“Leticia wants to leave the Grand Duchy and return to the Empire somehow, even if she loses all her status.”

She had a daughter who would soon turn three. The fact that she said this despite having a child meant she was determined.

“However, the empress dowager…… wants me to meet with the grand duke to improve this situation.”

As expected, the empress dowager had no intention of breaking this political marriage.

“Above all, isn’t Your Majesty’s will what matters most?”

Jayden offered a wise response. No matter which side he took, it was a sign that Rockfort himself needed to act.

“My will, is it.”

Rockfort put down the letter and quietly looked out the window.

Thinking of his poor sister, it was a marriage he hadn’t wanted to send her to in the first place. And now that she was pleading like this, he felt a surge of desire to bring her back immediately.

“As a brother, or as an emperor.”

“That’s a question I dare not answer.”

Jayden bowed his head. Others would likely think similarly, but unlike Jayden, they would hope to see him act as an emperor.

“If I judge as an emperor, maintaining a closer alliance with the Grand Duchy of Ern is important. The council’s opinion would be no different.”

Tap-tap, Rockfort tapped the table, lost in thought.

“The war has ended, but remnants still plot for the future near the Empire’s borders. I was able to return from the battlefield early because the remnants’ base was between the territories of the Grand Duchy and the Empire.”

The alliance formed through their political marriage was solid, and both the Grand Duchy and the Empire had established defense forces at their borders to eliminate the remnants. Though the defense forces weren’t large and it took time, it was the most efficient and convenient method.

“If the political marriage ends, the Grand Duchy wouldn’t dare break the alliance given the high prestige of the Petrion Empire, but…… we can’t expect the same level of cooperation as before.”

The nobles in the council wouldn’t welcome such a fact. They believed princesses were born for political marriages and maintaining alliances, and that was indeed the reality.

“Hah…… First, I need to convene the council.”

Rockfort rose. Unless there was something special, the emperor received reports from ministers and nobles in the audience hall every morning and discussed matters to be debated. By custom, this was collectively called the council, and it was the emperor’s most tedious daily routine and heaviest shackle.

“Have you made a decision?”

Jayden rarely asked questions. It seemed his emotions were involved since he had known Leticia since childhood.

“If I throw this issue to the council, they’ll all voice their opinions according to their interests and tear each other apart. The council…… isn’t it always like that?”

Being the emperor of the Holy Petrion Empire meant having absolute power, but that didn’t translate to perfect strength.

As an old empire, political issues, factions, and noble checks and balances were everyday occurrences.

“I’ll let them argue with each other until a plausible opinion emerges. I’ll have plenty of time to think in the meantime.”

The role of a strong emperor was to properly suppress and lead powerful nobles and ministers. Rockfort had been fulfilling that role properly so far.

“Shall I ask the imperial physician to bring headache medicine?”

Rockfort was habitually pressing his temples firmly. It was a chronic ailment developed from leading state affairs since his ascension to the throne at age 17.

“……It’s time to look after the lady now, so tell him to visit afterward.”

It was just the right time to properly ask the imperial physician about Elia’s condition. That was the only task fitting this bright spring day.

* * *

With daily bubble baths and subtle fragrances applied, Elia’s beauty bloomed more radiantly than the spring flowers.

“The lilac scent is lovely.”

After the imperial physician’s visit, they had opened the windows, and the flower scent tempted Elia as it drifted in on the breeze.

“Hannah, let’s take a walk in the garden.”

“Yes. Spring is short, after all.”

It had been two weeks since Elia came to this palace. In that time, which felt both long and short, the scenery of this place had changed a lot.

The desolation characteristic of an unoccupied place had disappeared, diligent palace servants moved efficiently here and there, and even the tiniest flaws had been repaired, making everything quite splendid.

“The Internal Affairs Department made ramps at every threshold, which is really convenient.”

Hannah said as she pushed Elia’s chair herself. Without even requesting it, the chief chamberlain had come, bowing repeatedly, and made ramps at all the thresholds in the palace and even changed the walking paths to make pushing the chair easier. This was a luxury she couldn’t have imagined before.

“Everyone in the Imperial Palace’s Internal Affairs Department is really diligent.”

“Indeed.”

