Selina startled and removed her hand as soon as she heard the word “talisman.”

“Possessing such an ominous thing will incur His Majesty the Emperor’s wrath. Get rid of it immediately.”

At her quite resolute voice, Count Diobe hesitated without adding any words.

Cledius did not believe in gods. He considered himself the only one he trusted in the world.

The remaining religions barely maintained their existence in the provinces, unable to exert much power.

Most believers were farmers and laborers, while religion was seen as a relic of the past by those in the capital. Practices like sorcery or divination had long been discontinued in the empire.

However, as exchanges with the Eastern Continent recently increased covertly, talismans and accessories said to be made by sorcerers began spreading among the nobility.

Count Diobe couldn’t let go of his attachment and sat down next to Selina, pulling his chair close while holding the talisman. Then he whispered in an even lower voice.

“Your Majesty the Empress, just believe in it this once. This talisman is famous among noble ladies. They say those who possessed it conceived within days.”

“What fool would believe such nonsense…”

“They say you have to look at the sky to pick stars, but to reach that high sky, you need to tilt your head back a bit more. If necessary, you should use tools.”

Count Diobe’s persuasion was persistent. It was closer to coercion than persuasion.

Selina unknowingly shifted her gaze to the small pouch resting on her father’s hand.

“There’s a saying that you have nothing to lose. So just keep it on your person. They say there’s no harm in it.”

“…I just need to keep it on me?”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Count Diobe nodded eagerly as he placed the cloth pouch on Selina’s hand.

Right now, she wanted to believe even in such superstitions. She had been feeling that the nobles were walking a tightrope between her and the Empress.

‘If only I could have a child.’

From the moment of conceiving an imperial heir, the Empress would lead the flow of the empire.

Selina gripped the talisman placed in her hand tightly. She didn’t want to let it go at all. How did she climb all the way up to this position?

So naturally, there are opponents she wants to crush.

For example, Ilarid.

“Has there been no word from my sister? Does anyone enter the Empress’s palace?”

Selina’s light prodding continued. Count Diobe avoided Selina’s gaze, fumbling with his words.

“Well… it seems it will take some time to grasp the movements of the Empress’s palace.”

He didn’t want to unnecessarily upset his second daughter’s mood. A stable mind would also help with conceiving an imperial heir.

‘I can tell her slowly later.’

It was unclear where the sparks would fly if he mentioned to the already complex-minded Selina that “Alice has turned against us.”

Count Diobe smoothly entered the main topic.

“By the way, I heard Her Majesty the Empress collapsed after the inspection…”

He glanced at his second daughter’s expression. It was close to fishing for information, wondering if the Geminia Marquis couple had leaked anything to Selina.

Probably the Geminia Marquis couple would be behind this attempted assassination of the Empress.

Even Count Diobe’s tactless intuition pointed in that direction.

Their meaningful words implying they had something planned. And the small ship that had entered the port near their territory. Who could have been on board?

‘It wouldn’t be someone from the Western Continent, but likely an assassin from Pegeia. So it should be clean without complications.’

But the assassination failed. From now on, Count Diobe firmly resolved to keep his mouth shut and feign ignorance no matter what.

The Gloria Foundation was also growing. When your back pocket gets bigger, you shouldn’t show it off in the front.

He had left the orphanages and other welfare facilities to the directors and representatives. They were professionals, so they would surely handle things well. Count Diobe tried to reassure himself and focused back on Selina.

But Selina’s expression was thoroughly indifferent.

“Didn’t you know that Her Majesty the Empress had collapsed?”

“I know.”

“And… that’s it? What about visiting her? Don’t tell me you didn’t even look in on her?”

“Is there really a need to go? I heard she’s already able to move around.”

“No, you mean you just let it pass without even a courtesy call? Even if it’s uncomfortable to see Her Majesty the Empress, you should have at least sent greetings!”

Count Diobe spoke seriously, firing words like a machine gun.

At least until Selina ascended to the position of Empress, she had to maintain an appropriate line while also making a good impression. It was to be careful of any potential gossip.

“Go tomorrow morning! Without fail!”

At her father’s rare insistence, Selina showed a displeased look but barely managed to say she understood.

**

The morning sunlight holding summer’s warmth carried a moderately warm energy.

Ilarid slowly took steps. Her body was still heavy, but she could move quite well now.

For the past few days, Lynette and Alice had been watching her like hawks, insisting she absolutely must not overexert herself, so she had to stay in bed.

Her body was so stiff that she finally snuck out of the Empress’s palace, carefully watching the maids.

But there were still many things to resolve. Just looking at the upcoming schedules was overwhelming.

In the continuing meetings, there was one condition Ilarid strongly advocated:

‘Award medals in the name of the imperial family to those who exposed the corruption at the Academy.’

She emphasized that not turning a blind eye to injustice and bravely stepping forward was an example for all in the empire to follow.

It was a kind of protection measure. It was also declaring to all that their actions were by no means wrong.

‘The Icastel family won’t sit still.’

Though their image would have been greatly tarnished by this grade manipulation incident, the medal Cecilia would receive could help recover it somewhat.

Since it was an award given directly in the name of the Emperor and Empress, even the influential relatives of the Icastel family wouldn’t be able to harm Cecilia.

Ilarid closed her eyes under the bright light and took a deep breath.

When she lowered her head after quietly looking up at the sky, someone entered her line of sight.

“What brings you here…”

The person she faced was certainly not a welcome one.

“Good morning, Empress. I’m relieved to see you’ve recovered.”

Cledius was walking alone from the far side of the garden.

It was an unexpected scene. He didn’t usually enjoy morning walks, and he always brought an attendant or walked ostentatiously through the palace with Selina.

“Did the sun rise in the west today.”

