The next day.

Sezlin stared somewhat blankly at the mirror. The maid standing right beside her fidgeted anxiously.

“My lady?”

“……”
“My lady.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Sezlin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, gestured to the maid. Understanding the signal to continue, the maid quickly moved to her position.

Looking in the mirror, Sezlin could see Joanna standing behind her, working on her hair.

“How would you like your hair done, my lady?”

“Just leave it down. The dress is elaborate enough, so excessive decoration seems unnecessary.”

“Understood.”

Her long hair regained its luster after just a few brush strokes. While Joanna styled her hair, other maids busily moved about with makeup tools.

‘How absurd.’

As a cool cotton pad was placed on her cheek, Sezlin, with her eyes closed, involuntarily recalled the events from two days ago.

‘He doesn’t look like that at all.’

No matter how she thought about it, Ludwig was truly a peculiar person. Though he had supposedly held nothing but a sword his entire life, wasn’t a hero still human after all? He was at an age where one would expect certain desires, yet he was as stiff as a wooden block.

First, she was surprised by his comment that holding hands was enough. Then when she suggested moving on to other things, his body visibly stiffened. If it was obvious even to her, how must it have appeared to others?

It wasn’t that he was avoiding her out of embarrassment. Anyone could see it was tension from awkwardness.

‘Is that why he suggested we practice?’

He seemed quite strong in actual situations, but watching him practice, it was clear they needed to become accustomed to each other.

Since they never knew when the awkwardness might surface.

‘I was a bit surprised too.’

She had never considered herself sensitive to stimulation. After all, she thought all her nerves had died from years of *buse.

Especially when Ludwig caressed her, that ticklish sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt before. She barely managed to keep her face from freezing up.

‘We need more practice.’

There could be no room for inexperience. It was already problematic that her insides felt like turning whenever she saw Friedrich; this couldn’t become another obstacle.

If they practiced until they became comfortable with each other, wouldn’t things be much easier next time?

“Heh.”

Sezlin let out a light laugh and slowly opened her eyes. A light coral color had been applied to her eyelids.

“My lady. Marilyn is here.”

As the makeup was being finished, Marilyn, who had been away, returned.

“My lady.”

“You’re back?”

Marilyn glanced at the door once, then looked back at Sezlin.

“Yes, my lady. She’s coming here now.”

At Marilyn’s words, Sezlin raised one hand. The gentle brushing of her hair stopped. Rising from her dressing table, Sezlin inspected her attire.

The voluminous skirt pleased her quite well. Taking the fan offered by Joanna, Sezlin spoke.

“What I asked for?”

“It’s here, my lady.”

This time, Joanna held out a jewelry box that had been beside her. Inside the box, decorated with brilliant jewels, was a single ruby ring.

It was the ring she had previously requested from Ludwig. The gem sparkled brighter than ever in the sunlight. For something acquired in a hurry, it had a remarkably pleasing design.

A black-gloved hand descended before Marilyn. Having quickly put on nearby gloves, she approached the jewelry box.

Marilyn took out the ring and placed it on Sezlin’s index finger.

Then she removed some white powder that had been hidden inside her sleeve. After applying the powder to the surface, Marilyn adjusted her sleeve, indicating she was finished.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all, my lady.”

While Sezlin examined the ring, Marilyn bowed respectfully and glanced at her colleague. Joanna, who had been watching her from the corner of her eye, pressed her lips tightly together.
Because the glove itself was so ornate with lace and ribbons, it matched well with the ruby without any sense of incongruity.

“It’s beautiful.”

The well-cut ruby appeared quite valuable at first glance. Moreover, the design was simple without any rough edges.

It was exactly Sezlin’s style. If not for the plan, she would have wanted to keep it for herself.

‘He even got the color exactly right—red.’

So that anyone could see they were lovers. She appreciated the sensible choice of a ruby.

At that moment, as Marilyn had said, Violet returned from the main palace.

“You’re back?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Smiling broadly as usual, Violet quickly approached. Subtly pushing aside Marilyn who stood nearby, Violet positioned herself in front of Sezlin. With her wide, bright eyes, she looked so—

‘Insolent woman.’

Sezlin momentarily suppressed her inner voice.

“You were gone quite a while this time.”

“I’m sorry. It was an urgent summons.”

Despite being late herself, Violet justified her actions with a tone suggesting there was nothing wrong with it.

