Selina lay languidly on the bed, barely managing to control her swelling emotions.

With each exhale, laughter escaped. The white lace-adorned blanket swayed with every small movement, keeping rhythm.

It was the second most thrilling moment in her life.

The first was when Cledius accepted her as his ‘shadow’. That joy and excitement still tickled a corner of her heart.

‘The family was on the brink of ruin…’

Her father, Viscount Diobe, was originally a nobleman from another country, but after the war, he managed to survive by immediately offering his territory to the Empire.

Though left with only a palm-sized territory, Viscount Diobe did not give up on the path to success. He tried to make his two daughters the flowers of society, attempting to somehow enter the circles of nobles in the imperial capital.

The reason for recklessly liquidating the territory and moving to the capital was also ‘for the daughters’.

This was the root of the problem. Her mother’s illness deepened day by day, and her father complained that he didn’t know how to do any work. Selina was busy making impressions on noble ladies while frequenting salons.

With no money coming in and only money going out, naturally, the family finances were bound to falter.

‘What a family we’ve managed to protect! How much effort we put in to preserve the family, even if we had to crawl on the ground!’

Selina still remembered the sight of Viscount Diobe agonizing over whether to sell his noble title or not.

That wasn’t all. She had properly experienced how miserable a person can become when money runs out.

Days of barely paying the employees’ wages while being conscious of their reactions, moments of worrying about being remembered as the most shabby debutante in society. Selling household items while worrying about living expenses for a month…

“…That won’t happen anymore.”

Selina muttered quietly, covering her mouth with her hand. She savored her happiness while repeating the affirmation that such things would not happen again like a mantra.

The days of living in squalor would not return. Selina surveyed her room.

Unnamed artworks and porcelains gifted by Cledius. Even a single vase was said to have passed through the hands of a master craftsman.

The flowers in the vase were also special. Flowers said to be grown in the secret greenhouse inside the imperial palace. The pink-hued flowers exuded presence while retaining their freshness.

‘Selina, these flowers resemble you.’

She had never been told she resembled flowers in her life until now. She felt like she would melt away at Cledius’s sweet words, trembling so much.

Now she could see those pink flowers to her heart’s content. Whenever they showed the slightest sign of wilting, maids belonging to the imperial palace would rush in to change the vase themselves.

Selina recalled the glimpse she had of the Empress’s palace. A bleak space with hardly any sparkling decorations, let alone flowers. Even the office was so modest it belied the position of Empress.

‘Poor Empress, unloved.’

Though there was no news yet, someday she would bear Cledius’s child. She would give birth to an heir, drive out Ilarid, and take the position of Empress.

Just as her heart was about to swell, someone knocked on the door outside. Selina frowned and raised her languidly sprawled body upright.

“Miss Selina. Viscount Diobe has come to visit.”

It hadn’t been more than a few days since she sent the letter with the news, but her father, Viscount Diobe, seemed quite excited.

As he was not a particularly welcome guest at this moment, Selina answered in a curt voice.

“Come in.”

Viscount Diobe, with a flushed face, stood at the door. Selina did not rush to him immediately but greeted her father while sitting on the bed.

“Your Highness, the future Empress.”

Viscount Diobe bowed deeply before Selina as soon as he entered. Selina looked at the maid behind him with a stern face.

“Viscount Diobe. I am not yet officially the Empress. Please refrain from such words.”

She did not want to be caught in trouble before things even started. Viscount Diobe, realizing his mistake, hunched his body and expressed his apologies.

“I apologize. In my excitement, I…”

Selina discreetly instructed the maid behind her.

“I have something to discuss with the Viscount, could you leave us for a moment?”

The two were able to relax their stiff bodies only after confirming that the maid had left the room with hurried steps.

“You’re destined to become Empress soon, what harm is there in calling you that a bit early?”

“Father.”

“Anyway, you have to admit the imperial etiquette is strict. Wasn’t it better when you were just the Emperor’s hidden mistress like before?”

“How dare you say such things…”

“It’s a joke, a joke. Don’t mind the senseless words of an old man.”

Viscount Diobe looked at his second daughter, whom he had raised with utmost care. Sitting primly on the soft bed, she looked every bit the imperial lady.

Her attitude had already changed now that she was designated as the future Empress. She didn’t even offer her father a seat first when meeting him after a long time. Viscount Diobe groaned and sat down on a nearby chair.

He felt a little bit indignant, but what of it, he could just brush it off.

After all, she was the Emperor’s favored future Empress, so her future life was guaranteed. Selina was properly repaying the cost of raising her until now.

“When I think of how surprised I was… This was all possible because I served His Majesty wholeheartedly. I was so moved I couldn’t sleep at night.”

Viscount Diobe spoke with a trembling voice and even wiped away tears. Watching this, an incredulous laugh escaped Selina’s lips.

How much had she lived watching her father’s every move until she became a ‘shadow’.

‘I gave up everything and came to the capital thinking of your future. And you can’t even find one proper man?’

