《I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress》 CH 1.1 Adele took a look around the Empress¡¯s chambers slowly, if anything remained¡ªeven a small regret¡ªbut she felt nothing. Her heart became surprisingly light when she thought about it. Suddenly, she could hear urgent footsteps and the door slammed open with a bang. Only one person had the ability to act in this manner. The man who appeared beyond the wooden door was insanely handsome, and his shiny blonde hair was disheveled as if he had run. He glared at Adele with sharp, decadent purple eyes. Karl Ulrich is the emperor of the Ehmont Empire and Adele¡¯s ex-husband. He narrowed his eyes at Adele¡¯s attire and gritted his teeth. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. His voice was dangerously low and his burning eyes seemed to devour her. Adele shifted her gaze away from him and attempted to leave the room. The emperor blocked her path and growled, ¡°I asked you a question.¡± Adele¡¯s golden eyes flashed defiantly. She had never had the courage to look him straight in the eye. This was what he wanted. She wanted to be brave for once¡ªeven if it was a farce. Even if it meant being locked up and subjected to bondage. She took a step back from him and maneuvered toward the door as if she didn¡¯t want to answer his question, but before she could cross the threshold, he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around. She utterly despised his behavior, but she knew she was powerless against him. The two locked their blood-red gazes on each other. Karl took a step closer and divulged the question he had been meaning to ask the entire time. ¡°Are you going to see him?¡± he spat. ¡°Are you crawling to Lionel Baldr?¡± The emperor yelled in despair, but Adele¡¯s face grew even colder. He was ignorant until the very end. ¡°No,¡± she replied coldly, ¡°That is unimportant to me. It¡¯s critical that I can no longer stand by your side.¡± ¡°Where would my Empress be if she couldn¡¯t be with me?¡± Adele burst out laughing at his preposterous question. ¡°Empress? You are attempting to dethrone me,¡± she scoffed. Karl was stunned by her accusation. Adele wiped away the sarcastic smile off of her face and looked at him blankly before whispering. ¡°That¡¯s a lot better,¡± she said. Karl froze. He wanted to kneel in front of her and beg her to stop talking. Adele, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even give him a chance. ¡°If you didn¡¯t,¡± she whispered, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done this.¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Karl croaked. Adele gave him the smile he craved, as seductive as a crescent moon as she uttered the words: ¡°I¡¯ll throw away the seat next to you.¡± The emperor broke down in front of Adele at those words, and she showed no sympathy. ¡°No! You simply cannot. The only place for you is the seat next to mine, and I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to get you back there. You¡¯re my empress!¡± Adele spoke with firmness to him who dared to call her the empress. ¡°I will give up my position as the Empress.¡± £ª £ª £ª A group of people was making their way through the vast wilderness. Large wagons carrying various rare items were lined up, and hundreds of soldiers appeared to be escorting the procession. A large, colorful wagon and two flags hanging side by side stood out in the procession. The flags of two massive empires located across the sea hung proudly on both sides of the carriage. A woman in a brightly colored carriage was looking out her window, seemingly disinterested. She raised her hand and pulled her shiny black hair back, which fluttered in the wind and obscured her vision. Her eyes were then revealed to be a rare gold color that seemed to contain the dazzling sunlight. Adelaide Gottrov is her name. She is the top striker capable of removing the tower¡¯s core on her own, and she is the princess of the Imperial High Trough, no, the one who used to be the Crown Princess. The soldiers escorting the wagon kept peering out the open window at the foreign princess. She was a woman whose beauty drew people¡¯s attention. ¡°Adelaide Gottrov,¡± she muttered. Adele laughed as she cynically repeated her name. ¡®It is a letter of proposal from Emperor Ehmont. Go and make yourself Empress of Ehmont.¡¯ ¡®You must have been so worried, mother, that you couldn¡¯t leave me here.¡¯ ¡®Didn¡¯t you think you¡¯d be happy?¡¯ Adele was deafeningly silent in response to the Empress¡¯ question. The Empress approached her silent daughter and spoke in hushed tones. ¡®Don¡¯t you think about that day at every difficult moment? If I had let Lucio die on that fateful day¡­ You would have risen to the position of Emperor of Gottrov.¡¯ ¡®Stop it.¡¯ Adele pushed her mother away, her eyes tired, but the Empress did not budge. Adele stared at her with sad eyes. ¡®Adele, don¡¯t you owe your only brother something? Of course, you will remain loyal to Lucio, but what about your future children? Your assistants? Is everyone thinking the same thing you are? You, too, are disturbed. To the Gottrov Empire, your existence is like a sword under the chin. Go after the Empire and your brother.¡¯ Adele shook her head and took out a small box that had been tucked away in the carriage¡¯s corner. Inside the box, a red envelope contained a portrait and a document. Adele lifted the portrait; there was a drawing of a man in Ehmont¡¯s imperial robes. He was quite lovely. CH 1.2 Emperor Karl of the Ehmont Empire was in his office, listening to reports about the prospective empress. The servant had relayed the news that Princess Gottrov had safely crossed the sea and arrived at the port. The servant who had reported the details of the dowry sent from Gottrov withdrew and gave the emperor one final sealed document. ¡°This is a document pertaining to dowry details.¡± The servant gulped as she looked at the emperor¡¯s face. The emperor¡¯s face is unbelievably beautiful, but devoid of any emotion. It gave her strange goosebumps. Emperor Karl ripped the envelope¡¯s seal carefully, which contained a copy of the document. As he opened it, something fell on the desk. It was a portrait of the empress-to-be. He set the letter he was holding down and picked up the portrait. A woman with black hair that cascaded beyond her shoulders like ebony was staring out of the photograph. Although it was only a portrait, her gaze was so intense that it felt as if it were real. He placed his elbows on the table and held her portrait closely, narrowing his eyes as he examined it. Isn¡¯t it common for portraits sent to prospective husbands to be drawn with a gentle smile on their faces? The woman in the picture, on the other hand, tightened her crimson lips and made a strong expression. Her woman¡¯s face was etched with the arrogance of someone who had everything from the moment she was born. Karl¡¯s lips rose sharply. His eyes became dark and gleaming. It would be preferable if she would come as a woman. Because he only intends a successor from the Empress, nothing more. He had no intention of granting the empress¡¯s palace even a single power. So he risked crossing the sea to propose to the Princess of Trough. He chose people who had no ties to Ehmont. Karl returned the portrait in a cold manner. The servant, who was standing outside, knocked and announced a visitor. Karl¡¯s face hardened as soon as he heard the visitor¡¯s name. ¡°Diane¡¯s maid?¡± ¡°Yes, your Majesty.¡± Karl sighed and nodded, and the servant quickly let the maid inside who was waiting. ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Karl inquired before she could even say her greetings, and the maid quickly retrieved her business. ¡°Your Majesty, the Lady has requested assistance.¡± £ª £ª £ª On the opposite side of the Ehmont Imperial Palace, a woman had been fussing about her troubles for several hours now. Her golden, wavy hair and pale, sky-blue eyes were a sight to behold. There were several sets of tiaras and ornaments in front of her, all of which were imperial family treasures owned by successive empresses. Despite the fact that she was standing in front of a rare treasure in a magnificent palace, her face was dark and troubled. How long has it been? There appeared to be a lot of noise outside, and someone unexpectedly opened the door and entered uninvited. Only two people in this imperial palace could open her door without her permission. Lady Diane Poitier quickly rose from her seat and turned to the guest with caution. ¡°Greetings, Grand Duchess.¡± Grand Duchess Elizabeth was respectfully greeted by Diane, but her cold gaze was fixed on the royal treasure alone. The emperor¡¯s sister, Elizabeth, returned her focus to Diane. Diane lowered her head, avoiding Elizabeth¡¯s eyes, but she dared not turn around. The maids who were standing around the two exchanged glances before quietly exiting the room. Once the door clicked shut, Elizabeth took graceful strides around the room and sat down in Diane¡¯s chair. Elizabeth spoke to Diane, who was cautiously fondling her fingertips over the treasures of the imperial family that glistened under the sunlight. ¡°Did his Majesty the Emperor retrieve the treasure?¡± Elizabeth asked. ¡°No, your Majesty,¡± replied Diane. ¡°Oh. It appears that you did not require anyone¡¯s permission.¡± Diane¡¯s face was stoic in response to Elizabeth¡¯s reprimand. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it in illegally, so don¡¯t be concerned, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°You are the only concubine who directly decides on the Empress¡¯s ceremonial crown. I¡¯m afraid that if the Empire Gottrov finds out about this, a diplomatic protest document will be issued.¡± Diane was focused on Elizabeth. Elizabeth only smiled as she sat back in her chair. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be preferable to have a ceremony hall chosen by her sister-in-law rather than by his concubine?¡± Diane¡¯s eyes widened and she blinked in response to Elizabeth¡¯s words. Then, with a small chuckle, she burst out laughing. Diane quickly corrected her expression and responded amusingly. ¡°I apologize. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re eligible since you¡¯re the only divorced woman in the Hana Empire.¡± Elizabeth was angered by her remarks, making her leap out of her seat. Suddenly, the door flung open. CH 2.1 The only person who could freely open all of the Imperial Palace¡¯s gates arrived at the appropriate time. Diane¡¯s maids were responsible for quickly carrying out Diane¡¯s orders to rush to the Emperor and request assistance as soon as the Grand Duchess arrived. Diane¡¯s forlorn expression deepened as Emperor Karl made his entrance. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± Karl¡¯s expression stiffened in response to the trembling voice that seemed it could disappear at any moment. Having the most powerful person in the country succumb to her call and react to her distressed face is a sight to witness. Diane¡¯s delicate eyes were met with Karl¡¯s piercing gaze. Elizabeth sighed and shook her head in relief. ¡°Are you here to look for your concubine instead of running the state?¡± Tears welled up in Diane¡¯s eyes. ¡°There is no doubt in the Duchess¡¯s words, and I keep saying¡­ Your Majesty¡¯s future is impeding.¡± Karl frowned and released a stifled breath in response to her remarks. Then, he glared ferociously at his sister and replied coldly. ¡°Please stop bothering me. I can¡¯t sleep, and I¡¯m upset. I¡¯ll return to my estate after the wedding.¡± The emperor turned and exited the room. Diane was quick to follow him. Elizabeth sagged in her seat, staring at the door through which the two had vanished. Her anger intensified as though she had ingested fire. She inhaled deeply while pressing her chest. She remembered what Diane had said previously. ¡°His Majesty is the sun. The more light you receive, the closer you are to him. Do you have to go against His Majesty¡¯s will? Even if you are his sister, I am his one and only moon.¡± The former empress¡¯s son, who was only a few months old, died before ascending to the throne. She never had another son after that. As a result, Elizabeth¡¯s father, the former emperor, fathered a child from their maidservant. His name was Karl Ulrich. Elizabeth¡¯s fists were clenched. If there had been another prince besides Karl, he would not have become Emperor. However, Karl¡¯s flaws had little impact on his political position because he had no other adversary. £ª £ª £ª Diane gently caressed Karl¡¯s hair. As he lay on her lap, Karl¡¯s eyes closed. It was due to the drowsiness that seemed to be gathering in her slender hands. Diane lowered her gaze to his stunningly beautiful face. ¡°Karl Ulrich Ehmont,¡± she says. Even his name was perfect. Diane¡¯s hand, which was carefully brushing Karl¡¯s hair, slowed, and eventually stopped. Karl, who had been experiencing a languid sensation in his head, opened his eyes. He saw Diane was staring blankly into the distance. Her lips were red, and so were her eyes. When Karl noticed this, he stood up and faced her. ¡°Diane.¡± When Diane heard his low voice, she quickly came to her senses and apologized. ¡°Ah, yes¡­ Please accept my apologies.¡± Diane¡¯s beautiful eyes welled up with tears. She didn¡¯t say anything, as tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°What if I irritate the Empress? Will you despise me?¡± The woman cried with clouded eyes and spoke as if pleading, while the emperor responded with a stoic expression. ¡°You will not be harmed by the Empress.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t abandon me. Please don¡¯t abandon me, Your Majesty. All I require is your Majesty.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t abandon me. Do not abandon me, Your Majesty.¡± Diane repeated those words like a spell several times more. £ª £ª £ª Diane Poitier oversaw the preparations for Emperor Karl Ulrich¡¯s wedding. Diane Poitier left no detail untouched, from the empress¡¯s gown to her coffin. The nobles shook their heads, but no one dared bring up the subject. The emperor¡¯s half-sister, Elizabeth Ulrich Grand, was the only woman in the current Ulrich imperial family, but she was divorced. Divorced women were not allowed to take control of marriages because divorce was considered taboo in the Empire. But Diane Poitier didn¡¯t look like she was wasting time getting ready for the wedding, so the nobles just observed and watched. ¡°You have a strong stomach.¡± Diane¡¯s fine brow furrowed in response to the glum tone. She shifted her attention to the maids, examining them intently. Her eyes then remained fixated on a single person. ¡°Today is my first time seeing you. Raise your head.¡± Diane¡¯s order prompted the maid to slowly raise her head. ¡°Soft blonde hair, rather dark blue eyes, and off-white, but not overly so¡­¡± Diane, who had been looking at the maid for a moment, turned her gaze and spoke in a cold tone. ¡°Everyone leave for a while. I¡¯d like to have a moment with my brother,¡± Diane commanded as the maids rushed out, her gaze fixed on her brother, Count Lennox Poitiers. ¡°I¡¯d say that blondes with blue eyes shouldn¡¯t be left as maids.¡± ¡°How do you choose a maid when there are so many blondes and blue eyes?¡± ¡°Do as I say.¡± Diane looked at his brother, and spoke clearly. Lennox shrugged and nodded at the end. Diane fiddled with the fabric swatch. It was the material used to make Karl¡¯s wedding robe. ¡°I think this is great material,¡± Diane said, attempting to change the topic. ¡°Excellent speed. How did you decide on this?¡± Lennox responded. ¡°Watch what you say in front of the maids. You can¡¯t come to me if you can¡¯t choose your word correctly.¡± ¡°Let me ask you a question. Will you be able to endure once the Empress arrives?¡± Diane leaned back in her chair and looked at her brother. ¡°The emperor pretends to be unable to live without you, but he has not appointed you as empress. Can you withstand the Empress¡¯s arrival? You don¡¯t even have kids, after all.¡± He had spoken out of concern, but Lennox Poitier¡¯s words pricked Diane Poitier¡¯s chest. Diane was on the verge of throwing him out the door. She would have done so if it hadn¡¯t been for the Imperial Palace. Diane averted her gaze, forcing herself to calm down. She then picked up the items again and spoke coldly. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Nothing from His Majesty will be tolerated by the Empress.¡± CH 2.2 ¡°What are you on about?¡± ¡°I strongly object to the term ¡°empress.¡± Do you get what I mean?¡± After a brief moment of thought, the count narrowed his eyes and refuted his sister¡¯s words. ¡°Whether you¡¯re hesitant or not, the title of Empress has significance in and of itself!¡± ¡°It must be stated that she is an existence known as the Emperor. I mean, no one will betray His Majesty¡¯s love. No one can be above me as long as His Majesty loves me. Even the Duke of Despone tells me, ¡°His Majesty cannot appoint you as Empress, but he adores you.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± Lennox muttered in disbelief, but Diane only snorted. ¡°Love is icy, Diane,¡± he said, ¡°It will cool down someday.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Know?¡± Diane gave a sly grin. ¡°Love for a living person becomes icy. However, love for a deceased person never fades. As a result, death appears to be an immortal name.¡± Diane sighed and removed the locket from around her neck. When she opened the locket¡¯s lid, there was a portrait of a familiar, slender woman who resembled Diane. Her pale sky-blue eyes and curly blonde hair. The woman in a locket portrait was Karl Ulrich¡¯s late mother. ¡°Karl sees his mother in me. The Empress is nowhere important to him. Have you forgotten how strained the relationship was between the former Empress and the current Majesty?¡± A concubine with both love and power is preferable to an empress with only a title. Diane smiled as she closed her eyes and clasped the locket in her hands. ¡°How are you going to get along with the empress? Do you have any idea what kind of woman she is? I told you to get pregnant before the emperor¡¯s wedding!¡± Diane finally became enraged. She then closed her eyes and swallowed her anger. She opened her eyes and spoke in a controlled manner. ¡°It makes no difference.¡± The count murmured and raised his brows. ¡°What are you on about?¡± ¡°Because she was born a princess, everyone must have bowed their heads in front of her and supported her. Her people must have elevated her to the status of a princess. The gaze and hospitality of those around them shape people. I can make even the poorest beggar feel like a king.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°All you have to do is get a lot of people to bow their heads in front of the beggars. Those on the road will then bow their heads to beggars as well.¡± Diane sighed and lifted the cloth again, her face irritated by Lennox¡¯s words. ¡°In any case, it doesn¡¯t matter who she is. She won¡¯t have anyone to push her to greatness. What would a foreign country¡¯s princess do? She¡¯ll come and go across the sea to ask for help?¡± * * * About a month later, knights on horseback lined up in front of the capital¡¯s gates, which boasted the Great Majesty. They felt the fierce spirit while wearing the dignified black cloak. It was the end of summer, the wide plain was ablaze with vibrant wildflowers and the sun shone brightly overhead. The golden sunlight and the colorful wildflowers swaying in the wind were stunning. Dozens of black-cloaked knights waited for someone to appear from beyond the beautiful plains. How long has it been? The person standing in front and looking into the distance narrowed his eyes slightly. Lionel Baldr, Minister of Defense Ehmont and commander of the Guards Division, sported dark hair and blue eyes. He is a direct descendant of the venerable Prince Baldr. As they would be welcoming the next Empress of Ehmont, he was selected as the representative. Lionel fixed his gaze on the distant silhouette that appeared at the horizon¡¯s edge. ¡°It appears that they¡¯re on their way!¡± Someone said to Lionel in a cheerful tone, possibly also to the other knights. ¡°I noticed.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get out there soon.¡± When Lionel lightly waved the reins, the horse began cantering, and the knights behind him drove the horse in unison as a signal. At the sound of thumping hooves, the birds resting under the trees were startled and flew away into the sky. *** Adele, who had grown tired from riding in the carriage, stood up and looked out the window when she heard horseshoes shake the ground. It was rather enjoyable to hear. A group of knights happened to be running at the same time. Her patience was about to run out after spending nearly two months on ships and wagons. Adele asked the person who was leading the horses. ¡°How far do we have to go?¡± ¡°What you¡¯re looking at now is the first gate. We have to go through Gate two, which adds about an hour to our journey.¡± ¡°One hour¡­¡± She paused for a moment before closing the window that had been open the entire time and drew the curtains down. Adele grinned as she pulled a pair of her own clothes from her box as her maid looked at it in amazement. ¡°I should change my clothes.¡± The wagon¡¯s speed gradually slowed as the sound of hoofbeats grew louder by the minute. Adele stood up and looked at the door when the carriage came to a complete stop. From outside the wagon, they could hear each other greeting each other, and then they felt someone approaching the wagon. A low-pitched voice was heard at the same time as a polite knock. ¡°Do you mind if I open the door?¡± It was a powerfully moving voice. Adele opened the carriage door herself instead of responding. The first thing she noticed when she opened the door was a mysterious blue light. Adele paused for a moment, thinking, how strange, and beautiful. Meanwhile, Lionel, who was standing outside the carriage, took a step back, surprised by the sudden opening of the door. She drew the curtains tighter and stepped out of the carriage, her gaze fixed on him¡ªwith orbs a bright gold color that gleamed even in the carriage¡¯s dim interior. He didn¡¯t realize he had been staring at Adele intently until she stepped out of the carriage. Lionel extended his hand quickly and politely and Adele placed her hand lightly on his. Adele had just taken his hand and was walking down the stairs when the wind blew. Lionel¡¯s jet-black hair fluttered in the wind and ran across his cheeks. The weight on his hand vanished as he turned his gaze to follow her hair tickling his cheek. The princess of another country stood on her ground, staring at him silently. CH 3.1 ¡°My name is Lionel Baldr. I¡¯m Ehmont¡¯s defense minister and chief of the Guard. I¡¯ve come to honor your Majesty. Thank you for your efforts throughout the long journey.¡± As Lionel introduced himself politely, Adele cast a light, aristocratic glance at him. He was a large man, towering above the average Ehmontese with his impressive height. His attractive features and dark blue eyes were striking, and Adele gave him a light smile as she looked him in the eyes. ¡°My name is Adelaide Gottrov,¡± she said, her voice carrying the hint of an accent. ¡°I appreciate you coming out to meet me.¡± She shifted her gaze to the knights that accompanied Lionel, then to the distant gate. It had been a long journey, and she was eager to finally reach her destination. Lionel waited for her next words, and Adele took a look at the horse on which the knights were riding. Her heart started racing as she saw the magnificent beasts, and she couldn¡¯t resist the urge to ride one. ¡°Do you have any additional words?¡± Lionel finally asked. ¡°Why?¡± Adele turned to face Lionel, her tone of voice mingling with the question. He then examined her clothing, taking note of the exotic skirt and pant combo. ¡°I¡¯m going to ride a horse,¡± Adele said, determination in her voice. Lionel was taken aback and quickly tried to stop her. ¡°Your Majesty, the horses are wild. It can be dangerous.¡± Being from Gottrov, an equestrian country known for its ability to handle horses of any age or gender, Adele had been putting off her desire to ride a horse until now, as the procession of wagons following her was so long, if she rode at her leisure, the speed of the procession would be hampered. But with the arrival of knights, she saw an opportunity. ¡°Do you dare to be concerned about the Princess of Gottrov in that way?¡± she asked with a smirk. Lionel realized that Adele was dressed in a Gottrov riding outfit, and he knew that she was more than capable of handling the horses. ¡°But aren¡¯t the horse breeds different from the Gottrov? Are you going to be alright?¡± Adele nodded in response to Lionel¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t be so concerned,¡± she said, turning to face the horse and began walking towards it. Considering her momentum, she realized she¡¯d have to ride without any backup horses. Lionel quickly followed her, and Adele easily determined which horse was her spare after observing the horses with her eyes. ¡°That horse has no owner yet,¡± Lionel said. He signaled the knight waiting behind him to bring him her footrest, despite already having an intuition that she wouldn¡¯t need one. Adele had already reached her horse, while the knight, upon hearing his signal, dashed to find a footrest. The people around them grew concerned. It was because the foreign princess appeared small in front of the enormous horse. Lionel spoke to Adele while expertly controlling the horse¡¯s reins. ¡°Please wait while I bring a footrest,¡± he said. With a confident smile, she reached out to gently stroke the horse¡¯s face, feeling the warmth of the animal¡¯s body on her palms. ¡°Perhaps I can assuage your fears a little,¡± she said to Lionel. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a footrest.¡± In a flash, she was astride the massive horse, eliciting gasps from those around her. Lionel looked up at her in shock, but Adele was in her element. She expertly steered the horse, her small frame commanding the beast with ease. ¡°I¡¯ll have to sprint to that gate now. Come with me,¡± she said to Lionel, a hint of a challenge in her voice. Lionel quickly mounted his own horse and rallied his knights to follow. ¡°Everyone, get on your horses and look after Her Majesty!¡± he ordered. The knights, who had been staring at Adele with surprised eyes, quickly mounted their horses at his command. Adele cast a glance at Lionel¡¯s mount and then, with a smile, shook the reins firmly. ¡°Hiya!¡± The group set off at a gallop, with Adele leading the way on her majestic steed. The cold breeze whipped through her hair as she galloped across the wild grass. Her heavy heart lifted as she felt the exhilaration of the ride. The knights following behind her were in awe of her riding skills, struggling to keep up with her. Only Lionel Balder was able to match her pace, his gaze locked on her fluttering dark hair. Adele turned her head to glance at Lionel as he caught up to her side. Their eyes met and the sun beat down on them. Together, they led the knights towards the capital city wall of Ehmont. As they approached the grand castles, Adele slowed her horse. She knew that horseback riding was equal for men and women in Ehmont, but entering the palace in her current state would be inappropriate. Lionel and the knights came to a halt as Adele came to a stop. Lionel noticed her hesitation, but Adele was lost in thought. ¡°Do you want to switch to a carriage?¡± Lionel asked Adele as they noticed a procession of wagons and carts in the distance. Adele nodded, feeling guilty for how fast they had been riding earlier. ¡°You don¡¯t have to come so fast,¡± she murmured. Lionel couldn¡¯t help but look at Adele¡¯s flushed cheeks, glistening with sweat. He quickly turned away as the procession of wagons and carts approached. Adele gracefully dismounted her horse and thanked Lionel for his assistance. ¡°It gave me a breather. Thank you,¡± she said as she took her seat in the carriage. Lionel reached out to assist her, but she had already settled in. He took a step back and watched as the carriage door closed, a faint laugh from Adele still ringing in his ears. He turned away and walked, but something made him stop and glance back at the carriage. Lionel shook his head, trying to push the image of Adele¡¯s golden eyes out of his mind. He knew he had to let it go. With the help of her maid, Adele had changed into an elegant dress fit for a queen. She stepped out of the carriage and took in her surroundings. The grand castles of Ehmont loomed in the distance, their turrets reaching towards the sky. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city. Lionel Baldr appeared to have completed his role. CH 3.2 Adele was led to her designated room by a palace attendant. The next day, she was to participate in the traditional hospitality customs. As the future empress, it was expected that she undergo the formal eye stamping ceremony. Despite her exhaustion from months of travel, Adele greeted her visitors with a political smile. As the day went on, Adele grew increasingly irritated by the never-ending stream of guests. What irked her the most was that the emperor, the representative of Ehmont, had not even made an appearance. The greeting ceremony had begun early in the morning and lasted well into the afternoon, yet there was no sign of the emperor. Adele¡¯s lips curled into a forced smile as she gazed out the window. She could no longer sit idly and be kept waiting. Rising from her seat, she declared, ¡°I am exhausted. I would like to take a warm bath and then go to bed. If any visitors arrive, send them away and tell them to return tomorrow.¡± The maid bowed politely and acknowledged Adele¡¯s command with a clear and respectful manner. Adele retreated to her chambers, her mind heavy with frustration and disappointment. Adele emerged from her bathroom, her body relaxed from a long soak in warm water. She was ready to sink into her bed and drift off to sleep, but as she entered her bedroom, she was met with an unexpected visitor. A woman, sitting on the sofa, rose and bowed politely to her. Adele turned to face the woman, whose curly blonde hair was falling to her waist. The Empress¡¯s bedroom was here. All of the guests were greeted in the reception room and the maids also led the guests there, but how could this woman be so confident as to enter her bedroom? Also, she had specifically instructed that any visitors be sent away. Adele chose to remain silent and observe the situation since she was still unfamiliar with Ehmont culture. Her golden eyes shone in the dim light, contrasting with her jet-black hair, radiating a fierce intensity. The two women exchanged tight gazes without making a single concession. It was Diane who broke the silence. She introduced herself with a polite bow, ¡°Good day, Princess. My name is Diane Poitier.¡± Diane Poitier. The name rang a bell in Adele¡¯s mind, reminding her of the small note she had found earlier. Adele tilted her head and smiled, walking past Diane and sitting down at her dressing table. ¡°My hair is soaked. Please come and dry my hair,¡± Adele said, gesturing to her attendant to come over and dry her hair. Diane watched Adele in silence through the mirror. Adelaide Gottrov was known as both ¡°Gottrov¡¯s Witch¡± and ¡°Gottrov¡¯s Black Panther,¡± but this fame was not known to Ehmont. The two empires across the sea had little interaction with each other, as the treacherous sea made it difficult for either side to conquer the other. But Diane remembered the golden-eyed beast she had encountered in the dense forest when she first met the princess coming out of her bathroom. A chill ran down her spine, but she was also filled with delight. ¡°Thank God,¡± Diane said slowly. ¡°I¡¯m overjoyed. This is not a look His Majesty will approve of.¡± Diane turned away, unable to control her expression. Adele caught her reaction in the mirror. ¡°Are you amused?¡± Adele¡¯s pupils constricted. She had dismissed the information on the small note, knowing that Gottrov was harsh on its concubines and illegitimate children. As a result, the emperor¡¯s concubines were not allowed to approach the empress. But Diane¡¯s visit in this manner was a different story. Diane then turned around and took the towel from the maid, ready to dry Adele¡¯s hair. ¡°May I dry your hair, Princess?¡± Diane asked as she looked into Adele¡¯s eyes through the mirror. ¡°Do you work as a maid?¡± Adele inquired. Diane smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, no.¡± ¡°Then why are you offering to dry my hair? And why are you in my bedroom without my consent if you aren¡¯t a maid?¡± Adele pressed, her tone sharp. Diane blinked and lowered the hand holding the towel, her voice calm and determined. ¡°I apologize if I have offended you, Princess. I only wanted to inform you.¡± As Adele examined her, she noticed Diane¡¯s luscious blonde hair swaying around her waist, her clear face with sky-blue eyes, and her slender shoulders. She appeared to be around 20 years old and her demeanor was completely submissive. Adele rose from her seat and turned to face her. Diane raised her head and met Adele¡¯s gaze, having previously lowered it. ¡°About what?¡± Adele asked, her tone sharp. ¡°In His Majesty¡¯s opinion,¡± Diane replied with a mischievous smile. Adele¡¯s brow furrowed as she tried to process the unexpected information. Diane continued, ¡°I¡¯m here to inform you about His Majesty¡¯s tastes, Princess. For example, His Majesty prefers wavy hair, but you have this kind of hair. What about attempting to curl it?