“Today is a gathering to honor those who have donated to the orphanage established by Her Highness the Empress!”

Buzz, buzz.

At Velia’s words, the quiet garden suddenly became noisy again. Most of them seemed to have attended the garden party without knowing its purpose.

‘After all, I wondered how she dared to attend here by putting out a donation like that.’

Wondering what excuse Velia would make this time, Ermedillin stared at Velia, resting her chin on one arm.

“The Empress has been wonderful in establishing the orphanage, but I never expected so many of you to willingly participate in the donation.”

The faces of the noble ladies were changing in realtime, but Anri and Ermedillin were sitting in the seats of the Emperor and Empress, watching the incident with expressionless faces.

“So, I would like to donate as well.”

Velia held up a blank check with a large donation amount written on it, showed it to the noble ladies, and then handed it to a maid who had been waiting by her side.

“Your Highness the Empress, please use it for your precious will. Of course, my family’s donation may not be as large as those present here.”

As Ermedillin sat quietly and glanced at the check in the maid’s hand, it was quite a large amount.

‘She spent some money?’

“How grateful I am that Your Grace has taken the lead. This money will be used transparently where it is needed.”

“No, it’s my pleasure to be able to help the empire. But Your Highness…….”

“Hm?”

“Didn’t so many people participate in the donation? What about writing the names in order of the donation amount on the cornerstone of the orphanage? I don’t know if there will be a place for me.”

Velia’s face, who bowed her head slightly and smiled modestly, did not show any trace of ridicule or contempt.

But thanks to her shallow trick, Ermedillin was able to see right through her.
“Huh? So that was the purpose. You manage your expression well, but you need to think harder, don’t you?”

The reason for calling the ladies together was precisely this.

To specifically mention the donation amount, confirm how isolated the Empress was, and engrave the image of her generous self donating a large sum to such an Empress.

“Where did the donation amount leak from?”

In fact, the donation list was not exactly a confidential document, so anyone could easily leak it if they wanted to.

Ermedillin stared quietly at Henri.

Henri flicked his head to one side as if he was not interested in the matter, and then extended his hand to Ermedillin, passing her the opportunity to speak.

“Why wouldn’t there be a place? Judging by the amount, Her Grace’s place would be about the third?”

“The third? Me?”

Ermedillin opened her eyes wide in apparent surprise, and an exhausting feeling came over her when she saw her pitiable expression and the revolting face she was making.

“Ha. Perhaps because what’s inside her is still a high school student, it wasn’t such an amazing strategy. Her acting skills seem to be lacking too.”

“That’s right. Besides, apart from a few people, most did not even donate the amount to buy a single stepping stone, so it seems like there will be plenty of places left?”

At Ermedillin’s remark, a few ladies closed their fans and bowed their heads as if embarrassed, but most of the ladies merely looked slightly awkward, without showing much disturbance.

“They all plan to ignore me, huh?”

At this point, obstinacy sets in.

It seemed that Valliere wanted to bestow humiliation, but for Ermedillin, who grew up as an orphan, this situation didn’t register as humiliating at all.

It was just ridiculous and a little infuriating.

“But what does the amount matter? Participation is what’s important. Surely, the nobles, the pillars of the empire, didn’t do this because they lack love for the people? It was just because they lacked respect for me, the Empress. It’s my fault, being so unvirtuous.”

Ermedillin bowed her head slightly and sat down with a gloomy face.

“Thank you. I was wondering how to respond after seeing the donation amount, but you’ve even laid out the board for me.”

A few weeks into possession, one thing she had learned about her husband Henri was that he was a very authoritative person.

Ordinary Henri was quite generous. He overlooked small mistakes.

But there were times when he became very stern, and that was when something related to the royal authority occurred.

Even if it was his beloved woman, he wouldn’t take her side then.

Obviously, Valliere, who was possessed first, must have known this, so why would she host a gathering that could provoke Henri’s wrath? She couldn’t understand what was going on in that pretty head.

Sure enough, Henri rose from his seat with a sarcastic look on his face.

The intense warmth that was usually like the sun disappeared without a trace at his chilly expression.

“Is what the Empress said true?”

At Henri’s question, the ladies, who had been looking down on the Empress with their fans, finally folded them.

“May I see the donation list?”

A servant ran to the finance department and brought back the list.

Thanks to immediately submitting the list, not wanting to use even a penny incorrectly, it was right there.

“Hmm. Did Lady Countess Gillian attend?”

He asked, but Henri’s blue eyes were already directed at the Countess.

“What is this amount?”

“I, I’m not sure… The Count handles such matters…”
“Is that so? Then shall I call the Count himself to ask? What about you, Princess Biella? What are your thoughts on this amount sent in your family’s name?”

At Henry’s question, Biella seemed to have been waiting as she opened her lips.

“Is there a guarantee that Her Majesty the Empress will not use that money for personal purposes? Honestly, I cannot trust it.”

Everyone should have been surprised at the audacious remark, but all the other ladies seemed to agree with Biella’s words as they all nodded their heads.