Surely I wouldn’t cause his death by my own hands.

The one who needed to die was that child. Not him.

Perhaps she had seen wrong. The Empress hesitated briefly before shaking her head. No. How could I, of all people, have mistaken him?

“Your Majesty!”

Shattered crystal fragments lay scattered where the Empress had abruptly fled.

She had suddenly pushed through the crowd and dashed away while smiling moments before.

The imperial guards, positioned at a respectful distance around the Empress, flinched in surprise and looked in the direction she had run.

“Empress, Your Majesty!”

In the chaotic scene where summer flower-like colorful silk dresses mingled with worn cotton ones, blurring the boundaries of social status, the hem of the Empress’s dress briefly flashed before disappearing.

“There she is!”

The guards hurriedly pushed through the crowd intoxicated with wine and the festive atmosphere, but the people were too caught up in the celebration to notice their urgency.

The problem was compounded by the crowd being far larger than anticipated.

The imperial charity event was already one of the Empire’s largest, and being held at December in St. Berte, the Grand Duke’s territory, had doubled the number of attendees projected by the budget department. The lawn where people gathered to drink was so packed that not a single patch of grass could be seen.

Moreover, rumors had spread that the “Grand Duchess Hedegen,” once accused of attempting to murder the Grand Duke, had now become a wise Grand Duchess favored by her husband. People had flooded into December like a tidal wave, hoping to catch a glimpse of this famous figure.

“Protect the Empress immediately!”

The imperial guard captain shouted urgently while gesturing in the air.

Only then did the startled crowd begin to hastily make way.

“No, no…”

Genevieve ran desperately toward one spot, like someone discovering a ray of light in deep darkness.

He was someone she wished to possess regardless of the sacrifice, someone she had longed for—how else could she describe him if not as her light?

When the mansion burned down while Genevieve and Florence were on a picnic, destroying everything, the Greatroyson family had cared for the shocked Florence as if she were family.

Maximus, who wasn’t even engaged to her at the time, had been the first to step forward and offer to take care of her.

That incident became the catalyst for Florence, who had never shown the slightest interest in romance, to develop feelings for Maximus.

Genevieve, who had insisted on staying by Maximus’s side all day under the pretext of helping care for Florence, quickly noticed Florence’s change.

The Greatroyson family cared for Florence out of sympathy for someone who had lost her only mother, her servants, and everything else in an instant.

But wasn’t it Genevieve herself who had made it possible for Florence to receive such extraordinary sympathy?

Florence should have been grateful to Genevieve!

For enabling her to receive such excessive care and attention, if she had any conscience, she should have expressed gratitude countless times and given Genevieve anything!

If she had, Genevieve wouldn’t have had to painfully watch that excellent Maximus, who only cared about his wife and child, nor would she have had reason to devise a terrifying murder plan.

If only Florence had given Maximus to her from the beginning!

“Move aside!”

The beautiful melody of music, people’s exclamations mixed with laughter, the dresses of ladies and noble daughters brushing past like clouds.

Male nobles escorting them or discussing how the right time for defense industry investment had returned.

Lower-class people mingling freely just for today, filling their stomachs to their hearts’ content.

The Empress pushed aside all these sights and sounds, showing no trace of her usual gentleness, only a terrifying malice.

Yet people continued to gather and disperse like colored beads, intent on viewing the alcohol, food, and charity items.

Breaking through the crowded spaces, Genevieve finally reached a less congested area and clutched her dress hem while gasping for breath.

“Your Majesty, there are many people here, it would be better if you stayed with us…!”

“Silence!”

Pushing away the guards quickly surrounding her, Genevieve ran toward the corner of the building.

Fear that he might die because of the Grand Duchess was tightening around her throat.

“……!”

But as soon as she turned around the building’s massive pillar, Genevieve’s feet stopped abruptly.

Blood red as a snake crept rapidly across the manicured lawn, flowing toward her.

Her ruby-like eyes emptied as if unable to accept reality.

Blood in quantities impossible from a single body converged in multiple streams, rushing toward her feet.

“……”

Had he died silently without even uttering a final scream?

Had those fools, who were told they could kill anyone who wasn’t a noble, dared to kill Maximus because they failed to recognize his nobility?

Why had Maximus been in such a state?

No. They only needed to kill Lea, that child.

“How dare you…!”

