Yuri was pleased to have left the baby with Riona and taken Callian’s partner position.

If Riona hadn’t just broken her leg, she would have volunteered to attend today’s palace party.

It seems removing the screws from the chair Riona often sits in was a good decision after all.

“The weather is so lovely. When we had Aron it was quite cold… Today truly feels like a day blessed by Tameron.”

Seated in the carriage sent by the royal family, Yuri chattered while looking outside.

Callian, sitting across from her, just silently gazed out the window.

Though he had shaved his overgrown beard and wore the clean uniform provided by the empress, his eyes lacked vitality and his expression looked endlessly gloomy.

“Next time we can bring Aron. Ah, but it would be nice if you could quickly arrange a splendid house for us to live in…”

Of course, Callian’s emotional state was of no concern to Yuri.

She simply wanted to take back everything that had been taken from her by Esika.

Though they wore fine clothes sent by the empress and rode in a royal carriage, none of it truly belonged to them.

“After the party, please ask Her Majesty the Empress to restore our titles. Even if the judges ruled that way… what reason could there be not to if it’s the Empress’s will?”

A pardon does not mean restoration of titles. It simply means no further pursuit of crimes and permission to participate in social circles.

As commerce and economics grow in importance, the empire’s traditional nobility are being pushed aside by wealthy new nobles and merchants.

In a world where even high nobles receive worse treatment than wealthy low-ranking officials if they lack inherited wealth.

Currently, Callian was receiving only about 500 ling in support from the empress.

Considering Yuri’s monthly salary at Klaus was 300 ling, it’s barely enough to hire one maid.

The plan to send Aron to an expensive private school for nobles will be difficult to achieve.

They will end up living a commoner’s life in all but name.

Yuri, who had dreamed of being the mistress of the Klaus mansion, could never be satisfied with such a life.

“We must reclaim our wealth that Esika took.”

Callian’s brow furrowed at Yuri’s words.

But Yuri continued nonchalantly.

“She’s a divorcee now, so she won’t have any backing. And the Brigitte family is just a minor baronial house…”

Yuri scoffed, dismissing Esika’s family.

Having just given birth, she had not yet heard news about Esika.

Neither Riona nor Callian had told her.

“The fact that you were invited to His Highness the Crown Prince’s engagement party shows how much they recognize us, doesn’t it? We who have the royal family’s favor are no match for that divorcee.”

The shadow between Callian’s brows deepened further.

His lips moved faintly.

“Riding with you is torture.”

His tone was irritated.

Yuri’s eyebrows also twitched at Callian’s harsh words.

But she didn’t bother to argue. There was no benefit in worsening relations with Callian at a time like this.

And it wasn’t strange for Callian to feel guilty about his ex-wife Esika.

‘If you’re unwilling, I can ask Her Majesty the Empress myself.’

Yuri thought to herself.

‘I’ll take everything that woman has.’

She had already taken Esika’s husband, so she would definitely take her wealth too.

The grand view of the Klaus mansion flashed before her eyes. Numerous servants and maids bowing to her, bringing the finest desserts.

Noble ladies who once looked down on her would gaze at Yuri with envious eyes, and women would send gifts just to make an appearance at her tea parties…

Imagining such scenarios, a smile formed on Yuri’s lips.

She still believed that all the glory of Klaus was prepared for her alone.

**

As per the empress’s wish, Callian received a pardon for his crimes and at least regained his noble status.

To call it a pardoning ceremony would be an exaggeration, as Callian Klaus simply had to beg the emperor’s forgiveness for past misdeeds, and it ended when the emperor extended his scepter.

It was a pardoning event attached to the joyous occasion of the crown prince’s engagement party.

The emperor and empress sat side by side on the throne. And Callian arrived before them and bowed.

Yuri, standing slightly behind Callian, also lowered her body while lifting her dress slightly to pay respects to the emperor and empress.

“…Congratulations.”

A low, subdued voice flowed from Callian’s lips.

The emperor’s scepter rested on the shoulder of Callian Klaus who had come to greet him.

The emperor’s eyes beneath his wrinkled brows were looking at Callian.

“I hope you will not disappoint me further. In this new beginning.”

In many ways, it was a warning.

After a long silence, a voice flowed from tightly closed lips.

“…I will keep it in mind. Your Majesty.”

Soon after completing the pardoning ceremony, Callian bowed to the emperor and empress again before turning around.

Those gathered murmured softly, and Yuri smiled while tilting her head slightly.

‘Now if only Her Majesty the Empress would take away the titles and wealth, I’d be a duchess.’

Though people’s gazes were quite piercing, Yuri thought it was because they were jealous of her.

It was unavoidable, given that she had seduced and claimed a married man with her young and beautiful appearance.

