Ermedillin had overslept.

It was because of the effects of the poison and her latenight nursing of the boy who had attacked her.

“Where has the boy gone?”

Looking around, the boy who should have been in her bed had disappeared, and she saw that she was lying in his place instead.

“He went to wash himself. And does it make sense for an unknown child to use Her Majesty the Empress’s bed?”

Loony brought water for washing, calming the surprised Ermedillin.

“What time is it? How long have I slept?”

“It’s almost noon?”

“I slept quite long.”

Wasting half a day on sleep in the busy yard made Ermedillin feel pathetic.

“Um, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Loony cautiously opened her mouth, looking at Ermedillin, who was sighing in selfreproach.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

“There is a garden party this afternoon.”

“A garden party? Suddenly? Where?”

“Here.”

“What? Here in my palace?”

“Yes. That is… Valierre has invited the nobles who donated to the orphanage this time.”

“……”

She didn’t know what that shabby child was thinking, but it seemed like he was plotting something.

Ermedillin did not want to attend, but she did not want something happening in her absence.

“I was going to meet the nobles who donated soon anyway, so I’ll attend.”

“Yes. I will convey that.”

The black hair, as dark as ebony, was adorned with a sapphire decoration as clear as her eyes.

The jewelry, mingled with black pearls, emitted a noble light and suited Ermedillin very well.

“Doesn’t it look too excessive?”

Ermedillin had been modest in her appearance during her lifetime, and she had never even seen such luxurious jewels before, so she didn’t feel quite right.

Loony frowned at the insecure Empress’s question, as if she was speaking nonsense.

“I want to add more? Your Majesty’s beauty is so splendid. Even with these few jewels, it won’t make a difference.”

“Heh? No way. You’ve become quite cheeky lately?”

Although she playfully scolded her with a slight smile, the reflection in the mirror could only be described as if the moon goddess had incarnated on this land.

On her pale grey dress, she wore a dark purple robe embroidered with silver thread.

Though the robe was embroidered beautifully, its lack of volume gave it an elegant and dignified look.

In her hand, she wore only the blue ring symbolizing the Empress, omitting necklace and earrings.

She thought that the head ornament was enough for a light garden party.

“Your Majesty. Can’t we add one more necklace?”

But still dissatisfied, Loony launched one more pitiful attack on her way to the garden where the party was being held, but Ermedillin was firm.

“This is a meeting with the nobles who donated to build the orphanage, isn’t it? This is enough.”

Ermedillin deliberately arrived a little late to the garden.

It wouldn’t look good for the Empress to be the first to arrive and sit there, and they would only be looking at each other, she thought.

As expected, the pleasant chatter of those who had gathered in threes and fours disappeared in an instant when Ermedillin arrived in the garden.

They glanced at her, looking surprised that Ermedillin, who had been stabbed at the funeral, appeared in better condition than expected, and they made various expressions while checking her state.

‘Phew. Let’s get my mind straight.’

Ermedillin responded to the formal but polite greetings of the ladies and looked around, but Valierre was not in sight.

‘Has the host not arrived yet?’
As the maids led her to her seat, Ermedillin felt a sense of unease at the unseen presence of Velia.

And as soon as Ermedillin took her seat, Velia arrived at the garden.

On one side, she was carrying the beautiful Anri as if a decoration.

“Oh my! Your Highness!”

All eyes moved towards the beautiful pair.

Although she thought it was a gathering only for the ladies, it was natural for attention to be focused on the Emperor who suddenly appeared.

Dressed in matching white formal attire, the two people who looked like a painting slowly walked through the nobles’ gaze and sat next to Ermedillin.

Unlike reality, there are no highs and lows in the garden’s platform.

It was strange that Velia, who was only a subject, sat in the same place as the Emperor and Empress, but while there was quite a gap between the seats of the Emperor and Empress, Velia’s chair was tightly attached to Anri’s.

‘Ah, really childish. Is it because she’s still young? Or is it her nature?’

Ermedillin was taken aback by the situation, but not as angry as before.

Since she found out that the person inside that horselike face was a child who had just graduated from high school and had never experienced social life, she felt pathetic for getting angry at her unreasonable behavior.

‘Right. I, an adult, must endure.’

“Thank you all for attending!”

As Ermedillin turned her head in resignation, Velia greeted her with a bright smile on her face.

‘Go ahead. Do what you want as the host. I just have to do what you want me to do and go.’