The Empress’s appearance was a sensation.

When those who had bowed their heads raised them again, the Ilarid that entered their eyes shattered everyone’s expectations.

The black dress fully revealed the contours of the Empress’s body. The black decorations, mysteriously glittering as they caught the light of the chandeliers, were not gaudy but rather blended with the light.

They began to murmur faintly as they watched the Empress descending with the Emperor.

The contrasting appearance of the Emperor and Empress was apt fodder for gossip.

While half the gazes were curious, some looked upon the imperial couple with hidden suspicion.

“Don’t they usually attend wearing similar formal attire?”

“Not only is the dress black, but such an outfit… it will shock the young ladies just entering society.”

Amid the fluttering of fans, countless speculations were exchanged. Ilarid took her seat at the head table, enjoying their chatter.

Cecilia stood behind Ilarid, surveying the surroundings.

‘Are those the envoys from Pegeia?’

At a glance, their mysterious appearances seemed capable of enchanting people.

In recent days, talk of the eastern continent’s envoys had always been included in the whispered conversations among the maids and ladies-in-waiting.

And Cecilia did not trust these flashy men.

‘The poison that tried to assassinate Her Majesty the Empress came from the eastern continent, didn’t it?’

Perhaps these men knew something about the assassin. Cecilia gripped the sword at her waist tightly as she glared at the suspiciously pretty envoys.

Soon, young ladies in white dresses entered the hall slowly, escorted.

The most tense yet simultaneously most boring time for onlookers followed.

Greetings and introductions of each family’s young lady continued before the Emperor and Empress. Some trembled, some made minor mistakes, but Ilarid passed over them lightly with a benevolent smile.

But the real reason the young ladies were nervous was the Empress’s shocking attire.

The Empress’s figure, seated without even tightening her waist with a corset and without flashy feather decorations or jewels, was so unfamiliar as to be almost frightening.

The long, long greetings of the young ladies finally came to an end.

After a brief rearrangement of the hall, the time everyone had been dreaming of was about to begin.

Unspoken signals about who would ask whom to dance passed among those in attendance.

Women who boasted of high family names and beautiful appearances and figures received the fervent gazes of all the men.

A world where you must have one if you lack the other was no different from a nerve-wracking battlefield.

The Pegeian envoys watched this scene with interest.

It was an uncommon sight in the eastern continent.

In the Pegeian Federation, beauty and splendor were the duty of men.

It was men’s daily routine to grow their hair, groom their appearance, and take care of their bodies in order to look good to women.

It seemed to be the opposite in the Empire, however.

It was quite amusing to read people’s inner thoughts at such a solemn event. Some were bored, while others muttered insults inwardly despite their benevolent expressions.

The envy and jealousy they felt towards each other had become almost endearing by now.

Lindein briefly turned his gaze from the people and fiddled with the fresh flower decorations nearby.

To be perfectly honest, the ballroom was not to Lindein’s taste.

Usually, ballrooms are decorated similarly to the host’s preferences.

He had expected it to reflect the Empress’s influence since it was her event, but the interior of the hall was an unexpected sight.

Lindein recalled the Empress he had first met in the reception hall. She was someone who suited dark and intense colors better than this pale light.

The fresh flower decorations in ivory, pale pink, and light green seemed somewhat awkward, as if chosen by someone else rather than the Empress herself.

‘Well, I suppose they couldn’t decorate a ballroom in dark colors.’

He dismissed the nagging doubt, pushing it to a corner of his mind as unnecessary concern.

Soon, Lindein’s ears caught the word ‘Zahar’. He immediately began searching for a red head.

‘Is that person the owner of the Zahar Trading Company?’

‘He looks younger than I expected.’

‘We absolutely must make a good impression. The future of our family’s business depends on it.’

The nobles’ clamor filled the hall. Nothing made one as uncomfortable as noise filled with greed.

Awen hid himself near Song-hyun, whom he had brought as an aide, with a bored expression.

“Come on, my lord. Hiding like that won’t solve anything. Just come out. Is my body bigger than yours?”

It’s not like you’re a baby pheasant with its head stuck in a trash can. Song-hyun, who accompanied Awen as his aide, grumbled as he tried to pry his master away.

“I don’t want to bother with making deals. I just want to ignore it all.”

“But what can we do? We have to, don’t we? You’re the head of the company, my lord.”

Was it because they had spent so many years together, or because of the deep trust between them? Awen could see right through him even without making eye contact.

How could his outer and inner selves be so identical? The words swirling around Awen were mostly ‘troublesome, don’t want to do it, want to go back’.

Lindein swallowed the laughter rising in his throat and filled his mouth with harsh words instead.

“…Always maintain proper posture, Awen Zahar. This is not your private quarters.”

Awen immediately straightened his back at Lindein’s scolding. As sworn brothers who had performed the blood ritual, he had to listen properly.

“The nobles will try to make deals with the Zahar Trading Company while the young ladies here are dancing.”

“Yes, I understand. As always, I will conduct myself appropriately.”

The common language of Pegeia, which only they could understand, continued like a code. The nobles could not dare to interrupt the two and could only hover around them.

The same was true for Count Diobe. Though he lingered, trying to exchange even a single word, the red-haired man who was said to be the owner of the Zahar Trading Company did not give him any opening.

“This is going to be quite difficult. The atmosphere is not conducive to approaching them…”

Viscount Geminia trailed off. Above all, their appearances felt like an unapproachable wall.

