Claire suddenly became very uncomfortable standing close to Antonio.Fortunately, soon after, Empress Maleah’s attendant came and took Antonio away.”I’ll come, so wait here. I have something to say.”Antonio said so and went away, but Claire had no intention of doing so.’You should avoid this.’It was automatic anxiety.Claire looked around, then decided to go outside and hide before coming in.So, avoiding people, I walked out to the garden where the cool breeze was blowing.Fortunately, there were not many people in the garden because the banquet was in full swing…. was an illusion.”babe.””I love you. Well… “Claire groaned at the nasty sound coming from near the large tree.It was time to move towards the corridor avoiding the couples who were having such a secret meeting.again and again.Suddenly, the sound of other footsteps merged behind Claire’s footsteps.’what?’Claire turned around in amazement. Anxiety rushed over to me, wondering if Antonio was following me.But it wasn’t Antonio who was walking towards her.It was Oscar with angry eyes for some reason.”Why….”Claire stopped walking and muttered, and Oscar stood there and said.”Talk to me.”Suddenly, I felt my throat tighten. It was as if he was caught hiding the fact of the crime and running away.Oscar chinked on one side, and Claire followed him like a led criminal.The place we arrived at was near a fountain deep in the garden.Claire glanced over the bushes, wondering if any lovers had secret secrets.”What are you doing?”Oscar looked at Clair suspiciously and asked.”no…. It’s just that there are a lot of lovers hiding near the trees.””Not here. I know all the secret places of the imperial castle.”Obviously, Oscar knew well where there were no people, just like a person living in the Imperial Castle.But strangely… His ears burned at those words. I was embarrassed because I couldn’t figure out the reason myself.Claire coughed heavily and tried to relax.Fortunately, Oscar was able to find some time for himself as he stood at a fairly spaced distance.We can’t make eye contact, but….”Claire.””… Yes.”Oscar stared intently at Claire, who answered bluntly.My emotions rushed like a storm and it was hard to control.I’m angry…. sad, saddenedHe had become like this because of a situation he had witnessed a while ago. Claire was having a pleasant conversation with Prince Antonio, seemingly very close.As soon as he saw it, Oscar shook his head and shivered as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a huge blunt.I hate being in touch with myself so much….Seeing Claire feeling particularly uncomfortable with her arms crossed, Oscar was also unhappy.However, Clair’s appearance with Prince Antonio seemed very comfortable.I wondered if Antonio and Claire had become friends when they were away from the capital.After hearing the report, I was aware of Prince Antonio’s whereabouts, but…. I never imagined that I would be so close with Claire.thoughts went further.I wonder if he might have grabbed Antonio and begged him to marry him, just like the young Claire did to him….Clenched fists trembled. My eyes were red and my stomach was boiling.”….”Claire was worried when she saw Oscar who called her and didn’t say anything.As I was about to ask first because I was tired of waiting, Oscar’s voice rang out.”Why do you keep avoiding me?””Yeah?”It was such a raw question that I never thought of. Claire opened her mouth in embarrassment.Oscar continued to say as if pushing.”You can’t deny that you’re avoiding me.””….””Why. When I was really young, were you afraid that I might ask you to marry me to keep my promise?””That, that….”Claire trembled at the pouring fact assault.In addition, as Oscar kept coming one step at a time, he automatically took a step backwards.Eventually, Claire came to a dead end. I felt a large pillar behind my back.”Is that why you left?”All of a sudden, Oscar was approaching her nose.When Claire couldn’t answer anything, Oscar raised one corner of her mouth and smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh.”Why?””….””Anytime when you say you want to marry me like that, without any attempts or times….””….””Come now.”Oscar pulled Clair’s chin up with her fingertips. Their faces were so close that their lips were almost touching, making breathing difficult.”Are you going to run away?”Above all… Oscar’s eyes when he asked that question were terrifying enough to be indescribable.’Hey, why is he like this?’Claire felt a chill in her spine with some kind of goosebumps. An ominous thought crept into my mind.for a moment.’I hope I become a crazy obsessive man like the original… ah… Is it you?’Oscar looked down at Claire, who was confused, then put away his hand and asked. “So you made a face-to-face list?””that….””Because I’m so afraid and hateful?”Of course, most of it was true, but there seemed to be a slight misunderstanding somewhere.Claire took a deep breath to calm herself.”no. that…. It’s because you need a contract marriage. Probably….”As he slowly made excuses, one of Oscar’s eyebrows rose.”You seem to know very well my situation.””Well, that’s right. Her Majesty the Empress is always worried….””But I didn’t really want to marry you anyway.””That, right?”Claire looked at him with a smile at the welcome words.However, Oscar’s expression distorted in response to that.’My, what did I do wrong?’Claire was bewildered by the wrinkled expression on her face that it was difficult to pretend not to know.Oscar looked up at the sky once to calm his anger and said,”yes. Originally, I was going to ask Cybill.”Then, this time, Claire’s expression wrinkled.what? who? Are you crazy? Cybill is my brother!”But Cybill is with my Elliot oppa…!”As Claire spoke with a rage, Oscar looked at her with a subtle expression. like exploring.”yes. Until I found out that the two of them became lovers.””… Yeah.”When Oscar said that, Claire seemed to have gone ahead alone.”As you said, whether it’s a contract marriage or anything else, marriage is important.””….””I had no intention of coercing or suggesting you.”Claire had nothing to say.I just felt sorry for Oscar. It seemed to hurt him that he had avoided it so openly.’Yeah, I’ve been with you since I was little….’Claire was so far away that Oscar must have been stunned too. I felt a little guilty because I had not taken care of it.Oscar continued to speak in a low voice.”I don’t know if you proposed it first, but I’m not saying I’m not going to force you to marry me.””Yeah….””I always said that since I was little. You have to find someone you love.””….””The marriage partner… Let’s take a look at the list you gave me. Thank you for saving me the trouble.”Oscar continued, in a very bitter voice.”So you don’t have to avoid me anymore.”With those last words, Oscar slowly moved away, turned, and went away.And Claire stood there for a while, staring blankly at where Oscar had disappeared.* * *’Damn, I didn’t mean to push you like that.’Oscar regretted everything he had said to Claire a while ago.A moment of disappointment exploded and he acted impulsively.I haven’t done anything on impulse since I was a kid….Seeing Claire with Antonio rolled his eyes.Oscar bit his lip and exited the private palace where the banquet was held. I didn’t feel like staying here any longer.It feels like the small hole in the corner of my chest has now grown to an unstoppable size.Every time the wind blew, a cool, sharp wind scratched the wound and passed.* * *Meanwhile, Empress Maleah, who acted as if she was the main character of the banquet, was looking for someone with sharp eyes.’Where have you been?’It is not enough to dare to bring the Crown Prince as a partner to the banquet he has invited, only his face is reflected and disappears….’The more you think about it, the more cocky you are.’What Empress Maleah was looking for was Claire.Today she invited Clair for a very important plan.