The Emperor was an absolute ruler with unmatched power. His words were law. With the mention of the Empress, his puppet, the Emperor was in a state of uncontrollable rage. Could persuasion work on someone like him?

“A murderer, you say. I understand the pain, but the Imperial Princess…”

“Silence! If someone kills, aren’t they a murderer? How dare you praise the one who murdered the Empress in front of me?”

Bianca, who had expected to be confined to the bedroom without water or food for about a week, was bewildered by the unexpectedly intense situation. The Emperor was furious and agitated. Bianca, born by devouring and inheriting the ‘Empress,’ was the one whose name triggered the mention.

If Bianca was the victim, what did that make the Empress?

Around that time, the Emperor’s eyes were truly excited and crazed. His blue eyes, corroded by madness, gleamed ominously. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister persisted in confronting him to the end, unaware that this would drag Bianca into the abyss.

In retrospect, it was an undesired ‘sympathy.’

Eventually, the Prime Minister decided to take responsibility for the matter and chose to ‘pray.’ It was a prayer, or rather, an elimination, as anyone could tell. Thanks to that, Bianca’s situation became even more wretched.

Rumors circulated, suggesting that she was cursed for devouring the Empress and staining the Prime Minister’s position. Bianca, concluding her long recollection, deeply bowed to the Prime Minister who was looking at her.

“Thank you.”

“Your Highness.”

“I am no longer the Imperial Princess.”

“My wife.”

With a bowed waist, firm hands circled, and the field of vision widened significantly. What lifted Bianca, offering a bowed greeting, was Jillian.

Jillian’s expression was as frozen and cold as it was during the confrontation with the Prime Minister in the Sun Hall. Cruel, ruthless, and arrogant.

“Isn’t this enough? Do you need more?”

Jillian, who didn’t hide the fact that he had been watching all along, pulled Bianca into his arms, exerting strength in the arms that encircled her waist. The gap that was one step apart was closed without a trace.

“Ballock, this is too…”

“Dispose of the regretful tone in front of me. I… won.”

Jillian, indicating that he would not mix words any longer, moved Bianca, who was being pulled, forward. Though momentarily concerned about the remaining Prime Minister, Bianca focused on the man standing by her side.

Returning was not easy, just like when they came. Unlike the north, the capital was still under snowfall, making the journey back even more challenging than when they arrived. The narrow carriage wheels were continuously stuck in the piled-up snow, without even a blink. Thankfully, when they boarded the warp gate, they were completely melted.

The capital’s warp gate had pillars and a roof, preventing any mishaps due to heavy snow. It was indeed fortunate. If, unlike the north, the snow in the capital hadn’t stopped, they might not have been able to return.

However, standing in the Sun Hall under Jillian’s presence, Bianca missed the north, which boasted an incredible amount of snow, even more than when they came. Even though she was used to the gazes examining her from all sides, it never became familiar. Gaze as if evaluating her worth. Perhaps to them, Bianca appeared not as the pitiful Imperial Princess who overturned the Emperor’s sin and became a “sacrifice” but rather as a splendid bait that successfully caught Ballock’s neck.

If you don’t say it, you won’t know. Bianca smiled bitterly.

“Was it hard? A warp without a break. It would have been nice to take a day off if it weren’t for this place.”

“Ah…”

Just as she was about to open her mouth to answer his question.
The narrow carriage wheels were embedded in the snow piled up without a single tremor.

Thanks to this, when they ascended to the Warp Gate, they were completely frozen.

What was fortunate was that they returned to the Ballock territory before passing a single day.

“Well then, let’s warp.”

The capital’s Warp Gate was surrounded by pillars and covered with a roof, so even if a lot of snow fell, there was no inconvenience of the tent being covered.

It was truly fortunate.

If, however, the snow in the north hadn’t stopped, they might not have been able to return.

But Bianca missed the warp’s roof, and once the snow poured, the capital’s snow couldn’t compare to the tremendous amount of snow in the north, which she missed terribly.

Even while standing in the Sun Hall, oppressed by Jillian’s presence, the nobles glanced at Bianca, addressed as the ‘Duchess.’

Being scrutinized from all directions was familiar, yet it never became comfortable.

Eyes sparkling as if assessing her worth—familiar but never comforting.

Perhaps to them, Bianca didn’t appear as the pitiful Imperial Princess who reversed the Emperor’s sin and became a “sacrifice,” but rather, she seemed like a splendid bait for Ballock’s neck, contrary to the Emperor’s crime.

If you don’t say it, you won’t know. Bianca smiled wryly.