¡± Diane¡¯s words and concerned tone deepened Adele¡¯s annoyance. The journey to Ehmont was nothing less than an exile for Adelaide Gottrov and it implied that she did not come because she wanted to. Adele locked her gaze on Diane before raising her lips and smiling. Her golden eyes glowed as her pale cheeks and contrasting red lips slanted. Diane¡¯s handmaiden, who was standing nearby, was alerted to the situation, but she didn¡¯t move. Adele reached out and took a handful of Diane¡¯s luscious blonde hair. ¡°About what?¡± Adele asked, her tone sharp. ¡°In His Majesty¡¯s opinion,¡± Diane replied with a mischievous smile. Adele¡¯s brow furrowed as she tried to process the unexpected information. Diane continued, ¡°I¡¯m here to inform you about His Majesty¡¯s tastes, Princess. For example, His Majesty prefers wavy hair, but you have this kind of hair. What about attempting to curl it?¡± Diane¡¯s words and concerned tone deepened Adele¡¯s annoyance. The journey to Ehmont was nothing less than an exile for Adelaide Gottrov and it implied that she did not come because she wanted to. Adele locked her gaze on Diane before raising her lips and smiling. Her golden eyes glowed as her pale cheeks and contrasting red lips slanted. Diane¡¯s handmaiden, who was standing nearby, was alerted to the situation, but she didn¡¯t move. Adele reached out and took a handful of Diane¡¯s luscious blonde hair. CH 4.1 It was quite impolite, but Adele did not care. She was the first to insult her, and she was the one who would become empress, after all. A smirk played on her lips as she surveyed Diane with a cool, calculating gaze. The other woman shifted uneasily under her scrutiny, but Adele paid her no mind. ¡°Taste?¡± Adele grinned before releasing Diane¡¯s hair. She then turned and walked towards her armchair, where she sat down. She closed and reopened her eyes with a drowsy expression, but she did not offer Diane her seat. Adele cocked her head to one side and crossed her legs. ¡°Why are you giving me this recommendation? Not even reluctant to offer unsolicited advice.¡± Her tone was dry, but the implied meaning was thorny. Diane raised her crimson lips and rolled her eyes in response to her question. ¡°You do not know His Majesty¡¯s preferences, therefore I will inform you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you why? Are you the type of person who tells everyone about their preferences?¡± Adele chuckled after stating this. The eerie sound of laughter resonated throughout the dim bedroom, creating a disturbing atmosphere. Adele whispered to her maid, who was observing her. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, Ehmont¡¯s milkshake is extremely popular. I¡¯m curious. Deliver me a glass of moonshine.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Bring a drink, I mean. I believe I¡¯ll feel invigorated after I drink a cup and get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°Ah, absolutely.¡± Adele closed her eyes and buried herself in the sofa as the maid abruptly turned around and departed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you would dry my hair? Quick, dry it!¡± Diane held her breath and exhaled as she picked up the towel in Adele¡¯s direction. Adele¡¯s hair was difficult to dry because she was entirely reclined on the couch. Adele, who had her eyes closed and was vigorously wiping the moisture from the ends of her hair, suddenly said, ¡°Would you like to inform His Majesty the Emperor of my preferences?¡± Diane¡¯s hands stilled in her hair. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I appreciate a man who can speak candidly about private matters,¡± she murmured. Diane remained silent for a moment, her expression stony. ¡°Yes, I understand,¡± she said at last. Adele¡¯s golden eyes slowly opened, her long lashes fluttering as she fixed her gaze on Diane. She whispered, ¡°And one final point.¡± Diane tensed, her gentle smile faltering as Adele continued. ¡°When I was born, I never considered conforming to someone else¡¯s preferences. So, you are not required to share your Majesty¡¯s preferences with me. It¡¯s difficult for me to understand my own taste, but I have little interest in other people¡¯s.¡± Diane¡¯s expression crumbled, but Adele only grinned and tilted her head, saying ¡°You can go.¡± Diane took a step back, her mind racing as she struggled to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and forced a friendly smile. ¡°Sorry for being disrespectful. I just wanted to see the princess. Forgive me.¡± ¡°Forgive me as well,¡± Adele replied coolly. Diane¡¯s smile faltered, but she quickly regained it and said, ¡°Then I hope you have a restful night¡¯s sleep. Please contact me at any moment if you have a problem. I warned them against shirking their responsibilities to you.¡± With a courteous bow, Diane left the room, but Adele¡¯s gaze remained fierce as she watched her go. She mumbled to herself, ¡°The emperor¡¯s mistress greets you as soon as you arrive? Wonderful.¡± Adele began to be concerned about her future husband, the emperor she had never seen before. She mumbled in a bitter voice, ¡°Karl Ulrich Ehmont.¡± £ª £ª £ª As soon as Adele, the future empress, arrived in the capital of Ehmont, the preparations for her wedding ceremony began in earnest. Adele spent the entire day being attended to by her ladies-in-waiting, undergoing an exhaustive range of treatments, from massages to relax her muscles, to skincare and hair care. It felt so indulgent that Adele couldn¡¯t help but luxuriate in the pampering, giving herself over to the ministrations of her attendants. Next on the agenda was nail care. ¡°Do whatever pleases you,¡± Adele said, as her ladies set to work on her hands and feet. The pedicure was especially relaxing, and Adele closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. ¡°How long did you say the wedding would be?¡± Adele asked, as she lay back in her chair. ¡°One week,¡± came the reply. ¡°Hmm¡­ A week is enough,¡± Adele murmured, her mind already turning to the next task at hand. ¡°What type of cuisine is served during lunch?¡± ¡°We are making a well-cooked pork meal per your request,¡± her lady-in-waiting informed her. ¡°Good,¡± Adele said, her stomach rumbling. ¡°Finish it a little quicker. I must consume something.¡± £ª £ª £ª The week flew by in a whirlwind of preparations and celebrations. A week had passed since the last time the emperor had seen the future empress, and whispers of her beauty and elegance had already begun to circulate throughout the imperial court. Adele had also become aware of the extent of Diane Poitier¡¯s influence and power within the palace. Before earning the title of Empress, Adele had only had a cursory knowledge of the inner workings of the court. As she examined the exquisite sleeves of her bridal gown, a pristine white creation intricately embroidered with gold thread, Adele murmured to herself, ¡°This is the stone I rolled.¡± Just then, her maid entered, bearing a crown for Adele to wear on her wedding day. ¡°You will enter while wearing this,¡± the maid said as she opened the box to reveal a crown made of silvery-white gold. Adele examined herself disinterestedly in the mirror as the maid placed the crown on her head with care. But as she looked at herself, a faint frown creased her forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± the maid asked tentatively. ¡°Do you have any crowns of gold? I prefer gold over silver,¡± Adele said without hesitation. ¡°As there is still time until the wedding, I would like to replace the crown. Go obtain a golden crown.¡± The maid hesitated for a moment, but ultimately returned the crown chosen by Diane and hurried to the imperial treasury to retrieve a golden crown for Adele. CH 4.2 At the same time, Karl was also dressed formally, with Diane at his side, carefully selecting every aspect of his clothing, from the cloth to the pattern. As she buttoned his robe, her slender hand trembled uncontrollably. Karl reached out and took her hand in his own. ¡°Diane,¡± he called her with an uncommonly warm tone. Diane¡¯s light-blue eyes filled with tears, and she softly put her forehead on the emperor¡¯s chest. She wondered if she should push him away, but ultimately, she remained still in his embrace. Karl looked down at her golden, curly hair, hugging her lightly, as if she were fragile and could break if handled too roughly. He was reminded of her petite and vulnerable nature, and the guilt washed over him. He wanted to shield her from the title of empress, but also knew he couldn¡¯t avoid it. When Diane learned that the empress¡¯ palace had been vacant for some time and a new owner had moved in, she became so sensitive that she couldn¡¯t sleep. The thought of the word ¡°empress¡± caused her stomach to ache. Her attendants had asked if they could meet the future empress at least once, but she had denied their request. With her forehead still resting on Karl¡¯s chest, Diane slowly raised her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. ¡°Do not cry,¡± Karl said in a deep voice. Diane¡¯s body shook with sobs as she whispered, ¡°My apologies, Your Majesty. I vowed not to cry, yet my eyes are full of tears.¡± Diane kissed the emperor¡¯s lips, who was dressed in a robe. As usual, the emperor maintained his silence. Her lips carried the flavor of salty tears. ¡°The empress is lovely,¡± Diane said, trying to provoke a response from him. ¡°She asked whether I was a maid,¡± she added. In response to these comments, Karl¡¯s body tensed. Diane, whose body was pressed against his, detected the change immediately. She rested her forehead on Karl¡¯s chest and inhaled deeply. Karl grabbed Diane¡¯s shoulders and drew her away from him. He looked at her with a harsh, icy gaze. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that day, the day you went to say hello, that nothing happened?¡± Karl asked, his tone accusatory. ¡°Nothing occurred. It was only logical for her to inquire as to whether I was a lady-in-waiting,¡± Diane replied, trying to defend herself. He had heard something similar. ¡°I was unable to respond to that question. I dare not reply to her.¡± Diane raised her hand and caressed Karl¡¯s face gently. ¡°I just need Your Majesty¡­is it possible? All I need is your Majesty. I guess my greed is too much.¡± Karl¡¯s heart raced as he watched Diane¡¯s breathing become more labored. He had never seen her like this before and it scared him. He knew she had a frail body, but he didn¡¯t expect her to collapse like this. He could see the resemblance to his mother, who had also been weak and easily succumbed to illness. ¡°Diane. Take slow, slow breaths,¡± Karl urged her, trying to calm her down. Diane was still breathing heavily as she clutched onto Karl¡¯s arm, but soon she sat down as if she were dizzy. Karl panicked and called out, ¡°Is there anybody out there? Hurry, call the doctor, hurry!¡± Upon hearing the emperor¡¯s urgent plea, the exterior of the door became abruptly noisy as servants and attendants rushed to the scene. Diane¡¯s weak voice captured Karl¡¯s attention as she spoke. ¡°You cannot leave me. Please do not abandon me, Your Majesty¡­¡± Following her statement, Diane eventually passed out. £ª £ª £ª Did he mean to mock me? Adele stood alone, her wedding gown billowing in the wind as she gazed out at the horizon with a cold, hard stare. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess as the minutes ticked by, and her heart ached for the friends and family she had left behind in Gottrov. The nobles surrounding her whispered and sneered, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel like a fish out of water in this foreign land. As the laughter of the aristocrats reached her ears, Adele felt a bitter smile twist her lips. The emperor, her betrothed, was late to their own wedding, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had been dropped into the middle of enemy territory, defenseless and alone. But as she thought back to the words of her nanny, who had held her tightly and whispered in her ear as she left Gottrov, Adele¡¯s resolve hardened. ¡°Remember, Adelaide, you are the only person you can trust here. Your honor and dignity are yours to safeguard.¡± With a deep breath, Adele straightened her spine and turned to her attendant, her golden eyes commanding and her voice clear. ¡°Bring me a comfortable chair until the emperor arrives. I will need to sit for a while.¡± The nobility around her fell silent, stunned by the unexpected display of strength from the foreign princess. As the maids scurried to bring her a chair, Adele sat down with a regal smile on her face, showing no sign of frustration or disappointment at the emperor¡¯s tardiness. Instead, she commanded a chair be placed in front of the High Priest, not at the entrance of the Great Temple. As soon as she sat down, facing the palace entrance, the dynamics between her and the nobility shifted. Her piercing golden gaze swept across the crowd, and a heavy silence descended upon the chaotic palace. For a moment, Adele¡¯s gaze lingered on a single figure: Lionel, whose midnight blue eyes stood out among the crowd. When their eyes met, Lionel bowed in silent respect, and Adele gave a small nod before turning her gaze away. His brother, Theseus, seated next to him, muttered softly, ¡°You invert the situation as if you were flipping your palm.¡± Whispers could be heard among the nobles seated behind Lionel. ¡°Oh, Princess,¡± ¡°You are the type of person I cannot tear my eyes away from,¡± ¡°You have excellent demeanor.¡± Adele smiled. The aristocrats who had been snickering at her casual demeanor, now snuck glances and cleared their throats. CH 5.1 Adele glanced over at the table of honor, where a man and woman were seated. She noticed Elizabeth rising from her seat, a look of frustration on her face. Adele knew that she was angry with Emperor Karl for ruining the ceremony and being late on such an important day. Despite this, Adele couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of admiration for Elizabeth¡¯s poise and grace. If Adele had remained standing at the entrance instead of taking her seat, the nobles would likely have found the situation amusing and laughed, which would have been a major embarrassment for the imperial family. Adele knew that it was important for her to maintain a sense of dignity and decorum, especially in the presence of the nobles. As she sat in her high chair, Adele watched Elizabeth approach with a sense of curiosity. Adele stood up to greet her, offering a light, soft smile and a polite greeting. ¡°Hello, Your Majesty. My name is Elizabeth Ulrich Grand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± Adele said. The man sitting next to Elizabeth also stood up and introduced himself. ¡°Hello, it is an honor to meet you here. My name is August Ulrich Desponge,¡± he said. Adele responded with a gracious smile and a formal tone. ¡°It is difficult for me to introduce myself with such polite greetings from the two of you. It would be nice to have a ceremony and proudly introduce myself as Ulrich Ehmont. Even the pronunciation sounds elegant and formal. I am Adele, who want to become an Ulrich Ehmont.¡± The two chuckled, and the nobles also laughed, being careful not to offend the future empress. Duke Desponge said, ¡°You already look like Her Majesty, the Empress of this Empire. You can proudly introduce yourself as Ulrich Ehmont, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Thank you for the compliment,¡± Adele said. ¡°It is not a compliment, but a fact,¡± Duke Desponge replied, before adding, ¡°Now, let¡¯s take our seats. It looks like we¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer for His Majesty to come.¡± With that, Duke Desponge sat down, and Adele followed suit. In this gathering of nobles, Adele once again demonstrated her leadership skills by simply exchanging greetings and offering a seat. It was a quality that couldn¡¯t be learned but rather was innate. Elizabeth sat down, biting her lip as if she were trying to hold back laughter. She then looked curiously at her uncle, Duke Desponge, who was sitting next to her, before turning her head away. After a while, the entrance to the Great Hall became noisy, signaling the arrival of the man who had made everyone wait: Emperor Karl. Adele couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of dread wash over her as she steeled herself for the encounter, knowing that she had to maintain her empress demeanor no matter how much she wanted to run away and hide. As the attendants cleared a path for him to enter, Adele couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of annoyance towards the man who had caused so much chaos on his own wedding day. She straightened her back and sat up straight, determined to keep her emotions in check. When Emperor Karl finally made his grand entrance, accompanied by a group of attendants bowing politely, Adele¡¯s eyes were drawn to his arrogant expression. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how someone with such a lack of consideration for others could be the leader of their empire. Despite her misgivings, Adele forced herself to maintain a calm and composed demeanor. She knew that as the future empress, she had a role to play in the royal family, and that meant putting on a ¡°face¡± for the public. With a deep breath, she stood up to greet her soon-to-be husband, determined to put on a strong front for the sake of her future and the empire. As they stood facing each other, the tension between them was palpable. Adele could feel goosebumps on her shoulders and ears as she faced Karl, and she couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly, feeling exhausted before the ceremony had even begun. The high priest who was going to perform the consecration stood up, and the attendants and maids nearby recommended that the couple begin the procession. The lady-in-waiting presented Adele with a bouquet, and the attendant said to Karl, ¡°Take Her Majesty¡¯s hand, Your Majesty.¡± But Karl, glancing at Adele, seemed not to hear and instead took the first step on his own. The chill of desolation, as if ice water had been poured over the temple, once again raged. Karl had refused to hold Adele¡¯s hand and enter with her. Even Adele, who was always careful to maintain her expression, had cracks in her facade, as if a glacier were cracking. It was as if sparks were flying from both of her eyes. She clenched her fists and teeth, determined not to let her emotions show. Adele struggled to keep up with Karl¡¯s long strides, and the two of them walked in silence, the only indication that they were in a wedding being their attire. Karl leaned over to Adele and whispered sharply, ¡°Don¡¯t be rude.¡± Adele was taken aback by Karl¡¯s comment. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°I heard you asked Diane Poitier if she was a lady-in-waiting,¡± Karl replied. ¡°Since she is not a lady-in-waiting, please do not disrespect her anymore.¡± CH 5.2 Adele wanted to protest, to tell Karl that it was he who was being disrespectful, but she held her tongue, biting back the angry words that threatened to spill out. She could feel the heat rising in her face as she tried to take slow, deep breaths to calm herself. She couldn¡¯t even remember how she had made it to the altar, her mind consumed with the misery of this forced marriage. It was fortunate that Ehmont¡¯s wedding customs did not include a kiss or facing each other. Adele glared at the high priest¡¯s shoulder, standing idly by as he recited the prayer of blessing. But it seemed that the emperor wasn¡¯t done speaking. While the high priest was in the middle of the prayer, he quietly added a word. ¡°Today, we won¡¯t be conjoined, so please don¡¯t wait and rest,¡± he said. ¡°So, the two of you will be faithful to each other and set an example for everyone.¡± Adele¡¯s thoughts unknowingly drifted as the high priest spoke. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the irony of it all. After all, as soon as they were married, the emperor¡¯s attitude toward her seemed to change. It was as if he were saying, ¡°You weren¡¯t my wife before, so where was the trust?¡± His fidelity was clearly elsewhere. ¡°I declare to God that from this moment on, Adelaide Gottrov becomes Adelaide Ulrich Ehmont,¡± the high priest pronounced, bringing Adele back to reality. As the high priest announced her new name, Adele closed her eyes, trying to come to terms with the reality of her situation. She was now married to Karl, the emperor of Ehmont, and there was no going back. All she could do was try to make the best of it and hope for a way out. Damn, she thought to herself. There is really no going back. After the wedding ceremony was over, Adele couldn¡¯t wait to escape the stress and embarrassment of the day. She followed her maids to the empress¡¯ palace, trying to calm her throbbing head as she walked. Despite her best efforts, she couldn¡¯t shake the anxiety that settled in her stomach, reminding her of the day her mother had told her to give up her position as crown princess and leave Gottrov. As they approached the empress¡¯ palace, Adele¡¯s steps slowed as she took in the sight of the golden palace, reflecting the blazing sunlight. She couldn¡¯t help but worry that life in Ehmont would not be as easy as she had hoped. But had her life ever been truly merry and comfortable? Adele closed her eyes and recited the verses of her scriptures, which she always carried close to her heart. ¡°Like a lion that is not startled by loud noises, like the wind that is not caught in a net, like a lotus flower that is not polluted by mud,¡± she chanted to herself. Then she took a deep breath and opened her eyes, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead. ¡°Like a rhinoceros horn across the wilderness, go alone,¡± she whispered to herself before moving towards the empress¡¯ palace with a fighting spirit, more like a warrior heading to the battlefield than a newly married bride. *** ¡°Yes,¡± a maid replied. Diane was relieved when the wedding ceremony was finally done. She appreciated Ehmont¡¯s simple wedding customs, as it would have been painful for her to see the whole capital celebrating the emperor¡¯s marriage. ¡°Can you eat something now? You¡¯ve skipped meals for several days already.¡± A maid asked, trying to get Diane to eat something. Diane¡¯s face contorted at the question. She frowned and looked back at the maid, and at her sharp gaze, the maid shrank back. Noticing the scowl on Diane¡¯s face, she quickly apologized, not realizing the mistake she had made. ¡°Please forgive me,¡± she said. As the two women faced each other in silence, Diane¡¯s gaze was enough to make the maid quiver in fear. Lorraine, noticing the tension between them, hurriedly approached Diane, but it was too late. Diane had already erupted in anger, berating the maid for her ignorance and lack of respect. The maid apologized and begged for forgiveness, but Diane remained stern, making it clear that she expected to be treated with proper respect as the owner of the palace. Diane glared at the maids for a moment, then spoke with a cold tone. ¡°Get out,¡± she said, gesturing for Lorraine to leave. She approached the kneeling lady-in-waiting and held her chin, causing the maid to fill with fear. ¡°Does this look like a common aristocratic mansion? Do you think I¡¯m a common person?¡± Diane asked, her tone dripping with disdain. The maid didn¡¯t respond, too terrified to speak. Diane gently stroked the lady-in-waiting¡¯s hair and said, ¡°Now, this is the imperial palace, right?¡± ¡°Yes, lady,¡± the maid responded. ¡°I am the owner of this palace. How dare you say ¡®lady¡¯?!¡± Diane bellowed, violently pulling the maid¡¯s hair. The maid screamed in surprise and begged for forgiveness as Diane stared blankly at her. Diane brushed her hands off and stood up, causing the lady-in-waiting to collapse on the floor. ¡°There should be a division between upper and lower. I am the owner of this ivory palace. That¡¯s why you call me ¡®Princess¡¯. Got it?¡± Diane said sternly. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± Lorraine hurried to catch up with Diane as she headed towards the bedroom, looking exhausted. ¡°Shall we put the counselor on standby?¡± she asked. ¡°Tell him not to wake me up,¡± Diane replied, lying down on her bed. She had already stopped drinking for a week and a day, and her whole body felt languid as if she had been drained of water. When tomorrow comes, her empress honor will fall, and then she will know who the true owner of this vast imperial palace is. CH 6.1 Adele locked herself in her room and began to contemplate her situation. How many individuals can I trust? She couldn¡¯t trust anyone; even the maids in the palace seemed untrustworthy. On the first day of her marriage, the ladies-in-waiting had not seemed surprised that the emperor had not shown up, as if they had already known he wouldn¡¯t be coming. Adele had no information on her new husband, Karl Ulrich Ehmont, as the two countries of Gottrov and Ehmont had not interacted with each other for a long time because the deep and turbulent sea separated the two countries. There was no reason to cross the ocean and target each other¡¯s territory, so the two nations did not go beyond recognizing each other¡¯s existence. Adele felt a heavy weight on her chest whenever she thought about the Emperor, who was now officially her husband. She buried her face in her hands and tried to calm her mind by lying on the soft bed. ¡°I must first find out why Karl Ulrich selected the princess of Gottrov as his empress,¡± she muttered. Don¡¯t expect too much. Adele clenched her fists and ground her teeth in response to the thought. She dreaded that the aristocrats were already talking about her behind her back and spreading rumors. Additional news of interest would be added tomorrow morning. It was evident on the first day of the wedding how quickly word of the empress¡¯s wedding would spread. It didn¡¯t matter if she was dismissed or refused the position; she would always be seen as the underdog in the rumors. Suddenly, a feeling of foreboding entered her mind as she thought about Diane Poitiers and the possibility that she was trying to prove something by visiting her. Adele¡¯s expression darkened at the thought, and she let out a sigh, muttering a curse under her breath that she hadn¡¯t uttered in a long time. £ª £ª £ª Adele¡¯s foreboding turned out to be accurate as the emperor rushed to Diane¡¯s Ivory Palace after the wedding ceremony. The ladies-in-waiting rushed out before the emperor and bowed their heads. ¡°Is she asleep?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Karl entered Diane¡¯s bedroom with a frown, finding her lying on the bed, pale and sweating. His own eyes were sunken as if he had been through a lot of stress. He inhaled deeply as he heard a faint voice calling out to him. Karl, son. Hearing the sorrowful voice that could not be heard, the emperor clenched his teeth and tightly shut his eyes. He saw a massive bed with blonde hair on the pillows and a pale complexion. Diane looked as though she was about to break out in a cold sweat, her hands drenched with sweat. ¡°Your Majesty?¡± Diane¡¯s faint voice brought Karl back to reality. When he opened his eyes, he saw Diane looking up at him with a hazy gaze as though she had just awoken. Karl quickly walked up to her and saw that she was focused on his attire. The fact that he was still wearing the same wedding dress made Diane purse her lips, as though she was stopping herself from smiling. She assumed that since he saw her collapse, the wedding must have been a complete disaster. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Karl asked. Diane nodded slowly and spoke to Karl in a condescending tone. ¡°Did you arrive immediately after the wedding? Then, what shall we do, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°I¡¯m very sorry. It always irritates me¡­¡± Diane hardly rose from her bed. ¡°You should go, the Empress will be waiting for you.¡± ¡°I said I wouldn¡¯t go.¡± Diane pursed her lips and sobbed at these words. ¡°I chose the wedding dress of the Empress, Your Majesty. I also selected the ceremonial crown for Her Majesty,¡± she said, unaware that Adele had changed to a gold crown. ¡°As I selected all of the ceremony necessities and flowers, it felt as though my heart was being torn apart.¡± Diane stood in front of the emperor, tears streaming down her face as she tried to stifle the tumultuous emotions roiling inside her. She knew she shouldn¡¯t let them out too much, shouldn¡¯t make him worry. But she couldn¡¯t hold them in any longer. As she cried, the emperor watched her, his expression one of concern but not agitation. After a long period of sobbing, Diane¡¯s tears finally began to subside. She stood there, staring at the emperor¡¯s face, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. The few remaining tears evaporated without a trace. ¡°Nothing will differ from the past.¡± ¡°May I remain by the side of your Majesty?¡± Diane asked, begging sincerely while holding his sleeve with a pitiful hand. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But I¡­ whom should I present to Her Majesty? Because she is the empress, nobles will refer to me as her concubine.¡± It seems that Diane is concerned about her status in the palace and how she will be perceived by others, particularly the empress and the nobles. As a concubine to the empress, she may not have the same level of respect or status as the empress. A ripple appeared on the emperor¡¯s previously calm face as he tilted his head and inquired, ¡°Do you have a title in mind?¡± ¡°Lover,¡± Diane responded, her heart racing wildly. She was short of breath and even began to perspire. ¡°Please inform the empress that I am your lover.¡± The emperor stared at Diane for a long time with a confused expression, as if he did not know what she was thinking. And after some time, he responded with an odd tone, ¡°I understand.¡± When Diane¡¯s request was granted, she appeared astounded. A wolf cannot be tamed, but it can be provoked by touching its weak spot. Emperor Karl was a wolf-like man who concealed a raging fire. And Diane was aware of his vulnerabilities. She extended her hand to the emperor and he grasped it. She reclined on her bed and shifted slightly to one side. ¡°Please embrace me,¡± Diane said with a longing expression. Karl hesitated for a moment before finally yielding to Diane¡¯s silent request. He slipped off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, pulling Diane into his arms. She nestled against his chest, feeling the gentle beating of his heart through the thick fabric of his robe. A small smile played across her lips as she finally achieved her goal of spending the night with the emperor. If I cannot become the empress, no one else can assume that role in its entirety. CH 6.2 The day after the wedding of the imperial couple, rumors spread like wildfire in a dry bush. ¡°Oh! As soon as the ceremony concluded, His Majesty departed for the Ivory Palace.¡± ¡°So the empress¡¯ wedding day was complicated?¡± ¡°Yes. His Majesty arrived late to the wedding, correct? This is the first time this has ever occurred.¡± ¡°Lady Poitier nearly stole statues from the Elin Atelier recently.¡± ¡°How much does a necklace cost in that country?¡± ¡°Where did she obtain that money?¡± ¡°It turned out to be a fascinating display.¡± ¡°How is Her Majesty doing?¡± ¡°She is a person whose facial expression rarely changes. Yesterday, she announced that she would not receive any visitors. However, that did not save face.¡± ¡°Can she assume authority over the imperial palace?¡± As the noble ladies chattered in small groups, one of them suddenly grabbed the arm of the one who was gossiping. ¡°Why?¡± she asked, looking up at her friend with confusion. ¡°Shh!¡± the other woman hissed, looking around nervously and shaking her head slightly. The group fell silent, all of them looking around in surprise. One of the women bit her lower lip in shock as she saw the Empress strolling leisurely through the adjacent corridor. The noble ladies quickly greeted the Empress with polite bows and curtsies, and Adele received their greetings with grace before continuing on her way. The ladies watched her retreating back with trembling hands held tightly to their chests. ¡°Did she listen?¡± One of the noble ladies asked, looking back at the Empress¡¯ retreating figure with a worried expression. The other women narrowed their eyes and tried to gauge the Empress¡¯ reaction to their conversation. However, all they could focus on were her golden eyes that seemed to capture their attention immediately. ¡°¡­No. She did not express displeasure. Therefore, she must not have heard,¡± one of the women concluded after a moment of hesitation. ¡°Are you sure?¡± The women exchanged glances and nodded slowly. One of them sighed in relief. ¡°I must be mindful of my language,¡± they added, looking shaken by the close call. ¡°So, even though she was insulted during the ceremony, she was the only one who did not flinch. Did you observe the utterance?¡± ¡°You know, she reminds me of a black predator in the forest¡­¡± ¡°Is it a panther?¡± ¡°Yes! The Panther! It was similar to observing a black panther.¡± ¡°Oh, my God! Choose your words carefully!¡± ¡°But honestly, if it¡¯s like this, do we need to investigate anything? It is not likely that she will have a family to support her. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Meanwhile, Adele walked past the noble ladies in the hallway with a hard, icy expression. As far as she could tell, she could not hear their whispers. However, their response was unequivocal. They were startled when she approached while they were talking behind her back. Adele was the only one who seemed to trigger this reaction, and all of the maids and servants she saw on her walk appeared normal. Adele¡¯s eyes narrowed as if she could see through their facade. Despite her inner turmoil, she continued on her walk, unable to shake the feeling that something was off. