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In Episteme, there was an infirmary for injuries that would occur in swordsmanship and other training classes.
Dorothea headed to the infirmary to treat Ethan’s injured face.
However, there was no one in the infirmary, perhaps because they were busy with the graduation ceremony.
“Wait a minute, Ethan.”
Dorothea let go of Ethan’s hand and looked at him.
There was a trickle of red blood at the corner of his mouth, contrasting with his white skin.
He looked at Dorothea with a mysterious look.
“Ethan, you don’t have to deal with people like Nereus.”
At Dorothea’s words, Ethan didn’t answer, just stared at her quietly.
Dorothea stopped talking and examined his mysterious gaze.
“Are you listening to me, Ethan?”
“Princess…”
“uh?”
“I really miss you.”
He gently caressed Dorothea’s cheek.
It was so unexpected and sudden that Dorothea couldn’t help but panic.
As Dorothea flinched and turned her head, he stared intently at her, stopping his hand in the air.
“Didn’t you miss me?” He asked weakly.
It was a difficult question to answer whether she missed him or didn’t miss him.
Dorothea hesitated, and Ethan laughed bitterly.
“Are you suddenly not interested in partnering with me?”
At Ethan’s question, Dorothea hurriedly shook her head.
“No, I was just surprised by your sudden appearance.”
“Tell me you were happy rather than surprised. If you say you were surprised, it makes me feel like an unwelcome guest.”
“Ah… I am happy to see you.”
“I’m glad you said that.”
He smiled as if he’d forgotten about the argument he’d just had with Nereus.
There was red blood on the corners of his mouth, but he didn’t care.
Dorothea was confused.
‘Where did those eyes that looked cold as if wanting to kill Nereus have gone?’
“But Ethan…Do you still want to partner with me?” Dorothea asked.
“Why are you asking such a question?”
“So, that’s a promise I made when I was so young. and I was wondering if you’ve changed your mind.”
‘he may have meant it when I made the promise, but it had been a long enough time since then that he could have changed his mind.’
In addition to being handsome, the Bronte family officially recognized him. Just looking at the eyes of the people earlier, the public’s interest in him was great.
So if he is trying to find a partner other than Dorothea, especially if he’s willing to seduce the lady, he could do it.
A person who is more beautiful than Dorothea has a great political background a bright future, and a lovely personality.
Episteme has many more useful and admirable young ladies than a cold-hearted princess.
“Even if you change that promise to something else….”
“I can’t let you change your mind now.”
Ethan tightened his grip on Dorothea’s hand as she tried to turn away.
“All I want is you, princess.”
His hand was hot.
He was enchanting, like a trap with sweet bait. So cunning and charming that no prey could escape.
Dorothea knew why Ethan was so obsessed with her.
“Ethan.”
“Tell me, Princess.”
“I’m probably not as useful as you think.”
Dorothea carefully pulled her hand out of his.
His only complex with good looks and talent. ‘Bloodline’ To clear his name, he chose Dorothea.
With Millanaire’s blood in her veins, he manipulated her to gain vast amounts of power that he could never have gained with his own.
Dorothea was the perfect tool to erase his complex.
However…
“My bloodline is just a fake, Ethan.”
Dorothea confessed to Ethan.
She can’t give him what he wants.
She didn’t want him to invest his life in something for nothing. She wanted him to use his abilities for something better and right, not for Dorothea Millanaire.
Then he shook his head in denial.
“Don’t say that. The princess is Milanaire.”
‘Again, his words reminded me of my family. ‘Milanaire’ is important to him.’
“I’ve never seen anyone as good as the princess.”
Smart, skilled with a sword, and able to do it all herself.
Ethan seduced Dorothea with his sweet tongue, and Dorothea was shaken.
‘Am I as good as he thinks I am?’
Dorothea shook her head because of the sudden greed.
“Don’t be disappointed later.”
She couldn’t live up to Ethan’s expectations.
“I won’t be disappointed.”
Ethan answered without hesitation.
Like a man who could see the whole future. He was confident.
“The more confident you are, the more disappointed you’ll be. You have high expectations.”
“Looking at how afraid you are, you’ve been disappointed before.”
Unable to deny his words, Dorothea kept her mouth shut.
Before the return, she expected a lot.
‘Maybe someday I will awaken the power of the spirits?’
‘Wouldn’t this be enough to go to Episteme?’
‘I Could be a great emperor.’
‘I Could be loved by Theon.’
