“I heard I instigated her poisoning.”

As I entered the reception room, silence fell over the chamber.

Everyone stared at me with cold eyes, as if questioning how I could commit such a shameless act despite the high priest’s support.

The Emperor, especially, had the coldest gaze of all.

He wouldn’t even speak to me, as if he didn’t want to mix words with me at all. That wasn’t the only change.

The aide who usually stood by his side was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an older man stood there.

“Your Majesty the Empress. We’ve summoned you to understand the circumstances of the incident. Please don’t take this too unpleasantly.”

“I never said it was unpleasant.”

It seemed this man would conduct today’s proceedings. I considered it insignificant and found my seat.

As I sat down obediently, the council members seated opposite the Emperor looked perplexed.

Despite their unease, the Emperor maintained his silence.

“What happened?”

“Such abominable—!”

When I asked about the circumstances, the Emperor, who had been about to shout with clenched fists, closed his mouth.

“Hah.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

The ministers, seemingly regretting their decision to attend this meeting, fidgeted uncomfortably.

Antheo wore an angry expression but kept his mouth shut again. I shifted my gaze from him to the man standing beside him and gestured with my chin to continue.

“This afternoon, Lady Regina Wiz, who visited Minerva Atrens alone, named Your Majesty as the mastermind behind her attempted poisoning.”

“And the lady who accused me?”

“……She died about two hours ago.”

“Why?”

The man conducting the reception glanced nervously at the Emperor, who nodded silently. The reception room doors opened, and servants entered carrying a box, which they placed before me.

I opened the lid of the box on the floor and hardened my expression as I confirmed its contents.

“……That’s what happened.”

Inside was the head of a woman, presumably Regina Wiz.

Can a first meeting possibly be this intense?

I stared at the dark blue hair that had lost its luster for a moment before closing the lid.

“……So you executed her immediately, even before determining who was behind it or verifying the truth?”

“She was a woman who dared attempt to assassinate the Empress’s substitute. The crime of harming that woman who has been filling in for your absence so admirably cannot possibly be taken lightly.”

At last, the Emperor opened his mouth with more nonsense.

How did he become such a b*stard?

Ah, I made him that way.

I looked askance at this man with rotten roots that I had created with my own hands. Antheo lowered his intense red eyes with displeasure at my rebellious attitude.

“Are you going to threaten me with the southern issue again?”

“What do you think?”

The Emperor flinched and looked flustered at my sneer.

My gaze turned to the Emperor’s aide, who had been replaced.

“Even if I plead that I didn’t do it, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. What do you plan to cut off this time, Your Majesty, when you so ruthlessly remove anyone who supports me?”

It seemed Edgar Londman had lost his position for the crime of speaking the truth.

While I was curiously observing the new aide, the Emperor spoke.

“What do you want?”

“……”

“What do you want? Tell me what you want in exchange for promising not to harm Minerva Atrens anymore.”

My eyes widened in surprise at how easily the Emperor surrendered.

He truly loves Minerva Atrens.

Though I don’t understand love well, seeing how he willingly accepts and accommodates a woman he finds so terrible in order to protect her, it could certainly be called love.

The chamber stirred at his desperate words.

The remnants of emotion left in Diana Veronique felt the same.

A man willing to accept a monster like me for the sake of love.

In this narrative, Diana, tasked with being the monster, wails in agony. Clutching her painfully torn insides, she struggled to compose herself and slowly stated her wish.

“I want to return.”

“That’s not possible.”

“However, my return is to protect what’s mine. If you restore my authority, I won’t interfere with Your Majesty’s private life at all.”

The Emperor’s expression turned to bewilderment at my calm proposal.

Diana Veronique had given up on love and chosen authority.

This was almost the moment the picture he had desired would be completed.

“That means……”

“I’ll relinquish my duty to provide an heir.”

I won’t seek your affection anymore and ruin what I have.

Only with the southern issue and priests backing me did he finally take my persistent pleas seriously.

“I’m proposing a deal. I for my people, and you for yours. Let’s not interfere with each other’s domains.”

“……”

“If you don’t touch what’s mine, I won’t harm what’s yours.”

I want to write my own romance now, not Diana’s futile love.