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why every group she encountered had this same strange reaction. Adele returned to the Empress¡¯ palace, her body feeling the strain of yesterday¡¯s ominous forecast. Despite the chill in the wind and the sun¡¯s heat, she maintained a composed fa?ade, only allowing herself to take deep breaths in the privacy of her empty room. Standing alone for a long time, Adele¡¯s face contorted as she buried her hands in her face, overwhelmed by the disparity between her expectations and the reality of the situation despite being well-prepared for this journey. Nobody from Ehmont¡¯s native country was brought here for any reason other than the Emperor¡¯s request, and Adele knew that all of these factors were significant to Gottrov. They had no reason to embark on this journey of exile, but Adele couldn¡¯t let herself be consumed by the past. She rubbed her chin determinedly and looked ahead, her golden eyes shining through her jet-black hair. It was time to move forward. You are intelligent, so as long as you are prudent, you will be fine. These were her mother¡¯s final words. Adele grinned self-deprecatingly as she remembered the voice. £ª £ª £ª In the wedding traditions of Ehmont, there is also a banquet. Due to the tradition of maintaining silence on the wedding day and the following day, a large banquet was held on the afternoon of the third day. On this day, the Emperor and his wife held their wedding banquet, and the entire palace was filled with revelry. Diane Poitier had been working on the banquet since early morning, as it was an extension of the wedding. As she surveyed the exquisitely decorated main hall, filled with brilliantly colored crystals and flowers, Diane couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride in her work. The main hall was magnificent, and the seats of the Emperor and Empress sat on the platform. ¡°Princess, is there an alternative solution?¡± a lady¡¯s maid asked Diane politely. ¡°No,¡± Diane replied, shaking her head. The ladies-in-waiting exchanged sharp glances and briefly distanced themselves from Diane. Diane focused on the Empress¡¯ chair, a luxurious red carpet seat where one could sit alongside the Emperor and look down on everyone. Diane had worked hard to rise from the rank of countess¡¯s daughter to the position of the Emperor¡¯s favorite. She had lost her parents to the witch beasts that poured out of the tower, but she had persevered and earned the Emperor¡¯s love and even the Ivory Palace. This was the domain of the Emperor, and everything in it was imperial property. Only one person could sit beside the Emperor as his equal ¨C his wife, the Empress. But a person who was born a princess and automatically assumed her position should not be placed above her. Diane had asked the Emperor for the title of Empress, but he had remained silent and his eyes had hardened. She realized she could no longer beg him. As Diane watched the Empress enter the hall, her heart swelled with worry. She had confirmed the Emperor¡¯s love and even ruined the wedding of the Empress, but her anxiety remained. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. ¡°No. Relax, Diane Poitiers!¡± She told herself, pressing down on her chest to calm her racing heart. The gaze of the people around him is what makes a king a king. This concludes the discussion. Diane repeated the words that cut her heart like a knife. She then regarded the two chairs at the head of the table. Today, the empress shall not be able to sit comfortably in that chair. Weddings, first nights, and inaugural banquets None of the main characters shall be the Empress; instead, it will be Diane herself. Initially, it belonged to her. CH 7.1 Adelaide, a princess by birth, had always been surrounded by people who managed every aspect of her life, allowing her to live carelessly. But despite her privileged upbringing, Adelaide couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had lost more than she had gained. The gown for the banquet was stunning, but it was shorter in length and had shorter sleeves than she was used to. ¡°All right, take it off,¡± Adelaide commanded the maids. As the dress was removed, one of the maids spoke up, ¡°I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty. The dimensions of the measurements received from Gottrov do not match those of Ehmont. We made the dress based on Gottrov¡¯s measurements.¡± Adelaide leaned back in her chair and swept her hair up, ¡°Repair it in accordance with my measurements. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± The maids hesitated, ¡°But by the time the banquet arrives,¡± ¡°It makes no difference if I arrive late. Get it repaired,¡± Adelaide replied firmly. The maids looked at each other, unsure if they could carry out her commands. ¡°I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty. Small repairs on large clothes are simple, but large repairs on small clothes are difficult. The start of the banquet will not be a problem, but it will undoubtedly be later than the end time,¡± one of the maids explained. Adelaide clenched her teeth in frustration, ¡°How come it would be that difficult?¡± Her mother¡¯s words echoed in her mind as she grappled with the conundrum before her. ¡°Adele, do you believe your battles in the palace are insignificant? You are a general who has never stopped fighting. Don¡¯t let yourself go in Ehmont.¡± For a moment, she remained silent. The dress before her, though beautiful, was not suitable for her wedding reception. It was not possible to dress in the Gottrov style for such an occasion. ¡°Well, that leaves me with only two options,¡± Adele said as the maids waited attentively for her next command. ¡°I will not attend my wedding banquet or I will not force myself to wear this ill-fitting dress. Is that understood?¡± The maids lowered their heads, unable to respond to Adele¡¯s cold words. She straightened her back and shoulders, her mind turning to another matter. ¡°Did Diane Poitier plan my wedding?¡± The maids hesitated before nodding in affirmation. ¡°The Emperor granted permission,¡± one of them offered. Adele could not help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The maids looked embarrassed and afraid, but Adele paid them no mind. All she could focus on was the absurdity of it all. A chill settled over the room as Adele¡¯s golden eyes narrowed and her red lips drew into a line. Without realizing it, the maids swallowed nervously. ¡°Bring me the wedding gown and gold crown I wore,¡± Adele commanded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that dress has already been worn,¡± one of the maids replied. ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Adele said firmly. Adele¡¯s thoughts were clear, she would not be blamed for her desire to gain advantage through a dress over an emperor¡¯s love. ¡°How would you like to know the witch of Gottrov?¡± Adele muttered, her eyes dark and menacing. * * * The Ehmont Palace was alive with activity as the grand banquet in honor of the emperor¡¯s marriage began in the evening. The hall was filled with palace employees carrying food and drinks, and nobles excited to celebrate the occasion. As the sun set, the atmosphere at the banquet became lively and festive. Yet, the main guests of honor, the emperor and empress, were nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Diane and the Duke of Despone greeted guests throughout the banquet hall. Diane flattered, ¡°The Duke of Despone assisted greatly in decorating this banquet hall.¡± ¡°It would not have been possible without our princess¡¯s eyes, ha, ha,¡± The Duke of Despone laughed, praising Diane as a ¡°princess¡± and the other nobles laughed along. ¡°Where in the world did you get that crystal, princess?¡± one of the noblewomen asked. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s the Duke¡¯s eye, not mine,¡± Diane replied, continuing to chat and laugh with the noblewomen. But even though everyone knew the reason for the banquet, no one dared to ask the question on everyone¡¯s mind: ¡°Where are His Majesty the Emperor and Empress?¡± Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, there was a sense of curiosity and intrigue as to the whereabouts of the main guests of honor. ¡°Oh, my goodness! Isn¡¯t this a new Atelier piece?¡± one of the ladies exclaimed as she pointed to Diane¡¯s necklace with a surprised expression. The other ladies rushed to praise her jewelry. ¡°Oh, my God, I¡¯ve heard these new products are stunning! I went to see them, but I was disappointed to learn that the princess had bought everything,¡± one of them said. ¡°Oh my, these earrings are also part of a set,¡± another added. The noblewomen all praised Diane, admiring the subtlety of her jewelry choices. But one of them couldn¡¯t help but ask with curiosity, ¡°Oh, and I heard your Majesty was still at the Ivory Palace on the first night of his marriage.¡± Another chimed in, saying, ¡°I also heard it. That¡¯s one of a kind of love, Princess. I envy you.¡± Diane feigned a pitiful voice and said, ¡°Please don¡¯t say anything like that. I¡¯m afraid her Majesty might misinterpret.¡± The noblewomen continued to praise and chat with Lady Diane, not because they wanted to know her better, but to curry her favor. ¡°My lord, our estates¡¯ yield is not the same as in previous years. Would it be possible to consider a tax cut?¡± ¡°A tower has recently collapsed near our estate, Princess. Could you perhaps show leniency towards the strikers?¡± Orphaned ladies had been sweating profusely in front of Diane since birth, offering compliments, making eye contact, laughing and inquiring. Diane smiled softly and nodded her head gently. ¡°I¡¯ll make certain to inform your Majesty,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you, My Lord.¡± ¡°Our princess is so modest. The Emperor still delegated his authority over the palace administration to you. Well, isn¡¯t this more than the queen¡¯s authority?¡± ¡°You make risky remarks on the spur of the moment,¡± a low voice interrupted Lennox¡¯s speech. Lennox turned his head, as did the ladies who had been praising Diane earlier, and all of them breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the newcomer. Standing before them was a handsome man with a cold expression. Lionel Baldr, a representative of the Duke of Valdre, had come to the banquet on behalf of Theseus, who couldn¡¯t attend due to work. A group of large, middle-class nobles surrounded Lionel. The ladies took a step back, looking at Lionel¡¯s face. CH 7.2 Lennox, however, seemed undeterred by Lionel¡¯s intimidating presence. He stood up straight, puffing out his chest and making a sour face. Diane frowned, aware of the danger of engaging in a confrontation with Lionel Valdre in such a setting. She tried to stop her brother, but Lennox¡¯s mouth was faster than his brain and he seemed determined to stand his ground. The Duke of Despone, meanwhile, turned his head with a small, dry cough, clearly uncomfortable with the tension between Lennox and Lionel. ¡°Did I say something I wasn¡¯t supposed to say?¡± he scoffed. ¡°Perhaps you have forgotten why this banquet was held,¡± Lionel replied. Lennox¡¯s eyes bore into Lionel¡¯s back as he strode past, his mind reeling with anger. Diane¡¯s attempts to calm him went unnoticed as he inhaled deeply, preparing to confront Lionel. The crowded banquet hall was charged with tension as Lennox and Lionel squared off, the guests glancing nervously between the two men. Diane, her nerves frayed, cast her gaze towards the entrance, where another commotion had suddenly begun. As their attention shifted back to the entrance, a palpable wave of surprise and shock swept through the banquet hall, engulfing all those present. Diane felt a chill run down her spine and cold sweat bead on her forehead as she tried to comprehend what was happening. Even Lennox, whose anger had been building, was taken aback as he caught sight of the empress at the entrance. Suddenly, a servant shouted out in excitement, ¡°Her Majesty, she has arrived!¡± All eyes turned towards the entrance, where the empress stood, her commanding presence immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. The guests stood up to bow and curtsy as she entered, and the banquet hall was filled with a new energy as everyone eagerly awaited her arrival. The empress made a grand entrance, appearing in a stunning wedding gown that left all present in awe. The gold crown on her head glistened in the crystal light, adding to the ethereal beauty of the empress. Her golden eyes shone brightly, matching the color of the crown and giving her an otherworldly appearance. Unlike her previous appearance at the banquet, her long black hair was now cascading down her shoulders in soft waves, giving her a softer, more approachable appearance. The empress was petite and slender, but her presence commanded the attention of the room. The nobles who saw Adele Ulrich Ehmont were struck by her intensity, her golden eyes sparkling like stars in the night sky, and her pale face glowing like moonlight. As she made her way towards the head of the banquet table, the guests around the entrance stepped back unconsciously, clearing a path for her. The musicians lowered their bows in respect, and even Lionel couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her as she passed by. The banquet hall was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the empress¡¯s footsteps and the rustling of her gown. Adele cast a forlorn gaze at the empty throne, wishing that there was no emperor. She stood on the podium, which no one dared to climb, and then ascended to the throne. Turning to face the crowd, she shifted her gaze slowly and calmly from left to right, as if determined to scrutinize everyone gathered there. It made no difference that the queen was dressed in a wedding gown ¨C her commanding aura captivated even the most powerful nobles. Who had come up with the nickname ¡°witch¡± for her? As the sound of someone gulping echoed through the hall, the queen¡¯s red lips slowly turned up in a smile, and her golden eyes folded and bent like the moon. Everyone held their breath as Adele, holding everyone¡¯s hearts in her hand, softly smiled and spoke. ¡°I apologize for running a little late.¡± Diane took a deep breath as the Empress ascended the emperor¡¯s stairs, a forbidden path for anyone else, with a regal grace that seemed almost effortless. The nobles around her held their breath, their eyes fixed on the empress as she made her way to the throne. Diane felt a pang of frustration as she realized that the empress was not at all bothered by the fact that she was wearing a wedding gown, unlike what she had expected. As the empress scanned the crowd with her piercing golden eyes, her every move calculated and deliberate, the banquet hall was filled with a sense of unease. The guests seemed to shrink under her gaze, their words caught in their throats as they struggled to maintain their composure. The empress¡¯s power and authority were undeniable as she surveyed her subjects like a queen surveying her kingdom. ¡°How are you, Lord Despone? Are you enjoying your meal?¡± The empress¡¯s voice cut through the tension as she turned her gaze to Lord Despone, who sat next to Diane Poitier. ¡°Your Majesty, what brings you here? Nonetheless, I was expecting you.¡± Lord Despone replied, trying to hide his unease. ¡°Did you?¡± The empress¡¯s tone was cold and her gaze intense. The empress gracefully took her seat, her back straight and her head held high. The orchestra began to play a grand and solemn song as she settled in, and the crowd of nobles fell silent. Adele scanned the room, taking in the attitudes of those around her. Some were paying close attention, while others seemed wary and on edge. She could read people like a book, and she knew that some of the nobles were already trying to read the political winds and gauge her position. As the crowd began to stir, a familiar face emerged from the throng. Lionel, a vassal noble of the Baldr family, stepped forward to greet the empress. He looked up at her, his eyes scanning her form as she exchanged greetings with the other nobles. Adele, with her ease on horseback and her ability to dominate the crowd, seemed to fit the role of empress perfectly. As she turned her head leisurely, she caught Lionel¡¯s eye once more. In the dim light of the banquet hall, his eyes appeared thick and dark. ¡°Lionel Baldr,¡± Adele muttered his name to herself. Diane watched with a blank stare as the nobles scrambled to greet the empress, a competition quickly ensuing. People who had been chatting and seeking friendship quickly changed to people who wanted to greet the empress, creating a rare scene. But Adele¡¯s gaze passed over Diane, as if she was unremarkable, just like the attendants and maids who passed by. Diane felt a sense of contempt rise within her, as if the empress had no interest in her. Clenching her fists, Diane ignored the long line of nobles and went straight to the podium. She didn¡¯t care about protocol or protocol, she just wanted the empress to notice her. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t want to see me properly, I¡¯ll make you,¡± she muttered under her breath. CH 8.1 Duke Despone¡¯s frown deepened as he watched Diane make her way through the sea of nobility. The nobles¡¯ gazes followed her every move, some murmuring behind their fans, their whispers like the rustling of leaves in the wind. ¡°Look at how favored she is by His Majesty,¡± one noblewoman said, a hint of envy in her voice. ¡°But it¡¯s like a sandcastle, isn¡¯t it? Beauty and love are fleeting,¡± another chimed in. ¡°I wonder how the Empress will react to this,¡± a man said, his voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°She must be furious that her concubine took off on the first night,¡± a woman replied, her tone filled with speculation. ¡°But what can you say about Her Majesty? She¡¯s a little terrifying, isn¡¯t she?¡± another asked, fear creeping into her voice. ¡°Well, Diane Poitiers is certainly a more beautiful woman,¡± a man said, and the nobles chuckled amongst themselves. Adele watched the scene unfold with a hint of amusement on her face as Diane approached her. The nobles¡¯ eyes shone with interest as the two women faced each other across the grand staircase. The musicians too had lowered their bows, their attention fixed on the two women. Diane bowed her head and bent her knees in a formal gesture. ¡°Good day, Her Majesty the Empress. My name is Diane Poitier.¡± Diane introduced herself with a respectful bow, her head lowered in deference. Adele smiled sweetly, her beauty like a field of lilies in bloom as she raised her head slightly. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on the two women, watching their interaction closely. The Empress responded solemnly, her expression carefully composed. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Poitiers,¡± she said. ¡°I worked on the wedding and this banquet; do you like it?¡± Diane¡¯s question was bold, but she couldn¡¯t help but want to know how the Empress felt about having the Emperor¡¯s mistress at the banquet. The Empress was met with menacing, glittering gazes from the nobles, but she didn¡¯t respond. She simply stared at Diane blankly, her face expressionless. The silence in the dining hall was palpable, and everyone could hear the sound of their own eyelashes as they blinked. After a moment, the Empress softly lifted her lips and smiled, as if she had never done so before. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. I apologize for not being able to wear the banquet gown you had prepared. I wanted to wear it since it was lovely, but it was too small. I just couldn¡¯t put it on.¡± Only then did the ladies realize that the Empress was dressed in a wedding gown and they exchanged glances among themselves, murmuring in confusion. ¡°It was produced according to Gottrov¡¯s proportions; apparently, the size standards were different. We apologize for the inconvenience,¡± Diane said, her voice tinged with confusion and frustration, after biting her molars hard in response to the nobles¡¯ murmurs. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the entrance of the hall. ¡°His Majesty has arrived!¡± The nobles quickly turned around at the sound of an attendant¡¯s voice echoing through the hall, where even the music had stopped. The emperor, who had not shown his face until now, stood there with a stern expression, his presence commanding the attention of all in the room. The nobles stepped back to make way for him as Karl walked towards the throne. The Empress was seated on the throne, her demeanor calm and collected, giving off the impression that she naturally held power and control, and would not be swayed by the slightest disturbance. Meanwhile, Diane¡¯s entire body relaxed as she saw Karl. He was her only hope, her only source of light. Tears formed in her eyes unintentionally. The Emperor frowned as he stopped in front of her and her gentle eyes filled with tears. He then looked back and forth between the Empress and Diane, his expression unreadable, but Adele knew what he was thinking. ¡°Are you crying?¡± The Emperor¡¯s voice was low and deep, a hint of concern in his tone as he blocked Diane¡¯s path, shielding her from the Empress¡¯s gaze. Hidden in the crowd, Lennox smiled, a small smirk playing on his lips as he watched the scene unfold. The aristocrats¡¯ eyes widened, their expressions filled with intrigue as they looked on. Adele, too, couldn¡¯t help but let out a small grin, her lips curving upward as she watched the exchange between Karl and Diane. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± a thin voice came from behind him. ¡°I¡¯m truly astounded. This is a new experience for me. Should I start crying too?¡± Adele felt a surge of anger and irritation. From the start of their marriage, the Emperor seemed determined to belittle her importance and the only person who annoyed her more than Diane Poitier was the Emperor himself. ¡°What are you doing?¡± the Emperor asked, his tone sharp. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know,¡± Adele replied, trying to compose herself. ¡°I was just trying to greet her.¡± ¡°What kind of greeting made you cry this way?¡± Karl asked, frowning at Diane¡¯s tears. ¡°I¡¯m curious as to why she¡¯s crying as well. She approached me and smiled. Ask the young lady if you¡¯re curious about why she wanted to say hi,¡± Adele replied, her voice becoming sharper. Karl turned to face Diane after hearing Adele¡¯s comments. Her face was marred by tears and fear. ¡°I just wanted to greet Her Majesty the Empress,¡± Diane said, trying to explain her actions, her voice trembling. The emperor focused his gaze on Diane¡¯s face for a brief moment, which seemed to last an eternity to Adele, who was watching them. He then turned his gaze to the Empress. Adele felt like she could strangle the man with her eyes. The two locked eyes in a heated exchange as the nobility watched on. The Emperor slowly approached Adele, his gaze fixed on her like a predator stalking its prey and his steps heavy and deliberate. Adele raised her head to meet his gaze, unwavering. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable, before turning and taking his seat on the throne. CH 8.2 The orchestra began to play, filling the hall with the sounds of music and causing the nobles to stir. The Emperor reclined on his throne, accepting a glass of champagne from an attendant. He spoke to the Empress, his words cutting through the noise of the feast. ¡°Forget it,¡± he said, his gaze fixed on Diane, who was sadly watching from a corner of the hall. ¡°That lady is my lover. Remember that.¡± The Empress responded with a cold expression, her words sharp and biting. ¡°Since you lack warmth, I will not pay attention to your lover either. Understand?¡± Adele smirked, finding a twisted sense of pleasure in the situation. She would often laugh when she was feeling upset. ¡°Would you please pass along those words to His Majesty¡¯s lover?¡± she asked. ¡°I have only met her twice, but both times she was the one who approached me.¡± As the Emperor turned away without a word, Adele couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of victory wash over her. She smiled brightly at the nobles, relishing in their attention and the emperor¡¯s discomfort. As she chuckled, a small stir ran through the nobility, ¡°She seems to be keeping her cool,¡± one whispered. Lionel nodded slowly, but his mind was elsewhere. It seemed that rather than maintaining her composure, the empress was trying hard not to lose. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that the smile on the empress¡¯s face seemed forced¡ªof someone in power¡ªrather than the carefree smile on her lips when she rode a horse. £ª £ª £ª Adele stormed into her palace, dismissing all of her attendants and angrily tearing off her dress. She took deep breaths, trying to calm the anger and frustration that filled her chest, but it was no use. Her eyes shone with determination and her hands clenched tightly in response to the tingling in her peripheral nerves. The Empress¡¯s black hair seemed to dance in the air as the room was filled with a shifting of air currents, causing the candles to flicker and the windows to shake. ¡°Diane Poitiers,¡± she muttered to herself. She poured herself a glass of golden liquor and downed it in one swift gulp, feeling the burn in her throat as the alcohol hit her bloodstream. Her thoughts were consumed by Karl Ulrich, the man who she saw as repulsive and inexplicable. ¡°You¡¯ll appoint Diane Poitier as Empress when I die. Is this some kind of tragic romance or a fantasy? Is there a fantasy about an emperor riding a white horse and saving a damsel in distress? Do you consider yourself a pervert?¡± Adele muttered to herself angrily. She wished she had someone to confide in and vent her rage to. Despite feeling dizzy and disoriented after drinking three glasses of the strong-tasting Ehmont moonshine, Adele managed to remove her crown and shoes before getting into bed. The ceiling above her seemed to spin and swirl as she lay there, her thoughts a jumbled mess. ¡°What will my lover like?¡± Adele¡¯s expression contorted into a sincere grimace as she thought about love and its complexities. She recalled her father¡¯s words, ¡°It will be given to everyone who has the will, and they will have an abundance; and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.¡± Adele had always disregarded these words because she had so much, but now they seemed to take on a new significance. ¡°Pretend you¡¯ve always done it. Even if you lose everything you have in your hands, be vigilant and keep your eyes open. Drop your shoulders and dress casually. When all you have is gone, don¡¯t be modest. People will notice it as if it were a ghost.¡± Adele repeated her father¡¯s words, her eyes filling with determination and anger. She knew that she would have to be vigilant and keep her eyes open if she wanted to survive in the cutthroat world of politics and power. * * * Adele had originally intended to take a more measured approach to her new role as Empress, but now she knew that she needed to take action. She queried her ladies-in-waiting about the inner workings of the palace and was not surprised to learn that Diane Poitiers, the Emperor¡¯s favorite, was currently serving as the acting manager. ¡°Who was the previous general manager?¡± Adele asked. ¡°Countess Hannah Giggs,¡± came the swift response. Adele knew that she needed to work quickly if she wanted to assert her control over the palace. She instructed her ladies-in-waiting to call Countess Giggs and request a meeting with her. The servants looked at her with apprehension, knowing that Diane Poitiers was responsible for dismissing Hannah Giggs from her position. But Adele was not deterred, her determination and urgency clear in her tone. ¡°Bring the Imperial Palace Law Book up to date,¡± she ordered. * * * As Adele sat at her desk, studying the chronicles of the imperial palace, a name caught her eye. It appeared repeatedly throughout the pages, each entry detailing a new law or amendment that had been implemented under this person¡¯s guidance. ¡°Who the hell is this person who caused such a stir in the palace?¡± she muttered to herself as she read on, intrigued by the impact this individual had made in the court politics. The ¡°Ragged Law¡± governed the management of the Ehmont Imperial Palace and was the result of a tumultuous relationship between the Emperor and Empress, arguing over the authority to run the palace. The law stated that the Empress had the authority to assign personnel, but needed the Emperor¡¯s approval to discharge employment. It also stated that the Empress had the right to allow residents in the imperial palace, but even went as far as to specify that the Emperor had the right to choose the wallpaper for the palace where he resided. Legend had it that the former Empress became enraged when reading the accompanying brochure, exclaiming, ¡°A fight is merely about that; what kind of nuisance is this?¡± Because of this, subsequent Emperors entrusted the internal decision-making authority of the palace to the Empress, effectively transferring most of their own authority to her. ¡°It means that the powers of the current Emperor have been given to Diane Poitier, not to me,¡± Adele said with a click of her tongue, flipping back to the page she had been reading. ¡°But at least the Empress¡¯s inherent rights are bestowed concurrently with her appointment.¡± Adele knew that being the Empress came with a heavy burden of responsibilities, and it was nearly impossible to handle everything alone. She had heard that previous Empresses had made palace management more efficient by appointing their own aides as general managers of the palace. With that in mind, Adele had contacted Hannah Giggs, the former Empress¡¯s appointed general manager of the imperial palace. As she waited for Mrs. Hannah Giggs to arrive, Adele¡¯s maid eventually unlocked the door and entered the room, announcing a surprise visitor. Adele had expected it to be Mrs. Hannah Giggs, but was surprised to see someone else. CH 9.1 ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing you since the wedding, your Majesty.¡± When the guest welcomed her with a unique tone, Adele smiled back. Elizabeth Ulrich Grand was an unexpected visitor. She is the half-sister of the Emperor and made a strong impression with her blond hair and the Ulrich family¡¯s characteristic purple eyes. While the Emperor exuded a sympathetic and astute aura, Elizabeth exuded a frigid and domineering air. ¡°Please take a seat,¡± Adele said, gesturing to the chair across from her. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± As the two women sat facing each other, the ladies-in-waiting offered them refreshments. Adele noticed that Elizabeth seemed to be studying the teacup in front of her, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was on the other woman¡¯s mind. ¡°Could you give us a moment of privacy?¡± Adele asked the ladies-in-waiting. ¡°Of course, Your Majesty,¡± they replied, bowing and leaving the room. Adele fixed her gaze on Elizabeth as the ladies-in-waiting rushed out of the room. Elizabeth watched the steam rise from the hot teacup and then focused on Adele¡¯s shining golden eyes. It was a sunny day, and the light was streaming through the window. She noticed that Adele¡¯s eyes seemed to have captured the sunlight, radiating with a bright, trapped glow. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Adele asked. ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty. I was simply mesmerized by the beauty of your eyes. Please forgive my staring,¡± Elizabeth replied, feeling embarrassed for staring too long. ¡°My eyes have an unusual color. That¡¯s why they nicknamed me ¡°Gottrov¡¯s Black Panther¡± back home. Of course, behind my back,¡± Adele said with a smile. ¡°A black panther¡­ I haven¡¯t actually seen one, but I have the impression that I have,¡± Elizabeth said. Adele raised her teacup with a smile and took a sip. Elizabeth watched the Empress as she drank her tea and then stared at her again. When Adele noticed Elizabeth¡¯s strange gaze, she set down her teacup and met Elizabeth¡¯s gaze directly. They stared at each other for a long time, neither smiling. Elizabeth realized that Adele was quite small after looking at her for so long that she almost thought it was disrespectful. Adele appeared so small that the top of her head barely reached Elizabeth¡¯s towering shoulders. Elizabeth couldn¡¯t think to describe Adele as weak. She was someone who could intimidate her opponents by her mere presence. Elizabeth had seen this firsthand at her wedding and was now certain of it. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress is appealing to me.¡± Adele¡¯s brows furrowed at Elizabeth¡¯s jumbled words. Unfortunately, Adele knew very little about Ehmont. Besides the fact that she was the Emperor¡¯s half-sister, Adele knew nothing about the Grand Duchess sitting in front of her. Adele was confused about why the Grand Duchess had come to see her until Elizabeth spoke again. ¡°I heard you are searching for Countess Hannah Giggs. She used to be my nanny.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t finding Countess Hannah Giggs mean that you have solidified your position as Empress in the palace?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural for the Empress to correct the imperial palace¡¯s discipline?¡± ¡°You are correct. You really should. However, it will not be easy.