Today’s schedule included attending a tea party prepared by the queen of Harua, so the entire morning was spent in hectic preparation surrounded by ladies-in-waiting.

Being here with so many countries together made her pay much more attention to appearances.

It was like typical show-off administration.

Additionally, having only just become familiar with the Oneroad Empire, she couldn’t memorize all the names and faces of the attendees, and had already made several mistakes, making each day feel like walking on thin ice.

Her stress had reached its peak these days.

“Sigh, I want to go home quickly. Why have a celebration that lasts a whole week?”

“It must be hard for you, right? This country naturally loves parties and has overflowing energy. But we only have a few days left, so cheer up. I’ll attend to you today.”

“No, I’ll go with Mary. Madam Peggy, you have the head lady-in-waiting meeting, right? About the outfit issue for tomorrow night’s prince’s celebration party. We can head home after the party ends, right?”

“Yes, though there hasn’t been any specific mention yet, I think that will be the case.”

“Oh! We’ll be late. We should hurry.”

“Then Madam, I will escort Her Majesty the Empress. Don’t worry.”

“Let’s go, Mary.”

She departed with Mary and several ladies-in-waiting.

Near the tea party venue, she stopped to check her appearance one more time.

She could see the perfect posture and backs of the women sitting at the tables.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress. Here it is.”

The note Mary handed her contained the names and descriptions of the countries participating in the tea party, along with the names and characteristics of the queens, princesses, and ladies attending.

She hurriedly began memorizing what was written on the paper.

And she perfectly matched the memorized information with the seats of the women at the tables.

“I don’t see Princess Seira.”

“She won’t be attending today.”

“That’s good. This order is from the queen’s right side, correct?”

“What? Yes.”

She went to the table where they were sitting, greeted them as elegantly as possible, and sat down.

Having already made several mistakes, the gazes directed at her weren’t friendly.

But no one openly criticized the empress of the Oneroad Empire, the most powerful country on the continent.

With a bright smile, she began speaking according to what she had memorized.

However, as she continued talking, the responses became shorter, smiles disappeared, and the atmosphere grew cold.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, she stopped speaking.

That’s when the queen of Harua looked at her with an uncomfortable gaze and said.

“Your Majesty the Empress, there seems to be some confusion.”

“What? What do you mean……”

“You’ve precisely reversed the names of those on the right and left.”

Feeling a mix of apology, embarrassment, and awkwardness, she struggled to compose herself before finally managing to apologize.

“Having only recently ascended to the position of empress, I’ve committed a discourtesy. I will be more careful in the future.”

Thanks to the queen of Harua’s efforts, the tea party resumed, but the atmosphere didn’t improve.

Throughout the party, she couldn’t say anything and just fidgeted with her teacup alone.

Did I misunderstand? Mary clearly…… Well, what’s the point of arguing about it.

It’s my fault anyway.

* * *

After the party, she came back to her room, covered herself with a blanket, and lay down.

She felt self-loathing for being so foolish.

She had confidently said she would do well as empress, but the result was deteriorating relationships with everyone, which was devastating.

Having no appetite, she skipped meals and lay like a corpse, inwardly blaming herself and outwardly just sighing.

Night came that way.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the emperor will be here soon, so you should prepare.”

She got up with a zombie-like blank face and soullessly let the ladies-in-waiting take care of her body.

Charte also entered with a tired face from the continuous diplomatic gatherings.

However, today she felt she should report her mistakes.

“Um…… Your Majesty the Emperor, I have something to tell you.”

“Today I want to hear ⟨The Seduction of the Marked Wife⟩ Empress.”

She hesitated but ultimately nodded, deciding that telling the story was a much better choice than confessing.

Endless evil deeds, satisfying revenge—the story raced past its climax toward its conclusion.

Charte, curious about the ending of ⟨The Seduction of the Marked Wife⟩ that had captivated him for months, listened to the story with complete focus, not even making a sound of breathing, let alone any reaction.

“In the end, Eun-hee forgives the two people who left, and she stays with Jae-woo.”

After finishing the story, she looked at him.

Charte’s face seemed like he hadn’t yet returned from ⟨The Seduction of the Marked Wife.⟩

Thinking it would be better to give him time to process, she just sat quietly.

After a while, he spoke.

“Is it over now? Empress.”

“Yes, did you enjoy the story? How did you find the ending?”

“The conclusion for the villains is a bit disappointing, but as long as the protagonist is happy, that’s what matters.”

“I’m happy I could tell ⟨The Seduction of the Marked Wife⟩ to the end. Can you understand my feelings?”

“Has it been extended by a month?”

“No. I’ve been telling the story for five nights, so that’s five weeks.”

