Ainberg said nothing.

I wanted him to say something, anything at all, while simultaneously hoping he would escape with a joke like before.

“……”

Yes, if he would just say he couldn’t stand the sight of the Empress, that he felt similarly now.

Then I could face his current kindness more calmly.

Why was he suddenly acting like a different person? I shook my head, regretting my words.

‘You idiot, fool! Why did you say something like that?’

Just as I was about to awkwardly laugh it off, Ainberg turned his head and answered languidly after staring at me for a while.

“She was a good person.”

A good… person?

I stared at him blankly, forgetting even to breathe.

His eyes stopped on empty space, as if wandering through the past.

“She was humble and thoughtful despite everything she had.”

He spoke to my completely frozen self, engraving each word one by one.

“She was an unparalleled woman as my companion and as the mother of the Empire.”

“……”

“I wonder if that’s an adequate answer.”

Now I was the one at a loss for words.

I should have responded with something, anything like “I see” or “Yes.”

Somehow, I felt that if I uttered even a single word, it would pour out with tears.

‘So my time as Empress wasn’t completely in vain after all.’

He might not have loved me, but he thought I wasn’t bad at maintaining the position of Empress.

But such sentiments lasted only briefly before I wondered if Ainberg was being sincere.

The time he spent coldly treating me was too long and harsh to fully believe him.

‘Lies. You never thought of me as your companion.’

He must be making this up to win Leonora’s favor.

“While I’m not well-versed in rumors, Your Majesty rarely accompanied the Empress.”

Now, how will you handle this attack?

If you thought she was a good person, why didn’t you spend time with her?

Didn’t you make even the maids and jewelers disrespect me by treating me coldly?

If she was a good person, shouldn’t you have protected her?

‘What appears isn’t always the truth.’

‘……’

‘Didn’t you believe the trees and grass, all of this was real when you first entered the garden?’

True, appearances aren’t everything.

Sometimes what we mistake for real turns out to be fake, and what we believe to be true becomes a lie.

No need to think far.

You believe I’m Leonora, but I’m actually not.

‘Am I… missing something?’

I traced my memories at this ominous thought.

He’s a straightforward person. Someone incapable of pretense or concealment.

This isn’t his character to speak in circles.

He must be hiding something.

‘Then let’s test him by bringing up the balcony incident.’

If you keep slipping away like a snake, I won’t hold back either.

I’ll bulldoze through and expose your true feelings.

“Your Majesty.”

I wanted to make him more uncomfortable.

“Do you remember your mistake on the balcony last time?”

Ainberg’s eye narrowed at my words.

“You called me by the Empress’s name. Was it simply a mistake?”

He smiled enigmatically and said,

“If thinking it was a mistake makes you more comfortable.”

Of course, I wasn’t expecting a satisfactory answer.

But escaping like this every time is cowardly.

Yet why am I getting so angry?

What am I expecting from him?

“Am I just a substitute then? Are you trying to temporarily fill the position of your companion?”

Yes, I was angry at Ainberg’s lies.

Angry at his efforts to impress Leonora. I also disliked his pretense of being a romantic.

But what I found most unbearable was something else.

I hated myself for being angry that he didn’t like me romantically at all.

I didn’t want to admit it.

I didn’t want to accept it because it would make me more miserable.

But I liked the Emperor.

I wanted to please him, to be his companion as he said. I wanted to properly fulfill my role as the Empire’s Empress.

Though these feelings are unnecessary now.

“I don’t know much, but wouldn’t the Empress have loved the Emperor deeply?”

Captured by indescribable emotions, I turned my head.

As I tried to step forward with an awkward smile, he grabbed my hand.

“……”

A hot sensation surged through my captured hand. It was an intense heat impossible to resist.

“Your Majesty.”

As he pulled my hand toward himself, my staggering body drew close to Ainberg.

I couldn’t breathe.

Unable to look up or push him away, I hesitated as Ainberg’s hand carefully lifted my chin.

“Now.”

I wasn’t the only one engulfed in a storm of emotions.

He seemed somewhat excited, unlike his usual self.

“Let’s talk only about us.”

He’s too close.

Our gazes began to intertwine precariously. I twisted my head sideways and whispered,

“But the Empress still…”

I mean, my physical body is still sleeping somewhere.

What are you thinking about this situation?

What exactly are you thinking?

“Leonora Chadmon.”

Ainberg murmured in a gloomy voice.

“It would be better not to speak of Sienna anymore.”

❀❀❀

We left the garden without further conversation. Outside, Oz was waiting for us.

“……”

He examined our faces alternately before clearing his throat once.

He must have noticed our expressions weren’t good.

“Everything is ready, Your Majesty.”

Never in my life have I had such a draining walk.

Yes, the busy person should go upstairs to work, and I should take my leave.

Though I’d like nothing more than to lie down in bed right now, guests are waiting.

I couldn’t understand why people were invited only to be kept waiting.

‘Still, there were some gains.’

I didn’t cause the major incident I had hoped and expected. But I showed people how much the Emperor thought of me.

I suppose I achieved my primary objective.

“Then I’ll…”

Just as I was about to hold my dress slightly and excuse myself,

“You haven’t forgotten we’re dining together.”

Hey, not just a walk but a meal together too?

And do you think I want to eat with you right now?

I’ve been stuck with you long enough already that I feel like breaking out in hives!

“Please come along, my lady. This was prepared for you.”

Oz smiled gently as he spoke to me.

No, what do you mean prepared for me? That’s not necessary.

“I think my guests have been waiting too long.”

When I smiled awkwardly, Oz replied,

“You needn’t worry about that.”

Though I suppose Avery and Sabine would handle things well.

“The palace has provided a meal for the ladies attending your tea party.”

“……”

“Shall we go together?”

“I, I would really like to…”

No, wait.

After entering and leaving that strange place, I’m slightly confused about my identity.

Refusing and leaving doesn’t match the character I’ve created.

Since I seem to have lost some points from what happened earlier, I need to work hard.

Ugh, this is difficult.

“I would really like to… and now I can! That’s wonderful. Did you prepare all my favorite foods?”

When I clasped my hands together with sparkling eyes, Oz smiled awkwardly.

“Yes, my lady.”

“My palate is somewhat particular. If the food cooled while I was coming up, would you prepare it again?”

“Of course.”

“I dislike tough meat, but meat that’s too tender lacks the satisfaction of chewing. I’d like it cooked just right, not too mushy.”

After muttering for a while, I glanced up at Ainberg.

See? I’m no ordinary picky woman.

“Your taste is similar to mine.”

“……”

“We have many similarities in various ways.”

“Right? I can’t believe how perfectly we match in everything.”

“Then let’s go before the food gets cold.”

“Haha, how exciting!”

…Is this strategy really working as intended?

And so began a luxurious but uncomfortable dinner with my ex-husband.