“What are you doing here?”

Contrary to my relief, a harsh tone burst out. I was annoyed at her for carefreely collecting seashells without realizing my own surprise.

Etricia smiled brightly, holding up a milky white seashell in her hand.

“I thought Lilien would like it. I was picking up a few.”

Indeed, her other hand held a bonnet with several seashells inside.

“Is that why you suddenly sat down?”

“Oh, were you watching me?”

Etricia’s eyes widened. He turned his gaze awkwardly and replied.

“……By chance.”

Fortunately, Etricia didn’t ask further and gave a faint smile. The perceptive woman usually didn’t pry when the other person showed signs of discomfort.

Etricia stood up and transferred the seashells from her bonnet to her hand.

“You came to see Lilien, right? By the way, Lilien went to the villa because she wanted to change her shoes.”

Pointing in the direction Lilien had gone, she smiled with her profile tinted red by the sunset.

Edmond, who was about to say he had rushed over thinking she had collapsed, swallowed his words in embarrassment.

At that moment, Etricia walked towards the sea.

Naturally following behind, Edmond caught a glimpse of Etricia’s bitter smile as she recalled something.

Etricia faced the sea rippling with red light. With her face tinged by the sunset glow, she opened her mouth after a while.

“I read the letter father left yesterday.”

I know, your sister sent me up here worried about you. Edmond frowned slightly and swallowed his words again.

“But it turns out this is where father wrote the note. Strangely, seeing that made me tear up.”

Etricia raised the corners of her mouth in a pitiful smile.

Edmond, about to offer words of comfort, parted his lips then closed them. He was cautious not to hurt her with unnecessary words.

“I see.”

After that bland response, there was a long silence.

Edmond simply stole glances at her profile as she gazed at the horizon with calm eyes.

Etricia suddenly spoke up when a wave crashed with a splash.

“Don’t you want to jump in when you look at it?”

Of course, I don’t really intend to. The last words were drowned out by the waves.

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?”

Etricia smiled brightly and looked up at Edmond, then her eyes widened. The golden eyes that met in midair shook greatly with shock.

Seeing Edmond visibly shaken for the first time, Etricia was flustered in turn.

“……I’m joking. I really don’t intend to jump in.”

It’s just… though the salty seawater would choke you the moment you enter, it’s mesmerizing and beautiful when seen from afar.

Looking at the blue sea and the distinct horizon, surrounding sounds disappeared and vision narrowed. At those times, despite hating seawater, I wanted to throw my whole body in and jump.

Whether drifting or sinking to the depths. Even though that end was a predictable scene, the bluish light tinted by the sunset created a dazzlingly beautiful sight.

That’s what I meant.

Tucking her wind-tousled hair behind her ear, she smiled sheepishly.

At that moment, Etricia’s loosened grip caused the bonnet to sway wildly and fly away in the wind.

Ah. As Etricia exclaimed and reached out her hand, Edmond leisurely caught it as it brushed past his face.

As a result, their hands held the bonnet side by side and their gazes turned to each other. They both widened their eyes at the suddenly close distance. Their differently colored irises were tinged reddish in the sunset.

Edmond opened his mouth in a slightly husky voice.

“Don’t cry alone.”

Words blurted out impulsively.

At that moment, Etricia’s eyes were covered with a light of confusion. But after closing and opening her eyes, she soon returned to composure.

“You saw yesterday.”

“By chance.”

“But why… do you say such things?”

Don’t cry alone, he says.

Edmond didn’t know himself. In his youth, he had once covered a street cat caught in the rain with a blanket. Even without defining it, he knew that emotion was compassion.

But this…… He frowned and smiled bitterly. This time, he couldn’t clearly understand his own feelings.

“Didn’t I say we’re in the same boat?”

So he immediately searched for words to support it.

Though he soon furrowed his brow, feeling like he was cowardly evading, there was no other way to explain this emotion in words.

“……”

Etricia tightly closed her mouth and stared up at him. As if gauging his inner thoughts.

Suddenly, a strong wind scattered her calm hair. Brilliant orange light shone sharply through her fluttering red hair.

And at that moment, she burst into a bright laugh.

“That’s right, we’re in the same boat. From now on, I’ll have to cry while clinging to my little brother.”

Adding slightly cheeky words. It was a smile revealing a light sense of liberation and relief.

Etricia naturally snatched the bonnet from his hand, patted it clean, and pressed it onto her head. Her lively eyes gazing at the sea were dyed crimson in the sunset.

Etricia turned to Edmond with a bright smile.

“The sea is really beautiful. Isn’t it?”

This time too, she looked as carefree as when collecting seashells.

“……It’s beautiful.”

Unaware that Edmond’s heart was greatly stirred.

