Natasha, upon receiving the letter, visited the imperial palace a few days later on the night of a full moon.

As instructed in the letter, she came disguised so that others would not recognize her.

This was due to the Galonde Emperor’s concern that repeated contacts between the princess of a fallen kingdom and the Emperor of Galonde Empire might appear suspicious.

Likewise, the two met in the greenhouse of the palace rather than the audience chamber.

Natasha, removing her robe, addressed the Emperor.

“The fact that you granted my visit, even arranging such a clandestine meeting… May I take this as a positive consideration of the proposal I presented to Your Majesty that day?”

Even with her eyes concealed by the disguise, the red depths within could not be hidden.

The Galonde Emperor, upon noticing the red irises visible beyond the woman’s intense gaze, smiled faintly. Her rather serious demeanor reminded him of someone.

For her to come to such an important appointment without that important man must mean there’s discord in their relationship. Yet the woman’s demeanor resembles that of Duke Asthart, how curious.

“However, there is a condition.”

The Emperor, giving a vague answer, explained the condition necessary for his approval.

“I would like to see feasibility in the princess’s plan.”

“By feasibility, you mean…”

“I mean show me the possibility of the rebellion succeeding. The plan you explained earlier sounds plausible, but it’s uncertain whether it will actually come to fruition. If it fails, it could escalate into a conflict between nations, which would be a risky gamble from our empire’s perspective.”

“Even if our operation were to fail, I believe I assured you that the Galonde Empire’s involvement would never be revealed.”

“And one more thing, we can’t afford to invest resources in something that may not succeed.”

As soon as Natasha guaranteed confidentiality, the Galonde Emperor added another reason. It was a valid argument that they couldn’t waste their precious shadows on frivolous matters.

“So please, show us some results. Evidence that you will succeed in your rebellion, that is.”

The Galonde Emperor concluded the conversation while gently stroking his long beard. It was an attitude suggesting they held the upper hand in the negotiation.

“Regarding that matter, we also have something to say. It’s possible that the Empire might end up swallowing us instead. How can we trust and proceed with the plan? To put it bluntly, isn’t it possible you might join hands with the Letius Empire and crush the principality?”

At Natasha’s counterattack, the Emperor’s eyebrows tilted askew. It was a reaction of surprise at the woman who usually maintained a submissive attitude.

“You’re acting as if you’ve been burned. I understand your concerns, but that won’t happen. Rather than sharing the resources of the Charliee Kingdom, or rather the Kshant Principality, with those Letius bastards, it would be better to use their petty methods to take over the principality.”

Of course, that won’t happen, mind you.

The Galonde Emperor lightly patted Natasha’s shoulder with his wrinkled hand.

As it was a careful transaction with both parties’ honor and lives at stake, the two decided to draw up a contract. It was a contract swearing secrecy on pain of death.

That regardless of how this plan turns out, they would not disclose it to anyone other than those involved.

If disclosed, the contract imbued with divine power would activate, resulting in the loss of one’s life.

“Then I shall return after building up achievements that will allow Your Majesty to trust us.”

Natasha, finally at ease, stepped outside. With a promise to return after showing the ‘results’ the Emperor spoke of.

As she was heading towards the back door the Emperor had indicated, it was then.

Someone appeared, blocking Natasha’s path.

‘The Emperor’s mistress?’

The delicate anklet adorning the woman’s feet caught her eye. Next, she noticed the familiar robe.

It was the mistress she had encountered before.

Before she could ask what business the woman had, the mysterious woman removed the robe she had been wearing low over her face.

“…Miss Calrent?”

The face she met was quite familiar.

Though she had only seen it once, it was a woman whose face had left a strong impression in her mind. Natasha recognized her as Ash Calrent, whom she had met face to face at the suburban party.

She had certainly heard that she was from the Galonde Empire, but…

Not an ordinary commoner woman, but the Emperor’s mistress?

“It’s nice to see you, madam.”

“…”

“Or should I call you princess?”

Miss Calrent’s eyes, looking at her, were colder than ever. The emotion colliding towards her from the other party evoked a sense of déjà vu.

‘It’s not a mistake.’

It was exactly the same as the emotion Miss Calrent had shown at the suburban party. That day too, the woman had scrutinized Natasha with such eyes, and opened her mouth towards Natasha with such a voice.

