Upon hearing the name Herna, Litania felt her fingertips grow cold.

Herna is not the real Litania. She only thinks she is the real Litania because she stole her memories from before the regression.

Litania has already divorced Orbis, and the two have even finished their farewell trip. She has now decided to leave the modern world and live as the imperial princess of this Veriverium, so there is nothing more to be curious about or feel guilty about regarding Herna.

‘But Herna doesn’t know.’

Judging from Ferus’s story, it seemed he didn’t know either that Herna possessed the memories of Litania from her past life.

“Your Majesty. Herna tried to kill me.”

“It was decided by the former emperor. I cannot punish Herna again now.”

“But…”

“And Herna was punished for leaking imperial secrets to foreign countries. It wasn’t Herna who plotted the kidnapping and murder, but the leadership of a neighboring country.”

“She probably did that because she didn’t need to make the plans herself. She must have expected they would capture and kill me just by leaking the information.”

“That’s right. But we can’t punish based on mere predictions for crimes not directly committed.”

Ferus’s words were not wrong. After all, Herna’s request to the kidnappers was only to confirm if it was the real Litania who had been kidnapped before crossing the border.

But just because the law said so didn’t mean it could be accepted in one’s heart.

When Litania stared at Ferus with a resentful face, her hands tightly clenched, he cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

“But since the Glass Palace and Rose Palace are too close… I’m planning to send Herna to the Northern Detached Palace.”

The Northern Detached Palace where young Litania grew up. A cold and desolate place, isolated in a corner of the imperial palace, where it’s difficult to meet anyone unless one deliberately comes out.

Though her confinement has been lifted so she can go out, there are now knight guards in the Glass Palace, so Herna won’t be able to come find Litania and cause trouble recklessly.

“Should I increase your guards, Litania?”

“No, that’s alright.”

Litania shook her head. She took a deep breath and looked at Ferus. He had a face that couldn’t hide his complicated feelings.

‘His Majesty is being considerate of me.’

Before, he would have first yelled at her for daring to oppose his decision. Ferus, who used to always frown and shout angrily whenever he saw Litania, had now become calm like a different person.

The fact that he now calls Litania’s name relatively often, which he never did before, was also like that.

Though he said he doesn’t think of her as a sister, Litania was not unaware that Ferus was caring for her.

‘An indelible heart can change a person this much.’

Just as the indifferent and cruel Orbis had become affectionate, the violent and sharp-tempered Ferus had also softened a lot.

If only Herna could be changed like they were changed.

“It’s a matter between Herna and me, so I’ll resolve it myself. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

As she was leaving the audience chamber after politely greeting Ferus, Litania met Prince Vapor.

“Oh? You…”

Vapor pointed at Litania and acted like he knew her, but since there was nothing particular to talk about, she was about to pass by with just a nod.

“Hey, wait a moment!”

Vapor grabbed Litania. When she turned around with wide eyes, Vapor seemed startled and quickly let go of her hand.

“What is it?”

“Um, you. Are you going to attend the Spring Ball?”

It was so out of the blue that it seemed like he was just asking any random question because he felt awkward for suddenly grabbing her. Litania narrowed her eyes and answered.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well, that’s. I thought you might not have a partner.”

“…”

“If you don’t want to be a wallflower, I could at least dance the first dance with you, so you don’t need to be cooped up in the palace.”

It was truly unnecessary consideration.

“It would be good to show that you’re living well. Like that time.”

He seemed to be trying to console her in his own way. Perhaps he felt sorry for not stopping Ferus due to misunderstanding her relationship with Orbis.

“Do you remember the past, Your Highness?”

“Huh? What past?”

Vapor asked back with a slightly open mouth. He didn’t seem to remember the past.

‘According to what Orbis told me, we were quite close.’

Perhaps the reason he takes care of Litania in little ways while finding her bothersome is due to the remnants of the past he doesn’t remember.

This consideration, though missing a screw, must be an extension of that.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Hmm. So you’ll dance? Then I’ll send you a dress and jewels…”

“I’m refusing, Your Highness. You’re at an age where marriage proposals wouldn’t be strange, so you should study more about women’s language.”

“What?”

Vapor frowned as he belatedly realized she was indirectly saying that’s why he doesn’t have a lover because he’s so clueless.

