Nerea finally found words to answer.

“Then…”

Stroking Alejandro’s expectant cheek, Nerea playfully replied:

“Anzer Hart will be at the border for a while.”

As if he had expected this, Alejandro’s eyes curved into round crescents.

* * *

The Emperor’s office in the Imperial Palace.

Crunch- The sound of paper crumpling was sharp.

The Emperor’s face was red as he threw the crumpled report onto the desk. Between angry breaths, Gabe, the acting Count Esteban, spoke in a gloomy voice.

“I am ashamed, Your Majesty. We should have caused more of an uproar…”

The report on the Grand Duchy of Valere.

Gabe had anticipated the Emperor’s reaction from the moment he received the report detailing the Grand Duke’s various efforts to suppress the riots.

In this situation, all Gabe could do was lower his body to try to appease the Emperor’s anger even a little.

Whether Gabe’s efforts worked, the Emperor let out a quiet sigh.

“How could this be your fault alone? It’s the fault of that Grand Duke who can’t distinguish where to interfere and where not to.”

The Emperor knew exactly where his anger should be directed. On the torn report, a drawing depicting the Grand Duke’s recent activities stood out, right where his eyes fell.

Hazelnut-colored mysterious eyes and brown hair. The Emperor stared at the opposite wall with sunken brown eyes.

Under the splendid navy and gold banner hung portraits of the imperial couple and the Crown Prince. Unlike himself with brown hair and brown eyes, the Empress and Crown Prince had golden hair and blue eyes.

Those brightly smiling faces were his true family. Not this fool who insisted on being his son just because he slightly resembled his hair color.

How could he dislike them all so much?

He should have clearly understood his intentions by now, but this stupidity was just like that woman.

That dreadful woman who appeared in his nightmares.

“If you don’t keep your promise, I will find you by any means necessary. With this.”

Her horrifyingly terrible voice remained in his mind like a curse. As the venomous hazelnut-colored eyes came to mind, the Emperor’s brown eyes flashed coldly.

He should have found ‘that’ somehow in the Orland territory back then. Who knew Rosa would respond so strongly.

But he couldn’t talk about ‘that’ to the sharp-witted Gabe Esteban either. The anxiety brought on another headache.

The Emperor needed an Empress, if only to escape these vile memories. A woman who would support the Crown Prince as much as needed and be on his side.

“Where is our Empress that she has not come yet?”

The chief attendant promptly answered.

“Her Majesty the Empress is currently in the Crown Prince’s palace.”

.

.

.

At the same time, in the reception room of the Crown Prince’s palace.

The scent of rose tea wafted gently through the air. Brianna sat on what felt like a bed of thorns, forcing a smile.

“Since this festival is being held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of victory, the cheers for the tournament winner will be tremendous, won’t they? Winning for the third time five years ago was too early, Your Highness.”

The Empress began speaking as if regretful.

Though she seemed to be referring to the rule that a three-time tournament winner could not participate again, Brianna knew that regret was directed at her.

“If only one chance had remained, the one shining most brilliantly in this most glorious position would have been the Crown Prince…”

Five years ago, after the Crown Prince’s third victory when he proposed to Brianna by offering her the Queen Rose, it must have been a great disappointment for the Empress, who had always received her son’s flowers until then.

The Crown Prince, seemingly unaware of the Empress’s true intentions, shrugged his shoulders.

“But at that time, I was more tempted by being the first three-time winner. And it was also the best way to immediately dispel the occasional rumors of the Black Knight, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed. At that time, you completely extinguished the embers by winning the tournament. Including the tournament in the victory commemoration festival at your request was truly a good decision.”

The Empress looked at the Crown Prince with proud eyes. Even in a state where she could not comfortably move her mouth, Brianna agreed with the Empress’s words.

The Crown Prince, who won the knight tournament held with the clear purpose of capturing the hearts of the people, immediately gained popularity with his outstanding skills and handsome face.

To the extent that some wondered if his skills might rival those of Nerea Esteban.

He could have continued that popularity if it weren’t for this Black Knight painting.

The Empress seemed to be thinking the same, letting out a small sigh.

“If only that wretched Black Knight painting hadn’t been made public this time, our Crown Prince could have focused solely on hosting the tournament without any remnants of the Black Knight.”

The end of the resentful sigh was once again directed at Brianna. It was then that Brianna, hiding her bewildered feelings, suddenly had a good idea.

“Then, following the tour of Orland territory, how about showing the Crown Prince’s generous nature and magnanimous attitude at this tournament as well?”

The Empress’s eyes immediately sharpened. Despite the look that seemed to say ‘How dare you interrupt this precious time with my son’, Brianna smiled gently and said:

“No matter how great the tournament winner may be, they won’t be able to surpass Nerea Esteban’s illusion, given that this is the 10th anniversary of victory.”

