"Yes?"
“Why, the name of the guest from Tamora?”
Lester blinked slowly, wondering why someone who usually showed little interest in others was suddenly asking for the guest's name.
“This is Ophelia Hailing.”
“Ophelia, Ophelia Hailing...”
Byron quietly repeated her name. Ophelia. Even the sensation of the name on his tongue felt sweet.
He decided that there was only one woman worthy of his future Emperor's side: Ophelia Hailing.
The moment he first laid eyes on her luscious silver hair, an inexplicable flame of desire burned within his heart. A desire to have everything about her for himself.
But then, something suddenly occurred to him.
“Wait a minute, I’ve heard that name somewhere...”
"Yes?"
“No.”
When Lester questioned his sudden remark, he shook his head and dismissed the butler, saying he would go for a walk in the garden.
Byron strolled briskly through the ducal gardens, searching his memory to recall where he had ever heard Ophelia's name.
And soon enough, he was able to remember the source.
"Yes, that was the name. She was the one rumored to be the genius of the century in the Republic of Tamora."
Of course, when he heard the rumor, he didn't think much of it. Of course, that was understandable, because the rumors had never mentioned anything about her being that beautiful.
It wasn't bad. He's already set his sights on her as his woman before he knew that, but he was still concerned about her commoner origins. But that didn't mean it was a problem.
In the Republic of Tamora, where magical ability is a rank, she would be a prominent sorceress and would be admired by everyone.
A great Empress fit for a great Emperor.
Byron smiled with satisfaction, the corners of his lips turning up.
"Ophelia, how about we take a walk in the garden after dinner? Summers in the North are short, so we should enjoy them to the fullest."
“...I apologize, Your Highness. I still have some paperwork to sort out.”
Ophelia sighed and dismissed Byron's offer. He couldn't tell how many times he'd been rejected.
He didn't count them one by one, but he says he was rejected a hundred times, if he may exaggerate a bit.
But despite the rejection, Byron, without taking his eyes off Ophelia, sliced a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. He smiled broadly, as if he was enjoying something so delightful.
If she had accepted his advances outright, she would have been disappointed. He, too, was not interested in women who were swayed by his princely status and attractive looks.
Unlike its gentle appearance, it is quite proud and sullen, doesn't it look like a cute female cat?
"Isn't Roderick exploiting these precious people too much? He works them without even a day off."
Byron looked at Roderick, as if Ophelia's rejection of him was entirely his fault.
“...I wanted to guarantee you a break, but you two are too sincere.”
Roderick simply answered with an unreadable expression.
His insistent "three-day weekly rest policy" was shattered by Byron's arrival. Ophelia, whose persistent courtship had become unbearable, suggested she spend her days at the ruins, and Roderick accepted.
And thankfully, Byron didn't follow her to the ruins because he hated cold and rough places, so she was able to spend some peaceful time at work.
After an uncomfortable and horrible meal, Ophelia, fearing that Byron might catch her, hurriedly left the restaurant and headed to her room.
She didn't want to be with him even for a moment.
Originally, she had intentionally left the ruins late and arrived at the mansion after dinner, but today, Byron's bath was long, so dinner was delayed, and so they ended up eating together like this.
“I really hate it...!”
As Ophelia shuddered and stretched out her words, Candice, who had been watching the scene, silently patted her friend on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard, my friend.”
It was a marked change from the first time. When Candice first saw Byron, she'd been delighted by his presence, saying, "There are so many handsome men in the Empire."
Of course, she had little interest in men, but her belief was that humans were creatures who felt good when they saw something beautiful.
But that positive impression didn't last long. Seeing Byron thrusting at Ophelia at every opportunity, she began to wonder, "What kind of a jerk is that?"
“I hope we don’t have to bump into anything like we did today.”
Ophelia said goodbye to her friend with a tearful face and locked herself in her room. It was a habit she'd developed since the day Byron barged in without warning.
