“I was just about to ask the same question. What were you doing at the temple sponsorship without any attendants, Empress?”

“I… was praying.”

Praying for Bonnis’s safety.

I replied while holding both hands together.

Prince Norton stared at me with a suspicious look.

“Who were you waiting for without any attendants, Your Majesty?”

Was that question implying he was also waiting for someone?

“Yes, that’s right.”

I nodded, releasing the clasped hands.

“Can I ask who you were waiting for, Your Majesty?”

I hesitated for a moment with that question.

I couldn’t casually mention that I came to meet Prince Tesler.

Moreover, not long ago, Prince Norton and I had witnessed together the scene of Ken, a knight guarding Prince Tesler, murdering a court lady at the Empress’s Palace sponsorship.
However, if I were to say that I came alone to meet Prince Tesler in such a secluded place, it would naturally make me appear suspicious. I need to be cautious not to cause any misunderstandings.

“I’m not waiting for a god,” I said, diverting the conversation with nonsense.

“What about you, Your Highness? What brings you to the Opera Palace at this hour, holding a champagne glass?”

“I wasn’t here to watch a performance,” Prince Norton also seemed to deliberately change the subject.

“Care for a drink?” The prince extended a champagne glass towards me.

“Thank you. I was a bit thirsty anyway,” I accepted the offered champagne glass, coincidentally feeling thirsty amidst the tension.

“Don’t mention it. By the way, what did you tell Her Majesty before coming out?”

“Oh, that…?” While I hesitated for a moment, Prince Norton lowered his voice and changed the question.

“No, more importantly, did you come out to meet someone from the Shatony Kingdom? Like Prince Tesler.”

“Why… would you think that?” Suddenly, the atmosphere around the temple sponsorship began to change strangely. A cold breeze blew from the direction of the main palace. I had a gut feeling that something was wrong. It’s a trap. The passing wind seemed to whisper to me.

In my mind, an unexpected scene flashed. While I was having a conversation with Empress Elan at the banquet hall, Princess Lesilia approached Prince Tesler and whispered something serious to him.

Before answering Prince Norton, there was something I needed to confirm.

“Your Highness, did you arrange to meet Princess Lesilia at the back gate of the Opera Palace?”

“Yes… that’s correct.” Prince Norton slightly raised an eyebrow, then calmly admitted it. Was he genuinely infatuated with Princess Lesilia? Were they originally acquainted? Or did they become friendly at the banquet hall? So, did they decide to meet and return to the Star Palace together from the sponsorship? But looking at the champagne glass not being empty, it seemed like he hadn’t met Princess Lesilia?

“Did Princess Lesilia suggest meeting Your Highness first?”

“She did.”

“What’s going on?”

“I have a bad feeling about this. Your Majesty, I think we need to leave here first.”

“Your Highness, although it’s a bit late to say this, I…” I rolled my eyes in the direction Prince Norton had walked. Gradually, the sound of nonchalant footsteps approached. It must be Rinel. And Prince Tesler would likely be with her. I quickly whispered to Prince Norton before they arrived.
“Did Princess Lesilia suggest meeting with Prince Norton first?”

“She did.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Well… to put it frankly, it’s complicated. Haven’t you heard Empress’s response yet? Is it true that you arranged to meet Prince Tesler?”

“Yes. It’s not a short story if I were to explain.”

“Hmm, did Empress also request to meet Prince Tesler first?”

“Yes.”

As I responded to Prince Norton, a sense of foreboding struck. It seemed that Prince Norton had the same thoughts as I did.

“Something doesn’t seem right. Your Majesty, we need to leave here immediately.”

“Your Highness, it might be a bit late to say this, but…”

I rolled my eyes in the direction Prince Norton had walked. The sound of footsteps, seemingly casual, gradually approached. It must be Rinel, and Prince Tesler would likely be with her. I quickly whispered to Prince Norton before they arrived.

“It looks like we’ve already fallen into a trap.”

“What? Where?”

“It’s a trap.”

While Prince Norton was still perplexed, the rustling sound came from the darkness again.

“Empress?”

Rinel’s voice pierced my ears like ice arrows. The temple sponsorship was rather dimly lit. As I looked at the champagne glass in my hand, I glanced at Prince Norton in front of me.

It was an obviously misunderstood situation and location.

Moreover, I, using the excuse of Rosie being unwell, had left the main palace without any escort. What husband, welcomed to see his wife in such a dark place, with a foreign prince holding a champagne glass alone?

And even though it might seem suspicious even in front of the brightly lit main entrance of the temple building, let alone in the dark sponsorship…

From this point on, all my reasoning abilities began to freeze.

Tesler, you devious brat.

Trying to provoke Rinel with such a childish method.

Is this a preview of the scandals Tesler will present before dragging me down from the position of empress?

“Suspicion starts from very small things. When doubts begin to arise from trivial words and small actions, trust leaks like sand, and love slips through the gaps… Eventually, it turns elsewhere.”

That’s what Prince Tesler told me at the banquet hall.

I chuckled silently.

Now I had to turn and face Rinel.

I slowly turned my body in the direction where he was standing.

“I missed you!”

However, at that moment, a voice that froze me even more than Rinel’s appearance suddenly popped out from somewhere.

“?”

What is it?!

I widened my eyes and looked at Prince Norton, but he didn’t say those words.

It was undoubtedly a woman’s voice?

Prince Norton seemed as surprised as I was, his eyes were about to pop out, and he had to hold his hand under his eyes.
“Since I first saw Prince Norton, I’ve fallen in love, Moiya……. ”

It was unclear whether it was a confession or a soliloquy.

The voice confessing love to Prince Norton echoed from a corner of the temple building.

I looked down at the elongated shadow of the confessing lady from that spot.

“If I don’t confess like this, my stifled heart will burst outside the dress, don’t you think? So, I asked Empress to come out here by requesting it!”

… Rosie?

It was undoubtedly Rosie’s voice.

Why are you coming out from there?

Haven’t you returned to the residence?

And I couldn’t understand at all what she was talking about right now.

Prince Norton sent me a look asking for an explanation of the situation.

Don’t look at me like that, I have no idea either!

I tried to convey through my eyes that it had nothing to do with me, but Prince Norton’s face was getting more and more serious.

When I glanced at Rinel, he seemed equally surprised.

The expression of Prince Tesler standing behind him was also perplexed.

“The eyes that used to read books all the time fell in love with Prince Norton the moment they saw him, Moiya……. ”

Again, soliloquy-like words followed.

Rosie was making a peculiar love confession, alternating between a confession and a soliloquy.

What on earth is going on?

Everything was confusing.

By the way, why does the voice of the person confessing sound so cheerful?