'But even if I return to the territory...'
It was clear that the people of LeopoId, who had suffered from famine in the past, still believed that the cause of the plague was Roxanne.
Roxanne had nowhere to settle down.
The same was true for Sepia.
Even if she threw everything away and returned to her home country, Huron would never accept Sepia.
Finally, Sepia carefully opened her mouth.
"Actually, I heard about the problems that occurred in Leopold's territory."
It was clear that the people of LeopoId, who had suffered from famine in the past, still believed that the cause of the plague was Roxanne.
Roxanne had nowhere to settle down.
The same was true for Sepia.
Even if she threw everything away and returned to her home country, Huron would never accept Sepia.
Finally, Sepia carefully opened her mouth.
"Actually, I heard about the problems that occurred in Leopold's territory."
Roxanne smiled as if he was a little troubled by her words.
"Then you must know that the people of the territory will not like me."
Despite knowing about the past, Roxanne did not make any excuses or explanations.
Sepia was already hurt by his indifferent reaction.
He must have been a little over ten years old when the plague broke out.
How on earth did he, a mere boy, spread the disease?
Roxanne was nothing more than a scapegoat used to assassinate the Red King and Queen.
“I believe that Roxanne was framed. And that someday the misunderstandings about you will be cleared up.”
As for why she brought up his past, it was because she wanted to let him know that there was at least one person who believed in him.
Sometimes, she knew too well that just knowing that she was not alone could be a great comfort.
“...Thank you for believing in me. Even my own nanny didn’t believe in me.”
Sepia was able to infer what had happened to him through their short conversation.
The one who went down to the village to spread the rumor was Roxanne’s nanny.
And the fact that the Red King and Queen were the only ones who believed in the young boy.
‘Who framed him like that?’
It was certain that he had done this by shooting the Red King and Queen, but even after so much time had passed, the culprit had not been found.
It would be nice if Roxanne could clear hia name before returning to the territory.
It seemed that even his return would not be smooth.
However, before that, finding the enemy King’s relics came first.
“Are you looking for them going smoothly?”
“I feel bad for asking you this since I even borrowed a map... Actually, I’m having a hard time finding them. There aren’t many clues.”
Sepia shook her head at him, who had a troubled expression.
“No. If they were easy to find, you wouldn’t have even told me.”
It was a difficult problem, after all.
The castle itself was large, and it seemed that even the person searching for them didn’t know exactly what a relic was. Still, he wouldn’t have hidden them away for them to find if they were impossible to find.
Sepia consoled him.
“There must be a reason the enemy King hid them. But if you don’t give up, you’ll be able to find them.”
“As long as you don’t give up... Sepia always gives me courage.”
“If it’s courage, Roxanne would have more. Since you’ve been on the front lines for a long time.”
But why. She wanted to ask if he was hesitating to find a lover.
But she thought she should refrain from saying anything that crossed the line.
After that day, she couldn’t hear anything about a lover from Roxanne.
Was he trying to find one?
Or had he already found one?
Sepia had many questions she wanted to ask, but she hesitated because she thought it might be unnecessary meddling.
At that moment, the last remaining pin rolled to the floor.
It was a black king.
“I’ll pick it up.”
“No, I will.”
The king was a little closer to Sepia.
At the same time, the two of them, bending down, reached out for the pin.
Their hands met.
"Then you must know that the people of the territory will not like me."
Despite knowing about the past, Roxanne did not make any excuses or explanations.
Sepia was already hurt by his indifferent reaction.
He must have been a little over ten years old when the plague broke out.
How on earth did he, a mere boy, spread the disease?
Roxanne was nothing more than a scapegoat used to assassinate the Red King and Queen.
“I believe that Roxanne was framed. And that someday the misunderstandings about you will be cleared up.”
As for why she brought up his past, it was because she wanted to let him know that there was at least one person who believed in him.
Sometimes, she knew too well that just knowing that she was not alone could be a great comfort.
“...Thank you for believing in me. Even my own nanny didn’t believe in me.”
