“Rather than entrusting her to a petty man who won’t even extend a hand to an injured woman, it would be better if I take her myself.”

Sharen put down the tea she was about to drink at the Emperor’s voice, which unfailingly stirred up her thoughts just when she was about to forget.

If someone were to ask what was so unpleasant, Sharen could confidently answer, “Everything from start to finish.”

From the Emperor treating her, the monarch of an allied nation, as an enemy to protect a mere maid, to personally carrying Cassalin with those precious hands that supposedly don’t even tie their own shoelaces.

‘I really don’t understand.’

She had merely intended to give Cassalin a slight warning.

It was only natural to hold Cassalin accountable for standing by stupidly while the Queen slipped and fell into the water.

Sharen’s principle was that Cassalin wouldn’t be discouraged by a few words of scolding, and since she was an inherently brazen woman, she needed to be educated strictly in this way.

‘But what, a petty man?’

How could someone who is an Emperor utter such a rude remark.

The reason her heart had been unpleasantly burning ever since that day must surely be because of Farnes’s insult. Sharen believed this without a doubt, and suddenly raised her head at Rose’s call coming from right beside her.

“Your Majesty, how is it?”

“Hm, what?”

“What have you been thinking about for so long? I must have asked a hundred times which accessory would suit Rose well.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I had something to think about for a moment. Let me see.”

An announcement came from the imperial palace that they would postpone the previously scheduled ball and instead move up the reading event.

The reading event, which was no different from the first official event of this year’s grand celebration season, was quite an important occasion as it was a good opportunity to become acquainted with and show presence to major nobles from other countries.

Sharen approached his wife, who had been bustling about in front of the mirror all morning, trying on this dress and those shoes, seemingly tireless.

“I think this brooch would suit you well.”

“Then I’ll wear that brooch tomorrow. You see, I only need to look pretty in Your Majesty’s eyes.”

“You even know how to say such cute things. You adorable thing.”

When with Rose, Sharen could escape from complex thoughts.

She was simple, and if you praised her well with a few words, she would often act cute and smile, so it was not burdensome to play with her.

Although he felt great regret when the engagement with Cassalin was broken off, the more he reflected, the more he realized that taking Rose as his wife was truly a good decision.

If he had been eternally chained to Cassalin, who never loses an argument, as her husband, he would surely have fallen ill early, unable to endure the conflict with her.

‘By the way, why is Cassalin late? It’s about time she should come to attend to Rose.’

Just as ominous thoughts began to fill Sharen’s mind, wondering if she was again dallying somewhere with the Emperor on the pretext of slightly falling at the stream that day.

“It’s Cassalin. I’m coming in.”

Hearing Cassalin’s voice approaching as she crossed the threshold, Sharen quickly uttered words of permission. And as if to show someone, he swiftly pulled Rose’s waist and embraced her.

While playfully nibbling on Rose’s cheeks and around her ears as she blushed like a young girl, he felt Cassalin, who had changed into a neat dinner dress, approaching.

Sharen pretended to be engrossed in teasing Rose, laughing softly, and glanced sideways at Cassalin to gauge the emotion on her face.

But Cassalin was silently organizing Rose’s belongings, not paying any attention to where they were.

Sharen cleared his throat awkwardly as he detached from Rose, glancing at Cassalin and coughing once more.

Finally, Cassalin’s eyes turned this way, and Sharen pretended not to look at her, putting his hands behind his back and gazing at distant mountains.

He said:

“Why are you so late? The Queen has been waiting for a long time.”

“I felt a cold coming on, so I stopped by the apothecary.”

“Enough with the excuses, come here and tie the Queen’s shoelaces.”

Cassalin put down what she was doing and silently walked over to kneel at Rose’s feet.

Leaning against the wall, Sharen subtly observed Cassalin’s back as she tidied Rose’s shoelaces.

The curve of her skirt falling abundantly from her slender waist particularly held his gaze for a long time.

“Excuse me.”

At that moment, a servant outside knocked lightly. Sharen, slowly tearing his gaze away from Cassalin, told them to come in.

However, the person who appeared through the opening door was neither a servant nor anyone else, but Emperor Farnes.

Surprised by the unexpected visitor, Sharen quickly straightened up from his languid position against the wall.

Farnes, who was crossing the room with his characteristically steady gait, neither slow nor fast, slowly stopped upon discovering Cassalin tying Rose’s shoelaces.

Cassalin, still kneeling at Rose’s feet, merely bowed her head slightly towards Farnes.

Farnes briefly looked at her with an indifferent gaze, then soon shifted his eyes to Rose as if he had no business with her.

“Queen Riche. I have an urgent matter I’d like to discuss with you, if you have the time.”

Rose was startled.

She had been keeping her mouth shut primly, thinking that if he had business, it would be with His Majesty Sharen, but now felt a not unpleasant interest and curiosity welling up in her chest.

What could this cold-blooded Emperor, who had been indifferent throughout, want with her?

“O-Of course. What is the matter?”

Farnes, who was about to open his mouth, slowly closed and opened his eyes, looking around the room where several servants were standing.

Then, addressing everyone except Rose, he said:

“If possible, I’d like to talk privately, quietly. Would you all please leave?”

Rose crossed the corridor so quickly that it was doubtful whether she was really the person who had slipped and sprained her leg in the water.

