An unknown silence filled the surroundings instantly.

The neatly trimmed trees swayed softly.

Even the birds chirping softly seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

In the suffocating silence, Regina’s eyes flickered strangely.

“Your Highness.”

The blue eyes that descended diagonally slowly turned towards Aaron.

“That won’t be difficult.”
Like an abyss where light doesn’t reach, Regina’s pupils turned deep blue.

The restless eyes froze rapidly.

“It’s a joyous occasion.”

Feeling the eerie sharpness brushing against his heart, Aaron gritted his teeth.

“You. Is this really happening?”

As if embracing Aaron, Regina took a step closer.

Their breaths, exhaling simultaneously, tangled in close proximity.

Taking advantage of the loosened veil due to the tension, Regina reached out her arm toward Aaron’s hand holding the veil.

“Sincerely congratulations on the victory in the Southern Three Nations Conquest War.”

As Regina whispered softly, feeling Regina’s touch on her hand.

Aaron had no choice but to hand her the veil.

The seemingly unyielding veil slid through Aaron’s powerless hand.

“It’s thanks to His Highness, who works so hard for the glory of the Empire.”

“Del!!”

Regina, who escaped from Aaron, stood up straight with a firm posture.

As the veil returned to Regina’s hand, it flowed down precariously as if it would touch the ground.

“It seems that Your Highness is mistaking me for someone else.”

“Stop it. I can’t not recognize you.”

“He might be disappointed. Seeing Your Highness, who is holding the wrong person.”

Aaron bit his lip at Regina’s impactful words.

The wrong person?

If it were Delia, she wouldn’t discuss the destruction of Iorenti so casually.

Even without Aaron, she could live, but without Iorenti, she couldn’t.

What if Regina is not Delia?

What if he is missing the real Delia?

Filled with crawling insects in his lungs, even breathing became difficult.

How could she be clear, and yet not be her?

“Do you rejoice in the fall of Iorenti?”

“Yes. As an Imperial citizen, it is only natural to rejoice.”

Regina stared at Aaron with transparent pupils that seemed to break even with a slight force, like thinly frozen ice on the surface of a lake.

“I will gladly attend the victory party.”

At the unexpected words, Aaron opened his eyes wide.

His head felt numb as if hit from behind.

“Nonsense.”

“Why doesn’t it make sense? Everyone in the palace is invited.”

“Even if everyone else attends, you can never. Because you are Del.”

“As everyone else attends, I will attend as well. Because I am Regina.”

Aaron shook his head vigorously in confusion.

The princess of Iorenti attending a party celebrating the fall of Iorenti?

Moreover, risking her life for Iorenti?

“It’s not the time for that. Stop being stubborn, Aaron.”

Aaron’s rough words stopped abruptly as if interrupted by someone.

“Stop being stubborn. Aaron.”

Aaron and Regina turned their heads to look in the direction of the sound.

The Emperor was approaching them.

“Regina promised to attend the victory party with me. Isn’t that right, Lady Regina?”
It looked like Baelter was seeking an answer as he extended his hand to Regina.

Regina silently looked at Baelter’s hand extended towards her.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Regina took a moment to catch her breath, then bowed her head and accepted Baelter’s escort.

Regina, all of a sudden, quietly approached and stood by the Emperor with ghost-like, soundless footsteps.

“I heard you went to the chapel instead of directly delivering the gift I wanted to give.”

Baelter glanced at Regina, who bowed her head.

“As my partner, I couldn’t be negligent about attending the victory celebration. So, I’ve prepared the necessary things. I hope you like them.”

Regina didn’t respond at all.

She simply bowed her head again.

As if she didn’t want to know whose gaze was passing over her head.

She just lowered her eyes, looking at the white veil hanging from the violet dress.

“You haven’t been here for too long, have you?”

Grace tapped her foot impatiently and peeked through the crack in the door.

Warm and moist air seeped through the gap.

“Are you sleeping again?”

She was an unusually sleepy young lady.

Sometimes, when seeing Regina sleeping quietly, she worried if she might die like that.

Elodie, recalling Regina with closed eyes, anxiously whispered.

“Don’t we need to go in? What if she drowned while sleeping? What should we do?”

At Elodie’s words, Grace screamed in a shrill voice.

“Then you die, and I die too. Her Majesty specifically ordered us to look after her.”

“It won’t do. Let’s go inside.”

Grace and Elodie exchanged glances, wearing worried expressions.

As they reached for the door handle to enter the bath.

“Stop. Step back.”

Olivia, who was watching the maids gossiping, halted them.

“I will go in and assist her, so you all get ready to move quickly.”

Upon Olivia’s command, Grace and Elodie stepped back.

“Yes, Your Ladyship.”

As they made way, Olivia approached with a large piece of cloth that could cover her body.

Olivia looked at the sophisticated pattern engraved on the door for a moment, regulating her breath.