Sepia was able to infer what had happened to him through their short conversation.
The one who went down to the village to spread the rumor was Roxanne’s nanny.
And the fact that the Red King and Queen were the only ones who believed in the young boy.
‘Who framed him like that?’
It was certain that he had done this by shooting the Red King and Queen, but even after so much time had passed, the culprit had not been found.
It would be nice if Roxanne could clear hia name before returning to the territory.
It seemed that even his return would not be smooth.
However, before that, finding the enemy King’s relics came first.
“Are you looking for them going smoothly?”
“I feel bad for asking you this since I even borrowed a map... Actually, I’m having a hard time finding them. There aren’t many clues.”
Sepia shook her head at him, who had a troubled expression.
“No. If they were easy to find, you wouldn’t have even told me.”
It was a difficult problem, after all.
The castle itself was large, and it seemed that even the person searching for them didn’t know exactly what a relic was. Still, he wouldn’t have hidden them away for them to find if they were impossible to find.
Sepia consoled him.
“There must be a reason the enemy King hid them. But if you don’t give up, you’ll be able to find them.”
“As long as you don’t give up... Sepia always gives me courage.”
“If it’s courage, Roxanne would have more. Since you’ve been on the front lines for a long time.”
But why. She wanted to ask if he was hesitating to find a lover.
But she thought she should refrain from saying anything that crossed the line.
After that day, she couldn’t hear anything about a lover from Roxanne.
Was he trying to find one?
Or had he already found one?
Sepia had many questions she wanted to ask, but she hesitated because she thought it might be unnecessary meddling.
At that moment, the last remaining pin rolled to the floor.
It was a black king.
“I’ll pick it up.”
“No, I will.”
The king was a little closer to Sepia.
At the same time, the two of them, bending down, reached out for the pin.
Their hands met.
Flinch.
Sepia curled her fingers.
It was she who picked up the pin. Their eyes met at close range, but they were ambiguous.
Just like when they were acting as lovers.
Sepia was the first to move. She got up and handed the king she had picked up back to him.
“...It’s here.”
“Thank you.”
He took the pin and cleaned up the chessboard.
Now it was time to send Roxanne away. Without being able to ask everything he wanted to ask.
Was it reading Sepia's intentions? It was the moment Roxanne opened his mouth.
"Actually..."
"Excuse me, Your Majesty."
At the same time, the drawing-room door opened and Madame Remody came in.
"What is it?"
"That is... His Majesty has come to visit."
The maid suddenly appeared and told her the news as if she was sorry.
Madame Remody looked as flustered as Sepia at the Emperor’s unexpected visit.
“Suddenly? Is he outside right now?”
“Yes. He is waiting in another reception room. I told His Majesty that there was a guest who had arrived earlier..."
Such a sudden visit.
Sepia was surprised and got up from her seat.
She was even more flustered because she had expected not to see him for the rest of the winter.
“What’s going on?”
She could only guess that it was something so serious that he had to tell her in person.
Roxanne, who had heard the news with her, asked calmly.
“It must be urgent business.”
“I guess so.”
Sepia agreed.
Now, the only reason the Emperor would visit Sepia was for national affairs.
However, she was worried about Demios and Roxanne's meeting.
She knew what kind of misunderstanding he would have.
Sepia, who had made up her mind, asked the maid.
“Please tell him to wait a moment.”
“Understood.”
She didn’t want any unnecessary conflict to occur.
It was when Sepia, who had planned to face Demios after sending Roxanne back, turned around.
Behind Madame Remody.
Red eyes were looking at her.
“The maid hesitated, and here’s the reason.”
It was she who picked up the pin. Their eyes met at close range, but they were ambiguous.
Just like when they were acting as lovers.
Sepia was the first to move. She got up and handed the king she had picked up back to him.
“...It’s here.”
“Thank you.”
He took the pin and cleaned up the chessboard.
Now it was time to send Roxanne away. Without being able to ask everything he wanted to ask.
Was it reading Sepia's intentions? It was the moment Roxanne opened his mouth.
