Inheriting her legacy, Swany also knew how to be very courteous to the Emperor, but Swany had consistently maintained an attitude that even the Emperor had nothing to do with her since the death of the former Empress.
In fact, she had not expected Swany to react so sharply to Titi.
'I'll have to think about it a little more.'
The truth that she had to tell Roxanne and the traces that Swany had left behind.
The spring, which contained a slight cold, was nothing but dizzying.
On the day of the charity party.
This year's party was held in the banquet hall on the east side of the Empress's Palace.
Previously, it was held in a relatively large reception room in the west wing of the Empress's Palace, but this party could not accommodate all the invited guests unless it was a hall.
All the nobles who got off the carriage were wearing flame-shaped crystal brooches on their chests.
The charity's souvenirs change every year, but this year, many of the attendees wanted to get more souvenirs than their own in the shape of flames that burn away evil.
Sepia finished her final dressing in the main building.
“The dress really suits you.”
“It looks like the color of the Empress’s eyes was taken out. How can you be so beautiful!”
The maids continued to compliment her.
Sepia was wearing a blue dress.
The mermaid-style dress, which flared out at the very end, was decorated with blue and gold thread.
Partners would usually match their dress codes before the party.
The dress was sent by Roxanne.
Blue is a color that symbolizes hope all over the world, and it is Sepia’s favorite color.
Above all, the dress fit her perfectly without a single error.
“It’s not easy to fit a dress like this even if you measure it.”
The maids who had prepared a fitting as soon as they received the dress all responded with surprise.
Sepia was surprised, but she didn’t show it.
In fact, she had not expected Swany to react so sharply to Titi.
'I'll have to think about it a little more.'
The truth that she had to tell Roxanne and the traces that Swany had left behind.
The spring, which contained a slight cold, was nothing but dizzying.
***
On the day of the charity party.
This year's party was held in the banquet hall on the east side of the Empress's Palace.
Previously, it was held in a relatively large reception room in the west wing of the Empress's Palace, but this party could not accommodate all the invited guests unless it was a hall.
All the nobles who got off the carriage were wearing flame-shaped crystal brooches on their chests.
The charity's souvenirs change every year, but this year, many of the attendees wanted to get more souvenirs than their own in the shape of flames that burn away evil.
Sepia finished her final dressing in the main building.
“The dress really suits you.”
“It looks like the color of the Empress’s eyes was taken out. How can you be so beautiful!”
The maids continued to compliment her.
Sepia was wearing a blue dress.
The mermaid-style dress, which flared out at the very end, was decorated with blue and gold thread.
Partners would usually match their dress codes before the party.
The dress was sent by Roxanne.
Blue is a color that symbolizes hope all over the world, and it is Sepia’s favorite color.
Above all, the dress fit her perfectly without a single error.
“It’s not easy to fit a dress like this even if you measure it.”
The maids who had prepared a fitting as soon as they received the dress all responded with surprise.
Sepia was surprised, but she didn’t show it.
“I wonder if it’s okay.”
Sepia looked into the mirror.
It had been a long time since she had worn a party dress because she had been going out a lot.
With her long blond hair swept to one side and sapphire earrings on, it seemed to go well with the dress.
Sepia came out of the main building to go to the banquet hall on the east side.
As he had said before, Roxanne was waiting for Sepia in front of her.
He was wearing a deep blue suit that was one shade lower in saturation than Sepia’s dress.
Their eyes met.
Roxanne stopped in his tracks and stared at her as if he was entranced.
‘Is it strange?’
She was a little worried because it was her first time wearing a dress of this design.
However, Roxanne’s smile that followed was bright enough to completely forget about such worries.
“Excuse me. It’s much more beautiful than I imagined, no. It’s incomparably more beautiful. I was momentarily distracted.”
Sepia lowered her eyes, surprised by the unexpected compliment.
“Does it... suit me?”
“It’s absolutely perfect.”
