The officials rushed to the main palace for the hastily convened meeting. Unusually, Cledius was already in the conference room. This was a stark contrast to his usual habit of arriving several minutes later than the nobles.

“Your Majesty, I have entered the palace as you urgently requested.”

“This is about the succession issue.”

The nobles felt deflated. After calling them in such a hurry, the topic for discussion was the succession issue.

“If I may be so bold, that matter is not so urgent…”

A loud bang was heard as someone struck the table. The nobles said nothing more and merely watched the Emperor’s expression. The young Emperor’s anger was naked, and even the oldest officials found it difficult to try to calm him.

“Regarding the succession issue… there is nothing to discuss. Although Her Majesty the Empress is said to be with child, priority lies with Her Majesty the Empress.”

Duke Yorgen finally spoke up. This was the answer Cledius most wanted to hear, and it was a relief.

However, the Emperor wanted something more definitive. Cledius’ gaze turned towards the nobles gathered in a circle. They could not bring themselves to meet the Emperor’s eyes.

His deep red eyes were like those of a beast gleaming with desire.

“I will make this clear here today. Only the Empress’ child can succeed me. No one else, including the Imperial Consort, can become the successor to the Astrid Empire.”

That was the end of it. If this was all, why had he ordered them to hurry to the palace so urgently? Some officials swallowed their rising discontent as they left the main palace.

However, Marquis Geminia hurried his steps while pressing his lips tightly together. He needed to meet with Count Diobe immediately to discuss future matters.

It had become clear today. The Emperor would never side with the Imperial Consort.

Is endless conflict all that remains ahead? Duke Yorgen sighed as he watched the Marquis walk away. Now the nobles who had sided with the Emperor would try to raise the next succession issue.

Although Cledius was now asserting the Emperor’s authority, he would soon hit a limit. If he tries to suppress everything unconditionally, complaints will surely arise.

‘I hope Your Majesty does not make any extreme choices.’

In any case, the Emperor’s orders are absolute.

At times like this, he missed Marquis Gluarre. If only he could be reinstated in this situation, there would be nothing more to wish for. Duke Yorgen scratched his head as he walked out.

“…Kailem Western.”

Cledius sought out the captain of the imperial guards nearby. The blindly loyal dog who always protected the Emperor’s side. He bowed respectfully to the Emperor with a disciplined posture.

“How are the Eastern continent envoys faring?”

“There are no major suspicious signs. The ambassador and all the others spend most of their time inside Anent Palace.”

Thanks to Ambassador Lindein’s characteristically gentle manner, those managing Anent Palace were said to be quite favorable towards him.

“Keep watching them. As they are sorcerers, we don’t know what they might do behind our backs after blinding our eyes.”

The Pegeia Federation had promised cooperation in conquering the northern part of the Western continent, but promises tend to break when they become old and worn.

After Kailem left, Cledius was alone again. He unbuttoned his stifling upper garment and reached into the inner pocket.

With a jingling sound, a ring hanging on a necklace chain appeared.

It was the wedding ring that Ilarid had put up for a charity bazaar quite a long time ago.

When he was at the front lines, news came that the Empress had taken the initiative to donate her wedding gift.

It felt as if Ilarid would slip away from him if he left it alone. Cledius had frantically searched everywhere and barely managed to find this proof of their marriage.

The white fragment pierced Cledius’ eyes. The wedding ring was like the closest remaining piece of Ilarid to him.

As he clenched his fist, the ring tightened around the inside like handcuffs.

If he could possess her like this. Even if Ilarid disappeared, he could find her again.

“…I will keep you by my side by any means necessary.”

They cannot drive Ilarid away just because she cannot produce an heir. He had even managed to prevent her from being exposed as a descendant of traitors.

Cledius gently pressed his lips to the hand clutching the ring. An intangible warmth slowly spread over the ring.

The buttons habitually fastened up to his neck felt burdensome.

Kailem stepped outside the main palace and undid one button. The open air outside seeped into his airways, allowing him to let out a big sigh.

