Count Deval was a notorious gossip hound.
A so-called “gossip hound” referred to this: if you secretly shared a private secret with a close friend at night, and by the next day your entire social circle knew about it, then congratulations—there was definitely a “gossip hound” lurking among your friends.
And recently, Count Deval had become completely fascinated with one particular person.
Li An Adolf.
If you asked who the most famous person in the empire was right now, nine out of ten people would give that name.
The remaining one was probably out of their mind.
“Count, would you care for some refreshments?”
“No need.”
The Count had no appetite for food right now.
Because all of his attention was fixated entirely on Li An.
Watching a young man climb to such immense heights was a delightful spectacle in and of itself.
Either he would soar straight up, piercing through the clouds...
...or he would plummet into the dust, shattered into pieces.
Count Deval took a leisurely sip of red wine with keen interest.
‘Li An Adolf, which path will you take in the end?’
In the distance, Li An was being greeted by the Duke of Senistia.
An imperial duke personally stepping forward to welcome him.
That alone was enough to speak volumes.
‘Mm... As expected, even the Duke holds him in such high regard.’
Immediately after, Crown Prince Kane also made his way over.
‘It seems the Crown Prince truly values him...’
Li An had consecutively earned the acknowledgment of the two most powerful figures at the banquet.
On the surface, everyone appeared busy with their own affairs.
Yet Count Deval keenly sensed that virtually everyone at the banquet seemed to be discreetly watching Li An.
Nobles hoping to form connections through him.
Noble ladies hoping to flirt with this young rising star.
And even individuals with far more complicated agendas.
This was hardly an ordinary banquet.
It was unmistakably a silent chess match.
And the one who broke the deadlock was the Second Princess, Serena Barba.
‘Oh? Princess Serena is actually making a move of her own accord?’
Most people avoided Serena like the plague.
Yet Count Deval quite liked this princess.
The reason was simple.
She was always proactive.
As an onlooker, he actually rather admired that kind of personality.
Murmurs soon rippled through the surroundings.
Without even listening closely, one could easily tell whom everyone was talking about.
Yet Serena didn't care in the slightest.
She walked straight toward Li An.
“Would you care to accompany me for a dance?”
Lifting the hem of her gown, she curtsied with refined elegance.
It was a textbook-perfect dance invitation.
For any other man, refusing would be virtually impossible.
‘Indeed. They say heroes can never resist a beauty, but who would have thought it would be reversed this time?’
‘Even a beauty can't resist a hero.’
“My apologies.”
Li An glanced down at his legs.
“My legs are feeling a bit uncomfortable.”
“So, if you would please excuse me.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
...
?
Count Deval nearly spat out the fine wine in his mouth.
What just happened?
Princess Serena was simply left stranded in the middle of the dance floor.
She stood frozen in place, as if utterly unable to comprehend what had just transpired.
“Melon seeds! Quick, bring me some melon seeds!”
Count Deval grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the tray a servant brought over, shoveling them into his mouth at lightning speed.
A scene like this was simply too precious.
If he missed it, he would probably regret it for the rest of his life.
This young man, Li An, was far more interesting than he had imagined.
The Duke of Senistia's estate was even larger than Li An had imagined.
After all, this place was far more than just a residence for dining and sleeping.
Banquet halls, drawing rooms, gardens, lounge areas...
A single banquet was enough to take over an entire wing of the mansion.
To make matters worse, an imperial official who was completely unfamiliar with noble estates could easily wander around for hours without ever finding an exit.
‘Where on earth is Sushia...’
Li An was already reaching his limit.
Every step of the way, everyone who saw him greeted him with overflowing enthusiasm.
“I have long admired your name. I am Count So-and-So. If you have time, perhaps we could discuss the continental situation?”
“The moonlight is truly exquisite tonight. They say there are lovers on the moon; I wonder where my own companion might be?”
Li An had heard so many remarks of this sort that his ears were practically calloused.
And he still had to respond to each and every one of them with polite courtesy.
This was honestly more exhausting than actual work.
