As Ermeldine, who was about to leave after saying hello, was leaving, Henri hastily got up from his seat and grabbed her.

“It’s not like that. Just… I was thinking about what kind of event would be suitable.”

“Can I take care of it then? Actually, how suffocating have the people been all this time? All I want is to give them a day to put down the weight of life and enjoy freely.”

Once again, Ermeldine, who found her own words awkward, tried to hide her embarrassment by forcibly tightening her face.

Thanks to that, her face showed a somewhat ridiculous expression.

And in that moment, Henri remembered where he had seen this face before.

His first love, whom he loved for more than half his life.

The woman who had been his only support for such a long time.

Therefore, it was an inevitable connection even though he knew she had become a completely different person.

The emotions of longing that he had endured for so long exploded, and tears streamed down his face.

Henri silently sobbed for a long time on the desk in his office.

Although everyone bowed their heads and expressed respect because he was the emperor, Henri knew the truth.

That there was no one who liked human Henri. Human Henri was nothing more than a cold-blooded husband of a witch who killed his stepbrothers and abandoned even his birth mother.

That’s why Valier was precious to him.

Because Valier knew the true nature of human Henri, who knew and loved him before he immersed himself in the abyss of sin, he was precious.

So, with the realization that the woman who loved the boy who was afraid of when he would die, who eventually attempted suicide out of fear, was no longer there, an overwhelming fear rushed over him.

‘Did you feel the same? Was there a mother who worried about her son inside the witch’s shell, and a girl who could sympathize with someone’s pain? Did such a person meet me and become a witch?’

Before the Françoise estate made a pact with Henri, Ermeldine before meeting him was just an ordinary girl with a dark and gloomy side, not the current Ermeldine’s personality.

However, when she suddenly decided to join hands with Henri, eliminate his stepbrothers, and opened her eyes to serious misdeeds, she became a girl with a dark and gloomy side.

Evil dulls as you commit it. Initially, the parts stained black by sin are visible, and after suffering from guilt, the soul is eventually stained black to the point where it is impossible to distinguish whether it is a sin or not.

Henri himself knew this best.
The pain that accompanied the deaths of his stepbrothers became duller with each occurrence.

In the end, he even tried to rationalize the deaths of his blood relatives as noble sacrifices for the Empire.

But Henri had Valier by his side.

There was someone who knew him before he became tainted by sin.

Thus, after becoming the emperor, Henri could gradually escape from the dreadful abyss of evil.

“But you weren’t there. My son was held hostage, and my father abused you… When you were completely locked in evil, there was no one to reach out and help you.”

Even after becoming the Empress, Ermeldine, who did not stop her evil deeds, was secretly grateful to Henri, although it troubled him.

Since she provided a pretext when he needed one, he had no choice.

But now Henri realized desperately that just stepping back didn’t mean he wasn’t an accomplice.

Even though everyone in the world curses and points fingers at her as a witch, he alone did not have the right to do so.

Despite trying to ignore it, the guilt that had been gnawing at his subconscious mind surfaced.

Henri repeatedly struck his chest forcefully until it bruised, clenching his lips tightly.

He barely held back the urge to scream.

A woman who receives blame for all her evil deeds, including her own.

Therefore, he couldn’t keep embracing her forever. Eventually, he had to push her away.

But if she decided to become human, if the appearance before being tainted by sin still remained within her, at least he should treat her like a person.

It’s still difficult to be sure whether her change is a convincing act or sincere.

However, until Henri makes a decision, he decided to stop treating her as a witch.

Henri, wiping away his tears and collecting his emotions, summoned Count Hallstein.

“It seems the Empress is planning to host a Spring Festival ball.”

A slightly disdainful expression, just like Henri’s a while ago, appeared on Count Hallstein’s face.

“That’s not what you’re thinking. Nobles will attend the palace ball, which Valier will prepare. The Empress said she will prepare an event for the people.”

“For the people?”

“Yes. They suffered the most from the epidemic, so she wants to do something for them.”

Count Hallstein stopped in confusion at the news of preparing an event for the people.

“Okay. Naturally, your sincerity might be suspicious. But don’t you agree with the sentiment? I used my own funds, but I hope the event is held in the name of the Imperial Family. So allocate a budget for it.”

“Yes. If necessary, the event should be held in the name of the Imperial Family.”

“And coax the nobles a bit. Get them to donate. Tell them to show off their generosity for the people.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Count Hallstein still had an unpleasant expression, but he didn’t express any further opinions, as opposing here could lead to bad management.

“Are you causing trouble again?”

Fellio gave a sarcastic remark at the news of preparing an event for the people.

“Humph. Master Felio doesn’t have to help! I will plan everything with the maids!!”

“Do you think things will progress without me? Didn’t you trust me to proceed without a problem?”

Felio, confidently raising his chin and glancing at him, looked cute, and a slight smile appeared on Ermeldine’s face.

But this smile is a bit different from before.

Because she wonders what feelings Felio has when he looks at her, a woman who may be an enemy, and plans to stand against his father and sacrifice her life for that woman.

Ermeldine unconsciously caressed the brooch on his shoulder, which emitted a brilliant blue light.

“No! I was just checking if it was attached properly… I didn’t try to touch Master Felio…”