It had been three days since Emperor Friedrich stayed at the palace. The planned breakfast banquet was now beginning.

Within the dining room, the only sound echoing was the clinking of utensils. Even though there were no exchanged words or glances, the atmosphere in the room had turned cold. To make matters worse, the servants waiting behind were busy glancing at each other.

The chef’s meticulously prepared dishes were gradually placed on the table. It was a feast of elaborately crafted and aromatic foods.
The rigid Empress tasted the food as if it were neither appetizing nor satisfying. The meal was not particularly enjoyable due to the empty stomach and the tongue that couldn’t perceive the taste properly.

Only after consuming the last dessert did Emperor Friedrich give his attention. Understanding the meaning hidden in his red eyes, the Empress quickly dismissed those around her.

“Three days.”

“……. ”

“Three days, Your Majesty. Today is the last day of our negotiations.”

The attitude of raising his arm over the table was quite insolent. The Empress was already accustomed to the menacing look in his red eyes and the sight of his straightened lips.

However, even that action seemed different today. The man, who was already arrogant enough, appeared even more prideful today.

“……I see.”

The reason would probably be the Empress’s changed situation.

She had to inquire of the man who had unceremoniously abandoned her, claiming he would give her time.

Although she confidently asserted at that time that her feelings wouldn’t change, the one giving her the chance was Emperor Friedrich himself.

How could he reduce the Empress of a country to a trapped mouse in such a dignified negotiation?

“What do you want from me?”

“It’s puzzling to be asked again. There is no difference from that time. It’s to punish the crimes of trying to harm my wife, the Duchess, and the Empress of the nation by removing the Duke.”

“Then it’s not a clean punishment.”

Kun raised his thick eyebrows at the Empress’s response. It seemed to imply that he didn’t understand what she meant.

“After all, it means punishing one crime with another.”

“Crime? Surely you’re not interpreting my negotiations in a different way?”

“You’re threatening me, Your Majesty.”

“It seems Your Majesty is misunderstanding something. This is a negotiation. The last negotiation before the three days are over.”

The man, who had laid out everything and pretended to be innocent, was now incredibly audacious.

Since the Empress remained silent without saying anything, Kun spoke again.

“To go this far, something must have happened. Have you heard anything from the Duke? Or did he say something to you?”

“…Are you seriously asking me that now?”

The Empress asked in amazement. The opponent only showed an ignorant face, claiming innocence.

After a moment, he casually replied, “I don’t know the details of the Duke’s message, but don’t worry too much. I will protect Your Majesty.”

“Everything is about to be revealed and exposed in the newspaper. How can you help? I will become the laughingstock. Even knowing that…!”

Finally, the Empress raised her voice.

It was painful not being able to understand the sincerity of the man who once stood before her with slow steps, and now feigned hypocrisy.

“His parents will be spared.”

“…What are you saying now…”
“As it is. If you pay and make it look like the parents are bought, that’s it. If you wonder why I haven’t appeared so far, I claim that I’ve been paid to keep silent.”

He recited one by one the prepared plan. Indeed, like someone who had orchestrated everything from the beginning, it was a flawless plan.

“The Grand Duke, who will be furious at the royal family for the sudden uproar, and the confession of a brother, even if only half-blooded, with a name. It’s obvious which words the public will listen to among them.”

“……!”

“So, Your Majesty, if you just comply with my demand. If you expel the Grand Duke before the publication of the article by the Prion Newspaper, we can move public opinion as planned.”

Finally, Kun raised his arm and filled the Empress’s empty glass with tea.

“Your Majesty, it’s three days.”

“……. ”

“Today is the last day. If you hesitate here, it won’t be negotiation, but as I mentioned before, it will be coercion.”

For the Empress, who had no place to retreat, there was only one choice given.

So, even now, it was undeniable that it was still coercion.

However, the Empress couldn’t remain silent. It wasn’t because she worried that it might offend him.

‘Trust me…….’

She looked at her reflection beyond the tea.

A faint face, hard to find the majesty of the Empress, caught her eye.

It was no different from back then.

‘Trust me, Your Majesty. If only I remain silent, there’s no way for the world to know about Your Majesty’s scandalous life.’

‘Just give me the title easily. Well, I don’t like someone higher than me, so how about the vacant Theodore Grand Duchy? I want to get rid of the annoying name Friedrich anyway.’

The situation where Cedric Friedrich entered the royal palace and threatened her.

The Empress was disgusted with her own life, which had to be trampled by those Friedrich bastards. She was so regretful that if she could turn back time, she would want to kill the child in her womb.

“Okay. Let’s make a deal.”

So, she decided to end it completely.

Destroy one side to the point of no return, and fulfill the other side’s desire so that the secret couldn’t be spread.

“I will lead the expulsion of the Grand Duke, and Your Majesty the Empress will cover my secret and handle the rest.”