However, Liam hesitated. His attitude indicated that his intentions were different from what Cloe thought.

“I’m glad you’re okay. But actually, my question was about the contents of the newspaper article.”

“Newspaper article?”

“…You don’t know?”

Liam asked with a face colored in astonishment.

It wasn’t a scolding expression for not knowing basic facts. It felt more like he realized he misspoke too late.

“A newspaper?”

Come to think of it, every morning, the maids used to hand her a published newspaper when Cloe woke up.

But today’s edition wasn’t prepared. Was it to hide Helena’s news, or did they deliberately conceal articles related to Cloe?

“It seems my story is written there.”

“Yes, well… that’s correct.”

“You can tell me. What’s mentioned in the newspaper is something I’m quite accustomed to.”

Whether it was during the unfortunate Cinderella times, the divorce, or when she reappeared with Kun.

Cloe was the benefactor who bought and provided the reporters with headlines.
“It seems that the woman chose to take her own life, leading to criticism that the empire’s excessive treatment of a powerless woman drove her to death.”

Liam innocently accepted her assurance that she was okay. Then, glancing at the other person, he added a word.

“Of course, it’s not public opinion. There are those who agree with the criticism and those who think that the treatment towards her is justified.”

He seemed unexpectedly thoughtful.

To express that she was okay, Cloe laughed even more brightly.

“By the way, the article.”

She thought that negative public opinion couldn’t be avoided, but she didn’t expect it to come out this quickly.

“Was it written by the Duke?”

Cloe muttered with an assured tone. Since Helena, now the former Duchess, committed a crime and took her own life, the Duke would not be able to escape blame either.

Before hiding, they were trying to divert public attention towards Cloe and the royal family.

“It’s probably not.”

However, Liam’s opinion was different.

“Not the Duke?”

“Maybe…”

While talking, her lips twitched. It seemed like she made another mistake.

“Theodore, the Grand Duke.”

However, unable to resist Cloe’s persistent gaze, he confessed the truth.

“Theodore, the Grand Duke?”

Although the name was familiar, she couldn’t immediately recall the person.

“He is the Grand Duke of the Sahir Empire. Currently, he is remaining in the palace as Her Majesty’s representative.”

Now that she thought about it, she had heard of him before.

Cedric Theodore.

The only remaining noble other than the current emperor. Rumors were rife that he had risen to a high position in another country, bringing information from the Friede Empire.

“…Does he have a reason to attack the royal family?”

Even if he needed a position and used the royal family as a weapon, there shouldn’t be a reason for that now.

Eventually, Liam flinched. Although he pretended not to know, he recognized the face even this time.

“Difficult to say. Please ask Her Majesty for more information. But it might be better to hear from Her Majesty since she plans to participate in the hunting festival as well.”

Reading the opponent’s mind well this time, Liam advised her not to dwell on it.

In fact, Cloe tried to cover up the uncomfortable part. Considering that Kun didn’t tell her, she thought there was no reason for her to ask first.

It would be embarrassing to ask without any reason.

“Is it necessary to go that far?”

“As Her Majesty’s closest aide, it seems good to know. Just ask as if you are pretending to believe it. There’s nothing to fear, especially since it’s not someone else, but Lady Cloe, who is Her Majesty’s closest aide.”

“…Am I Her Majesty’s closest aide?”

Cloe, opposite to her thoughts, foolishly asked Liam to clarify.

“Then, who is?”

In response, Liam also questioned. His voice sounded eerie with a strange tone.
“Oh, no. I mean… Even though I’m close to Her Majesty, I shouldn’t cross the line.”

“I shouldn’t dare to make judgments since I only see Her Majesty at meetings, but it seemed like Her Majesty wanted to cross the line more than anyone else.”

Wondering what Liam did during the meeting to make him say such things, Cloe decided not to ask. Even that must be a kind of performance.

Seeing the close relationship between Marina, Liam, and the fact that they are involved in sticky matters, it seemed that there was indeed no problem with their acting.

“Is it appropriate to ask such things?”

Cloe suddenly contemplated.

Even though they had shared many opinions and discussions for mutual benefit, they had never had conversations related to personal matters.

Really, was it okay to ask such a thing?

After the tea time with Liam, Cloe started to worry about the matter with Duke Theodore. The key issue was whether she should ask Kun about what happened between the two or not.

In fact, it wouldn’t matter if she asked pretending not to know, but the unidentified emotions kept touching Cloe’s mind.

“Liam even sternly advised me once. What is bothering me so much that I’m contemplating this?”

She pondered over the question she threw at herself.

“Maybe because Her Majesty might not mention it to me…”

Feeling hurt.

“Hurt?”

Cloe, who was quietly contemplating, was startled. She wondered why she was having such uncomfortable thoughts.

There was no one to read her thoughts, and she felt embarrassed as her face flushed.

“Why am I feeling this way?”

Something seemed to be wrong.

Indeed, something was strange!