“Charity and high society are all well and good, but above all else, you must put your efforts into bearing an heir.”

“Yes…”

“I will order the imperial physician to prepare a tonic to strengthen your constitution.”

“I am most grateful.”

Alexa had her doubts about whether she truly needed to take medicine to conceive an heir, but she could not push back here.

“If you have nothing more to report, you may take your leave.”

“I am most grateful. Then I shall withdraw.”

Alexa rose and offered her bow. Camilla watched her with an unhurried gaze.

* * *

Back at the Empress’s chambers, Alexa played with Luna for a while before stepping into her study. She needed to send a letter to Duchess Taira, Violet.

She wrote out a letter detailing the charity ball and asking for her help.

“Matilda, seal this letter and send it to the Taira ducal residence.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just then, a visitor arrived at the Empress’s chambers. It was the imperial physician, sent on Camilla’s orders. Remarkably swift.

“Show the imperial physician to the reception room.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Alexa rose and made her way to the reception room. It was a nuisance, frankly, but it was Camilla’s command and she had no choice but to comply.

When Alexa entered the reception room, the imperial physician and his assistant offered their bows.

“We greet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

“Be seated.”

Alexa took her seat first.

“Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager felt it would be beneficial to present Her Imperial Majesty the Empress with a tonic to restore her vitality, and so we have come.”

To be precise, it was a medicine to aid in conceiving an heir.

Their relationship was natural and still new, and she wondered whether it was really necessary to resort to medicine, but she could not turn the imperial physician away.

Besides, after being with Enoch, she was always hit with an exhaustion she could barely endure, so perhaps it was not such a bad idea.

“If you take the medicine I have brought morning and evening, your vitality will grow considerably stronger.”

Alexa nodded.

“Understood. Is there anything else I should be mindful of?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“After the poisoning incident… you said my body had made a full recovery?”

“That is correct.”

The imperial physician spoke with a careful expression.

Alexa had been worried that lingering traces of the poison might make it difficult to conceive. That was the last thing she would want to inflict on a child yet to be born.

“Is my body in a fit state to carry a child now?”

“Yes. There is no issue at present. However…”

“What is it?”

“However, if you were to be poisoned again, it could be considerably more dangerous, so you must take great care.”

Alexa had yet to find any lead on the poisoning incident. The same was true for Enoch.

Every possibility had been examined, and yet there had been no grounds for Alexa to have been poisoned. It was enough to make one’s head spin.

With the culprit still unidentified, it was only natural to feel uneasy. Alexa sometimes trembled with anxiety, never knowing when someone might target her again. Establishing a kitchen within the Empress’s chambers had been partly a precaution against poisoning.

“Everything that enters the Empress’s chambers, food and goods alike, is subject to thorough inspection. I will not be poisoned again.”

“Yes. That is truly a relief.”

Alexa nodded.

“I will leave the medicine with the head maid.”

“Very well. You may withdraw.”

“Yes. I shall take my leave.”

The imperial physician and his assistant withdrew.

A short while later, Matilda brought the medicine. It was a dark liquid that looked thoroughly unappealing.

“Please try it for now.”

Alexa lifted the cup, took a sip, and grimaced. It was bitter beyond bearing.

“I am told this is the same medicine Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager once took as well.”

Matilda said, as though trying to console her.

“I have prepared some sweets, so please have one after you take it.”

At that, Alexa let out a sigh, squeezed her eyes shut, and drank down the bitter medicine. She put a sweet in her mouth afterward, but the bitterness still would not leave.

“This medicine is dreadfully bitter. And I’m supposed to take this every morning and evening?”

“That’s right…”

“It hasn’t even been that long since the imperial marriage, and already she’s pressing me like this for an heir…”

It had not been long since the two of them were joined as husband and wife. It was still a time when they could simply wait for things to unfold naturally.

But Camilla was pushing Alexa to produce an heir as soon as possible, even a day sooner. Pressing Enoch would get her nowhere, so it was plain she was directing it all at Alexa instead.

“The imperial physician said that Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager also took this medicine and conceived His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.”

