and two houses were burned down. While the police are investigating the exact cause of the fire, they are also investigating the connection with the fire that occurred last month. -Claude Betou, Correspondent of Le Monde newspaper Tehez stopped reading the newspaper and looked at her watch. 4 PM. She was tired because she kept looking at the watch and newspaper. She smoothed her eyes with her fingers. She was getting a little tired of the slow progress. The man behind the attack on the Marquis was yet to be caught. Since then, she had been staying up all night, so she must have lost her physical strength, making her feel bloated because she felt too sensitive to anything she ate. She seemed to have lost weight compared to last month, as she was just waiting. This was how the royal physician would nag her again. Shouldn¡¯t she pretend to listen to the royal physician¡¯s advice? She stretched and said, ¡°I¡¯m going for a walk. I¡¯ll be back in an hour.¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t forget to take Yarol with you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tehez left Ellie to do what she was doing for a while. As she picked up her coat to go for a walk, it was also time to call Yarol. ¡°Sir Yarol¡­¡± At that moment, the door swung open, and Danielle came in. Danielle said he had important business today and was out of the palace. ¡°Princess.¡± Tehez looked at Danielle¡¯s face and had a gut feeling that something was wrong. Did he have an accident or catch the culprit who attacked the Marquis? The police investigation was sluggish, so it would be good to hear about the arrest. But seeing Danielle¡¯s face turn white, Tehez thought it wasn¡¯t the news. Tehez put down her coat again and looked at Danielle. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Danielle closed the door and stood without sitting down. ¡°I have something to tell you. Now the Prince is in danger. The Duke of Briem is trying to frame the Prince.¡± Danielle¡¯s lips were trembling a little. Tehez asked after hearing her words, not being able to understand what she said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It is said that the old nobles, including the Duke of Briem, plan to occupy the palace on this eve, driving the Prince to treason, Princess.¡± ¡°What?¡± Thud Tehez felt her heart sink from the edge of the sky. Driving the Prince to treason¡­ It was coming. Tehez¡¯s fingertips became cold as all her blood drained. But she answered calmly so as not to be caught in the agitation. ¡°Tell me in detail.¡± Danielle looked at Tehez with a serious expression and said. ¡°I have confirmed that the Duke of Briem is gathering enlisted men. If you include the enlisted soldiers of the nobles who sympathize with him, it would be well over two thousand.¡± ¡°Soldier¡­¡± Tehez clasped her hands. She then asked Danielle. ¡°Danielle. Where did you hear about it? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Sure. I heard it firsthand from an informant who works in the mansion of the Old Nobility.¡± ¡°Directly.¡± Tehez nodded her head. Then it was reliable. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, Ellie, I¡¯ll have to ask all the girls in the next room to come here. You can sit down for a second.¡± Then Danielle sat down on the sofa. She seemed quite surprised too. ¡°What can we do?¡± Danielle asked Tehez as if worried. Tehez comforted Danielle, whose face had turned white. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. More than that, you don¡¯t look good. Drink some water.¡± At Tehez¡¯s words, Danielle picked up a cup of cold water and drank it. Danielle¡¯s hand was still shaking a little. ¡°I think we should take a look.¡± Tehez¡¯s office filled up when Ellie summoned all her maids from her aide¡¯s office. Her workers looked at her without saying a word, as if they knew the situation was serious. ¡°The Duke of Brie is scheming. He¡¯s gathering soldiers to drive the Prince into treason. It¡¯s said that this last eve is the final day, so there are only two days left. It¡¯s a pity we didn¡¯t know until this happened.¡± ¡°Sorry, Princess.¡± The girls bowed their heads. ¡°It¡¯s not important at this point to judge right or wrong. The important thing is how to turn this around. We have two days. Let¡¯s talk about our progress.¡± Danielle said calmly. ¡°The public opinion situation has not changed much. Support for the decline is growing. At least two people were recruited for each newspaper in the capital.¡± ¡°Next.¡± Then Ellie came forward and answered. ¡°There¡¯s nothing unusual about the temple. Even the priests who claimed to be neutral with the new temple¡¯s construction are conveying the doctrine supporting the First Prince.¡± ¡°Next.¡± ¡°This is about the young girl, Fantine Creon, who is infiltrating as Sarah Mustier, the maid of the Duchess of Briem.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Tehez placed her hand near her neck as if she had just realized something. Then she tapped the handle of the chair with her fingertips. That way would be appropriate. It was a satisfied expression. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Okay, it did. Now it¡¯s time to reap. I¡¯d like you to contact Fantine, who¡¯s been working hard at the Duke of Briem. There will be good news soon.¡± ¡°Okay, Princess.¡± ¡°Danielle.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Report to the temple. There is a pagan in Lubern.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Danielle nodded in reply. At the same time. Olivier and Denis, who were meeting in the secret room of the social club, with nobles who were willing to donate to the academy and medical institutions, someone came up to Denis and whispered. Denis¡¯ expression soon became strange when he heard something, and he asked for understanding from those present. ¡°Would you mind waiting?¡± Then he led Sylvan to a quiet place. ¡°Tell me again.¡± Denis folded his arms and listened to the room. ¡°We have found the man behind the last attack on the Marquis of Ingeliger. Second Prince. We caught an assassin trying to escape the country and got a confession from him.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Denis frowned and said to himself. ¡°Did Fabrice have any contact with the Marquis of Ingeliger?¡± ¡°As the Second Prince has not returned to the palace yet, it is difficult to ascertain the exact situation.¡± A few days ago, Fabrice vacated the palace again and disappeared somewhere. He asked to leave him alone, not for a day or two, but the King was uncomfortable because of Fabrice, who kept making accidents. Dennis confirmed that the King¡¯s face was not good when he met in the tea room yesterday. If this continued, it would be difficult for Fabrice to inherit the throne. Public opinion about Fabrice was also getting worse. That would be a good thing for Denis. Denis thought for a moment before opening his mouth. ¡°Maybe it was because of me.¡± ¡°Or else he has a personal grudge against the Marquis.¡± Sylvan added and replied. ¡°We¡¯ll have to tell Princess about this as well.¡± Now that Fabrice¡¯s plan to attack the Marquis ended in an unsuccessful attempt, it was unknown when he would attack the people related to the Marquis again. He didn¡¯t know if Fabrice could be thrown into prison, but as long as he was the King¡¯s favourite, it was highly likely that he wouldn¡¯t be punished for committing a crime. ¡®It¡¯s been like that all along. Even if you had an accident, didn¡¯t you come back after a moment of self-reflection?¡¯ ¡®If that¡¯s the case, maybe Fabrics will¡­¡¯ ¡®The next target for the Marquis is Tehez¡­¡¯ Denis stopped his thoughts there. He had always lived with the worst in mind, but this was the assumption he didn¡¯t want to think of much. It seemed wrong to think of such an assumption. ¡°And I have one more thing to tell you.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± When Denis blinked, Sylvan hurriedly continued to speak. ¡°After the attack on the Marquis of Ingeliger, there was someone else who cleaned up the scene. It was not the Second Prince, but the Second Prince¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Giselle Lemac.¡± Denis thought for a moment at the unexpected name. ¡®Giselle Lemac? Has she ever been mentioned?¡¯ He recalled his memories. It was the first time her name had come to the surface like this. ¡°It¡¯s surprising. Has there been any investigation into Giselle Lemac?¡± ¡°We are investigating now. But I think she¡¯s been hiding on purpose until now¡­¡± ¡°To what extent?¡± Denis received a word from Sylvan. ¡°She rarely shows up. By the way, her ability is not a clumsy skill of a lady who just made her debut in society. It looks like she has someone to help out on her side.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± It was unexpected. Denis felt a throb in his head. Even with the relationship between Fabrice and the King and the businesses he was promoting, his head was about to explode, and now, the emergence of a new character here¡­ Denis repeatedly thought by being at Fabrice¡¯s level and thought it would not be the former. His younger brother, Fabrice, was only sensitive to his peripheral pleasures, but in other areas, it was average or less than that. Dennis was relentless in his assessment. If so, do the King and Briems, who chose Lemacs, know about this? He thought it wasn¡¯t either. Then he immediately reached out to his wife. Giselle Lemac was Fabrice¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and Tehez is his wife, so in the end, the two were political opponents. ¡°¡­¡± Giselle Lemac, who suddenly revealed her claws, did she reveal her own identity without any plans? Surely there must be some kind of trick. He thought she showed up because she was confident that she would win. Denis stroked his jaw with a serious expression at the sudden flow of logic. When his thoughts reached that point, he immediately wanted to see Tehez. He felt impatient when he thought she might be in danger. Denis wanted to make sure Teherz was safe. No, he had to look at her right away. With his own eyes. Denis said in an urgent voice. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the palace right away.¡± (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 45 *** *** At Denis¡¯ orders, Sylvan ran outside the club to call the coachman. Denis quickly ran into the secret room and announced that today¡¯s meeting was over. Denis¡¯ face turned white. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the palace as soon as possible.