Chapter 104
If he acted haughtily enough, she might appear at any moment to put him in his place. He couldn’t hide the corners of his mouth that kept threatening to curl upwards.
And the more openly triumphant the Crown Prince’s expression became, the more Ronius, sitting before him, scowled. It was deeply unpleasant to see that wretched demeanor—someone who’d been fidgeting annoyingly, now utterly delighted at having stumbled upon a chance.
‘So why did you suddenly blow in my ear like that…?’
It still felt as if goosebumps were rising all over his neck. He clenched the fist he had dropped to his side. Even though he couldn’t see her, he could feel Jeina’s presence distinctly.
She sat down beside him, and his muscles tensed with the anxiety that his n****e might be touched at any moment. His chest tightened involuntarily, and his waist trembled finely from the strange sensation welling up from his toes.
Jeina’s presence could be revealed whenever she wished, but he didn’t want his Master’s attention stolen away for even a single moment.
He shifted his b******s slightly, pressing his body tightly against her. Then, hiding his anxious thoughts, he took a sip of the hot tea and watched the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince also sipped his tea and straightened his appearance.
“Ahem, ahem, uh-hem, I haven’t even seen you at the state council meetings lately. How many deputies has the Duke sent already? His Majesty’s mood isn’t very good, Duke.”
Ronius’s eyebrow twitched at the Crown Prince’s behavior—acting all formal when it had been barely any time since he started poking his nose into state affairs.
Ronius had stopped setting foot in the Imperial Palace the moment requests concerning the witch arose in the state council.
The Emperor had subtly revealed his intention to use her for his own personal gain, and many of the Emperor’s faction nobles began to side with his opinion one by one. Regardless, it was a matter that couldn’t pass without his approval as the Duke.
Since that didn’t work, now they were desperately fixated on the witch’s land, weren’t they?
The Emperor’s pressure was nothing more than the tantrum of an old raccoon to House de Xtion, but even tantrums could provoke discomfort if they went too far.
‘It would be a problem if you still think of me as the Imperial lapdog. I only serve one Master.’
Ronius crooked the corner of his mouth.
“It seems His Majesty still thinks I am his knight. Ordering me to come and go like this.”
“…Anyway!”
The Crown Prince said, looking around.
“I’ve come to finalize the agreement with the witch.”
“You intend to finalize the agreement that arrived just this morning?”
Ronius saw right through the Crown Prince’s dark intentions. It was a scheme to subtly provoke her, to make Jeina show herself first.
He calmed his mind with the warmth he felt beside him.
She was his Master anyway.
When no reaction came from him, the Crown Prince kept chattering without pause.
“Isn’t the witch now a proper noble of the Empire? His Majesty even granted her a domain.”
“One might think His Majesty expects some compensation in return for that.”
“…Is she here now?”
Unable to hold back, Elliot asked urgently, and Ronius closed his mouth.
And simultaneously, the hidden figure revealed herself beside Ronius. Her wavy hair fluttered down, and her distinct black pupils turned toward the Crown Prince.
“The Imperial Palace mutt still has a long way to go with its manners.”
Jeina looked down at the Crown Prince with a haughty demeanor.
Her gaze seemed to look down on the Crown Prince, and at the eyes that regarded him as insignificant, the Crown Prince drew in a sharp breath.
Jeina’s gaze shifted sideways. She raised a hand and stroked Ronius’s face.
“Roni.”
“Yes, Master.”
Ronius, who had been sitting upright, immediately lowered his body at her call and rested his face on her hand. At the duke’s attitude, which had transformed in an instant into that of an obedient puppy, the Crown Prince let out an incredulous laugh. “Hah.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes slowly swept over her figure. The slowly rolling amber pupils seemed a bit impatient.
She was wearing a simple indoor dress that exposed her neckline. It was a plain white dress with no patterns or lace, only a few simple gathers, yet on this woman, it was utterly extraordinary. It was enough to make one think she had cast some sort of illuminating magic.
“Long time no see, Countess.”
“Not Countess. Witch.”
“I’ve thought this since last time, but you… are quite a beauty. Did you know?”
Elliot was trying hard to feign composure, but for some reason, he couldn’t shake off a creeping sense of dread. His body was trembling on its own.
She shifted her gaze. Her eyes not staying fixed solely on him made Ronius’s own eyes flicker uneasily.
Jeina stared intently at the Crown Prince and tapped her thigh with one hand. After a brief hesitation, Ronius followed her gaze to glance at the Crown Prince.
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