Camilla had fulfilled her duty in that way and was now living as she pleased within the imperial palace.

But Alexa did not want to become like her. Whether or not a child came, she wanted to spend time with Enoch as they were now and build their days together.

At the same time, she also wanted to do what she could as Empress. Things like this charity ball, for instance.

But Camilla had eyes only for an heir, and that left a bitter feeling in her heart.

* * *

A few days later, Violet came to the Empress’s chambers.

Alexa welcomed her warmly.

“I greet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

“Please rise. Thank you for coming.”

“Not at all. It is my honor.”

Alexa decided to have tea and refreshments with Violet in the largest reception room.

“The tea has a wonderfully deep fragrance.”

Violet said as she set down her teacup with grace.

“It was a tribute from the west. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor sent it to me.”

“Indeed… His Imperial Majesty is so thoughtful.”

Violet remembered clearly the sight of Enoch lending his support to Alexa at the tea party.

Camilla had always complained that the Emperor was indifferent, but the Emperor that day had not appeared that way at all. Whether it was sympathy born from the poisoning incident or a genuine closeness between the two, it was clear that the Emperor’s attention was now directed entirely at Alexa.

“Oh, I understand you wish to hold a charity ball?”

“Yes. His Imperial Majesty the Emperor wants to eliminate the slums in the capital. But clearing the slums without any practical measures in place will only cause them to spring up elsewhere.”

Alexa was already someone who shared matters of state with Enoch. Violet was quietly surprised by that.

“So His Imperial Majesty intends to demolish the slums and build multi-unit housing in their place for the people to live in. That requires a budget.”

The imperial household’s funds were vast. But maintaining the imperial palace alone came at enormous cost, and there was never enough money to address everything across the empire.

And raising taxes indiscriminately was out of the question, so taking an approach like this was the better course in every respect.

“And this was Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager’s idea, but she suggested it would be good to hold an auction alongside the charity ball.”

“Come to think of it, there was a ball like that in the past. If everyone puts up their possessions for auction and bids on them, a great deal more money will be raised.”

Nobles lived and died by their pride. So even at a loss, they would call out high bids to flaunt their standing. The auction was a device that played directly on that impulse.

“The ball should be held in the largest banquet hall in the imperial palace.”

“Yes, since it is a rare occasion, that would be fitting.”

“The guest list, however, is proving difficult to draw up.”

The tea party had been a small gathering of noblewomen, but a ball was a different scale entirely. For Alexa, who still knew little of high society, compiling the guest list was the greatest challenge.

“Shall I take charge of the guest list?”

“I would be very grateful.”

“For matters of the banquet, the Emperor’s chamberlain and the head maid are well-versed, so it would be best to leave those to them.”

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Alexa took a sip of tea. The fragrance of the tea was deep and lovely in itself, but knowing that Enoch had sent it with care made it feel all the more special.

“Then when I come next time, I will bring the guest list with me. Many young noblewomen will be quite excited after such a long while.”

“Please help make it a lively ball.”

“Of course.”

Violet smiled with gentle warmth.

Contrary to Alexa’s initial worries, she was adapting to life as Empress remarkably well. Well enough that even Camilla had been satisfied.

Thanks to that, Camilla had acknowledged her contribution. The credit was given on the grounds that Alexa had been well educated during her time at the Taira ducal residence.

“Your Imperial Majesty is truly admirable. When you first came to our ducal residence, I wondered how things would turn out… and yet here you are, such a fine Empress.”

At that, Alexa smiled faintly.

“It is all thanks to you, Duchess.”

In truth, Alexa had used the pretense of falling ill with a fever and losing her memory at the ducal residence to relearn everything from the beginning. It was the Duchess who had taught her, so she owed her a great debt.

“I have no other worries, but I do worry about Your Imperial Majesty’s delicate constitution.”

“The imperial physician said the effects of the poisoning incident have cleared completely.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He said I have made a full recovery. In its place, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager has sent a tonic, but it is dreadfully bitter and quite the ordeal.”

Alexa said with a small laugh.

That Camilla was fixated on an heir was something Violet knew well.