“Greetings, Lady Roshanak.”

The envoy was Count Nigel, a man with a refined appearance and narrow eyes. He appeared to be in his early-to-mid twenties and wore pince-nez glasses.

Seemingly visiting the Atica Kingdom for the first time, he surveyed the palace’s audience chamber with keen interest before greeting Rosha.

“I heard the third trial has opened in the Kingdom, and I’m relieved to find you unharmed, young lady. The Crown Prince overseeing the Kingdom’s affairs has just finished an audience, and I’ve come bearing a message from His Majesty the Emperor for you, Lady Roshanak. However…”

Spotting Froy leaning against a nearby wall with folded arms, Count Nigel inquired with a puzzled air:

“Forgive me if I misspeak, but… weren’t you kidnapped by Duke Echerzen, young lady?”

“Ah, well, about that…”

“Then why are the two of you together like this…?”

He seemed genuinely perplexed.

‘If he had witnessed the situation firsthand, he wouldn’t be saying such things. He must have only heard of it.’

Practically everyone present at the time knew Froy’s ‘kidnapping’ of Rosha had been mere theater, a charade.

Only those who had heard second-hand accounts or steadfastly believed Froy’s infamous reputation would assume it was a genuine kidnapping.

However, explaining the theatrics firsthand was a different matter altogether.

‘Hmm… how should I put this?’

It was at that moment that Froy elegantly approached Rosha and gently lifted a lock of her hair.

Then, bending at the waist, he softly pressed his lips to it…

‘Huh?’

He was kissing her hair!

His eyes crinkled at the corners, violet irises fully focused on her, while his expression overflowed with an affection and love she had never witnessed before.

“…!”

Meeting his gaze, Rosha’s cheeks flushed intensely as heat rushed to her ear tips, her mind occupied by a single thought:

‘…Why is this man suddenly acting like this?’

Even if his actions were sincere, he wasn’t one to behave in such a manner without reason. There had to be some ulterior motive behind this.

Yet the shock didn’t dissipate easily.

While she had occasionally seen him offer faint smiles, this tender expression resembling one gazing upon a beloved fiance was entirely new.

His every movement commanded her attention – the fluttering lashes, piercing gaze, upturned lips, and the elegant sophistication pervading his entire being.

Encompassing it all, Froy languidly spoke:

“I may have kidnapped her out of a desire to be together, but I eventually yielded to the persuasion that it was unbecoming. What of it?”

“…Pardon?”

“So I’m currently courting her through proper means. Is there an issue?”

Count Nigel regarded Froy with a dumbfounded expression, mirroring Rosha’s own.

‘But… if he puts it like that, strange rumors are bound to spread, aren’t they?’

Yet at this juncture, citing love as the reason for her kidnapping was a rather convincing response. For love was something none could predict or control.

Besides, wasn’t it a far better excuse than ‘I couldn’t comply with the Emperor’s orders to imprison Rosha at the imperial palace’?

Without warning, Froy dropped another bombshell as he continued:

“In any case, what message did His Majesty the Emperor send? I assume it was a letter pledging humanitarian aid to the Atica Kingdom, given the damages from the trial.”

Despite not having witnessed the audience, he seemed to grasp the contents of Count Nigel’s conversation with the Atica Crown Prince.

Belatedly regaining his composure with a clearing of his throat, the Count addressed Rosha:

“Ah, yes, that’s correct. His Majesty instructed you, Lady Roshanak, to resolve matters swiftly and return to the capital, as he is curious about the events that have transpired.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Truth be told, even without the Emperor’s urging, Rosha had intended to return to the Empire soon enough, having recovered from her cold while needing to confirm her family’s safety.

‘But… sending an envoy just to convey this message feels rather unsettling.’

As if confirming her suspicions, Count Nigel added:

“Thus, His Majesty has directly ordered me to escort you back.”

“…”

An icy silence descended, yet the Count remained unfazed, even providing a tentative departure schedule for the day after tomorrow before taking his leave with a bow.

“Then, having delivered His Majesty’s message, I shall withdraw.”

Standing close beside Rosha, Froy didn’t take his eyes off the Count until he exited, his expression betraying a fleeting emotion despite his outward calm – wariness.

“…Do you know something about Count Nigel?”

Momentarily setting aside her intention to inquire about his earlier courtship act, Rosha probed cautiously. The Count’s face had seemed vaguely familiar.

After a pensive pause, the man solemnly asked in return.

“How old would you estimate the Count to be?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just state your impression.”

“…Well, perhaps around twenty-four?”

The Count’s smooth, unwrinkled complexion appeared youthful, though his relatively young age for a foreign envoy could be due to the physical demands of long-distance travel.

However, Froy’s response was rather unexpected.

“In my recollection, he’s thirty-seven.”

“What? Really?”

Even accounting for a youthful appearance, that degree of agelessness was astonishing.

Suddenly, the Emperor’s face surfaced in her mind. Was she merely mistaken, or did the Count exhibit a comparable youthfulness to the Emperor, who was in his early fifties this year?

Froy’s subsequent words suggested it was no mere mistake.

“There are a few individuals who attend closely to the Emperor. While your eldest brother is one whose existence is publicly known, Count Nigel bears a title but is otherwise unremarkable beyond being the Emperor’s subordinate.”

“…”

“Since he never shows his face at banquets or gatherings, the chances of our earlier conversation spreading are minimal. However, it will undoubtedly reach the Emperor’s ears, so sowing some confusion wouldn’t be unwarranted. Well, it also provided an excuse for the kidnapping, killing two birds with one stone.”

“Ah… so that’s why you claimed to be courting me?”

“If I caused you any discomfort… I apologize. But you didn’t seem entirely averse to it, did you?”

The man’s lips curved into a tender smile, undoubtedly teasing her for her earlier blush.

As she shot him a feigned glare, Froy raised both hands in an apologetic gesture, his eyes briefly flickering with a mischievous emotion.

But it was only momentary.

“…Rosha. Under no circumstances must you allow the Emperor or Count Nigel to discover your ability.”

His concerned voice reverberated in her ears.

While Froy didn’t explicitly state the reason, Rosha knew the source of his apprehension. It undoubtedly stemmed from the secret experiment conducted by the imperial palace that she had overheard mentions of previously.

Yet she too had contemplated the prospect of encountering the Emperor after the trials’ conclusion.

‘I had intended to meet him sooner or later, even without this summons.’

Offering Froy, who regarded her with a complicated gaze, a warm smile, Rosha reassured him.

“Don’t worry. I have an idea that should work.”

The time had gradually arrived to respond to the Emperor’s proposition.

* * *

Ten days later.

Two carriages passed through the main gates of the Marcia Empire’s capital.

Bearing the Empire’s emblem and escorted by imperial knights, one carriage carried Rosha, the Aper Guardian Knight, while the other transported a visibly shaken Count Nigel.

‘…This is maddening.’

The Count glanced behind them, where a black carriage followed at a set distance.