Opposite to where the Tane’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Duke Parse were seated, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Administrator of the Karsik Empire were sitting. The aide who followed them also took a seat.

The Karsik Empire officials were all wearing formal attire.

“How is His Majesty’s condition?”

“Fortunately, His Majesty is fine. He’s currently taking a sedative and resting. It was lucky that the attacker was blind.”

A woman? It’s not Lord Eden then.

“Let me see the assassin.”

“It’s not worth Your Majesty’s time. It’s just a blind old woman from the Hun tribe…”

“Hun tribe?”

A blind old woman from the Hun tribe.

Harchen recalled the blind lutist. The old woman had gone to the Tane annex with the imperial physician to treat Patrick. If she had stayed in the palace after returning, she must be the one who attempted the assassination.

But why?

Harchen decided that he should take the blind old woman with him.

“How about executing her on the spot…”

“The Karsik Empire’s Round Table will judge and decide. Well, instead of discussing it here, Aide! Move the assassin to Bihar Prison for now.”

“No, Your Majesty of the Karsik Empire. Either execute that Hun in front of me or we will take her back to Tane.”

The Emperor smiled expressionlessly. It was an arrogant smile that froze those who saw it. He leaned back comfortably and crossed his long legs.

“Empress Pamila Lasbur, both empires’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs happen to be here.”

The Emperor slowly looked at the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Tane and Karsik as if confirming, then shot a cold look at Pamila, who was twirling a few strands of her red hair around her index finger.

“In fact, there are no legal provisions regarding disputes between empires and kingdoms on the Arkan continent. Prince Patrick of Tane and I have discussed establishing continental and imperial laws. But that’s something for Prince Patrick and me to do in the future.”

‘Why is he bringing that up now? What does that have to do with this incident?’

As Harchen spoke of Patrick casually like a friend, the evil empress’s expression hardened.

“If my memory serves me right, the Kaoshan mining rights contract was signed under the name of Pamila Lasbur as the head of the Lasbur trading company, not as the Empress. Is that correct?”

Pamila couldn’t answer and rolled her red hair. Her lips twisted fiercely, irritated as no clever solution came to mind.

“I guess you didn’t read the additional clauses properly then. As far as I know, sub-clause 2 clearly states that in case of disputes during the 5-year mining period, Karsik Empire law will be followed. It’s specified to take effect from the day the contract is signed.”

The Emperor sat up straight from his backrest. Pamila glared at the Tane Minister of Foreign Affairs sitting next to her. As he nodded, her expression grew even sharper.

“Do you understand now that I’ve explained it? Aide, move the assassin.”

“Yes, as Your Majesty wishes.”

As the aide and Bern bowed to the Emperor and left, the Emperor spoke to Pamila.

“I’m sure medical staff has arrived from Tane, but I’ll send the imperial physician. Feel free to ask for anything you need. Now, I’ll take my leave.”

Harchen hurried, unlike his usual self, worried that someone might try to stop him from behind.

He went out to the Duse Palace garden and mounted his horse. The aide who had been receiving the victim approached the Emperor on horseback.

“Your Majesty, are you heading to your office?”

“No. I’ll stop by Aster Palace first.”

“Your Majesty. You said you’d hold a Round Table meeting…”

Harchen leaned down to pull the aide’s ear and spoke in a low voice.

“Last night was the wedding night… I’ll wash up, have a meal, and come back. Prepare for the Round Table meeting slowly and buy some time.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

As Harchen rode off, Lean followed. On the way, they encountered Calip rushing towards them. Harchen pretended not to see Calip right in front of him and kept riding.

But why is Calip’s face so pale blue?

Now that he knew the attacker was a blind old woman from the Hun tribe, he had to tell Patricia. He disliked even the thought of her worrying about the platinum-haired guy. Harchen spurred his horse and galloped.

.

.

.

Patricia was holding the blanket tightly with an anxious heart when Eva opened the bedroom door and entered, causing her to burst into tears she had been holding back.

“Eva, what should I do? Patrick, Eden…”

“Princess Risha. No, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Eva rushed over and hugged Patricia, skipping the formalities. Anna, seeing them, decided she should handle the wedding night confirmation procedure alone without informing the Empress.

“Rising morning sun, Your Majesty the Empress! Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Anna.”

“Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?”

“Well… that’s a bit difficult to say.”

“I’m asking if I should call the imperial physician. It’s fine as long as there’s no severe pain.”

“I don’t think there’s a need to call the imperial physician.”

“Would you like Eva to assist you with bathing? I’ll take care of tidying the bedroom and the wedding night confirmation procedure.”

“I’d appreciate that. I was worried about it.”

Eva knew the procedure for the day after the imperial wedding night. It wouldn’t be much different from the Tane imperial court.

Eva had been a lady-in-waiting to Empress Aldisha when she was Annie’s current age.

Aldisha had dreaded the wedding night and was sharp with the court physician and head lady-in-waiting who examined the secret sheets and inspected her body the next day. Now Anna was saying she would handle it herself and omit that.

“Would two hours be enough for breakfast? The head chef has arrived and is preparing.”

“Yes, that’s plenty. Thank you, Head Lady-in-waiting.”

Eva brought a bathrobe and wrapped it around Patricia’s body, helping her up.

