"If we look at what Olor has done, even execution might be too lenient..."

"Ex–execution?!"

"Is it not?"

Prince Chrisetos widened his seemingly gentle eyes and asked.

"He dared to disgrace the Empire's noble Imperial Family with such scandal and even mocked a high noble who has long supported the Empire."

"We were only following—!"

"Yes."

As if he'd been waiting for it, Prince Chrisetos cut off Viscount Olor’s words.

"Following orders."

Orders from the Emperor.

"......!"

Too late, Viscount Olor realized what he had said. He had just admitted that Emperor Subiteo was an accomplice. He wanted to bite off his tongue.

"Haa..."

Prince Chrisetos leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily.

"This situation isn’t easy for me either."

The expression on his face as he rubbed the bridge of his nose genuinely looked fatigued.

Ferio’s claim that Emperor Subiteo was involved was completely logical, and the evidence presented left no room for doubt.

‘Even I didn’t expect it to be this bad...’

Even Prince Chrisetos, who had been briefed in advance, was shocked.

A ruler so consumed by baseless superstition that he had lost sight of his country—such a thing was staggering.

"Who can understand the heart of a son forced to acknowledge his father’s sins?"

Though he had never once thought of that man as his father, this wasn’t just disappointment—it was awe-inspiring in its absurdity.

"But I am a member of the Imperial Family."

The prince slowly closed and then opened his eyes. A solemn gleam replaced the usual warmth in his gaze.

"What we must prioritize—myself and all of you—is this country, and above all, the people who live in it."

"Your Highness speaks the truth."

The Marquis of Pardus’ eldest son agreed. Soon after, the other nobles either nodded or closed their eyes in silent assent. Ferio, instead of joining in, gazed steadily at the prince.

"Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor—"

The prince paused.

"Must acknowledge his wrongdoing—"

His lips moved silently for a moment, hesitating.

"—and abdicate."

At last, the topic of the Emperor’s abdication was brought up in the noble council.

***

After Princess Scandia’s disappearance, Empress Tigria fell into deep despair.

Worried sick over her daughter who vanished leaving only her dress behind, she stopped eating, canceled all engagements, and shut herself inside the Empress’ Palace.

The princess, kidnapped by bandits, remained missing.

And yet the Emperor had still not ordered a search party. Even though anything could happen to the princess at the hands of the bandits.

Unable to bear it, the Marquis of Hesperi led the Revoo Knights to search the southern forest where the princess had been taken—but found nothing.

The Empress’ sorrow only deepened.

Everyone sympathized with her.

She had always seemed unshakable, so seeing her weakened was truly heartbreaking.

As a result, visits to the Empress’ Palace significantly decreased. It was a gesture of consideration for her grief.

Only a few, including her longtime ladies-in-waiting, were allowed in and out of the palace.

And occasionally, Consort Usia would visit, offering to keep her company.

It was surprising to many.

Consort Usia was among those who had caused Empress Tigria hardship. Yet, the Empress never refused her entry.

On the contrary, she welcomed Usia’s visits and even came outside for a stroll on the days the consort came.

"But if you only meet with me, won’t it be a bit dull?"

Consort Usia smiled brightly, suggesting it was good to meet others too.

"So I invited a guest!"

"A guest..."

Empress Tigria tilted her head slightly.

"Quite unexpected."

Despite her words, her expression said otherwise—almost as if she had predicted this all along.

"Were the two of you close?"

Dressed plainly due to her worry over the missing princess, the Empress adjusted the shawl on her shoulders and asked. Consort Usia looked a bit offended.

"We’re still family by law."

"Ah, yes, of course."

The Empress nodded.

"My apologies. My mind hasn’t been right lately."

"Please don’t apologize, Your Majesty."

The guest greeted her belatedly, observing all formalities.

"Varia Voreoti of House Voreoti greets Your Majesty."

Varia lifted her bowed head.

"But... I only sent an invitation to the Duchess..."

Consort Usia subtly glanced to Varia’s side. Varia followed her gaze with a proud and affectionate look.

"My husband and daughter were too worried to let me come alone."

"How could we possibly send such a beautiful mother by herself?"

A knight with her dark hair tied back in a high ponytail bowed politely.

"Leonia Voreoti of the Gladiago Knights greets Your Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Consort. Today, I accompany my mother as her escort knight."

Leonia was indeed dressed in the formal uniform of the Gladiago Knights.

"What a dependable knight."

The Empress praised the young girl. Despite her full-length uniform, not a bead of sweat touched the little beast’s brow, and her fierce spirit truly impressed the Empress.

"Your praise is too much."

Leonia answered modestly.

Though in truth, she wanted to tear it all off right now.

Still, she endured it—for Ferio had promised that if she completed her escort duty today, she’d get thirty full minutes of Manus’ shirtless torso as a reward.

The four moved to the prepared venue. A white gazebo had been set up in the garden, with refreshments and snacks waiting.

