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The Crown Prince’s palace was huge and magnificent.
“Wow
”
As soon as Altheon came to the capital, Merria in the original story would come and go in the Crown Prince’s palace as it was her own home.
‘I couldn’t believe I’m here in such a place hand in hand with Reukis.’ (Merria)
She walked slowly, feeling strange.
All the way down the hall. The impression I had while walking through the wide hallway.
‘As expected of the Royal family.’
Neither the Rackester’s mansion, one of the Empire’s top three families, nor the only Grand Duke, the Prairie Mansion, was this great.
No matter how hard they try, the aristocrats that crawl still fall short of the capital of the imperial family.
Even though it was wide, it felt too spacious. Maybe that’s why it felt more desolate.
‘When a child grows up alone in a place like this, they would have a personality-flaw.’
Merria pouted, imagining the young Altheon growing up in such a place.
It was to the extent that Altheon, who had grown upright in an excessively desolate place, felt great.
While Merria worried about Altheon’s childhood, the two went deeper into the palace.
In front of the Prince’s library, which requires a pass to enter, two knights in uniforms similar to Reukis were firmly guarding the door.
The knights found Reukis and saluted.
“Welcome.”
“It’s an entry permit.”
Reukis took out the paper he had put in his arms and held it up.
Today the two are going to a private library in Altheon’s palace. Therefore, Merria, an outsider, needed Altheon’s permission.
Merria had a lover who was close to the Crown Prince, so she could easily get a permit.
The knights, who checked the pass, made way in a modest movement.
Reukis, familiar with library geography, guided Merria.
“From here to there, it’s all books about magic, and the whole back was about mana, but it’s written in another language.”
“Thank you.”
She glanced through the bookshelf, thinking that she had a lot of work to do lately.
After all, it was the Crown Prince’s library, so there were a lot of books that I had never seen in the Rackester.
Merria, who chose a wide selection of books on the origins of mana, a collection of magicians’ slangs, and a code-breaking book often used when creating a magic circle, she picked the best spot with the most sunlight.
“Should we read it here?”
“Yes.”
Reukis, who had been picking up books from behind, put them on the bookshelf one by one and moved them on a wide desk.
He then walked over and sat down next to Merria. Then she lightly tapped his hand and said,
“Well, he lent us his private library, so why don’t we find some clues? Let’s do our best!”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.” Reukis said as he handed Merria her cold coffee.
Everything had been prepared by Reukis beforehand.
Merria expressed her gratitude with a smile.
After that, there was no conversation between the two for a long time.
Reukis and Merria read through the thick books one after another, struggling to find clues.
My eyes felt dry and sore, but I didn’t stop and continued to read repeatedly and find another book until the sun went down.
After the sun had set in the middle of the sky, Merria raised her head and rubbed the back of her stiff neck.
As the sky turned dark, it was time for them to go home.
Merria was about to call Reukis, and say, ‘Let’s go back now,’ when she heard someone talking outside.
“
Not yet?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“Oh, don’t bother telling him. Let’s just go in.”
A low and pleasant voice could be heard. Then there was the sound of reckless footsteps as if someone had entered the library.
Tap, tap, tap~ The steps were getting closer and faster.
At the sudden visit, Merria shook Reukis gently.
“Reukis.”
Seeing her whispering, Reukis felt a sign of someone’s presence approaching, and whispered to Merria as well.
“His Majesty Altheon has come.”
“I guess we’ve been here too long.”
“Instead of that, I’m sure he was just wondering what I’m doing.”
Reukis shook his head and spoke, a face he was used to seeing.
Merria stood up straight and waited for Altheon, as if waiting to greet the landlord who came to collect the rent.
“Grand Duke.” (Altheon)
A glossy honey blonde hair popped out behind a huge bookshelf full of books.
Altheon walked towards where Merria and Reukis were sitting with an indifferent face.
Merria stood contemplating when to greet him.
Reukis got up first and bowed slightly to Altheon.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you had taken root in my library because there were only words of entry and no word of exit.”
Altheon tilted his head and smirked. Merria bit her tongue with a puzzled look.
Reukis’ naive fatalities were dangerous, but I didn’t expect another threat like this.
Even when she briefly met him at the victory banquet, she felt it, but when she saw Altheon up close, he seemed to be dripping with temptation even with his small gestures.
Truly, he was the kind of person who could treat the proud Karina like an innocent baby.
‘I thought he would feel more suffocating
’
The original Altheon was much colder and more drawn out.
However, I could feel the gap between the original and the reality as he came all the way here and played jokes.
‘You smile like this in front of people.’