Still, at least he had done everything he was supposed to do.
Now all he had to do was find Sushia, crush her in the cookie contest, go home to wash his feet, and get a good, comfortable night of sleep.
That was Li An's greatest wish for tonight.
Unfortunately, reality clearly had no intention of granting it.
“Li An, we meet again.”
“Your Highness.”
For the second time, Li An encountered the person he least wanted to see.
Crown Prince Kane walked over with an amicable smile.
Surrounding him was a cohort of young, exceptionally capable nobles.
There was no need to guess.
These people were undoubtedly the Crown Prince's supporters.
“I have long heard of your renowned name. I am Baron Tahar.”
“Hello, I am Li An Adolf.”
A noble with a steady, composed demeanor stepped forward.
“Over the years, I've heard your name quite often. You truly are a man of exceptional ability.”
“You flatter me.”
Baron Tahar extended a hand to shake Li An's.
The moment their hands met, Li An instantly felt a damp clamminess in his palm.
‘If you have sweaty palms, a heads-up would have been nice...’
Maintaining a completely neutral expression, he finished the handshake and discreetly wiped his hand dry.
“However, no matter how capable a person is, if they lack a place to belong, it is ultimately meaningless in the end.”
Baron Tahar let out a meaningful chuckle.
That he dared to speak so bluntly was naturally with the Crown Prince's tacit approval.
Now that the Emperor was advanced in age, people across the empire had long been secretly discussing the candidates for the next throne.
And among the royal heirs, Kane's odds of succession were overwhelmingly high.
Baron Tahar was thoroughly convinced of this.
He believed Li An would eagerly seize this golden branch leading to the pinnacle of power.
Yet Li An was currently busy wiping his hand.
As for what Baron Tahar had just said, he hadn't caught a single word.
Still, outright ignoring him would be far too impolite.
So after a moment's thought, Li An decided to at least offer a cookie as a courtesy.
“I baked some cookies myself. Would you care for one?”
“...Talking about cookies at a time like this?”
Baron Tahar wore a stunned expression.
Had this man heard a single word he just said?
“Cookies, is it...”
Kane, however, took one from Li An's hand and took a gentle bite.
“This reminds me of my childhood.”
“Back when we three siblings were young, we even had to share a single cookie.”
Kane took another bite.
“Yet now that we are grown up, one cookie can no longer satisfy three people.”
“And yet, all three still desire that cookie.”
“Rest assured.”
Li An said with utter seriousness:
“There are more than enough cookies for everyone.”
With that, he pulled out another one.
Kane took it with a smile.
“Another one?”
“...Sure.”
After all, it was awkward to refuse.
Besides, the cookie was genuinely delicious.
It was just that eating several dry cookies in a row without any tea to wash them down left his throat somewhat parched.
Kane swallowed hard.
“Mm... You still have quite a lot left.”
“Another one?”
“No need, this is already enough.”
Kane felt rather awkward.
When on earth would these damn cookies run out?
And had Li An actually understood the meaning he conveyed earlier?
Just then.
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Kane's mind.
—“Rest assured, there are more than enough cookies for everyone.”
Could those words be interpreted as:
‘The empire is so vast that a single person could never consume it all. Why must the three of us fight to the death over it?’
Kane's gaze instantly shifted.
“I see...”
Li An Adolf.
He seemed to finally understand why this man had not joined any faction to this day.
Because this man's way of thinking was fundamentally different from everyone else's from the very start.
‘How arrogant, Li An Adolf.’
No matter how vast the empire was, without a core, it would sooner or later tear itself apart.
Yet the one who uttered these words was none other than Li An.
A man who had already forged countless achievements and was rapidly rising at the center of imperial power.
Therefore, his words carried an entirely different weight.
No one had ever dared to express their views so bluntly.
Everyone else only ever nodded and agreed.
Perhaps what the empire needed right now was precisely a person like this.
Someone who dared to say “no.”
Kane's appetite was thoroughly whetted.
His desire for Li An burned even fiercer than before.