Sepia answered in response to that bright smile.
“Roxanne too. Blue suits you well.”
It wasn’t an empty remark, it really was.
In fact, he would look good in anything.
The suit would be highlighted by his body.
“Thank you. It’s actually my favorite color.”
“...Really? Me too.”
When Sepia was surprised, he asked and smiled gently.
“I think we have a lot in common.”
At the end of her words, Roxanne, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, held out his hand to her.
“Would you grant me the honor of escorting you?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Roxanne grabbed her hand and kissed it.
Sepia looked down at him kissing the back of her hand, unaware that her heartbeat, which should have been faint, was growing stronger.
Sepia entered the party hall with Roxanne.
The nobles alternated between expecting the Empress to appear with her partner and expressing surprise.
However, no one could deny that the Empress and the Duke were a well-matched pair.
Sepia, who was standing in the center with Roxanne, raised her glass of champagne.
“I hope that with the flame of good deeds that melted winter, you will burn away even bad luck.”
“With the flame of good deeds!”
Everyone in attendance raised their glasses at the Empress’s short speech.
Sepia quickly scanned the crowd as they continued to shout.
'Madam Swaney didn't come.'
It was a result she had already expected.
Even if she had attended, she wouldn’t have been able to dig up what had happened that day, and she wouldn’t have been able to tell Roxanne the truth either. She had already decided to tell him the truth before the charity party, but it wasn’t easy to say it.
It was when Sepia was looking around.
Roxanne said, raising his glass to the glass she was holding.
“I’m glad I can be Sepia’s partner.”
When Sepia asked with her eyes what he meant,
“Because you never know what kind of beast might be lurking around you.”
Since that confession, Roxanne had been revealing his jealousy toward her without holding back.
“Back then... It was just a strange rumor.”
“I guess it was used as an excuse to approach Sepia.”
Roxanne clinked his glasses and took a sip of champagne.
Unlike the indifferent Empress, he could clearly see the males panting at Sepia.
When Sepia silently handed over the champagne, the servant standing outside the hall entrance opened the door wide.
As Sepia was puzzled by the servant’s expression, which clearly showed a look of bewilderment, her eyes met with an uninvited guest.
‘...Demios?’
The Emperor and his government were coming inside.
The hall became quiet at Demios’s sudden appearance.
Everyone knew that the Emperor had blocked the launch of the charity organization.
Some people hurriedly turned around, fearing that they might get his attention.
Demios sneered at them.
“The atmosphere is strange. It’s like we’ve come to a place we shouldn’t be.”
“No way, Your Majesty. Everything in the empire belongs to Your Majesty. How dare there be a place that doesn’t welcome You.”
Titi, dressed in a pink dress, hugged his arm and tried to appease him.
A long silence continued in the hall.
Sepia’s face hardened. Roxanne, who noticed this, blocked Demios’s path.
“Your Majesty, this party is only open to donors.”
“...Duke.”
Demios’s expression distorted at the appearance of Roxanne, who blocked his path.
Above all, the Duke and Empress’s attire matched their partners’.
The Emperor had never shown any interest in charity parties.
It was unclear why he had come all the way here, but Sepia wanted Demios to return.
‘If we’re not careful, there could be trouble.’
Sepia looked into the mirror.
It had been a long time since she had worn a party dress because she had been going out a lot.
With her long blond hair swept to one side and sapphire earrings on, it seemed to go well with the dress.
Sepia came out of the main building to go to the banquet hall on the east side.
As he had said before, Roxanne was waiting for Sepia in front of her.
He was wearing a deep blue suit that was one shade lower in saturation than Sepia’s dress.
Their eyes met.
Roxanne stopped in his tracks and stared at her as if he was entranced.
‘Is it strange?’
She was a little worried because it was her first time wearing a dress of this design.
However, Roxanne’s smile that followed was bright enough to completely forget about such worries.
