“The Empress will talk to the princess first. We must avoid anything that will make the princess pitiful, as the Empress says.”

The Empress, having alighted from her carriage, smiled broadly, recalling the Emperor’s words.

In reality, there was no need to talk to that greeneyed princess. Because Olivia Madelleine thought dreadfully of her son, the Crown Prince.

It would have been fine if the Emperor put direct pressure on the Duke. Even though she knew the Duke’s feelings toward the Crown Prince and didn’t doubt them, the behavior of the princess with Duke Vicander lately was indeed a problem.

The Empress shook her head fretfully.

Rumors had reached the Empress’s palace that the princess was staying at the Duke’s estate. Regardless of her lack of education, the princess, who was engaged to the Crown Prince, was staying at the estate of another noble.

And that too, at Duke Vicander’s estate, who once thought of marriage with the Empress.

If it became an issue, it could easily turn into something serious.

So either teach her eldest daughter properly or put the youngest daughter in her place instead.

This single threat was enough to make the Duke’s face harden.

The Empress bit her tongue at the regret of not seeing it herself. But soon, she entered the Empress’s palace, smiling leisurely.

Today was not the only day.

A few days ago, the princess was called by the Empress but did not come right away.

Of course, she heard that the princess had visited the Empress’s palace yesterday, but it was still despicable. Even thinking that the Empress must have done well, the Empress laughed melodiously, thinking she must call the princess to the Empress’s palace soon.

People captivated by the beautiful Empress’s laughter did not see her long nails creepily moving.

The Empress’s smile deepened. Today was going by pleasantly.

But the Empress’s joyful mood was shattered by the report from a maid planted in the Crown Princess’s palace, Tiazje Palace.

.

.

.

“Again. Repeat it.”

“Th, that is.”

The maid planted in the Crown Princess’s palace trembled as she answered the cold, monotonous voice of the Empress.

“The princess has requested a divorce from the Crown Prince, Your Majesty.”

“Ha.”

The Empress’s eyes sharply narrowed.

The maid’s words were shocking.

How dare that woman of low birth, with green eyes, request a divorce from her proud Crown Prince?

The leisurely smile of a moment ago was gone, and her beautiful face was filled with anger. Her hand, filled with rage, roughly grabbed the armrest of the sofa.

The silk of the armrest was mercilessly crumpled. Upon noticing it, the Empress’s closest maid, Lady Ofptem, discreetly left with the other maids.

In the quiet reception room, the Empress recalled the pretty face that always looked down.

The princess, who seemed ready to do anything to become the Crown Princess, always looking at the Crown Prince with lovestricken eyes.

Her sincerity was merely this shallow.

“……Ha. As if she wasn’t halfwitted enough.”

The Empress exhaled a faint breath, as if she had been fooled by the princess. A flame seemed to burn in her chest.

How dare she request a divorce from the noble Crown Prince first.

“She’s weak, impudent, and lowly.”

A soft mutter was followed by a venomous anger.

There would be no year’s grace.

She would dismiss that lowborn wench and immediately ask the Emperor to accept Esella Madelleine as the Crown Princess.

That would be the greatest punishment for the Duke, who couldn’t even properly take care of his daughter.

She would bring that young and frail princess of the Madelleine family, who was said to be gentle, and starve her to death with her poison.

The Empress heaved consecutive rough breaths. Her usually clear and sparkling brown eyes flickered strangely.

(This is a time separator.)

The Crown Prince’s large carriage had been circling the palace for several laps already.

The coachman looked anxiously at Count Hajes, who was riding a horse beside the carriage, several times.

But the Crown Prince’s aide, Count Hajes, only nodded slightly. It meant to keep circling.
According to the command, the coachman slowly drove the carriage, and within this slow carriage, Levanfell stared expressionlessly ahead.

The situation that had befallen me now did not feel real.

Olivia demanding a divorce from me. An unbelievable event had occurred.

“……I came to see you one last time before breaking the engagement.”

Olivia’s voice echoed in my ears.

“You brought Lady Etel into my palace without my permission, and you did not keep your manners with me, Your Highness. You did the same.”

“Rather than saying you listened, Your Highness, you forgot our promise and had a secret meeting in the garden of the princess’s palace where I was waiting at that time.”

“Bow to the empire’s little sun. Olivia Madelleine, I will greet you again soon as Duke Vicander’s wife. Please…….be safe until then.”