Starting with Voniface’s response, the substitutes nodded one by one. Some of them stood tall, but with that number of heads, they couldn’t defy Carson’s command.

Could it be that they agreed to the statement that they, using the title of Count Swenden, established a bank? They were pressed down by Ines’s power, which had become stronger to the point where there was nothing more they could do.

Could it be that they recognized Ines’s right to exemption, which was granted only to the Count himself?

Even if it was an exemption given only to those who had contributed to the country to the extent of receiving a military honor, if she had not taken control of the financial ministry, she would not have been able to escape.

“I will move the future Empress’s residence to the Empress’s palace immediately.”

Since they had not yet held the wedding ceremony, it was right for the substitutes to prevent them from going to the Empress’s palace. He didn’t want Ines to keep staying in the maid’s room, but if the substitutes opposed, he was willing to compromise.

“We will comply with your command.”

However, no one voiced an opinion opposing the Emperor’s command. Carson, gaining momentum, issued another order.

“Prepare for the wedding to be held next month.”

For the first time, those who opposed the hasty command stepped forward. Surprisingly, it was none other than his closest aides, Noah Timothy and Ines.

“Yo, Your, Your Majesty.”

Noah tried to stop him with a trembling voice.

“That is too urgent… Would it be possible to reconsider the schedule?”

Ines also tightly grasped his arm. When he faced her, she slightly lowered her head.

“Ah, I see. Then, two months.”

Noah muttered the words “two months” in his mouth. Thinking that preparing for the Emperor’s wedding within two months would require giving up either eating or sleeping.

The next morning, Ines sat by the window in her room, gazing out at the garden.

It was an unusually blue morning compared to other days.

If it were an ordinary day, she would have heard the quiet scenery, a slightly cool breeze, the chirping of birds, and the quiet but brisk footsteps of palace servants weaving through the garden.

But this morning, the palace was as noisy as if a fire had broken out. Since the meeting the night before, the palace was busier than ever. Because they had to welcome the new owner to the Empress’s palace, the palace servants were unavoidably busy.

Carson set a deadline for Ines to enter the Empress’s palace in just three days.

She watched people coming and going in the garden with a somewhat unreal feeling.

At that moment, Carson approached Ines without a sound. Embracing her gently from behind, he pulled a white sheet and covered her.

With the gentle warmth that enveloped her in his wide, warm gaze, the surroundings fell into silence like a vacuum. Ines leaned against him as if it were natural.

His body, slightly warmer than others, conveyed warmth to Ines.

It felt insanely good.

This man, his embrace, and the warm breath he exhaled.
Carson nibbled Ines’s earlobe slightly and murmured, “Can’t we stay in bed a little longer?”

Ines shrugged her shoulders and pushed him away. Even if the devil whispered, it wouldn’t be sweeter than this, she thought.

“There’s a lot to do. How can you sleep when you keep people so busy?”

She spat out sarcastic words, but her heart didn’t waver. It seemed like there was nothing more to say to him.

“I guess someone who doesn’t let others sleep shouldn’t be saying that?”

In response to his playful remark, Ines’s face blushed. However, instead of getting angry, she turned her body and nestled into his embrace.

As Carson had said the previous night, she couldn’t stop him, who was relentless.

There was no desire to stop him from rushing towards her.

It was unimaginable considering the first day she went to his room.

Although her body had not experienced what it was going through now, the vivid traces of numerous humiliations were vivid in her memory.

The question of whether seeking Carson, carrying all those scars, was a sin or greed haunted her countless times, causing her to hesitate.

While consoling herself that it was definitely not so, she agonized over the memories that she couldn’t forget, closing her eyes and struggling. It took courage to do that. It was a hug that came after searching for him.

“That’s right, I have nothing to say.”

But now she no longer had such thoughts.

The dirty memories were gradually erased with the sensation of waking up anew in his arms. The thought of self-dirtiness, like a devotee cleansed by a god, also disappeared completely.

All the hatreds she had experienced before meeting Carson melted away into more passionate things.

“If we continue like this, the state affairs for today will be ruined, you know?”

“Well, what if it is?”

To Carson’s unexpected reaction, Ines stiffened her body. Then he promptly lifted Ines.

“Yikes!”