'No one else but the one the Empress Dowager cherished.'
She was angry that she had left such an impertinent task entirely to Sepia.
This was absolutely impossible.
She returned the request to the servant.
"Tell her that I cannot lend you the Ruben Palace."
"I... I understand."
The servant, who had been hesitating with a determined face, eventually gave up and left the office.
Half a day had passed since she had sent the servant away like that.
Sepia played with the nib of her pen.
In fact, it was a meaningless act since she had already finished her work.
She was half-conscious like that.
"...Ah!"
The sharp nib of the pen scratched her hand and fingers.
The blood that flowed along with the stinging pain soaked the documents.
"Oh."
She was embarrassed because more blood flowed than she had expected.
She quickly wrapped the wound with a handkerchief and the bleeding stopped, but the pain lasted for quite a while.
'Should I go back?'
At this point, it seemed like it would be a good idea to finish work early today.
Sepia was about to call her maid.
There was a commotion beyond the door.
'Why is it so noisy?'
At that moment, the office door opened wide.
Sepia's husband and his lover were standing there together.
'Are you really here?'
She had worried that he might not come, but she never thought her worries would turn out to be true.
It was complicated.
But on the other hand, this situation was absurd.
'Demios must know what that palace means to Lady Swany.'
If he knew that and came all the way here...
She couldn't keep the Emperor waiting.
Sepia stood up and asked.
"What's going on?"
"The Empress would know better."
Of course she knew.
The problem is that he's giving ridiculous orders.
Sepia strengthened her resolve once again.
"The Ruben Palace is not a place that can be rented. Lady Swanu is already living there."
The former Empress and Empress dowager, Yerdiel, passed away from an unknown illness.
It wasn’t a contagious disease.
However, due to the disease that was rotting her flesh, even the Emperor and her children didn’t approach Yerdiel.
The one who supported the former Empress to the end was none other than Viscountess Swany.
After her death, Lady Swany didn’t covet anything.
All that was left was the Ruben Palace, which was rented indefinitely.
She had done so much to deserve the extravagant hospitality she received while staying in the palace.
‘I wondered if there was some political purpose behind sending Lady Swany away.’
Why now?
Lady Swany herself was someone who had nothing to do with politics.
So there was only one reason.
‘It must be because of Titier.’
Demios wanted to treat a woman with his name the best.
She had known long ago that she would enter the palace.
But to covet the palace of someone who already had a master. And to do it with Demios at the forefront.
Her gaze turned to Titi involuntarily.
At Sepia’s gaze, she flinched and hid behind Demios.
Demios looked down at Titi, who was holding his arm tightly, and then glared at Sepia.
“You’re not even telling me to sit down. Do you not like Titi that much?”
It was a question that was not worth answering.
Who would be so gentle with their husband’s lover?
Feeling awkward was a natural reaction.
However, instead of following the natural course of events, he already saw Sepia as a wife who was obsessed with speculation.
Sepia had only one choice. Sepia nodded to Madame Remody.
“Tea, please.”
“Oh, yes.”
The maid hurried out of the office.
In the meantime, Sepia was alone at the head table, and the two were seated side by side on the sofa.
Three cups of tea and snacks were quickly placed on the table. However, no one tried to touch them.
Demios’s gaze, which had been scanning Sepia, touched the back of Sepia’s hand.
“What’s wrong with your hand?”
“It was just a scratch.”
Sepia covered her injured hand.
Titi, who had been listening to their conversation, leaned his head against Demios’s chest.
When Titi seemed to be scared and uncomfortable in this place, Demios’s gaze turned to her again.
“Titi. This isn’t just the two of us, so sit up straight.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
It seemed like she had even come up with a nickname.
Thanks to that, Demios’s voice sounded much more affectionate.
After taking care of Titi, he faced Sepia again. He had quickly forgotten the wounds Sepia had inflicted on her.
“You probably said hello back then. I came today because I wanted to ask you a favor.”
Sepia couldn’t hold it in any longer and sighed.
Demios’s brows furrowed at this, but he had to say what he had to say.
“I told you it was too much. Isn’t this the residence of none other than Mrs. Swany?”
She would have understood if he had said this much.
