Raphael grew up watching Felipe lead the knights and defend the royal family, always at his father’s side. Now that he was older, it was time for Felipe to retire, but his achievements as a knight were highly commendable. 

“According to the information sent by the Duke of Delmart, the amount of hidden funds in the castle seems to be quite substantial.”

Raphael said, his tone calm.

“Vincent Delmart is still holed up in the castle, but he continues to maintain contact with illegal traders.”

“Right, he’s using the money he’s been slowly skimming off to buy mercenaries, isn’t he?”

Raphael sneered. His lips curled into a smile, but his eyes remained cold and piercing, like a predator sizing up its prey.

“And the other one?”

The lack of formalities in his address made it clear to whom he was referring. Felipe, always composed, replied calmly.

“She’s fine, no problems.”

“Is that so?”

Raphael’s reply was flat and uninterested. He looked up and caught a glimpse of a face that seemed dissatisfied.

“Well, I suppose it’s true. At least she’s always behaved better than her brother.”

It seemed that this was not the answer Raphael had hoped for as he muttered to himself, the hint of dissatisfaction in his tone. When their eyes met again, he offered a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Thank you for all your hard work, Baron. As soon as things are settled in Delmart, you can retire. While you’re here, stay in the palace for a while and get some rest. I will send my physician to your quarters, so if you feel unwell, do not hesitate to seek help.”

“I am truly honoured, Your Majesty.”

Felipe no longer tried to read the Emperor’s true intentions and simply bowed his head in respect. After all, no one could truly fathom the Emperor’s grudge against the Delmart family.

It was up to Raphael to sit quietly and wait for his prey to fall into the trap, or to draw his sword and face the dishonour of doing it himself.

As Felipe left the drawing room, the smile on Raphael’s face slowly faded.

‘Why is this? Everything seems to be going smoothly, so why do I feel this subtle unease?’

Raphael rested his chin in his hand and lowered his eyes slightly. As he looked down into the empty hall, a forgotten memory suddenly came to him. Was it from a Christmas ball?

The woman always wore a bright smile, but how many people could keep their composure in a situation that was clearly designed to humiliate her?

The head of the Lombards, Felipe, disappointed by the spectacle, gently suggested to Rosalyn that she should ask for a dance when the next song began. But Raphael only scoffed. It was distasteful enough that she pretended to be the star of the show, and he hoped she would finally accept her place.

But Rosalyn held out for three whole songs. The Christmas Ball, the biggest social event of the year, was a crucial occasion. Although standing alone after being publicly humiliated by her partner would only add to her embarrassment, she chose to endure. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but she refused to be broken.

Thinking about it again, it was so ridiculous that a hollow laugh escaped him.

‘That arrogance is finally over.’

Raphael sat there, lost in thought, a slender arm draped over his shoulder.

“What are you thinking about, Your Majesty?”

The sweet whisper reached his ear and Raphael turned his head. The familiar red hair brushed against his cheek, and as he recognised the person, the look in his eyes softened, a sense of relaxation washing over him.

“Paola.”

Immediately, his features softened and he pressed his lips gently against his wife’s cheek.

“It’s nothing serious.”

“You don’t have to hide anything from me.”

Paola brushed his hair aside and tilted her head slightly. There was tenderness in the gentle touch as she smoothed his hair. Raphael smiled faintly, pulled her waist closer and buried his face in her slightly rounded belly, feeling a moment of peace and warmth.

“It’s about the Delmart family, right?”

When she asked in a whisper, Raphael subtly lifted his head to notice a deep shadow on her delicate face.

“You needn’t worry. It was my fault for rushing into this.”

He replied dismissively, then took Paola’s hand resting on his shoulder and kissed the back of it.

In retrospect, it might have been a hasty decision. Even though he couldn’t dismiss the thought completely, it still felt like any other ordinary matter to him.

When he ascended to the throne and almost announced his marriage to Paola, it was no surprise that the Duke of Delmart, trapped in the closed castle, went mad and most of the nobles voiced their objections.

No one had expected Rosalyn to become Empress, especially after what had happened to the Delmart family. However, it seemed that the nobles felt that there should be a proper discussion about the vacant position. That position was none other than the seat of the Empress.

In typical noble families, marriage discussions were never taken lightly. Only a woman who had undergone a thorough and rigorous evaluation could rightfully assume the role of ruler of the Empire.

