'I have to kill him.'
After making a quick decision, I didn't hesitate any longer and grabbed the bastard's body with both hands with all my might.
And from the body, which seemed about to burst, black smoke rose in wisps. The snake, crushed in my hands, murmured as it died.
"T, like this... to die! Ugh, t-Lady Giselle..."
“Be quiet.”
I applied a little more force, and the snake disappeared without a trace. I threw the horrible smoke wafting from my hand onto the floor.
The green grassy ground was instantly turned black.
I stared blankly at the sight and realized something.
Yeah, because of the trauma of being bitten by this guy...
Growing up in an orphanage, I hated snakes, even though everything else was fine.
As the pieces of the empty puzzle began to fit together, I felt my head clear up.
'Ah...!'
But it seems the poison spread from my calf, where the snake servant bit me last.
My head started spinning, I felt dizzy, my stomach started churning, and my vision started to darken in an instant.
I'm on the verge of fainting.
Of course, I shouldn't faint here.
That dead familiar is Empress Giselle's familiar. When Empress Giselle realizes that her familiar is dead, she will come here immediately...
If Empress Giselle or the Black Magician's party found me lying down like this, I would naturally die instantly.
'I have to get up!'
But against my will, my vision went dark, and my body, devoid of strength, fell to the floor with a thud.
"Ah!"
Oh my goodness. I just realized it now...
That I was the real 'Yvonne Argenthoz'.
There's still a lot of work left to do.
There are so many things I want to do, and so many precious people I have met.
But to die so meaninglessly? Not yet. No!
'Please, help me!'
In this urgent moment, the first person that came to my mind was...
It was Duke Rudnaine's Iels, looking at me with a gentle smile.
He...
I wish that person would show up and save me.
But could that really be true? If so, it would be so, so, so perfect.
That can't be true.
'Haha.'
I eventually lost consciousness, despairing at the near-zero probability of failure.
Rudnine, who had been measuring the time by the Second Prince's arrival at the Palace of the Deep Sea, was currently in a very anxious state.
“Brother, if you keep acting like this, I’ll be in trouble too.”
“I really don’t know anything, Your Highness.”
“...”
He wanted to confront Prince Felix and quickly knock out Prince Adrian, who was only saying the same thing like a parrot... no, persuade him, and send him away, and then return to Yvonne.
In fact, it was very dangerous to leave her alone in this banquet hall tonight.
Because...
'Yvonne is so pretty.'
He folded his arms and nodded as if pondering a serious matter.
"Oh my, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. What should I do if the person celebrating his birthday is here like this? You should go and brighten up the occasion."
"Answer quickly! When on earth did you contact Princess Yvonne Argenthoz and engage in such deception?"
“Well... Since the Princess is so quick, I think it was just before.”
"Brother!"
Prince Felix, who consistently speaks with a calm demeanor.
And Crown Prince Adrian, who was excited and wild about her.
The servants and knights watching the two were at a loss, but only Rudnine stood there with an indifferent expression.
“As expected, Duke Iels is different.”
“Rather, more noble than the royal family...”
"Hmm?"
But then suddenly, he covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head away.
Those who felt more comfortable watching the Duke of Iels than the tedious bickering between Prince Felix and Crown Prince Adrian were puzzled.
'Are you tired?'
'Well, it's embarrassing that the so-called royal family of this country is acting like that.'
The servants thought that Rudnine was deeply concerned about the future of the empire.
But this was a clear misunderstanding.
Because in Rudnine's eyes, there was no future for the empire or the royal family arguing in front of him.
'Ha.'
He took a deep breath and barely managed to calm his excited heart.
Even in this chaos, Yvonne's image came to mind clearly, his heart pounded, and the corners of his mouth tingled.
When Rudnine first saw Yvonne's dazzling appearance from afar, all dressed up for the banquet, he was left breathless.
Although she immediately felt uncomfortable wearing the golden dress skirt which symbolized the Verbent Imperial Family.
Still, the beautifully dressed Yvonne shone even brighter than usual.
Originally, she was tall, slender, and had good proportions.