¡± He urged the coachman. He didn¡¯t want to suffer anymore. When he lost his mother, he felt the door to the world closed. Every time he overflowed with sadness he couldn¡¯t express, he became disillusioned with the same routine as yesterday. Even though his sky had fallen, morning came the next day. Although his land was quenched, he felt thirsty after weeping. Even if the world was over, life went on horribly. He learned from losing his mother. As he approached Tehez through the darkening streets of the capital, he trembled at a sudden thought. That woman was the meaning of his life. She opened the closed door and realized that she had rebuilt his broken world. That¡¯s what she did. Tehez did it. Denis felt as if he was about to lose his mind at the thoughts that came down like the voice of God. Then everything made sense. The fact that he was able to sleep comfortably only by Tehez¡¯s side The fact that she doesn¡¯t say anything to him, but he still finds his comfort in her. When he saw her talking to the other man, he found himself unbearably angry. And the fact that the emotion was jealousy. Finally, as if he was facing a completed puzzle, Denis could fully understand his feelings. As he acknowledged his feelings, he felt his heart pound. ¡°We have arrived-¡± Before the coachman could announce their arrival, Denis jumped out and ran to Tehez¡¯s palace. ¡®Why does her place feel so far?¡¯ Bump- When he opened the door, the girls and the woman were talking in a serious atmosphere. The woman who saw him suddenly approached him said with a smile. ¡°You just came. Let me tell you something about the Duke of Briem¡­¡± Denis ran to the woman walking toward him, grabbed her urgently, and hugged her to death. ¡°Oh!¡± Each of the girls turned their heads in surprise. ¡°Prince¡­¡± The woman groaned in his arms as if in embarrassment. Denis hugged her tighter to keep her from escaping. ¡°There are a lot of people watching, Prince¡­¡± ¡°Tehez, are you hurt?¡± He scanned her body thoroughly with his eyes. ¡°There is none. Why are you here all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I thought I might lose you.¡± Tehez stuttered at his calm but candid confession. ¡°Why, why do you think that¡­?¡± Denis cut off Tehez¡¯s question and said while looking at her eyes that reminded him of the sea. ¡°Tehez, you are my world.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Tehez asked with a blank voice. ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°Oh, my God¡­¡± ¡°Quiet and go out quickly!¡± Danielle led the girls who were watching the two and left the office. Then, in the quiet room, Tehez said with her blushing face. ¡°Please let go. Prince¡­ As you can see, I¡¯m not hurt at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°Then let go now.¡± Denis said in a playful tone as he watched Tehez keep trying to get away from him. ¡°Why, is there something urgent?¡± ¡°The Duke of Briem is now-¡± She had to tell him the Duke of Briem was gathering enlisted men to attack him. ¡°You keep calling other men¡¯s names in front of me?¡± Denis¡¯ voice filled with laughter, and Tehez didn¡¯t say anything. Confused, Tehez turned his words around. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°No, not at all. I just wanted to see you.¡± Dennis was saying that he missed her with a casual face. ¡°¡­¡± Denis hugged her even tighter as Tehez, unable to find her words to respond, kept twisting her body to get away from him. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. Unless there¡¯s something urgent, just stay like this for a while, hmm?¡± ¡°¡­¡± As she remained silent, Denis poured kisses on her cheeks. ¡°Huh? You smell nice.¡± Denis put his nose in the pulsating spot between her ears and neck and breathed in. Warm body temperature and familiar smell. Tehez¡¯s smell calmed the soaring anxiety. Instead, other emotions sprang up. Dennis tenderly tucked her side hair behind her ears and looked at her. ¡°Tehez. When I smell you, I get excited like a dog every time.¡± ¡°Prince, what do you mean¡­?¡± He ruffled her hair and stroked her cheek with his fingertips. Then he carefully grabbed the woman¡¯s neck and sucked on her earlobe. ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Feeling strange, the woman twisted her body. A small bloody mark appeared on the woman¡¯s earlobe. He raised his hand and touched her ear. It was small. The woman raised her hand in embarrassment and restrained his hand. The woman¡¯s hand was small. Her stature was also small. ¡®Why is this woman so small in every corner?¡¯ ¡°How can they be so small?¡± Denis said with a new look. ¡°Some are not small.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Ah, my chest¡­¡± The woman bowed her head in embarrassment even after she said it. Denis laughed out loud at the woman¡¯s answer. ¡°Right. It¡¯s not small there. I missed them.¡± Denis placed a hand on the woman¡¯s left chest. The woman¡¯s heart was beating so fast. ¡°This is my second favourite place in your body.¡± ¡°Where is the first one?¡± The woman asked, seemingly confused. Denis said meaningfully. ¡°You know that. Why are you asking, Madam?¡± Denis winked. ¡°Ah.¡± Tehez¡¯s face turned red as if it was about to explode. ¡°That is my favourite place. Does Madam like it too?¡± Tehez asked him blankly, ¡°What?¡± She looked so cute that Denis wanted to swallow her in one bite. ¡°Does Madam like what I like?¡± ¡°¡­Why are you asking such a thing?¡± He replied with a smirk. ¡°Why do I ask? I want to do something I like.¡± Dennis pushed her to the sofa. Being thrown vaguely on the sofa, Tehez tried to stop Denis. ¡°Prince!¡± ¡°¡®We must not do this here¡¯ is forbidden, Madam. Because we¡¯ve done the same here before.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But if you¡¯re going to say that, I¡¯ll take you off and carry it to your bedroom. What do you think?¡± Denis put his arms on her waist as he spoke, and Tehez, lying on the sofa, looked up at him silently and sighed. Then, as if resigning, she took off her shoes. When she took off her shoes, her small feet were exposed. Denis then smiled brightly, loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. ¡°Good idea, Madam.¡± Then he got down on his knees and took off Tehez¡¯s stockings. The woman¡¯s white legs were exposed. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Denis wanted to stain the woman¡¯s pure white skin quickly. He smiled charmingly while hiding that desire. It was the smile that made the women of the capital fall in love with him. ¡°The last time¡­ did you like the teasing?¡± Tehez patted his head. From the last time, she felt she was getting caught up in his performance since last time. ¡°But how about this? It¡¯s paid today.¡± ¡°¡­How much?¡± Denis answered Tehez with a nod of his head. ¡°Ten Louis¡± Tehez was also assimilated by his serious expression. ¡°Can¡¯t I get a discount?¡± ¡°That would be difficult. Today, I will take you to a special course.¡± Tehez burst into laughter involuntarily at the nobleman¡¯s manipulation. Denis was combing Tehez¡¯s hair with his fingers. It was after he made a fuss on the sofa and went to the bedroom. Tehez was receiving his touch like a languid cat. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°Do you remember? The last time¡­¡± Denis did not finish his sentence and dragged on. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The guy I met.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± Tehez didn¡¯t quite understand why he was mentioning Sasha¡¯s name now, as it had been a while since she met Sasha. ¡°Well.¡± Denis didn¡¯t speak. But it seemed clear that he had something to say. ¡°Say it, Prince.¡± She raised her body and looked into his eyes. His green eyes, which she loved very much. ¡°Did you date him at the academy?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, you can be honest with me. Because I am not the type of person, who clings to and dwells on my wife¡¯s past.¡± ¡°Oh, no! What!¡± ¡°Ah, did my wife like him?¡± ¡°What?¡± Tehez was getting more and more confused by his words, out of context. ¡°Oh, of course, I don¡¯t mind if you liked that kind of baby¡­ No, but I think of that man. I still remember him clearly. He¡¯s shorter than me, not to mention his face, he¡¯s kind of smarter than me, right? Is that what you like? He¡¯s an employee of the Ministry of Justice. So, was the exam a little easier these days? He could pass the Academy award.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez looked at him, speechless by his ridiculous misunderstanding. She couldn¡¯t even imagine that the words would come out at this moment. And top of the list. Would the word ¡®dummy¡¯ fit? Tehez, who was only the second-in-command at the academy at the time, was angry at his words, but she did not respond. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Look, you¡¯re not answering. You¡¯re saying it¡¯s all real, right? You don¡¯t answer when you¡¯re in trouble. Even though I¡¯m telling you to. Anyway, the bottom line is that he and you were in some kind of relationship at the academy!¡± Eventually, he made it a fait accompli that Tehez and Sasha had some kind of relationship. It was rather fortunate that he could not put into words what the woman was doing with the man in his imagination. Tehez sneaked a smile. Then she put her hand on Dennis¡¯ upper body. As she put her hand on his sweat-slippery chest, she could feel his heart beating fast. Denis¡¯ temperature soon heated up as she touched his chest. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± It was a hoarse voice. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± He strongly denied it. ¡°Is it not?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then how would you explain this behaviour now?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Denis couldn¡¯t keep up with her. He answered after a while. ¡°I¡¯m cracking down on my wife¡¯s conduct. My wife is a Princess, and I am a Prince. You have to keep your face and dignity.¡± It was an excuse she used to make to Dennis. ¡°Face and dignity.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Denis shut his mouth and nodded, as if it were true. He seemed to have made up his mind to do so. Tehez bit her lip to hold back the laughter that was about to come out. ¡°All right. I will act so as not to damage the face and dignity of a Princess, Prince.¡± ¡°¡­Good.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not really jealous. Are you saying you¡¯re cracking down on my conduct?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then can I see Sasha in the future?¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯ve explained it just now.¡± ¡°As I said, Sasha is my colleague, and we can meet so I don¡¯t lose face and dignity. It doesn¡¯t matter if we meet for business.¡± ¡°I mean, wh-¡± Denis didn¡¯t answer. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± Denis reluctantly agreed. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Denis wanted to ask if she really had nothing to do with Sasha. ¡®Are you planning on doing that in the future?¡¯ ¡®No, do you mean that you don¡¯t intend to?¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± The couple¡¯s dream of frostbite was deepening. Then, there was a knock on the door outside the bedroom. ¡°Prince, Are you done with the urgent work?¡± It was the muffled voice of Sylvan. Tehez got up, as if her mind had returned. ¡°Oh!¡± As Tehez tried to answer her, Denis raised his hand and stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Wait.¡± Hearing his answer, there was silence outside the bedroom for a while. ¡°Princess.¡± Soft calling. This time it was Danielle. It was Danielle¡¯s voice when she was forcing herself to hold back her anger. The voice that she usually made when she ran into a gentleman she had met before. Tehez jumped up and hurriedly put on her clothes. It was not the time. ¡°I am coming out. Just give me some time.¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll give you 20 minutes, so hurry up and come out.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tehez turned her back and said to him, ¡°Prince, please help me fasten the button on the back.¡± She told him, wearing new stockings instead of the stockings he threw in her office. Denis was looking at her while she was still [email protected] ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez informed him of the urgency first. ¡°The Duke of Briem is gathering enlisted men. It looks like he plans to hold the Prince for treason.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. Tehez, I have something to tell you too.¡± Denis finally got up and put on her clothes at her words. ¡°It was Fabrice who attacked the Marquis of Ingeliger, and Giselle Lemac took care of it.¡± ¡°¡­I see, alright.¡± Tehez bluntly answered his words. Denis glanced at her face, and he stroked her hair. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go to work, Madam.¡± Denis put on all her clothes, reached out to her, and locked the buttons. Then he extended his hand to her. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Tehez took his hand and went outside. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 46 *** *** Mathieu Briem was on his way out after work. Around the corner, he could see the familiar Briem mansion, and there was something unusual about it. A group of people surrounded the mansion, and the lights in the mansion¡¯s rooms were all lit up. ¡°What is this? Huh?¡± Mathieu hurried out of the carriage. Then the man, talking to the men dressed as Holy Knights, turned his head, plodded up and stood in front of Mathieu. A large body with an intense look, thorn bushes and snakes embroidered on the chest in a white priest¡¯s robe. He was a heretic inquisitor. With a stern expression, the heretic inquisitor stepped forward and spoke to him. ¡°Mathieu Briem.¡± No one has been so blunt to him, who had lived as a noble all his life. The heretic inquisitor already spoke as if he had branded the Duke a heretic. ¡°You must go with me to the temple now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been informed there is a heretic in the Duke¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°In my house?¡± Unable to understand, Mathieu looked around him with a puzzled expression. He needed an explanation of what was happening, but no one came forward. All the users were looking at the ground. The most normal-looking of them was the butler. ¡°Let me explain.¡± Just as the butler was about to speak, the holy knights bound the Duchess and escorted her. ¡°Honey!¡± Upon seeing his wife bound, Mathieu ran out and tried to separate her from the holy knights. ¡°What should I do, honey?¡± When he saw his tearful wife, Mathieu came to his senses. He ordered the chief of the Knights. ¡°Fernan! Hold on to the wicked.¡± ¡°Go!¡± As Fernan beckoned, the knights behind him drew their swords in unison. Then the holy knights pulled out their swords without losing. It was a ferocious atmosphere as if there would be a war soon. The Knight Commander of the Holy Knights shouted. ¡°Duke Briem! Are you really trying to fight against the temple? Drop your weapon and surrender!¡± Meanwhile, the Duchess was put in a convoy wagon. ¡°Honey! Honey!¡± There were two convoy wagons, and one of them was covered with cushions on a sitting chair, so the Duchess and the Duke of Briem seemed to ride with the holy knights. The other was a wagon that could load several people at once, and it was a big one. A wooden plank chair was attached to the wall, and the people of the mansion were carried there. After all the users in the wagon had entered, the castle driver closed the wooden board door and locked it with a lock. Heretic Inquisitor said to Mathieu. ¡°The evidence of pagan worship was found in the mansion. The Duke is also suspected of being a heretic and needs to be interrogated. Get in.¡± The Knight opened the back door of the divided carriage. The Duchess was in the front, and Mathieu was in the back. He could hear Anne crying and complaining in front of him. The Knight winked at Mathieu as if to get in the carriage. At his attitude, Mathieu said, glaringly. ¡°I¡¯ll have to meet the Pope and hear what he says.¡± ¡°The Holy Father is not idle enough to care about these things.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go after meeting the King.¡± Then the Paladin laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that the temple and the royal family don¡¯t interfere with each other¡¯s affairs? Heresy interrogation is the exclusive right of the temple. Even the King cannot escape.¡± ¡°Then, if you can give me a few days¡­¡± The Paladin did not respond to Mathieu¡¯s words and signalled at the open door. It seemed to mean ride, not to talk bullsh!t. ¡°¡­¡± No Pope, no King. First of all, should he listen to what they say? Mathieu stared at the Paladin without a word in front of the door. ¡°We must find out what this is all about. If my innocence is proven, I will surely make you regret having treated me like this, the Duke of this country.¡± The Paladin snorted and nodded as if he would see. There was no way that the Duke himself could get out of this where the users were already captured. Mathieu got into the wagon. The door was closed. Mathieu couldn¡¯t get rid of the idea that he had fallen into a trap. The Holy Knights dragged him into the dark underground, deep in the central temple. The knights who put him down locked the door and went out. Individual interrogations seemed to take place. One desk and two chairs. The unventilated basement created a damp and filthy feeling. A dark room with no light coming in. Then, he heard someone strolling in. Every time it walked, there was a terrible sound. The door opened, and a long shadow appeared. The man walked around and turned on the gas lamp. Suddenly exposed to the bright fire, Mathieu frowned. At one point, he couldn¡¯t see well. He forced one of his eyes open and looked in front of him. A man with a stern expression with a long scar on his left eyebrow. He was a heretic inquisitor. The Inquisitor pulled out his chair and sat in front of Mathieu. ¡°How are you, the Duke of Briem? I¡¯m an interrogator, Priest Brodell.¡± Fortunately, he was a priest who introduced himself like the most normal person he met today. ¡°Interrogator? Let me know what¡¯s going on with this. I am innocent.¡± The priest snorted at Mathieu¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you whether you¡¯re innocent or not. If you answer my questions correctly, you should be able to get out safely.¡± It was the warning not to enter the tip of his sword. ¡°Did you know that there were heretics in the mansion?¡± ¡°Pagans? That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯ve been faithful all my life serving Nate¡­¡± ¡°Only answer the questions asked, Duke.¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Has the Duchess never acted suspiciously?¡± ¡°You mean my wife? She¡¯s a coward, so she usually goes outside the house only when-¡± ¡°Duke, answer the question.¡± The priest¡¯s words were getting shorter and shorter. ¡°It was as usual.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that the Duchess set up a pagan altar?¡± A pagan altar?! Mathieu jumped up and shook his hand. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Not at all! I never knew.¡± Mathieu wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The priest had a dissatisfied face. ¡°If you say you don¡¯t know everything, this won¡¯t work. You¡¯ll be in prison for a while until you get your mind straightened out.¡± ¡°What do you mean prison?!¡± Already that priest was questioning him as a pagan. It was the first time he had heard all of this, so he wanted to know what was happening. When the priest went out, the big men came in and took him somewhere. It looked like the prison the priest said. It was a dark, gloomy, and humid place. A stone floor with no chairs. Trapped in prison, Mathieu was on the verge of going crazy. Mathieu, who was imprisoned, said to the guard. ¡°Let me meet someone. I mean, I¡¯m innocent!¡± However, the guard did not budge at Mathieu¡¯s call. He was already old and had never been treated so harshly before, and he lost his energy in an instant. ¡°Cough!¡± After staying up all night in prison, the priest he saw yesterday came to revisit him. Mathieu said while holding the priest¡¯s hand. ¡°Please get me out of here. Please?¡± ¡°Would you like to make a statement, Duke?¡± ¡°Oh, of course.¡± Eventually, after being released from prison overnight, Mathieu was reunited with Brodell, the heretic interrogator priest. Mathieu asked in a polite tone. ¡°Sir. It¡¯s disgusting, but¡­ I can only ask for one thing. Exactly what was found in my house¡­? It¡¯s definitely the first time I¡¯ve heard of it¡­¡± The priest nodded his head, took a few photos from the file folder and threw them at Mathieu. Mathieu politely reached out his hand and looked at the picture the priest had thrown at him. In the blurry picture, something like a podium was visible. There were all kinds of things on it, and there was a red liquid that looked like blood. ¡°¡­¡± Mathieu swallowed his dry saliva and looked at the other picture. The following picture was taken of an open book in an unknown language. The cover of the book was somehow familiar. It was the book the Duchess had read in bed before. ¡°Hah¡­¡± There were a few more photos behind them, but they were similar. Unidentified clothes, canes, animal skulls, etc. There was nothing more to see. There were pagans in his house. Mathieu was well aware of the punishment of pagans. It¡¯s because he had sent his political opponent to silence, accusing them of being heretics on several occasions. Death. The only end of paganism was death. There was a verse in the doctrine of Nateism that apostates should be punished with death. Seeing Mathieu¡¯s pale face, the priest took the pictures. He then said it as if it were a bummer. ¡°Can you answer me properly now, Duke?¡± ¡°¡­I will.¡± Although Mathieu answered bluntly, inwardly, he shook his head fiercely. At that time. Elliot was welcoming guests. ¡°Do you mean a report has been filed?¡± Eliot said, bringing a cup full of golden liquid to his mouth. There seemed to be no expression on his face. Indifference, that was all. Again, the person sitting in front of him looked more anxious. ¡°That¡¯s right. As you know, the pagans¡­¡± ¡°It is only death.¡± Having said that, Eliot put down his glass and looked at the Bishop sitting in front of him. ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°¡­The fact that a pagan priest is in the palace seems to have spread. And in the Duke of Briem¡¯s mansion, there were a lot of pagan worshippers.¡± The Bishop added things that Eliot did not ask. Then Eliot frowned and said, ¡°Everyone is interested in the King¡¯s private life. There has never been more than one woman in my palace.