Divlik didn’t answer immediately. Even Finn who asked the question thought it was an ambiguous issue. Not everything could be pardoned just because the former Empress had been living in hardship before her dethronement.

“Or else?”

Above all, now that Eva had repeatedly rejected Divlik’s advances, this had become more than simply taking a woman from conquered territory.

“Even so, your behavior is rather strange, Lord Divlik. Why should the clothes of a woman you intend to break matter?”

“Are you saying you don’t care if a woman who will enter my bed looks shabby?”

“That’s not what I meant……”

The longer the conversation went on, the darker Divlik’s expression became. Under Divlik’s sharp gaze staring directly at him, Finn tried to end the conversation there. Whatever it was, if Divlik thought it had to be done that way, then that must be right.

“I’ll look for a tailor right away.”

Finn tried to turn around, organizing his thoughts as he returned to the topic of the tailor, but he couldn’t because of what Divlik said next, biting his lower lip as if he might tear it off and swallow it.

“You might be right.”

“What……?”

“From the beginning, I should have torn her clothes to shreds, made her moan in pain under my body all night, and killed her before sunrise.”

Divlik wore a face Finn had never seen before. It was the face of someone who was so tired of it all that he endlessly regretted his initial decision. Although he could still tear Eva’s clothes, make her moan in pain, and kill her if he regretted it, the current Divlik looked like someone who couldn’t even take back that regret.

* * *

Every day after finishing breakfast, Eva would go up to the sky garden and feel the sunlight with her eyes closed.

“Lady Eva. You’ll collapse if you stand in the sun too long. Please move to the shade.”

Hannah worried that Eva might collapse here again, but Eva didn’t move from that spot. The reason Hannah couldn’t force Eva into the shade anymore was because Eva finally looked like she was breathing properly.

Eva seemed to draw vitality not only from the light and warmth the sun provided, but also from the grass, trees, and flowers lined up here.

—Around this time in Florin, the peach blossoms would be in full bloom. I can’t tell you how much I miss seeing those flowers.

Hannah belatedly recalled Eva’s hometown and shared what she had heard in passing.

“Lady Eva. It seems Lord Divlik is planning to create a garden inside the castle.”

“A garden?”

“Yes. When I went to ask Lord Divlik for permission to go up to the sky garden earlier, I met the gardener. He was happy, saying he received a hefty down payment.”

She said this hoping Eva would smile a little, saying it was good news. Hannah was a maid who managed Eva’s clothes along with Sophie. When they were organizing clothes for the changing seasons, Eva would often come over to help and talk about what flowers might be blooming or what trees might be growing in her homeland.

“It would be nice if many flowers and trees that you saw in your homeland could be brought in. Since Lord Divlik also came from the south, there might be some overlap? I hope that in summer, a landscape somewhat like your homeland will come to life.”

“Will I be around to see those flowers bloom?”

Hannah, who had been smiling at the thought that the garden might provide some comfort to Eva, had tears in her eyes at Eva’s next words.

“Lady Eva……”

It sounded like Eva was saying she wouldn’t be alive by then.

First Emperor Fabian and now Lord Divlik. I don’t understand why they’re all so desperate to devour Lady Eva. She’s truly a good person.

“Lady Eva, here you are. Lord Divlik orders you to go to his bedroom.”

Before Hannah’s sigh could even finish, Divlik’s summons followed.

* * *

“It’s been a long time, Lady Eva.”

Eva’s steps became heavy as she was ordered to go to none other than Divlik’s bedroom with her eyes covered. She had thought he might have finally lost interest in her since he hadn’t shown up at the dining room for days, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

As she entered the bedroom looking extremely tense, someone greeted her with a familiar voice before Divlik did.

“Andre?”

It was Andre, the tailor who mainly made clothes for the imperial family. He must have returned after hearing that Hael had found peace, as he hadn’t been seen when Finn looked for him before.

Andre continued in a welcoming voice toward Eva. It had indeed been a long time since he had seen her before he fled, well before she was imprisoned in the tower on Fabian’s orders, which would have been when he was making summer dresses.

“I’m glad to see you’re safe, as the rumors said.”

“What brings you here, Andre?”

“Lord Divlik…… called for me.”

“Lord Divlik did?”

Eva looked around in confusion, wondering if Divlik wasn’t there since she couldn’t hear his voice despite having entered his bedroom. Then, as if he had been waiting, Divlik spoke.

“I called him to make clothes for my coronation. While we’re at it, I thought we might make several dresses for you as well. It would be troublesome if you appeared armed with a dress wrapped in multiple lace strings like before at an important moment. I’m going to ask him to make them easy to take off.”

