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A slight smile appeared on the Empress’ lips.
“It seems the Crown Prince and his fiancĂ©e have made considerable progress.”
“Does this put you in a good mood, Empress?”
“Of course. As the mother of the empire, shouldn’t I be happy?”
Despite the Emperor’s blatant sarcasm, the smile on the Empress’s face didn’t disappear.
“A member of the imperial family did a terrific job helping avert a crisis in the area.”
The Emperor’s face crumpled in response.
“Why did the Rochesters fund Lebane’s relief without my permission?”
“Why should the house Rochester require permission from His Majesty to use the funds at their disposal?”
The Empress retorted with a blank expression.
The Emperor’s countenance grew more ferocious.
“Don’t you know that my relationship with the Empress Dowager is not the best at the moment?”
“I know that Lebane is the hometown of Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager. But is that a reason not to support Lebane?”
The Empress continued in a soft voice.
“Though it is the hometown of Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, it is first and foremost the land ruled by His Majesty.”
“Blasted!”
Unable to find the words to refute her, the Emperor gritted his teeth, seething inside.
The contents of the article are as follows.
The Emperor had not granted relief funding for the flood-ravaged Lebane.
The onset of an epidemic exacerbated the situation to which the Duke of Rochester was first to respond.
The danger may have escalated if the contagious disease had been able to spread to nearby cities.
However, with the Duke of Rochester’s relief and contributions made by the Crown Prince and his fiancee, the situation stabilized soon after.
In addition, eyewitnesses report Lady Charlize having awakened the power of the divine beast and prevented the dam from overflowing, saving countless lives.
This accomplishment is worth the bestowal of the title ‘Saintess of the South’ and the proclamation of Lady Charlize as the Crown Princess.
‘
My older brother took care of it.’
The smile on the Empress’ lips grew a little wider.
Until now, the people of the empire had seen the royal family and the Rochester household as one unified entity.
However, with the release of this article, people will begin to think of the two more separately.
The course of events made the Empress nod to herself in satisfaction.
The Emperor inflicted his wrath on the wrong target.
“If you are so bent on helping those southern worms, Empress, why don’t you take proper care of yourself first?”
“
 whatever do you mean by that?”
“It means that the Empress is not performing her duties properly!”
The Emperor shouted to the extent that one could see blood vessels around his neck.
“You still haven’t had a child!”
Why is that topic suddenly being brought up?
The Empress didn’t even think to hide her bewildered expression.
Before she knew it, the Emperor went on a tirade.
“Do you know how precarious my position is because you can’t conceive children?!”
The Empress narrowed her eyes.
The Emperor didn’t say anything the Empress already didn’t know.
Usually, a successor of direct descent consolidated the hold on the throne.
Even though the Empress and Emperor had been married for almost ten years, they still had no children.
The Emperor chastised her on that part.
“Do you think that you’re worthy of being an empress?”
At that poignant question, the corners of the Empress’ lips twisted upward.
It was jeering, clear as day.
“Your Majesty, if I had been so useless
wouldn’t you have just disposed of me?”
“
the gall. Can’t you see I’m being favorable towards you?”
The Emperor narrowed his brow and roared.
“In the sense that a still childless empress has not been deposed of!”
“Are you sure about that?”
The Empress calmly asked in response to the Emperor’s fiery temper.
The Emperor widened his eyes.
“
what?”
“It’s not that you won’t dispose of me. It’s that you can’t dispose of me, no?”
To that question, the Emperor had no answer.
He merely glared at the Empress with a menacing gaze.
Because

