Reinhardt swallowed dryly without realizing it.
‘Damn it, I made a mistake.’
She’s already a sensitive woman.
Because of this one mistake, she might start to doubt him.
‘I have to make up for this somehow.’
After a while, he spoke to Cornelia.
“People with such skills are rare. Besides, if they are with Your Highness…”
“That’s strange. Usually, when someone is with me, they think of my guard, Sardin. Why did you think of Duke Blant? We’re not even a couple on good terms.”
Once again caught off guard, Reinhardt feigned indifference and spoke again.
“I briefly saw the face under the hood. It was different from that slave’s face.”
“Oh, I see.”
Seeing Cornelia seemingly lower her guard, Reinhardt let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘Thankfully, it seems I’ve gotten past it.’
Then Cornelia smiled sweetly.
“By the way, since there’s no one else around to hear us, shall we talk here?”
At her words, Reinhardt blushed and nodded.
“Yes, I’ll listen to whatever you have to say. Please go ahead.”
“About Fritz, do you really think he lacks the qualities?”
Reinhardt chuckled dryly.
“How many people in the empire are fond of the Crown Prince?”
“Well, that’s undeniable.”
Cornelia lowered her eyes slightly and smiled, but then she raised her eyes provocatively and looked straight at Reinhardt.
“So, do you want to become the Emperor, Reinhardt?”
Of course, he wanted that position.
However, that wasn’t his top priority. What he truly wanted was something else.
“No, I could never dare to covet such a precious position. I have no interest in the throne.”
“Then what is it that you want that makes you want to help me?”
At Cornelia’s question, Reinhardt looked at her.
Her crescent-shaped eyes, sparkling violet irises, alluringly curved red lips, and skin as white as snow
Cornelia was truly something that was always desirable.
So much so that he wanted to make her his own right away.
‘I want you. My beautiful black swan, Cornelia.’
Reinhardt swallowed his saliva, suppressing his desire.
Then he spoke.
“What I desire is… solely the stability of the Empire. That’s why I want to be of assistance to Your Highness.”
“Reinhardt, I…”
Just as Cornelia was about to say something, the carriage came to a stop.
“Ah, we’ve arrived.”
After getting out of the carriage, Reinhardt extended his hand toward Cornelia.
“Your Highness, please take my hand.”
However, Cornelia ignored his hand and called out to Marquis Philippe, who was standing outside.
“Marquis Philippe, please come here for a moment.”
And when Reinhardt was taken aback by her words, Cornelia glanced at him.
“I have something to discuss privately with Marquis Philippe. Could you step aside for a moment?”
‘How insolent.’
No matter how much of a royalty she was, she couldn’t just dismiss him like this.
Reinhardt felt an indescribable sense of displeasure.
‘When you become mine, I’ll make sure to educate you properly.’
However, contrary to his inner thoughts, he nodded with a smile.
“Yes, as you wish.”
A moment later, as Cornelia whispered something softly, the Marquis bowed his head.
“Yes, I will do as you command and wait.”
With those words, the Marquis stepped back.
Watching this, Reinhardt clenched his fist tightly.
‘What on earth are they talking about?’
It was then.
“Reinhardt, escort.”
Even in her arrogant demeanor, extending her hand as if calling a dog, Reinhardt felt a thrill.
‘Yes, I can tolerate a little arrogance from someone so beautiful.’
He grasped her hand firmly, savoring every sensation.
Her fingers were not large but long and elegant. There was a slight callus on the inside of her palm, but the back of her hand was very soft.
He wanted to kiss her right then and there.
However, he had to let go of her hand shortly after.
Cornelia suddenly withdrew her hand and pointed to a certain place.
“What is that place? It looks like a building that wasn’t here before.”
Reinhardt’s face hardened as he looked at the place.
It was a warehouse storing the candles used to assassinate the Emperor.
“It’s nothing special. Just a storage room.”
“It seems too well ventilated for just a storage room.”
As Cornelia approached the building curiously, Reinhard felt his mouth go dry.
‘There’s a high chance she won’t notice even if I show her, but just in case…’
He then spoke casually, without revealing his anxiety.
“It’s inconvenient if there’s dust when you’re looking for something in the storage room. Let’s go to the reception room.”
Thus, Reinhardt concealed his anxiety and waited for Cornelia’s response. Finally, Cornelia replied.
