The new empress’s quarters still didn’t feel real to her. Although she received daily reports on construction progress, and artists drew bird’s-eye views or consulted her about materials and structures, it didn’t really sink in until completion.

“Rather than that, I’d like to discuss this pavilion today. Marienne, you’ve been in the palace since the reign of the former emperor, so you must know a lot about this place too, right?”

“Yes, I briefly served directly here when the princess was young.”

Marienne was over fifty years old. She was older than the empress dowager, and considering she entered the palace in her teens, she was a veteran who knew the palace better than anyone.

“I somewhat expected it since you’re the head lady-in-waiting serving His Majesty, but you’ve truly been in the palace for a long time.”

“That is so.”

“If you served the princess, didn’t you serve His Majesty from the beginning?”

Elia asked casually. It was just curiosity.

She didn’t particularly want to know about Rockfort’s childhood. That’s what she decided to think.

“I worked as a senior lady-in-waiting when the empress dowager was the empress. When the emperor was born and when the princess was born, I managed the wet nurses in each case.”

Children born into noble status mostly spend similar childhoods. As soon as they’re born, they never taste their birth mother’s milk, but are held in the arms of pre-selected wet nurses who feed them.

“He had wet nurses too.”

“Yes, His Majesty had four wet nurses. They were all women of excellent background and good health.”

For children of the imperial family or high-ranking nobility, it was customary to use noble women even as wet nurses.

Wet nurses were selected from several women who were pregnant around the same time, but their own children had to drink the milk of commoner wet nurses, and the children of commoner wet nurses grew up drinking animal milk.

“I mainly served His Majesty since then, but when he went to learn imperial studies from the sage or left for martial arts training, I served the princess.”

Even the heir to a ducal family received thorough education from a young age, so it went without saying for an emperor.

“His Majesty……”

Elia tried to ask something but couldn’t finish her sentence. The experienced Marienne seemed to read her mind and smiled.

“His Majesty was an exceptionally outstanding and strong person even when he was young. Whether it was academics, martial arts, or imperial studies, he excelled in everything…… to the point where the sages who came as tutors were amazed.”

Marienne spoke proudly.

“When His Majesty turned five, Sir Jayden, who would become his lifelong confidant, entered the palace.”

“As a guard that early? Sir Jayden……”

“Although he was seven at the time, he could hardly win against His Majesty in sword practice. This was when His Majesty was still a prince.”

“Couldn’t it be that Sir Jayden let him win because his opponent was the prince?”

“No. At that time, His Majesty was two spans taller than Sir Jayden.”

Elia tried to imagine a young Rockfort but ultimately couldn’t and gave up.

However, she could understand that his robust physique was innate from childhood. Until now, Elia had never seen anyone taller and more robust than him.

“Seeing that he personally led the expedition this time, he seems very close to the princess.”

“Yes. Since both of them are children of the empress dowager, unlike the other princes and princesses……”

Marienne continued speaking unconsciously but then stopped abruptly. It was rare to see her with such a troubled expression.

“Why did you stop talking?”

“I misspoke.”

“What about the other princes and princesses? Now…… they’re all deceased, right?”

Former Emperor Reyan had many children. It was famous throughout the empire that he had three empresses and countless concubines.

“As my lady said, they have all passed away. And their stories are somewhat taboo in the palace.”

It was good for Elia to know this too. Even if she didn’t know the exact reason why three princes died and two princesses disappeared, it was something she shouldn’t mention carelessly.

“There must be…… a reason?”

Marienne quietly nodded. Her expression was so meaningful that Elia couldn’t press further. Besides, she didn’t think Marienne would answer anyway.

“Princess Leticia, as the last child of the former emperor, was greatly loved in the palace.”

Marienne naturally changed the direction of the conversation.

“I heard she was bright, kind, and strong.”

“Yes. She was gentle even to her servants and talented in many ways like the current emperor. She was also extremely beautiful.”

Rockfort had a manly yet elegant appearance. Sometimes his profile looked like a sculpted statue.

And what about those mysterious purple eyes? If the word ‘enchanting’ were born as a person, it would probably be like him.

“She sounds like she must be very beautiful just from your description.”

A younger sister who resembled such a Rockfort—just imagining her conjured an image of an unparalleled beauty.

