Construction had already started on Ermedillin’s orphanage, but there would be a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the founding festival.

Ermedillin had wanted to refuse the crowded event but had to proceed due to Balliere’s comment that it would be an insult to the Empress’s achievements.

‘How dare you defy me when you climbed to the Empress’s position because of me? Let’s fail together this time.’

The count’s purple eyes, staring into the nearly empty wine glass in the darkness, harbored an eerie light.

“This has become troublesome.”

A sudden groundbreaking ceremony was quite disconcerting.

“Even using orphans? The kids will actually come out and dig? Even though construction has already started?”

The proposal grew increasingly absurd.

Of course, he understood the intent—give the children in the orphanage an outing and publicize the Empress’s good deeds. A winwin event.

But the timing was terrible. He’d wanted to avoid a crowded event, but now he was summoning people for the groundbreaking of the orphanage he was building.

“What does your Highness think? Is this event really necessary…”

“Who suggested this event?”

“It was Balliere, my Lord. Why would he suddenly plan this event?”

Ermedillin couldn’t quite grasp why Balliere, who never hid his enmity toward him, had suddenly proposed this event.

Ermedillin glanced suspiciously at Pellio, but his face was utterly relaxed.

“Proceed with it. And keep that document you’ve received.”

“Huh? This? It’s just a proposal, isn’t it?”
I couldn’t understand why they insisted on keeping such a mundane proposal.

“Masks will be specially produced for children according to the number of children mobilized.”

“No, the problem isn’t the masks… Why… execute this kind of ceremony… wouldn’t it be better to simply do it all at once during the inauguration?”

“No, the founding ceremony is the biggest event on the national calendar. The mere knowledge of how much the Empress worries about her subjects will be a great comfort to them.”

“Is that so? Would that really comfort them?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, fine. Let’s keep it short and simple then.”

Ermedillin still wasn’t entirely pleased about holding such an event, but decided to trust Pellio, who pushed forward with confidence.

Ermedillin signed the proposal and looked up at Pellio with a wry smile.

“I’m signing this for the sake of the Prince, not because I want to.”

“?”

“I am bending my stance to follow the smartest person in the empire, get it!”

As if asking for praise, Ermedillin blinked her large eyes twice at Pellio.

Of course, her intention was half in jest, half to show how much she trusted him.

But Pellio broke down again at just two blinks.

His lips twitched weirdly and then he spat out a word.

“Yes…”

His lips closed tightly just before completing the word ‘beautiful.’

‘What’s the matter? Thought he was about to vomit something.’

Ermedillin took that brief ‘yes’ as his answer.

Then suddenly,

“Beautiful! Beautiful! Is it killing you to call her beautiful? To me, the Empress looks really, really stunning!”

Unable to contain his frustration any longer, Loony suddenly interjected.

“When did I ever say that!!”

An annoyed Pellio refused to acknowledge Loony’s words, but it was too late.

“You did! Last time you said that the Empress is the most beautiful woman in the empire!”

“Ah…”

Pellio recalled an embarrassing moment he had forgotten due to Loony’s reminder.

“That’s right. The Prince did give me such a generous evaluation. As the most beautiful woman in the empire, I will take special care not to outshine you.”

Contrary to her words, Ermedillin blinked even more intensely than before.

Her face was as calm as ever.

Pellio wanted to run away again, but gritted his teeth and quietly handed over the next document.

Late at night, Angri was completely exhausted.

Yet he couldn’t review even half of the crucial agendas that Count Halstein had carefully selected.

“I can’t pay the ransom. Isn’t he a lord who couldn’t protect his own territory? If I just give him this huge amount, won’t it show that the Trivian Empire can’t properly defend its territory?”

“But isn’t Count Croang connected to the royal family? Ignoring this could arouse the resentment of nobles in other border regions.”

Reluctantly, Angri washed his face and signed the ransom document for the captured Count.

“How many troops can we replenish?”

“Not many. Most soldiers have been deployed to the border…”

“Yes, yes, I know. They’ve probably followed Leopold. Have you located him?”

“The soldiers have been strictly monitored to prevent them from crossing the border, but many seem to have joined him…”

“So, you haven’t even roughly located him?”

“He’s not within the country. We couldn’t find any traces. It seems he’s gathering support while roaming outside the country.”

A deep sigh escaped from Angri’s red lips.

He had driven out his halfbrothers and stained his hands with much blood.

Of course, he felt no remorse for having killed them in that manner.

But most of the vassals in the imperial government were noblewomen.
Therefore, Henri ascended to the throne, facing both the fervent support of the imperial faction and the checks from the aristocratic faction entangled with his deceased halfbrothers.

Henri was well aware that he started politically with only half of the support.

For the next four years after becoming emperor, he devoted all his personal time solely to state affairs to win over the remaining half.

He spent nearly every night wide awake, both settling the yet unsettled border regions and filling the emptied state treasury due to the emperor’s extravagance.

His chamberlain, Count Halstein, had aged as though ten years had passed in those four years due to the intense times.

He even collaborated with the Prinshuar family to deal with the halfbrothers who were still alive and posed a threat to him.

Publicly, he solidified his position as emperor through vigorous work, and privately, he eliminated enemies without leaving decisive evidence, thus fortifying his imperial authority.

‘I thought I had dealt with everything.’

He thought he had dealt with all the halfbrothers who could be a threat.

According to a report by Count François, Leopold was absolutely someone who could not be alive.

A deep wrinkle formed on Henri’s smooth forehead.