But contrary to her wishes, things didn't last long. The next day, she returned to the mansion after having been out on the scene.
“Oh, right... I left my magic meter behind.”
Ophelia sighed, rubbing her head. The work of digging a passage within the ruins was almost complete, and from today onward, she needed to begin measuring the magical power. But she had left the most important measuring instrument at the Duke's residence.
She doesn't usually make mistakes like this, but lately, she's been so stressed out because of Byron that she feels like her head is going to explode.
“Should I go get it for you?”
Candice asked with a worried voice, but Ophelia could only sigh and decline.
"No, I have to go. It'll be hard to find. It's deep in my bag. I'll be fine. He always wakes up late."
For Byron, who spent every night drinking, it was the wee hours of the morning. Judging that he was still asleep, she could get out quickly before he woke up and nothing would happen, so she boarded the carriage back to the mansion.
And, for some reason, Byron woke up early today and ended up running into Ophelia at the garden mansion.
It was a time when there was no one around to help her.
“Wow, what luck is this coming to me?”
Byron approached her with a broad smile on his face. He still smelled of alcohol, perhaps from the previous night's drinking.
Ophelia slowly backed away from him, but soon reached a dead end.
“I think it’s time you came over to me, Ophelia.”
He kissed her long hair with sticky eyes. Hair should have no sense at all, but a nasty sensation, like maggots crawling through it, spread throughout her body.
“Why are you doing this, Your Highness? Please step aside.”
Ophelia frowned and tried to wriggle away from him. But Byron blocked her escape route, making it difficult.
In fact, if she had used magic, she could have easily subdued and escaped, but that was not possible because her opponent was the Prince of the Peles Empire.
If she were to panic and lose control of her magic, and he were to get hurt, it would escalate into a diplomatic issue.
"Well, it doesn't really matter. Even if you reject me, you'll still be my woman."
Byron smiled faintly and leaned in close, as if to kiss her. Her breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, made her frown and scream.
"Please don't do this. I said no! If you keep doing this, I'll have no choice but to use force."
At her words, Byron snorted.
"I'm well aware of your powerful magic. But will you be safe if you use that power? You haven't forgotten that I'm the Prince of this empire, have you?"
It was an attitude that seemed to know exactly what Ophelia was worried about.
But then.
“What are you doing, Your Highness? Didn’t she say no?”
Roderick's voice came. Ophelia's eyes widened, and she looked in the direction of the sound. Roderick was glaring at Byron, holding his arm. His gaze was so fierce it felt like sparks were flying.
“...What is it, Roderick? Can’t you let this go right now?”
"I can't let you go. Even if you're His Highness the Prince, I can't stand by and watch you forcibly molest a woman who refuses to obey."
Byron shouted indignantly, but Roderick paid no attention and wrapped his arms around Ophelia protectively.
"Your Highness, you didn't come here to play. What if His Majesty the Emperor finds out that you've been exiled and sexually assaulted a researcher dispatched from another country?"
“This cheeky guy... is you threatening me right now?”
Outwardly, he was furious, but inwardly, Byron was calculating. If this became known, his exile could be prolonged, and his ministers would undoubtedly squabble over his qualifications.
Byron, who was too angry to just back down, vented his anger by slapping Roderick in the face.
He swung it so hard that his hands were freezing.
"I will never forget what happened today, Roderick. Even if we were childhood friends, I cannot forgive you for being so arrogant toward me, the future heir to the throne."
Byron spat on the floor and turned around quickly, disappearing.
"Are you alright, Researcher Hailing? I'm sorry. I should have been more careful to prevent something like this from happening..."
Even though his cheek was red and swollen from the blow he received from Byron, and his lip was split and bleeding, Roderick checked on Ophelia's well-being first.
“Is it my problem now? You're bleeding, Your Excellency.”
With a look of annoyance on her face, Ophelia took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Roderick's mouth. She couldn't understand why it was always Byron who was being rude to her and someone else who had to apologize.
