Eventually, Sepia’s gaze left them.
She looked at each of the beasts in the courtroom.
“Your Majesty...”
The tearful maids.
Viscount Elon and the staff of the charity department.
Even the brothers of the Kruds family.
However, Roxanne was nowhere to be seen.
Demios’s eyebrows furrowed.
As if he knew who Sepia was looking for.
“Let the trial begin.”
At the Emperor’s command, the judges placed a large mirror on the floor.
Bubbles rose from the mirror, reflecting the ceiling.
One by one, the bubbles rose up into water pillars.
What appeared there was a handsome man with long blue hair.
“It’s been a long time. The Emperor of the Beasts. And... the star of Ishtar.”
The cold ice blue turned to Demios and Sepia.
Siltizein Verdion.
A high priest of the sea temple and a sea dragon beast, he was a vassal of the goddess who had escaped the Emperor’s authority.
Siltizane was also familiar with Sepia.
The High Priest was the one who had blessed her and had presided over the marriage of the Emperor and Empress.
“Welcome, High Priest.”
Demios greeted him expressionlessly.
Siltizane smiled and folded his hands. The long robe covering hia wrists shook below his elbows.
“I was a little taken aback when I heard the news. A divorce trial?”
The Emperor said to him, squinting his eyes as if in trouble.
“The Empress has a clear crime.”
The crime of rejecting the Emperor.
That was Sepia’s crime.
The nobles who had finally learned the reason for the divorce were in an uproar. The fact that no children had been born until now was because the Empress rejected the Emperor.
The High Priest of the Sea raised his hand and silenced the room.
Soon, Siltizane asked Sepia.
“Star of Ishtar, is it true that you refused to sleep with the Emperor as the Emperor said?”
In the quiet courtroom.
Sepia answered as if she had already prepared her mind.
“Yes.”
“...Oh, this is difficult. Nothing to say in particular?”
“It’s true. I have never slept with His Majesty in the five years I have been Empress.”
Not even once.
The nobles were astonished by the indifferent answer.
Finally, Demios opened his mouth.
“I gave the Empress countless opportunities. It was you who rejected them.”
Sepia met the Emperor’s gaze.
As if she would not make any excuses or defenses.
Demios’s expression distorted at those determined eyes.
The High Priest of the Sea, who had been observing the situation for a moment, declared.
“Since the star of Ishtar has acknowledged it, there is no need for witnesses or evidence. Producing imperial descendants is one of the Empress’s important duties. Refusing this is clearly grounds for divorce.”
The divorce trial was a serious matter that could take up to a year.
However, since the cause was clear and the subject had acknowledged it, there was no reason to take any more time.
Siltizein asked Demios.
“Emperor of the Beastkin. Do you accept the divorce?”
“I accept.”
“You share the fate of the Beastkin by being human or possessing a special star. Instead of depriving the sinner of his business department qualifications, I will acknowledge that fate and appoint you as the Grand Duchess.”
"...!”
Sepia’s pupils shook.
Grand Duchess?
No one had ever received the title of Grand Duke.
To become a concubine in such a position was no different from treating Sepia like a ghost.
The Emperor continued.
“You will not leave the Grand Duchess Palace even once. Also, you will not meet anyone without my permission. Forever.”
A smile appeared on Demios’ lips.
This was the result of his twisted possessiveness. The Emperor’s choice was to cut off all of her authority and completely isolate her so that no one could have Sepia. Emotions finally appeared in Sepia’s eyes. Demios was delighted when he saw those eyes.
She looked at each of the beasts in the courtroom.
“Your Majesty...”
The tearful maids.
Viscount Elon and the staff of the charity department.
Even the brothers of the Kruds family.
However, Roxanne was nowhere to be seen.
Demios’s eyebrows furrowed.
As if he knew who Sepia was looking for.
“Let the trial begin.”
At the Emperor’s command, the judges placed a large mirror on the floor.
Bubbles rose from the mirror, reflecting the ceiling.
One by one, the bubbles rose up into water pillars.
What appeared there was a handsome man with long blue hair.
“It’s been a long time. The Emperor of the Beasts. And... the star of Ishtar.”
The cold ice blue turned to Demios and Sepia.
Siltizein Verdion.
A high priest of the sea temple and a sea dragon beast, he was a vassal of the goddess who had escaped the Emperor’s authority.
Siltizane was also familiar with Sepia.
The High Priest was the one who had blessed her and had presided over the marriage of the Emperor and Empress.
“Welcome, High Priest.”
Demios greeted him expressionlessly.
