# Chapter 43
"… I?"
Why did the conversation move there?
I pointed at myself with my finger, unable to continue walking.
Lucid nodded.
With a smile and beautiful eyes as always.
“Yes. I love you very much too.”
“His Highness is joking.”
"It's not a joke. Have you ever seen a prince joke about that?"
I did not answer the question and just smiled.
“You're kidding now,” I wanted to say, but I held on.
Lucid and I aren't close enough to joke around like this, and I don't want to get close.
When I resumed walking, Lucid naturally followed me.
Does he really have no job?
Why does he always follow me?
“By the way, it’s good.”
"What?"
“After Edmund clearly rejected you and you went on a date with another man, the rumors about your relationship disappeared.”
Originally, there was no reference to a relationship between me and Edmund.
Why do people like to exaggerate words like this?
Isn't this different between this world and the next world?
“So, there will be fewer people targeting you.”
Who are they targeting?
I thought about that word for a long time.
I heard that Blackwood and the Blue Rose are finished.
“Murderers.”
Ah, I remembered.
The killers that Lucid warned me about after I got shot earlier.
I heard the words, but I never felt like my life was threatened, so I didn't believe it.
Besides, I left Umfa a long time ago, and things are over now.
If there's danger now, Ecla is more vulnerable than me, right?
“Did the killers disappear because the rumor spread that I was rejected by Edmund and I went on a date with another man?”
"certainly."
Lucid stopped walking, smiling.
Oh, the entrance to the Imperial Palace again.
Last time too, exactly here.
“Last time, the guards accompanying you killed three assassins on the way here. Now no one follows you.”
“Three, three?”
So, three assassins were following me to kill me back then?
I looked around, and Lucid laughed and nudged my shoulder.
“I said no one now. Come on, go carefully.”
“Ah... thanks.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong with you? I didn’t kill them.”
“However—”
I looked at his hand pushing my shoulder and then lifted it.
“You always make sure to accompany me here.”
"… I?"
Lucid pointed at himself with his long fingers.
You looked a little confused.
“You are nicer than you think.”
I greeted Lucid again and hurried up my steps.
He looked at me stubbornly from behind.
***
“Olivia, you came?”
"Yes!"
I greeted Rawan enthusiastically, then immediately checked to close the window well.
His empty words scare me.
I loved the night sky from here so much.
But I thought it was weird?
The story of the killers that Lucid told is old.
If the killers had been targeting me since then, I would have died anytime soon.
Lucid did not attach bodyguards to the temple.
If the Templars discovered murderers, would the temple be turned upside down?
Did Lucid really trick me?
As in the novel, he did evil deeds to win Eclat’s heart...
No, that's also weird. What good would a lie like that do to me?
I thought lying down, but no appropriate answer appeared.
Oh, why should I worry about this?
The most important thing now is who is my master.
Because I sleep then.
This way I can put in the effort tomorrow too.
Why has my life in a romantic fantasy novel not changed much? Striving for success is just like my old life.
***
Lucid stared until Olivia's blue hair, swaying in the wind, disappeared from his sight.
Remember your first meeting with that girl.
She was attracting attention like that too.
The day we first met Olivia is still vivid.
It was a very annoying day.
From the morning I was compared to Edmund in achievements, then I heard my mother complain about my father ignoring her.
My mother's mood swings are common, but I was angry that day, too.
Her marriage knowing that the Emperor's heart is not hers, so why do you blame me.
I wanted to ask the Empress instead.
Why didn't you kill Edmund sooner so that I would still be compared and satisfied with the position of a prince at this age?
I suppressed my anger and went out into the garden.
Everyone saw my expression and moved away stealthily so as not to disturb me.
Fortunately, the palace staff knows the timing.
When I looked in my pocket to light a cigarette.
"there!"
Someone called me.
Turning around, very cold blue eyes entered.
The very transparent girl who reflects my ugliness as it is, was confused when she saw Jack who appeared to protect me and then answered.
“I am a human being, a human being”
The laughter suddenly exploded.
I didn't ask that.
Her eyes widening when she saw my laughter was cute.
Of course, I cooled down as soon as I found out she was the newcomer in Edmund's office.
Staring at sky-like hair running the wrong way, Jack Lucid asked, “Has your mood improved?”
"suddenly?"
“Your expression brightened.”
I wiped my face in shock at Jack's words.
Indeed, the corner of my mouth rose.
“Hmm, maybe.”
A rare bright girl in the palace.
But this is temporary, of course.
She has entered the position of power, she will soon think about how to choose the right side, and her eyes will become as bleary as mine.
Edmund does not tolerate a single mistake.
For Edmund to keep Olivia by his side means that he cares about her very much.
fun.
I wanted to see Edmund's expression when she was taken from him.
I wanted to see the arrogant man turn his face towards me.
That Edmund doubted my relationship with Olivia made me happy.
Olivia is a smart girl.
I invented unprecedented charts and trading with Voglich.
Every idea of hers was successful.
regrettable.
If she were in my office...
“Fake parents?”
“This way, she will not focus on her work and only look for her parents.”
If the Emperor's love for Edmund increases here, it will harm me.
I tried several plans to spoil the peace festival prepared by Edmund.
I blocked Ariane and Nikita's translators, and bribed the cook for not removing the poison from the Bantul fish.
But Olivia solved everything.
Even the fake parents were exposed, so my hands were dirty with blood in vain.
Next, the problem of UMFA's housing and the medical system.
Olivia is an increasingly sought-after talent.
I wanted to own it.
Put it under me.
When this desire took hold of me, I encountered red eyes, the foreign Ecla.
"Olivia is desirable, isn't she? May I help you?"
"You?"
“You see, I am a Fuglischian. It has been said that I resemble the late Empress.”
Now I thought.
Because she is a foreigner? The aura is similar.
“I will win Edmund's heart and return Olivia's heart to you.”
Lucid immediately understood Ikla's desire and raised the corner of his mouth.
***
“…Jack.”
Lucid finished his flashback and called out to his guard.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“That girl, how is she doing?”
"Good."
Ever since I heard that Olivia took the bullet instead of Edmund, I've been envious of Edmund.
I wanted blind love like this.
I wanted to take it before Edmund got serious about it.
Make it mine.
I do not know if this feeling is a desire for possession or curiosity, but if it is called so, it is love.
“A little faster.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The sky was already dyed orange, but Lucid longed for blue in vain and cursed the innocent sunset.