Jeremiah replied indifferently, feeling bored. This was not the first time for Jeremiah. In this large and spacious central palace, facing the Emperor and the Imperial Knights guarding him was like facing them alone, without any allies. Even while being attacked by the Emperor and the Imperial forces who stabbed him with invisible blades, he had no choice but to silently take it for the sake of the North.
This kind of audience began right after the previous Grand Duke of Colesberg and his wife died in a carriage accident. At that time, Jeremiah was 12 years old. The Emperor would always look for an opportunity to put Jeremiah in the trap of treason and execute him whenever he found him annoying. However, in the end, he could not do so because the Colesbergs were doing a great job of acting as a defensive line protecting the Empire from monsters and foreign countries.
'If our Colesburg family, who protect the North, disappears, the Empire's northern defense line will also collapse.'
After realizing that fact, Jeremiah no longer trembled in fear when facing the Emperor. However, the Emperor, who quickly noticed that the fear had disappeared from Jeremiah's eyes, immediately tightened his grip on Jeremiah and the North and harassed them even more. From the perspective of the Grand Duke, the engagement of Caroline, which was absurd, came to fruition. In absurd circumstances, he ordered the subjugation of monsters and at the same time cut off all support for the North. Whenever the Emperor pressured him as if in retaliation, Jeremiah learned that not reacting and taking it was the easiest way to protect the North.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes as if he knew all of Jeremiah's thoughts. He made a petty expression, knowing that Jeremiah would not react even if he provoked him any further.
"Do it properly so that no damage is done to the empire."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jeremiah answered obediently again with an unfazed expression. Then the Marquis snorted beside him.
"If our Karina is seriously injured or damaged, I won't sit still."
The Marquis added in a reassuring tone.
"Ha!"
Jeremiah looked at the place where the sound came from with slightly wide eyes. It was not Jeremiah but Karina who reacted to the Marquis's words. Karina eventually couldn't hold back her laughter and let out a breathy laugh.
Just a few days ago. Maybe It was because she had a dream where she got beaten up by the Marquis, but the sight of the Marquis pretending to be a caring father who worried about his daughter was so disgusting. She also didn't like this situation where he was trying to bring her up and openly find fault with Jeremiah and embarrass him.
"Are you laughing now?"
The Emperor looked at Karina and his expression hardened coldly.
'Oh, no.'
Karina took a moment to calmly choose her words in the midst of the serious atmosphere. It was not a good idea to go against the Emperor's wishes right now.
Karina spoke with a gentle smile on her lips.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty the Emperor. I could sense my father's special concern for me, and I was so happy that I couldn't help but say it."
"Did you laugh because you were happy?"
The Emperor asked with a stern expression.
'Ah, as expected. Saying I laughed because I was happy doesn't make any sense.'
Karina clicked her tongue inwardly.
'I don't like it, but I can't help it.'
And then quickly changed course.
"I am happy, but at the same time, I am very sad that I cannot see my respected father often. The road to the North is so long and difficult, so I feel very sorry that I cannot visit him often."
Karina put her hand on her chest, pretending to be overcome with emotion.
"I wonder how shocked my father must have been when he heard the news that I was involved in a hostage situation."
Karina falsely sobbed.
"he must have stayed up all night worrying about me, and suffered greatly every day."
Karina quickly passed the answer onto the Marquis.
"Father, am I right? Were you very worried?"
The Marquis seemed extremely flustered by Karina's sudden actions. Nevertheless, Karina was certain that the Marquis would agree with her. The Emperor, Jeremiah, and the knights of the palace were watching, so he would have to wear that damned 'caring father who loves his daughter' mask. And of course, the Marquis cleared his throat and accepted Karina's words.
"My daughter understands my heart so well..."
The Marquis laughed awkwardly and covered up the situation.
"That's why they say that children need to get married to understand their parents' hearts."
A strange light appeared in Karina's eyes.
'Then that's right.'
The Marquis did not deviate one bit from her expectations.
"..."
The Emperor didn't say anything, but the atmosphere had become noticeably more relaxed than before. He had a sullen expression, but it didn't seem like he would make a fuss about it anymore.
"My daughter follows me so well. If she is like this to me, her father, she will be even better than her husband. How fortunate the House of Colesberg is to have such a wonderful daughter as her wife."
The Marquis began to mumble useless nonsense. Meanwhile, Karina turned her eyes and looked at Jeremiah. Jeremiah had an expression on his face that was hard to read.
"Okay, then I'll just go out."
The Emperor, who had been listening to the Marquis, waved one hand as if annoyed and said. It was a welcome guest.
