Both my eyes and Ivester’s simultaneously turned toward the source of the sound.

There stood a completely unexpected figure.

It was none other than Charte!

Though surprised and flustered, she quickly collected herself and greeted him.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“The empress seems busy, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Not at all. We were just briefly discussing the items we cherished after the meeting ended. Since participation is still low, the Minister Pahorder and I need to quickly provide items.”

“Then continue your important conversation.”

“No. Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

She called after him at the top of her lungs, but he disappeared without acknowledging her.

* * *

Viscount Catano, following behind Charte, had turned pale, knowing that with good luck he’d face a scolding, and with bad luck, his head might roll.

In this tense, explosive moment, Charte spoke.

“Send the most expensive and finest item by the end of today, without fail.”

Expecting reproach and a tirade, Viscount Catano was confused by these unexpected words.

But fearing another mistake might cost him his head, he suppressed the fear rising from his core and carefully asked.

“Your, Your Majesty, I’m not sure what you mean……”

Charte stopped, gave Viscount Catano a sharp look, then continued walking as he spoke.

“That thing for the auction. The cherished item! Send it immediately.”

“I’ll select a few candidates and report back to you right away.”

Though unsure why cherished items suddenly came up, Viscount Catano promptly responded.

He was simply relieved that Charte’s outburst wasn’t due to a scheduling error but because of a cherished item.

And he felt urgency about deciding on a cherished item candidate by the end of the day.

After hastily selecting about five items and submitting his report, Charte said just one thing in a threatening, frightening voice.

“Mine must be the most expensive! If not, you will be held responsible, Viscount.”

Viscount Catano suppressed a sigh and answered with difficulty.

“Yes! I’ll make absolutely sure of it.”

He hurriedly headed to the special event team.

To check the list of items from other nobles……

* * *

“We missed each other, so the message wasn’t delivered to Her Majesty the Empress. His Majesty the Emperor seems very displeased, which is concerning. Your Majesty the Empress, I apologize.”

While she was also worried about dying next week, Grand Chamberlain Dalton’s face had turned pale, so she reassured him first.

“It’s all right. It was just a mix-up, so he’ll forgive us……”

However, none of the more than ten attendants and servants standing before her, all deathly pale, responded.

Why did they all have expressions like they were saying their final prayers? It was frightening.

“He won’t forgive us, will he?”

Terrified, everyone sent glances that said ‘there will be no forgiveness.’

No, what kind of life had he lived until now that missing one meal created such an atmosphere of terror?

If this was the reaction to just one missed meal, the entire country should be embroiled in a personality controversy.

She suddenly felt deeply worried.

About being executed as soon as tomorrow…… She thought she had built some trust, but after this incident and seeing everyone’s reactions, she still wasn’t confident in her contract with him.

Was she too easily influenced?!

She constantly wavered, swayed by the atmosphere around her.

That night, in her dream, she was chased by Charte until he caught her and made her sit at the dining table.

While he watched with cruel, gleaming eyes, she endlessly stuffed steak into her mouth until it nearly tore, forcing herself to swallow.

Finally, she choked and spewed the food in her mouth like a fountain, all over him, then woke up screaming as he approached with a knife.

“Phew…… it was just a nightmare. This is too much for missing one meal.”

Shuddering at the recurring nightmare, she tossed and turned for a long time before eventually drifting off to sleep.

“Your Majesty the Empress, did you cough?”

“Good morning, Madam Peggy.”

She greeted her casually, but kept glancing anxiously at the door, unsure when the imperial guards might burst in.

“Your Majesty the Empress, are you unwell? Your complexion looks poor. I should call the royal physician.”

“No, I just had trouble sleeping last night. Don’t worry.”

“Are you really all right? Please tell me immediately if you’re uncomfortable anywhere.”

“Yes. Madam Peggy, I want the most delicious breakfast possible. A lot of it.”

“Yes, I’ll arrange that.”

“Ah! I’d like to have breakfast with Mary, so please call her.”

Peggy hesitated momentarily but soon answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Recalling the old saying that even a ghost looks better after eating, she requested a substantial breakfast.

Since it could be her last meal.

And she decided to share it with Mary, the only friend she had made here.

While eating breakfast, Mary was so moved that she even shed a few tears.

It hurt her heart when Mary said this was the first time a good person had shared such a meal with her.

She felt both guilty for potentially causing Mary more pain and grateful that someone would remember her if she died.

And she thought:

If she survived, she would be even kinder to this fragile friend.

* * *

When she arrived for the cherished items auction meeting, the atmosphere felt strangely unsettled.

