Since Dekain had asked me out on a date, there was no way Ascan would just sit back and do nothing after hearing about it.

But before Ascan could even step forward, I spoke up first.

“No.”

Ascan, who looked ready to explode at any moment, suddenly froze. I could feel his surprised gaze fixed on me.

Silently, I met Ascan’s eyes and let out a faint chuckle.

It was only natural. Even if it was Dekain, I would never go on a date with another man while I had Ascan.

Though sending word to the Brellof family was urgent, I had not the slightest intention— not even a speck’s worth— of hurting Ascan for it.

“If the price for delivering my letter to the Brellof family is a date, then let’s pretend it never happened.”

At my answer, delivered without the slightest hesitation, Dekain burst into giggles as if something amused him greatly.

“Why take it so seriously? I was joking, just joking.”

“Joking?”

“Yeah. But you rejected me so instantly—I might be a little hurt, you know?”

Hearing that, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt toward Dekain.

“I—I just misunderstood because you said ‘date.’”

Dekain continued smiling as he watched me squirm in embarrassment. But unlike his playful tone, a flicker of seriousness passed through his eyes.

“You just said you’ve started liking him again—so what exactly is your relationship now?”

“Us?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I turned to look at Ascan seated beside me again.

My mind instantly tangled. I liked him, he liked me. We’d even kissed already…

But we’d never explicitly said we were officially dating.

‘What should I say? Can I just call us lovers based on my own feelings?’

Seeing me hesitate to answer immediately, a glint of curiosity flickered in Dekain’s eyes.

“What, things haven’t progressed as far as I thought?”

“It’s not that…”

While I fumbled for the right words, Ascan, who had been watching silently beside me, cut in.

“It’s obvious just by looking.”

As he spoke, Ascan interlaced his fingers with mine resting on the table. Our ten fingers intertwined seamlessly, leaving no gaps.

“We’re in love with each other. You don’t seriously need me to spell out what that means, do you?”

His tone carried a strangely sarcastic edge, yet somehow brimmed with forcefulness.

Dekain frowned with displeasure, though still smiling. Beautiful as a flower, as always, yet as unreadable as a snake.

“So Tanashia couldn’t answer, but Marquis Adel clearly stated you’re lovers—I understand perfectly.”

Huh?

He wasn’t wrong, but somehow the meaning felt subtly twisted.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Dekain spoke again first.

“You’ve already prepared the letter to send to the Brellof family, right? I’d appreciate it if you handed it to me now. I’ll deliver it as quickly as possible.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I stood up and fetched the letter I’d written in advance. In doing so, naturally, I had to let go of Ascan’s hand.

Ascan’s eyes narrowed slightly—as if he could see straight through Dekain’s hidden intentions.

When I handed over the letter, Dekain took it and lightly waved it in the air.

“I’ll deliver it properly, so don’t worry. And while you’re in the Lazent Empire, if you ever need my help, contact me anytime. I’ll drop everything and come running.”

“Thanks, even just for saying that.”

Though I didn’t know the full details, if Dekain might regain his status as a prince, surely many things must have happened to him during this time.

I was curious, but since he hadn’t volunteered anything, I thought it better not to pry as if I already knew.

Dekain stood up and said,

“I’ve got things to do, so I’ll be off now. Since you’ll likely be staying in the Lazent Empire for a while, I’ll see you again.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

Dekain walked steadily toward the door, then suddenly paused. Turning back to me, he spoke in a noticeably more subdued voice.

“It’s not payment or anything… but later, if I ask you for a favor, will you grant it?”

A favor?

I couldn’t just blindly promise without knowing what it was. But if it concerned Dekain, I genuinely wanted to help him, whatever it might be.

“If it’s something I can do, of course.”

At my cheerful reply, Dekain smiled faintly—an uncharacteristically gentle smile. Somehow, it felt like the first time today I’d seen his truly sincere smile.

“That’s enough for me.”