He guessed from long experience.

Love was killing Cledius.

In his youth, he too had nearly died because of love. It might be good to have such an experience once in life, but one should quickly escape when they realize it.

Otherwise, you’ll be eaten away until nothing remains.

As he was catching his breath, a familiar presence was felt behind him.

“Sir Kailem.”

“What brings the head maid of the Empress’ palace here?”

“Her Majesty the Empress is looking for you.”

It was an unexpected summons. Lynette’s expression as she said those words was somehow stiff.

**

It was rare for Kailem Western to visit the Empress’ palace in person. There was no particular connection, and naturally so, as he was closer to being the Emperor’s man rather than the Empress’.

As he followed the head maid of the Empress’ palace, he noticed something strange. There seemed to be little presence of people in the Empress’ palace today. Hadn’t the number of residents increased recently? Were they all busy with other tasks? Or if not that, then…

Kailem stopped in front of the reception room. Lynette informed the Empress inside that the captain of the imperial guards had arrived.

“I hope you are having a peaceful night, Your Majesty.”

“Welcome.”

Ilarid raised her hand to indicate the empty seat in front of her. A cup of herbal tea suitable for the night was placed there. The warm air enveloped the atmosphere comfortably, but it was hard to shake off the feeling of artificiality.

“The reason Your Majesty has called for me at this late hour… must be either an urgent request or a confidential matter.”

“Yes.”

After a brief affirmation, Ilarid took a sip of tea. It was time to shake off the problem that had been troubling her mind for days.

“Kailem Western. From this moment on, there must not be even a hint of falsehood in your answers to my questions.”

His gray eyebrows twitched. The Empress exuded a slight ease of someone who knew something. Did she have some leverage over him?

Ilarid placed a necklace box on the table and pushed it towards where Kailem was sitting. Did he guess what was inside? Kailem’s expression began to fluctuate.

“…Please open it, Kailem Western.”

“If my guess is correct…”

“Your guess is unnecessary. I would like you to open that box and confirm its contents in front of me.”

There was no inflection or emotion in the Empress’ voice. If there were such a thing as a moving doll, would it be like this? A cold metal doll desiring only yes or no answers with a businesslike attitude. Kailem opened the necklace box with trembling hands.

Inside was the locket pendant that Kailem always carried near his heart.

Kailem spoke with a trembling voice.

“…Did you check inside?”

“How could I not have?”

A heavy sigh sank to the floor. He had been hiding it for quite a long time. He thought that someday it would be exposed. If so, he was prepared to leave the imperial palace without regrets, and if necessary, even offer his neck.

Hadn’t he lived long enough? Even if he gathered all the years he had endlessly longed for, it would be too much to hold in his arms.

“Your Majesty wishes for me to speak directly, I see.”

“…”

“Your assumption is correct. I am the ‘shadow’ of the late Empress Dowager.”

Her guess was right. Ilarid quietly closed her eyes after confirmation. While the former Crown Princess Ilarid was constantly told to be chaste, he himself had kept a mistress. And with the imperial guards, no less, who were called the Emperor’s army.

Soon, a short laugh mixed with her breath.

She was the same. Despite various excuses, Ilarid’s official husband was Cledius. Unless she was deposed or divorced, she could never become Lebel’s partner.

The gazes of two people in the same situation met. Ilarid broke the silence first.

“Since when?”

“Is the timing important?”

Kailem’s voice was quite melancholic.

“If I say from the moment I first saw her until this very moment, would that be an answer?”

Could there be words more suffocating than these?

He had desperately focused only on the front, to survive on the battlefield and then to endure in the imperial court. He even volunteered to lead the vanguard in battles to achieve merits.

Then he was wounded and fell from a flying shell fragment. As soon as he regained consciousness after passing out, his eyes met those of a woman. It was the then-Empress who had come to visit the wounded soldiers.

“In my youthful heart, I thought. Perhaps she was a god who had come down to save me.”

