Casius’s gaze reached the empress’ palace, causing a commotion.

The servants were clearly pleased that their master’s authority would elevate their own status.

Even the usually composed Marianne couldn’t hide her joy as she tidied up the bedding.

But when they saw me, they all retreated at Marianne’s direction.

Only then did Marianne look at my complexion and ask with concern.

“Shall I call the royal physician?”

I shook my head, not even having the energy to answer.

After dismissing Marianne, who was trying to read my expression, my gloomy mood doubled.

The place that had been filled with rapture was now haunted by a void that enveloped me coldly.

The warm energy that had risen unnoticed wrapped around my legs. As if reminding me of yesterday’s act.

Casius said he didn’t even remember, while I alone… It was ridiculous.

The absence of the contractor made it clear that he had no feelings for me.

Hugging my knees and burying my face, tears welled up from the sadness.

‘What are you crying about, you did well. Foolishly.’

I pushed away the blurry world with both hands.

As I brushed the tear-stained hands on my dress, the clear world finally came back into view.

Although sorrow surged for a moment, I had no leisure to wallow in such sadness.

Because Casius and his family endure each day amidst much greater sorrow than mine.

After wiping away even the dry tears, I raised my puppet-like body.

Stripping away the emotions, sober reason revealed its presence and my mind quickly turned.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

‘Why did Casius embrace me last night?’

I thought he had changed his mind just because of the news about the Winterdel demon, but now I understand.

It was just that desperation had blinded me for a moment, Casius clearly had no feelings for me at all.

The gaze that was startled to see his own naked body, the furrowed brow as if displeased, the bloodshot eyes as if angry…

Last night’s heat was like a mirage.

It didn’t contain any of Casius’s will.

‘Then why on earth….’

In an instant, Diarob’s incomprehensible words flashed through my mind like lightning.

“At this coronation ceremony, Casius will surely find you.”

“You better prepare yourself properly to embrace him.”

‘Could it be Diarob?’

Come to think of it, the duke’s behavior on the day of the coronation was very different from usual.

From beginning to end, he had a relaxed face, and even when Casius didn’t accept his glass, he remained indifferent.

The conclusion was easily drawn.

‘He played a trick on Casius. How dare he do such a thing? Does Casius know about it?’

If it’s the Casius I know, he must know.

He’s terribly quick-witted and agile when it comes to these things.

Diarob is also a fastidious enemy, but this time he didn’t even show the courtesy of trying to deceive me.

Does he think it’s all about just hiding the evidence and covering his eyes?

No, if it’s him, he would have calculated even this.

He’s solely obsessed with embracing the crown prince.

Still, even so.

‘If you make me come to you like this, the culprit is too obvious.’

Now that it’s come to this, it’s already too late to deceive Casius.

The more I thought about it, the more furious I became.

‘I thought I had taken a step closer to Casius with the rumor of the Winterdel demon…’

He ruined everything.

‘Casius will surely think I was behind this.’

It would be nice if Casius, with his unique agility, realized that I wasn’t involved, but I had no confidence.

The painfully cold words and that sarcasm were still vivid.

Recalling the words about an unpleasant night even brought shame.

‘How can I make him believe it wasn’t my doing?’

Fiddling with the strengthening stone I habitually picked up, I racked my brain.

Then, the sparkling energy gradually intensified and penetrated inside me.

A hot ball that stirred wildly teased up and down near my heart.

Whenever the warm, unique energy tickled various parts of my body, last night came to mind.

It felt like Casius was stirring my insides.

Perhaps because of the hot night, it was felt throughout my body that the use of magic had become much easier.

The more so, the misery and rock-bottom self-esteem shook and tormented me.

‘No matter what, calling it an unpleasant night is too much, isn’t it?’

In an instant, the sound of something shattering resounded through the space.

Turning my head, I saw a vase that had been hit by a poorly controlled collision spell.

The pieces scattered miserably on the ground were just like my heart.

Marianne must have heard the sound, as she hurriedly entered with a startled expression.

“Your Majesty the Empress, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I just bumped into it slightly.”

As I raised my head with a quickly composed face, Marianne cleaned up the broken vase with a relieved expression.

Her hands were meticulous and skillful, even cleaning up the small pieces on the floor.

After finishing, she got up from her spot and furtively watched my reaction.

She probably didn’t think the vase breaking was simply a coincidence.

‘Well, I’ve been in low spirits ever since Casius left, so it’s understandable.’

At that moment, the youngest servant entered hurriedly from outside.

“Your Majesty the Empress, Commander Tikan has arrived.”

‘Tikan?’

“Tell him to come in.”

Although I told him to come in, pretending to be calm, worry came first.