With those words, Dekain left the room.

Though our meeting had been brief, it felt like a storm had just swept through—because the tension between Ascan and Dekain had remained uneasy the entire time.

Now, only Ascan and I remained alone in the room.

Ascan stared fixedly at the door through which Dekain had exited, lost in thought.

Curious about what he was thinking, I absentmindedly asked,

“What are you thinking about?”

Ascan’s gaze turned toward me. His previously sharp eyes softened, their intensity melting into gentleness.

“You’d be shocked if you knew what I was thinking.”

“Why? Surely you weren’t thinking about killing Dekain?”

I’d meant it as a joke, but Ascan just smiled without answering.

Suddenly, I remembered he was the final villain in the novel—sending chills down my spine.

In the novel , no one who earned Ascan’s displeasure survived—whether he eliminated them personally or used someone else’s hands.

Out of unnecessary worry, I looked at Ascan and said,

“B-b-but ten years ago, sometimes it seemed like you and Dekain got along well.”

“That’s impossible. Even if I’ve lost my memories, I can confidently say we never got along.”

Really?

There must have been moments between them I didn’t witness, so I couldn’t know for sure.

My memories of that time were hazy, and perhaps—as Ascan said—contrary to how I’d perceived it, they’d always been at each other’s throats.

But ultimately, the past wasn’t what mattered.

“Dekain can be annoying sometimes, but since we’ve spent so much time together, he feels like a good friend to me.”

I said it hoping Ascan wouldn’t think too poorly of Dekain.

Yet he just stared silently at me. Somehow, a malicious glint flickered briefly in his eyes.

Somehow, I felt I’d only aggravated him further…

Gulping nervously, I continued,

“Remember the promise we made long ago? That we wouldn’t kill innocent people…”

“Why are there so many men around you?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I barely tolerated your bodyguard, and now you’re calling him an ‘old friend’?”

I’d never thought about it that way before.

Flustered, I just gaped like a fish out of water, while Ascan asked with feigned seriousness,

“If there are any other men I should know about, tell me now.”

“N-no, there aren’t any more.”

“Really? I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s true! Why would I lie about something like that?”

“You’re popular, I get it—even to my eyes you’re so beautiful I could die—but it’s infuriating when everyone keeps coveting what’s mine.”

Given Helsion had even tried forcing marriage with me, I could somewhat understand Ascan’s point—but anyone overhearing might think every man in the world was obsessed with me.

Embarrassed, my face flushed hot.

“What are you saying? Someone might hear!”

“It’s not wrong, so what’s the problem? It’s giving me a headache figuring out how to deal with all these men falling for you.”

More than flustered, I found the situation slightly amusing.

On one hand, it secretly pleased me to think I must seem that wonderful in Ascan’s eyes.

“…What if every man in the world fell for me alone? What would you do then?”

At my teasing question, Ascan smiled chillingly, his eyes glinting coldly.

“Hmm. Maybe I should pluck out everyone’s eyeballs so they can’t see you anymore?”

“Pfft—what kind of answer is that!”

I couldn’t help bursting into laughter at his absurdity.

Ascan gazed at me with affectionate eyes. Then, gently stroking my cheek, he spoke.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you answer immediately when asked about our relationship earlier?”

“Oh, that… I was just worried I might be jumping the gun.”

It was true that Ascan and I loved each other—but we’d never formally promised our future or defined our relationship.

That’s why I hesitated to label “us” on my own initiative.

Ascan’s golden eyes widened in shock.

He seemed to have realized something upon hearing my words.

“I assumed it was obvious, but now that I think about it… I suppose that makes sense.”

“Huh?”

What was obvious? What “makes sense”?

Somehow, it felt like we were slightly out of sync.

I stared at him with a confused expression, but Ascan kept murmuring cryptic things.

“My oversight.”

Completely failing to grasp his meaning, I looked at him questioningly.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about right now.”

