Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor's loyal servant carefully placed the silver cutlery in front of the Emperor.
Even when I looked at the appetizers prepared to whet my appetite, I couldn't pounce on them like I usually do.
The atmosphere in this dining room is very scary.
“…You paid a lot of attention during the national wedding, Cassian.”
The Emperor spoke to Cassian, and the air held a heavy air.
“I cannot be negligent in the task entrusted to me by His Majesty, so I only did my duty.
Also, since it is my younger brother’s wedding, it is natural that I feel responsible.”
Even though he knew what the Emperor's words meant, Cassian sneered quietly.
“It seems you have become very close to Princess Alexis.”
Of course, it was not the Emperor who was asking the questions, but the Empress
“While I am doing my best in the work entrusted to me by His Majesty, I have to deal with many things, so I naturally open my eyes.”
Naturally, my manager didn't give the answer she wanted right away.
At that moment, the Empress's plate was smashed, emitting an inelegant sound that could not normally be heard.
She can't seem to control her strength while using the fork.
The Emperor looked humiliatedly at the Empress who was smiling hurriedly, then opened his mouth as if he had no other choice.
“Well, Princess Alexis has handed over to you most of the rights to the show resulting from this national wedding.”
Despite the direct question, Cassian leisurely cut off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, and only after drinking the juice did he open his mouth thoughtfully.
“That's true.”
“Isn’t what the princess entrusted you with not part of the exhibition, but rather the responsibility of the exhibition?”
Cassian's gaze briefly landed on the Empress.
“They say that since they are all precious treasures of the Anden Kingdom, it would be best to entrust them to the most trustworthy person in the empire.”
At those words, the movement of the Empress's hand, which was quietly cutting the steak, stopped.
The corners of my mouth twitched for a moment, but the change was so brief that only a focused spectator like me would notice it.
Cassian mocked the Empress briefly and immediately opened his mouth to the Emperor with a confident expression.
“So, to repay this trust, I plan to go inspect the exhibits in person.
I plan to deny access to anyone except those I trust, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm….Yes, it is important to the kingdoms and has good stories, so it would be good to take good care of it.”
The moment the Emperor nodded and said yes, the Empress opened her mouth as if she had eaten something salty.
“Your Majesty, Prince Cassian is truly reliable.
But I just have some concerns.”
Unlike the way she usually interacted with Cassian, her tone was very friendly..
“What is the matter, Empress?”
“It's not that I doubt the prince's ability to work.
However, unlike Charlie, Prince Cassian was responsible for a lot of administrative work, wasn't he?”
“I am.”
“I was afraid that since you would be in charge of a field that you did not know much about, you might be negligent in management.
Among the works of art and treasures, many of them are affected by the atmosphere or the place in which they are stored.”
The Empress put down the knife and fork with more than half of the steak left on the plate, and wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin, continuing the conversation.
“Therefore, if Your Majesty permits, I would like to assist Prince Cassian.”
The Empress's eyes looked at Cassian with a gentler look than ever before.
“As you know, Prince Cassian, my brother has been taking care of a lot of art and treasures, right?”
My eyes almost watered with emotion
To someone who doesn't know her, they might think she seems like a loving and caring mother.
“So what do you say?
It’s because I really care about the prince.”
The Empress spoke with a noble smile.
“As Your Majesty said, I would also like to express my gratitude for the successful holding of the third prince’s national wedding.”
The Empress nodded, and red wine was poured into her and Cassian's cups.
She raised her glass first and offered a toast to Cassian.
“I feel so lonely after sending my son to a foreign country.
Do you understand that I want to think about you and take care of you from now on?”
A faint sense of joy could be seen in the Empress's gaze.
Cassian, who at first appears to be trapped,
“Of course.
I am very flattered that Your Majesty thinks of me this way.”
As if he had been waiting for this moment, he raised the glass of wine and drank it willingly.
“It has been a long time since the tea ware of the Empress Palace has been intact.”
