“That day… would you like to take a leave?”

“A leave?”

“Yes, since the duke’s mansion will be empty that day, there shouldn’t be any problem if Cayena takes a leave. Of course, the choice is yours… but I’d like you to rest for a while.”

“Princess…”

After a while, Cayena called out to Natasha. The title she had never heard since Natasha became the lady of the duke’s mansion, along with her sobbing, bewildered Natasha.

“Are, are you planning to fire me?”

“…Huh?”

“Ah, you’ve been calling for me less often, sob. You even suggested I shouldn’t attend important events, sniff. It sounds like you’re telling me to take a lifelong break, and it’s so scary…!”

Unexpected lamentations flowed from the other’s mouth.

Firing?

That’s not it. Rather, she was trying to save Cayena.

It was a plan to evacuate Cayena elsewhere in preparation for the disaster that would occur at the coronation. It would be beneficial to Cayena, not harmful.

But she couldn’t reveal this, so well.

Her trembling upper lip finally produced an excuse. Natasha smoothly embraced Cayena’s back and informed her it was a misunderstanding.

“What are you saying, Cayena? You should always be with me.”

“Th-then why did you do that? Sniff, are you perhaps ashamed of me appearing in front of everyone, or something like that, sob.”

“No, absolutely not! That can’t be. Actually, I happened to hear that Cayena’s family is sick. I thought you’d be worried about them, so I wanted to give you a leave when it’s not too busy.”

“Sniff, really?”

“Yes, with Meliana and Vanessa here, we have enough help for the coronation. We might miss your absence, but it won’t be inconvenient.”

She smiled kindly towards Cayena, whose crying had subsided.

“Cayena, you’re a precious person I want to protect. And you must have precious people you want to protect too. Protect those people. That way, we can be happy together for longer.”

“…Yes!”

Cayena nodded vigorously and rubbed her face against Natasha’s arm once more. It was a cute display of affection typical of the cheerful Cayena.

At that time, she couldn’t know.

What expression her beloved Cayena wore while nestled in her arms.

Crowds flocked to the temple. After seeing off her husband, who would later ascend the platform, Natasha blended into the crowd and waited for the coronation to begin.

Though she tried to focus only on what was ahead to avoid being swept away, it didn’t mean she couldn’t feel the gazes of others.

It wasn’t because of her sensitive personality. Even those with dull senses could notice the countless gazes fixed on her.

Natasha, who felt considerably burdened by having her every action observed by their gazes, retreated to the back to avoid people’s eyes and barely caught her breath in the space behind a pillar.

The nobles in the midst of conversation moved their mouths busily. It was difficult to discern what they were saying just by their lip movements.

Then, when the sweet sound of a harp began to resonate throughout the hall, the commotion disappeared without a trace as if it had never existed, and only solemnity swept through the venue.

Sieghart, who gradually appeared from the back, knelt to greet the Pope. The white temple clothes representing purity, cleanliness, and peace – things far from a man – surprisingly suited him well.

A dazzling crown was placed on his head, and a holy sword was given to his hand.

The holy sword blessed by God had a very special ability. It was a benefit that only the knight of honor, who appears once a century, could enjoy. The public busily discussed how he would use God’s blessing.

Because it was an ability great enough to influence not only the Letius Empire but the world, the real power of the empire could change due to the holy sword.

The man who received the holy sword finally stood up. Now that he had received God’s blessing and everyone’s congratulations, it was time to return the various emotions he felt.

He came forward for the speech and looked around as if searching. His two eyes moved flexibly, in contrast to his stiffly erected neck, and settled on one place.

“This miracle of merit and honor bestowed upon me, the grace and blessing given by God – words cannot express it -”

Natasha realized that she was the destination of that gaze,

“I dedicate it to Natasha Asthart, the new mistress of Asthart.”

Inevitably.

The Duke of Asthart mentioned many others afterwards, specifying that His Excellency’s achievements were not the result of his abilities alone, but a combination of everyone’s efforts.

Various contents were included in the continuing speech. Despite the man’s dazzling eloquence, the public’s attention was focused on one side.

The most important beginning and,

“I express my inexpressible gratitude to all who believed in and supported me. May God’s blessing and eternal happiness be with them.”

Towards the special person mentioned at the climax.

While the man seemed to wish blessings for everyone equally, his gaze was fixed on only one place.

Mentioning the duchess in front of the public must be to show his affection for her. The situation eventually flowed according to Sieghart’s intentions, and the existence of Natasha Asthart was strongly imprinted in their minds.