Siltizane smiled and folded his hands. The long robe covering hia wrists shook below his elbows.
“I was a little taken aback when I heard the news. A divorce trial?”
The Emperor said to him, squinting his eyes as if in trouble.
“The Empress has a clear crime.”
The crime of rejecting the Emperor.
That was Sepia’s crime.
The nobles who had finally learned the reason for the divorce were in an uproar. The fact that no children had been born until now was because the Empress rejected the Emperor.
The High Priest of the Sea raised his hand and silenced the room.
Soon, Siltizane asked Sepia.
“Star of Ishtar, is it true that you refused to sleep with the Emperor as the Emperor said?”
In the quiet courtroom.
Sepia answered as if she had already prepared her mind.
“Yes.”
“...Oh, this is difficult. Nothing to say in particular?”
“It’s true. I have never slept with His Majesty in the five years I have been Empress.”
Not even once.
The nobles were astonished by the indifferent answer.
Finally, Demios opened his mouth.
“I gave the Empress countless opportunities. It was you who rejected them.”
Sepia met the Emperor’s gaze.
As if she would not make any excuses or defenses.
Demios’s expression distorted at those determined eyes.
The High Priest of the Sea, who had been observing the situation for a moment, declared.
“Since the star of Ishtar has acknowledged it, there is no need for witnesses or evidence. Producing imperial descendants is one of the Empress’s important duties. Refusing this is clearly grounds for divorce.”
The divorce trial was a serious matter that could take up to a year.
However, since the cause was clear and the subject had acknowledged it, there was no reason to take any more time.
Siltizein asked Demios.
“Emperor of the Beastkin. Do you accept the divorce?”
“I accept.”
The High Priest smiled bitterly as he watched the Emperor answer as if he had been waiting.
After a while, Siltizain turned to the Empress.
“Then I will ask you one last time. Star of Ishtar, will you accept the divorce?”
Countless eyes were focused on Sepia.
She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.
“Yes.”
After a while, Siltizain turned to the Empress.
“Then I will ask you one last time. Star of Ishtar, will you accept the divorce?”
Countless eyes were focused on Sepia.
She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.
“Yes.”
The judgment was given with the consent of the Emperor and Empress.
“As the high priest who presided over the marriage, I approve the divorce of the Emperor and Empress. From this moment on, ‘Sepia Byen Drodian’ is stripped of her position as Empress.”
Sea Dragon announced the verdict with cold eyes. The judgment shocked not only the parties involved but also the nobles.
“However, your destiny as the Star of Ishtar remains. My blessing remains valid.”
Sepia was no longer a member of the royal family but a special citizen of the Beastkin. It was no longer something for the high priest to get involved in. When Siltizain stepped back, Demios stood up.
“Sepia, Star of Ishtar.”
Now it was time to announce the disposition of the deposed Empress. Should she be exiled? Or banished? He swallowed dryly and waited for the Emperor’s decision.
“You share the fate of the Beastkin by being human or possessing a special star. Instead of depriving the sinner of his business department qualifications, I will acknowledge that fate and appoint you as the Grand Duchess.”
"...!”
Sepia’s pupils shook.
Grand Duchess?
No one had ever received the title of Grand Duke.
To become a concubine in such a position was no different from treating Sepia like a ghost.
The Emperor continued.
“You will not leave the Grand Duchess Palace even once. Also, you will not meet anyone without my permission. Forever.”
A smile appeared on Demios’ lips.
This was the result of his twisted possessiveness. The Emperor’s choice was to cut off all of her authority and completely isolate her so that no one could have Sepia. Emotions finally appeared in Sepia’s eyes. Demios was delighted when he saw those eyes.
“I would rather be exiled.”
“That cannot be. The precious star of destiny.”
The fate that brought Sepia to the Neastkin Empire ended up holding her back. Demios smiled brightly.
“The trial is over. Bring the Star of Ishtar to the Grand Duchess’ Palace.”
“I command you.”
The knights approached Sepia. Sepia was looking at Demios even as they grabbed her arms. The trial was over. Titié trembled in Demios’s arms.
“The Empress, no. The Grand Duchess is pitiful. It feels like it’s all because of me...”
“Easy, you’ve raised a grandson. Calm down.”
Demios patted Titi’s back. The Emperor’s wife said goodbye to the deposed Empress. Smiling triumphantly in his arms.
“Please be careful.”
