Chapter 11

It was a statement that even the brothers Valder, who had just crossed the threshold of the meeting room, widened their eyes and turned their gaze to. In an instant, all eyes were drawn to one place. The Duke of Despoina, who had pushed through the crowd, burst into a hearty laugh and called out to the Empress once again.

"Madam! It's a pleasure to see you here."

Lionel and Theseus instinctively looked at Adel. How would the Empress react to this rude and absurd address? Not only the two of them, but the other nobles gathered there also looked at the Empress with curiosity. The Duke of Despoina, who had thrown the ball, was no different. However, the Empress did not even acknowledge the Duke's greeting; she only looked at him with a calm gaze. Her features, so finely chiseled, felt as inorganic as a porcelain doll.

"..."

Have you ever gazed into a calm night sea? It is peaceful and tranquil, but at some point, a strange fear inevitably arises. The Empress's silence soon turned into a strange unease, shaking the air in the waiting room. A cold chill, like a thin layer of ice, and an uneasy silence where only the ticking of a clock was heard loudly, and the sound of someone swallowing. The Empress looked at the Duke with eyes devoid of any smile. Her red lips, pale complexion, black hair cascading over her shoulders, and vivid golden eyes. The nobles, drawn to the strange atmosphere, felt a chill run down their spines. A unique, spine-chilling aura emanated from the Empress's entire body. Adel was well aware of her own aura. She could also keenly sense the subtle fear felt by the other party. The moment the atmosphere in the waiting room became strange, Adel smiled brightly, as if nothing had happened. The Empress's radiant smile made gasps of breath break out from all around. After changing the atmosphere as easily as flipping a palm, Adel asked the Duke of Despoina in a whisper.

"Since I am not fluent in Ehmont, I am embarrassed to ask, but does 'Madam' mean 'Empress'? Duke August Ulrich Despoina?"

However, the Duke of Despoina was not an easy person to handle. He put on a feigned hurt expression and replied in a friendly tone.

"I apologize if I offended you, Your Majesty. I only wanted to show familiarity as an elder of the Ulrich royal family. I thought you would be gracious enough to accept it... Please forgive me."

"Even if you wanted to show familiarity, it was not a good choice. I hope you will be more cautious in the future."

The Empress spoke in a light tone and stood up from her seat. Before the Duke of Despoina could add anything, she turned her gaze to the other nobles.

"It is an honor to meet all of you."

Adel slowly scanned the ministers lined up before her. Many of them seemed like strangers due to the chaos of the wedding and the banquet. Her gaze lingered briefly on the Valder brothers. When her eyes moved from Theseus to Lionel, Adel's eyes met Lionel's directly. His eyes, which appeared blue in the light, looked black in the room. He looked at the Empress as if entranced, then slightly bowed his head, and Adel gave him a faint smile. Adel then turned her gaze to Baron Calvin, who looked pale. From his haggard appearance, it was clear that he had exchanged harsh words with Renoux Poitevin.

"Baron Calvin."

"…Yes?"

Baron Calvin was startled by the Empress's sudden call and asked in return. It was unclear how she recognized a baron she had never met, but the Empress looked at him and asked a question no one expected.

"You mentioned that a flying-type monster appeared?"

Baron Calvin, who had been looking at the Empress with a bewildered expression, quickly nodded in response to her question.

"Yes, that's correct, Your Majesty."

"Is there no mage assigned to each region?"

This question was answered by Renoux Poitevin, who was standing nearby.

"Mages are managed centrally, Your Majesty."

When Adel turned to look at Renoux, he smiled at her. At that moment, a servant came out and formally greeted the Empress.

"Welcome, Your Majesty. The Emperor is waiting for you."

With the servant's words, the people stepped aside to make way for the Empress. However, Adel did not move.

"Are you the leader of the mage group?"

"Ah, I am the deputy leader."

Renoux bowed his head exaggeratedly in response. Adel looked at Renoux's straight forehead and asked in a strange tone.

"Is the tower where the flying-type monster appeared classified as intermediate in Ehmont? I heard you said you wouldn't send a mage. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but I could hear it."

At the Empress's question, Renoux frowned and then quickly relaxed. He grumbled to himself that she was pretending to know something she didn't and gave a perfunctory answer.

"I understand your concern, but don't worry too much. I will ensure that no monster or tower can approach the palace. I am, after all, a Striker."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

The Empress smiled faintly and then walked past him with a cold expression.

"I see."

"..."

Renoux and the other ministers watched the Empress's back as she entered the meeting room. Renoux, feeling an indescribable discomfort, turned to the Duke of Despoina and asked quietly.

"Did I... do something wrong?"

"Hmm."

The Duke of Despoina looked at the spot where the Empress had disappeared with a strange expression. Theseus, who had been watching the scene, moved his steps.

"Lionel, let's go."

