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Chapter 5
‘People’s imagination is really amazing.’
After carrying the princess and arriving at the palace, another rumor, not the princess’s crazy story, spread through the imperial palace.
“Look at that. The princess has become noticeably obedient.”
“Hoho. Isn’t that the power of love?”
The rumor that the princess had fallen for me spread.
And the one fueling such rumors was the princess in front of me.
“[Sister. That blank expression doesn’t look like an obsessive crazy male lead.]”
Unlike our first meeting when she was dirty, she now held a teacup gracefully.
“[I told you. Since sister is a gentle type, you need to cultivate more of the crazy dominant male lead image.]”
Feeling awkward, I took a sip of coffee.
When I tried to add sugar because of the bitter taste on my tongue…
“[Obsessive crazy male leads don’t put sugar in coffee.]”
Then maybe a sweet cookie…
“[Obsessive crazy male leads also don’t eat cookies.]”
That’s too much.
“[Is there anything a crazy dominant male lead can actually do?]”
I tried to keep a dignified expression, but I couldn’t hide my helpless sigh.
‘Even though I roughly know what a crazy dominant male lead is…’
Is this how one lives? Drinking only bitter coffee without cookies?
“[So I prepared something.]”
Ignoring my complaints, the princess waved a handkerchief gently.
Then Lady Roxon behind her walked toward us carrying a thin book.
“Thank you, Lady.”
The princess received the book with a perfect gesture. Lady Roxon’s cheeks turned slightly red because of her smile.
What exactly did she do during the past week?
“What is this, Your Highness?”
“Foreign literature you asked for, Your Grace.”
Foreign literature?
I didn’t ask for something like that.
I understood her words only after flipping the cover. Each page was filled with round Korean letters.
“[I suffered quite a bit making this. You see this? Dark circles.]”
The princess covered her cheeks shyly.
Her tone was quiet, but her manner of speaking was rather cheeky.
“[What is this? It looks like you made it yourself.]”
“[It’s a summary of the original story I reviewed.]”
As she said, it was a brief summary of the original novel.
As I started reading the book’s contents, my lips gradually stiffened.
“[Isn’t this a crime novel? No matter how I think about it, the obsessive crazy male leads seem like criminals.]”
Getting angry, threatening, forcing kisses, hitting walls, imprisoning someone, and so on.
“[You want me to do this?]”
I looked at the princess in disbelief.
“[No. I don’t expect much from sister.]”
The princess quietly placed her cup down.
I also felt relieved and closed the book cover.
“[With sister’s personality, I don’t think you can go that far…]”
“[Don’t trail off. It makes me anxious.]”
“[I’ll make it mild.]”
Mild, huh.
“[You like tteokbokki, right? When ordering, what level of spiciness do you choose?]”
“[The spiciest.]”
Ah, you like刺激 (刺激 = stimulating) things.
The princess smiled slightly.
“[Don’t worry too much. Fortunately, the novel mostly progresses from Shabiyan’s point of view, so I know Shabiyan’s taste.]”
“[What is it?]”
“[Shabiyan…]”
She leaned over the table.
“[Reveres the weak. He admires the strong.]”
The princess holding a teaspoon tapped sugar into her tea.
“[Add obsession on top of that. What Shabiyan wants is blind love.]”
The princess drank the sweetened black tea and smiled blissfully.
“[In that sense, sister is the best partner. The strongest in Hailen, and we are even trying to seduce Shabiyan with the fate of the world on the line. In terms of obsession, our side isn’t losing either.]”
“[I guess I’ll have to try until I succeed even if I cry and beg.]”
“[Yes. That’s the appearance of a crazy obsessive male lead.]”
The princess covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“[Classes will be once a week. Sister also needs some acting practice.]”
“[……Do I really have to do that too?]”
“[Of course you do. Instead, during that time, please also watch my swordsmanship.]”
At the princess’s sudden remark, I raised my head.
“[Swordsmanship?]”
“[Yes. If there ever comes a situation where my head is cut off, I will struggle at least once. Or run away.]”
Hmm. I understand.
Teaching swordsmanship to her is not difficult for me.
“[But where will you practice swordsmanship? Didn’t you say you wanted to dominate high society? If the princess is caught using a sword, you’ll be almost expelled from social circles.]”
Flower of society and sword.
I’m fine with it, but nobles here probably wouldn’t accept this combination.
“[Of course we have to learn secretly. I know a good place. Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor also told me about a secret passage.]”
The princess spoke confidently.
“[I’m a possessor, you know. Don’t forget that, sister.]”
She winked one eye.
That night.
Creak—
A long-unused door opened.
“[I’m surprised there is a secret passage in the imperial palace, but there’s such a place.]”
I looked around the cold room.
White cloth covering furniture, dust gathered on it, broken and hanging picture frames, creaking floorboards.
