“I’m already studying history, ancient languages, astronomy, mathematics, and geometry.”

“That’s exactly what I’m studying! You’re just copying me!”

“My tutor says my progress is better than yours,” Io retorted with pride.

“Oh, you even know the word progress?” Yelodia asked teasingly, her laughter barely contained.

Io’s cheeks turned crimson. “It means I’m doing better than you, doesn’t it?”

“That’s only because I let you,” Yelodia countered with a grin.

“Tch, liar,” Io mumbled, pouting his lips. He looked so irresistibly adorable that Yelodia struggled to stifle her laughter.

Io suddenly turned to Edward, who had been quietly observing them, and stared up at him curiously.

Realizing Edward’s presence, Yelodia hurriedly made introductions.

“Io, this is my fiancé. It’s your first time meeting him, isn’t it?”

At her words, Io’s uniquely mixed golden-blue eyes sparkled as he scrutinized Edward with a discerning gaze.

Edward glanced at Yelodia, who, flustered, introduced the boy formally.

“This is His Highness, Crown Prince Ioress.”

Edward raised his brows slightly in surprise, then bent his left knee and bowed respectfully to the child.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Edward Kieri Adrian.”

“…”

Io looked to Yelodia without a word, his eyes asking a silent question. When Yelodia nodded with a warm smile, Io’s expression brightened.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Baron. Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Edward replied with a slight smile.

“Your Highness, we must leave now,” an attendant called hesitantly, looking pale and anxious as if pressed for time.

Io’s expression turned gloomy as he nodded.

“All right, I’m coming.”

“Do you have to go?” Yelodia asked gently.

“Yes, my mother is calling for me,” Io answered, though his face betrayed his reluctance.

Yelodia, feeling sorry for him, lightly pushed his back in encouragement.

“His Majesty promised to arrange another meeting soon. We’ll have more time together then.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Io’s face lit up, already looking forward to their reunion.

The attendant, however, seemed unable to wait any longer and urged the boy forward.

“Your Highness, we must head to Rante Palace. Please come quickly.”

“…Fine,” Io said, resigned.

The attendant took Io’s hand and began to lead him away. But before they could leave, the attendant stopped abruptly, startled. Approaching them was the Empress.

“Crown Prince,” she called.

“…Mother,” Io replied, his face turning pale.

The Empress always addressed Ioress as “Crown Prince,” as though her son had no given name.

Though the Emperor had named the child Ioress, wishing for him to embody intelligence and valor, the Empress seemed to dislike, or perhaps even loathe, the name.

“Why are you still here? Did I not instruct you to return to Rante Palace immediately after your lessons at my court?”

Rante Palace was the name of the Crown Prince’s residence, adjacent to the Empress’s quarters.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” Io murmured, bowing his head. He knew meeting his cousin on the way to his quarters would not excuse his tardiness.

Yelodia curtsied politely. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you here, Yelodia,” the Empress said coolly. “And you as well, Baron Adrian.”

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty,” Edward replied, bowing deeply.

Despite the early summer warmth, the Empress looked impeccably composed in her black satin gown and pristine white lambskin gloves—a vision of perfection that sent a chill through the air.

“Crown Prince, return to your palace at once. We’ll discuss this later.”

“…As you command,” Io replied faintly, his voice weary. Surrounded by attendants, the boy walked away.

Yelodia watched his small figure with a gaze filled with concern.

The Empress, noticing Yelodia’s expression, seemed displeased. With a faintly frosty tone, she remarked, “Were you just returning from an audience with His Majesty?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We were taking a walk through the central garden after seeing him.”

“You seem to get along much better than the rumors suggested. I was concerned this sudden engagement might leave you at odds, but seeing you both so affectionate eases my mind.”

“…Rumors? What kind of rumors are circulating in the palace, Your Majesty?”

When Yelodia gave a puzzled look, the Empress pressed her crimson lips together as if she had made a slip of the tongue.

“Rumors in high society are often fleeting nonsense. There’s no need to worry. If anyone dares to utter immoral words, I will personally ensure they are reprimanded.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Yelodia bit her lower lip and cast her gaze downward. Her hands, clutching her dress, tightened reflexively.

The Empress had essentially admitted that someone in the ballroom had been spreading vile gossip involving Edward. It was even possible that the Empress herself was encouraging it.

“I am always deeply moved by Your Majesty’s heartfelt advice and concern.”

“To be so touched—how kind and considerate you are,” the Empress replied, her elegant smile as flawless as a painting.

