I hadn’t expected those words to come out of my mouth, so Eunice looked at me in surprise.
“Milady… the underworld is dangerous.”
“Right, right. It’s dangerous for me. But it’s not dangerous for you, right?”
“……”
She didn’t answer. Probably too proud to lie and say it wasn’t dangerous.
Eunice looked away into the distance, staying silent, and I clung to her arm.
“Yuni, you’ll do my favor, right? Right?”
“……”
“Right?”
Eventually, Eunice let out a long sigh and nodded.
I cheered and asked her for a favor.
A background investigation on Lionel.
There’s an old saying:
—Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated.
What does it mean? If you understand both your enemy and yourself, you will never be in danger in a hundred battles.
First, I know my strengths very well. My identity as the youngest daughter of the Roheim ducal house, my genius ability to create almost any magical tool, and the vast wealth accumulated from five years of royalties from commercially sold magical tools!
‘Yeah, I’m definitely capable.’
So what matters now? Knowing the enemy.
[Lionel von Alteheid]
The man who, in the future, might “darken” into an obsessive male lead, kidnap and imprison me, and drive a nail through my family’s hearts.
Just one week after I asked Eunice to investigate him, five pages of detailed personal information arrived in my hands.
‘…But something’s weird.’
The five pages were nothing but praise. Not a single negative remark.
And this wasn’t just any source—it came from an underworld information broker.
“Yuni… were you scammed?”
“No. It’s confirmed. My father personally obtained this information. There’s no way it’s wrong.”
“Then why is it all praise?”
It said things like: he learns quickly, can crush steel shields with his bare hands, and even as a child personally cared for the former Empress when she was ill, staying by her side until her passing—so respectful to elders…
At this point it was practically a résumé with a self-introduction attached.
It even carefully emphasized that his relationships with women were clean and there were no issues in that regard. It almost sounded like a desperate pitch: Our Prince is such a perfect husband candidate!
‘Now that I think about it…’
When the male lead in the novel later staged a rebellion, it was the holy knights and underworld forces who supported him and stormed the imperial palace.
The holy knights could be explained—he had been at the temple and could have influenced them—but the underworld?
I had always wondered how he managed to win them over.
‘Wait… what if they were already on his side? No—what if he completely controlled them?’
‘No. That’s impossible.’
What kind of place was the underworld?
Hundreds of years of history. A power deeply rooted in the capital, vast and entrenched enough that even the Emperor couldn’t easily clean it up.
There was no way Lionel, who rarely even left the palace, could have taken it over.
“Or maybe, milady, does that mean His Highness the Second Prince is simply a flawless husband even the underworld approves of?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no one in the world without flaws.”
But in the end, even the underworld informants had failed to find any dirt on the Second Prince…
Fine then.
“Yuni, I’ve got one more favor.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Official or unofficial—get me his schedule.”
If I couldn’t find the dirt through others…
I’d dig it out myself.
Fortunately, Eunice didn’t need to go back to the underworld.
Thanks to my engagement to Lionel, she was able to obtain his schedule directly from the imperial palace.
“The Second Prince’s aide gave this after receiving His Highness’s permission. He stressed that it must not be leaked.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be the only one reading it.”
With a racing heart, I opened the schedule—and immediately groaned.
‘This is… all official duties.’
Every single entry was packed.
On the first morning of each week, there was a state council meeting. As the designated crown prince candidate, he attended alongside the Emperor, giving reasoned input on military, diplomacy, finance, law—everything. He was said to perform his role exceptionally well.
Afterward, he had lunch with the Emperor. Not just a meal, but a review session of the meeting—what was done well, what wasn’t, and imperial instruction.
After that mentally suffocating meal, he worked all afternoon.
And on top of that, he continued attending lessons from childhood: imperial studies, law, taxation, administration, etiquette…
And even after all that, his nights and early mornings were filled with physical training and sparring with imperial knights.
From dawn to night.
Not a single personal schedule.
Just relentless official duties, every hour filled.
At that point, I couldn’t help but think:
‘Is this the reason he becomes darkened?’
If someone told me to live like this, I wouldn’t last a week—no, I’d collapse in three days and beg to be killed instead.
Honestly, I should be thanking him for even making time for me.
‘No, wait. No. Making time for your fiancée is normal! He doesn’t deserve thanks for that!’
Standing confidently in front of his office, I faced the closed door.
The attendant waiting there bowed politely as soon as I approached.
“Welcome, Lady of the Duchess House.”
“Yes. His Highness is inside, correct?”
“Yes. Please wait a moment. I will inform him of your arrival.”
While the attendant went inside, I glanced at Eunice.
“You ready?”
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
A moment later, there was some commotion inside, and the attendant came out with four aides.
“We greet the Lady of the Duke’s house.”
“You all work hard.”
I smiled warmly at them.
“Since that’s the case, I brought something for you today.”
“Pardon?”
“Yuni.”
At my call, Eunice stepped forward and gestured toward the back.
“The ducal house has prepared refreshments for you. Please proceed to the first-floor lounge.”
“For you—and for them.”
A perfectly legitimate superior gossip session.
“From the ducal house?”
“Wait… does that include the famous rose tea…?”
“Of course. Brewed from roses my mother personally picked and dried a week ago. Yuni will take care of you.”
“Yes, please head downstairs.”
“Oh my… I’m so excited…”
Led by a man practically trembling with anticipation, the aides followed Eunice and disappeared.
Watching their backs, I silently cheered her on.
‘Go for it! They’ve all worked with Lionel for at least four or five years—they’ll know everything!’
Alright then.
My turn.
I rolled my shoulders.
“Hello! Long time no see!”
I pushed the door wide open and stepped into Lionel’s office.