She had taken care of Demios’s biological mother until the end and was now just getting old.
She must have had a certain level of closeness with him, so she might have stepped back now.
However, it was purely Sepia’s wishful thinking.
“Shouldn’t we just have Madame Swany stay in another palace?”
“...Tell Madame Swany to move the palace because of His Majesty’s government?”
Of all people, to her real mother’s benefactor?
It was nonsense.
However, Demios seemed to think differently.
“It’s not like I’m going to kick Madame Swany out of the palace, but I don’t know what the problem is. I just suspect that the Empress is just nitpicking because she doesn’t want to give the palace to Titi.”
Again.
He was turning Sepia into a jealous wife.
However, the dagger didn’t stop there.
“I’ll say it again, it’s not a sin for Titi to have my name. Can you be called the Empress of the Empire after persecuting an innocent person? Even the goddess wouldn’t want that decision.”
Sepia covered her injured hand.
Titi, who had been listening to their conversation, leaned his head against Demios’s chest.
When Titi seemed to be scared and uncomfortable in this place, Demios’s gaze turned to her again.
“Titi. This isn’t just the two of us, so sit up straight.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
It seemed like she had even come up with a nickname.
Thanks to that, Demios’s voice sounded much more affectionate.
After taking care of Titi, he faced Sepia again. He had quickly forgotten the wounds Sepia had inflicted on her.
“You probably said hello back then. I came today because I wanted to ask you a favor.”
Sepia couldn’t hold it in any longer and sighed.
Demios’s brows furrowed at this, but he had to say what he had to say.
“I told you it was too much. Isn’t this the residence of none other than Mrs. Swany?”
She would have understood if he had said this much.
She had taken care of Demios’s biological mother until the end and was now just getting old.
She must have had a certain level of closeness with him, so she might have stepped back now.
However, it was purely Sepia’s wishful thinking.
“Shouldn’t we just have Madame Swany stay in another palace?”
“...Tell Madame Swany to move the palace because of His Majesty’s government?”
Of all people, to her real mother’s benefactor?
It was nonsense.
However, Demios seemed to think differently.
“It’s not like I’m going to kick Madame Swany out of the palace, but I don’t know what the problem is. I just suspect that the Empress is just nitpicking because she doesn’t want to give the palace to Titi.”
Again.
He was turning Sepia into a jealous wife.
However, the dagger didn’t stop there.
“I’ll say it again, it’s not a sin for Titi to have my name. Can you be called the Empress of the Empire after persecuting an innocent person? Even the goddess wouldn’t want that decision.”
An innocent person.
And the qualities of an Empress.
Those words, which she had hoped would not be mentioned at all to Demios, were stabbing Sepia in the heart.
She desperately suppressed the emotions that were flowing.
She couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red.
“...I can’t understand.”
“What?”
Sepia didn’t waver even when asked back. She just endured the pain that was piercing deep into her heart. Just before Demios raised his voice, Titi hugged his arm tightly.
“Your Majesty...”
Titi’s eyes had become wet.
From the moment Sepia had mentioned the word “government. ”
Demios, who noticed this, rubbed her eyes.
Then Titi began to shed large tears.
“My heart hurts so much.”
The tears that were dripping down her purple eyes brought about a sorrowful feeling.
Demios, who had been comforting Titi, glared at Sepia.
“Government? That’s such an impolite thing to say in front of Titi.”
This time, the perpetrator was Sepia.
However, she had to say what she had to say.
“Is there any other way to say it besides that word?”
The water people worship the sole goddess, Yekasia.
Yekasia used a pair of wolves called Drodian as her servants, and it is said that today’s royal family inherited their blood. It was also unprecedented for a person other than a royal couple to have a name.
‘So she’s not a concubine or a lover.’
A woman who is not a wife but a lover.
What else could there be to describe her other than a government?
Demios shut his mouth. That would be right. He had said nothing wrong.
He had nothing to say, but his face moved as if he wanted to refute something.
Titi placed a hand on Demios’ chest.
“Your Majesty, I’m fine. Don’t fight because of me. Government... It’s just as the Empress said.”
She smiled bitterly. Her pure white eyelashes fluttered as if she thought her situation was very pitiful.