Only Sepia could confirm the grotesque expression of her eyes crying but her mouth smiling. It seemed like it would be engraved in her mind for a long time. Sepia was led by the knights out of the courtroom. As she went outside, the dazzling sunlight shone down on her. The refreshing early summer was approaching. As she got into the shabby carriage, the scenery of the palace passed by through the small window. Like a beautiful painting.
Sepia was once again confined to the Ghost Palace. She sat on the empty bed and stared blankly at the floor. The past and the trial just now. Everything seemed like a dream. Not a nightmare, just an empty dream. Madam Remody approached Sepia.
“Your Majesty.”
“...Why are you still here?”
As she stood trial, Madam Remody was also able to leave the Ghost Palace. And she thought she would never return.
“I chose to stay. You need servants.”
“Go back now.”
Sepia turned away from her. If she became her maid, Remody would also become a prisoner. However, she shook her head resolutely.
“No. To me, you are the only Empress.”
Suddenly, she became curious. Why did Madam Remody follow her?
The maids were always kind to Sepia, but none were as loyal as Madame Remody. As if sensing her doubt, Remody smiled broadly.
“I thought that if you were the Empress, you would be able to embrace the empire. And you were.”
“I am no longer the Empress. That title will now be transferred.”
The feeling that everything she had built up had collapsed. Perhaps this was what Demios had wanted. He probably intended to keep her locked up in the cold palace until she gave in.
“Please return when the sun rises.”
“...Your Highness.”
Remody, who had been watching her, left the bedroom, saying that she would return in the morning. Sepia quietly stared at the door through which the maid had left.
“Your Highness.”
The unfamiliar title she had been called for the first time was mysterious. However, it would be the name she would be called from now on. Darkness fell, and night came. Pale moonlight seeped into the unlit interior through the window. The deposed Empress. And the night she spent alone as a ghostly Grand Duchess. A series of events that had occurred since becoming the Empress flashed through my mind.
'What will happen to the charity department?'
And, from now on, the people of the empire... But she could no longer take responsibility, nor did she need to take responsibility.
Because she was not the Empress.
She felt like the ground beneath her feet was crumbling, but the marble she was stepping on remained the same.
After returning from the courtroom, Sepia got up from her bed for the first time.
She went out into the hallway without saying a word.
The hallway was empty and filled with cold air.
She knew that she couldn’t leave the ghost palace.
However, she felt free to move inside.
‘Where is he?’
Will she be able to meet him?
Words she couldn’t tell lingered in her head.
The first floor was empty.
Silence and stillness. And darkness.
‘It would be nice if I could just become a ghost.’
As she wandered through the empty space, she really felt like a ghost.
Ghost Grand Duchess.
Isn’t that a nickname that goes well with a deposed Empress?
Sepia pulled herself together, which was constantly drifting away.
‘I have to come to my senses.’
There would be a chance somehow.
A chance to get out of here or to connect to the outside.
It was the time to pull herself together.
Crunch.
‘What’s that sound?’
Did the wind shake the window?
Or did a ghost really appear?
It was when Sepia moved her body to the place where she had heard the sound.
At that moment, the floor opened in the darkness of the distant hallway.
What came out of the marble that opened like an entrance was.
“...Roxanne.”
Was she seeing a vision right now?
The moon that had broken through the clouds was shining down on him.
Roxanne, who had finally stepped on the floor, hugged Sepia.
Because she was not the Empress.
She felt like the ground beneath her feet was crumbling, but the marble she was stepping on remained the same.
After returning from the courtroom, Sepia got up from her bed for the first time.
She went out into the hallway without saying a word.
The hallway was empty and filled with cold air.
She knew that she couldn’t leave the ghost palace.
However, she felt free to move inside.
‘Where is he?’
Will she be able to meet him?
Words she couldn’t tell lingered in her head.
The first floor was empty.
Silence and stillness. And darkness.
‘It would be nice if I could just become a ghost.’
As she wandered through the empty space, she really felt like a ghost.
Ghost Grand Duchess.
Isn’t that a nickname that goes well with a deposed Empress?
Sepia pulled herself together, which was constantly drifting away.
‘I have to come to my senses.’
There would be a chance somehow.
A chance to get out of here or to connect to the outside.
It was the time to pull herself together.
Crunch.
‘What’s that sound?’
Did the wind shake the window?
Or did a ghost really appear?
It was when Sepia moved her body to the place where she had heard the sound.
At that moment, the floor opened in the darkness of the distant hallway.
What came out of the marble that opened like an entrance was.
“...Roxanne.”
Was she seeing a vision right now?
The moon that had broken through the clouds was shining down on him.
Roxanne, who had finally stepped on the floor, hugged Sepia.
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