Chapter 06
Zerden tilted his head at the sudden disappearance of Rubelia.
She moved so fast that even Zerden hadn’t noticed.
Not even the Empire’s finest knights could match her speed.
“What are you doing there?”
Looking for Rubelia, Zerden saw her crouched and hiding under the table, and his expression shifted to one of disbelief.
She really did look like a squirrel, burrowing into a tiny space as if it were her own home.
At Zerden’s question, Rubelia quietly raised her index finger to her lips—a clear sign to stay silent.
Zerden frowned, unable to understand the situation. She was truly unpredictable. One moment light as a feather, the next serious, then acting in ways no one could guess.
“I never thought someone would hide under a table while eating desserts…”
“It’s not that. There’s a crazy guy outside.”
Rubelia, used to running or hiding whenever Hasedian or Aria appeared, had instinctively ducked without thinking.
With no proper hiding spot, she had slipped under the table.
Even she felt embarrassed about the situation.
Why did she have to go through such trouble because of the main male and female leads?
She hadn’t even had a chance to impress Zerden, yet here she was in such a ridiculous position.
“I don’t see anyone suspicious outside.”
Zerden glanced out, slightly puzzled.
“People who look normal on the outside but are crazy inside are the most dangerous.”
Rubelia said firmly, thinking of the flawless yet insane Aria and Hasedian.
“I agree with that.”
Zerden had met quite a few people like that.
“Did you see a man outside with blue hair and blue eyes, like his head’s bruised?”
Others described the hair as the clear blue of a lake, but to Rubelia, it just looked bruised.
In a way, it suited him perfectly, showing his crazy mind in blue hair.
“He’s gone now.”
He had only appeared briefly, but now he was gone.
Rubelia let out a relieved sigh. It was a close call.
Trying to get up now, she realized the space was tighter than she had thought.
She hit her head on the table—twice in a row—bouncing slightly from the impact.
Zerden’s expression changed.
“…Heh.”
He hadn’t expected to laugh at someone else’s mistake, but seeing Rubelia clutch her head and grimace, she looked both cute and funny.
‘A real squirrel,’ he thought.
Her posture was like a squirrel through and through.
But the impact had hurt Rubelia badly. Tears welled in her eyes.
‘This might leave a bump.’
It felt like the table was made of metal—it was no ordinary pain.
Moreover, Zerden’s laugh had embarrassed her even more. She couldn’t look up.
“Are you just going to stay there?”
Zerden asked, noticing she had no intention of moving.
“It hurts.”
Her head, her heart, even her mind ached. She just wanted to stay hidden.
“Then I won’t stop you.”
“It’s too tight…”
Rubelia’s teary gaze conveyed that she couldn’t get out.
Seeing this, Zerden moved without hesitation. Rubelia panicked, trying to grab him.
Alone under the table, the situation would have been even more embarrassing.
Instead of leaving, Zerden lifted the table aside so she could escape.
“Don’t go!”
“Should I put it back?”
“No, sorry.”
Rubelia realized she only had to endure this awkward moment a little longer to get out. There was no need to stop Zerden.
Finally, he moved the table properly, and Rubelia emerged with a composed expression, sitting on the sofa. She reached for the moved table and took a sip of tea.
“The tea is really delicious.”
As if nothing had happened.
“Your face is red.”
Zerden teased, clearly seeing through her act.
Rubelia flushed but maintained her composure.
“It’s hot, though the tea seems cold.”
“Why is ice so hot?”
She wiped her tears naturally, still pretending it was nothing.
‘Just let it go already,’ she thought in annoyance.
Zerden watched, amused.
“You’ve been chased before, haven’t you?”
Rubelia nodded.
“Yes, by someone who could break your mind just by talking—literally a human weapon of mental destruction.”
Zerden frowned slightly but noticed her serious expression.
“Even if I don’t know who you mean, if you asked the marquis, he’d help you. Everyone knows how much he cares for you.”
“I know. But the opponent is too strong.”
Even asking the marquis for help couldn’t guarantee protection.
“They’re a duke and a duchess,” she said.
“The marquis could probably stop almost anyone.”
“Almost anyone isn’t everyone.”
Rubelia shrugged in resignation.
Zerden watched her strangely, sensing she carried many hardships.
“Life can be really hard.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. Doesn’t Your Grace have your own troubles?”
Rubelia asked, trying to gauge him.
“If you know your enemy well, you can be prepared,” she thought. Knowing Zerden’s motives might help her stop his rebellion in the future.
“Do you think so?” Zerden asked.
“Of course. Everyone has hardships, everyone lives a difficult life.”
“I am a duke,” he said, answering oddly.
“And if a duke has an easy life, the emperor would have no worries either?”
“Yet he holds the highest rank,” she pointed out.
“So the challenges are greater.”
Even the wealthy have problems. Nobles are no different.
Rubelia thought of herself—safe as a marquis’ daughter on the surface, yet her life depended on Zerden’s fate. Truly a life on a knife’s edge.
“Well…” Zerden hesitated.
No one cared about his life, only envied his power. He expected no understanding.
Yet hearing Rubelia speak, his heart felt strangely touched. She was unlike anyone he had met before.
“Hmm, stay strong. Good things will happen.”
Rubelia offered quiet comfort to the otherwise bitter Zerden.
“Do you really mean that?”
“If not, it wouldn’t be fair,” she replied firmly.
“Talking with you feels… strange.”
“I feel the same.”
Despite being a mastermind behind rebellion, he didn’t feel like one. Zerden didn’t seem motivated by ambition, only exhaustion.
“You are different from the woman in the rumors.”
‘Yes, I am,’ Rubelia thought.
“And so are you, Your Grace.”
“What rumors?” Zerden asked.
“Just various ones. One said you were the crown prince’s rival…”
“At least that last one is nonsense. You have no interest in the throne,” Zerden said coldly.
Zerden’s father had given up the throne for love, leaving the current emperor to rule. Zerden inherited succession rights but had no desire for power.
Thinking about it, he frowned slightly.
‘Then why start a rebellion?’
