“Your Majesty.”

At April’s call, Calsion froze. The rage that had been etched across his face instantly melted away, replaced by a soft smile at his lips. Everyone present flinched at the sudden change.

“Their behavior was so discourteous that it has left my heart truly troubled.”

“That they have disturbed the Empress’s peace weighs heavily upon me as well.”

At the Emperor’s words, every noble present sank to their knees. It was only natural—Calsion was not a lenient ruler. Having seized the throne by crushing traitors, he was sensitive to anyone who might challenge his authority.

If they made one wrong move, every head in that room could roll. For Calsion was the sort of Emperor who could—and would—make it happen.

“Yet, as they are still subjects I must protect, I should show them mercy.”

Lowering her gaze, April’s face shone with benevolence. At that moment, a shaft of sunlight streamed into the parlor, falling across her features, casting her in an almost otherworldly light.

Calsion, realizing what she intended, smirked faintly. But with their heads bowed, the noblewomen and young ladies failed to notice. April parted her lips calmly.

“So, I ask that Your Majesty look upon them with a generous heart.”

Calsion did not answer right away. His silence made sweat run cold down the backs of those kneeling, as though his sharp blade might fall on them at any moment. The Countess of Fernante trembled visibly, her shoulders shaking.

When Calsion still delayed, April shot him a sharp look, her lips forming silent words.

‘What are you doing?’

In response, Calsion smiled and silently mouthed back:

‘What will you give me?’

‘I’ll do whatever you ask—just hurry!’

Satisfied with her whispered promise, Calsion finally spoke, his voice slow and deliberate.

“My beloved Empress has pleaded so earnestly. I cannot refuse. I shall grant mercy—this once.”

Relieved sighs echoed through the room. April looked at him in disbelief, but he steadfastly avoided her gaze, continuing his words.

“The lands of the House of Fernante will be confiscated.”

“Your Majesty!”

“However, their title shall remain.”

It was a harsh punishment. Though they kept their lives, a count stripped of his estate was a noble in name only. Without revenue, how could one maintain the dignity of nobility?

To frequent the palace, one needed fashionable gowns and fine jewels—all of which required money. Without lands, a noble would have to rely on a royal stipend, but Count Fernante held no official post at court.

Just another petty noble who came to the capital.

No doubt they had planned to profit by selling their province’s famed strawberries here. But the moment they slighted Barbara, they lost April’s favor. Of all things, insulting her idol was unforgivable. April had no intention of objecting to Calsion’s decree.

They should be grateful to keep their heads at all.

Despite their disdain for royalty, their lives were spared. The nobles present showered Calsion with praise for his mercy.

‘Wait—then what about my strawberries?’

Since Fernante’s lands now belonged to the crown, every strawberry harvested there would be April’s or Calsion’s.

With a casual wave of his hand, Calsion dismissed the nobles. Soon, only Barbara, April, and Calsion remained in the parlor.

“Am I permitted to remain in the palace?” Barbara asked.

“Of course. Without your aid, ascending the throne would not have been so simple for me.”

In truth, Calsion would have seized the throne regardless. But Barbara’s allegiance had given him access to her intelligence guild, which allowed him to root out the nobles aligned with the deposed Empress more efficiently.

Calsion was not the sort to move lightly when threatened. He would have slaughtered them all if necessary to secure his reign. Thanks to Barbara, he had managed to wear the crown without displaying unrestrained cruelty.

Upon hearing his words, Barbara offered thanks, then turned to April and bowed her head.

“My gratitude to Your Majesty the Empress as well.”

“There’s no need for thanks,” April said warmly, taking her hand.

“I still remember what you taught me—that a royal must always bear themselves with dignity.”

“I overstepped my place by—”

“No!”

April cut her off sharply.

“Overstepped? Barbara, you are my ideal—”

“Ahem! Empress.”

Calsion cleared his throat, cutting her short. Meeting his steady gaze, April closed her lips with a small pout. Barbara, watching the exchange, broke into a bright smile.

“Seeing the harmony between you both, I am certain laughter will blossom in this palace from now on.”

Until now, the royals who had stayed in the palace watched and envied one another, always scheming to seize what the other possessed. Yet here stood two who only sought to give to each other. Watching them, Barbara’s smile would not fade.

“I shall have to prepare a fine gift for the child soon to be born into the Imperial family.”

“Oh! Thank you so much.”

April answered quickly, adding cheerfully, “Any gift from you is bound to be wonderful.” Barbara laughed aloud at her words.

Back in the Emperor’s chambers, April flopped face-first onto the bed.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted!”

“You still need to wash, Your Majesty.”

“All right, all right.”

April, reluctant to get up, lingered in bed until Miloa spoke to her. When she finally rose, Miloa skillfully removed her dress. In only a light chemise, April stepped into the bath.

Just before entering, she noticed Miloa’s gaze drop toward her stomach. Following that gaze, April also looked down. Her belly, now noticeably rounded, carried the undeniable presence of a child.

“Soon, the future Emperor will be born, won’t he?”

“Whether it’s a boy or a girl doesn’t matter. What’s important is that this empire will gain another member of the imperial family.”

“Your Majesty the Empress is right. I was mistaken.”

At Miloa’s reply, April’s eyes curved as she smiled. As the warm water touched her skin, the tension left her body, and her eyelids began to grow heavy. She drew in a breath to steady her wavering vision, but her weary body resisted keeping her eyes open.

“You must be tired,” Miloa whispered kindly.

“Seems like it,” April murmured faintly.

“Well, it is far past the time you should have been resting.”

Since conceiving, April had always taken naps without fail, yet today, because of the tea party, she had been unable to sleep properly. She tried to force her eyes open, but it wasn’t easy. Blinking slowly, she moved her lips ever so slightly.

“Strawberries…”

“Pardon?”

“I wanted strawberries…”

“Strawberries?”

Miloa repeated the word several times, but April, already asleep, gave no further answer. Miloa tilted her head at April’s mumble, but at that moment, the bathroom door opened. Startled, she quickly bent her knees.

“Your Majesty.”

“Has the Empress fallen asleep?”

“Yes.”

As if he had expected April would doze off in the bath, Calsion let out a quiet chuckle and approached the tub. Miloa handed him a large towel, and with it, Calsion wrapped April’s body and carried her out.

He laid her gently upon the bed, then immediately stepped outside the chamber. As soon as he left, Miloa and the other maids dressed April.

“How thoughtful His Majesty is,” one of the maids whispered softly. Another rumor about Calsion and April was born in that moment.

To avoid disturbing April’s slumber, the maids quietly finished their work and opened the chamber doors. As though waiting, Calsion reentered at once. Once the maids withdrew, he immediately sat at the bedside where April lay.

“You said you would give me everything, and now you fall asleep like this?”

“…Strawberries.”

“What?”

“Strawberries.”