In Sieghart’s absence, the task of greeting guests fell entirely to the Duchess.

Honestly, she wanted to drive out Kyle, who had intruded without a word. However, Natasha was the lady of the Asthart house. She couldn’t make irrational decisions driven by emotions.

“Is His Majesty the Emperor waiting in the reception room?”

“Yes, my lady. A maid is brewing tea.”

“I should hurry then.”

She wrapped the shawl that the maid who came to guide her had brought in advance. She smoothed her disheveled hair with her hands, tidying her appearance.

“I’ll go with you.”

Cayena, standing beside her, carefully took her hand. Only then did Natasha notice her own trembling hands. Her foolish fingers couldn’t even fasten a single button properly.

Cayena buttoned her clothes instead. When she hesitated at the last button, unsure what to do, Natasha asked first.

“…Button it all the way up.”

This dress looked neat even with one button left undone due to its many buttons. In fact, buttoning it all the way up tended to make it look stifling.

“Yes, I understand.”

Cayena complied with Natasha’s request without question.

Her throat constricted, and she tried to swallow, but her Adam’s apple stopped midway. Still, Natasha stubbornly refused to unbutton it. It was unnecessary bravado. A silent pledge not to end up like those who had been brutally beheaded.

As she walked down the corridor, Natasha thought.

What should she say to that man, her cursed enemy? Should she demand a belated apology? Ask why it had to be the kingdom? Argue that there were many methods, so why did it have to be such a barbaric one?

“It’s good to see you, my lady.”

“……”

“Ah, should I call you Princess instead?”

When she actually faced Kyle, her mind went blank, and she couldn’t remember any of the things she wanted to say.

Kyle, who had been sitting crookedly with his legs crossed, stood up as soon as he saw Natasha. His smile, revealing white teeth, dripped with malicious playfulness.

Be patient. Natasha forcefully suppressed her surging hostility.

“Please call me ‘my lady’.”

“How formal.”

A moment later, Kyle kissed her white hand.

Blue eyes, contrasting with Natasha’s, scrutinized her thoroughly.

“Shall we sit, my lady?”

“We shall. The rest of you may leave now.”

Rather than being conscious of others’ gazes, it was better to be alone.

Natasha dismissed not only the maid pouring tea but also the attendants waiting behind her. Even Cayena, who looked visibly worried, was no exception.

“What brings you here? Even if you are the Emperor, it would be better to refrain from unannounced visits from now on.”

“Just because you’ve gained independence from the imperial family doesn’t mean you can escape the sun in the sky. Are you criticizing a nation’s emperor for making a state visit?”

“Since we’re not close enough for silent visits, I’m asking you to please follow official procedures next time.”

She handed the emperor the visitor’s card and fountain pen placed in the center of the reception room.

“If you leave your purpose and name on the visitor’s card, I’ll deliver it to His Grace.”

“Ha! So you’re saying you’re going to send me away today, is that it?”

“It’s difficult to accommodate every unannounced visit. I apologize for not being able to give you the answer you want, Your Majesty.”

Natasha bowed her head in apology. It was only politely packaged on the surface; the content was utterly disrespectful. One way or another, it was a threat to drive the emperor away.

But Kyle didn’t even touch the paper and fountain pen. Far from standing up, he leaned back deeper into the sofa.

“Don’t be so harsh even if the Duke isn’t here. It wouldn’t be bad to talk with the Duchess either. You don’t have any other duties to attend to, do you?”

“…I refuse. The amount of my work has nothing to do with whether I meet someone or not.”

As Natasha’s rejections continued, even Kyle’s previously carefree face wrinkled.

“At this point, even the excuse of a sudden visit sounds hollow. If I follow official procedures, will you allow it then?”

“His Grace…”

“Not His Grace, my lady, I’m talking about you.”

“……”

“Will you accept my request for a meeting? Tomorrow, ten days later, a month later, half a year later?”

Natasha’s mouth finally closed at Kyle’s pointed question. The emperor was right. Whether tomorrow or ten days later, their meeting would never happen.

After all, Natasha had no reason to entertain her enemy.

“I apologize. I have nothing to say. I’m not magnanimous enough to chat with someone who massacred my family. I’m always grateful for the kindness Your Majesty shows to the people of the kingdom and the principality, but I believe this hostility is separate from that.”

Natasha was positive about his contributions to supporting the principality and creating a new foundation for the people of the kingdom, and creating institutions that didn’t discriminate against the kingdom’s people within the empire to help them settle quickly. However, antagonizing ‘Kyle Letius’ as an individual, rather than the empire, was a separate matter.

Kyle let out a hollow laugh at Natasha’s confession. It carried the nuance that he hadn’t expected her to speak so openly. She must trust her backing that much.

Soft fingers that seemed to have never held a sword tapped the armrest of the couch. The rapid tapping slowed down as the man’s impatience eased.

