Mercedes didn’t look surprised. Since the empress dowager and the emperor were both busy trying to dig up information on each other, it seemed natural for Carlos to know about the existence of the count.

If he knew about the count, he would have told Mercedes. So it would have been stranger if she was more surprised than necessary at the count’s family’s appearance.

“Father…!”

The empress dowager said she had gotten a letter full of reprimands from the count. They must have expected their relationship to be bad.

Although she didn’t know what the empress dowager was trying to do by using the count, if she acted according to the letter, it could give the empress dowager an excuse.

That was the conclusion Mercedes came to by the time the count arrived and the banquet began.

‘It would be better to pretend to get along very well.’

She didn’t know what kind of scheme was being planned, but if she acted friendly, there would be nothing to pick on for now.

So Mercedes jumped to her feet.

In front of her stood the four people who had tormented her all her life.

Count Cromwell’s upright and bright face, the Countess’ flushed face, Flora’s face full of discontent, and Fredrick’s face, who was sneering at her.

For a moment, she felt a surge of nausea.

Even though she tried to forget them while staying in the room for half a year, she couldn’t. That’s why they were clearly etched in her mind, making her run with the sole thought of revenge.

She was a little nervous about how it would feel to see them again. But she thought it might be okay.

Because she felt like she had returned to her emotionless state.

But now that she actually saw their faces again, she wanted to run straight to the bathroom. However, Mercedes endured it and put on a smile.

A very bright smile at that.

“Father! Mother, oh my. Sister Flora. Brother Fredrick!”

And she approached them, looking very happy to see them.

When Mercedes, who was always stiff and doll-like, greeted them brightly, the expressions of the count’s family members tilted for a moment. The atmosphere was strange.

“I’m so glad to see you. Really… Have you been well? You must have had a hard time because of me.”

Mercedes forced out tears that wouldn’t come out and even made her voice sound sad. She could see the count grinding his teeth. He must have been annoyed that she ignored all the letters and changed her attitude.

But what could she do? Would he slap her in the presence of the defeated of the continent and the empress dowager?

Yes. Just once.

Disgust, palpitations, instinctive fear, and a strange anger – all of these things clung to her like tar.

She swallowed it deeply just once.

Then the next part was easier.

“I’m sorry. I was so busy trying to adjust here that I… I heard there was a fire at the count’s residence. I should have contacted you first… I received the news too late.”

Mercedes even took the count’s hand first.

The hand that had slapped her cheeks countless times was still thick and firm. It gave her goosebumps, but she didn’t show it at all.

It was the first time she felt that the half year in the room had not been in vain.

“I see. It’s all right, Your Majesty the Empress. I’m just grateful that you didn’t forget this father of yours.”

The count made a kind face as if he had decided to go along with this ridiculously funny play. Well, since everything was ruined and she came to the room anyway, there was no other choice.

“Father…”

Mercedes’ voice even trembled as if she was moved. In the midst of this strangely warm atmosphere, the empress dowager’s voice cut in.

“…It seems you really like my gift.”

The empress dowager spoke to Mercedes with a smile. Mercedes spun around to face the empress dowager and bowed deeply.

“I am truly grateful for Your Majesty the Empress Dowager’s generosity and kindness in taking care of my family whom I couldn’t take care of myself. How did you prepare such a gift? I don’t see a way to repay this kindness.”

It was a neat and perfect greeting. As Mercedes straightened up, the empress dowager’s expression seemed to twist slightly, but soon she got up and approached Mercedes. Then she raised her hand and patted her shoulder affectionately.

“Raise your head. How could I not do this much for my first daughter-in-law? Family is the most important thing, so make sure to take care of them.”

“Yes. Of course. Thank you so much. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

In this way, on the surface, very affectionate scenes were produced.

After the situation unfolded, Carlos also slowly got up and stood next to her.

“It’s good to see you. Count Cromwell.”

“Oh. Your Majesty the Emperor. It’s really good to see you.”

“I should have called for you earlier, but I hope you understand my negligence.”

“Not at all. I am well aware that you are busy with public and private affairs. I am grateful that you are welcoming me like this.”

“I appreciate you seeing it that way.”

Carlos stood next to her as if protecting her and talked to the count as usual.

It was strange. He was going to kill her soon.

Why did it feel reassuring inside this banquet hall now? Just having him stand next to her gave her more confidence.

She had handled it well without difficulty just before, but with him standing next to her, she felt like she could do even better.

That was really.

Miserable.

‘Can a person who is going to die soon feel miserable?’

Mercedes thought to herself and straightened her back.

Anyway, the empress dowager’s plan would change according to her attitude.

“Then can we have this wonderful banquet with our family today?”

“Of course.”

“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. How about adjusting the seats a little? I think it would be good to have the empress sit next to me and the count next to Your Majesty.”

