Viviana, who was attending the party, trembled with rage as she stared at the imperial couple.

Mary spoke to her with a bright face.

“Sister, don’t you think His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress make a perfect match? They’re such a beautiful pair. They look so happy. Life with someone you love…… I’m so envious.”

Viviana glared at Mary as if she wanted to devour her, then handed her wine glass to Mary, almost throwing it.

“Why are you even here? You’re lowering our family’s status.”

After glaring at Mary for a while, Viviana walked toward where Princess Hyrelia was.

Mary wiped the wine from her dress and said with a contemptuous expression:

“How can you fight when you can’t even hide your emotions…… Though it’s good for me.”

Mary hummed a tune.

* * *

Thank God, the second song ended safely.

There was actually a crisis in the middle, but thanks to His Majesty the Emperor, they overcame it.

Today, he perfectly guided her, clearly demonstrating the abilities of the Empire’s top boss, His Majesty the Emperor.

He lacked manners, consideration, and courtesy. In summary, his personality was somewhat lacking, but he was someone who definitely completed given tasks.

She thought that such a capable superior might actually be a good boss.

She felt a bit embarrassed at how quickly her opinion had changed to favorable after just one good deed.

When she was moving to the lounge with Madam Peggy to adjust her attire, an unfamiliar woman approached them.

She seemed to be approaching her, but the face was unfamiliar.

She hurriedly passed by since she needed to return to the party quickly.

* * *

“How dare you ignore me? You have nothing special except being lucky enough to be born in a duke’s family.”

Viviana, whose eyes were distorted with jealousy and inferiority, glared at Leila and then hurriedly walked somewhere.

Mary watched Viviana while enjoying food and drinks she normally wouldn’t be allowed to have, her face showing amusement.

“Hurry up, sister. I’m getting bored of waiting……”

As Mary looked around the party, she noticed Ivester drinking alcohol in a corner with a gloomy face.

Mary began observing the emperor and Ivester alternately.

“Hmm, I was going to be satisfied with becoming the next Prime Minister’s wife. But if my stupid Viviana is aiming for the emperor, there’s no reason I can’t have him. I’ll take everything you want, Viviana.”

Princess Hyrelia didn’t feel particularly good seeing Charte and Leila looking quite affectionate in person.

After all, attending the wedding of her sister’s ex-husband wasn’t exactly pleasant, even for diplomatic reasons.

“Hello, Princess. I’m Viviana from the Baron Anderson family.”

Hyrelia looked at Viviana with an arrogant face.

“You look so much like Her Majesty Empress Yasrin. I’ve come to greet you despite the impropriety because I miss Her Majesty the Empress.”

“You know my sister?”

“Yes, I occasionally entered the palace as Her Majesty the Empress’s companion and spent time with her.”

Not realizing it was Viviana’s exaggeration, Hyrelia’s gaze became more favorable.

* * *

When I returned to the party, I went to the emperor’s side at the central table.

However, Charte received a report from Viscount Catano and hurriedly went outside.

Already feeling feverish from overexerting herself yesterday, fatigue suddenly overwhelmed her as the tension from dancing dissipated.

Wanting to rest, she looked for Madam Peggy but couldn’t find her, so she went to the lounge alone.

As soon as she sat in a corner of the lounge, out of sight from others, she closed her eyes.

While dozing off, she heard careful footsteps.

“Have you heard any news of Empress Yasrin?”

Yasrin? Hearing that name people whispered about in front of her, she struggled to open her eyes.

With her back turned, she couldn’t see them, but from their attire, one was clearly Princess Hyrelia.

“No. I only hope she’s alive.”

“You must be upset. Being here in such a situation without knowing anything about Empress Yasrin……”

“Not knowing what happened that night, yet being here to celebrate—my situation is pathetic, and the Empire’s cruel treatment is painful.”

“Still, the only person Emperor Charte ever loved was Empress Yasrin. You know that, right? This marriage was practically forced…… When His Majesty the Emperor looked at Empress Yasrin, his eyes were always filled with love. Not cold like they are now.”

“As you say, knowing that my brother-in-law doesn’t love that woman is one small comfort.”

“She secured the empress position solely because she’s a duke’s daughter. She’s not worth comparing to Empress Yasrin—their union was through love.”

At that moment, someone else came out of the inner changing room, and the two quickly left.

She felt uneasy, as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

She thought that if Leila had heard those words, they would have been hurtful.

Perhaps it was fortunate that she was the one who heard them instead.

