“Ugh.”

I threw off the blanket and sat up abruptly.

“My lady, are you uncomfortable?”

The strange favors didn’t end after just one day. But Ainberg only sent lavish feasts and musicians without visiting in person.

Why on earth?

Could he be concerned about others’ eyes?

‘That can’t be it. That wasn’t your personality.’

You were never someone conscious of others’ gazes. So why aren’t you showing up when you know I’m here?

When I let out a long sigh, Sabine approached with an anxious face.

“My lady, are you feeling unwell?”

“No. Just feeling a bit stifled.”

“Would you like me to give you a massage?”

“That’s not necessary. Rather, Sabine, should we go out for a brief walk in the corridor?”

“You can’t. You were told not to get out of bed until further notice.”

“……”

“What if you collapse again?”

“I’ve been in bed so long that my body feels stuck to the blanket. I need to move now.”

When I pushed the blanket away completely, Sabine approached, waving her hands.

“No, my lady!”

“Please. I’m begging you.”

I was about to go mad staying in bed while dealing with an Emperor whose thoughts I couldn’t fathom.

“Then I’ll ask the physician if it’s alright for you to take a short walk. If you collapse here, I’ll be in serious trouble.”

I shook my head. The imperial physician trusted by Ainberg didn’t seem to consider me a patient.

He’s treating me like a newborn baby.

Being unable to take even one step outside the bed made me feel like I was dying from restlessness.

“Before that, Sabine.”

I hesitated briefly before calling Sabine back.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Have you heard anything about the Empress?”

“The Empress?”

“Yes, I’m wondering if there’s any word about her waking up again.”

Sabine shook her head with a somewhat dark expression.

“It seems she hasn’t opened her eyes again since that day.”

“I see.”

“I heard that all the priests and imperial physicians are attending to her, but there seems to be no improvement.”

I nodded slowly.

But at that moment, a strange thought occurred to me.

The Empress who had been in a coma for a year woke up precisely when I entered the imperial palace? Could there be some connection?

‘There must be something.’

Come to think of it, I had never considered what happened to the original Leonora’s soul.

“Would it be impossible to visit the Empress?”

When I asked, Sabine caressed one cheek and muttered:

“You were told not to leave the bed… would that be possible?”

“I have a good idea.”

“……?”

“What if I go with the physician?”

Sabine laughed awkwardly.

“My lady, would that be possible?”

“If I talk about my connection to the Empress and say I want to pray for her, wouldn’t it be possible?”

“But my lady, do you really need to go that far… to meet the Empress?”

“Could you ask the head maid? Whether I might be able to see Her Majesty, even from a distance.”

“Then after I return from speaking with the head maid, if she says it’s alright, I’ll talk to the physician.”

“Thank you, I really can’t stand it anymore. Please tell them I want to go outside and walk, whether it’s a stroll or whatever.”

“I’ll convey your message well and return.”

The moment I confirmed Sabine had left through the door—

I walked out of bed.

“There’s absolutely no problem standing and walking on two legs.”

After stretching my arms upward and twisting my waist, my joints made cracking sounds as if bones were colliding. But I deliberately ignored it.

“You know, a person feels alive when moving, not lying down continuously.”

Then I stood in front of the mirror and tidied my appearance.

Though I only smoothed my disheveled hair a bit, I looked remarkably beautiful despite my bare face, perhaps due to my white, clear skin. I hadn’t swollen at all despite lying in bed all day.

‘Good, now that Sabine is gone, let’s start moving.’

Although I asked Sabine, I already anticipated that meeting the Empress would be impossible.

With priests and doctors all attending to her, I wouldn’t easily be able to enter and see her. So I needed to find a natural way.

‘For that, I first need to meet the Emperor.’

Without overthinking, I went straight outside. The interior of the imperial palace was already as familiar to me as the palm of my hand.

‘Now where should I go to meet the Emperor?’

I’m a bit sorry for Sabine, but I just can’t stand it anymore!

Since he said he despised aggressive women, I decided to actively seek him out and confront him.