¡± Elizabeth said before adding, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s favorite is Diane Poitier, while Duke August Ulrich Despone is backing her.¡± Elizabeth moistened her lips with tea and spoke cautiously. ¡°In that situation, Your Majesty must protect your status as Empress. You should not blindly trust the imperial palace right now.¡± Adele sat quietly listening to Elizabeth. Her Empress, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, asked her, ¡°What benefits do you offer me for solidifying my position in the imperial palace?¡± Her voice was low, and her eyes shone brightly without dilating. Elizabeth momentarily stopped breathing when she saw a beast in the jungle lower its body and reveal its sharp claws. She, Elizabeth, was the princess of Ehmont and a duchess with a large estate. It was a simple question that made Elizabeth feel like she had been struck, but it also gave her a sense of comfort. So she spoke honestly. ¡°The Emperor is caught between the two of them and is not following the correct path. That¡¯s why I hope the Empress will cut the connection between Diane Poitiers and Duke Despone.¡± ¡°By solidifying my position as Empress in the imperial palace?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. Bringing in Countess Hannah Giggs would certainly be beneficial. However, since she was personally sent by the Emperor, if you were to appoint her as general manager, it would cause conflict. I think it would be sufficient to keep her by his side and seek her guidance.¡± Adele remained silent, waiting for Elizabeth to continue. ¡°And one more piece of advice: seek help.¡± ¡°Help?¡± ¡°The empress¡¯ assistant is a longstanding system. He is the one who directly coordinates the Empress¡¯s schedule and tasks, and he sometimes makes payments on the empress¡¯s behalf, depending on the position the empress assigns.¡± ¡°Is that your suggestion? I heard the general manager of the imperial palace is being used as a secretary.¡± ¡°The imperial palace general manager is responsible for managing the internal affairs of the royal palace. It is mostly women. The Empress¡¯s assistants, on the other hand, are mostly men. When my father, the former emperor, changed his mistress, my mother-in-law proudly increased the number of assistants.¡± Adele burst out laughing. ¡°So, if the Emperor has a concubine, I should have assistants, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what the atmosphere is like at the Gottrov Imperial Palace, but momentum is more important than anything else here in Ehmont.¡± Elizabeth said before adding, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to compete. However, if the Emperor remains silent after insulting Her Majesty in front of everyone, the nobility here will see Her Majesty as nothing more than the Emperor¡¯s concubine. Ehmont is a country that values strength and despises weakness. You must not lose.¡± Adele wiped the smile from her lips and focused on Elizabeth¡¯s words. Elizabeth leaned closer to her empress as she sat down and listened attentively. ¡°Currently, the person who holds the real power here is Duke Despone. On the one hand, he controls the Order of Magic, while on the other, he uses Diane Poitier to capture the Emperor¡¯s heart. Do you think there won¡¯t be any opposing forces?¡± ¡°Do you mean those who oppose him will respond to my call for help?¡± Elizabeth nodded. ¡°For generations, the empress¡¯ assistants have been used as a means to check the emperor¡¯s power. If only the meaning of government had been preserved, the people of Ehmont would have ventured to replace it with a lesser word.¡± ¡°Who would you recommend as an assistant if I bring one in?¡± In response to the empress¡¯ question, the Grand Duchess paused for a moment before listing the names of various households. Adele wrote down the duke¡¯s words. ¡°Although it is unlikely, if Baldr¡¯s family sends a candidate, I recommend selecting him without hesitation.¡± ¡°Prince Baldr?¡± The Grand Duchess nodded slowly in response to Adele¡¯s question. ¡°If you need any help from me, please don¡¯t hesitate to contact me. We can easily reach you through Countess Hannah Giggs, Your Majesty.¡± CH 9.2 Hannah Giggs had long been a powerful figure in the imperial court, having gained her position as the Grand Duchess¡¯s nanny and godmother due to her connection with the previous Empress. But her life was turned upside down when an unexpected character appeared: Diane Poitier. Mrs. Giggs, like a lily in a vase, was stunned the moment she saw Diane. She was the opposite of the former Empress, who was the cause of the illness that killed her. Diane Poitier had an atmosphere that was eerily similar to Karl Ulrich¡¯s birth mother. The emperor quickly fell in love with her and one day withdrew all authority from Mrs. Giggs. Diane Poitier played the role of the Emperor. This was possible with the Emperor¡¯s permission while the empress was absent. Diane¡¯s first command was to expel Mrs. Giggs from the palace. The Duke of Grand personally disputed this decision, but Emperor Charles did not overturn Diane¡¯s decree, revealing his intentions. Hannah Giggs was forced to leave the palace in this manner, without even a retirement ceremony. The cry of the newly crowned empress made the old lady, who had resigned in disgrace, feel like her heart was going to burst. She wore a suit dress with a collar similar to her sign and had her hair tied up neatly. Mrs. Giggs¡¯ narrow blue eyes reflected the blue sky in the snow. Mrs. Giggs reminded Adele of a bone-chilling snow field, while Adele reminded her of deep blackness. ¡°Please come in. Thank you for granting my request.¡± ¡°I am delighted, Your Majesty. Mrs. Giggs was respectful to the Empress. ¡°Keep your head held high.¡± As she gently raised her head, Mrs. Giggs examined the empress¡¯s drawing room with her eyes. She felt cold in her nose and the corners of her eyes were burning, so she blinked quickly and swallowed her breath. This was her existence. Her strictness and coolness, which had settled like frost on each of her deep and light wrinkles, were disappearing only because she had entered this area. Adele waited for the old lady to regain composure. Mrs. Giggs changed her expression and apologized to the Empress as she returned to reality. ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been here, so I¡¯m moved.¡± ¡°It must be the same as the former empress used it, right?¡± Mrs. Giggs asked, delicately sweeping the sofa. ¡°I chose this sofa as well. However, because they are quite old goods, Your Majesty, it seems that it is time to replace them.¡± At that, Adele tilted her head and lifted her lips into a smile. Her fascinating golden eyes curled long, and her cheeks lifted as her lips slanted like the lying moon. At the scene that drew everyone¡¯s attention, even Mrs. Giggs stared blankly at the empress¡¯s face while Adele remained silent. ¡°Would you mind leaving some of those items with Mrs. Giggs?¡± Adele asked her lady-inwaiting. ¡°Oh no need, Your Majesty.¡± Mrs. Giggs immediately said. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Thank you, but His Majesty the Emperor will be dissatisfied.¡± ¡°Do you mean you¡¯re okay with it?¡± Mrs. Giggs raised her back, which had been tense even before the question, and placed her hand on her chest. ¡°As I previously stated, Your Majesty the Empress, it is my pleasure.¡± ¡°I appreciate it. Do whatever you want me to do right now. I am capable of doing it.¡± Adele stood up from her seat and nodded. She had intended to discuss the Imperial Palace Law Series with Mrs. Giggs, but an unexpected event arose. The maid who was waiting outside gently knocked on the door and entered to inform the Empress of something. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡­ The dress I ordered recently has just arrived.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°That is¡­ there.¡± After the maid hesitated for a long time, even Mrs. Giggs, who was sitting on the sofa, stood up with a frown on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t be difficult, just say it clearly.¡± The lady-in-waiting took a deep breath, as if determined, and then stated, ¡°The Imperial Palace Finance Office said they couldn¡¯t pay for Your Majesty¡¯s garment,¡± The empress was angry and asked, ¡°What?¡± She was so enraged that she thought a nut might jump out of her throat. Adele took a deep breath and pressed her tongue shut. ¡°So my dress arrived, but the Imperial Palace Finance Office can¡¯t pay for it¡­¡± The empress closed her eyes and remained quiet for a moment, her face appeared tranquil, yet the energy around her was threatening. When she opened her eyes, it revealed her wild golden eyes. The maid was afraid and bowed her head to avoid looking at the Empress. The Empress then turned her attention to Mrs. Giggs. Mrs. Giggs suggested that the empress should handle the unpaid bill by paying it personally through the Empress¡¯ palace. She explained that if rumors of the unpaid bill were to spread, it could harm the Empress¡¯s reputation, and so it would be best to summon the person responsible to the palace to pay them and give them extra money in exchange for their silence. ¡°There is no reason for Her Majesty to meet him in person. Let me handle it.¡± Mrs. Giggs offered. The empress agreed and commanded, ¡°Go find them.¡± The maid replied, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Adele quickly went to her room and retrieved her emergency money when the lady-in-waiting rushed out of the drawing room in a panic. Adele took out a gold bar and placed it in her silk pouch, her fingers turning white from the weight of the purse. She muttered to herself, ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try,¡± her eyes brighter than gleaming gold. CH 10.1 Mrs. Giggs examined the gold bar presented by the Empress. ¡°I¡¯ll see what the dress is like and pay for it, but is it okay if I use up these gold bars without leaving a balance?¡± she inquired, wanting to give the impression that the Empress was generous. ¡°I brought it specifically for that purpose, so don¡¯t leave it behind and use it,¡± the Empress replied calmly, sipping on some cold water to soothe her stomach. ¡°How is this possible? Adele asked. ¡°I don¡¯t believe there is any budget for the empress¡¯ palace. Is there no budget for the Empress Palace?¡± ¡°At the end of the year, the Ehmont Imperial Palace prepares the budget for the following year, but since Her Majesty was not present the previous year, the budget was most likely not prepared,¡± Mrs. Giggs explained. ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is normal?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Mrs. Giggs replied. ¡°Through the emergency supplementary budget system, it is possible to reorganise the budget as much as possible. The issue is that only His Majesty the Emperor has authority over supplementary budgets.¡± Just as the conversation was about to continue, a maid announced the arrival of the owner of the dress shop. Adele and Mrs. Giggs both stood up to greet the new arrival. The empress gave Mrs. Giggs a friendly pat on the shoulder and smiled, ¡°Take good care of it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. But where are you going, Your Majesty?¡± The empress laughed sarcastically and said, ¡°There is no way to lose if you know your enemy and yourself,¡± it was a smile that made even the elderly lady, who had survived everything from prenatal battles to air battles, feel cold. ¡°Don¡¯t be concerned; I¡¯ll see you later,¡± the Empress said before adding, ¡°Allow them to stay in my palace today.¡± She then strode away with a smile on her lips. Mrs. Giggs stared at her dark hair, which was blowing in the wind as if possessed. ¡°Mrs. Giggs¡­¡± Mrs. Giggs was lost in thought for quite some time until the lady-in-waiting approached and addressed her by name. She quickly regained her composure and smiled. ¡°Allow me to lead you.¡± ¡°Of course, please follow me,¡± Adele arrived at the Imperial Palace, which housed the emperor¡¯s bedroom and the general meeting room for managing state affairs. The palace was a neat and practical space compared to the magnificent Empress¡¯ palace. As Adele walked through the palace, she saw people gathered in groups of three and five, dressed in various uniforms, as if a meeting of the ministers was taking place. When the Empress unexpectedly appeared, they quickly corrected their posture and respectfully bowed their heads as Adele passed through the crowd. ¡°Does it appear that there is a meeting?¡± Adele asked the gatekeeper as they walked through the front door. ¡°Yes,¡± the gatekeeper politely replied. As soon as the attendants learned of the Empress¡¯s visit, they rushed out to greet her. Adele explained the reason for her visit. ¡°I¡¯d like to meet with His Majesty the Emperor,¡± she said. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress, yes,¡± the attendant replied. ¡°If you wait in the drawing room for a while, I will inquire of Your Majesty and respond.¡± ¡°Drawing area?¡± the Empress asked. ¡°Yes,¡± the attendant replied. The Empress nodded, then narrowed her eyes and tilted her head as if she were thinking about something. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Central News Conference have a waiting room?¡± ¡°Of course, there is a waiting room, but it isn¡¯t as comfortable as the drawing room, to which we will direct you.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± the Empress said. ¡°I¡¯d also like to see the meeting place of high officials in Ehmont, so please point me in the right direction.¡± The Empress ordered in a firm tone as if she didn¡¯t want any objections, so the attendants had no choice but to obey her. The Zhongxin Conference Hall was nearby at the time. The Emperor sat in the seat of honor with a bored expression, scribbling on the documents in front of him. The Duke of Despone, who sat to the Emperor¡¯s right, stretched his neck and looked at the papers in front of him. When he couldn¡¯t see the document¡¯s contents, he frowned and turned his gaze away. His gaze met the man on the other side of him, Theseus Baldr, a young servant who wears glasses and is twenty-nine this year. He is the head of the Baldr family, who owns a vast territory. Despite his youth, he was considered the best Duke of Baldr. When Theseus caught Duke Despone¡¯s gaze, he naturally turned to face his brother, Lionel Baldr, who had turned 27 this year. Lionel Baldr, the younger brother of Theseus Baldr, was born a soldier and is now the head of the Imperial Guard and the Ehmont Minister of Defense. He was referred to as ¡°Captain¡± by the knights and ¡°Minister of Defense¡± by the high officials. Duke Despone licked his lips as he looked at the Baldr brothers. He wishes he could have a son like them! He would have cherished and loved his son if they had been similar. They were the sons of the late Duke of Baldr, so it would have been difficult for him to share his thoughts. It was when Duke Despone was lost in thought and stared at the Baldr brothers. Suddenly, a man¡¯s scream interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Oh, your Majesty!¡± the man cried out. ¡°Please, please send strikers and keepers our way. Everyone is perishin¡¯! They are currently dying!¡± Duke Despone was annoyed by the man¡¯s cries and whines, like a child. He turned his head away with a click of his tongue. ¡°No matter how hard you try, it keeps coming out.¡± Even the flying monster is appearing now, and there is no way to stop it. ¡°Unless the striker and keeper take down the tower¡­ ¡°Well, do you know where we¡¯re going?¡± Lennox Poitiers, who sat to the right of the Duke of Despone, broke the weeping appeal. ¡°Even those who have first- and second-level towers built on their territory don¡¯t say anything right now, right?¡± In any case! ¡°What has been constructed in Calvin County is only a fourth-grade tower.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it¡¯s gotten bigger in diameter?¡± The aerial masquerade has been discovered! ¡°It¡¯s not even level four!¡± ¡°How can you refuse when the document specifies Level 4?¡± Count Calvin swallowed his rage, jumped up from his seat, and kneeled before the emperor as Lennox cried out in blood. ¡°Honorable His Majesty the Emperor! Please help me! ¡°Your Majesty, you are a very selfish person!¡± ¡°For the time being, Calvin Bag beat the knights and keep them at bay!¡± When a low voice interrupted, the kneeling Count Calvin clenched his fists and glared at Lennox. ¡°Because the manor is deteriorating, those who appeal are self-centered.¡± Lennox and Count Calvin¡¯s gazes were drawn to the same location at the same time. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± A mid-to-large tower with a flying monster would be a disaster on the estate. Seriously, would the Lord of the Lord come here and ask for assistance? You are self-centered! Bag Poitiers, please stop arguing! CH 10.2 Lennox was warned by Duke Baldr. Lennox paused for a moment before snorting. Some nobles reacted angrily when he openly laughed at Duke Baldr¡¯s words. ¡°Gongga Baldr¡¯s head!¡± ¡°Poitiers Bag, do your best!¡± ¡°How could you snort?¡± When the nobles revolted, Lennox Pieters shook his head and shrugged. Despite being a commoner, he was clearly a striker of exceptional skill, having attained the position of the inheritable count. He did not, however, dare to compete with Duke Baldr. Nonetheless, he was arrogant and trusted the Duke of Devonshire and Diane Poitiers. ¡°Did I say something incorrectly?¡± ¡°Is that correct, Your Majesty?¡± The nobles¡¯ attention was drawn to the emperor as Lennox bowed his head and inquired. Karl, who was observing the situation with his chin resting on his chin, looked at the Balder brothers, who were sitting stiffly. Their mouths were tightly shut as they stared at the edge of the table. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Magic Division¡¯s vice-captain won¡¯t say anything stupid.¡± The Count of Poitiers raised his lips, smiled, and bowed his head in response. ¡°Calvin tote.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, yes.¡± ¡°I apologize your Grace.¡± ¡°Would you please¡­ Your Majesty, please count? Many of Your Majesty¡¯s subjects are dying right now.¡± Count Calvin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Why to you tell His Majesty that my gain is gone?¡± muttered Lennox Poitiers, tears streaming down his cheeks. ¡°What did you say now, Lennox Poitiers?¡± It was only natural for Count Calvin¡¯s rage to flare up. Lennox Poitier jumped up and shouted as his shouts echoed throughout the conference room. ¡°Did I say something incorrectly?¡± ¡°What?!¡± The conference hall quickly became a shambles. Lionel and Theseus leaned back in their chairs, staring sharply at Lennox, then at the Emperor. The emperor was staring at Count Calvin with a frown on his face as if he had no intention of intervening. ¡°Enough, Bag Poitiers.¡± Lennox was stopped by the Duke of Despone, who couldn¡¯t stand his high voice. Lennox reacted immediately to his restraint. ¡°Your Highness the Duke, yes.¡± With his red-stained face, Count Calvin, on the other hand, was unable to contain his rage. The air in the meeting room was as thin as ice and could crack at any time. A deafening silence descended. Lionel let out a deep sigh and broke the silence after a while of observing the situation. ¡°Your Majesty, if a flying monster appears in Count Calvin¡¯s territory, it is proper to aid the wizard first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a lack of manpower; aren¡¯t their wizards in the imperial palace?¡± Lennox immediately objected to this. ¡°Did you know we eat and play?¡± Then several nobles who had been sitting quietly until now jumped up and shouted. ¡°What is the point of having a group of magicians?¡± ¡°What the hell is the point of staying at the imperial palace and not going to places where you really need to go?¡± ¡°What if a class 1 tower fell in the imperial palace while we were on our way to destroy a class 4 tower?¡± Yes! ¡°Compel it!¡± When the fight was about to erupt again, the emperor pounded the table, tired of the meeting itself. ¡°Stop! There will be no conclusion.¡± The emperor buried himself in a chair and declared that the meeting would end at this point. Many people protested because the atmosphere could not be finished, but the Duke of Despone and the Count of Poitiers actively sympathized and stood up. When they stood up, the meeting took on a wave-like atmosphere. Lionel and Theseus exchanged hard stares with Count Calvin. He had a white face and was staring blankly into space. This was his last chance. At that point, an attendant approached the emperor and relayed his message. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he said. Her Majesty the Empress is expecting you. ¡°Empress?¡± The high-ranking officials who were about to leave paused and looked at the emperor and his entourage. ¡°Yes. She is now waiting for the meeting to end in the conference hall¡¯s waiting room. ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Karl, who frowned at those words, sat in his chair and placed his order. ¡°Do you have any plans to travel far?¡± Bring her here when the lieutenants leave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Lennox Poitiers, who had been watching him closely, smiled and lifted his lips. £ª £ª £ª Meanwhile, in the middle of the senior officials¡¯ meeting, the empress stood up in her waiting room outside the meeting room, her ears perking up. She appeared to be paying attention to what was being said, pausing her movements and concentrating on the voices. Meanwhile, when the voices of high-ranking officials reached the waiting room through the massive door, the two attendants guarding the room looked at the empress with embarrassed expressions. The empress frowned as expected when she heard the high voice. ¡°Who was it that just screamed?¡± ¡°I believe it was the count of Lennox Poitiers.¡± The empress nodded and returned her attention to the sound beyond the door. How long have they been doing it? The sound of someone pushing the chair was audible. As soon as the meeting appeared to be over, the empress sat back on the sofa, as if she had never done so before. She then leaned back slightly and stared arrogantly at the door of the Zhongxin conference hall after lifting the untouched teacup. It took a shift in attitude for the people watching to open their mouths. When the heavy door finally opened, the lieutenants began to rush out. Because the Zhongshan meeting hall¡¯s structure required the Zhongxin to pass through the waiting room to go outside, the Zhongxin had no choice but to make eye contact with the empress. The lieutenants who made eye contact with the empress were rushing around greeting one another. Adele, who was having difficulty receiving greetings due to the large crowd, nodded lightly as she set down her teacup. ¡°Now, shall we stand up gracefully and say hello?¡± ¡°Female!¡± Adele became suspicious of her ears after receiving a ridiculous call. CH 11.1 The Baldr brothers entered the meeting room, their eyes widening at the sight that greeted them. The Duke of Despone, standing at the front of the crowd, called out to the Empress with a pleasant laugh. ¡°Woman! It¡¯s nice to see you here.¡± Lionel and Theseus turned to look at Adele, wondering how she would react to the Duke¡¯s disrespectful and inappropriate greeting. The other nobles in the room also looked on with interest, as did the Duke himself. However, instead of responding to the Duke¡¯s greeting, Adele stared at him calmly and collectedly. Her features were so cold and detached that she seemed almost robotic. The room fell into a tense silence, the atmosphere thick with unease. It was as if the stillness of the sea at night had descended upon the room, bringing with it a sense of unease and foreboding. The Empress¡¯s silence only added to the importance of anxiety, causing the air in the room to feel heavy and oppressive. The coldness of thin ice, the loud ticking of the clock, and the sound of someone swallowing nervously were all that could be heard. Adele¡¯s gaze was fixed on the Duke, a smile less expression on her face. Her red lips, pale skin, black hair cascading down her shoulders, and piercing golden eyes all contributed to the eerie atmosphere that seemed to emanate from her very being. The nobles found themselves uncomfortable and uneasy, their skin crawling at the strange aura the Empress exuded. Adele was well aware of the effect she was having, and she could sense the fear emanating from her opponent. With a sudden, broad smile, she changed the room¡¯s atmosphere in an instant, the sound of relieved sighs filling the air. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I am unfamiliar with the Ehmont language? Could you please explain to me what ¡®Woman¡± means, Duke of Despone?¡± Adele asked softly, her voice laced with poison. The Duke of Despone, however, was not easily cowed. He gave a sad smile and replied in a friendly tone. ¡°I apologize if I have offended you, Your Majesty. I was simply trying to show my friendliness as an adult of the Ulrich family. I had hoped that you would be more understanding¡­ Please forgive me.¡± Adele¡¯s smile faded, her voice laced with ice. ¡°Friendliness should be shown with respect and decorum, not by disrespecting someone¡¯s title and position. Your actions were inappropriate, and you have apologized. I expect you to be more mindful in the future.¡± The tension in the room seemed to dissipate, and a voice spoke up from the back of the room. ¡°I don¡¯t see what the problem is. The Duke was just trying to be friendly. The Empress is taking it too seriously.¡± The room fell silent again as the noble cowered under the Empress¡¯s gaze. It was clear that Adele would not tolerate disrespect or insubordination, and the nobles present knew better than to test her patience. The Empress stood up from her seat, her voice light and friendly as she addressed the Duke of Despone and the other nobles in the room. ¡°It is an honor to meet you all.¡± Adele scanned the room, taking in the various superintendents that stood before her. Many of them seemed to be meeting her for the first time, and Adele¡¯s gaze lingered on the Baldr brothers for a moment. Adele met Lionel¡¯s eyes directly as she looked from Theseus to Lionel. In the dim light of the room, her blue eyes appeared almost black, and Lionel found himself unable to look away. Adele gave him a small, almost invisible smile before turning her attention to the pale Count Calvin. It was clear that he had been involved in the argument with Lennox Poitiers, judging by his haggard appearance. ¡°Count Calvin,¡± Adele said, her voice cutting through the silence. ¡°Did you say that flying monsters would appear?¡± Count Calvin, taken aback by the unexpected question, nodded quickly. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct.¡± Adele raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is there not a wizard assigned to each region?¡± Lennox Poitiers, standing beside Calvin, answered the question. ¡°Wizards are managed centrally, Your Majesty. We are responsible for protecting the entire kingdom.¡± Adele turned to Lennox, studying him closely. ¡°I see. The safety of the kingdom and its people is of the utmost importance. I hope you and your team are up to handling any flying monsters that may appear. ¡°Of course, Your Majesty. We will do everything in our power to protect the kingdom.¡± The Empress gave a faint smile, then walked past Lennox with a cold expression. ¡°I see. Thank you for your explanation.¡± Adele nodded, then turned to the attendant waiting at the door. ¡°I am ready now. Please lead me to His Majesty the Emperor.¡± The attendant nodded and opened the door, standing aside to allow Adele to pass. The nobles in the room watched with respect and awe as the Empress walked past them, her poise and grace unmatched. It was clear that Adele was a force to be reckoned with, and no one dared to cross her. As she left the room, the nobles knew they had just witnessed something exceptional ¨C the presence of a true leader. Lennox and the other high-ranking officials watched as Adele entered the meeting room, their expressions ranging from confusion to frustration. Lennox, in particular, was tilting his head in confusion, wondering what he had done wrong. Theseus, who had been observing the scene, spoke up. ¡°Lionel, let¡¯s go.¡± Lionel turned around at Theseus¡¯s urging, but he couldn¡¯t help but overhear the whispers of the other nobles as they talked about the Empress. He couldn¡¯t understand why Duke Despone would call her such a disrespectful name or why Lennox had given such an insincere and evasive answer to her question. It was clear that both men looked down on Adele and saw her as beneath them. But Adele had not let their disrespect get to her. Instead, she had maintained her poise and dignity, using her silence, her stern gaze, and her refined yet cold demeanor to assert her authority. It was a presence that belonged to someone born to rule. As they walked away, Lionel couldn¡¯t help but glance back at the door through which Adele had disappeared, wondering what the future held for the powerful and commanding Empress. CH 11.2 The Emperor sat at the head of the long table, his cold gaze fixed on Adele as she entered the meeting room. She didn¡¯t offer a greeting, simply strolling and taking in the large conference hall. Adele¡¯s nerves were on edge as she walked along the table, feeling the weight of the Emperor¡¯s gaze like a physical presence. The atmosphere in the room was icy, reminding Adele of the scorching desert heat and the cold of the Arctic. She stopped at the appropriate distance from the Emperor, the ambiguous space between them reflecting the current state of their relationship. Adele took a deep breath and looked at the Emperor, feeling like she was facing a frozen wasteland. His cold gaze and expression showed no hint of consideration or understanding, and Adele¡¯s eyes narrowed in response. She had come to discuss something related to dress prices, not to fight, but she didn¡¯t have the strength to do so even if she wanted to. But as she faced the Emperor¡¯s icy demeanor, a fire began to burn within her. She pulled out her chair and sat down, ignoring the shocked reaction of the attendant standing behind her. ¡°Can I request a private meeting for a moment?¡± Adele asked, her voice steady. ¡°Yes, of course,¡± the Emperor replied. ¡°Would you like some tea?¡± ¡°I already had some in the waiting room,¡± Adele said, shaking her head. ¡°I don¡¯t need any refreshments. Everyone can leave.¡± The attendants quickly obeyed, the sound of the door closing like thunder in the tense silence of the room. Adele and the Emperor were left alone, facing each other across the table. As soon as the door closed, the Emperor asked impatiently, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Adele was unfazed by his demeanor, meeting his gaze with her steady one. ¡°Why did you request a national marriage? Why did you make me Empress in the first place? You didn¡¯t ask for a national marriage before me.¡± The Emperor was silent for a moment, considering his words. Finally, he looked up at Adele and spoke softly, his eyes as dark as a mountain valley. ¡°It just exists. Like a feather on this quill, it just exists. Just by being there, you fulfill your purpose.¡± ¡°Keep your place as the empress, is that what you mean?¡± The pride of Adelaide, who had once been the Crown Princess of Gotrov, was crumpled. Her crumpled pride shattered like shredded paper. She seemed to freeze her air currents, which had only been cold. ¡°Even that, is that what you really want?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°Then why did you have to undermine my prestige?¡± ¡°Never.¡± Adele laughed at the firm answer. It seemed pointless even to enumerate her humiliations at her wedding and banquet. So Adele drove him away with her sharper words. ¡°Did you do it because you were afraid that I might harm Diane Poitier?¡± Even the Emperor, who had objected so far, was silent about the question. After all, that was the reason. She wanted to ask if the Emperor of a country was sane. She wanted to refute his rude actions by bringing them out on the table. But would there be any gains from arguing with the Emperor here and now? It would be cool to lie for a while, but the one who regrets it now is Adele. Chimmy stomped on her anger, and Adele rose from her seat. Then her Emperor looked up at her from an angle. ¡°I am prepared to do good. I am telling you this because you seem to want some privacy.¡± Her slender face, with jet-black hair spilling to the side, was paler than ever. Like the pale moonlight in the night sky, the empress¡¯ anger shone brightly. ¡°I¡¯m glad you want the empress position to be filled. I want that too. I will fulfill my responsibilities as Empress Ehmont.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, please cooperate so that I can fulfill my responsibilities.¡± ¡°What kind of cooperation are you talking about?¡± ¡°First of all, I need someone to consult to understand this place. The best way to do this is to ask the person who is in charge of the palace, and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s Diane Poitier. It would be difficult for me to call her advice.¡± Emperor Karl had nothing to say. ¡°So I would like to consult with Countess Hannah Giggs, who was the previous general manager.¡± It will soon be known that Mrs. Giggs entered the palace, so Adele took the lead in advance. ¡°Hannah Giggs?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking for your understanding because your Majesty sent her out of the palace. However, we will not have her as the general manager.