Demios, who was looking down at his lover who was lost in sorrow, finally made up his mind and his eyes lit up.
“This is already the second time. Empress. You pointed a knife at Titi.”
And the qualities of an Empress.
Those words, which she had hoped would not be mentioned at all to Demios, were stabbing Sepia in the heart.
She desperately suppressed the emotions that were flowing.
She couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red.
“...I can’t understand.”
“What?”
Sepia didn’t waver even when asked back. She just endured the pain that was piercing deep into her heart. Just before Demios raised his voice, Titi hugged his arm tightly.
“Your Majesty...”
Titi’s eyes had become wet.
From the moment Sepia had mentioned the word “government. ”
Demios, who noticed this, rubbed her eyes.
Then Titi began to shed large tears.
“My heart hurts so much.”
The tears that were dripping down her purple eyes brought about a sorrowful feeling.
Demios, who had been comforting Titi, glared at Sepia.
“Government? That’s such an impolite thing to say in front of Titi.”
This time, the perpetrator was Sepia.
However, she had to say what she had to say.
“Is there any other way to say it besides that word?”
The water people worship the sole goddess, Yekasia.
Yekasia used a pair of wolves called Drodian as her servants, and it is said that today’s royal family inherited their blood. It was also unprecedented for a person other than a royal couple to have a name.
‘So she’s not a concubine or a lover.’
A woman who is not a wife but a lover.
What else could there be to describe her other than a government?
Demios shut his mouth. That would be right. He had said nothing wrong.
He had nothing to say, but his face moved as if he wanted to refute something.
Titi placed a hand on Demios’ chest.
“Your Majesty, I’m fine. Don’t fight because of me. Government... It’s just as the Empress said.”
She smiled bitterly. Her pure white eyelashes fluttered as if she thought her situation was very pitiful.
Demios, who was looking down at his lover who was lost in sorrow, finally made up his mind and his eyes lit up.
“This is already the second time. Empress. You pointed a knife at Titi.”
He felt like he was standing in court as the perpetrator.
A criminal who no one would take his side with.
“It’s not a crime for Titi to have my name on her. If you really don’t want to apologize, at least give her the palace. That’s the only thing an Empress can do.”
His determination to somehow receive the palace stood out.
Sepia bit the flesh inside her mouth.
Titi, who was looking at her like that, rubbed his cheek against Demios’ chest.
“Your Majesty, I’m really fine.”
“But didn’t you love the camellia that bloomed there?”
“I did, but... I think I was too greedy. I didn’t know that the Empress would be so upset.”
Titi lowered her gaze after watching Sepia’s expression. She even hid her face against Demios’s chest as if she was afraid to meet her gaze.
‘I got upset?’
Sepia had never raised her voice in this situation. She didn’t get angry, but only told the truth.
Demios sighed and tried to comfort Sepia this time.
“Empress, Titi was born with poor health. You can tell just by looking at her.”
Sepia knew it too.
Albinos born in the wild are weak and easily noticed, so they are quickly killed.
However, not all individuals were like that.
If an albino could be the King of a herd, would that individual really be so weak?
A criminal who no one would take his side with.
“It’s not a crime for Titi to have my name on her. If you really don’t want to apologize, at least give her the palace. That’s the only thing an Empress can do.”
His determination to somehow receive the palace stood out.
Sepia bit the flesh inside her mouth.
Titi, who was looking at her like that, rubbed his cheek against Demios’ chest.
“Your Majesty, I’m really fine.”
“But didn’t you love the camellia that bloomed there?”
“I did, but... I think I was too greedy. I didn’t know that the Empress would be so upset.”
Titi lowered her gaze after watching Sepia’s expression. She even hid her face against Demios’s chest as if she was afraid to meet her gaze.
‘I got upset?’
Sepia had never raised her voice in this situation. She didn’t get angry, but only told the truth.
Demios sighed and tried to comfort Sepia this time.
“Empress, Titi was born with poor health. You can tell just by looking at her.”
Sepia knew it too.
Albinos born in the wild are weak and easily noticed, so they are quickly killed.
However, not all individuals were like that.
If an albino could be the King of a herd, would that individual really be so weak?
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