<span>“Since I’ve been summoned in Your Highness’ name, I couldn’t ignore it. I didn’t expect Your Highness, who is very busy, toe earlier than expected.”


    <span>“I’d be crazy to sit around after receiving a response to a letter I don’t remember sending.”


    <span>When she heard his reply, she was convinced.


    <span>After receiving Theodore’s forged letter, Rishe called her handmaid, Elise, and wrote this reply: [I ept your invitation. Then I’ll go to the chapel alone at the specified time, 9:30.]


    <span>The time she indicated was 30 minutester than the time Theodore summoned her.


    <span>It was right before Rishe left her room that she sent the letter through her maid. She didn’t want him to reply too soon and be stopped from going out.


    <i><span>It was nice of you to havee early, thank you. But…</i>


    <span>Rishe looked at Arnold.


    <i><span>I feel like His Highness Theodore didn’t want to be heard speaking ill of him…</i>


    <span>“What’s wrong?”


    <span>When asked, she was about to shake her head and say it was nothing.


    <span>But on second thought, Rishe decided to go for it.


    <span>She figured she had to rify this matter properly.


    <span>“Why do they say you’re a cruel person?”


    <span>“…”


    <span>Arnold then lowered his gaze slightly.


    <span>“Because it’s true. I’ve killed a plethora of people on the battlefield, and I’ve done it more than once. I’ve done some atrocious things, not once or twice.”


    <i><span>I know, but…</i>


    <span>Rishe still wasn’t satisfied with his reply.


    <span>“I don’t need to hear from you such tales that can be heard from others.”


    <span>“So what do you want to know?”


    <span>“Your thoughts.”


    <span>Not words uttered by a third party.


    <span>Right now, she wanted to hear what Arnold had to say himself.


    <span>“My thoughts?”


    <span>“Yes, Your Highness. I understand that you’ve earned exemry merits in thest war. I also know you treated those bandits who attacked our carriage cruelly and heartlessly… And yet, you didn’t kill them.”


    <span>At that time, Rishe thought it was probably because the ce where they were attacked was another country’s territory.


    <span>She thought the Emperor Arnold Hein she knew wouldn’t have shown mercy to those bandits.


    <span>However, seeing him up close and personal, it was hard to believe that that was the only reason.


    <span>“Hmph…”


    <span>Gloomy shadows shrouded his blue eyes when he looked up.


    <span>“It seems I’ve been a little too easy on you, haven’t I?”


    <span>Arnold’s hand reached for her.


    <span>And then his right hand, wearing a ck glove, stretched out and slowly gripped Rishe’s neck.


    <span>“If you want to survive in this castle, you’d better get rid of those fancy ideas right now.”


    <span>“…”


    <span>Neatly shaped fingers dug into her throat.


    <span>Even with the weakest force he was exerting, hisrge hands could have easily wrung Rishe’s neck.


    <span>“I believe in what I’ve seen.”


    <span>“You haven’t even seen me on the battlefield, what are you talking about?”


    <span>“You’ve given me so much consideration. That unmistakably is your true self.”


    <span>“Ridiculous.”


    <span>Arnold sneered with a slight catch in his mocking voice.


    <span>“I brought you here to use you.”


    <span>“Then, all the more so.”


    <span>Rishe gentlyid her own hand on Arnold’s.


    <span>Rather than pulling it off her neck, she wrapped it around her neck tighter. This way, would it convey even a little bit of her meaning?


    <span>“I don’t think you’re a cruel man, husband-sama” (I went for husband rather than Master.)


    <span>“――…”