At that moment, the vice-captain quickly entered and prostrated himself.

“Your Majesty, Duke Diarob requests an audience with you.”

Casius noticeably furrowed his brow.

‘Duke Diarob…?’

For an instant, the resolute face of the empress flashed through Casius’s mind.

Could it be that Duke Diarob has really come to hand over the magic mirror as the empress said?

That can’t be. As long as Rachel is alive, such a thing won’t happen.

It was just a crude coincidence, and it was ridiculous to even think like this.

After organizing his thoughts, Casius postponed the operation and returned to the imperial palace.

*

Diarob faced Casius, who had a sharp and fierce aura.

There was a subtle tension between the two men.

Casius was the first to break the thick silence.

“What brings you here?”

“Your Majesty requested that I bring the magic mirror to you the other day.”

A smile bloomed on Diarob’s face as he set down his teacup.

“You promised my daughter that if she brought it, you would consummate the marriage.”

Casius frowned.

He had never said he would consummate the marriage in exchange for bringing the magic mirror to the empress.

Looking back, he had only said he would believe in that love.

‘Did the empress lie to Diarob?’

Well, she’s the empress trying to curry favor with him by bringing the mirror.

It was just a matter of getting the magic mirror from Diarob. What did it matter what lies were told in the process?

The same went for him.

The most important thing now was to get the magic mirror by any means necessary.

“So. Are you saying you’re going to hand over the magic mirror?”

Casius sneered at Diarob, thinking it impossible.

Wasn’t it because Rachel was alive that he had been stalling all this time?

But Diarob, with an ominous smile on his lips, gave an unexpected answer.

“That’s right.”

“What made you change your mind?”

Diarob recalled the color the magic mirror had indicated.

Yesterday, as soon as he returned to the mansion, he put the [Love Secret] Vivian had given him into the magic mirror.

The same red light as before had emanated from the magic mirror.

What it implied was simple.

Rachel, she was dead.

An indecipherable smile spread across Diarob’s face.

“How could I defy Your Majesty’s request?”

“……”

“I only hope that Your Majesty will keep the promise made to my daughter.”

Casius’s mind raced quickly.

‘Is he bringing the magic mirror for the purpose of consummating the marriage?’

Even so, it was unexpected for him to suddenly offer to bring the magic mirror.

Diarob’s sudden behavior caused unease.

However, his intentions didn’t really matter.

There was nothing more important to Casius now than finding Rachel.

He quickly organized his thoughts and concluded.

“I will keep my promise.”

After Diarob left, Casius turned his head and met Tikan’s gaze.

“Bring me one of my sister’s belongings.”

*

A few days later, Diarob entered the imperial palace with the magic mirror at the appointed time.

Vivian, Diarob, and Tikan, who had heard the news, were present at the location.

Tension hung in the air among the four people gathered with different thoughts.

Diarob carefully placed a large box on the table.

Tikan quickly opened it according to Casius’s order.

Inside, the shining magic mirror was neatly placed.

The gold-engraved object emitted its uniquely beautiful light, and the well-crafted rounding and sophisticated patterns caught the eye.

However, whatever color or shape it had, none of that registered in Casius’s eyes.

Casius hurriedly stepped forward and immediately picked up the magic mirror.

After examining the test platform positioned in the center of the telescope-shaped object, he immediately placed a dagger on it.

This dagger, which he had given her long ago, had a brilliant protective stone embedded in the center that had protected her for quite a long time.

Now it had lost its owner like this.

The magic mirror, touched by the dagger, trembled briefly before showing its result.

‘Blue?’

Casius and Tikan exchanged glances.

The two men held their breath.

As if confirming a kill, Tikan’s trembling voice echoed through the space.

“Sister is… alive, Your Majesty!”

On the other hand, Diarob, pale-faced, stared at the unbelievable result.

“How did this…”

Amidst everyone’s shock, I alone remained calm.

It was natural since everything had already been anticipated.

‘As expected, Iblina has made her move.’

But outwardly, I feigned a shocked expression.