Lionel, who had been looking at the door where the Empress had disappeared, turned to follow Theseus. The whispers of the ministers, who were walking together like a wave, could be heard. Everyone was talking about the Empress. The Duke of Despoina's use of the absurd title "Madam" and Renoux's dismissive response to the Empress's questions were ultimately due to their underestimation of her. However, the Empress, without being swayed by such provocations, reaffirmed her presence with a natural and aristocratic demeanor. A moment of silence, a calm gaze, and a cold, refined attitude. It was truly that of a born ruler. Lionel stopped walking and turned his head to look at the door where the Empress had disappeared. ＊ ＊ ＊ The Emperor was seated at the head of a long table. Although he saw the Empress enter the meeting room, he did not even offer a light greeting. Adel slowly moved her steps, looking around the spacious meeting room. However, the interior decorations of the meeting room did not even catch her eye. As she walked along the long table, her attention was entirely focused on the Emperor's icy gaze. The cold that hit her cheeks was like the harsh cold of a frozen land, and the stifling breath was like the hot, dry air of a scorching desert. The heat of the desert and the cold of the polar regions swirled between the two. Adel stopped at an appropriate position. The ambiguous distance, neither close nor far, seemed to reflect the current relationship between the two.

Adel firmly braced her lower abdomen and looked at the Emperor. He was like a land frozen solid. His cold gaze and expression, devoid of any consideration or understanding, made Adel's eyes turn cold. She had come to discuss matters related to the dress gold. She was annoyed with him, but she had not come to fight. She did not have the strength to fight the Emperor at the moment. However, facing his cold, disdainful expression, a flame began to rise deep in Adel's heart. She pulled out a chair and sat down. The servant standing behind her was taken aback, but Adel paid no attention.

"May I request a moment of private conversation?"

"Of course. Would you like some tea?"

"I had some in the waiting room."

"No refreshments are needed. Everyone, please leave."

There was no gap in their conversation. The servants exchanged glances and quickly left. The sound of the door closing was as loud as thunder.

"What do you want to say?"

As soon as the door closed, the Emperor asked as if he had something urgent. Of course, Adel was not one to be intimidated by this. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. She immediately countered the Emperor's question.

"Why did you propose the royal marriage?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you appoint me as Empress? You were the one who proposed the royal marriage first."

"..."

The Empress's question made the Emperor fall silent for a moment. It seemed he was choosing his words carefully, or perhaps he was considering whether to speak his mind. After a moment, Karl, as if making a decision, raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, looking at the Empress. The sunlight cast a long shadow on his high nose. With a shadowed gaze, the Emperor whispered.

"Just being."

"..."

"Just existing. Like... like the feather on this quill. Just existing. By existing, you fulfill all your meaning."

It sounded like a tender statement. Just by existing, you fulfill all your meaning. Adel's gaze fell on the quill's lush feather.

'Like the feather on the quill, just existing.'

The feather, not the nib or the body of the quill. She had never seen a quill without a feather. But would it really be a problem if it were missing?

"Do you mean I should just maintain my position as Empress?"

Adel's pride as the former princess of Gotrop, Adelaide, crumpled. The crumpled pride tore into small pieces like paper. The cold atmosphere seemed to freeze.

"Is that truly what you want?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"Then why did you undermine my authority?"

"I never did."

The firm answer made Adel smirk. Listing the humiliations she had suffered at the wedding and the banquet seemed meaningless. So, Adel pushed him with a more pointed statement.

"Were you worried that I might harm Diane Poitevin?"

The Emperor, who had been countering her so far, fell silent at this question. It was indeed for that reason. She wanted to lash out at him, to drag out the indignities he had inflicted and refute them. But would there be any benefit in arguing with the Emperor here and now? It might feel good for a moment, but the one who would be left feeling regretful was Adel herself. Suppressing the rising anger, Adel stood up. The Emperor looked at her askance.

"I am prepared to draw the line. I am saying this because it seems you want my private life."

Her pale face, with her jet-black hair cascading to the side, was paler than ever. Like the pale moonlight of a night sky, the Empress's anger shone faintly.

"I am glad you want me to exist as Empress. I also want that. I will fulfill my responsibilities as the Empress of Ehmont."

"..."

"Please assist me in fulfilling my responsibilities."

"What kind of assistance do you mean?"

"First, I need someone to consult to understand this place. The best way would be to ask someone who manages the palace, but unfortunately, it's Diane Poitevin. It would be difficult for me to consult her."

Karl had no response. A queen consulting a mistress? It would invite ridicule.

"So, I want to consult with the former chief manager, Lady Hannah Gix."

Since Lady Gix's return to the palace would soon become public, Adel decided to take the initiative.

"Lady Hannah Gix?"

"I understand that you sent her out of the palace, but I am seeking your permission. I will not appoint her as the chief manager."

After a moment's thought, Karl nodded in agreement. There was no reason to object.

"Do so."

"Thank you. And one more thing. There is no budget for the Empress's palace. I request an emergency supplementary budget."

Adel made the request to the Emperor in a businesslike tone. This time, the Emperor was speechless.

＊ ＊ ＊

Karl, who had been watching the door the Empress had left through, sighed and rubbed his forehead. The red dress, a symbol of the Empress of Ehmont, seemed to waver before his eyes like a mirage.

"Hmm..."

Even after taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, his chest remained uneasily restless. Even as Emperor, the remnants of the past did not easily let him go. The rustling of the red dress. The small hands of a child, wanting to grasp the swirling red hem, but never reaching it.

'Poor my