It was only some time later that she learned that the man she had met that day was the current emperor. And not just any emperor, but a ruthless and notorious tyrant.

Until then, the emperor hadn’t been seen much in official ceremonies, and Claire, who had to view things from a distance, didn’t really know his face. Naturally, she never thought the man she had met would be the emperor. She also didn’t know the fact that he had a dead first love.

Later, Claire realized what the emperor’s longing on that summer night had stemmed from.

“It’s really a pity. It would have been better if you had done well.”

If he had done well, she would never have had a chance, but at least the emperor wouldn’t have to brood over his longing in such an isolated place. It wouldn’t have come to this, and he wouldn’t have to suffer from uncontrolled madness.

“But now that things have turned out this way… I want to help Your Majesty.”

Of course, Claire didn’t think that what the emperor had said to her had any significant meaning.

It was just a customary greeting to hand over a dropped handkerchief to the other person. It was silly to attach meaning to such a thing. But what could she do?

“I’ve already fallen in love with you…”

Claire was able to sense the emperor’s magic to some extent because she had been following him for the past three years. She wanted to seize any opportunity to have a conversation with him. In fact, Claire had spoken to him a few times.

“If Your Majesty permits… I want to protect you.”

Since the day she brought up these words, she could never get close to him again.

But after falling in love with the emperor, she wanted to become something for the first time.

The emperor’s companion, the empress. Any title would do, as long as she could be by the emperor’s side.

“But I don’t really know why you’re like this…”

Her father’s order was enough to shake Claire’s heart. So she diligently followed the emperor’s magic.

“Here again…”

A place with an unknown purpose, a building. As Claire entered the hallway leading to that place, she strongly felt the emperor’s magic.

It was a fierce power that an ordinary person would never approach.

But Claire, being a magic user like the emperor, could somewhat neutralize his magic with her own, so she advanced without hesitation. In fact, this situation only strengthened her conviction.

“Yes, I have to be by Your Majesty’s side.”

Who else could be in such magic except for me?

Her steps quickened. Before she knew it, she was almost running. She was sure that the emperor would be around the corner now. The presence of the raging magic was so clear that it felt like it was suffocating her.

With a pounding heart, she turned the corner.

As expected, the emperor was there. But he wasn’t alone.

Under the moonlight, long, flowing black hair swayed lightly. The jet-black color, which was neither clear nor distinct under the light, was even more captivating. The color that could embrace anything, even a rejected monster.

Even though she was suffocating in the emperor’s magic, the woman standing by his side didn’t seem to be affected. In fact, she looked surprisingly well-matched to the emperor’s side.

Claire knew her name.

“Annette Martinique.”

The emperor’s bride. It was her.

When the party was over and everyone was leaving the banquet hall,

Karim realized something he hadn’t thought of before.

“…Peter seems a bit strange.”
Right away, there was someone here who recognized his masterpiece.

Rowell was satisfied with the effectiveness of his plan as he watched Peter seethe in anger. The problem was what happened afterward. When Peter’s magic began to cover the surroundings more than necessary, Rowell was among the crowd.

Although he could establish authority through an intimidating appearance, this was not a good situation.

“It seems that displaying magic has a much worse effect.”

Even he felt this way, so Peter couldn’t possibly not notice it. Yet, if he didn’t withdraw his magic, there was only one reason.

“Could it be that he can’t control it?”

Certainly, while he hoped to some extent to stimulate Monique, Rowell knew that Peter had a deep patience. Even when he followed directly behind “Rowell” or pressed his memories directly, Peter had never exerted more magic than he intended.

But to this extent, just by showing a ribbon?

“Something is strange.”

As the emperor left, Rowell walked against the current, alone in the crowd.

She picked up the glass Peter had been holding until a moment ago and brought it to her lips.

The taste of the alcohol touching her tongue was not sweet, as Peter preferred. It had a faint floral scent.

It was a fragrance with no doubt about its high quality, but hidden beneath the scent of the alcohol, Rowell keenly detected a subtle, sharp smell that pricked her nostrils.

Hidden by the smell of alcohol, it wasn’t easy to detect, but it was unmistakable.

Although others might not know, Rowell, who had been in Opera for a while, recognized the smell.

“This is… the smell of Pheneuma.”