“Yes. You’ll meet her soon.”

“Speaking of which…… this pavilion was originally the princess’s quarters, right?”

“Yes. It was.”

“When she returns, I think it’s right for her to stay here.”

Marienne carefully fell into thought. For Leticia, it would naturally be right to return to her quarters, but now it was a special situation with Elia staying here first. It was difficult to prioritize one over the other.

“With all due respect, considering the overall situation…… it is a matter for you, the acting empress, to decide, and you have the priority to reside in this pavilion.”

Palace affairs ran on the order of power, not emotions. Although she already knew this, it was still quite bitter for Elia to hold that priority.

“No. The priority belongs to the princess, the original owner who grew up and stayed here.”

Elia said firmly. At this, Marienne smiled as if deeply moved.

It would be too sad if Leticia, who had already been used in a political marriage, couldn’t return to her own quarters.

But unless Elia took the initiative, there was no other way, which had been a concern.

“Are there other suitable quarters for me to stay in the palace?”

“Hmm…… there are several empty pavilions, but they haven’t been used for so long that they would require almost complete reconstruction.”

“There’s no need for that for temporary quarters. Besides, there’s not much time left until the princess returns.”

She would move into the empress’s quarters in a year anyway, so she didn’t want too much commotion and waste.

“There is one solution…… I think you could use this pavilion more spaciously.”

“What do you mean?”

“After the princess left, the palace servants who served her voluntarily maintained her quarters, but that’s only part of this pavilion.”

That was precisely the space where Elia was staying.

“This pavilion has an annex connected by a corridor. We only had enough manpower to clean it periodically, but now with more hands, it can be quickly prepared.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea.”

“Also, since my lady has difficulty with your leg, you’ve only been using the first and second floors, but if we make the upper floor usable…… there would be enough room for both of you to stay.”

Indeed, the emperor’s head lady-in-waiting was capable.

“Do you know which chamber the princess stayed in?”

“Yes. She stayed in the large chamber on the third floor. We had to place you in the second-floor chamber because it’s difficult for you to use the stairs.”

“That’s fortunate. I didn’t want to take the chamber from its original owner.”

Elia smiled sincerely. It seemed right to return the cozy chamber filled with memories to the princess who was finally returning after being hurt by a political marriage.

“Then, since I don’t need to move…… make sure this pavilion is prepared so the princess won’t have any inconvenience when she arrives. That’s the priority.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Marienne secretly felt hopeful that the two women would get along well.

Of course, she knew Leticia, whom she had watched since childhood. But it was also fortunate that Elia had such a warm and kind heart.

“Excuse me. My lady, a letter has arrived.”

Dain came and paid his respects.

As soon as Elia saw the seal on the scroll in his hand, her eyes unknowingly widened. Anyone could see she was welcoming the emperor’s letter. Elia’s white fingers hurriedly unrolled the scroll. Only Elia believed she was maintaining a calm appearance.

Dain quietly bowed and withdrew, while Marienne tactfully mentioned that the tea had gone cold and she would bring fresh tea, leaving the room.

She could tell it was his handwriting at a glance. As always, his flowing, elegant penmanship conveyed a strong force.

〈The imperial army has safely established a base camp and is annihilating the remaining forces. Eliminating the remnants of the previous war is a trivial and troublesome task, but I don’t intend to render the meaning of this expedition futile.〉

Where was he, and with what expression did he write this?

Elia had never seen a battlefield in her life. She could only imagine based on a few lines she had read in books.

“Everything must be uncomfortable and rough……”

The tent would be too undignified for him as an emperor.

And what about combat? She could hardly imagine Rockfort riding a horse and swinging his sword at enemies.

The ink of the last period was particularly dark and smudged. He must have paused his pen there for a while.

His imperious tone remained unchanged, but seeing traces of deep contemplation, Elia burst into a small laugh.

“Does becoming an emperor make one forget how to ask properly?”

Though her words were sharp, a faint smile still lingered on her lips.

The resentment she had felt at receiving no news despite extracting such a firm promise was long forgotten.

“Well…… if I’m really bored and have nothing to do…… I might write a letter.”

Even now, Elia couldn’t be honest with herself.