Mercedes was only taken aback for a moment. She quickly focused on the words “lowly necklace”.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said it took a long time to craft, so she only gave it to me now. But is this a lowly necklace?”

“So this is why she delayed. Damn that woman.”

Carlos answered with a sigh.

“That’s the necklace the previous emperor gifted to his especially favored concubine. Not to the empress or the imperial consort, but to a concubine. And that concubine wore the necklace to every banquet. It’s a famous necklace.”

“Oh my. So she intentionally gave it to me.”

“Yes. It’s a necklace that carries the meaning of not recognizing you as the imperial consort and treating you as a concubine. It’s already a known fact that the Empress Dowager prepared everything for the coronation, so everyone will know that she also gave you that accessory.”

“She intended to make me a laughingstock.”

“Yes. Mercedes. Damn it. I thought attaching the Viscount was too shallow a move, but I got distracted by that.”

“Me too… I was so busy being wary of the Viscount that I didn’t even think of this.”

“Phew. Anyway, you have to take off that necklace. It slightly bothers me that you, the star of today, will look too plain though.”

“Right. Having no accessories will make it seem like neither the Empress Dowager nor Your Majesty cared about me.”

“That’s what she was aiming for. If you take it off, it’ll be too empty, and if you wear it, you’ll be ridiculed. But still, that necklace is a no-go, Mercedes.”

“Yes. You’re right.”

Mercedes clenched her hands a few times in tension.

“Leopold. Go and bring my mother’s jewelry box right now.”

“Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ll make it in time.”

Leopold replied, furrowing his brows. Mercedes agreed with that opinion.

“He’s right. Your Majesty, the imperial palace is too vast. Even if he brings it, the coronation procession will be delayed. Do we need such noise?”

The two made a valid point. Carlos clicked his tongue, pressing his temples.

“It can’t be helped then. I’ll escort her as best as I can, and she’ll have to dress lavishly at the banquet afterwards. Have the maids re-check the accessories and dress she’ll wear during the banquet to make it seem like we paid a lot of attention.”

The solution Carlos came up with was the right one. It seemed like there was no other way. Such a proper solution.

But was there no other way? I didn’t want to just take what the Empress Dowager wanted.

‘I feel like I’m about to think of something…’

Carlos approached Mercedes, who was lost in thought, and tried to take off the necklace, wrapping his hot hands around her neck.

Perhaps it was because of the stimulation from his warmth, but an idea suddenly struck Mercedes’ mind like lightning.

She could ruin the Empress Dowager’s mood and raise her own standing.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I have a good idea.”

Mercedes exclaimed with uncharacteristic excitement. It was a rare occurrence. Carlos looked down at her lively face, his eyes wide open, and asked,

“What idea is it?”

His words came out a bit slowly. It was because her flushed face was unfamiliar.

Mercedes organized her thoughts as concisely as possible and conveyed them to him.

Upon hearing her scheme, Carlos soon showed a genuinely surprised expression.

“…You are… really.”

“It’ll be fine, right?”

“It’s perfect. Couldn’t be better.”

Carlos answered her confident question with a bright smile. He couldn’t suppress his emotions, truly admiring how amazing she was.

Mercedes was momentarily taken aback by his bright and sincere smile, which she felt like she was witnessing for the first time.

Carlos, unaware that he was smiling, and Mercedes, who unknowingly got lost in his smile, stood facing each other as silence flowed.

Both of them blankly gazed at each other, helplessly getting drawn in at that moment.

“Your Majesty, Lady Mercedes. It’s time for you to enter now.”

The chief attendant, Franz, approached them and gently woke them from their trance.

“Ah, right. We should enter.”

Carlos raised his arm. Mercedes elegantly placed her arm on his firm arm and straightened her back. She knew how to walk nobly, so it wouldn’t be difficult.

The necklace remained on.

* * *

The emperor, who had no interest in women, brought back a death row inmate from another country and even raised her to the position of imperial consort!

It was quite stimulating news. That’s why there were many petitions submitted.

However, most of the nobles who saw Mercedes at social gatherings, portraying the image of a naive woman, had doubts like, “How could such a fragile woman commit murder? Could it be a false charge?”

Public opinion that it might be a false charge was about to surface, and it was fine even if a few more people were added to the imperial consort position. It was a strange position that was important but not important, not as crucial as the empress.

So the nobles who were petitioning eventually stopped fighting the emperor, who consistently ignored their opinions, and decided to watch the coronation.

And in fact, it might be fortunate that there was a woman the emperor favored, giving a chance for an heir. Because the emperor showed even less interest in other women after gaining a woman he favored.

