‘I’ve been tested a lot lately.’

Rosana thought nothing of it. However, it wasn’t a bad thing. Being tested meant someone was watching her. Even this had come about because she’d changed.

“Merchant Rivadon.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“I don’t have much patience for nonsense.”

At her sharp tone that cut through the air, the merchant quickly changed his stance.

“I-I apologize. I had no intention of making you uncomfortable.”

When anger colored her words and Baron’s presence beside Rosana added weight, the merchant turned pale and bowed deeply. He had only been trying to confirm the truth.

Right up until entering the palace, he’d heard other merchants urging him to reconsider the contract with the imperial palace. They said he might get summoned by His Majesty just for doing business with her. They said every move would be reported.

The merchants didn’t fear Rosana—they feared His Majesty. Didn’t this look like protection? Then there were the small rumors circulating lately…

What kind of person Rosana was, whether she truly monopolized the Emperor’s love, and whether she was wise. 

If she turned out to be someone easily fooled, he’d planned to overcharge just a little. He was a merchant, after all. 

However, her attitude just now made his dark intentions shrink and disappear entirely.

Sweat poured down under her piercing gaze that seemed to drill through his head.

“As long as you do your job well, it doesn’t matter.”

“O-of course! I have extensive experience dealing with high-ranking nobles from Ales. I’ll make sure everything is set up perfectly!”

The merchant enthusiastically checked items off one by one on paper, creating a list. He struggled desperately to regain the trust and image he’d damaged.

“The Ales Kingdom… well, how should I put it? They like shiny things. It’s a country overflowing with jewels, after all. But they like white, seemingly wanting to emphasize a clean image.”

Too much white alone would look bland. Rosana planned to re-engrave the patterns carved on the building’s exterior walls and interior. 

They’d faded with time and appeared dull and hard to see. Since erasing the patterns completely would be work anyway, re-engraving them was the right choice.

“If everything’s white, it’ll feel more like a temple than a hall. The carved patterns are faint, so re-engraving them will add plenty of style. Decorate with ornate lanterns in between. The floor is marble, so that’s fine… Adding accent carpets would be good.”

The Ales Kingdom was important, but this hall would be used for other banquets too. The merchant recorded everything Rosana said. 

Though he’d made an irritating comment, she was grateful he pointed out things she hadn’t noticed and added them to the list. After writing diligently, the merchant wiped his sweat and handed the paper to Rosana.

“Will this do?”

Rosana received the list and scanned it. Unlike her initial estimate, the list had grown longer, but doing the groundwork perfectly meant less need for fixes later.

“I’ll review it once more after seeing the final estimate. Record it by amount and deliver it again.”

“Yes, I’ll deliver it as soon as possible.”

* * *

“Move quickly!”

Mornings at the imperial palace were always busy. But today was even busier.

The servants moved so frantically their feet were barely visible. The reason was the hall’s condition, which needed major renovation. The items ordered from the merchant had arrived, and various servants were working together to set everything up efficiently.

One side handled curtains and carpets, another re-engraved patterns. The rest carried and moved furniture.

“Careful! Not even a small scratch!”

The banquet to receive the envoy was progressing smoothly. Now they only had to wait for that day to arrive. Rosana took in the hall she’d prepared with both eyes.

Just then, a servant who’d come running frantically called out to Rosana urgently.

“Lady Rosana, His Majesty summons you!”

Rosana and the others looked at the suddenly appearing servant with curiosity. It didn’t seem to be simply about banquet preparations. 

Sweat beaded on the servant’s forehead and his breathing was rough, suggesting urgency.

When she turned, a sharp wind grazed Rosana’s cheek. An uneasy feeling rose strongly. Rosana hid her anxious heart and answered.

“Lead the way.”

Her premonition proved correct.

As soon as the carriage door opened upon arriving at Jade’s palace, what she saw was Jade in attire different from usual.

Rosana looked with curiosity at Jade mounted impressively on a horse. He was armored, seemingly heading somewhere. He was having a serious conversation with Fel, heads together.

“Your Majesty, I’m here, so you needn’t worry.”

“No. What can you do with a small number of knights?”

“Then increase the number of knights…!”

“We must monitor whether the Ales Kingdom tries anything foolish and consider Rosana’s safety. We can’t assign many knights to monster subjugation.”

Monster subjugation? Rosana’s steps quickened. She walked almost at a run.

They were in the middle of such a serious discussion they didn’t notice Rosana’s approach. Tension sparked between Jade and Fel.

“Your Majesty moving is even more unacceptable. Remaining here is the wise decision. What about the kingdom’s envoy? Can you return before they arrive?”

“It would be difficult.”

At Jade’s calm murmur, Fel shook his head firmly, saying “See?”

“We’ll go by ourselves after all. Don’t worry, we’ll return safely.”

