Chapter 5.1

He figured she must have understood by now. After all, he saw her soft, relaxed expression harden the moment he said his final words. When she finally shut her lips in a firm, straight line, he saw the Lady Melveryn he remembered.

‘Perhaps she’s come to her senses, albeit belatedly.’

…Still, the idea of Lady Melveryn confessing that she liked him?

Even thinking back on it made him laugh under his breath. It was just that ridiculous. If even he couldn’t believe it, anyone else who had heard it would surely mock it as utter nonsense.

He couldn’t help but wonder, now that she had probably come to her senses, was she regretting her actions?

Hopefully, she wouldn’t come storming up to him later, demanding he take responsibility. That was the last kind of headache he needed.

Axel frowned at the ominous thought.

If it were just any ordinary person, he might have shrugged it off. But the lady he knew was more than capable of acting that shamelessly.

‘Let’s just hope nothing happens.’

With that thought, Axel had walked away that day, hoping to avoid getting tangled in any trouble.

That had been the plan, anyway…

Yet somehow, what came next felt even more troublesome.

“No, I’m telling you it wasn’t just that! Every single word I said to you was sincere!”

Now, Axel could feel a headache coming on just from dealing with the small figure in front of him, protesting as though she were the one being wronged.

‘…What was with that bizarre expression and those flailing hand gestures just now?’

At first, Axel had been certain she had taken some kind of drug. But strangely enough, when he checked the investigation report he’d received, Judith’s name wasn’t listed anywhere. He couldn’t believe it, so he personally looked into her, doing everything he could to find even the smallest trace of evidence related to drugs.

But he found nothing.

‘So, she really wasn’t using anything…’

If she had no connection to any substances, then that meant she had been completely sane both when they first met and even now.

Axel furrowed his brow as he stared silently at Judith.

‘…Had she hit her head or something?’

That was the only way he could begin to make sense of her behavior.

‘…What kind of scheme is this?’

Judith had been hounding him with confessions ever since their first meeting, but despite all that effort, Axel never believed a word of it.

From the beginning, the idea that she truly had feelings for him didn’t even register as a possibility.

And that was only natural.

Because the person saying those things wasn’t just anyone—it was Judith Melveryn. The same woman who had always coveted the position of crown princess with venom in her gaze, recklessly throwing herself at the crown prince without regard for the consequences.

And now she was saying she liked him? With no real reason, even abandoning both the crown prince and the title she had obsessed over for so long?

Axel let out a bitter scoff in his head and dismissed the thought.

Nonsense. Whatever the reason, she was clearly hiding something and had approached him with ulterior motives. And to top it all off, they didn’t even have a normal relationship. If anything, it was closer to an ill-fated entanglement.

Still, though he didn’t know why, Judith had always bared her teeth like a vicious cat every time they crossed paths, picking frivolous fights with him at every opportunity. It was surprising to learn she wasn’t on anything, sure, but that was about it. He still didn’t believe a word that came out of her mouth.

Finally, Axel parted his tightly pressed lips.

“You’re saying everything you said was sincere…”

“Yes!”

Axel stared at Judith, who answered energetically with her fists clenched. He didn’t know how long this act of hers would last, but—

“Fine. Then do as you please. I’ve been curious just how far your patience will stretch.”

A sharp glint flickered briefly in Axel’s eyes before he granted permission easily.

‘Whatever kind of scheme she’s trying to pull, it won’t last long anyway.’