Inside the imperial palace, a heavy silence prevailed.

“Please forgive the rudeness of Lady Kristin and Duke Raphael,” said Emperor Lucas Aedon and Empress Leli Aedon as they conversed with Princess Rebella.

They were unsettled after hearing about the incident involving Princess Rebella in the shopping district.

Additionally, they harbored growing resentment toward Duke Raphael, who had refused to act according to their wishes.

“It’s alright,” Princess Rebella replied, masking her true feelings. “I trust Duke Raphael. I’m certain he wouldn’t make someone like Lady Kristin his duchess. If I were in his position, I’d undoubtedly choose me.”

Princess Rebella concealed her true intentions with these words.

In reality, she had grand ambitions.

The naive Emperor Lucas Aedon believed her marriage to Duke Raphael would form a cooperative alliance between their two nations, potentially even uniting them in a war for mutual benefit. But that was merely his delusion.

Princess Rebella’s heart had long since deviated from loyalty. She had been seething since she heard Duke Raphael intend to marry Kristin.

However, the two people’s plea for forgiveness would justify her actions moving forward, so it didn’t seem like a significant issue. It would merely accelerate the timing of the invasion war.

There was a reason Princess Rebella had come directly to the Union Empire this time.

She aimed to ease Emperor Lucas Aedon’s mind as much as possible.

Simultaneously, she wanted to convince him to trust her nation as a friendly and allied brotherly state, ensuring that he would never even suspect the Praga Empire of planning an invasion war against the Union Empire.

“I will deal with Lady Kristin myself.”

“What?”

Feigning innocence, Princess Rebella asked the Emperor with a naive expression.

They spoke in a heavily guarded reception room, ensuring that no other officials could overhear their conversation.

“Duke Raphael is one of the nobles I hold in high regard,” the Emperor began. “He has no idea how much effort I’ve invested in raising him after he lost his father. And his mother, Lady Riana, was a loyal daughter of this empire. Just like Lady Kristin. Kristin has accomplished much so far, handling tasks I found difficult to manage.”

As the Emperor praised Kristin, Rebella’s expression gradually hardened.

The Emperor, noticing her reaction, continued calmly, trying to soothe her.

“However, even so, can a mere viscount’s daughter compare to a noble princess like yourself? Even if a loyal subordinate is affectionate for someone, if they interfere with my plans, I will not hesitate to remove them. Any obstacle must be dealt with, no matter what.”

“Do you truly mean that?” Rebella asked, her eyes sparkling with a calculated gleam. “If that’s the case, can I trust Your Majesty? I truly wish to marry Duke Raphael.”

The Emperor nodded in response to her statement, his seemingly kind exterior hiding a sharp edge.

Observing the Emperor’s resolve, Empress Leli Aedon, leaned closer to whisper in his ear.

“Do you really have to go this far? Lady Kristin has done so much for this empire. If it’s Kristin, she will continue to accomplish righteous deeds that no other noble could. Even as a woman…”

“I cannot stand by and let someone like her block the Union Empire’s promising future. For the greater good, small sacrifices must be made.”

The Empress spoke to him, but the Emperor had no intention of changing his mind.

Seeing no room for persuasion, she took a trembling sip of tea, her hands shaking, as the two others remained silent.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking interrupted the silence.

“Your Majesty.”

“Did I not say I would not be disturbed for at least an hour?”

“Your Majesty, a letter from His Holiness, the Pope has arrived.”

“The Pope?”

The mention of the Pope caused Emperor Lucas Aedon to rise abruptly from his seat.

Within the Union Empire, the one force he truly feared was none other than Pope Henry Edward.

As the head of the only recognized religion in the empire and a man who had held his position for decades, the Pope commanded the loyalty of many nobles. His influence was unparalleled, and his words could not be ignored.

Therefore, any letter sent directly from the Pope would undoubtedly concern an urgent matter.

“Bring it in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The aide entered and handed the letter to the Emperor.

As he read through its contents, the Emperor’s face turned red with fury.
Empress Leli Aedon, alarmed by his reaction, cautiously asked,

“What did His Holiness say?”

“He has asked me to protect Lady Kristin Edith and Duke Raphael from threats to their lives. He’s also ordered the proclamation of an imperial decree to safeguard them and the immediate apprehension of anyone attempting to harm them.”

“What? What did you just say? His Holiness is protecting someone like Kristin Edith?”

Princess Rebella couldn’t believe the situation.

How could a mere noblewoman receive the Pope’s protection? She stared at the Emperor’s face in disbelief, only to find Lucas Aedon gripping the letter so tightly that it was crumpled in his hands. Finally, the Emperor responded to Rebella’s incredulity.

“In that case, there is a solution. I never read this letter today. Right now, I am preoccupied with meeting Princess Rebella. If this doesn’t leak from the palace, His Holiness will never know.”

The Emperor issued an order to his aide.

“Take this letter back. Keep it with you until I ask for it. If it ever comes to light that I’ve read it, your life will be at stake.”

The trembling aide nodded hesitantly, his voice shaky.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I understand. P-please, return the letter to me.”

“Take it,” the Emperor said, tossing the letter onto the floor.

Princess Rebella smiled at the sight.

‘I never imagined the Emperor would trust me this much. Duke Raphael was once celebrated for his contributions during the war, yet the Emperor abandoned him so easily, all because of a suggestion from a neighboring princess. He even plans to kill the woman the Duke loves.’

Unaware of Rebella’s true thoughts, the Emperor ordered a grand dinner in her honor.

Watching him, Rebella silently mocked him.

‘You are even more foolish than I expected. I never imagined you could be this incompetent. Truly laughable.’

—
After finishing the dinner, Princess Rebella returned to the luxurious guest chamber prepared for her. Standing by the window, she gazed at the scenery outside.

This imperial palace would be engulfed in crimson flames in just a few days.

Her plan was set.

Using her engagement with Raphael Rodney as a pretext, she would establish an alliance with the Union Empire. Then, under the guise of diplomacy, she intended to abduct the Emperor of the Union and assassinate him.

There was a reason for Rebella’s bold scheme.

Ambitious for power, she wanted to prove her strength to the crown prince and princes who had always dismissed her.

When Rebella first presented her plan to the Emperor of Praga, he had barely acknowledged it. Instead, he permitted her to train soldiers and allowed her to act as she pleased.

If she succeeded in abducting the Emperor of the Union and bringing him to the Praga Empire, it would be the perfect leverage to seize control of the Union Empire. The Emperor of Praga even promised to grant her the throne as empress in return.

Rebella had no intention of letting her father’s promise slip away.

That was why she had stationed soldiers in the region of Eriha, disguised as officials from Praga. In a few days, these soldiers would infiltrate the palace under the guise of Praga envoys and abduct the Emperor.

She figured one would ever suspect a noble and refined princess of harboring such grand ambitions. Most princesses lived their lives defined by marriage, but Rebella sought more. She wanted to rule both empires as a sovereign empress.

“Raphael Rodney? You’re just a tool to me. My only regret is that you managed to steal my heart, bruising my pride in the process. But it doesn’t matter anymore. I have no use for you now.”

Rebella muttered to herself as she began to undress, preparing for a bath in the tub filled with rose petals that the Emperor had so graciously prepared.

“Kristin Edith… Yes, she was never necessary in the first place. Still, it’s better if she dies cleanly, leaving no loose ends. That way, there won’t be any complications. So, there’s no reason for me to feel jealous. After all, I was destined to be an empress from the beginning.”

Rebella’s eyes began to gleam with a growing madness.