After about half an hour, the Empress finally revealed herself in the reception room.

Valentine and the saint, who had been waiting for her, stood up from their seats.

“Sit.”

The Empress passed by them and took a seat at the main seat.

There was silence for a while.

Due to what happened at the party, the expressions of the Crown Prince and the saint remained dark.

Eventually, the Empress’s gaze turned towards the saint.

“Elise Saint.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Although the saint answered with dignity, the Empress’s gaze became sharper.

“Have you never thought that the saint’s attitude was wrong?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I don’t mean you did something to upset her Majesty. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given up her planned position to someone else, right?”

It was an inquiry whether what happened at the party was Elise’s fault.

The saint couldn’t easily answer.

Valentine, who saw it, spoke.

“Mother.”
“The Crown Prince should stay still.”

With just one word from the Empress, they were silenced.

When Valente didn’t know what to do, the saint’s pure voice could be heard.

“I would never. How could I dare to make a mistake in front of Your Majesty?”

“You’re overflowing with confidence.”

The Empress chuckled at the firm response.

“You’ve leaped out like that, saying you haven’t learned anything. Do you know how nobles talked about you after you ran away?”

“Well…”

The saint, seeming to acknowledge her mistake, lowered her eyes.

‘They sat a saint who hadn’t learned anything.’

The saint was originally from a small village beyond the central region.

Being raised in such a place meant she only knew the basics of etiquette.

But even knowing that, it was the Empress who had picked her up.

So, there was an obligation to instill good habits.

“I’ll attach a lady to teach you etiquette. Very famous ones.”

“But I’m already…”

“Looking at the saint, it seems like her education is lacking. Do you plan to disregard my sincerity?”

“…No. I will gratefully accept it.”

The Empress already knew that the saint had received education.

However, it was not enough.

‘You can’t hide your background that way. You need to put in effort to change your bones and flesh.’

The Empress mumbled words to someone unknown in her mind.

So, the position of Lunatiera was crucial to the saint.

Because the noble position in society would cover the saint’s shortcomings.

Only then could she truly be a useful woman to Valente.

“What can you present at the temple?”

“What?”

“Something that can captivate nobles during social events.”

The Empress’s eyes became sharp again.

To not know anything on the eve of a social event!

To be selected as Lunatiera, there were conditions.

The first was the Emperor’s favor.

This was decided by the owner of the Blessing Table.

Since this was dismissed, the second was crucial.

On the last day of social events, the voting of nobles begins.

To become a candidate for Lunatiera, you needed to obtain more than half of the votes at that time.

‘There’s still a chance.’

Once there were two candidates, a third competition could take place.

But that, too, required the support of the nobles.

“Well… I’ll discuss it directly with the Lord.”

Instead of telling her to do that, Wayeno clicked her tongue shortly.

“Tsk.”

Hearing that she was now preparing the obvious, she felt a stifling feeling in her chest.

The Empress concluded with a last warning.

“You must become Lunatiera and be noticed by the Emperor and other nobles. Understand?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

She answered well.

Except for her face and the title of a saint, she was far from being a match for her son.

But dealing with the inevitable pain of letting her go was truly a nuisance.

“Then, go back now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your kind words, Empress Mama.”

As the saint rose from her seat, Valente also stood up.
“I will escort you.”

At the same time, the Empress’s forehead furrowed.

“Valente, don’t go.”

Wayeno’s voice detained his steps.

Valente looked awkward between her and the saint.

Seeing her son’s hesitant attitude, the Empress involuntarily felt a sourness in her heart.

“This mother needs you.”

“But…”

It was the second hesitation.

Before it could become the third, the saint spoke up.

“I’m okay. I can call the temple carriage.”

Elsiase seemed to smile as if nothing had happened.

“…Then, I apologize. My knights will escort you to where you stay.”

Seeing the relieved expression on the saint’s face, the Crown Prince visibly relaxed.

“Then I will excuse myself. I hope Empress Mama and Your Highness have a good night.”

The saint left the reception room.

Only after she was gone did the tension in the Empress’s forehead ease.

Wayeno felt a mix of resentment and relief towards her son, who was finally considering himself.

‘Of course, it should be that way.’

In fact, she didn’t like that the saint had intervened in her conversation with her son.

Nevertheless, letting it be was because of the status the rural woman held.

‘I need a force that can support Valente.’

All the nobles that could be brought into the Empress’s faction were already drawn in.

Yet, it was still precarious and lacking something.

Moreover, rumors like the ridiculous speculation that Duke Vladis was regaining succession rights began to circulate among the common people.

However, she couldn’t tolerate the fact that the saint was already trying to influence Valente.

When the Empress was spending private time with her son.

Elsiase boarded the carriage she had called.

She didn’t say anything even while riding the carriage.

The palace for the visiting dignitaries.

Only after Elsiase arrived in her room did she finally scream.

“Those bastards!!!”

Onyx, the black rabbit sleeping there, jumped in surprise.

However, there was nothing in Elsiase’s eyes.

“I thought they were immature muscle!! And they dared to wake me up! Especially when I’m in front of Mama Boy?!”