Just as Sieghart had done to her before, very coldly.

“I see you know my identity.”

Following Miss Calrent, Natasha also removed her robe. A moment later, her now darkened brown hair was tousled by the wind.

Being the Emperor’s mistress, she probably knows most of the news. Natasha wasn’t particularly surprised by the newfound fact that the mistress knew her identity.

“I heard you left the Asthart ducal family.”

To think they would share such useless gossip despite their long-standing friendship.

Natasha remained silent, choosing not to respond.

“Seeing you meet the Emperor so secretly, I assume you have some suspicious scheme in mind, but I sincerely hope that plan has nothing to do with the Asthart ducal family.”

“I don’t think that’s any of Miss Calrent’s business.”

“If I were to realize that the supposedly benevolent princess is actually a shameless person, I, as a former member of the kingdom, would be greatly disappointed.”

“…What did you say?”

“I meant don’t ask for help by unnecessarily evoking sympathy from Duke Asthart. If you’ve left the Asthart ducal family, leave quietly. After all, you were an unnecessary person to the ducal family, so don’t have any lingering attachments.”

Miss Calrent treated Natasha as if she were an impurity in the Asthart ducal family. It was the same now. She seemed concerned that Natasha might involve the Asthart ducal family in some dangerous plan.

It was excessive interference, no matter how long-standing her relationship with the Duke might be.

“As I said before, I don’t think that’s any of Miss Calrent’s business,” Natasha replied, her face slightly crumpled.

“And before I leave, may I ask one thing? You seem to dislike me, Miss Calrent, may I ask why?”

At this, for some reason, Miss Calrent’s face twisted unpleasantly. Though Natasha had only asked a reasonable question, she felt as if she had asked something inappropriate.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

A moment later, a despairing sigh escaped from between Ash Calrent’s lips.

“Didn’t Duke Asthart tell you?”

“What are you suddenly…”

It was a very strange thing to say.

As if Sieghart had known all along that Ash Calrent would dislike Natasha.

Facing Natasha, who wore a genuinely confused, innocent expression, Miss Calrent shouted fiercely.

“Damn Charliee.”

Shouting the name of her long-lost kingdom, Charliee, which had perished and vanished into history.

Miss Calrent, who snorted briefly as if amused, far from correcting her words, began to continue with an even louder voice.

“The very fact that you stand so nobly before me is a deception and a transgression! How dare you brazenly show your red eyes in front of me? How can you live together with Sieghart, laughing?”

“…”

“How shameless!”

Shameless?

There was a discordant word in Miss Calrent’s speech. Given Miss Calrent’s negative emotions towards her, the criticism of ‘shamelessness’ was unlikely to be directed at Sieghart.

“Miss Calrent, watch your words.”

As if she was implying that Natasha was the perpetrator in their relationship, Natasha raised her voice.

“Our relationship is not something for you to comment on. There are things Miss Calrent doesn’t know…”

“Even though you both have committed sins, you act as if you’re the only victim.”

Miss Calrent’s sneering appearance towards her didn’t provoke Natasha’s anger. What actually caught her attention was the contradictory word ‘both’.

Natasha Charliee has committed no sin against Sieghart Asthart. Even if there were any, it would be a justified action demanding an apology for the man’s prior transgressions, and could never be considered a crime.

However, for some reason, Natasha couldn’t bring herself to get angry.

Because fragments of the past suddenly invaded her mind.

‘Shall I tell you in detail how filthy an existence you are to the Duke?’

‘How ridiculous it is for X gods to protect their enemy without even knowing their own sins, do you want me, as a third party, to expose it!’

When she met Kyle Letius, that man had said so too.

That Natasha was an impure existence to Sieghart.

He also uttered incomprehensible words about them both having sinned against each other.

“What, on earth, does that…”

Her head was in a whirl.

‘Sometimes, not knowing the truth is the best medicine. You know that too, don’t you?’

‘Natasha, just as you can’t explain everything to me, I too can’t confess everything to you.’

‘So just this once, pretend you didn’t hear anything.’

The moment when she had fled in fear of the truth beyond Bluebeard’s door came to mind next. The truth implied in the words she couldn’t uncover that day belatedly struck her head.

It really seemed like there was an ugly truth she had forgotten.

That there remained a room she must open, but opening it would surely reveal a disaster beyond—.