¡± Karl, who had been agonizing for a while, nodded and agreed because there was no justification to refute. ¡°So be it.¡± ¡°Thank you, and one more thing. The Empress doesn¡¯t have a budget. I ask for an urgent supplementary budget.¡± Adele asked the Emperor in a businesslike tone. This time the Emperor was speechless. ¡°A budget for the empress¡¯ palace?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. It is necessary for the maintenance and repair of the palace, as well as for the management of the palace staff and their salaries. It is also necessary to prepare for various events and ceremonies that the Empress may be invited to attend.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Emperor nodded, understanding the empress¡¯ request. ¡°I will have the budget prepared as soon as possible. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s all. Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Adele bowed her head in gratitude and prepared to leave the room. ¡°Adele.¡± The Empress turned back at the sound of the Emperor¡¯s voice. ¡°I apologize for everything that has happened so far. I will do my best to support you from now on.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty. I will also do my best to fulfill my duties as Empress.¡± Adele gave a slight bow before turning and walking out of the room. The Emperor watched her leave, a small smile on his face. He knew the Empress was strong, capable, and confident she would handle the challenges ahead. ***** As the door closed behind the Empress, Emperor Karl exhaled a long breath and rubbed his forehead with his hand. He could still see the image of the Empress, dressed in the red gown that symbolized her status, fluttering in front of him like an illusion. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± he muttered to himself, trying to calm his racing heart. Even after becoming the Emperor, the afterimages of his past continued to haunt him. He remembered the fluttering hem of a red dress and the tiny hands of a child trying to grab onto it but never quite reaching the hem. ¡°My poor son,¡± his birth mother had said to him. ¡°The empress will never acknowledge you.¡± And she had been right. Karl had wanted to be recognized by the perfect-looking woman who loved to wear red, but she had never acknowledged him. With a deep sigh, Karl gave an order to the attendants who had entered the meeting room. ¡°Call Diane,¡± he said, his voice heavy with emotion. CH 12.1 A while later, Diane entered the meeting room and called the emperor with a warm and fresh voice, like a spring breeze. ¡°Your majesty!¡± The emperor, Karl, who had been deep in thought with narrowed eyebrows, raised his head at the sound of the voice. Diane was small and fairy-like with wavy golden hair, a smooth face, and pale sky-blue eyes. Even her taste resembled that of the emperor¡¯s biological mother. The light blue dress swayed as she approached. When Diane saw the emperor¡¯s hardened face, she smiled even brighter. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± ¡°Did you bring the imperial budget?¡± The emperor asked for it right away. The emperor was not a friendly person. Seeing a smile or a warm look from him was hard. So, how great was it to win his wedding, the first night, and the banquet? Diane politely laid the budget down before the emperor and sat down. The person who had played the role of empress for the past three years was Diane herself. She enjoyed virtually all the powers of an empress. Karl picked up the budget bill that Diane had brought and quickly glanced over it. As Adele had said, the empress¡¯ palace had yet to be budgeted. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t there an emergency supplementary budget for the empress¡¯ palace budget? This should have also been included in the preparations for the empress.¡± Diane¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at the emperor¡¯s low questioning. ¡°Oh my God, didn¡¯t I?!¡± Karl silently pointed to one part of the budget and handed the document to Diane. As she confirmed the issue, she jumped up and shook her feet. ¡°What should I do, Your Majesty? Oh god, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I thought I had done it and forgot.¡± In an instant, both eyes were stained red, and she was confused, not knowing what to do. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. Sorry.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± As something transparent suddenly fell from her eyes, Karl sighed and took out his handkerchief, and handed it to her. ¡°Stop crying. You have too many tears.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I was immature. The empress must be displeased. How can I fix this, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something that needs to be done.¡± ¡°Nevertheless¡­ ¡± Karl stared blankly at the woman who lowered her shoulders, trembled, and wiped away her tears for a long time. It seemed like he was thinking about something. Sensing the emperor¡¯s strange gaze, Diane faced him with watery eyes. ¡°I¡­ Your Majesty, is there anything you want to say?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± As the silence continued, Diane¡¯s heart began to race. Her eyes were wet and lips were dry. Without realizing it, she blinked several times in succession. Suddenly, the emperor spoke. ¡°The empress¡¯ original authority has already been transferred to the empress¡¯ palace. In addition, I will take back the authority of the palace ministry that I entrusted to you. I will delegate it to the empress later.¡± The sound of her heartbeats seemed to be coming from far away. Diane squeezed her fingertip hard under the desk with her hidden hand. It was something that she had always known would happen someday. Karl had always been the man who would eventually say these words. Despite preparing for it herself, she couldn¡¯t help but tremble. But she couldn¡¯t show it to him. Diane raised her lips in a smile and nodded, as she had practiced countless times before. ¡°Anyway, I was actually preparing myself. It¡¯s absurd for me to dare to inform the empress, but¡­ Still, you¡¯ll always be curious about the previous year¡¯s data. I was preparing for those things.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. However, the emergency supplementary budget is a part that needs to be done right away, so why don¡¯t I take care of only this part?¡± The emperor nodded slowly at her words. ¡°Let it be.¡± ¡°I understand, Your Majesty.¡± She replied with a mischievous smile. Karl would never let go if she answered with a smile like this. ¡°Why would you laugh when you are told to give up what you have?¡± Diane spoke to the emperor in a sorrowful tone. ¡°Your majesty.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I only need one person, Your Majesty. So it¡¯s not like I¡¯m giving away what I have.¡± Diane closed her eyes, laughed, got up from her seat, and approached him. She then boldly placed her hand on the emperor¡¯s cheek and stroked it slowly. Karl was like a sensitive wolf, so she had to be very careful. When he didn¡¯t move his hand, Diane touched his lips. Then she lowered her head and pressed her lips against the emperor¡¯s lips. ¡°I just need Your Majesty.¡± Diane, who whispered like a spell and caressed the emperor¡¯s hair, stood up at the right moment. She then tidied up his disheveled clothes and looked at the emperor as if she had just had an idea. ¡°Oh! Your majesty¡­ they say the empress called in Mrs. Giggs.¡± However, unlike the expectation that the displeased look would return, the emperor¡¯s expression did not change. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± This was something that Diane had not expected. ******** As Adele sat in the empress¡¯ palace, sipping her lemon tea, Mrs. Giggs sat across from her, observing her closely. The seasoned old lady could sense the tension in the air and quickly poured Adele a hot tea, hoping to relax her muscles. ¡°Have you paid for the dress?¡± Mrs. Giggs asked, noticing the luxurious red silk dress adorned with ornate gold threads that Adele was wearing. ¡°Yes, I have. But there is something I need to discuss with you,¡± Adele replied, setting down her cup of cold water. ¡°What is it? Is there not enough money?¡± Mrs. Giggs asked with concern. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that¡­did you see the design of the dress that I ordered?¡± Adele asked hesitantly. ¡°Yes, I did. But it seems that you are wearing a different dress. Did you choose this one instead?¡± Mrs. Giggs inquired. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t exactly choose it. The ladies-in-waiting asked if I would wear this dress, and I just said it was fine,¡± Adele admitted, frowning. ¡°I see. So, rather than making your own choice, you just went along with what was offered to you,¡± Mrs. Giggs concluded, understanding the situation. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. ¡°That, too, must have been granted rather than chosen individually.¡± Adele frowned and nodded, feeling a sense of frustration at not being able to make her own choices. ¡°Ehmont-style clothing is unfamiliar, and I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the design of the clothing even when I was in my home country.¡± Mrs. Giggs nodded sympathetically, understanding Adele¡¯s unfamiliarity with the customs of the palace. ¡°I will return the finished dress and order again. Please wear ready-made clothes for the time being.¡± ¡°Is this design out of formality?¡± At Adele¡¯s question, Mrs. Giggs shook her head. ¡°No, it is not a matter of formality. It is a design that looks very much like Her Majesty.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because the dress closely resembles Her Majesty¡¯s own style. It¡¯s as if you¡¯ve inherited the clothes of Her Majesty the previous empress.¡± It was natural that Adele did not readily understand that. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yes, perhaps that was the issue. While the crowns of previous empresses were also inherited, Adele hadn¡¯t considered the design of the clothes to be of much importance. ¡°His Majesty the Emperor will be thrilled by a dress that reminds him of the late Empress.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wear it as much as possible, Her Majesty. There is no benefit in doing so.¡± ¡°No benefit?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. Her Majesty the former Empress and the present Emperor did not get along very well.¡± CH 12.2 Adele nodded thoughtfully at Mrs. Giggs¡¯s words. She understood that the former empress and the current emperor had not gotten along well and that it would be best to avoid wearing a dress that reminded him of the former empress. Adele knew that she needed more people she could trust, like Mrs. Giggs, who had been a close confidant of the former empress. ¡°I understand, Mrs. Giggs. Thank you for your advice. I will be more careful in the future.¡± Adele paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°Do you know of any other advisors or confidants that I can trust in the palace? I need more people I can rely on.¡± Mrs. Giggs nodded. ¡°I can recommend a few people, Your Majesty. There are several ladies-in-waiting and advisors who are loyal to the empress and can be trusted. I will make a list for you.¡± Adele smiled gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Giggs. I appreciate your help.¡± As Mrs. Giggs began to list names of trusted advisors and ladies-in-waiting, Adele listened attentively and made mental notes of those she should approach. She knew building a support network within the palace would be essential to her success as an empress. ******* Diane was out of breath as she returned to the Ivory Palace. Seeing her displeased, her attendants slipped away. Diane bit her lip hard and shut herself in her own room, pulling the thick blackout curtains closed to block out the sunlight. She curled up in a cocoon-like position, letting her rich blonde hair fall into her ears as she felt isolated and alone. Tears poured down her face as she cried uncontrollably, forgetting the reason for her tears. Eventually, she clutched her stomach with both hands and cried out, ¡°Why, why, why won¡¯t it happen? Why the hell does it have to be this way?¡± She needed a child so badly, and the thought of Empress Xu Yi taking away her authority was unbearable. ¡°She was born a princess and have always had everything without any effort. It¡¯s not fair.¡± She hit her chest hard and laughed through her tears, her face distorted and stained by her crying. After some time, Diane wiped her face with the handkerchief the emperor had given her and rose from her seat, pulling her hair back from her face. She looked at the brightly lit room with determination, taking in the marble floor that shone like a pearl, the golden moldings, the ceiling embroidered with masterpieces, and the chandelier made with thousands of crystals woven together. This was the most beautiful room in the Ivory Palace and was said to be the most beautiful in Ehmont. ¡°That woman won¡¯t defeat me,¡± she muttered before composing herself and leaving the room. She will not be lost. This is her sanctuary, the fruit of her efforts, obtained through her own blood and sweat. Neither Karl Ulrich nor this place will I give up. I will not be pushed aside by empresses who are mere shells. Diane took a deep breath and exhaled, pressing her hand against her chest. ¡®The ivory palace. It¡¯s where my biological mother, Lady Beatrice, wanted to live.¡¯ Remembering Karl¡¯s words, Diane lifted her lips into a smile. His Majesty cannot abandon me. No need to get excited. Diane tried to imitate the emperor¡¯s biological mother in every way ¨C her appearance, her way of speaking, her behavior, and even her favorite food. She only felt at ease when the emperor began to confuse whether she was Diane Poitier or Madame Beatrice. Diane sat at the desk calmly, as if she had never cried. How much had she prepared for this day? ¡°Lorraine!¡± Diane called out, and Lorraine, who had been waiting outside, rushed in and bowed her head. ¡°Bring the imperial budget. We will create an additional budget.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± the maid said Malice shone in Diane¡¯s beautiful eyes. ******* Two tall men were sitting in a grand ebony carriage. The elderly wives whispered to each other, marveling at how two brothers could be handsome. ¡°If only we could guarantee that our sons would turn out like them, we would have one child after another!¡± The young ladies also couldn¡¯t help but envy the Balder brothers, who were literally the flowers of Ehmont¡¯s social world. But it seemed like the brothers didn¡¯t care. Theseus, lost in thought for a while, suddenly spoke up with a faint sneer on his lips. ¡°The Duke of Despone was the one who dared to recommend the Princess of Gotthov across the sea as the empress, just to make a scarecrow empress. But it seems like he failed.¡± Looking out the window, Lionel also nodded at his older brother¡¯s words, recalling the empress. No, from the first time they met the empress at Ehmont, she had been stuck in his head. He vividly remembered the image of the empress, smiling as she rode her horse, wild but carefree. But what a surprise it was when the Emperor was rumored that he went to the Ivory Palace as soon as her wedding was over The attention of the nobles was focused on the empress¡¯s actions, and even her noble ladies insulted her beyond imagination, but she proudly broke everyone¡¯s expectations. In the banquet hall and in the waiting room of the high court meeting, the empress looked relaxed and confident, without the slightest shrinkage. Her refined smile and intimidation, characteristic of those in power, were artificial, but she was spotless. It was hard to believe that this was the same woman who had laughed like a girl while riding her horse. But every time Lionel saw his perfect empress with her thread, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange attraction. Was this the feeling of watching over a tree that remained tall and strong despite being hit by a fierce storm? Then, Theseus rubbed his chin lightly and muttered. ¡°She was someone who knew how to control the atmosphere with just one hand. Seeing that, Theseus understood why the late Empress Dowager Gottrov would use her spirit and try to send his daughter across the sea. Since the newly crowned emperor was only 14 years old, Geisen¡¯s sister wouldn¡¯t have been able to help much in strengthening imperial authority.¡± Lionel nodded and continued, ¡°Anyway, it seems that the emperor will leave the tower of Calvin¡¯s estate as it is. I¡¯m worried that if a flying monster appears, the neighborhood will become a mess in no time.¡± Theseus rubbed his chin with his hand and thought for a moment. The carriage fell silent for a moment. Lionel opened the window and a gust of wind blew his dark blue hair, sticking it to his forehead. Theseus stared blankly at his brother, who was staring out the window with his arms crossed, his slightly wrinkled eyebrows, shadowy eyes, and tightly closed mouth. ¡°Lionel.¡± At his brother¡¯s call, Lionel turned his head. ¡°What are you worried about?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lionel didn¡¯t answer the question, turning his head back to look out the window. The scenery outside may have been beautiful, but it was meaningless to Lionel now. Because something else dominated his mind. CH 13.1 The wagon traveled across the wide open plains and eventually entered a tall grove of trees. The sunlight was blocked by the trees and the wind cooled for a moment. Lionel addressed the Empress, ¡°Your Majesty the Empress,¡± but received no response. He then wondered if the current stagnant state of affairs could be broken. Theseus was surprised by Lionel¡¯s observation that the emperor was controlling the nobles through the advantage he gave to the magician group. The nobles were kept in check, afraid that the tower would fall on their estates and they would need the help of the wizards to survive. There was even a law that stated that moving without the emperor¡¯s orders was treason. Theseus was speechless as Lionel explained that the current situation was not to the Empress¡¯s liking. A black disaster arrived with the bloody sky, paradoxically strengthening Emperor Ehmont¡¯s power. He reigned as an absolute monarch, using the blood and fear of the people as a stepping stone. ******** Adele instructed Mrs. Giggs to call Count Calvin, who was still in the capital. After Mrs. Giggs left the room, Adele was left alone with her thoughts. Despite being the Empress of Ehmont, she did not have a family to support her and struggled to understand the power dynamics of Ehmont¡¯s political circle. She was grateful to be fluent in Ehmont, even though she had grumbled about having to learn the language of a country she was unfamiliar with. ¡°It is difficult,¡± she thought to herself. Adele felt like she was feeling her way through the darkness. She suddenly remembered Elizabeth¡¯s advice to appoint an aide. Adele cringed at the thought of having a male aide, as she remembered Elizabeth¡¯s words about the previous emperor¡¯s mistresses and the political power plays that took place at banquets. However, she also remembered Elizabeth¡¯s advice to prioritize her spirit over everything else in Ehmont. The name ¡°Prince Baldr¡± and his associate, Lionel Baldr, came to Adele¡¯s mind. Adele remembered Lionel¡¯s calm and steady gaze, which reminded her of the sea just before a storm. Although they had only met a few times, Adele felt that Lionel was a reliable person. She smiled involuntarily as she remembered the time they rode horses together, which was the only enjoyable moment she had experienced in Ehmont. She quickly pushed those thoughts away, shaking her head slightly. ¡°First of all, I need to learn more about the culture here. I can¡¯t be squeamish about doing it.¡± Adele sighed and massaged her forehead. She knew that in this situation, understanding the culture was crucial and she couldn¡¯t be delicate about it. Historically, emperors and empresses sometimes had differences, but it was usually when both parties were at their strongest. However, in the current scenario, where no one has any power, if Adele were to confront the emperor impulsively, it could have unfavorable consequences. Therefore, it¡¯s essential to weigh the options before taking any action. ***** Count Calvin, a learned gentleman with a dignified air, was a picture of composure ¨C or at least he used to be. Currently, he was a mess, his dignity barely holding on. He was well aware of the urgency of the situation as he rushed to the territory, but his efforts were met with disdain and no offers of help upon arrival at the conference hall. The cold expression of the emperor was the final nail in the coffin ¨C the territory and its people were of no consequence to the ruler. ¡°Take care of your sword, so that it is ready at a moment¡¯s notice when the emperor calls for you,¡± the emperor warned. This only added to Count Calvin¡¯s distress, as memories of what could have been flooded his mind. He wished he could go back and warn his people, to prevent the current disaster. Regret washed over him, and he felt like slapping himself for not realizing the severity of the situation sooner. It was not until Count Calvin was summoned by the empress, Adele, that he arrived at the Imperial Palace. He was perplexed by the sudden summons, and as he sat in the conference hall, he barely touched his tea. ¡°Here¡¯s your queen,¡± Mrs. Giggs announced Adele¡¯s arrival. Count Calvin quickly rose to his feet and turned to greet her. ¡°Sit easy, Count Calvin,¡± Adele instructed as she took her seat at the head of the table. ¡°When was the tower built?¡± Adele asked, cutting straight to the point. ¡°!¡± The count was taken aback by the question. ¡°At first, there was no flying demon, but over time, did it appear?¡± Adele continued, ¡°Is the diameter of the tower getting wider?¡± Count Calvin¡¯s eyes slowly filled with light as he realized the significance of the empress¡¯s questions. The sadness and anger that had been building inside of him burst forth like a dam breaking. He finally saw a glimmer of hope. ¡°I ran when I saw the flying monster. No one had weapons to defend against the beasts, regardless of age or gender. From the elderly who¡¯ve lost all their teeth to children just entering puberty, everyone is fighting for survival. Please, Your Majesty, save us,¡± the Count implored, his voice trembling. His wrinkled face showed his immense pain as he ran towards the imperial palace, leaving the horrors of war behind. When the empress asked about the absence of strikers and keepers, the Count explained that they were normally dispatched based on tower level, but support was often delayed. He feared that without help, everyone in the area would die. CH 13.2 ¡°Please, Your Majesty,¡± the Count begged, tears streaming down his face, ¡°people are dying. The weak and slow, including women and children, are being torn apart by the beasts. Even the trained knights of the territory have died from exhaustion. It¡¯s a living hell.¡± Mrs. Giggs, who was nearby, interrupted the Count, worried that the empress would be disturbed by his descriptions. The Count, who understood, swallowed his sobs and wiped away his tears. ¡°Sorry,¡± he apologized, but the empress replied, ¡°No, you don¡¯t know that you expressed hell in a purified way.¡± The Count, who had lowered his head, looked up at the empress, his eyes filled with hope. As the empress watched the count with a calm demeanor, her mind was consumed by a vivid memory of hell. She saw the bloody skies, the monstrous cries of evil, the smoke, the screams of the people, the bodies scattered everywhere, and the pools of blood. Mothers wept for their lost children, and children shook the dead bodies of their parents, begging for them to wake up. The tower had appeared in the world suddenly one day, causing chaos and destruction. But, as humans always do, they found ways to adapt. Wizards, who could control the magic of the tower, emerged, and the roles of strikers and keepers, along with knights, became crucial in climbing to the top. Some even saw the crisis as an opportunity. ¡®Mother,¡¯ Adele spoke up, breaking the silence, ¡®you say such cruel things because you have not seen the misery of those who have died. You don¡¯t have to offer me the world.¡¯ Her words marked the beginning of her strained relationship with her mother. Eventually, her mother took the crown from Adele. Coming back to reality, Adele looked at the count, who stood before her with his white hair and wrinkled face, and his rough, bloodless lips. ¡°Your Majesty, thank you for your concern,¡± the count said with a smile. ¡°I apologize, but I must return to my territory as soon as possible, so I must go now.¡± Adele felt a sense of despair as the hope of being the empress faded away. Her throat felt hot and dry, making it hard for her to swallow. The count, who had just barely stood up and bowed politely, turned to her with shaking knees. ¡°Evacuate the inhabitants to nearby estates,¡± the empress said, her voice squeaky. The empress stood up, her face showing genuine concern. ¡°The best hiding place to prevent flying spells is caves or underground spaces. Evacuate the elderly and weak there. If you take refuge far from the tower and join with various lords, it¡¯ll be more effective. You can endure longer and put pressure on the center.¡± ¡°Yes, her Majesty the Empress,¡± the count replied, bowing his head respectfully. Adele stopped the count for a moment, then hurried back to her room. She opened the box of gold bars and placed two in his pocket and two more in the count¡¯s arms. ¡°Take this, it might come in handy. Use it wisely, we never know what the future holds.¡± Adele watched as the count left, a sense of sadness and regret creeping over her. Despite her efforts to help, she felt like she could have done more. The count, who had just asked about the gold bars in his pocket, turned to Adele. ¡°It¡¯s for evacuation expenses,¡± Adele explained. ¡°In case of emergency.¡± The count nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Adele couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of guilt. She was the empress, yet she felt powerless to protect her people. As she watched the count leave, tears streaming down her face, Adele couldn¡¯t help but think that this was just the beginning. The future was uncertain and filled with danger, but she vowed to do all she could to protect her kingdom and its people. ***** ¡°Why did the empress summon Count Calvin?¡± Theseus asked, gazing out at the late summer landscape. Lionel, focusing on the documents before him, replied, ¡°Curious about the situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s surprising that the emperor would abandon the Count of Calvin,¡± Theseus mused. ¡°He¡¯s always been a loyal servant to the imperial family.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Lionel said, looking up from his work. ¡°Until now, most of the lands abandoned by the emperor belonged to families that disobeyed him.¡± The brothers pondered the reasons behind the emperor¡¯s actions before returning to their work. ¡°I must uncover why the monarch would abandon someone like Count Calvin,¡± Lionel said, standing from his seat. ¡°It¡¯s preposterous.¡± ¡°Can you solve it on your own?¡± Theseus asked. ¡°If not, can I count on your help?¡± Lionel requested. ¡°Of course,¡± Theseus replied. ¡°I¡¯m here to assist.¡± Lionel reassured him that he would handle the issue, which was the unpaid salaries of junior engineers for the past three months. He planned to use his own funds to cover their living expenses. ¡°You always think of solutions I wouldn¡¯t have considered,¡± Theseus said with a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I was also planning to offer some financial aid to Count Calvin, but I didn¡¯t have enough,¡± Theseus added. ¡°The Duke of Baldr wouldn¡¯t approve,¡± Lionel quipped. ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s go. Count Calvin¡¯s carriage is arriving,¡± Theseus said, disregarding Lionel¡¯s remark. CH 14.1 As the brothers exited the building, Count Calvin¡¯s carriage pulled up to the entrance. The Count appeared to be in distress, tears streaming down his face before the coachman could even open the door. Lionel asked, ¡°What happened, Bag Calvin?¡± to which the Count shook his head and closed his eyes. Lionel persisted, ¡°Why did the empress call you?¡± but the Count struggled to speak. Lionel approached and asked again, ¡°Count. Why?¡± as he grabbed the Count¡¯s shoulder. The Count revealed a pouch from his bosom and held it out to the two brothers. Inside were four nuggets of gold, sparkling in the moonlight. The Count explained, ¡°She gave me this. With this, she told me to ask to evacuate the residents in the nearby territories.¡± Theseus looked at the count with urgency and handed over a heavy pouch the butler was holding. The count turned his head questioningly as Theseus explained, ¡°Wait a moment, Bag Calvin.¡± The count bowed respectfully to the brothers before climbing back into his carriage and heading back to his estate. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± he said before departing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be of direct help,¡± Theseus said sympathetically to Count Calvin. The Count shook his head and grabbed Theseus¡¯ shoulders with both hands. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Duke. This old man is infinitely ashamed.¡± ¡°It will take a lot of money to evacuate residents. Haven¡¯t you already spent all your money?¡± Lionel asked. The Count¡¯s emotions burst out and he buried his face in Theseus¡¯ shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Theseus held the Count tightly as he cried, feeling the weight of the Count¡¯s grief. When the Count¡¯s tears finally subsided, Lionel suggested leaving the following day, but the count was determined to return to his estate. ¡°No. I have to go,¡± he said resolutely, looking at Theseus and Lionel. Lionel gestured to the waiting family knights and said, ¡°Take the Count safely to the manor.¡± The knights responded, ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡± Lionel continued, ¡°Go carefully. And if you need my help, please feel free to contact me.¡± The Count thanked Lionel and Theseus before the knights led him away, and the sun began to set as the Count¡¯s carriage disappeared from view. ***** Mrs. Giggs blinked quickly. At first, she thought it was an earthquake. But when she heard the sound of cloth rubbing against each other every minute, ¡®Ah, this is the sound of legs shaking.¡¯ She realized that someone was shaking their legs madly. Scanning her surroundings with her ferociously raised eyes, the exacting lady found that none of her maids were shaking their legs. She narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze to the Empress. The empress, her eyes wide open, gracefully crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. Hopefully, the empress won¡¯t be shaking her legs. Crunchy crunch crunch. At a quick and breezy pace, the sound of cloth rubbing was heard, and the floor vibrated minutely. Crunchy crunch crunch crunch. Looking at it, the hem of her empress¡¯s rich skirt was vibrating lightly and quickly. It was the Empress, and Mrs. Giggs observed that she was shaking her legs gracefully and quickly. ¡°Hmmmm.¡± The former Grand Duke¡¯s nanny cleared her throat involuntarily. It was a method often used in the past to restrain young Elizabeth¡¯s behavior, but it came out of habit. ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Adele, who had been shaking her legs, stopped unconsciously at the sound of clearing her throat. It was because she had often been restrained in this way in his home country. Adele tilted her head and looked at Mrs. Giggs. ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± She had a clean face. Adele straightened her tilted head and started shaking her legs again. Sasasa sasasa sasasaksak. ¡°Keah hmm hmm.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Adele reflexively looked at Mrs. Giggs, and this time she also tightened her eyes and looked at the empress. The former nanny and the former tomboy exchanged tense glances. ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± Adele muttered, to which Mrs. Giggs gave a small nod. ¡°You¡¯re out of luck if your legs tremble here too, what is this sound like?¡± Adele asked. Mrs. Giggs smiled and shrugged. ¡°Are you having trouble?¡± Adele sighed and pressed a hand between her brows. When her sigh returned instead of her answer, Mrs. Giggs sent her waiting ladies-in-waiting outside. She then brewed some herbs for headaches and made tea in silence. Adele leaned her head on her sofa and tensed her whole body as the refreshing scent of her tea reached her nose. The clattering sound of tea cups clashing and the sound of flowing tea water was peaceful. It¡¯s so peaceful here¡­ ¡­ ¡®Please, save me, Her Majesty.¡¯ A distressed voice suddenly came to mind, and Adele groaned, closing her eyes. However, when she closed her eyes, the memory of the Witchbeast¡¯s rampage filled her mind. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress,¡± a soft voice interrupted her thoughts. Adele¡¯s eyes widened. Mrs. Giggs held out her tea, and Adele drank it without realizing it was hot. After several cups in succession, Adele put down her empty teacup and muttered, ¡°I¡¯d rather pour it over a large glass.