The next day.

Jeremy and Empress Erpia’s funeral was held simultaneously.

Everyone in the imperial palace wore black mourning clothes.

Celia was no exception.

Dressed in a black gown, Celia looked down impassively at the scene where the coffins of Jeremy and Empress Erpia were placed side by side beside the late emperor’s grave.

“Why hasn’t the Three Dukes attended the royal family’s funeral, even though they’re present in the palace?”

“…Surely they must have their reasons.”

Behind Celia, ministers whispered among themselves.

“Who would have thought the Abelon royal family, which has lasted for hundreds of years, would end so emptily? And murdered at that?”

“They must have incurred the wrath of the gods. Perhaps this is the price for someone unworthy coveting the throne.”

“Shh. Everyone, be quiet. This is still a funeral.”

Celia glanced at Dietrich standing beside her.

Dietrich, dressed in a black uniform with his eyelashes lowered, was also the officiant of this funeral.

He seemed indifferent to whether people talked or not.

As if he alone had been left behind in a different world, detached and distant.

Celia withdrew her gaze from Dietrich.

For what it was worth—a royal death—the high priest dispatched from the Grand Temple recited a prayer.

“Though the flame of life has been extinguished, may their soul forever be free. May they enjoy the paradise granted in the embrace of the gods, where all suffering has vanished.”

When the priest’s prayer ended, imperial knights, palace ministers, and even maidservants working in the palace gently placed the white flower bouquets they held one by one onto the coffins.

“May you go to a good place.”

“May you be happy there.”

They uttered words they didn’t truly mean.

Celia also placed the white bouquet she had been holding onto Empress Erpia’s coffin.

People seemed curious about what Celia would say next, waiting silently for her words.

The emperor who desired Celia had been murdered, and soon after, his son had also been killed after lusting after her.

Now, rumors circulating in the palace suggested Celia might be a witch.

Celia had accidentally overheard that since Dietrich was her lover, he too might be killed because of her.

It was they who had desired her while she remained passive—why were they calling her a witch instead?

Celia ignored their whispers, but not wanting to put Dietrich, her ally, in an awkward position, she had reluctantly attended the funeral.

“Please.”

That was all Celia said. She added nothing more afterward.

There were no words like “may you go to a good place” or “may you be happy.”

Why should she utter words she didn’t mean?

Wasn’t it enough that she had shown her face at the funeral?

She didn’t understand why she should offer kind wishes when the people who tried to harm her were the ones who had died.

Celia turned her body as if her task was done.

People murmured.

“Oh my.”

Dietrich silently watched Celia walking away.

As the officiant of the funeral, Dietrich had to remain in place until the ceremony ended.

He wanted to run after Celia immediately, but he had no proper excuse to detain her—someone who must feel more uncomfortable here than anyone else.

Dietrich could do nothing but quietly watch until Celia’s retreating figure disappeared from his sight.

Celia did not return to Dietrich’s mansion.

Instead, she wandered around the palace, listening carefully to what people were saying.

Perhaps because she wore a black hat with a veil, almost no one recognized her.

“Do you think Duke Gredrick will ascend the throne?”

“It’s hard to say. Perhaps Duke Portman, the Swordmaster, might take the seat.”

“Duke Servantes is also in the palace now. The genius mage who hadn’t shown his face in the palace for years—surely he’s here to claim the throne, isn’t he?”

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere of the funeral, the servants spoke in excited voices.

Celia deliberately slowed her steps to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“Now that I think about it, I heard they’ll hold the imperial coronation right after the mourning period ends…”

As Celia was eavesdropping on the palace maids’ conversation, someone sharply bumped into her.

Her black hat with the veil fell to the ground.

Celia’s silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, revealing the face that had been hidden.

Celia quickly tried to pick up the hat from the ground.

However, someone mercilessly stomped on her hat with their shoe.

“Oh, sorry…”

The voice held not even a speck of apology.

Celia’s gaze shifted to the owner of the shoe.

Pink hair, reaching down to the waist, curled in gentle waves.

The blue eyes staring at Celia were filled with hostility.

Celia remembered seeing this woman before.