Moreover, unlike her doll-like, haughty appearance, her relaxed speech and attitude made her stand out even more.
After making a quick decision, I didn't hesitate any longer and grabbed the bastard's body with both hands with all my might.
And from the body, which seemed about to burst, black smoke rose in wisps. The snake, crushed in my hands, murmured as it died.
"T, like this... to die! Ugh, t-Lady Giselle..."
“Be quiet.”
I applied a little more force, and the snake disappeared without a trace. I threw the horrible smoke wafting from my hand onto the floor.
The green grassy ground was instantly turned black.
I stared blankly at the sight and realized something.
Yeah, because of the trauma of being bitten by this guy...
Growing up in an orphanage, I hated snakes, even though everything else was fine.
As the pieces of the empty puzzle began to fit together, I felt my head clear up.
'Ah...!'
But it seems the poison spread from my calf, where the snake servant bit me last.
My head started spinning, I felt dizzy, my stomach started churning, and my vision started to darken in an instant.
I'm on the verge of fainting.
Of course, I shouldn't faint here.
That dead familiar is Empress Giselle's familiar. When Empress Giselle realizes that her familiar is dead, she will come here immediately...
If Empress Giselle or the Black Magician's party found me lying down like this, I would naturally die instantly.
'I have to get up!'
But against my will, my vision went dark, and my body, devoid of strength, fell to the floor with a thud.
"Ah!"
Oh my goodness. I just realized it now...
That I was the real 'Yvonne Argenthoz'.
There's still a lot of work left to do.
There are so many things I want to do, and so many precious people I have met.
But to die so meaninglessly? Not yet. No!
'Please, help me!'
In this urgent moment, the first person that came to my mind was...
It was Duke Rudnaine's Iels, looking at me with a gentle smile.
He...
I wish that person would show up and save me.
But could that really be true? If so, it would be so, so, so perfect.
That can't be true.
'Haha.'
I eventually lost consciousness, despairing at the near-zero probability of failure.
***
Rudnine, who had been measuring the time by the Second Prince's arrival at the Palace of the Deep Sea, was currently in a very anxious state.
“Brother, if you keep acting like this, I’ll be in trouble too.”
“I really don’t know anything, Your Highness.”
“...”
He wanted to confront Prince Felix and quickly knock out Prince Adrian, who was only saying the same thing like a parrot... no, persuade him, and send him away, and then return to Yvonne.
In fact, it was very dangerous to leave her alone in this banquet hall tonight.
Because...
'Yvonne is so pretty.'
He folded his arms and nodded as if pondering a serious matter.
"Oh my, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. What should I do if the person celebrating his birthday is here like this? You should go and brighten up the occasion."
"Answer quickly! When on earth did you contact Princess Yvonne Argenthoz and engage in such deception?"
“Well... Since the Princess is so quick, I think it was just before.”
"Brother!"
Prince Felix, who consistently speaks with a calm demeanor.
And Crown Prince Adrian, who was excited and wild about her.
The servants and knights watching the two were at a loss, but only Rudnine stood there with an indifferent expression.
“As expected, Duke Iels is different.”
“Rather, more noble than the royal family...”
"Hmm?"
But then suddenly, he covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head away.
Those who felt more comfortable watching the Duke of Iels than the tedious bickering between Prince Felix and Crown Prince Adrian were puzzled.
'Are you tired?'
'Well, it's embarrassing that the so-called royal family of this country is acting like that.'
The servants thought that Rudnine was deeply concerned about the future of the empire.
But this was a clear misunderstanding.
Because in Rudnine's eyes, there was no future for the empire or the royal family arguing in front of him.
'Ha.'
He took a deep breath and barely managed to calm his excited heart.
Even in this chaos, Yvonne's image came to mind clearly, his heart pounded, and the corners of his mouth tingled.
When Rudnine first saw Yvonne's dazzling appearance from afar, all dressed up for the banquet, he was left breathless.
Although she immediately felt uncomfortable wearing the golden dress skirt which symbolized the Verbent Imperial Family.
