As expected, she realized her mistake and bit her lower lip hard. Despite her efforts to smile by tensing her face, she only looked more grotesque.

Finally, Eustia sighed heavily.

“Ha, Liou. So what your mother means is….”

“I just wanted to perform well in front of my father, but I did not think that it would appear that way to you, Mother.”

Kaliph bowed his head, and then Eustia suddenly rose from her seat, looking like someone who had suffered a severe headache all night.

She held her despondent son’s head in her arms and patted his shoulders, comforting him.

“Oh, Liou. No, it’s not that. Just, just this mother is….”

“I thought that to win over the hearts of the Caroline Duke’s faction, the Crown Princess must be perfectly dressed.”

“…What?”

Eustia tried to meet her son’s eyes by holding his face. His bright red, confused eyes made her feel anxious.

“Isn’t she already publicly known as the unfortunate Crown Princess who cannot catch the eye of the Crown Prince?”

“…”

“Although appearing together would seem odd, I judged that a definite blow was needed to firmly lay the foundation to win their favor.”

Kaliph spat out the excuse he had prepared in advance, with the most pitiful expression he could muster. Unlikely as it was, he even avoided her gaze in case she read his true intentions.

The result was a resounding success.

“Liou, I didn’t think you had such intentions. I was just upset that everyone was focusing on the Crown Princess at the party, even though you were the main character. Moreover, it was a place where Lirelia was present. When Her Highness came to me, feeling upset, my heart could not be more uneasy.”

Eustia held her son’s hand tightly, her eyes tearing up. She seemed to have completely forgotten that she had been angry about yesterday’s incident.

Kaliph continued his act, but inwardly he clicked his tongue. He had realized that Liurian was like Achilles’ heel to Eustia, but he had not expected her to be this helpless.

She loved her son this much. Such a blind love must have made Liurian a fool. But why, why…

Kaliph gritted his teeth at the bitter question that rose in his mind. Now was not the time to dwell on useless emotions. Especially since an issue not worth it was the cause, he had to pull himself together even more.
The mistshrouded, clear red eyes momentarily showed a dangerous foreboding. But he quickly hid his expression and once again faced Ustia, wearing Liurian’s mask.

“Mother.”

“Yes, Liur.”

“I will become a great emperor who follows in my father’s footsteps. It will not be long before I become one.”

“Liur……”

“I will become a great emperor that does not shame you, and present myself as a gift to you, Mother, I promise.”

Kaliph smoothly spat out his prepared final words, flawlessly completing his plan at the imperial palace.

Though momentarily shaken by Ustia’s sincere regard for Liurian, he found no other signs in Ustia.

She seemed very satisfied with just a few words from her son.

It seemed almost laughable, but Kaliph stubbornly held back.

If the day comes when he can reveal everything, he would not have to endure this bitterness any longer. He wanted to save this emotion for that day.

Wishing for the day when he can freely mock the empress to come as soon as possible.

(This is a time divider.)

“I was too sorry to hastily make a promise after greeting you yesterday, Your Grace. You must have been very perplexed, but I was very thankful for your understanding.”

Evelia Caroline offered the fragrant tea prepared by Paellin to Nolten Yeongae, delivering her apology.

Nolten Yeongae, having just grabbed the tea cup, hurriedly bowed her head, even forgetting that she was holding it.

“No, Your Majesty. I am not bothered at all, so please don’t worry.”

“Still, it was not polite to do so, but the situation was not favorable yesterday.”

“I understand. It was because of him, wasn’t it?”

“Him?”

Evelia Caroline tilted her head at the overly broad expression. Then Nolten Yeongae answered with a brief hint of discomfort, yet coolly.

“You mean the young lady of the Netto Duke family, Rellia Yeongae.”