“The monsters we failed to subjugate have banded together and conserved their strength. Didn’t you hear they’re charging forward burning with vengeance? We don’t know how the weather might change. If it even snows, it’ll be the worst. Though they’re escaped monsters, we don’t know how much they’ve grown in power.”

Fel was speechless. He couldn’t refute Jade’s words. As he said, if it snowed, the unstable ground would increase the danger.

Rosana, who’d been looking between Fel and Jade, quickly grasped the situation.

“…Where are you going?”

Only then did Jade, sensing Rosana’s presence, turn his horse’s head with a surprised face. 

Though he’d sent word through the servant, he hadn’t expected her to arrive this quickly. Rosana stared at Jade with a rigidly hardened expression.

“Did you hear everything?”

“Yes. Are you going to subjugate monsters?”

Rosana looked up. Then she asked, trying to soothe her frustration. Rosana specifically pointed out his armed state. 

Meeting Rosana’s anxiously trembling eyes, Jade swallowed and dismounted from his horse in one motion. Then he spoke calmly.

“Yes.”

“…”

For the Emperor to leave his post, and at a time when the day to receive envoys from another country wasn’t far off. 

If he left at this critical moment, confusion among others would be unavoidable. Moreover, the Ales Kingdom was, in a sense, a hostile kingdom.

Rosana felt her head throb with sudden fatigue. Various thoughts bloomed in her mind, and as she imagined the situation that would unfold, her breathing gradually grew rough.

“Rosana, calm down.”

Jade gripped Rosana’s shoulders, telling her to stay composed.

“An urgent telegram arrived. The monsters’ movements are unusual. Looking at the situation, it’s a matter I must handle personally. I’ll keep Baron with you, so you won’t be in personal danger.”

“I’m not the problem.”

The corners of Rosana’s eyes rose. She wasn’t unaware that monster subjugation was important. After calming her agitated breathing several times, Rosana murmured composedly.

“Without Your Majesty, the envoys may look down on us.”

The absence of the leader was that significant.

“You’re here.”

Rosana looked at him, completely deflated. His golden eyes curved beautifully like a crescent moon. His eyes held trust.

These were the first eyes Rosana had encountered that believed in her. Jade spoke kindly.

“Your praises have been resounding.”

“…”

“The banquet preparations are going smoothly too. Your contribution was great.”

“This case is different. Guiding the envoys is fine. But there’s no one to sit at the negotiation table with them.”

“That’s why I keep saying it. You’re here.”

Rosana shook her head vigorously. The banquet preparations had gone smoothly because she had experience and scenes she’d witnessed. 

This was a different case. It was worlds apart from merely hosting a banquet.

He wouldn’t return overnight from subjugating monsters. Depending on the destination, it would easily take ten days. 

However, Jade was firm. He seemed like someone who’d prepared in advance, knowing this day would come. Otherwise, he couldn’t speak so smoothly.

Rosana grabbed his arm with one hand. This wasn’t a place befitting her position. Rosana chewed the soft flesh inside her mouth and said.

“Rather, entrust it to the Duke instead of me.”

Having the Duke step in to replace the Emperor would be more appropriate. She was still an outsider.

“But I want to entrust it to you.”

Jade answered bluntly. Rosana let out a small sigh and said quietly.

“My value here is merely…”

“Shh.”

Jade covered Rosana’s mouth with his palm. Rosana’s eyes widened at the large hand covering her lips. When Rosana quieted, he removed his hand.

Rosana’s position in Diovaha was ambiguous. People hushed things up because Rosana received Jade’s love, but she still had many enemies in the imperial palace. Not yet Empress, she often still felt like an outsider.

“Rather, I think this worked out well. Now I have an excuse.”

“What? What do you mean…”

He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, masking his scheming intentions behind a facade of charm.

“I’ll make it so no one can deny what you’ve done. Do you think I’d leave you alone without any safeguards?”

“…Safeguards?”

“Malek, show her.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead.”

Malek, who sighed softly, pulled out a rolled parchment from his coat. Instead of the hesitating Malek, Jade snatched it with rough hands and handed it to Rosana.

Rosana instinctively knew that once she unrolled this, there would be no turning back. However, seeing his serious eyes, she couldn’t not unfold it.

Rosana swallowed dryly and carefully received the parchment tied with a leather cord. When she untied the cord, the rolled paper unfurled and the words written inside entered her view. 

Rosana’s eyes trembled mercilessly.

In short, it was a certificate proving Rosana would stand in for the Emperor’s absence. The Emperor’s seal was clearly stamped beside it.

“Though you haven’t yet taken the title of Empress, the fact that you’ll become Empress doesn’t change. The Empress is the person who handles state affairs in the Emperor’s absence.”

Rosana couldn’t even crumple the certificate and held it with trembling hands. All color drained from her face. The Emperor was the Emperor and the Empress was the Empress.

No one could be that substitute. Furthermore, for her to become the one replacing the Emperor. She had no confidence. No confidence to replace him.