The Emperor rarely let out a low grumble at that answer, which showed not even a hint of hesitation.

“You say there’s nothing you want?”

“Yes.”

After writing something for quite a while, she handed the paper to the imperial court physician nearby and stood up from her seat.

“I recommend that you continue to take regular walks outside for fresh air, but avoid overexertion to the point of shortness of breath.”

Serena calmly spoke as she turned her head towards the old physician, who was the Emperor’s doctor and had also come to check on the Marchioness’s condition previously.

“And this is the medicine I’ve prepared as much as needed.”

As Serena held out something wrapped in a cloth to the old physician, he hurriedly came over and carefully hugged it to his chest.

“It would be good to brew the herbs I’ve noted on the note there and give it to His Majesty once a day, about an hour before bedtime.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Yes, then I’ll come again in two weeks, Your Majesty.”

They say that when you’re being too ignored, all you can do is laugh.

Of course, it’s not that he feels bad.

It’s just that it’s so obvious that the other party has no interest in him that it makes him laugh.

Half bewildered, and a tiny bit pleased to see someone so uninterested in him, the Emperor, for the first time.

Originally, as an Emperor, life was about everyone trying to flatter or make deals when given the opportunity.

A life where even one’s life requires some kind of transaction.

You can get whatever you want if you give something beneficial, but the important thing is that you have to give something.

Yes.

Usually, there’s no such thing as kindness without reason.

That’s how he had lived for decades as an Emperor…

‘At this age, it makes me want to believe that such kindness could exist.’

While thinking that he must have softened with age, the Emperor had quite a pleasant expression.

“Is Duchess Kelahinum leaving like this today as well?”

At the Emperor’s words tinged with laughter, Serena, who was about to turn around, hurriedly bowed her head with a flustered expression, her eyes darting around.

“…Ah, I’m sorry. If you have anything to say, I would be grateful if you could tell me.”

It was obvious that her eyes were rolling as if she thought she had made a big mistake.

The Emperor let out a hollow laugh as he watched those tense shoulders.

‘Why on earth did someone like this get such rumors?’

When you’ve been on the imperial throne for a long time, you can’t help but develop an eye for people.

Even if one acts, it’s only on the surface. If one is hiding malicious intentions, it eventually shows in the eyes.

But Duchess Kelahinum doesn’t have any of that.

She may look indifferent, stiff, and cold, but in reality, she’s not that cold-hearted.

She seems to consider practicality and profit, but she doesn’t take what she wants at crucial moments.

‘Being rejected even when openly offering to do something… this is the first time since the Dukes of Kelahinum.’

Not just the current Duke, but the previous one as well.

‘They really seem to be birds of a feather.’

She acted exactly like the Kelahinum ducal family, who seemed uninterested in the crumbs falling from the imperial family.

‘Marquis Lavernia is somewhat like that too…’

But he at least had the smoothness to openly make deals when he needed something and take it gracefully.

‘Well, that’s why the ducal family is trustworthy.’

And above all, they are people whose hearts are hard to win.

Money, honor, power.

None of these can sway them.

‘I heard that Duke Kelahinum has been quite fond of the Duchess recently, so I wondered how she might be…’

She seemed even harder to persuade than Duke Kelahinum.

No matter what was said, she remained so indifferent and nonchalant that it felt like having a conversation with a solid radish freshly pulled from the ground.

“I didn’t particularly have anything to say. But it seems we haven’t had any personal conversations even though it’s been quite a while since the Duchess has been examining me.”

“Ah…”

When the Emperor spoke directly, she put on a somewhat awkward smile and lowered her gaze as if troubled.

“If it’s about business, I don’t know anything, so it might be better to talk with Magn… I mean, my husband…”

“…I wasn’t particularly intending to talk about business.”

The Emperor, who suddenly felt like he was being treated as a peddler trying to talk business, suppressed his bewildered feelings and answered.

“Ah, I think you’ll find a conversation with me quite boring. I’m not very articulate.”

When he said it wasn’t about business, this time she put up a wall saying it would be boring.

‘…She seems to really dislike it.’

The Emperor became too embarrassed to encourage further as her dislike for conversation was so blatantly obvious.

As he glanced aside while watching the person who didn’t know what to do give all sorts of reasons for refusal, he saw the Crown Princess and Crown Prince with their heads bowed low, their shoulders trembling.

‘…It seems they’ve already experienced this before.’

That’s why they’re laughing like that, as if this situation is quite familiar.

“…I see, I wanted to hear about your new medical practices and I didn’t know there were such problems with the riphizo flowers commonly used to scent high-quality soaps, so I wanted to hear about that too…”

“Ah…”

The Emperor subtly dropped topics that might pique the other’s interest.

After all, a conversation should draw out what the other person wants to talk about, not what I want to talk about.

Just pretending to listen well could be considered more than half successful.

‘…Why are they laughing?’

Looking aside, he saw his beloved son still bowing his head and shaking his shoulders.

“If it’s about that, I’ll prepare a report and submit it on my next visit.”

“……?”

“If there’s anything else medical-related where you need my opinion, I’ll do my best to research as much as I can and prepare a report that won’t disappoint you.”

The Emperor, who had suddenly become a tyrannical boss demanding report submissions instead of conversation, was left speechless.

“…Ah, um. Yes. That’s, well… That would be… reassuring for me.”

That was because he had read emotions of annoyance and botheration in Serena’s usually indifferent and dry eyes.

‘…So that’s why they were laughing.’

The Emperor spoke, glancing at his son who was now burying his face in a cushion on the sofa without any dignity and unable to raise his head.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes… you may go.”

The Emperor said to Serena.

Only then did Serena erase her slightly troubled expression and bow deeply at the waist.

“Then I’ll see you in two weeks.”

“…Yes, you may.”

The Emperor just nodded like that, unable to even attempt to stop her or suggest anything more.

“Ahem, ahem… Se-Serena. See you next time.”

“Ta-Take care on your way back.”

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess barely managed to hold back their laughter and greeted her with their twitching lips pressed firmly.

“Yes, I’ll see you next time.”

Serena, who finished her greetings, lightly rubbed the back of her neck.

‘What is it?’

Although she felt vaguely uncomfortable, it wasn’t the first or second time she had felt uneasy about something, so Serena roughly shook off the thought.

‘By the way, I haven’t seen Nyx in a while.’

From some point, it had completely disappeared. It seemed like it had been quite a while since she had seen it eating meals every day.

‘The crops I planted in the herb garden are almost the same too.’

Perhaps because of that, her uneasiness only grew.

‘Did something happen? Or is it planning something?’

Whether Nyx was doing something or planning something, it was inevitable that she would be concerned either way.

Serena lightly rubbed her face with a worried expression.

“Serena.”

She abruptly stopped at the sound of the voice.

Serena turned her head with a slightly tired expression.

Marquis Lavernia was standing there with a somewhat stiff face.

“Yes, Father.”

“Would you like to talk for a bit?”

“Hmm, alright.”

Serena nodded after a moment’s consideration. It seemed clear that they both had something to say.

Marquis Lavernia had apparently reserved a reception room in advance, as he moved to a quiet place within the imperial palace.

An employee of the palace who followed them in served tea and then quietly left the room, as though they had been instructed beforehand.