The darkness mercifully concealed her flushed face.

Mercedes barely managed to open her mouth again, fingertips caressing the hard poker.

“…Anyway, that. Someone unknown left Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s invitation.”

She succeeded in changing the subject with difficulty.

She felt that if she kept talking about herself, she would be helplessly swayed by this man’s way of speaking.

Carlos did not particularly try to stop her from changing the subject. Seeing her slightly flustered face gave him a strange sense of satisfaction. He could go further and say sweet words, but.

Rushing things always ruins them.

Besides, today’s purpose was to find out what kind of approach she had received from the Empress Dowager anyway.

“An invitation, is it. May I take a look at it?”

“Yes.”

“It’s too dark here… Let’s go inside for now.”

Carlos lightly jumped over the window sill and entered her room, sitting on the windowsill.

“I won’t go in any further than this.”

“No. It’s alright if you come this way.”

“I’m not alright. To see you after ten days, and to end up barging in like this. It’s really not good.”

Carlos clicked his tongue. Like a man who truly wanted to impress her.

Mercedes forcibly tore her gaze from him, returned the poker to its place, and went to retrieve the invitation.

She didn’t know much about Room’s social circles or the Empress Dowager’s personality, so she needed to ask someone for judgment. And since she had no connections in Room, that someone could only be the Emperor.

Also, as soon as she saw the invitation, she made a small resolution in her heart.

“…Good grief. For the Empress Dowager to send such a pretendedly kind letter, it’s enough to give me goosebumps.”

Carlos muttered irritably after reading the invitation.

“What is she usually like?”

“The Empress Dowager is a very arrogant person. She looks people up and down, evaluates them, and once she makes a judgment, she uses them as she pleases and tears them down. It’s not surprising. After all, she grew up as the daughter of a noble duke’s family and easily ascended to the position of empress. Even if she speaks kindly at times, there’s always a purpose behind it.”

“She sounds like a lofty noble.”

“Just like you. Of course, you’re not arrogant, but wise.”

“…I’m not a lofty noble.”

Mercedes replied briefly. There was a hint of bitterness, but Carlos didn’t pry further. He was already guessing at the abuse she had received, so asking would only provoke resentment.

“The Empress Dowager probably didn’t think I wouldn’t see this invitation… What do you think? The reason for sending this invitation, I mean.”

“My thoughts?”

“Yes, I’m curious about your thoughts.”

Carlos believed that Mercedes would be more interested when he tested her thoughts or abilities like this, rather than his sweet words and actions. That was how he had observed Mercedes to be.

Mercedes was surprised.

It was the first time someone had asked for her opinion. It was a very strange experience.

And upon being asked, she somehow hoped that her hypothesis would be correct. As if this attractive man in front of her had become her teacher.

Finding the right answer to the teacher’s question would be evidence that she wasn’t completely stupid.

“In, my opinion.”

She opened her mouth courageously. Her voice trembled slightly as she offered her opinion.

“I think the Empress Dowager sent it to test me.”

“Why?”

“A worthless woman who falls for the words ‘the Emperor’s companion’ doesn’t need to be wary of. A troublesome woman who doesn’t fall for it needs to be watched… I think she’s trying to gauge me like that.”

Carlos was honestly surprised.

It was an answer that matched exactly what he had thought and understood.

He had heard that Mercedes had been immersed in books for ten days, but… She seemed to have been abused and confined in Shame, yet this judgment didn’t seem like something from such a person.

‘Well, she was the death row inmate who came up with the bold move to kill the Crown Prince and eliminate her own family. Thinking about it that way, she seems quite gutsy too.’

He nodded.

“I think the same. She’s testing you. The Emperor’s companion. No one would be unshaken by these words.”

“Then… Is my opinion the correct answer?”

Mercedes’ eyes sparkled. It was a completely different face from the one who had been sitting like a corpse, not even eating.

Somehow, that gave Carlos a sense of satisfaction.

“…Yes. It’s correct.”

However, he didn’t properly recognize that satisfaction.

He just thought that Mercedes was quite impressive.

Carlos’ reason was trying to use Mercedes, and it was natural since he had lived putting reason before emotion for a long time.

Carlos raised only one corner of his mouth crookedly.

It was a face with a strange mischievousness. As if wanting to test her even more.

“Hmm. But what do you think about this matter?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you want to attend the banquet, wanting to become the Emperor’s companion and to be seen favorably by the Empress Dowager?”

