The sudden illness of the Emperor, the chaotic state of the Empire, and Xenon, who had been targeting Cornelia’s child.
The mastermind behind all these events was right in front of him.
Although there was no solid proof yet, Erich was convinced that Reinhardt was the mastermind behind it all.
That’s why he had been trying to carefully investigate Xenon’s background. However, the moment he spoke crudely about Cornelia, Erich’s mind went blank.
‘Right, if it’s come to this, I’ll just kill him here.’
Just as Erich gathered his aura to throw a punch—
“What are you doing right now?”
He saw the sharp, glaring violet eyes staring at him. The moment he saw that stern face, Erich regained his senses.
‘How foolish to fall for his provocation…’
Erich leaned close to Reinhardt and spoke softly.
“Reinhardt Adolf Tarrant, remember this. If you mess with her, I will kill you no matter what.”
For an ordinary person, just hearing that voice would send shivers down their spine. However, Reinhardt merely smiled and replied in a low voice.
“Go ahead, if you can. You human butcher.”
At those words, Erich let go of Reinhardt’s collar and calmly replied to Cornelia.
“He tried to approach too closely. I was checking if he had any weapons.”
Reinhardt frowned at that statement and then began to cough violently.
“Cough, cough!”
As Reinhardt exaggeratedly coughed, Cornelia stiffly asked, “Are you okay?”
At that question, Reinhardt felt a smirk rising within him.
Was he just okay? He felt quite good.
Erich Blant had finally twisted that damn smug face of his.
‘From now on, you’ll be on high alert around me, won’t you? But…’
Seeing Cornelia’s hardened expression as she looked at him made Reinhardt’s smile deepen.
‘That will be your downfall, Erich Blant.’
Feigning a sorrowful expression, Reinhardt addressed Cornelia.
“Your Highness, I’m fine. It seems Duke Blant was a bit sensitive after what just happened.”
At his response, Cornelia flinched before speaking. “Very well, I will apologize on his behalf.”
To that, Reinhardt smiled brightly and replied, “I’m truly fine. But I would like to hear your response to my earlier proposal.”
With the clear intent behind his words, Erich clenched his fists tightly.
‘Cornelia must be swayed by his words right now. He’s extending a helping hand when she needs it.’
With the Emperor and loyalist nobles likely to resist changing the crown prince, having Reinhardt’s support would make it easier for her to persuade them.
‘I can’t let her join forces with him. This must be part of his scheme.’
He wanted nothing more than to expose Reinhardt’s true identity to her. But without solid evidence, and with Reinhardt possibly being the mastermind behind everything, he couldn’t openly say anything. Moreover, more than anything, he questioned whether she would believe his words.
Soon, a bitter expression settled in Erich’s eyes.
‘She probably won’t trust me.’
Finally, Erich gazed at Cornelia with desperate eyes. He hoped that the clever woman would notice the suspiciousness about him. After a moment, her red lips parted.
“Reinhardt.”
The way she called his name was so sweet that Reinhardt barely swallowed his saliva and replied, “Yes, Your Highness. Please, go ahead.”
“…I don’t understand. Why are you trying to help me?”
The straightforward question caught Reinhardt off guard, and he clenched his fists tightly.
‘As expected, you’re the best, making me flustered like this!’
He wanted nothing more than to confess his feelings right there and shower her red lips with kisses. But it was still too early for that. So he concealed his true feelings and provided a plausible reason.
“Shall I say I was moved by Your Highness’s words?”
“Moved?”
“Yes, to be honest, I somewhat agree. Crown Prince Fritz isn’t fit to be Emperor…”
Cornelia quickly interrupted him.
“There are many eyes around us right now, so I’d like to talk in a quiet place. May we change locations? Ideally, your mansion would be best.”
Reinhardt smiled sweetly at her provocative suggestion.
‘How adorable, willingly coming to my mansion.’
“Yes, of course.”
“Alright then, let’s move. Marquis Philippe, will you accompany me?”
“Yes, of course, Your Highness.”
Watching all this, Erich clenched his fist tightly.
‘It’s okay. As long as I keep an eye on him, he won’t be able to pull any tricks…’
Just as he was about to follow her, Cornelia spoke.
