“Sis, I’m really happy for you.”

Lilia found Liz staring vacantly out the window, having skipped dinner and secluded herself in her room.

It was the first time she had visited Liz’s quarters since moving into this house, and as expected, she had something to say.

“Perhaps you’ve refrained from forming connections with other people all this time because you were destined to meet someone like His Grace, the Duke.”

“……”

“He’s truly a remarkable man. He looked so young and dashing, it’s hard to believe he’s forty. To think you’re going to marry such a man and become the future empress, I’m so envious of you.”

It was too innocent a face to think she was mocking……however, that didn’t mean Liz couldn’t retort.

“Then why don’t you marry him yourself?”

The smile on Lilia’s face slightly faded.

“Oh, come on, sis. How could a bastard like me ever marry someone so important? People wouldn’t allow it. It could cause great turmoil.”

“What if there would be no turmoil, would you do it?”

“Of course……”

Lilia tried to affirm strongly but couldn’t finish her sentence, as if considering that such a situation might actually occur.

Liz wanted to end this conversation.

“Lilia.”

“Yes, sis.”

“What do you think it would be like if you became empress?”

Thinking it was a continuation of the previous conversation, Lilia answered without hesitation.

“Sis, as I’ve told you, I’m a bastard, so I can’t become an empress……”

“What if.”

Liz cut her off to facilitate the conversation.

“If it were not Duke Montaner but another man…I mean, if the man you love became emperor, what would you do?”

“Um……I’m not sure.”

Lilia didn’t show the strong resistance she had earlier.

“I’ve never really thought about it, but.”

“……”

“I’d do my duty as a consort. What else can a wife do for her husband? Manage social circles well, preventing unnecessary gossip, and pulling them and their families to my side to lend strength to His Majesty. After all, the social skills of women can be as powerful as men’s force.”

For someone who claimed never to have thought about it, Lilia smoothly spouted her plans.

Liz was slightly impressed.

‘Is it because she’s the original heroine? She indeed has natural tact.’

But that made it all the more unfortunate.

If it were Lilia, she could genuinely help Kain, either practically or emotionally.

Remembering the sight of Kain bowing to his father-in-law, Liz’s sense of regret deepened.
Should I try to help Lilia get along better even now?

I seem to recall a passage from the original work that mentioned how Lilia’s wise conduct greatly helped a weak emperor.

Liz wanted to give strength to Kain. It felt like a way to more quickly shed the shackles of fate imposed upon me.

“There’s Lilia…”

“By the way, Kain will be truly honored.”

Liz tilted her head at Lilia’s abrupt statement.

“What do you mean honored?”

“I mean the Duke. You tied His Grace’s shoelaces.”

“Why is that… honorable?”

Liz hoped it wasn’t for the reason she was thinking.

“He will soon become the emperor. When else could you get close to him?”

“……”

She was right.

To her, the humiliating experience moments ago was no different than a devout baptismal ceremony where a child is blessed by a priest.

So, Lilia was just an ordinary human being after all.

A fact well known to ordinary and contradictory humans is that the saying ‘all humans are equal’ should only be spoken in front of those of low status; words and beliefs change according to circumstances.

“But sister, weren’t you about to say something to me earlier?”

Lilia finally seemed to remember and asked with wide eyes.

“……No, nothing.”

What could I possibly say to you?

Suddenly, fatigue surged like a tide.

At that moment, when I was wishing I could leave, a knock sounded, and Mirabel’s voice was heard.

“Miss, it’s me.”

“Come in.”

The door opened, and Mirabel cautiously entered, standing between Liz and Lilia.

“The mistress requests your presence for a moment.”

The only reason Liz didn’t turn away from her mother’s summons was that she had expected it to come at this point.

“Then I’ll go now, sister.”

“Miss Lilia is also asked to come down.”

At Mirabel’s words, Lilia, who had awkwardly gotten up from her seat, wore a puzzled expression.

“Huh? Me too?”

“Yes.”

Sigh.

Liz let out a deep sigh.

‘Right. A few drops of oil are needed to fuel the fire.’

Thinking about her own soul that would be fervently burnt on that fire tonight made Liz already feel despondent.

“So, you keep talking about marriage, and it turned out well. Looks like all those men rejected you for a reason. Well done, my daughter.”

Once again, Liz was surprised that Lilia and her mother were not biological mother and daughter.

How could they speak so similarly?
She was thrilled at the thought of her daughter becoming the empress. No, to be exact, she was thrilled at the idea of becoming a relative to the royal family.