Marilyn, who had been pushed aside by her, frowned slightly. Joanna and the other maids also looked at Violet with uneasy eyes.

Everyone knew whom Sezlin wanted to attack here.

“Well, you’re back now, so it’s fine.”

Everyone except one person.

“Shall we go now?”

* * *

Normally, she would have greeted the morning leisurely, but not today.

Only one day remained until the auction.

Sezlin had deliberately proposed tea time with the Second Empress.

‘How will she respond?’

Though she had a separate objective, Sezlin also wanted to observe the Second Empress’s behavior. After practicing skinship with Ludwig, she had immediately called for her maid.

‘She accepted readily.’

Walking down the corridor, Sezlin carefully gathered her dress that dragged on the floor. She thought that if their situations were reversed, she too would have gladly agreed to meet if the Second Empress had asked.

After all, this was the perfect timing for them to explore each other. It would be awkward to call for Ludwig directly, so she had probably chosen Sezlin as the next best option.

<I’d love to. I happen to be free tomorrow morning.>

Perhaps that’s why arranging the tea party was quite easy. Since she had also suggested tea time during their previous meal together, there was nothing particularly unusual about it.

“This way, my lady.”

While following the main palace chamberlain, Sezlin continuously surveyed her surroundings.

The Second Empress resided in the main palace. Her office, located on the fourth floor, could only be reached by crossing the corridor and climbing the stairs on the opposite side.

‘This is the third floor.’

The place Violet had visited. According to Marilyn, the sound of footsteps had stopped on the third floor. She must have reported somewhere around here.

‘?’

Pretending to admire the corridor, Sezlin rolled her eyes.

‘The door…’

It was open.

Her sharp gaze fixed on the chamberlain.

Like in noble houses, the imperial palace also had a rule that all doors must be kept closed. Showing the inside of a room was considered revealing one’s vulnerabilities.

Moreover, this was the main palace, wasn’t it? The place where royalty and nobles passed by most frequently. According to protocol, all doors should have been closed.

But what Sezlin saw was clearly a room with an open door. The chamberlain, who noticed this at the same time, hurriedly moved forward. Just then, a shoulder suddenly protruded next to
Sezlin.

“Ah!”

“!”

Violet, who had instinctively stepped forward, belatedly looked at her. Sezlin frowned, having been pushed aside by Violet. Violet, who had been opening and closing her mouth, quickly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“…It’s alright.”

Trailing off, Sezlin subtly brushed against the tip of Violet’s hand. Startled, Violet failed to notice this movement. Sezlin’s hand flowed like water toward a small pouch.

At that moment, Joanna and Marilyn, who had been behind them, approached as if they had been waiting for this.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

“I’m fine.”

Sezlin glanced sideways and shot a look at Violet.

“The door was open, so Violet must have been startled too.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Unusually attentive to the atmosphere, Violet stepped back.

Meanwhile, the chamberlain, who had quickly closed the door, bowed to Sezlin. His gaze, which had been directed at the floor, gradually changed to one of reproach. The chamberlain gestured to Violet and spoke.

“I apologize, my lady.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Pretending to respond, Sezlin glanced at Joanna. Joanna’s eyes rolled toward Violet.

Violet was biting her lip. And her reproachful expression was certainly suspicious.

“Let’s go. The Second Empress will be waiting.”

“This way, please follow me.”

The chamberlain, having barely calmed his racing heart, looked ahead again. Violet also quietly returned to her place.

But to Sezlin’s eyes, nothing could have been more obvious. Watching the behavior of the two, Sezlin smiled faintly.

‘As I suspected.’

It was revealed that the accomplice was the main palace chamberlain. Given that even Violet had stepped forward, that place must be their point of connection.

‘Well, that’s settled for now.’

Carefully climbing the stairs, Sezlin stared at the silent back ahead of her.

Now that she knew who the accomplice was, all that remained was to drive in the wedge. Taking a deep breath, Sezlin climbed the final step.

Then a scene completely different from the lower floor greeted her. Despite climbing just one floor, the view was incomparable to any other place. It was antique and elegant. However, its excessive luxury subtly distorted that impression.

The Second Empress’s maid approached upon seeing the chamberlain. Welcoming Sezlin, saying they had been waiting, the maid naturally opened the door.

“Welcome, Sezlin.”