At the same time, Altheon’s eerie eyes turned to Merria, who was hidden behind Reukis’ back.
As soon as his and her eyes met, Merria grabbed the hem of her dress and greeted him with all the manners she had learned.
“I greet the little sun of the Empire. It’s Merria Rackester.”
“Oh! You’re the rumored Rackester Princess. I was curious about you too.”
Before Altheon could finish speaking, Reukis’ cold eyes turned to him.
“
What?”
Merria maintained her smile with the corners of her lips slightly trembling nervously.
When Altheon didn’t take his eyes off her, Reukis blocked his gaze like a beast protecting his own cub.
Merria, who had a strong back shield in front of her, could breathe only then.
Altheon looked happily at Merria, who was bewildered, and Reukis, who stood there hiding her from him.
“Karina and also the Grand Duke. I think I’m the only one who feels left out because I haven’t met the princess because everyone around me was talking about you.” (Altheon)
“Oh
 No way. Your Highness.” (Merria)
“Yes. Your Majesty, there’s no reason for you to meet my lover.” (Reukis)
Merria smiled awkwardly and shook her head, and Reukis continued with a bold face.
At the obvious mark of territory, Altheon burst into laughter.
He shrugged his shoulders like an innocent person and spoke.
“There’s already someone who I promised to marry, so you don’t have to be so wary. In the eyes of the Grand Duke, I seem to be a loner who has an eye on someone else’s lover.”
Altheon shook his head and shrugged. Reukis glared coldly at Altheon, who’s particularly grumpy today.
As he was joking around, Altheon’s tone became full of playfulness, and sometimes sparks flew towards Reukis.
If there’s one thing Altheon has enjoyed lately, it’s been making fun of Karina, who’s always easily embarrassed.
If you’re going to play pranks on my fiance, I’m going to mess with my cousin on a date for nothing.
The compliments that Merria gave in the morning were extremely undeserved.
Reukis said, tilting his head crookedly.
“Go back when you’re done watching.”
“Are you giving me a congratulatory order at my palace?”
Altheon quickly changed his mood and looked at Reukis with cold eyes.
The momentum was so sharp that Merria instinctively hid behind Reukis’ back, but Reukis, who was receiving that gaze, seemed fine.
As Reukis stood silently without answering, Altheon frowned and spoke first.
“Other than talking about lovers, it’s still like a log. As you said, I enjoyed watching it, so I’ll have to pay for it. Lady Rackester?”
“Yes?”
Altheon turned his head and focused his eyes on Merria hidden behind Reukis.
“There aren’t many people who could ask the Grand Duke for such a favor. Among them, there are even fewer who are willing to do so.”
Merria didn’t immediately understand Altheon’s words, and raised an eyebrow.
Altheon continued to speak without taking his eyes off Merria.
“But why would the Grand Duke ask for a favor? It was my conclusion that now it may be the princess’ separate request.”
“I see.”
As Merria answered her slowly, unable to find anything to say, Altheon slightly nodded.
“No matter how much Reukis didn’t ask for a pass here to simply fill your interest. Because I hate having strangers in my space the most.”
Due to numerous threats from childhood, Altheon has become a cold person to all.
Merria, knowing why he had to be like this, nodded slowly.
He was wary of strangers and at the same time, his eyes lit up menacingly as if he were ready to bite the nape of her neck at any time.
“But why do you have to come here?”
“
”
“Looking at this stack of books in an empty library
 I guess you’re here to figure something out of general knowledge, right?”
Altheon said, looking through a desk full of books.
“Your Highness.”
Reukis stopped him, but Altheon continued, completely unconcerned.
“Usually, there are a lot of things that are dangerous or illegal written in these books.”
He gave permission to enter, and waited for the right time, and came here not just to make fun of Reukis.
Altheon had come here on purpose to say this to Merria from the beginning.
Merria listened to him as quietly as if she were trapped between the claws of a beast.
Reukis squinted at Altheon as if he didn’t like the situation very much.
He had originally expected this to happen from the moment he got permission from Altheon.
‘That greedy prince wouldn’t give it to me wholeheartedly, so I thought he would ask something from me later.’ (Reukis)
Reukis’s prediction was slightly wrong.
The person paying the price was Merria, not him.
What Altheon says hasn’t touched the limits of Reukis’ patience yet.
There was no way to stop him from speaking at the bottom of the hustle and bustle.
Reukis waited for the words to come out of Altheon’s mouth with a piercing gaze.
“Unintentionally, I found out one of your secrets.”
Altheon felt the gaze clearly, but his lips gently formed into a smile as if he was enjoying the situation.