That’s right! The queen received pink diamonds as wedding rings and a necklace, didn’t she?

Pink diamonds were rare even here, so their value was immense. I clapped my hands together as if something extraordinary had happened.

“I heard Her Majesty the Queen received pink diamond rings and a necklace from His Majesty the King. Could it be… that you’re wearing them right now…?”

Thankfully, just as intended, the mention of “pink diamonds” made everyone’s eyes widen. The noble ladies, finally catching on, focused intently—as if mesmerized—on the queen’s necklace.

“The radiant pink diamonds suit Your Majesty so beautifully.”

“Indeed. These are not only difficult to obtain, but also not something just anyone can wear.”

If they knew those were all a whopping 27 carats, they’d be even more astonished.

While everyone was preoccupied with the queen, I excused myself, saying I’d step out for some fresh air.

But Hersia followed me.

“Duchess! Where are you going?”

“Oh, just to get some fresh air.”

“How about getting fresh air on the terrace over there? I accidentally wandered onto the terrace earlier, and it’s truly lovely. Would you like to join me for another cup of milk tea?”

In the original story, Hersia had gone out to the terrace with some noble young lady to get fresh air—and was then attacked by assassins.

I didn’t know who that noble young lady was, but in any case, I had no desire whatsoever to accompany her to the very spot where assassins would strike. So I declined.

“Oh, if I drink too many cups of milk tea, I won’t be able to sleep at night. I think I’ll stop here.”

“Oh…”

Hersia, looking dejected, kept trailing after me. Why was she following me like this? She really shouldn’t be sticking to me so closely.

“Hersia, where are you headed?”

“I thought I might take a stroll around.”

“You’re not going to the terrace…?”

“No…”

But that wouldn’t do—she needed to be on the terrace to be protected. If she went for a walk and encountered assassins, how could she possibly survive?!

I called out to Hersia as she turned to leave.

“Hersia!”

Hersia, who had been about to step outside, turned back toward me with a puzzled expression.

“Yes?”

“Would you… like to get some fresh air with me on the terrace?”

Hersia smiled brightly, like a child.

“Sure!”

Night had already fallen over the royal palace, but thanks to the many street lamps around, it wasn’t particularly dark.

Sitting in a place where I knew assassins would appear made me incredibly restless. Hersia, oblivious to everything, smiled brightly and swept her fluttering hair aside.

“Thank you so much, Duchess.”

“Hm?”

“Thank you for having tea with me.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“And there’s one more thing I’m grateful for.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I thought it would be so difficult, but I’m truly thankful you treated me so casually and comfortably.”

Well, it was comfortable—I knew her personality was similar to mine, and that she had a kind nature.

“Actually… I’ve fallen for you, Duchess.”

“What?”

“His Grace is such a terrifying person. The first time I saw him at the debutante ball, he was scolding some young master from a viscount’s household—and it was so frightening. Not only that—he always carries a longsword at his waist, claiming he’ll uphold order, and the moment anyone even slightly annoys him, he intimidates them with his blade…”

‘Right. Right. I experienced that too.’

“When he asks for a dance, he does it with such a terrifying gaze that all the young ladies tremble in fear as they extend their hands…”

‘I can imagine that even without seeing it.’

“But then, when they actually offer their hand, he only lightly touches their fingertips—and doesn’t end up dancing at all…”

‘That’s because he deliberately does it just to peek at their memories.’

She could’ve just bluntly said he seemed crazy, but Hersia was being careful not to hurt my feelings. So her conclusion was:

“You’re the one who changed such a duke! That’s why I think you’re so amazing. I admire you!”

Looks like here’s yet another person who’d faint from shock if they knew the truth.

“Duchess, may I ask you just one thing?”

Why was she staring at me with such pure, bright eyes? What question could she possibly be preparing to ask?

“As long as it’s not an uncomfortable question.”

“I was wondering… how did you meet His Grace?”

“That’s classified information—I can’t disclose it.”

Hersia didn’t look disappointed. Instead, she wore an apologetic expression and seemed flustered.

“I—I’m sorry, Duchess. I must have committed a grave breach of etiquette.”

“No, not at all.”

It wasn’t so much classified as that we hadn’t yet agreed on a consistent story about where we’d met—so I had nothing to say.

“But… someday, there will be a day when you can tell me, right?”

Her previously apologetic expression vanished instantly, replaced by a bright, radiant smile.

“It would be an honor, Duchess!”

Well, I’ve passed enough time like this—I think I’ll get up and leave now.

“Hersia, I’m going to wash my hands.”

I tried to slip away quietly, leaving Hersia here—but she immediately stood up and followed me.

“I’ll come with you, Duchess.”

Was Hersia really following me around like this because she had a crush on me?

Sikar and her boyfriend were supposedly waiting right above us—if she followed me and ended up dying somewhere with no one to protect her, what then?!

I genuinely wanted to leave this deadly place. Assassins? They were far too terrifying for an ordinary, powerless person like me to face.

But I, who had already half-risen from my seat, had no choice but to sit back down.

Because if she followed me, she’d clearly be killed. How could I pretend not to know when someone’s death was practically guaranteed?

“Come to think of it, I guess I can stay a little longer.”

“Then I’ll go with you when you leave a bit later.”

“Yes. Yes. Haha.”

