Going back in time a bit, Karina and Jeremiah were about to leave to attend the capital's New Year's festival.
"You must leave the North."
"What?"
Caroline received the edict of exile from the North.
"His Highness the Grand Duke has ordered the Princess to be expelled from the North before he returns from the capital with the Grand Duchess."
To be exact, it was to ensure that Karina, who had returned from the capital, would never see Caroline again.
"This... this makes sense?"
Caroline was the flagship.
"Because of that woman! How can you abandon your only blood relative like this?"
"..."
The knight who delivered the banishment order said that he was only following orders and nodded with a regretful expression. Caroline, who had realized the reality, started to scream and make a fuss.
"How could Jeremiah do this to me! He's making a mistake! Jeremiah is doing me a great wrong!"
She was even more excited by the knight's firm attitude that did not budge even in the face of all the fuss, and she poured out a torrent of angry curses.
"Karina, that bitch! Why should I leave the North because of such a crazy bitch?! This is ridiculous. You're banishing me because of such a low-class woman! You're banishing me from my home in the North!!"
Caroline groaned and blushed bright red.
"What kind of head of the Colesberg family is that guy who is so crazy about that vixen that he abandons his family! How can such a pitiful guy leave! He will regret it! He will definitely regret it!"
Caroline couldn't control her anger and fell down, holding the back of her neck. Then, she made excuses that she was too injured to move, delaying the date of her banishment day after day. She swallowed her impatience and ordered her close maid to search for someone to help her. But it was all in vain.
"No one replied?"
"..."
Her maidservant made an apologetic expression, unable to answer. Caroline's face turned pale. Those who had been attached to her were scumbags who had been after the power of the Grand Duke of Colesburg from the beginning. They could not deal with Caroline, who had lost her touch. Those who were not of that type were the same. They had only been weeping, watching Jeremiah's face, for fear that if they fell out with Caroline, the Grand Duke's only blood relative, they would be out of favor with him. Now that everyone knew that Jeremiah had firmly turned his back on her, there was no one left in the North who could help her.
"This...!"
Caroline's clenched fists trembled.
"I'm in this shitty situation right now because of that bitch?"
She couldn't believe the reality she was facing. She collapsed on the floor with a look of shock on her face. But nothing would change if she turned away from reality.
"It can't end like this. Do you think I'll just take it and do it?"
Hatred boiled in her eyes.
"If I become unhappy, that bitch must become several times more unhappy than me."
Caroline couldn't stand the fact that her situation had become so miserable. because of Karina, whom she had ignored and looked down on.
"I will never leave you alone! Never!"
She ground her teeth at Karina. Caroline was eventually banished from the North. After being driven out of her long-time home in the North, she had nowhere to go. Jeremiah had not sent her to the Count of Misenrus, but she had no other choice and had no choice but to come to the Count of Misenrus, where she was engaged.
Fortunately, she was not kicked out when she went to the Count and entrusted herself to him. However, the Count of Misenrus reported the situation to the Emperor. Soon after, a letter arrived from the palace for her. The sender was not the Emperor, but the Marquis of Milliner.
Caroline was a bit surprised that he, Karina's biological father, had sent her a letter, but the letter he sent her contained quite interesting content. After much thought, Caroline told the Marquis of Milliner to come to see her in person. And now.
"Why are you so late! Keeping the Marquis waiting!"
Count Misenrus spoke harshly to Caroline, completely different from the way he had treated the Marquis. Caroline frowned slightly as if she was displeased. However, she quickly changed her expression and stood on the opposite side of the sofa where Marquis Millainer was sitting.
"The Marquis of Milliner said he wanted to talk to me."
Caroline nodded to Count Misenrus.
"Then please leave everyone around you alone. The conversation will be between me and the Marquis."
It was an open call to expel Count Misenrus.
"What..."
Marquis Millainer nodded, snickering as he looked at the flustered Count Misenrus. He was just about to clean up the Count who was talking loudly in front of him.
"Yes."
At his word, everyone except Caroline and the Marquis were kicked out of the reception room. The owner of the mansion, Count Misenrus, was no exception. He looked aggrieved, but he could not go against Marquis Millainer. The Count noticed and went out with the help of his servant. Caroline looked satisfied as she watched Count Misenrus leave.
"Now I can finally talk calmly."
She sat down on the sofa where the Count had been sitting just a moment ago and smiled with the corners of her lips widened. The Marquis, who had been calmly sipping tea, put down his teacup and asked.
"Princess. Did you receive the letter I gave you last time?"
"Yes. So, isn't that why I'm talking to you right now, face to face?"
Caroline responded cheekily.
"I heard that you said that it would be difficult to have a wedding with Count Misenrus right away because of your poor health."
