“You were quiet yesterday, so why are you here today?”
“It’s not easy to show yourself in front of someone who tried to harm you. Aren’t you a herbivore?”
Sepia let out a laugh at those words.
The malice she felt in the carriage was still vivid.
Sepia responded to the mocking gaze.
“I didn’t push Lady Titi.”
It was only later that she realized that Demios had kept his breakfast promise because it was for Titi’s sake.
Silence fell over the table.
As the soup began to cool, Demios opened his mouth with a deep sigh.
“Speculation is not good. Especially not between us.”
Between us... you say?
Sepia’s pupils shook.
What was he talking about now?
Memories from their childhood. Or their relationship that had solidified before it even began?
Or maybe he was talking about their future relationship.
She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.
“I don’t know what you heard or how you came here, but I can tell you this one thing. I didn’t push Lady Titi.”
The calm voice was telling the truth.
Demios, who was looking at her, roughly ran his hair up his head as if he was tired.
“You’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t come here just to question you.”
“Then what?”
“We used to have breakfast together once a week. I just added a warning to that.”
He added as if Sepia was being overly sensitive.
“Anyway, Titi wasn’t hurt, so let’s let this slide this time.”
It was to tell her to be careful next time.
Demios seemed to be ending the conversation with that as he picked up the cutlery.
The silver knife gently sliced the steak.
As the rare meat split open, the red juice stained the pure white plate.
Human only in appearance, the beast preferred meat day and night.
Even as she watched him continue his meal in moderation, Sepia had no intention of joining in.
“I’m not going overboard, I told you I didn’t do it.”
The tips of his fingers, which had been moving flexibly, stopped in midair.
Demios put down his utensils and warned her.
“Don’t make matters worse here, Empress. If you continue to be so stubborn, I’ll have no choice but to pursue this matter.”
Stubbornness?
How could a single word be so astonishing?
Sepia asked back, her patience cracking.
“Do you have any evidence? Proof that I pushed Lady Titi.”
Demios closed his mouth at her question.
It was obvious that there was none.
Only Sepia and Titi were in the carriage that day.
That’s why Titi was able to frame Sepia as the culprit of an accident that didn’t even happen.
Sepia came to a conclusion at the quiet table.
“You were pursuing me without any evidence. You didn’t even pretend to listen to what I was saying.”
“Anyway, Titi wasn’t hurt, so let’s let this slide this time.”
It was to tell her to be careful next time.
Demios seemed to be ending the conversation with that as he picked up the cutlery.
The silver knife gently sliced the steak.
As the rare meat split open, the red juice stained the pure white plate.
Human only in appearance, the beast preferred meat day and night.
Even as she watched him continue his meal in moderation, Sepia had no intention of joining in.
“I’m not going overboard, I told you I didn’t do it.”
The tips of his fingers, which had been moving flexibly, stopped in midair.
Demios put down his utensils and warned her.
“Don’t make matters worse here, Empress. If you continue to be so stubborn, I’ll have no choice but to pursue this matter.”
Stubbornness?
How could a single word be so astonishing?
Sepia asked back, her patience cracking.
“Do you have any evidence? Proof that I pushed Lady Titi.”
Demios closed his mouth at her question.
It was obvious that there was none.
Only Sepia and Titi were in the carriage that day.
That’s why Titi was able to frame Sepia as the culprit of an accident that didn’t even happen.
Sepia came to a conclusion at the quiet table.
“You were pursuing me without any evidence. You didn’t even pretend to listen to what I was saying.”
Sepia couldn’t help but laugh. Even if the feelings had disappeared in the past, weren’t they still a couple?
Even if Tiri was a woman with his name, it was like that. To believe only one side’s words and try to force the other one.
Her heart, which had been managing things well, wavered.
However, the aristocratic etiquette that she had been taught for a long time, maintained Sepia’s expression.
A terrible silence continued.
Demios’s brow furrowed at the continued confrontation.
To him, this situation itself seemed annoying and tiring.
“You seem too excited. And there’s no reason for Titi to tell me such a lie.”
“There’s no reason for me to push her away either.”
She was the one who got hit in the back of the head.
Far from getting excited, her mind was cooling down as time passed.
Both sides had their own arguments.
If it wasn’t accepted anyway, there was no need to talk anymore.
Sepia chose to get up from her seat.
“I should get up first. Enjoy your breakfast.”
She said briefly and politely and turned around without looking back again.
Only the low sound of heels echoed through the banquet hall.
Red eyes followed his back as he walked away.
A week had passed since breakfast.
In the meantime, she had not seen Demios again.
Instead, she had only heard rumors about the Emperor and his name.
'This is better.'
It was better not to meet him at all than to be treated as a criminal for something she didn't do.
After the carriage incident, Titi had been staying at the imperial palace.
She didn't just stay there.
There were eyewitness accounts that the two had been seen all over the palace.
It was news that Sepia couldn't help but know.