At that moment, Diarob lost his composure and exploded.

“Your Majesty, something seems to be wrong.”

Casius, who had been staring at the magic mirror’s result, slowly raised his gaze to meet Diarob’s.

“What’s wrong?”

The chilling tone and cold gaze, cold enough to freeze the other party, were more than enough to chill anyone.

However, Diarob’s reason had long since snapped.

“There seems to be a problem with the magic mirror.”

Casius stared at Diarob silently with cold eyes, without a hint of wavering.

As if urging him to continue.

Anyone else would have run away long ago at such a sight.

But Diarob had lost his reason long ago.

“Let’s place another of Countess Rachel’s belongings on it.”

A smile slowly bloomed on Casius’s cold face.

Soon that smile spread uncontrollably, filling the space.

As the shadow cast over his position slowly lifted, he seemed like Satan returned from hell.

After some time, the smile had completely disappeared from his face as he turned back to Diarob.

“I understand your feelings, Duke, but you should leave now.”

Casius felt relieved seeing Diarob’s restless appearance.

He was more flustered than ever before.

Although he didn’t know why he had misunderstood the result, one thing was certain.

This entire outcome was unexpected even for Diarob.

Which meant… it was also proof that Rachel was alive.

Casius’s desperation drew all these conclusions.

However, there was just one thing that bothered him.

Amidst all this, the empress… for some reason, didn’t look surprised.

Come to think of it, she had seemed that way from the beginning.

As if she alone knew everything.

At a glance, her expression seemed shocked and surprised, but all those looks felt like an act.

It was strange, but Casius dismissed it as his own oversensitivity.

Casius then faced Diarob with a coldly hardened face.

“You don’t seem well. I’ll provide a noble carriage for you to ride, Duke.”

As Casius’s eyes curved leisurely, Diarob trembled slightly.

However, Diarob couldn’t add anything more.

*

After the two left, Casius flipped the magic mirror over.

Following Lord Siron’s instructions, a map unfolded over the magic mirror.

Casius scanned the map scattered in mid-air and found the coordinates.

Tikan, who confirmed the location, shouted in shock.

“Your Majesty, the location…!”

Casius too froze upon discovering the location on the map.

*

Iblina watched as Diarob left the imperial palace with a flushed face.

Her face was full of smiles.

‘Isn’t that face, contorted with anger, quite a sight to see?’

Soon after, the empress followed.

She was bowing her head and occasionally sighing, but as always, she maintained an elegant expression.

‘Is that X crazy?’

It was an absurd sight, but Iblina soon draped a smile across her face.

‘That elegant face must actually be a false mask. The inside must be burning like fire, obviously.’

Only after watching Vivian disappear did Iblina pull out a dagger from her bosom.

It was identical to the one Casius had been clutching earlier.

From its shape and material to its engravings, everything boasted the same appearance as if it had been replicated.

After gazing at it with satisfaction, Iblina moved her steps.

Although she had returned since the last Grandpuer, she couldn’t regain the same honor and power as before.

The nobles who had lined up behind her father all moved like the wind.

Now, there were noticeably fewer people who blindly aligned themselves with them or tried to curry favor.

All of this was because she had failed to win the emperor’s love.

And at the root of it all was that damn empress.

When she first set foot in this empire, she thought becoming empress would be quick.

‘How much hardship have I endured all this time?’

This was a good opportunity to win the emperor’s heart and secure the position of empress.

‘Let’s see how long you can keep up that elegant act.’

That pretense of elegance, that smile, it was all just disgusting.

Iblina hurriedly moved her steps towards the counselor’s office.

As she gently combed her hair and applied untimely perfume in broad daylight, her assistant approached her shortly after.

Unlike the past few days when she had been frowning with anger, Iblina’s face was full of beaming smiles.

The assistant tilted his head and reported to her.

“Counselor, His Majesty has arrived.”

“What are you doing not escorting him in?”

The counselor, who had bowed his head, hurriedly went outside.

Watching this, Iblina smiled once again.

Soon, the emperor, Casius, approached her.