Chapter 79

After Karl left the terrace, Adel sat there, facing the cold wind. The weight of her royal status was always heavy. Even though she could have become accustomed to it and forgotten, Adel had never, not even for a moment, forgotten that weight. Today, however, the burden pressing on her shoulders felt especially heavy and exhausting, and she wanted to put it down for a while. At that moment, the sound of neat footsteps approached, and someone came to stand beside her.

"Your Majesty, the Empress."

When she lifted her head, there he was, looking at her with the same gentle gaze as always. Meanwhile, Lionel clenched his fists tightly behind his back as he looked at Adel's face. He was angry, wondering what she had heard here that made her expression so somber. He was angry, but he had no way to resolve it, which drove him mad. Lionel calmed his boiling heart and knelt on one knee to meet her eye level. His face, though seemingly expressionless, was something he had seen many times. Behind that calm mask, she had collapsed, disheveled, and swallowed her tears. Lionel asked in a soft, affectionate voice,

"Why are you like this?"

Adel blinked at the warm tone. How strange. Had she always wanted to act spoiled? She had always detested showing her weakness to others... Why did she always feel like crying in front of this person and want to put down the burden on her back?

"...It's heavy."

After a long pause, her soft answer made Lionel look at her for a moment before he said,

"Can I share it with you?"

"..."

Adel tightly closed her mouth and looked at him. She couldn't even gauge the sincerity in his deep eyes. Her gaze, which had slid down his straight nose and stopped at his indented philtrum, then fell to his red lips. Adel quickly turned her gaze away and held her breath. She knew his gaze was on her face, but she couldn't bring herself to turn her head.

"Your Majesty, the Empress."

But the low voice by her ear made Adel turn her head helplessly. Seeing him, her heart ached. At the same time, her father's words came to mind.

"Adel. As a royal, you must fulfill your duties. Maintain your dignity wherever you are."

The status she had carried since birth was like a part of her. Therefore, she didn't know how to put it down or share it with anyone.

"That's something I can't share, Lionel."

"I don't know what to do either."

Because it was her name, her destiny from birth to death.

"...Don't cry..."

"I won't cry."

"..."

Lionel couldn't say anything to her stubborn claim that she wouldn't cry. Tears fell like magnolia petals. Lionel instinctively reached out and wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. His fingertips were damp with the tears. The tears that had slipped from the moon stained the night. At the same time, her soul, attached to the name Adelaide Ulrich Echmont, slowly detached from her name, unnoticed by anyone, even by Adel herself. * * * Meanwhile, the Chancellor, having received the Emperor's summons, rushed over as if he had been waiting. He didn't even show any surprise, as he had already received a hint from the Emperor.

"Ultimately, you have made this decision?"

Duke Despoina, who didn't know the details, alternated his gaze between the Chancellor and the Emperor, frowning.

"Ahem. Could you explain it more clearly?"

The Emperor slowly turned his head to look at Duke Despoina, who leaned forward, eyes sparkling.

"What do you plan to do?"

Karl thought carefully again. Duke Despoina looked like a hungry beast with prey in front of him; if he placed the prey in front of him, he would never let it go. The words he was rolling around in his mouth, once spoken, could not be taken back. But again, no matter how many times he thought about it... there was no other way.

"I will depose the Empress."

The moment the Emperor's words fell, Duke Despoina shuddered and froze. He slowly repeated the words he had just heard in his mind.

'Depose the Empress? Depose the... Empress?'

A thrilling joy started from his head and spread throughout his body, reaching his toes. His lips trembled as he tried to suppress the corners from curling up. Feeling the Chancellor's gaze, the Duke quickly bowed his head and covered his face with his hand.

"Ah, ahem."

After managing his expression remarkably quickly, he raised his head with a serious look.

"To depose the Empress... If there is no justifiable reason, there will be strong opposition. Chancellor, do you know the reason?"

"...A reason that can lead to disqualification."

"What is it?"

The Chancellor clicked his tongue inwardly at the relentless questions.

"What, what is it?"

The Chancellor looked at the Emperor with a difficult expression, and Duke Despoina followed his gaze to the Emperor. The Emperor stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then said,

"Refusal of the first night."

Duke Despoina, who had been rolling the Emperor's words around in his mouth, tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. His heart beat roughly like a wild animal's.

"Refusal of the first night... The Empress, who has the duty to produce an heir, refused the Emperor's first night and went to the Chancellor first?"

"..."

Duke Despoina, whose eyes glowed menacingly, immediately stood up from his seat.

