The unpleasant feeling that swirled in his stomach was like the one he had right after drinking the celebratory toast at the coronation banquet.

He quickly found the cause of this wretched feeling.

‘Laughing again?’

Honestly, it wasn’t his business whether the empress laughed or cried. It should have been that way.

But this damn scene just wouldn’t pass by him again.

It irked him that she was laughing as if all the growling and roaring from a little while ago was just an act.

That bastard Dilan had no shame and was laughing along with her.

‘Has she already forgotten that just a moment ago, I made all the trade conditions favorable to the empire?’

Or was it all an act.

‘If so, what is the relationship between the two of them?’

But it was too clear to be seen as an act, and the guy was simply taken advantage of, not letting himself be taken advantage of.

‘In reality, whatever their relationship is, it’s none of my business.’

Casius’s steps, which were about to pass by, abruptly stopped at Vivian’s last words that brushed past his ears.

“-please.”

‘……?’

What did the empress of the empire have to receive from the prince of Belhen?

‘If there was such a thing, couldn’t she have just said it at the meeting?’

Looking at the back of the empress disappearing with a smile, it seemed she had gotten what she wanted.

“Tikan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The empress is going to receive something from the Prince of Belhen. Find out what it is.”

“Understood.”

Casius made an excuse for himself that this wasn’t because of curiosity or anything like that.

It was just a precaution in case the empress made a deal with a foreign prince on her own and brought trouble to the empire.

His aimless steps, as deep as his thoughts, passed through the garden and headed back to the Imperial Palace.

After walking for a while, he abruptly stopped when he saw the lush flowers while passing through the secretarial building in the center.

The path off to the side was not where he had instructed Tikan to plant flowers.

“Did the empress plant those flowers?”

“No. I asked Rodgo to plant them.”

“…You did?”

Tikan recalled the events of that day as Casius stopped walking and turned his head to look at him.

“Yes. From now on, Her Majesty the Empress will no longer plant flowers here. Don’t worry.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

“I advised her not to do so.”

Casius, roughly understanding the situation, nodded his head.

No matter how much she denied it, the empress was a young lady from the Snowfell family who had tormented Rosemary for a long time.

From Tikan’s perspective, it must not have been a pleasant feeling to see her planting flowers there as if doing charity.

“The empress… didn’t have much of a reaction?”

“Pardon?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Tikan remained silent for a moment, and Casius moved on, saying it was fine.

Tikan hurriedly followed behind him and answered his question.

“She was startled. And….”

As Casius listened to Tikan’s hesitant words, he walked on as usual.

The image of the empress’s trembling eyes in shock didn’t come to mind well.

Was it an expression like the one she had in front of him on their first night?

“And?”

“She said my sister would return.”

“She’s good at saying things she doesn’t mean.”

Tikan didn’t particularly deny it and, after hesitating for a moment, added.

“She also said it was for Rosemary’s well-being.”

Tikan’s wavering eyes clearly revealed his complex emotions.

The empress was definitely… a dangerous woman.

Hasn’t she already shaken up not only himself but also Tikan?

So Casius was all the more troubled.

If only he had been shaken, he would have considered it a misjudgment… but Vivian was gradually permeating many people.

While putting an end to the many suspicions attached to her.

An unpleasant energy climbed up Casius’s heart like a bug, creeping and crawling.

It was a complicated and ambiguous season, in the middle of a cold winter and a cozy spring.

*

The path to the Empress Palace, away from the talkative Prince Dilan, was quite quiet.

Only Marianne’s footsteps followed behind me.

As I turned my body at the end of the empty corridor, an anxious face examined me.

Today, she caught me planting flowers.

Marianne is a quick-witted person.

‘She must have noticed that every time I said I was going for a walk alone, I planted flowers in the secretarial building.’

If that fact was made known to Diarob, it could become quite troublesome.

Because Diarob was a guy who suspected me every moment, even though I was his daughter.

If I were to be put under even more surveillance than now, there was a high possibility that my reinforcement stone training would also be disrupted in the future.

So Marianne’s mouth had to be shut.

The method was simple. I knew about her theft and could easily silence her by using it.

But did I really have to do that?

I didn’t want to do that to Marianne. If I had intended to, I would have done so from the beginning.

It was truly unlike me. Not wielding what was already in my hands to be used.