***
Karina and Jeremiah finished their audience with the Emperor and left the palace. Marquis Millainer followed them.
"Karina!"
At the Marquis' call, Karina had no choice but to stop and look back.
"Wouldn't it be right to stop by my house and say hello to me before attending the New Year's party? Come home this evening."
Karina snorted inwardly. She had originally not intended to see him, so she was already annoyed at having to see him in the audience room. Hearing such words in such a situation was ridiculous.
"I'm sorry, but I won't be able to stop by your house as New Year's is approaching and I have limited time to prepare."
"What are you talking about? It's been a long time since we last met, so why don't you have your subordinates prepare for the New Year's party and come stay at my house?"
The reason the Marquis wanted to take Karina home like that was obvious. While Karina was staying at the Grand Duke's house, he wanted to ask her about the situation in the North and the atmosphere inside the Grand Duke's house. He also wanted to train her on how she should act in the Grand Duke's house in the future.
In the past, Karina had mistakenly thought that all these things were her father's words out of concern for her. She thought they were all his concern and affection for her. However, now she knew all too well that it wasn't. Karina made a dry expression.
"Father, didn't you say before that a daughter who got married and left home was considered an outsider?"
Karina brought up the things the Marquis usually said.
"To be clear, I am now a member of the Grand Duchy of Colesberg. I don't think I can stay with the Milliners."
"What?"
The Marquis looked at Karina with a bewildered expression. Jeremiah, who was next to her, also looked at Karina with slightly widened eyes.
'Perhaps you thought it was ridiculous that I said I was a member of the House of Colesberg.'
She could understand it. It was funny enough that she was talking nonsense about being a Colesberger when she was already preparing for a divorce in time for New Year's.
'But I don't want to go to the Milliner mansion.'
Karina pretended not to know and grabbed Jeremiah's arm.
"Then I will excuse myself now."
***
Karina and Jeremiah rode in a carriage and returned to the Grand Duke's private residence in the capital. The brief ordeal of meeting the Emperor was as tiring and exhausting as if it had been a whole day. They had just come a long way in a carriage for several days, so they were exhausted. Jen greeted Karina in front of the residence as if she had been waiting for her to return.
"Your Highness! The dress you ordered from the capital has arrived. I have it all put away in your room."
"Good job."
"Both the dress and the accessories were really pretty, probably because they were made in the capital!"
Jen continued speaking with excitement.
"Would you like to check it right away?"
As soon as Karina heard it, she shook her head and put the matter aside.
"Later. Not now."
To check that, she had to try on all the clothes to make sure they fit, check the size, and make sure the dress and accessories matched each other. But right now, Karina was too tired, both physically and mentally, to do that.
"Oh, yes. I understand."
Jen looked sullen but didn't press her any further. Karina wanted to go up and rest quickly. Karina asked Jen to prepare the bed and came up to the room. Even after arriving at the capital's mansion, Karina and Jeremiah had separate bedrooms.
'That's only natural!'
It was like this in the past, so it wasn't something new. The sun was setting soon, and the sunset seemed to be fading, but when she came out after washing, it was pitch-black. It was a dark night, but the moon was shining brightly. The moonlight pouring in through the window softly illuminated the room. Perhaps because it had been a long time since she had returned to the capital, old memories came to mind.
When Karina was young. She thought of her nanny who had held her affectionately every night before she fell asleep in bed.
'Come to think of it.'
Before she divorced and left, she thought she should visit her biological mother and nanny's graves at least once.
'Because I might not be able to come back again.'
Although she didn't have many memories of her real mother, she heard a lot about her real mother from her nanny. She had a fond memory of her hugging her with a kind face. It might be thanks to her nanny.
The nanny had been a close friend of Karina's real mother since she was young. That's why their bond was stronger than anyone else's. The nanny was able to take care of young Karina because her real mother considered her the most trustworthy person. After her mother passed away, the nanny took care of her like her own daughter. She was the only person who loved and comforted her when she was lonely and secretly abused by her father.
Karina also followed her nanny like her real mother. She was the only one who trusted and relied on her, confiding her innermost feelings. However, unfortunately, the nanny was found dead on the street after being robbed. Karina and Jeremiah were just about to get married. It was like a bolt from the blue. Karina was shocked and saddened when she heard the news of her nanny's death. But the nanny could never return. Karina always thought of the nanny who had wished for her happiness.
With her mind finally in check, Karina began to look only at Jeremiah. And she became even more blindly attached to Jeremiah.
'Maybe I wanted to fill the void left by my dead nanny.'
Karina closed her eyes, commenting indifferently. It was all meaningless now.
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