Leon continued to speak as she sorted through her memories.
“I called you here because I have a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. As you know, in the Keith Empire it’s quite common for the future generations of emperors to inherit the young, beautiful concubines of the prior ones. Looking at it broadly, they’re all family, and it’s not considered shameful.”
It was a history that Amanda didn’t understand, but she nodded because she knew there were such circumstances. Then Leon revealed his real intentions.
“Either my brother or I will become emperor. And so, wouldn’t it be better to prepare a path where you can live nicely no matter who becomes emperor?”
“I don’t understand…”
“I mean that I become an emperor, it means I will take you–who has married my brother–for myself.”
“…!”
Amanda’s eyes widened. She never imagined that Leon would dare say this to her. He carried on with a leering expression.
“Why don’t you put yourself in my arms and cozy up to me? Hm? Not just to dance. Judge who’s better, my brother or me.”
Amanda was so shocked that she was about to storm out. But the moment she tried to get up, the room spun violently, and she forced herself back in her seat. Leon grinned.
“Did the drug finally work?”
At that moment, a dormant memory of a flower came to her.
The Payan flower. When it was burned, the person who inhaled it would gradually lose their senses and fall into delirium. The dose here was stronger than the original medicine. It did not fully drain her energy after short exposure, but she found herself barely able to move.
“First, how about we share the burning affections between man and woman, and then you can think carefully about my offer. Hahaha.”
Leon reached out to remove the mask she was wearing.
Jjaag!
Amanda struck his hand in one swift motion.
Her emotions flared up to such intensity that she couldn’t control her strength. Leon was staring at the place she struck him in surprise, and Amanda suddenly felt relieved at how lucky she was to have Oliver.
‘It was only a simple contract marriage at first…’
Before, she didn’t care about her potential husband’s personality, appearance, mind, or anything. The only thing that mattered was that the emperor’s crown was placed on Oliver’s head. But what if he were a man like Leon? What if she had been forced to choose Leon and make him the emperor to save her family? If Oliver was this kind of man, would she still marry him?
There was only one answer, unpleasant as it was. She would do it. She felt as if a bug crawled on her palm from when she briefly touched Leon’s hand. It didn’t matter to her who she married before, but Amanda knew for certain that she didn’t want to hold Leon’s hand.
Luke was the last enemy Amanda had to defeat. If she maintained a favorable relationship with Leon, she could still have the chance to survive if Oliver was defeated. However…Oliver was the better choice to make emperor, instead of complying with the Second Prince’s dirty demands. Amanda had wondered the kind of man that stood between Oliver and the throne, but now she knew exactly.
‘…Trash.’
Second Prince Leon was the lowest of trash to use drugs on women and force himself on them. Amanda gazed coolly at him through her mask, and he stared back at her in utter amazement.
“How did you do that? You shouldn’t be able to move–”
“Do what?”
She rose to her feet. It would have been impossible if she were an ordinary, untrained aristocratic woman, but she was Amanda. Although she had less immunity from her last life and the drug slowed down her ability to react she was not so helpless that she could not deal with Leon before her. If she were that weak, then she could not claim to be Oliver’s sharpest sword.
‘I want to be rid of this place.’
She clenched her fist to stop herself from attacking Leon. When Oliver was crowned emperor, Leon would be the first one to be removed.
“Listen carefully, Second Prince. I refuse your dirty proposal. If you try such a shallow trick in front of me–”
Amanda’s voice changed more than ever.
“–I’ll kill you with my own hands.”
At the end of her words, Amanda swung around and walked away. In either case, it was better to leave the room where the scent continued to rise.
Before exiting the room completely, Amanda paused at an area where Leon couldn’t see her. With a sleight of hand she collected a sample of the powder and tucked it in her handkerchief, then finally left the room with a perfectly steady gait. She would never let this pass, and she intended to take this opportunity to investigate the party in detail.
Leon had frozen in place the moment Amanda stood up, but soon his face purpled in fury. He just realized the humiliation he suffered.
“This, this–!”
Leon raced out the room to catch up to Amanda–
Kwadangtang!
He crashed into a waiter with a serving tray.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“My apologies.”
The waiter had dark blue hair and pale white skin. Knowing that Amanda was attending Leon’s party, some of Oliver’s subordinates had already infiltrated the staff to protect her. Including Quinlen.
Leon cursed at the empty place where Amanda disappeared.
“Damn it.”
*
*
*
Amanda stepped straight out of Leon’s party, hastening to get back to the Windsor carriage.
Jeobeog jeobeog–
Someone unexpected was approaching her–someone with black hair and chilly blue eyes. It was none other than Oliver, with his handsome face and his perfectly carved features.
“How did you…?”
As soon as she spoke, she realized that she was still wearing the mask. Oliver would pass by without knowing it was her, so she lifted a hand to remove it.
Taak.
Oliver stopped in front of her.
“You should have notified me the day before. Don’t make me worry about you.”
“How did you–”
Amanda suddenly stumbled, unable to finish her sentence. She had been repressing the effects of the drug all this time, but now it finally caught up to her. Or perhaps it was because the tension lifted as soon as she saw Oliver.
Oliver quickly grabbed Amanda’s shoulders and frowned. She was in poor condition. He didn’t yell at her, but the anger in his tone was evident.
“What happened?”
“No, I’m fine–ah!”
Before Amanda could finish talking, Oliver lifted her body up with both his arms. Her eyes widened in surprise, but Oliver pulled her close in his embrace.