Absolute primogeniture had already been abolished anyway, and they could still aim for the important position of empress.

Seeing the emperor ignore the petitions, they suppressed their discontent to a moderate level.

All the nobles could attend, so even those who had come up from the provinces for the social season were packed, and the grand banquet hall was filled to the brim with people.

“His Majesty Emperor Carlos Rivera and Lady Mercedes are entering.”

Plus, look. How much must he favor her to personally escort her to the coronation ceremony where he has to bestow her status himself? For now, it was wise to leave them be.

The nobles watched Mercedes, receiving the emperor’s favor, ascend the platform and start walking, and…

“Oh my…”

“Heavens.”

“That, that’s…”

They started whispering in shock.

They kept their voices down, but with a group whispering together, it was quite a commotion.

Carlos was calm, and Mercedes also walked slowly with her eyes lowered. Her demeanor was very beautiful, but people’s gazes were fixed on the glamorous accessory around Mercedes’ neck.

Who wouldn’t know? The story behind that necklace.

“Didn’t the Empress Dowager prepare for the coronation? My goodness. It seems she has no intention of accepting the imperial consort.”

“Heavens, how could she give such a lowly necklace?”

“Tsk. The atmosphere in the imperial family is beyond repair.”

Everyone glanced at the back of the Empress Dowager sitting in the guest of honor seat. Although they didn’t know her intentions, knowing the meaning of that jewel, they slowly started gossiping about Mercedes.

Carlos tightly held the hand of Mercedes, whom he was escorting. Mercedes calmly accepted that strength and walked to the end of the platform without reaction.

In front of the platform was a higher platform with the imperial throne placed on it.

Carlos’ loyal chancellor brought a beautiful crown and a jeweled sword on a luxurious cushion. Seeing that, Carlos put Mercedes in front of him and ascended to the throne.

Perhaps it was because he was at the highest position, or maybe because of the atmosphere.

A strong pressure emanated from him. Thanks to that, the noisy grand banquet hall was briefly filled with silence.

“I declare that today, I shall crown you as my imperial consort. Are you prepared?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you vow to never lose your wisdom and to faithfully assist me at any moment?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Mercedes. You shall take my family name and become Imperial Consort Mercedes Rivera, receiving the treatment of imperial royalty. Hear this! All nobles shall pay respect to the new imperial consort.”

Carlos solemnly commanded, picking up the jeweled sword from the cushion.

The nobles obediently followed the emperor’s words and bowed their heads for now. Although there was some silent mockery mixed in.

Carlos touched Mercedes’ shoulders and head with the sword, as if knighting her, and placed the small and elegant silver crown on her golden hair.

Then, he said a few more words of blessing to her and continued with various speeches to the nobles.

After some time had passed like that.

“-I proclaim that Mercedes Rivera has become my first imperial consort.”

Carlos completed the coronation.

“Wow…”

“Wow!”

The nobles mechanically cheered and applauded.

If it weren’t for the necklace, there would have been even greater cheers filling the air. But as they glanced at each other, the cheers were small and quickly died down.

“Then, Imperial Consort. May I ask how you feel? If you have anything to say, please do.”

Carlos turned to Mercedes and kindly asked, as if such things didn’t bother him at all.

“Of course. I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

“I would like to thank Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for taking charge of this coronation. The coronation was prepared to be as solemn and modest as possible, but the adornments bestowed upon me and the jewels used throughout are expensive, aren’t they? I wish to return them.”

“Return them?”

“Today, I intend to convert this necklace and this dress entirely into cash and donate it to an orphanage.”

To the Empress Dowager, her words were truly shocking.

Donate?

The Empress Dowager momentarily clenched her fists tightly and gritted her teeth. This was not part of her scenario.

Her scenario was for the wench to be humiliated, and for that humiliation to extend to the emperor.

With just that one necklace, people would eagerly gossip about Mercedes, and they would be mindful of the Empress Dowager, who had great influence in high society.

Even after rising to the position of imperial consort, they would ostracize her while treating her like a concubine.

If the emperor showered affection on such a woman and protected her? The emperor’s prestige would drop quite a bit among the nobles. Imperial royalty would become ridiculous and lose power if they couldn’t maintain their dignity.

So the necklace the Empress Dowager brought today was a device prepared to involve the emperor and diminish his prestige while distracting him with the Viscount.

But… donate?

It was something she never thought of.

She couldn’t even reprimand her, saying how dare she donate what she gave her. Because donation was a good deed.

The Empress Dowager tried to manage her expression as she glared at the impudent little wench. Mercedes was still smiling like an angel, lovably.