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"Ugh..."
Feidan glared at Leticia as if he wanted to kill her, but in the end, he turned away without buying the necklace.
Bang!
The shop door slammed shut violently.
'Hmph, at least he's not completely unreasonable, is he?'
Leticia wore a victorious smile and turned to look at the shop owner.
The necklace on the counter was glittering.
Leticia grabbed the necklace and looked up.
The shop owner, who had been frozen in the oppressive atmosphere, instinctively flinched when he met her sparkling blue eyes.
"So."
"Yes, yes?"
"How much is it? This necklace."
"Ah, that..."
"Name your price."
Leticia added with a sweet smile.
"I'll pay whatever you ask."
She intended to pay a fair price for the fortune she had finally seized in this life.
Chirp chirp!
"Umm..."
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping.
As I lifted my heavy eyelids, dazzling sunlight greeted me.
'How long has it been since I woke up in the morning like this...'
Since casinos usually operate at night, I had been living with my days and nights reversed.
Waking up to the morning sunlight and birdsong felt refreshing.
Buried in the sun-scented blanket, I thought about what I had to do today.
'I should have breakfast and send a letter to Her Majesty the Empress.'
It was too late when I got back from buying the necklace at the antique shop yesterday, so I just went to sleep.
'I wonder if she'll even meet me...'
I enjoyed the leisurely morning for a moment before getting up.
But...
"Good morning."
Idris, wearing a robe, was sitting at the table, drinking tea.
'...Am I still half asleep?'
But even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, Idris didn't disappear.
Only then did my eyes widen.
'Why is that person here?!'
As if reading my question, Idris put down his teacup after taking a sip and answered.
"It's not polite to enter a sleeping lady's room without permission, but I had no choice because I have to act."
"Act?"
"Our Emperor sent someone."
The current Emperor was Idris's older brother.
'But why would the Emperor send someone so early in the morning?'
As I wondered, Idris gestured towards the teapot with his eyes and asked.
"Would you like some tea?"
I was thirsty anyway, so I obediently sat across from him.
Idris poured tea into my cup himself.
Pour.
As I watched the reddish stream of water, I unconsciously raised my gaze to the teapot.
More precisely, to Idris's hand holding the teapot.
'...His hands are pretty.'
The size and frame itself were large and thick, but basically, it was a pretty hand without any scars or anything like that.
Following his hand upwards, I saw Idris's face.
A neat face, unlike his disheveled robe, as if he had just woken up.
'W-wait a minute. Does my face look okay?!'
Only then did I become aware of my appearance and comb my messy hair with my fingers.
In the meantime, I made eye contact with Idris, who was pushing the teacup towards me.
Embarrassed, I quietly lowered my hand and asked the question I had had a little while ago.
"Did His Majesty the Emperor send someone because of our scandal?"
"Probably. More precisely, because I ignored his personal letter."
"His Majesty's personal letter...?"
"It probably said to enter the palace, but I didn't go because I knew what he wanted to talk about."
I was shocked by that.
Could there be anyone in this empire besides this man who could ignore the Emperor's personal letter?
But Idris, who had dared to ignore the imperial command, was only nonchalant.
"If this goes on, the Emperor might come in person."
"Are you and His Majesty on good terms?"
I cautiously asked the question.
Idris had two half-brothers.
Azef, the current Emperor, son of the 1st Empress, and Deon Zahir, the Grand Duke, son of the 2nd Empress who came as a stepmother.
It was known that the two had accepted and cared for Idris, who was born out of wedlock, as their younger brother.
'But that's just the imperial family's external image management.'
It was unknown whether the three brothers were actually close.
"Not bad. Except when they bring up marriage."
But Idris's tone when talking about the Emperor was not so cold.
"Is that one of the reasons why you accepted my proposal?"
Idris didn't answer, but instead gave his usual leisurely smile as he sipped his tea, but I felt like I knew the answer.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that you and my brother don't meet privately."
He seemed to think that I was scared that I would have to meet the Emperor.
But at that moment, a brilliant thought flashed through my mind.
I was thinking of using this situation as an opportunity.
"No, it's actually a good thing."
I smiled at Idris, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression, and added.
"I think it would be nice to formally visit and greet him this time."
And I have something to tell him, too.
The next day.
Leticia visited the Imperial Palace with Idris.
Crown Prince Ludian, who was playing while eating snacks, saw Idris and ran over with a bright smile on his face.
"Uncle!"
"Oh, Your Highness is here too."
Idris also smiled and was about to skillfully hug the child who ran to him.
Just a few steps away, Ludian stopped.
The child's gaze was directed at the unfamiliar woman next to Idris, Leticia.
Noticing the gaze, Leticia bowed to the Crown Prince.
"Leticia of the Cloel family greets His Most Honorable Crown Prince."
As the five-year-old Crown Prince, who was shy, was hesitating.
"Ludian, be formal in front of guests."
A soft but strict voice was heard from inside the reception room.
There sat a man with dazzling platinum blonde hair and mysterious golden eyes that resembled Idris.
Azef Ronie de Atlas.
Idris's older brother and the current Emperor of the Atlas Empire.
"You and the Empress must be the only people in the entire empire who can put off the Emperor's call for days and days, Idris."
"How dare I put off the imperial command? I was just busy and saw His Majesty's letter late."
Azef clicked his tongue at Idris's nonchalance.
"I didn't send a letter, I sent someone."
Even though his lie was immediately exposed, Idris only smiled innocently.
Azef sighed at his younger brother's nonchalant attitude, who didn't even seem to be trying to hide his true feelings.
Then, he said to Ludian, who was standing timidly in front of the stranger.
"Ludi, I have something to talk about with your uncle, so would you excuse us?"
Ludian hesitated for a moment, but soon bowed politely.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Idris watched Ludian's back as he hurried out of the reception room with a heartwarming smile.
It was Azef's voice that turned his gaze.
"I didn't expect to meet the Duchess in a private setting."
The Duchess.
The title referring to Leticia seemed to have a strange accent.
As if reminding her that she was still the Duchess of Farnese and an unsuitable match for Idris.
But Leticia didn't seem to care and smiled and bowed politely.
"I am humbled that you have so readily arranged a meeting, Your Majesty."
"There's nothing to be thankful for. I didn't call you here to have a pleasant chat."
First, sit down.
Idris and Leticia sat down at Azef's suggestion.
Azef seemed to have no intention of hiding his displeasure towards Leticia and immediately got to the point.
"Idris said that you wanted to meet me. What's the reason? I doubt you came here to exchange pleasantries."
"Of course not."
Then?
Azef's eyes seemed to be asking that.
Idris had not heard the reason from Leticia as to why she wanted to meet Azef, so he also looked very curious.
As if she had been waiting, Leticia presented the velvet box she had brought.
Inside was the necklace she had bought at the antique shop.
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