We were having a bloody dinner a little while ago, but Cassian whispered to me with a happy face, as if it was all a lie...
Naturally, my manager's face did not show the slightest disappointment or concern.
“Well, the Empress made a toast for the first time in a while, so we may have to worry about the glass of wine.”
Even though I was a complete spectator, I felt as if the bloody atmosphere remained in my whole body and my shoulders shrank..
Then Cassian spoke as if he was consoling me, placing my hand on his arm.
“You knew how I would act and how the Empress would act.”
“Even if I knew...”
Even though I knew all about Cassian's personality, his impudence, and his cunning, I couldn't help but feel nervous...
In the past few days, Cassian had really been scratching the Empress to the point of excessive...
As soon as she learned what Princess Alexis had left behind, the Empress sent hidden pressure to the Winter Palace.
Of course, it didn't work out for Cassian.
He just maintained tight security for the exhibits.
He even completely refused a visit request from the Duke of Jamoti, the Empress's elder brother.
So how impatient was she?
The Empress had been looking after the Emperor more carefully than usual during the past week, and had prepared this dinner.
She said that after the national wedding was over, it was time to prepare a meal with the family.
Thanks to this, I, the helpless person, was forced to attend this bloody dinner as Cassian's fiancée.
'It's a good thing the Empress didn't see my face when I received the invitation to dinner.'
It was so treacherous that I felt like withdrawing from the meal immediately.
I couldn't help but sigh at the many things that would happen in the future.
This time, I felt that it might be difficult to get over it as easily as usual.
“Were you worried?”
"… Yes?"
“Rose’s face is full of worry.”
When we arrived at the Winter Palace, Cassian asked as he rubbed my chin with his knuckles.
“Are you worried about me?”
This question was asked without any expectations at all, just as a joke.
I'm angry for no reason.
“You can take it as concern for Your Highness if you like?”
Of course, I was worried about the workload ahead of me, the Empress's cruel attacks, and the source of my precious salary!
My concerns were greater...
I also want to tell Cassian, who is sure to make fun of me even more, that I also have reasonable concerns...
Why is his face like that?
“Your Highness?”
“Rose really...”
It was definitely a lot of fun...
“If you told me that at a time like this.”
A shallow sigh escaped from the corner of his mouth.
“I wouldn't leave you there.”
"Yes?"
Why do you suddenly say something incomprehensible?
I couldn't help but open my eyes and look at him with a stupid expression.
It was indeed spring, but maybe that was because it was a winter palace...
Or maybe Cassian's body feels feelings that his head doesn't know.
Somehow it felt like the refreshing temperature of a spring evening was like the cold mixed with the chill of a winter dawn.
Cassian examined me quietly with deep eyes that don't see every day, then quietly removed his hand from me, as if he was surrendering.
“I think you were more nervous than I thought.”
In a light tone that seemed to make her moody.
“That's why I was a little affected.”
Cassian took my hand carefully, kissed its back, and whispered...
"Don't freeze like that.
Your precious salary isn't going anywhere."
It's definitely the same tune as usual.
But I couldn't help but notice that the intention was different.
Hmmm.
Cassian let out a breath, not sure if it was a sigh or realization, and unbuttoned his shirt..
'As expected, she was a little tired this time.'
I know very well that one day she is the one who must return to the safe and peaceful area of Salis.
Without realizing it, I felt like relying on her.
I don't know about Roita..
The things the Empress does are full of dangerous things.
'But my young lady shouldn't know that.'
If everything is discovered, all the short leisure and pleasures that you could have enjoyed will be destroyed.
No, maybe I just want to protect the memories that I may not remember correctly..
A cute little lady who annoys me all the time.
I didn't even know that while I was engrossed and injured, I could see her chestnut-coloured hair beneath a clumsily worn light purple wig.
Although it may seem strange, the confusion that appeared on her from time to time was what allowed Cassian to breathe..
“You'll have to put up with it, then.”
Cassian got rid of all the feelings that could have gone deeper and accumulated them inside himf...