Still, the beautifully dressed Yvonne shone even brighter than usual.
Originally, she was tall, slender, and had good proportions.
Moreover, unlike her doll-like, haughty appearance, her relaxed speech and attitude made her stand out even more.
They said that it wasn't like this when she attended the banquet before.
They say she made people uncomfortable with her sharp, arrogant, and self-centered attitude.
Since the nobles also had eyes, they naturally took notice of Yvonne, who was quite different from before.
Was Princess Argenthoz that beautiful?
People secretly admired and praised her behind her back, saying that the rumors about her dedication to studying etiquette were not false, and that she was full of grace and flawless.
If she had previously been angry at those who belittled her, now she was beginning to feel a little uneasy.
Is this how people are gradually discovering her charm?
This isn't all there is to Yvonne's charm. She still has so much more to offer.
Although she looks cold, how lovely is that cute smile she sometimes gives?
Every time she hears someone say something smart and pure, he's amazed and feels like his heart is clear like a lake.
A woman who appears to be easygoing and laid-back, but sometimes sparkles with excitement and choleric fervor.
What if more fish notice Yvonne's charm and flock to her?
What if she, who is kinder and more affectionate than anyone else, increases the number of fish in her fishing grounds?
'I can't stand even a single one.'
He looked at Adrian, who still had no intention of letting Prince Felix go.
To Yvonne, Adrian is no longer a 'fish'.
And when he looked around her, Yvonne didn't seem to have any other fish in the pond besides him.
He was definitely trying to check today.
He pressed his throbbing temples and glared at Crown Prince Adrian, who was still grumbling and arguing with Prince Felix.
'Should I start organizing things?'
Before arriving here today, Rudnine had been busy recruiting nobles and investigating Yvonne's surroundings.
But last night, his aide Ant, who had been working overtime with him for over three days, grumbled, asking if the Duke had confessed his love to the Princess while he was working so hard.
Rudnine was greatly shocked.
This was the first time he liked a woman this much, so he didn't even think about confessing.
Usually, to express one's feelings, one would send a woman a lot of expensive gifts, but since Yvonne had declared that she would not indulge in extravagance, Rudnine was very frozen in that regard.
He wonders if he just followed her around too much without even saying that he liked her.
Last night, a mixture of anxiety and a yearning to see her led him to do something foolish like loitering around the Argenthoz mansion before returning.
Even though he knew full well that he wouldn't be able to meet Yvonne anyway.
He met the breathtakingly beautiful Yvonne at the banquet hall and made up his mind.
He will confess his feelings clearly and clearly in words as soon as possible.
So, after barely finishing the boring conversation with the Emperor and Empress, he hurriedly came down from the podium.
Yvonne was laughing and having a pleasant conversation with Prince Felix in a corner that was barely visible.
Rudnine, who discovered the sight, smiled crookedly.
He realized what it felt like to be so upset that his stomach was about to turn inside out.
Day by day, he was discovering new emotions because of Yvonne, and it was exciting, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to control himself from becoming consumed by possessiveness.
Even in that trembling moment of confessing to Yvonne, the truth is...
He was afraid she would run away.
The purple eyes that had once filled him with pure admiration as they gazed up at the summer sunset, strangely changed the moment they stared at him.
Her tightly closed lips did not give him a clear answer as to whether she would accept him.
No matter how much he thought about it, it was a vague answer.
- So you've been nice to me all this time?
So that's why?
He has never been good to anyone but her.
As he thought over Yvonne's words, he felt a pang of resentment.
He wants to hear a little more.
She said that he was a special man, different from the fish in other fishing grounds.
Don't give such a meaningful, roundabout answer!
“Hmm.”
Rudnine, unable to contain his impatience, ran a hand through his black hair.
“How come you don’t say a word to me? Am I being funny, brother?”
“No. It’s scary, brother.”
“Brother, I’m not joking.”
“I’m not joking at all, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Rudnine strode between the two men, who were still facing each other and refusing to back down, blocking them.
“Hold on...”