¡± Elliot remembered Sherazad, who had run away. He treated her so well, but it had been several days since she disappeared without a word. In disgrace, he downplayed Sherazad, a pagan priest. As if she was on the same level as the women who warmed the bed for the night ¡°And what did I have to do with what happened to the Duke of Briem?¡± The Bishop frowned at the sight of Eliot drawing a line with the case of the Duke of Briem. ¡°I heard that the pagan priest in the main palace instigated the Duke¡¯s people. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Elliot shook his head without changing his expression. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know anything about it. There¡¯s a woman I¡¯ve been looking for lately, but she¡¯s gone.¡± The Bishop said with suspicion. ¡°Your Majesty didn¡¯t make her disappear, did he?¡± It was a question of suspicions that he had dealt with her before becoming a source of trouble. ¡°No way. I am innocent before Nate.¡± Elliot said that far and stroked his chin. The Bishop looked at Eliot and said. ¡°First, hand over the handling of the missing pagan priest to the temple. Then we will take care of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She had made me quite happy, I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Bishop drank the tea without answering. He had no desire to hear the King¡¯s nightlife. The Bishop thought only how much he would ask the King for the cost of disposing of the heretics. How can he say that without disturbing the king¡¯s feelings¡­? ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I made a sacrifice to the temple. As I get older, I keep forgetting.¡± The Bishop replied with a smirk. ¡°It doesn¡¯t even matter. You still look young like a boy.¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯m all old now, and I¡¯ll have to stay healthy until Julien comes of age.¡± The King shook his head. For a moment, he looked like an ordinary father, not a King of a country. If this was acting, it was clear that Elliot was a great actor. ¡°So, I am going to offer prayers to the temple for the health and peace of the royal family.¡± ¡°How much is enough?¡± As expected, the King was the King. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The Bishop smiled broadly and offered the king the sum demanded by the pope. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 47 *** *** At dawn, an unusual sight in Denis¡¯ office. Tehez and Denis were sitting there doing nothing. No one spoke openly, but the room was full of tension. Knock A knock was heard. ¡°Princess, this is Danielle.¡± Tehez jumped up and answered. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°The Duke of Briem is said to be struggling quite a bit in his interrogation. And it was revealed that he had secretly gathered enlisted men in the mansion, and the charge of treason was also added to him. Whether it was the temple or the royal family as the reason for keeping him alive¡­ they won¡¯t be able to help at the moment.¡± ¡°He must have been out of the King¡¯s sight for collecting enlisted men.¡± Danielle answered Tehez¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s right, and it¡¯s clear evidence of treason. Even if he is released from the temple safely in any case, the King will not let him die in peace.¡± Either way, the Duke of Briem was meant to be dead. Whether by the temple or by the King. ¡°And Sarah Mustier will be released after the inquest, as I told the temple beforehand.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Tehez sighed with relief. ¡°And¡­.¡± Danielle was going to say something more. ¡°The King has been released from the trap. The temple is looking for the Haz priest. Sarah Mustier will be released from the temple, but the priest is a big deal. So, they will be sure to catch her.¡± Tehez turned to Danielle. ¡°Where is Sherazad now?¡± ¡°The search team hasn¡¯t left the capital yet.¡± Tehez recalled the first day she met Sherazad. After telling Jacques to find a suitable person, Sherazad was chosen after much deliberation. When bringing in Sherazad, Tehez didn¡¯t say she was guaranteed her life. She also warned in advance that it would be tough. Blinded by revenge, however, she seemed unconcerned. Even so, Tehez was going to send Sherazad back safely. She had to get her feet off faster. Tehez told Danielle. ¡°Help Sherazad hide well for the time being.¡± ¡°Yes, I see. Princess, this time¡­ I¡¯m sorry for not being good at handling things. The King had to be monitored more closely.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please punish me.¡± Then Ellie, next to Daniel, dissuaded her and said, ¡°No. It was my job, so please punish me.¡± Both Danielle and Ellie were silently bowing their heads. ¡°Both of you go out. I need time to think.¡± ¡°Okay, Princess.¡± It was an opportunity to let both the King and the Duke of Briem go away. Though she couldn¡¯t back it up, she thought she could give him a blow. Tehez looked down at Denis¡¯ face. ¡®Is he sad?¡¯ Even after hearing the news of the King, his face remained unchanged. Denis got up and rubbed her shoulder as Tehez frowned with a headache. ¡°Are not you tired?¡± ¡°¡­A little bit.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you close your eyes?¡± Tehez looked out the window. It was already dawning. ¡°More than that¡­.¡± Teherz put things that had to be done together in her head. ¡°I can see that you have a lot of thoughts.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Tehez answered bluntly. Denis got up from his chair and opened the window. The air from the stuffy room was driven out, and fresh air came in. The air on her cheeks was cold. Autumn was coming to an end. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot of work.¡± At Denis¡¯ words, Tehez looked up at him. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You can take it slow.¡± When Tehez heard those words, she felt a little choked up. ¡°No one is after you.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Shall we start with breakfast? I heard a rumour. My wife doesn¡¯t eat much.¡± Denis closed the window meticulously again, and held out his hand to her. ¡°Shall we check whether the rumours are true or not?¡± Tehez took hold of his warm hand. It seemed that everything would be resolved if she held this hand. Denis fiddled with Teherz¡¯s fingers. It was ticklish. Tehez let out a small laugh involuntarily. His words were right. First of all, after eating, you will have good thoughts. As Tehez was about to get up from her seat, a knock was heard outside. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Prince, His Majesty the King is asking you to have lunch together.¡± The man was the king¡¯s servant. He bowed to Denis and said so. Denis pondered for a moment, then spoke up. ¡°¡­Today?¡± ¡°Yes, and¡­¡± The servant glanced at Tehez and continued. ¡°His Majesty the King has asked the Princess to come along, too.¡± ¡°Are you talking about me?¡± Tehez was surprised that the King had invited her to a meal for the first time, and questioned the man. ¡°Yes. His Majesty said, ¡®I haven¡¯t seen your face for a long time. I miss you.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez and Denis both looked at each other with questionable expressions. However, since the servant was waiting for an answer in front of them, they only exchanged glances. ¡°We will come.¡± ¡°Okay, Prince.¡± The servant walked out of the room. As the door closed, Denis called for Tehez. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± ¡°It could be that he¡¯s aware of something.¡± Denis¡¯ expression, saying that, looked somewhat wretched. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Denis looked at Tehez without saying a word. Then he tucked Tehez¡¯s hair back carefully. ¡°I¡¯ll change my dress.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Tehez had a lot of things piled up in front of her, but she decided to put off thinking and focus on the King¡¯s luncheon. *** Denis and Tehez, invited to the dining hall, greeted the King. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time.¡± When Elliot pointed the finger at Tehez, Tehez responded politely. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to see you in a while because I¡¯m shy. I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. Please scold me for my shortcomings.¡± The King waved his hand as if he didn¡¯t care. ¡°You must have been busy. I¡¯m an old man with a lot of time. Sit down.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Hearing a rebuke from Elliot before she could even sit down, Tehez panicked and forgot her response. Normally, the King was indifferent wherever she went, whatever she was doing. That¡¯s why Tehez kept a moderate distance and only said hello from time to time. In the atmosphere that dropped down in an instant, Elliot suggested a seat again as if he knew nothing. ¡°Come on, sit down. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± As Denis and Tehez sat down, the splendid food came in one by one. Beef stew, butter-grilled fish, risotto with cheese and cream¡­ All of them were too much food to eat for breakfast. Tehez, who was naturally a light eater, paused for a moment when she saw the greasy food, but smiled softly. Elliot first picked up the tableware and began to eat the food in front of them. Denis and Tehez also silently ate the food set in front of them. New dishes were coming in, and some were cleared out. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Elliot was quietly chewing the food. Tehez looked at Elliot. It was time to talk. Only then did Elliot put down the tableware, wipe his mouth meticulously, and say, ¡°I can¡¯t even get in touch with Fabrice. When did he grow up so old?¡± Previously, Fabrice could not be reached because he often stayed up at casinos or social clubs for days. Denis replied expressionlessly. ¡°He must have been tired from the engagement. He¡¯ll be back after a good rest. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Julien had been well enough to ride a horse not too long ago, but his condition has gotten worse again these days.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because of his insolence. So one child is selfish, the youngest is sick¡­¡± Elliot said bitterly. But even in the midst of those worries, there was no concern for Denis at all. Tehez was quick to speak. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Your Grace. Your reign in Valloise history will remain as peaceful as ever.¡± ¡°No, I have no face to see the face of the late King. The lives of the common people are getting harder and harder.¡± Tehez replied hurriedly. ¡°Many people were impressed by Your Majesty¡¯s speech at the World¡¯s Fair. Don¡¯t feel weak, and stay strong, Your Majesty.¡± Elliot¡¯s lament was, of course, close to the truth. The sharp rise in tax rates sparked outrage among commoners. Those who complained were labelled as disgruntled forces that rebelled against the royal family, and all were captured. That¡¯s how he managed to keep the grudges at bay. ¡°Besides, I haven¡¯t seen the heir of the royal family for several years, so if this isn¡¯t my fault, what is it then?