* * *

As we left the conference room, Philip, who had been waiting nearby with a somewhat anxious expression, quickly approached us.

“Your Highness, the princess is almost here.”

Baek Yigang furrowed his brow slightly at Philip’s report.

“She’s early.”

“All preparations were completed while the meeting was ongoing.”

Although the meeting had run over schedule, it seemed Philip had efficiently used that time to finalize everything.

“And… Ah, here she comes now.”

Philip’s attention shifted to the other end of the hallway, where Anna and Asel were hurrying toward us.

“Apologies for the delay. The princess’s arrival was sudden, so we wrapped up as quickly as possible.”

It seemed the two had also scrambled to finish their tasks after the princess showed up earlier than expected.

With the meeting running late and the princess arriving early, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

“Dowoon, thank you for your efforts. I’ll take over as His Highness’s escort from here.”

Asel bowed slightly before taking her position behind Baek Yigang.

Anna quickly stepped to my side, her usual spot.

Hmm.

All I did was stand behind Baek Yigang, watching the meeting unfold, but…

It struck me anew how impressive Asel was for enduring such intense atmospheres all the time.

“Anna, wasn’t it too early for her to arrive? She said she’d come in the evening, but there’s still plenty of time left.”

“The princess crossed the gates earlier than expected. Since we’d already wrapped up our exams, we concluded quickly and came.”

As Anna spoke, I noticed attendants scurrying around the palace.

The sight finally made the situation sink in.

The princess was truly here.

The same princess who, in the original story, had been killed by Piel.

With Piel no longer the crown prince, who knows how this will play out?

But I doubted Baek Yigang would harm someone without reason.

Unless they obstructed his plans… For now, I’d just have to wait and see.

“A banquet has been prepared. You can change into formal attire and head straight there. Dowoon, you should wear something brighter as well.”

Philip’s sharp eye for detail swept over our outfits as he led us toward the dressing room.

Even in a rush, appearances clearly mattered.

“Wait, I’m going too? I’m not an escort anymore.”

“Of course. As a mage representing the Imperial Magic Department, you’re an indispensable figure for welcoming the princess. Especially since the Head Mage is currently out.”

Philip’s calm and precise response left no room for argument.

Well, he had a point.

Without the Head Mage, I was the best option to represent the Department, better than Blue or Reggie.

With Philip, Asel, and Anna trailing behind, we arrived at the dressing room together.

It was oddly reassuring to have everyone together like this.

What followed was a whirlwind of activity.

As soon as Baek Yigang and I changed, we hurried toward the banquet hall.

“If only today’s meeting hadn’t happened, this wouldn’t be so rushed.”

“His Highness doesn’t allow idle time, but this is considered generous by his standards.”

Grumbling under my breath about Baek Yigang, I glanced at Anna, who chuckled softly in response.

“Everyone should be gathered, right?”

“Yes, they should be. It’s a prestigious event where two nations come together to discuss the future.”

The specifics were vague, but Anna nodded knowingly.

When we reached the banquet hall, the waiting knights bowed to Baek Yigang and opened the doors.

Inside, the emperor sat at the highest seat, surrounded by the nobles of Pendium and the diplomatic ministers of Arte, who had arrived two days prior.

“Dowoon, you’ll sit next to His Highness.”

“What? That’s practically the seat of honor! I can’t sit there!”

“It’s His Highness’s explicit order. You’ll be fine.”

“No, I’m not fine with this—no way!”

I shook my head furiously, muttering “Absolutely not,” but Anna, unfazed, firmly pushed me forward with a resolute expression.

But to sit next to the Emperor?

Worse, the seat right beside Baek Yigang?

This was madness—absolute madness!

I really didn’t want to draw attention to myself in a place like this…!

“Cheong Dowoon, what are you doing?”

As I stood my ground with all my might, Baek Yigang grabbed my hand and yanked me toward the seat beside him.

Hey! If you’re going to pull me so easily, what’s the point of all the effort I just put into resisting…?

“Your Majesty, the imperial wine,” the attendant said, handing Baek Yigang a pristine white bottle as I reluctantly took the seat he’d forced me into.

It was the same liquor I’d recklessly drunk before—the rare wine that had led to my encounter with Ian.

