Lagian was contemplating the duel with Annabelle over and over again.

On the day of the banquet, he insisted that he was far superior to Annabelle. He had money from Carlon, and his pride as a swordsman was damaged.

Fortunately, except for the last moment, he unilaterally drove Annabelle to a corner, so Carlon seemed to have agreed and gave him another chance.

But anyway, as an excellent swordsman, he did not ignore the uneasiness that remained in his heart.

Besides, after one night, his courage disappeared, and his reason slowly returned.

'If... That last move was her real skill.'

His mouth was dry.

'If it was a real skill, it meant that her skill has grown unbelievably.'

Annabelle's accuracy and agility that he was analyzing was a move that could not come out. She avoided the moment too precisely for him to dismiss it as a coincidence.

It was difficult to notice even from the most sharp-eyed spectators, and it was a sensation that only the one who actually fought could feel.

If so, Annabelle would certainly be on his level or even stronger.

'It's obviously too mean to provoke an opponent's unreasonable movements by pretending to be weak...'

But Annabelle was a mean person.

From the night of the banquet, Carlon has been so busy that he has not been able to properly investigate her.

Lagian, a foreigner, was unaware of the circumstances, but it seemed that Richard's fall had dealt a devastating blow to Carlon.

And that fact really bothered him.

'This may all be something from Annabelle Rainfield's big picture. Maybe it was Richard who she was aiming for in the first place...'

Then things could become even bigger.

Lagian boasted that he could kill Annabelle Rainfield, and after the duel, she consistently insisted that 'it was just a mistake'.

In the end, if Carlon falls into a trap, wasn't it entirely his fault?

Of course, there was no way he had any loyalty to Carlon. But when he was misunderstood that he had cheated the Crown Prince of the Empire, he wouldn't survive.

'Besides, I vowed to kill Annabelle Rainfield if he gave me one more chance...'

The reason Carlon didn't rebuke him must have been that he was trying to give him another chance.

At that time, if he did not defeat Annabelle, he might be killed by Carlon.

The problem was that he couldn't guess Annabelle's skills.

It was when he was biting his nails. A careful knock was heard.

"Come in."

Lagian, who responded bluntly, was surprised to see the person who came in.

It was the Empress who he saw for the first time yesterday.

Lagian, a foreigner, was also able to notice the aggressive public opinion towards the Empress. The angry Emperor not only issued a restraining order, but also announced that he would cut off her budget for the time being.

"I've been avoiding other people's eyes, so I'll tell you quickly."

The Empress looked around her and handed him one of her reagent bottles.

Lagian asked, staring at the green shiny reagent in the glass bottle.

"What is this?"

"A drug that boosts one's physical abilities. But the effect is only one hour."

The Empress said seriously.

"As you may know, the Imperial Swordsmanship Competition is just around the corner. So these drugs are being distributed in the back alleys. Very secretly, very expensively."

"..."

"Originally, of course, it is against the rules, and if you happen to be caught in a random drug test, the award will be immediately revoked. It leaves an irreversible mark on one's body after just one dose."

There was no way Annabelle would be absent from the last swordsmanship contest.

So, again, Annabelle wouldn't take this drug.

Those who took these drugs in swordsmanship competitions usually had nothing to lose. If Annabelle, who had already been runner-up twice, took it, she could lose even her honor.

But of course, it didn't matter if Lagian took it.

In other words, it was an attractive option that could improve instantaneous skills alone.

"But you are not going to participate in a swordsmanship contest, are you?"

Lagian understood at once what the Empress was saying to him.

She would know his real purpose for coming to the Empire. It was because she was on the side of Carlon.

"You're a foreigner, so I couldn't let you go. I thought I'd have to come in person to believe it."

The Empress explained quickly, without sitting down.

It seemed burdensome to be together at this point.

"If you can win without this drug, do it. But I brought it just in case it might be of any help. I think I did something wrong and put Carlon at a disadvantage..."

Lagian rolled the vial once into his own hand.

