She had been confined for blocking the Empress, but today she was finally released from the confinement order.

However, Casius kept quite a distance from her.

His dry attitude, as if trying to show indifference, was also first-rate.

Anyway, unlike before, Evelina’s attendance was a big change, so the nobles exchanged questioning glances with each other.

Among them, Evelina’s eyes sparkled brightly.

The arrogant Empress had been sitting in a position that did not match her status until now.

Even now, it was ridiculous to see her clinging to the Emperor’s side as if he belonged to her.

The height of her arrogance reached the sky, and the Empress’s lady-in-waiting even babbled nonsense, telling me to keep my distance from her, who was right behind His Majesty.

The Empress did not even think to stop her own presumptuous lady-in-waiting and glared at me before entering first with the Emperor as if to show off.

‘Yes. Enjoy it only until today.’

Now, she would ascend to that shining position of the Empress.

A smile blossomed on Evelina’s lips.

*

Not long after everyone was seated, that story surfaced.

“Shouldn’t we eliminate the unsavory rumors about Her Majesty the Empress?”

“That’s right. How can such nonsensical rumors spread!”

Those who brought up the story were none other than the Duke of Bashvir’s subordinates.

At first glance, there were words that seemed to express concern, but everyone was desperate to bite into it like hyenas who had found their prey.

In the midst of it all, Diarob stood back with an unreadable expression.

It was a rather passive move.

Vivian looked down at the scene as if observing.

Well, he would have no reason to suspect that there was another man by my side.

He would be hearing about my every move through the lady-in-waiting attached to my side.

Anyway, Diarob’s current step back was a rather wise choice.

Those who thought that Diarob had also taken a step back because I really had that disease became even more active.

Mutts are not worth capturing.

It is always the Duke of Bashvir who moves them from behind.

If we wait for the right time and twist the necks of Winterdell and Bashvir, we’ll be able to gain something even greater.

As I kept a stern expression to let the situation escalate further, they walked into the trap on their own as intended.

“We could just conduct an examination, couldn’t we!”

Diarob’s subordinates, who had been quietly staying in their seats until now, reacted as if they were going berserk at the mention of an examination.

Of course, it wasn’t Diarob who had made a move.

They were clearly stepping forward now just as a side effect of excessive loyalty.

The struggles of those trying to gain at least some favor from Diarob were no less, if not more, than those on Bashvir’s side.

“An examination, you say! Are you insulting Her Majesty the Empress now!”

“Isn’t it to prove innocence, not to insult?”

“So what you’re saying is that you suspect Her Majesty the Empress in the end!”

The noisy voices quickly turned into a clamor, filling the space.

At this point, even the one who had orchestrated all of this could not just sit back with his hands behind his back.

‘Now is the time for Bashvir to step forward……’

As expected, Bashvir, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward when the tedious fight continued.

“Wouldn’t it be better for Her Majesty the Empress to prove herself rather than watch her honor being tarnished in this situation?”

To prove herself.

It was a clearly barbed remark.

“If she’s innocent, there’s no reason to hide it, is there?”

“……”

“I believe this is necessary for the well-being of the imperial family, Your Majesty.”

The justification of doing it for the well-being of the imperial family was more reasonable than anything else.

Moreover, throwing that task to Casius was a cunning scheme befitting Bashvir.

As I turned my head, Casius’s calm side profile entered my sight.

In the past, he must have heard all the rumors that followed me as well.

What did he think after hearing that?

He never brought up the rumor even during lunch.

I also thought there was no need to bring up the rumor story, so I just let it flow.

Did Casius think that I was just acting in front of him?

He looked at Bashvir with an ambiguous expression.

The returned gaze was fixed on me.

“Wouldn’t it be better for the Empress to prove her innocence, as Duke Bashvir said?”

Casius looked at Vivian, who showed not even the slightest tremor.

Throughout the enthusiastic attack from the nobles on Bashvir’s side, she had maintained that expression.

It was a relaxed face, as if detached from everything in the world.

Whether it was genuine composure or a fabricated mask would be revealed in time.

“The examination method is not that difficult.”

When Casius took his side, one corner of Bashvir’s lips curled up crookedly.

As their eyes met, Bashvir curled up one corner of his lips again. As if sneering.