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tehez, who had been answering like a flowing stream of water, clenched her mouth as if she was speechless for a moment. Denis answered Elliot¡¯s words bluntly. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s probably because I¡¯m lacking. It¡¯s not the Princess¡¯ fault.¡± ¡°Really? What are you lacking?¡± Elliot looked at Denis, his eyes lit up. Denis put the dishes down and wiped his mouth. Then he looked at Elliot and said, ¡°¡­It must be because of my lack of everything, including my bloodline.¡± He ended up getting those words out of his mouth. It was a bad hobby. Self-criticism. Tehez lost her appetite and looked down at the little plate in front of her, which was barely running out of food. The food she had not touched was oozing with fat. Tehez rinsed her mouth with water and looked at the King with a squint. Elliot, who had already finished the meal, had a confident expression as if he was satisfied now. He looked at Denis, spinning his whiskey glass. ¡°Uh-huh¡­ Is my blood not flowing in you? That¡¯s not right.¡± But it was a light tone that was not comforting at all. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Denis bowed his head. ¡°There are so many things to be sorry about! It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Elliot took a sip of whiskey. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I made an offering to the temple for the first time in a long time.¡± It was a sudden change of topic. But Denis answered back in an unabashed manner. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I did. And I prayed.¡± ¡°What did you pray?¡± ¡°I offered offerings and prayers for the health and peace of the royal family. Since I did it generously, wouldn¡¯t Nate be moved and not respond?¡± ¡°¡­ You¡¯ll get a response.¡± ¡°Yes, I should.¡± Elliot smiled contentedly. ¡°The truth is, I don¡¯t really believe in God.¡± At Elliot¡¯s unexpected confession, Denis and Tehez looked up. ¡°I had a dream since I was young.¡± Elliot spoke out to himself. ¡®Is he drunk on a few glasses of whiskey?¡¯ Tehez looked at Elliot. ¡°A dream to be a King. But I was the Fifth Prince. It was hard and difficult for me to become a King, as hard as picking the stars in the sky. So, I begged. God, let me be King. But¡­.¡± Elliot, who said so far, looked far away as if he recalled the past. ¡°But it was not God who made me the King. It was money. Most people say when you have enormous wealth, you get the things you have in your mind. Isn¡¯t it fun?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I believe in what I see. Faith, belief, and truth are weak. It can disappear at any time without a trace.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± asked Denis. ¡°Of course, knowing that¡­ there were also times when I had vain beliefs and foolish thoughts.¡± Elliot¡¯s face had a hint of remorse when he said that. ¡°I was betrayed again, and I was betrayed again. Even by a single woman!¡± Looking at Elliot holding his glass distortedly, Tehez knew he was speaking of Sherazad. Elliot¡¯s anger seemed deep. ¡°True love, and the invisible thing called immortality.¡± Tehez was inwardly surprised. She knew that Sherazad had done her job well, but she was surprised because Elliot did not truly believe in immortality. Besides, seeing him reveal such a candid truth was amazing. Elliot, who said so, was looking at Denis and his reaction. He seemed to be trying to test how Denis would respond to his words. Teherz carefully straightened her face. Elliot looked like he knew there was no way he could be driven into a pagan by the temple. Surely the negotiations with the temple were over. Tehez noticed Elliot¡¯s face. A face full of confidence and conviction that would not be caught even if Tehez reported him as a pagan. ¡°I¡¯m old now, too. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m being played with such a smooth talk.¡± Elliot said bitterly, turning over the whisky. ¡°The most important thing in life is wealth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If I were to step down later.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Father will always be there.¡± Denis stopped him with a gesture. It was a nasty temperament. In this way, he was always trying to get the upper hand in the relationship by crushing Denis. Even though he was the father, how could he treat Denis and Fabrice differently? Tehez sighed inwardly. She learned that Denis had lived on such a tightrope every day. Tehez felt so when she saw the conversation between Denis and the King in front of her eyes. ¡°No, there¡¯s not much time left. I can tell. If I were to step down. I have a wish. Will you listen to it?¡± Elliot looked at Denis with bitter eyes. ¡°That is not going to happen. However, if it is father¡¯s wish, I can even grant even an immoral resuscitation.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ I¡¯m thinking of going to live in Herzan.¡± ¡°¡­What are you talking about?¡± Denis asked back. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a country where music, art and literature flourished? They don¡¯t have much interaction with Valloise yet. I want to live my remaining life close to art.¡± Herzan¡­ [T/N: In case you have forgotten ¨C after graduating from the academy, Olivier was expected to inherit the Count, but he unexpectedly left for Herzan to study (chapter 28)] The name of the country mentioned unexpectedly by the King was engraved in his head, and the King wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it for no reason. Tehez thought it was certainly a remark for a reason. ¡°Please do not mention it. Until the descendants of the royal family run around in the garden of the main palace, father, please keep the centre.¡± ¡°¡­Children.¡± Elliot looked at Denis for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re right. I had a foolish idea for a moment.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°I guess everyone¡¯s finished eating. Do you want to go to the tea room with me?¡± At that time, the King¡¯s servant came out and told him that he had an audience soon. ¡°Oh, my God. I must have forgotten again. Tell him I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The King said in a voice of regret. ¡°Let¡¯s have this kind of time more often. It¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Yes, we will.¡± As the King rose from his chair, a young maid behind him put on his coat. Denis and Tehez also stood up and said their greetings. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Elliot strode to the tea room without looking at them. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 48 *** *** Mathieu was nervous. The execution will be carried out next week, and he couldn¡¯t die without accomplishing anything like this. He couldn¡¯t close his eyes in vain without fulfilling his daughter¡¯s wish. Whenever the Heretic Inquisitor questioned him, Mathieu said with a desperate look. ¡°Let me meet the Pope.¡± But the priest refused with a cold face. ¡°The Holy Father is praying right now, so no one can meet him.¡± ¡°No, then, the King!¡± Then the priest snorted and said, ¡°Where is the King who wants to meet pagan? Wake up, Duke of Briem.¡± The priest looked at Mathieu and smiled. For a moment, Mathieu¡¯s face contorted. Mathieu paced around the prison. He had to find a way. Then he heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind. Mathieu was convinced that he was the one who came to save him. The steps stopped in front of Mathieu¡¯s prison. Mathieu raised his eyes and looked into the face of the visitor. He was the king¡¯s servant. A man who has served the King for decades and knows every inch of his heart. ¡®That¡¯s enough.¡¯ Mathieu thought Yes, the King can¡¯t abandon him recklessly. He must put Fabrice on the throne. The biggest force supporting Fabrice was the Duke of Briem. Mathieu said, clasping his hands tightly, looking at the visitor. ¡°Why are you here so late? How long have I waited!¡± A shrill voice came out. The servant said, ¡°Duke of Briem.¡± It was a cold voice. ¡°His Highness was very angry, but he has shown mercy, and said that he will not bring charges of treason.¡± Mathieu eagerly waited for the words to come out of the servant¡¯s mouth. ¡°But there is clear evidence that the Duke worshipped paganism. He said he would leave it to the judgment of the temple.¡± ¡°What?¡± Knowing that the end of the pagan was death, Mathieu was not pleased with his words. Mathieu shouted and caught the servant who was about to go back after saying that. ¡°Let me out of here! If you let me out, I can explain everything to the King.¡± Then the servant turned and looked at him with contempt. ¡°Duke of Briem. Thank his highness for his mercy. For all pagan worship, you are a sinner who deserves to die. Don¡¯t expect salvation, admitting to your sin is a way to die without being disgraced?¡± Having said that, the servant turned and went away. Mathieu shouted and called the servant. ¡°Hey! Look at me!¡± But the servant never looked back. Admit your sins¡­ Mathieu was embarrassed. Mathieu recalled the wealth, power, and honour in his hands, and he was the one who had it all. And he was going to have greater power as a close relative of the King in the future. However, from the moment he was driven to paganism, things in his hands escaped like grains of sand. If he was driven to paganism, his title and property would be confiscated. And it will be a supreme disgrace to be called a pagan in the religion of Valloise, Nateism. What about this power? Mathieu made a mockery of his situation. There was no news from the old nobles who were quite close to him. Those who tried so hard to show him a face. For Mathieu, their betrayal was more humiliating than the King¡¯s refusal. ¡°I cannot die here. I must not die here¡­¡± Mathieu¡¯s mournful self-talk echoed through the dark dungeon. *** Giselle was lost in thought. The most important thing in order for Fabrice to ascend to the throne was to deal with the First Prince. In fact, what was more urgent than that was to remove the risk factor. First Princess, Tehez Ingeliger. As all the schemes were coming out from there, it would be easier to bring the First Princess down. She had to deal with Tehez first. Wasn¡¯t it her fault that Fabrice and her family were in danger? If she thought about her future, she must not leave that woman alone. If so, in what way? At that moment, a knock was heard. ¡°Miss, this is Anghel.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Anghel bowed respectfully, and held out a folder to Giselle. ¡°This is the report of the investigation of the First Princess you mentioned.¡± ¡°Thank you, Anghel. It came out sooner than I expected.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss. We did it as quickly as possible.¡± The bandage was still wrapped around Anghel¡¯s forehead, but he was full of energy. Giselle smiled sweetly and fluttered the file folder. ¡°The youngest daughter of the Marquis of Ingeliger. Can we use Marquis of Ingeliger as bait?¡± Giselle spoke to herself, and Anghel answered. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. The Marquis is unconscious, so it will be hard to have our hands on him¡­ the Marquis has been abusing the Princess since she was young, so she might not have a close bond with her father. But on the contrary, she likes him from the bottom of her heart, but she might let him go.¡± ¡°Oh, dear¡­.¡± Giselle said in a voice of no pity. ¡°Then what about the First Prince?¡± ¡°After the disappearance of Prince Fabrice, their alertness has been strengthened. No access.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I should have planted a spy sooner.¡± ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t think of that. The preparations for the engagement ceremony¡­¡± Anghel scratched his head and said sorry. Anghel was also mobilized at Giselle¡¯s engagement ceremony and worked on shredding his bones. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks In line with Giselle¡¯s taste, who has been picky in everything, there were many items that were not available in Valloise, so he had to stay up all night every day. As a result, he was able to celebrate the engagement with Giselle wearing a diamond necklace, which had not yet been introduced to Valloise. Giselle¡¯s diamond necklace was Anghel¡¯s tearful achievement. ¡°That woman, does she not have a baby?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I know she gets regular checkups by the courtiers.¡± Anghel answered correctly. ¡°How many years has she been married?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s been more than five years. It¡¯s close to six years, if you count the engagement.¡± ¡°What¡­? It was a thing to do while she was engaged. It¡¯s been more than 5 years since she got married, but there¡¯s still no news.¡± Giselle made a crack sound as she grabbed the handle of the sofa. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Even a woman of high status can lose her self-esteem if she is despised for many years. Wouldn¡¯t she be worn out by now?¡± Somehow Giselle¡¯s words were imbued with laughter. ¡°You¡¯re right, Miss.¡± Anghel agreed. ¡°Then shall we aim for that? It would be more interesting to watch her burn down on her own than to set her on fire ourselves.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Anghel replied, bowing his head. Giselle laughed as if she was satisfied. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Prince¡¯s meal time soon. Get out, Anghel.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± Giselle rose from her seat and hummed into the depths of the mansion. There was a room with a large lock. Giselle chuckled, picked the lock and opened the door. Stuffy atmosphere. There was not even a sound of rats moving in the room. Giselle walked through the thick curtains, which had been tightly drawn, and opened the window. All the windows were covered with thick wooden planks and locked with padlocks. Giselle opened one of them and turned her back to the bed. The noonday sun shone into the room. A man was sleeping on the bed, motionless. She didn¡¯t know if he was sleeping or just lying down. Fabrice looked pale because he had not seen the sun for a few days. ¡°Prince, wake up. It¡¯s meal time.¡± Fabrice was still lying face down without moving. It was because the wounds on his back had not healed yet. ¡°Wake up quickly, Prince.¡± Giselle spoke in a clear voice, and grabbed Fabrice¡¯s arm. Then Fabrice, who had remained still as if dead, got up in a panic, and looked around and said, ¡°This is-¡± It looks like he hadn¡¯t gotten used to it yet. Then he looked at Giselle¡¯s smiling face and answered as if he had come to his senses. ¡°Already¡­ Is it time to eat?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. Come on out.¡± When Fabrice couldn¡¯t stand up properly because of his shaky legs, Giselle supported him. ¡°Are you tired, Prince? Would you like me to bring food to your room?¡± ¡°Oh, no! It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay. I can walk well.¡± Fabrice gave strength to his legs and walked desperately. Then he arrived at the dining hall. Before he knew it, the table was full of food. ¡°I have it all set up already.¡± When Giselle said so in her feminine voice, Fabrice was startled and said, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t wake up sooner, Princess.¡± ¡°The food is going to get cold. Please have a seat, Prince.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Fabrice, who turned into a docile sheep, sat face to face with her, and Giselle picked up the tableware and began to chew her food gracefully. Fabrice also looked at Giselle and picked up the food. It was an incredibly quiet meal time. ¡°Prince.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Are your wounds almost healed now?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Of course, Princess.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you again after the meal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay¡­¡± ¡°Do not turn down my sincerity, Prince.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°After seeing the wounds, you will be able to return to the palace.¡± When Giselle said that, Fabrice widened his eyes. ¡°Well, are you sure? To send me back to the palace¡­¡± ¡°Prince, when did you see me talking nonsense?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Fabrice answered calmly. ¡°I think you¡¯re done with your medical treatment, so you should go back to the palace. Do you want to stay with a girl?¡± ¡°Oh no! Thank you for taking good care of me, but I¡¯m more used to the palace¡­¡± Giselle smiled and said when Fabrice made a poor excuse. ¡°Of course, you would. If you are diligent, you will never come here. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Of course, I will. Princess.¡± Fabrice¡¯s face had a hint of seriousness. ¡®Can I trust him?¡¯ Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Giselle decided to trust Fabrice one more time. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 49 *** *** A tall, brown-haired man got off the ship in the harbour and stretched out. It was the first ship coming from Enland in a month. People lined up and started getting off the ship. Each had different expressions, but since it was the first land in a month, their faces were more tired than excited. However, the brown-haired man had a bright expression on his face that didn¡¯t look like he had travelled for a long time. Passers-by in the harbour glanced at him. He did not look like a commoner, nor did he look like a nobleman. He looked like the son of a fallen aristocrat. The coat he wore looked quite expensive but had cuffs. Besides, if it was a normal aristocratic trip, three or four suitcases would have been the default, but he was carrying only one suitcase. The bag he carried was padded here and there and looked old and worn out. However, the product was made by a famous craftsman in Lubern. It was an expensive product made from finely tanned cowhide. ¡°Your master! Here you are!¡± A familiar face met him. ¡°Long time no see, Butler!¡± He smiled cheerfully and grabbed the wrinkled butler Benjaman¡¯s hand. It was the return of Max Ingeliger after six years. ¡°You seem a little taller, Young Master.¡± Perhaps it was thrilling to see him after a long time, Benjamin¡¯s words were full of emotions. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get shorter?¡± Max laughed softly in response. Benjamin and Max returned to the mansion in a carriage side by side. Max asked the butler. The news was unrealistic until he received a letter and got a ticket. ¡°Is it true that father was shot?¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master.¡± The butler answered as if it were tragic. ¡°Hmm.¡± Since then, Max has been lost in deep thought, and there has been no answer. ¡°We have arrived, Young Master.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Max jumped out of the wagon and entered the mansion. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m yet to retire. Would you like to greet the Marquis first?¡± ¡°Change your clothes. Saying hello a few minutes later won¡¯t wake up the unconscious.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, Young Master. Then let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Give me some warm bath water. I¡¯ve been homeless for a while, and my joints hurt.¡± After saying that, Max grabbed his back and turned it left and right as if uncomfortable. ¡°¡­Okay, Young master.¡± Benjamin went out quietly and closed the door. As Max turned his back, there was a ¡®crack¡¯ from his vertebrae. As he turned around his waist, he roughly took his luggage out of his suitcase and unpacked it quickly. He had become a master at packing and unpacking for long trips. He went to the window and looked out. The same flowers and trees as six years ago. He looked around his room. It seemed to have not changed an inch before he left the house. A tranquil, stifling, repressive mansion ¡°Ha¡­ This house hasn¡¯t changed in six years. Nothing has changed.¡± Max went to the dining hall with a warm, fresh face, apparently soaking his body in hot water for a long time. The food he used to eat was still served. He was pleased to see the hot soup on the table. ¡°This soup! I really missed it so much!¡± He quickly sat down and ate his food in haste. ¡°Eat slowly, Young Master. Do you want more?¡± ¡°Of course, I am going to eat more.¡± After eating two more bowls, Max said, patting his stomach. ¡°Shall we go see my father now?¡± Max went to the Marquis¡¯ room. The Marquis was still unconscious. Benjamin followed and explained the condition of the Marquis. ¡°The gunshot wound is almost healed.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°The only problem is that he is unconscious.¡± ¡°What did the physician say?¡± ¡°He said he would wake up.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Benjamin didn¡¯t answer as if he was in trouble. ¡°I¡¯ll say hello to my father for a moment, so please leave.¡± ¡°All right, Young Master.¡± The door closed behind his back. Max stood and looked down at his father. Lying down with a pale face. The incarnation of a tyrant, ambitious, slanderer¡­ He ran out of more nicknames. ¡°Did you deserve it, father?¡± After staring at him for a while with an expressionless face, Max left the Marquis¡¯ room without any regrets. After coming home after a long time, Max was lying in bed, killing time. It was because he was glad he was lying on the bed properly. ¡°The meal is ready.¡± ¡°Did brother leave the palace?¡± ¡°No, Young Master.¡± ¡°Okay, I am coming.¡± Max got up from bed and went to the dining hall. ¡°Max!¡± Richard, sitting on his seat, jumped up and hugged Max. Max also patted Richard¡¯s back once and sat down. Since they met after a long time, they ate while sharing what they had been unable to do. Set aside the Marquis lying on the bed for now. Then, all of a sudden, Max spoke up. ¡°What about Tehez?¡± ¡°She is still fine.¡± Richard answered without any expression on his face. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°What?¡± Richard took a bite of the food and replied with a smile. ¡°Why are you still alone? Get a wife while I¡¯m away.