Finally! Divorce!

I received notice that the paperwork was completed while I was away on vacation.

This was because Devon’s trial was held while I was on vacation, exempting the cooling-off period.

I was a bit surprised to see Devon being dragged out in tatters like rags in the trial scene I saw in the news, but…… Well, prison life must be tough, I hope you’re at peace.

I let out a chuckle that leaked out like a crack of refreshing emotion, then caught myself.

“You look pleased.”

I met eyes with the Emperor across from me and hurriedly lowered my gaze.

‘To let my guard down in front of the Emperor.’

Though the Emperor’s appearance seemed no different from other middle-aged men at first glance, his sharp, stern gaze exuded an undeniable weight that one dared not defy.

I might need various help in the future, so I should improve our strained relationship.

I smiled, lifting my head demurely after bowing it.

“I’ve been through a lot. I’m deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace. It would have been difficult without Your Majesty’s help.”

Huh, the Emperor let out a short laugh and took a sip of tea before speaking.

“You must know that when the verdict is given, you’ll inherit the confiscated assets and title.”

The Emperor naturally mentioned the inheritance of the title.

It was thanks to me being Viscount Vuel’s only child, and the system allowing women to inherit titles due to female ancestors who fiercely led revolutionary movements in the empire’s history.

However, I had to feel the weight as much. For example, paying back the favor for the Emperor’s support.

Of course, the Emperor’s gaze still held a fatherly kindness, but once a relationship is strained, it’s usually impossible to restore it perfectly.

I wrapped both hands around my teacup and opened my mouth.

“I apologize on behalf of Devon for his atrocity in betraying the trust with the imperial family. So for this Lebron contract, we intend to supply at a significantly lower price than last year.”

“Oh, that’s quite bold. Will that be alright?”

A hint of mischief flashed in the Emperor’s eyes as he asked. Somehow it felt like he was provocatively teasing.

I smiled calmly, narrowing my eyes.

“Of course, naturally.”

By the way, to keep this statement, I had a mountain of work to do.

Going to the territory headquarters and arguing to persuade the higher-ups…… Ah, just thinking about it is suffocating.

Hmm. I closed my eyes, exhaled deeply through my nose, and opened my eyes to meet a piercing gaze that seemed to see right through me.

Then the corners of the Emperor’s mouth twisted upwards.

“A word of thanks would have been enough, I didn’t expect you to be so considerate. If you wish, I’ll accept it as a proper apology for the four years, Etricia.”

The smile on his lips faded. Oh, did I just get played?

It was hard to manage my expression. Is he being petty about cutting off contact for four years? As I wondered this, the Emperor laughed, his chest shaking.

“I heard you’ve changed. But aren’t you acting too stiffly? Where’s the girl who used to whine in her letters?”

It was natural for him to feel the gap. Of course, that was based on the concept of ‘the young me the Emperor would remember’ in my pleading letters.

“As you know, things can’t be the same as before. But I don’t want to play mind games with you.”

The Emperor frowned and waved his hand as if fed up.

As if it was truly bothersome.

For a moment, my mind went blank. It was the moment I realized I had been unconsciously on edge and engaging in psychological warfare with people I met for the first time after the possession.

The battle-hardened Emperor noticed this about me and clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

“It’s quite tiring, isn’t it? Living while gauging others’ intentions and reading ahead. It’s a good thing to have someone you don’t have to do that with.”

The Emperor smiled bitterly, wrinkling the skin under his eyes. I caught a glimpse of the relatively young Emperor who used to indulge my whims in the past.

Feeling a gentle breeze in my heart, I slowly smiled.

“I…… think so too.”

Warm gazes were exchanged, and after a while, the Emperor raised an eyebrow and spoke.

“By the way, since it’s come to this, shouldn’t you visit the temple too? You haven’t shown your face for 4 years. The memorial service for the fallen soldiers of the subjugation at the grand temple soon would be good.”

My smiling face nearly cracked.

Due to a series of circumstances, I was a person who avoided visiting the temple except for imperial holidays or events. The Emperor knew this full well…… It seems he’s being mischievous, still harboring resentment from the 4 years.

The Emperor slowly rubbed his chin. His eyes seemed to ask, what will you do, with an air that he might issue an imperial order if I refused.

Reluctantly, I forced a smile on my trembling lips.

“Of course I should visit.”

Amused by my attempt to appear calm while hiding my boiling insides, the Emperor burst into laughter.

Thus, as if taking revenge for the 4 years of cut ties, the Emperor’s mischievous attitude continued for quite some time. Thanks to this, I relaxed and exchanged small talk while sending slightly sullen looks.

And about an hour later, as I was about to bow and withdraw.