He said he wouldn’t let go, but made her wait. Moreover, as she had seen, he even danced with another woman.

Yet he claimed he was watching her the entire time? Even saying there were many hyenas around.

“You should have sent the Royal Guard to fetch the champagne. It took too long… Whew. Those dark fellows were staring at you so much, I thought I would die of jealousy. It was fortunate that I had you wear a jacket.”

He grumbled.

“…Seriously.”

Mercedes couldn’t understand this man.

Carlos was being jealous. As if he hated others approaching her.

Well, it was the same as his behavior so far. It seemed like the behavior of a ‘man in love’.

Since his words and actions had always been consistent, it might have been natural.

However, the image of him sleeping comfortably with Skylar and dancing with another woman was added to her mind.

It could all be nothing.

Nevertheless, her heart twisted.

Who are you to do this.

Why am I wavering like this.

She thought she wanted to avoid these unknown emotions, but the moment he appeared, she felt relieved, and she hated that too.

“It’s my fault. I’m sorry, Mercedes.”

Mercedes, lost in thought, didn’t answer. Interpreting that in some way, Carlos frowned and apologized once more.

“If I may explain, I was caught by annoying aristocrats. They made it impossible for me to escape. Like old snakes. Dancing one song with the young lady they wanted was the quickest way to run away.”

Then he even clarified.

Mercedes felt like her anger was subsiding at that explanation.

So she hated it even more.

She was irritated, then her eyes were drawn to him, and now her anger dissipated so easily.

She, who had only lived suppressing her emotions, found all of this too uncomfortable and unpleasant. She wanted to maintain a state of tranquility.

“…It’s alright, Your Majesty. You don’t have to make excuses. I’m not even… the empress yet. And I’m in a position to inconvenience Your Majesty…”

Perhaps because her emotions were in turmoil? Words that were usually not thought of, mixed vaguely with her true feelings, blurted out. As soon as he heard her answer, Carlos raised one eyebrow.

“…Why are you saying that?”

“Because I’m still of lowly status. I’m lacking in helping Your Majesty or… dominating high society. Even becoming the empress is thanks to Your Majesty’s gracious favor. You really don’t have to mind me.”

Even as she spoke, Mercedes couldn’t understand why she was doing this.

It wasn’t wrong, but recently, she didn’t deliberately say things to lower herself. She had been trying, and her mind had become quite tranquil.

And in the first place, she didn’t care about status. After visiting the underground prison, what would she care about?

Nevertheless, when she thought of his actions and those around him, strange words popped out.

“So it’s okay, Your Majesty. It’s all okay.”

Mercedes, who had finished speaking, finally closed her eyes.

The first love she experienced for the first time in her life was too painful for her, who was nearly ignorant of emotions.

The kind actions of the other person, as well as his indifferent actions, hurt her heart.

Not knowing something about him also made her angry.

This strange possessiveness hurt.

Mercedes, who didn’t know this was love and couldn’t properly recognize it…

She just wanted to run away from her first love.

“Mercedes.”

Carlos frowned and carefully wrapped one hand around the back of her head, pulling her into his embrace.

Her forehead touched his chest.

He whispered to her, who had come closer.

“When you say things like that, it makes me so sad.”

“…”

“Don’t do that. You are the most important to me. If there is any misunderstanding, I will clear it up. So, please believe in my heart.”

It was a confession that sounded even sweeter than usual.

Mercedes felt like she wanted to get angry for some reason, cry, and also laugh.

Carlos closed his eyes, feeling Mercedes’ heart beating fast against his body.

Perhaps her emotional change had an effect, ignoring it.

That’s probably why she was acting unlike her usual self. Something seemed to have pulled the trigger inside her today as well.

‘Is the end approaching.’

Even if he didn’t know much about love, he couldn’t ignore her unusual attitude.

This also meant that the time to directly take her life might be approaching.

‘…Damn it.’

His heart became heavy as a thousand pounds.

So he tried hard to steel his resolve.

Those who bear the crown inevitably commit acts that bring guilt. This was just one of them. It would just weigh on his mind a little more.

Therefore.

This heaviness is just a passing storm.

He will be fine. Everything will return to its place… and he will care for this country as an emperor should.

Now, by giving her the position of empress and trusting her- her heart will open completely.

He didn’t know what the curse wanted, but if they exchanged passionate confessions, it would probably be enough.

Thus, Carlos tried to close off his emotions and think rationally. However, his heart fluttered anxiously.

The two… leaned against each other for quite a long time, each immersed in their own thoughts.

Although they were standing inside the curtain, their figures obscured, it wasn’t hidden enough to be missed by those passing by.