The forces that had opposed her becoming Empress in the past were extremely welcoming of Titi.
What's more, they were even spreading rumors like this.
'The Emperor has found his true companion.'
It was very provocative as if telling Sepia to listen.
This was also expected, so she wasn't surprised.
Sepia buried her face in a pile of documents. She had been spending more time in her office lately.
At least she could avoid people's stares here.
Preparations for the victory ceremony were all finished, so now it was time to review whether there were any other irregularities.
Another document caught her eye as Sepia looked over the related information.
The list of participants in the victory ceremony.
Even though she had already checked several times, her hand reached out on its own.
Sepia looked through each page. She looked again, but the man’s name was nowhere to be seen.
‘Wasn’t he someone who had returned from the subjugation?’
She thought her guess was off, but it didn’t feel that way.
Sometimes, there were people with two names.
‘If not, why didn’t he attend the party?’
However, this wasn’t a very credible guess either.
The nobles involved were required to attend the victory ceremony, and the high-ranking ones even more so.
‘He didn’t seem like an ordinary person.’
A large hand covered in scars loomed before her eyes.
Even the solid body that the thin hem of his clothes couldn’t hide.
A carnivorous beast.
A puma? Or even further...
Sepia, who had been thinking of him, quickly shook her head.
‘What are you thinking about right now?’
Her immersion was too much. She could return the coat someday. If that was difficult, then there was nothing she could do.
It was when Sepia was trying to sort out the list.
The top of the attendee list.
The name of the main character of the victory ceremony caught her attention.
'Duke Claude Leofor.'
All she knew was his name and age, and all other information was shrouded in mystery.
'Who could he be?'
Among the high-ranking nobles, the only one Sepia had not met was the Duke.
A blood relative that Demios openly held inimical hostility toward.
She had tried to learn about Duke Claude several times but had been blocked.
'Even I, the Empress, cannot confirm it.'
It was also the first time she had learned that information about him was only accessible to the Emperor.
What on earth was intertwined with him that made it so ironclad?
Sepia was lost in thought.
Knock knock.
Even if Tiri was a woman with his name, it was like that. To believe only one side’s words and try to force the other one.
Her heart, which had been managing things well, wavered.
However, the aristocratic etiquette that she had been taught for a long time, maintained Sepia’s expression.
A terrible silence continued.
Demios’s brow furrowed at the continued confrontation.
To him, this situation itself seemed annoying and tiring.
“You seem too excited. And there’s no reason for Titi to tell me such a lie.”
“There’s no reason for me to push her away either.”
She was the one who got hit in the back of the head.
Far from getting excited, her mind was cooling down as time passed.
Both sides had their own arguments.
If it wasn’t accepted anyway, there was no need to talk anymore.
Sepia chose to get up from her seat.
“I should get up first. Enjoy your breakfast.”
She said briefly and politely and turned around without looking back again.
Only the low sound of heels echoed through the banquet hall.
Red eyes followed his back as he walked away.
***
A week had passed since breakfast.
In the meantime, she had not seen Demios again.
Instead, she had only heard rumors about the Emperor and his name.
'This is better.'
It was better not to meet him at all than to be treated as a criminal for something she didn't do.
After the carriage incident, Titi had been staying at the imperial palace.
She didn't just stay there.
There were eyewitness accounts that the two had been seen all over the palace.
It was news that Sepia couldn't help but know.
The forces that had opposed her becoming Empress in the past were extremely welcoming of Titi.
What's more, they were even spreading rumors like this.
'The Emperor has found his true companion.'
It was very provocative as if telling Sepia to listen.
This was also expected, so she wasn't surprised.
Sepia buried her face in a pile of documents. She had been spending more time in her office lately.
At least she could avoid people's stares here.
Preparations for the victory ceremony were all finished, so now it was time to review whether there were any other irregularities.
Another document caught her eye as Sepia looked over the related information.
The list of participants in the victory ceremony.
Even though she had already checked several times, her hand reached out on its own.
Sepia looked through each page. She looked again, but the man’s name was nowhere to be seen.
‘Wasn’t he someone who had returned from the subjugation?’
She thought her guess was off, but it didn’t feel that way.
Sometimes, there were people with two names.
‘If not, why didn’t he attend the party?’
However, this wasn’t a very credible guess either.
The nobles involved were required to attend the victory ceremony, and the high-ranking ones even more so.
‘He didn’t seem like an ordinary person.’
A large hand covered in scars loomed before her eyes.
Even the solid body that the thin hem of his clothes couldn’t hide.
A carnivorous beast.
A puma? Or even further...
Sepia, who had been thinking of him, quickly shook her head.
‘What are you thinking about right now?’
Her immersion was too much. She could return the coat someday. If that was difficult, then there was nothing she could do.
It was when Sepia was trying to sort out the list.
The top of the attendee list.
The name of the main character of the victory ceremony caught her attention.