“[This will be the cold palace where Shabiyan will live later.]”
Here?
“[He will live here five years later.]”
“[It feels a bit unpleasant. Like trespassing…]”
“[Who cares? Just clean everything before leaving.]”
The princess shrugged at my words.
The fencing sword at her waist made a rattling sound.
“[Sister comes from outside the palace, so I prepared in advance.]”
The princess placed two swords on the floor.
“[Sister should teach me swordsmanship while seducing me.]”
To suddenly tell me to seduce her.
While I was stunned, the princess gently touched my cheek.
“[Now, try it. What should you do in this situation?]”
What, what? Did training already start?
‘Should I also stroke her cheek?’
Thinking that, I reached my hand toward the princess’s cheek.
“[No. Not the cheek. Grab the waist.]”
At her sharp gaze, I lowered my hand and grabbed her waist.
“[Either grab firmly or pull her into a hug. Like, I love you so much I can’t bear it!]”
The princess pulled my clothes and pressed me.
‘L-like this?’
Awkwardly, I pulled her closer and hugged her tightly.
‘What is this… scary…’
She still shook her head in dissatisfaction and looked up at me.
Look at those eyes, like a tiger teacher.
“[No. Again.]”
It was my first lesson with a small but strict teacher.
Luwin and Rosaline did not know this.
‘Please separate!’
There was one more person in the room.
It was the shadow, one of Lesius’s subordinates, who had hidden inside the cold palace.
Monitoring the imperial palace’s movements, he came after detecting suspicious activity in the previously empty cold palace.
“[It’s my turn now.]”
After the two, Luwin and Rosaline, separated—
“[Take it. The sword.]”
Luwin picked up the eerie-looking sword lying on the floor.
Watching this, Rosaline swallowed hard and also picked up a sword.
Clang—
After that, the sound of swords clashing echoed inside the cold palace for a long time.
Most of it was—
“[Stop, stop!]”
“[There’s no such thing as stopping in swordsmanship. Try blocking it.]”
“[Are you going to do this between Koreans?]”
“[Since we’re from the same hometown, I have to teach you better. And I’m going really gently right now.]”
The two bickered.
Watching them, the shadow admired Luwin’s movements.
‘You’re going easy on her.’
As expected of a Swordmaster.
Even though Luwin seemed to move lightly to avoid hurting the princess, her movements were disciplined.
Perhaps because she was paying attention to controlling her strength, Luwin’s brow slightly furrowed.
‘And Her Highness is full of enthusiasm.’
Of course, only enthusiasm was overflowing.
Rosaline’s arms, trying to block with all her strength, trembled pitifully.
Clang—
In the end, Rosaline’s sword traced a trajectory and fell to the floor.
“[Let’s do it again!]”
Rosaline picked up the sword again with a resentful expression.
Seeing her passionate disciple, a deep smile slowly appeared on Luwin’s lips.
‘She’s quite persistent.’
Soon, the sound of swords filled the cold palace again.
Night was passing like that.
And at the end of that night—
Lesius’s hand stopped while signing documents.
“…What did you say?”
In response to Lesius’s question, the shadow standing in front of the desk spoke.
“At around one in the morning, Her Highness the princess used the secret passage to move to the cold palace, and the duke also….”
Feeling the increasingly cold atmosphere, the shadow began reporting, shrinking.
The contact between the duke and the princess in the cold palace through the secret passage, including their close physical interaction.
‘Who would know.’
That the gentle crown prince actually had the coldest and most ruthless nature compared to past emperors.
“Should I monitor the two of them separately? If you give the order…”
“Forget it.”
Lesius turned his head halfway.
The face shadowed by moonlight was as cold as a sculpture.
“What if Luwin notices? Will you take responsibility?”
Luwin is a Swordmaster. If he pays attention, he may detect the shadow’s presence.
Lesius smiled bitterly. His love was like this.
Something the world must not know, something the other person would hate.
“The Lesius that Luwin knows…”
“….”
“Would never do such vulgar things. Like spying behind a friend’s back.”
His love must be hidden completely. Even under suffocating jealousy and anger.
Lesius turned his body fully.
“Because he is very naive.”
Green eyes behind the moonlight burned with anger.
“…I might be able to become family with Luwin.”
Lesius clenched the smooth surface of his fountain pen.
My friend becoming my sister’s husband…
Lowering his gaze, he steadied his breathing.
After a long, slow breath, Lesius put the usual painted smile on his face.
“I don’t want to disappoint Luwin.”
To obtain even the remaining crumbs of your affection, I will endure even this.
But—
Despite the gentle tone, Lesius’s hand gripped so tightly that it turned white.
Inside the bright red palm, the pen split into two pieces and crumbled.
“…But it’s getting harder to endure.”
Above the neat smile, Lesius slightly narrowed his eyes.
Black ink dripped from his hand.
Like blood.
Thick and vivid.