She thought he resembled Litania because of his soft brown hair and pink eyes, but seeing his sulking face, he was definitely Ferus’s brother.

“I’m very popular, you know? I was deliberately being considerate!”

“Yes. Then you can enjoy that popularity at the Spring Ball. Don’t waste your time on me.”

Litania shrugged her shoulders and turned her head to go down the stairs. Vapor stood there stupidly for a moment, then sighed and headed to the audience chamber.

A faint spring air covered the fields, and then flowers bloomed in abundance. Flowers laden with sweet fragrance began to be loaded onto carts.

The anticipation and excitement of people waiting for the spring festival spread to the imperial palace, riding on the scent.

Litania was sitting on a long sofa, receiving a foot massage from Snow while listening to the boy’s story.

“A masquerade ball?”

“Yes. It seems they’re making changes to the ball starting from this spring festival.”

It was somewhat unexpected, though there was a justification that they needed to change the format as it was the first spring festival after the new emperor’s ascension and with the imperial wedding approaching.

There was no reason to change the imperial spring ball into a masquerade ball when there were many other balls for entertainment.

‘Did Vapor suggest it? Is he trying to hide that he’s not popular by covering his face?’

… As this question was growing vigorously, Snow pressed her foot firmly and continued speaking.

“The attention towards you, Litania, will subside a little.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve broken up with the master. People who approach out of curiosity might say rude things to you.”

Come to think of it, that was true. Even when she was the bride of the divine dragon, there were plenty of appraising gazes on her, so how would it be now that she’s divorced?

‘But if I don’t attend because of that… They’ll gossip that I’m shutting myself in the palace again and not meeting people after the divorce.’

She wouldn’t welcome such misunderstandings when the talks with the neighboring country had been successfully concluded. Litania shook her head.

“So it really was consideration for me.”

“They say people change twelve times, so even that pervert… I mean, the emperor has times when he can be helpful. It’s really unpredictable.”

You’re not even human.

…Holding back the words she wanted to say, Litania patted Snow’s head.

“If it’s a masquerade ball, you might be able to go too. Snow, do you want to come along?”

“What? No! How could I go with you? You should enjoy it freely on your own, Litania.”

“But I won’t have anyone to dance with there.”

If it were a regular ball, she could at least chat with Ilena or Barbara. But a masquerade ball is aimed at meeting new people and dancing with them, not socializing with people you already know, so even that would be difficult.

“You’re beautiful, Litania, so anyone will come and ask you to dance.”

“Oh, stop joking…”

“Ah, but it would be troublesome if some good-for-nothing rascal came and tried to hit on you. I’ll prepare the heaviest fan possible so you can beat them away.”

“Didn’t you just tell me to enjoy freely?”

I can’t tell if this is encouragement or a curse. Litania chuckled.

‘Well, whatever. It’s not like I’ll meet someone and fall in love anymore anyway.’

How long had she been floundering in the swamp of such deep and sticky emotions? Now there would be no more repeating such foolish acts.

“But what about the dress for the ball?”

“Now that there’s enough budget coming in for you, Litania, preparing a dress is no problem! We can even call a designer to the palace.”

“Yeah. But…”

Having worn dresses made by Raven for so long, her standards had become too high, and she wasn’t satisfied with just any dress.

‘Calling Raven to the imperial palace for a while… No, what am I thinking!’

Litania quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought.

‘I said I wouldn’t act like the lady of the house anymore. If I call Raven, he’ll misunderstand.’

The servants of the dragon castle must be earnestly hoping for her to come back, but she couldn’t give them false hope like this.

‘Besides, Orbis won’t come anymore.’

He was a man who rarely left the dragon castle to begin with. Unless there was a big event like a conflict with a neighboring country or a natural disaster that required the divine dragon’s help, she couldn’t bother him.

‘I wonder what Orbis is doing now.’

Even though she kept telling herself it was okay now, occasionally the missing piece in the corner of her heart would rattle. Litania gently touched her lips. The scent of their last kiss had long disappeared, but when she closed her eyes, she could still feel the sensation from that time.

‘I guess I really do need a change of mood too.’

Perhaps she needed the experience of wearing a mask of being okay and enjoying a break from the ordinary for a while. Litania conveyed her intention to attend the spring ball through Snow.

It was the next day when Bain visited with a bouquet of early-blooming red roses.