Mercedes looked at him.

Thinking that the imperial family really liked to test people.

Companion…

He had said he was smitten with her, but he hadn’t offered her the position of empress. An emperor could take as many women as he wanted.

She should have said it was an honor just to stay in the imperial palace. She lowered herself and thought only of revenge.

“Companion, you say.”

She spoke calmly. An atmosphere that seemed to draw people in was overflowing around her.

“That’s absurd. I’m just curious about… Your Majesty. How diverse are the nobles who attend Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s banquet?”

“From upstarts who bought their titles to declining knight families, to talents from scholar families who aren’t interested in these things, everyone shows up. The pressure from their families is strong. The Empress Dowager’s banquet is a good opportunity for marriage, to become a focal point in social circles, and it’s so splendid and magnificent that it’s not easy to see otherwise.”

“Then please allow me to attend the banquet.”

He slightly widened his eyes at her answer, then quickly hid his expression.

“For what reason?”

“There’s so much I don’t know. At Shame, I couldn’t actively participate in social circles. Of course, I could observe a lot.”

Mercedes’ eyes reflected in the candlelight burned with a combative spirit.

Carlos suddenly glanced around at her small desk.

Next to a thick book were equally thick stacks of papers. They were full of traces of writing, organizing, erasing, and rewriting. His gaze moved to her fingers.

Once again, they were stained black with ink.

“I don’t want to participate in Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s test.”

She looked at him with burning eyes.

“I want to broaden my world.”

“…”

“And for that, if there’s anything you want me to do.”

Mercedes took a step closer to him, almost provocatively. Her clear voice rang out distinctly from close by.

“I’ll do anything.”

Carlos felt he could somewhat understand the feeling of being overwhelmed by something for the first time in his life.

Was this how others felt when they looked at him?

After losing his words for a moment, he slowly uttered in a low voice.

“I don’t want to be a man who orders a woman he’s smitten with to do just anything.”

“I want to do it. And.”

Mercedes didn’t avoid his eyes. The woman who always carefully drew lines had changed in just ten days of solitary exploration.

“I want to repay Your Majesty’s kindness.”

They both knew her words were political.

Mercedes didn’t trust the Emperor. Even if he truly felt affection for her, it could cool quickly.

So she had to find ways to impress him and gain his favor even more. Carlos didn’t discriminate against people if they had ability. She had learned this by observing his aides.

If so, she would make herself useful to him.

Only then would his favor not disappear, and she could achieve her goals.

So she made this proposal, anticipating he would be quite pleased, while also studying the world.

“…Hah.”

Carlos also immediately noticed her intentions. Still not believing he was ‘smitten,’ she was looking for ways to gain something from him.

The woman who had grown in such a short time was dazzling.

“Haha. Haha!”

He laughed loudly. It was a very pleasant laugh.

“Then if I ask you to pretend to be a foolish woman who received this invitation, appear easy to manipulate, and become my weapon to irritate the Empress Dowager, you intend to do so?”

“Yes.”

There was no hesitation in Mercedes’ answer.

“Is there nothing you want in return?”

“Pardon?”

“I forcibly saved you because I was smitten, and demanded you live. And I said I’d do anything for you. But you haven’t asked for anything so far, and instead you’re swearing to me like a knight.”

“Ah.”

Mercedes let out a low groan.

Just a woman he was smitten with, yet swearing like a knight. She might have seemed too presumptuous.

The confidence that had risen after getting the right answer quickly subsided. She was about to answer in a subdued voice.

“If you don’t want—”

“How could I not want it? I’m pleasantly surprised for the first time in a while.”

Carlos seemed to be in a very good mood.

“I’m weak to you. If you want, I’d gladly become your lord. So, tell me. A proper lord should reward a knight’s loyalty. So speak.”

But surprisingly, Carlos didn’t see her as presumptuous. Mercedes bit her lip and said.

“I thought you planned not to show me outside from the moment you made me stay in the separate palace. Am I right?”

“That’s right. Because I don’t want the woman I’m smitten with to be harassed by unnecessary people.”

“Then my request is simple. Don’t hide me.”

“…”

“I want to inflict stronger pain on Cromwell than just war. A method where he slowly chokes himself, not knowing what to do from anxiety and uneasiness. Political schemes, ways to cut off the golden threads connected to him. Things like that. But I haven’t learned those methods. So I’ll learn them from the world.”

Like a bird just hatched from its egg, Mercedes’ life began to pulse.