“Oh my. Didn’t you all know? Why, there were many rumors just at the beginning of the empress’s reign. That the empress was of common birth and the emperor gave her a status, or something like that. Ah! There was also talk that the empress was a prisoner from a small country cherished by the emperor.”

In a noble society full of people who liked to gossip, rumors grew vigorously. However, before long, the groundless words surrounding the empress disappeared one by one.

There was some secret external pressure, but more than that, people closed their mouths one by one at the emperor’s attitude toward the empress. The emperor literally treated the empress like a goddess.

In front of the empress, he didn’t appear as the supreme emperor. The emperor didn’t mind lowering himself as much as possible, acting as her servant even in crowded places. The only person in the Empire who could receive the emperor’s courtesy was the empress.

“……I should be going now.”

“Me too. Look at the time already.”

In this situation, the sharp-witted immediately stopped saying negative things about the empress. Even those who weren’t sharp-witted closed their mouths soon if they were in their right mind.

“It would be good to cut off relations with Lady Himen. Despite the issue with her youngest daughter, to behave so rudely, tsk.”

“Exactly. Is it the empress’s fault that the count’s daughter didn’t catch the emperor’s eye? She has no sense of shame……”

“The count’s children were quite decent. It’s a pity how things turned out. They won’t be able to find spouses in the capital.”

“What spouses? Soon the entire count’s family will have to leave the capital.”

There were still some who looked down on the empress with personal complaints and resentment, continuing to gossip. However, nobles sensitive to political survival kept their distance from such people. Thus, rumors about the empress decreased day by day, and eventually, they were dismissed as worthless false rumors not worth mentioning.

* * *

The emperor’s office was simple. There was no unnecessary furniture at all, and decorations were sparse, making the spacious area look even emptier. But because of this, it left a strong impression of cleanliness.

Standing in front of the desk in the office, James narrowed his visible eye while fiddling with his eye patch. Then, as if his eye fatigue had somewhat subsided, he opened his mouth, looking at the paper in his hand.

“Next is the Sedas Kingdom. According to our planted sources, the king is still quite hegemonic.”

Normally, this would have been news he would listen to while doing other work at the same time. However, because it concerned the Sedas Kingdom, the emperor put down his pen and listened attentively to his confidant’s words.

James also knew his lord had a strong interest in the Sedas Kingdom, so he reported its developments in detail. He also provided thorough information on the king of Sedas, the main driver behind the kingdom’s transformation.

“The king of Sedas is indeed remarkable. He has already turned a country that was close to ruin into the de facto hegemon of the northeast.”

“……”

“But don’t worry. There seem to be many noisy issues surrounding the king both internally and externally…… It will be difficult for him to bark at the Empire.”

“What kind of noisy issues?”

“There seems to be a lot of talk surrounding the current queen. It appears he took her almost by force from a married woman…… And as it happens, the queen’s former husband is a member of the Cairo royal family. I hear he’s cousins with the new king of Cairo. The queen’s former husband is protesting, demanding the return of the queen with his cousin’s backing.”

“Cairo would be a difficult opponent for the current Sedas.”

“That’s right. It’s too much for the Sedas Kingdom. Moreover, major trade goods are also one-sidedly dependent on Cairo from Sedas, so if things go wrong, the country will face another crisis of collapse.”

“……You look pleased.”

The emperor spoke, looking at the excited James. James hesitated momentarily at his lord’s words that hit the mark, but soon smiled.

“The king of Sedas is a bit arrogant.”

James disliked Isnal, the king of Sedas. From his first letter onwards, Isnal continuously showed defiance toward the Empire, or more precisely, toward his lord, the emperor of the Empire.

“To dare to Your Majesty……”

“Leave it be.”

It was when he was about to give a lengthy speech about how arrogant the king of Sedas was. The emperor raised his hand to stop James’s words.

“Just watch to make sure he doesn’t collapse, and that we don’t hear news of war breaking out.”

Our Emperor is truly merciful. James made a displeased expression at the emperor’s words. But since the emperor’s mercy toward the Sedas Kingdom was not a recent development, he soon relaxed his expression.

‘I must protect my one remaining eye.’

