The atmosphere of the room became heavy in an instant at the question of a different, lower temperature than usual.

Casius quietly looked at the empress, trying to guess her intentions.

She looked extremely rational, clearly different from the past few days.

Just like that day at the negotiating table.

Confusion, like looking at a different person, dizzied his mind.

Anyway, it was easy enough to guess why the empress brought up this story.

The grand council was already just one day away.

That’s why he, too, was dizzy with the problem, not in the past, but to be precise, even at this very moment.

As the empress said, if they couldn’t prove that there were no demons in Rosemary, the business would eventually fall into the hands of another territory by a stroke of luck.

He had no intention of seeing such a sight.

It had been many days since he had enthusiastically sought out the Diarob that was likely to be found there.

Of course, it was a very difficult task to inquire about it.

It was natural since finding out where the Diarob appears is a challenge in itself.

Even the renowned Wolfdor troops had not seen results for many days.

He had prepared a second-best plan, but Casius had no intention of specifically telling the empress that fact.

He admitted that the empress was close enough to Wolfdor to be in the same boat now.

Nevertheless, the fact that Snowfell’s blood flowed put the brakes on him like this.

“We’ll have to think of a way to prove it.”

At the roundabout words, the empress frowned nicely between her brows.

If she hated Snowfell so much, she should be satisfied with reversely spreading rumors of demons in Winterdell…

‘Do you need to be that enthusiastic?’

Strictly speaking, if things went her way, it was the entire Rosemary territory that would benefit.

“I didn’t know the empress was so friendly to Rosemary.”

The empress, who flinched for a moment for some reason, soon composed her expression and said,

“It’s better if things go as His Majesty wishes.”

Looking into Casius’s questioning eyes, Vivian unfolded an invincible logic.

“I told you. I love His Majesty.”

Casius blankly stared at the brazen appearance of the empress.

In a moment, something that should not be seen overlapped on her face.

Rachel had also said such things to him a long time ago.

“I told you. That I love you.”

With an expression like a warrior going to slay a dragon, she had made such a confession.

A confession that would instantly butcher his heart.

Why do such thoughts come to mind at this very moment?

Casius’s hazy, blurred vision only cleared up after Vivian’s question of “Your Majesty?” was repeated several times.

Discovering the violet eyes that had re-entered his sight, he let out a hollow laugh.

It was because his thoughts just before were so absurd.

Looking at Vivian and thinking of Rachel. Isn’t that ridiculous?

Casius clenched his fist and quickly shook off his thoughts.

Now was not the time to have such leisurely thoughts.

As the empress said, there was still no answer to this problem.

‘The grand council is tomorrow.’

Of course, there is a second-best plan, but that’s…

In a moment, the empress smiled fascinatingly and handed over something.

A mysterious purple color swayed inside the water bottle.

*

The newly welcomed morning.

The nobles who had flocked for the grand council flickered their eyes like hyenas waiting for a chance to pick up the fallen prey.

Since the two imperial families, Winterdell and Snowfell, were out of the full-scale war, this time the prey would surely belong to the remaining people.

Those who swallowed it would be able to amass enormous wealth and further lay the foundation as a bona fide rising noble.

No one here was unaware of that.

As a result, the ambitions of numerous nobles were intertwined, and a solemn atmosphere pervaded the inside of the council chamber.

However, none of them could recklessly express that dangerous desire.

As long as the heads of Winterdell and Snowfell were present here, no one could do such a daring thing.

The heads of both sides, who were unusually quiet today, made the weight of the air even heavier.

The nobles alternately looked at the two and swallowed their saliva.

The first to open his mouth was Duke Diarob Snowfell.

“You unleashed Winterdell’s dog in Snowfell.”

At Duke Diarob’s sharp voice, everyone held their breath.

Among them, there was one who remained calm, and it was Duke Bashvir, who was called out.

“I don’t know why you assume the source of that rumor is Winterdell.”

Diarob also countered with a serene face, smiling just as calmly.

“Who else would benefit from that besides Winterdell?”

“It seems Snowfell doesn’t hesitate to do such things for their own gain.”

“Winterdell is no different.”

Though the voices were gentle, each word had a solid bone embedded in it.

“People naturally see as much as they do. Since Snowfell is engaged in such acts, don’t you think others are seen the same way?”

“…”

“Our Winterdell repays kindness twice and enmity ten times.”

“So you’re admitting that you did such a thing out of suspicion toward Snowfell?”

“I’m saying this out of concern for Snowfell, just in case, so don’t take it to heart.”

Seeing Duke Bashvir completely denying it, Diarob clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘That fox-like bastard.’

Bashvir also had the same thought while looking at Diarob.

‘That snake-like guy.’

The nobles, who tried their best not to look at the two, gradually lost their breath.

They were able to breathe again when Casius entered.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

With a resounding voice, the door opened, and the young-faced emperor entered, stepping on the long red carpet.

Even though he had only recently become the emperor, all his movements were natural as if he had been the owner of the throne from the beginning.

