“Welcome, Crown Princess. It feels like it’s been ages since we last saw each other face to face.”

The Empress greeted Anita with a bright smile. Anita bowed deeply to the empress, who was wearing a simple yet elegant violet-colored gown.

“This autumn monsoon shows no sign of ending. So today, I thought we might retreat to my greenhouse.”

She led Anita towards the glass conservatory within the imperial residence. Renowned for its beauty, the Empress’s private greenhouse was indeed a marvel.

Regardless of the weather outside, the air inside remained warm and fragrant, and roses and countless other blooms flourished in every corner.

“This place is smaller than the outer gardens but it’s one of the few spaces I can truly call my own. The Emperor had it expanded for me as a gift when I entered the palace, it holds a rather special meaning.”

As they strolled through the blooming rows, Anita noticed that the Empress seemed to be in high spirits.

Even her restrained attire set her apart from others in the palace that season. The striking violet hue of her gown had been achieved using a rare and costly pigment. Although she was wearing fewer ornaments than usual, the jewels she had chosen were large, luminous and refined.

“The current Empress of Laxion is a blood relative of the late Empress Ines. However, it seems the two were not on good terms. They had utterly opposing political stances, and when they were stripped of their titles, they became rivals for the same man. Therefore, Your Highness, you should bear this in mind and act with caution when you visit Laxion.”

That conversation resurfaced in Anita’s mind. She remembered that the late Empress Ines and the current Empress were related. With that memory came the forbidden whispers that had once circulated through the palace.

Nobody dared speak about the scandal involving the late Empress, the reigning Empress and the Emperor himself.

“Your Highness, I heard that the Second Prince bore the Marquis’s family name from the late Empress’s side when he was young. Everyone tries to keep this quiet, but the official court almanac lists his age as six years younger than it truly is. That’s the loophole usually used to legitimize a child born out of wedlock, isn’t it? So, does that mean that the current Empress—”

“Renee. That’s not something to be spoken aloud.”

In both Laxion and Callithea, the law recognized only one wife per man. This never stopped anyone from keeping mistresses or fathering illegitimate children, however, and both kingdoms had more than their fair share of these.

Legally, however, mistresses had no standing and could not claim any of a wife’s rights. Their children could only inherit their father’s name with the consent of the wife or by bending the law. Even the royal families were no exception.

In neighboring nations such as the Duchy of Lenoir, and in countries further afield, official concubinage remained an accepted institution. Yet Laxion and Callithea allowed no such system.

The difference lay in faith. According to the doctrine of the Asterian Church, Callithea considered concubinage to be a grave sin.

However, Laxion had practized it legally in the distant past, so it was not viewed with the same level of abhorrence.

Thus, with imperial approval, several illegitimate sons and daughters were acknowledged as lawful offspring, albeit stripped of succession rights.

One zealot once proclaimed, “Emperor Erun’s reign was golden because he kept himself apart from that foolish faith built by women. In his day, the royal princes were countless, the line of succession secure and overflowing. We must return to that era! Enough of bowing to an unseen goddess, this hollow faith has made us weak and stagnant!’”

Concubinage was only abolished after the Asterian Church took root and flourished in Laxion.

Nevertheless, radicals longing to ‘restore the old empire’ still called for a return to the age before the goddess’s faith, an ideology that coincided with the faction supporting Cedric and his call for more centralized imperial rule.

“Crown Princess?”

The Empress’s voice pulled Anita back from her thoughts. Lost in worry and wandering speculation, she realized too late that the Empress had been speaking all along about her beloved greenhouse.

“What weighs on your mind so deeply? Are you unwell?”

“It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I was merely captivated by how beautiful the flowers are here. Forgive me for troubling you with needless concern.”

The Empress studied Anita with a look of gentle benevolence. Then she reached out and clasped the younger woman’s hand.

“Leave us.”

The sudden touch caused Anita to stiffen in surprise. The Empress held her gaze for a moment before signaling for her attendants and Renee to leave. Once they were alone, she led Anita towards a nearby sofa.

“Crown Princess, I know how troubled you must have been lately. They say the situation in Callithea has grown dire, haven’t they?”

At the mention of her homeland, Anita fell silent. Her eyes flickered with conflict. Should she ask for help now, here?

Sensing the turmoil behind that hesitation, the Empress gave her hand a reassuring pat.

“I’ve been reflecting on things, you see. I realized that I have been neglecting my crown princess.”

“Please, Your Majesty, don’t say such things.”

