Chloe carefully opened the door after reading the note. Though there was no one to see or hear her, she couldn’t help but act cautiously.

It was all because of what was written in the note.

As she walked a bit down the corridor, a cold chill began to rise from her toes. Bracing against the wind, she saw the promised meeting place.

Hearing footsteps, the man waiting on the terrace turned around, his usual mask removed.

“Arrived, Princess?”

Confused about how to address him, Chloe briefly pondered. Thankfully, he revealed his identity first, making things easier.

The unmasked man declared himself the Emperor. Although he had the face of Chinwoo Kun, his eyes were flickering red.

The boundaries between the two seemed to blur.

“It’s a beautiful night, Your Majesty.”

Kun, lifting the corners of his lips, gazed at her hand. A note was enclosed within her small, pale hand.

“An interesting girl. You convey my wishes to the desired party.”

“You found the room well. But couldn’t you have done so without such a cumbersome method? You could’ve knocked.”

Chloe questioned, recalling the pigeon that used to act as a messenger.

Kun let out a crafty smile, seeing Chloe who believed she unnecessarily chose a complicated method.

“What if someone sees, hears? It must be discreet. It’s a secret meeting.”

“But then again, no one is here anyway.”

Chloe muttered under her breath.

His thick eyebrows waved. His sharp face softened, manifesting a sly expression.

“We’re not at that point yet, are we? Princess.”

“…Yes?”

“I dare not disturb the Princess who wishes to maintain her dignity.”

He was referring to the situation they discussed during their afternoon tea time.

Specifically, Chloe, who had hastily explained herself regarding the ‘secret relationship’ that Kun emphasized multiple times.

“…!”

Chloe quickly understood the situation. As she looked at him in astonishment, the Emperor was replaced by a cunning fox.

His neck tilted impatiently, as if urging her to answer quickly.

“That, that was!”

“If you say it was a nasty joke, then maybe your face will relax.”

If no one was there to see their attitudes, and if no one was there to hear their conversation, it was rather naive.

The truth that could relieve the awkwardness was approaching; Chloe coughed awkwardly.

“…I knew it was a joke.”

“Of course, the wise Princess would’ve known. You were merely momentarily numbed by my rudeness.”

“…And is this also a joke?”

“Ah, it doesn’t work twice.”

Kun showed a regrettable expression. Indeed, it was quite a plausible face for someone not earnest.

“What has the Duke been doing these days?”

And suddenly the subject changed.

This was not a question asking for the Duke’s well-being.

Reading the atmosphere, Chloe initiated the conversation the other party wanted to hear.

“The Duke is busy hanging out with his loved one. He even delayed his palace entrance date.”

“Have you planned how to divorce such a pathetic Duke?”

The festival was near. If they delayed more, the simple divorce preparation could become complicated.

Chloe calmly listed the plans she had been thinking about.

“On the day of the festival, it is known that you and the Duke will give a speech on the stage. That’s when I’ll intervene.”

Kun silently looked down at her. His gesture implied she should continue speaking.

“He will surely fuss about our marriage. If the wedding takes place, the existence of the government in the empire will be revealed. So I will manipulate public opinion in advance. There’s a reason he’s involving the government.”

Chloe knew better than anyone what speech Kun would give. To avoid losing public sentiment, he would be eager to gain sympathy.

The moment everyone focuses on him, Chloe planned to expose the truth.

“I’m sorry to say, even with such a good plan, I can’t guarantee that people will trust the Princess’s words.”
It seemed like words meant to soothe a child chasing a floating cloud. Chloe shrugged her shoulders at the cautious advice.

“I’m fine. I have evidence.”

Chloe followed her own footsteps.

Walking back the way she came, she would eventually see her room assigned by the royal family.

In the spacious and luxurious living room, walking into the bedroom revealed a partition. Instead of an office where one could conduct work, there was a separate space within the bedroom.

A safe sat atop a marble table. Within it, the evidence lay dormant.

“There’s a contract between Callis and the royal family that proves that the marriage wasn’t forced. The Argen family’s seal from the past is on it, so they can’t deny it.”

If there was a secret contract between Callis and the royal family, there was also a secret one between Chloe and Helena.

Two days after Chloe presented the contract, Helena appeared with what Chloe wanted.

‘…I must keep the contract.’

‘Don’t worry about unnecessary things. My goal is divorce.’

This would be the best hand to turn public opinion.

“So you were cooking up a sly plan all on your own.”

“To prevent any leaks, I didn’t elaborate much in the letter.”