Elia smiled bitterly where no one could see. Recalling how that diligent Internal Affairs Department had neglected the empress’s palace in her past life made her feel strange about her current situation.

“By the way, aren’t you going to select another head lady-in-waiting? The chief chamberlain from the Internal Affairs Department keeps asking me whenever he sees me……”

“We already have enough hands. Besides, I’m in recovery, so I don’t need any more head ladies-in-waiting or chief chamberlains.”

All the people recommended by the Internal Affairs Department had familiar faces. How could she forget those who had ignored and sometimes even mocked the powerless and cold-shouldered empress?

“Why? Is it hard handling the head lady-in-waiting duties alone?”

“No, actually…… I like it this way. But still, all the head ladies-in-waiting in the Imperial Palace are noble ladies.”

The head ladies-in-waiting and chief chamberlains who attended the emperor or empress were usually nobles of middle rank. Of course, Elia’s chief chamberlain, Dain, was from the knighthood, and Hannah was a lower noble, but they couldn’t help being inferior to the others in terms of status.

“What background someone has…… doesn’t matter.”

Elia gently stroked Hannah’s hand, which was gripping the chair handle.

“Whether commoner or noble, from a powerful family or not, I decide who stays by my side.”

There was no point in sacrificing substance just to maintain appearances and follow rules.

“The higher one’s status, the more people become envious. But I’m fine because I have Hannah and Dain. Because you’re truly my people.”

Hannah couldn’t answer as tears unexpectedly welled up. Still, Elia would understand this feeling.

Elia was blooming fully as she welcomed this bright and vibrant season. Not just in visible ways.

During the long winter, the strong will and warm heart that had been budding in the cold ground now revealed their elegant form as full blossoms.

* * *

The spring sunshine was warm. Whenever the clear breeze blew, the subtle scent of lilacs and tulips blooming in the garden created a sense of peace.

“Why are harsh winters so long, and such lovely seasons so short?”

Elia muttered to herself without realizing. Perhaps they feel long because they’re harsh, and short because they’re beautiful.

Looking back, human life wasn’t much different.

“I’ve never thought about that…… Lady Elia, you’ve really grown up lately.”

Hannah couldn’t hide her admiration. Until that incident, Elia occasionally showed signs of her youth, but now she could rightfully be called a complete woman.

Moreover, her calm and elegant conduct seemed worthy of an empress, beyond just a lady.

“Come to think of it, there was a table under the lilac tree. Shall we have tea there?”

“Hmm…… Spring will pass quickly, and the imperial physician said it’s fine, so I’ll tell Cyril to prepare the table and bring tea now.”

“Yes.”

The branches of the lilac tree created a pleasant shade. Elia looked at the table carved from elaborate marble and imagined the previous owner of this palace.

“She must have been elegant and beautiful.”

Though they had never met, one could know the owner by the places they stayed—she could guess what kind of person the princess was and what tastes she had.

“She liked small flowers, and on spring days like today, she must have enjoyed tea here.”

Soon the ladies-in-waiting brought tea and refreshments. Elia savored this season while leisurely drinking her tea.

Looking at the elaborate marble table without a single flaw, she felt a closeness with the princess whose face she didn’t even know.

But the peace didn’t last long. Though there was no trumpet announcing the emperor’s procession that would pierce the eardrums, the commotion at the palace entrance suggested an unexpected visitor had arrived.

“Lady Elia, His Majesty……”

Elia nodded to indicate it was fine and set down her teacup with a click.

Rockfort was the master of this palace and the ruler of the Empire, so he could come here whenever he wished.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

“What? Yes……”

Hannah took the ladies-in-waiting and moved to a distant spot. Then Rockfort suddenly appeared.

He wore his formal attire, perhaps having come directly from the council, which looked somewhat unfamiliar. What was strange was that no one was following him. Not to mention, he rarely looked this serious.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor. As my body is unwell……”

“Enough.”

Rockfort stopped her with one hand and plopped down in the seat across from Elia.

Seeing him carelessly dishevel his hair again, it seemed to be a habit.

“The council became more heated than expected, so I escaped.”

“Yes…… what?”

Elia, who answered reflexively, raised her head in confusion.