Next to him? Mercedes found herself looking at Carlos without realizing it. He had his eyes fixed on the empress dowager.

“Ah. That’s a good idea. I was trying to surprise you, but it ended up being troublesome.”

“Not at all. It’s really a pleasant meal.”

Carlos smiled softly and escorted Mercedes.

If he was next to her, only one member of the count’s family would sit next to her. Did he consider that for her sake?

‘…There’s no way.’

Mercedes thought for a moment, then stopped thinking. Anyway, if the seating arrangement was like that, it was rather fortunate.

Because right now, facing the count was easier than looking into Carlos’ eyes.

Soon the seats were rearranged and the banquet began again.

“Your Majesty the Empress. How have you been? This father couldn’t even sleep well because I was worried about the sudden events that occurred.”

The first remark was the count’s strange reprimand mixed with concern. The underlying meaning was clear: ‘You caused trouble and put the count’s family in an awkward position, then ran away and dared to ignore my contact?’

As soon as he finished speaking, the empress dowager raised her glass of wine and drank it without saying a word. As if she would watch the situation unfold.

His reprimand did remind her of the past. But maybe because it was a reprimand that was very elaborately packaged, it didn’t evoke much emotion in Mercedes.

She slowly opened her mouth.

“I apologi-.”

“That’s because of me. When Mercedes arrived at the room, her health was so poor that I had her take absolute rest.”

Carlos clicked his tongue and interrupted Mercedes’ words.

As if stepping forward to shield her.

She looked at Carlos in a little surprise, then looked ahead again. The countess sitting across from her had her mouth tightly shut and was glaring at Mercedes.

“Whatever happened to her in prison. It took a long time to make her healthy.”

Prison. Trial. Murder. Those were almost taboo words at the dinner table, but he brought them up right away.

The count looked a little flustered, then made a worried face.

“Ah. Is that so? Thank you, Your Majesty. Actually, I couldn’t check on Her Majesty the Empress’ condition because visitation was simply not possible. I’m just sorry that I couldn’t pay attention, Your Majesty. The household was in quite a disarray at the time.”

“Of course it must have been.”

The empress dowager, who had finished her wine, suddenly intervened.

“Isn’t it a truly tragic event? The count who upheld the collapsing family because of his daughter looks truly great. Emperor, Empress. Shouldn’t you help the count? It’s only natural for a daughter to repay the grace of the parents who raised her. It’s a heavenly bond, isn’t it?”

“Of course.”

Mercedes stepped forward. She had been quietly observing, but as soon as the count opened the floodgates, even the empress dowager reprimanded her.

‘Because of the daughter’…

“Your Majesty, I-.”

Mercedes was about to speak, thinking she should use her inner strength. But Carlos was a little faster.

“Oh my, the count must have had a hard time. I will personally make arrangements so that you can stay comfortably in the room, Count.”

“Your Majesty…! Thank you!”

When an easy answer flowed out, the countess stopped glaring at Mercedes with a satisfied look and began to eat. Fredrick, as always, was silently eating without participating in the conversation as if he had no thoughts.

Only Flora, who was sitting in a position where she could exchange glances with the emperor, was acting the part of a shy and cute young lady.

The banquet slowly went on, with reprimands, praises, and appropriate responses exchanged in a strange way. Then at that moment.

“To think that my daughter became Your Majesty’s first empress! I am very proud of her. We will be able to see an imperial heir soon, right?”

“Of course. I heard they made the couple’s bedchamber not long ago. The adoption was also nullified, so didn’t you say you would have an imperial heir from the empress? Emperor.”

The empress dowager and the count suddenly began to pressure them about an heir. The way the empress dowager and the count were in perfect sync, they looked like close friends who got along well.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Carlos answered a beat late. The count, who caught that right away, twisted his lips and smiled.

“Don’t tell me again…”

Mercedes immediately anticipated the words that would come out of that mouth.

“Once again. You can’t conceive an imperial heir…?”

There was worry in the count’s trailing voice.

“What do you mean by that?”

The empress dowager immediately gave a sharp look and encouraged the count’s next words. There was no room to intervene.

“Ah, it’s just an unnecessary worry. But for a long time, there was no news of a child from Her Majesty the Empress when she was the crown princess. As a father, I want to hide it, but… how can I only put forth my emotions as a father to the sun of the Loom Empire?”

The reason the emperor brought in an empress was to slowly find someone with the qualities of an empress and to solve the succession issue first. That was already well-known.

And the count was precisely attacking that point.

“Of course, we have confirmed that Her Majesty the Empress is very healthy.”

There is no basis for claiming that Mercedes is infertile. The count smiled as he smoothly slipped out of the story he had told himself.

Mercedes’ heart began to beat a little faster, bit by bit.