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in a teacup, so it¡¯s tea,¡± Mrs. Giggs replied. ¡°Wherever you put it, tea is the difference,¡± Adele said, watching as Mrs. Giggs tidied up the teacups. ¡°There was nothing I could do except give him gold bars.¡± ¡°You did the best you could. The Calvin bag went back fully grateful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s within the scope of what I can do¡­ ¡­ .¡± CH 14.2 At that, Adele smiled and shook her head. While she was drinking tea, the sun set and darkness set in. Adele leaned against the darkness that embraced her back. She lowered her eyes, her eyes deeply sunken. Her mother¡¯s words were engraved in her mind. ¡°Bend over. Sometimes you need to know how to sleep. Your standard is not the standard of the world.¡± What could be wrong? Where did it go wrong? What was missing? You are smart. But the world is a place where the smart build and the wise win. So act wisely. It is because she is powerless that she has to endure the insults and rudeness of the emperor and his mistress, and that she has no choice but to hand out a few pennies to those in need. What is the smart thing her empress can do to gain her power here? In fact, Adele always knew how to be ¡®wise¡¯. She just didn¡¯t put it into action. At least, Gottrov and Ehmont, where they had their own people, were completely different worlds. Recalling the emperor¡¯s face made her stomach ache with repulsion, but Adele forcibly stepped on her heart. ¡°Hey, Mrs. Giggs.¡± Mrs. Giggs, who had lit the last lamp, safely extinguished the ember in her hand and sat down gracefully on the sofa across from the Empress. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Adele asked softly, closing and opening her eyes. ¡°What kind of person is His Majesty the Emperor?¡± **** An evening not too ambitious, but not too early. Adele requested a meeting with the emperor. The suggestion was from Mrs. Giggs. ¡°Your Majesty, it is dinner time, so if we go now, we could have a light conversation over dinner. It could be a smart move to get along here,¡± said Mrs. Giggs. Adele agreed with Mrs. Giggs. She knew it was important to get along with the emperor first. As soon as he arrived, she experienced a bad feeling, but she couldn¡¯t even protest properly. If it had been Adelaide Gottrov, she might not have made the effort to get along with Karl Ulrich. But this is Ehmont. Adelaide was no longer Gottrov¡¯s princess. She had no advantage in rejecting the emperor now. Adele accepted Mrs. Giggs¡¯ proposal and asked for a meeting with the emperor. Like her mother said, she encouraged herself to bend down and bow down. She threw away all the dresses that reminded her of the previous empress. Instead, she wore a light navy blue dress that Mrs. Giggs, had recommended, her hair in a side braid. Her bare neck was missing. Mrs. Giggs also applied light makeup to Adele¡¯s face, and she looked beautiful. ¡°You are beautiful,¡± Mrs. Giggs sincerely praised Adele. Her reflection in the mirror was beautiful even when she saw herself. But strangely in a dirty mood, Adele bit her lip and lowered her gaze. ¡°Why is that, Her Majesty the Empress?¡± asked Mrs. Giggs. ¡°¡­ ¡­ nothing,¡± replied Adele. The empress rose energetically from her seat as if she had never done that before and strode out of the empress¡¯ palace. She was anxious about what would happen if the emperor refused to meet with her. ¡°Then I really feel bad¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Yes?¡± asked Mrs. Giggs. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± said Adele. As Adele and Mrs. Giggs arrived at the palace, the empress felt a sense of unease in her stomach. She had learned some curse words in the Ehmont language, and they kept popping up in her mind, causing her trouble. The attendant who greeted them looked at the empress suspiciously as she dropped her pretense. Despite her discomfort, Adele maintained her poise and kept her head high. Her braided hair, powdered face, and bare nape added to her regal appearance. The wind brushed through her neck, giving her goosebumps. Finally, the door that seemed unlikely to open, opened, and an attendant appeared, bowing his head politely. ¡°Welcome, Your Majesty.¡± Karl listened to the attendant¡¯s report about the empress and nonchalantly dismissed her attendants. As he left his desk and settled onto the couch to receive his guest, the attendant opened the door, and in walked the empress with an elegant figure. Karl¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to her simple achromatic dress, a far cry from her usual bold red empress¡¯s attire. Her black hair was styled to one side, exposing the nape of her neck and collarbones. Her natural pallor was emphasized in the dimly lit room, drawing his gaze to her collarbones that were accentuated by the flickering lanterns. Her golden eyes and clear red lips completed the captivating sight, and Karl found himself momentarily lost in her beauty. As she took a seat opposite him, he asked in a hushed voice, ¡°What brings you to me tonight?¡± CH 15.1 ¡°What brought you to see me tonight?¡± the emperor asked Adele. ¡°I came because I thought it might not be time for dinner. How about having dinner together?¡± Adele replied, hoping to change the subject. The emperor was taken aback by Adele¡¯s suggestion but quickly regained his composure. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not so, I was just about to contact you because I had something I wanted to ask you,¡± he said. ¡°Please speak,¡± Adele replied. ¡°Why did you summon Count Calvin?¡± the emperor asked with a smile on his face. Adele was embarrassed and struggled to find the right words. The emperor¡¯s smile deepened as he pressed her for an answer. ¡°Why did you call him, Empress?¡± he demanded. Adele felt like she was facing a harsh north wind as she stared into the emperor¡¯s cold, unrelenting eyes. She quickly regained her composure and replied. ¡°I called because I was curious about the situation,¡± said Adele. ¡°Why are you?¡± the emperor replied. ¡°Is it strange that I, the empress, wonder about that?¡± Adele asked. ¡°You weren¡¯t just curious, were you?¡± the emperor pressed. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Adele asked, feeling uneasy. ¡°His land is being destroyed by towers, but I did not save him. He just sent back the one who ran to save him. But the empress called him again. From what he heard, the empress seems to have given him gold bars. What are you doing now?¡± the emperor demanded. Adele wondered if the news of the gold bars had already reached the emperor¡¯s ears. She was speechless with embarrassment as the emperor continued to berate her. ¡°You want to play a good role alone? Unlike the emperor, the empress has a generous heart. Do you want to hear this?¡± he accused. ¡°Is this what you¡¯re saying about calling him and asking how the situation is, and giving him the funds to evacuate the villagers as a consolation money?¡± the emperor continued.. Adele did not answer the emperor¡¯s question. It felt like the tense air was about to snap as they locked eyes. The empress recalled her mother¡¯s advice to focus on good things and shut out negativity. The emperor¡¯s red lips curved into a charming smile, and she couldn¡¯t look away. As he stood up and approached her, the lantern swayed, and his golden eyes remained fixed on her. His intense gaze made her feel like she was facing a demon, and she was trapped between him and the sofa. ¡°From now on, close your eyes and ears, see only good things and think only good things, Empress,¡± the emperor spoke, echoing the empress¡¯s sister¡¯s advice. She gritted her teeth and retorted, ¡°It¡¯s the least a human being could do to another human being.¡± ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m not human?¡± the emperor asked with a hint of amusement. Adele opened her mouth, but quickly shut her eyes. The heat rose to the back of her neck, her heart thumping wildly. She knew she couldn¡¯t stay like this any longer. She reminded herself that she only lived once and must seize the moment. As she started to speak, she felt a shiver run down her right shoulder. Opening her eyes in surprise, she saw that the emperor had lightly grasped her black hair, which was braided to one side. He ran his fingertips through her hair while gazing at her hollowed-out collarbone, so delicate that it seemed as thin as his fingers. Would it break if he squeezed it too hard? The emperor impulsively tilted his head, and their shoulders almost collided. The tip of his nose touched her white nape, and Adele reflexively shrugged her shoulders and held her breath. The emperor¡¯s jaw quivered, and he gritted his teeth. Pressing his nose to her collarbone, he took a deep breath, savoring her sweet scent. Was she the same woman who had captivated the crowd with her gaze? As the emperor stood up, he held onto the armrests of his sofa with both hands, supporting his upper body. He then leaned in close to Adele¡¯s face, but stopped abruptly as he caught a glimpse of her golden eyes, fierce like those of a wild beast. He straightened his twisted head, his lips still closed, and gazed at Adele¡¯s stiff shoulders and raised eyes, clearly revealing her anger. Seeing her fury, the emperor tilted his head and smiled seductively. ¡°Why?¡± Silence. ¡°Why are your eyes like that?¡± Silence. ¡°Did you come to me tonight to spend the night with me? If you want a hug, I can give you one. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have our first night tonight.¡± Adele clenched her fists. The empress had intended to wish her emperor well, but his expression, attitude, and inconsiderate words made her feel dirty and humiliated. She felt a wave of anger and frustration wash over her. ¡°I¡¯m going to kiss you, so close your eyes.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Adele refused to close her eyes. Instead, she met the emperor¡¯s gaze with pride. Karl raised his hand to touch her eyes, but Adele slapped it away. ¡°Stop!¡± The emperor¡¯s brilliant golden eyes were still wild, like a leopard¡¯s in the jungle. Karl was entranced, wondering what would happen if he tamed this sleek, agile black beast with its wild golden eyes. Adele pushed him away from her seat. The emperor took a step back, then a step closer. He growled and warned her. CH 15.2 ¡°I know you were once the Crown Princess of Gottrov, and your eyes are truly fit for an emperor. But you are now the Empress. Do not forget that I am the emperor of this place. I prefer a compliant and submissive woman. Do not meddle in my work again. Do you understand?¡± After that, Karl quickly returned to his seat and spoke in a cold and formal tone. ¡°I have no plans for dinner, so go back to the Empress¡¯s palace and have dinner there. Remember my words and keep them in your heart.¡± Adelaide¡¯s powerful legs, which had withstood a catastrophic disaster from the sky, trembled with weakness at the humiliation that had hit her like a tsunami. Her composure crumbled, and the feeling of dirtiness permeated every strand of her being. Burning with anger, Adele rubbed the nape of her neck where the Emperor¡¯s breath had touched her, as if trying to erase his scent. She quickly left the room, striding down the endless hallway. The moonlight pouring through the windows made her feel cold, and she rubbed her stretched neck as if a cold wind was blowing on her empty nape. It felt like she was walking on air. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress?¡± Adele, lost in thought as she walked, came to a sudden halt at the sound of the voice. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress?¡± The voice belonged to Diane Poitier, a person Adelaide would least want to meet right now. Dressed in a sky-high dress, Diane walked up to Adele with a caring tone and a subtle scent of perfume. Adele tightened her chin and straightened her posture, trying to hide her humiliation. ¡®How do I look right now?¡¯ Adele wondered, closing her half-opened mouth. Diane looked at Adele blankly and smiled knowingly. Adele attempted to walk past her, avoiding her contemptuous gaze. ¡°Your Majesty, are you feeling cold?¡± Adele didn¡¯t answer, but Dian didn¡¯t seem to want to let her go. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re raising your arm. Your shoulders are shaking too.¡± Blocking the empress¡¯ way, she examined the empress¡¯s face and body with a worried expression. Adele felt something rising within her and gritted her teeth. ¡°Get out of my way.¡± She knew it was the best excuse she could come up with, but for Dian, this situation was something she had imagined countless times, relishing the thought of facing it. So, at this moment, she had no intention of letting go of the empress. No matter how wild a beast is, if it is wounded and bleeding, it can be easily subdued with weak force. Dian whispered into the empress¡¯ ear. ¡°Looks like you followed my advice. But something must have gone wrong. Is that why you¡¯re running away?¡± ¡°What?¡± Adele growled with a ferocious face, but Diane smiled and said one more word. ¡°Cover your neck. It¡¯s red, Your Majesty.¡± Diane gracefully took a step back, lightly bending her knees to greet her, and moved away as naturally as flowing water. The attendants and maids¡¯ sparkling eyes relentlessly examined the two. Adele couldn¡¯t catch Diane as she drifted away, and she couldn¡¯t get angry with her. If she turned her around now and made her angry, she would fall into her deeper pit. ¡®So you¡¯re running away?¡¯ It felt like a huge bell was ringing in her ears. As the headache set in, Adele put her hand on her head. It was a blow of a kind she had never even imagined. The moment she rushed down the stairs as if she was running away, her legs gave out, and her body leaned forward before the lady-in-waiting who followed her could catch her. Adele gritted her teeth and involuntarily closed her eyes tightly. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, she felt a firm force supporting her shoulders. ¡°Empress ¡­¡± The maid who had been shouting was also speechless. Adele slowly opened her closed eyes. Her sturdy power gently pushed back her body, which had been thrown forward out of balance. As Adele regained her balance, she took the maid¡¯s hand off her shoulder and stepped back behind her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A low, soothing voice whispered into Adele¡¯s ear. She stared blankly at him for a moment, then muttered his name as if in a daze. ¡°Lionel Baldr¡­¡± Suddenly, she snapped out of it, straightening her shoulders and mustering all her composure. ¡°Thank you. I just tripped.¡± With a grateful nod, she quickly descended the stairs, not daring to look back. Lionel followed her with his eyes, still feeling something off about her demeanor. As she rushed down the stairs, she seemed almost wild, as if fleeing some unseen danger. When she stumbled, Lionel¡¯s reflexes kicked in, and he caught her by the shoulder to steady her. As he gazed down at his hand, he noticed how delicate and slender her shoulders were, barely able to support her. His palms tingled as if burned, and he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from her. Lionel had been on his way to report something to the imperial palace, and he wondered what could have caused the empress to seem so frazzled. He resolved to keep an eye on her in case she needed any further assistance. CH 16.1 Lionel looked down at his burnt palms, then slowly rolled them up and gazed up at the spot where the empress had disappeared. The distorted and disheveled bare face of the empress, who always presented herself with only a flawless figure, remained in Lionel¡¯s mind like an afterimage. The tree, which stood upright and endured the storm with its entire body, appeared noble when viewed from afar, but when observed up close, it swayed and bent mercilessly. ¡°She was the one who laughed so hard,¡± Lionel thought to himself. He guessed that¡¯s why his heart raced every time he saw her slender shoulders pulled taut while she forcibly concealed her scarred face. However, he quickly shook his head with a self-mocking expression. It was because his feelings of pity for the empress felt in vain. **** There was no way to know in what spirit Adele arrived at the empress¡¯ palace. She climbed onto the bed without bothering to take off her clothes, and Giggs could hear her dismissing her maids in the distance. Pulling the blanket over her head, Adele rolled herself up tightly. Giggs detected an unfamiliar odor in the air, unlike the usual scent he was accustomed to. Nanny always dried the blankets in the sun, creating a pleasant fragrance of sun-dried linen mixed with a faint hint of soap. The smell that permeated the room was indescribable. It was something her body remembered and her mind embraced. Tears flowed down her cheeks, wetting the blanket beneath her. Adelaide rarely cried; she didn¡¯t even cry on the day she gave up her position as crown princess or the day she left her old friends behind to cross the strait. It was as if she had no tears left to shed. Still, the tears poured down her face like a waterfall, and Adelaide remained motionless, allowing her emotions to consume her. She was angry at what had happened, but the tears wouldn¡¯t stop. It felt like a gaping hole had opened up inside her chest, ready to swallow her at any moment. Her toes grazed the edge of the cliff, and the thought of stumbling sent a shiver down her spine. One wrong move and she would plummet into the dark, unfathomable abyss below. Adele gazed down into the void, feeling the wind gust fiercely around her. The turbulent whirlwind of her life had relentlessly pushed against her frail shoulders time and time again. Gottrov¡¯s witch, Gottrov¡¯s Black Panther ¨C the nicknames given to her by people she knew all too well. Her thin shoulders trembled before the vast and distant space, where the distinction between east, west, north, south, heaven and earth no longer held meaning. It was a place where the cries of those who had lost their way and their sense of direction echoed through the emptiness. Her soul was violently shaken, and she didn¡¯t know what to do as she trembled until the moon tilted over the black hole. Time passed by slowly as the darkness enveloped her. The night felt endless, but eventually, a faint light began to emerge, chasing the darkness with all its might until daybreak arrived. At dawn, Adele rose from her bed, feeling as though she hadn¡¯t slept at all. She soaked herself in the hot bathtub, rubbing off the makeup on her face and washing her body for what seemed like an eternity before muttering to herself. As she closed her eyes, she imagined her old nanny and her wrinkled eyes curved like the moon. Whenever Adele did something against her mother¡¯s opinion, she clung to her nanny for comfort. ¡°Tell me, Nanny, what should I do?¡± she muttered to herself. Her nanny¡¯s voice echoed in her mind, ¡°For comfort, it¡¯s better to follow His Majesty¡¯s opinion.¡± Adele fell silent, and her nanny continued, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with me. If you¡¯ve already decided, why are you asking me? Walk the path of the princess. Are you afraid of regretting your decision and thinking that the outcome would have been better if you had chosen a different path? Is life a process or a result? It¡¯s a personal choice.¡± The nanny hugged Adele tightly and whispered, comforting her. ¡°Do as you please, but be prepared to accept the consequences that come with it. Such is the destiny of those like Adele, a princess. It is people like her who have the power to change the world.¡± As Adele listened to the nanny¡¯s words, she felt a sudden urge to laugh. It was as if she could hear the nanny¡¯s boisterous laughter ringing in her ears. Adele¡¯s laughter bubbled up from deep within her, causing the ladies-in-waiting outside the bathroom to shiver in fear at the sound of her eerie, low-pitched laughter reverberating against the bathroom walls. ¡°Scared¡­?¡± One of the young maids muttered involuntarily, but the others did not scold her. They all knew the wrath of Her Majesty the Empress could be fierce. ¡°I¡¯m really scared¡­¡± Adele¡¯s thoughts echoed the sentiment of the other maids. It was not just about her, but the people around her who were affected by her actions. The weight of her responsibility as a princess was starting to sink in. ***** After soaking in the hot water until his hands and feet turned white, Adele reflected on the situation with a clear mind. Firstly, while the emperor may have been angered by the empress¡¯s calling Count Calvin, it was her right to do so and hand over the gold bar. She needed to investigate the reason behind the cruel act of forcing dying people to their deaths. Secondly, she decided to give up on the first night and not wear makeup anymore. The more she thought about it, the more enraged she became. Thirdly, she thought about Diane Poitiers and how she perceived Adele. It felt like she had already lost her position as empress to Diane. Adele respected Diane¡¯s feelings, but she also knew she needed to develop her own power independently of the emperor¡¯s. Trying to win the Emperor¡¯s favor by competing with Diane was futile. ¡°I must develop my own power independently of the emperor¡¯s power.¡± To win the Emperor¡¯s favor, trimming her face pretty and competing for her love with Diane Poitier would be impossible, even in death. Adele took a deep breath. After reaching her conclusion, her agitated heart began to calm down. Then she suddenly raised her hand and touched her shoulder. Lionel Baldr. The strong, soft power and firm palms that supported her shoulders came to mind. Had he not come and caught her, she would have rolled unsightly down the stairs. Adele, who had been silent with her eyes down, buried her face in his hands and sighed. ¡°Your spouse is out of luck.¡± Her mother¡¯s favorite fortune teller had told Adele: ¡®Princess Adelaide was lucky to be born. Her spouse¡¯s luck is greater than her parents¡¯ luck, and her child¡¯s luck is great. Alas, of course your parents are very lucky.¡¯ Adele clicked her tongue and shook her head, finally muttering bitterly. ¡°Look. He¡¯s a complete quack cheater.¡± CH 16.2 The Empress returned to the palace last night, her face ashen. It caused the viewer¡¯s heart to skip a beat as the already pale countenance became even paler. Mrs. Giggs had served as the general manager of the imperial palace for a long time. Although she no longer had influence over the ladies-in-waiting, her former colleagues remained in the palace. Rushing to them, she inquired about what had happened, and she heard the entire account before dawn. ¡°She already looked unwell when she left the Emperor, and Diane Poitiers insulted you properly. To make matters worse, the Minister of Defense caught her almost falling down the stairs,¡± they informed her. Mrs. Giggs was concerned that Adele might become ill due to her condition, but her worries were unfounded. The Empress woke up at dawn, washed herself, and began to eat breakfast proudly. ¡°Eat slowly,¡± Mrs. Giggs advised. The Empress nodded, but she continued to eat without pausing. The breakfast consisted of well-cooked bacon, a poached egg with savory yolk oozing out when touched, and fresh fruit juice. Adele savored the flavors and ate until she was full. She was just about to reach for the strong coffee she had ordered when an attendant arrived. ¡°What is it?¡± Mrs. Giggs asked. The attendant bowed politely and presented a red envelope from his bosom. ¡°It pertains to the supplementary budget you mentioned earlier. The emergency budget supplementary has been completed, and I would like to ask you to review it,¡± he said. Adele placed the untouched coffee cup on the saucer, and Mrs. Giggs quickly retrieved the envelope from the attendant and handed it to her. The red envelope contained a folded sheet of stiff paper. Adele unfolded it and reviewed the budget for the Empress¡¯s palace. ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± All eyes in the room were fixed on the empress¡¯s expressionless face. Even though her eyes moved once from top to bottom, her doll-like expression remained unchanged. The attendant who brought the document nervously wriggled her fingers backward. How long had it been like this? The Empress raised her head and addressed her wife, Giggs. ¡°Do I have the authority to review the details of the total budget for the imperial palace?¡± she inquired. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Giggs replied. ¡°I want to see it. Please retrieve it for me,¡± the Empress instructed. Giggs respectfully bowed her head. ¡°Understood, Your Majesty.¡± As Giggs turned to leave, the Empress set the paper aside and gracefully lifted her coffee cup. She casually asked the attendant, who was still anxiously watching her, ¡°Where did this document come from? Did the Emperor send you?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty. I am from the Ivory Palace.¡± ¡°The Ivory Palace. They seem to have their hands in everything,¡± the Empress remarked. The attendant stammered nervously, ¡°Th-thank you, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Wait here for a moment. Have a servant escort him to a waiting room, and I will call for him later,¡± the Empress ordered. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I understand,¡± the attendant replied, relieved. The maids escorted the attendant out of the room. Adele took a sip of the bitter coffee and glanced at the paper lying beside her. I¡¯ll enjoy a good breakfast. Beasts are vulnerable when they are weak. Since he had made a move yesterday, he probably intended to finish things off today with a confirmed kill. ¡°I never imagined that an emperor would entrust a concubine with the supplementary budget for the empress¡¯s palace. It is a rarity to witness such an event in the present day.¡± The emergency supplementary budget amounted to no more than what was required to purchase a single horse. Adele examined the total budget that Mrs. Giggs had presented with a cold, calculating gaze. ¡°What on earth is this amount?¡± Adele asked, passing the paper to Mrs. Giggs. Mrs. Giggs furrowed her brows, strained due to presbyopia, as she scrutinized the contents of the paper. She took a deep breath and addressed the empress, ¡°Your Majesty, this is¡­¡± ¡°It is not even worth a common horse. It is a meager amount,¡± Adele interjected, taking another sip of her third cup of coffee. With her left hand, Adele perused the booklet containing the entire imperial palace budget and inspected the section allocated for the empress¡¯s palace. She fixated her gaze on a particular point and couldn¡¯t seem to look away. Finally, she put her coffee cup down with a click and shoved it aside. She then pulled the booklet towards her and read the details calmly, tracing the words with her right index finger. Suddenly, she made a rustling sound and leaned back in her chair. ¡°Based on my common sense, the amount assigned to the Ivory Palace should also be granted to the Empress¡¯s Palace. You have been in the Ehmont Imperial Palace for quite some time; take a look,¡± she said to Mrs. Giggs. Adele pushed the booklet toward Mrs. Giggs, who tilted her head to check the details. ¡°¡­ ¡­ It exceeds the level of the amount placed in the Empress Palace.¡± Adele nodded and spoke in a cold tone. ¡°Tell the attendant who came.¡± Adele demanded. ***** Diane Poitier calmly nodded her head, as if she had anticipated the situation. ¡°So, should we re-allocate the funds?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± the attendant replied, realizing intuitively that something was amiss. He had found himself caught in a difficult position between the empress and the palace, akin to that of a local drummer. He had heard stories of seniors who had mishandled this role and ended up failing miserably. He wondered how he could escape this situation. Should he feign exhaustion and collapse from fatigue? As he was lost in thought, Diane Poitier quickly handed him something, which he took and examined. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this will satisfy you,¡± she said. ¡°But, didn¡¯t you just say¨C¡± the attendant began to protest. ¡°Will it take you half a day to get it?¡± Diane interrupted. Realizing the urgency of the situation, the attendant hastily accepted the envelope. ¡°I will go and retrieve it immediately. Right now,¡± the attendant said, bowing her head nervously. As she clutched the envelope, the attendant could feel the moisture on her palms. She hurriedly concealed it in her bosom and began to make her way out of the room. The attendants thoughts were conflicted. ¡°If I respond to this request so quickly, it may raise questions as to why I hadn¡¯t allocated more in the first place. What if I had made a mistake in increasing the amount? What if I am met with a cold, ghostly smile when I present it?¡± she wondered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before stepping out of the room. ***** It would have been a relief for the attendant if the increased amount had been enough to satisfy the empress. However, the poor attendant¡¯s ordeal was far from over. As expected, the empress was displeased with the quick return. From the attendant¡¯s perspective, it was terrifying to be involved in the imperial politics. ¡°You came back so soon. Does this mean that the Ivory Palace has the authority to allocate the supplementary budget?¡± Adele questioned, trying to make sense of the emperor¡¯s decision-making process. The empress followed through with the amount indicated on the second memo, but still threw away the paper in frustration. She then ordered the attendant to return. ¡°Fine, you may go now,¡± she said dismissively, causing the dejected attendant to shuffle out of the empress¡¯ palace with drooping shoulders. CH 17.1 After the attendant departed, Adele clenched her teeth and grabbed the book of imperial palace laws, rifling through it intently. As she read, she pointed out a particular passage with her finger. ¡°¡®The authority over the supplementary budget lies with the emperor. However, at the end of the year, when the total budget for the next year is compiled, the emperor and empress jointly have the right to approve it.''¡± This meant that, while the empress could interfere during the initial budget drafting process, only the emperor had control over the budget once it was finalized. ¡°We¡¯ll have to bear with this situation until the end of the year,¡± she muttered. Startled by her sudden outburst, Mrs. Giggs turned to look at Adele. The empress was deep in thought, her eyes narrowed. She finally understood why previous emperors and empresses of Ehmont had engaged in bitter conflicts and even passed laws restricting the shape of toilets. But everything had its ups and downs! Successive emperors and empresses had created the rag-patterned archery to limit each other¡¯s power. In other words, it was like using one hand to punch while kicking the opponent¡¯s thigh with the other foot. If Adele used the archery technique well, she could surely find a way out of this situation. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll start searching,¡± she declared, igniting her fighting spirit as she eagerly delved into the first chapter of archery with burning eyes. ****** Meanwhile, the poor servant, who was being tossed back and forth, ran over to Diane and bowed his head. ¡°The Empress wants me to do it again,¡± the servant said. Diane, fanning herself, let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°It seems that the empress wants to spend extravagantly despite being given enough funds. Tsk tsk, how typical,¡± she said. ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± a nearby lady-in-waiting quickly agreed, bowing her head. She explained that the former empress¡¯s old dog had entered the palace and discarded all the fancy dresses Diane had chosen for the new empress. Additionally, she revealed that the empress had not even worn the crown that Diane had selected for her wedding. But none of that mattered to Diane Poitier, who stood up with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. You¡¯re free to go,¡± she said. The servant, unsure of how many more errands he would have to run, was taken aback by Diane¡¯s sudden words and disappeared quickly, as if running away in case Diane changed her mind. Diane dismissed all but Lorraine, then put on a modest dress, wiped off her makeup, and secretly ordered Lorraine to do the same. ¡°Now go to His Majesty and tell her that the Empress has summoned me for a supplementary budget. And be sure to tell her that I¡¯m trembling with fear,¡± Diane instructed. ¡°Excuse me, did you say something? However, the empress did not directly call for the princess¡­¡± Diane frowned disapprovingly and scolded the maid. ¡°It¡¯s not helpful to be foolish. Will Your Majesty openly inquire of the empress if she summoned me? Please stop fretting over trivial matters and do as I ask. Hurry up and deliver the message!¡± Lorraine hesitated momentarily at Diane¡¯s urging before rushing out. ¡°They¡¯re all just inexperienced children,¡± Diane grumbled, glaring at the door that Lorraine had just left before clicking her tongue and shaking her head. ¡°Well, even if there are many intelligent children in this palace, it won¡¯t be enough.¡± Diane took a deep breath and muttered, ¡°Shall we go catch the black beast?¡± ***** Meanwhile, at the Empress Palace, Adele, who had been scouring through the archives, fortunately stumbled upon a clue shortly after. ¡°Yes!¡± She let out a short, triumphant shout and clenched her fists with enthusiasm. ¡°Yes! Oh, truly! Did you arrange this for me?!