Zerkan, who was approaching Raphine, stopped.

"Now is the time to formally greet you. It is an honor to meet you."

Celestina rolled her eyes and said hello. Although he was not of noble origin, he had an elegant appearance.

People looked at the two with curious eyes at the combination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman that naturally drew attention.

"I, His Majesty the Crown Prince...?"

Celestina, who had lowered her gaze shyly, raised her head in wonder.

'Why isn't there an answer back?'

Celestina's eyebrows wrinkled as she lifted her head to see the prince's face.

The Crown Prince was ignoring her like an invisible man and staring at another place. I followed his gaze and turned my head to see Raffine Eston, the protagonist of today's engagement ceremony.

Raphine was smiling brightly, surrounded by some young girls.

'what?'

Celestina frowned and stared at Raphine and Zerkan alternately.

The Crown Prince did not even turn his gaze to any other place, and only stared at Raphine with a piercing gaze.

It's like a huge wall that no one can communicate with.

"Can you keep it?"

After waiting, the words that came out of the prince's mouth were barely that.

The sense of authority unique to the royal family was felt in the arrogant remark that he had no reason to escape.

Celestina was stunned, but took a step back.

The crowd naturally paved the way whenever the Crown Prince passed by and offered their respects.

'I heard that Raphine Aston was courting and accepting.... Are the rumors true?'

Rumors had been circulating for a while.

Raphine, who has been following the Crown Prince since childhood, was the first to propose and wept and cried.

It is said that the Crown Prince had no choice but to accept Rafine.

However, the actual prince he saw was a little different from the rumors. Seeing that Raphine Aston didn't take her eyes off her for even a moment, it was clear that something was wrong.

'It's not going to be easy as planned.'

I expected it to be easy to seduce the Crown Prince, but it was completely different from what I thought.

Celestina struggled to capture her expression and looked around. Some nobles were laughing at themselves for being openly ignored by the Crown Prince.

Biting her lip, she hid from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Raphine, who was greeting the young girls, turned her head at the sudden appearance of popularity.

Zerkan was standing right in front of him.

'Oh, obviously....'

I think I was having a conversation with that saint.

Suddenly, the young girls who were academy classmates started talking to me, and I lost my mind.

Seeing that Zerkan had just come here, it seemed that they had not had much conversation.

'But it's suspicious.'

It was definitely weird. The existence of a saint that was not even mentioned in the original work. For what reason did it appear?

There must be a causal relationship.

A temple that does not support the Empress, the position of the Crown Prince, unlike the original, and the gentle relationship between the emperor and his wife.

Various reasons different from the original created the existence of the saint.

'I must keep an eye on the temple more.'

"Raffine?"

I was lost in thought for a moment, so I heard Zerkan's voice belatedly. After his appearance, the young children had long since disappeared.

"Yes Yes. majesty."

Zerkan's expression hardened slightly when Raphine looked at her as if she was wondering what was going on.

He suddenly bowed his head and came closer. A large hand rested on his shrugged shoulder.

Zerkan held Raphine's exposed shoulder tightly and whispered while putting her lips to her ear.

To look like a lover whispering a secret word.

"Others are watching, Raphine."

"ah...."

It was then that Raphine realized.

After the ceremony, the tension was slightly relieved, so I forgot about it for a while.

That I have to keep acting in front of people.

As Zerkan raised her head and walked away, Raphine raised her hand to cover her cheek. It's like soothing a burning face.

"Oh my gosh, it's true...."

Raphine acted really naturally.

As if to say such a shameful thing in front of people, he looked around and looked at Zerkan again and bit his lip.

It looked very lovely and cute.

Zerkan was bewildered.

'How can your face change so drastically....'

Raphine seemed really innate.

Raphine's realistic acting made Zerkan really shy, as if he had said an embarrassing whisper full of affection.

Unlike the usual blushing when people are shy, Zerkan turned pale.

He looked down at Raphine with a firm expression. The problem was that it looked very cold in the eyes of others.

The people around them, watching the two of them, whispered inaudible.

"What did your Highness tell you to do that?"