¡± At first glance, Max¡¯s words sounded blunt. However, Richard, who was well aware of Max¡¯s language habits, knew that it was Max¡¯s own concern. He was just worried. Many of Richard¡¯s friends were already married and had two or three children. ¡°What about you?¡± Richard gave Max a chin. ¡°My brother is still single, so what am I going to do?¡± ¡°Did I not tell you before?¡± Richard answered, putting down the knife. Max looked at Richard with questionable eyes. ¡°Max, I¡¯m not getting a partner¡­ I don¡¯t want to give the pain I went through, even to the person I love. I don¡¯t want to show her a shameful figure trembling in front of my father¡­ It¡¯s just a burden I¡¯ll carry for the rest of my life.¡± It was a decisiveness that wasn¡¯t like Richard¡¯s usual. For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall sank heavily. Max, too, was looking somewhere on the empty plate, not saying anything. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I will look for a suitable child before I die and hand over the title.¡± ¡°I thought you were kidding. Were you serious?¡± ¡°Max, you know I¡¯m not good at joking.¡± Richard answered with a weak smile. ¡°Then what about me?¡± ¡°Max, you live as you want, as you do now. Whatever father says. I¡¯ll hold on here.¡± ¡°¡­So what about Tehez?¡± Richard paused for a moment, then looked at the empty space for a long time. ¡°Tehez¡­ Our youngest¡­¡± Richard paused for a moment, then looked into space for a while. ¡°¡­Max, she is doing the best she can.¡± ¡°What is she doing? I heard the news on the way. The reason Tehez doesn¡¯t have a baby is that she is not on good terms with the Prince. They said she might get divorced soon!¡± Richard countered Max¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s not true! Tehez is doing her best. And I¡¯m doing my best, too. And no one on the outside knows about marital relationships.¡± Max got up from his seat and shouted. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Brother, you have been like this always! You always say you are doing your best. But you don¡¯t actually do anything! Putting all the blame on the powerless youngest, the older brother is now pretending to be the victim.¡± ¡°Max!¡± Richard exclaimed. But Max continued without hesitation. ¡°Honestly, wasn¡¯t father¡¯s attention and anger always directed at Tehez? Because he only beats her. Didn¡¯t you feel comfortable getting away from father at times like that? Do you really have the right to talk about pain and hurt?¡± ¡°Max, you¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± Richard frowned and said. ¡°I was just telling the truth. Even after six years, nothing has changed. Not only this mansion, but my brother is the same. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Max! Max!¡± Max threw the napkin and left the dining hall. Richard sighed and buried his face in his hands in agony. *** Late night. Several nobles were gathered at Count Liddell¡¯s residence. They were the old nobles. They were playing cards slowly, turning cards. At that moment, someone spoke up. ¡°The execution of the Duke of Briem is set for the next week.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The nobles, who were playing cards, distorted their faces as if they had heard something they shouldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Why are you talking like that in this place?¡± Count Liddell shouted at first. The Count¡¯s face did not look good, perhaps because he had not slept for several days. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what we came together to talk about, Count?¡± Baron Flanders, one of the youngest nobles of the group, responded sharply. Count Liddell chewed his cigar as if he didn¡¯t like it. ¡°Well, then, tell me if you have any tricks!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Count Liddell, the second oldest in the Old Nobility after Duke of Briem, was hot-tempered. Count Liddell was good at work but bad at handling things. That was Duke Briem¡¯s ??speciality. Since the main axis of the scheme was not here, so no matter how many people gathered, it was like a mess. The person who spoke was frustrated, and he looked at the audience with a sigh. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t the Duke of Briem not speak of us?¡± It was a hopeful statement. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! We take that rebellion¡­¡± ¡°Be careful what you say!¡± A soldier was also found in the Duke¡¯s mansion while collecting evidence of heresy, adding to the charge of plotting against him. Seeing how it turned around, the other nobles quickly abandoned all related content and walked away. To make it seem like the Duke of Briem alone had been plotting the treason. ¡°We were going to do it anyway, but we didn¡¯t mean to worship heretics, right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Count Liddell nodded his head. ¡°So we have nothing to do with the Duke of Briem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve only served Nate all my life.¡± When one nobleman opened his mouth, the other nobleman joined in as well. ¡°I can¡¯t miss it either! Our family is famous for offering the highest number of sacrifices to the temple in the capital city.¡± ¡°Well, of course, my family is, too. Even the boy in my brother-in-law¡¯s family is a Nate priest.¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s close! I know him¡­¡± ¡°Oh, my.¡± When it suddenly seemed like they were fighting over the depth of their devotion, Count Liddell snorted out of absurdity. ¡°Anyways! We have nothing to do with it. You¡¯re all saying that, right?¡± Count Liddell asked, looking at the faces of the crowd. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Count Liddell nodded. ¡°Still, everyone, please be careful for a while. The atmosphere in the capital city is chaotic these days.¡± Baroness Flanders said, ¡°I know. I heard that there are people in the capital who are demanding the King¡¯s resignation these days¡­¡± ¡°Your Highness? Why?¡± Count Liddell asked back because he had never heard of it before. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± Baron Flanders lowered his voice and said, ¡°There is a rumour going around that Your Highness worshipped paganism.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He negotiated it with the temple and stopped it with money.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Count Liddell stared blankly at Baron Flanders, forgetting that he had chewed on cigars. ¡°Is that really true?¡± Count Liddell stammered unknowingly. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not. It¡¯s just that the rumours are spreading in the capital.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Count Liddell swallowed. Baron Flanders continued. ¡°But the public opinion leaned towards the truth. Furthermore, some claim that the source of the wealth brought out in negotiations with the temple is the national treasury.¡± ¡°National treasury?¡± ¡°It is said that the negotiating money was handed over to the national property, not the King¡¯s private property. Of course, these are all rumours that have not been confirmed.¡± Baron Flanders laughed and comforted Count Liddell. ¡°Your Highness can¡¯t do that. The whole country of Valloise is on his shoulders, so he must always count many things.¡± ¡°¡­¡± People stared at Baron Flanders without affirmation or denial. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your Highness can¡¯t do that.¡± Count Liddell nodded. ¡®But if that¡¯s true¡­¡¯ Count Liddell shuddered. For a moment, he felt like he was in the cold water, and came to his senses. ¡°It¡¯s late at night, so go home now.¡± When Count Liddell hurriedly issued an order to leave, the nobles looked puzzled and returned to their mansions. In the quiet room where everyone returned to the mansion, Count Liddell was lost in thought. ¡®If that¡¯s true, who will be the next King?¡¯ ¡®If the King is forced to abdicate the throne without the Crown Prince being crowned.¡¯ Count Liddell was not a good fighter. However, his intuition was excellent. Thus, for several decades, he was able to live as a second person among the nobility of the capital city. His keen intuition was telling. If the King stepped down, the next king was the First Prince. Before that, he must make the Second Prince the Crown Prince. Otherwise, what had been built up so far would go in vain. *** Baron Flanders laughed as he recalled the pale face of Count Liddell while riding in a carriage. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± His assistant, sitting opposite him, looked at him and said, ¡°I thought of something funny. Alain¡­¡± ¡°Okay¡± ¡°Who do you think will be the next King?¡± ¡°¡­This is a difficult question.¡± Alain said in a distressing tone. ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s change the question. Who is right to be the King?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± ¡°You can talk comfortably.¡± Alain gulped, then replied. ¡°The First Prince¡­¡± ¡°Right? Even if you think so.¡± Pierre looked out the window and smiled. Pierre Flanders. He was a young man, and less than two years ago, when his father, his predecessor, he inherited the title. He was also among the youngest members of the Old Nobility. As an only child, he was raised for succession to the title from an early age. But theory and practice were distinctly different parts. After the previous Baron passed away due to illness, he ran into limits. The first was the limitation of one¡¯s ability, and the second was the limitation of the stigma of the Old Nobility. ¡®The world is changing.¡¯ Of course, that may have been the answer in his father¡¯s time. But not now. That¡¯s the wrong answer. Pierre concluded. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Unlike his father, he decided to support the First Prince. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive. Chapter 50 *** ¡°You have a meeting with Baron Pierre Flanders tomorrow afternoon.¡± ¡°Pierre Flanders?¡± Denis replied, reviewing the documents, to what Sylvan said. ¡°He has a suggestion for you.¡± Sylvan added in a low voice. ¡°He is a member of the Old Nobility, and belongs to the younger generation. I think he is willing to support the decline.¡± ¡°I see, I see. Let¡¯s meet.¡± It was a good sign that his supporters were also coming from the Old Nobility. Sylvan then recited his schedule. ¡°Next week, we have the execution of Duke Briem and pagans.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°After that, we¡¯re going to set up the medical centre.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Fortunately, the opening of the public medical centre was supported by the Marquis of Benchetrit, who was reliable. The only problem was that Olivier, who was supposed to take over as chairman of the academy, was still delaying the decision. They met several times for the establishment of the academy, but after that, there was no contact as Olivier needed time to think. ¡°Have you heard from Olivier yet?¡± ¡°No. Shall we get in touch?¡± ¡°All right, let it go. He has a lot of thoughts.