But all of that was met with disappointment and frustration.
“So you don’t expect anything?”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and Dorothea turned his gaze elsewhere.
“Because I like it the way it is..”
“didn’t you give up early?”
Dorothea felt as if Ethan’s question was testing him.
“I’m just not being greedy, because greed is a quick way to ruin your life.”
She was just learning to live with the theme without being greedy.
Then Ethan raised one eyebrow as if confused.
“The Empress has a strange way of naming things.”
He Made eye contact with Dorothea’s blue eyes.
“Ordinary people call such things like wishes, dreams, and hopes rather than greed.”
The stone he threw caused a great stir in Dorothea’s calm eyes.
It seems that she once called her desires with those words.
The desire to be with Theon, the dream of becoming an emperor, and the hope of making a better empire with her strength.
‘It seems that there was a time when I was chasing the future with excitement and looking forward to a slightly better tomorrow.’
But those beautiful words had begun to dry up like rotten wood.
Greed to be with Theon, greed to become an emperor, greed to ruin the empire.
“You don’t know anything…”
She said, swallowing the numbness that engulfed her.
Then Ethan came closer to her.
“You’re the one who doesn’t know anything.”
A thick scent flowed from him on the tip of her nose. As he leaned in slightly, his breath was close enough to brush her cheek.
He looked at Dorothea, his deep eyes lost in thought. Something hot seemed to boil inside those golden eyes.
Dorothea flinched at the different mood he was in.
Her heart was beating fast for no reason.
“Why are you so interested in me, Ethan?”
“A smart princess would know why I’m doing this.”
‘I know?
Dorothea shook her head.
‘I really don’t know why he is doing this.’
Then the corners of Ethan’s lips rose subtly. It was both a bitter smile and a sneer.
“You know. You just pretend not to know. Because the princess is a smart person.”
He lowered his cold eyes and said a word that Dorothea did not understand.
“The day I gave you the answer was the same as today.”
He muttered and with the back of his hand, he wiped his cheek where Nereus had hit him. Red blood stained the back of his white hand.
Then he stroked Dorothea’s hair once.
“If you don’t know, take a guess. It shouldn’t be too hard.”
He smiled again, erasing the cold light.
* * *
The day after Raymond’s graduation ceremony, an unexpected guest came to Converta Palace.
It was the Emperor’s aide, Robert.
Dorothea frowned for a moment at the unfamiliar visitor.
‘Why did he come? Didn’t he come to the wrong palace?’
However, Robert, guided by Clara, bowed politely to her.
“Princess Dorothea Milanaire.”
“What are you doing here?”
“His Majesty has called the Princess.”
“Me?”
Dorothea’s brow furrowed involuntarily.
With Raymond’s graduation, all the attention of the Imperial Palace will be on him.
‘But why?’
“It seems to be related to your debutante.”
Robert added at Dorothea’s suspicions.
My debutante? Do you mean Carnan cares about that?
It wouldn’t be more surprising to say that Raymond took first place in the episteme test.
But Robert nodded as if affirming again.
“Okay…”
“Then I will be waiting for you downstairs. Get ready and come out.”
Robert delivered the message and left the room.
Looking out through the window, I saw that Robert had not left and was waiting in the garden.
“Princess! His Majesty the Emperor is going to try to put some effort into preparing for your debutante! he’s been getting more and more interested in you lately, and it looks like… !”
Clara beamed with excitement.
As Clara said, Dorothea had noticed that Carnan was more interested in her than before.
In the past, he would have called her downstairs to tell her what she would have done roughly.
Face-to-face with Carnan increased more than before. From 0 times a year to once or twice a year.
Compared to Raymond, Carnan was a bit lacking interest in Dorothea, but it was not uncomfortable for Dorothea, who had been living with Carnan for the rest of her life.
He’d even started celebrating her birthday, something he hadn’t done since before the return.
Even though they were all uninteresting things like music boxes and embroidery sets.
Dorothea wondered why Carnan had suddenly taken an interest in her.
She thought back to when he had changed.
He changed after she got 0 points on the Episteme test. In other words, since Carnan slapped her on the cheek.
‘Is it because you feel bad for slapping me?’
unacceptable thing.
It was unexpected he hit Dorothea that day, but it wasn’t too surprising considering how he had been ignoring her so far.
‘Or was his conscience moved by the words I said that day?’
‘He has been indifferent my whole life. Carnan wouldn’t do that.’