My laughter wasn’t genuine laughter. If I’d known it would come to this, I should’ve learned swordsmanship from Sikar instead of etiquette. Or,

I should’ve at least learned how to knock someone unconscious. Then I could’ve knocked Hersia out right here and slipped away quietly.

But surely Sikar was watching carefully? He couldn’t possibly not be there, right?

Where did the assassins appear in the novel again? Ah, right—they climbed up the wall from beneath the terrace.

‘First, let’s move to a safer spot.’

Still seated, I shifted my position as far away from the terrace railing as possible.

Hersia, watching me with a puzzled expression, mimicked my exact movement and shifted her seat too.

“What kind of game is this?”

It’s evasion. Evasion.

“I just want to view the terrace from a bit farther away.”

“Oh… just as you say, Duchess.”

“Wait a moment. Shh.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s quietly enjoy the breeze for a moment.”

Even in silence, it’s hard to sense assassins approaching—if we chatter, we’ll be even more distracted and might not escape in time.

So I ignored Hersia, who looked embarrassed after I’d randomly started talking, and kept my eyes fixed on the terrace railing.

‘If things go badly, I’ll jump backward without hesitation.’

After a long, quiet silence, just as Hersia was busily glancing at me, they appeared.

The assassins.

The novel only mentioned “assassins,” without specifying an exact number—so I’d assumed there’d be at most two or three.

But the assassins climbing onto the terrace numbered at least five.

‘Good heavens!’

Just as they say people forget to scream when too shocked, Hersia and I stared blankly at the assassins without uttering a single scream.

Perhaps Hersia hadn’t yet grasped who they were, which was why she didn’t scream.

But I knew exactly who they were—so why was I hiccuping instead of screaming?

The hooded assassins, entirely clad in black from head to toe, slowly walked toward us.

Were they walking slowly to determine which of us was Hersia? Where was Sikar?

I looked up above me, but Sikar showed no sign of appearing.

What are you doing?! Assassins have appeared, and you’re not coming out?!

Finally, my voice broke free.

“Kyaaah! Run!”

I grabbed Hersia’s hand and screamed as I tried to run. Well, tried to.

But as if further provoked by my scream and attempted escape, the slowly approaching assassins suddenly leapt high into the air, vaulted over us, and landed with a series of thuds near the banquet hall doors.

With our escape route blocked, we had no choice but to step backward.

“W—who… who are you? Why are you doing this?!”

I could feel Hersia’s hand trembling violently. Of course, my limbs were trembling too. I’d never imagined such a situation before, and my head spun dizzily.

This was a fear I hadn’t even felt when I’d been dragged, hooded, to Sikar’s ducal mansion.

Above all, since Sikar hadn’t appeared, it felt as if my life hung by a thread.

What on earth is he doing that he hasn’t shown up? Could he be trying to teach me a lesson?

Now, I didn’t even have time to think about that. The assassins had walked right up to us and raised their blades high.

Was I really going to die like this? So pathetically, at the hands of these… extra assassins?!

Yet neither Sikar nor Hersia’s boyfriend had appeared.

The assassin’s blade descended toward me—with overwhelming speed and force, impossible to dodge.

Just as I thought, “I’m completely, utterly… dead,”

The assassin’s blade seemed to graze right past my nose—then suddenly toppled backward and collapsed.

In that bewildering moment, the assassins standing behind began collapsing one by one.

‘Huh? What just happened? Are… are they dead?’

Hersia and I exchanged confused glances, then cautiously approached the assassins.

But soon—

“Snore…”

‘That’s snoring, isn’t it?’

Sure enough, the assassins were snoring loudly, fast asleep.

‘They came to assassinate… and fell asleep?’

I was incredibly relieved to be alive, but the situation was so absurd I felt completely dazed.

At that moment, Vika dropped down from the upper floor with a thud, and immediately after, Sikar followed with another thud.

Vika walked over, arms crossed, wearing a bored expression.

“To think I had to expend energy putting trash like this to sleep.”

Then, Vika lightly kicked one of the sleeping assassins and said,

“Look at this guy? Snoring away?”

‘Ah, so Vika put the assassins to sleep. That’s why they collapsed one by one, asleep.’

Only then did my tension finally ease, and my legs began to lose strength. As I swayed, Sikar, who had been walking toward me with an impassive face, rushed over and caught me by the back.

At that moment, another person dropped down from above. Stumbling slightly on landing—uttering “whoa, whoa” as he wobbled—he rushed toward Hersia, crying out her name.

“Hersia!”

His wobbling looked a bit comical, but the scene on his side was rather romantic.

“Aron!”

‘Hmm. So his name is Aron.’

This person called Aron rushed to Hersia, tears streaming down his face, embraced her tightly, and examined her face.

“Are you okay? Are you alright?!”

Hersia, nestled in Aron’s arms, was also crying and saying something—but I couldn’t make out a word she said.

She must have been shocked. Even I, who hadn’t fainted, felt like it was a miracle—I could still feel my heart pounding violently.

“Sikar. If you were planning to put the assassins to sleep like that, you could’ve at least given me a heads-up.”

“It wasn’t part of the plan.”

“Then why did you suddenly put them to sleep when it wasn’t planned?”

“Because you appeared without being part of the plan.”

“Sure, I’m sorry for showing up unplanned—but what does that have to do with putting the assassins to sleep?”

“I didn’t want you to be startled.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Even if they’re assassins, you’d still be startled if someone died right in front of you.”