Chapter 99

"An invitation to lunch from His Highness?"

"Yes. He said that if it's convenient for you, he would like to leave the time up to Lady Lylis."

"Of course, that's fine! I'll leave the time up to His Highness. I'm available anytime. Could you tell the messenger that?"

"As you wish."

Lylis, who was eating a slightly late breakfast heartily, happily agreed when asked by Tena. Then, she suddenly thought about what would happen if lunch was early, and her hand paused. Last night, she couldn't eat much, which worried Jezalde.

(Hmm... Well, I should just tell the truth.)

She stared at the temptation in front of her and came to a conclusion. Due to the tension, she hadn't eaten much for breakfast or lunch yesterday, so now that she was relaxed, she was quite hungry. She resumed eating and drinking while thinking about the reason for Jezalde's lunch invitation.

He would probably ask about things he couldn't fully understand last night. She had confirmed the urgent matters that needed to be known, but Jezalde, after a night of calm reflection, would surely have many questions.

(Hmm... I should just answer truthfully.)

Jezalde was surprised but sincerely accepted Lylis's powers without doubting or feeling disgusted. Lylis thought she couldn't like him any more, but she found herself liking him even more.

(Maybe if I shout my love for Jez from the top of the spire, it might reach the Hottar Mountains...)

She was seriously considering something that Tena and the others would immediately stop if they knew. If she shouted her love in the heart of the empire, even if it didn't reach the Hottar Mountains, it would surely spread as a rumor throughout the empire—albeit as a regrettable rumor about the Crown Princess. Lylis really felt like shouting, but she had promised to use the spire for complaints first, so she gave up. Of course, it was a one-sided promise, and Jezalde hadn't taken it seriously at the time.

She had already reported to Tena and Ress that Jezalde had accepted her properly and was concerned about her health, which significantly boosted their opinion of him. They were now choosing a dress for Lylis for lunch, discussing what the Crown Prince's preferences might be. When Lylis told them he liked blue, they immediately started lining up blue dresses.

(I'll report to Master Fu after lunch, and I should also tell Father and the others about what I've revealed...)

The content was prepared as a harmless letter in case of emergencies. They had also prearranged a code, and Lylis was entrusted with the decision to share the empire's internal affairs with the Froit side. It felt like being a spy, but it was part of a princess's duty when marrying into another country.

(But I won't betray Jez.)

The content she would share with her mother would be about revealing the secret to Jez and how they understood each other. For the rest, she would write about her time in Tuisen in a way that wouldn't cause trouble, emphasizing how dreamlike and enjoyable it was, which should be enough for her family to understand.

Thinking about this, Lylis reconsidered her lunch with Jezalde. She intended to answer any questions, but if he asked about the recent reality dreams, she might not be able to answer. If it was true that Empress Corina was killed, she would have preferred to hear it from Jezalde. From what she heard in the dream, Corina was killed because she was pregnant, which meant Lylis could also be in danger.

(Or has the culprit already been caught...?)

Lylis's security had been significantly strengthened recently. This was natural given the kidnapping incident, and it wasn't considered suspicious within the palace. After finishing her meal, Lylis moved to a window seat to overlook the courtyard and drink tea.

(There are definitely more guards...)

Looking down at the courtyard, Lylis sighed deeply. The one who benefited the most from Corina's murder would be Conrad. However, Conrad didn't seem to have a strong desire for the throne or the cruelty to be involved in such a plan. Therefore, it was more likely that those who would benefit from Conrad's ascension were behind it.

(But, would those people still be alive by the time Conrad ascends...?)

Thinking calmly, this idea came to her, but remembering that Jezalde never let go of his sword, Lylis frowned. Jezalde wasn't just wary of assassins from other countries but also of enemies within. She had always thought he was sensitive to danger, but perhaps it was because he had been targeted since childhood.

(...Jez is just too kind.)

Now she understood his cold attitude after their marriage and his reason for saying he didn't want children. He was trying to keep her safe by distancing himself. Her actions had disrupted his plans.

(Somewhere, they say that if you don't eat what's set in front of you, something will happen. I was quite forceful...)

Reflecting on this, she couldn't help but imagine what would have happened if Daria had married Jezalde. At the time, when they discussed it, Daria was quite stubborn about marrying him. Lylis had managed to persuade her, but truthfully, she didn't want to be separated from Arnaud. Daria, being strong-willed, would probably have been a dignified bride.

(Or maybe she would have changed her mind. After all, Jez is quite handsome.)

Thinking this, if Daria had been treated coldly, she would have probably obediently followed. She certainly wouldn't have tried to seduce him at night. For Lylis, it was a fortunate choice, but it added to Jezalde's burden. Moreover, Lylis was "Froit's mystery."

(What should I do... If the culprit hasn't been found, not only Jez but also I could be targeted...)

She was still afraid to mention Corina, but she could try to find the culprit through her reality dreams. She also needed to know more about Conrad.

(And... I should definitely learn self-defense. Yes.)

With this resolve, Lylis couldn't sit still and stood up. Lunch would be a bit late, but she had been informed that it would be in Jezalde's room. She wanted to read a book before learning self-defense. When she asked, Tena, though exasperated that it wasn't a proper activity for a princess, immediately led her to the library. Lylis spent the time before lunch thinking about how to ask Jezalde.