“I, Jayden, pay my respects again. May peace be with Lady Elia, His Majesty’s fiancée and acting empress.”

Jayden bowed deeply as he would to Rockfort. Elia could hardly believe the situation and merely blinked.

“We also pay our respects to the acting empress. May your glorious name always shine.”

Receiving such respect from the imperial palace’s head chamberlain and head lady-in-waiting made her feel as if she had truly become empress.

Only then could Elia recognize their faces. They were Rockfort’s close associates whom she had barely met in her previous life.

“Sir Jayden, please rise.”

“You must now speak formally to me.”

Jayden, still kneeling on one knee, awaited Elia’s command.

“Rise…… Sir Jayden.”

Only then did Jayden bow slightly and stand.

“You may rise as well.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

The emperor’s people, whom she had not dared to command in her previous life, expressed gratitude for Elia’s order and rose.

Dain and Hannah, standing beside Elia, slightly bent their knees to show respect to them.

“While His Majesty is away on the expedition, these people will serve you, the acting empress. He commanded that you should lack nothing in any respect, so whenever you need anything, order them.”

“Yes, please guide me in many ways.”

It reminded Elia of when she first entered the palace, as these people who had shown no interest in her in her previous life now paid such deep respects.

Elia’s position had truly changed significantly. Even to the point of becoming the acting empress.

Despite the empress dowager still being alive, granting her that position was a result of Rockfort’s careful consideration.

“Also, the Crimson Knights, the elite of the emperor’s direct knight order, will stay at the acting empress’s residence and protect her until His Majesty returns. Our knight order will faithfully follow the lady’s commands and directions as His Majesty ordered, so please use us comfortably.”

Elia saw the knight commander’s emblem shining on Jayden’s chest.

“This is too much for me.”

“It is His Majesty’s command, so you must comply.”

Once again, there was naturally no choice. They too were bowing their heads to Elia for the same reason.

“I suppose so.”

But the timid Elia of the past was gone. She knew better than anyone that one could not survive in this imperial palace while remaining powerless.

“Then, I gratefully accept your loyalty.”

Elia’s blue eyes stared directly at Jayden. It was an unwavering gaze filled with elegance and dignity befitting an empress.

* * *

The departure ceremony was rapidly approaching—it was tomorrow. The atmosphere in the imperial palace was so tumultuous that it could be felt even in the building where Elia stayed.

Perhaps that was why Rockfort’s visit was extremely sudden.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

Now Elia no longer apologized for paying respects while seated. Rockfort wore a black formal uniform with a purple cape and had a faint smile on his lips.

“There’s a place I want to go for a moment.”

Rockfort approached Elia with heavy steps.

“What are you doing……”

Before she could reject his casually outstretched hand, Rockfort wrapped his arm around her neck and slipped his other hand under her knees, lifting her up.

“Your Majesty!”

“That place cannot be reached with this chair.”

Being held in his arms felt precarious, making her dizzy and anxious, as if she might fall at any moment. Rockfort seemed to sense it and tightened his grip beneath her knees.

“Are you anxious?”

“Yes, if you could just put me down now……”

“Just hold tightly around my neck.”

Rockfort took a step while holding Elia.

At that moment, her center of gravity wobbled, and she unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck.

“……I want to make it clear, this is for survival.”

“Of course.”

Swish, seeing his lips curl up slightly made her feel somewhat indignant.

But there was no one to stop the emperor, and the strength in his arms was so great that, as he said, there was no wobbling when she held onto his neck.

“You’re too light.”

Rockfort said leisurely as he strode with large steps.

For the first time since entering the palace, Elia could see the paths of the inner palace beyond her quarters. The spring atmosphere was rich with trees blooming with various flowers beyond the walls.

“Where are you taking me?”

“If you promise to eat properly and become heavier by the time I return, I’ll tell you.”

Elia silently glared at Rockfort. Despite being the all-powerful emperor, she found it annoying that he was taking her, who couldn’t use her legs, wherever he pleased.

“You don’t need to tell me.”

Just then, her blue eyes spotted a familiar landscape.

It was the path to the empress’s quarters. Though it wasn’t a place she particularly wanted to go, she had no choice.

“Well, you’ll see soon enough.”

As he said, they soon arrived at the front of the empress’s quarters. However, the scene that unfolded was completely different from her memory.

Elia stared blankly at the sight for a moment. It was not the place where she had been imprisoned like a jail.

