Chapter 23

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the wind, cherry blossoms danced, and Misaki opened the old diary, reading the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

With cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

As the wind carried the cherry blossoms, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the wind, cherry blossoms danced, and Misaki opened the old diary, reading the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

As the wind carried the cherry blossoms, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the wind, cherry blossoms danced, and Misaki opened the old diary, reading the words of promise written there.

---

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

With a lingering gaze filled with regret, Karl tightened his lips and slightly furrowed his brow. Why don't you go when I tell you to? To the emperor, Dian was a comfortable person. Even if he spoke indirectly or not at all, she seemed to understand as if she could read his mind. There was no need to repeat himself, and she never did anything he disliked. So why is she acting like this now? If you have something to say, just say it, but Dian spoke first.

"…I heard that Her Majesty the Empress has issued an announcement for a new advisor."

By mentioning the empress, she was indirectly hinting at the day, wondering if the emperor would ask about it. However, contrary to her expectations, the emperor only watched her with a cold gaze. Dian was at a loss.

"…I'm worried. Historically, empresses have never appointed an advisor until at least a year after their marriage… but to appoint one less than a month after… I fear it might bring harm to Your Majesty…"

As her words dragged on, Karl cruelly cut her off.

"This is not your concern, so don't worry about it."

"…Pardon?"

"…."

"A, yes, Your Majesty."

Karl turned his gaze to the documents. His attitude was so cold that Dian felt tears welling up. But she couldn't show her tears. She desperately held them back and turned to leave, but the emperor added one more thing as if he had forgotten to say it.

"And don't let the matter you said you would conclude come up again."

"…."

Surprised, Dian turned, but the emperor did not elaborate. He simply ordered a servant to bring him more documents and continued his work, showing no intention of allowing further questions. Dian felt as if she had been thrown out into the cold, bare-skinned. The matter he said she should not mention again referred to the renovation of the empress's palace. The command to not let it come up again…

"Your Highness…"

Loreine, also uneasy, gently urged Dian. As she turned, her body trembling, the tears she had been holding back fell like rain. She felt hurt and heartbroken. Karl Ulrich. He was both heaven and hell. At this moment, Dian felt as if she had been thrown into hell by Karl's gaze, tone, attitude, and every word. He so easily turned her world from heaven to hell, so easily.

---

The door clicked shut, and Karl glanced at the closed door. His feelings for Dian were like high waves. The waves were so high that sometimes even he didn't understand the direction they took. Her fragile appearance, her breaths as if she were about to die. On some days, the sight made his heart stir, and he would embrace her with his whole body and comfort her. On other days, he found the sight repulsive. When her voice echoed in his ears, scratching at his heart, Karl felt as if he were going mad. Today was one of those days when he found her repulsive. Karl roughly pushed his disheveled blonde hair back and drank cold water. After seeing Dian, the emotion that always followed was guilt.

"…Send a doctor to the Ivory Palace and have them prescribe medicine that will benefit her health."

"Yes, I understand."

After giving the order, the heavy guilt that had been weighing on him became a bit lighter. The headache that had been throbbing seemed to clear up. The real reason he had quickly dismissed Dian was that something else was bothering him.

"Report on the current situation regarding the announcement for the empress's new advisor."

The servant immediately flipped through the papers and began listing the names of the nobles who had responded to the announcement.

"Armandi Viscount's second son, …third son, …fourth son, …second son, …"

Despite the announcement being issued only that morning, it seemed that the children of various noble families had swarmed like bees. Karl chuckled and shook his head. With the empress being a sorceress, it was curious to see how the situation would change, and it seemed that everyone who could be sent had been sent.

"Any candidates related to the Baldur Dukedom?"

"Not yet. If there is any news, I will report it immediately."

"Yes, do so. The Duke or the Prince of Baldur won't act directly, so they will send someone from a related family."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Karl glared at the paper the servant was holding and muttered as he turned his head.

"This will be a bit of a hassle."

---

Hannah Gix was indeed a person worthy of the late empress's favor. Her mind was undoubtedly a vast directory of names. The question was how much she could be trusted, but from Adel's perspective, there was no other option. Before the interviews for the new advisor, Adel received a report from Mrs. Gix about the key figures and major events in the Echmont political scene.

"Whether you look at it this way or that, the best course of action is to win over the Baldur Dukedom."

The Duke of Baldur was the leader of the faction currently at odds with the emperor. The opposing faction, led by the Duke of Despone, included the Poiteau family. If Adel were to choose someone from the Despone family as her advisor at this point, it would be a disaster. However, it was unlikely that the Baldur Dukedom would send a direct descendant, so Adel carefully examined the list of candidates they might send. At the very least, she needed to recognize the signals they were sending.

---

Time flowed like a stream, and finally, the interviews for the new advisor began. When the empress's palace officially opened its doors to receive candidates, a line formed.

"Your Majesty, the moment I saw you, I doubted my own eyes. If there were angels, they would surely be you!! That's what I thought."

Me? An angel? My nickname was the Witch of Gotrop, you know?

"Ah, it is truly an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I couldn't bear to look at you as you walked, so I bowed and only looked at your feet… I am so nervous. This moment feels like a dream."

Me too, it feels like a dream.

"I am!! Very strong!! Look, I can split this apple like this!! Just like this!!"

"…."

"Like this!!!"

"…."

"It seems to be a specialty apple. Firm apples taste good. …Ahem."

…Yeah, eat more apples.

"Your Majesty, my specialty is singing. Would you like to hear it?"

No, please stop!!

"Your Majesty!! Your eyes are like a gold mine. If you cry, does gold fall?"

This is the first time I've heard such a metaphor. It's fresh and surprising. You, you see me as a gold mine, but to me, you're not even a coal mine. Was it a mistake to hold interviews? Is this why a preliminary screening is necessary? The guy who was praising me with gold mine metaphors—whose name I don't even know—left, and Adel collapsed onto the sofa. The quick-witted Mrs. Gix went outside to buy time, saying the empress was resting. Adel's head was throbbing. When she heard Mrs. Gix coming in, she muttered in a tired voice.

"Tell me, Mrs. Gix. Are the people of Echmont so aggressive? Why do they swarm like this as soon as an announcement is made?"

"There is a tendency, but not to this extent."

"But even so. Despite the title of 'advisor' sounding prestigious, it ultimately carries the stigma of being the 'empress's lover.' Why are they rushing in like this?"

Adel sat up and asked. Honestly, she expected only a few, maybe up to ten, to come. Not this many, whose names she couldn't even remember.

"Regardless, if one becomes the empress's advisor, even a second son from a minor family can enter the palace."

"So, there are many benefits?"

"Yes."

"Even if it's an interview for a lover, they all boast about their strength, wealth, and looks, and praise my appearance