“As long as I remain the wife of the Emperor, my brother won’t turn against you.”
“Empress!”
“You know this all too well. Is that not why you kept me in this position as empress?”
“Enough of this!!”
Backed into a corner, the Emperor was fed up and jumped up from the spot.
“Seriously, it’s impossible speaking with you!”
After that sharp shout, the Emperor stormed out of the room.
Bang!!
The door to the dining room was slammed shut.
At the same time, the maid of honor, who stood holding her breath, approached the empress with an uncomfortable expression.
“Your Majesty, the Empress
”
“I’m fine, more than fine.”
The Empress slightly raised her gaze.
Emerald eyes resembling the fresh green of summer were shining brighter as usual.
“What were you saying about public opinion in the South?”
“That
the popularity of His Highness and Charlize gained is tremendous.”
“Really?”
“Yes. There’s even talk of making Charlize the Crown Princess.”
The Empress, who listened to the maid of honor’s words, muttered in a pleased voice.
“I see. The Emperor did tell them he didn’t care about the destruction in the South.”
“I heard that Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, is also relieved after this incident and is greatly upset with the Emperor.”
“That’s to be expected.”
The Empress continued with a sharp voice.
“Honestly, does it make sense for a man with the title of Emperor to abandon his people just because of His Majesty’s contention with the Crown Prince?
“He still hasn’t come to his senses as that’s what he did to the North.”
If she were head maid right now, she would have been troubled by the Empress speaking so candidly.
However, being the maid of honor this time, she did not stop the Empress.
She also acknowledged the Emperor’s unreasonable behavior.
“Our Charlize did a great job.”
The Empress whispered in a heartwarming voice, then sighed briefly and leaned back on her chair.
“It’s so late. I hardly have an appetite left.”
“Then, shall some light snacks be prepared instead?”
“That’ll be excellent. By the way, please prepare drinks as well. The usual.”
“
Your Majesty.”
Head maid Hayden was hesitant.
The Empress smiled brightly, reassuring her.
“Hurry.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Head maid Hayden lowered her head and quietly closed the door on her way out.
Soon, the table was made ready with teapots, snacks, and teacups.
As tea entered the teacup, the bittersweet scent permeated the dining room.
The Empress leisurely took a sip of tea, then muttering to herself in a satisfied voice.
“The scent of tea is exceptionally nice today.”
Feeling the tea warming her whole body, the Empress slowly closed her eyes.
What she yearned for were the cooler days of autumn right now.
****
Damian and I finally returned to the Imperial palace.”
“Welcome, Damian.”
It seemed that no matter what happened, the Emperor couldn’t turn a blind eye to us.
The successful rescue of the South most likely compounded this.
The fact he was standing in front of the palace to greet me and Damian proved my assertion.
I felt loathing upon seeing that self-satisfied look, but what could I do about it?
His persona is that of a thug.
I tried masking my surprised face and knelt before greeting.
“I see you, Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
For a moment, the Emperor’s eyes lit up.

what?
I unknowingly stiffened my shoulders.
It so happened the eyes gazing down at me were very different from before.
After a while, the Emperor opened his mouth in a strangely friendly voice.
“Charlize, was it?”
“It’s an honor that you remember my name.”
“No, of course, I remember. Weren’t you the Empress’s most favored maid?”
After answering so, the Emperor smiled brightly.
“Did you awaken the power of the divine beast in the South?”
Although his voice was gentle, his eyes told a different story. His prying eyes looked as if they sought to devour me and were vicious.
I bit my lip slightly.
Truthfully, the fact that I had awakened the power of the divine beast would never be good news for the Emperor.
He has a history of having issues with legitimacy.
The Winsor family was a family descended from the goddess Aurelia.
In other words, if he welcomed a woman with the power of the divine beast as the Crown Princess

‘It meant that his legitimacy could be rivaled.’
Therefore, the Emperor could never accept me as the Crown Princess.
I thought that would end up with him hating me even more

‘What?’
Yet, the Emperor’s reaction was worlds apart from what I expected.
Honestly, if I saw it from the Emperor’s point of view, doubting me a hundred times over wouldn’t suffice.
The knowledge that only members of the Winsor family could inherit the power added to this.
No records of an outsider having awakened the power of a divine beast exist, not even one.
First things first, being the person involved, I don’t know why I was able to use the divine beast’s power.
I vaguely wondered if it was related to the bizarre dreams I’d been having

‘The Emperor doesn’t know that I have such dreams.’
Oddly enough, the Emperor seemed strangely satisfied with me.
Akin to a snake delighted at the sight of supper before it.
The look in his eyes gave me goosebumps, so I hurriedly lowered my head.
“
.it’s no big deal, nothing so serious that His Majesty should be concerned about it.”
“No, not at all. Is not the empire itself descended from the divine beast Aurelia?”
Like a merchant with an expensive item in front of him, the Emperor nodded leisurely.
“It’s marvelous that a woman has awakened the power of the divine beast.”
In an instant, Damian raised his head and glared at the emperor.