The slightly excited expressions of the ministers, different from usual, were unfamiliar.

Wondering if they planned to humiliate and kill her here, she looked around but saw no imperial guards.

While deeply worried inside, she sat in the center seat with the most composed face she could manage.

Then the Minister of Welfare greeted her with a normal expression.

“Welcome! Your Majesty the Empress!”

Everyone then hurriedly greeted her.

Trying to maintain a casual face, she received their greetings and asked as naturally as possible.

“Has something happened? The atmosphere seems different from usual.”

“You noticed. As expected, Your Majesty the Empress is exceptional. The reason our mood is so elevated today is because His Majesty the Emperor has sent an item.”

“What?”

“A cherished item. He has provided an imperial treasure. His Majesty has given the one-of-a-kind Sun’s Light necklace, which his grandmother received as a wedding gift and personally passed down to him.”

[This is an item I received from my grandmother, who always cherished the empire’s people. I’m sending it to honor her wishes. Use it well.]

What a surprise! Does this mean I won’t die and will survive?

To send such a precious treasure…… He wouldn’t send something like this to someone he plans to kill!

Or is he trying to make me feel extremely good, then kill me when I let my guard down?

Either way, it felt good.

It felt like a positive signal!

“The nobles must be extremely covetous, right?”

“They will certainly all compete to desire it.”

“Then we should be able to collect items much more easily. Quickly spread rumors about the cherished item His Majesty has provided. And also spread a rumor that a few days later, invitations might only go to those who have contributed items to the auction.”

“What? Aren’t all nobles supposed to participate?”

“Of course they all should participate. The more people come, the more we earn! This will just be a rumor that ends as a rumor, but it will make people contribute more items. To receive invitations.”

“I apologize for not understanding Your Majesty the Empress’s profound intention. We will do our best.”

Thus, the rumors spread far and wide, and items were collected in overwhelming abundance.

Before she knew it, amid the busy preparations, the day of the cherished items charity auction party approached.

She felt both excitement for the party she had planned and fear of facing him for the first time since that incident.

She had sent a thank-you letter using the cherished item as an excuse, but was ignored as if she were invisible.

Today was also the day she needed to get her life extension approved after the party, and she grew increasingly worried that if he remained upset, he might not listen to her story or might kill her after hearing it.

Despite these anxious feelings, all preparations—hair, makeup, and dress—were completed very quickly.

Usually these things seemed to take forever, but today they felt surprisingly fast.

“Your Majesty the Empress, your complexion doesn’t look good. Is there something not to your liking?”

Unable to say she was afraid and didn’t want to go, she forced a smile and said.

“I’m just nervous because it’s an event I prepared, so don’t worry.”

She began to move one step at a time, her legs feeling as heavy as if they were weighted with sandbags.

And finally arrived at the battlefield.

* * *

The cherished items charity auction to help underprivileged children was grandly held in the grand banquet hall of the First Main Palace.

Even before it started, the enthusiasm of the people inside the venue overflowed and spilled out beyond the doors.

The excitement of success was enough to overshadow her fear of meeting Charte and the pressure weighing on her.

In truth, she hadn’t expected this level of success.

Initially, participation had been so low that she worried the event might fail completely.

But thanks to Charte, the atmosphere had completely reversed.

The planned false rumor that invitations would only be given to those who donated items, combined with the excitement generated by Charte’s incredible cherished item, had created this tremendous success.

Nobles began competing to donate high-value cherished items for their family honor, and invitations were sent even to commoners who ran trading companies if they could afford to buy items, resulting in a massive crowd.

Caught up in the atmosphere, she felt genuinely happy.

More than fear of Charte, she felt a stronger desire to quickly enter the venue with him and have her abilities recognized.

Just then, she noticed someone approaching from a distance, and turning around, she saw Charte.

Her mood improved and she smiled brightly, making a resolution.

Today is a joyful day, so flatter him as much as possible!

She had never seen anyone in a high position who disliked flattery.

Besides, wasn’t he a man who always stood at the pinnacle of power!

Even if it was degrading, she wanted to survive and enjoy this world more.

Enduring until the end and surviving was the true victory!

Holding her dress, she greeted him as respectfully as possible.

Charte received her greeting with an expressionless face and extended his hand, which she placed her hand on even more respectfully.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are entering.”

As they entered with their hands together, she moved closer to him and whispered carefully.

“Your Majesty, your attire today suits you very well. You look splendid.”

Charte’s body stiffened slightly and his face turned awkward.

Though he quickly returned to his usual demeanor.