Thalia frankly confessed that she had not been able to properly do what she wasmanded to, and knelt on the floor to ask for forgiveness. At that moment, the Empress, who was stroking her chin with one hand, narrowed her eyes and looked at Thalia, she asked sharply.


    Wait, what happened there? Your messy attire is unusual.


    Ah!


    Thalia momentarily patted her sleeves.


    Her clothes were wrinkled as she was dragged out by the attendants in the VIP room earlier, and even though she straightened it up again, the keen eyes of the Empress seemed to catch it. Thalia dropped her head to the floor and started banging her forehead.


    Your Majesty, actually, thatmoner identally fell down on the floor and cried out, because of that I couldnt fulfill the mission that was given to me.


    Thalia believed that Shuelina fell on her own, but lied so she could get away with the situation. It was because it was a situation where no one can testify since it was only her and the child inside the room.


    She tried to talk to Shuelina with a tongue dripping in honey but in fact, she already knew that she was an orphanedmoner, so she was looking down at her.


    (e/n: a honey dripping tongue means she was saying sweet and kind words to trick her)


    How dare you! If you hadnt been as lucky to be a Grand Princess, you wouldve been the one washing my feet.


    She felt annoyed when Shuelinas legs weakened and she fell to the floor, and at her form when she started to cry and made it obvious she was upset. Shuelina also showed signs of being wary from the beginning.


    She wasnt born with noble blood, but she kept getting angry because it seemed like that child, who had a lot of luck, ignored her. Unfortunately, she was the Grand Princess so she couldnty a hand on her.


    At Thalias words, the smile on the Empress face somewhat faded.


    So, you just came here to say that?


    .Yes.


    Its not like I sent an untrusted maid to do the task or sent you without letting you know anything beforehand.


    The Empress green eyes shed at Thalias words. It was only then that Thalia knew what a stupid mistake she had made. It was unavoidable that she would be kicked out.


    However, even the maid who was summoned afterward had to be dealt with somehow. She should have brought the other maid and then asked for forgiveness again.


    Please f-forgive me, My Empress! Please!


    Of all things, it would attract too much attention to insist on a maid sent by the Grand Chambein.


    The Empress tilted her head quietly as if thinking about something. Even as she thought deeply, there was no change in her elegant expression.


    If the Grand Chambein came out Maybe it was because of the Emperors influence.


    The Empress tapped the armrest of the chair and motioned for Thalia to step away. Thalia, who certainly wanted to be forgiven, looked up eagerly, but the Empress never looked back. Thalia was eventually forced to retreat.


    As soon as Thalia, who bowed politely again, carefully closed the door and left, the Empress murmured into the air.


    Are things going well?


    Of course, My Empress. I was informed that there was no problem. Now is the time to release it.


    The air shook slightly, and a man wearing a cloak appeared and answered. Even though a person suddenly appeared from behind her, the Empress slowly nodded her head without showing any signs of surprise.


    Yes, that should be fine. We can proceed without a hitch.


    The Empress did not look back, but raised her hand lightly and gave instructions.


    She was nervous by what was happening inside the Grand Duchy. She felt like everything had started to really go wrong when she tried to get her hands on Shuelina, who now suddenly appeared in the Imperial Pce.


    Her red lips twisted as she looked straight at the door where Thalia disappeared after thinking of something.


    Ah, about that kid that just left, deal with her like before.


    In the beginning, Thalia was quick to notice and earned the Empresss trust. But that trust seems to have ended as of today. The Empress was not one to give more than two chances. Sadly, even if it was a simple mistake, she did not have the kind heart to understand.


    Yes.


    The man was very familiar with thatmand, so he bowed his head without saying a word. This is because it was verymon for the Empress to dispose of people that had lost their usefulness.


    Satisfied by the docile mans attitude, the Empress extended her hand. The man lightly kissed the back of her hand and disappeared into thin air again.


    I sat down next to Wyndert and finished eating the crunchy cookies while listening to the conversation between the Grand Duke and Cahill.


    It was suddenly impossible to return to the mansion, so Cahill had gone to investigate the situation in the mansion instead of the Grand Duke.


    The damage is about the size of a mansions garden. No one was injured, but the garden was destroyed.


    What about the Intruder?


    Their status is currently unknown. My apologies.


    The Grand Dukes eyebrows twitched slightly at Cahills answer. He didnt seem to like his answer. It just so happened to be the Grand Dukes mansion that was damaged, but it was still unknown who broke inside and they had not been found yet.


    It must be one of the Royals that did it. Even so, we cant do too much about it.


    The Grand Duke nced at me and muttered a little. I looked up and asked Cahill.