Though this novel is broken, perhaps even a monster like me could be loved.

Since someone like Minerva Atrens, who resembles me, is so loved here.

I intended to create a paradise in this collapsed world for my protagonist who would shine.

“I permit the Empress’s return.”

Finally, those words emerged from the Emperor’s contemplative lips.

The ministers standing guard became unwitting witnesses to the imperial decree.

In Lobart, the Empress’s position was by no means inferior to the Emperor’s.

Perhaps the Empress, who might outlive the short-lived Emperors of Lobart, held even more authority to influence the imperial family.

As they faced the situation of the estranged Empress returning, they turned pale thinking of how the imperial situation would change.

The Empress is returning.

And with Warmwell’s support behind her.

“And I revoke the assignment of High Priest Clarvin.”

The Emperor, seemingly concerned about this point, added an order to remove the high priest.

“That’s not acceptable.”

The negotiation that had been flowing smoothly suddenly hit a wall.

Antheo raised his eyes in confusion at my refusal to return the priest.

“Permitting your return means acknowledging your recovery. There’s no reason for priests to remain here any longer.”

“Wasn’t our deal based on the condition that you wouldn’t touch what’s mine?”

“…?”

“Don’t touch them.”

I firmly established that they too were part of “what’s mine” as I rose from my seat.

As I turned around, satisfied with how well the meeting had gone, my eyes fell on the box on the floor.

※※※

“I never imagined this carriage would become a hearse.”

In the returning carriage, Debora, who had followed out of concern, kept glancing at the box I had brought along with a displeased expression.

The Emperor and ministers’ faces had twisted horribly when I requested that the box be loaded with me.

They seemed extremely puzzled about why I would want to take such a thing.

“Why on earth did you bring that separate……”

“There’s someone I want to impress.”

“What? What do you……”

“We need to give her a proper burial.”

“Those who commit or attempt m*rder don’t receive a—mmph!”

I laughed as Debora covered her mouth after starting to lecture me.

She seemed unwilling to even breathe the air in the carriage.

Nevertheless, I gazed at the palace scenery, already completely dark with night’s arrival, and fell into thought.

“Regina Wiz. She was my maid, right?”

“……Pardon?”

“What kind of person was she?”

Debora seemed to experience a momentary error, not expecting such a question.

The silence stretched.

After opening and closing her mouth, scratching her cheek slightly, Debora finally spoke.

“I don’t know much since she didn’t interact much with the other maids…. But she seemed to care deeply for her younger sister.”

“Younger sister?”

“Yes. Seril Wiz. I believe her goal was to save for her sister’s dowry.”

“……Is a maid’s salary that low?”

“……No, it’s more that Regina Wiz’s family took on too much debt, believing solely in her position as the Empress’s maid.”

I know nothing about this dark blue-haired miss who was Diana’s maid. All I know is that she met this tragic end because of her past entanglement with Diana Veronique.

“Let me know if things like this happen often.”

“When you say ‘often,’ it sounds like you’re certain more people will die.”

“You never know what might happen.”

Debora was also slightly shocked by my nonchalant response, and I let out a small laugh at the maid who had become entertaining to watch.

“Debora.”

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t step forward.”

“……Pardon?”

“Don’t step forward from now on. No matter what humiliation you face.”

Debora remained silent.

Since her gaze was still fixed outside the window, I couldn’t tell what expression she wore.

“You need to be buried with me when I die.”

“……Hah.”

However, at my words, Debora shook her head with a coarse laugh.

I could see this because Debora was reflected in the darkened carriage window as we passed the entrance to the East Palace.

‘She’s laughing.’

I’m being serious.

Thump, thump.

Strange sounds had been coming from outside for a while.

Angell had been reading scripture all day, trying to clear his complicated thoughts.

However, the suspicious sounds he’d been hearing were increasingly making his efforts to focus and calm his mind futile.

“Someone who knows how to engrave epitaphs.”

When he realized the voice he heard next belonged to the Empress, Angell’s efforts completely dissolved.

He had been wracking his brain for two days about how to apologize, realizing that the Empress must be extremely angry since she hadn’t sought him out despite what happened. He had also been continuing his self-reflection, unable to understand his own impulsive action.