‘Why did Tikan suddenly come? Is it because of last night? Diarob wouldn’t have left traces so sloppily.’

Amidst the complex doubts, my heart burned.

In the meantime, Tikan entered and stood politely in his place.

The distance of a few steps reminded me of the distance between him and me.

Still, his softened eyes, although formal, didn’t have the appearance of a wary cat full of vigilance.

Rather… it was closer to a gaze filled with compassion.

‘Do I look pitiful even in Tikan’s eyes?’

He was someone who usually lacked empathy and rarely felt emotions.

For him to feel compassion to that extent…

It was obvious how my current appearance would be seen by others without even looking.

Perhaps because of that, Tikan, who had lost his words for a moment, finally explained the reason for coming here.

“There was a message from His Majesty to attend the foreign guest meeting.”

‘Foreign guest meeting? The coronation was yesterday, but a foreign guest meeting?’

It was customary for them to send a separate envoy to formally request negotiations, and each kingdom had their own post-ceremony schedules arranged.

If it went according to plan, there should be no foreign guest meeting scheduled for today.

“Right now?”

Tikan nodded at my bewildered appearance and looked at me intently.

“He said you don’t have to attend if you’re uncomfortable.”

‘What is Casius thinking? Is he trying to embarrass me internationally now?’

Although suspicious, on the other hand, I cheered.

‘I was going to attend the government affairs even if I had to make a deal… Isn’t this a rolling opportunity?’

It felt like my mind was suddenly refreshed.

In the past time, I had realized something while reading the romantic strategy book several times.

To seduce someone, it’s important to understand their heart.

It seemed like a concept similar to negotiation.

Like at the negotiation table, revealing my strengths properly to dominate the other party and make them enter my territory. To do that, it’s best to go with the table you’re most confident in.

I suddenly remembered the day long ago when Casius looked at me differently.

The day I sat at the negotiation table and achieved quite a significant feat. When I turned around with a proud smile, there he was, quietly looking at me.

That day, Casius’s gaze on me was wavering like waves.

‘If I make an achievement with this opportunity, won’t Casius see me a bit differently?’

“I’ll get ready and go right now, so please wait a moment.”

“…”

“…Please.”

Fortunately, the dense Tikan didn’t seem to notice anything, bowed his head in respect, and disappeared outside.

‘I can’t go to the meeting hall looking like this.’

Looking in the mirror, I saw the pale face that made Tikan feel compassion.

“Marianne, please prepare.”

*

The dress I instructed according to my intention gave a clean and stylish feeling of conquest, and the flat shoes and neat makeup were suitable for the meeting hall.

Especially thanks to the Chain-Changer−a makeup magical tool from across the water−the pale complexion was now full of vitality.

Although I was the one who instructed it, the appearance was involuntarily exclamatory.

My excellent and dense blood relative didn’t even say formal greetings, and this was all he said.

“Let’s go.”

His expression was no different from a warrior going to slay a demon.

‘No wonder he still can’t have a romantic relationship with that face.’

Well, I had a big responsibility for him being like this.

In the past, whenever I went to meet Casius, my face would completely change, which must have trained him.

Each time, Tikan would ask me, “Who are you?” and it was a daily occurrence for him to be punished with a water-colored slap.

As he got older, the water-colored slaps must have hurt a lot, so he no longer provoked me.

Anyway, now that the gaze of compassion was gone, it was fortunate if it could be called that.

As I took a step, Tikan quickly moved forward and silently led me to the emperor’s palace.

On the way past Lake Wolfdor, he didn’t say a word to me.

His large strides held no consideration. It was only for a brief moment that he stopped abruptly.

The gaze that met was cold yet uneven. I could tell because I often encountered eyes trying to grasp the enemy’s movements when sparring with my blood relative.

Right now, Tikan is contemplating something.

Moreover, strength was being put into the hand gripping the sword.

‘Could it be that the secret order was assassination? But in broad daylight? Casius giving such an absurd order? Could it be that Tikan knows about it and is showing excessive loyalty out of indignation?’

Absurd thoughts swirled in my head.

Thanks to the consecutive strengthening stone training, it felt like flames would really burst out if I put in a little more strength.

‘If that happens, the whole world will know that I’m a mage.’

It’s a fact I’ve hidden even while training in the frozen Lake Wolfdor, but will it be revealed here?

I don’t want to be exposed, but I want to die even less.

At the moment when the veins on Tikan’s clenched fist bulged and the flames were about to finally burst out.

“Why did you plant rosemary flowers in the secretariat’s residence?”

I was at a loss for words at the unexpected question.

A quiet silence instantly filled the space.