The heavy atmosphere, like the heat of a steam room, made cold sweat gather on my spine.

‘How did you know about that……’

Was he testing me? For a moment, I had doubts, but it was difficult to make such a judgment from his confident eyes.

Moreover, Tikan…… does not probe like that about something he is unsure of.

It was clear that Tikan had witnessed or noticed me planting it. In some way.

‘Making excuses here will only make the situation worse.’

“At the previous hunting festival, Sir Siron suffered hardships because of me.”

At the hunting festival, due to my act, Father had to bring me into the residence while listening to Diarob’s nonsense.

Perhaps because it was unexpected for me to bring up that incident, or because he was displeased, I saw one of Tikan’s eyebrows slightly rise.

I added while gazing at him unflinchingly.

“I thought it might provide some comfort……”

“……”

“I didn’t know Sir Tikan would be aware of it.”

I thought about feigning ignorance, but now that it had come to this, it was better to confront it head-on and gain Tikan’s favor.

After all, since he is by Casius’ side, it would be much more advantageous to have even a slightly positive view of me.

As if gauging the true meaning of my words, Tikan remained silent for a while.

What came at the end was unexpected.

“Is there a reason you bloomed rosemary flowers?”

Does he know that Father likes rosemary flowers the most?

I didn’t expect it from his indifferent self, but somehow that seemed to be the case. It evoked a subtly complex emotion.

However, now was not the time to indulge in such emotions.

“The day I went to the Rosemary Residence, I saw Sir Siron gazing at those flowers for a long time. The feeling…… seemed like he liked them.”

What will he ask about this time? Every word from Tikan felt like it was strangling me.

Moreover, behind him was Marianne, Snowfell’s subordinate.

If all of this reached Diarob’s ears…… just the thought of it was dizzying.

The only thought swirling in my mind was to end the conversation quickly. Even so, I would have to deal with the aftermath later.

Anyway, Tikan seemed to relax his expression, no longer intent on pressing me further on the matter.

“I see.”

Judging by how the stiffened atmosphere eased, it appeared he believed my words.

Before he could say anything else, I naturally changed the subject.

“Lady Rachel will surely return as well.”

It was something I always wanted to say to Tikan, and to Father.

For a moment, Tikan’s gaze pierced through me.

“Do you truly wish for my sister to return?”

There was a barb in his words. It was the first time I had seen such a cold side of my blood relative, enough to be disconcerting.

“Pardon?”

“Wouldn’t it be better for Her Majesty the Empress if my sister never returns?”

He was blunt, just like when he would repeatedly get scolded for not following noble etiquette.

Well, in Tikan’s eyes, it must have seemed like I was being hypocritical or pretentious.

“I hope you refrain from doing such things in the future.”

Tikan’s sharp words made my heart sink deeply.

Ah, I realized that even placing a single flower was no longer permitted for me.

“I was short-sighted.”

Only after hearing my apology did Tikan turn his body.

I added in a low voice to his back, somehow with a surge of emotion.

“But my sincerity was genuine. At least in wishing for peace to dwell in Rosemary.”

Tikan stopped abruptly for a moment but soon moved on without a word.

*

After passing through the garden boasting a magnificent size and a path lined with well-crafted statues, the Imperial Palace came into view.

My thoughts swiftly shifted from Tikan to Casius.

‘What could Casius be thinking?’

The current Casius was in a state where he would avoid even a single strand of my hair, finding it unpleasant.

‘And yet, he’s bringing me into the council chamber in the midst of this.’

Of course, it wasn’t a matter to be taken so seriously.

In fact, it was a natural duty for the Empress to greet foreign guests and attend government meetings.

Now that I was no longer the Crown Princess, it might be difficult to exclude me even formally.

But the Casius I knew would have found it more characteristic to exclude me.

Casius had lost his reason. He had the eyes of someone who would do anything to bring down Snowfell.

In a moment of swirling complex thoughts, Tikan opened the door and made way.

As I stepped into the long corridor, my breath caught in tension.

An old memory surfaced.

Back then, I walked this path after being summoned by the former Emperor.

The former Emperor had told me, who couldn’t even dare to look him in the eye.

“Look closely. All you can see is that floor.”

“All you can offer the Crown Prince is frustration.”

“If you ever set foot on this carpet again, you will have to offer your neck.”

It was a chilling threat to stay away from Casius.

The next time I walked this path, I had gained the title of Countess, but I couldn’t gain Casius.

And today, as I walk here again, what will happen to me?

The weight of an ominous premonition pressed down on my heart, and each step felt heavy.