The Duke of Asthart and the princess of a fallen country.

The marriage of these two was a controversial topic even at the time. A man closely tied to the imperial family marrying the princess of a country eradicated by the imperial family!

Debates raged to conclude whether it was an imperial order or an independent action of Duke Asthart. If it was the latter, this marriage would be a signal flare announcing severance from the imperial family.

When even the rare exchanges between the imperial family and the duke’s family ceased after the marriage, the truth naturally surfaced.

And now, after defeating the imperial family and reaching the top, Duke Asthart boldly presented her to the world.

It was an answer that defied everyone’s expectations.

The speech explicitly stated that her marriage was not a condition for an ultimate goal. Whatever the beginning was, Natasha Asthart was currently the duke’s beloved partner.

Not just an empty shell consumed as a political tool.

The gazes scanning Natasha changed dramatically. The number of gazes following the subject tucked away in the most secluded corner of the hall increased immensely.

From today, the relationship between the imperial family and the duke’s family would be completely strained.

The power between the two sides, which had been in equilibrium after the duke’s family’s rise, would temporarily tilt towards them due to the advantage the Asthart family gained today.

“Do you think the imperial family will overtake them again?”

“With the current Emperor…”

The nobles conversed in worried voices. It was about Emperor Kyle Letius, who did not attend the coronation.

Kyle Letius.

Once called the shame of the great Letius Imperial Family, a troublemaker beyond hope of improvement. There was a time when public opinion raged that if only he hadn’t been the sole survivor of the imperial family’s annihilation, the throne would have belonged to another successor.

However, after annexing half of the Charliee Kingdom’s territory to the empire, the perception of the emperor changed drastically. It was certainly a great achievement, enough to forgive the emperor’s incompetence and selfishness.

Afterwards, he seemed to disappoint the imperial citizens again by repeating various misdeeds, but the citizens couldn’t strongly resist due to the ten-year indulgence given for his great achievement.

Until he lost his position to the duke.

He handed over achievements to the second most powerful person in the empire, not a foreign country. This was the most disgraceful event in the history of the great Letius Imperial Family.

And whether this would be a one-time coincidence or a definite generational change within the empire was something no one could predict.

“Hmm, don’t you think it’s better to change our stance?”

“But the duke doesn’t even show his face in social circles. We can’t form an alliance with him, and if we hastily change our stance, we’ll only lose more.”

“There’s no need to form an alliance with the duke. There’s the duchess. We can form a connection with the duke’s family through her.”

For these reasons, people eyed the duchess. A woman who would enter social circles and interact with many people. A difficult passage that must be crossed before attacking the duke’s family.

They were a group that used every trick to gain benefits, despite pretending to be noble. They moved quickly to make a strong impression.

Among them, the Countess of Lean approached using her own connection.

“I greet the second moon of the Asthart dukedom. I am Adelaide Lean. My daughter is doing the great work of serving you, madam, and I greet you first out of pleasure.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Countess. Lady Lean is indeed very intelligent. It’s an honor that you sent such a precious person to me.”

The duchess, who they thought would be timid and shy, was unexpectedly friendly. She continued the conversation without hesitation, as if she had expected them to come.

Those who were secretly observing the conversation between the two ladies began to approach one by one. A race to make an impression ensued.

At some point, the crowd that had surged forward suddenly parted on both sides.

A man in white clothes fluttering slowly stopped in front of his destination. He bowed his head and then raised his white hand. It was at an appropriate height where the other person didn’t need to reach up high, and he didn’t need to bow his head excessively.

Sieghart, who lightly kissed her hand, smiled leisurely.

“I greet the shining moon of the empire.”

Impure personal desires dripped from an act meant to observe formalities.

“Madam, may I have a moment to speak with my wife?”

“For today’s protagonist to ask me for permission. Everything should be as Your Excellency wishes.”

The Countess of Lean tactfully made way. The nobles who had been quietly observing also bowed and stepped back one by one.

Sieghart, after confirming the clearly regretful reactions of the surrounding nobles, proudly added.

“Soon, a banquet celebrating today’s merits will be held at the duke’s mansion, so I hope everyone looks forward to that day.”

He was more than adept at gripping and shaking others’ hearts.

Afterwards, the two went back the same way Sieghart had come. In this sacred place where contact was surely taboo, the two were close without hesitation.

Natasha paid no heed to the finger-pointing that accused them of committing sacrilege blinded by love. She didn’t stop the hand subtly wrapping around her waist and left it as it was. She also had something to tell him secretly.

“I have something urgent to tell Your Excellency.”