“The Baron could have panicked and used our words as an excuse, creating a bigger problem. Currently, there’s no evidence to prove the connection between the Crimson Worm and the Southern Duke. Exposing it could lead to the Southern cutting off the Crimson Worm, and we’d lose the chance to secure more substantial evidence.”

I agreed.

The Duke’s actions were impeccable, astoundingly judicious.

But… the despair and anguish that Medea would cause the Emperor, and the ensuing tragedies, the Duke couldn’t prevent.

A suffocating heaviness filled my chest.

‘We can’t prevent that. It’s inevitable.’

I bit my lip, containing my anger. Was I just to watch helplessly?

Then, it happened.

“They’re here.”

At Arcadia’s words, I raised my head. Far away on the stage, Cecilia appeared alongside the Emperor.

“The Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived! Everyone, pay your respects!”

The chamberlains’ announcement echoed through the hall.

Cecilia, standing beside the Emperor, was pale as death, trembling as if she might collapse any moment.

I bowed to the Emperor, then said to Arcadia,

“So, she knows what’s coming to her now.”

“Most likely. She knows she’s not the Emperor’s granddaughter. She’s the daughter of a poor tenant farmer from near the western border. Lost her parents in a monster attack and came to the Estate for work. She’s here because she knows running away would mean being pursued until death.”

Arcadia glanced below the stage, where Baron Schumael and his wife stood, as pale as Cecilia.

“They know Cecilia is a fake. She must have confessed. She believed she was the true granddaughter while under hypnosis.”

“Do they know the mastermind is Rahert?”

“No. We have no clear evidence against him or the Crimson Worm. They just know Cecilia was manipulated, and they were fooled by her.”

“Rahert.”

“Yes. A man deserving of death.”

“Say more.”

“What?”

“That curse. It’s strangely comforting.”

Arcadia’s hatred in that moment somehow felt like solace.
“Is tearing apart that scoundrel all you can think of? If you wish, I can curse him more severely later. Of course, I actually intend to tear him apart.”

Arcadia spoke in a tone cold as a blizzard.

I understood Arcadia’s hatred a hundred times over.

Truly despicable people.

I saw Medea in the distance, beneath the Emperor’s dais. She was wearing ‘Blue Moon,’ Madam Lumière’s spring collection.

The elegant blue dress, revealing her sensuously exposed chest, softly embraced her pale skin. She looked fitting for her nickname, the ‘White Duchess,’ smiling brightly.

As if she was overjoyed that the Emperor had found his real granddaughter. The Emperor himself seemed to be smiling at Medea.

It felt like a thick needle piercing through my heart.

Arcadia gritted his teeth.

“That ‘harlot’ makes the dress look cheap, like a scrawny white pig. Even throwing her into a dung heap wouldn’t be enough.”

“Commander, someone might hear you. Lower your voice.”

“Let them hear.”

Yet, Arcadia lowered his voice.

I appreciated Arcadia’s kindness.

They aren’t worth sullying your mouth, Arcadia.

“Thank you.”

“I’m doing it because I want to.”

I couldn’t help but smile softly, despite knowing it wasn’t the time. Arcadia’s warmth was just so comforting.

“Smile more, Estelle. In the future too.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll make sure you smile.”

He said calmly, eyes fixed on the dais.

What?

I felt oddly warm, hearing those words.

Then, the Emperor raised his hand. Suddenly, silence enveloped the hall.

“I have an important announcement to make on this final day of the banquet. As everyone knows, a girl claiming to be the real granddaughter of my son, Michael Delpast, has appeared as if by a miracle. Today, I intend to verify her authenticity through Lucella.”

“Oh!”

The mention of ‘Lucella’ sparked low exclamations throughout the hall.

The holy sword of the royal family, one of the two legendary swords in the Empire’s lore, proving royal blood.

Whether one hoped for or against the birth of a new princess, all were eager to witness the sword Lucella.

But.

‘If Lucella is drawn, that woman is finished.’

I looked at Cecilia.

Now she was trembling like a leaf, her face ghostly pale.

The Emperor glanced at Cecilia, then suddenly addressed Medea.

“Duchess Rahert, do you think this old man’s wish will be fulfilled today?”

Medea replied,

“I sincerely hope so. The thought of seeing Your Majesty happy makes my heart swell.”

“Ho ho. As always, the Duchess is kind and good-hearted.”

“However.”

Medea paused briefly, then bowed her head and continued,

“If, by any chance, something happens that saddens Your Majesty, I, Medea of Rahert, swear! I will avenge both the guilty and those behind them, in Your Majesty’s name.”

“Ho ho ho, such filial piety, Duchess. However… it seems unlikely now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Medea smiled again.

‘The background of Cecilia. Asking permission to punish the Northern Duke.’

I unknowingly reached for my sword.

Medea’s words left Baron Schumael’s family and Cecilia ashen, as if their blood had drained.

To bring down one duke, you’d use the innocent.

But no one knows, yet I do.

‘Why you’re so desperate to bring down Delpast.’

Medea’s dream is to become the Emperor’s granddaughter. To be the sole granddaughter of a childless Emperor and become the future Empress of this Empire.
But to become the Emperor’s ‘adopted granddaughter’, approval is needed, as it relates to the welfare of the royal family. This decision lies in the hands of the Empire’s ‘Grand Dukes’ – the Northern Delpast and the Southern Rahert.

Rahert knows that Delpast will undoubtedly oppose this.

That’s why he is trying to bring down Delpast. The only way to strip Delpast, the founder of this Empire, of the title of Grand Duke is to accuse him of treason, strip him of his title, and execute him.

Just for that reason… you killed Sion Delpast in a previous life.

Rage surged to blinding intensity.

The Emperor’s voice echoed.

“Bring forth Lucella!”

Then, the golden doors on the dais opened, and three ministers emerged, carrying a sword in a transparent diamond case held high.

Among them was Kramnel Rahert.

‘If this continues, not only Cecilia but also Baron Schumael and his wife will be accused of treason and lose their lives.’

What should I do?

Should I just watch them die?

Or… should I claim to be the real granddaughter of the Emperor?

Should I, before everyone, disfigure one side of my face with Lucella, sprinkling my blood on that silver sword to turn it golden?

Can I correct everything by doing so?

Can I save them before the Emperor picks up Lucella? This is the last chance.

But.

Even if I do, can I rescue the sick-hearted Emperor from Rahert’s grasp?

Can I save the Northern Duke, trapped in the cage called the Imperial Palace?

Can I break Medea’s ambition?

That’s when it happened.

“The Moon of the Empire, Her Majesty Queen Frances Antoinette! And the Shield of the Empire, Sion Delpast, the Northern Duke, arrive!”

With the herald’s announcement, the entrance to the Hall of Silver Lucella opened again.

At the silver entrance stood the Duke.

Escorting the only Queen of the Emperor, Frances, whom I had never seen in my previous life, only heard of in stories.