Yet here was the daughter of a family with neither history nor wealth – an outsider in the eyes of the nobility. The tension between tradition and the unexpected turn of events was palpable, leaving many to wonder what the future held.

As Paola’s background was gradually revealed, opposition grew. Many began to question the Emperor’s sanity in choosing as his empress a woman who had never set foot in the capital’s high society.

This sentiment was shared by both those who supported the Duke and those who did not. It was inevitable for them to compare Paola to Rosalyn Delmart, and in doing so they sought to belittle her.

The nobles contrasted the Duke’s daughter, who had received the best education, with the daughter of a lower class noble family from the country. Every aspect of Paola’s upbringing, manners and appearance was scrutinised and criticised as they desperately clung to the belief that she was unfit for such a position.

As a result, sympathy for Rosalyn began to spread. Despite the numerous scandals involving her father and brothers, at least Rosalyn herself was seen – apart from her relatives – as an immaculate lady with no obvious faults. Paola, on the other hand, was seen as a woman who couldn’t even observe the most basic manners that even children would know.

What about the noble lineage of the Delmart family? When traced back, her roots could be traced to a branch of the Imperial family, so there was no reason to question her suitability as the Emperor’s wife.

The nobles, driven by tradition and a need for validation, began to elevate Rosalyn’s status once again, while Paola’s shortcomings were magnified. The public’s favour slowly shifted, and Paola’s image as the Emperor’s chosen bride became increasingly tarnished.

So the nobles united in opposition to Paola, but as often happens in love, the more opposition there was, the stronger their bond became. Without the slightest hesitation, Raphael pressed ahead with his marriage to Paola.

The ceremony was extravagant, a grand display of defiance, and the invitations sent across the continent acted as a silent threat to those who dared oppose him.

In due course, the beheading of the Duke of Delmart served as an unspoken warning, a stark reminder that Raphael would not be swayed. With each bold step, the Emperor strengthened his resolve, and the Empire watched as the political storm brewed around them.

After that, Raphael hardly moved. Not long after the wedding, Paola became pregnant, and as soon as the news was out, the momentum of the nobles began to wane. Though sympathy for Rosalyn Delmart remained strong – a constant irritant – it would probably subside once the new heir was born. 

Everything would fall into place. But Paola’s expression remained sombre.

“No matter how loyal the Lombard knight is, Moore is a truly handsome man. And the Princess of Delmart, of course.”

Raphael furrowed his brow and raised his eyes, his patience wearing thin. “What exactly are you saying?”

“It may be presumptuous of me to say this, but… I don’t think it’s wise to have young men and women of the same age together in one place.”

She didn’t question the Knights’ oaths or their loyalty. But isn’t there anything in this world that is truly absolute? The Knight favoured by the Emperor was undoubtedly loyal and trustworthy, but he was also a man of striking appearance, capable of winning the admiration of any lady who crossed his path. As for Rosalyn Delmart, there was no need to mention it.

Her words hung in the air, a quiet tension in her voice as she spoke from a place of concern and frustration, knowing the delicate balance of power and attraction at play.

Although Paola lived in a remote castle in the countryside, she had heard the rumours of her reputation as the most beautiful rose in the kingdom.

Paola understood how powerful the spark of love between a man and a woman could be. No one knew this better than she and Raphael. Wasn’t it only because of his deep affection for her that she was able to stand by his side, surpassing even the perfect Empress, Rosalyn? And yet she also knew that all of this had come about by pure chance.

If Raphael’s carriage, which had belonged to the Crown Prince at the time, had not stopped in the middle of the road in the Baron’s territory, he would never have known that Paola existed.

Every time she faced the sceptical eyes of high society, she felt the weight of how out of place she was – her clothes, her choices, everything about her suddenly seemed alien in the eyes of those who expected more. The insecurity was clear in her eyes, but Paola had realised how fragile the foundations of their union really were.

Paola knew this reality better than anyone. After reading his wife’s emotions, Raphael spoke quietly.

“People describe Rosalyn Delmart as kind, graceful and thoughtful… Yes, as if she were the perfect woman.”

Suddenly he let out a hollow laugh. A sneer appeared on his smooth lips.

“She’s beautiful on the outside, but she’s not the kind of woman who can live up to everyone’s expectations. Besides, in a situation like this, she’s not innocent enough to have feelings for someone else.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Raphael pulled Paola closer and sat her on his lap.

“People think I reject and despise them coldly, but that’s not the whole truth.”