“Viscount.”

“Welcome.”

Sien straightened his posture with military precision as if nothing had happened. Emma also bowed her head in embarrassment.

Elliopé held out a hand to the approaching figure. Kallian spoke in a voice of mischief.

“If His Majesty were to die from choking on your blasphemous words, it would be a disaster.”

From his tone alone, it sounded as if he would rather the Emperor just hurry up and die of suffocation than bother Elliopé.

“H-H-H-Hck.”

After scolding Sien, Kallian himself ended up saying something even more disrespectful, causing Emma to freeze in shock. Her face was filled with deep concern, afraid that someone might overhear their conversation and that Kallian or

Sien might be punished.

Meanwhile, Elliopé fought to hold back her laughter, pressing her lips together. No matter what, she didn’t feel it was right to laugh while playing the role of a grieving daughter, especially after hearing such blasphemous words.

Regardless, Kallian pressed his forehead against hers.

“Are you upset?”

“No.”

How could she be? Elliopé thought as she nestled the top of her head gently against the underside of Kallian’s chin.

He traced the line of her jaw and neck with his fingers and whispered,

“I, too, am rather disappointed in His Majesty.”

“Disappointed?”

“I am grateful that His Majesty sent my wife to the North so that I could meet her… but he never lets her rest.”

True to his word, Elliopé had been summoned by the Emperor at least three times today.

The Emperor, who seemed mentally unstable, kept trying to confirm that Elliopé was still bound to him. To anyone watching, his insistence was clearly excessive and unnecessary.

“Elliopé.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you still there?”

“I am.”

“Hold my hand for a moment. And bring me some water.”

“…….”

“Ah… To think that I would be so lonely in my final years. You must not leave me.”

“I will not, Your Majesty.”

“If you ever try to leave me… I will see to it that your husband’s family never regains its status.”

Sometimes he didn’t hesitate to make such threats.

But Elliopé was not particularly surprised.

If she was surprised at anything, it was that the Emperor no longer bothered to restrain himself, even in the presence of his attendants and other nobles.

‘He used to only scold or threaten me when no one else was around.’

For all his faults, the Emperor had at least been mindful of the eyes of others.

When the Emperor scolded Elliopé, it was always when they were alone, or when only other members of the Imperial family were present.

She remembered him pressuring her in front of the Empress and her children, insisting that she should have a family as distinguished as his own. A bitter smile formed on her lips.

‘For someone who had always kept a low profile, he was now completely outrageous.’

Whenever the Emperor spoke those words, the servants who stood at Elliopé’s side, as well as the nobles who often requested an audience with the Emperor under the pretext of visiting her, subtly darkened their expressions.

For it was clear to anyone watching that this was not the behaviour of a loving father.

Moreover, Elliopé was the wife of a hero and the only remaining heir to the imperial throne. For this reason, many found the Emperor’s manner of speaking deeply disturbing.

“At this rate… it seems he doesn’t respect Viscount Elsen and Her Highness the Princess, but rather tries to control them.”

“In truth, it wasn’t the Imperial family but the Viscount who turned the tide of the difficult battlefield.”

Yet the Emperor himself seemed completely unaware of the implications of his own words.

For this reason, Elliopé would prefer that the Emperor continue to speak in this manner. The more sympathetic public opinion became towards her, the more advantageous it would be – not only for her, but even more so for Kallian.

And so half the day was spent tied to the Emperor. In the end, she only managed to escape as evening approached, using the excuse that she had to attend the welcoming banquet to finally free herself from him.

“You look beautiful, my lady.”

Kallian whispered as he looked at Elliopé, who was already dressed and prepared.

Tonight she wore a cream-coloured dress that covered her to the neck.

Around her neck shone an emerald necklace, the symbol of the imperial family. An emerald brooch also adorned Kallian’s clothing.

It was the Emperor’s will.

“Have fun, both of you.”

“Be careful of the young noblemen who try to flirt with you.”

“Young noblemen…?”

“Didn’t you know? There are many of them who hope to become my your lover…”

“Sien!”

As she listened to the two maids bicker, she walked down the corridor, which was nothing short of magnificent.

Elliopé slowly calmed the anxiety that was beginning to rise in her. She hated the thought of staying in this place for too long, but she had to at least put on an air of obedience.

While she kept a tense expression on her face, Kallian began to whisper playfully.

“Now that I’ve heard what Sien said, I’m really starting to worry.”

“Huh? About what…?”

“That my lady might get tired of the dog and turn her eyes to the peacocks of the capital.”

“Kallian.”

Elliopé looked at Kallian as if to say, “You of all people should know that will never happen,” her look carrying a hint of reproach.