James was grumbling inwardly and about to turn the paper to report new information when the emperor suddenly stood up.

“Your Majesty. The report is not yet finished.”

“Later.”

The emperor replied briefly and moved toward the door. James quietly sighed behind the emperor and then followed.

‘If it’s the queen of Sedas, that would be Pria.’

The queen of Sedas was a woman well known to the emperor as well. A friend of the dead princess of Sedas. She had consistently sent letters even though she surely received no reply from the princess.

Hearing news of the Sedas queen, his anxiety grew for no reason. He recalled life in the tower, now forgotten, which only he cherished.

The emperor quickened his steps. And naturally, the place where he stopped was the Ivory Palace, where the empress was.

* * *

Who is the number one person in the Empire? People often whispered this joke.

Her Majesty the Empress.

It was understandable because the empress clearly reigned above the emperor in anyone’s eyes. The emperor upheld the empress, always prioritizing her, and acted like her servant of his own accord.

Although they claimed to worship the Goddess of Light as the only deity, the Empire was a country that prioritized men and looked down on women. There had never been a female emperor in its long history, which says it all.

Yet in such a place, the foremost emperor knelt to his wife, causing his subjects to clear their throats and talk among themselves.

‘We must stop His Majesty the Emperor. Showing such behavior…… Women across the country, far from being obedient to their husbands, are trying to climb above them.’

‘That’s right. The authority of husbands is at rock bottom. We cannot just watch this.’

However, many of those who expressed dissatisfaction with the emperor’s attitude toward the empress secretly said after seeing her that they could somewhat understand the emperor.

‘Have you ever had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress? I saw her yesterday. And I immediately understood His Majesty the Emperor.’

‘What…… Have you finally lost your mind?’

‘Tsk. I don’t care what you say. I just pity you.’

The empress was not lacking in the word “goddess.” With platinum blonde hair like thinly sliced spring sunlight and blue eyes like a clear sky beneath it, even men insensitive to women would blush while looking at her. Thus, despite the qualifier of being the emperor’s companion, there were several young nobles who pined for her with unrequited love.

Moreover, she was kind to everyone, whether by nature or not. The way she smiled softly and nodded her head slowly was so lovely. Most people who conversed with the empress soon became captivated by her.

Additionally, the empress now had no weaknesses. Once, the fact that she came from a family with no ties to central politics and various rumors followed her, generating talk. However, after the empress gave birth to twin princes five years ago, all malicious talk about her disappeared completely.

“I hear Her Majesty the Empress is holding a small banquet to save a friend of the young princes.”

“How lovely. I hope one of our children gets invited.”

The empress currently received overflowing respect and admiration. People, regardless of status or age, tried to make a good impression on her.

Of course, the emperor was among them. Having arrived at the Ivory Palace, postponing his work, the emperor first informed the head maid of his arrival so as not to surprise his companion, then checked his attire once more before entering the palace.

* * *

Upon hearing that the emperor was coming, Empress Yerena came out of her room to welcome him.

“Yerena.”

“Your Majesty.”

Roshan, who spotted his wife, quickened his pace even more and naturally stood beside her. Yerena smiled faintly and took his arm. Roshan looked at her with an expression as if he possessed the whole world, then gestured to the palace staff.

“Everyone withdraw.”

As if this happened every time, the palace staff disappeared silently. Once everyone had gone, Yerena began to walk. Roshan matched her steps and whispered.

“Your Majesty? What did you promise to call me?”

“There were people around.”

Yerena seemed embarrassed by her husband leaning in to whisper, so she released his arm and pushed him away slightly. Roshan followed his wife, murmuring pleadingly.

“There aren’t any now.”

“……The children are nearby.”

Having already reached the reception room, Yerena pouted her lips and pointed with her eyes toward the slightly open door. Inside were their twin princes. The princes, who liked clinging to their mother just like their father, would run to Yerena whether they were playing outside or studying. Today was no different, and Yerena had just put the children to sleep in her chambers after they had been running through the meadow.

“They’re our children—yours and mine. What does it matter?”

Despite his wife’s gesture, Roshan stuck close to her. His large hand touched her, and his strong arm quickly wrapped around Yerena’s waist.