“Enough with the excuses. I have no intention of making a big deal since my son brewed it.”

She folded her fan and shook it.

“I’d feel like I gained a great ally if the Grand Duke lived in the palace. Hence, I was tempted.”

“As long as you do not harm the Grand Duke, I am willing to be your ally anytime.”

This time it was sincere. If Hertian wasn’t threatened, a situation like this wouldn’t happen. Because I wouldn’t lose Hertian.

However, it seemed her will did not align with mine. Her expression wasn’t very good.

“We shall discuss this later.”

(This is a time separator.)

A hunting ground not far from the palace.

Spring had come, and the hunting season had begun on a grand scale.

Noble ladies sought me and my husband, and ambitious young nobles showcased their strength here.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Empress.”

“What brings Your Highness the Empress to the hunting grounds?”

Thus, the Empress coming to such an event was highly unusual. As was the case for me, the Grand Duchess.

‘What does she want to talk about in front of the noble ladies?’

The empress sat down in the seat led by the noble ladies with a graceful smile.

“We came to enjoy the sights today in celebration of the Grand Duchess’ arrival in the capital. We’re not causing any inconvenience, are we?”

“Not at all, Your Highness. It’s an honor to have you. Please, sit here.”

The noble ladies made room, and we sat in the center. Then the maidservants busily poured tea into tea cups.

“It brings back old memories to visit the hunting ground after decades. I used to spend time here every day, watching the hunting Emperor.”

As the empress reminisced, the noble ladies listened attentively to her words.

“Your Highness also had such days. We also stare impatiently, wondering when the young Lord Evort will come down. We only look over there.”

The gaze of one noble lady was directed at the entrance to the hunting grounds.

The place where the young nobles who went hunting came and went.

The empress also saw that and gave a light smile.

“The pure love of a noble lady is beautiful. I also have someone I’m waiting for.”

“Your Highness too?”

“More precisely, I came to wait with our Grand Duchess for the person she’s waiting for.”

The empress lightly placed her hand on my shoulder. At the same time, our eyes met.

‘What does she want to tell me?’

“Oh my. The Grand Duchess has a face I don’t recognize.”

I shut my mouth and looked at her. She openly revealed what she was plotting.

“Did you hear? The Grand Duke went dragon hunting early yesterday morning?”
The Empress’s voice was tinged with delight.

“I was right.”

There was a place that came to mind after hearing Eleanor’s report yesterday.

The edge of the cliff, Flavo Cave, rumored to be home to a dragon.

It was a place untouched by human hands due to the ferocious dragon in the vicinity. Consequently, many animals and monsters had gathered there, and the Empire had designated a certain distance from the cliff as a hunting ground.

Naturally, the hunting ground was closed when the dragon was active. On a day like today in spring, the dragon was in its resting period, so the hunting ground was open.

“Isn’t that cave a restricted area?”

“It’s restricted because the dragon is dangerous. If anyone can hunt there, access is possible anytime.”

“But I heard it’s risky to disturb the dragon during its resting period…”

One servant cast a worried glance at me.

“If no one intentionally wakes the dragon, it won’t easily wake up.”

I looked toward the Empress. If anyone wakes it, it would be you.

“If the Duke doesn’t run away in fear, you would have been the one to wake it, right?”

My forced smile disappeared at the serpentlike response.

“You seem very worried about the Duchess.”

I glared at the Empress in silence.

“It’s fine. If the Duke fails to return, I’ll specially take the widowed Duchess as Serdis’s mate.”

My head snapped around.

“It’s a joke. In this world, anything can happen. You never know what will occur, where.”

Even as a joke, such malicious words shouldn’t be spoken.

“If the Duke meets an unfortunate end, I will not become Serdis’s mate.”

“Really? That would be the best treatment for the Duchess.”

“The best treatment?”

“If the Duke doesn’t return and the Duchess is left alone, it means the Duchess will have to spend her life in the palace.”

The Empress continued to speak incomprehensibly. It felt as though she was beating around the bush, saying what she wanted to in front of everyone. The servants watching our exchange were holding their breath, waiting for my response.

‘That must be why she specifically sat me here.’

It seemed this was the discussion she had postponed earlier in the carriage.

Glancing over, the Empress’s eyes seemed to be asking why I wasn’t inquiring further.

If so, then not asking would be implicit understanding.

“Thank you for letting me know. Speaking of which, there are a lot of desserts here.”

Pretending not to be interested, I picked up a deliciouslooking macaron from the table and ate it.

As expected, the capital’s macarons were sweet and delicious. Stress flew away in an instant.

“The Duchess always enjoys dessert. Seeing you eat makes me want to have one, too.”

Despite my blatant disregard, the Empress didn’t lose her composure.

“Your Majesty should try one as well. They’re quite exceptional.”

I extended the plate of macarons toward the Empress. In response, she smiled and dropped the plate to the floor.

“Oh dear. My hand slipped.”

She didn’t look surprised at all. It seemed as if she had dropped it on purpose, and she didn’t bother to hide it.

She had dropped the plate to make a statement.

“What does a plate matter? What’s important is that you’re not hurt.”

I pretended to be concerned.

“It’s strange how I always hear bad news on days when I drop something.”

Hertian spoke as if he were hoping for bad news.

“Indeed, the sky is rather dark today.”

“It might rain soon.”

The sunshine disappeared, and clouds covered the sky. Slowly, I grew worried. One or two guards were descending from the hunting ground’s entrance, but there was no sign of Hertian.

Then, the Empress’s hand overlaid mine. The cold sensation almost made me shake her off.

“Don’t worry. If he dies, I’ll make sure to take care of the body well.”
“Your Majesty, the Empress. Please moderate yourself.”

“Why pretend to be sincere? We are in a marriage of convenience.”

So this was the reason I wished to live in the palace. To kill Hertian and sit me beside Serdis. Is this Serdis’s will, or the will of the Empress who claimed to like me?

“Stop indulging in strange fantasies.”

“The fantasies I indulge in feel as if they will all become reality.”

She unfolded her fan and chuckled. She looked as if she could really kill Hertian and make him disappear.

‘No. Hertian won’t die.’

In the original work, Hertian wasn’t a man who died so easily. Even if I’ve interfered in the original storyline and caused this event, absolutely not.

“I wonder how long the Duke’s composure will last.”

However, the Empress’s composure disappeared before mine did.

“It seems the Empress has come out to meet me.”

It was because Hertian appeared at the hunting ground, his head covered with sticky blood.

“Your Grace!”

He flung something at the Empress’s feet with his hand dripping blood.