The aristocrats who vaguely saw the two leaning against each other so affectionately spread the word.

Thus, regardless of their will, a romantic rumor spread through high society.

About how much the emperor and the woman who would become his empress loved each other.

And on that day, incidents finally erupted, blatant affairs. Ugly affairs that contrasted with the image of the emperor and Mercedes.

Therefore, their image was praised even more.

* * *

“The Marquis of Nantes did a decent job.”

“Yes. I had him leave the capital immediately that day, as it seemed the emperor would try to find him. That debtor would have been satisfied, having received sufficient compensation.”

The Viscountess of Vallière answered elegantly while sipping tea.

Today, they were gathered again in the salon of a noblewoman close to the empress dowager. The empress dowager smiled contentedly.

“I was thinking of holding a few more banquets like this, but I heard Carlos reacted more intensely than expected. There are even rumors of them being beautiful lovers who love each other deeply. Our luck is very good.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

“It’s going well. Even the parts where I don’t intervene.”

“Congratulations. Your Majesty.”

The noblewomen laughed. The empress dowager took a sip of tea and smiled.

“Anyway, the empress’s enthronement ceremony is coming up soon… It will be difficult to attend banquets for the time being. I hope things will flow according to my intentions at the banquet that wench attends after becoming the empress.”

The empress dowager sharply pressured her subordinates.

The noblewomen bowed their heads while seated, as if there was no other way.

“The next banquet that wench Mercedes sends her intention to attend will also be your banquet, right?”

The noblewomen who gathered here nodded their heads with a face full of pride.

Although all the banquets held throughout the social season were quite enjoyable, none had as much influence as the ones held by the noblewomen gathered here.

So naturally, Carlos would only choose to send Mercedes to the banquets held by the noblewomen gathered here.

“Yes, that’s good. Anyway, since both the Marchioness of Marshal and that debtor marquis did a good job this time. They will be very vigilant. Let’s stop the profligate banquets for now… I’d like the next banquet to be very chaste.”

The countess who was scheduled to host the next banquet nodded.

Although her status was low, she had become the flower of high society with her beauty, and her husband, the count, was a person with a large presence in high society due to his good business acumen.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve already selected suitable candidates… I believe it won’t be difficult to attach a scandal to that woman at your banquet. You’ll be able to set the mood like that.”

At the empress dowager’s heavy voice, the countess bowed her head.

The faces of those gathered were filled with elegance, but behind the teacups they held up to hide it, a vile smile took its place.

* * *

The spring of the Loom Empire ended and summer arrived. Loom was even hotter than Sheim, but she was fine as she was weak only to the cold.

However, Carlos, whose body was always hot, seemed to be already very hot, wearing a much thinner shirt than before. He even rolled up the cuffs of his shirt and unbuttoned two or three buttons as he walked around.

“The Marquis of Nantes has gone far away. My knights will probably catch him soon. The mastermind is probably the empress dowager. But the empress dowager will slip away. Saying she doesn’t know such a drunkard. Damn woman.”

Mercedes couldn’t hear well what he was saying. With his firm chest clearly visible, she had nowhere to look and was only troubled throughout the meal.

“Mercedes. Since the announcement of the empress has been made, I think we need to prepare for the enthronement ceremony.”

Still, when she heard about official business, she came to her senses. She was confused by her complicated feelings and eyes that had nowhere to look, but the enthronement ceremony. It was something she had to be alert for.

“Ah, I see.”

The enthronement ceremony.

It would be different from a wedding, but it was a place to stand in front of people and declare becoming someone’s woman.

The similar event she had done before, the wedding with Richard, was truly terrible. She couldn’t eat anything all day because the corset was too tight, and she felt like she was on display to people.

Moreover, that night. She was beaten by Richard.

It was a day she didn’t even want to recall.

But it’s different now than it was then. She glanced at Carlos for a moment, then thought, ‘I still can’t find a place to look,’ and moved her gaze to the plate.

Perhaps it was because of Carlos. She found him hateful, but her eyes kept being drawn to him, and it was a truly incomprehensible state… but it was true that she felt at ease when he was by her side.

So she thought this enthronement ceremony would be fine if he was with her.

“This, next… Hmm. We’ll have to miss a total of three big banquets. You’ll be busy with preparations.”

“Yes.”

“So, I have something to ask.”

However, there was a problem. Carlos paused for a moment.

Usually, when bringing in an empress or queen, the elders of the imperial family who already manage the inner palace would host the event.

In other words, if they followed the original protocol.

It meant that Mercedes’ enthronement ceremony had to be prepared by the empress dowager.