Although Cornelia responded gently, Roselia still found it difficult to grasp the meaning.

What did she mean by wrapping and trash?

Judging from the context, it seemed that what Cornelia intended to do was somehow connected to the Council…

Hmm… It’s not something dangerous, right?

“Whatever it is, can’t you just ignore it? Leave it to Emperor Carlisle and pretend you don’t know.”

“Well…”

Roselia’s words weren’t without reason.

Under the current Roman system, the imperial authority was stronger than ever, and Carlisle held absolute power—more than enough to suppress any opposition or concerns about their relationship.

“Cori, even if people around you cause a fuss and lose their minds, it’s all over once you’re married. Once the documents are signed, what can they say? Besides…”

Her voice, which had been speaking freely, grew quieter.

Cornelia’s light brown eyes turned to Roselia.

“I mean… the Council has had close ties with the Marquis too. So…”

Ah. So that’s why?

Cornelia’s mouth parted slightly.

There was a reason Roselia was so adamant.

She was worried about the relationship between father and daughter falling apart if Cornelia took action herself.

“Of course, maybe not anymore, but you never know…”

The wine glass between Roselia’s fingers began spinning faster, reflecting her uneasy heart.

Just before its contents could spill, a pale, slender hand grasped the glass.

“Cori?”

“I’ll drink this.”

“Ah, huh? You will?”

At Roselia’s puzzled tone, Cornelia smiled brightly at her.

“Well… if you insist on drinking it.”

“That’s why I have to step forward.”

“Hmm? What did you just say…”

“Being closely connected means giving something in return and exposing weaknesses.”

Cornelia’s eyes gleamed sharply as they passed Roselia and landed on the Council.

“Father and Carlisle too. If they want to protect everything, someone without ties to those people must take the lead.”

Roselia’s red eyes widened as she grasped the meaning of her words.

“But—!”

“It would be easy to shut my eyes and ears and rest under Carlisle’s protection. But that’s the last resort.”

“Cori…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t directly clash with them.”

“Are you thinking of asking Brother Adrian for help?”

As Roselia asked, Cornelia took a sip of wine.

“No.”

“Then who?”

‘Come on, tell me already.’

The intense curiosity in her gaze was almost burdensome.

“There’s a very useful source of information I can use, even without asking for help.”

“An informant?”

“Belgian.”

“Belgian? The Belgian I know? That woman is helping you? Why?”

Her widened eyes were full of questions.

“I’ll tell you later. For now, it’s a secret.”

Cornelia’s words were short but firm.

It wasn’t the answer Roselia had hoped for.

“Ugh. Why is everything so complicated…”

Roselia let out a dry laugh.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

Then Cornelia spoke in a slow tone.

“Rosie. I don’t want Carlisle to be tarnished because of our union…”

Behind Roselia, Carlisle was seen turning his head.

Hearing Cornelia’s quiet murmur, Roselia’s eyes widened.

And at that very moment—almost as if planned—their eyes met.

Slowly, Carlisle’s lips curled upward, and the red eyes staring at her deepened with longing.

As if he might walk straight to her at any moment, his whole body turned toward her, and Cornelia’s lips curved into a gentle arc.

Her heartbeat quickened.

The rhythmically quiet thumping of her heart grew loud and erratic, like pounding feet.

“I want to marry Carlisle at the most perfect moment, without any blemishes. Only with happiness in our hearts.”

All the light in the world seemed to shine on the two of them, and the noise of the banquet faded into the distance.

“Perhaps… he feels the same way I do.”

Their prolonged eye contact seemed to fill them with nothing but each other.

Just as their gazes locked and her breath caught, and her heart ached from the intensity, Carlisle moved—like he could no longer resist.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Yet he didn’t care about the eyes around him.

He looked only at Cornelia as he strode forward.

The scandal between Cornelia and Carlisle rocked the Roman Empire.

What had once seemed unlikely speculation had become reality.

The union between the head of the imperial faction and the leader of the noble faction!

Everywhere people gathered, fierce debates broke out between supporters and opponents.

But Cornelia and Carlisle paid no mind to any of it and continued to solidify their relationship.

***

“You would make Princess Isariel your Empress?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Carlisle’s face hardened like stone, the members of the council watched him nervously.

But Duke Asman, who had first brought up the idea, did not back down.

Leaning back and twirling his neatly trimmed mustache, he raised his voice.

“You seem to have close ties with the House of Olsen, but objectively speaking, the Isariel Empire would be of greater benefit to Your Majesty.”

Duke Asman—Carlisle’s uncle, brother to the late emperor, and the most powerful figure in the Council.

Even knowing full well about the romantic relationship between Cornelia and Carlisle, he shamelessly pushed to make Princess Isariel the empress.