“Why, the name of the guest from Tamora?”
Lester blinked slowly, wondering why someone who usually showed little interest in others was suddenly asking for the guest's name.
“This is Ophelia Hailing.”
“Ophelia, Ophelia Hailing...”
Byron quietly repeated her name. Ophelia. Even the sensation of the name on his tongue felt sweet.
He decided that there was only one woman worthy of his future Emperor's side: Ophelia Hailing.
The moment he first laid eyes on her luscious silver hair, an inexplicable flame of desire burned within his heart. A desire to have everything about her for himself.
But then, something suddenly occurred to him.
“Wait a minute, I’ve heard that name somewhere...”
"Yes?"
“No.”
When Lester questioned his sudden remark, he shook his head and dismissed the butler, saying he would go for a walk in the garden.
Byron strolled briskly through the ducal gardens, searching his memory to recall where he had ever heard Ophelia's name.
And soon enough, he was able to remember the source.
"Yes, that was the name. She was the one rumored to be the genius of the century in the Republic of Tamora."
Of course, when he heard the rumor, he didn't think much of it. Of course, that was understandable, because the rumors had never mentioned anything about her being that beautiful.
It wasn't bad. He's already set his sights on her as his woman before he knew that, but he was still concerned about her commoner origins. But that didn't mean it was a problem.
In the Republic of Tamora, where magical ability is a rank, she would be a prominent sorceress and would be admired by everyone.
A great Empress fit for a great Emperor.
Byron smiled with satisfaction, the corners of his lips turning up.
***
"Ophelia, how about we take a walk in the garden after dinner? Summers in the North are short, so we should enjoy them to the fullest."
“...I apologize, Your Highness. I still have some paperwork to sort out.”
Ophelia sighed and dismissed Byron's offer. He couldn't tell how many times he'd been rejected.
He didn't count them one by one, but he says he was rejected a hundred times, if he may exaggerate a bit.
But despite the rejection, Byron, without taking his eyes off Ophelia, sliced a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. He smiled broadly, as if he was enjoying something so delightful.
If she had accepted his advances outright, she would have been disappointed. He, too, was not interested in women who were swayed by his princely status and attractive looks.
Unlike its gentle appearance, it is quite proud and sullen, doesn't it look like a cute female cat?
"Isn't Roderick exploiting these precious people too much? He works them without even a day off."
Byron looked at Roderick, as if Ophelia's rejection of him was entirely his fault.
“...I wanted to guarantee you a break, but you two are too sincere.”
Roderick simply answered with an unreadable expression.
His insistent "three-day weekly rest policy" was shattered by Byron's arrival. Ophelia, whose persistent courtship had become unbearable, suggested she spend her days at the ruins, and Roderick accepted.
And thankfully, Byron didn't follow her to the ruins because he hated cold and rough places, so she was able to spend some peaceful time at work.
After an uncomfortable and horrible meal, Ophelia, fearing that Byron might catch her, hurriedly left the restaurant and headed to her room.
She didn't want to be with him even for a moment.
Originally, she had intentionally left the ruins late and arrived at the mansion after dinner, but today, Byron's bath was long, so dinner was delayed, and so they ended up eating together like this.
“I really hate it...!”
As Ophelia shuddered and stretched out her words, Candice, who had been watching the scene, silently patted her friend on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard, my friend.”
It was a marked change from the first time. When Candice first saw Byron, she'd been delighted by his presence, saying, "There are so many handsome men in the Empire."
Of course, she had little interest in men, but her belief was that humans were creatures who felt good when they saw something beautiful.
But that positive impression didn't last long. Seeing Byron thrusting at Ophelia at every opportunity, she began to wonder, "What kind of a jerk is that?"
“I hope we don’t have to bump into anything like we did today.”
Ophelia said goodbye to her friend with a tearful face and locked herself in her room. It was a habit she'd developed since the day Byron barged in without warning.