Certainly, she was the woman who had confessed her love to Dietrich in front of his mansion.

When Celia remained silent, the woman smirked and used the heel of her shoe to crush the hat completely.

Celia’s eyes darkened as she looked down at the ruined hat.

“It fell on the ground anyway. No need to be so upset over it.”

The woman said cheerfully, smiling with narrowed eyes.

Celia thought this woman’s insincere smile strongly resembled Ileon’s.

“What are you doing?”

Celia’s blunt retort wiped the smile off the woman’s face.

“You… you don’t know who I am?”

Celia stared straight at the woman and said,

“I don’t know who you are, but I can tell you have filthy character.”

“!”

The enraged woman raised one hand. Celia firmly grabbed her wrist before the slap could land.

“How dare you! Do you even know who I am?”

“Whoever you are, it’s none of my concern.”

Celia replied calmly.

“Is that so? Your foolishness might bring your own downfall.”

The woman sneered.

“You dared to touch me without even knowing who I am.”

“Touch you? You’re the one who picked a fight with me while I stood still.”

“For a mere street orphan, you’ve got quite the nerve to speak to a noble lady like me this way!”

The woman swung her other hand, trying to slap Celia’s cheek without mercy.

But that hand was caught by someone before it could reach her face.

“How dare you!”

The woman turned around, startled by the strong grip.

Long silver hair, nearly gray, and clear blue eyes.

“Oh… Brother?”

The woman gasped. The one holding her wrist was none other than Ileon.

“Reina. You shouldn’t torment someone who’s done nothing wrong.”

Ileon’s gentle voice made Reina bite her lower lip and shout.

“Brother! This lowborn girl started it first…!”

“Reina.”

Ileon softly called his younger sister’s name with a calm expression.

“There’s a limit to how much I can overlook your tyranny.”

“Brother!”

“I’ve been watching from the start. It was you who provoked Lady Celia, who was standing quietly, wasn’t it?”

Reina fumed.

“Why don’t you return to the palace now? I have something to discuss with Lady Celia.”

“….”

Reina shot Celia a glare that could kill on the spot.

“Go on.”

At Ileon’s urging, Reina stomped on the black hat one final time before leaving.

Instead of looking at Ileon, Celia stared down at her hat, now completely crushed and unusable.

“Lady Celia. Shall we have a talk somewhere quieter?”

“Why should I talk to you?”

Celia’s wary tone made Ileon lower his voice as he spoke.

“There are things you must. I know many things you don’t.”

Ileon smiled gently at Celia.

Unlike his usual self, who always wore loose, oversized white robes, he was dressed in a black uniform today, likely due to the funeral.

Celia thought this black attire suited him far better than the pure white clothes that contrasted so sharply with his dark nature.

“Do you like this outfit?”

Noticing Celia’s lingering gaze on his clothes, Ileon asked in a plain tone.

“No. I just thought it suited you, that’s all.”

At Celia’s answer, Ileon’s eyes crinkled slightly as he suggested,

“There are too many eyes here. Would you come to my palace?”

“No, thank you.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“I’d probably regret it more if I went to your palace.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re not a good person, Your Grace.”

Ileon tilted his head in confusion. His long, nearly gray silver hair spilled over the black uniform with the motion.

Ileon leaned close to Celia’s ear and whispered, as if sharing a secret,

“I spared your beautiful face and ruined the Crown Prince’s instead. Doesn’t that make me a good person to you, Lady Celia?”

Celia stepped back from Ileon and said,

“Anyone who even thinks of ruining another’s face isn’t a good person.”

Having said that, Celia turned her back on Ileon, as if he were no longer worth talking to.

Ileon suddenly wrapped his arms around Celia’s shoulders from behind.

Startled, Celia tried to push him away, but Ileon chuckled softly near her ear.

“Tomorrow, you’ll see something very interesting.”

Having said that, Ileon slowly released his arms.

Celia shook her head at Ileon and walked away.

It wasn’t until the next day that Celia understood the meaning of Ileon’s words.

Year 323 of the Empire, November 15th.

The very next day after the royal funeral, Abelon’s new emperor was announced.

The new emperor was Ileon Gredrick.