But someday these people would recognize her worth and admire her.

Shortly after, the crown prince’s engagement party officially began.

It was the entrance of the true protagonists of this event.

The empress, perhaps to hide the ends of her raised eyebrows, opened her fan and began fanning herself.

A faint smile formed on the emperor’s lips as he watched the crown prince walk out majestically, arm in arm with his woman.

Along with a victorious march, the murmurs of the crowd fell silent all at once.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the crown prince and the future crown princess.

Standing beside Callian, Yuri also tried to link arms with him, but Callian coldly brushed off her hand.

Yuri pouted at Callian before standing on her tiptoes.

She was curious what kind of person the crown princess would be.

Crown Prince Resban Deon Lucein – she had once almost been killed by him when falsely accused of stealing his ring at the Klaus mansion.

True to his nickname as a war maniac, he was an incredibly cruel yet mesmerizingly beautiful man.

She thought he was much more handsome than Callian.

If she could steal the heart of such a man, she must be no ordinary woman.

As the crown princess, she would later become empress. She would possess all the wealth of this country and live an unimaginably luxurious and noble life.

Suddenly, envy welled up. For the woman who would be sitting in a position far above the dream she had struggled so hard to achieve.

Yuri gradually took in the appearance of the approaching crown prince couple.

“…”

A beautiful golden dress and top-quality diamonds sparkling on her neck and ears.

Her appearance shone even brighter amidst those splendid decorations.

And Yuri’s eyebrows slowly stiffened.

“…!”

She was smiling faintly while linking arms with the crown prince.

A round forehead and high nose, skin as soft as porcelain and red lips.

Her upswept silver hair was as elegant as a painting, and the lines of her entire body flowing in the dress were like a work of art.

Her eyes shone as blue as if sapphires were embedded, and her gait was as graceful as a goddess blessed by the gods.

And that woman was… Esika.

“…!”

Yuri was too shocked to move.

Esika, that Esika, was walking gracefully with her hand on the crown prince’s arm.

Receiving the admiration of all the nobles and becoming the noblest woman in the world.

“…”

Callian bit his lip.

His eyebrows were painfully stiff, and his tightly clenched fists were trembling.

His gaze was fixed on Esika, unable to move.

Today’s Esika was undeniably beautiful.

Esika… was his woman. She was once Callian’s wife.

She had passionately loved Callian and followed him for years.

The sight of the woman who had pitifully chased after him despite indifference and neglect becoming another man’s fiancée was twisting Callian’s insides.

It was as painful as a snake writhing in his stomach.

“…”

He wanted to unclench his fist right now, push through the people, and grab Esika’s arm.

Though divorced, he still couldn’t accept that she had left.

He especially couldn’t accept her becoming another man’s woman.

“This can’t be…”

Yuri’s voice was heard from beside him.

Callian turned to look at her.

Though she was all dressed up, compared to Esika, Yuri was uglier than a plucked chicken.

“Esika… why would someone like you…”

Yuri was trembling and moving her lips.

Her joyful appearance at Callian’s pardon was nowhere to be seen.

She couldn’t come to her senses at the sight of Esika, who she thought was beneath her feet, suddenly rising far above her head.

What difference is there between eyes full of jealousy and anger, and the eyes of a bird?

Her distorted face is truly ugly and unlovable.

To send away that beautiful Esika and spend a lifetime with this woman?

I don’t want to.

“To be honest, if you express your true feelings, a woman is bound to waver.”

The empress, who had brushed past when waiting outside the banquet hall, had whispered these words into Callian’s ear.

The words the empress had whispered acted like a catalyst, shaking Callian’s heart.

He thought this might be his last chance.

No, whether it was a chance or not, he wanted to do anything if he could just hold her hand one more time, and if he could capture himself in those beautiful eyes.

Just before losing self-control, Callian began walking, pushing aside the people gathered in front of him.

Towards where she was.

And when he had come quite close and was about to reach out to Esika, Esika’s body moved.

“…”

It wasn’t Esika moving on her own. The crown prince had tilted her waist back slightly as if laying her down.

Resban turned his head and kissed Esika’s lips in front of everyone.

It was a restrained kiss befitting the formality of this engagement, as if kissing a goddess.

Esika responded to his kiss by placing her hand on the crown prince’s shoulder.

The two were as graceful and beautiful as a pair of swans.

Anyone would think they were a perfect couple.

Callian, who had momentarily lost his mind and tried to grab her, stood frozen as if nails were driven into his feet.

Resban’s gaze, which had briefly passed over him filled with murderous intent, clearly said:

She is now my woman.

Yes… it’s over now.

Esika… has been taken away.

As if sinking into the deep sea with shackles on his feet, Callian stood blankly.