Kalis, who had taken a seat near the platform, could now clearly see the face of the woman known as the Emperor’s lover.

“Cloe.”

The exquisite name flowed from the Emperor’s lips. The woman, who had been closing her eyes one after the other, lifted her eyelids.

Eyes that sparkled coldly in the golden-lit banquet hall, seemingly shining alone.

Her blue eyes, reminiscent of jewels being plucked and stored, briefly passed over Kalis.

“Pleased to meet you.”

She, who had been observing the floor as if looking down, lifted her head again.

Whether now or then, with an upright posture and a deliberately revealed but not hidden purity.

The woman spoke.

“I am Cloe Freihed.”

Her new name.

The eyes of the nobles widened upon hearing the introduction. She did not bother covering her wide-open mouth with a fan, abandoning any sense of dignity.

Freihed.

According to the new doctrine established centuries ago, loving one’s siblings is now forbidden.

Unless engaging in mad acts against the doctrine, one could not bear that name.

“If she’s Cloe…”

Upon hearing the woman’s name, the perplexed thoughts finally turned into certainty.

Could she be Cloe, the former Duchess of Argen? The one who was divorced a few months ago and even expelled from the royal family!
If that’s the case, the name Freihed is even less justified. According to the introduction, she is nothing more than the Emperor’s ‘lover.’

Although all the nobles shared the same thoughts, there was no courageous individual who would boldly assert their opinions. Kalis remained curious, suffering internally.

As usual, the Emperor did not enjoy cumbersome matters. Without delving into various stories, he swiftly moved on to the coronation ceremony.

While not mandatory, everyone had prepared gifts.

Perhaps anticipating the situation, the Emperor listed all the invited individuals.

“Lord Helision Jorv, representing the Kingdom of Valont!”

Jorv proudly ascended as if showing off his bulging stomach.

“For His Majesty or any knight favored by His Majesty, I have prepared a total of four premium horses.”

Jorv handed over documents containing information about the horses he had prepared.

Details about the horses’ age, gender, and physical characteristics, as well as their excellence, were meticulously written.

Fortunately, the Emperor seemed satisfied.

“Lord Rowan Edward, representing the Principality of Freihed!”

Ironically, what Rowan presented was fragrant oil blessed by a priest.

While fragrant oil is a common item for men, it was somewhat inappropriate to present it as a tribute for the Emperor’s birthday.

Nevertheless, he offered the fragrant oil not to the Emperor but to his lover.
It was an event with a distinct protagonist, yet dedicating a tribute to a lover. It was only natural for the fallen Emperor to be frustrated in the background.

Once a noble, he seemed to have lost his touch as time passed, and the nobles secretly thought so.

“Excellent.”

However, contrary to their expectations, what came out of the Emperor’s mouth was not a complaint but satisfaction.

Blessed fragrant oil delicately crafted within precious jewels. Kun, who had been inspecting the flask, eventually handed it over to the owner of the gift.

“On the occasion of Your Majesty’s birthday, can I receive such a thing…?”

“Your Majesty, I thought you might appreciate Lady Cloé’s happiness more. Fortunately, it seems that my skill has shone through.”

He, who was well acquainted with the rumors, had prepared a special gift to please the Emperor.

An old fox. A fitting title for Rowan.

Despite the Emperor’s lackluster response to other gifts, when it came to the lover’s tribute, the nobles began redirecting their gifts to the Emperor’s lover one by one.

“The Duke and Duchess of Argent from the Valont Kingdom!”

Before they knew it, it was Kalis and Helena’s turn.

As the two were announced, the attention of the nobles focused on them.

Rather than anticipating how remarkable the genuine article from the Duke and Duchess would be, they were more interested in other aspects.

For example, any gossip that might have circulated among the four.

Kalis and Helena, being astute, were well aware of that.
They tried to act naturally, but being human, they couldn’t entirely suppress the tension emanating from their anxious hearts. Calis, gathering courage, first intertwined Helena’s arm with his own. The two proceeded with the appearance of an affectionate couple, as usual. The ascent of the stairs seemed to be an arduous task. With each step, Calis felt a tightening pain in his throat. Instinctively, he wanted to stop moving forward. Occasionally, he glanced back with a sidelong glance, and the path behind seemed endless. If they hadn’t started, there might have been a way to escape, but from the moment they lifted their feet, there was nowhere to flee. It felt as heavy as if a stone had settled on his foot. Without showing it, he laboriously climbed up. Still, he silently prayed not to reach the destination.