“Your Majesty the Empress, welcome. Thank you for graciously accepting my invitation.”

“Not at all. I merely did what was proper. I’m more grateful to receive an invitation from a princess of an allied nation.”

“Your words leave me at a loss. I was certain you would decline. As you know, our kingdom has committed a grave wrong.”

The princess looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

She’s already picking at wounds before we’ve even sat at the table. Scratch all you want. I won’t even blink!

And unfortunately, I don’t know what wrong the kingdom committed.

She smiled gently and went to the seat indicated by the kingdom’s maid.

Naturally, she should sit at the head position, but the table was round, making the seating arrangement ambiguous.

She decided to overlook such a childish trick.

However, seeing three place settings and chairs, she looked at Princess Hyrelia with a puzzled expression.

“I invited a friend I made in the Empire. She’s been a great help to me. Since she said she knows Your Majesty the Empress well, I didn’t ask you separately.”

It must be Viviana Anderson who was in the lounge with her.

Hmm, so it’s going to be 2 against 1.

What they don’t know is that I grew up receiving gifted education about the world through soap operas.

Not wanting to be caught defenseless, after receiving the invitation, I gave a secret order to Grand Chamberlain Dalton.

To investigate Baron Anderson’s eldest daughter.

Except for very early childhood, she had no connection with Leila.

From what I could infer from Madam Peggy’s words, Leila had barely participated in social activities.

That was fortunate, if anything.

Who would have thought that having no friends or acquaintances would become such a joyful thing…

However, the lady who should have arrived before me according to protocol still hadn’t shown up.

After waiting about ten more minutes, Lady Anderson finally entered.

The lady, who greeted by slightly lifting the hem of her dress at the door, looked at Princess Hyrelia before me.

“Princess, I’m late because of an accident. I apologize.”

“Not at all. I was worried something might have happened to you, Viviana, but I’m glad you’ve arrived safely.”

The two showed perfect teamwork, like beating a drum and playing a gong together.

Princess Hyrelia’s response prevented me from reprimanding Viviana.

It would only make me look petty. I decided to hold back and wait for the right moment.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I pay my respects. I am Viviana, eldest daughter of Baron Anderson. I apologize for being late.”

“It’s fine, Lady. It’s been so long since I’ve waited for someone that I didn’t mind much.”

As Viviana took her seat, servants began bringing the cold appetizer made with salmon.

If this was prepared as a perfectly formal meal, we would have to sit here for at least three hours.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit gloomy about this delicious imprisonment, Princess Hyrelia’s maid came out with a bottle of white wine.

“Your Majesty the Empress, this is a very precious wine from our kingdom, with only 20 bottles produced each year. I specially prepared and brought it for Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Thank you.”

Learning it was a rare wine, I, a wine lover, suddenly found the world bright and clear.

Moreover, I’d been too busy with work lately to drink much, so this seemed like a good opportunity.

Suddenly, my heart filled with goodwill toward Princess Hyrelia.

As the servant poured wine into the glasses, Princess Hyrelia and Viviana exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

It was time to start tormenting the empress.

Regardless, I was savoring the various aromas rising from the wine.

It was an enchanting wine that seemed intoxicating just from the smell.

I simply wanted to drink it quickly.

“Princess Hyrelia! Since you invited us today, please give us a toast.”

“Lady, you’re too much~ How could I dare with the esteemed Empress as our guest…”

Both their gazes turned to me.

Though the attention was burdensome, I was eager to drink quickly, so I yielded the toast.

Who cares who does it! Drinking quickly is what matters!

“Since the Princess is our host, naturally she should do it.”

“Then I’ll give it a try.”

I nodded with an elegant expression and raised my glass.

“The Empire, which took my sister from me, was a painful place. But the Empire has given me a great gift.”

Sigh, is she a school principal? A chairman? Why create a full narrative structure in a toast?

I knew her words were aimed at me, but all I wanted to know was what had happened to her sister.

“To the eternal friendship of the precious connections I’ve made here—Your Majesty the Empress, myself, and Lady Viviana Anderson!”

The three glasses clinked together with a cheerful sound.

I brought the wine to my lips very lightly, but the first sip nearly filled me up.

Delicate bubbles, pleasant fruit aromas, a well-balanced wine—I felt like I’d hit the jackpot.

They had been monitoring my expression since the toast.

Provoke and watch all you want! It won’t ruin my mood!

I could see Princess Hyrelia and Lady Viviana exchanging glances.

