My words about being happy with a flushed face had some effect.

My former father’s cheek twitched subtly, though he had seemed indifferent until now.

While I was assessing the atmosphere, hoping to deliver another significant blow, Ainberg spoke first.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“……”

Another peculiar silence fell between us.

I knew I needed to continue the conversation but couldn’t decide what to say. My mind was complicated by thoughts of what words might diminish his interest in me.

It might have been easier if the Emperor were alone.

But this place was filled with people in key imperial positions, including my former father, Foil Viper.

How could I maintain proper decorum while blatantly showing my interest in the Emperor?

No, it’s impossible.

Such a method simply doesn’t exist!

At that moment, Oz the aide stepped forward. He must have sensed the conversation was concluding. Since I had entered alone without a maid, he would predictably offer to escort me back.

Just as I thought I couldn’t leave without accomplishing anything—

“Your Majesty, may I pay my respects to the Empress before I leave?”

In my urgency, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

For a moment, everything went quiet, then everyone began watching my former father with tense expressions.

‘D*mn, this isn’t right.’

Of course, the comatose Empress had briefly opened her eyes recently, but the selection of a new Empress had been officially announced.

Yet people’s concern about my former father suggested he still dominated the imperial atmosphere.

“Lady Chadmon must have received an invitation recently.”

My former father, who had been observing me with noble eyes, finally spoke.

“Yes, by invitation do you mean… the banquet His Majesty held for the Empress selection?”

I specifically mentioned “Empress selection,” feeling the need to be precise. I also intended to be slightly offensive.

“Indeed. I heard the Chadmon family has a precious daughter, and today I meet her.”

I curtseyed respectfully and then looked at him.

‘Father, it’s been a while.’

Not that I’m happy to see you—this is merely a courtesy.

“I am Foil Viper.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Leonora Chadmon.”

When I responded with a sweet smile, he maintained a kind demeanor and said:

“Lady Chadmon, I too have a precious daughter.”

Surely that precious daughter doesn’t refer to me.

Surely he’s not trying to play on people’s emotions in public.

“I know Duke Chadmon to be a serious and thoughtful person, but his daughter seems to have a boldness unlike her father.”

Though his tone was gentle, it was enough to make me tense.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

I stared directly at my former father as I spoke.

He maintained a calm face, but I could clearly see the tension at the corners of his lips.

“A compliment indeed. I wonder how things might have been if my daughter, lying down due to unfortunate circumstances, had been as innocent and bold as you…”

“……”

“Then perhaps she wouldn’t have been cast aside like this.”

I couldn’t tolerate my former father’s absurd words any longer. Unable to hide my surging emotions, I was about to speak in a somewhat intense voice when—

“Though the noble Empress’s situation is unfortunate—”

“Enough.”

Ainberg raised his hand, interrupting our conversation.

I closed my open mouth, and my father also stepped back with a slight bow.

“It’s impossible for you to greet the Empress, but you can take a walk with me.”

He gestured to stop his aides from coming forward and approached me.

“Would you give me the pleasure of walking with you?”

“It would be my honor, Your Majesty.”

I gave a brief greeting to my father before turning away.

Despite our brief exchange, my lips felt dry and my fingertips cold. If Ainberg hadn’t intervened, what conversation would my father and I have had? Whatever it might have been, it wouldn’t have been pleasant.

‘I wonder how things might have been if my daughter, lying down due to unfortunate circumstances, had been as innocent and bold as you… Then perhaps she wouldn’t have been cast aside like this.’

Wow, really.

How can he say such things without batting an eye? Isn’t he being too shameless?

He never loved me. He never loved me, never worried about me.

‘What if she had been bold or innocent?’

Even when I was quiet, I fell out of the Emperor’s favor. If I had been bold, I might have died before falling into a coma.

As my thoughts began to calm my heart, Ainberg spoke to me.

“I was sick of the meeting, so thank you.”

