“…!”

It wasn’t really necessary to look for the source of the sound. Hunns let go of Yelena’s wrist and went flying before he crash-landed on the ground.

“Wife, are you okay?”

“Kaywhin.”

Yelena whipped her head around. When in the world did he get here? Kaywhin made his imposing presence known and stood next to Yelena.

“When did you…”

Yelena saw the open terrace door from the corner of her eye. She must not have even noticed the door opening, too focused on quarreling with Hunns.

The look on her face softened, like snow melting under the spring sun. Then, she looked at Hunns, who was jammed in a corner. He was lying still, as if he had fainted.

No…

‘Is he dead?’

He probably just fainted, right?

Kaywhin hadn’t torn his gaze away from Yelena even once.

“How hard did you hit him?” Yelena asked.

“Pardon?”

“…Is he dead?”

Yelena recalled the sound that had echoed from the terrace the moment her husband had struck Hunns. With a slight exaggeration, it sounded like something had exploded, rather than someone getting hit.

What if it was the sound of Hunns’s remaining lifespan exploding? Yelena stroked her chin, contemplating seriously about how to handle the situation.

It was only after Kaywhin saw Yelena’s calm, yet silly behavior that he let out a sigh of relief, relieved that Yelena appeared to be safe. He was softer now compared to how he had been when he had burst into the terrace.

“He’s alive,” he said.

“Really?”

“…Probably,” Kaywhin added rather unconfidently.

He had adjusted his strength so as to not kill the man, since the habit was ingrained in him.

He had the strength to tear monsters apart with his bare hands. He was always careful when going against people, whether consciously or unconsciously.

But when he had bashed Hunns just before, he had moved without thinking.

Yelena regarded her husband, who wasn’t sure if Hunns was alive or not. Then, she crept towards the corner of the terrace, where Hunns did not budge in the slightest. She put her finger below his nose and let out a sigh of relief.

“He’s breathing.”

“…I see.”

“That’s a relief. Now what do we do with this punk…”

Yelena glanced at the door. The party lights and music flowed in through the opening.

‘It must be dance time.’

Fortunately, the people at the party were focused on their partners. They didn’t seem to be interested in what was going on in the terrace.

Seizing the opportunity, Yelena wagged her hand.

“Kaywhin, come here.”

Her husband approached compliantly.

Yelena lowered her voice to a whisper.

“Can you carry this person and throw him over the banister?”

***

“Did everyone hear about it?”

“About the esteemed Hunns Pherson?”

“Oh my, of course I did.”

At the crown princess’s welcome party, Hunns Pherson had tripped and fallen off the terrace while he was making a move on his now-married former lover. He had become the laughingstock of the nobles. Word traveled quickly among them, since they always welcomed provocative gossip more than anything else.

“I can’t believe he did something so shameful not just anywhere, but at the crown princess’s party. Tsk, tsk. Does he have any sense or not…”

There were people who wanted to look good in front of the royal family…

“Hunns Pherson? Ha, I knew he’d do that. He was incorrigible from the start. Do you want to hear what he was like in the past?”

And people who harbored grudges against Hunns…

“I don’t know if it is a prudent decision for Count Pherson to continue to possess diplomatic authority like he does now. He couldn’t even look after his own son properly. Would he be able to make adequate negotiations with other countries…”

And people who coveted Count Pherson’s place. They all lunged at the opportunity to point their fingers and rebuke Hunns’s actions.

Still in robust health even in his 50’s, Count Pherson flipped his desk over in his study.

“You crazy bastard! Have you absolutely lost it?!”

“Father, please calm down and listen to what I have to say.”

Hunns hung on to the count’s leg, imploring him on his knees.

“Yelena, that cunning wench, deliberately spread those rumors. Please look at my face.”

Hunns’s face was a mess, after being beat up by the count. But it hadn’t been in great condition when he had first arrived back at the count’s estate either.