While Empress Robina briefly stepped away,

“How dare they give such a disgraceful gift at a gathering for our children!”

“I know. Isn’t it shameful even for Her Highness the Princess to see? We must inform the elders in our families right away.”

“I cannot let this slide either!”

Ladies, presumed to be daughtersinlaw of highranking nobility, loudly complained while scowling at the lavish banquet hall.

Even in the presence of the palace maids of Empress Robina, they showed no restraint.

“Sigh, who would’ve thought the Empress would give something like this. How are we supposed to carry it?”

“I agree. Even if the servants find out, it’s hard to say it’s a gift from the Empress…”

“Exactly. It’s a gift from the royal family, so we can’t not take it…”

Mera, Serdin, and Lady Bashab were more tolerant than other noblewomen, but the atmosphere was far from pleasant.

Many complaints were voiced, making Lucia, who had been listening, feel uncomfortable.

That ostentatious blue dress peeking out from the opened door.

The noblewomen at the table with Lucia didn’t notice, but most of the highranking noblewomen facing the entrance of the banquet hall were the reason for the elevated voices.

She knew.

The empress, who was trapped in a minor palace due to gambling and had lost all her power.

The wisest course of action for her was to be openly criticized rather than be backstabbed.

Soon, that blue fabric of the Empress quickly disappeared.

Seeing this, the other noblewomen suddenly laughed, leaving the opposing ladies with question marks on their faces.

Lucia watched the situation, anticipating the redeyed appearance of the Empress.

‘At least one person doesn’t need to see this.’

Judging the atmosphere to be a complete mess, Lucia decided to quietly jump from the terrace.

“I’ll step out for some air.”

Whispering quietly to Mera and Serdin, Lucia walked out to the veranda at the edge of the banquet hall.

She jumped and landed gracefully.

Now she felt as if her insides were cleared by the refreshing smell of the countryside.

‘…Countryside smell?’

Before she could look around, startled by the unfamiliar smell,

Livestock started shrieking as if alerted by Lucia’s sudden appearance.

Pigs, ducks… cows?

Upon closer inspection, she saw a small barn, hidden as if on purpose behind the welltrimmed bush walls.

‘Why would this be in the Empress’s palace…’

That’s when it happened.

As she was staring blankly at the livestock, she felt weight on her sleeve.

“Heh, hehuhuh. Don’t go.”

“…”

The tearstreaked face of Empress Robina came crawling from the bush wall, grabbing Lucia’s sleeve.

‘I’m doomed.’

.

.

.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? This feels like the only place where I belong.”

Guided by the hand of Empress Robina, Lucia sat in front of the noisy livestock pen.

In front of the flustered Lucia, the Empress, with her innocent and slender arms, wiped her tears and tried to smile.

“I was just a farmer’s daughter. I wanted to go to the city, found a job at a bar, and was lucky to sing there.”

Her sentimental eyes seemed to miss those times.

“I’m tired. I just married a man, attended events I was supposed to. Yes, I won’t lie, it wasn’t all bad. But…”

Robina started crying again, overwhelmed by her emotions.

“Ugh.”

She suddenly hugged Lucia, causing pain to shoot through Lucia’s chest.

“Huhuh!! But now I can’t just enjoy life. They all scold me without teaching me anything…!”

“…”

The Empress, unexpected even for a seasoned swordswoman like Lucia, clung to her.

At this moment, Lucia, colder than a valley stream, just wanted to get away from her, no matter her state.
“Yes, Commander, you would understand, right? Just as you enjoy fencing, I simply enjoy lavish parties!”

…How did it come to this?

Lucia had been waiting for an opportune moment to leave, but she had been unable to shut her mouth once it had opened, perhaps because no one had ever understood her before.

But she had chosen the wrong person to play along, Empress Robina.

When there was no response, finally,

“Do even you, Commander, think I’m a fool? Why! Why don’t you understand!? My husband really liked that latest Shimizu…!”

“…That’s enough. I don’t wish to know your lord’s preferences.”

Lucia, who truly did not want to hear, hardened her face with strong will and stopped the runaway train.

At that firmness, the Empress finally grumbled quietly.

“I apologize for being so bothersome. But I want to properly raise Charl as much as possible. I don’t want to foolishly neglect him like Crown Prince Airen…”

For some reason, Lucia felt pity at her insecure tone.

Perhaps she felt a sense of empathy for the inept parenting she sensed in the Empress, having felt overwhelmed herself about raising a child.

So, maybe that’s why.

Recalling something she had heard from Vernon, Lucia deliberately reframed it.