Ilarid muttered in a barely audible voice.

Wanting to avoid the unlucky face she encountered first thing in the morning as much as possible, she squeezed her eyes shut once and opened them. Then she calmly and serenely responded to his words.

“Thanks to His Majesty the Emperor personally taking action, I’ve recovered a lot now.”

“I’ll take that as words of gratitude.”

He had already strode up right in front of Ilarid. Cledius tilted his head slightly to examine her expression.

The mask was still there. A face wrapped in firm resolve to never waver no matter what was said.

‘But how about this.’

Though he had intended to return it someday. Cledius began by laying the groundwork first.

“Thanks to the Empress, we were able to successfully wrap up the Academy matter.”

“Wrap up? This is just the beginning.”

“I’d like to give the Empress a gift as a commemoration, but.”

“I don’t need anything.”

“Well. You might change your mind when you hear what I have to say, Ilarid.”

Ilarid’s eyebrows twitched with suspicion. Cledius didn’t miss the moment.

“I’ll return the Empress’s right of final approval.”

The moment she heard those words, Ilarid’s green eyes widened.

The three rights of final approval, which she thought she would never get back while alive, were placed before her eyes.

After ascending to the throne, the Empress of the Astrid Empire could use three rights of final approval.

Of course, she could not directly intervene in state affairs.

For this reason, it was said that most previous Empresses secretly used the right of final approval to create slush funds or keep a “shadow” by their side.

For example, appointing an officer of the imperial guard.

To those interested in politics, it might be like a cookie in a painting, but even this was desperately needed for Ilarid now.

This gift was too sweet to reject as unnecessary. It was a tempting hand that seemed like it would be swallowed even though it was clearly known to be poison.

Cledius reached out and pulled Ilarid’s waist closer.

The distance that seemed like it would never close narrowed in an instant.

“…There are things that bastard can’t give no matter how much he struggles. But I can.”

When he brought up Lebel, Ilarid’s reaction came immediately. She tried to twist her body to escape, but Cledius absolutely would not let Ilarid go.

“Accept it. I want you to.”

Ilarid’s movement stopped. And an unexpected words were heard by Cledius’s ear.

“Do you want to win my heart?”

How should he interpret that voice contained within that calm expression? More than that, had they ever had a conversation that continued like this?

A glimmer of expectation suddenly raised its head within Cledius.

“Yes.”

His voice trembled involuntarily as he answered. He wanted everything that made up Ilarid – her heart, her body, all of it.

And Cledius chose to devour rather than protect.

He cradled Ilarid’s head with his remaining hand. Her soft silver hair coiled like snakes between his fingers.

For Cledius, every moment of hers was temptation, and he willingly wished to be enchanted.

Just as his lips drew close, Ilarid whispered softly.

“Gather the dismembered bodies of my mother and brother that were scattered across the Western Continent.”

The blood in his entire body turned cold. Cledius had to face Ilarid’s clear eyes while frozen in place.

“If you do that, I will gladly offer you my body and heart.”

Ilarid was sincere. But it was a sincerity she could speak because she knew Cledius would not be able to do so.

“But that’s impossible, isn’t it? The Melpirams are traitors.”

Would he even remember where they were buried? It was questionable whether they were properly buried in the first place. How much had she prayed that they weren’t just thrown out in a field to be torn apart by wild beasts?

The green gaze digging into his heart was painfully sore. The strength drained from his arms wrapped around Ilarid’s waist.

Taking advantage of this opening, Ilarid tried to pull away from Cledius.

That’s when a clear presence was heard from the other side.

The two of them turned their heads simultaneously towards the direction of the sound.

“…Oh my.”

Selina was staring at the Emperor and Empress with a pale face.

Ilarid couldn’t hide her trembling eyes. Not wanting to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings, she tried to escape from Cledius’s embrace, but he held the Empress even more tightly.

“Let go.”

She turned her head to look at the Empress Consort, but Cledius immediately blocked Ilarid’s line of sight.

“…The Empress Consort is watching.”

“Let her watch. As much as she wants.”

Cledius’s vision was already filled with Ilarid.

There was no room for anything else to intrude. If there was, it was merely a nuisance.

Selina staggered with an expression like the world was about to collapse. The maids behind her exclaimed in shock as they supported the Empress Consort.

The sound of hurried, tangled footsteps grew more distant. Only then was Ilarid finally able to escape from Cledius.

“Go to the Empress Consort quickly.”

But he didn’t budge an inch, only staring at Ilarid. Why? Even if he had brought her in to use her, hadn’t he cared for her to some extent?

His attitude, which made all the time they had built up seem futile, left Ilarid speechless.

“Don’t you feel sorry at all?”

“Why should I?”

A hollow laugh escaped involuntarily at the incredulous question.

When you give love, you must feel and bear that much responsibility.

How can someone who can’t even properly tie up loose ends try to maintain relationships with people?

“Your Majesty, how many people are you hurting?”

Cledius’s sunken gaze weighed heavily on Ilarid. A naturalness flowed from him that didn’t feel even a shred of guilt.

“You really don’t seem to understand.”

He stood in front of Ilarid again. Since entering the garden, except for when confirming Selina’s presence, the red gaze that hadn’t left Ilarid bore into her.

Why do our eyes only leave scars on each other?

“Not once have I ever had the Empress Consort in my heart.”

A relationship where flesh may mingle but lives don’t want to mix.

The many nights spent with Selina were merely releasing pent-up emotions, and just a means of hoping Ilarid would be engulfed by jealousy.

“The end of my gaze has always been you, Ilarid.”

Words of love poured down over Ilarid. But love that the other person cannot digest simply sinks down as residue.

What a sight, clutching at dregs and insisting it’s love. Ilarid silently turned around and moved away from Cledius.