I didn’t expect him to give in so easily…

This was something I’d wanted to know all along while staying by Ainberg’s side.

But suspecting something in your heart and confronting the reality are clearly different.

You can run away with suspicions, but once you know the truth, there’s no escape.

All I could do was face this heavy truth.

“So you received His Majesty’s orders.”

Oz merely bowed his head with an anxious face without saying anything.

“I’m starting to think that everything I’ve known might not be the complete truth.”

“My lady.”

“What am I missing?”

Oz seemed troubled and avoided making eye contact with me.

I could fully understand his reaction. Oz works for Ainberg, not for me.

I didn’t want to trouble him any further.

“I understand.”

After composing my expression, I stood up, and Oz also rose with surprised eyes.

“My lady.”

Just as I was about to leave without saying anything more.

“…Wait, I have something important to tell you.”

Oz’s voice stopped me again.

“You aren’t missing anything, my lady.”

“……”

“Though what I can tell you as His Majesty’s aide is limited.”

“……”

“But for both of you, I must convey this one thing.”

When I slowly turned around, Oz was gazing at me with calm eyes.

“His Majesty is sincere. Please understand that his heart has always been constant.”

That’s the strangest thing I’ve heard lately.

I wanted to snap back that it was nonsense, but Oz’s expression was too serious for that.

“Sincere and constant, you say.”

I nodded and gave an awkward smile.

“I’d like to believe that too. Sincerely.”

“My lady.”

“But no matter how hard I try, I feel like I’m always facing an illusion.”

“……”

“Everything I know seems false.”

“My lady.”

“It feels like there’s no substance.”

That might be because my current self isn’t really me.

“That’s not true.”

Oz seemed to want to say more but was holding himself back.

“Anyway, thank you for listening to this foolish talk. I don’t know about His Majesty, but I’d like to believe that at least you are constant.”

I forced a smile with just my lips and then spoke again.

“By the way, Aide.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem surprised that I’m so obsessed with that handkerchief.”

“Ah.”

What’s the point of looking surprised now?

It’s too late for that.

“Isn’t it strange that I’m so obsessed, heartbroken, and shocked about something that has nothing to do with me?”

“My lady. That’s…”

“It’s the Empress’s matter. Not Leonora Chadmon’s.”

When I asked calmly, Oz looked flustered.

“Ah, so you don’t find it strange. You don’t find this odd at all?”

“My lady.”

“I wasn’t even there. How would I know about Lucy?”

“M-my lady, I…”

“The Empress couldn’t have told me. She’s lying unconscious. Then… did His Majesty tell me?”

By the time I said that, Oz’s face had turned pale.

Now I understood everything.

Ainberg and Oz had known who I was from the beginning.

I didn’t want to trouble Oz, but I ended up putting him in an awkward position.

He shouldn’t have stopped me when I was leaving.

“I guess you know a lot too.”

I thought Oz was someone who didn’t reveal his inner thoughts much, though not as much as Ainberg.

But seeing him today, I guess not.

“Will you tell me honestly if I ask?”

Then Oz bit his lip hard.

“Forgive me, my lady.”

I hadn’t expected anything anyway.

Rather, if he had spilled all the truths he knew here, I might have been disappointed in Oz.

I felt relieved that he kept the secret.

At least I was convinced he wasn’t someone who would betray Ainberg.

“I’m not trying to blame you. And it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“I should be the one apologizing for putting you in a difficult position.”

I had only shared my honest feelings, but Oz was looking increasingly distressed.

“Someday, everything will find its place.”

“……”

“Perhaps the high priest is right. Maybe all I can do is wait.”

“My lady.”

“I’ll be going now. I think I need to… rest a bit.”

I opened the door and went outside.

“……”

Standing alone in the corridor, everything around me felt alien.

It was like being dropped from the sky, completely n*ked.

“He did it on purpose.”

I felt like a fool.

How could he deceive me so perfectly?

Why did he have to show me a cruel and cold face in front of me and hide his true feelings?

What was the reason for acting so terribly?

Before I knew it, I had wandered to the front of the Emperor’s bedroom.

I didn’t really want to meet Ainberg.

He wouldn’t remember anything anyway, and would just look up at me with innocent eyes. When will his memory return?

“……”

Since I’m here, should I go in for a moment?

Is he still sleeping?

“Is someone inside?”

“Yes, my lady. He said not to let anyone in.”

I stepped back and looked up at the firmly closed door.

‘Perhaps you and I were never compatible from the start.’

Maybe it’s a matter of timing.

Just like now.

With that thought, I turned around. After taking a couple of steps forward.

I heard the sound of a door opening behind me.

When I reflexively turned around, there stood a familiar but not at all welcome face.

It was Foil.

‘Of all times.’

My mood was already bad enough, and now I had to face Foil.

But like me, his face was more subdued than usual.

‘Oh, seeing his bad expression actually makes me feel better.’

And with that, I changed my mind.

I’ll go in and meet Ainberg.

I’ll show him that I’m always by his side.

I put on a moderately friendly smile for Foil and tried to enter through the open door.

That’s when Foil addressed me.

“She’s still quite inadequate to be presented to His Majesty.”

I stopped trying to enter and faced him.

Is he talking about Soniel? Is he displeased that I came to see Ainberg alone?

“Not at all. Miss Viper is a very clever child with many strengths.”

“I’m glad you say so. But.”

“……”

“It seems His Majesty hasn’t even seen the face of this clever child yet.”

I smiled brightly and said to Foil.

“The more precious something is, the more slowly it should be revealed. I don’t want to show Miss Viper hastily and have His Majesty lose interest quickly.”

“So that was your profound intention. I almost misunderstood, thinking you were deliberately hiding Soniel from His Majesty.”

He laughed loudly, pretending to be jovial, then opened his mouth again.

“The lady of the Chadmon family I know would never do such a thing.”

I responded with an equally natural smile.

“Hearing you say that makes me consider doing just that.”

When I smiled brightly, Foil’s expression instantly cooled.

“Oh my, did I surprise you? I’m joking.”

“I’ve felt this since last time, but you’re quite an amusing person, my lady.”

“Perhaps that’s why His Majesty likes me?”

Foil tried to maintain a benevolent smile, but he couldn’t completely suppress the twitching of one cheek.

Sigh, I’d like to tease him more… but I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

The more I faced Foil, the more I remembered what he had done, and even his smiling face felt creepy.

‘Just go on your way.’

In my mind, I waved him away. Of course, he was probably thinking something similar.

Just as his mask was transparent to me, Foil would also see through my mask of kindness.

“Please continue to guide Soniel well. She’s a child without siblings who gets very lonely.”

Anyone listening would mistake it for the truth.

How well you act.

“I will.”

Just as I turned around after smiling to not lose face, I heard Foil’s low voice over my shoulder.

“But His Majesty… seems to have very deep feelings for you, my lady.”

“……”

His voice sounded somewhat ominous.

As I slightly turned my head, Foil dropped a dry remark.

“My lady, you must become the Empress.”