He seemed to have noticed that the Emperor’s attention was diverted elsewhere.

“Very well. Let’s continue tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After the Grand Duke, who bowed respectfully, left the office, voices could be heard in the corridor.

“Long time no see! Your Majesty, the Empress.”

After some lively voices, the door opened, and the Empress walked into the office.

“I believe there was a prior arrangement with the Grand Duke?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not sure if the conversation went well. But I’m also in a hurry.”

Without waiting for a reply, the Empress shook her head.

‘What could be so urgent?’

The Emperor wondered, and the Empress spoke immediately.

“Before that, may I introduce someone to you, Your Majesty? Is it okay for her to come in?”

One of the Emperor’s eyebrows rose.

‘Introduction? Despite the urgency…’

The Emperor, with his eyes half-closed, nodded.

“Allow her to come in.”

Following the Empress’s order, the chamberlain opened the office door.

The person who entered the office was a familiar face to the Emperor.

Siren Marquis’s daughter. No, now she was the fiancée of the Emperor of Baskel.

The Emperor silently scrutinized Renève, Siren Marquis’s daughter, from head to toe.

Why would the presumptuous fiancée of the Emperor be with the Empress? Trying to figure out the reason, such as her asking for special attention.

However, nothing immediately came to mind.

Apart from the incident three years ago when she left the imperial palace for Baskel in place of the imperial princess, there was no connection between the Empress and Siren Marquis’s daughter.

The Emperor inwardly pondered various thoughts while outwardly accepting her greeting and then moved to the sofa in the center of the office.

“If she has disregarded the engagement with the Grand Duke and agreed to meet me, it must be a matter of great importance.”

The Emperor laid out a subtle challenge.

It was a tactic to assert dominance in the early stages.

Most nobles bowed their heads before the authority of the Emperor, but Siren Marquis’s daughter remained nonchalant.

“If I made Your Majesty uncomfortable, I apologize, but… it was deemed a matter serious enough to request an audience with the Empire’s sun and seek your judgment.”

Rather than being intimidated, she seemed to suggest moving on to the main topic. The Emperor silently chuckled inwardly.

‘Ah, the Emperor’s fiancée.’
Her assertive and unreserved attitude subtly irritated me. And at the same time, it sparked my interest.

The Emperor, lifting his chin arrogantly, spoke slowly.

“Alright. I suppose I should hear why such an important matter led you to treat me so disrespectfully.”

The Empress, who had been watching the Emperor’s mood, suddenly handed over a document.

“Your Majesty, please take a look at this first before we discuss.”

The Emperor carefully read the document handed by the Empress. As his gaze lowered, his forehead furrowed deeply.

Internally, he closed his eyes.

‘How am I supposed to handle this matter…’

The Emperor forcibly swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out.

Regardless of how Siren Marquis Youngae came into possession of this, the contents of the document were quite credible.

The plan to assassinate Siren Marquis under the guise of an unavoidable accident was known only to a handful of the closest confidants.

Therefore, the Emperor couldn’t dismiss the content as baseless or ambiguous.

Moreover, the problem lay in the plan after Siren Marquis’s death.

The document did not provide precise wording, and interpreting it was subjective. Depending on the interpretation, there was a possibility of proposing Lucius as the Emperor after absorbing Siren Marquis’s military power.

“…”

The Emperor, shaken by a sense of betrayal toward the Empress, opened his mouth as naturally as possible.

“First, we need to find out how this document came into your possession. That way, we can determine if it’s a fabricated document intended to plot against someone or if it’s genuine.”

The Emperor glared at Siren Marquis Youngae with a stern gaze filled with anger.

“Has Your Majesty never had any suspicions at all?”

“About what?”

“Concerning Prince Lucius’s lineage.”

At Siren Marquis Youngae’s words, the Emperor’s face twisted fiercely.

In fact, there had been rumors attempting to undermine trust in her by mentioning the Empress’s infidelity. However, at that time, the Emperor had quashed those rumors with rather harsh punishment.

“You speak boldly with that small mouth of yours.”

The Emperor stared intently at Siren Marquis Youngae, as if demanding more.

“Your Majesty possesses eyes as pure as the greenery of the land. In contrast, Prince Lucius’s eyes are as blue as the sea.”

“Is that all the evidence you have?”

The evidence to sow discord between him and the Empress was quite feeble.

However, Siren Marquis Youngae, glancing back at the office door, added meaningfully,

“By the way, it seems that the Grand Duke’s eyes are also blue. If I remember correctly.”

The Emperor knew the color of the Grand Duke’s eyes. He had been talking and exchanging glances with him just a while ago.

Not missing the brief moment of hesitation as the Emperor pondered how to handle the situation, Siren Marquis Youngae continued,

“Come to think of it, it appears that the eyes of His Grace the Grand Duke are also blue. If my memory serves me right.”

The Emperor, unsure of how to respond, did not miss the moment. Seiren Marquis Youngae added meaningfully,

“Does Your Majesty know who would gain the most if Siren Marquis fell into a trap and lost his life?”