'Duke Claude Leofor.'
All she knew was his name and age, and all other information was shrouded in mystery.
'Who could he be?'
Among the high-ranking nobles, the only one Sepia had not met was the Duke.
A blood relative that Demios openly held inimical hostility toward.
She had tried to learn about Duke Claude several times but had been blocked.
'Even I, the Empress, cannot confirm it.'
It was also the first time she had learned that information about him was only accessible to the Emperor.
What on earth was intertwined with him that made it so ironclad?
Sepia was lost in thought.
Knock knock.
A maid came in at the sound of a knock.
It was Madame Remody, the nightingale.
"Excuse me, Empress."
There was a hint of trouble in her clear voice.
Sepia asked in confusion.
"What is it?"
"The Emperor's palace sent a servant."
The maids were also very aware of the current situation, so they were very cautious about matters related to the emperor.
'What's going on?'
He had been quiet until now, but now he's sending a servant.
It was something that she couldn't just ignore forever.
After all, he was the Emperor, and they were a married couple.
"Come in."
"Yes. Please wait a moment."
After a while, Madame Remody brought a servant from the imperial palace.
He was a raccoon beast with a face that was quite familiar.
What could he have brought that made his expression so uncomfortable?
The servant swallowed dry saliva and handed Sepia a document.
"This is a request sent directly by His Majesty."
Sepia accepted the document, puzzled.
The content of the request was brief.
'...Please lend the Ruben Palace to Titier?'
The Ruben Palace, the third largest in the imperial palace and famous for its beautiful camellias, was the most valuable place after the Empress's Palace.
Currently, the White Suin, who was a close friend of the former Empress, was lending it indefinitely.
The management and responsibility for all palaces in the imperial palace except the Emperor's Palace were all under the Empress's jurisdiction.
It was Sepia’s job to lend it or grant certain authority, so it was proper procedure for the request to be submitted to her.
But that place.
“Currently, Viscountess Swany is residing in the Ruben Palace.”
“I know that too...”
Demios’s servant wiped away the cold sweat.
Sepia could tell the truth as she watched the servant turn pale.
‘So... Are you saying that I should use my authority to kick out Lady Swany and put Titier in her place?’
Viscountess Swany was a maid who served the former Empress Yerdial her entire life.
Recognized for her achievements, Swany continued to receive the benefits of the palace even after Yerdial passed away.
Of course, the current Empress was Sepia, so she had the authority to kick her out of the palace.
‘No matter what, it’s like that.’
It was Madame Remody, the nightingale.
"Excuse me, Empress."
There was a hint of trouble in her clear voice.
Sepia asked in confusion.
"What is it?"
"The Emperor's palace sent a servant."
The maids were also very aware of the current situation, so they were very cautious about matters related to the emperor.
'What's going on?'
He had been quiet until now, but now he's sending a servant.
It was something that she couldn't just ignore forever.
After all, he was the Emperor, and they were a married couple.
"Come in."
"Yes. Please wait a moment."
After a while, Madame Remody brought a servant from the imperial palace.
He was a raccoon beast with a face that was quite familiar.
What could he have brought that made his expression so uncomfortable?
The servant swallowed dry saliva and handed Sepia a document.
"This is a request sent directly by His Majesty."
Sepia accepted the document, puzzled.
The content of the request was brief.
'...Please lend the Ruben Palace to Titier?'
The Ruben Palace, the third largest in the imperial palace and famous for its beautiful camellias, was the most valuable place after the Empress's Palace.
Currently, the White Suin, who was a close friend of the former Empress, was lending it indefinitely.
The management and responsibility for all palaces in the imperial palace except the Emperor's Palace were all under the Empress's jurisdiction.
It was Sepia’s job to lend it or grant certain authority, so it was proper procedure for the request to be submitted to her.
But that place.
“Currently, Viscountess Swany is residing in the Ruben Palace.”
“I know that too...”
Demios’s servant wiped away the cold sweat.
Sepia could tell the truth as she watched the servant turn pale.
‘So... Are you saying that I should use my authority to kick out Lady Swany and put Titier in her place?’
Viscountess Swany was a maid who served the former Empress Yerdial her entire life.
Recognized for her achievements, Swany continued to receive the benefits of the palace even after Yerdial passed away.
Of course, the current Empress was Sepia, so she had the authority to kick her out of the palace.
‘No matter what, it’s like that.’
After all, there should be a minimum level of morality, right?
After all, Lady Swany was the one who helped Sepia when she became Empress.
At that time, Yerdial, who had become the Empress Dowager, was so ill that she could not even utter a word, and two years later, Sepia had to hold a funeral for the Empress Dowager.
After all, Lady Swany was the one who helped Sepia when she became Empress.
At that time, Yerdial, who had become the Empress Dowager, was so ill that she could not even utter a word, and two years later, Sepia had to hold a funeral for the Empress Dowager.
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