Nor was it the place where Cecilia had greeted her wearing a mask of kindness. Every place she remembered had been demolished, and she could see workers just installing marble floors.

“I was going to show you when you become empress in a year, but since I’m leaving……”

Rockfort looked down at Elia’s face and trailed off. Her blue eyes were filled with surprise. Her half-parted lips, lost for words, were also lovely.

“I’m glad I showed you.”

Initially, he had decided to rebuild the empress’s quarters to erase bad memories, but seeing Elia’s expression now, all such reasons faded away.

“I don’t have good memories of the empress’s quarters. I imagine it’s the same for you.”

Rockfort disliked the place where the empress dowager had stayed, and for Elia, it must be frightening as it was the place where she had fallen with Cecilia.

“Everything from the past has been demolished. I’ve instructed the construction manager, so while I’m gone, have the empress’s quarters built according to your wishes. It’s a gift.”

Could something this excessive really be considered a gift?

Elia stared at the empress’s quarters, which was just establishing its foundation, while being held in his arms unable to move.

Before, it had been a prison so suffocating that she wanted to destroy it with her own hands. Now that prison had been demolished without a trace.

At the same time, she felt one of the knots in her heart gently dissolve.

“Are you not happy with my gift?”

Happy? It wasn’t a feeling that could be explained with such a word. How could one express in words the moment when a long-harbored regret crumbles?

“You don’t like it?”

Elia shook her head. That was the only answer she could give right now.

“It’s enough.”

Rockfort nodded with satisfaction and adjusted his hold on Elia.

By chance, their cheeks brushed against each other. Naturally, their eyes met.

“There are…… too many eyes watching.”

“And?”

“If I were to bite Your Majesty, my crime would only worsen.”

At those words, Rockfort let out a chuckle. He seemed to have grown accustomed to her bold attitude.

“Please take me back now. The gazes of the palace people are already burdensome.”

“You are truly insolent and outrageous.”

“Not at all.”

Elia turned her head primly. Rockfort was displeased with the bustle of palace people in broad daylight, but he had no other time available.

“I’ll yield today. Making you a criminal would negate the purpose of rebuilding the empress’s quarters, which would be a waste of national treasury.”

He looked at Elia, who still kept her lips tightly closed with a prim expression, then adjusted his hold once more and turned around. Though it wasn’t a long distance, the return journey felt exceedingly slow.

Rarely, Elia enjoyed the spring scenery from his arms without making any complaints.

“Beautiful.”

Rockfort was looking at Elia, while Elia was looking at the flowers.

“I’ll return before the next spring comes.”

“……Yes.”

And before the day was over, rumors spread far and wide throughout the palace that the emperor had personally carried his fiancée in his arms.

* * *

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, the emperor’s departure ceremony was held. Jayden had stopped by Elia’s place beforehand to inform her of this and quickly participated in the ceremony.

“It’s already the departure ceremony…… everything is happening so suddenly.”

Elia nodded at Hannah’s words.

“After the ceremony ends, His Majesty’s head chamberlain and head lady-in-waiting will come here directly to serve you.”

“I don’t really need more people.”

“That’s not true. Princess Leticia is returning.”

Elia, who had been in a daze with her mind occupied by the emperor’s departure, opened her eyes wide at those words.

Yes, this was the building where Princess Leticia had originally stayed. She thought the original owner would never return, so this was a significant change.

“If the original owner returns……”

“We must return it. There are many buildings in the imperial palace.”

Elia gave the obvious answer. Then, as she looked out the distant window, her eyes were filled with many thoughts. Perhaps they had fired celebratory shots at the departure ceremony, as a loud sound was heard from afar, and birds perched on trees all flew up at once.

Indeed, Rockfort was departing.

The unexpected farewell and the imminent new meeting each colored Elia’s heart in different hues.

* * *

As soon as the departure ceremony ended, the head chamberlain and head lady-in-waiting came as Hannah had said. Additionally, Jayden, the commander of the Crimson Knights, paid separate respects and began guarding the building.

This showed that now, with the emperor gone, Elia held the highest authority in the imperial palace.

“I will introduce myself again. I am Marienne, from the Marquis Themis family.”

Indeed, as someone who served the emperor, her status was far superior to other head ladies-in-waiting.

“I am Victor from the Count Richel family. The emperor’s head chamberlain pays respects to the lady again.”