Now that she’d thought everything through, Rishe lowered her eyes.

“Then we’ll continue to protect you here, Rishe-sama.”

“Thank you. Please excuse me again.”

The knights stood in the hallway on either side of the door in front of her room. After thanking them, Rishe opened the door.

And when she entered, she found an envelope at her feet.

“…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

She gently shook her head and entered the room so as the envelope wouldn’t be seen by the knights.

Once she locked the door, she picked up the envelope.

It was an envelope of very fine white paper. The red wax seal was stamped with the imperial seal of the Garkhain family.

When Rishe opened it, a sheet of paper was inside.

On it were beautiful words meticulously written, saying:

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. Go to the chapel tonight at nine o’clock. — Arnold Hein.”

Rishe stuffed the paper back in the envelope and called Elise to her room.

***

At nine o’clock on the appointed night, Rishe, clad in a black dress, visited the chapel in the corner of the Royal Castle.

She had her knight guards wait for her a distance away from the chapel.

She showed them the wax sealed letter and said, “I’d like to see His Highness Arnold alone.”

The source of the letter was probably waiting for her in advance.

Rishe opened the door to the chapel and raised her voice without closing the door.

“Good evening, Your Highness Theodore.”

The light shining through the stained glass windows and the candlelights kept the interior of the chapel fairly lit.

“Good evening, my beautiful sister-in-law.”

In front of the chancel at the end of the red carpet that stretched ahead stood a young man.

“You’re not the least bit surprised. It’s as if you knew it was my letter all along,” Theodore said with a laugh, while Rishe exhaled.

“The style of the signature didn’t resemble His Highness Arnold’s.”

“Well, it was just a matter of hoping you’d be fooled. Although, I don’t think you’ve ever seen Brother’s signature before.”

Certainly, in this life, she hasn’t seen it yet. But in another life, she did.

Arnold, who had waged war on other nations, had sent written declarations of war to the royal families of the countries in advance. Having lived the life of a knight and had close ties with the royal family, Rishe had personally seen it. Arnold’s handwriting was beautiful, but when it came to his own name, he seemed to have a habit of jotting it down messily.

The signature on the letter that Rishe received in her room was too polite in comparison to that one.

“And why did you come when you knew it was me who sent it? I thought you said it’s inappropriate to stay alone with other men… Oh, is that why you didn’t close the door?”

“There are also knights awaiting orders a short distance away.”

She had taken other measures, but she’d keep them out of her mouth.

Theodore looked bored as he let his fingers run through his fluffy, bouncy hair.

“I’ve gone to the trouble just to teach you something good, so it would be nice if you’re a little more welcoming. I never imagined that Brother actually likes a woman like you.”

“If you have anything to say, please be quick.”

“You said during the day that you knew how cruel Brother was. You can’t possibly be fully aware of that.”

Theodore approached Rishe one step at a time.

“We don’t get along with each other as a family. And then the Empress – our father’s wife, isn’t our real mother. She’s what they call the second wife.”

“It’s not a rare story for someone of noble blood.”

“Oh, yes. But what if the reason for the Emperor’s former wife’s absence was because someone murdered her?”

Theodore stood in front of Rishe, his eyes narrowed and a somewhat bewitching smile glowed in his eyes.

“Your brother killed your mother.”

“…”

A detestable gleam shimmered in his eyes that were of the same color as Arnold’s.

“You see what I mean? That’s how cruel Big Brother, Arnold Hein, is. You may have been lured by the Crown Princess’ position somehow, but you’d better let go of that stuff. The man is a man who can even lay a hand on his own mother. He’s a man who can even lay a hand on his own mother.”

“…”

“All brides who had married into this country ended up unhappy. I think you’re beginning to understand what I meant during the day. It’s not a threat or anything, you really could be killed by your husband.”

“I get what you’re talking about.”

Rishe merely sighed.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Huh?”

Theodore’s eyes went round at her retort.

“What is wrong with you? He’s a mother-killer! Why aren’t you upset to hear these horrible things?!”

Well, I was surprised with that new piece of information, but I’ve known one of his ‘criminal records’.

There was nothing more scary than that one.

When Arnold proposed to her, the only thing Rishe knew about him was Arnold Hein in her previous lives.

The Emperor who slaughtered, invaded, and trampled on the royal families of various countries in a bloody and ruthless manner.

The traitor who killed his father emperor and usurped the throne.

The man who once killed Rishe.

All her knowledge and memories about him were nothing but horrendous.

But even so, Rishe decided.

“I’m willing to marry him with all my heart.”

“…”

Now that she was by his side, she’d been wondering if she’d see him in a different light than she had in the past.

“E-Even with that knowledge? Big Brother’s name has no middle name for blessing. He’s a cursed man who’s been spurned by our father and mother.”

“I have the name ‘Ilmgard’ myself, but I have never felt the need for it. Your Highness Theodore Auguste Hein…”

“Shut up!”

“I don’t need to know those sorts of things.”

Looking straight up into Theodore’s eyes, Rishe assured him.

The Arnold Rishe has known in this life seemed at least a decent man.

Despite the coldness in his behavior, he was a politician who looked out for his subordinates and tried to respect the people.

What Rishe wanted to figure out was why Arnold would head into a future like that.

For example, what events within the next few years would change him?

Or was he holding on to that cruelty he would unleash in five years’ time, and was just hiding it well?

— Or was he just a ‘mere human being’ with a decent heart and soul, who had to resort to cruel means for some non-negotiable purpose, instead of a monster?

Silly me.

Rishe smiled as she softly mocks herself inwardly.

“Is that all you wanted to say? Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Whoa, wait!”

“How about I give you an alternative?”

She cut him off and looked back at the door of the chapel.

“If you don’t mind, speak with your brother from here on out.”

“H…”

There stood Arnold with his steely eyes.

“Big brother.”

Theodore croaked and cleared his throat.