But contrary to her wishes, things didn't last long. The next day, she returned to the mansion after having been out on the scene.
“Oh, right... I left my magic meter behind.”
Ophelia sighed, rubbing her head. The work of digging a passage within the ruins was almost complete, and from today onward, she needed to begin measuring the magical power. But she had left the most important measuring instrument at the Duke's residence.
She doesn't usually make mistakes like this, but lately, she's been so stressed out because of Byron that she feels like her head is going to explode.
“Should I go get it for you?”
Candice asked with a worried voice, but Ophelia could only sigh and decline.
"No, I have to go. It'll be hard to find. It's deep in my bag. I'll be fine. He always wakes up late."
For Byron, who spent every night drinking, it was the wee hours of the morning. Judging that he was still asleep, she could get out quickly before he woke up and nothing would happen, so she boarded the carriage back to the mansion.
And, for some reason, Byron woke up early today and ended up running into Ophelia at the garden mansion.
It was a time when there was no one around to help her.
“Wow, what luck is this coming to me?”
Byron approached her with a broad smile on his face. He still smelled of alcohol, perhaps from the previous night's drinking.
Ophelia slowly backed away from him, but soon reached a dead end.
“I think it’s time you came over to me, Ophelia.”
He kissed her long hair with sticky eyes. Hair should have no sense at all, but a nasty sensation, like maggots crawling through it, spread throughout her body.
“Why are you doing this, Your Highness? Please step aside.”
Ophelia frowned and tried to wriggle away from him. But Byron blocked her escape route, making it difficult.
In fact, if she had used magic, she could have easily subdued and escaped, but that was not possible because her opponent was the Prince of the Peles Empire.
If she were to panic and lose control of her magic, and he were to get hurt, it would escalate into a diplomatic issue.
"Well, it doesn't really matter. Even if you reject me, you'll still be my woman."
Byron smiled faintly and leaned in close, as if to kiss her. Her breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, made her frown and scream.
"Please don't do this. I said no! If you keep doing this, I'll have no choice but to use force."
At her words, Byron snorted.
"I'm well aware of your powerful magic. But will you be safe if you use that power? You haven't forgotten that I'm the Prince of this empire, have you?"
It was an attitude that seemed to know exactly what Ophelia was worried about.
But then.
“What are you doing, Your Highness? Didn’t she say no?”
Roderick's voice came. Ophelia's eyes widened, and she looked in the direction of the sound. Roderick was glaring at Byron, holding his arm. His gaze was so fierce it felt like sparks were flying.
“...What is it, Roderick? Can’t you let this go right now?”
"I can't let you go. Even if you're His Highness the Prince, I can't stand by and watch you forcibly molest a woman who refuses to obey."
Byron shouted indignantly, but Roderick paid no attention and wrapped his arms around Ophelia protectively.
"Your Highness, you didn't come here to play. What if His Majesty the Emperor finds out that you've been exiled and sexually assaulted a researcher dispatched from another country?"
“This cheeky guy... is you threatening me right now?”
Outwardly, he was furious, but inwardly, Byron was calculating. If this became known, his exile could be prolonged, and his ministers would undoubtedly squabble over his qualifications.
Byron, who was too angry to just back down, vented his anger by slapping Roderick in the face.
He swung it so hard that his hands were freezing.
"I will never forget what happened today, Roderick. Even if we were childhood friends, I cannot forgive you for being so arrogant toward me, the future heir to the throne."
Byron spat on the floor and turned around quickly, disappearing.
"Are you alright, Researcher Hailing? I'm sorry. I should have been more careful to prevent something like this from happening..."
Even though his cheek was red and swollen from the blow he received from Byron, and his lip was split and bleeding, Roderick checked on Ophelia's well-being first.
“Is it my problem now? You're bleeding, Your Excellency.”
With a look of annoyance on her face, Ophelia took a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Roderick's mouth. She couldn't understand why it was always Byron who was being rude to her and someone else who had to apologize.
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