When Duke Iels, who had been observing the situation without saying anything, moved, everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
Rudnine looked at Adrian with a cold gaze and said.
“A lot has passed. How long are you going to keep doing this?”
He thought he was trying to sort things out or appease the Crown Prince, but he was clearly expressing his displeasure.
Dare he say this to the Crown Prince?
Adrian, who was so angry that he couldn't believe it, raised one eyebrow and approached Rudnine.
"Duke Iels! I've been so tolerant of you since last time, don't you think this is too rude?"
“...Your Highness Crown Prince Adrian.”
Unlike Adrian, who was being harsh, Rudnine called him calmly.
“May I ask what you believe that makes me so rude?”
"What?!"
Adrian's blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
Today was his birthday party, so he didn't bring a sword, but he could fight with his bare hands.
Unlike Adrian's belligerent attitude, which seemed like he was about to throw a punch, Rudnine responded calmly.
“If you don’t know, think carefully, Your Highness.”
“What is that!”
Adrian, who was about to threaten Rudnine in a fit of anger, suddenly stopped talking and opened his eyes wide.
Come to think of it, there were five knights from the Iels family guarding Prince Felix. And there were two more magicians from the Argenthoz family.
They are all elite level.
Adrian, shocked, became rapidly anxious.
How did Prince Felix, who had nothing but money and possessions, end up with two of the Empire's great ducal families?
Although he has several powers, including the Duke of Cardin, who is behind Empress Giselle...
A relationship that can end at any time.
He is the adopted son of Empress Giselle.
Not her biological child.
He's never once felt anxious before. Why was he so at ease, without even a shred of doubt?
As the Crown Prince's face changed to the point where a sense of unease spread to those around him, the surroundings simultaneously became quiet.
Rudnine glanced up at the darkened sky, frowned slightly, and took a step back.
"Well then, I think things are settled now. I'll be leaving."
“Let’s do that. Be careful, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Prince Felix bowed politely to Adrian first, then entered the old palace building of the deep sea with an escort of seven men.
“Oh, I see...”
Leaving Adrian, who seemed greatly shocked and reluctantly answered, Rudnine turned away in a hurry.
It wasn't his concern whether he got shocked or fell.
They say she made people uncomfortable with her sharp, arrogant, and self-centered attitude.
Since the nobles also had eyes, they naturally took notice of Yvonne, who was quite different from before.
Was Princess Argenthoz that beautiful?
People secretly admired and praised her behind her back, saying that the rumors about her dedication to studying etiquette were not false, and that she was full of grace and flawless.
If she had previously been angry at those who belittled her, now she was beginning to feel a little uneasy.
Is this how people are gradually discovering her charm?
This isn't all there is to Yvonne's charm. She still has so much more to offer.
Although she looks cold, how lovely is that cute smile she sometimes gives?
Every time she hears someone say something smart and pure, he's amazed and feels like his heart is clear like a lake.
A woman who appears to be easygoing and laid-back, but sometimes sparkles with excitement and choleric fervor.
What if more fish notice Yvonne's charm and flock to her?
What if she, who is kinder and more affectionate than anyone else, increases the number of fish in her fishing grounds?
'I can't stand even a single one.'
He looked at Adrian, who still had no intention of letting Prince Felix go.
To Yvonne, Adrian is no longer a 'fish'.
And when he looked around her, Yvonne didn't seem to have any other fish in the pond besides him.
He was definitely trying to check today.
He pressed his throbbing temples and glared at Crown Prince Adrian, who was still grumbling and arguing with Prince Felix.
'Should I start organizing things?'
Before arriving here today, Rudnine had been busy recruiting nobles and investigating Yvonne's surroundings.
But last night, his aide Ant, who had been working overtime with him for over three days, grumbled, asking if the Duke had confessed his love to the Princess while he was working so hard.
Rudnine was greatly shocked.
This was the first time he liked a woman this much, so he didn't even think about confessing.
Usually, to express one's feelings, one would send a woman a lot of expensive gifts, but since Yvonne had declared that she would not indulge in extravagance, Rudnine was very frozen in that regard.