¡± Adele already felt grateful towards her empress, who had passed away several generations ago. This was the part that she was cheering for. [The Empress has the exclusive right to decide on the acquisition of a residence in the imperial palace.] ¡°There was such a clause,¡± Even after serving as the general manager of the imperial palace for a long time, Mrs. Giggs couldn¡¯t memorize all the tattered archery books. There were too many of them, and reading them filled her with despair. Nonetheless, she was a trusted advisor to Adele, who appreciated her candor. ¡°But you must be careful. The Imperial Palace Law is a double-edged sword. If you want to wield it, you must be willing to be bound by its rules,¡± Mrs. Giggs warned. Adele smiled wryly and gestured to the trash can. ¡°Look at me, asking the emperor¡¯s government to increase the budget even though I¡¯m the empress. They raised it by a single silver bar. Can you believe it? The double-edged sword was wielded by the emperor first. I¡¯ve already shed enough blood, so to speak.¡± ¡°I understand, Your Majesty,¡± Mrs. Giggs replied with a soft smile. ¡°There is no room for objection.¡± ¡°What can I do to reverse a decision that has already been made?¡± ¡°If you want to withdraw a document that you¡¯ve approved, you can retrieve it and issue a new order,¡± Mrs. Giggs explained. Adele smiled at the answer. Her golden eyes shone like the moon. She turned to her advisor and whispered, ¡°Madam, please obtain a residence permit for Diane Poitiers from the Ivory Palace.¡± Mrs. Giggs bowed respectfully. ¡°I understand, Your Majesty.¡± The source of an empress¡¯s power is complex and multifaceted. Generally, an empress gains power through her family connections and the production of an heir. Empress Ehmont, however, supplemented her power through a system of aides. Only exceptionally talented empresses were able to build their own power bases independently. Ideally, the emperor and empress would have a strong relationship that was mutually beneficial, but such couples were rare in Ehmont¡¯s history. Adele considered the various sources of power and rejected the first two options without hesitation. ¡°Family connections? That¡¯s irrelevant,¡± she declared. ¡°Producing an heir?¡­¡± Memories of someone¡¯s unwanted advances flashed in her mind, and she shook her head vehemently. ¡°That¡¯s not an option right now.¡± That left two options: relying on aides or building an independent power base. Adele had initially intended to focus on building a strong relationship with the emperor before considering these options, but recent events had hardened her resolve. The supplementary budget from the Ivory Palace had made it clear that she needed to take matters into her own hands. Adelaide was born into the royal family and had been groomed to be the heir to the Gottrov Empire. Her late father, Emperor Gottrov, had taken her with him to state affairs and cared for her deeply. From her wedding day to the present, Adele had been patient, but she could wait no longer. She pored over the Book of Archery and selected useful clauses, carefully outlining her plan of action. It was time to counterattack and claim the power she deserved. CH 17.2 ¡°I apologize for referring to it as a dog fight. Did you really make the shape of the toilet a law?¡± Adele sighed as she contemplated the absurdity of the situation. It was only when she was about to resume writing that something caught her attention, causing her to freeze. She felt a surge of mana coursing through her veins, making her whole body tingle. Adele glanced outside the window, where she saw a tranquil scene of a blue sky. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be¡­¡± Adele muttered, gazing at the sky with a perplexed expression. Just then, her lady-in-waiting entered the room, announcing the arrival of a visitor. ¡°Your Majesty, the daughter of Count, Diane Poitiers wishes to see you.¡± Adele raised an eyebrow in surprise. Despite sending an attendant, the visitor had still made the effort to come to her. After a moment of consideration, Adele gave her approval. ¡°Take me to the drawing room.¡± As Adele entered the drawing room, she tried to calm herself down. She had learned from her mother¡¯s example not to show any emotion towards her father¡¯s mistresses, and now she had to do the same with Diane Poitier. Adele considered sending her away, but she knew she had to hear the answer to her order to increase the amount. She took a deep breath, reminding herself of the aphorism to stay calm in the face of adversity. As the ladies-in-waiting opened the door, Adele entered the Empress¡¯s spacious drawing room, feeling like she was entering a battlefield. Diane, who had risen comfortably, greeted her in a soft tone. Adele turned to face her and couldn¡¯t help but feel that everything about Diane was bold and powerful, except for Diane herself. The Empress, with jet-black hair hanging to one side, dominated the room with her presence. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress,¡± the lady-in-waiting announced. Adele approached Diane and greeted her with a curt nod. ¡°The Lady of Count Poitiers,¡± she said, acknowledging Diane¡¯s powerful name. Adele¡¯s mother¡¯s words echoed in her mind once again, reminding her that life is a constant battle. She straightened her shoulders and prepared herself for whatever was to come. The expression that had completely collapsed the night before was nowhere to be found. He didn¡¯t even display the slightest displeasure towards the government. Diane greeted the Empress with a light bow, but her majesty passed by and took her seat without acknowledging her. ¡°Sit down,¡± she commanded. Adele looked at Diane, who was seated calmly, with emotionless eyes. Then, she spoke in a dry tone, carefully controlling her facial expressions to hide her emotions. There was no need for rhetoric. ¡°Did you bring the answer to the matter of sending the attendant personally?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. That¡¯s correct,¡± Diane replied. As the Empress continued to stare at her, Diane politely asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty the Empress. What are you upset about?¡± Adele managed to keep her composure, even as her eyebrows began to move. Adele deliberately spoke slowly to avoid revealing any tremble in her voice. ¡°What am I upset about?¡± Adele asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Diane replied.. Diane tilted her head with an innocent expression. Adele pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, holding her expression. It was a good question to ask. If she explained every phrase, she would appear pitiful, and if she became angry, she would appear narrow-minded. Moreover, the purpose of this question was to establish who currently held the upper hand in their relationship. Adele accepted the budget sum and the archery book held by the maid standing next to her in a businesslike manner. Diane scrutinized the Empress with a sharp gaze, trying to detect any signs of trembling or excitement. Unfortunately, the Empress did not display the slightest agitation. As Adele unfolded the bills in the Ivory Palace and held them out to Diane, Mrs. Giggs returned. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress, I have returned,¡± Mrs Giggs announced. ¡°You have worked hard. Come here for a moment,¡± the Empress replied. Mrs. Giggs took her seat to the right of the Empress, concealing the documents in her bosom. Diane did not acknowledge Mrs. Giggs, whom she had not seen in a long time, and instead focused on the budget proposal presented by the Empress. After reading its contents, Diane inwardly laughed at the Empress. The Empress was trying to leverage her position to exert pressure on Diane officially, but that would not be so easy. If positions and laws were upheld, Diane Poitier would never have been able to become the master of the Ivory Palace. Whose authority is this Ehmont? Although the Empress¡¯s original authority was transferred to her upon accession, Diane still held the palace authority that belonged to the Emperor. Of course, the Emperor had expressed his intention to retrieve it, but as of today, he had not followed through. Furthermore, no noble supporters of the Empress existed in Ehmont. Thus, now was the decisive moment to break the Empress¡¯s momentum. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress, with all due respect, why are you showing me these things?¡± Diane asked. ¡°There is something I want to ask you,¡± the Empress replied. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Why are there no usage details in the total budget of the Ivory Palace?¡± the Empress inquired. Diane fell silent, taken aback by the question. ¡°Is it for consumables, salaries, or VIP entertainment? All other institutions have usage histories. Why does the Ivory Palace budget only list the amount paid and spent without any usage details?¡± the Empress continued. It was an unexpected inquiry. Only those with permission to read the imperial budget bill could do so, and even though the Emperor had threatened to punish anyone who found out that Baldr¡¯s family had not written the budget for the Ivory Palace, Diane had evaded including the detailed usage details. This was because if one structured the usage details too carefully, one would be limited in how they could spend. One would have to make even a single dress according to the budget. How tedious! Fortunately, neither the Emperor nor the Minister of Finance had said much about this. They probably didn¡¯t want to go to the trouble of inquiring about the budget of the Ivory Palace. While Diane sighed, the Empress sat deeply in her chair and raised her teacup. ¡°But why are you asking about the Ivory Palace budget?¡± At Diane¡¯s question, Adele tilted her head with a genuine smile on her face. Diane realized that the Empress¡¯s smile made her ask questions she shouldn¡¯t have. Was this the smile of a monster that seduces people and eats their livers? The Empress¡¯s smiling face was so beautiful that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off it, but Diane¡¯s palms were damp. ¡°That¡¯s because the amount allocated to the Ivory Palace has to be transferred to the Empress Palace.¡± CH 18.1 While staring at his paperwork, the emperor noticed the lady-in-waiting enter the room. He instinctively sat up, knowing that it was usually bad news when Diane sent one of her direct maids. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked. ¡°Your Majesty, the princess has been summoned to the empress¡¯ palace,¡± the lady-in-waiting replied. Karl¡¯s face was furrowed in confusion. ¡°Why would the empress summon Diane?¡± ¡°The princess submitted a budget proposal, but Her Majesty rejected it twice. When she went to the empress¡¯ palace to discuss it, she was so frightened that she came to seek Your Majesty¡¯s guidance instead. Please forgive her impertinence, Your Majesty.¡± The emperor felt a wave of anxiety wash over him at the mention of Diane¡¯s fear. The sensation of a giant strangling him tightened in his chest. On the other side of his heart, there was a bottomless black sea. He couldn¡¯t comprehend why such a feeling had taken root in him, or what lay hidden within that sea. The darkness seemed to swallow him up. Memories of the past echoed in his mind. ¡® Someday, when you become emperor¡­ Will you accept me as your mother? ¡¯ Karl bit his lip hard and placed his hand on his forehead. The emperor remained silent as Lorraine tried to speak to him, clearly flustered by his disapproving gaze. A voice echoed in Karl¡¯s mind, tearing at him and leaving him breathless with agony. ¡®Karl!!¡¯ His heart felt like it was drowning in the deep, black sea inside him, but he clenched his teeth and stood up from his chair. £ª £ª £ª Diane blinked in surprise at Adele¡¯s announcement. ¡°The budget for the Ivory Palace is being transferred to the Empress Palace?¡± she repeated. Adele smiled at her with a puzzled expression, crossing her legs as she reclined on the sofa. ¡°Well, you have been taking on the empress¡¯ role, haven¡¯t you? That budget was allocated to you for that purpose. As I am now handling the empress¡¯ affairs, the budget should naturally be transferred along with it. Does that upset you?¡± Diane remained silent as Adele leaned in, her golden eyes shining. ¡°I¡¯m not upset,¡± Diane finally replied. ¡°But it is a bit frustrating.¡± She watched as the empress¡¯ fingers tapped the budget details for the Ivory Palace. ¡°You have put a lot of hard work into it. I won¡¯t ask you to submit a statement of use for it now. I can handle that. Just transfer all the allocated budget to the Empress Palace. It seems that the emperor has given you that authority.¡± The empress did not make a proposal or request. She did not even wait for the Emperor to grant her authority. As the empress, even without family or allies to support her, she had the power to command. With a single order, Diane had to surrender her rights that she had taken for granted for three years. She had no title in the imperial palace, and this fact made her angry. She had prepared for this moment for so long, but reality was still different from her imagination. Her whole body boiled with anger; her eyes were red, and her face turned red with fever. ¡°Your Majesty, the Empress,¡± said Diane, her voice filled with resentment. Adele¡¯s smile vanished coldly at the tone. Her raised golden eyes looked menacing, causing the ladies-in-waiting to take a step back and stick to the wall. Despite the tension in the air, Diane stood her ground. The empress called out to her in a cold, stern tone, warning her, but Diane did not back down. They stared at each other, their gazes filled with tension. Diane was filled with anguish, thinking of the palace and the drawing room, and the supreme seat that belonged to her. Tears of rage poured from her eyes, and Adele heard a familiar voice in her head, telling her to come down from the position of successor. The empress clenched her fists tightly and let out a long breath. Mrs. Giggs raised her eyebrows at the sudden loss of strength and looked at her Empress. Adele let out another long breath. ¡°Do you think your place is gone because of me?¡± she asked Diane. Diane did not answer. Adele remembered her past self in those tears, and despite her negative feelings towards Diane, she decided to offer her the best option. ¡°Listen, Diane Poitier.¡± Adele cleared her throat, standing tall and addressing the room with a strong voice, ¡°I am the Empress of Ehmont. Don¡¯t you dare challenge my authority. I will not forgive anyone who challenges the empress¡¯s authority in any way. Do not think that she is taken away. Let her think well of what you originally had.¡± For Adele, this was the best course of action. She had considered tearing up the ivory palace residence order and ordering Diane to leave, but ultimately decided against it. Diane should not challenge the authority of the empress. However, Adele was willing to offer Diane the best she had. This was the ultimate consideration for Diane. Even so, Diane clenched her fists tightly and glared at Adele. Diane had said that she would acknowledge everything except the empress¡¯ authority, but to Diane, even that ¡¯empress¡¯ authority¡¯ had long since become a part of her. It was hers, so Adele¡¯s proposal was wrong from the start. Her jaw trembled from how hard she clenched her teeth. Where is His Majesty? Why don¡¯t you come, Your Majesty? Diane muttered. Adele¡¯s expression was also frosty at the sight of Diane trembling with anger instead of accepting her forgiveness. And just then, the door to the empress¡¯ parlor was suddenly opened violently and without warning. Adele frowned and glared at the door, wondering who dared to open the empress¡¯ parlor door without permission! But then she saw Diane suddenly fall on her knees in front of her and cry out in a voice mixed with tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty!¡± It was sudden and simultaneous. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive me.¡± Adele was embarrassed and involuntarily opened her mouth, widening her eyes. What is she doing now? CH 18.2 Meanwhile, Karl¡¯s gaze was on Diane, who was lying on the floor. Disheveled blonde hair on the floor, a small, slender back, and a quivering tone Karl slowly raised his eyes and looked at the empress sitting in her chair. ¡°Empress, what are you doing now?¡± There was deep anger and darkness in Karl¡¯s low-pitched voice, and flames seemed to soar in her sunken purple eyes. Adele rose slowly from her seat under the Emperor¡¯s gaze. She looked back and forth between the weeping Diane and the enraged Emperor, still on his knees. ¡°Wake up, Lady Poitiers! What are you doing? Talk to me now?!¡± Adele exclaimed. ¡°Empress!!¡± ¡°What is Your Majesty doing right now?!¡± The emperor approached the empress like an angry beast. There was even a glimpse of madness on his face. Lorraine hurriedly raised Diane, who was lying on the floor and crying. Her white face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were swollen and red. ¡°Your Majesty, I apologize to Her Majesty¡­¡± Diane began, but her voice trailed off. Karl gritted his teeth and stared at Diane, then looked back at the empress. ¡°Escort Diane to the Ivory Palace,¡± the emperor commanded. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± the servant replied. Lorraine supported Diane, who was staggering as if about to collapse, and the latter left the drawing room slumped like a half-fainted person. The atmosphere in the room was tense and fragile, like thin ice that could break at any moment. ¡°Everyone, please leave. I need to have a private meeting with the empress,¡± the emperor instructed, and the ladies-in-waiting promptly left the room. Alone with Adele, Mrs. Giggs looked at her with a worried expression. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time,¡± the emperor greeted coldly, to which Mrs. Giggs politely bowed her head. ¡°You look the same,¡± the emperor continued. ¡°Sitting next to the empress, I just watch as those weaker than her are trampled on. Is that fun?¡± Adele, not understanding the situation, gave a sharp command to Mrs. Giggs to leave, but the emperor raised his voice even louder. ¡°Is that fun?!¡± he bellowed. ¡°Mrs. Giggs, please leave!¡± Adele shouted back, unfazed. The emperor glared at her with a deadly gaze, and she returned the look, tightening her chin. Mrs. Giggs calmed her trembling breath, bowed politely to the two of them, then turned around and left the room. As the door closed, only the emperor and the empress remained in the spacious and splendid drawing room. They didn¡¯t even think to sit down. ¡°What are you doing now, Empress?¡± the emperor asked. ¡°What are you doing, Your Majesty?¡± Adele replied. ¡°Is it fun? Grabbing someone weaker than you by the neck and twisting them to make them beg for help is in bad taste.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never done that before,¡± Adele insisted. ¡°I saw it myself, and it sounds like an excuse,¡± the emperor retorted. ¡°As soon as the door opened, she collapsed and started begging me, just in time for Your Majesty¡¯s arrival.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a remarkable coincidence?¡± The Emperor jeered at Adele. Adele let out a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. Meanwhile, the Emperor lifted the Ivory Palace budget off the table. ¡°Do you desire this?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­¡± ¡°Do you want what Diane has?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Diane who lacks self-control; it¡¯s you, Your Majesty. Have you even looked at the budget plan for the Empress Palace? What happened to the budget supplement?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? It was also entrusted to the Ivory Palace. An empress who receives money from the emperor¡¯s mistress? Is that what you wanted?!¡± Adele laughed bitterly and continued speaking rapidly. Roughly, she pulled out the discarded supplementary budget statement and laid it on the table. ¡°This is the supplementary budget for the Empress Palace. Let¡¯s take a look! I wonder if it¡¯s even worth a horse. Is the supplementary budget for the empress¡¯ palace so destitute that it¡¯s comparable to splitting expenses with a group of courtesans?¡± The Emperor squinted as he gazed at the budget proposal from the empress. As Adele had said, the supplementary budget was only enough to cover the cost of a stallion. The silence hung heavily between the two for a moment. Karl took a deep breath and closed his eyes, but the memory of the tumultuous black sea came rushing back to him. ¡°Is that why you summoned Diane?¡± ¡°I instructed her to come, and she came of her own accord.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you call it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± As Adele replied in an exasperated tone, Karl¡¯s eyes glinted menacingly. Slowly, he approached her. Like the previous night, the two of them locked gazes with a precarious distance between them. ¡°Your mother lied to me.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­¡± ¡°They said she was an obedient and devoted daughter. Has she not realized anything since she was banished from her motherland?¡± the Emperor asked. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything about the reasons why I had to leave Gottrov without knowing them properly,¡± Adele replied. ¡°Listen carefully, Empress,¡± Karl said as he grabbed Adele¡¯s shoulders tightly. ¡°Like a feather on a quill. Like flowers in a vase.¡± It was a mechanical answer to someone¡¯s question about who the Empress of Ehmont was. ¡°Buy it,¡± the Emperor said suddenly, causing Adele to shudder from head to toe. Karl, startled by the electricity he felt in his hand, quickly let go of her shoulders and looked into her golden eyes. Suddenly, there was a loud noise that shook the palace. Flashes of light and echoes filled the air, and in an instant, the Emperor closed his eyes tightly. Adele quickly ran to the terrace, and as she opened the door, the wind hit her whole body. She held onto the railing and raised her head to the sky, screaming. Suddenly, chaos erupted in the palace. A black catastrophe, like death itself, was running fast toward the Ehmont imperial palace. Adele stared at it with an unwavering gaze. ¡°Like a feather on a quill, like flowers in a vase. Will you live like that?¡± she repeated what the Emperor had said. Staring unwaveringly at the black catastrophe, Adele repeated what she had just heard: the imperial palace was in chaos. Thunder shook the heavens and earth once more. Sensing the urgency, the emperor hastily left the drawing room while Mrs. Giggs rushed in, her face betraying her surprise as she shouted, ¡°Your Majesty, are you okay? They say the tower is collapsing, and Her Majesty the Empress needs to evacuate immediately.¡± Mrs. Giggs draped a shawl over Adele¡¯s shoulders and urged her to leave, but the empress refused, her voice calm and collected. ¡°No. Absolutely not.¡± Adele looked up at the red sky and unbuttoned her sleeves. Her golden eyes took on a different expression. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress?¡± Mrs. Giggs called out, bewildered by Adele¡¯s sudden actions, but the empress did not respond. As she glanced up for the first time, she was greeted by a bloody sky and a terrifying black catastrophe. Adele swiftly turned and made her way to her room. She had work to do. CH 19.1 The capital had issued an emergency order. The situation was dire, especially considering the tower was collapsing perilously close to the imperial palace. Chaos erupted in the palace like a hive of disturbed bees. An evacuation order was swiftly issued for the imperial family, officials, and high-ranking personnel conducting business within its walls. Employees began to flee in droves. Amidst the commotion, Lionel Baldr, the Minister of Defense and leader of the knights, rushed towards the descending tower. The elite knights from the Imperial Guard¡¯s 1st and 2nd armies assembled by platoon under Lionel¡¯s command. They were the best of the best, having famously thwarted 2nd class tower monsters for a month without magician support. Lionel gauged the tower¡¯s diameter and concluded it was likely in the 4th or 5th grade. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate it¡¯s coming down in the garden,¡± Lionel commented, acknowledging the rose garden¡¯s destruction. ¡°It would have been harder to stop if it had fallen on the building.¡± Suddenly, a deafening crash and thunderous roar shook the ground, causing trees to bend and the sky to turn blood-red. Even the knights couldn¡¯t conceal their fear. Lionel quickly took charge, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t look up! Fear feeds on your imagination, and the more you fear, the more you dull your sword!¡± The knights heeded his words and averted their gaze from the sky. Lionel surveyed the area and issued orders without hesitation. ¡°2nd Platoon of the 1st Army, move forward! Reinforce the 3rd, 4th, and 2nd platoons!¡± Lionel was the most exceptional knight in Ehmont, with a gift for deploying troops with exceptional situational judgment. Even in situations where witches needed to be stopped without the aid of magicians, Lionel¡¯s leadership ensured minimal damage to his knights. They trusted him unconditionally, and followed his orders to the letter. Under his command, the knights formed a donut-shaped chessboard at the crossroads, maintaining their attack range while blocking the running demons. Lionel stepped forward a few paces and addressed his troops. ¡°Our goal is to hold off the monsters until the tower is destroyed! Formation, take your positions!¡± The black disaster was drawing closer with each passing moment. Lionel scanned his surroundings and whispered, ¡°Are the wizards coming?¡± ¡°Not yet, Your Excellency. We¡¯ve received no word,¡± came the reply. Despite the tower¡¯s rapid descent, the wizards had yet to appear. Lionel had seen this scenario play out before ¨C they only emerged after enough knights had fallen. But he refused to let his troops spill meaningless blood, especially not in the imperial palace. ¡°Go to the wizards¡¯ official residence immediately and summon them!¡± he ordered. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Upon Lionel¡¯s orders, the vice-captain swiftly turned and vanished. However, both he and Lionel knew that the summoning order might not necessarily yield a prompt response from the wizards. The bitter reality that they had no choice but to wait for the mage was frustrating. The knights¡¯ swords alone were insufficient to destroy the distant disaster. ***** Individuals capable of freely using magic to combat the tower¡¯s magic were referred to as ¡°wizards.¡± In Ehmont, the country¡¯s wizards were managed by the Imperial Magic Corps, which was a military force under the direct jurisdiction of the emperor rather than the Ministry of National Defense. Wizards were mainly divided into two types: offensive wizards, known as ¡°strikers,¡± and defensive wizards, known as ¡°keepers.¡± The Imperial Wizard Commander was Duke August Ulrich Despone, and the vice-captain was Count Lennox Poitiers, who was a first-class striker and the top magician in Ehmont, despite being a commoner. His rank as an inheritable count was well-deserved. Count Lennox Poitiers looked at Henri Jackal, the vice-captain of the Royal Guard, who had rushed over with a grim expression. ¡°So?¡± Lennox asked casually as he buttoned up his robe, despite the vice-captain¡¯s fierce glare. ¡°You want me to come now?¡± Henri Jackal spoke through clenched teeth, ¡°It¡¯s an order from the Minister of Defense. ¡°Assemble the wizards immediately in the rose garden where the tower is descending.¡± Lennox chuckled and adjusted his crooked robes. ¡°Are you in trouble now? We¡¯re under the direct jurisdiction of His Majesty. We don¡¯t have to listen to the Minister of Defense¡¯s orders, you know.¡± Henri Jackal gritted his teeth, and Lennox continued, ¡°Oh, my mistake. You¡¯re in a hurry. Fine, you go ahead.¡± Despite his words, Lennox¡¯s movements remained leisurely as he adjusted his robes and checked himself out in the mirror. Henri Jackal clenched his fists tightly in frustration. ¡°Sir Jackal, did your salary not come through this month? If any of your subordinates are struggling financially, let me know. I can spare one of my gold-leaf buttons for them,¡± Lennox joked. ¡°Enough talk; be ready,¡± Henri Jackal warned, to which Lennox just laughed and moved closer to him. ¡°Henri Jackal, you can¡¯t go out like that. Do you need my help right now? The longer I delay, the more damage the knights will suffer, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Lennox asked. ¡°The tower has descended upon the imperial palace, do you think the wizards will be okay? The Imperial Palace Magicians will not be able to avoid responsibility either!¡± Henri replied. Lennox smiled and pulled out a gold-plated button from his pocket, dropping it at his feet. The button made a loud noise as it rolled around a corner. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± he said. Henri was left speechless. ¡°Even if the wizards are criticized later, I won¡¯t be. If the world were to turn into hell, it wouldn¡¯t matter to me as long as I¡¯m not in that hell. So, Henri Jackal, don¡¯t insult me, because it won¡¯t end well for you,¡± Lennox warned as he tapped Henri¡¯s shoulder and walked away slowly. Henri closed his eyes in frustration. Despite the humiliation, he knew that if the magicians did not come, the knights would be left to fight the tower alone, and the consequences would be catastrophic. The tower was rapidly approaching the ground, and the knights would have to fight to their last breath to stop it. It was better to swallow his pride and endure the humiliation than to watch his comrades die in vain. ¡°Henri Jackal!¡± cried Lennox Poitiers, turning his body halfway as the vice-captain approached him with a hardened face. ¡°Why? Should I speak when called?¡± he teased, but Henri could no longer resist his displeasure. With a deep breath, he politely bowed his head, and Lennox¡¯s light blue eyes flashed in excitement. ¡°I seek the cooperation of the wizards,¡± Henri said, and Lennox couldn¡¯t contain his joy. CH 19.2 The black plague that descended from the sky was a blessing to him, and he relished the power it gave him over the aristocratic knight. He approached Henri, placing his hands on his shoulders and saying, ¡°Will this amount of rudeness be repaid? You should get down on your knees, isn¡¯t that right, Sir Jackal?¡± Henri closed his eyes and bit down hard, feeling his molars strain under the pressure. Lennox pressed his shoulders, and the young vice-captain¡¯s knees began to buckle under the weight. Lennox stepped back, staring intently at Henri as his knees touched the floor. ¡°Cooperation, please,¡± Henri said, and Lennox rejoiced, closing his eyes tightly in thrill. It was new and fun to look at, and Lennox couldn¡¯t contain the laughter that bubbled up in his stomach. The blood-red sky and the sound of laughter that resonated amidst the approaching disaster were truly bizarre, but Lennox didn¡¯t care. As long as he was the one in control, the chaos around him didn¡¯t matter. ***** Mrs. Giggs couldn¡¯t believe what she was doing. Rather than being the first to evacuate, she had even found a training suit that fit her and strapped a slender sword to her back. Even the elderly government official couldn¡¯t comprehend the situation. Adele didn¡¯t have the heart to explain, so she simply spoke her mind. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to run from. If you¡¯re scared of the red sky, cover yourself with a blanket and take a nap.¡± ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡± Mrs. Giggs exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Don¡¯t follow me. That¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, the Empress!¡± Mrs. Giggs cried desperately as Adele swiftly left the palace like a nimble black panther. The imperial palace was in chaos, and Adele had to weave through the throngs of employees. In the confusion, no one suspected that the woman in the black training uniform was the empress, and she went unrecognized. The sky was already a blood-red hue, a terrifying sight. What lay beyond the sky? For centuries, it had been a source of fascination for people, inspiring bards to sing of the world of the gods and astronomers to study the stars. But everything changed when the tower appeared. Suddenly, the sky was transformed into a frightening, blood-red nightmare. The disaster evoked the most fundamental fear in humans, and people were screaming and running for their lives. Adele remembered the day the tower appeared vividly. It was the day she awakened as a wizard, experiencing a thrilling feeling that awakened something dormant within her. But she had always suppressed that feeling, knowing that it was not appropriate to experience such joy in the face of tragedy. As she approached the tower, the wind grew stronger, shaking trees and sending objects flying. Surprisingly, there were no wizards in sight, only knights. Adele could tell at a glance who was in charge of the knights forming a circular formation around the tower. *** As a massive tower plummeted towards the ground, a fierce updraft swept through the area, causing chaos and destruction. Vice-captain Henri Jackal had gone to fetch the wizards while the knights bravely battled against the powerful updraft. Late-summer roses were yanked from their roots and hurled high into the sky, while nearby windows shattered into a million pieces. Blood was already drawn from the knights due to the flying debris before the tower even hit the ground. ¡°Captain!!