How long had I been following him absentmindedly? We had already left the imperial palace and were standing at the entrance to the garden.

I had managed the imperial garden all this time. Of course, I didn’t water or prune branches myself, but gardeners I employed planted trees and set themes according to my wishes.

Returning to the garden after a year…

I thought much would have changed, but not much had.

I would have preferred if everything had been completely transformed. The traces of me still remaining here and there made me feel strange.

“Your kindness in overlooking my rudeness leaves me at a loss.”

I never expected things to turn out this way.

To walk side by side with the Emperor again like this.

It was beyond horrible—it was devastating, but I carefully hid my true feelings and spoke in a gentle voice.

This was an opportunity that wouldn’t come again.

I needed to see the Empress first. For that, becoming closer would be beneficial.

But at that moment, Ainberg brought up something unexpected.

“Will you return with your fiancé now?”

I was trying to set the mood, and suddenly he brings up my fiancé?

“Do you mean Sir Merten?”

“He was devoted to you even while you were recuperating in the imperial palace.”

His voice was the same as usual, but somehow I felt a chill down my spine.

He knew everything about Levi’s comings and goings.

“He came to keep me company, worried I might be lonely.”

“A caring lover.”

“While Your Majesty never came once, which made me a little disappointed.”

When I deliberately spoke boldly, Ainberg stopped walking and slowly turned to face me.

“Had I known you were waiting.”

“……”

“I would have come myself instead of sending the string ensemble.”

Then he looked down at me with his characteristically arrogant gaze.

Standing face to face with him strangely brought back memories of the past.

Ainberg had never spoken with me like this, never met my eyes.

Thinking that he must have seduced countless women like this made irritation surge within me, no matter how hard I tried to suppress it.

‘Before long, his current interest will wither away too.’

I only hope he grows sick of me as soon as possible.

“I thought you might be angry that I prevented your marriage.”

“What an interesting thought.”

“Interesting?”

“Yes, how could I possibly be angry? Nothing is more important than the Empress selection.”

“Such a textbook answer. Are you also going to bore me?”

“I apologize.”

When I answered in a voice that wasn’t apologetic at all, Ainberg’s lips twitched for the first time.

“Nothing is more important than the Empress selection.”

He murmured softly and then looked down at me again.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

When I nodded, Ainberg spoke again.

“What do you think an Empress is?”

It was a sudden question.

But it was also something I had heard countless times, something everyone had emphasized to me.

Standing by the lord’s side, embracing the empire’s citizens, maintaining unwavering mental strength—

Ugh, enough.

“Isn’t she the woman by Your Majesty’s side?”

I simply smiled and gave a one-dimensional answer. Wait, perhaps the rumors circulating in social circles had already reached his ears?

Did he know I’d been talking about wanting to be Empress?

Just as things were getting interesting, Ainberg spoke again.

“I’ve heard rumors that you will become Empress.”

I suppressed my spreading smile and grinned brightly. The rumors had safely reached the Emperor’s ears.

Wait, should I say I like the idea here, or that I don’t?

I need to get closer to see the Empress.

But if I deny the rumors and reject the idea here, I might stimulate Ainberg’s curiosity.

Should I jump for joy here so he’ll be disgusted?

“Yes, I know. My, people’s eyes are so accurate.”

Let me drive the nail in completely here.

I’m a childish lady who covets that position and desperately wants to be Empress, so please lose interest in me now.

“After staying in the imperial palace for a few days, I found it so comfortable and nice. The beds are so fluffy, and I only wear the finest clothes… everything from teacups to towels is of the highest quality I’ve never seen before.”

As I clasped my hands together with sparkling eyes, Ainberg continued looking down at me with an expressionless face.

‘Yes, that’s right, look at me even more pathetically!’

“So I thought it would be really wonderful to become the Empress.”

I was even gently swaying my body as I said this when—

Ainberg made an unexpected statement.

“Then do as you wish.”