Some women were already lingering near the envoys. From noble ladies famous as matchmakers to bold young ladies armed with curiosity and favor, there was a diverse range.

But strangely, the Viscountess Geminia, one of the prominent figures in high society, was nowhere to be seen.

“By the way, where is your wife? She hasn’t made an appearance at all today.”

“Her Majesty the Empress ordered her to bring the Crown Princess to the ball. Didn’t you know?”

The Viscount clicked his tongue lightly. No matter what crime she had committed, she was still his daughter. How could a father not visit even once?

“Ah, who would have known Her Majesty the Empress would be so considerate…”

The voice of Count Diobe, trying hard to make excuses, sounded only pitiful.

It was an unexpected outcome. They had thought she would be confined for at least a few months to keep the Crown Princess in check.

“Anyway, we must definitely close a deal with the Zahar Trading Company today. Even if it’s just a verbal promise, we need to secure a future appointment.”

The pro-Emperor nobles began to move busily, taking advantage of the sound of the orchestra playing.

Ilarid carefully observed their movements from the highest point where the ballroom was best visible.

Among those who had made their debut in the capital’s social circles this time were young ladies from the northern regions.

Among them was also the daughter of Viscountess Gerdia, attending a ball for the first time.

Although it was quite a distance, Ilarid noticed the Viscountess’s gaze.

‘This is the first time we’ve met in person.’

While her writing style gave off a gentle and soft impression, seeing her in person revealed a strong and solid presence.

It takes a full week by carriage to reach Gerdia’s territory. Even exchanging a few letters would take over a month.

In those long letters, Ilarid had already coordinated with the Viscountess.

‘When the pro-Emperor nobles leave their seats, Cledius will also briefly leave this place.’

And then, on the pretext of discussing special districts, nobles from the north would be summoned. The Viscountess of Gerdia was one of them.

Ilarid had instructed the Viscountess of Gerdia to appear to support the Emperor’s plan to conquer the north.

More accurately, to ‘pretend’ to support it.

A silent exchange of glances passed between the Empress and the Viscountess. The sound of string instruments piercing through faint smiles echoed throughout the hall, cutting through time.

The real start of the ball would begin when the Emperor and Empress danced.

The couple advanced to the center of the hall without looking at each other. Ilarid and Cledius faced each other in the middle of the spacious hall.

After a brief greeting, hands touched and the dance began. The two started to move smoothly following the melody. As it was a dance they always performed at annual events, their bodies followed even before recalling the next move. Hands and gazes naturally met.

Lindein watched the imperial couple of the Empire dancing normally. He narrowed his eyes and began to read the subtle currents flowing between the two.

It was the Emperor whose heart was turbulent and stormy. If it weren’t for the ball, he would have immediately thrown off his gloves and embraced the Empress with bare hands.

Rather, the Empress was as calm as a doll without emotions. She was like a gentle stream flowing smoothly from top to bottom, following the natural order.

As the dance progressed, Cledius’s hand touched Ilarid’s waist. Even through the gloves, he could clearly feel it.

The white bare skin that would be under this black fabric. A strong urge to reach out and wrap his arm around her waist to pull her close, unrelated to the dance, surged through him.

The music was already racing towards its end. The Empress’s black dress moved vigorously under the light, containing a power that captivated people.

As the string melody finally ceased, Ilarid avoided Cledius’s gaze and stepped back a few paces to give a concluding bow.

The onlookers did not spare their applause. But Lindein, who had clearly seen through their inner thoughts, did not raise his hands.

‘What could Her Majesty the Empress be thinking?’

He had assumed she would be someone accustomed to enduring, but this time Lindein was certain his guess was wrong.

Perhaps the future of the Empire lay in the Empress’s hands. It might be the Empress, not the Emperor, whose hand should be taken.

Amidst the dance steps of the people and the overflowing music, Ilarid carefully observed the movements of the nobles.

It was when several pro-Emperor nobles disappeared from Ilarid’s sight.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Cledius rose from his seat. Led by the Emperor, several nobles mingled among the crowd and began to discreetly leave their seats.

As noisy as it is, it’s also suitable for discussing and hiding secret matters. As Cledius left, Ilarid called Alice who was behind her.

“Miss Alice, please call him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ilarid imagined the ‘shadow’ that would enter this brilliant space. She was curiously intrigued, as the maids had strongly objected and prevented her from seeing how he looked in the clothes.

Now it was time for Libel, the captain of the Rikas mercenary group who had been hiding in a corner of the palace, to appear before people.

So that he could call Ilarid’s name in the light.

**

Today, I will enter even if I have to force open the door.

Viscountess Geminia entered the Crown Princess’s palace armed with a seemingly grave determination. She had even brought a doctor and a locksmith with her.

‘If I can’t accomplish this, I’ll fall out of Her Majesty the Empress’s favor.’

The ball wasn’t the issue now. Judging from the Crown Princess’s situation, the Emperor’s heart had long since left her.

Then the only answer was Her Majesty the Empress. Even after trampling Melpiram like that, she had spared only the Empress. She should have noticed from then. The Viscountess grumbled inwardly as she hurried her steps.

As soon as she entered the Crown Princess’s palace with the doctor, the maids showed bewildered and troubled expressions.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, you see, we can’t sense any movement from inside the bedroom. She even skipped meals today…”

Before the maid could finish speaking, the Viscountess quickly dashed towards the bedroom.

An ominous feeling of unknown cause swept through along with the darkness of the corridor.