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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Side Story I. The Crown Prince’s Perspective

Ellucian, the 1st Prince, was a figure overflowing with ambition.

Beneath him, the legitimate imperial heir, were many half-siblings born of concubines. Starting with the 2nd Prince, who stood in his way, he used various incidents and accidents as cover to bring down the other princes and princesses.

To the external nobility, the 1st Prince appeared as a benevolent and merciful prince—so much so that one might doubt if he was truly the bloodline of the Emperor, who ruled with an iron fist. But behind the scenes, without dirtying his own hands, he cunningly and ruthlessly crushed other successors.

The Emperor knew of his actions. But he merely watched with expectation, curious to see how far the 1st Prince—the one who most thickly inherited his own blood, having trampled over his brothers’ corpses—would climb, taking no particular measures to stop him.

The palace, which had quietly reeked of a coppery scent, only calmed when the Emperor, belatedly, stepped in after the matter grew too large and all opposing forces within the imperial family had disappeared.

At first, the existence of the Saintess was nothing more than a means to secure the support of the nobility for him, who was already designated Crown Prince.

In this empire, to him who possessed power and authority, the power of healing or blessings was of little use.

The reason for surveillance was simply to prevent bothersome situations—like betrayal or rival factions trying to sway her—which is why he had attached Knight Commander Carlton.

But hearing the name “Lady of Viscountcy Moulton” from Carlton’s reports gave him an odd, grating sensation, like a foreign object caught in his mind.

“Viscount Moulton, that man steeped in greed? I didn’t know he had a daughter…”

“She doesn’t seem to attend many banquets or parties. She appears to have attended the tea party hosted by the Saintess this time… They seem to have formed a friendship.”

“No, I mean I’m hearing of this ‘Edith’ for the first time. I thought I knew every noble in this Empire, but it seems I was mistaken.”

This unfamiliar, irritating sensation kept nagging at the Crown Prince. Having been educated since birth, he had long since memorized all noble houses in the Empire. Not knowing one was a significant blow to his pride.

He thought investigating would prove this feeling wrong. But the information they brought back left the Crown Prince stunned.

“No significant information? No interacting nobles? Occasionally appears in social circles but no one knows anything about her?”

The suspiciously empty information made him suspect there was something hidden. Then, information about her family caught his eye.

Believing his suspicion wasn’t unfounded, the Crown Prince ordered his direct knight order to bring the lady.

Politely, as always, before entering the reception room, he felt a long-absent sense of pleasure at the thought of soon uncovering the truth, like excavating a long-buried artifact.

But it seemed more digging was still needed.

The gloomy, almost sinister-looking lady sitting before him was wary of him but seemed to genuinely know nothing.

His earlier pleasure vanished, replaced by a contrary foul mood. Tormenting the person before him wouldn’t likely improve it anyway.

Whether he praised, threatened, or spoke to her, she remained stiff and guarded, making it rather dull.

The undiscovered secret lingered in a corner of his mind, seemingly forgotten for a while as he attended to his duties as Crown Prince.

In the meantime, he received a report from a knight that the lady, who should have been quiet after his warning, had met with the Saintess again. Initially, having no particular interest in the lady, the Crown Prince merely intended to listen to Carlton’s obligatory surveillance report.

But Carlton, who should have reported, acted uncharacteristically.

That his Knight Commander, who had sworn loyalty since his princehood, would refuse an order over some insignificant lady worse than a pebble on the road…

Including matters with the Saintess, Lady Moulton began to feel like a thorn in his side.

‘How to get rid of her…? Have someone ruin her and dump her in the underworld?’

As he pondered cruel methods to dispose of her, an idea struck him—a way to reassert loyalty from his dog while simultaneously ruining her. He put it into action immediately.

He thought if a noble lady were not only r***d by a man but done so in front of others, she would surely be ruined. And having the Knight Commander do it would serve the purpose. But once again, the lady defied expectations.

Rather, like a weed that grows stronger when trampled, she boldly exchanged letters with the Saintess. This was a clear provocation.

“To think a mere viscount’s daughter is this irritating… I must have seemed too lenient, playing the benevolent role for so long.”

Feeling his pride, which had easily disposed of imperial figures, was being crumpled at will by Lady Moulton, the Crown Prince grew desperate to crush her.