“Charlotte’s eyes are sensitive. It looks like you’ll cry at any moment.”

As he wiped the tear gland with his thumb, his eyelids became moist.

“I feel like I’ve done nothing and become a wretched person. You’ve made me that way.”

Charlotte looked up, and Benjamin Visennov closed his mouth in silence.

“Where are you going?”

“I was on my way to the archives to identify the books lost during the previous Emperor’s reign. The archivist is dying, books are burned, and several cultural properties are lost, so it takes a long time to identify them all.”

Benjamin Visennov clicked his tongue in displeasure. Even a collapsing country is still a country. While dirty mouths fight for their interests, he must execute them one by one to maintain control.

“Tsk, tsk. Even though you were busy picking out the useful ones from the pile of useless ones, you still managed to keep the nation’s lifeline intact.”

Benjamin Visennov tilted his head after finishing his speech.

“The family is coming in the afternoon, and you don’t look too happy.”

“I am happy. How could I not be happy when they care so much?”

Charlotte pulled her neck back.

“It’s as if I’m going to devour you.”

“…….”

“Even I am hurt when you look at me like that. Lately, you seem to want to escape from me.”

You hide it well in front of others, but you can’t hide it from me. I don’t know what you’re hiding, but you have moments of vulnerability.

“It seems like you want to give up on everything.”

You look like you’re about to burst.

“What provoked you?”

“…….”

“Charlotte. Charlotte.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Relax your face. You cannot show unrest in the palace.”

Benjamin Visennov is sensitive to people’s subtle facial expressions.

“These slight changes create gaps.”

A solid wall must not allow even a crack.

“You worry for no reason.”

“Then it’s a relief.”

“Put that worry aside.”

“I respond to everything you do. Don’t forget that.”

Soon, the chief of attendants came with an awkward look.

“Your Majesty. Someone has come from the intelligence agency. I think you should go to the office.”

“Ah……. Come back later. Don’t stay outside too long.”

Benjamin Visennov left like that. Charlotte stood still, watching his receding figure. It was getting further away, and for some reason, it was hard to take her eyes off his back.

“We should also…….”

Charlotte was about to add something.

“Yo, Your Majesty, someone has come from Windsor.”

From a distance, a noise approaches.

Everything is like that.

A gap opens without warning.

(This is a time divider.)

“If the newlywed looks as gloomy as now, what will the family watching think?”

Leandro put down his tea cup and spoke. His movements were filled with refined grace. They were clear and pure. Like looking at tea water that had filtered out all impurities.

“It’s understandable that you feel tired after marriage. But you must not be caught in that feeling for too long. The lower ones are sensitive to everything about their superiors.”

The petals floating in the tea trembled like being swept by waves. Charlotte collected her expression.

“You arrived early.”
Ah, I woke up early in the morning. The weather has been unusually cold lately. The servants were busy attending to the mansion’s heating system.

The snow flurries. It heralds the end of the year. The warmth in the palm of the hands quickly faded at the edge of the ruthless winter. Duke Jacob Bronthe covered me with a shawl. As soon as the snowflakes touched the shawl, they melted and soaked in.

‘Something feels different than before.’

Where did this feeling come from? It’s not something that strikes me suddenly. It was a strange feeling that gradually seeped in very slowly.

“What about Uncle Cesar?”

“He has gone to the family estate. After all, the young duke was managing it himself, but there has been a vacancy in the manager’s position for the past five years, hasn’t there?”

“Ah, he’s managing the estate then.”

“He has been sending letters frequently, so I will let you know when news comes. You must have already heard it by staying here, but Windsor is a quiet estate.”

It meant not to worry, as nothing was happening. The respectful words were warm. It was definitely warm, yet…….

‘There is a distance that wasn’t there before.’

I became numb to the quiet life as I got used to their warmth.

“Such is the nature of high rank. Those who were close before become distant, and those who were distant become close. If your biological mother were alive, she might have revealed her complex feelings about this marriage.”

“Yes. Mother would not have been pleased either.”

“If it’s Cozette…… yes. That child would have felt that way. Because she’s that kind of child, she would have supported your marriage again. Settle your complex emotions.”

The following words were firm, like handing a sharply honed blade to Charlotte.

“As much as the hierarchy of the underlings has collapsed, the discipline of the palace must stand straight. Even if the demons open their mouths and tear each other apart in quarrels, even if the empress herself thrusts a blade into their necks……. Please, do not stray from the center and hold your position.”

I know well what his words mean. Grandfather is telling me to get used to all of this now.

“I will soon send maids from Tutega. They are wild ones. A mad wild one becomes a wild dog when it has nothing to lose. Tightly choke the leash and press them down. That’s the beginning.”

Leandro told me the way to choke Tutega.

“The royal family is about legitimacy. If the palace loses its center, the hierarchy will collapse like a tower built of paper. Build that legitimacy first. Then either strike their necks or leash them.”

Direct the lost blade before it scratches the palm of your hand. You must not take it lightly. If you are swayed by the power in your hands, you lose yourself.

“Do not forget.”

Leandro trailed off.

“Where you stand, Your Majesty.”