After the tour in the garden was concluded, Kade urged the Eighth Princess to return to her lessons. He knew she was procrastinating by joining their walk in the grounds. Seeing the glum expression on Lina's face, the little Princess had cheerfully bid them goodbye.

  "See you next time, big sister!" the little Princess shouted, excitedly waving her tiny arm as she departed.

  Lina smiled in response and waved her hand. Soon, the little girl's figure disappeared in the distance. She had never seen such a bright and eager child before.

  "She's really cute," Lina said.

  Kade raised a brow like he didn't believe her. What could be cute about that little brat?

  Kade shook his head in disapproval.

  "She yells too much," Kade reasoned. "So, she's annoying."

  Lina peered at him slowly. The sun fell perfectly on him. It added to his dazzling beauty. When he lowered his eyes, it revealed long lashes. His eyes flickered with warmth like polished obsidian. Her hand twitched to touch his face, sharp and rugged.

  "You don't believe that," Lina said.

  Kade was uncomfortable at how well she could read him.

  Kade cleared his throat. "Anyway, next, I'll take you to my favorite spot—"

  "Commander…"

  Kade sharply turned around. Who the hell dared to interrupt his time with his wife? Did they not have a will to live?

  Lina was shocked by how quickly his expression morphed. She followed his attention and saw an unfamiliar man. She was surprised by his bright brown hair, like ripen chestnuts. His eyes were a dim brown as well.

  "Sebastian," Kade deadpanned. So his advisor wanted to pick out coffins at such an early age. Fine.

  What a strange name. Lina had never heard it before.

  "This is…?" Lina curiously asked, peering at the man who had features completely different from hers.

  "Pardon my late introduction, Princess," Sebastian said, lowering his head with a chaste hand on his chest.

  "My name is Sebastian and I am the Commander's advisor, Princess—" Sebastian halted.

  He felt a chill crawl down his spine. He broke out in a cold sweat. Only one person would give him a reaction as severe as this.

  Sebastian nervously raised his head. Despite being the second-in-line to the Commander, he was still not used to the man whose gaze turned water into ice.

  "He's a half-blood," Kade said to Lina, whilst turning to her.

  Lina realized just how large Kade was. His body was enough to block her view of Sebastian. Or maybe, she was just too small.

  "Half-blood?" Lina naively repeated.

  What did that mean?

  "Yes, a child with a mother from Ritan and a father from the West," Kade stated. "Hence his unnatural hair and eyes."

  "Oh," Lina said.

  Lina blinked. She had never visited the West before, but she had read about the place. It was claimed that people from the West had hair the color of bright sunflowers and eyes the color of the sky. She wondered what kind of food they ate to be like that.

  "He has a sister, as well," Kade muttered. "Her name is bizarre too. It's Isabelle. She'll be your new head maid."

  Lina wondered if every person from the West had a long name. She found it difficult to pronounce, but it sounded like a beautiful melody. She could only nod her head at his words.

  "I see," Lina said. "Thank you."

  Kade narrowed his eyes. "For what?"

  "For sending your advisor's sister to me. It's out of goodwill isn't it?" Lina asked, blinking up at him.

  Kade coughed. This woman and her tales. He'd tell her the world was ending and she'd try to see the good in it. What a fool his wife was.

  Lina realized she made him uncomfortable. Thus, she decided to change the topic.

  "Did something happen?" Lina asked him, referring to Sebastian.

  "Seems so," Kade spat out.

  Kade grabbed her by the upper arm and jutted his chin towards the exit. Sebastian was smart enough to not disrupt them unless something happened. Kade had given specific orders that his time with the Princess was to be undisturbed.

  "Return first, my wife," Kade slowly said to her. "I'll join you soon."

  "Oh…" Lina wanted to know more, but knew it wasn't her place to do so. Maybe it was a pressing matter about Ritan. She realized she didn't have enough political power to hear about the events yet.

  "Escort the Princess," Kade snarled to his servants.

  The handmaidens shook at his deadly tone. Quickly, they began to guide the Princess in the opposite direction as them. They led the Princess to the exit.

  "……infiltrated the castle…"

  Lina's ears pricked up at their conversation. Even though she was being led away, she could hear vague snippets of their discussion. Who had infiltrated the castle? She turned her head.

  Lina's heart plummeted to her stomach. Kade had a murderous expression on his face. His lips were curled into a sneer. His hand flew to the sword on his hip. She was worried.

  Was her husband going to get injured?

  Lina gasped. Their eyes made contact. Kade had looked directly at her as if the conversation involved her. Their stare broke when she walked through the exit.

  What was that about just now?——

  "Princess… Princess…"

  Lina was gently shaken awake by a handmaiden. She tiredly sat up, her shoulders and neck sore. Waiting for her husband to return home for dinner, she had fallen asleep on the table.

  "Hn… is he back yet?" Lina mumbled, touching her mouth.

  Lina's face burned when she felt something wet. She had drooled. Dear God, she hoped she'd never dribble on her husband. She'd die of embarrassment.

  "Answering the Princess' question, unfortunately, the Prince has not returned to his estate. For a more comfortable position, the bed has been prepped for you, Princess," one of the handmaidens said in a tender voice.

  Lina frowned. She glanced at the food on the porcelain table. Every dish was cold. Untouched.? Even the fat in the beef had solidified. She shivered at the chilly room, but reluctantly nodded her head.

  "I've taken up your time," Lina whispered. "You may go now."

  The handmaidens were touched by her sincere words. They could only gratefully bow their heads and scurry off.

  Lina let out a small sigh. She was all alone in her husband's estate. Was she going to sleep on her own forever? The Second Concubine had her own palace. She had never heard of a husband and wife who slept in the same chamber.

  Usually, husbands kept their wives in a separate palace, so that she would not know if he visited a concubine.

  "Sleep it is…" Lina groaned, realizing she was becoming sour.

  Lina didn't want to turn into a bitter wife, like the stone-hearted Empress. The more she wallowed in anxious thoughts, the more she'd hurt herself. Humans were bizarre. Human brains created fake scenarios to hurt their friend, the heart, but why?

  "It's cold…" Lina touched the bed with a slight frown.

  What was taking Kade this long to return? She had even taken a bath before dinner, believing he'd join her and they'd have another night of pleasure. She wanted to sleep with his body warming the bed.

  "Who trespassed into the castle?" Lina wondered out loud, climbing tiredly into the bed.

  All sorts of possibilities came to mind, but she couldn't think of the proper answer. Maybe, when Kade returned home, she could ask him. Maybe… just maybe.