Carlisle’s lips twisted.

“How amusing.”

His voice dropped low, and his laughter followed. Duke Asman’s pupils quivered.

“What, may I ask, is the basis for your judgment, Duke?”

“It’s based on a collective review of past precedents and the consensus of the Council.”

“Past precedents?”

Carlisle’s eyes flashed coldly as he drew out his words.

To mention the late emperor and empress in front of the current emperor…

Louis quickly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty.”

But Carlisle raised his hand, stopping him.

Immediately, the chamber fell into silence.

Carlisle’s red eyes swept across the room, finally locking onto Duke Asman.

“You said this was a matter that would affect the Empire. That it was advice for the good of the Imperial House. I had expectations.”

His gaze, dark and sunken, sent a chill through the air.

Only then did Duke Asman realize that something was going terribly wrong. He flinched.

In truth, when he had first heard rumors of the emperor’s affair with the daughter of Marquis Olsen, he had dismissed it as nothing more than a fleeting indulgence.

The emperor was known for his casual affairs, and the number of women who had passed through his life was beyond counting.

So he had assumed this would be no different…

“When the late emperor was alive, you used to cower before Emperor Baiman. And now, in front of me, you dare side with the Isariel Empire?”

“S-Side with them? You must be misunderstanding the advice we offered.”

Duke Asman denied it.

The arrogance he had shown earlier had vanished. He rolled his eyes and lowered his head.

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes. A misunderstanding, Your Majesty. The Council merely weighed the advantages from the standpoint of the Roman Empire and the Imperial House.”

Duke Asman pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his sweat, clearly flustered by the unexpected turn of events.

“Princess Isariel is favorable to the marriage, and if our Roman Empire were to unite with them, then surely—”

“The advantages for the Empire and the Imperial House are matters that I and my aides will judge sufficiently.”

Carlisle cut him off mid-sentence.

“Pardon?”

“And of course, my marriage will be decided by my own will.”

“Your Majesty… I was merely…”

“Louis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Since the meeting with the Council has ended early, move up the next item on the agenda.”

At the emperor’s firm and resolute tone, the other nobles in the Council lowered their eyes and began reading the atmosphere.

With a blank expression, Louis cast a glance toward the Council. Then, turning to Carlisle, he bowed respectfully.

“Understood.”

“W-What is the meaning of this…!”

Duke Asman leapt to his feet.

His face was flushed red, as if it were about to burst, caught off guard by the way things were spiraling.

The member of the council, who had been quietly observing the exchange across the round table, looked back and forth between Carlisle and Duke Asman, unable to hide their unease.

As unrest swept through the room, Carlisle leaned back and spoke nonchalantly.

“Since you are so busy trying to keep both nations satisfied, perhaps it’s time for you to take your leave.”

“Your Majesty—! We are not yet—!”

“Never mind.”

“…”

“My aides, who graduated first and second in their class from Luclin Academy,”

“…”

“—are surely more capable than someone who barely scraped by with a foot in the door.”

“Your Majesty—!”

Carlisle’s sharp gaze swept over the senators.

“As you can see, the Empire is stable. I have no need for your advice.”

His words, slow but firm, carried a clear warning that he would allow no further interference or debate.

Carlisle set down his teacup on the table, and the head attendant came forward to replace it with a fresh one.

“What? Is there a problem with what I said?”

Carlisle looked around and asked.

The members of the council, unsure how to respond, busily exchanged glances.

“Duke Asman. You may answer.”

At Carlisle’s command, all eyes turned toward one place, and heavy silence descended.

Duke Asman, biting his lips, finally bowed his head.

“…No, Your Majesty.”

Carlisle raised his hand.

The knights standing at the doors of the chamber immediately swung them open.

It was the signal that their allotted time had come to an end.

After the Council had withdrawn, Carlisle tapped lightly on the heavy oak table.

“Your Majesty.”

At Louis’s subtle call, Carlisle turned his head.

Their eyes met.

“A letter has arrived from the House of Olsen.”

“From the marquis?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“No?”

Carlisle’s brows twitched.

Without answering, Louis silently handed over the document he was holding.

After scanning it briefly, Carlisle asked in a cold tone.

“You’re saying this came from the House of Olsen?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Carlisle threw the bundle of documents onto the table.

“You’ve seen this, haven’t you? If it wasn’t the marquis, then who? Was it Adrian, the young marquis?”

He asked in a low voice.

But once again, Louis shook his head.

The guess was incorrect.

A flicker of surprise crossed Carlisle’s red eyes.

If it wasn’t Marquis Olsen or Adrian… then there was only one answer.

The legitimate daughter of House Olsen—his lover.

Cornelia Olsen.

Carlisle’s eyes settled on the thick bundle of documents.