Helena and Callis’s wedding ceremony had started grandly, but it was only a glittering failure.

Returning guests were more concerned with discussing how shocking the words of the Duchess were than how magnificent the wedding had been.

“Divorce, of all things. End times.”

“A divorce in the kingdom, and from a princess at that?”

Although everything about the Duchess’s speech was groundbreaking, without a doubt, the most intriguing was her declaration of divorce.

She was a princess of the kingdom, leading a divorce in a land where it’s almost not permitted!

“Well, if His Majesty permits it, nothing is impossible.”

“Huh! Not even a vassal state of the Empire. If you’re going to live in the kingdom, you should follow the kingdom’s laws!”

Among those in conversation, Count Luke interjected. He was outraged as if it were his own affair.

“What are you saying? Divorce is not even forbidden in the kingdom.”

One of the nobles who had been conversing shook his head at the intense reaction.

“I’m saying that at least the kingdom should have approved! Is it right for someone living in the kingdom to seek approval from the ruler of the Empire?”

“True, considering the kingdom isn’t even a vassal state of the Empire, it’s strange that the Empire approved what the kingdom refused.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Especially when it’s a princess of the kingdom receiving help from another country? As a citizen of the kingdom, I can’t lift my head in shame!”

Public opinion began to lean toward Count Luke.

However, that was not going to deter him from protecting his humiliated friend.

“What can’t be done between allies?”

“What?”

At that moment, a sharp voice broke the mood.

Count Luke asked nervously, considering the sudden change in the conversation.

Checking the impudent face, it was Lady Lerianne from the House of Cerberus.

“The two countries even held a grand festival together, didn’t they? Even the government wedding was held in the Empire. So what can’t be done in the Empire, when it comes to divorce?”

“Exactly. Isn’t it more shameful that the government’s wedding was so grandly held, and that too in the Empire?”

She continued calmly, fanning herself. Lady Yuri from the House of Cristine chimed in.

“Callis Argen and His Majesty have a deep connection, don’t they? So it makes sense that something like this would happen…”

“A deep connection? If there was such a deep connection, His Majesty would not have assisted the Duke of Argen in his divorce!”

In the end, Lerianne burst out laughing, yet she still covered her mouth with her fan for decorum.

“Your Highness, are you, by any chance, supporting Duke Argen because you have a connection with him?”

Unable to contain her laughter, Yuri took over.
Unable to contain her laughter, Yuri Hsien took the spotlight instead of Lapellian.

The moment Baron Luke became the subject, the gazes of the surrounding nobles turned scornful.

Realizing his misstep, Baron Luke immediately waved his hands dismissively. Despite the chilly weather, he was sweating profusely.

“It couldn’t be! It was just an opinion…….”

Desperately trying to defuse the situation, Baron Luke ultimately fled his seat.

The surrounding nobles sighed, then resumed their discussion on the same topic.

Opinions were divided on who had committed the greater sin: Chloe, the duchess on the brink of divorce, or Callis Argen, the duke who constantly lied.

“Sigh…….”

Drained, they walked slowly, noticing that the surrounding people had all gone ahead of them.

Finally alone, Lapellian and Yuri Hsien relaxed.

“What’s with the sigh?”

Yuri Hsien chided Lapellian, who was sighing as if the world were about to end.

“I’m just worried about my friend….”

“What’s there to worry about? The divorce has been declared without any issues.”

“That’s true! But will it be resolved just like that? Even though the emperor willingly helped, public opinion is still divided. What about the royal family then!”

“Chloe will be cunning.”

“Exactly!”

Frustrated, Lapellian thumped her chest and shouted.

Seeing Lapellian recite predetermined answers, Yuri Hsien felt her companion had a good grasp of the situation, whereas she was utterly calm.

“Do we really need to be bound to the royal family?”

On the contrary, Yuri Hsien questioned Lapellian, who didn’t seem to understand.

“…What?”

“Who says Chloe has to be in the royal family?”

At this, Lapellian furrowed her eyebrows as if puzzled. Her gathered brows narrowed.

While Yuri Hsien’s words were worth considering, wasn’t Chloe a princess in the first place? If a royal family member wasn’t going to the royal house, where else would they go?

Bluntly speaking, there wasn’t another family that would take her in.

“Where else could she go? You talk as if Chloe has other options.”

“That’s an unknown. She managed to get through a divorce that everyone thought was impossible.”

Yuri Hsien thought back to the wedding day.

The emperor, who had carefully draped his arms around Chloe, who had been shivering as if cold.

The emperor, who had breathed in sync with a trembling Chloe, allowing her to breathe more freely.

The emperor, who had emphasized the phrase ‘my people.’

“Perhaps there’s a need for motivation. When it’s about helping my people.”

My people.

Friends, companions. A vague term that could mean anything.

However, in Yuri Hsien’s mind, it was interpreted as something a bit more special.

“The atmosphere was strange.”

Someone worthy of being called ‘my people.’

“Exactly. The way he treated Chloe was as if he was treating a lover.”