After years of investigation, Conrad learned that Marquis Würetti was involved in his family’s death.

He swore at that time.

That he would definitely bring down the Würetti family with his own hands.

The reason Conrad, who had become the family head, could revive the construction business was solely due to his desire for revenge.

‘Since I received something, I should return it.’

Roina Würetti, who had lived in luxury under the marquis’s safe fence her entire life, wouldn’t know.

How her father had eliminated those who stood in his way all this time.

From the moment he learned that Roina had deliberately approached him while hiding her identity, she too became a target of revenge.

With a bitter smile on his lips, Conrad answered in a cold voice:

“Well, she probably isn’t innocent.”

※※※

After the Asheter ducal family’s banquet, invitations to various banquets and tea parties poured in for Roina.

Therefore, time passed quickly just sending replies and managing domestic affairs.

After finishing her daily tasks, she headed to the dining room for a late dinner.

‘……!’

But when Conrad was sitting at the table completely unexpectedly, Roina hesitated for a moment.

Still, she tried to act as if nothing was wrong and quietly took her seat.

He, who had been eating with his usual composed posture, raised an eyebrow obliquely.

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

Roina tried to interpret that question.

Whether it was that the time was late for dinner, or simply that he hated sharing a meal.

‘Probably closer to the latter.’

Conrad wouldn’t want to face someone he hated.

Roina thought she had come to know his emotions in more detail while staying in the same estate.

Among them, one thing was certain: Conrad despised her more than she had thought.

Swallowing a bitter laugh at her newly cooling heart, Roina calmly continued her answer:

“I had some things to do.”

After answering briefly, she picked up the neat food the servant had brought with her cutlery.

Then, staring at her with dry eyes, Conrad said quietly:

“I heard His Majesty will soon invite you to the imperial palace.”

“……!”

When things progressed faster than expected, Roina’s purple eyes trembled finely.

While she was lost in deep thought, Conrad let out a heavy sigh and added:

“What exactly are you up to?”

Looking up at the man sending cold eyes, Roina swallowed dryly.

Even though she drank water, her mouth was strangely parched, so she finally put down the water cup she was holding.

“I’ll make sure not to forget my place.”

“……”

Roina withdrew her wavering sad eyes and added in a deliberately calm voice:

“I’m sufficiently aware of my position.”

At her words that she knew her place, Conrad’s brow furrowed slightly then relaxed.

“That’s fortunate then.”

The man who answered in a dry voice just continued his meal.

Silence flowed in the dining room again, but soon someone lightly knocked on the door, breaking that stillness.

Knock knock—

“My lady. I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, but you need to come out for a moment.”

The one who opened the door and entered was none other than head butler Donovan.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well…… an attendant sent from the imperial palace has come.”

As Conrad had said, the emperor seemed to want to invite her to the imperial palace.

When Roina nodded slightly, Donovan guided her to the front of the main building.

The politely courteous attendant handed her the invitation he was carrying.

“This is a letter sent by His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Thank you.”

When she opened the envelope with the imperial seal, inside was written content about meeting in the near future.

“His Majesty has commanded you to enter the palace tomorrow.”

The emperor was surely eager to ask immediately why Roina had ruined her father’s plan.

‘Still, tomorrow…… I didn’t know I’d have an audience so quickly.’

Just then, discovering a man walking toward the main building, she answered briefly:

“Then I’ll expect to see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’ll convey this to His Majesty the Emperor.”

The attendant who bowed respectfully headed toward the carriage he had come in.

Just as Roina was about to move as well, her eyes met Conrad’s, who was looking at her indifferently.

Not wanting to cause unnecessary misunderstanding, Roina opened her mouth with difficulty:

“As I mentioned earlier, I’ll always be aware of my position.”

“……”

Though it was brief, Conrad’s golden eyes trembled slightly. The man who had been moving his lips closed his mouth again.

When no answer came from him, Roina bowed lightly and headed to her room.

※※※

In the carriage heading to the imperial palace, Roina was lost in thought while looking out the window.

This was because Conrad’s advice, who had viewed her going to the imperial palace unfavorably, was stuck in her mind.

‘He told me to refrain from careless words in front of the emperor.’

Perhaps because the cold eyes of the man who didn’t trust her came to mind, a bitter taste lingered around Roina’s lips.

When they arrived at the imperial palace, she calmed her agitated heart and got out of the carriage.

The imperial palace of the Noxtan Empire, with over 300 years of history, was utterly sacred and dignified.

Receiving guidance from a maid who had been waiting in advance, Roina walked toward the emperor’s office.

After passing through long corridors and reaching the arched door with grand and splendid patterns, the maid lightly knocked on the door.

Knock knock—

“Duchess Asheter has arrived.”

The emperor’s aide who opened the door bowed politely toward her, then leisurely disappeared.

Roina thought she needed to keep her wits about her more than ever.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the office and showed respect to the emperor.

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

Cedric, who nodded lightly at her greeting, showed his usual good-natured smile.

“There’s no need for such formality. Come here and sit.”

When he, putting down the documents he was holding, offered her a seat, Roina settled on the reception sofa.

The maid who entered afterward prepared refreshments and left the office.

Thus only the two remained in the emperor’s office.

When there was no chance of their conversation leaking out, the emperor curved one corner of his mouth and said:

“As you said, the Balkan Mountains were nothing but deception.”

Since the wealthy Marquis Würetti was proceeding with it, quite a few people had invested in the gold mining business.

Cedric, who had been crown prince at the time, had also bought shares in the Balkan Mountains, so it was enough to be interested.

But it seemed the emperor had sent people to find out that the surroundings were all ghost mines.

Apart from the enormous financial loss, for Cedric, who ruled an empire, it might be considered a disgraceful matter.

‘Fortunately, I was able to prevent that damage.’

For him, who was just promoting new trade business, there was justification to recover the investment funds.

He would transfer his shares in the Balkan Mountains to Marquis Würetti to add to his business.

Since rumors began circulating that the emperor was withdrawing from mine investment, other investors would also move quickly.

‘However, if there’s one slightly puzzling point……’

It was that Cedric hadn’t conveyed any story about Roina to Marquis Würetti.

Though she didn’t know what his intention was, that goodwill didn’t feel entirely bad.

Nodding slightly, Roina lifted the teacup placed in front of her and lightly moistened her throat.

“I’m just fortunate to be able to help Your Majesty.”

Cedric, quietly watching her, shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn’t understand her intentions at all.

“Can you handle it even if the marquis learns of this fact?”

Or is it possible because you’re a beloved daughter, he murmured softly.

‘How could I not be afraid?’

Roina feared Marquis Würetti’s retaliation.

If he learned of this fact, something might happen to Aila’s safety, who remained at the estate.

But from the moment she decided to help Conrad, she could no longer turn away from her father’s corruption.

Regret about her ignorant past should be enough just once.