But somehow.

Despite being in the imperial palace, despite Ainberg clearly knowing I was here.

I couldn’t see that Emperor guy at all!

The whole reason I’m lying here is because my plan #1 is to frequently encounter Ainberg and get closer to him, followed by plan #2 to act clingy and talk nonsense until he loses interest in me.

But I need to meet him first before I can make him lose interest or whatever.

‘Has that perceptive bastard already figured out my plan?’

No, that’s impossible.

The only ones who diligently visited my quarters were, unfortunately, Levi, my brother, and my father.

Especially Levi, who created excuses to visit almost every day.

The day before yesterday, he said he had business at the palace. Yesterday, he claimed he came to the palace, not home, to meet my brother Allentain.

He brought sweet treats from the new dessert shop Avery mentioned.

Today he brought books, saying I might enjoy reading them.

“Thank you.”

“I thought you might feel cooped up staying in your bedroom.”

“Did you really come all the way here just to bring this?”

“No, of course I had other important matters to attend to.”

Liar.

The imperial library would certainly have more books. These were all just excuses; I could tell he came for me.

“I’ll enjoy reading them. I was getting bored after finishing all the books Sabine brought from home.”

“I’m glad you like them, Len. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m completely fine now. The problem is my physician doesn’t think so.”

“Still no walks allowed?”

“Yes, no walks and no outings. It’s really frustrating.”

“Did they tell you why?”

“They said I might collapse suddenly. Since they don’t know the cause, they think it’s better to be careful. And I could hit something if I fall.”

“Then you should listen to your physician. I don’t want you getting hurt either.”

Levi smiled gently and then asked in a slightly lower voice than before. It was something he hadn’t brought up once during his visits over the past three days.

“Len, have you thought about what we discussed that time…?”

Though Levi broached the subject carefully, I had absolutely no interest in discussing it.

“You mean about His Majesty the Emperor?”

“I know it’s ungentlemanly to ask, but I can’t contain my curiosity.”

When Levi laughed awkwardly, I shrugged my shoulders and retorted:

“Are you also a man weak to curiosity, Sir?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“When you become curious, do you react and obsess over things you can’t have?”

When I narrowed my eyes and asked, Levi gave me an incredulous smile.

“I’m joking. Somehow His Majesty won’t even look my way.”

He needs to come here so we can talk or fight or something.

Contrary to my expectations, Ainberg was nowhere to be seen.

“Really?”

Levi also asked back as if surprised.

“That’s strange. Doesn’t he know you’re staying in the imperial palace?”

“Yes, he certainly knows.”

“Yet he hasn’t come even once. That’s unexpected.”

“Either he’s busy or he’s lost interest in me.”

Levi looked at me with a curious expression and said:

“Isn’t that a good thing? After all, our goal was to distance you from His Majesty’s curiosity.”

It’s correct on the surface, but why does it feel so unsatisfying?

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“And I’ve been checking whether the marriage ban was actually issued, but so far no orders have come down.”

“Really?”

“It seems like he’s being stubborn because he doesn’t want to approve our marriage.”

Stubborn.

I snorted, recalling Ainberg’s arrogant face.

‘If it ends like this, that would be fortunate.’

No marriage ban, and it seems his interest in me has disappeared—is the situation over now?

At that moment, everything I said to Avery came rushing back.

‘I’m feeling greedy.’

‘I’m greedy for the position of empress.’

‘This feels like my opportunity. I’m going to completely capture His Majesty’s heart and become Empress.’

“Ah, why did I say such things?”

When I muttered to myself, Levi asked:

“What things?”

I explained in a nonchalant voice what I had told Avery and the circumstances surrounding it.

Levi initially listened with a serious face, but by the end, he couldn’t hold back his laughter and covered his lips with the back of his hand.

I can still see you snickering behind that hand.

“Goodness, Len. Is that true?”

“……”

His face seemed to ask why on earth I would spread such rumors.

“I thought His Majesty would dislike me more if such rumors spread. Honestly, I thought it would be difficult to pretend to like him in front of him. I just thought anything would help.”

“You did well.”

Levi tensed his lips once before relaxing them and spoke to me kindly:

“I actually heard similar stories. That Duke Chadmon’s daughter would be the next Empress.”

“……”

“It’s amusing that you started the rumor yourself.”

“You shouldn’t find it amusing. It was a big decision for me.”

“Perhaps His Majesty has already heard the rumor. If he lost interest after hearing it, that would be fortunate.”

Ainberg has several aides besides Oz.

One of their duties is to collect gossip from social circles and throughout the city to report to the Emperor.

Though the stated purpose was to gauge public opinion, I thought it ultimately stemmed from a desire to monitor and surveil.

What did Ainberg think when he heard those words?

Did his interest in me drop when he heard I was greedy for the position of empress?

I’m really curious what expression he made.

“Then I should return home now. Since there’s nothing left to do.”

“I’ll instruct them to prepare for your departure.”

Levi kissed the back of my hand with a solemn expression, as if he were my knight.

I smiled once at his playful behavior when—

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door, and soon unfamiliar faces filed in.

They wore matching black tuxedos, each carrying a case in one hand and wearing curly white wigs that looked unusual.

What in the world?

“Who are you?”

As Sabine stepped forward, the gentleman at the front spoke:

“We’ve come to play music for Lady Chadmon.”

“Music?”

Then the servants who followed began arranging chairs and opening cases to take out instruments.

“Wait a moment, I never called for a band.”

As I waved my hands with a troubled expression, a gentleman receiving a violin from a servant nodded once.

“His Majesty the Emperor sent us. He said you might be bored.”

“His Majesty did?”

While I was still flustered, the musicians sat down, quickly tuned their instruments, and immediately began playing skillfully.

The performers were elegant and the music was magnificent.

For a moment, I couldn’t say anything, overwhelmed by the melody filling the bedroom. But only for a moment.

‘Why did Ainberg suddenly send musicians?’

During my time as Empress, my favorite thing was listening to music.

Though I enjoyed the music, my irritation rose when I thought about the Emperor again. He definitely had some impure, dark motive.

Yet the performance was perfect. The musicians’ breathing and movements, the strings and bows meeting to create chillingly exquisite melodies.

‘Huh? This music.’

As I focused on the flowing sound, I realized I knew this music.

It was definitely a melody I had heard somewhere before.

‘Where have I heard this music?’

While my thoughts and the music tangled into confusion in my head, I heard Levi’s light sigh.

“Len, it seems His Majesty’s interest hasn’t completely disappeared after all.”

“……”

“If it had, he wouldn’t have sent a string ensemble to you.”

Not knowing how to respond, I just swallowed hard once.

‘He won’t visit me himself but sends people to annoy me like this? Sending people so I can’t even refuse?’

“Perhaps.”

Levi’s face sank into thought for a moment before he spoke.

“It might be because the Empress has awakened.”

“The Empress has awakened?”

“All his attention must be focused there. That’s probably why he couldn’t come.”

“No, His Majesty wouldn’t care about that.”

Though I spoke dismissively, Levi, unaware of the background, seemed to find my certainty strange.

“Do you really think so?”

“He wouldn’t be concerned in the slightest. He’s a cold person without blood or tears.”

Only after my emotional response did I realize my mistake.

“Well… that’s just what I think.”

“But a string ensemble sent by His Majesty has come to your bedroom. What will you do now?”

I smiled at my kind helper and said:

“It’s not time yet. I’ll wait for His Majesty to come. And then I’ll do what I’ve prepared.”