But if they were going to talk, they should have explained in detail what had happened.

It felt like using the toilet without wiping afterward.

She felt unsettled. What she was curious about wasn’t whether the emperor loved her, but what had happened with his ex-wife.

She just wanted to know the grounds for divorce.

That night, what exactly had happened?

“Your Majesty the Empress, are you alright?”

Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed people coming and going.

Hearing someone calling her, she stopped her thoughts and looked up.

“You seemed unwell, so I spoke to you first despite knowing it’s rude. I’m Mary from the Baron Anderson family.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

“You look pale. Your Majesty the Empress…… I think I overheard something in the changing room that I shouldn’t have. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m just feeling a bit under the weather.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Shortly after, Mary Anderson returned with warm tea and a shawl.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Not at all. I…… I know this might be presumptuous, but……”

“It’s okay. Go ahead.”

“One of the people who said those things earlier is my sister, and she tends to be loose-lipped. They were just repeating rumors, so please don’t take it to heart.”

She responded with a smile.

“I……”

“It’s okay, go ahead.”

“If you’re upset about what was said earlier, I beg you to forgive my sister.”

“People even criticize the king behind his back, so I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“I’m honored, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Lady Anderson, since you’ve helped me, could I ask you to find Madam Peggy for me?”

“Of course. Please rest.”

As she drank the tea Mary had brought, she thought to herself.

They say knowing your enemy and yourself ensures victory in every battle, but she lacked too much information.

She needed someone. Someone who would tell her everything…….

“Your Majesty the Empress! I apologize for leaving your side.”

“It’s alright. I was just resting because I felt tired.”

As Mary, who had brought Madam Peggy, quietly bowed and began to leave, she quickly stopped her.

“Lady Anderson.”

“Yes! Your Majesty the Empress.”

“I’ll invite you to the palace soon. Thank you for today.”

“Not at all. I didn’t do anything special. But if you invite me, I would consider it the greatest honor of my life.”

* * *

After the party ended, the tension dissipated, and she fell properly ill.

She suffered from high fever for several days.

She nearly died from frustration at wasting her precious time, her living time, by being sick.

As she began to recover, the empress’s delayed work came flooding in.

At this point, she deserved overtime pay…….

Anyway, she had to attend a budget meeting related to welfare, which was mainly handled by the empress.

There, she encountered Minister of Economy Ivester, whose face turned sad whenever he saw her.

Ah, it was a budget issue.

When she entered, everyone stood up and paid their respects.

She responded with a smile and sat at the center seat at the head of the table.

To her right sat the Welfare Department and to her left, the Economic Department, engaged in what seemed like an endless argument disguised as a meeting.

Her head began to throb.

“Excuse me.”

Everyone’s attention turned to her.

“The issue is about the budget for educating orphans created by last year’s war, right?”

“Your Majesty the Empress, since this is a suddenly created project, the budget hasn’t been secured.”

Ivester, whom she had thought was nice, was different when it came to money. But of course, he was the Minister of Economy.

“I understand what Minister Pahorder is saying.”

At this, the officials from the Economic Department looked triumphantly at those from the Welfare Department.

“However! We cannot abandon children who lost their parents fighting for our country. I believe it’s the nation’s responsibility and duty to care for them. How can we expect their loyalty if the country abandons them?”

“The country isn’t doing nothing. We’re providing basic living expenses. Even that is stretching this year’s budget. Next year, it would be allocated, but…… a special scholarship fund is really difficult.”

“Since we need a special fund, what about holding an event targeting nobles and wealthy merchants?”

“Pardon?”

Everyone looked at her with puzzled expressions.

“The imperial family and prestigious families of the Empire could donate treasured items for a free auction. The proceeds would fund scholarships. Of course, the scholarships would be awarded in the name of the families who donated items. Nobles could enhance their honor, and merchants would have an opportunity to do good.”

Silence fell over the conference room.

Was her opinion that bad? As she worried about what she might have said wrong, Ivester looked at her and spoke.

“But…… what is an auction, Your Majesty the Empress?”

Ah….. She began explaining the concept of an auction to them.

They then said it was a brilliant idea and wanted to implement it immediately.

The fact that they looked at her with eyes of respect was a significant achievement from this meeting.

“If the emperor and I donate items, it would be easier to receive items from nobles, right? Please use our names freely.”

After the meeting ended, she stood up first.

Actually, she had hurried out because she was worried Ivester might approach her.

But that obsessive man ended up following her anyway.