Chapter 37

The room the emperor had given Dian was a guest room for distinguished visitors in the imperial palace, the very place she had used before being granted the Ivory Palace. The first time she was allowed into this room, Dian had wept with emotion. As time passed, the day she was granted the Ivory Palace felt like she had the world in her hands. Her days in the imperial palace were a continuous series of emotions. But today, Dian, who had returned to the guest room for distinguished visitors in the imperial palace, shuddered with humiliation. This place had once given her immense joy and happiness. On the first night she slept in this room, the bed seemed so large, the ceiling so high, that she couldn't adapt and spent the night wide awake. But now, compared to the Ivory Palace, this place was woefully small and not at all beautiful. Dian had brought all sorts of precious objects and famous paintings from the Ivory Palace. The scale was so grand that even the servants who helped move the items were amazed. Some even claimed that more than half of the budget allocated to the Ivory Palace had been spent on these purchases. But the guest room for distinguished visitors in the imperial palace was far too small to display them all. In the end, she had no choice but to send a significant portion of what she had brought to the Poitevin family. On the night she moved from the Ivory Palace to the guest room for distinguished visitors. Dian couldn't fall asleep, just like the first night she had spent in this room. Even though she had come here, the emperor did not visit. Dian got out of bed, hesitated for a while, and finally, wearing a thin slip and a thick cardigan, she left the room. Many guards and servants were waiting in the corridor leading to the emperor's bedroom. The servant who first recognized Dian approached her and bowed.

"Miss Poitevin. Have you come?"

At his address, Dian's face stiffened.

"…What did you just say?"

The servant, looking awkward, reluctantly replied.

"I apologize, but your current status in the palace is that of a distinguished guest."

The term "palace mistress" meant the mistress of the palace, so she could no longer be called "Mistress." In the end, Dian had not only lost the Ivory Palace but also the title of "Mistress." A chill ran down her spine as if cold water had been poured over her head. Her legs trembled, and she felt like she might collapse, but she held on, and with a deep, low voice, she asked.

"…Is His Majesty inside?"

"Yes."

"I wish to see him."

After a moment, the servant who had gone into the room returned and bowed deeply.

"Please come in."

* * *

The emperor sat motionless on the sofa as Dian entered.

"You've come?"

His voice was low and hoarse, like his disheveled blond hair and the loosely draped robe. Dian approached him step by step and sat cautiously on the opposite sofa. Karl's gaze slid from her chin to her nose, and then to her eyes. The first time she saw him, Dian wondered if he might be a demon or, if not, a legendary spirit that could enchant people. His face was so beautiful it made her mind spin, and his voice was sensual. But why did she think of a demon rather than an angel? The fleeting doubt quickly vanished from her mind. If this beautiful man loved her, it didn't matter whether he was an angel or a demon.

"Can't you sleep?"

"…."

"You seem troubled, Your Majesty."

He didn't answer. As his purple eyes darkened, Dian's heart sank, for she understood the reason for his distress. In the deep of night, his restless mind was undoubtedly boiling. If the reason was Dian, he would have come to her. But Dian Poitevin, who had lost both the Ivory Palace and her name, was no longer on his mind. For the first time, she thought,

'What is this man's love, really?'

Tears welled up in her eyes. Her blue eyes shimmered, and the tears overflowed like a low wall. But he didn't know.

"The Empress will be at the Baldur family's residence."

At Dian's whisper, Karl's movements stopped. Indeed, that must have been what was troubling his heart. Dian, with tears at the corners of her eyes, tilted her head.

"Where else could she be? By now, the Empress is spending the night with him."

The beautiful face contorted at the incantation-like whisper. Dian got up and approached the sofa where he sat. She sat next to him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gently stroked his hair, whispering,

"Yes, the Empress is spending the night with him."

"Enough."

Karl's demeanor turned ominous, but this time, Dian didn't back down.

'My love is to be complete. I don't want to share anything of yours with that woman. I will indulge in it without restraint, claim it by any means necessary, and not give even a single hair to that woman.'

Dian leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered like a spell.

"Your Majesty, only I am by your side. Only I understand you."

'So you must not focus all your attention on that woman. You mustn't.'

