Casius’s demeanor was as formal as in a meeting, no, even more polite.

His face, though not friendly, showed indifference without any wrinkles.

Is it foolish to feel that even that indifference is hope?

Still, this is all my thoughts.

Was it since visiting the wishing rock?

No, at some point, he stopped showing hostility towards me.

Courage wells up uselessly at his seemingly favorable attitude.

“Do you know that the Grand Fleur (Imperial Banquet) will be held soon?”

Casius slightly furrowed his brow as if estimating the date, then put down his spoon and gazed out the window.

“Is it already that time?”

The festive season when the God of Light approaches.

The Empire always hosted the Imperial Banquet between the warmth and heat.

It’s clear that many nobles will flock to this rare official event.

Some of them will meet eyes, spend passionate nights during this festival.

I too had such experiences with Casius in the past.

Casius’s eyes looking out the window were dark and sunken.

It was natural, as the festive season brilliant and hot for all would just be a cold, painful season when I left for him.

‘Was he still considering even that?’

His side profile, blooming with his unique sadness and loneliness, took my breath away.

The stillness, as if frozen, returned to normal as his gaze returned.

Seeing him still unchanged made my heart ache.

But now was not the time to be sentimental.

“Can’t you enter with me at this banquet?”

Of course, this was something I had meant to say when I met him today.

Since he entered alone at the coronation before, it would look odd if it happened again this time.

Moreover, the nobles probably think my relationship with Casius is good by now… I didn’t want to cause unnecessary confusion.

Casius raised his head and looked at me blankly.

I had prepared to say something like it might seem strange for the imperial couple to enter separately, but I deliberately didn’t voice it.

It was the result of gaining some courage.

His blue gaze, flowing like water, didn’t leave me.

He opened his mouth slowly in that state.

“Let’s do that.”

I thought he would agree, but when Casius agreed so quickly, my heart was in turmoil.

Has Casius really changed?

Has he softened his heart towards me, even a little?

But there were too many other reasons why he might agree to this proposal.

To him, I’m a valuable enough partner to propose an alliance.

You know well that appearing as a love-filled couple is good from an external perspective.

Above all, Casius is now aware that he entered alone on coronation day because of Ivelina.

This wasn’t enough to confirm Casius’s feelings.

Emboldened by the ambiguous agreement, I asked another question.

“What should I do about my dress?”

Casius raised his characteristically indifferent eyes.

His eyebrows curved subtly. It seemed to say, even if we enter together, do I have to answer such things?

“The Empress should handle that herself.”

“Of course, but I want to look good for Your Majesty.”

When I smiled brightly, a slight crack spread across Casius’s face.

But contrary to expectations, he spoke in a dry voice without anger.

“An outfit befitting a black suit would be good.”

“Then would white be good?”

“Do that.”

“You’ll be surprised. I’ll appear like a swan.”

Casius coughed – ahem.

After coughing several times, he became normal but said nothing more.

But this is something.

Casius no longer responds with unconditional defense to my words.

He doesn’t show anger or twist my words.

Now he accepts without making requests that are almost like conditions, as if making a deal.

The step I thought I had taken just a little might be bigger than I thought.

The hope that had been swelling grew in my heart like cotton candy.

Even if his gaze was dry like half-burned leaves, it was easy to find sparks of hope in it.

The fact that things have improved from the past, and the desperation for the future, make me dream.

*

Returning to the imperial palace, Casius took off his mask and roughly unbuttoned his shirt.

‘Hah…’

Casius lit a cigar after sighing deeply.

The Empress, who kept responding with a pleased face to his formal answers telling her to do as she wishes, was clearly not in her right mind.

Well, whether she was in her right mind or not wasn’t an important issue.

In fact, it might be more advantageous to me if she’s not in her right mind.

If she moves according to my will so easily, I just need to grab her emotions and stir them as I please.

She will be a very easy target to use.

Through the burning smoke, the spires of the Empress’s palace and the shadows beneath them flickered.

Compared to the Empress sitting at the negotiating table before, her behavior in front of me was so different it was rather strange.

Rachel had said it.

That when you fall in love, you go crazy.

Perhaps that woman has gone crazy like Rachel and myself who truly went mad.

I don’t know why or how, and I don’t want to know.

Casius lay down languidly and closed his eyes.

The Empress’s trembling eyes, startled, entered his pitch-black vision.

‘Damn it.’

Whether that’s the case or not, what does it have to do with me?

Tikan, who entered soon after, began his report as usual.

The content of the report proceeded in the same order as usual.

Casius, who had been listening quietly, only opened his eyes when Tikan brought up the issue of his father.

“Your father has temporarily left for another country.”

“Left?”

“He seemed to be digging into something, saying he was investigating something, probably to find that.”

“What is it?”

Tikan placed a torn piece of paper in front of Casius.

A neat drawing of an unidentifiable telescope-like object was on it.

“Find out what it is.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Report as soon as Lord Siron returns.”

Tikan bowed his head and disappeared outside.

Casius watched him with sunken eyes.

*

At a time when my head was about to burst with thoughts about Casius.

Diarob visited the Empress’s palace.

He couldn’t hide the smile blooming on his face, seemingly in a very good mood.

Well, Winterdell’s influence has weakened, Bashubir, whom he hates so much, is being humiliated, and I even went on vacation alone with Casius to Keshtain, so of course.

It was obvious what kind of stories would circulate among the nobles about our vacation together.

Those who used to criticize our relationship under the guise of concern would have all shut their mouths.

The sharp-witted nobles would have completely turned away from Bashubir, discussing the soundness of the imperial couple.

It was quite fortunate that Bashubir and Ivelina were not visible, but seeing Diarob’s triumphant look made me feel twisted inside.

‘Yes, laugh a lot now. You don’t have many days left to laugh.’

While I was lost in calm thoughts, he drank the tea several times and said.

“Nothing happened during this vacation?”

His eyes, full of expectation, were disgusting as I could guess what he was thinking of.

But what Diarob wants will never happen.

Casius will never consummate with me.

Even if such a day comes, I’m always prepared for it.

Diarob, as long as you’re alive, there will be no heir born between Casius and me.

Hiding the sharpened blade I held inside, I curled up the corners of my mouth.

A rather plausible smile was reflected in the mirror across.

That appearance looked genuinely as pleased as Diarob.

“Are there things that happen all at once? But His Majesty is already falling for me.”

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he passed over it gently, unlike usual.

“Right. Just do this much. The Emperor must have fallen for you to go on vacation together.”

It didn’t feel that way at all and I could only sigh, but I swallowed it down and smiled.

“Of course.”

“Once an imperial heir is born, we won’t have to worry about Casius anymore.”

The tea in front of me being good for pregnancy again made this even more tiresome.

When I drank the tea under his pressuring gaze, Diarob finally relaxed his expression.

However, not long after, he hardened his expression as if recalling something unpleasant.

The words that came out of Diarob’s mouth next made my hair stand on end.

“If only Tikan wasn’t there, we could place your brother by the Emperor’s side.”

Could he be talking about Biodell?

If what I saw was correct, he… had a body no different from a human weapon.

‘You were planning to put Biodell next to Casius and do something to him.’

Clicking his tongue, he added in a low voice with chilling eyes.

“If we had killed Tikan then, things would have been much easier, tsk.”