There seemed to be no reason to drag out the time any longer.

“It seems Duke Bashvir believes the unsavory rumors that have flown towards me.”

Bashvir smiled like a snake and spoke.

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Not what you mean, you say.”

As I curled up one corner of my lips crookedly, the hall fell silent in an instant.

Bashvir felt his body stiffen.

The Empress before his eyes was not the weak child he had known long ago.

Every voice, gaze, and breath exuded overwhelming pressure.

Casius felt the same.

‘Did the Empress have this side to her?’

The smile resembling a cold winter made her look cold and frosty.

Above that, all the perfect plans and her unwavering faces passed by.

Vivian’s voice settled over it again like a gentle rhythm.

“Whenever there was a problem with a member of the imperial family, have the imperial relatives proven themselves until now?”

Until now, no one had ever proven such a thing.

‘Proof’ was something that was carried out only when there was a clear justification or evidence to claim innocence.

In short, Bashvir was now clearly convinced that I had contracted the Ilacino disease.

As expected, Diarob’s subordinates unanimously criticized Bashvir at a single word I threw.

Questioning how he dared to suspect the Empress formed the main part of it.

However, even after hearing such words, Bashvir did not easily back down.

“I merely spoke out of loyalty for the imperial family.”

“If that loyalty ends up accusing an innocent person, we may need to question whether it is truly loyalty.”

Knowing that I received the Sirmi herb, Bashvir’s conviction would never be shaken.

Moreover, with me acting like this as if struggling, he would think he had caught a definite opportunity.

That would be quite fortunate.

Yes. Don’t yield until the end, Bashvir.

I need to get what I want.

“What if, contrary to your claim, I have not contracted the Ilacino disease?”

“There would be nothing more fortunate than that.”

It was truly an irresponsible remark.

A typical ‘take it or leave it’ kind of statement. Yes, it’s not your own affair, so you would say that.

“Don’t tell me you pushed the Empress of a nation so hard and even mentioned an examination without that much conviction?”

A fresh smile hung on my lips.

Somehow, the faces of those looking at me were filled with fear.

Like when I sat at any negotiation table long ago, a thrilling feeling dominated my whole body.

As I turned my head, Casius was there.

He laughed crookedly as if interested, alternately examining me and Bashvir.

In the meantime, Diarob’s subordinates, who were burning like fire, perfectly ignited this whole situation.

In the end, as expected, Bashvir walked into the trap.

“Do you think I would have acted without that much conviction?”

“If it’s not true, you’ll have to pay the price.”

Bashvir looked at the Empress with an inscrutable expression.

She seemed like a leisurely predator somewhere, crushing the opponent’s spirit.

Bashvir also flinched for a moment at the sight but soon sneered inwardly.

‘She’s making her last struggle, I see.’

He smiled leisurely and countered the Empress’s words.

“Of course. What do you want?”

The corners of Vivian’s lips curled up softly.

You fell for it.

“If you’re wrong, you’ll hand over the Bellman Mine then.”

The value of the Bellman Mine had skyrocketed after the existence of a gold mine was revealed.

The mine was now the financial lifeline responsible for the core of the Winterdell family’s finances.

If such a place fell into the hands of the Empress, it was evident that the power of Winterdell would noticeably decline and the power of the imperial family would rise.

However, if he backed down at this point……

Everything he had pushed so far would become a baseless accusation.

Bashvir pondered, sweating cold sweat.

‘Why the hell is that X acting so confidently?’

The unwavering appearance of the Empress evoked an uneasy feeling in Bashvir.

At that moment, Bashvir’s gaze met Evelina’s.

Evelina’s eyes, nodding quietly, were filled with conviction.

The Empress had definitely received the Sirmi herb from Prince Dylan.

Their thoughts were the same.

‘If it’s not the Ilacino disease, what reason would there be to receive such a thing from a foreign prince?’

The suffocating air cut through the space.

Everyone’s eyes fell heavily on Bashvir.

At the end of it, Bashvir finally broke the long silence.

“So be it.”

Casius looked at Vivian, lost in thought.

The whole way she perfectly cornered the opponent as if she had been waiting for it felt familiar as if he had seen it somewhere.

He soon recalled that it was Rachel’s way.