¡± the adjutant cried out. Lionel reacted quickly, dodging the flying shards of glass with a swift movement of his body. He warned his men of the danger of falling objects and shattered glass, as the platoon commanders desperately tried to instill trust in their ranks. Despite their best efforts, casualties continued to mount. Lionel used his sword to deflect the flying glass and shouted, ¡°Is the keeper still there?!¡± The rose garden where the knights had gathered was shrouded in darkness due to the shadow cast by the towering structure. The fear of the knights intensified as they heard the eerie cries mixed with the sound of the howling wind. The violent whirlpool, black terror, and grotesque screams seemed to transport them to hell itself. Lionel had lost hope that the wizards would arrive in time, and he braced himself for the inevitable sacrifices of his men. He gritted his teeth and strengthened his resolve, hoping that his sword would be able to protect at least one more of his comrades. ¡°Prepare your swords!¡± he bellowed. The platoon commanders drew their swords in unison, and the rest of the knights quickly followed suit. When the massive tower finally hit the ground, the real nightmare began. Lionel¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he braced himself for the worst. The deafening noise of the wind seemed to dull his senses, but then a low, soothing voice cut through the chaos like a gentle autumn breeze. ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± the calm voice asked. Lionel was surprised by the unexpected voice, which seemed completely out of place in the chaotic scene. A gust of wind blew the woman¡¯s hair around her face as she skillfully tied it back. Although she was petite, her intense golden gaze made a lasting impression on anyone who met her. ¡°Your Majesty the Empress?¡± Lionel gasped as Empress Adelaide suddenly appeared amidst the disaster. CH 20.1 Lionel¡¯s brow furrowed as he surveyed the area, scanning for any signs of danger. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the Empress was alone, unaccompanied by her retinue. But his relief was short-lived, as he realized that the knights, who were accustomed to seeing her in regal attire, failed to recognize her in her current garb. Lionel called out to her, but she did not respond, instead staring at the tower in the distance with an expressionless face. ¡°Dangerous! Go back, Sir Leppart!¡± Lionel shouted, shielding the Empress from the gusts of wind that buffeted them. He was about to appoint one of his aides to escort her to safety when she finally spoke. ¡°Yes.¡± Lionel wasted no time in delegating the task to one of his trusted men. ¡°Take Her Majesty and move to a safe place, now!¡± Sir Leppart squinted at the tower, his gaze fixed on its trajectory. ¡°Why are there no wizards? Can¡¯t they destroy it before it reaches us? Or are they waiting for it to hit the ground?¡± The Empress shot Lionel a questioning look, but he had no time to answer. ¡°Hurry, Your Majesty! It¡¯s not just the tower that poses a threat. Look out for the glass shards!¡± Indeed, shards of glass the size of a grown man¡¯s forearm were hurtling towards them at an alarming speed. If they hit the Empress, who was not wearing any armor, her body would have been torn apart. Lionel shuddered at the mere thought of it. He took a step back, holding his sword aloft to shield her from harm. Just as the glass shards were about to strike, something transparent appeared out of nowhere, intercepting them with a gentle push. They were swept away by the wind, leaving Lionel and the Empress unscathed. ¡°Kepper?¡± Lionel muttered, wondering if the wizards had finally arrived. Sir Leppat scanned the area, his eyes roving in search of the source of the mysterious force that had saved them. For a moment, the world stood still as everyone present struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Then, the tower of destruction loomed closer, its ominous presence a reminder of the danger that still loomed over them. The sky was a deep red, illuminated by flashes of black lightning that crackled across the horizon. Wizards were on their way, their power rumbling through the air. But was this power really theirs? Lionel looked at the empress, wondering if the magic was truly in the right hands. The distance was far, and there was no urgency like the empress had said. But she moved towards the tower with purpose, her slender frame holding a sharp black sword that matched her masterful aura. ¡°It¡¯s level 4, which is close to level 5, so there¡¯s no reason to wait,¡± she said, her words confident and cool. Before Lionel could react, she began to run like a black panther towards the thunder and lightning. He followed closely behind, but as the empress lifted herself into the air with an updraft, Lionel reached out to grab her shoulder. Adele clicked her tongue and pushed his hand away with magic. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Do not interrupt.¡± As the empress charged towards the tower, Lionel felt the magical power pushing him back. He looked up to see the empress throw herself at the tower without hesitation. Before she had time to stop, Lionel stomped his right foot hard and propelled himself into her updraft. ¡°NO!¡± the knights cried, looking on in shock as Empress Adelaide flew into the sky. But Lionel quickly regained his senses, recalling the empress¡¯s warning not to disturb her. She had been crystal clear. He made a quick decision, and with the magical power still surging through him, he charged towards the wizards, sword drawn and ready for battle. ¡°Prepare for the Empress to fall!¡± Lionel said with a firm voice as he gazed at the towering inferno before them. His mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan to save their beloved empress. The knights and wizards looked at him expectantly, waiting for his orders. ¡°Lennox Poitier, send your fastest wizard to the nearest water source and bring back as much water as possible. We need to put out those flames before they consume the whole tower,¡± Lionel commanded. Lennox nodded and immediately sent one of his wizards to do as he was told. Lionel then turned to the knights and said, ¡°Get ready to create a human chain. We need to get up there and save Her Majesty if she¡¯s still alive.¡± The knights nodded and prepared themselves for the dangerous task ahead. CH 20.2 As they were about to start their ascent, the tower shook violently, and a loud explosion echoed through the air. Lionel and the others looked up in horror as debris rained down on them. The tower was collapsing, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. Lionel quickly grabbed the closest knight and shielded him with his body as they were hit by a piece of falling debris. He then turned his attention back to the collapsing tower and saw something that made his heart skip a beat. A figure was falling from the tower, engulfed in flames. Without hesitation, Lionel rushed towards the falling figure, his sword drawn. He knew that he only had one chance to save the empress. As he got closer, he realized that it was indeed Her Majesty, and she was still alive. With lightning-fast reflexes, Lionel caught the empress in mid-air and used his body to shield her from the flames. In the antechamber of the grandiose press conference hall, the empress had posed the question that left Lord Leppat stupefied, gazing numbly at the towering column of fire. He had motioned for Lionel to wait, but there was little they could do but watch as the seemingly eternal white flame suddenly flickered and began to fade. All the knights and wizards assembled in the rose garden were awestruck as they bore witness to the spectacle. As the bloody sky¡¯s edges paled to a soft shade of rose, Lionel fixed his eyes on the dwindling white flames and caught sight of something. Standing resolute until then, he bolted towards the tower¡¯s base with all his might and opened his arms wide to receive the rapidly falling empress. Adele plummeted through the air, every fiber of her being straining, taking in the sky¡¯s gradual transformation from crimson to azure. As she obliterated her tower and hurtled towards the ground, the fleeting view of the sky receding from her was a spectacle known only to her. When one of her subordinates asked what would happen if she died, Adele retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t rain on my parade.¡± It was easy to decelerate at the last moment and touch down on the ground since even a small amount of mana was amplified within the tower, even if the spectators were terrified. ¡°Now, shall we land gently?¡± Adele said as she turned her body over to look at the ground, only to be taken aback by one of her men, arms outstretched in anticipation of her fall, his beautiful face radiating a resolute determination to catch her. Adele quickly conjured up her magic to slow her descent, causing Lionel to lower his arms as the empress¡¯s fall decelerated considerably. The flames, resembling halos, shattered and dissipated like a dance in the sky, while the blood-red sky gradually faded to a pale rose. The empress descended slowly to the ground, as if descending from the heavens, with the halo of light and pale rose sky behind her. Lionel and Adele locked gazes. The chilly, unfeeling empress touched down on the ground, and at that very moment, the tower vanished, the final flame snuffed out, and the sky¡¯s edge transitioned to blue. A stillness settled over the ravaged rose garden as Adele, the center of attention, tilted her head towards Lionel. Her raven-black hair cascaded over her shoulder like a waterfall. ¡°Did you try to catch me with your arms?¡± she asked with a hint of amusement. ¡°I was planning on it,¡± Lionel replied. ¡°Otherwise, my arms wouldn¡¯t be out like this. A knight who uses his sword.¡± Adele peeked at his broad shoulders, which had spread wide to receive her, before turning away, paying little attention to what might have happened to his arms. No one had come rushing to her aid during her fall, even if there were those who had chided her for it. Adele walked past Lionel, her voice laced with laughter. ¡°Either way, I owe you one. And what happened yesterday.¡± At her words, Lionel snapped out of his trance and watched as the empress strode away. Wasn¡¯t she the one who had fled with a disheveled appearance just yesterday? How could she be so carefree and lighthearted after a single day? He could still feel the warmth of her slender shoulders in his hands. Lionel stared at Adele¡¯s retreating back, his palms still ablaze as they had been the previous night. He wasn¡¯t the only one unable to take his eyes off the empress. Her entourage stood there ¡°Put away your sword; it seems unnecessary,¡± Adele instructed Lennox, who blinked in surprise. She then walked away, leaving him to ponder over her words. After a moment of silence, someone broke it with a hollow question that echoed through the ruined rose garden. ¡°Did Her Majesty the Empress really take down the tower alone?¡± CH 21.1 as ablaze with scarlet hues and bursts of brilliant light. The towering black monolith that had rent the heavens into shreds was now naught but a smoldering heap of ash and cinder. Those fortunate enough to witness the cataclysmic event were awestruck, recounting the tale with bated breath. Ever since the mysterious tower¡¯s appearance, people had been enthralled with the notion of a sorcerer who had swooped in to save the day. They sang praises, bestowed reverence, and even worshiped these magicians as agents of the divine. At the mere sight of a robed figure, the masses would kneel in gratitude, marking the dawn of the age of wizards. With the advent of these mystical beings, the reign of the knights was greatly diminished, their dominance waning with each passing day. Meanwhile, the nobility whispered rumors of a different ilk, their tongues wagging in hushed tones. ¡°Do you mean to say that Her Majesty single-handedly destroyed the tower?¡± one noblewoman asked incredulously. ¡°By the gods, are you implying that the Empress is a wizard herself?¡± another chimed in, aghast at the thought. ¡°She flew into the sky and obliterated the tower with her own two hands. What madness is this?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± a third nobleman interjected. ¡°Could it have been destroyed before the tower even touched the ground? And what does that make her? A striker, perhaps?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± murmured yet another. The Duke of Despone is undoubtedly attempting to enslave the Empress. But to think that she destroyed the tower all on her own! Is her class not higher than that of Lennox Poitiers? ¡°Strange indeed,¡± agreed the first noblewoman. ¡°And what if the Empress were to accept Duke Despone¡¯s offer? To be subservient to a group that includes Diane Poitiers¡¯ brother, Lennox Poitiers¡­ what would that entail for their relationship?¡± ¡°What relationship?¡± spat another. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but rubbish.¡± ¡°Be wary of your words,¡± the scorned nobleman warned, clearing his throat awkwardly. ¡°By the way,¡± he continued after a beat of silence. ¡°¡­Yes?¡± prompted another. ¡°Why would Gottrov send a princess, one who is rumored to be a wizard at that, to Ehmont? And with just blood ties to support her, no less?¡± The group fell into a contemplative silence, mulling over the question at hand. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard,¡± one finally spoke up, ¡°she¡¯s the rightful princess.¡± ¡°That may be so,¡± another countered, ¡°but they say that Gottrov is the Empress Dowager. It¡¯s quite possible that the mother and daughter had a tumultuous relationship. Bloodlines are of little import when it comes to matters of power.¡± ¡°Watch your words!¡± chided a third nobleman, his tone fraught with caution. ¡°Keah hmm hmm,¡± the scorned nobleman replied with a shrug, his words dripping with unspoken disdain. ******* The warm gusts of late summer wind stirred the air, carrying with them a handful of leaves that had prematurely shed from the trees of autumn. They swirled and twirled, eventually finding their way to rest on a stem and a leaf. Lionel pushed back the locks that obscured his eyes and gazed up at the clear blue sky. The memory of the fiery red hue that had adorned the heavens mere moments ago felt like a distant dream. Was it reasonable for him to feel disheartened at a time when the relief and elation of those who had escaped disaster should have been rippling through the air? He couldn¡¯t help but wonder. But try as he might, he couldn¡¯t shake off the heaviness that weighed on his heart. It had only been a few hours since he had contemplated how much longer he could endure in the fiery inferno of hell. Yet, amidst the black calamity, the Empress had looked up and spoken in a light, carefree tone. ¡®It¡¯s level 4, which is close to level 5, so I don¡¯t have to wait.¡¯ Her words echoed in his mind, crystal clear as if etched onto his brain. Lionel had tried to catch her as she fell, but all he had felt was the weight of her thin, fragile shoulders in his palms before her powerful magic had pushed him away. In Ehmont, magicians were an enigmatic and elusive presence, even beyond the reach of the Minister of Defense. They guarded their secrets and moved in the shadows. This was the first time Lionel had ever felt the raw power of magic, and he replayed the scene over and over again in his mind. Looking up at the collapsing tower, he had opened his arms to catch the descending Empress. The sight of her was more overwhelming than any disaster he had ever witnessed: flames that poured like molten gold, eyes that glinted with a fierce light that surpassed even the fire, and black hair that cascaded down like a waterfall. ¡®Anyway, thank you for your help. And for yesterday¡¯s work.¡¯ Her low, laughter-filled voice had tickled his ears, and Lionel had shaken his head slightly to clear it. ¡°Young master!¡± It was only the butler¡¯s call that had pulled him out of his reverie. Lionel had arrived at the entrance of Baldr¡¯s residence without even realizing it, handing over his horse to the attendant and hurrying towards Theseus¡¯s office. Meanwhile, Duke Despone had rushed to the magician¡¯s official residence and burst through the door. ¡°Lenox!¡± At the sound of the Duke¡¯s voice, Lennox Poitiers quickly emerged. ¡°Your Excellency, the Duke!¡± Once they were both inside the headmaster¡¯s office and the door had been firmly shut, Duke Despone turned to Lennox and spoke in a hushed and urgent tone. ¡°The Empress is a wizard?¡± His face betrayed his anxiety and displeasure at encountering an unexpected twist. Lennox simply nodded. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Is it true that she destroyed the tower alone, without any other wizard¡¯s help?¡± Lennox hesitated for a moment before replying. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Duke Despone frowned and took a step back. He buried himself in the comfort of the sofa and folded his hands together, his mind working furiously to calculate the implications of this newfound knowledge. How long he sat there like that, brow furrowed and head tilted to one side, was anyone¡¯s guess. But eventually, he spoke again. ¡°The Empress is a wizard.¡± Lennox strolled through the rose garden, basking in his own self-importance, when he caught sight of the tower engulfed in flames. His confident demeanor shattered in an instant as he watched the tower collapse before his eyes. And then the impossible happened ¨C the one who had single-handedly destroyed the tower was none other than the Empress herself. Lennox was taken aback; he had never imagined that the empress, who had been married off to the emperor as if she were a mere pawn, would turn out to be a wizard, let alone a striker. It was a revelation that would have caught even the emperor off guard. ¡°Truly remarkable¡­ you are a great talent. The Empress Gottrov neglected to mention something rather important.¡± Duke Despone¡¯s voice was cold and grim, his long platinum hair sweeping across his face. Lennox couldn¡¯t shake off the ominous feeling that crept up his spine, causing goosebumps to form on his skin and beads of sweat to run down his back. Something told him that this was just the beginning of an unpredictable and perilous journey. CH 21.2 Lennox wasted no time once the Duke had departed, sprinting towards the Ivory Palace with determination etched into his features. The Ivory Palace was a hive of activity, filled to the brim with returning refugee employees. Despite the chaos, Lennox barged in with a single-minded purpose, seizing one of the ladies-in-waiting and demanding, ¡°Where is the princess?!¡± ¡°In her office,¡± the lady-in-waiting replied. Without another word, Lennox strode up the stairs to the second floor, where the office was located. He moved with the confidence of a man who owned the place, and no one in the Ivory Palace dared to stand in his way. Bang! Lennox slammed open the door without bothering to knock, startling Dian, who was sitting at her desk. ¡°Please¡­¡± Diane began, but Lennox cut her off. ¡°You, get out,¡± he ordered, gesturing to Lorraine, who looked at Dian before sighing and stepping outside. As soon as Lorraine had left, Lennox approached Dian, his gaze locked onto her belly. ¡°Are you still not pregnant?¡± he asked, causing Dian to recoil. ¡°Please, stop saying that! Do you think pregnancy is something that can be forced?!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°What are you going to do now?!¡± Lennox demanded. ¡°What am I supposed to do?!¡± Diane retorted. ¡°The empress is a wizard,¡± Lennox snarled, his face contorted with anger. Diane¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the revelation. ¡°Is the empress a wizard?¡± she asked. ¡°Indeed,¡± Lennox confirmed. ¡°And she¡¯s the one who caused the tower to disappear.¡± Diane closed her eyes in dismay, unable to believe what she was hearing. It was all so unexpected, and she felt powerless to do anything about it. In that moment, she felt like nothing more than a mere puppet being pulled this way and that. ¡°Duke Despone said he was a great talent! What if you see me as worthless?¡± Lennox asked, desperation creeping into his voice. Diane sneered at her brother¡¯s words, her anxiety mounting. ¡°If my brother was brought here, it¡¯s because he has potential,¡± she replied. ¡°Stop doubting yourself and start protecting the wizards. I¡¯ll protect you. Nothing has changed. There have always been mages in Ehmont. Everyone¡¯s just surprised. Don¡¯t waver.¡± Lennox¡¯s expression softened at Diane¡¯s words, and he began to feel a sense of calm creeping over him. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said softly. Lennox nodded in agreement. ¡°And besides, even if you¡¯re not pregnant, the king is still wrapped around your finger, isn¡¯t he?¡± he said, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Stop saying that!¡± Diane protested. ¡°And please be careful.¡± Lennox grinned at her. ¡°Of course. You know me,¡± he said. As they stared at each other, it was as if the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them in existence. Despite the coldness of the winter sky outside, they found warmth in each other¡¯s company, surviving the harshness of their world through sheer force of will. ¡°The owner of this empire is gone. Where would the empress go but to protect her own palace?¡± Diane mused. Lennox¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°But what can we do? I¡¯m just one person.¡± Diane¡¯s expression grew dark. ¡°We¡¯ve endured so much already, only to be brought low by this. It¡¯s not fair,¡± she said bitterly. Lennox¡¯s eyes simmered with a dark intensity, his mind weighed down by the weight of their endurance, which had now crumbled to ashes. The world¡¯s harshest proposition stared them in the face, an unyielding truth that brooked no argument. Those who had, would have more, and those who had not would lose even what they held onto with desperate claws. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and yet they had no choice but to face it head-on, to wrestle with it until they could find some semblance of solace. Even now, the truth of it all seems to gnaw at their very being, like a ravenous beast that refuses to be sated. ¡°This damned world,¡± Lennox spat, his voice laced with a fury that bordered on madness. ¡°It takes and takes, without a care for those who are born with nothing but the air in their lungs. What does it mean for them to be born holding onto nothing but their own umbilical cords?¡± Diane¡¯s voice was a soothing balm, a gentle whisper that quieted Lennox¡¯s rage. She spoke as if he were reciting a spell, her words laced with a quiet conviction that Lennox couldn¡¯t help but believe. ¡°Have faith, brother,¡± Diane said, her voice a low murmur that seemed to vibrate with power. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if the empress is a wizard or not. In the end, we will be the last ones laughing. The world may take and take, but we will always have each other.¡± ***** Adele had dubbed the act of destroying the tower without aid as using a ¡®guest machine¡¯. The tower was the epicenter of magic, and its absence would cause the mana to dissipate, unleashing untold chaos. Adele pushed herself to the limit, struggling up the stairs to her room in the palace, her body feeling as heavy as waterlogged cotton. She collapsed onto the bed and slept as if she were dead, groaning in agony as if her body had been battered. Adele appeared to be undressing and removing her shoes, but she was beyond caring about appearances. Mrs. Giggs watched the Empress contort and make strange noises with a worried expression etched on her face. Though Adele¡¯s forehead didn¡¯t feel hot to the touch, Mrs. Giggs couldn¡¯t shake her concerns. She left the room, knowing full well what the Empress was up to, and soon others learned of it too. The palace was in turmoil, abuzz with rumors of the Empress destroying the tower alone. ¡°She did it alone?¡± someone exclaimed in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s true! The guards are practically bursting with excitement,¡± another said. ¡°What about the other mage?¡± someone else asked. ¡°Late to the party. I heard the Empress arrived after the tower was already destroyed,¡± yet another voice chimed in. ¡°If not for Her Majesty, the Royal Guard would have suffered great losses,¡± someone else added. Gossip and whispers spread like wildfire, and everyone seemed to be in on the secret. The former general manager of Gwanrok, a sharp-witted woman with a keen sense of the political climate, observed the situation with narrowed eyes. She quickly drafted a letter and handed it to one of her trusted aides. ¡°Take this to His Highness the Grand Duke immediately,¡± she commanded, her tone brooking no arguments. ¡°Go quickly while chaos still reigns in the palace.¡± Without hesitation, the errand boy slipped out of the palace unnoticed, taking advantage of the confusion and commotion. ***** As the emperor stood lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the ominous black tower against the blood-red sky, the imperial palace suddenly erupted into chaos. But he remained calm, knowing that a tower of that size could be easily taken down. Perhaps he could order its destruction at the right time. As he pondered his options, a strange feeling washed over him. It was as if the wind had died down and the sky had faded to a lighter shade of red. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet and approached the window. And there it was ¨C a brilliant white tower crumbling before his eyes. The wizards had done it. Or so he thought. But the news that reached him soon after was nothing like what he expected. ¡°Who destroyed the tower?¡± he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It is said that Her Majesty the Empress destroyed it alone,¡± came the answer. The emperor was stunned into silence. He stared down at his hand, still tingling from the shock of electricity that had coursed through it when he gripped the empress¡¯ shoulder. All he had been given was the gender and name of the late Empress of Gottrovis¡¯ daughter. But now he had to wonder ¨C was it possible that the Empress Dowager of Gottrov had sent her daughter away to Echmont because she couldn¡¯t handle the responsibility? Determined to find out the truth, he summoned the shadow responsible for his secret work. ¡°Go to Gottrov,¡± he commanded. ¡°Find out about Princess Adelaide¡¯s whereabouts.¡± **** As the first rays of sunlight peeked through the window, Empress Adelaide stirred from her slumber. The rumors about her latest decision had spread like wildfire throughout the city, and she knew it was time to take action. With a determined air, she ordered her attendants to stir up the still unquiet capital once more. ¡°I shall issue an aide notice,¡± she declared, her voice firm and resolute. ¡°The eligibility criteria are unmarried men over the age of 20, except if they have a fianc¨¦. The selection process shall be conducted through interviews, and the number of chosen candidates is yet to be determined.¡± There was a hushed silence in the room as everyone waited with bated breath for her next words. ¡°And what shall be the selection criteria, Your Majesty?¡± one of her attendants asked. Adelaide paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the room. ¡°Only my heart,¡± she finally replied, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Mrs. Giggs closed her eyes and bowed respectfully to the empress, who smiled enchantingly, pleased with her faithful servant¡¯s response. Within three hours of the Empress Adelaide¡¯s announcement, the waves of her decision had collided head-on into the social world of Ehmont, causing a stir that would be felt for months to come. CH 22.1 The imperial capital¡¯s upper echelons were abuzz with the news of the empress¡¯s call for aides. The mere act of recruiting assistants was enough to pique everyone¡¯s interest, but the fact that the empress herself, a formidable striker who had shattered the tower just the day before, had issued the announcement had the nobles on the edge of their seats. Prince Baldr was no exception. ¡°What is this announcement all about?¡± Michael Rosen, the duke¡¯s chief secretary, mused as he perused a single document, swiping back and forth over it. Theseus sighed, his shoulders drooping. ¡°If we lay down too many stipulations, we¡¯ll never get the person we want. Sometimes, it¡¯s best to keep things simple.¡± ¡°But, your grace,¡± Michael pressed on, ¡°don¡¯t you think this is rather vague?¡± Theseus rubbed his temples and pursed his lips. This was going to be a headache. ¡°Is the empress looking to challenge Her Majesty¡¯s rule or to establish her own power base against Diane Poitier?¡± he pondered aloud. He looked up at his younger brother, Lionel, who was sitting across from him, his arms folded and eyes fixed on the announcement. ¡°Lionel,¡± Theseus called out to him, hoping to get his opinion. Lionel turned his gaze toward his brother, his deep blue eyes meeting Theseus¡¯s. ¡°What do you make of all this?¡± ¡°Well, why not both?¡± Lionel replied with a shrug. ¡°Or maybe she just wants to have some fun and pick someone she likes.¡± The duke¡¯s secretary interjected. Theseus and Lionel remained noncommittal. ¡°There¡¯s very little information on Empress Adelaide,¡± Theseus mused, rubbing his chin. ¡°But is it true that Her Majesty single-handedly destroyed the tower?¡± Michael asked, breaking the silence. Lionel nodded. ¡°Incredible, isn¡¯t it? Whether it was wizards or knights, none of them looked like they belonged to any organized group, but to think that the former princess empress is a striker¡­ It¡¯s simply astounding.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t judge a wizard solely on their appearance,¡± Theseus remarked. ¡°Quite right. And to destroy a tower like that, she must have quite a bit of combat experience under her belt,¡± Lionel added. The duke cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand. ¡°Regardless, the empress has put out a call for aides, and we cannot ignore it. Whom should we entrust with this task?¡± Their eyes met, each one pondering the same question: who could be entrusted with the crucial task of serving as the empress¡¯s aide-de-camp? With the Gongjia under attack from the emperor, finding a trustworthy individual to assist the empress was of the utmost importance. The chosen candidate would need to meet a specific set of requirements: a close bond with the Baldr family, approval from the empress, the ability to devise a plan to challenge the emperor¡¯s power while serving as an aide, being an unmarried man over the age of 20 without a fianc¨¦, and the fortitude to endure the inevitable loss of honor that comes with such a position. Michael furrowed his brow, knowing that it would be a tall order to find someone who met all of these conditions. Even after searching through his extensive biographical dictionary, he couldn¡¯t think of a single individual who fit the bill. It was impossible to recommend an heir from a royal family, so who could they possibly suggest? The answer eluded them, but the sense of discomfort in the air suggested that the solution was close at hand. The brothers sat in silence, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Michael¡¯s subconscious was working overtime, trying to find the perfect candidate for the position. As he pondered the dilemma, his gaze fell upon the Duke and his younger brother. They were a stunning pair, with handsome features and an air of nobility that made Michael¡¯s heart skip a beat. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration ignited within Michael. Could it be possible? He knew it was a long shot, but the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. This was the answer they had been searching for. With a deep breath, Michael raised his head and looked at the Duke and his brother with newfound determination. Michael¡¯s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Lionel from head to toe, his gaze turning grim. ¡°What?¡± Lionel muttered, tilting his head to the side. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anyone who meets the first four conditions perfectly? It¡¯s the fifth that¡¯s the hardest.¡± Michael paused, contemplating the predicament they found themselves in. ¡°He¡¯s not the eldest son, but¡­¡± he trailed off, lost in thought. As if on cue, Lionel¡¯s mind wandered to the events of the previous night. The golden eyes and cool voice of the mysterious woman lingered in his memory, leaving him restless and unable to sleep. And when he learned of the empress¡¯s search for a reliable aide, a sense of urgency overtook him, like a bell tolling loudly in his mind. Breaking the silence, Lionel spoke out of turn, causing Michael and Theseus to look at him quizzically. ¡°Her Majesty gave Count Calvin a gold bar. Her Majesty must have been very displeased,¡± he said, his words seeming to have no connection to the topic at hand. Perplexed, Theseus asked, ¡°What do you mean, Lionel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an aide notice from the empress,¡± Lionel replied, his voice steady and calm. ¡°Perhaps Her Majesty¡¯s view of the tower is different from the current wizards.¡± As Theseus mulled over Lionel¡¯s words, Lionel turned to Michael and asked, ¡°Do you have someone to recommend?¡± Michael, feigning uncertainty, scratched his chin and shook his head. The three sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. ¡°The three sons of Count Verdi are quite close in age,¡± Theseus stated, nonchalantly. ¡°The youngest hasn¡¯t even reached twenty yet.¡±