In the dressing room, Patricia grabbed Eva’s arm.

“Eva. Father… His Majesty was attacked.”

“I heard while waiting.”

“Could it have been Patrick and Eden?”

“No. Prince Patrick is… I’ll tell you inside.”

As they entered the bathroom, Eva exclaimed in admiration.

“This is more like a garden than a bathroom.”

Water flowed like a stream on both sides of the path leading to the bathtub, with broad-leaved aquatic plants and mildly scented flowering trees.

Morning sunlight poured in through the full glass ceiling of the bathtub, and there were curtains to block the light if needed.

Located in the northern part of the continent with severe cold, even in midsummer, the underground water from melted glaciers made one’s spine shiver when dipping hands in the cold water.

The Golden Empire’s royal family paid particular attention to bathrooms. According to Head Lady-in-waiting Anna, even White Palace was newly renovated after the royal marriage was decided, and the Emperor would visit the construction site whenever he had time.

A maid had already prepared warm water, sprinkled foam and golden flowers, spreading a subtle floral scent.

Eva sent away the maid standing by to assist with the bath, then helped Patricia remove her bathrobe.

Patricia, feeling somewhat shy to show her body to Eva, burrowed into the foam. As the warmth of the water touched her body, she finally felt the ache all over as if she had been beaten.

“Your Majesty, respond calmly no matter what happens. Always take time and distance to ascertain the truth first. This will help you maintain an objective perspective. Emotions should be managed as momentary feelings.”

“Mmm, I will.”

“Emperor Kazan was only attacked, and Prince Patrick and Lord Eden wouldn’t have attempted something so reckless and bound to fail regarding the royal marriage.”

“You’re right, Eden wouldn’t fail.”

“Above all, Your Majesty is currently on your honeymoon. You had your wedding night yesterday.”

Patricia tried to hide her embarrassment by burrowing into the white foam and nodding towards the ceiling.

“Hmm, Eva. Look at the ceiling.”

Eva, who was stroking Patricia’s hair to wash it, craned her neck to look and was amazed.

“It’s incredible. You can see the whole sky. How did they come up with this idea? But won’t water fall when it rains?”

“Surely they wouldn’t have made it so water falls. It must be beautiful on rainy days. We should come back here when it rains or snows.”

Eva felt choked up at the thought of leaving for Tane, away from Patricia, whom she had cared for since she was a newborn for twenty-five years.

Despite Empress Aldisha’s strict education, controlling her diet and snacks since childhood out of concern for her weight exceeding Patrick’s, Patricia never lost her spirit. She always had a naturally vibrant energy and remained cheerful.

When Patricia would go out in armor to observe wars, Eva felt as if her fluttering heart was hanging on the tip of a branch until Patricia returned.

From Eva’s sharp observation, the Emperor seemed completely smitten with Patricia, and the ladies-in-waiting seemed fine too.

The youngest, Alesia, might be tiring to deal with due to her abundant knowledge and talkativeness, but she would have her own moral standards. The second princess, Carolina, might seem fussy, but as long as her pride wasn’t hurt, she wouldn’t care about anything but herself.

She might even leave the palace soon for marriage.

As expected, the concerning ones were the Empress Dowager and Princess Isabella. Eva had seen the Empress Dowager smile gently at Patricia during their few meetings, but turn away with a frown and twisted lips.

Isabella had been kind and affectionate to Patricia so far, but according to what Eva heard from the maids, she had no intention of returning to the Rubelin Kingdom. Her unfortunate life was a cause for concern.

Women unhappy with their own lives tend to harbor foolish jealousy, thinking that women smiling beside them are mocking them.

At least the Emperor, who could be the strongest support, had a solid affection for Patricia. Eva quite liked that.

“Eva. Did you go to Notos Palace yesterday by any chance?”

“No. Annie started dozing off early in the evening yesterday, then collapsed like a sick chicken. I dragged her to White Palace and put her to bed. She must have been very tense due to Your Majesty’s wedding and then relaxed.”

“Annie’s eyes were all swollen from crying.”

“She was sleeping so deeply, dead to the world. Oh right, there was a commotion because of Prince Patrick yesterday.”

“Why Patrick?”

Eva told her about the rumors that spread like wildfire overnight about Patrick and Carolina’s romantic encounter on the terrace.

“That can’t be. Surely Patrick… No, you’re right. The atmosphere was strange when they were waltzing.”

“Your Majesty and Prince Patrick’s waltz was by far the best. Everyone there will never forget the sight of you two yesterday for the rest of their lives.”

“Patrick and I do dance well. But His Majesty, hehe, he danced a bit roughly.”

Eva applied lotion to a silk cloth and gently lathered it, then grabbed Patricia’s arm and was shocked. There were bite marks all over her arms.

Eva tried to examine Patricia’s body without her noticing, but was so surprised that she involuntarily cried out.

“So many! Doesn’t it hurt?”

The red and purple marks on her arms, nape, chest, and back vividly revealed the events of the previous night.

“On such delicate and fair skin… My goodness.”

Patricia, unperturbed by Eva’s shocked expression, replied nonchalantly.

“It doesn’t hurt. And I did the same to His Majesty’s body.”

“Oh my.”