"Actually..."
"Excuse me, Your Majesty."
At the same time, the drawing-room door opened and Madame Remody came in.
"What is it?"
"That is... His Majesty has come to visit."
The maid suddenly appeared and told her the news as if she was sorry.
Madame Remody looked as flustered as Sepia at the Emperor’s unexpected visit.
“Suddenly? Is he outside right now?”
“Yes. He is waiting in another reception room. I told His Majesty that there was a guest who had arrived earlier..."
Such a sudden visit.
Sepia was surprised and got up from her seat.
She was even more flustered because she had expected not to see him for the rest of the winter.
“What’s going on?”
She could only guess that it was something so serious that he had to tell her in person.
Roxanne, who had heard the news with her, asked calmly.
“It must be urgent business.”
“I guess so.”
Sepia agreed.
Now, the only reason the Emperor would visit Sepia was for national affairs.
However, she was worried about Demios and Roxanne's meeting.
She knew what kind of misunderstanding he would have.
Sepia, who had made up her mind, asked the maid.
“Please tell him to wait a moment.”
“Understood.”
She didn’t want any unnecessary conflict to occur.
It was when Sepia, who had planned to face Demios after sending Roxanne back, turned around.
Behind Madame Remody.
Red eyes were looking at her.
“The maid hesitated, and here’s the reason.”
When the surprised lady reflexively stepped aside, he came inside.
Demios looked back and forth between Sepia and Roxanne and sneered.
“You said it was to cover up the rumor with another rumor. I guess that’s not really the case.”
“... I don’t know what you were thinking, but we just played chess.”
Demios’s gaze turned to the chess box Roxanne was in.
The Emperor’s gaze, which had snickered, cooled.
“I wonder what you were going to do after chess.”
“Nothing.”
It was true.
Roxanne was going to go back now.
Whether he believed it or not, her relationship with the Duke had already been explained.
To be honest, even having to explain everything she had been doing with Roxanne felt uncomfortable.
Sepia asked him why he had come.
“What brings you to the Empress’s Palace?”
Was there a problem with the waterway project because it was winter?
Since Demios had the authority to carry out construction in the eastern part, he was supposed to be reported to first.
‘If not...’
Sepia was engrossed in the projects she had jointly worked on with the Emperor.
“What is it... You’re acting as if there must be some special problem with a husband finding his wife.”
Demios’s voice was low.
Contrary to his sharp temper, Sepia was only confused.
Husband and wife.
She was embarrassed that he had suddenly come and brought up their relationship.
‘Hasn’t the love between a couple disappeared now?’
When Demios brought in the government, even the last ties that had connected him and Sepia were severed.
Perhaps that ties had been called the love of the past.
Now, all that was left between them was the Emperor and the Empress.
And the responsibilities and duties that came with such a noble position. That was all she thought.
‘But why...’
He was the one who had canceled their meeting, citing the government’s illness.
But she had told herself that it was okay.
So Demios should not show up late and say things that would shake her heart.
“...Roxanne, I’m sorry, but would you like to leave now?”
“If Sepia wishes.”
Demios’s brow furrowed when Roxanne called the Empress’s name.
However, Sepia had no time to worry about the emperor’s reaction. She had to find out today.
The Emperor’s strange attitude. The reason for it.
Roxanne greeted her as if promising to meet again.
“I’ll see you next time.”
“Yes. Be careful.”
Demios looked back and forth between Sepia and Roxanne and sneered.
“You said it was to cover up the rumor with another rumor. I guess that’s not really the case.”
“... I don’t know what you were thinking, but we just played chess.”
Demios’s gaze turned to the chess box Roxanne was in.
The Emperor’s gaze, which had snickered, cooled.
“I wonder what you were going to do after chess.”
“Nothing.”
It was true.
Roxanne was going to go back now.
Whether he believed it or not, her relationship with the Duke had already been explained.
To be honest, even having to explain everything she had been doing with Roxanne felt uncomfortable.