‘His office? Or Sans Hall? He’s probably not working anyway, maybe swinging his sword or hunting?’

Among various thoughts, something suddenly occurred to me.

‘He’s definitely entertaining himself surrounded by women.’

That thought made me inexplicably irritated.

Let’s check his office first and then look around.

After walking for quite a while, I reached the office and spoke indifferently to the guard.

“Leonora Chadmon wishes to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

I doubted he would be in his office, but the guard went inside to relay my message.

‘What? He must be in there?’

That’s fortunate. I took a deep breath and tried hard to soften my expression.

Alright, my direct visit to the Emperor is to openly show him I’m interested.

Then I’ll invite him to the mansion when I return, telling him to definitely come while giving him a flirtatious smile.

Eventually, the firmly closed door opened, and I walked into the spacious office.

Ainberg sat in front of a massive, solid desk with an even more rigid posture.

He had a dry expression that contrasted with his beautifully shining silver hair.

“Leonora Chadmon greets Your Majesty the Emperor.”

I stood before Ainberg, observing proper etiquette.

Of course, I didn’t expect him to be alone. It didn’t matter if there were many people. If I invited the Emperor and he accepted, it could cause a greater stir than mere social gossip.

However, among the people beside the Emperor stood an unexpected figure.

A face chillingly familiar.

‘Oh no.’

A man with dark brown hair and unpleasantly sharp eyes.

None other than my father, Foil Viper.

‘What a coincidence to meet here!’

As I mentioned before, Sienna’s father Foil was a man obsessed with power.

He thought of me not as a daughter but merely as a connection between himself and the Emperor.

He was a man harboring sinister desires behind his gentlemanly smile.

‘I didn’t expect to face him again like this.’

But now I’m not Empress Sienna, just a daughter of the Chadmon family.

I am Leonora Chadmon.

There’s no need to be afraid, fearful, or avoid him.

Moreover, I don’t need to feel sorry for my father. Even if I had really died instead of becoming vegetative, he wouldn’t have batted an eye.

He was ashamed that I didn’t receive the Emperor’s love.

He pressured me to somehow win the Emperor’s heart and bear a child, but it was impossible.

…Just as the title “The Forgotten Empress” suggests, Ainberg wouldn’t even meet my eyes.

But there was another reason he was more terrifying.

When we were alone, he would berate and despise me, but outside, he transformed into a loving father.

‘I thought I’d never have to see that face again.’

I was so preoccupied with how to handle the Emperor that I forgot Foil Viper was the Empress’s father.

He’s not an easy opponent and wields power no less than the Emperor. While avoiding him would be wise, I can’t simply retreat quietly as Leonora.

‘Wait, if I act friendly toward the Emperor here, my father would find it quite displeasing?’

Even though she’s lying unconscious, the Empress is still the Empress. Despite all the talk about selecting a new Empress, Sienna Viper remains the Empire’s Empress.

What if the subject of these strange rumors openly flirts with the Emperor?

‘My father’s face would be worth seeing.’

Determined to see his disgusted expression, I lifted my chin once.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for this sudden visit.”

When I opened my mouth in a modest voice, Ainberg slowly closed and opened his eyes before gazing at me.

“I know it’s rude, but I wanted to greet you personally.”

“You seem to have recovered well.”

“Yes, it’s all thanks to Your Majesty’s kind care.”

I smiled sweetly and then got to the point.

“You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?”

Ainberg gave a barely perceptible smile and answered.

“I remember.”

“I’ll be preparing with a joyful heart.”

“I look forward to it.”

“And the string ensemble’s performance was truly excellent. At first, I thought my father sent them because he felt sorry for me having to lie in bed all the time.”

I slightly turned my head to glance at my former father’s direction.

I was curious about what expression he was watching our conversation with.

“…But I was really surprised to hear that Your Majesty sent them.”

Contrary to my expectations, my former father was merely gazing forward with noble eyes. So I decided to add one more comment.

“And I was extremely happy.”