The marquis sneered, exaggerating his surprise. A flustered Lady Melady hurriedly shook her head.

“Th-there was no such thing!”

As far as she knew, the duke dismissed all knights from the floor when inhaling the drug.

Moreover, the idea that such a sensitive duke would keep a separate knight in his room was something she had never heard of or seen.

“Anyway, three of the men I sent died. At this point, my losses are so severe that I should be receiving money from you!”

Suddenly, the marquis picked up the ashtray on the desk and threw it. With a loud bang that split the air, the startled Lady Melady clutched her trembling chest.

“The actual victim is staying quiet…… yet you dare come here?”

The marquis, who had seemed relaxed, suddenly exploded in anger.

In truth, he hadn’t expected success with just one assassination attempt. He had merely verified Lady Melady’s information because the duke had been bothering him.

However, after losing three skilled swordsmen in the process, his anger surged anew.

“That…… can’t be……”

Lady Melady repeatedly muttered with a confused face. Though she was ignorant about martial arts, she couldn’t think of any knight so formidable except perhaps the knight commander.

“Get her out.”

As the marquis waved his hand dismissively with a disgusted face, one of the men standing behind roughly grabbed her arm and pulled.

She pleaded for the sake of her son, who would be in danger without money, but the marquis remained adamant. Being pushed by the men through the corridor, Lady Melady desperately searched her memories.

‘A skilled fighter I don’t know about…… Such a person……’

At that moment, one person flashed through her mind.

Recalling the maid who practiced combat, Lady Melady hurriedly said to the man walking ahead.

“I have something to tell the marquis. In that mansion…… there’s a maid named Flora…… Yes, I need to tell him about that girl.”

Just as Lady Melady turned around saying she would report again, a terrible pain spread from her back.

With a choke, Lady Melady spat blood and looked down at her stomach. The blade that had pierced through her body gleamed, then quickly pulled back out.

“That girl…… you should watch your language. Noble folks, all of them have such filthy mouths.”

Looking down at her collapsed on the floor, the man in the robe muttered to himself.

“Hey, there was no order to kill her?”

The person standing next to him whispered in panic, but the man in the black robe nonchalantly wiped his blood-soaked sword on the hem of his robe.

“She talks too much. She’s an old woman who was going to die soon anyway.”

“If the marquis finds out about this……”

“He’ll squawk noisily.”

The man answered as if it didn’t matter.

Just then, the moonlight that had been hidden by clouds brightly illuminated the dark corridor. Seeing the troublesome bloodstains spreading on the floor, the man let out a long sigh.

“Ah, this is annoying…… Good timing. You clean it up.”

The man cheerfully patted his colleague’s shoulder and walked away in the opposite direction. The sword in his hands, clasped behind his head, swung lightly with his brisk steps.

Soon, even the sound of a light whistle could be heard, and the man left behind shook his head as if disgusted.

“Living up to the mad man of the rumors.”

Though he was quite a bad person himself, that man who killed people without blinking an eye was the true madman.

* * *

The hot days continued one after another. As the late summer heat began to intensify, people at the duke’s mansion also started to droop.

After finishing her morning duties and filling her stomach with the pie Michael had made, Flora went to the entrance upon receiving the butler’s call.

There, the butler was conversing with a man she had never seen before.

“This is for you.”

Flora accepted the large box Deverik handed her with a puzzled expression. The messenger, who said he came from the imperial palace, bowed his head to her and left.

Shortly after, servants who had slipped outside looked at the departing ornate carriage with surprised eyes.

“That looks like a carriage from the imperial family? That gold-embossed emblem is the imperial insignia.”

“It came for Flora, not the master?”

The news that an imperial messenger had come for Flora, not the duke, revived the faces of employees who had been listless from the heat.

“Flora, open it quickly.”

At her colleagues’ urging, Flora gently untied the elegantly wrapped red ribbon.

When she opened the lid of the box, exclamations immediately burst forth.

“My goodness, what is all this?”

“The color is so beautiful.”