¡± Like someone else¡­ As Denis looked into the air, Sylvan immediately knew who he was thinking of. Then he said it out of the blue. ¡°You know it, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be Princess¡¯ birthday soon.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Did you forget?¡± Denis stroked his chin with a troubled face at Sylvan¡¯s words. It was because he had never personally celebrated her birthday and always handed over the tasks to Sylvan. All he knew was that her birthday banquet was held in the winter. She only revealed her face in the first year of their marriage, and since then, she hasn¡¯t attended any banquets. Come to think of it, he was a really bad husband. A husband who doesn¡¯t even know when her wife¡¯s birthday was. Denis once again blamed himself for his indifference. ¡°When is the date?¡± ¡°We have about two months left.¡± Two months. The preparations for the banquet must have already begun, so what to do with the gifts? Denis had to admit. That he was very poor at choosing gifts. He thought, recalling the painting he had presented to her the other day. Sylvan was looking at Denis with a questionable face. It seemed that Sylvan was also reminiscent of the case of the gift of a painting that Denis passed over. ¡°The symbol of fertility, no matter how precious it is, you shouldn¡¯t have done it.¡± ¡°¡­I know.¡± ¡°Neither wine.¡± Denis, who had been contemplating in his heart that he would give her wine, fell off guard. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Do you think there are any wines that are not in the Princess¡¯ collection? Before that, do you know how to choose a good wine?¡± ¡°¡­A little.¡± As he answered, Denis thought he was somehow in a tight corner. ¡°She¡¯ll be eighteen times better at choosing wine than you, so put aside your wine gift.¡± For some reason, it felt like an accent was put on ¡°eighteen,¡± but it was a clear fact, so Denis could not refute it. ¡°Then what the hell-¡± ¡°That is something you have to think about from now on. Every night and day.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°However, it will be difficult if you think about it the day before the banquet. You need to think about it in moderation and tell me quickly so that I can get it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± From that moment, Denis¡¯ plan to ¡°choose a gift that Tehez will like¡± began. Denis pondered what she liked. But he only realized that he didn¡¯t know anything about her. Denis called Sylvan, who was immersed in his work. ¡°Sylvan.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What does Princess like? Her favourite food or favourite colour¡­¡± Sylvan looked at Denis with a look as if he didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°Okay, thank you. I¡¯ll find out.¡± As soon as he finished his work, Denis quickly went to Tehez¡¯s palace. Tehez looked at him with a puzzled expression as she had just returned from a walk. ¡°Prince, at such an early hour¡­¡± Denis glanced at his watch, and it was only 5 PM. ¡°Are you not feeling well today?¡± Tehez asked with a worried face. Denis smiled softly as he saw the look of worry on her face. ¡°No.¡± Denis took Tehez¡¯s coat and went to the powder room. Tehez followed him. ¡°Then why¡­?¡± Denis said as he hung his coat on the hanger. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a little late, but can you spare me a minute?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Have a cup of tea with me, Tehez.¡± Denis smiled and said to her. ¡®I can¡¯t ask you what you like all of a sudden, so I just wanted to take it step by step while sitting down.¡¯ Tehez, unaware of that, made a curious expression on his intentions and then called her maid. ¡°Set up a tea table in the garden.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be cold?¡± Denis blinked out the window. The sun was already setting. Since it was the season approaching winter, the temperature will drop further after sunset. ¡°Oh, then to the tea room.¡± Denis looked at the tea table set in front of him and said. ¡°My wife, how about having dinner together?¡± ¡°What are you up to?¡± Tehez asked with a serious expression. She took it almost as if something had happened to Denis. They only ate together a few times a year. Denis burst out laughing at her misunderstanding. ¡°Looking at your reaction, it¡¯s clear that I haven¡¯t been a good husband.¡± He lightly apologized to Tehez. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Tehez was perplexed by the increasingly meaningless conversation. ¡°Because you misunderstood that something happened.¡± ¡°Did nothing happen?¡± Still, Tehez was looking at him with a suspicious face. ¡°Of course, nothing happened. I just have something important to do.¡± ¡®Birthday present,¡¯ Denis swallowed. If he was going to give something as a present, wouldn¡¯t a surprise be good? At least he had that level of common sense. To his words, Tehez sighed and answered. ¡°You¡¯re just saying things that don¡¯t make any sense.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Denis looked at her with an innocent face. ¡°My wife, would you like to spend more time with your ugly husband in the future?¡± Tehez sighed and spoke to him. ¡°¡­As long as the Prince is okay with it.¡± Tehez knew he was up to something, but she had no idea what it was. Denis picked up a teacup. Then he watched what she ate. Tehez asked her maid for cookies, but she didn¡¯t touch the refreshments at all. ¡°Tehez.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What is your favourite food?¡± ¡°There is absolutely nothing in particular.¡± Tehez quietly raised the cup and took a sip. He forgot that Tehez had no particular taste in food. ¡®She often skips meals as usual.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s why you¡¯re so skinny.¡¯ Denis fixed his gaze on her white, slender wrist that was exposed from holding the teacup. ¡°What about you, Prince?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What kind of food do you like?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a picky eater. As long as it¡¯s freshly made.¡± Tehez replied with a small nod of her head. ¡°But you hate cucumbers because of their unique smell, and you like beef the most among meats.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t like candy, but you like chocolate.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Tehez continued without a break. ¡°And they prefer slightly salty food to bland food. And even though you can¡¯t eat spicy food well, you always try it.¡± At this point, Denis realized that something was wrong. ¡°Wait.¡± Denis raised his hand and stopped Tehez from speaking. ¡°Did I ever say I hate cucumbers?¡± It was a little secret he had kept for a long time. Even Sylvan was not aware of it. He didn¡¯t want people to know that he was a picky eater, so he sometimes swallowed cucumbers in his food without chewing them. He was genuinely curious. ¡°How do you know that, Madam?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. But she looked at Denis for a moment, then called her maid, and asked for more tea. Denis looked at her with a piercing gaze as if asking for an answer, and she smiled embarrassingly and replied. ¡°I do not know.¡± That was the end. ¡°I don¡¯t feel very well today. Why don¡¯t we have dinner next time?¡± ¡°Next time?¡± Denis asked blankly at the sudden change in her mood. ¡°Yes. I have something urgent to do, so I¡¯ll get up first.¡± Tehez apologized to him, got up first and left. Left alone, Denis didn¡¯t know what had happened for a moment. He was sure the atmosphere was good¡­ After dinner, he naturally tried to go to her bedroom after having a conversation about her current interests. Denis was forced to return to his palace, unable to achieve his desired goal. When he returned, perhaps Sylvan had some work left, he was working in his room. Sylvan looked at him blankly. ¡°Did you achieve your goal?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You failed.¡± As if it was obvious without looking at him, Sylvan answered himself and was buried again in the documents. Denis put his feet up on his desk and sat loosely, pulling out a cigar. He could hardly understand. Why did her mood change suddenly, and she got up from her seat? ¡°By the way, how did you know that I have failed?¡± Sylvan answered without raising his head. ¡°It is because you are not aware of things. It¡¯s a lack of experience.¡± Denis asked, as if it was the first time he had heard it. ¡°Do you mean me?¡± Sylvan nodded his head between the piles of documents and answered. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s your first time dating and getting married.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± Denis answered, not trying to refute, and Sylvan said. ¡°Have you ever been in a relationship secretly? If yes, who was it?¡± It was like a tone that showed his will to investigate each and every one of them and punish them before they become obstacles. ¡°No, no.¡± Denise admitted. ¡®She¡¯s my first.¡¯ With a look that said, ¡®Well, that¡¯s the reason,¡¯ Sylvan immersed himself in his work again. Denis thought as he smoked his cigar through the ceiling. ¡®Even if I didn¡¯t need to know about her until now¡­¡¯ ¡®She will be the only one who will protect the seat next to me in the future.¡¯ He suddenly realized that he had been indifferent to women. He asked Sylvan, ¡°How long have you been in a relationship?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m proud to say this, but I¡¯ve been doing it without a day off.¡± There was a proud look on Sylvan¡¯s face. ¡°But why don¡¯t you do it these days?¡± ¡°¡­¡± At Denis¡¯ question, Sylvan kept his mouth shut as if he had been hit with a blow. ¡°You know that.¡± He retorted in a fit of rage. ¡°Sylvan and I are in a similar situation.¡± Sylvan tried to answer something, but he just shut up and pretended to concentrate on the papers. Denis smoked a cigar, looking at the papers in front of him. How many hours have passed? Sylvan said it first. ¡°You are much better than I am. You¡¯re married, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t be too late, and go again.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Scrambled dinner, cigar ash, and crumpled paper were strewn across the desk. When Denis hesitated, Sylvan urged him. ¡°Princess will be sleeping alone in a cold room. Are you okay with it?¡± He saw Tehez lying alone on the cold bed in front of him. Of course, since it¡¯s her room, it will never be cold for him. ¡°It¡¯s the husband¡¯s job to warm up the place next to his wife.¡± After saying that, Denis rolled his eyes wide and smiled. ¡°You can come late tomorrow, My Grace.¡± Sylvan got up while organizing the paperwork. Denis gave a rough greeting to the room and hurried out with the coat in hand. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only He was worried that a woman might fall asleep alone without him. (To be continued in the next episode) *** Hi guys, as you know we are a free-to-read website and we only survive on ads. However, ads are not able to help us much longer and we are on the verge of disbanding. If you like what we do and have any spare, please consider supporting us to keep us alive.