And thanks to that, I had earned the emperor’s suspicion.

“Young lady. You wouldn’t think of leaving a stain of divorce after marrying into the royal family, would you?”

The suddenly icy voice made my gall chill.

But do you think I would fall for such a sly and simple scheme?

“Your Majesty, the Emperor. I will quickly give you a grandchild.”

I shouted as plainly as possible, no more, no less.

“A grand…..child?”

“Yes, I was worried because it seems like there won’t be any time to enjoy the honeymoon at this rate.”

What other words are needed.

I’m saying I’ll give him a grandchild.

Like Serdis is willing to do anything, I had nothing to say that I couldn’t do.

“Do you mean to say you’ll bear a child?”

The emperor’s expression instantly relaxed, as if it had hit the spot.

“That’s the natural duty of a married couple.”

I smiled proudly and looked alternately at the emperor and Hertian.

Serdis seemed to be unable to choose words to refute after the grandchild topic was brought up. If you can’t even beat me with words, why did you jump in?

The short and long feast ended, and it was a moment of rest.

For Serdis, it was a time for readjustment. He left the banquet hall and met his attendant in a secluded place.

“Your Highness, did the banquet go well?”

His dedicated attendant asked cautiously, constantly observing his demeanor.

“No.”

But contrary to his answer, Serdis didn’t look upset at all.

“I didn’t think Anette would be shaken by a few words. She even married that Hertian guy because of me.”

“She’s not an easy one.”

“Anyway, about the item I mentioned.”

“Here it is.”

The attendant pulled out a small medicine bottle from his bosom and handed it to him.

“If you make a mistake again… you know, right?”

“There will be absolutely no mistakes. I tested it on the palace people before I came out.”

The attendant lowered his voice and wore a sinister smile.

“After eating this, they all laid down moaning in stomach pain for an hour before they got up.”

“Any abnormalities in their bodies?”

“When I called the doctor for a checkup, they said there was nothing wrong.”

“Is that so?”

Serdis scanned the medicine bottle in his hand with interest.

“A medicine that causes pain in the body, but leaves no abnormalities…”

It was the exact item he was looking for. He gave a satisfied smile, then handed the medicine bottle back to the attendant.

“Make sure to apply it only to the tea cup that Anette will drink. No one else.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“There absolutely must not be any mistakes.”

The attendant, swallowing his saliva, turned around with renewed determination.

That was the real reason Serdis came out today.

The banquet in the palace was more enjoyable than I thought.

The food was firstclass, and more than anything, Serdis was quiet after the incident.

‘It’s about time to start a fight…….’

I glimpsed at him while munching on the macaroon that was served for dessert.

However, Serdis, as if he had given up, leisurely enjoyed his tea.

“Seems like the young lady Anette likes macarons. You’ve already eaten four. How cute.”

The empress watched me for a long time and smiled sweetly.

She was wrong. It was my fifth.

This wasn’t my fault.

It was the best macaron I had ever eaten, so my hand kept reaching out without me knowing.

Show up at the palace party bakery!

“The taste is so good that… I’ll control myself.”

“No, it’s just nice to see you eating well.”
I answered the Empress with a smile.

“Why don’t you eat a little too? You haven’t even touched the food and stayed still since a while ago.”

However, the sparks flew towards Hertian who was next to me.

Unlike me, Hertian would feel quite uncomfortable in this place.

After all, the one who expelled Hertian from this imperial palace was the Empress herself. He had to live in hiding under the Grand Duke, a knight, at a young age, and after the shield called the Duke disappeared, he had to run to the battlefield.

I was aware of that fact. I stayed quiet so as not to anger Hertian by being overly cautious around him.

“Why? Did I poison your food?”

Eventually, the Empress provoked Hertian. The atmosphere froze in an instant.

“You don’t even answer. It’s my fault for expecting motherly treatment even in such a place.”

I was hoping for it to pass without incident, but in the end, it exploded.

“Empress. Stop.”

The Emperor, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward to stop the Empress.

But it seemed too late as Hertian slowly opened his mouth.

“Do you think you’ve used poisonlike obvious tricks?”

His cold gaze made the air feel icy.

“Do you think it’s okay to use the same method as 17 years ago? As a person who is called an Empress.”

The corners of his mouth rose sharply. It was a clear sneer.

Even without further explanation, I could tell that the person he was talking about was Hertian’s mother. He was saying that the Empress had poisoned Hertian’s mother.

“Do you want to say that I used poison to kill someone now? Do you?”

“You can say no. Of course, it’s separate from believing.”

“You!”

At the unpleasant tone, the Empress shouted, and he dropped his fork to the floor. The sound of marble and metal clashing echoed sharply.

“I didn’t skip a meal, I couldn’t. I have a weak stomach.”

His harsh tone was unfamiliar. I seemed to understand a bit how deep and dark Hertian’s past that I didn’t fully know was. I reached under the table and held the back of his hand. It was a firm hand without a trace of trembling.

“It seems we need to leave.”

In the end, I decided to leave this place.

I felt that Hertian’s murderous intent would extend further if we stayed longer.

The Emperor couldn’t dare to hold us back.

“Let’s go, Hertian.”

It was just when I was about to get up holding Hertian’s hand.

“Mother.”

Serdis, who had been listening, opened his mouth. I prayed that he wouldn’t provoke Hertian with careless words.

“Mother, you were wrong this time.”

However, unexpectedly, the arrow was aimed at the Empress.