“Five weeks, it’s already been that long.”

Was she seeing things wrong? A look of regret seemed to pass across his face.

Charte filled his glass with alcohol and poured some into another empty glass.

Then he handed the glass to me.

I was surprised, and Charte looked refreshed and relieved as if everything was over.

He offered me the alcohol, and I just stared, not knowing what to do.

“Take it.”

When he offered the glass again, I carefully accepted it.

“I’m only allowing one glass. I have no intention of giving you more.”

I happily tried to clink glasses with him, but that impolite man went straight for a drink.

He gave me a strange look as my glass hung awkwardly in the air, making me feel embarrassed, so I quickly took a sip.

“Ahh~!”

The alcohol was very sweet.

What is this feeling…… It might sound like an exaggeration, but I felt like I had gained his approval.

“You seem to like it.”

“Yes! Very much! Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Is the next story also prepared? I’ll look forward to it.”

“What?”

He slammed this joyful moment to the ground.

I just wanted to enjoy this happiness, but he had to make my heart heavy with talk of the next story.

This man was truly a villain after all.

With one corner of his mouth raised in an unpleasant smirk, he suddenly came at me again.

“If you were Eun-hee, what would you do, Empress? Would you take revenge?”

“Hmm…… I don’t think I could live after being treated like that. If I had the ability, I would want bloody revenge. What do you think you would do, Your Majesty?”

“I wonder.”

I looked at him with a puzzled face.

“Come on~ I think you’d be really good at it.”

His face became strangely serious as he watched me speak my honest thoughts in my excited state.

Then suddenly his expression turned cold, he gulped down his drink, and slammed the glass down hard.

Something was clearly wrong, and I watched his reaction, but couldn’t understand the reason.

I pretended not to notice and slid under the covers on the bed.

That’s when he spoke menacingly.

“Don’t think you can get away with this. You need to find your proper place. Are you already drunk?”

I quickly got up and went to lie on the sofa.

He leisurely went to the bed.

What an unpredictable person! He was fine giving me alcohol one moment, and then suddenly changing like this! This is why I always complain about him.

Sigh~ Why is his personality so nasty despite his handsome face?

I’m really only tolerating you because you’re handsome.

Looking at your good face makes me feel like I won’t have nightmares when I sleep.

Once Charte seemed to be asleep, I watched him for a while longer before falling asleep without realizing it.

* * *

When morning came and there was no response from the imperial couple’s room, Viscount Catano quietly opened the door to check, then carefully closed it.

Madam Peggy, who was behind him, looked at Viscount Catano with a puzzled face.

“Do they have a morning schedule?”

“Her Majesty the Empress only needs to prepare for the party tonight.”

“Then let’s come back in an hour. Rad, pay special attention.”

Everyone except the imperial guards tiptoed carefully out of the corridor.

After about an hour, the sun rose high, and the surroundings of the palace became quite noisy.

Charte woke first to the surrounding noise.

At that moment, Yun-ah woke up with a “mmm~” sound while stretching.

When she came to her senses and opened her eyes, she was startled to find herself looking directly at Charte and quickly sat up.

She had clearly fallen asleep on the sofa, but couldn’t understand why she had woken up in the bed.

It seemed like she must have gone to the bathroom in the middle of the night and instinctively returned to the bed.

Not knowing how to handle the situation, she decided to act as natural as possible while escaping as quickly as possible.

“Your Majesty, did you sleep well!”

He also looked slightly embarrassed.

The two looked at each other with awkward faces before simultaneously calling out as they got up.

“Viscount Catano!”

“Madam Peggy!”

Her tense body relaxed as she received a scalp massage in the fragrant flower-scented bathtub.

Starting with the bath, the thought of preparing for the party all day was already tiring, but she felt it was fortunate to be busy rather than dwelling on having invaded Charte’s bed.

Charte received a report from Viscount Catano in the room used as his office.

“We depart tomorrow.”

“I understand. We can’t delay any longer with so much work piling up. To think I would fall asleep.”

“Your Majesty, how exactly did you manage to sleep?”

“I don’t know myself.”

Viscount Catano’s face showed disappointment at not receiving an answer.

Then with a troubled face, he said.

“Um…… Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Why are you hesitating?”

“Her Majesty the Empress has had some friction with the queens, princesses, and ladies from other countries.”

“Friction?”

“The Foreign Minister has expressed concern that it might become a diplomatic issue. He says it could become problematic if there are more issues at today’s party.”

“……”

“There were mistakes in diplomatic etiquette. Shall I bring Her Majesty the Empress?”

“No need. The empress will handle it herself.”

His face turned cold as he began signing the documents Viscount Catano had laid out.