“Nothing much to see, is there?”

Duke Bellion spoke as they walked down the marble corridor leading to the central staircase.

They had just finished touring the first and second floors, and so far… there really wasn’t much to see, as he said.

Caught between whether to speak the truth or not, Liz hesitated as the Duke continued speaking.

“Every guest who comes to my home makes a comment about it. Saying I should at least fill the empty rooms with some furniture.”

“Yes….”

She had nothing else to say.

“But now that I think about it, it’s actually better this way. The emptiness allows the homeowner to decorate according to their own taste, don’t you think?”

“Yes….”

“I look forward to working with you, Miss Aristae.”

“Yes… Huh?”

Only belatedly did Liz grasp the weight of her own reply. She came to a halt and turned to see a middle-aged man smiling warmly at her.

She wondered how far he was willing to go.

Would this man force a marriage even if the Crown Prince doesn’t appear? There was still a lot of spare time on his hands, after all.

‘Ah… really, he shouldn’t.’

Liz wanted to leave as quickly as possible. She felt like she had seen everything there was to see.

“I… should be going now…”

“Could you come this way for a moment? There is something I really want to show you.”

The Duke cut off Liz’s words.

Although she wanted to refuse, part of her was curious about what he wanted to show her. Maybe it would be an important clue to remember the remaining parts of the original work she had forgotten.

Sensing Liz’s silent affirmation, the Duke moved. His arm looped through hers, she was more or less led along.

He guided her through a slightly dim corridor into an even darker one. As the darkness deepened, Liz became increasingly anxious.

‘He’s not planning on doing anything strange, is he?’

The only solace was that the Duke was not a young man full of vigor. At his age, he would at least be able to control his desires to some extent.

Indeed, whether due to his self-control or a lack of intention from the start, the Duke did nothing. He simply led Liz to a certain room.

The room was so pitch black that one couldn’t see an inch in front of them.

“Please wait here for a moment. I will light a lamp for you shortly.”

The Duke gently detached Liz’s hand from his arm and moved away.
A moment later, a sound of something scraping ‘chik’ echoed in the darkness. When Liz turned around, she saw the duke’s face illuminated by the light of a match. As he lit the oil lamp, the entire room brightened.

Then, something came into view.

Portraits aligned along three walls of the room.

Those wearing black uniforms with a red band crossing over the chest, and a golden sun emblem pinned on their chest were probably… them.

“Portraits of past emperors.”

The duke confirmed Liz’s suspicion.

“After my coronation, this portrait hall was built to never forget the achievements of my ancestors.”

‘Surely, he must’ve wanted to hang his own portrait at the very end.’

Liz thought to herself but showed no sign of it.

“This is Calic the 1st, who established the predecessor to the Luzencia Empire, the Kingdom of Luzencia.”

The duke began explaining from the portrait hung on the far left.

“This is Emperor Arsen who accomplished the task of constructing a great empire by merging with the Kingdom of Valdemion.”

“Yes….”

“The one here had the longest reign…”

Liz didn’t really listen to what he was saying.

‘Is he really trying to make me a queen? Is that why he’s already giving me empress lessons?’

She was already reluctant, and now she was even more so.

Yet, there was one person who piqued Liz’s interest.

“This is Emperor Milos, who responded swiftly to the trends of his time and accomplished a second golden age. He is my father.”

“Ah….”

Liz’s eyes became sharp. At the man in the portrait with white hair and purple-red eyes.

Most people have their golden age captured in portraits, but this emperor chose to encapsulate his twilight years. Despite that, he radiated an energy no less vigorous than a young man. Perhaps that’s why he had a child at such an advanced age.

Without making it obvious, Liz subtly compared the duke and the emperor in the portrait.

‘They do look alike.’

From their appearance, to their sharp eyes, stern lips, and even the deceptive smile unique to those who conceal blades within, everything.

“Lastly, this is my elder brother, Emperor Julian.”

Duke Montaner led Liz to the last portrait.

Slowly, Liz examined the face revealed in the light.

Huh–[dash]!

A breath she unknowingly held turned shallow, unable to escape.

“This… this man…”

Isn’t he the crown prince?

‘What a face, exactly like his father!’

I almost thought that. If not for the events of the other day.

‘I knew it when I saw the portrait of His Majesty the Emperor and his consort. You resemble him greatly.’

‘Which one?’

‘…Your mother.’

‘I see.’

That day, the Crown Prince moved on without any particular suspicion. He did not seem to believe it falsely. There was no reason to.