Father examined me with sorrowful eyes and nodded.

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but please allow Leonora to stay in the imperial palace until she regains her strength.”

“Leonora, are you really sure this is alright?”

“Yes, of course.”

Even after Ainberg left, Father remained by my side with a worried expression.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return home now?”

Father’s expression wasn’t bright. He seemed to be watching me too carefully and, slightly exaggerating, even appeared somewhat tense.

“No, I’ll stay here.”

“Leonora.”

He slowly took my hand, which I had placed neatly on the bed, and said:

“Did something happen while you were here?”

“Something?”

I blinked at this unexpected question, and Father glanced around the empty room once before lowering his voice.

“Yes, you can tell your father anything.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Tell me anything. I’ll solve everything for you.”

Father sighed once and looked back at the door through which the Emperor had left. Then he spoke in a more subdued voice than before.

“Do you harbor negative feelings toward His Majesty? I thought you would want to leave the imperial palace immediately and return home.”

Ah, so that’s what he’s getting at.

For a moment, I almost spoke my honest thoughts but barely managed to hold back.

“And what about what His Majesty said just before leaving?”

The Emperor had readily permitted me to stay in the imperial palace for treatment and left the bedroom after a brief comment.

‘I gladly accept your invitation.’

“Invitation? What invitation is he talking about?”

“Ah, that.”

It was embarrassing to have changed my attitude so completely, even in front of my father.

“Actually, I was grateful for his kindness despite my rude behavior.”

“And?”

“I invited His Majesty to our estate.”

“What? You invited His Majesty?”

Father exclaimed in disbelief and stared at me with his already large eyes.

“Leonora, really?”

“Yes.”

“Did Allentain come by?”

“No, I personally invited His Majesty.”

“……”

It’s no wonder Father was so surprised.

After all, I had always told him that I disliked the Emperor and found even his attention toward me disgusting.

It was natural for him to find it strange that my attitude had changed overnight like flipping a palm.

“Leonora, this won’t do. I think we need to call your personal physician.”

“……”

“Your condition seems more serious than I thought.”

I decided I needed to somewhat package my situation for my poor father, confused by his capricious daughter.

Sigh, is this how one lie leads to another? Once I started acting, there’s no end to it.

I opened my mouth with an almost resigned expression.

“Father. I think I misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood?”

“Yes, His Majesty is a good person. Though he does come across as somewhat cold, cynical, pessimistic, and looking down on people.”

It’s killing me to praise someone I never would.

“Leonora, do you really think His Majesty is a good person?”

“Yes, of course. An emperor should have that much arrogance. Isn’t that necessary for the Empire to function well?”

This was the best praise I could manage right now.

“……”

“A kind ruler who’s friendly to everyone, laughing heartily and accommodating everyone? I can’t imagine it.”

“Leonora.”

“His Majesty is simply doing his best in his role. Even if that causes misunderstandings. Isn’t a monarch’s position that lonely?”

Lonely position my foot—he meets and discards women as he pleases.

“So I began to feel sorry for His Majesty.”

“……”

“I don’t know how this will sound, but I wanted to be a source of strength for him. Is that too presumptuous?”

By the time I finished speaking, Father’s expression had changed dramatically.

“My goodness, Leonora. I had no idea you were so thoughtful.”

Trying to hide my honest feelings led me to tell such elaborate lies.

“So you’re really alright with staying in the imperial palace?”

“Yes, of course, Father.”

“Well, I support your decision and thoughts. If you want to return home at any point, just let me know.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Oh, and.”

Father seemed to look around again before carefully saying to me:

“Did you get permission from His Majesty regarding the marriage?”

I shook my head lightly.

“No.”

Then I answered before Father could ask why.

“He said he would issue a marriage ban until a new Empress is selected.”

“A marriage ban?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of a marriage ban, Father’s face became somewhat thoughtful. Soon after, he nodded as if understanding.

“If that’s His Majesty’s will, there’s nothing we can do. He’s such a thorough person, so it’s not unreasonable for him to issue a marriage ban before the royal wedding.”

Father continued with a bitter smile.

