As the Empress admonished her elegantly, Brianne slowly lifted her lowered head.

　　Empress Tenebre Bertin.

　　Her red hair was the first thing that caught Brianne’s eyes.

　　“She has crimson hair. The same kind of crimson hair said to bring ruin to the Empire.”

　　Brianne recalled the words the Emperor had so nonchalantly uttered on her first day following him to the palace, right after a rough night of passion.

　　The Nesburg Empire possessed the largest port among the allied nations. Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that the family holding the exclusive rights to operate the port held all the wealth of the Empire, and the one who held that monopoly was none other than the Empress’s father, Duke Bertin.

　　The Emperor and Empress were a couple united by an alliance between families, as was typical in the empire’s history. Their betrothal was such a natural course of events that no one opposed the decision.

　　However, cracks began to form in their relationship due to an oracle from the temple that arrived at the Imperial Palace on the day of the grand wedding.

　　[Red hair shall lead the Empire down the path of ruin. Do not embrace the red hair.]

　　The Emperor’s hair was bright orange. The red hair in the oracle undoubtedly referred to the Empress.

　　But the ceremony had already been underway. It was impossible to call off the marriage just because of an ambiguously archaic play on words. The Empress was of the ducal House of Bertin, which held the Empire’s wealth and power in its grip. Casting aside the daughter of such a house on her wedding day risked driving Duke Bertin mad with rage, potentially sparking a rebellion to punish his former son-in-law for his disrespect.

　　Instead of choosing annulment or divorce, the Emperor decided to faithfully follow the oracle’s command not to embrace the red hair at face value. A religious devotion which he had never possessed before, had suddenly bloomed for the sake of the Empire’s prosperity.

　　And so Kavil and Tenebre did not spend their wedding night together. They slept in separate rooms from their very first night, and they had not shared a bed even once. Tenebre Bertin became the Mother of the Empire and the Emperor’s wife, yet she remained a virgin and would continue to remain so, all for the sake of the Nesburg Empire.

　　Having heard of the intimate details of their marital relationship directly from Kavil’s mouth, Brianne slowly studied Tenebre’s face.

　　She was one year older than the Emperor and possessed a dignity heavier than her age. Tall and overflowing with grace, she was a woman whom the word “splendid” suited far better than “beautiful.”

　　“I wish to speak with this child alone. You are to follow at a distance.”

　　“Yes, Your Majesty. We shall obey your command.”

　　When Tenebre commanded firmly, the numerous attendants following behind her immediately bowed and stepped back from the Empress.

　　Just as Brianne, unexpectedly walking side by side with the Empress, took short, hasty steps to keep up with her long strides, Tenebre spoke up.

　　“Why do you wear such an expression, Miss Paradia?”

　　“…Pardon?”

　　Taken aback by Tenebre’s out-of-the-blue remark, Brianne froze in her tracks and looked at her.

　　Tenebre’s brown eyes, resilient and bright, were staring intently at Brianne. In her gaze, there was neither conflict nor hesitation, and those sharp eyes felt so frightening that Brianne ultimately had no choice but to look away. After all, if one had to decide which of the two was the sinner, the sinner was clearly herself.

　　“I asked why you are wearing that look of apology, as if you were the woman who stole everything from me.”

　　“Y-Your Majesty… I…”

　　“Do you perhaps feel a pang of guilt toward me, his wife, because you alone receive the Emperor’s affection?”

　　Brianne blurred the end of her sentence with a look of apology, but Tenebre was not one to let it slide.

　　She’s criticizing me for serving the Emperor in bed when I’m neither his legal wife nor an official imperial concubine!

　　Feeling humiliated, Brianne flushed red.

　　“As you must well know from serving His Majesty so closely, he does not love me.”

　　“…”

　　“Nor have I ever felt affection for him.”

　　“…!”

　　“Even without the oracle’s prophecy, we would not have made good business partners, let alone partners in life. There is no such thing as goodwill without a price for him. He is a man of excessive greed, whose ridiculous desires always bring about discord and conflict.”

　　“Your Majesty…”

　　“As our relationship has always been like this, it would be misleading to say that you stole something from me, as it would be to say that I was robbed. You have taken nothing from me.”

　　“…”

　　“And I am the Empress now, Miss Paradia, not you. That fact will remain unchanged whether it be tomorrow, or whether it be after ten years pass.”

　　You are merely a pretty tool to satisfy the Emperor’s lust. Be it tomorrow, or ten years from now, that will remain unchanged.

　　The Empress’s eyes sneered at Brianne with noble sarcasm.

　　“Let us each do our best in our respective positions, Miss Brianne Paradia.”

　　“Your Majesty…”

　　“Shall we return now? The day is warm. Who knew the spring sun would beat down so fiercely?”

　　Having finished what she had to say, Tenebre spoke nonchalantly to her vassals standing lined up behind her.

　　As the Empress and her attendants turned and began walking in the opposite direction, leaving only Brianne standing there…

　　“Your Majesty!”

　　Finally coming to her senses, Brianne gave chase.

　　“Your Majesty!”

　　“My business with you is done.”

　　Tenebre’s voice turned cold.

　　“Your Majesty. There is something I wish to ask you.”

　　When Brianne caught hold of Tenebre’s sleeve, the Empress’s eyes grew colder once again.