It was just a moment. Who could blame anyone for their eyes simply meeting?

Was it the day they confirmed each other’s hearts? The Empress Dowager, who had seemed so unreachable, knelt before Kailem and shed tears.

She proposed first. She asked him to live for her.

The late Emperor had a very colorful history with women, both openly and secretly. The ‘shadows’ changed incessantly, and several were appointed as Imperial Consorts. Everyone was tightening the noose around the Empress Dowager’s neck, and she needed someone on her side.

From that day on, Kailem Western became the ‘shadow’ and only love of the Empress.

“…I have no intention of dressing this up beautifully. I simply followed the orders of Her Majesty the Empress at the time… that is, the Empress Dowager.”

He watched the Empress more closely than anyone. She constantly researched poisons, gradually assassinated several political opponents, and sometimes framed others in reverse.

Finally, she ascended to the position of Empress Dowager and reached the pinnacle of power.

The wind blew through the slightly open window of the reception room. The breeze that brushed over Kailem’s head as he slowly recounted the past scattered the steam rising from the tea and shook Ilarid.

“I will keep this fact confidential. I will also order the child who found this pendant to keep silent, so rest assured.”

“I am grateful for your consideration.”

“But there is a condition.”

As if anticipating Ilarid’s next words, Kailem nodded with a calm expression.

“Please give your orders.”

“I’ve heard there is a greenhouse owned by His Majesty the Emperor. It’s said to be in the deepest part of the garden located in the innermost part of the imperial palace.”

“…That is correct.”

“Please grant me permission to enter that place.”

Since the imperial guards are in charge of the greenhouse’s security, it would certainly be under Kailem’s jurisdiction.

This was quite generous considering she was keeping such a tremendous fact confidential.

And inwardly, Kailem was feeling the weight of the fact that he had administered poison to Lebel, her ‘shadow’. Although it couldn’t be compared, could it serve as atonement? He silently nodded.

“I will meet you at midnight tonight in the rose garden. Do not bring your ‘shadow’ under any circumstances. You must come alone.”

**

Although she had sent Alice towards the mercenary camp to inform them in advance, Ilarid kept her nerves on edge, constantly checking if Lebel was following her.

As she was secretly approaching the most intimate part of the imperial family, it had to be closed off to outsiders.

‘Am I also an outsider?’

Ilarid smiled bitterly. That’s why neither the Empress Dowager nor Cledius had even mentioned the greenhouse.

She was no longer a ‘Melpiram’ as she had become a member of the imperial family. But in the Astrid Imperial Family, she was just a foreigner who had come from outside.

Kailem saw Ilarid and quietly took the lead. Due to his slow pace, Ilarid soon caught up with him.

“Is there something you wish to confirm in the greenhouse?”

“I heard that the head maid who was driven out of the Imperial Consort’s palace is entering the greenhouse.”

What was Cledius thinking? Since she had fallen out of favor with the Imperial Consort and was even injured, it would have been natural to demote her to another position.

Some returned to their original families, but the Darrent Count’s family had already fallen long ago. The imperial palace would be the only place she could exist.

“You were the ‘shadow’ of the Empress Dowager, so don’t you know something?”

“Because I was the ‘shadow’, I rather pretended not to know.”

The Kailem of the past was a witness to everything the Empress Dowager did. At the same time, he remained silent.

How could he obstruct the path of the person he loved? Kailem simply guarded her back firmly. It was possible because of his youthful vigor.

‘If it were now…’

He looked up at the sky for a moment with a face full of regret. If it were the Kailem of now, he would probably have grabbed even the hem of her skirt and tried to stop her.

He would have said that the poison she used might someday strangle her own neck, so she shouldn’t stain her hands with blood.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Kailem stopped Ilarid in a place dense with trees. Then he approached the greenhouse first and dismissed all the imperial guard officers guarding the front.

Ilarid confirmed his hand signal and approached the greenhouse. One secret that should not leave this place was now before her eyes.