Ascan gazed at me seriously. Then, lightly kissing my cheek as one might an innocent child, he stood up.

“I’ll tell you later. I’m stepping out for a moment.”

“This suddenly? Where are you going?”

Helsion had placed an enormous bounty on Ascan’s head. Surely bounty hunters lurked everywhere, eager to claim it.

I stood up quickly to stop him, but it was already too late.

He swiftly exited the room, saying as if to reassure me,

“Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

“No, wait—!”

The words I couldn’t ask Ascan before he vanished lingered unspoken in my mouth.

All I could do was stare blankly at the empty space where he’d just been standing.

Dekain hadn’t smiled even once after parting with Tanashia.

His expression, as he rode back in the carriage, was cold and rigid—completely different from moments ago when he’d worn a constant smile.

‘So he says he’s lost his memories.’

He remembered the moment their eyes first met—Ascan had stared at him as if he were a complete stranger.

He’d thought it odd at the time, but assumed it was simply because they hadn’t seen each other in so long.

‘…Damn it.’

Though he hadn’t shown it in front of Tanashia, fury boiled uncontrollably inside him.

To think that even after losing his memories, Ascan had stolen her heart again—it was absurd.

‘What the hell did that guy do in his past life? I struggle to death and get nowhere, yet he gets everything so easily.’

For ten long years, he’d tirelessly worked to win back Tanashia’s icy heart. And now, all that effort had turned to foam…

The Tanashia he’d met this time was smiling happily. She remained oblivious to how blackened Dekain’s heart had grown upon hearing rumors of her and Helsion.

Even though she’d fled the Kalua Empire and was hardly in a favorable position, seeing her living so well twisted his insides with bitterness.

─Go on a date with me.

He’d called it a joke, but in truth, it hadn’t been playful at all.

He’d intended to provoke Ascan, thinking it a perfect chance to showcase his charm—since right now, Tanashia needed Dekain more than ever.

But he hadn’t expected her to flatly reject him so decisively.

Though her ruthlessness stung, part of him also accepted that this was precisely why he’d fallen so deeply for her.

‘Jealously…’

Watching Ascan casually interlace his fingers with Tanashia’s, he’d deliberately demanded she fetch the letter immediately.

Tanashia, naturally letting go of Ascan’s hand to retrieve the letter, hadn’t noticed—but Ascan seemed to have sensed Dekain’s hidden intentions.

It didn’t matter—he hadn’t intended to hide them anyway…

But clearly, Ascan was no pushover, now or ever—especially since his status was no longer that of a slave.

Dekain pressed his fingers hard against his temples as if nursing a headache.

Seated inside the carriage was Kevin, who had practically grown up alongside Dekain since childhood.

Kevin was the son of a merchant working for the Igteon Trading Company. Though of commoner status, he possessed exceptional talent in gathering intelligence and conducting transactions.

Noticing Dekain’s visibly foul mood, Kevin cautiously spoke up.

“You dashed off saying you were going to meet your future bride—did something unpleasant happen?”

“…Well, I saw she’s doing fine. That’s enough.”

Dekain consoled himself.

As long as Tanashia wasn’t hurt, that was all that mattered. Ascan was a thorn in his eye, yes—but once he achieved his goal and became Emperor, he could remove him.

Until then, it didn’t matter what Tanashia did—even if she married Ascan and bore his child.

Dekain could embrace it all. He would raise any child she bore as his own.

What mattered wasn’t now—it was who ultimately claimed the seat beside Tanashia in the end.

Kevin spoke with a worried expression.

“I don’t know what happened, but you should start regulating your emotions. You’re about to meet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager, after all.”

At the mention of “Empress Dowager,” Dekain’s gaze darkened.

The Empress Dowager of the Lazent Empire—Kysandra Ol Lano Lazent.

She wasn’t only the most crucial figure in restoring Dekain’s identity as a prince—she was his sole lifeline to becoming Emperor.