“Excuse me. It’s much more beautiful than I imagined, no. It’s incomparably more beautiful. I was momentarily distracted.”
Sepia lowered her eyes, surprised by the unexpected compliment.
“Does it... suit me?”
“It’s absolutely perfect.”
Sepia answered in response to that bright smile.
“Roxanne too. Blue suits you well.”
It wasn’t an empty remark, it really was.
In fact, he would look good in anything.
The suit would be highlighted by his body.
“Thank you. It’s actually my favorite color.”
“...Really? Me too.”
When Sepia was surprised, he asked and smiled gently.
“I think we have a lot in common.”
At the end of her words, Roxanne, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, held out his hand to her.
“Would you grant me the honor of escorting you?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Roxanne grabbed her hand and kissed it.
Sepia looked down at him kissing the back of her hand, unaware that her heartbeat, which should have been faint, was growing stronger.
Sepia entered the party hall with Roxanne.
The nobles alternated between expecting the Empress to appear with her partner and expressing surprise.
However, no one could deny that the Empress and the Duke were a well-matched pair.
Sepia, who was standing in the center with Roxanne, raised her glass of champagne.
“I hope that with the flame of good deeds that melted winter, you will burn away even bad luck.”
“With the flame of good deeds!”
Everyone in attendance raised their glasses at the Empress’s short speech.
Sepia quickly scanned the crowd as they continued to shout.
'Madam Swaney didn't come.'
It was a result she had already expected.
Even if she had attended, she wouldn’t have been able to dig up what had happened that day, and she wouldn’t have been able to tell Roxanne the truth either. She had already decided to tell him the truth before the charity party, but it wasn’t easy to say it.
It was when Sepia was looking around.
Roxanne said, raising his glass to the glass she was holding.
“I’m glad I can be Sepia’s partner.”
When Sepia asked with her eyes what he meant,
“Because you never know what kind of beast might be lurking around you.”
Since that confession, Roxanne had been revealing his jealousy toward her without holding back.
“Back then... It was just a strange rumor.”
“I guess it was used as an excuse to approach Sepia.”
Roxanne clinked his glasses and took a sip of champagne.
Unlike the indifferent Empress, he could clearly see the males panting at Sepia.
When Sepia silently handed over the champagne, the servant standing outside the hall entrance opened the door wide.
As Sepia was puzzled by the servant’s expression, which clearly showed a look of bewilderment, her eyes met with an uninvited guest.
‘...Demios?’
The Emperor and his government were coming inside.
The hall became quiet at Demios’s sudden appearance.
Everyone knew that the Emperor had blocked the launch of the charity organization.
Some people hurriedly turned around, fearing that they might get his attention.
Demios sneered at them.
“The atmosphere is strange. It’s like we’ve come to a place we shouldn’t be.”
“No way, Your Majesty. Everything in the empire belongs to Your Majesty. How dare there be a place that doesn’t welcome You.”
Titi, dressed in a pink dress, hugged his arm and tried to appease him.
A long silence continued in the hall.
Sepia’s face hardened. Roxanne, who noticed this, blocked Demios’s path.
“Your Majesty, this party is only open to donors.”
“...Duke.”
Demios’s expression distorted at the appearance of Roxanne, who blocked his path.
Above all, the Duke and Empress’s attire matched their partners’.
The Emperor had never shown any interest in charity parties.
It was unclear why he had come all the way here, but Sepia wanted Demios to return.
‘If we’re not careful, there could be trouble.’
Although she had succeeded in creating a donation culture by controlling the situation, the Emperor’s appearance could have interrupted the flow.
“Yes. It was a donation party. I understand why the atmosphere was strange.”
Demios let out a sigh as if he realized it was too late.
The Emperor looked at Sepia.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Demios called his attendant and began writing something.
“Let’s make the donation here.”
He handed Sepia a check with his name on it.
The amount written on the check was strangely familiar.
‘No way.’
