“Leonora.”

“Father.”

“Leonora, what is this all about.”

I welcomed my father with a friendly smile, but he couldn’t return it. His flushed face and cheeks stiffened with tension made it obvious what he had heard.

“Did you meet with His Majesty?”

I had expected this would take a bit more time.

Shouldn’t there be a formal proposal, gifts exchanged, and everything proceeding in proper order!

Where did all those strict protocols I had to memorize during my time at the imperial court go? Why rush through a marriage proposal like beans popping in lightning-fast fire?

“You continue to surprise me. Is everything His Majesty told me true?”

I asked nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.

“You mean about my marriage?”

“So it is true.”

“Yes, being here made me realize that living in the imperial palace isn’t necessarily lonely or bad. So… I accepted His Majesty’s proposal.”

At my words, my father froze like someone who had forgotten to blink.

“Leonora.”

“His Majesty said he would grant all my wishes. I can change clothes dozens of times a day, he’ll buy me diamonds as big as a fist, and I enjoy being served by many people here. Would it be alright for me to live like that?”

My father’s face grew thoughtful.

If he were an ordinary, typical father of this era, he probably wouldn’t have reacted this way.

He would have been moved just by the honor of his daughter walking alone with the Emperor and even receiving his proposal.

But Duke Chadmon was a man who considered nothing more important than his daughter’s well-being and happiness.

“Leonora, if you want to change clothes dozens of times a day, you can return to Chadmon and do so. Buy as many jewels as you want. If you needed more maids, I’ll assign more children to you.”

“……”

“I thought I raised you without any lack.”

“That’s right, Father. I’m not doing this because what I’ve enjoyed so far was insufficient.”

“Leonora, becoming Empress isn’t such a light matter. I thought you understood that better than anyone.”

Don’t worry, Father.

I’m doing all this precisely to avoid becoming Empress.

“Father, wouldn’t it bring tremendous honor to our family if I became Empress?”

At those words, my father’s eyes looked like he might cry at any moment, so I quickly added:

“Of course, I didn’t make this decision for the sake of our family.”

“If I had another daughter, I would have been overjoyed for her to become Empress. But Leonora, you.”

Yes, I was the fragile daughter who seemed ready to wither and break at any moment.

“As I mentioned recently, His Majesty turned out to be quite an interesting person, more than he appears.”

“Interesting?”

His face, which had looked ready to cry, instantly crumpled.

My father probably thought I was lying.

“Leonora, I must have prayed incorrectly to the gods.”

“……?”

“I said I wouldn’t care about anything else if only you would get healthy, if only you could stand and walk again. I never expected this kind of answer.”

“No, Father.”

“I don’t know what to make of this.”

I thought I should try to calm my father down a bit.

“It’s not happening right away, and anyway… that’s just His Majesty’s intention. We still have plenty of time.”

Don’t worry, it will fall apart during the period when we’re getting to know each other.

While I was hiding my true thoughts and trying to soothe my father—

“My lady, Sir Merten has arrived.”

Sabine spoke to me in a cautious voice. With a light gesture, I turned my head to see Levi entering with a somewhat tense face.

What’s this? The rumors couldn’t have spread already.

“Does Sir Merten already know too?”

When I smiled awkwardly, my father immediately closed his mouth.

“Please don’t worry and leave it to me, okay?”

“Very well. You two probably have things to discuss, so I’ll take my leave.”

My father turned away with a final affectionate smile.

“Sir Merten, welcome.”

During my stay at the imperial palace, Levi had visited with all sorts of excuses, so his presence wasn’t particularly strange or special.

But his expression doesn’t look good.

“There’s quite a commotion about you taking a garden walk alone with His Majesty. And I hear you had a private meeting with Duke Chadmon afterward.”

“Sabine, please bring some tea. And the rest of you may withdraw.”

“Yes.”

After dismissing all the servants, I leaned toward Levi.

“As you said, I tried my best to appear like a gold-digger.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I told him how nice the beds are and how everything from teacups to towels is new and wonderful. I said I wanted to change clothes twelve times a day and have jewels as big as a fist.”

“What?”

Levi covered his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed for quite a while.

“Goodness, did you really say that to His Majesty?”

“Yes, I tried to appear as childish as possible. I said I hate studying and like to play and eat, that I want to live comfortably—I rattled off things like that.”

“Len, you really.”

Levi seemed at a loss for words and remained silent for a moment.

“You must be the only person who could say such things to His Majesty.”

Come to think of it, those were rather excessive statements.

Wasn’t I openly asking the Emperor to buy me clothes and jewels because I liked them?

“I’ve newly realized it’s much harder to make someone dislike you than to make them like you.”

“Though it’s an impure thought, I’m curious what expression His Majesty had.”

While I was sighing deeply, Sabine brought in warm tea.

She arranged the tea set on the table and perceptively left the room.

During this time, Levi silently took a sip of tea, set it down, and began speaking.

“So… was the strategy successful?”

Ah, how should I explain this?

I slowly shook my head.

“It’s neither success nor failure yet. Let’s say it’s in progress.”

Levi asked with a somewhat surprised face:

“You acted like a childish ducal lady, and the strategy is still ongoing?”

“Yes, he said I could decorate the imperial palace however I wanted and buy all new clothes. He told me to buy diamonds as big as a fist and do whatever I wanted.”

“What?”

“His Majesty said he wants to keep me by his side.”

This time, he couldn’t even ask again and just stared at me, completely frozen.

“Len.”

“It feels like we’re playing tug-of-war. It also seems like he’s testing me.”

“So? What did you answer?”

“I couldn’t run away when I’d come this far. I said I would.”

“……”

“There’s plenty of time before marriage. Now I’ll act clingy as if I’ve really become Empress. Until His Majesty can’t even bear to look at the Chadmon family.”

“Considering what you just told me… I think you’ll manage quite well.”

Levi spoke to me in a somewhat heavy voice.

“But I’m still worried, to be honest.”

“Don’t worry. I have everything planned out.”

I know the Emperor’s fickleness well. Even if he promises to give everything, he won’t actually follow through.

The imperial palace had many eyes, and though the position of empress was vacant, Foil Viper still stood by his side.

Foil wouldn’t stand by and watch the Chadmon family enter the imperial family, and things would be delayed.

‘During that time, I just need to fall out of the Emperor’s favor.’

It will take a little time, but it’s as easy as eating cold porridge.

After speaking confidently, I asked Levi:

“But you don’t look well today. Did something happen?”

Levi nodded slowly and began to speak.

“Actually, I came because I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I need to return to Bilmotz today.”

“To Bilmotz?”

He was a good helper and friend. He was also the only person who knew my plan.

But now he has to return to Bilmotz?

While I was waiting for his next words with a somewhat tense face—

“Something unfortunate has happened in my homeland.”

What could be so unfortunate that he needs to return urgently?

I hesitated to ask, and he spoke in a dark voice.

“The prince has met with an unexpected accident. So I need to go back urgently.”

“Oh, what should we do? An accident?”

“I don’t know the details.”

Levi rose from his seat and bowed to me respectfully.

“I’m sorry. I should stay here and help you.”

“Don’t say that. I’ll handle things well, so please don’t worry about my situation anymore.”

“How can I not worry? Wherever I am, I’ll be concerned about you.”

In truth, until then, I didn’t understand why Levi had to return urgently because the prince had an accident.

Not until he sent a shocking letter from Bilmotz.