Empress Erpia paced back and forth in the room, overwhelmed with anxiety.

“Your Majesty, please don’t worry too much. His Highness will surely recognize your sincerity.”

Erpia’s lady-in-waiting spoke while offering her tea.

“Right? The Duke must have explained everything properly to Jeremy.”

“He certainly did.”

“But where on earth is that Ben fellow? No matter how hard we search, he’s nowhere to be found.”

Erpia bit her lower lip. Even tearing Ben limb from limb for driving her into this predicament wouldn’t soothe her suffocating frustration.

Erpia had no idea that Jeremy had blocked all information from reaching the Empress’s palace.

“Your Majesty, if you’re this distressed, wouldn’t it be better to meet His Highness immediately?”

“…….”

Yet, when it came to facing him, an instinctive resistance welled up inside her.

No matter that he was her son—Jeremy’s ruined face was too horrifying to bear.

At the same time, Dietrich Calypso’s face surfaced in her mind.

His sharp red eyes beneath straight brows. His chiseled jawline and high nose bridge.

His broad, angular shoulders and large, solid build—and the lower half, equipped with something as vigorous as a stallion…

Erpia’s breathing grew ragged.

She couldn’t believe he had betrayed her.

At this point, he should have been groveling beneath her feet, barking like a dog.

Her entire plan had been ruined—all because of Celia Brillion. That witch must have flaunted herself before the Empire’s finest men, seducing them without shame.

Otherwise, how could someone as seasoned as herself end up trapped like this?

Just imagining Dietrich and Celia together made her feel as if she’d sunk into a swamp.

She couldn’t allow such a man—perfectly matching her ideal—to be captivated by someone so lowly.

He had to be tamed, shaped exclusively for her, while still untouched by any other.

She had intended to wait until Jeremy ascended the throne, but prolonged stress had pushed Erpia’s patience to its limit.

Blinded by desire, Erpia shook her head and told her lady-in-waiting:

“No. Take me to Dietrich Calypso’s mansion.”

The lady-in-waiting looked puzzled but quickly nodded in understanding.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I’m simply curious about how he’s been doing.”

Erpia put on a red dress that revealed her cleavage and painted her lips crimson.

Tightening her corset made her waist look slender and her chest full.

After gazing at her reflection in the mirror with satisfaction, Erpia left the palace, accompanied by her attendants.

However, knights stationed outside the palace blocked her from leaving.

Erpia glared at them in disbelief.

Some of the knights were familiar faces—members of Jeremy’s personal guard.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“…Crown Prince of Abelon ordered us not to allow Your Majesty to leave the palace.”

The knights’ firm reply turned Erpia’s face deathly pale.

“Jeremy said that?”

“Yes. He commanded us to keep you under watch and not let you step even one foot outside.”

“……!”

Erpia’s hands trembled slightly.

“I’m Jeremy’s mother! How could he do such a thing to me? And even if he did, do you really think you have the right to stop me? Before I was Empress, I was a member of the Gredrick Ducal family.”

The knights exchanged glances.

“Your Majesty, we’re sorry, but we cannot let you pass.”

Erpia tried to force her way out, but the knights blocked her again.

“Are you not afraid of the wrath of the Gredrick Duke?”

When she mentioned Ileon Gredrick, the knights hesitated.

Even as she said it, Erpia felt a pang of bitterness.

Though she held power within the palace, in reality, it was Ileon who seemed to wield true influence.

Then, a deep voice settled beside her ear.

“Your Majesty.”

Erpia looked up toward the source of the voice.

There stood Balt Portman.

Balt of the Portman Ducal family.

“…Why is the Duke of Portman here in the Imperial Palace?”

“There is nowhere in all of Abelon that I cannot go.”

Balt let out a faint, mocking laugh.

It was an audacious statement, yet no one dared to challenge it.

Defying one of the Three Great Dukes was like rebelling against the gods themselves.

And how could mere knights defeat a Swordmaster?

“…I heard you’ve been abandoned by your son.”

At Balt’s words, Erpia glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

“Who spread such a vile rumor? It’s all nonsense.”

“Well… I suppose. Anyway, cheer up.”

Balt raised a clenched fist.

“Fighting!”

With that, he began walking away.

Thump—

Erpia’s legs gave out, and she collapsed where she stood.

Celia Brillion had a dream.

In her dream, hundreds of tiny snakes appeared.