"Then I'll go."

The Empress spoke and quickly disappeared.

Apparently, this wasn't something she had negotiated with Carlon beforehand. It was just a mother who wanted to be of some help to her son.

So it was up to him whether he should drink this drug or not.

No one else could have given him a drug that would harm him, but Carlon's mother.

Of course, he would have been arrogant if it were before the banquet, saying, 'I can beat Annabelle Rainfield without this drug'...

So, if only a little bit, he could excel in his own abilities...

He carefully pocketed the medicine from the Empress in his inner pocket.

~*~

(Annabelle's pov)

To want to talk with me alone, in a way, it was like Ian gave Robert an order.

This was the Duke of Wade's anyway, and of course Ian had the right to do what he wanted to do in his home.

'However, even though Robert is the prince, he told him to leave like that...'

But in this situation, it was Robert who felt sorry for him.

Ian was just helping Robert with goodwill and friendship, and the Duke of Wade was so strong that he didn't even need Robert's power.

"Then I'll leave for a while. I'll be waiting for you in the front garden. But, Ian."

Robert consented obediently, but added solemnly.

"The long-standing resentment between you two is well known... Still, Miss Annabelle is on our side. Don't say too much please. I hope things won't become too harsh."

Perhaps Robert interpreted Ian's intention of having something to say to 'only the two of us' with me a little differently.

He seemed to have judged that Ian had issued an order in the sense that he did not look harsh to Robert and that the two of us would remain alone and fight again.

Then, thinking he was presumptuous, he left the drawing room before we could deny anything.

Ian got up from his seat and strode over to the drawing room curtain. The window overlooking the garden disappeared from view.

In the garden in front of the drawing room, cheering gifts kept coming in and piled up while we were discussing various things.

"Uh... Well."

After the curtains were covering the window, no one could see us anymore.

My head started spinning in a hurry, because I never imagined that we would be all alone so suddenly.

However, my brain, which normally worked well and was self-directed, went on strike by replaying memories of yesterday just by looking at Ian's lips.

'What should I say first...? If I pretend that I don't remember, are you going to say it anyway? No, maybe Ian can pretend he doesn't know...'

I couldn't even organize my complicated thoughts, but Ian slowly looked at me.

"First."

And looked me in the eyes and said.

"I was thinking about things last night."

When I heard 'First' come out, it seemed that he had quite a lot to say. And he said something completely unexpected.

"I'm really sorry."

"What?"

"For I have consistently ignored you when you rushed from behind in a cowardly and unjust way."

"Huh? Hey, ignoring crazy kids is the right way. You're doing a good job."

I was stunned and stared at him.

Ian's quiet words continued.

"Also, because I feel bad when you curse me and swear all kinds of things."

"Isn't it weirder if you like it?"

"And when you first became close with my mother, I advised her not to trust you because you were a mean kid."

"I am a mean kid! Who doesn't understand that?"

Ian's words were so shocking that I replied eagerly.

"It was an incredibly compassionate response. I'm glad I didn't get an access ban for defamation... If not, what the hell should I have done?"

And Ian answered without hesitation.

"Even so, I should have really thanked you for your continued interest and support..."

"Ian Wade."

It was getting progressively worse. I hurriedly stopped him.

"Don't be so serious and careful when joking. Why are you talking so much more seriously while saying such nonsense?"

"I'm not joking."

Ian continued speaking with a very neat attire and a neat face.

"I have no talent for jokes."

"...Well, I knew that. After all, why are you making that ridiculous apology now?"

I looked at Ian and gave serious advice.

"If you're going to apologize to others for that reason, don't do it at all. I have nothing to do with your reputation. It looks really weird."

"I have nothing to apologize to others. Because I'm not doing anything wrong. And secondly."

Ian, who was leaning against the window, looked straight into my eyes and continued.

"About our kiss last night."

I opened my mouth at Ian's words, which came in a moment.

tl/n: CHAPTER 100 YESSS