As Casius leisurely sat on the throne, the nobles held their breath once again.

It reminded them of the past meetings where the demanding emperor had strangled them for hours.

But for some reason, the emperor hesitated without starting the meeting.

As one of those who were looking around without knowing the reason was about to declare the start of the meeting,

Once again, the doorman’s resounding voice rang out, and the door opened.

“Her Majesty the Empress is entering!”

The Empress…? The nobles had not even guessed that the Empress had attended the informal meeting with Prince Dilan, the foreign guest.

Duke Bashvir knew this fact from hearing it from his daughter Ivelina, but he remained silent as he did not want to inform the nobles with his own mouth.

Diarob had received a report on this fact, but he was tied up in his territory, preoccupied with things to handle.

As such, most of the nobles were in the dark and doubted their own ears.

Hasn’t it been publicly known that the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor has not been good so far?

Of course, it was not strange for the Empress to appear at the grand council.

From the first emperor to the present, it was a minority for the empress not to participate in official schedules.

However, the current emperor, Casius, had already broken that framework several times.

He had openly ignored the Empress and treated Snowfell insultingly. Therefore, the nobles naturally thought that the Empress would not show up today as well.

Not long ago, at the coronation night’s congratulatory wine ceremony, didn’t the Emperor refuse Duke Diarob’s glass?

Usually, even if it was just a formality, he would have accepted it if it was the Empress’s family, but he rather chose the family of his ex-lover Rachel, Rosemary, and openly gave an insult.

But the Empress is attending the council meeting?

At the unbelievable fact, everyone’s eyes instantly turned toward the door.

On the red road where the light poured in strongly, a woman in an elegant light dress walked soundlessly.

She who took the seat next to the now empty throne was indeed the Empress, Vivian.

Duke Bashvir’s face subtly hardened as he watched the scene.

‘I didn’t hear this from Ivelina…’

Moreover, didn’t Ivelina say that she was denied attendance today by the Emperor’s order?

On the other hand, Diarob instantly became elated.

Looking at his appearance, the nobles quickly moved their eyes to grasp the situation.

‘Could it be that His Majesty’s heart has changed?’

Only then did the nobles think of Ivelina, who did not attend the meeting today.

‘Then is Lady Ivelina abandoned?’

‘I never thought His Majesty would turn his heart to Her Majesty the Empress, no matter what…’

‘Weren’t the two on bad terms until recently?’

As if to put an end to all questions, Casius nodded his head calmly.

Those who had taken their seats finally started the meeting.

*

It was clear to see what the nobles were thinking.

There were many questions arising in the gazes that scanned me.

It was not nerve-wracking as it was already expected.

Rather, what was strange was on the other side.

In the background I saw as I entered, Ivelina was not there.

I thought she might have an urgent matter, but seeing Duke Bashvir’s pale face, it was certainly not that.

Looking down from above, I could see many things that were not visible before.

Duke Bashvir, known for his lack of facial expression, was clenching his fists between his sleeves.

‘Could it be that Casius didn’t call Ivelina out of consideration for me?’

Wanting to know what he was thinking, I glanced at Casius.

His profile, seen from the corner of my eye, was as calm and composed as ever.

The cold looks he had given me over the past few days, as if asking what I was doing with my ambitious creations, were superimposed on him.

He was a solid and complete iron wall, as if he would not come over no matter what I did.

‘There’s no way Casius would do such a thing for me.’

Come to think of it, this was not even a matter of consideration.

It was not something to think about whether the chief of staff not being by the emperor’s side had anything to do with me.

In any case, from my standpoint, it was a good thing that Ivelina was not seen.

Because it made me feel so much at ease.

As expected, the meeting continued for a long time.

Although Bashvir and Diarob took a step back, they had no choice but to do so as they each tried to give the tourism site business to the nobles under them.

In the meantime, Casius threw several tricky questions, startling them.

The lords who came up as candidates for the site were all cut down one by one in front of his sharp questions.

Of course, he was not making up non-existent problems.

From the moment tourism was decided as a national project, he had Rosemary Territory in mind.

Not because of the oracle, but because Rosemary was clearly the most optimal territory for the project.

As the center of ports and trade routes, it had the advantage of being easily accessible due to convenient transportation, traditional houses that had been in place for a long time, and diverse scenery thanks to the warm climate…

Rosemary had numerous advantages that were incomparably greater than other territories.

So this was a fight that could be resolved with just one thing.

‘If only the news of eliminating the Diarob in Rosemary is heard…’

Casius cited various grounds to argue the problems of the candidate territories and made them resign themselves.

It was the best strategy Casius could choose at the moment.

Finally, as Viscount Bearmon’s territory was mentioned, the meeting headed towards the end.

Casius listened to his explanation and the words of his supporter, Bashvir, without a word.

With an expressionless face, the nobles only swallowed their saliva, wondering what he would say this time.

At that moment, Casius turned his gaze to me.

“Does the Empress think Bearmon Territory is suitable for a tourist site?”