“That’s right, you can hate me. I understand the desire to refuse a meeting with the person who destroyed your happiness.”

His body, which had been leaning against the backrest, tilted forward. At the motion that seemed like he was about to stand up, Natasha foolishly dreamed of liberation.

But as if the man’s gesture was a prelude to provocation, Kyle didn’t stand up. He lowered himself slightly and rested his chin on his knee. Then he opened his mouth with a mischievous voice.

“So I hope you’ll understand my feelings too.”

“What do you…”

“My desire to punish a lowly woman who doesn’t know her place.”

He smiled sinisterly and fiddled with the surface of the teacup.

“Some of your relatives are staying in the kingdom, aren’t they? Ah, and there’s also a maid here who pretended to be royalty and helped the princess escape, right?”

At that moment, Natasha’s face hardened. Her expression, which had been showing hostility, was suddenly covered with despair.

The devil seized that moment.

“The maid, that wench, has no one to rely on, so she can be dealt with very easily. Your relatives are no different. Well, the sudden execution might raise objections from the people of the kingdom, but I wonder how long the interest of those living peacefully in the principality and the empire will last?”

It was horrifying.

Both the content of his words and the man who uttered such cruel words while smiling.

“So, my lady, just as I’ve shown you great generosity in understanding you, you must understand me too.”

“……”

“Or, will you now consider your interests?”

Kyle burst into laughter after finishing his words. His expression, wrinkling his nose bridge, was comical. He spoke cruel words cheerfully, saying it was a joyful task to collect new head ornaments to decorate the castle walls of the imperial palace.

A horrific scene played out in Natasha’s mind. Cayena’s and her relatives’ heads were on the chopping block. A heavy, slanted blade larger than their bodies hung by a rope.

As soon as the executioner cut the rope, the blade came down, severing their necks. Blood spurted like a fountain, soaking Natasha’s face as she watched the beheading. The severed heads blinked, looking at her as if blaming her.

Natasha returned to reality with the vivid death screams ringing in her ears.

“Please… save them…”

“……”

“Please spare their lives… Your Majesty. What… what should I do?”

She wanted to disappoint the man’s expectations. She didn’t want to obey as he wished.

But in the end, it flowed as Kyle wanted. Natasha had no choice but to bow her head humbly and beg for mercy.

“It’s nothing much, my lady.”

“……”

“Come running whenever I want to see you. Like a well-behaved dog.”

Sieghart, who had left for a business trip without a word, returned home the following night.

As she was having trouble sleeping, Natasha left the bedroom to look for her husband. Seeing the light off in the bedroom, she headed to the study, where light was visible through the crack in the door.

Today, she was in no position to consider his wishes. Natasha opened the door without asking for permission.

Wanting to have a conversation regardless of his wishes today, Natasha opened the door without asking for permission.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll only take a moment of your time.”

The man frowned upon seeing Natasha. Seeing her face full of things to say, Natasha apologized first.

“I won’t point out the princess’s rudeness, so I hope you won’t add words to my refusal either. I’m busy, so tell me next time.”

“Even if it’s just for a very short moment…”

“Don’t you feel sorry for a husband who’s looking at a pile of documents right after returning from a business trip? Do you really need to steal time?”

Sieghart was more irritable than usual, perhaps due to fatigue.

Right. He must be tired and annoyed from dealing with documents right after returning from exterminating monsters.

But she couldn’t back down for such reasons. Even the man who seemed bored with the situation would change once he heard the story.

“His Majesty the Emperor visited while you were away, Sieghart.”

So she wanted to tell him. She wanted to ask for help, begging to be saved. If not today, she felt she wouldn’t be able to speak, so even if briefly, even if just for a moment.

There was no response to the usually sharp replies and cold voice even as time passed. Natasha hoped that Sieghart was finally listening to her words.

“Let’s hear the story next time. I’d like you to go back today, princess.”

“……”

“It’s late at night.”

Words wrapped in a gentle tone. No matter how prettily you decorate the exterior, the truth is revealed the moment you peel off the shell.

The man found the current situation annoying. The way he was moving only his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on the documents was exactly that. Unless his goal was to calm her down with a few words and then get back to work, comfort wasn’t his aim.

If he was really worried about Natasha, he would have stood up and hugged her, or gently kissed her forehead to comfort her.

“Yes. It is late… I’m sorry for being childish in front of a busy person. I’ll go now then, have a good night.”

Natasha said no more. The ideal was just a whim. As desperate as it was reckless, it hurt even more when the ideal was rejected.

And yet, she expected a little. Having shown her disappointment for the first time, she thought Sieghart might realize now.

She deliberately didn’t look back even as she slowly grasped the doorknob and opened the door. Even until she went outside and closed the door again.

“…Ah.”

There was no change.

Only the last hope she had nurtured with her final emotions was cruelly extinguished.