In that moment, Ines stood there with her mouth agape, unable to utter a single word. She wanted to pretend everything was fine, but she couldn’t even force a feeble smile. The documents she held with trembling hands felt as heavy as stones.

〈Your family’s name is also inside.〉

〈…….〉

〈The Empress appoints your family as the Lord of Landhill.〉

Eventually, she closed her eyes tightly.

In a world full of contempt and malice towards Ines Swenden, Carson von Raymond was once again reaching out to her.

To elevate her to the highest position alongside him.

〈It won’t be an easy path.〉

The final words of the Emperor hung like thorns around Ines’s neck. The desire to hold Carson’s hand and the guilt that it shouldn’t be, created a sharp conflict.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

Even to her own ears, Ines’ suddenly resolute voice made Carson chuckle.

“What else now?”

“I’ll be by the Empress’s side for the rest of my life. A place where I’ll never leave.”

As water stopped dripping from the water bottle the Emperor was holding, his back showed a slight stiffness.

The moment Carson declared that she would become his Empress, Ines saw what would unfold. She couldn’t put him in a predicament, yet she couldn’t leave his side either.

“But, for you to become my woman is not yet deci…”

“I’ll be the Empress. Definitely!”

The last comment of the Emperor weighed heavily on Ines’s mind. The conflicting desires to hold Carson’s hand and to avoid committing such a sin were sharp.

“What… Emperor?”

Surprised, Carson seemed oblivious to the overflowing water on the table.

“Emperor.”

“You, did you become a man without me knowing?”

To her, it was a serious concern, but it might have sounded amusing to him.

However, she remained consistently serious.

From the moment she decided to be Carson’s Empress, the conclusion of her contemplation had begun. The Emperor hadn’t employed a male attendant as his closest aide. So, the closest place to the Emperor could only be the position of a court lady.

“There’s no document or law stating that the Court Lady must be a man.”

“Ever thought it’s such an obvious thing that doesn’t need to be specified in law?”

At least, one had to have the title of a viscount to be eligible for the position of the Court Lady. It was not that a woman couldn’t be the Court Lady because she was a woman, but because a woman couldn’t have the title. It was an absurd statement.

“I’d rather be the Empress.”

“Mock as you please. When I first said I would become a court lady, people said similar things to me.”

Carson fell silent for a moment. Ines waited anxiously for his words. Her head involuntarily bowed.

“Ines, I’ll never mock you. Respect…maybe more than that.”
Upon hearing the words, Ines raised her head with a sparkle in her eyes. His words seemed like permission, and she smiled widely.

“Are you serious?”

“Calling that words.”

“Then please support me. I’ll definitely become the Court Lady.”

He looked at Ines with an unreadable expression.

“But why do you live your life so exhausting?”

“What do you mean?”

“Instead of that… haven’t you thought about an easier way? For example…”

“Even if I’m not the Court Lady, I’m fine as long as I can stay closest to Her Majesty. But in the current situation, the most perfect way to stay by Her Majesty’s side day and night is that. I have no other choice.”

Carson shook his head with a wry smile, took a sip of water from the glass, and handed it to her.

“Why not just be as people say… my mistress.”

At the mention of the provocative words he brought up, Ines looked at him slightly. Somehow, he wasn’t looking at Ines.

“If your purpose is to be closest to me. Then, every night, you could sleep by my side…”

Sleeping by his side every night? Ines couldn’t help but release a surprised laugh at the words she hadn’t even imagined.

“Why are you laughing?”

Whether Ines noticed her laughter, his voice became a bit sharp.

“What, am I going to be your mistress?”

“Why… can’t you be?”

Somehow feeling thirsty, Ines took a sip of water. Did he really not know what kind of existence he was to Ines?

“Ask if you don’t know?”

“Am I your god?”

“Something like that.”

He laughed as if it was absurd.

Just a few hours ago, he himself said he wasn’t a god, so Ines found her words absurd. However, even so, she couldn’t overturn the feelings she had harbored for years with just one word.

Carson slowly but unhesitatingly faced Ines squarely.

His gaze looked at her as if licking.

There was no anxious light anywhere on Carson’s face. Ines was the only one becoming uneasy, avoiding his gaze. She spoke forcefully as if to protest.

“No, more than that, it’s even more certain. It’s visible, and you even reach out and give a hand directly. To me, you’re someone higher than a god.”

Carson continued to smile leisurely.

As if he knew why she was babbling such unnecessary things.

With a raised eyebrow, giving off a feeling of distaste, he suddenly smiled and averted his gaze. Unable to stop him, Ines’s heart fluttered.