Is this the beginning? Bring it on.

You may not know, but in the world I lived in, there was a saying:

Crying during hard times is third-rate, enduring during hard times is second-rate, smiling during hard times is first-rate…

Today, I decided to show them what a first-rate attitude truly looks like.

* * *

They remained quiet until the hot appetizer arrived after the soup.

Just as I was about to eat the delicious-looking white fish dish that was served, Princess Hyrelia spoke.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“If you have something to say, please do.”

Princess Hyrelia looked at the servants and maids around, seemingly uncomfortable in speaking.

I dismissed them all.

“Now speak comfortably, Princess.”

“Please help us find my sister.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“Since that day, we don’t even know if she’s alive, let alone her whereabouts. My parents in the kingdom are extremely worried.”

“I don’t actually… I don’t know.”

Viviana chimed in as if on cue.

“Lady! Do you know something?”

“Ah… No. I don’t…”

Viviana pretended to check my reaction before answering that she knew nothing when it was obvious she did. I almost laughed.

It seemed like they had written a script and rehearsed their lines.

“Lady, please tell us, even if just for the sake of our friendship.”

Finding their acting painful to watch, I quickly picked up on the princess’s words.

“Please tell us, lady. For the princess here, tell everything you know.”

Viviana’s face changed to look troubled.

At that moment, Hyrelia looked at Viviana with a desperate expression, acting so well that I almost fell for it.

Hyrelia was giving a performance worthy of a Best Actress award.

After pondering briefly, Viviana spoke with a resolute face.

“Actually, there’s a secret rumor circulating in high society that you two might not know about.”

But Viviana closed her mouth again with a worried face. She too was delivering a performance as good as Princess Hyrelia’s.

Their acting chemistry was good enough for a movie.

I spoke with the most benevolent and generous face I could muster.

“It’s alright. Please speak without worry.”

“It’s almost too frightening to say… I’m not sure if I should say this in front of Your Majesty the Empress. Of course, I don’t fully believe this rumor.”

“Don’t worry and tell us. I guarantee you won’t suffer any harm, lady.”

I was very curious about what she would say.

“There’s a rumor that Empress Yasrin didn’t run away but was killed by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Viviana paused and examined my expression, but I maintained a calm face and told her to continue.

“They say she was reported as having fled to cover up the murder. They couldn’t admit to killing a princess from an allied country who was the Empire’s empress. They say His Majesty the Emperor’s true nature is to kill and torment many women. That he didn’t change—he was always like that.”

When she finished speaking, Princess Hyrelia collapsed and began to cry.

I felt a bit perplexed.

I didn’t believe these women, but I had expected a direct attack. This was a stronger curveball than I anticipated.

I thought they would just say hurtful things to torment me.

I had been trying to learn about Yasrin from their conversation, but something seemed off.

What was their ultimate goal? I was getting tired of this. Were they trying to drive a wedge between him and me?

This didn’t seem like simple mischief from an immature princess and lady, which put me on edge.

“Your Majesty the Empress, please help us. My sister’s unjust death… or at least confirm whether she’s alive or dead.”

“These are rumors, not confirmed facts, so watch what you say, Princess.”

“Please help us. This is for your sake too, Your Majesty the Empress. You shouldn’t end up like my sister.”

“I think the meal should end here. I’ll take my leave first.”

As I tried to leave, Princess Hyrelia, still collapsed, grabbed the hem of my dress.

“Please, Your Majesty the Empress… I just want to find her body. We want to send her off in the Kingdom of Hazel. For our parents’ sake…”

Those words shook my previously firm resolve.

I thought of my parents. If they didn’t know whether I was alive or dead, they would spend their lives searching for me…

Mom, Dad…

I couldn’t coldly reject her.

“But why would there be rumors that His Majesty would do such a thing? What did Princess Yasrin do?”

At my question, Princess Hyrelia hesitated, and Viviana looked genuinely confused.

“My sister would never commit crimes like murder or treason. What could an empress do inside the palace! And my sister truly loved His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty also truly loved my sister, so I don’t understand what happened.”

Extreme fatigue suddenly washed over me, and I stood up.

“I must go now. Thank you for inviting me today, Princess.”

“Please help me, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Unable to give any answer, I hurriedly left the room.

Returning to the Empress’s Palace, I took a bath and went straight to bed.

My head hurt. Everything felt too complicated and strange.

Emperor Charte… the Emperor Charte I knew killed someone he loved and covered it up?