The two women exchanged serene gazes for a moment, but surprisingly, it was the Empress who spoke first.

“I must take my leave now. It seems Duke Rahins is visiting my palace after a long time. I should share a cup of tea with Father.”

“I apologize for taking up Your Majesty’s time. Please, don’t let us keep you,” Yelodia said as she curtsied. Edward also placed his right hand over his heart and bowed his head.

The Empress regarded the two of them for a moment, then began to walk away. The sharp clicks of her heels on the marble floor echoed coldly in the air.

Yelodia silently watched the Empress’s retreating figure for a long time.

“Shall we head back as well?” Edward asked softly.

“Allow me to escort you,” he added, offering his hand.

Yelodia took his hand and let out a faint sigh.

“I really dislike this,” she murmured. “Saying things I don’t mean and then feeling hurt by them.”

Edward was reminded once again that Yelodia had grown up as a noble lady of high society.

And yet, he could also sense how much she disliked that part of herself.

“Are you concerned about Her Majesty’s words?”

“No, it’s fine,” Yelodia replied. “There’s nothing I can do about it, after all.”

But even as she spoke, Yelodia couldn’t take her eyes off the Empress’s figure. Her gaze was filled with emotions that came and went, like fleeting shadows.

“A loveless marriage seems truly miserable,” she whispered softly, almost as if confessing.

Edward felt a strange sentiment stirring within him. It was as if love were the root cause of every problem they faced.

***

The imperial palace’s main building contained hundreds of rooms.

There were rooms overflowing with priceless treasures and books, a grand banquet hall in the central hall, five smaller banquet halls, three large conference rooms, twelve smaller ones, a council chamber, a noble judiciary, an underground prison, and countless rooms whose purposes were unknown.

Among these, the rooms and lounges near the grand banquet hall were often used by foreign dignitaries or high-ranking nobles.

Not only were they exquisitely beautiful, but the thick walls also ensured that conversations within rarely leaked outside.

When the lounge door suddenly opened, and the Empress entered, no one appeared surprised.

Duke Rahins greeted her with a composed expression.

“You’ve come, Your Majesty.”

“I heard you visited my palace. Were you planning to leave without seeing me again?”

“I came for an administrative meeting. I didn’t want to trouble someone as busy as Your Majesty.”

“Still, it saddens me, Father.”

“Surely, Her Majesty the Empress is doing well. If I were to meet you every time I visited the palace, imagine how much it would trouble His Majesty the Emperor.”

Duke Rahins sipped his tea with an air of refined elegance, his every movement deliberate and sophisticated.

Despite being well past fifty, he looked no older than his late thirties, thanks to his disciplined physique and thick, lustrous black hair.

Beside him sat his younger brother, Count Havel, whose smaller frame and stockier build made him appear significantly older. With grayish hair and a somewhat disheveled demeanor, he exuded a rather chaotic impression.

Count Havel glanced uneasily at his elder brother before speaking.

“There are troubling rumors circulating in the palace. They say His Majesty has granted a baronial title to a common-born soldier and keeps him close.”

“What could a mere baron possibly do?” Duke Rahins replied indifferently.

The Empress pressed her crimson lips tightly together. Her father’s reaction was exactly as she had anticipated.

Known for holding half the empire’s power in his grasp, Duke Rahins exuded both arrogance and apathy befitting his reputation.

Once again, the duke remained unbothered. The idea of Baron Adrian forming ties with the Xavier ducal family seemed trivial to him.

“This is not something to dismiss so lightly, Father,” the Empress interjected. “When I met Baron Adrian, it was clear he was no ordinary man. He will undoubtedly stir up trouble.”

The duke raised an eyebrow, setting his teacup down. His expression revealed his irritation at having to listen to what he deemed unnecessary chatter.

Count Havel, however, appeared to have a different opinion.

“The critical point is that this man has captured the Emperor’s favor,” Havel said. “Conveniently, he also holds the support of the navy.”

“The navy is a mere handful compared to the ground forces,” the duke replied. “Without the Emperor’s direct orders, their ships can’t even move, rendering them useless.”

“As I’ve repeatedly warned, we mustn’t underestimate Emperor Raodin, Brother.”

Despite Count Havel’s earnest advice, Duke Rahins merely chuckled, his expression dripping with condescension.

The Empress stared at her father with a gaze sharp enough to cut. Her eyes burned with fury accumulated over years of resentment. Yet Duke Rahins didn’t so much as flinch.

‘Once, you would never have tolerated even the slightest annoyance,’ she thought bitterly.