“I thought you and Sir Merten would reconnect and form a good relationship.”

“I’m fine. I spoke well with Sir Merten.”

“Sir Merten is alright with it too? I should talk to him.”

“No, there’s no need for that!”

As I waved my hands frantically, Father looked at me with a strange expression.

“Really?”

“Yes, I explained it well so he wouldn’t be hurt. The situation can’t be helped. Haha.”

“You didn’t just inform him one-sidedly?”

“What? Oh, no.”

Father suppressed a laugh and squeezed my hand, shaking it.

“Leonora, you weren’t serious about it.”

“……”

“I thought it was strange that you were rushing so much. Sir Merten isn’t such a frivolous person, so I thought something was odd.”

I needed to tell the truth to clear up the misunderstanding, but I couldn’t.

Since things had come to this, I decided to deceive my father to stay in the imperial palace.

“I think I just wanted someone to rely on. Sir Merten is kind and a good person.”

“Yes, he’s known you since you were very young, so he’s trustworthy.”

‘He’s so trustworthy that I made this absurd request.’

Pressing down on my throbbing head, I spoke again.

“But I think I was too hasty. The feeling of reliance and love are… somewhat different, aren’t they?”

When I said this, Father looked at me with a broad smile.

“Leonora, I believe in you and support everything you do.”

“Thank you, Father.”

In the midst of our affectionate conversation, my personal maid from home and the imperial palace maids arrived. I was so happy to see Sabine enter that I didn’t know what to do.

“Sabine.”

“My lady, are you alright?”

Sabine quickly rushed over to me. As I nodded, Father also rose from his seat.

I waved my hand to beckon Sabine closer. She too must have been very shocked by the news about me, as her eyes were swollen and red.

“Sabine, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I can’t tell you how shocked I was when I heard you had collapsed.”

“I’m sorry. But I’m fine now.”

“I’ll take good care of you here.”

“Thank you. I already feel better just talking with you.”

“My lady……”

Afraid I might make Sabine cry again with unnecessary words, I gave her a playful expression. The maids standing behind Sabine seemed to be women sent by Ainberg.

The maids whose eyes met mine bowed respectfully.

“We will attentively serve Lady Chadmon until she recovers.”

“Thank you.”

Just then, a small worry sprouted in my mind.

Ainberg’s maids are tight-lipped. It would be difficult to hear outside news from them.

And although I had given bombs to the other girls earlier, I couldn’t be at ease since I didn’t know when or how they would explode.

‘I need a trustworthy helper.’

Who would be good?

“Father, I have a request.”

“Tell me anything.”

“Resting is good, but I think I’ll be lonely. If Viscount Ruhiben permits, could I meet Avery?”

There’s no woman more knowledgeable about social gossip than Avery.

Father answered with a gentle smile.

“Alright, I’ll speak with the Viscount and His Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

“Then rest well, Leonora.”

And so began my voluntary stay at the imperial palace.

❀❀❀

Two days later, Avery entered the imperial palace with my father.

“Goodness, what’s all this about, Leonora!”

After bombarding me with dramatic greetings and drinking a cup of tea brought by Sabine, Avery finally returned to her usual self.

“Avery, thank you for coming.”

“It’s only natural.”

She folded the fan she had brought and faced me with somewhat flushed cheeks. She was dressed as splendidly as if attending a ball.

“Leonora, I heard His Majesty personally gave you this room?”

“Yes.”

Avery nodded vigorously and began scrutinizing everything from the room interior to the bed, ceiling, and wall decorations.

“This is my first time entering the imperial palace. I’ve only heard about it… to actually enter like this, really.”

She seemed to have sweaty hands, struggling to remove her gloves in one go. Meanwhile, she was busy examining the decorations on my bed and her chair.

“I’ve never seen such decorations. How can they be so beautiful?”

Avery stroked the chair with her hand and caressed it with her fingertips, then, becoming aware of my gaze, sat down properly.

“I’m sorry. I came to visit you while you’re ill, and here I am talking nonsense.”

“Not at all. Having you here brings such liveliness.”

There was a reason I asked my father to let me meet Avery.