Ines had offered Casey a position as her closest maid, but she politely declined. Instead, she expressed a shy smile, saying that she wanted to dream a bigger dream. Her smile, which was modestly beautiful, was indeed pleasant to look at.

As Ines had not yet ascended to empress, she did not have a closest maid. Therefore, Casey decided to assist her for the time being.
Casey was diligently studying to become a secretary maid. Being a maid was currently one of the most professional positions a woman could have in the empire, so a lot of effort was required to take on a new role.

“But you look a bit tired.”

In response, Ines smiled somewhat listlessly.

Since aspiring to sit in the position of empress, there were only a few days when she had properly slept. On days when she managed to go to bed, there were many mornings when she got up early to clear her mind and attend to her duties.

The problems she had not even dared to think about would have arisen if she hadn’t learned about the affairs of the imperial family as a maid.

And what about the emperor? While pondering over that thought for a moment, Ines lightly touched the back of her neck, which must have turned red.

“There seem to be a lot of things to prepare for after all.”

“Still, you need to take care of your health. The wedding is coming up, and you should also take care of your skin.”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Ines nodded and bit her lower lip slightly.

“Since we’re talking about it, should I call the maids?”

Ines lightly raised her head. It was a necessary task, but she didn’t feel like lying down comfortably to receive care at the moment.

The wedding was just two days away. Sometimes, when she sat down and looked around the room, there were many moments when the current situation didn’t feel real.

In those moments she had come through in time, revenge had been the only thing she dreamed of. Walking along the path, she found herself at the empress’s palace. Could there be a life more unbelievable than this?

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

“Well, I guess so…”

Casey put down what she was tidying up and came over to sit across from Ines. She gently pushed the pastries Emma had brought in front of Ines and smiled softly. The more she looked, the more Casey seemed to be a talented individual as the closest maid.

“Charlotte will enter the palace soon.”

Lately, Charlotte spent more time outside the palace than inside.

Now, on the verge of Ines’s wedding, she was busy inspecting public sentiment. According to her, the entire city was in a festive mood, truly celebrating the new emperor’s marriage.

It was hard to believe, even after hearing it.

As soon as Ines’s existence was publicly revealed in society, her nickname as the ‘Failed Murderer with a Guillotine’ spread in no time.

Many expressed concerns at that time, but when the Duke of Marnis stayed silent, the nobles no longer considered him a problem.

However, what Ines worried about was not the nobles. Carson had risen to the highest position from below with the support of the imperial citizens.

Thinking that Carson, who had reached the top from below through her, would leave a stain because of her, it left a bitter taste in her mouth, despite being a planned event.

Surprisingly, however, the feared event did not happen. People were enthusiastic instead.

The deeds she had committed had become legendary among the people.
The story of Ines rescuing the princess, personally condemning the wrongdoer, and saving people drowning in the temple well spread like wildfire, creating a well-structured drama.

“By the way, according to the letter Charlotte sent today, it seems there is a novel where Empress is the protagonist.”

Ines let out a small sigh. It was partly embarrassment and partly relief.

“As for other things, how on earth did people find out about the incident at the temple well?”

She was curious about the source, but it was not easy to find out.

“I heard that story too. Is it true that you rescued people who fell into the water on a day of pouring rain?”

“It is true, but it wasn’t that extraordinary.”

“Please don’t say such modest things. Your Majesty needs to elevate and reveal yourself more. After all, the nobles are all representatives of the goddess Hekate. I believe that saying.”

Ines nodded as if she couldn’t stop her.

“I believed it even more after meeting Empress.”

Casey’s voice, confessing like she was, trembled slightly. She occasionally brought up stories about the dressing room where she had met Ines.

She said that whenever she thought about what would have happened to her life if she had refused to meet Ines that day, her heart would drop to the bottom without knowing.

“Maybe I’ll also appear in that novel. Her Majesty said that people like the story of a lady-in-waiting turning into a maid the most.”

Casey blushed like a girl reading a romance novel. Ines couldn’t help but smile deeply at that sight.

When news came that a guest had arrived, she put down the pastries she was holding and stood up from her seat. Soon, a young man with red hair entered the office.

“You’ve come.”

Marcus bowed his head slightly and expressed courtesy to Ines.

“Please refrain from using honorifics for me, Your Majesty.”

“Not yet, not yet. I am just a prospective empress who has not held a wedding ceremony.”

Even though she was speaking to Casey, it took considerable effort. It was necessary to get used to it as soon as possible, even for a day, but it was not as easy as it sounded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”