It was fortunate to meet the broker who was looking for ‘shadow’ candidates. Cledius accepted Selina without hesitation when he met her.

“…It’s all thanks to the Viscount’s help.”

‘Such a fussy daughter.’

Viscount Diobe looked at his daughter, who was blinking her mint-green eyes coyly. Surely she hadn’t forgotten all the grace of being raised until now? She had always been a good second daughter who obeyed and followed her father’s words well.

“How is the mansion these days? And your sister?”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. Where on earth does she keep wandering off to… These days it seems she’s sneaking out every night, if I catch her in the act, I’m determined to break her legs.”

Viscount Diobe expressed his anger with a huff. It’s a lie that no finger hurts when you bite all ten. While Selina, the less painful finger, had succeeded like this, what on earth was wrong with the eldest daughter.

Now the second daughter was really the only one to rely on. Viscount Diobe looked around the room, smacking his lips. Even at a glance, valuable antiques and artworks were abundant. Perhaps she had even received some jewels separately from the Emperor.

But Selina didn’t seem to have any intention of taking out even a piece of gold to give to her father. He couldn’t hide his regretful gaze as he turned away.

‘No, even greater things will come in the future, so what of this much.’

Even now, the area around the mansion was crowded with people trying to meet Viscount Diobe somehow. And their hands were never empty. The Viscount’s steps quickened as he left the palace.

**

The festival was approaching.

The Founding Festival, one of the festivals of the Astrid Empire, was originally a big event that lasted for 5 days. But this time, perhaps because of the war, it was reduced to 3 days and the scale was also reduced.

The Founding Festival to be held this time was no different from an event to boost the morale of soldiers who were about to be deployed. Officers in uniforms appeared all over the capital, and it began to bustle with a cheerful atmosphere.

Although rumors about the war were covering the empire, a festival was still enjoyable one way or another.

The laughter and chatter from the square spread to the imperial palace. Some of the servants had used their saved vacation days to go outside.

Lynette deliberately opened the office window wide. She wanted to bring even a little of the bright atmosphere into the room.

“Festival… It’s been a long time since I’ve been to one.”

Lynette leaned against the window, watching young servants gathering in groups of three or five. Her gaze towards the outside somehow looked gloomy.

“I can have fun too…”

“Lynette. I think I just heard you talking to yourself?”

“It’s ventriloquism. Please ignore it.”

“You’re displaying a marvelous talent? Then I should give you a reward.”

Ilarid finished signing the last document and put down her pen with a sound. She had just finished planning and signing for the Empress’s enthronement ceremony after the festival and subsequent events.

Suddenly a reward? Unlike Lynette who was very tense, Ilarid spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Let’s go too.”

“Pardon?”

“To the festival.”

Lynette couldn’t believe her ears. Did the workaholic Empress just suggest going to the festival first?

“Your Majesty… You must have been really tired… I didn’t expect you to suggest it first.”

What wind had blown for someone who was satisfied with just occasionally resting her eyes or taking a walk as relaxation? Lynette swallowed her choked-up feelings while covering her mouth with both hands.

“I just wanted to do it like we used to. Remember? We used to sneak out of the mansion to see the fireworks.”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. I still get chills just thinking about that time.”

It was a story from the time before becoming the Crown Princess, when the Melpiram family was still prosperous. The two were immersed in memories, briefly recalling past events.

“Let’s sneak out and come back like we did then. But, let’s make sure to return not too late.”

Was it just her imagination? There was even a sense of determination on Ilarid’s face. As if performing a mission that absolutely must not fail.

**

The sky viewed from the square was overflowing with colorful flags and paper firecrackers. People scattered and gathered again in all directions like undulating waves.

Someone improvised a tune, and those enjoying the festival danced and sang along to the rhythm of applause.

As if this happiness would never return, everyone united to savor the excited atmosphere.

Merchants held balloons and firecrackers, attracting people. Noisemaker straws were already in the mouths of children running around.

A child ran into the middle of the crowded square holding a balloon he had just received. It was in the direction where someone had just shouted that they would show a mysterious magic learned from the Eastern Continent.

Fearing to miss a good spot if not hurried, the child was barely squeezing through the gaps between the large adults.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, the strength in the child’s hand completely drained. The red balloon, let go, began to float upwards without a chance to catch it. The child’s expression was about to turn into a crying face when-

A man’s hand caught the balloon and pulled it down. Though indifferent, the fingertips gently handing the string tied to the balloon to the child were kind.

“Thank you!”

Though his face wasn’t visible because he was wearing a hood, he was a man boasting quite a tall stature. The child looked up at him with admiring eyes.

“Be careful.”

The adults here are quite inconsiderate. The man muttered quietly while tying the string to the child’s wrist.

The child smiled brightly, bowed his head, and then disappeared into the crowd. The red balloon floating above the people indicated that the child was safely on his way.

“Captain Lebel.”

The man turned around. There were more people than the last time he came to the capital. Among them, a man who seemed to have some experience approached Lebel.

“Mission, preparations complete.”