* * *

Meanwhile, Lionel, worried about the Empress who had been in the library since a simple dinner, paced in front of the library and then knocked on the door cautiously. There was no answer after two knocks. He pushed the door open, despite the rudeness. Among the many books, Adel was there. She seemed so engrossed that she didn't even notice he had opened the door. Buried in a pile of books, she read, wrote, and thought repeatedly. Her long hair, tied up to keep it out of the way, made her neck look as pale as moonlight. Lionel quickly returned to his room. Even though he hadn't intended to peek, his heart raced. Pacing back and forth as if counting the deepening night, his gaze kept returning to the window. After checking the time a few times, he realized it was quite late. Lionel finally left his room. His slow steps soon quickened, and he almost ran. Arriving hastily at the library, he knocked on the door politely. When there was no answer after another knock, Lionel carefully opened the door.

"…."

Standing there for a moment, Lionel quickly entered and looked around.

"Empress?"

She wasn't there. The place where she had been sitting was neatly cleared, and she was nowhere to be found in the library. She hadn't returned to the guest room for distinguished visitors.

'Where could she be? Is she talking with her brother? Or…'

After a moment's thought, Lionel turned and ran, even though there was no reason to. He rushed to the family room on the fifth floor of the main building, leaping over two or three steps at a time. But when he reached the door, he stopped as if nothing had happened and knocked politely. After a moment,

"…Lionel?"

A cool voice, like an autumn breeze, came from the other side of the door. Adel, holding a glass, awkwardly smiled at Lionel as he entered.

"Uh… I was sneaking a drink without permission…"

She had taken a bottle of liquor and a glass from the display and was on her second drink. Adel broke out in a cold sweat at the sudden appearance of the host. Lionel, frowning slightly, approached and asked,

"How many glasses have you had?"

"Two."

"Will you have another?"

"Yes."

"Can't you sleep again?"

"No, I just wanted a drink today."

"Drinking because you can't sleep, or because you want to. It's not good to keep doing this."

"You said the advisor shouldn't comment."

"Didn't you say there's no such thing as an advisor in Gotrope?"

"There is. Just the meaning is a bit different."

As Adel reached for the bottle, Lionel took it and poured her a drink. Watching the liquor pour, Adel frowned and scolded him.

"Advisor, pour a bit more."

"It's enough. You're not diluting it."

"Why should you decide my tolerance? Pour more. I plan to get completely drunk today."

The Empress, making a tyrannical statement, poured the drink herself and quickly drank it before the advisor could scold her.

"Ugh."

As the heat rose in her throat and the dizziness set in, her body began to warm. Adel took off her outer garment and unbuttoned two buttons at her neck. She tied her hair up with a rubber band and felt a bit cooler. She leaned back on the sofa, enjoying the lazy buzz. Lionel stared at her, entranced. His gaze, which had slipped, landed on her slender neck, making him feel warm.

"Lionel, I got three glasses today. Do you want to be paid for the drinks?"

At Adel's words, Lionel looked down. His handsome face stiffened, and his brows furrowed. Adel chuckled.

"Stop frowning. You sometimes frown when you see me."

He raised his head to protest.

"I…."

"I understand. The position of advisor isn't honorable. But don't worry."

"What…?"

Adel, smiling, reassured him firmly.

"I'll protect your honor. On the day you resign as advisor, I'll announce it myself."

"Exactly what are you saying?"

"Adel, the Empress, and Lionel Baldur had an official relationship based on mutual trust, with no private contact. I don't know if this will restore your honor, but it's better than nothing. So stop frowning. Even a handsome face gets wrinkles."

After a moment of silence, Lionel got up and went to the cabinet, taking a glass and pouring himself a drink.

"Hey? Just drinking? It's strong! You said you dilute it?"

Adel, who had been sitting loosely, stood up to stop him, and Lionel laughed in disbelief.

"Even though you said it was strong, you drank it all. What are you saying now?"

"I've never diluted my drinks."

It's a point of pride. Lionel swallowed the words along with the drink.

"Ugh, it's strong."

Adel, who had been trying to stop her, frowned and waved her hand. Despite drinking three glasses in quick succession, she continued. Lionel shook his head and poured another drink, saying, "You said you wanted three glasses," and drank them in quick succession. After drinking three glasses of this strong liquor, Lionel's body also felt hot, and a subtle dizziness set in. He put down his glass, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the Empress. Drunk, he said,

"Empress."

"Yes?"

"If I valued honor, I wouldn't have become an advisor. Do you think I didn't know what an advisor is and what role they play, having grown up in Echmont?"

Adel narrowed her eyes and slightly furrowed her brow. She scrutinized Lionel's eyes, expression, and demeanor, trying to understand his meaning. After a moment of silence, she tilted her head and whispered,

"Lionel, do you want to be my lover?"