Considering the circumstances, it seemed permissible for such a high-grade drink to be served here.

Soon, the transparent, blue liquid sparkled as it filled the glass before me.

As much as I wanted to drink it right away, I couldn’t—not when the Emperor and everyone else were abstaining.

The Princess hadn’t arrived yet, so it seemed like everyone was just preparing their glasses for the ambiance.

This was pure torture.

“Bring another one,” Baek Yigang commanded the attendant after handing me the bottle.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“Because you like it.”

“…Hey, you think I can drink in a situation like this?”

“Oh? You’re picky about situations now?”

He smirked slightly, tilting his head as if genuinely puzzled.

This shadowy bastard was actually provoking me.

“Your Majesty, the Princess has entered the capital. She’ll be arriving shortly,” Anna whispered into Baek Yigang’s ear as she appeared soundlessly behind us. Standing so close, I caught faint traces of her hushed words.

After delivering the news, Anna quickly returned to her place.

Diplomats from the Arthe Empire filled the seats in front of us, while to my right were unfamiliar nobles from Pendium.

Just as I started to feel uncomfortably restless, the doors opened with a herald’s announcement:

“Her Highness, Princess Delcia Rietri, enters!”

Delcia Rietri. In the original story, she was the ill-fated woman who became engaged to Piel, the prince who ousted Baek Yigang, only to meet a tragic end.

With her dazzling golden hair and serene green eyes, Delcia gracefully entered in a shimmering blue dress.

She looked so delicate—like a newborn fawn just learning to walk.

In the original, she was a brief, single-purpose supporting character with little description.

Seeing her in person now felt oddly fascinating.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire,” Delcia said, lowering herself elegantly before the Emperor.

Every movement she made radiated grace and sophistication.

After her brief greeting, Delcia took the seat directly in front of Baek Yigang and me.

The party, which felt more like a festival, began in earnest.

An endless feast was laid out, drinks were poured as soon as glasses emptied, and a parade of decadent dishes filled the hall.

The engagement between Delcia and the Emperor’s son seemed a foregone conclusion, as the Emperor and the Arthe diplomats laughed heartily together.

“This isn’t the atmosphere I was expecting,” I muttered to Baek Yigang, leaning toward him.

“What were you expecting?” he asked, turning to me with evident interest.

“Wait, don’t turn your head so suddenly—”

I hadn’t expected him to look at me, and before I knew it, our faces were much too close.

His face loomed right in front of mine.

In the depths of his violet eyes, I could see my startled expression reflected clearly.

“I just thought it would be… more serious,” I mumbled awkwardly.

“If that’s what you want, I can make it happen,” he said, his lazy tone carrying an undercurrent of something unsettlingly sincere.

Sensing danger, I instinctively tried to lean away, but he gripped my shoulder firmly, preventing any retreat.

From an outsider’s perspective, it probably looked like we were whispering, but in reality, his hold was impossible to shake off.

“Let go of me. Seriously.”

“Why? We have an audience.”

“…Audience?”

He didn’t specify who he meant, but my gaze naturally shifted toward the Princess seated in front of us.

The moment our eyes met, Delcia’s calm green gaze locked with mine, unnervingly detached.

“Ugh,” I gasped, inhaling sharply in surprise.

Before I could fully process her expression, Baek Yigang grabbed my chin and turned my face back toward him.

“Wait, Baek Yigang, what are you trying to do?”

“Show her.”

“Show her what?”

“That she has no place here.”

With that, Baek Yigang pressed a kiss to my forehead.

…Excuse me?

Where?!

I didn’t even have time to process what he’d said.

The unfamiliar sensation on my forehead burned hotter than anything else.

“Ugh… Wh-what…”

A.. kiss?

In front of this entire crowd?!

This lunatic!

Frozen in place, I let out a feeble whimper as I somehow wriggled free from his grasp.

Baek Yigang released me easily, as if satisfied with his accomplishment.

“You don’t need to enjoy it that much,” he said with a sly smile as I glared at him, my face a mask of shock.

“Are you insane?”

“Ha. This is fun,” he chuckled, glancing boldly toward the Princess.

Honestly, I’ve never met anyone like Baek Yigang—someone who could laugh so cheerfully after being cursed out to their face.

* * *