Colorful serpents flicked their tongues and coiled tightly around Celia’s body without a single gap.

Celia used her ability to escape.

The scent of hyacinth spread out, and the snakes wrapped around her went limp and lifeless.

As she shook off the snakes and tried to rise, a massive shadow loomed before her.

A giant black snake, its body dozens of times larger than Celia’s.

Its pitch-black scales glistened, and its sharp, yellow eyes flashed menacingly.

Celia strained every ounce of strength to activate her ability.

Her stomach churned, and blood gushed from the corners of her mouth.

Hiss… hiss…

The snake flicked its tongue, making a soft sound.

Its tongue darting, the snake grinned at Celia, its mouth stretching grotesquely wide.

The ‘thing’ in the form of a serpent spoke in human language.

-Anastasia, the Princess.

Celia’s eyes snapped open.

Bright sunlight mercilessly pierced her eyes, which had been immersed in darkness.

When she sat up, her entire body was drenched in sweat.

Truly, a dreadful dream.

No wonder she had such a nightmare—nothing but misfortune had followed her lately.

Celia performed a quick wash.

She glanced at the bed, but Dietrich Calypso was not there.

‘He must have woken up earlier.’

Curious, she leaned against the windowsill and listened to the commotion coming from outside the mansion.

“I heard the news. My brother must have caused you quite a lot of trouble. Let me apologize on his behalf.”

At the sound of an unfamiliar woman’s voice, Celia observed the scene outside.

A young noblewoman with curly pink hair was speaking with Dietrich Calypso in front of the mansion.

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“Why can’t you understand my heart? I came because I was worried about you.”

“I don’t understand why you would worry about me.”

“…Why do you hate me so much? Could it be… you actually have someone you like now?”

The noblewoman sounded tearful, and though her sorrow tugged slightly at Celia’s heart, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

‘…Relief?’

Celia tilted her head, confused by the emotion she had just felt.

At that moment, Dietrich Calypso’s gaze met hers on the third floor.

Unlike the cold look he had given the woman before him, his eyes softening as they looked up at her.

“Yes. I have someone I like. So please, don’t come to me again.”

Each word he spoke, directed upward toward Celia, made her ears flush red.

‘Is he completely insane? What does he think he’s going to do after this?’

Shaking her head, Celia abruptly pulled the curtains shut.

Reina Gredrick stood stunned, clearly shocked by Dietrich’s words.

Only belatedly did she follow Dietrich’s gaze upward to the third floor—but Celia had already disappeared.

“Could the woman you like be Celia Brillion? Is she staying in the mansion too?”

Dietrich simply smiled silently. Seeing him smile so tenderly, as if merely thinking of her made his heart flutter, Reina felt as if her own heart had dropped to the ground.

“I don’t want my woman to suffer any harm.”

“…….”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Dietrich turned and walked into the mansion.

Reina stood frozen like a soulless statue, then stormed off, fuming.

Celia scolded Dietrich.

“What on earth possessed you to say such a lie?”

“…….”

Dietrich gazed at Celia for a moment before finally speaking.

“Isn’t it better than letting others believe our relationship is that of a dog and its master?”

“That’s not the point. I’m still officially the Crown Prince’s concubine. If your words get back to the palace…”

“Don’t worry.”

Dietrich gently wiped the sweat from Celia’s forehead.

“I have the power to protect you.”

His words were true.

He was a Swordmaster, and the current Imperial family had lost the people’s favor.

If Jeremy was of royal blood, Dietrich held overwhelming military strength.

Among his knights, there were even men like Sir Anderson who wished to crown him as the new Emperor.

Of course, with the Three Great Dukes still standing firm, he would never become Emperor himself.

But deposing a problematic Crown Prince? That was well within his reach.

“They say the Crown Prince has descended into madness since his disfigurement. He executes his knights and maids instantly whenever he’s in a bad mood.”

“…….”

“Before Ileon Gredrick moves to depose him, I’ll remove him first.”

Dietrich’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“But to carry out a perfect plan, I’ll need your help.”

Celia didn’t hesitate—she nodded immediately. After all Dietrich had done for her, how could she refuse?

“Tell me anything. I can even use my ability if needed.”

“No. There’s no need to use your ability.”

Celia tilted her head in confusion.

Dietrich leaned close to her ear and whispered lowly.

“…Can you do it?”