Sepia asked him why he had come.
“What brings you to the Empress’s Palace?”
Was there a problem with the waterway project because it was winter?
Since Demios had the authority to carry out construction in the eastern part, he was supposed to be reported to first.
‘If not...’
Sepia was engrossed in the projects she had jointly worked on with the Emperor.
“What is it... You’re acting as if there must be some special problem with a husband finding his wife.”
Demios’s voice was low.
Contrary to his sharp temper, Sepia was only confused.
Husband and wife.
She was embarrassed that he had suddenly come and brought up their relationship.
‘Hasn’t the love between a couple disappeared now?’
When Demios brought in the government, even the last ties that had connected him and Sepia were severed.
Perhaps that ties had been called the love of the past.
Now, all that was left between them was the Emperor and the Empress.
And the responsibilities and duties that came with such a noble position. That was all she thought.
‘But why...’
He was the one who had canceled their meeting, citing the government’s illness.
But she had told herself that it was okay.
So Demios should not show up late and say things that would shake her heart.
“...Roxanne, I’m sorry, but would you like to leave now?”
“If Sepia wishes.”
Demios’s brow furrowed when Roxanne called the Empress’s name.
However, Sepia had no time to worry about the emperor’s reaction. She had to find out today.
The Emperor’s strange attitude. The reason for it.
Roxanne greeted her as if promising to meet again.
“I’ll see you next time.”
“Yes. Be careful.”
She felt bad about sending Roxanne away as if she was being chased.
However, he turned around with a gentle smile as if telling her not to worry.
The male passed by the male.
The door closed with a moment of coldness.
The only ones left were Sepia and the Emperor. The two of them.
“Was it necessary to meet with the Duke today? It seemed like you were naturally going to meet again.”
“...Yes. It’s not about the rumors, but I have something else to discuss.”
If he insisted on talking about maps, it would only lead to an even more uncomfortable situation.
“Between the Duke and the Empress? A passing dog would laugh.”
“Well, no matter how often I meet the Duke, it would be less than the time Your Majesty meets the government. Isn’t it true that you came from the palace where Lady Titi is staying?”
He lost his smile at Sepia’s question.
Sepia laughed as she watched him unable to answer.
No matter how much of a name he had, he didn’t even think of hiding his meeting with the government.
‘It’s not polite for a married couple.’
But even that was the Emperor and Empress. If they were only two titles apart, there was no need to be polite.
Sepia asked bluntly.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Your Majesty, you talked to me about my behavior as an Empress. But why are you suddenly coming here to talk about our relationship as a married couple? I don’t know why.”
Wasn’t he leaving her?
Did he even intend to leave in the first place?
If Sepia had not been the woman in the revelation, the Emperor would never have taken his past lover as his wife.
However, he turned around with a gentle smile as if telling her not to worry.
The male passed by the male.
The door closed with a moment of coldness.
The only ones left were Sepia and the Emperor. The two of them.
“Was it necessary to meet with the Duke today? It seemed like you were naturally going to meet again.”
“...Yes. It’s not about the rumors, but I have something else to discuss.”
If he insisted on talking about maps, it would only lead to an even more uncomfortable situation.
“Between the Duke and the Empress? A passing dog would laugh.”
“Well, no matter how often I meet the Duke, it would be less than the time Your Majesty meets the government. Isn’t it true that you came from the palace where Lady Titi is staying?”
He lost his smile at Sepia’s question.
Sepia laughed as she watched him unable to answer.
No matter how much of a name he had, he didn’t even think of hiding his meeting with the government.
‘It’s not polite for a married couple.’
But even that was the Emperor and Empress. If they were only two titles apart, there was no need to be polite.
Sepia asked bluntly.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Your Majesty, you talked to me about my behavior as an Empress. But why are you suddenly coming here to talk about our relationship as a married couple? I don’t know why.”
Wasn’t he leaving her?
Did he even intend to leave in the first place?
If Sepia had not been the woman in the revelation, the Emperor would never have taken his past lover as his wife.
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