Late in the morning, Tezette arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace.
“I heard you summoned me.”
Crown Prince Cedric, clad in a bathrobe, sipped leisurely from a glass of liquor. Without lifting his gaze, he simply tilted his head toward the opposite sofa, gesturing for Tezette to sit.
With his usual unreadable expression, Tezette took a seat.
Cedric poured another glass and slid it toward him.
“How goes the hunt for the Tower Master?”
“We have stationed troops at all known entry points to the Mage Tower, but no one has yet spotted Rashiel Celeste.”
The Mage Tower was home to sorcerers from various nations and operated as an independent entity, unaffiliated with any one country.
Even the Empire, powerful as it was, could not afford to move against the Tower or its mages without severe diplomatic consequences.
If they wanted to capture Rashiel, they had to draw him out.
And if Rashiel refused to leave, the chase could stretch on indefinitely.
Yet Cedric simply smirked, raising his glass.
“Don’t strain yourself. He’ll come out on his own eventually.”
His tone carried confidence.
As if he had a plan.
“Soon, I’ll be throwing out some bait.”
A satisfied smile played on his lips as he took another sip.
Through the rim of his glass, he observed Tezette’s untouched drink.
The golden liquor remained completely untouched.
“Aren’t you even going to taste it? You of all people should appreciate the rarity of this bottle.”
“I don’t drink.”
Tezette’s voice was flat.
For the first time, Cedric’s brow twitched.
Most nobles, even if they didn’t enjoy something, at least pretended to appreciate what the Crown Prince offered them.
But Tezette never did.
‘Is it because he was raised without proper manners?’
Cedric found it frustrating.
And yet, that only made him want Tezette more.
He recalled the day, three years ago, when Tezette had arrived at the Imperial Palace—his father and brother’s blood still splattered across his face.
Not a trace of guilt.
Not a shadow of grief.
Nothing.
‘Why did you kill the Duke, Lord Rittenhouse?’
The Emperor had asked.
And Tezette had calmly replied:
‘You should call me Duke Rittenhouse now.’
His father and brother were dead.
So naturally, the title belonged to him.
His voice had been utterly devoid of emotion—making it all the more chilling.
The Emperor, who had long resented the noble faction, used the situation to his advantage.
He shielded Tezette and granted him his title, drawing him in as a loyal aide.
The thrill of taming a wild beast, the Emperor had claimed, was unmatched.
But Cedric wasn’t so sure.
His father had never truly tamed Tezette.
Tezette followed orders, but there was no loyalty in his obedience.
The beast remained untamed.
And Cedric wanted to be the one to do it.
If he could truly make Tezette his, he would use him for all the tasks—including those involving the Demon God.
“That matter aside, I called you here to discuss something else.”
Tezette remained silent, his green eyes fixed on Cedric.
“It’s been quite some time since I first heard of your engagement, yet there’s been no further news.”
Cedric wanted to ensure Tezette was bound by a leash.
And what better leash than marriage?
“Is there some kind of problem between you two?”
The moment Cedric mentioned his engagement, Elsez’s words from earlier surfaced in Tezette’s mind.
“Let’s call off our engagement.”
But he masked his thoughts and answered indifferently.
“No. There are no issues.”
“Then why is there still no news of a wedding? If you wanted, the ceremony could have been arranged long ago.”
“She needed time to prepare.”
Cedric’s smirk faded.
That was a lie.
Tezette was not the type to wait on others.
If he had truly wanted to marry her, he would have simply done it.
Most likely, this engagement had been a temporary measure—an excuse to avoid an arranged marriage with Princess Rinael.
Cedric leaned forward slightly.
“Let me give you some advice, Tezette.”
Tezette remained silent.
“For a man of your position, that Viscount’s daughter is hardly a suitable match. She’s practically unknown in the capital, and her father left behind nothing but debt.”
“……”
“For the future of your house, you should break off the engagement. Unless, of course, you’re foolish enough to let emotions like love get in the way—”
“I love her.”
“……What?”
Cedric froze.
“I said, I love her.”
For the first time in a long while, he was at a loss for words.
Tezette—the man who never showed a shred of emotion—had just uttered something so utterly unbelievable.
The word “love” sounded foreign coming from his mouth.
Still, Cedric quickly composed himself.
Tapping a finger against his glass, he suddenly smirked.
“You’re aware that a banquet is being held at the palace on Friday, right?”
It was the final night of the annual festival commemorating the defeat of the Demon God.
An invitation had already been sent to House Rittenhouse two days ago.
Cedric’s smile widened.
“I’d like to meet the future Duchess of Rittenhouse. You’ve hidden her for so long, I’m beginning to wonder if she even exists.”
The unspoken implication was clear.
‘Are you lying to me?’
Tezette stared at Cedric, his gaze unwavering.
Then, he answered.
“If that’s what you want.”
With a slight nod, he rose from his seat and exited the chamber.
Outside, his aide Felix had been waiting anxiously, biting his nails.
Seeing Tezette approach, Felix hurried over.
“What did His Highness say?”
Tezette murmured, almost to himself,
“He reminds me of someone.”
“Huh? Who?”
“That bastard I want to kill.”
Felix nearly choked.
He knew who Tezette was referring to—Rashiel.
But anyone else overhearing that would assume Tezette meant Cedric.
“My lord! We’re still in the Imperial Palace! If someone hears you—!”
But Tezette didn’t seem to care.
“I understand hating your superior. I really do. Not that I mean I hate you—I mean—”
Felix cleared his throat.
“Anyway! Let’s discuss this in the carriage!”
Dragging Tezette into the carriage, Felix asked cautiously,
“So, what did His Highness say?”
“He suggested I break off my engagement and find a better match.”
“Ah, well… he has a point. You barely even see your fiancée. Maybe marrying Princess Rinael would be the safest option?”
Felix had once been a servant under the former Duke Rittenhouse.
When Tezette had killed his father and brother, Felix had thought he would be next.
But Tezette had spared him and made him his aide—purely because Felix was sharp-witted and had a good memory.
Since then, Felix had served him loyally.
And as someone who valued stability, he wished Tezette would marry the princess and secure his position.
But, unsurprisingly, the response was—
“That princess is annoying.”
Felix sighed.
“Then… how about the Marquess’s daughter?”
“……The Marquess’s daughter?”
“Anyone would be better than Lady Elsez—”
Felix stopped mid-sentence.
Tezette’s eyes had turned ice-cold.
The air inside the carriage suddenly felt heavy.
Felix swallowed.
“M-my apologies. I overstepped.”
Tezette turned toward the window, his voice unreadable.
“I need to see her.”
“See who?”
His gaze darkened.
“My fiancée.”
Or rather—the woman who wears her face yet feels like a stranger.
****
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