The second night of the Foundation Festival.

The Empress’s anger upon returning from the party had reached its peak.

Crash!

She vehemently threw down various personal belongings and displayed her dissatisfaction.

“This cannot go on!”

Wayeno prepared food for the Emperor every year during the Foundation Festival.

When she first ascended to the position of Empress, she even personally supervised the cooking.

However, the Emperor showed little reaction.

After a few years had passed, she completely entrusted it to professionals, but still, the Emperor’s response remained unchanged.

‘How did I endure this!’

The owner of the Blessing Table was typically a young, unmarried lady.

Every time young and beautiful ladies smiled brightly, her anger flared up.

But she had to endure it.

It was etiquette, and she had to maintain her dignity as the Empress.

After she upheld the standards, the Emperor was always there.

She had endured it well so far.

But today, she couldn’t contain her anger.

“Why does it have to be that woman!”

Even though he clearly knew that he was pushing the saint, how could he do such a thing!

Moreover, all four of them had breakfast together this morning.

‘A Crown Prince and a saint. A young man and woman getting along quite well.’

Even when she mentioned it, the Emperor simply nodded without much reaction.

But she was not disappointed. The Emperor had always been somewhat expressive.

Don’t let it slide like this.

‘I never expected the Emperor to betray me!’

The Emperor, who she believed in the most, who was supposed to follow her unquestioningly, turned away from her for the first time.

The shock was indescribable.

After venting her anger for a while, her head became dizzy.

Wobbling, as she tried to catch her breath, the Empress opened her eyes to a peculiar sensation.

‘…This feels strange.’

The atmosphere in the room had subtly changed from before attending the party.

She wondered if it could be.

The Empress took out a deep crimson box she had hidden.

In the luxurious crimson box, there was a magical crystal capable of casting curses that harm others.

Among them, one medium was shattered.

“Why is this… shattered?”

A shattered gem meant that the curse would be lifted as soon as the medium died.

The broken gem had been used in the Imperial Palace.

“Who dares to!”

The Empress trembled with anger.

The Deadly Poinsettia. That dreadful flower.

Every time she saw the sparkling yellow flower, the former Empress Viviaana came to mind.

The flower always bloomed precious in the Imperial Palace greenhouse.

Every time she saw it, every time she recalled it, it felt as if Viviaana were still alive.

‘Why do I have to feel this way!’

She could no longer endure the terribly eerie feeling.

So, she cursed. At least, she cursed to ensure that the Deadly Poinsettia would not bloom in the Imperial Palace.

Whenever she heard news that the Poinsettia she planted there was withering, it was exhilarating!
Her palace, the garden of the imperial residence, and the yellow flowers—all of it had been uprooted a long time ago, so she didn’t need to see that irritating thing.

Until Eileen Hallen’s food appeared on the Blessing Table.

‘Why is that flower there!’

When she heard the words “Poinsettia Cake,” her heart felt like it dropped to the floor.

The moment she felt it, an unbearable rage surged within her.

Please don’t put it in your mouth. The Empress fervently wished in her heart.

However, the Emperor swallowed it, ignoring her wishes.

One bite, two bites.

Until the white plate was visible on the ground.

The petals of the Poinsettia merged into the Emperor’s mouth.

The Empress felt a dreadful sensation, as if Viviaana had returned to life.

A broken medium. A Poinsettia on top of a small cake.

The direction they pointed to was clear.

‘That woman must have done something wicked! So the Emperor took her side!’

Wayeno was convinced that the engagement partner of the Duke had caused trouble.

But the anger didn’t stop there.

Mikael.

Her other son who hid his tracks.

‘Like a rat!’

He sided with the Duke, another person, instead of her!

She would have been more comfortable if he had died in the street.

It was admirable to scratch the nerves of the one who gave birth to him and sprinkle salt on them until the end.

‘Tough from the umbilical cord!’

An ungrateful pest who took away her beauty and youth.

She should have killed him when she had the chance; the regret was overwhelming.

“Empress Mama, Crown Prince Your Highness, and the Saint have arrived.”

It was the voice of the head maid.

Even at an ambitious hour, there were guests who visited the Empress’s palace.

They were guests whom the owner of the palace herself had called.

The Empress barely regained her composure.

“Tell them to wait.”

Wayeno called a maid and began to freshen up anew.

She elegantly styled her hair and put on a silk indoor dress.

The reflection in the mirror of the Empress was perfect.

But she couldn’t smile.

“Empress Mama will see you.”