Because I had always considered it foolish to be swayed by faint affection or weak emotions.

The hesitation lasted long, but I couldn’t persist in acting unlike myself any longer.

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Marianne, who had been watching for an opportunity, spoke first.

“I will pretend I didn’t hear the conversation with Commander Tikan today.”

“…?”

“So please, never set foot in the secretarial building again from now on.”

Marianne trembled slightly as if even saying these words made her nervous.

Indeed, Diarob was someone who could replace a mere servant in the blink of an eye.

“Why are you going to pretend you didn’t see it?”

“I know that you did those actions with good intentions, Lady. Because you are a gentle and kind person. This time too, you must have done it with such a good heart.”

Do I come across with such a good image?

Or did the past Vivian treat Marianne well? I suddenly became curious.

“That I’m gentle and kind?”

“Of course. You even faced disgrace for standing in front of the duke to stop injustice.”

“Disgrace?”

At my question, Marianne trembled as if hiding something and couldn’t continue her words.

Then, after a long time, she stutteringly added.

“I think I made a mistake.”

Her still-trembling appearance clearly showed that Marianne was someone who couldn’t lie.

‘There’s something she’s hiding…’

But it didn’t seem like she would tell even if I pressed.

Anyway, it was a good thing that Marianne was favorable to me.

“It would be better to keep it a secret if it reaches Father’s ears, as it may unnecessarily disturb his mind.”

Marianne stared at me blankly and bowed her head as soon as our eyes met.

“I understand. But what should I do about today’s matter…?”

“Today’s matter?”

“You said at the meeting that you would accept the Belhen’s treatment center system. If His Highness finds out, he won’t stay still….”

I knew better than anyone what Marianne was worried about.

It wasn’t only the Winterdel side that was damaged by the introduction of the treatment center system.

Although Winterdel suffered the most damage, it was clear as day that Snowfell, which had been operating several treatment centers, would also be greatly impacted.

The empire’s famous treatment centers, which selectively accepted patients mainly from the high nobility, were all affiliated with Winterdel and Snowfell.

Of course, all of this had been calculated while proceeding with this negotiation.

The primary purpose of the negotiation was for the well-being of the imperial citizens… but the second was to lower the power of Winterdel and Snowfell.

Everything was going according to plan.

But.

“How did you know about what happened in the meeting room, Marianne?”

“Assistant Evelina was making a fuss and walking around. She said it was clear that Her Majesty the Empress was going to accept the treatment center system to wipe out Winterdel’s seed.”

Evelina? There were only three people in the meeting room: me, Casius, and Dilan.

It would be absurd to have separate ears hearing what was happening inside the meeting room.

It was clear that she had bribed the recorder’s side to only hear the results and was making a scene.

“Would I have brought up such a thing? It was His Majesty’s order.”

Marianne’s expression brightened in an instant.

“I knew it! I was startled for a moment, thinking it might be true.”

I smiled and nodded my head.

This seemed enough to deceive Duke Diarob without much trouble.

However… I had an ominous feeling that Evelina would not stay still.

Because the back of my head still felt numb from the way she glared at me as I left the meeting room.

*

As soon as he arrived at the Imperial Palace, Casius lay down and rested his arm on his forehead, lost in thought.

It was because of an unresolved question.

‘Why did the empress propose the treatment center system? Was it really for the sake of the imperial citizens?’

Even if he tried not to recall, the vivid meeting scenes naturally filled his mind.

His body rose when the sound of the door broke the silence.

Assistant Evelina Winterdel entered his field of vision.

Casius frowned at her appearance, imitating Rachel’s even more blatantly than before.

In that state, she came and stood in front of Casius as if charging at him.

“What is it?”

Her panting breath and flushed red face made him guess what she was going to say.

As expected, she did not stray from Casius’s expectations.

“Bringing in Belhen’s treatment center system. It’s absurd.”

“Why?”

“If we bring in a system from such a lowly kingdom into the empire, other kingdoms will laugh at us.”

“…..”

“Her Majesty the Empress’s eyes are clouded due to her close relationship with Prince Dilan!”

Casius stared blankly at Evelina, who was pouring out her fervent words.

‘A close relationship….’

“On what basis is the assistant spewing such words?”

‘S-spewing?’

At the unbelievable words, Evelina stared at Casius blankly for a moment.