“You should return to the lodging first.”
Thud.
Her words felt like a punch to his heart.
‘Return?’
At that moment, Reinhardt, observing the situation, smirked with one corner of his mouth lifted.
Then his lips moved.
‘See, she wants me too.’
Erich clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt. He couldn’t just back down like this.
“Cornelia, I can’t do that.”
She sighed and looked at him.
“What’s the problem?”
“I’m concerned about your safety…”
“We’re just going to discuss business. Besides, Marquis Philippe will be accompanying me.”
He couldn’t argue with that. Given that sly fox’s nature, he wouldn’t harm Cornelia right away. But…
<The one who sent me was… the Archduke Tarrant. The target is the child…>
<Duke Blant, I will take good care of Cornelia from now on.>
Reinhardt harbored malicious intent toward Cornelia.
“Cornelia, first let me…”
He wanted to explain that he couldn’t let her go alone because there was something off about Reinhardt. But before he could finish, she whispered as if questioning him.
“Did you forget? My child is at the lodging.”
At those words, Erich sighed and replied, “I swear to God, the child is safe.”
He had instructed the child not to trust anyone and to use magic in emergencies, but to be cautious, he had entrusted the child to Janet. He had assigned the external perimeter to Sardin, whom he couldn’t trust completely.
‘And above all… I ordered Heit to keep watch, so if there were any issues, I would have been contacted long ago.’
Erich continued,
“Did you forget what happened a moment ago? You can’t trust anyone in this situation.”
At that moment, Cornelia sent a cold glare at Erich.
“I think I understand why you treated me so coldly back then.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Don’t you remember? When you frequently met with Medelin over that lucrative mining contract.”
And at that moment, the words she had said in anger flashed through Erich’s mind.
<Erich, even if it’s for work, I don’t want you to be with Medelin!>
And with that, the words he had once uttered came vividly to mind.
<It’s just a work matter. Go back to your room. Nothing you’re worried about will ever happen.>
At the moment Erich was engulfed in shock, she said,
“Nothing will happen, so go back to the lodging.”
It was almost the same as what he had said in the past.
Only now, as the past mistakes came back like daggers, did he realize how horribly he had spoken to her.
“Cornelia, back then I…”
He had to apologize.
Only then could he stay by her side.
He tried to open his mouth to apologize, but she spoke as if she didn’t want to hear it.
“Even if you apologize, it won’t change what you did to me.”
Faced with an irrefutable truth, Erich stood frozen.
So, even until the moment she turned her back, he couldn’t dare to hold her.
‘Cornelia.’
As he watched her figure grow distant, he reached out his hand but then clenched it into a fist.
He felt suffocated.
To think he would have to watch her go with another man, especially Reinhardt.
Yet he didn’t even have a justification to hold her back.
It was no wonder, as this situation was nothing less than a backlash from the mistakes of his past.
‘Am I… too late?’
Erich’s face twisted in anguish.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Reinhardt, riding in the carriage, barely suppressed a laugh.
‘What a pathetic fool. Clinging to me so desperately after a little provocation.’
At that moment, Cornelia’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“You don’t look well, Archduke Tarrant. Is it because of what happened earlier?”
Surprised by her sudden question, Reinhardt composed himself and shook his head.
“No, I am truly fine. It’s just… seeing Your Highness’s face after so long, you seem somewhat haggard.”
Cornelia responded with a bitter smile.
“I suppose it’s because I’ve been struggling with parenting.”
At the mention of parenting, Reinhardt clenched his fist tightly.
‘Yes, that brat. I need to get rid of him as soon as possible… I wonder if my subordinates are doing well.’
For a moment, lost in thought, Reinhardt responded to her,
“Parenting can be tough. Still, Your Highness’s beauty hasn’t faded…”
He stopped mid-sentence, startled. Cornelia was staring at him with a completely serious expression.
‘Did I let my emotions show again?’
No, he was sure he had acted naturally.
As Reinhardt wrestled with his anxiety, Cornelia spoke.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please go ahead.”
“How did you know that the person guarding me was Duke Blant when I never mentioned it?”
With that sharp gaze, Reinhardt froze.
“Am I too late?”
Bruh.
YA THINK?!