‘How dare you…!’

Who was she? She was none other than the most esteemed Empress of the Imperial Family in this country, Empress Hwang Tae-hoo.

However, to receive such disrespectful remarks even from herself.

‘That wretch who couldn’t even hold onto his position and got expelled!’

Empress Tae-hoo’s hand, clutching the hem of her skirt, trembled.

She barely resisted the urge to slap the Duke.

‘How did I climb to this position… Only to crumble so easily?’

Moreover, behind her was Emperor Illei. If she fell, Illei would also be in jeopardy.

‘Illei won’t just stand by and watch me fall like this.’

As her thoughts reached that point, Empress Tae-hoo’s mouth twitched again.

Sure enough, Emperor, who had been watching everything, stood up from his seat.

Not missing the moment, Empress Tae-hoo sobbed with a expression as if her internal organs were crumbling.

“Emperor, I truly do not know about this! There must be some plot behind this…”

“…A truly pitiful situation.”

Illei looked at Empress Tae-hoo with a distorted face.

“To think that the esteemed Empress of the glorious Croatea Empire would commit such heinous acts.”

“Emperor! What is the meaning of this…!”

But before Empress Tae-hoo could reply, Illei gestured towards the head of the guards standing beside her.

“Guard Captain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Guard Captain, who held her emblem, straightened up.

“Escort Empress Mama to the Star Palace at the northern end of the palace.”

“Emperor!”

The moment Illei mentioned the Star Palace, Empress Tae-hoo was shocked.

The Star Palace at the northern end was an abandoned palace that had not been used for at least two hundred years.

‘Take me to such a place?!’

That was no different from the Emperor abandoning her.

Empress Tae-hoo rejected the hand of the guard captain who tried to approach her.

“I cannot allow this to happen!”

Yes, Emperor should not have treated her like this.

If she spoke out of turn here, both she and the Emperor would be finished.

Understanding the gaze of Empress Tae-hoo, Illei approached her and bowed his head.

“For now, quietly follow the Guard Captain. If we stay like this, we both will die. I will come after that.”

With Illei’s words whispered as if to say so, Empress Tae-hoo suppressed her rising excitement.

Considering her current situation, Illei was the only one who could save her.

“Illei…! It would be better for you not to think about betraying me.”

After whispering so that only Illei could hear, Empress Tae-hoo followed the Guard Captain.

As she was dragged out, she stared at Akia with eyes that seemed to tear her apart.

“There is no reason to hold a funeral anymore. The protagonist of the funeral has returned alive like this.”

With Emperor’s words, a funeral came to an end.

The Star Palace located at the northern end of the palace, in the most secluded place.

Despite it still being early winter, the cold air that penetrated the bones filled this place.

“Akia, I will never let you go…”

She would make sure to bring about the most dreadful ending, using whatever means necessary.

The things she cherished and loved the most would be torn apart first. In the end, they would face a miserable and wretched fate.

“I shouldn’t have spared that young one.”

Empress Tae-hoo regretted the most for not dealing with the young Akia.

Not recognizing the cub of a beast, she spared her because the sight of Akia kneeling and begging for mercy was pitiful.

‘I didn’t expect such a big trouble!’

While swallowing her saliva, Empress Tae-hoo scanned her surroundings.

As proof that it hadn’t been maintained for a long time, there was not a single intact piece of furniture.

Moreover, due to the accumulated dust, it was almost impossible to breathe properly.

‘To imprison me in a place like this?’
No matter how many curious gazes she attracted, to be left in such a gloomy place was unthinkable for herself.

Unable to control the suddenly surging anger, Empress Tae-hoo kicked an object lying on the floor.

As a result, the hidden bugs scattered in all directions.

“Ew!”

Could it be that bugs were clinging to her body?

Empress Tae-hoo, after shaking her body to get rid of them, tried to open the door to leave, but it was futile.

The ones who had confined her here had long since locked the door and left the palace.

“Illei, why hasn’t he come yet!”

‘By now, it should be time for him to come!’

Until when are they going to leave her alone in this place?

If the Emperor were to come, she planned to immediately ask him to arrange a different residence.

Even if there were gazes from society, she didn’t want to stay in such a shabby place any longer.

Curling up her body against the chilling cold that made her fingertips numb, accompanied by the spine-chilling sound of wind brushing past her ears, Empress Tae-hoo waited, hoping that Illei would come for her soon.

However, even after a long time, he did not come.

Thinking of Emperor Illei, who had not shown his face, Empress Tae-hoo had a ominous thought.