I want to say it. Even before issuing such a notice, the Countess had already had the Duke of Liberato in mind.

She had been talking about him from the beginning, trying to threaten me. It’s impossible that the Countess didn’t know the rumors about him.

But the Emperor already knew too much for me to have to say anything like that.

I only had to step back and watch as they did, like a bystander.

In the meantime, the Emperor’s face stiffened like a truly annoyed person. His expression reeked of disgust at the situation itself.

A slightly curious emotion crept into my eyes as I looked at the Emperor.

‘But how does the Emperor know that so well?’

Had he investigated so perfectly in those few days? It wasn’t information that was hard to find, but it was still a bit surprising.

He is quite competent. I just watched him.

The expression of the Emperor, who seemed to chew his lips for a long time as if the piledup anger had not yet subsided, gradually changed.

“Say whatever you want.”

“How can I speak? It’s all my… my fault.”

“Speak not those obvious words. Who says the Countess hasn’t done wrong? Everyone knows very well what you did wrong.”

At his right words, the Countess just gaped her mouth.

“Fault?”

“Forgive me… please.”

“Forgive. Yes. As if that’s a difficult thing to do. Of course I can.”

I frowned at the suddenly turning atmosphere. Is it ending so easily?

“Thank you…”

“But, since you’ll obviously plot another scheme again after saying you’ve done wrong this time, why should I? And the person you should ask forgiveness from is Isabella.”

“Your, Your Majesty… there will be no scheme.”

Ignoring the words that she should ask for forgiveness from me, the Countess just shook her head fervently.

“You won’t do anything?”

“Yes…!”

“How can I trust you?”

“It’s true.”

“If it’s true, was the promise you made with me a fake?”

“No…no! That’s not it…!”

The Emperor let out a deep sigh at the stammering Countess. He stood in front of her.

“Countess. And Count. Do you really think you did wrong?”

As soon as the words ended, the Countess nodded her head, more vehemently than ever.

“Yes. We were all wrong. From now on, there will be no such thing. Never again.”

“How can I trust you people? I gave you many chances, but you ignored them.”

The Emperor brushed off the Countess’s shoulder slowly. It was a small, trivial movement, but her body kept spasming as if convulsing.

“That’s…”

“Do you hope to live after playing so much mischief? It seems you looked down on me because I was still.”

From the beginning, the Emperor seemed to have no intention of listening to the Countess’s words. He just wanted to give her a little hope and disappoint her.

His face changed more and more as if to show that.

The Countess waved her hands at his cold face.

“No, not that, Your Majesty.”

“Not that? You do speak well. Even when I saw you last time, I thought you were out of your mind to be so shamelessly rude to me. But I still watched you, ignoring the outrageous acts you did, because you are Isabella’s parents.”

“Ah…”

The Countess’s face turned pale.

“If you were not her family, I would have killed you on the spot. I like peace and let small things go, but not you.”

“Then… then…”

“Arrogant? You thought it would be okay to do arrogant things because I ignored and covered up your sins? Stupid.”

“It’s ridiculous to harm a nobleman for such a small matter between families…”

“Who do you think is in front of you?”

The Countess’s hands trembled. Even I was scared of the chilling energy emanating from the Emperor’s body.
Shasha looked back worriedly, but fortunately, the child seemed unharmed, her eyes sparkling as she observed the situation.

The countess was still trembling, unable to respond properly.

“That is……”

“I am the emperor of this country. Would anyone dare to question the emperor’s intention to crush insects?”

“Ha, ha…… But…… Killing us because of Isabella must be an issue…….”

“Indeed, if I were to cut your throats because of Isabella, her reputation would suffer.”

Seemingly having come to a realization, the emperor nodded. Whether he thought this was their chance to survive or not, the count and countess’s faces seemed to brighten slightly.

“So you must be charged with the crime of opposing the emperor.”

“What?”

“You took my words lightly, ignored the emperor’s command, and even tried to sell the woman to be my wife. Even if you are Isabella’s parents, I cannot forgive this.”

They shook their heads vigorously.

“Why. Isn’t that so? Try to make an excuse. I can listen to a few words before you die.”

“But…… But all of that was just a parent’s desire to see Isabella succeed. Yes. We love Isabella. So we wanted her to do well…… So…….”

“Ahh. Marrying me wouldn’t be good for Isabella?”

“No, no, that’s not it……”