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Worrying was not in Flora’s nature; she quickly adjusted her mindset and continued with Stella to the training grounds next to the residence.

This wasn’t part of Flora’s plan, but a request from Stella, who wanted her own knightly guards to observe the residence’s guards.

This would be an inconceivable request from an ordinary noble lady, but for the martial-minded Blue Lion family, it was quite normal.

As a child, Stella used to run around the military camps all day, roughhousing with the soldiers… Of course, this wasn’t a good thing.

The discipline was far too lax, affecting the soldiers’ regular training and routine.

However, this was just an observation, and the residence guards had no training planned, so it didn’t matter.

Besides, considering the two escorts who were quietly following, Flora had a feeling Stella was conveying something on the Blue Lion family’s instructions, but since she wasn’t revealing any information from the residence’s side, Flora couldn’t figure it out.

‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.’

She, more than anyone, understood the importance of intelligence.

Normally, she should have sent people to thoroughly investigate the Blue Lion family.

But she hadn’t done so.

In fact, since arriving here, she had completely cut off all her sources of intelligence.

As for the Crown Prince… or rather, the Imperial Family’s side, she had never investigated them much, only relying on hearsay.

Because she wanted to express her loyalty to His Majesty.

And as for the Blue Lion family… she hadn’t wanted to know anything about them for the past two years.

At first, Flora had thought Stella was being overly sensitive, but after actually arriving at the residence and seeing the caution of Ryan and his men, as well as Stella’s own words and actions… she had to admit that the position of Crown Prince was indeed extremely dangerous.

So no matter what reforms Flora implemented, she only made the security measures more rational and efficient; she never lowered the security level.

But the people from the Blue Lion family had surely never experienced such a dangerous situation.

Perhaps in these past two months, Stella had already encountered similar incidents.

‘I’ve been so selfish… to have stayed here for so long without even thinking about that.’

Flora couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-reproach, and she immediately urged the head guards to teach them everything they could.

She also offered some suggestions during the process.

The Blue Lion knights listened with great attention, and Stella even took out a notebook and diligently took notes.

As far as Flora could remember, Stella had only ever studied this seriously when her private tutors were present.

‘It seems the pressure is really immense…’

Flora couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

After lunch, Stella began to tour the kitchens, asking Flora how to prevent poisoning.

Then she consulted the old butler on whether there were any key points to note when procuring daily necessities…

Even as evening fell, Stella still appeared somewhat worried.

But Ryan didn’t seem to care about this, simply chatting with Stella for a few sentences before the meal officially began.

Just as dinner was about to end, Ryan couldn’t help but frown.

A short while later, a guard burst in.

“Your Highness, there’s a situation!”

“What happened?” Ryan asked calmly.

He had already learned of the situation through magical communication and was now just pretending to be unfazed by the event to project an aura of deterrence.

“Someone delivered a forbidden spell book to the gate. I’m very sorry, we were unable to catch the person.”

“No matter. Bring it up.”

“Please wait a moment!”

Flora stopped the guard from presenting the forbidden spell book directly.

Instead, she had it placed on the table and said to Ryan, “This is to check for tracking magic.”

This was actually meant for Stella’s instruction…

After carefully completing the inspection, Flora then handed the letter to Ryan.

“Don’t think you can protect her forever…”

Seeing the first sentence, Ryan couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

What a coincidence.

He was well aware of what Stella had been doing all day.

But for a threatening letter like this to arrive at night… it could only be described as extremely deliberate.

However, it was a despicable and shameless plot.

It was better to believe it than to dismiss it.

The only solution was to catch the culprit, find evidence, and expose the entire string of masterminds behind it.

Otherwise, whenever and wherever something like this happened, they would have to mount a minimum response, which was incredibly tiresome.

With this thought, Ryan continued reading.

His expression gradually darkened.

Most people had a reverse scale that couldn’t be touched.

He was no exception.

“Your Highness Ryan, what else does it say?”

Flora looked at Ryan, whose expression was off, with concern.

“Nothing.”

With a flick of his hand, Ryan set the letter ablaze, and in a moment, it turned to ash.

“Is this a letter threatening Miss Rose?”

“No, it’s threatening me.”

Ryan wore a mocking expression on his grim face, “This sort of thing happens a few times every month. Just handle it as usual, no need to pay it too much mind.”

“As you command!”

The guard complied.

But Flora couldn’t let it go.

It was clear that Ryan was genuinely enraged.

That terrifying expression was even worse than when she had angered him before.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry… it’s all my fault.”

Stella lowered her head in shame, seemingly convinced that she had caused this problem.

Flora wasn’t surprised that she would think this way.

The future Crown Princess visiting the Crown Prince and staying for a few days was something that couldn’t possibly be kept secret in the Imperial Palace.

For a letter capable of enraging the Prince to be delivered at this exact moment, it was clearly aimed at Stella.

Ryan ignored Stella, quickly finished the last of his food, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

“Miss Lilith… Miss Rose, please excuse me.”

Flora left the dining room and went to the study.

She knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, may I come in?”

There was no response.

She decisively pushed the door open.

“Don’t you know you’ll be punished for this?”

A cold voice came from within.

“I know.”

After all, this was a rule Flora herself had established, and it was also the first test Ryan had given her.

After a moment of silence, the voice from inside said, “Come in.”

Flora walked inside and locked the door.

The window was uncharacteristically open, and the cool night air flowed into the room, turning into gusts of cold wind under the cooling magic artifact.

The black-haired youth leaned against the window, gazing at the star-filled sky, his crimson eyes full of sorrow.

There was no trace of the anger he had shown earlier.

“I already said it was nothing.”

The black-haired youth said faintly, “Go back. Don’t exhaust yourself.”

“I will be careful to rest… but for Your Highness to feel distressed is absolutely not a small matter.” Flora looked at him earnestly.

“That was before. I’m fine now.”

The black-haired youth was getting impatient.

“No, Your Highness is clearly not fine. Bottling everything up is bad for your health.”

“Annoying.”

The black-haired youth shot her a small glare.

“Even if not to me, please confide in someone you trust about this matter. It will certainly help both your body and your mood.”

Flora, as always, did not back down, and instead broke into a smile.

The black-haired youth gave her a deep look, then turned his gaze back to the starry sky.

“The end of that letter… mentioned my mother.”