The amount written on Demios’ check was last year’s budget for the charity organization that had given to Titi.
How anxiously she had spent the night because of the budget that had to be taken away by the government.
However, it was an amount that was not so important now.
However, Sepia could not refuse his donation.
'I cannot refuse the Emperor's good deed without a special reason.'
The relationship between the Emperor and the Empress affected all situations.
Of course, the same was true for the operation of the charity organization.
Moreover, if Sepia accepted his donation, the ruined party atmosphere would be restored.
"...Thank you for joining the good deed."
"That's right."
Demios answered indifferently.
Sepia received the check with a stern face and handed it to Elon.
When the Empress accepted the Emperor's donation, the hall became noisy again.
"Your Majesty, you have the same feelings as the Empress."
"There is definitely a special power in good deeds."
The nobles applauded without even knowing where the Emperor's donation came from.
Soon, the participants returned to their seats and enjoyed the party.
However, the confrontation between Sepia and the Emperor continued. Their earnest gazes continued. Sepia, who could not bear such Demios, opened her mouth.
“I hope you enjoy the party comfortably with your partner, Your Majesty.”
Titi looked up at him as if Sepia was right.
However, Demios’ gaze would not leave Sepia.
“No. I came to see the Empress. I paid a proper price, so you will give me your time.”
Demios had not come to return the money he had taken.
Titi was also taken aback by his attitude.
“Your Majesty? What do you mean?”
The Emperor did not answer Titi’s call.
His gaze was fierce. Sepia responded with cold eyes to his attitude, which seemed to suggest that he had purchased her time.
“My time is not an object. If that is what you intended to donate, then I will decline. I will return the check. Viscount Elon?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elon handed the check back to Sepia.
As she was about to return the check, she heard the sound of a beast growling in front of her.
“Yes. It was a donation party. I understand why the atmosphere was strange.”
Demios let out a sigh as if he realized it was too late.
The Emperor looked at Sepia.
As if he knew what she was thinking, Demios called his attendant and began writing something.
“Let’s make the donation here.”
He handed Sepia a check with his name on it.
The amount written on the check was strangely familiar.
‘No way.’
The amount written on Demios’ check was last year’s budget for the charity organization that had given to Titi.
How anxiously she had spent the night because of the budget that had to be taken away by the government.
However, it was an amount that was not so important now.
However, Sepia could not refuse his donation.
'I cannot refuse the Emperor's good deed without a special reason.'
The relationship between the Emperor and the Empress affected all situations.
Of course, the same was true for the operation of the charity organization.
Moreover, if Sepia accepted his donation, the ruined party atmosphere would be restored.
"...Thank you for joining the good deed."
"That's right."
Demios answered indifferently.
Sepia received the check with a stern face and handed it to Elon.
When the Empress accepted the Emperor's donation, the hall became noisy again.
"Your Majesty, you have the same feelings as the Empress."
"There is definitely a special power in good deeds."
The nobles applauded without even knowing where the Emperor's donation came from.
Soon, the participants returned to their seats and enjoyed the party.
However, the confrontation between Sepia and the Emperor continued. Their earnest gazes continued. Sepia, who could not bear such Demios, opened her mouth.
“I hope you enjoy the party comfortably with your partner, Your Majesty.”
Titi looked up at him as if Sepia was right.
However, Demios’ gaze would not leave Sepia.
“No. I came to see the Empress. I paid a proper price, so you will give me your time.”
Demios had not come to return the money he had taken.
Titi was also taken aback by his attitude.
“Your Majesty? What do you mean?”
The Emperor did not answer Titi’s call.
His gaze was fierce. Sepia responded with cold eyes to his attitude, which seemed to suggest that he had purchased her time.
“My time is not an object. If that is what you intended to donate, then I will decline. I will return the check. Viscount Elon?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elon handed the check back to Sepia.
As she was about to return the check, she heard the sound of a beast growling in front of her.
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