“With the two of you so fond of each other, an heir will come before long.”

Alexa nodded with a flush on her cheeks.

They were husband and wife, yet hearing such things from others still made her feel embarrassed, and there was nothing she could do about it.

“Even so, you must always be careful. The culprit has still not been found…”

“Yes. Everything that enters the Empress’s chambers, goods and food alike, is subject to thorough inspection.”

“That is a relief.”

Violet’s expression eased.

The safety of the Empress’s chambers was something the Emperor attended to as well, so there would be no shortcomings there.

“More than that, the tea party the other day must have been quite tedious for you.”

Alexa could not deny it and smiled.

“There were only older noblewomen in attendance, so it is only natural you would feel that way.”

“Honestly, it was a little dull.”

“In that case, what do you think about spending time with some young noblewomen? Meeting a friend closer to your own age would be a good thing.”

That sounded like quite a reasonable idea.

Alexa had everything, yet she had no friend to spend time with and enjoy herself.

“What do you think about holding a gathering with some young noblewomen before the ball?”

“That sounds like a good idea too.”

Since coming to this world, Alexa had never spent time with anyone her own age. She had been feeling the lack of that, and Violet had offered just the right suggestion.

“Then I’ll hold a tea party in the greenhouse again, as before. As for the invitations… would you take charge of that?”

“Of course. I will select only the finest young noblewomen.”

Alexa nodded.

Talking with Violet always made conversation flow so easily, and it put her at ease. In some ways, she felt closer to Violet than to Camilla.

“For the tea party… would three days from now suit you?”

“That works.”

Violet nodded.

“Too many guests would be a problem, so I will narrow it down to about three.”

“Yes, please do.”

Perhaps she would finally have something like a friend in this world too. That thought alone made her heart flutter.

* * *

That night, Alexa lay in bed with her head resting on Enoch’s arm. The heat of their earlier intimacy had only just settled.

“Oh, I’ve arranged to have a tea party with some young noblewomen three days from now.”

“With young noblewomen?”

“Yes. Duchess Taira said it would be better for me to meet someone my own age before the ball.”

Hmm. Enoch made a vague sound and nodded. He then began idly running his fingers through Alexa’s platinum hair. It seemed to be a topic that held little interest for him.

“I hope I can find a good friend.”

“I’d rather not have my share of your attention taken away.”

His voice came out low and languid.

“Having a friend won’t change how I feel about you.”

“Well… if that’s the case, I have no reason to object. Young noblewomen will certainly be easier to get along with than older ones.”

Enoch was the Emperor.

That meant he was extremely busy. So if Alexa had a friend whose company she enjoyed, that person could fill the time when he was not there.

“Of course, if your friendship with these noblewomen grows too deep, you’ll earn my jealousy.”

“Really… that won’t happen.”

“You don’t understand my heart. I want to have you all to myself, over and over.”

Enoch’s hand wandered to the nape of Alexa’s neck.

A hot desire smoldered in his dark eyes. Even though they had just finished, it felt as though his desire had not been fully spent.

“Enoch, no.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Enoch brought his lips to hers. At the sweetness of it, her eyes slid slowly shut.

Alexa gave herself over to him entirely and wrapped her arms around his neck.

* * *

A few days later, Violet came to the palace again, paid her respects at the Empress Dowager’s palace, and then came to the Empress’s chambers.

“I greet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

Violet offered her bow.

“Welcome, I’ve been waiting.”

“I was delayed paying my respects to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager. Please forgive me.”

“Please don’t say that. Come, rise.”

Alexa took Violet’s hand and helped her up herself. A lovely smile played at the lips of both women.

“Please sit. I’ve had tea time prepared.”

Alexa had arranged a tea set in the finest reception room of the Empress’s chambers. From macarons easy to pick up by hand to a chiffon cake topped with fresh seasonal strawberries, everything looked delicious.

“Since the desserts are sweet, I had a tea with a slightly bitter note brought out.”

Violet took a sip of tea and smiled.

“The refreshments are truly wonderful.”

In truth, the refreshments Alexa had prepared would fall short of what the Taira ducal house could offer.

“I’m planning to serve these at tea time with the young noblewomen.”

