‘This moment… feels like a dream.’

Just as a lively waltz fitting for the summer flowed through the air, the figure of his fairy-like wife dancing with light movements suited the waltz perfectly.

‘My wife.’

His heart swelled at the sight of her emerald-green skirt billowing out and her pink hair swaying. Zachary gulped hard. He didn’t want to let go of her hand. He wanted to stay with her forever, in their own world.

“Len.”

As he gazed at her, he captured the image of her rosy cheeks and sparkling green eyes. She always looked straight at him.

Nevertheless, the dreamlike music had to end, and they had things to attend to.

“You know that?”

“What?”

“You look the most beautiful in this ballroom.”

When he whispered sweetly before releasing her hand with a regretful face, Iellie smiled with joy. On the contrary, remembering how the Emperor complimented her as ‘beautiful’ had only felt repulsive.

“Zachary.”

“Yes?”

How happy it made her to hear her husband call her beautiful. She spoke in a gentle voice.

“Should I tell you a secret?”

“What is it?”

“I dressed up like this today just to look beautiful for you.”

As Zachary’s eyes widened, Iellie lightly waved her hand adorned with lace gloves.

“Let’s do our best today, okay?”

“…Right.”

He nodded. Watching her disappear with light steps, he raised his hand to cover his face. It was to hide his flushed face a little.

‘How can she be so lovely?’

Every time he looked at her, he couldn’t help but fall deeper in love.

His heart pounded wildly.

* * *

“It’s been a while, Baroness Tulan.”

“Oh my, Duchess.”

Iellie met and talked with Baroness Tulan after a long time.

“The salon you hosted last time was truly splendid.”

“It’s all thanks to noble ladies like you, Baroness Tulan, who attended. My salon is improving day by day, thanks to all of you.”

As she uttered so, subtly livening up the atmosphere, the Emperor, who had been walking towards Iellie, seemed to hesitate in his steps.

‘…Why does he keep following me? Such a nuisance.’

Iellie lightly bit down on the soft flesh inside her mouth. The Emperor clearly wanted to spend time with her. That was why he had been persistently trailing behind her, so she deliberately started a conversation with Baroness Tulan.

‘Rather than following me around, he should spend time with the Empress instead.’

She narrowed her eyes at the thought.

The Emperor and the Empress didn’t even try to be in the same place. The Emperor had been absent from the Empress’ side the whole time. While she didn’t seem to mind much, what bothered Iellie was the expression in the Empress’ eyes.

‘…The Empress doesn’t seem pleased at all.’

Standing alone, the Empress had looked almost disillusioned. Barely interacting with other nobles, her expression seemed worn out from the current situation. Iellie couldn’t help but be concerned about the Empress.

“Excuse me for a moment, Baroness Tulan.”

Concerned about the Empress, who had been alone the whole time, she excused herself to Baroness Tulan and approached the Empress.

“Excuse me, Empre—”

“Duchess Hessenweitz.”

Even though she attempted to speak to the Empress, at that moment, the Emperor, who had been hovering around her, approached and started a conversation. It seemed like he was seizing the opportunity while Zachary was engaged in greetings with other nobles.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

‘This man again.’

Iellie swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out and turned to the Emperor. In the meanwhile, the Empress seemed uncomfortable with his presence and moved away.

The Emperor addressed Iellie.

“I came to have a conversation with the Duchess.”

“Ah, yes…”

“I saw you dancing with the Duke earlier. You looked like a butterfly.”

“Thank you.”

Why wasn’t he taking care of his wife and sticking to her side? Iellie’s face became tired.

“Still, Your Majesty, shouldn’t you be with the Empress?”

She said so, somewhat exasperated. However, the Emperor just smiled with a shameless face.

“You’re making hasty remarks.”

“…Yes?”

“The Empress is always in my sight, isn’t she?”

What was he trying to say with such an attitude? Iellie felt a chill down her spine.

“On the other hand, if the Duchess is not approached like this, I wouldn’t get to see her face.”

“…Your Majesty?”

“Furthermore, wouldn’t it be a hindrance to have the Empress around while having a conversation with the Duchess?”

Was that something a man with a wife should say? Iellie’s eyes glinted with disdain as she coldly replied.

“Your Majesty, the person you should consider important is not me but the Empress.”

At her words, the Emperor stared into her eyes intently. The emerald eyes were devoid of warmth as he listened to her following words.

“Isn’t the person you are bound to in marriage supposed to be closer than anyone else?”

“Duchess.”

“One should take care of their own companion.”

The blade-like voice firmly drew the line between the two of them. The Emperor furrowed his brow.

“It’s not what I mean. I just value the time with the Duchess…”

“Are you implying that you value another woman much more than your own companion, Your Majesty?”

When she coldly retorted, he seemed to be at a loss for words as he clenched his lips.

Iellie continued.

“I apologize for speaking this way, but…”

She let out a long sigh, feeling that this was not right. The Emperor gazed at her with a sense of dismay.

“…I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.”

“Duchess!”

“Your Majesty, I ardently love my husband.”

A voice filled with affection… sweet as honey. The moment the Emperor heard that voice, he couldn’t help but get angry. She had never used such a voice with him, the Emperor.

“And one of the greatest virtues esteemed in the Empire is having a harmonious household and respecting each other, isn’t it?”

“I know that. Though I—”

“I assumed Your Majesty would also respect such virtues.”

Her long, pink eyelashes trembled. Iellie tilted her head and glanced at the Emperor with a glance.

“In that case, I will take my leave to visit the Empress.”

“Duchess, wait…”

“I have duties to fulfill as the host of this gathering, so pardon me for leaving first.”

With that conclusion, Iellie promptly turned away.

The Emperor, who had tried to hold her back, bit his lip and lowered his hand. A strange premonition washed over him. No matter how hard he tried, he had a feeling that she wouldn’t look back at him.

“…D*mn it.”

He clenched his fist, his nails digging painfully into his palm.

Earlier, he had been overflowing with confidence that he could somehow make her his, but now that confidence had completely disappeared. As she turned away, leaving him behind, the Emperor watched her take confident strides.

His heart felt complicated at the thought of the Empress.

‘Where could the Empress be right now?’

Iellie looked around.

As she emerged toward the terrace where there were few people, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Under the dark night sky, stars twinkling above, there stood a slender figure.

“Em, Empress.”

As she called out to the Empress without even realizing it, the Empress turned around with a slow movement. Fortunately, there was no resentment in her gaze toward Iellie, only a deep-seated frustration for the Emperor.

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