Inside was a light purple dress that sparkled subtly. It was a high-quality garment made of light summer material, yet properly lined to prevent transparency.

When she opened the sealed thread of the envelope placed on top and unfolded the letter, gold-painted letters were revealed.

[We invite Miss Flora to the imperial palace tea party.]

There was no recipient’s name written, but it was clearly sent by someone of high status at a glance.

“Could it be from His Majesty?”

The maids, who knew that Flora had previously attended a banquet as the duke’s escort, asked with excited faces.

Flora shook her head with a face that showed she had no idea, then asked the butler who stood solemnly.

“This…… am I allowed to go?”

“It’s an invitation sent directly to you. I’ll inform the master separately.”

Currently, the duke was away from the mansion, seemingly busy with something. Since he sometimes stayed away for long periods, the butler would send someone separately if there was business to convey.

“They said they’ll come at the appointed time tomorrow, so prepare with this dress. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Deverik smiled gently and nodded, telling her not to worry.

The next day, Flora finished getting ready with the help of her colleagues and stood in front of the carriage.

“I’m not sure if it’s alright for me to go to the imperial palace alone.”

“Where are you going?”

Just then, Baren’s voice came from the entrance.

Looking quite suspiciously at Flora dressed as if she were a noble lady, he asked.

“Why are you going to the imperial palace?”

“She was invited. To a tea party personally hosted by His Majesty.”

Mary answered on Flora’s behalf with a disgruntled voice, as Baren always looked at Flora with scary eyes.

“You’re going there?”

After a while of disbelieving expression, Baren frowned after seeing the invitation the butler showed him. He too had received the same invitation today.

“Why are you also going to the tea party I’m attending?”

“Sir Baren, you were also invited?”

“I received the invitation a few days ago and am on my way after personally obtaining permission from my lord.”

The expressions of Flora and the maids all became strange at once.

Deverik, looking rather pleased, gave a light bow.

“That’s fortunate. I was concerned about sending Flora alone, but if Sir Baren goes with her, it will be much more reassuring.”

“……Are you telling me to take her along?”

Though Baren’s expression hardened as if he had suddenly been treated as a guardian, he didn’t refuse.

* * *

The place where Baren and Flora stepped foot, guided by a servant, was a rear garden where rose branches were in full bloom.

As soon as they passed through the arch-shaped entrance where red rose vines climbed, they saw outdoor seats arranged on an open lawn.

About a dozen people had already taken their seats at the long table set under a purple canopy that blocked the hot sun, and the emperor sat at the head.

“If any troublesome situation arises inside, don’t even think about relying on me.”

Baren, who hadn’t spoken a word throughout the journey together, left this warning and entered first. In response to his chilly attitude, Flora missed the duke who had accompanied her previously.

“Baren Kussent stands before Your Majesty the Emperor, the true ruler of Lezentra.”

“It’s been a while, Sir Baren.”

The emperor, who had been sitting leisurely, opened his mouth cheerfully at Baren’s greeting.

His gaze, upon discovering Flora, carefully examined her appearance. The corners of his mouth turned up, seemingly satisfied with how she looked in the dress he had sent.

In contrast, the expressions of others attending the tea party became puzzled. This was understandable as everyone gathered here were all children of famous families.

Among them, Rosaline bit her lip, nearly crying out at the appearance of the woman she had tried to kill.

‘Why is that woman here?’

Having come out thinking it was just a simple tea gathering, Rosaline felt irritation surge as she witnessed with her own eyes the woman who should have been dead appearing with a perfectly fine face, and at a gathering hosted by His Majesty the Emperor no less.

The emperor, on the other hand, began with a very pleased expression.

“Having everyone gathered like this makes me happy. It’s good to be with young people occasionally.”

The emperor often invited noble youths of similar age to enjoy tea.

Even those of similar age were excluded if they held titles. The frivolous reason was that he didn’t want to hear troublesome political talk.

Flora greeted with proper etiquette and sat in the chair pulled out by a servant. Though everyone was a stranger to her, she had met the woman sitting across from her before.