The Empress, Consort Usia, and Varia sat at the table. Leonia stood next to Varia, rather than sitting, under the guise of ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) her escort duty.

"My mind hasn’t been with me lately. I haven’t treated you properly."

The Empress apologized as she idly touched the rim of her glass.

"You’ll hear good news soon."

Consort Usia consoled her with a worried voice. The Empress responded with a faint smile.

"So if the Duchess doesn’t mind, would you share news from outside the palace?"

"Of course."

Varia began describing the summer scenes.

"The days have grown quite long."

Sleeves were shorter, and the summer insects buzzing through the garden at night were full of life.

The summer she described from the capital was like a watercolor painting—gentle and vivid.

Her soft, lilting voice painted the scenery with the delicacy of watercolors thinned with clear water.

The Empress turned her gaze quietly.

"The capital’s summer is lovely, but..."

She looked toward a small forest nearby.

"This season always makes me miss the West."

A nostalgic smile crossed her lips as she remembered the days spent with the marquis at their forest villa in her youth.

"Speaking of the West..."

Leonia spoke up.

"I heard there’s a very promising new recruit in the Revoo Knights."

One of Empress Tigria’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Leonia continued casually.

"I recently happened to meet Sir Ibecks. Do you know him, Your Majesty?"

"Of course. He’s a talented knight of the Revoo Knights."

"He told me that the young recruit is incredibly skilled. He even said he might become a swordmaster soon."

"Sir Ibecks said that?"

The Empress’ voice trembled slightly. Leonia pretended not to notice and continued.

"He praised him to no end."

"I see..."

With a short sigh, the Empress’s smile became noticeably more relaxed.

She felt deeply relieved hearing through Leonia that Princess Scandia was safe.

‘Take good care of her.’

The Empress silently prayed to Ibecks. She desperately hoped the long-separated father and daughter would find strength in each other.

‘Your Highness...’

Leonia also prayed.

‘Please grow into a silver-haired heartthrob covered in muscle.’

After all, she had risked precious time and effort stealing her away—if Scandia didn’t turn out as hoped, she would be the one disappointed.

The little beast sincerely hoped her investment wouldn’t go to waste.

"But for me, when I think of summer..."

The Consort, who had been silent since taking her seat, finally spoke.

"I think of the South."

"Southern summers are beautiful."

Varia agreed. She spoke of how the crashing waves on the sandy beach could make you forget the heat—though in truth, she herself was very sensitive to it.

"My, we think alike!"

The consort laughed merrily.

‘...She’s over forty, right?’

Leonia, quietly listening in the back, felt a chill.

She hated judging people by age, but Consort Usia behaved so innocently it was hard to believe.

‘She really is a venomous woman.’

Leonia was honestly appalled.

Not even the fierce little beast wanted to live a life woven entirely from lies and performance.

At the same time, she felt a faint sympathy for Consort Usia.

It was hard to imagine the tears and brutal resolve it must’ve taken for her to survive long enough to enter the Imperial Palace.

In that sense, Leonia did feel a trace of respect.

‘But still. So what?’

It had been Consort Usia’s decision to live that way.

And any attempt to exploit House Voreoti as part of that twisted life would never be forgiven.

"Mother."

Leonia addressed Varia.

"Why don’t you share that story you once told me?"

"Oh, right."

Varia looked mildly surprised and glanced at the Empress, who fortunately seemed interested.

"Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the lighthouse keeper’s ghost?"

Varia asked, while Leonia quickly glanced toward Consort Usia.

"They say the ghost of a lighthouse keeper who died falling from a cliff during a storm now chases away anyone who comes too close on stormy nights."

"That’s quite a kind ghost."

"I used to think so too, when I was young..."

"And now?"

The Empress asked. Varia answered yes.

With one hand propping her chin, she looked so adorably pensive that Leonia, watching from behind, couldn’t help but think so.

If Ferio had seen her, he would have been in complete disarray.

"If there really was a lighthouse keeper who died there, it would be terribly sad. The South, after all, is full of cliffs near the sea."

"Goodness, the Imperial Family has been negligent."

The Empress looked troubled.

"The Duchess has truly opened my eyes."

"Not at all, Your Majesty."

"As the mother of this nation, I can’t sit idly by."

Leonia’s lips curled into a smile.

"We should inspect and renovate the South to prevent such accidents in the future."

"Then how about contacting House Aust?"

"But Aust is..."

The Empress murmured, noting that the house was famously reclusive. Leonia offered a different suggestion.

"The House of Meridio still holds influence in the South."

Indeed, Meridio was more influential than Aust in the region.

"My, House Voreoti is truly blessed."

So many kind and wise people—Empress Tigria praised both Varia and Leonia.

They both bowed their heads respectfully.

"Don’t you think so too, Consort?"

The Empress turned to Consort Usia for agreement.

"...Of course."

She answered with a smile.

But her eyes did not smile.

So Leonia smiled in her place.