The Marquis looked Caroline up and down.
"Rather, you look like you are overflowing with health."
Despite his sarcastic words, Caroline responded with a shameless face.
"I have a weak body to begin with. On top of that, I am in a situation where I cannot lead a normal daily life due to the shock and heartache of being driven out of my hometown in the north."
She said that she would not hesitate to lie down if she was forced to get married.
"Oh, oh, oh, Count Misenrus must be very worried. You were engaged by His Majesty the Emperor's order, but the Princess's health is not good, so you can't hold a wedding ceremony..."
The Marquis clicked his tongue.
"I don't know how much time the Count has left, but he needs to get married quickly so he can have time to get to know his new wife."
"..."
Caroline's expression was so hard that it couldn't be hidden. Her hands had turned white from all the strength she had put into them. Marquis Millainer, who had been smiling leisurely while looking at her, continued speaking with a slightly regretful voice.
"However, there are many who disagree with the idea of pairing up a young and vibrant Princess with a Count who doesn't have much time left to live."
A small look of anticipation appeared in Caroline's eyes as she heard the Marquis' words.
"It's unlikely, but... If the Count's life ends soon after the wedding, wouldn't it be a bolt from the blue for the Princess, who will be living her bright future as a widow?"
The Marquis of Milliner seemed to fully understand Caroline's situation and took her side, gently coaxing her with pleasant words.
"Don't you want to break off the engagement?"
Caroline, who was pushed to the edge, did not resist the temptation.
"I have given serious thought to the suggestions you have written in your letter."
Caroline got to the point without hesitation. The Marquis looked at Caroline as if to tell her to continue, feeling that she might get what she wanted.
"After much deliberation, I have decided that it would not be a bad idea to accept your offer. I am willing to cooperate whenever necessary. Of course, this is only if you show me confidence in your promise."
The Marquis ridicules Caroline's attitude of maintaining her pride to the end. However, he did not show it on the outside. There was no need to provoke Caroline's rebellious spirit and make things difficult.
"If you can get His Majesty the Emperor to notarize it, I think I can trust you, Marquis."
"Ahahahaha!"
Although he had been holding back laughter, Marquis Millainer eventually burst into laughter at her outrageous request. But it didn't matter because he had gotten the answer he wanted. He looked at Caroline with a very satisfied expression.
"Yes. Now that you've accepted my offer, let's have an open discussion about what we both want."
A sinister and treacherous light lingered in the eyes of the two people who faced each other in order to take care of their own. interests.
At the same time, David and Jeremiah were facing the Emperor and his officials in the palace.
"I am glad you returned safely, Crown Prince."
The Emperor looked at David and spoke. His voice was more serious and majestic than joyful at the safe return of his son. The nobles of the Emperor's faction flattered him, saying that even in this situation, the Emperor did not lose his authority.
"I apologize for causing Your Majesty great concern."
David smiled smoothly as if he was used to it.
"Yes, I heard that the Grand Duke of Colesburg and his search party found and rescued the Crown Prince and the Grand Duchess who were being attacked by a horde of monsters?"
The Emperor turned his head, looked at Jeremiah, and asked.
"Yes."
Jeremiah answered dryly with a blank expression on his face.
"Thank you for your hard work, Your Highness."
The Emperor concluded his speech with just one word and continued.
"I heard that you went to the Cursed Forest to rescue the Crown Prince before I could give the order."
"Yes."
"But why did it take this long to rescue them?"
"..."
Rather than praising Jeremiah for rescuing the Crown Prince, the Emperor was busy finding fault with him for not rescuing him sooner.
"I'm wondering if we could have rescued the Crown Prince more quickly and safely if we had prepared more thoroughly."
The Emperor's reprimands, disguised as questions, continued.
"A horde of monsters attacked in the forest of curses. That could have been a disaster."
The nobles all got angry at the Emperor's teasing and poured out harsh words of criticism to Jeremiah.
"His Majesty the Emperor is right."
"Yes. What would have happened if His Highness the Crown Prince had been badly injured in the attack by the monsters?"
"I think the Grand Duke has a tendency to be overconfident in his own abilities."
Jeremiah, who had been ignoring their words, swallowed his annoyance and opened his mouth.
"I was short-sighted. I'm sorry."
When Jeremiah bowed his head in front of his subjects, the Emperor looked satisfied and again defended him as if he were a good person.
"No, why not? I wasn't trying to blame you."
"No, Your Majesty, everything you said is correct."
Jeremiah wanted to get out of there quickly and return to Karina. To do that, he could have done anything he could to bow his head to the Emperor and turn a deaf ear to the noise around him. But.
"By the way, how is the Grand Duchess's condition?"
"...!"
Jeremiah's nerves were on edge as Karina's story came up.
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