“No, it’s true. I failed to give you proper care. Worse still, there were times I deliberately turned a blind eye. The atmosphere in Laxion has made it… difficult.”

Anita did not trust the Empress. Although the woman often seemed friendly, Anita knew that her intentions were never straightforward. Nevertheless, she could not stop herself from being swayed because Callithea was crumbling, and her fear for her homeland was stronger than her caution.

“In any case, it isn’t too late. From now on, I intend to take a more active interest. After all, Callithea is your homeland, as well as being an ally of Laxion. Moreover, it is the land most beloved by the goddess herself. As her faithful servant, it is only right that I show my concern.”

The Empress’s words worked their subtle magic, feeding the unease already gripping Anita’s heart. She sensed ulterior motives beneath that calm voice, yet she could not help but wonder: what if the Empress truly meant it? After all, the Empress was a devout follower of the Asterian faith.

“But.”

The Empress added at last, and Anita’s hands trembled slightly in hers.

“It’s not something I can manage alone, Crown Princess.”

“Not alone…?”

“You’ve heard, I’m sure, that Gerard has moved several times to send aid to Callithea.”

The Empress’s tone softened, though her eyes glinted faintly.

“He has done more for your country than anyone else. And oh, how furious I’ve been over it! He’s a prince of royal blood, yet those vile commoners call him a traitor and accuse him of betraying his kingdom!”

“…”

“In light of the current situation, we can no longer rely on Gerard. He’s still far too gentle and soft-hearted compared to his elder brother. With attacks coming at him from every direction…”

She clicked her tongue in frustration. Since he entered politics, Gerard had attracted as much hostility as attention.

What had once been simple criticism of his extravagance and artistic indulgence had grown into a ruthless political ass*ult.

He was accused of misusing Callithean aid funds, of being incompetent, and of his aides being corrupt. Most cutting of all, there were whispers of a scandal linking him to Anita herself.

Gerard was doing all he could merely to stay afloat beneath the weight of it all.

Anita’s expression clouded over with guilt when the rumor linking her to Gerard was mentioned.

The Empress studied her intently, then seized the initiative with cool, deliberate precision. She made it clear that Gerard could no longer be relied upon for help.

“And I am his mother, how could I ask him to shoulder this peril alone?”

A hush fell between them. Anita’s features clouded over further, and the Empress could not help but smile contemptuously to herself. ‘A mere trifle,’ she thought. No matter how pleasing the Crown Princess’s birth might be, if she stood in the way of Gerard, she would simply be discarded. However, she was not yet useless, so for the time being, she would be coaxed and exploited.

“Crown Princess, do not mistake my words for cruelty. I speak from the heart.”

“I will listen, Your Majesty.”

The Empress released her hand, allowing her smile to fade completely. A sense of authority hardened her features. Anita dipped her head slightly in response.

“Who could be more devoted to Calithea than you, Crown Princess? Your family and kin are there, so of course you would be worried.”

“……”

“Just be yourself! You haven’t been in Laxion for very long, so it’s normal to still feel a little uncomfortable. However, it is precisely because you are the Crown Princess that you must take action. If you do, I will support you.”

The Empress’s gaze was at once tender and resolute enough to convince someone who was already feeling uncertain. Anita said nothing. The Empress peered at her for a moment, her brow briefly knitting as if she were puzzled by how little Anita revealed. Then she resumed speaking.

“When I say you must act, it is because regardless of what anyone says you are the prince’s wife. You are his nearest.”

“……”

“I know the Crown Prince’s temper is far from ordinary, but if you do nothing, regret will be all that remains.”

When the Empress mentioned Cedric, Anita’s composure visibly cracked. Noticing how shaken she was, the Empress clicked her tongue inwardly. She had already made up her mind: the Crown Princess’s or Gerard’s flaws were of no consequence. Such transparent affection was useful.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, I am slow to grasp your meaning. Please, explain further.”

“Crown Princess, I would, if I could, send troops and supplies to Callithea at once.”

“……”

“But the Crown Prince stands in firm opposition. He commands those loyal to him to obstruct and oppose every move. That is why even the Emperor hesitates to decide.”

“…”

“Therefore, as his wife, persuade the Crown Prince. Obtain his consent so that Callithea can be helped.”

The more the Empress spoke, the heavier a shadow fell across Anita’s face. Did she not already know about this course of action? She had already tried. The responses she had received were nothing but humiliation, sneers, and unmistakable hatred.

‘He’s terrified, all right. Considering his temper, who wouldn’t be? But if I give up now, I’ll be the one who suffers.’