Kallian smiled before gently pressing his lips to her forehead before pulling away.

“Are you going to say something sweet again?”

“I’m not just saying it. I really mean it…”

Elliopé lowered her eyes slightly.

“I’m not interested in any other man but you.”

It was only after she had spoken that she realised she had been waiting for Kallian to say those words to her again.

Almost immediately, a slow, spreading warmth crept from her forehead, down her cheeks and along her jawline.

A voice, now hoarser, brushed against her ears.

“No matter how many times I hear it, it still makes me happy.”

“And you?”

“You are the only owner of my heart.”

A firm and unwavering answer came back to her, as if the thought of looking at someone else had never crossed his mind.

Their lips meeting briefly, they walked on until they stood before the great doors of the Imperial Hall.

“Viscount.”

Ruben, who had arrived earlier as part of the escort, greeted them with a respectful bow before stepping aside.

“The hall is secure.”

This meant that he and Kallian’s knights had already inspected the hall and ensured its safety.

Elliopé, who trusted Ruben and his knights far more than the Imperial Guard, felt genuinely relieved as she stepped inside.

A palace attendant, who had been waiting for her, announced in a strong voice with a hint of anticipation,

“Her Highness, Princess Elliopé Kartan, and her husband, Viscount Kallian Elsen, have arrived!”

Elliopé bore the weight of all eyes on her with calm composure.

In truth, this was far from the first time she had been subjected to such scrutiny.

Back when the North was known as Ilmos, she had already experienced the cold and penetrating gaze of others.

On the day of her wedding to the Grand Duke, when she had told everyone that Kallian had taken her purity, she had seen their eyes filled with shock and dismay.

When she had attended banquets and gatherings in the north at Kallian’s side, she had not forgotten the scrutinising looks she had received.

Compared to all that, the current atmosphere was almost too warm – she wasn’t sure whether to find it comforting or overwhelming.

Amidst the curious glances of the capital’s nobles, their displays of goodwill and the sharp calculations in their eyes as they sought ways to align themselves with her, there were also a few forced smiles that hinted at ulterior motives.

Through it all, Elliopé took a deep breath.

Still, thanks to Kallian’s hand gently supporting her back, she was able to stand with composure.

“Your Highness, I am Marquis Celiac.”

“Your Highness, we have met before. I am…”

As the crowd gathered, Elliopé simply gave a slight smile and walked past them.

Noticing her fatigue, Kallian proactively stepped forward to greet the noble guests on her behalf.

“My goodness. It’s an honour to meet you, Viscount Elsen.”

“I hear you’re soon to be Grand Duke of Elsen.”

“A hero who stopped the invasion of Seor, right? It’s only natural that this should happen.”

The people were eager to say something, even add a word, but they couldn’t bring themselves to approach.

The exchange of greetings became almost like a fierce battle. An endless line of people continued to approach, eager to impress Elliopé and Kallian.

“My lady.”

When Elliopé began to feel a little tired, Kallian reached out and gently caressed her back again.

As if playing a melody, he tapped lightly on the wings of her back with his rough hand, and at that moment she smiled faintly.

The sound of someone tapping a glass with a teaspoon echoed through the room.

Clink.

The clear sound filled the room several times.

“Thank you all for coming.”

Duke Belphir and Grand Duke Claudio, who were essentially hosting the banquet for Elliopé and Kallian, spoke from one side of the room.

“Not long ago the Empire was in turmoil, but now it has unexpectedly regained its former strength. I would like to begin by expressing my deep admiration for what has been achieved.”

“The Duke is right. And this, as we all know, is due to the heroes who took the lead and solved this problem.”

The eyes of the people naturally turned back to Elliopé and Kallian.

“We have prepared a celebratory drink for this day.”

Soon champagne, glowing with a bright light, began to circulate through the hall. It was clear that Kallian’s knights had already done a thorough check for poison.

“Let us drink to this happy occasion.”

Kallian casually took his glass. Finally, the glass was passed to Elliopé.

At that moment Kallian jumped slightly and grabbed Elliopé’s glass.

“Kallian?”

She looked at him with a puzzled expression. The Grand Duke, finally relieved of his burdens, shouted with joy,

“To the infinite prosperity of the Empire! For the heroes and the princess!”

“For them!”

The guests began to drink from their glasses. Elliopé, also reflexively smiling at those around her, brought her glass closer.

But then the sharp smell of alcohol hit her senses,

“Lady?”

An overwhelming dizziness hit her, more intense than anything she had felt recently.

‘Ah.”

“Lady!”

“Your Highness!”

Her vision quickly narrowed.