Now, the burn scar on my right cheek might not be visible to him, but my shoulders cringed.

When I glanced at him in surprise, he lowered the hand that had been stroking my cheek.

Princess Lesilia continued with intentional compliments about my facial skin.

“For me, the most enviable thing is the Empress’s flawless and smooth face.”

She spoke to him as she gently stroked her right cheek as if she had been waiting for his answer.

With Lesilia’s words, Prince Tesla glanced at me and quietly called her, “Lesil.”

Ignoring the prince, the princess continued to flatter Rinel.

“Look, Your Majesty. The Empress’s skin shines even more than pearls!”

“Beautiful skin… it enhances the Empress’s beauty.”

He nodded in agreement with her words.

While looking at his smiling face, I thought, “What expression would Rinel make if he saw my burn scar?”

Would he smile affectionately like now?

“The princess is right. I also fell for the Empress’s beautiful face.”

Ah…

Without taking his eyes off my face, he responded to Princess Lesilia.

It felt like my heart sank at his words.

Yes, if he had seen my burn scar, he wouldn’t have loved me.

Everyone in the nobility was like that, even my family had turned away from me.

In a sense, it was all too natural.

Now that there’s only one magic potion bottle left, even such words started to cause anxiety, growing and tormenting me.

“How surprising that Your Majesty also thought so? Empress. You must continue to maintain that beautiful skin. Ohoho!”

Princess Lesilia laughed heartily as she skillfully sliced the steak and kept eating.

It seemed like my appetite suddenly vanished when she engaged in a conversation with Rinel using my weakness.

“I should go to the clinic as soon as possible and get a new magic potion. That’s important.”

That was the only thought in my head.

“It seems that the news of Prince Norton of the Pasha Empire staying here has spread. Other countries are also arriving earlier than planned. Some have already left. The prince must have heard the news today, right?”

Rinel asked Prince Tesla directly while pouring him a glass of wine.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I received the report through Duke Martins this morning.”

“How will the Shatoneil royal family handle this? It seems a bit troublesome.”

As Rinel mentioned, Prince Tesla and Princess Lesilia planned to return to the Shatoneil Kingdom tomorrow or the day after and visit again next week when the Continental Hunting Competition would be held.

“Since there’s a change in the schedule, it might be better for us to continue staying at the Star Palace and be with the other foreign dignitaries from the beginning.”

“That would be better. Returning and coming back is quite troublesome.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“If you need anything, feel free to tell the attendants at the Star Palace anytime.”
“Thank you, but I have already sent people to the kingdom before coming to the Empress’s Palace. The necessary items will arrive within a few days.”

“Whether it’s equipment for the hunting competition or things needed for daily life, everything is already prepared. You could have just used what belongs to the Laphion Imperial Family, right?”

“I appreciate your words, but I came here with important items for the Shatoneil royal family, so I had to send people anyway.”

When Prince Tesla responded to Rinel, I glanced at him.

It was undoubtedly a meaningful look, but I didn’t want to deliberately understand the prince’s intentions.

“Well, then.”

He responded to Prince Tesla’s words and held my hand under the table.

“Empress, do you have no appetite today? Is it because you’re not feeling well?”

“No, Your Majesty. I am eating.”

I replied, halting the fork that had been making a clinking sound.

“You should eat better than before. Guests arrived earlier than expected, so the Empress will be busier. If you have no appetite, at least eat some fruits.”

Rinel pushed a plate of fruits in front of me as he spoke.

The expression on Princess Lesilia’s face, who was eating fruits, looked strangely awkward, as if she had eaten a bitter taste.

After finishing the dinner, Prince Tesla and Princess Lesilia headed to the Star Palace in a carriage.

Princess Lesilia, who had said she would visit the Empress’s Palace right after the meal, seemed sulky by now, so she got on the carriage with the prince.

“There’s time for a cup of tea.”

After seeing off the two siblings, Rinel suggested tea time to me.

However, Secretary Raphael, who was standing behind him, expressed displeasure and said, “Your Majesty, if you have tea time now, you’ll have to run to the main palace again today.”

“Do I have to?”

I looked up at him with a smirk.

“It’s not a big deal to run. It’s good for exercise.”

He shrugged, and Raphael’s face turned pale at his words.

“Instead of a carriage, I will walk with Your Majesty to the main palace, taking a walk at the same time.”

I took his arm and turned him back toward the entrance.

Upon doing so, Raphael sent me a gaze full of infinite gratitude.