“Should I praise you for being smart? Then I too would crave your praise.”

Kun, who had been quietly listening to Chloe’s plan, added a comment. The rhetoric to praise the opponent and naturally take the reins of the conversation was truly exceptional.

“What should I do for the princess?”

“Could you…,”

Faced with a question that promised understanding, Chloe hesitated to bare her true feelings.

In order to completely ruin Callis, it had to be revealed that he was not the hero of the century.

However, revealing that could likely corner even the emperor.

Because he was hiding, and Chloe still didn’t know, why Kun ‘decided on the truce.’

It would suffice to reveal that Callis’s emotional appeal was a lie and that the contract marriage was a calculation of interests between the royal family and the duke.

“And me?”

“…Create a situation during the speech where I can intervene.”

“I will create the best situation.”

Kun shrugged his shoulders confidently, as if to say not to worry about it.

“When do you plan to enter the palace?”

The subject changed again, flowing now between the two.

“After the festival, I have no plans to return to the kingdom. May I move my residence immediately?”

The path ahead would be rough until Chloe began her act as his lover.

She would be up and down on the tongues of the world all day, and the royal family would disgrace her and expel her from the royal kin.

All for the reason of a mere princess’s divorce.

“Sure, as you wish.”

Fortunately, Kun readily accepted her request.

“I’ll only reveal that you have become my Cortijan after the divorce proceedings are perfectly complete. Probably after the trial.”

“Even with your approval, the trial will still happen?”

“For now. But it’s just a formality.”

Even if the emperor was involved, proper procedures had to be followed. If they didn’t, it would expose that the temple had lost to the royal family.

“Understood. I’m also aware of the timing.”

They seemed to have exchanged all the necessary information and schedules.

Suddenly, the sky they looked at was pitch black. Stars shone brilliantly here and there on a canvas dyed in ink.

Signs that their meeting was about to disband.

Before Chloe, who was waiting for Kun’s command, an unexpected word fell.

“Is that really all you want?”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you really only aspire to be part of the emperor’s administration?”

“Strictly speaking, not the administration, but…”

“Your lover, I assume. Even so, your role as a high-class courtesan favored by the emperor won’t change.”

Chloe paused at the blunt choice of words.
It wasn’t written in a mocking tone. If anything, it might have been meant to teach her the cold reality.

Everyone coveted the Cortijan position, and though it was held in high regard, the position itself wasn’t inherently noble.

Chloe, who had chosen the Cortijan seat despite other options, seemed to worry the Emperor quite a bit.

“At times like this, you’re truly like a friend.”

She didn’t know his true intentions, yet she didn’t know why he kept trying to persuade her either. Chloe was swayed by the apparent kindness in front of her.

“If you desire it, I can vacate another position for you. After all, whoever sits there holds no significant meaning to me.”

Another empty position.

Chloe momentarily sensed that the term referred to the ‘Empress.’

Kun’s proposal to give her a position higher than Cortijan was quite tempting. It wasn’t solely because Chloe was materialistic, but anyone would’ve felt the same.

“I understand what Your Majesty is worried about. But I’m fine.”

Yet, her spoken words remained the same—a rejection.

“You don’t even hesitate; it’s a bit embarrassing. May I ask why?”

“Marriage with Your Majesty is also…”

“By the way, I want sincerity.”

His voice was firmer than ever before. Also, his eyes were darker and more solemn than ever.

It seemed as though his thoughts might change depending on her sincerity.

Chloe, who was preparing the words to say, slightly bit her lip.

For the Emperor, and also knowing that the position wasn’t permitted to me.

So, it wasn’t like she had no reasons for choosing the Cortijan position.

But, her real underlying sentiment was…

“In a place where divorce isn’t easily granted, I felt that marriage is poison. I believe that Cortijan would be relatively freer than being an Empress who has to bear the weight of the position.”

Callis and Chloe had married by contract, and that marriage had shattered her once happy life.

Of course, she didn’t equate the Empress’s position with that role. However, Chloe didn’t want to be tied down in relationships with others anymore.

“So, you’ll choose a place where you can escape anytime… Not wanting to take any risks, huh?”

She had spoken sincerely as he requested, but she felt concerned that she had exposed too much.

“Do you think I’m cunning?”

Chloe asked, observing his reaction.

“Well, I thought you were a clever, shrewd, and unnecessarily quick-witted princess who is busy thoroughly using me.”

However, for some reason, he was positive about it.

Soon, Kun moved a bit closer. After slightly bending his waist to maintain eye-level, he untied the ribbon that was bound to his hand.

Then he gently took her hand, and softly placed his own atop it.

“Fine. Whether the princess’s future will be as the empire’s Empress or whether you’ll run away to become another noble’s wife, no one knows.”

“……”

“But Princess, this is something you should know.”

Thus, the blue ribbon was allocated to her.

“I won’t let you go. I can’t live at a loss, you see.”