　　Tenebre had just provoked the young mistress. The moment she uttered those childish words, that at best Brianne was the Emperor’s concubine, nothing more than a prostitute, she regretted it. It was unlike her to reveal her displeasure so openly.

　　She should have ignored her and walked past in the first place, so why had she stopped this child and uttered such pointless words? If one strictly assigned blame, all fault lay not with Miss Paradia, who had been dragged here knowing nothing, but with the Emperor who took a mistress less than a fortnight after marrying his legal wife. If she were to be angry, it should have been directed at him.

　　Moreover, an Emperor having a mistress or two was hardly a crime worthy of turning the palace upside down. Not practicing monogamy was not unconstitutional in the Empire. It was merely a moral matter between husband and wife.

　　Of course, the majority of the Empire’s populace was conservative in matters of fidelity, and the nobility and the imperial family were no different. Hence why, even for the Emperor, flaunting his mistress had been a shocking decision.

　　In conclusion, the Empress had no right to punish or accuse this paramour before her. And the child likely knew that as well.

　　“Your Majesty!”

　　Tenebre could guess what kind of words the girl wanted to say, perhaps throwing a fit about telling His Majesty of this humiliation, or asking how long she thought she could act so high and mighty in the seat of the Empress.

　　“Just now, Your Majesty said that His Majesty the Emperor does not bestow goodwill without a price. Is that correct?”

　　However, the words that came from Brianne’s lips were entirely unexpected.

　　Narrowing her eyes, the Empress nodded as if encouraging her to continue.

　　“Yet His Majesty gathered the bodies of my family members, burned so severely that their forms were barely recognizable. He then held a luxurious family funeral for them, and brought me, who had nowhere to go, to the palace, bestowing upon me the favor of staying here for the rest of my life. How can this not be goodwill without a price?”

　　“Hmm.”

　　Tenebre could not grasp the direction of the story coming from the mouth of this delicate young girl. Her expression grew increasingly intrigued.

　　“His Majesty the Emperor asked for nothing in return from me. He is a truly benevolent ruler. Perhaps, Your Majesty, you misunderstand His…”

　　“Are you not paying him back with your body every night?”

　　The Empress cut off Brianne’s words. However, there seemed to be no intent to despise her like when she had declared her nothing but a whore. Rather, her lack of emotion almost sounded as though she felt pity for Brianne.

　　“Could that alone bring satisfaction to His Majesty the Emperor? Could I truly pay such a price with just my body?”

　　When Brianne questioned back with round, clear eyes, Tenebre’s light brown pupils shook with unease.

　　Look at this cheeky little thing.

　　Pausing for a moment, Tenebre let out a short laugh.

　　“Indeed. It is meager as payment for the kindness he showed you. The Emperor is a man with little interest in relieving others’ misfortunes. For such a man to allow you deep into his personal domain likely means…”

　　Tenebre paused for a moment.

　　The Emperor was a man accustomed to suppressing personal desires. Tenebre knew that better than anyone. She and he had taken lessons together in court since childhood. Lectures on monarchy, military, government, and all other fields related to the administration and security of the Empire.

　　Kavil Helius was a man with the cynical decisiveness unique to those who ruled. No matter how minor the decision, he always worried immensely about the consequences of his choice. This obsession with calculating and minimizing failure was why he exercised extreme caution in everything.

　　He even refused to keep others close to him. He was acutely aware of his position, and how he was exposed to the risks of enemy ambushes and poisoning. He had always acted like someone stripped of desire, and such cold heartlessness in Kavil had sickened and terrified young Tenebre Bertin.

　　When she heard the news that he had suddenly brought Brianne Paradia and was letting her sleep in his bedroom, Tenebre had thought it had to be nothing but rumor and gossip.

　　The finicky, self-denying, meticulous Kavil Helius bringing in a woman from a private household, someone not even born and raised in the court? Ridiculous.

　　However, the rumors had turned out to be true, for this beautiful girl boasting golden hair had appeared right before Tenebre’s eyes.

　　Brianne Paradia was curious as to why the Emperor had gone out of his way to save her when she was dying, and why he would bring her all the way to the Imperial Castle, and she was asking Tenebre Bertin.

　　Brianne was not arrogant about her beauty, nor did she fully believe the Emperor’s flattery when he said that he had fallen in love with her at first sight. Yet, she kept her true thoughts hidden as she probed the Empress’s reaction, and Tenebre couldn’t help but be rendered speechless by Brianne’s cunning.

　　I thought the Emperor had picked up a vapid doll that was merely pretty, but it seems she is more clever than she looks. Perhaps she may offer him entertainment beyond the bed.

　　Having finished her thought, the corner of Tenebre’s lips curled up ever so slightly.

　　“Brianne Paradia. You are exceedingly beautiful. Emerald eyes, gorgeous golden hair. Clear skin and full chest. Long and slender limbs. All more than sufficient to blind a man’s eyes, for beauty binds all cause and effect.”

　　However, the Empress had no intention of telling Brianne what she wanted to hear.

　　“Reflect carefully on your unique ‘usefulness.’ Even if it is something utterly meaningless to you.”

　　Ending with those enigmatic words, Tenebre turned around. At that, those who followed behind her began walking after her as well.

　　“A usefulness of mine that holds little meaning to me…”

　　Muttering the Empress’s last words to herself, Brianne’s eyes pursued her receding figure. But with her large strides and quick pace, the Empress had already vanished from sight.