“I see. If you had told me, I would have prepared them…”

“No, there’s a certain pleasure in doing it myself.”

She could not rely on the Taira ducal house forever. To do so would not reflect well on the imperial household’s dignity.

Alexa intended to change the poor habits of the past, one small thing at a time.

“I came today to recommend the young noblewomen to invite to the tea party.”

Alexa nodded.

Violet then drew a small, elegant notebook from her br*ast. This was, in short, the Duchess’s notebook.

“There are three young noblewomen I would like to recommend.”

Knowing Violet’s nature, these three would be the result of careful and thorough selection.

“First, there is Lady Seira, the daughter of Marquis Colton, the chancellor.”

It was an unexpected choice from the very start.

Chancellor Davison, Marquis Colton, was on the Emperor’s side and kept the Taira ducal house in check. And yet Violet seemed to be setting all of that aside and recommending a young noblewoman who could truly become a friend to Alexa.

“Lady Seira is two years younger than Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I see.”

“Her special skill is playing the piano.”

It was just like Violet, with her meticulous network of information.

“Second is Lady Dania of the Haitz marquisate.”

“Marquis Haitz, you said…”

“Yes, he holds the position of Foreign Affairs Minister.”

He maintained political neutrality.

Alexa had worried that Violet might only bring daughters of those loyal to the Taira ducal house, but that concern had been entirely unfounded. She almost felt sorry toward Violet for having thought it.

“This young lady is also two years younger than Your Imperial Majesty, and her special skill is said to be singing, so she would pair well with Lady Seira’s piano. I understand the two of them are actually friends.”

That meant the tea party might not become too stiff. It was truly a thoughtful selection.

“And last, there is a young lady named Claire of the Knox marquisate.”

In that instant, her heart dropped with a thud.

“Your Majesty…?”

Claire was the young noblewoman who would appear in the middle of the story, make her presence felt, and become the Emperor’s woman.

And yet, even if the story’s course had changed, to be meeting Claire this soon.

“Your Majesty, your color has gone. Are you all right?”

“Ah… yes, I’m fine. My mind wandered for a moment.”

By any measure, it was not yet time for Claire to appear.

“Um… is there perhaps another young noblewoman named Claire?”

“No, there is no one else by that name in our social circles.”

It was not a case of two people sharing the same name either.

“She is the daughter of Marquis Knox, the Foreign Affairs Minister.”

Claire. Claire Knox.

If her memory was right, this was the woman who would later seek to become the Emperor’s woman.

Thinking of it that way, her heart pounded wildly.

“Lady Claire is the same age as Your Imperial Majesty.”

“I see.”

Alexa made an effort to appear composed. It was not a problem that could be solved by telling anyone, and no one would believe her anyway.

“Lady Claire’s hobby is said to be reading. And she is apparently skilled at the harp.”

Violet’s words were not quite reaching her.

“I believe inviting these three young ladies would be the right choice.”

It was a thorough and orderly summary, just like Violet. Alexa nodded.

“Then let’s invite those three. Would the day after tomorrow suit?”

“That should work well. Spring has arrived so suddenly of late that the tea party will have an even more vibrant atmosphere.”

“I hope so.”

In two days, Alexa would meet Claire. Whether Claire was the kind of woman she remembered, whether she already harbored different intentions from the start, that was something she could confirm then. It was not too late.

“Oh, I was thinking of preparing gifts for the young ladies.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is truly thoughtful. It will be an honor for them.”

“I was thinking of giving small diamond earrings. Would that be appropriate?”

“Of course. It is not excessive, yet it carries the dignity of the imperial household. Above all, since it would be a gift given personally by Your Imperial Majesty, it will surely become a family treasure passed down through generations.”

It did not seem quite that significant to Alexa, but she nodded for the time being.

Until she met Claire in person, this restless feeling in her heart would likely continue.

Originally, she had planned to live quietly until Claire appeared, then step aside and leave the Empress’s position to her. But now she could not do that.

It was because she had come to love Enoch, unlike in the original story. And Enoch loved Alexa in return.

‘If you correct a distorted reality, the future changes. It will be the same this time.’

Alexa decided to trust in her own strength. It was to protect the life of happiness she was building with Enoch.