The place where her hurried footsteps stopped was Cassalin’s room.

“Elder sister!”

As she burst in, flinging the door open with a highly agitated voice, Cassalin, who was sitting at the desk, raised her head.

She closed the book she was reading and stood up.

“Did you have a good conversation with His Majesty the Emperor? It ended earlier than expected.”

“Never mind that, elder sister. Do you know what this reading event is about?”

Seeing Rose flustered with her cheeks flushed red, Cassalin felt puzzled but nodded nonetheless.

“Yes. It’s a meaningful event where one composes a piece about the history or theology of the Western Continent, and recites it in the presence of distinguished guests from various countries, followed by a time of healthy discussion. But why…?”

“No, listen! The Emperor asked me to write a piece as the representative of the Khan Kingdom! He said nonsense like he’s expecting great cultivation from the newly enthroned Queen! When he said he wanted to talk privately, I wondered what it could be about!”

As Rose paced around the room, venting her frustration, Cassalin tilted her head slightly.

How strange. He didn’t seem like the type to take a personal interest in Rose.

Cassalin shrugged towards Rose, harboring a small doubt in a corner of her mind.

“His Majesty the Emperor didn’t say anything unreasonable.”

“What?”

“Asking you to give a speech in front of distinguished guests from various countries is rather a way of giving special treatment to Your Majesty the Queen. It’s also a gesture of wanting to give a good opportunity to a newly enthroned Queen. It’s a fortunate thing.”

“F-fortunate?”

Seeing Rose unable to close her mouth, Cassalin couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

It might be a bolt from the blue for you, if no one else. Ever since you were young, you were always quick to feign illness whenever there were reading or writing lessons.

Moreover, this year’s theme is history and theology, which she dislikes to the point of abhorrence.

She’ll probably struggle quite a bit with composing the piece.

Still, if she manages to do well, it would undoubtedly be an opportunity.

“If you successfully complete the recitation this time, you’ll receive high praise from the ministers of various countries, and your reputation as Queen will improve as well. Congratulations. Do your best.”

“D-do my best? Elder sister, you’re pushing your job onto me right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“A lady-in-waiting, you know. It’s not just about helping with dressing up and being a conversation companion. You have an obligation to step in and resolve things when your master is in trouble. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“No. I don’t understand. His Majesty the Emperor said he wanted to see Your Majesty the Queen’s writing, not mine.”

Representing one’s country in a recitation at the reading event was one of the highest honors a major figure from each country could have. As it was a sacred occasion and one had to answer questions about the recitation and lead discussions, it was a principle for all representatives to prepare their recitations themselves. It was not something a lady-in-waiting could dare to interfere with.

As Cassalin showed signs of reluctance, Rose furrowed her brow.

“Elder sister. I’m really sorry, but I’m not feeling well right now. So please.”

Sharen and Rose had such strange ways of thinking.

Why did they think it was rebellion to say no to what couldn’t be done, and to call out what was wrong?

It was also an important duty of a lady-in-waiting to advise the Queen to fulfill her obligations. Why did they dismiss it as hysteria whenever it didn’t suit their convenience?

“Don’t you feel ashamed?”

“What?”

“I mean, a Queen of a country not having the confidence to write a single piece well and asking her lady-in-waiting to ghostwrite it. If it were me, I would have solved it on my own even if it meant staying up all night.”

Rose’s complexion turned pale and then flushed red again.

Cassalin stared straight at her face with her mouth closed, then suddenly a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“But if you really can’t do it, I’ll help you this one time.”

It was Rose who was rather taken aback by the unexpected answer.

As if she had only expected her to continue with presumptuous preaching to the end, she blinked her confused eyes at Cassalin, looking as if she wondered if Cassalin had eaten something wrong.

“Really?”

“Yes. However, as I have many shortcomings despite appearances, I can’t promise that I can write a perfect piece in just one day.”

But that should be fine with you, right?

Cassalin asked with her eyes wide open, a strange intense light flashing in them, and Rose, momentarily overwhelmed by that light, found herself nodding vaguely without realizing it.

“Um… yes. That’s fine. Then, though it might be difficult, I’ll ask for your help.”

Rose left the room with a much lighter heart, not understanding why but relieved that her elder sister had agreed to do it.

The heavy pendulum on the grandfather clock announced that it was now two o’clock in the morning.

Farnes walked alone down the corridor, where only a cool silence prevailed, save for the occasional wall lamp left on and the standing guards.

Where his steps halted was the path that led directly to the palace where Cassalin was staying.

At this late hour, entering without notice to where a foreign lady-in-waiting was staying was somewhat inappropriate, but then again, there was no one here who could dare to block the Emperor’s way.

“We greet Your Majesty the Emperor. Shall we call for Lady Cassalin Roberfon?”

At the guard’s question, Farnes made a light ‘shh’ sound between his teeth.

So as not to wake her.

He walked in like a ghost, muffling his footsteps.

The first thing to greet Farnes was a single lamp about to go out as its oil ran low.

Several sheets of paper neatly arranged at a perfect angle on the desk.

And there she was, sleeping uncomfortably hunched over in front of it.

“Mother…”

Farnes stood for a long time, silently gazing at Cassalin who was sleeping while whimpering like a child having a nightmare.

And belatedly, his gaze fell on the paper with writing on it.

A vein visibly bulged on Farnes’s forehead.