‘Li An Adolf, I must have you.’
And so, after being beleaguered by the Crown Prince's entourage for what felt like an eternity, Li An finally managed to break away.
‘Hurry... I have to find Sushia fast...’
He was genuinely reaching his breaking point.
If he stayed any longer, he would either drop dead from exhaustion or be annoyed to death by the nobles.
Li An had circled nearly the entire first floor, yet he still hadn't spotted Sushia anywhere.
It seemed she was likely on the second floor.
He followed the staircase up.
The higher he went, the quieter the surroundings became.
Unlike the first floor which served as the banquet hall, the second floor was much closer to the ducal estate's actual living quarters.
‘I probably shouldn't be wandering around this area recklessly.’
Right at that moment, faint voices drifted out from the crack of an adjacent room's door.
“The current situation is...”
“Then the progress of the plan...”
A middle-aged man's voice.
And a young woman's voice.
Li An was merely passing by, yet he inadvertently caught snippets of the conversation inside.
Without overthinking it, he turned to head back downstairs.
Yet just as he reached the stairwell, he finally ran into the person he had been desperately looking for.
“Huh? Minister, what are you doing up here?”
It was Sushia.
Just a moment ago, he had found her utterly insufferable.
Yet at this very second, Li An felt only one thing—
Dearest Sushia!
I finally found you!
“I've finally found you.”
Li An let out a long sigh of relief.
“By the way, you did prepare cookies, right?”
“Of course!”
Sushia instantly puffed out her chest.
“Once you taste them, Minister, you're definitely going to be blown away.”
Just as she was about to say more—
Creak.
The adjacent door suddenly swung open.
A figure stepped out from within.
It was an exquisite beauty with platinum blonde hair and gem-like azure eyes.
She wore an opulent gown, adorned at her chest with a golden brooch that only members of the imperial family were entitled to wear.
Li An subconsciously thought of one person.
“Isha?”
The woman stopped in her tracks.
She slowly turned around and looked at Li An.
Within those gorgeous eyes, there was not a trace of warmth.
“It seems you have mistaken me for someone else.”
“I-I am so sorry! Your Imperial Highness, Third Princess!”
Sushia's face paled dramatically.
She hastily bowed in salute.
Then, pinching Li An's thigh viciously, she hissed in a hushed whisper:
“What are you doing? Apologize immediately!”
Only then did Li An snap back to his senses, swiftly lowering his head.
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
“There is no need.”
Third Princess Elizabeth's expression remained serene.
“Everyone mistakes someone's identity from time to time.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Only, the pace of her departure seemed notably faster than usual.
“...”
Li An stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought.
He felt as though he had experienced this kind of feeling before.
Back when he was in elementary school as a child, he had once accidentally called a newly graduated teacher “Mom.”
That sensation of being so embarrassed you wanted to burrow straight into a crack in the ground was identical to what he felt right now.
The more Li An thought about it, the more humiliated he felt.
Yet suddenly, a trace of doubt crept into his mind.
Why hadn't Sushia recognized Isha?
Could her eyesight be poor?
Thinking about it, that wasn't entirely out of the question.
After all, in this era, spectacles were a rare commodity.
“Huff... huff...”
Elizabeth walked at a brisk pace all the way.
Only when she finally reached a deserted corner did she halt her steps.
Then, she buried her face in both hands.
Her cheeks were burning hot.
‘Just now... was I exposed?’
The person she had encountered just now was Li An Adolf.
The superior who had absolutely no idea about her true identity.
And also...
The person who was extraordinarily important to her.
Elizabeth tried her utmost to calm herself down.
Yet her racing heart refused to settle.
If Li An found out that she was the Barba Empire's Third Princess, Elizabeth...
Would he still stay by her side like he did now in the future?
What would happen once he knew the truth?
What if... what if he was no longer willing to be close to her?
Just imagining that scene filled Elizabeth with a surge of dread.
For the first time, she realized—
She was far more terrified of losing him than she had ever imagined.
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