"As a senior of the Ulrich royal family and the head of the Despoina family, which supports this empire, this is a matter that cannot be overlooked. If the reason for the deposition is the refusal of the first night, even Gottrop will have nothing to say! Your Majesty, we must hold an emergency trial immediately! Before tonight is over!!"

The Emperor slowly closed his eyes. He recalled the Empress's cold expression and her pale, slender fingertips intertwined with Lionel Herbert's.

'Yes. This is what you brought upon yourself, Adelaide.'

The Emperor opened his eyes, as if making a decision, and ordered Duke Despoina,

"The trial will be held informally to consider the Empress's honor. The witness will be Lady Hannah Gix, who resides in the Empress's palace, and since it is an internal trial of the Ulrich royal family, the Dukes of Despoina and Grand will be officially summoned as wedding witnesses."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will carry out your orders!"

The elated Duke Despoina disappeared like the wind. The Emperor watched the spot where he had disappeared, then turned to the Chancellor and lowered his voice.

"About what I asked you to investigate before."

"The restoration of a deposed Empress? Since there is no precedent, I have reviewed all relevant laws and regulations."

"And?"

"Refusal of the first night is certainly a reason for deposition, but it doesn't make one a criminal. It only means the loss of all positions in Echmont due to the failure to fulfill duties."

"Then, if she promises to fulfill all her duties again..."

"Yes, she can be restored."

Karl nodded, lowering his gaze.

"Keep this information confidential. To no one but me."

"Of course."

Karl took a deep breath and stood up. He put on the Emperor's ceremonial uniform with a solemn expression. He would take away that name from her, who had lived as a royal all her life. If she wanted to live as the Empress in this land with no place to return, she would have to reach out to him. Karl's eyes darkened. * * * Theseus looked at the terrace where Lionel and Adel were with a dark gaze. He was worried about Lionel. At that moment,

"...Sir Duke Baldur."

A soft, delicate voice made Theseus turn his head. A beautifully dressed woman stood before him, hands neatly clasped, looking up at him. She smiled shyly and bowed slightly.

"Hello. I'm Edith Beowen. I've always wanted to talk to you, so I'm taking the liberty to introduce myself."

Theseus's gaze hardened behind his glasses. He instinctively looked up at Elisabeth. She was surrounded by many young nobles. While he had been away from her for a moment, the heirs of influential families had gathered around her. The cruel reality that they were truly strangers now, despite once being a couple, pierced his heart. Theseus sighed and took a step back to look at Edith.

"Lady Edith."

Edith smiled like a delicate flower bud and asked for a meeting.

"If you have time, would you like to have a conversation with me for a moment?"

From a distance, the Duke of Beowen watched the two with shining eyes. What if she remarried? As the head of the Baldur family? But contrary to his expectations, Theseus politely but firmly rejected her request.

"Lady Edith. I'm sorry, but I don't want a private meeting."

His rejection was so clean and neat that there was no room for argument.

"Ah..."

Edith Beowen, deeply disappointed, turned away, and Theseus also turned. At that moment, his eyes met Elisabeth's. She started walking towards him, step by step, with her violet eyes tinged with red, a commanding presence, and tightly pressed lips. Her heart, once wet, could not dry no matter how hard she tried. Having experienced this before, Theseus was more worried about Lionel than anyone else. Elisabeth, who had approached through the crowd, stopped in front of him and whispered,

"I need to rest for a moment. My mouth hurts so much I can't stand it anymore."

The dark feeling in his heart floated up. Theseus couldn't help but smile and led her to a sofa set aside.

"Rest for a moment."

The cold and sharp face of Theseus Baldur changed into a gentle one, as if by magic. Edith Beowen, watching this, slumped her shoulders and shook her head.

"What did he say?"

The approaching Duke of Beowen asked in a low voice. Edith frowned and expressed her frustration.

"Father, look at the Duke's face! He doesn't want a private meeting."

Meanwhile, Elisabeth, holding the champagne glass Theseus offered, whispered,

"If the Empress shows us what she mentioned before, it must be the 'map,' right?"

"Probably. I finished the background check on Brunhild Alexa, but there was no particular reason to suspect her."

Elisabeth sipped the champagne and scanned the nobles.

"Rothschild family... even Saxony is still here?"

After the Emperor and Duke Despoina left, the Poiteau siblings also left the ballroom. Normally, the nobles loyal to the Emperor would follow suit after observing the situation. However, today, not only the moderate nobles but also some of the Emperor's loyalists remained. At that moment, the tightly closed terrace door opened, and the Empress reappeared in the ballroom. The nobles' gazes turned to her. Watching the massive wave of power, Elisabeth muttered,

"Once I officially pressure Duke Despoina tomorrow, the situation will completely change