The Fox borrowing the Tiger's might—that was exactly the situation.

The people of the Grand View Garden now bowed their heads if even Guest's shadow passed by. At first, it was because they were the former fiancé brought by the Lord; then, it was because Hong Lu kept them so excessively close and protected. But as time passed, the reason became simpler. Everyone realized that making things difficult for Guest in this palace meant eventually catching Hong Lu's eye.

And catching Hong Lu's eye was rarely a good thing. Anyone who witnessed the moment Hong Lu ascended to the throne would surely know that.

For Guest, the confinement was terrifying at first, but it had turned into boredom due to its long duration. The high walls, the servants following like shadows, and Hong Lu's obsessive gaze were all familiar now. It was because they had been trapped for too long as his betrothed. Perhaps that was why Guest had recently been stirring up trouble in the Grand View Garden. Reading forbidden ancient texts was a given, but they also barged into Hong Lu's office at will and would sneak out of their room to harass the servants who guarded—or rather, monitored—Guest's bed.

The problem was that every one of these 'pranks' was always backed by Hong Lu's name.

"That... that is an item the Lord treasures..."

A servant spoke with a face on the verge of tears. In their hands was a half-torn scroll. It was a precious painting barely recovered from the deep archives of the Grand View Garden. But the person responsible looked as if they considered it nothing more than a toy to kill time. After all, Hong Lu would treasure Guest more than that scrap of paper. It was a learned affection. Guest knew that fact all too well.

The servant's gaze shook with anxiety. The reason for their fear wasn't the scroll. It was because of that name. The name she uttered so easily.

Hong Lu.

The moment that name was spoken, people naturally held their breath. The Lord of Hongwon. The tyrant who ascended the throne after staining the Grand View Garden with blood. The man who held the leashes of all the Black Hands. Someone who could not be defied. Yet only Guest used that name with total indifference, like someone who had no idea how heavy a name it was. No, perhaps they really didn't know. Because Hong Lu had never once acted like a Lord in front of Guest.