“That’s because you……”

When Conrad’s disgruntled answer couldn’t be completed as if something displeased him, Roina tilted her head.

“Me?”

“There was no other intention.”

For some reason, he seemed to want to spare his words.

Contrary to the splendid and noisy atmosphere around them, only silence flowed between them.

When their first dance was about to end, Conrad’s subtly frowning gaze reached a certain place.

“The emperor seems likely to ask you for the next song.”

“Pardon……?”

Among those watching them, there seemed to be the imperial couple besides the nobles.

“I hope you’ll refrain from having a conversation as much as possible.”

At those words, Roina neither affirmed nor denied, keeping her mouth tightly shut.

Then Conrad’s cold gaze touched her cheek. As if telling her not to bring up unnecessary words.

※※※

As the performance ended and variations continued, the imperial couple slowly approached them.

“I don’t know how long it’s been, Duchess.”

The emperor, showing a good-natured smile, greeted her warmly.

Judging that she shouldn’t lower her guard, Roina showed him proper respect.

“Holy light upon the Noxtan Empire. I greet His Majesty the Emperor, prophet of Noxtan and owner of sacred glory.”

The emperor’s gaze seemed to linger on his wife and Conrad before reaching Roina.

“The empress will be with the duke, so you should accompany me.”

The man whose intentions were completely unreadable only slightly curved his lips upward.

“It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”

Roina swallowed dryly and took the emperor’s extended hand. She happened to have matters to discuss with him.

A new song began playing in the banquet hall.

As if noticing her expression that couldn’t quite hide her wariness, Cedric let out a chuckle.

“There’s no need to be so tense, Duchess.”

Worried that she might have caused displeasure to the other party, Roina hastily explained:

“I apologize, Your Majesty. It’s been a while since I attended a banquet, so I’m a bit nervous.”

“Well, that’s understandable. Moreover, you haven’t been feeling well.”

Just as she let out a sigh of relief at the emperor’s unconcerned response—

Cedric seemed to recall something, slightly frowning before readily asking a question:

“Are you getting along well with the duke these days?”

“That’s……”

Momentarily flustered, Roina couldn’t come up with a proper answer.

She wasn’t confident whether she could say they were getting along well when their relationship was so distant.

Perhaps noticing her difficulty, Cedric showed a troubled smile.

“I had no intention of putting you in a difficult position.”

There was no way the emperor could be unaware that Roina and Conrad were continuing an unhappy marriage due to the imperial decree.

It might be more convincing that he was simply trying to probe her.

Roina thought the emperor might have wanted to confirm something.

Whether placing her beside his subordinate had been the right choice.

‘Well, it’s understandable.’

Before he could assess Marquis Würetti’s daughter, she had disappeared from society.

Roina was said to have continued her reclusive life at the estate except for the early days of marriage.

Therefore, she judged that she probably hadn’t made a very good impression on the emperor.

‘I need to show an attitude that can win favor from now on.’

While Roina was lost in thought, the music had already reached the middle section.

Thinking she couldn’t miss this opportunity, she spoke the words she had been preparing:

“May I dare offer counsel to Your Noble Majesty?”

“Counsel. You, to me?”

A change occurred in Cedric’s previously bored expression.

Roina tried to calm her trembling heart and began to speak:

“There’s a mine that Father has been investing in for a long time.”

“I know about that too. It must be the Balkan Mountains.”

Cedric’s eyes, which had shown interesting light, soon sank indifferently.

The fact that Marquis Würetti was pursuing gold mining business in the Balkan Mountains had been known for several years.

As rumors spread that the marquis might soon control gold on the continent, quite a few people had invested.

‘But this story might generate interest.’

There had been rumors that Cedric, who was crown prince at the time, had also bought shares in the Balkan Mountains.

“It would be best to recover the investment funds put into those mountains.”

Roina knew that her father’s gold mining business was merely a deception toward the public.

During her time at the marquisate residence, she had happened to overhear a conversation between the marquis and his aide when she visited the marquis’s study.

“My lord, how should we handle the Balkan Mountains sale?”

“First, block the investors’ eyes and ears. Plant gold bars in the mine so they won’t suspect. Continue spreading false information for the next five years.”

The Balkan Mountains, which received public attention, were increasing in value daily, but Marquis Würetti was actually considering the timing to sell the business.

The mine, known to bring enormous wealth, was actually nothing but an empty shell.

Exactly five years had passed since then, and that time would have arrived.

“Hmm, how am I to believe those words?”

Cedric, looking at Roina as if surprised, applied pressure to their joined hands.

“You don’t have to believe my words, Your Majesty.”

Now the choice was entirely the emperor’s.

But if he was as intelligent as she thought, he would secretly order his subordinates to investigate.

Cedric raised an eyebrow obliquely. As if trying to gauge her words.

Marquis Würetti was publicly known to cherish his children dearly.

Therefore, the emperor might misunderstand that Roina was plotting something with her father.

Right now, as his expression, completely devoid of laughter, indicated.

“What’s the reason for telling me this?”

Cedric’s gaze, trying to understand her intentions, looked eerily frightening.

Despite the tension, Roina calmly continued her answer to secure a private audience with the emperor:

“I simply wanted to help. As a member of the Asheter family myself.”

Then the man, lifting one corner of his mouth crookedly, showed interested eyes again.

“Are you thinking of making a deal with me?”

“How could I dare do such a thing to the sacred empire’s master?”

Watching her continue her gentle responses, Cedric nodded slightly.

Soon the emperor would begin investigations to verify the facts and make appropriate decisions accordingly. Whether it be reward or punishment.

“I’ll send word soon.”

“Then I’ll be waiting.”

Since the performance had just ended, Roina nodded with a faint smile on her lips.

Leaving the dance floor, she exchanged greetings with the nobles attending the banquet.

When she glanced toward where Conrad was, he seemed to be having deep conversations with key conservative figures.

‘It should be fine to rest briefly.’

Just as Roina, who had been tense all along, was about to move to a balcony where attention wouldn’t be focused, a servant who hadn’t noticed her accidentally dropped the wine glass he was holding.

Splash—

In the situation that occurred instantly, stains spread across Roina’s dress.

“Oh my. Duchess, are you alright?”

“To make such a mistake on Madam Sasha’s masterpiece of all things!”

Among the considerably surprised noble ladies, Roina nodded as if she were fine.

“I’m alright, so please enjoy the banquet.”

She meant for them not to worry about her and focus on the banquet.

“Yes. You should quickly change into another dress.”

“Of course, you must be upset because of that servant.”

At their appearance of blaming the servant while pretending to care for her, Roina swallowed a shallow sigh.

Then she shifted her gaze to the servant who was trembling and bowing his head.

“I’m, I’m sorry. My lady……!”

“It’s fine, so raise your head. Clean up the fragments well so the distinguished guests don’t get hurt.”

Fortunately, since it was a banquet hosted at the ducal residence, Roina planned to return to the powder room and change into a spare dress.

‘The interest is still intense.’

Though the gazes touching her cheeks stung all the way out of the banquet hall, she tried to ignore them.