"Isn't that what you see or do? When you see someone you like and shy like that."

"Can Your Majesty say such a thing?"

"I know. It's not a big deal, but Aston Young-ae may be doing that alone, isn't it like unrequited love?"

"Yeah, that's right. I guess it's because of the cold expression on His Majesty's face. It's a little pity, there were so many young-siks who were courting...."

"Look at His Majesty's expression. It's really cold, it's cold."

"So, are you looking to take out a knife right away? Rafier Young-ae is going to suffer a little."

Until the reception was over, Rafine performed her best.

By the time the banquet was over, an idea was firmly established in the heads of the nobles in attendance.

'Raphine's young-ae really, really, deeply admires His Majesty the Crown Prince.'

Each of the nobles went back to their mansion, murmuring the story.

after the banquet.

Raphine said goodbye to her family one last time. Mom smiled brightly, and Dad held back tears.

"Good night, Raphine."

Luca and Lois didn't seem to like them, but they gave them a friendly greeting.

Adrian hugged Raphine without saying a word and patted her on the back.

So the family went home, and Raffine headed to the Sapphire Palace, guided by the maids.

Like an actor who came down from the stage after the play, Raphine was very tired.

So I forgot that there was more work to be done.

When I took off my clothes and entered the hot tub, the temporary maids gave me a gentle massage.

My body was tired and I was dozing off.

When I woke up, it was after I had changed into my new pajamas. Still, I felt a little refreshed because I slept for a while.

The maids took Raffine to the front of a room. As the door opened, Raphine walked cautiously.

thud!

There was a loud sound of the door closing behind me.

Raphine almost mistook it for the sound of my heart falling under my feet.

The room was decorated very luxuriously and cozy. I liked it because it was perfect.

However, the problem was that Zerkan in a nightgown was sitting on the bed.

Zerkan, like Raphine, was also heartbroken with the sound of the door closing.

"...."

"...."

They both expected tonight, but when this moment actually arrived, they couldn't help but be embarrassed.

Raphine turned her gaze to the table next to the bed. Simple snacks such as cheese and fruit were served along with wine.

Zerkan's gaze followed Raffine to that direction.

"I didn't tell you to prepare."

Without realizing it, Zerkan murmured like an excuse.

There was no reply returned.

Raphine was still standing there like a solid stone statue. Zerkan struggled to avert his gaze.

When she realized that Rafine was wearing a nightgown with a design similar to hers, the inside of her throat tickled strangely.

After a suffocating silence passed.

"Whoa."

Raphine took a deep breath.

Then he quickly approached the table next to the bed and sat down.

"I know what this drink is. It's a drink made in commemoration of the year when the previous emperor took the throne, isn't it?"

Raphine swallowed her saliva and looked closely at the wine bottle.

"Luca, my brother Lois once told me. Wow, Your Majesty will give you this drink...."

Zerkan got up from the bed with a bitter expression and sat across from Raffine.

"Have you ever tried this drink?"

"... no."

"Wow, is this your first time drinking with me?"

Raphine poured alcohol into two empty glasses with an excited expression. His hands were trembling strangely, but Zerkan did not recognize them.

Obviously, Raphine was a master of acting.

His heart was pounding like crazy, but he didn't show it at all.

'Going crazy....'

Usually, an annexation is held after a wedding, but the royal family was a little different.

As his hands were precious, he was in a hurry to do anything. Would you say it is a process that is allowed without knowing it?

'In the past, when the Empress was telling the story, I thought it was someone else's story and enjoyed listening to it....'

When it came to his own story, he was about to go crazy. My hands and feet were cold and my feet were shaking.

'It's a contract marriage anyway, so what's so nervous? I'm not really going to do that.'

This is all because of Zerkan's gorgeous appearance. I can't think of anything else

Raphine handed her a glass of wine, and Zerkan held out her hand.

that brief moment. Raphine saw Zerkan's robe open slightly. His chest was covered with hard muscles.

'I'll turn....'

Raphine closed her eyes tightly and drank the wine at once.

Maybe that's why, in Zerkan's eyes, Raffine looked like a drunken man.