Angell tried to erase his troubled expression with a dry hand-wash as he silently gazed out the window.

What on earth was she up to in the middle of the night? She really was a busy person.

“Epitaph. Someone. Who. Knows. How. To. Engrave. Them. Priest.”

Once again, the Empress’s voice came from outside, deliberately breaking up her words as if for him to hear.

This was the limit. He needed to see what was happening out there. Additionally, he needed to know why the Empress, who had shown no signs of seeking him out, was now calling for him.

Angell closed the scripture and rose from his seat to approach the window.

“……”

The priest’s eyes widened in surprise.

He had wondered why she was suddenly demanding an epitaph, only to find a grave had appeared right in front of his room window.

The elderly castle caretaker, who appeared to have dug the grave, and the red-haired maid who followed the Empress everywhere were also visible.

The Empress sat on an abandoned flower bed facing the second floor, making deliberate eye contact with him and smiling.

‘Help me.’

The Empress’s appearance, mischievously mouthing a plea for help, was once again a chilling white under the moonlight, yet her expression was bright and relaxed, as if she enjoyed making graves.

Angell stepped away from the window, ruffled his hair in confusion, and then tidied it again.

Opening the door and leaving his room, Angell descended to the first floor and gazed with half-closed eyes at the three people digging a grave in the middle of the night.

“……I didn’t kill her.”

“……”

The Empress spoke as if to clear herself.

She even pretended to raise her hands in innocence, as if truly wronged, making Angell’s expression crumple even further.

※※※

[Regina Wiz – Discarded like a broken glass slipper.]

“Who engraves an epitaph like this?”

“Still, you wrote it beautifully. Straight and neat.”

Despite his grumbling, Angell had listened to me well.

Perhaps my threats had some effect.

“……She was your maid, you said.”

“Yes.”

How sad. A nameless supporting character who died for Diana Veronique’s sorrow.

The name written on the marble slab provided by the castle caretaker is unfamiliar.

I’ve never seen this name before. Neither has Debora Barochel.

“Your Majesty, let’s go inside and retire. It’s late.”

Debora Barochel is also a nameless supporting character, but she takes terribly good care of Diana Veronique.

I wonder if this is also part of your character setting. I’m curious.

“Jed, was it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even the castle caretaker had a name. The elderly man said he had spent his entire life managing the eastern forest and castle, and true to his word, he resembled the castle—gaunt, thorny, and precariously fragile-looking.

I decided to reward him for helping dig the grave.

“Jed. The tombstone is too crude. Make one that suits the castle better.”

“……Your Majesty.”

Debora worried that the old man’s wrist might break before he could finish carving the marble corners, while Angell frowned at my attitude, which showed no intention of respecting the elderly.

“He’s the castle caretaker.”

I asked what the problem was to the two people who seemed to want me to withdraw my order.

“I’m giving him a proper job to do. Jed, do you have any complaints?”

“No, none at all, Your Majesty. In fact, I’m glad to have work to do after being so bored lately.”

At the old man’s hearty laughter, I shrugged at the two of them. What can you do if he’s happy about it?

“Hah…… Your Majesty. Please consider the circumstances of employees who cannot freely refuse your commands.”

“The circumstances of employees.”

“Including his health.”

I looked at Jed again at Debora’s request.

“I gave him work as a caretaker. He accepted that work as a caretaker. Is there any other circumstance I should consider?”

“……”

“Should I consider your circumstances? If you’re too old for the work, you should quit. If it’s too difficult, you might as well sit around waiting stupidly for death.”

After my casual answer, Debora and Angell exchanged worried glances with hardened expressions.

What relieved their concerns was Jed’s subsequent words.

“That’s correct. I’m grateful that Your Majesty sought me out as a caretaker.”

At his agreement, the two shifted their concern from my lack of humanity to worry about his health.

Caretaker Jed met their gaze and continued speaking with a serious expression, his smile gone.

“……Did you know? This castle wasn’t built that long ago. It’s a castle built about 200 years ago, slightly later than the castle of Benzen in the western countries.”

“Benzen? Isn’t that the city-state famous for its beautiful architectural style?”

Angell asked in surprise, and Debora also looked at the old castle again with amazement.