He wonders if he just followed her around too much without even saying that he liked her.
Last night, a mixture of anxiety and a yearning to see her led him to do something foolish like loitering around the Argenthoz mansion before returning.
Even though he knew full well that he wouldn't be able to meet Yvonne anyway.
He met the breathtakingly beautiful Yvonne at the banquet hall and made up his mind.
He will confess his feelings clearly and clearly in words as soon as possible.
So, after barely finishing the boring conversation with the Emperor and Empress, he hurriedly came down from the podium.
Yvonne was laughing and having a pleasant conversation with Prince Felix in a corner that was barely visible.
Rudnine, who discovered the sight, smiled crookedly.
He realized what it felt like to be so upset that his stomach was about to turn inside out.
Day by day, he was discovering new emotions because of Yvonne, and it was exciting, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to control himself from becoming consumed by possessiveness.
Even in that trembling moment of confessing to Yvonne, the truth is...
He was afraid she would run away.
The purple eyes that had once filled him with pure admiration as they gazed up at the summer sunset, strangely changed the moment they stared at him.
Her tightly closed lips did not give him a clear answer as to whether she would accept him.
No matter how much he thought about it, it was a vague answer.
- So you've been nice to me all this time?
So that's why?
He has never been good to anyone but her.
As he thought over Yvonne's words, he felt a pang of resentment.
He wants to hear a little more.
She said that he was a special man, different from the fish in other fishing grounds.
Don't give such a meaningful, roundabout answer!
“Hmm.”
Rudnine, unable to contain his impatience, ran a hand through his black hair.
“How come you don’t say a word to me? Am I being funny, brother?”
“No. It’s scary, brother.”
“Brother, I’m not joking.”
“I’m not joking at all, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Rudnine strode between the two men, who were still facing each other and refusing to back down, blocking them.
“Hold on...”
When Duke Iels, who had been observing the situation without saying anything, moved, everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
Rudnine looked at Adrian with a cold gaze and said.
“A lot has passed. How long are you going to keep doing this?”
He thought he was trying to sort things out or appease the Crown Prince, but he was clearly expressing his displeasure.
Dare he say this to the Crown Prince?
Adrian, who was so angry that he couldn't believe it, raised one eyebrow and approached Rudnine.
"Duke Iels! I've been so tolerant of you since last time, don't you think this is too rude?"
“...Your Highness Crown Prince Adrian.”
Unlike Adrian, who was being harsh, Rudnine called him calmly.
“May I ask what you believe that makes me so rude?”
"What?!"
Adrian's blue eyes sparkled with excitement.
Today was his birthday party, so he didn't bring a sword, but he could fight with his bare hands.
Unlike Adrian's belligerent attitude, which seemed like he was about to throw a punch, Rudnine responded calmly.
“If you don’t know, think carefully, Your Highness.”
“What is that!”
Adrian, who was about to threaten Rudnine in a fit of anger, suddenly stopped talking and opened his eyes wide.
Come to think of it, there were five knights from the Iels family guarding Prince Felix. And there were two more magicians from the Argenthoz family.
They are all elite level.
Adrian, shocked, became rapidly anxious.
How did Prince Felix, who had nothing but money and possessions, end up with two of the Empire's great ducal families?
Although he has several powers, including the Duke of Cardin, who is behind Empress Giselle...
A relationship that can end at any time.
He is the adopted son of Empress Giselle.
Not her biological child.
He's never once felt anxious before. Why was he so at ease, without even a shred of doubt?
As the Crown Prince's face changed to the point where a sense of unease spread to those around him, the surroundings simultaneously became quiet.
Rudnine glanced up at the darkened sky, frowned slightly, and took a step back.
"Well then, I think things are settled now. I'll be leaving."
“Let’s do that. Be careful, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Prince Felix bowed politely to Adrian first, then entered the old palace building of the deep sea with an escort of seven men.
“Oh, I see...”
Leaving Adrian, who seemed greatly shocked and reluctantly answered, Rudnine turned away in a hurry.
It wasn't his concern whether he got shocked or fell.
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