Just as she raised her head with a face that had instantly turned pale as ice, frost covered Genevieve’s eyes.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

A cold voice touched her ear like a chilling gun barrel.

“I was about to bring you good news.”

Large hands with thick joints dropped something with a thud.

What fell to the ground like a bundle was the corpse of someone already dead.

“But I regret having to show you this sight first.”

Despite his words, footsteps echoed steadily as he approached, unhesitatingly stepping through the pooled blood.

Genevieve’s gaze, trembling like an aspen leaf, forcibly lifted upward.

Sharp eyes from within a shadow backlit by intense sunlight looked down at her.

“……”

A static face with an inexplicable calmness.

After casually handing the dagger he had pulled from the dead man’s body to his subordinate, he wiped the blood spatters from his hands with a handkerchief in a composed gesture.

Four corpses lay sprawled behind him, each with hearts deeply stabbed without a chance to resist.

“How is the Grand Duke here…”

With her heart sinking, Genevieve spoke while trying her hardest not to look at Carlo’s subordinates efficiently gathering the bodies.

“No, rather, who were those people I just saw…”

Her entire body was covered in goosebumps as she tried to put strength into her trembling jaw.

“Why on such a sacred day would you commit such a terrible act…”

“I administered appropriate punishment for desecrating this sacred day.”

“……”

“Isn’t this day especially cherished by Your Majesty?”

Carlo replied in a respectful tone while meeting her with piercing eyes.

“Therefore, impure elements must be eliminated immediately. In crowded places, unavoidable situations requiring action often arise, don’t they? These men dared to attempt to harm the Grand Duchess.”

The respectfully added words seemed to throw her own words back at her, making her breath catch.

Genevieve forcibly composed her burning throat and spoke with feigned elegance.

“…They deserved to die, then.”

“Of course.”

The murderous Grand Duke’s slightly smiling eyes appeared quite elegant.

The Grand Duke in Genevieve’s eyes looked so much like a madman consumed by bloodlust that she was overwhelmed with anxiety, feeling she might faint if she didn’t force herself to stay conscious.

“…Weren’t you supposed to be elsewhere?”

“Ah, you mean that. You dispatched all of us to Northcheshire.”

“That’s… right.”

“Fortunately, we confirmed there were no significant issues at the Northcheshire front and reported back… Did you not hear?”

“What…”

“Ah, the report was given to His Highness Aiden. He showed such enthusiasm for protecting the Empire.”

Behind the Grand Duke, who straightened up after bowing as if reporting to her, corpses with faces covered by cloth were being moved somewhere.

As their blood began to soak her shoes, Genevieve’s eyes squeezed shut.

“So I mistakenly thought Your Majesty knew. I will report again.”

“…Never mind. When exactly did you arrive here?”

“How strange. The army that passed through the main gate hasn’t been reported to Your Majesty yet.”

Genevieve’s eyes suddenly flew open as she looked at Carlo in alarm.

Did the “army that passed through the main gate” he mentioned refer to the entire army she had dispatched to Northcheshire?

Yet she had received no reports whatsoever?

“……”

Genevieve’s hands trembled as she glared at Carlo, then clenched into fists.

Cunning fox!

The Grand Duke, who had blocked her path to the Emperor, was now trying to block her eyes and ears.

Through her son.

“No, I remember hearing the report now. I must have been distracted by having to attend to so many imperial citizens.”

“That must have been the case.”

Yes, she needed to regain her composure.

Wasn’t she the one who had reigned over the Empire for so long?

How could she lose her calm over the provocation of this mere young Grand Duke?

She had rushed here to save Maximus. She had confirmed he wasn’t dead, so that was enough.

But questions remained. Why had Maximus been here?

The issue was where he had been heading. From his appearance, he must know her, but how?

Surely he hadn’t realized she was his daughter?

“Now that you’re here, enjoy yourself. I will personally assess the situation at the Northcheshire front.”

As Genevieve coldly declared this and quickly turned to leave, despite her seemingly relaxed expression…

“But didn’t you call out the name Maximus?”

Her body froze instantly at his words.

“You must have meant the man who evacuated with the Grand Duchess just now.”

Genevieve’s lips trembled faintly as she slowly turned around.

“If he’s someone Your Majesty knows by name, he must be a noble—likely the noble the imperial palace has been searching for.”

Carlo’s coral-colored eyes calmly gazed at Genevieve, having quickly put the pieces together.

“Count Maximus Greatroyson. Is that correct?”