As Harry frowned, the Empress took a deep breath and calmed down.

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Anything is possible when you become Emperor.”

“······.”

“Alicia Lancaster. You can even make that child yours.”

“Mother!”

As Harry snapped, the Empress raised her hand to prevent him.

“If you truly want that child, don’t hesitate to use any means. Pretending to be a gentleman won’t get you anywhere. You’ll only end up being robbed of what’s precious with your eyes wide open.”

“Why do you think I want Miss Lancaster? I [Dash].”

“Oh my. What a terribly awkward lie.”

The Empress looked at her son as if she found it ridiculous.

How did such a frustrating child come from her?

“Your eyes looking at that child are so tender. It’s truly pitiful for a mother to see.”

“Mother.”

With an uneasy expression, Harry stared at the Empress.

Harry also knew well that his mother would do anything for what she desired.

“Mother, what are you planning to do now? What are you going to do to Alicia?”

“Scheming is a harsh word, Harry.”

“······.”

“Besides, calling Alicia by name? When did you start doing that? It seems like that child can’t even remember.”

“I didn’t know Mother would remember.”

“You must be joking. I’m the one who kept you from meeting that child.”

The Empress laughed oddly at Harry’s confusion.

But Harry was curious.

“Why do you dislike the Lancasters so much?”

At Harry’s question, the Empress remained silent for a moment.

It was a story from her youth.

A trivial matter that she dismissed as nothing but a young and inexperienced story.

Slightly wrinkling her brow at the memories that came to her, the Empress drank her tea.

When she lowered the teacup, she returned to Harry with a calm expression and smiled at him.

“Seems like there’s a misunderstanding, Harry. It wasn’t dislike; it was just uncomfortable.”

“?”

“But now my feelings have changed. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Come to think of it, that child was quite cute when she was young.”

“Yes?”

Harry stared at the Empress with an anxious face.

“Mother. What are you thinking?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll do anything for you. In fact, you should consider it already done.”

“Mother.”

“However, not as the Empress. It’s just a suitable arrangement for the government. If it were the Empress, I wouldn’t say a word, my dear mother.”

The more he grew, the more the face resembling that woman disgusted him.

In fact, having a government beside him was appropriate for a time, but there was nothing he could do.

If Harry decided to become Emperor, it wouldn’t matter how many Empresses there were.
Once you enter the palace, it’s just like falling into your own hands, and there are countless ways to expel Harry once his interest wanes.

“So.”

The Empress lifted her teacup and leisurely sipped her tea.

“What do you think, Harry?”

“It’s been a while, Madam.”

“Come on in, Miss Lancaster. Your face has brightened up quite a bit.”

In response to the lady’s compliments from the dressing room, Alicia awkwardly smiled and opened her mouth.

“I was surprised by your sudden contact. Is there any problem with the operation?”

“No, there’s no problem. Sit down for now.”

As soon as Alicia sat down, the lady cautiously spoke up, sticking close.

“In fact, I have a favor to ask, so excuse me for that, but could you come?”

“?

“Yes. How about the dress for the upcoming grand ball? Have you decided?”

“Not yet. Honestly, I was embarrassed because I hadn’t prepared, thinking it might be canceled.”

“Then how about I make it? Would that be okay?”

Unexpectedly, Alicia blinked her eyes at the suggestion.

As if there wasn’t enough to worry about, this was an unexpected offer.

The period was too short to make a dress for the grand ball, so Alicia was worried, but a miraculous solution appeared.

“Recently, with various incidents, parties are being canceled one after another. Since the social scene itself is so quiet, there’s really nothing going on.”

Sighing, the lady took a breath.

“Anyway, considering I’ve been helped by you, it’s not a waste at all. Besides, you know that the Duke of Gloucester is our regular customer, right? He’s a big customer, so consider this a service, a service.”

In fact, for the lady, this opportunity was one of her promotional strategies.

Perhaps because the social scene was quiet, gossip and scandals had significantly decreased.

So, there was still no significant news to cover the engagement of Eric and Alicia, and that meant the two still had the attention of the public.

Moreover, since Eric and Alicia were not originally people who attended such events, their rarity was undoubtedly valuable.

For this reason, thanks to the dresses the two wore at the previous garden party, the orders had not increased significantly at that time.

Madame adjusted her posture as she looked at Alicia, who was still hesitating, and opened a design book, unexpectedly offering it to her.

“Oh, don’t worry. Considering all the help I’ve received so far, it’s not a waste. Besides, isn’t the Duke of Gloucester our regular customer? He’s a big customer, so this is a service, a service.”

Actually, for the lady, this opportunity was one of her promotional strategies.

With the social scene so quiet, both gossip and scandals had decreased significantly.

So, there was still no significant news to cover the engagement of Eric and Alicia, and that meant the two still had the attention of the public.

Moreover, since Eric and Alicia were not originally people who attended such events, their rarity was undoubtedly valuable.

For this reason, thanks to the dresses the two wore at the previous garden party, the orders had not increased significantly at that time.

Still hesitating, Alicia, thinking about the Duke’s honor, accepted Madame’s proposal.

If it’s burdensome, she could pay the fee later.

Thinking that way, Alicia accepted Madame’s offer.

To maintain the Duke’s dignity, she should pay attention, but more than that, Alicia was determined to do her best for this opportunity to dress up.

Until now, she had never done such a thing, nor had she been interested.

However, at least for this time, she wanted to do her best to prevent herself from becoming someone else to her partner Eric.

To be honest, to keep her eyes from wandering elsewhere.

“It’s surprising that you contacted me so quickly.”

“I’m sorry. It turned out that way. Director.”

Eric, who was appointed as the acting head of the Zero Knights by the Emperor, followed Kieve into a shabby alley.