A harem, of all things.

The Raphion royal family has something surprising happening every day.

Was the issue of the harem something that had already been decided before the national marriage?

Prince Tesla, this bad bastard.

But what happens if even Prince Tesla didn’t know about it?

Walking to the reception room for teatime with the ladies, I felt a pressure on my shoulders from the tension.

This is completely unexpected.

I hadn’t thought about the harem problem at all…

If Rinel had planned to have a harem, shouldn’t he have hinted it to me last night?

There was plenty of time for him to talk about the harem issue on the bed.

Even though he’s an emperor who can do whatever he wants, he’s introducing a harem right after getting married.

And not just one, but several?

No matter how lacking the empress of a foreign country that held a national marriage looks, it shouldn’t be like this.

This is too abrupt and something is odd.

But there’s no way that information Sharon got from a servant she’s close to could be false.

Last night, that servant, who works in the secretary’s office of the temple proxy, said that he had personally heard the proxy and some nobles discussing the timing of the emperor and his harems’ wedding.

So it must not be incorrect information.

“Ah, so maybe because of that event…”

Did Duke Martins ask for a tribute from me and Rinel at the same time?

To discuss the issue of introducing a harem?

Did Duke Martins know in advance?

No, probably not.

If he had known in advance, he would have hinted at it when we met in the tribute room yesterday.

The Duke probably only heard the news this morning.

All rulers of all nations have numerous harems and governments.

I, just the deputy empress, have neither the authority nor the right to oppose that issue.

But it was certainly uncommon for them to introduce harems just a few days after holding a national marriage, as if they had been waiting.

I had an uneasy feeling.

I stopped my steps towards the reception room for a moment and turned my head towards the main palace building visible outside the long arched window.

“Maybe he’s not trying to discuss it…”

He’s notifying us.

Maybe Rinel accepted Duke Martin’s tribute and even called me to his office just to deliver the decision that had already been made?

The unclear and complex emotions disturbed my nerves.

Although I don’t want to admit it, I’m quite upset with Emperor Rinel right now.

Maybe I’m even jealous…

No, I need to get a grip.

I consciously slowed my fastpaced steps and took a deep breath.

If the Emperor has decided so, I must follow.

Having a resentful emotion would only earn his dislike, it’s meaningless.

From the beginning, my task is to quietly get divorced when Princess Resilia arrives at this royal palace.

Let’s not forget my role.

“Your Majesty, the Empress, we’re here.”

I was walking lost in thought and turned my head at the sound of Sharon’s voice.

I came to my senses and I was passing the reception room by myself.

“Ah, right.”

I gracefully backstepped and lined up in front of the reception room door.

Sharon couldn’t stop me from backstepping, she was too stunned.

I wanted to see Rinel right away, before meeting those young ladies in the reception room.

But the Emperor’s morning time… would be piled up with meetings and tasks to be handled with the proxies, and my morning time… I had to spend it laughing ‘haha’, ‘hoho’ in a place where those young ladies, his future harems, are mixed.

I hope my hand holding the teacup doesn’t go over someone’s dress.

I hope I don’t lower my gaze and feel small in front of them without even realizing it.

I prayed a short prayer in my heart.

“Are they inside? The candidates who will become your harem.”

I glared at the fancy floral pattern carved into the handle of the reception room door and asked Sharon.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Sharon replied cautiously.

Then, the twittering laughter of the noble ladies seeped through the gap in the reception room door.

The young ladies who heard that the emperor introduced a harem not long after getting married.

They must be having fun.

They must be excited.

There won’t be a single young lady in there who will be daunted by the Empress from the Kingdom of Shatonil, which is treated as a vassal state by the Raphion Empire.

Among them, there must be young ladies who even aimed for the position of the Empress.

Despite the Empress’s palace being my dwelling, it seemed like the only one who was nervous in this place was me.

I straightened my sagging shoulders.

I calmed myself, imagining that all the tension is flying away with the breath I’m exhaling now.

I straightened my waist and spoke to Sharon.

“Open.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sharon, ahead of me, entered the audience room and announced to their majesties.

“Her Majesty the Queen arrives!”

As I stepped into the audience room, the sunlight coming through the large windows struck my face.

The noisy chatter disappeared all at once, and all eyes were focused on me.