“…”

“But during the war, Nerea only brought back the head of King Gauwe, not the head of the prince who is now the seed of rebellion. Naturally, much of the responsibility for the rebellion lies with Nerea, who failed to properly deal with Gauwe ten years ago.”

Suddenly, the Empress’s gaze changed slightly.

“If we could use that winner to inform the people about Your Highness’s benevolent rule in the Grand Duchy of Valere this time, and ingrain who truly brought stability to the border…”

“Our Crown Prince would establish himself as the real entity who accomplished what the mere illusion of a hero failed to finish properly.”

As expected, the Empress immediately understood her meaning.

Brianna smiled gently and lowered her body at the Empress’s much softened voice. She felt the gaze piercing her head become gentler.

“I am grateful for Your Majesty the Empress’s kind understanding of my humble thoughts. If you would allow it…”

“…”

“My father will take care of the rest.”

It was her father Gabe’s specialty to plant a few agents among the people to incite public opinion.

“Not a bad idea. Then, while we’re at it, why don’t we give the black armor to the winner, my dear? You know, that armor Nerea Esteban was said to have worn.”

Claude said, relaxing his shoulders as if pleased.

Black armor.

Brianna recalled the pitch-black armor. That armor that seemed soaked in blood, that seemed like it would smell strange. She was sure her father had said he would keep it at the Count’s residence.

Meanwhile, the Empress clapped her hands in admiration.

“As expected, you are wise, Crown Prince.”

“…I will prepare quickly.”

Brianna’s answer didn’t seem to reach the Empress and Crown Prince. As if they had finished watching a puppy perform tricks, the Empress turned her head away in front of the Crown Prince, and Brianna clenched her fist tightly before slowly relaxing it.

Then she made eye contact with the head lady-in-waiting of the Crown Princess’s palace standing by. When the experienced head lady-in-waiting immediately approached, Brianna whispered to her in a small voice.

“Would you please tell my parents to enter the palace as soon as possible?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

As the head lady-in-waiting who had answered softly immediately relayed the message to another maid, Brianna slowly raised the corners of her red lips. Though it was the Empress’s world now, once the Emperor passed the throne to Claude…

Suppressing her excited feelings, Brianna unconsciously reached for the well-prepared refreshments. Then she let out a small “Ah-” of surprise.

A small drop of blood welled up where pain had flashed across her index finger. Only then did she notice the trimmed thorn of the decorative Queen Rose piercing through the petals.

As she quietly clasped her stinging finger, Brianna suddenly stared at that red blood color.

Amidst the endless conversation between the Crown Prince and Empress who didn’t even notice she was hurt, Brianna recalled the patience she had built up until now.

Just a little more.

Just a little more.

And so, all of Nerea’s became her own. This time too, things would go smoothly.

.

.

.

But the next day.

In the reception room of the Crown Princess’s palace, Brianna stared at her father with a shocked expression.

And suppressing her raging emotions, she asked urgently.

“You sold that black armor?”

Gabe nodded as he looked at the luxurious tea set of the Crown Princess’s palace.

Gabe was more interested in the delicate relief patterns carved on the Crown Princess’s palace tea set than in his daughter’s surprised voice.

It would have been nice if Helen had come along.

Lately, strange things had been happening in both the medicinal storage room of the Count’s residence and the Tylesbury medicinal trading company. It started with all the herbs in the storage room rotting and becoming damp.

Even when he questioned the household staff, they said the temperature and humidity were all the same. It was inexplicable, but Helen acted calmly and even increased her meetings with noble ladies.

But since it wasn’t bad for him, Gabe continued speaking casually.

“I sold it for a good price at an underground auction. How could it still be around until now? With the diamond-dusted dress that our Crown Princess wanted, and how the Emperor… ahem.”

There was no need to tell his daughter about the enormous dowry the Emperor had demanded. That was strictly a secret between the Emperor and himself as the ‘Count’s’ proxy.

Gabe licked his lips at the sight of the ‘Marquis title’ behind the things he had been somewhat reluctant to offer. But there was no response from his daughter.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Gabe finally raised one eyebrow. His daughter’s face, which closely resembled Helen’s, was unusually pale.

“But why are you suddenly looking for the black armor, Your Highness?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince said he wanted to personally bestow it upon the winner at the 10th anniversary festival tournament.”

“What?”

This time it was Gabe’s turn to jump.

“No! Why that black armor now of all times!”

It was the Emperor who had refused Gabe’s loyalty when he clearly said he would offer it to the imperial family. But now they’re looking for it after ten years have passed!

As his face, still quite handsome despite middle age, turned ashen, Brianna also had to blink several times.

The black armor, which she thought could be easily resolved, had vanished before her eyes in an instant.

And at an underground auction, no less. Underground auctions were clearly illegal in Castarty. Though the Emperor’s generosity tacitly allowed them to be carried out secretly, if one were unluckily caught, they would face severe punishment.

But it wasn’t like her to remain still in this situation.