At the end of the corridor we reached, today’s destination was not the center of the Imperial Palace, the office, but the large council chamber located on the right.

As we turned the corner, the last door opened, revealing the spacious council chamber.

Three people were already seated there.

Casius Wolfdor, Dylan Berghen, and Evelina Winterdell.

It seemed that Prince Dylan had requested the meeting.

‘Today, Prince Dylan will try to gain something advantageous for his succession rights.’

Casius and Prince Dylan, the subjects of the negotiation, were seated facing each other.

And next to Casius…… Evelina was seated.

I didn’t want to assign meaning to the seating arrangement, but it wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling.

Upon my entrance, Casius’ gaze clashed with mine first, followed by Evelina and Prince Dylan turning their heads.

Casius and Prince Dylan seemed indifferent, as if they had expected my attendance. Only Evelina had an expression as if she had bitten into a rotten radish.

It was a reaction that suggested she hadn’t even anticipated my participation in the meeting.

As the air strangely froze, Prince Dylan was the first to react.

“You’ve arrived. The atmosphere was so solemn without Her Majesty the Empress.”

At the prince’s words, the space seemed to freeze even more bleakly. Was it just my imagination?

Casius’ eyes seemed to be sharply glaring at Dylan.

But the prince continued, undeterred.

“You’ve come at the right time. Please have a seat.”

Prince Dylan blatantly glanced towards Evelina.

If she were in her right mind, Evelina should have already vacated her seat when I appeared.

However, even in this situation, she seemed to have no intention of doing so.

‘If I tell Evelina to give up her seat here, it would look strange.’

I had no confidence that Casius would take my side either.

As I pondered what to do, Casius opened his mouth.

“What is the assistant doing? Not giving up the seat.”

“Pardon?”

Evelina’s gaze trembled aimlessly. Soon, deep bewilderment settled in her eyes.

Her appearance was like a pitiful angel, as if she needed to be embraced and comforted immediately.

But the gazes of the two men did not fall on her at all.

Amidst that indifference, Evelina stood up from her seat with a flushed face.

As she abruptly turned her head, our eyes naturally met.

The glare that seemed to claw at me was quite a sight.

I leisurely passed by it and took my seat, and she staggered back.

Whether it was an act or genuine, her delicate body seemed to have truly received a shock, enough to elicit concern.

Casius, who had been watching her blankly, opened his mouth.

“The assistant may leave.”

“……”

“Standing in those high heels and dress would be taxing.”

He spoke indirectly, but interpreting Casius’ words, it was as follows:

‘I have never seen such high heels and a flashy dress when coming to the council chamber. Is this a council chamber or a party hall?’

Naturally, there was no one here who would fail to understand those words.

Evelina, who had expected to retain her seat, clicked her tongue while smiling only with her eyes and said,

“But how can I vacate my seat?”

This time, Prince Dylan shamelessly praised me as if he were oblivious.

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. Her Majesty the Empress is well-versed in both the Berhen language and our circumstances, so there won’t be any setbacks in the meeting, right?”

Interpreting the prince’s words as well, it was as follows:

‘What reason is there for an incompetent assistant who lacks ability even in the Berhen language to be here? The Empress will handle such matters anyway.’

Evelina, now unable to even think of refuting, trembled with her shoulders.

The one who issued the order of expulsion to her, who was standing ambiguously, unable to leave or keep her seat, was Casius.

“Did the assistant not hear the order to leave?”

“But Your Majesty!”

Her voice calling out to Casius, as if it were her last lifeline, was filled with desperation.

Casius’ gaze slowly turned towards her.

At the end of his stern gaze, there was no emotion. His appearance exuded a unique aura of intimidation that made the other person feel subdued.

It was a different feeling from when he looked at me with a cold sneer.

It was clearly a gaze that a well-bred young lady would find difficult to handle.

Evelina’s sharp gaze collided with the back of my head as she ignored me.

It was a moment later, with the sound of the door, that she disappeared.

I knew Casius didn’t keep Evelina by his side because he liked her, but it was unexpected.

‘There was no need to go as far as expelling her……’

What was even more unexpected was that he had called me to this place.

‘Is he going to enjoy the sight of me being humiliated next to him?’

But such a thing will not happen. Because I will make sure of it.

Prince Dylan’s gaze alternated between Casius and me, as if he found it interesting.

‘It must be strange. The relationship between Casius and me.’

Even I, as a party involved, was confused, so from a third person’s perspective, it must appear as an even more peculiar relationship.

Amidst such a puzzling atmosphere, the meeting began.