The atmosphere turned awkward at Divlik’s words “easy to take off.” Thanks to this, Eva could tell that many people were standing in this space besides Andre and Divlik. Judging by the sounds of breathing, there seemed to be at least six more people besides Andre and Divlik, including Finn who never left Divlik’s side like a shadow.

“I’m told accurate measurements require you to undress. Thanks to that, I’ve undressed as well.”

Although Eva had become somewhat accustomed to Divlik initiating various situations, this was the first time with so many watching eyes. And not with the familiar maids, but strangers.

“You’re wearing a complicated dress again. I’ll personally help you undress this time too.”

Eva couldn’t help but hesitate with the added gazes, but she had to undress here anyway. It was inevitable. After all, proper measurements couldn’t be taken while wearing such a voluminous dress.

“I should help you. Please stand in front of this mirror, Lady Eva.”

Fortunately, Andre stepped forward.

Due to his professional nature of undressing and dressing people he makes clothes for, Divlik didn’t stop him. However, even now, no one was told to turn around or leave.

“Should we dismiss everyone?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Finn spoke up first, recalling past memories, but even that was rejected. For some reason, Divlik’s attitude toward Eva had become fiercer than before.

Eva had no choice but to undress, feeling several burning gazes directed at her.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight since I last saw you, Lady Eva.”

Glancing around at the atmosphere, Andre approached Eva at Divlik’s instruction to begin. Before even placing the measuring tape on Eva’s body, Andre noticed that Eva’s body had shrunk and was infinitely saddened.

“It must have been difficult getting through winter.”

“If you’ve lost this much weight, we should adjust the dresses you already have. Would you send your spring and summer dresses to my workshop when you have time? I’ll alter them according to today’s measurements.”

Andre spoke cheerfully as before, but about half his attention was spent watching Divlik’s reactions. This was because Divlik’s gaze was so intensely fixed on Eva.

“It’s fine. They’re adequate enough to wear.”

Andre wasn’t the only one who felt Divlik’s piercing gaze toward Eva. Eva tried her best not to be conscious of Divlik, but she couldn’t help feeling her throat dry from tension. She worried he might embrace her or bury his face in her neck here. This was a perfect opportunity for Divlik, who always wanted Eva’s humiliation, with so many strangers present.

“Rather than reducing your old dresses, it would be better to gain weight, former Empress. I prefer women’s bodies with a bit more to touch rather than those who are too thin. Having something to grab and bite makes the bed more pleasurable, doesn’t it?”

Sure enough, Divlik didn’t miss this opportunity and added a comment about Eva’s body. Furthermore, ignoring the frowns of those around, he unabashedly made lewd remarks he hadn’t made before, such as women with large b*ttocks being more pleasurable to take.

“Now you need to choose which fabrics you like……”

Andre, wanting to end this situation quickly, finished taking measurements in an instant, rushing more than usual, but that wasn’t the end of it. While Andre hesitated, unsure whether he could remove the cloth covering Eva’s eyes, Divlik picked up one of the fabrics laid out nearby and approached.

“Since these clothes are being made for my enjoyment anyway, I should choose fabrics that suit her, shouldn’t I?”

“Yes……? That’s…… true, but……”

Stepping firmly behind Eva, Divlik unfolded the purple fabric in his hand and wrapped it around Eva’s body along with his arms.

“How about this purple fabric? I hear your eyes, which I haven’t yet seen, are this purple color?”

The action of embracing Eva under the pretext of choosing suitable fabric didn’t stop at once. Gesturing to Finn nearby, Divlik repeatedly wrapped various colored fabrics around Eva’s body and removed them. During this, their bodies pressed closely together.

“I will look. I was one of the maids who managed Lady Eva’s clothes, and I always chose fabrics with her.”

“I believe I clearly said I would choose.”

Hannah bravely stepped forward despite trembling in fear at the sight of Divlik treating Eva like an object, but she had to retreat without saying anything more under Divlik’s fierce gaze.

“How about this? It’s a light sky blue. If we decorate this fabric with pearls, it would make you look like a pure and chaste virgin, wouldn’t it?”

Divlik seemed to like the sky-blue fabric, as he wrapped it around Eva’s body while pulling her tightly against his own. Eva, unable to see anything, couldn’t answer, and Divlik looked at Eva in his arms through the mirror as he spoke.

“I’m planning to start garden construction today.”

Divlik’s hot breath touched her earlobe. Divlik, who she feared might bite her ear or kiss her neck for all to see, merely whispered quietly in that position.