“Indeed…. That’s right. The Benzen dynasty has continued for over 200 years.”

At Debora’s musing, Jed chuckled and looked at the old, eerie castle along with the two bewildered people.

“Do you know what the difference is between that place and here?”

The difference between the old, gloomy castle with its damp, eerie atmosphere and the beautiful blue-lit castle on the coast is stark, despite their similar ages.

Jed spoke bitterly as he looked at the castle he had managed his entire life.

“Whether anyone visits.”

Only the area around the newly created grave in the hard, dry land was moist and soft. Though the castle was too large for one person to manage, no one cared enough about the abandoned and neglected castle to pay attention. Jed’s assignment record had probably been forgotten long ago.

“I’m so grateful that Your Majesty sought me out.”

I looked at the old man who vacantly expressed his gratitude.

He too is an old man never mentioned by name, but—

“……I’ll prepare a place for you too. When you eventually depart on your long journey, I’ll personally engrave your epitaph as well.”

It’s a good name to decorate the garden, I think.

Debora massaged her temples at my statement that seemed to wish for the old man’s natural death, while Angell burst into a coarse laugh.

“Thank you.”

Jed expressed his gratitude.

I’m not sure if it deserves thanks, but I nodded without refusing and turned to leave.

“I’m tired of being summoned around all day. Debora, go prepare a massage.”

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

On the way, I found a new use for Debora too. I must continually find uses for them, so their names will be remembered longer.

※※※

Morning.

A new day dawned after I officially received permission to return.

Not much had changed.

“Did you cough?”

The familiar morning scene: Debora Barochel bringing breakfast and Angell busily preparing medicine as he entered the room.

I stared blankly at this scene.

“Your Majesty.”

I picked up my fork and speared a grape from the plate of omelet and roasted vegetables at Debora’s urging.

“……Please eat more.”

I still only ate raw food and couldn’t eat anything prepared by someone else’s hands.

I looked once at Debora’s disappointed face and once at Angell, who was carefully observing the situation.

You are people who bestow affection on Diana Veronique without expecting anything in return.

And today, I play the role of Diana Veronique.

So is it acceptable to pretend that the affection they offer is directed at me?

This great affection I’ve never received makes me want to do things I wouldn’t normally do.

“That thing you were going to make for me before. The dark, round one……”

“……It should have been golden. A delicious golden color.”

“……Right, that.”

Debora hurriedly corrected my words, her expression showing she was recalling an embarrassing memory she had forgotten.

“What was it?”

At my question, Debora raised her crumpled face with a blank expression and fell into a long silence.

After a long wait—

“It was a honey pie.”

Debora finally answered what it had been.

“It was a dessert you enjoyed in your childhood, Your Majesty.”

Then she added unnecessary words with a tearful, moist voice.

That’s something Diana Veronique enjoyed, not me.

But that’s fine.

“I want to eat that now.”

“……I’ll ask the court chef. Something similar at least……”

“No. I want to eat what you make.”

Diana Veronique probably never tasted the terrible honey pie made by Debora Barochel.

At my words, Debora wet her surprised face with tears and nodded repeatedly for a long time.

“Of course.”

“……Now.”

“Right away, I’ll bake it right away. I’ll do my best not to fail like last time.”

Diana, you must have been quite a good person.

Seeing how desperately this person tries to please you.

Debora, who kept wiping away tears while promising to do so, hurriedly left the room.

Meanwhile, I approached Angell, who had been watching the situation from a distance after moving the tray away from the bed.

“You were right.”

“……”

“I think that child will keep me alive.”

Then I took the water glass from his hand, placed it on the pill on the plate, and swallowed it myself with water.

Despite the bitter medicine spreading throughout my mouth, it tasted sweet.

I smiled as I looked into Angell’s green eyes.

“How was that? I did well, right?”

“……You did well, Your Majesty.”

His praise sounded good, and a smile naturally formed on my lips.

Angell’s expression remained complex and subtle, but he was still smiling.

A thrill runs through my body.

So this is it.

Being able to feel such joy from small things.

You’re someone who stays by my side only when I’m sick, so taking medicine means less time with you, but still, making you happy brings me such happiness—I think I’m beginning to understand that emotion called affection.