“Yes, Your Majesty. Please go ahead.”

Even with a casual response, Lionel’s sexy voice, calling her name, seemed to move her as if she had just received a confession.

“Did Princess Shatoniell not know that you can touch people with your eyes?”

At his words, cracks began to appear in her perfect and pretty face.

However, she quickly changed her expression and smiled brightly.

“I know too. Ohoho… Your Majesty is truly romantic.”

The princess, flipping her pink hair backward as if impressed by his words, spoke.

But despite her smiling lips, her eyes still held a considerable amount of tension.

Having observed the princess since childhood, I could tell how awkward she must be feeling right now.

No one, especially a man, has ever challenged her opinions with a ‘I don’t think so’ before.

And to make matters more interesting, it was the Emperor of the Raphion Empire.

Moreover, the man who almost became my husband.
No, it was the person who believes they will soon remarry with me.

Someone who doesn’t agree with their own opinions.

Rather than that, they seemed even more shocked when Lionel showed affection to me.

“What do you think, Empress? Am I becoming more romantic?”

He wanted to confirm the praise he received from Princess Leselia through me.

The princess’s gaze, looking at me, felt quite uncomfortable.

Unconsciously aware of her, I quietly responded to Lionel.

“Gradually… It seems like you’re changing like that.”

As if I’m starting to look more beautiful in the Empress’s eyes.

I whispered the last words so that only he could hear.

He chuckled, tapping my thigh under the table.

Prince Tesler and Princess Leselia exchanged glances, simultaneously narrowing their brows.

“The two of you… seem to get along very well.”

Prince Tesler, who had been quiet, observed him and me closely as he spoke.

“It seems to be getting even better.”
After Lionel responded to the prince, he pulled my shoulder into his embrace and smiled. I glanced at Prince Tesler’s reaction and quickly extricated myself from his embrace, adjusting my posture.

He, who had refrained from expressing affection in front of the concubines at my request, seemed to think it unnecessary to be cautious in front of the people of Shatonyl, the Empress’s home country. He showed a more affectionate demeanor than usual.

In ordinary circumstances, there would be nothing unusual, but that was the story when I was the ‘real Empress.’ Ironically, his affection was openly revealed in front of the people I should be cautious about.

This could become really awkward…

“How is the Empress acquainted with these two?”

In response to Lionel’s question, I couldn’t help but sigh. The term ‘acquainted’ was not quite fitting.

“We’ve occasionally met since childhood in the royal family.”

For noble children or those from humble families like myself, even if we were bastards, we sometimes mingled with royal children in our early years.
A living, toy-like existence.

Is it appropriate to say they are playthings for the royal family?

I was just one of them, and I didn’t share a close friendship with those siblings.

There was a time when I believed otherwise.

“They’re practically siblings, Your Majesty.”

Princess Lesilia chimed in unexpectedly, sweetly murmuring with her adorable lips.

She was so pretty that you’d want to believe even lies.

But seriously, have all siblings gone mad?

I turned my head to the side, silently expressing my irritation, and then locked eyes with Prince Norton.

He had one corner of his mouth lifted.

…Could he have read my irritation? I awkwardly touched my throat, feeling a bit embarrassed.

At that moment, the attendants entered the reception room, carrying trays.

Princess Lesilia had brought coffee directly from the kingdom.

Along with simple refreshments, foamy coffee was placed in front of us.
To my eyes, it looked like someone had gathered a giant soap bubble and placed it in a cup.

“Your Majesty, give it a try! The fragrant and rich vanilla foam doesn’t diminish as you drink the coffee. Of course, the coffee itself is delicious, but like this…”

The princess stopped talking and took a sip of the coffee.

“Mmm, the vanilla foam itself is delicious too.”

Her upper lip was covered with a lot of vanilla foam.

The eyes of everyone sitting around the table focused on her lips and the tongue that had come out.

What’s the intention behind this?

She slowly licked the vanilla foam with her tongue, staring intently at Lionel.

It was a seductive gesture to anyone who saw it.

One side of my heart felt crooked, as if it had sunk slantwise.

I wanted to immediately put vanilla foam on the princess’s eyes.

“Shahtonil Kingdom has a somewhat unique way of enjoying coffee.”

He turned the coffee cup in his hand slowly, marveling at the non-decreasing vanilla foam.
I was so absorbed in watching Princess Lyselia wipe the foam with her tongue that I missed Lionel’s expression as he watched her.

Instead, I observed the expressions of the other two men.