“Cinderella’s Birth ― The Emperor Friedrich’s Lover, Cloé Friedrich”

“Who is ‘Cloé Friedrich’? ”

The hands rummaging through the newspaper abruptly halted. Blood vessels surged on the skin reddened with anger.

“Good grief!”

Recently, his own story covered in newspapers is nowhere to be found, and instead, there’s a plethora of stories about some woman’s Cinderella story.

“After being quiet for a few months…”

Calis clicked her tongue. Anyway, it was an expression that showed her dissatisfaction.

Cloé, who thought she had disappeared into a rural village in shock, never dreamt that she would create a sturdy rear guard.

Did she ruin that lovely face intentionally? Even if it looks good or is worth exhibiting, she quietly lured another man.

“A mere merchant went to find her, and now she has become a ridiculous woman.”

A few days ago, Calis murmured, thinking about the Emperor’s birthday celebration held in the Empire.

It was difficult to find a merchant due to the attention focused on that woman. If it weren’t for Rowein stepping up and arranging meetings with people, it would have been desperate.

“…Right. I didn’t expect the princess to appear again.”

Helena, muttering to herself, picked up the spread newspaper from the floor. Despite not wanting to read it due to the emphasized headline, the content caught her eye.

Cinderella.

Until a year, no, a few months ago, it referred to Helena.
Once the unfortunate Cinderella, now the fortunate Cinderella. Some believed that she brought blessings to the Arhen Duchy.

The protagonist of the fairy tale should be her…

Now, it has become a term referring to Cloé.

A wicked woman who always easily took away what she had worked hard to obtain. This time, too, that woman took something away from her.

The spread newspaper, painstakingly unfolded, was crumpled again by Helena.

“Don’t worry, Helena.”

Calis, who seemed to sense Helena’s uneasiness, finally played the role of a husband.

“Now, there’s nothing that woman can do to us.”

If she was tormenting them subtly, she couldn’t directly cause harm.

The best she could do was perhaps to undermine the standing of the duke and duchess in the social circle.

But nobles are not fools.

Even if Cloé is currently receiving the Emperor’s favor, she is just a lover.

It’s a relationship that may seem close now, but it could end at any time. Unless the Emperor is blind to love, he won’t fully trust Cloé’s words. That not-so-stupid woman is likely well aware of this fact.

“Helena.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t get involved with that woman if you can help it.”

Moreover, the Arhen Duchy wasn’t in a similar situation. As long as they continued to grow their business, there was nothing to fear.

In other words, as long as they don’t appear hostile to Cloé in the future, they are safe.

“…Got it.”
Helena responded confidently. Even though she denied it, her lips, which popped out regardless, were expressing her true feelings.

Helena occasionally imagined a reunion with Cloé.

She was once a commoner, but she rose to the position of a duchess starting from the government. Conversely, Cloé was demoted from the position of a duchess to a commoner.

A perfectly reversed situation. Now, Helena thought she had the upper hand over Cloé!

That cursed woman ascended to the top of Helena’s head as if proving that she hadn’t fallen.

“You should give a proper answer, Helena.”

“…Yeah?”

“Don’t act like in the old days. Now that woman is different from before. She won’t just live being mistreated as she did before. Even if she does, she’ll stab us in the back with a dagger later!”

Calis demanded a more certain response, dissatisfied with her somewhat indifferent answer.

Rising abruptly from the couch, he grabbed Helena’s shoulders. Helena’s head shook back and forth according to the direction of Calis’s force.

“Ah, okay. Cal. I’ll handle it well. You don’t need to worry…”

She, who was complaining of dizziness, responded unexpectedly.

Only then did Calis’s excitement seem to subside. Without showing any signs of reflection on handling his wife recklessly, he sat back down on the couch.

“Phew…”
Calis, smoking a pipe, savored the smoke entering his mouth. The illicit flavor seemed to calm his anxiety.

He leaned against the couch, then pulled away repeatedly. It was a bad habit that occasionally surfaced when he was tense.

Because of her overly agitated husband, Helena became anxious for no reason. As you gain a lot in an instant, the fear of losing must come with it.

“Don’t do anything wrong to that woman…”

Calis’s words about not getting caught up with Cloé.

Regardless, Helena has no intention of getting involved with Cloé. Therefore, there is no need to worry about what lies ahead.

What Helena should be worried about is…