‘My father only knew one woman. Why is my son like that? Shouldn’t he have taken after his father? Tsk, tsk.’

“Why did His Majesty acquire so many consorts?”

“Because he likes women! They call him the greatest Casanova in the empire!”

Although it was I who had gained a reputation as a femme fatale.

“But he doesn’t seem to enjoy a licentious lifestyle.”

“Because Douglas doesn’t know.”

“What do you mean?”

“When we first met at the Camellia Party, His Majesty was entangled with two women. It was quite a scandal…”
As I recalled that moment, my temperature rose rapidly.

I tried fanning myself, but it was futile.

It wasn’t just the intense memory of the first kiss that made me feel feverish.

“That’s not all. Suddenly, he said he had urgent matters and left, only to return with a new empress. They came all the way on horseback.”

A completely different heat surged than a moment ago.

Nevertheless, despite everything, I wanted to believe in that sweet talk about being different from the usual empresses.

I even decided to lay it all out to Nikolai that day.

If I did, he might believe me.

“Is that all?”

“What more should there be?”

“If you like women so much, why not visit the harem?”

Come to think of it, I had a similar conversation with Nisa.

“Rose empress always complained. She thought that becoming an empress would allow her to fully appreciate His Majesty’s appearance, but she didn’t even see his nose.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t His Majesty’s taste.”

“Other empresses didn’t seek him out either. Except for the empresses from prestigious families, the others were dissatisfied. It was like being in prison, not a harem.”

“Prison?”

“Trapped without any movement. Since she married the emperor, she couldn’t return to her hometown.”

“Suzan worried too. She said empresses, excluding those from prestigious families, had to take care of themselves.”

“Just a title as empress, no different from living like a servant or maid. Why did the emperor keep them without caring?”

I thought it was because of Nikolai’s whims.

Because he was distant due to finding new women.

The more I pondered on the conversation with Nisa, the more I felt that it might not have been sweet talk.

“It does seem strange, as Douglas says. His Majesty was always buried in work.”

“He seemed busy to me too.”

“If he truly loved women, why did he do that? Seeking a partner for a night would have been much simpler.”

“That’s strange indeed. Even if empresses were self-sufficient, maintaining a harem would cost a lot.”

Douglas pointed out.

It was a question I had never considered.

Because he was such a simple philanderer, I just accepted it as such.

“He also had to endure the misconception of being a playboy who only brightens women.”

“Was there a reason for that?”

“I don’t know more than that.”

Could it be that he had to wear the mask of a playboy?

So what benefits did he gain from it?

It seemed like nonsense, but a cautious hope wriggled within me.

‘Empresses probably never got to see Nikolai. They would come to the Canary Room whenever they found a chance.’

I thought it was because he lost his first love and couldn’t settle down with one woman.

I believed it was just wandering among many women, flowing like the wind.

But what if everything was a well-planned play?

Longing bloomed into another feverish flower in my chest.
I desperately wanted to see Nikolai as if I were insane.

I wanted to return to the palace immediately.

‘What is the truth of His Majesty? Is there really an unavoidable reason?’

I swallowed the unasked question.

I couldn’t go back immediately.

I also had to inquire about Nikolai’s secret.

Without knowing what he was planning.

Claudia was dressed in her uniform.

Silver embroidery adorned the black background.

On her arms, the emblem of the Imperial Guard, representing a wolf, was embroidered.

The only organization within the palace that could wield sharp weapons.

Claudia became the commander of the Imperial Guard, the leader of the order symbolizing the empire.

About thirty tense Imperial Guard knights lined up in the training ground.

Without a single hint of disorder, Claudia intoned towards her subordinates who stood in formation.

“From today, the Imperial Guard is reborn. Those who cannot be reborn will all be expelled.”

“Yes! Understood!”

The knights shouted with determination.

Half of the Imperial Guard had been dismissed in the past four days.

The remaining half was imprisoned.

Many had managed to escape on their own.

Of course, there were casualties as well.

“Confess now. Have you taken bribes or collaborated with outsiders?”

“No!”

“Among you, there are those who sneaked into the harem and coveted His Majesty’s women.”

“…!”

“You trash couldn’t prevent your comrades’ misconduct and indolence. That alone is enough for you to lose your heads.”

“Sorry, Commander!”

“Don’t feel secure just because you remain in the order. I will make you regret it.”

Claudia’s lips curled upward.

The captured bodies of the knights trembled.

It was because they had witnessed a fleeing comrade being struck and killed by Claudia’s sword.

“Training begins now. Whoever slacks off will have a real sword duel with me. Understood?”

“Yes, Commander!”

Was it due to the fear of not knowing when their necks might be severed?

Or was it because of the desire to be reborn?

The attitude of the knights towards the training, despite being the same as three days ago, was incomparable.

Watching them, Nikolai commented.

“The commander is doing well.”

“To be honest, it was unexpected. I thought she would insist on returning to the Inverted System.”

Caress replied.

Nikolai also agreed.

“The commander is an honorary position. It’s the tradition of the imperial family for a senior knight to take office as retirement approaches.”

“It’s not a welcoming position for the White Lady’s lady-in-waiting.”

“Have you conducted an investigation?”

“That… ”

Caress trailed off.

Nikolai’s gaze sharpened.

“Speak.”

“Suspicious movements were detected around Claudia.”

“Is it treason?”