“Yes, let’s do that. But I’d prefer your office over the reception room.”
At those words, Reinhardt let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
“Yes, let’s go with that.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Cornelia then turned to Marquis Philippe, who was following behind her.
“Marquis, what about the carriage?”
“My subordinate will go check on it, so you need not worry.”
“Good, I hope they find one soon. I can’t ride the Archduke’s carriage on the way back.”
Watching this, Reinhardt realized what instructions she had given and couldn’t help but smile.
‘Ah, so she asked to get the carriage because of your pride.’
He then spoke to Cornelia.
“Your Highness, it would be an honor for me if you used my carriage.”
“No, it’s fine. Let’s go inside quickly.”
“Yes, understood.”
With that, Reinhardt led Cornelia to his office.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Meanwhile, Erich had returned to his lodging, just as Cornelia had said.
He looked at his palm for a moment before clenching his fist tightly.
‘Why is this happening?’
When he first learned that Cornelia was alive, he had thought he would protect her.
From all the dangers surrounding her.
Then she would realize his importance and, perhaps one day, open her heart and forgive him.
He had secretly harbored such hopes.
However, those expectations were rendered meaningless as she resolved her crisis on her own. And…
<Nothing will happen, so return to the lodging.>
She chose Reinhardt as her ally instead of him.
Since he had seriously trained in swordsmanship, he had never felt defeat, but in that moment, he experienced an indescribable agony along with the feeling of defeat.
‘Why? I had expected that she wouldn’t accept me easily…’
At that moment, Cornelia’s words echoed in his mind.
<Even if you apologize, what you did to me won’t change.>
Those words felt like they were affirming his defeat and his future.
It was already too late; no matter what actions he took, nothing would change.
For a moment, the worst possible future flashed before him.
‘If she asks me for a divorce…’
As Erich’s face twisted in distress, someone called out to him.
“Dad, are you back?”
Seeing the person who welcomed him, Erich forced a bitter smile.
‘You still call me… Dad.’
A child who followed him like a newly hatched chick.
But the child was not his blood.
When he first learned of the child’s existence, he had not been pleased; in fact, he had felt resentment.
‘I thought countless times that it would have been better if you hadn’t been born.’
So he felt unworthy of being called “Dad” by the child.
Yet, hearing that word filled his heart with a bittersweet pain.
Moreover, shamelessly, he found himself wanting to hear it more.
‘What am I thinking…’
“Dad, where’s Mom?”
At the child’s innocent question, filled with worry, Erich flinched and approached the child.
Kneeling down to meet the child’s eyes, he spoke softly.
“She had some business to attend to and went somewhere else. She’ll be back soon, so don’t worry.”
Despite his attempt to reassure, the child’s face still showed signs of worry.
‘You must miss your mother. It’s understandable at your age.’
With that thought, Erich pondered how to comfort the child as he chose his words carefully.
At that moment, large violet eyes looked up at him with concern.
“Yes, but Dad, are you feeling unwell?”
He hadn’t expected that.
That such a small child would sense his mood.
It made sense, though; he had always been focused on appearing flawless as a duke.
If he made a mistake, it would become his brother’s mistake.
In such circumstances, he never had time to reflect on his own feelings.
But now…
“Tell me what happened. I’ll help you!”
Unlike others, there was no ulterior motive in those eyes.
Only genuine concern and pure affection were reflected there.
That gaze made Erich feel an unfamiliar sensation.
A tickling warmth inside his chest; it was an unusual feeling.
Eventually, recalling what had happened earlier, Erich made a bitter expression.
‘But no matter what, I can never be your father.’
Erich then returned to his expressionless state and spoke to the child.
“…Nothing happened.”
Even though he didn’t think this way now, he had found the fact that another man’s child was in Cornelia’s womb horrifying.
‘Yes, I thought of you as a blemish on the Blant family.’
So, while he secretly found the child endearing, he had kept his distance.
Yet now, to desire the child’s affection and wish to be a father was an audacious thought.
‘Right, this isn’t the time for this. I need to go out and check for any dangers nearby…’
Erich tried to get up.
At that moment, a small hand grabbed his hand.
Surprised, Erich was about to pull his hand away when…
“Dad!”
Without warning, the child hugged him.