    Excuse me. How are Miya and Kaiden? Im worried about Nina and Franc too


    Of course. The maids are cleaning out thedys room, and Miya and Kaiden are probably wandering around the mansion.


    Oh, really!


    After hearing that there was an attack on the mansion, the thing I was most worried about was resolved, and it was very fortunate news. I started swinging my legs at my seat with a happy face and focused on my cookie again.


    Shushu, arent you bored?


    Yes?


    Then Wyndert put his face close to my ear and spoke softly. We were sitting together in the Diamond Rooms parlor, and he seemed a little bored just listening to the conversation.


    I thought you would be bored if you stayed still. Should we go out?


    Have you been to the Imperial Pce often?


    No, Im not an adult yet, and theres no reason toe here because I would be away from the Grand Duchy.


    (e/n: basically he would be away from the duchy too often, where he has important tasks to do, if he was going to the imperial pce)


    No, he wasnt bored, he was worried about me!


    It wasnt particrly boring, but Wyndert said it was his first visit to the Imperial Pce, so somehow he wanted to go out and see it. My head was pounding for some reason, but I thought Id go with him if he wanted me to.


    Daddy, I want to look around this area with my older brother.


    Take care of yourself then.


    The Grand Duke looked at Wyndert with a meaningful look and said some words of caution.


    He seemed to have be more alert because of the fact that the Empress almost got her hands on me through the maid assigned to me. Therefore, he cant leave me by myself, even if I was listening to the adults conversation, he decided to let me y around.


    Even when he saw the dressing room the emperor gave me, he was very angry


    I can go around the Imperial Pce and brag about this outfit, right?


    Cahill went to the Grant Dukes mansion in the capital to get me a special dress for going out  a luxurious dress embroidered with the familys insignia. Wyndert seemed to be in a good mood at the thought of taking me around in the decorated clothes like this.


    Childish


    The clothes are alright, but my childish appearance made everything look very cute. I would also be recognized more easily as a family member of the Grand Duke and Wyndert. I grabbed Wynderts hand and opened the door.


    Oh?


    Shuelina.


    I saw Lucas leaning slightly against the wall when we entered the hall. Another thing I noticed is that the servants around him looked very restless. I blinked and looked up nkly at Lucas.


    Do you have any business with us, my lord.


    Wyndert asked, moving his hand slightly in front of me as if protecting me. Lucas looked down at the hand and looked back at me.


    You looked like youre going somewhere.


    We are nning to take a tour around the Imperial Pce for now. You can go first if you dont have any specific business here.


    Lucas eye lit up at Wynderts words.


    I see, it must be the first time for the both of you so I will guide you.


    Yes?


    Your Highness!


    Hearing his words, us and the servants who were standing next to him all questioned his actions with scornful faces. Why did you have to be a hindrance during a private outing with my brother?


    I shook my head with tears in my eyes because it was absurd. I quietly refused and started to say no, but it didnt work. Lucas began to stride ahead of us, not caring at all.


    Now, what would you like to see?


    Lucas asked me with a friendly smile. I hesitated and shook my head.


    I want to go to a ce where youre not there


    However, I did not have the courage to rudely reject the Crown Princes offer to guide us around the Imperial Pce.


    It wasnt even a difficult task for him in the first ce, and it seemed more difficult to refuse because it seemed like it was only offered as a favor. Besides For some reason, Lucas seemed a little more sad, so it would be troublesome to make a big fuss out of it.


    Oh, Is it because you dont know which way to go so you cant choose?


    It was Wyndert and my first time in the Imperial Pce so he was right that we didnt know much about this ce. But for some reason, some kind of ce popped up in my head.


    Is it because I read the original too hard?


    The ce where Azu stayed as the Imperial Princess and the ce where Shuelina once stayed vividly came into my mind. I put my fingertips on my forehead and mumbled as I thought nkly.


    I want to go to the west.


    The west side of the imperial castle was really familiar to Shuelina.


    This is your new room now. You should thank the merciful Empress for giving a sinner like you a room.


    Someone grabbed Shuelinas arm and shoved her away. She copsed in the middle of the room, and dust rose all around her.


    She heard the dull sound of the lock after she had been pushed inside the room as if they had been touching something dirty. Shuelina nkly looked around the room where only a small amount of light wasing in.


    There is such a ce here.


    Although there was furniture inside, the bed looked like the legs would snap underneath it at any given moment, and it was fortunate enough that the chair hadnt already broken. It felt like the only mercy given to her was the handful of rays of light that wereing inside.


    While she was dragged here, the other people in the pce were moving around busily, but there were no people here. This ce was the end among ends in the imperial pce. It was a ce that no one cared about and left forgotten.


    Before I was locked up in a luxurious room and then now Im locked up in a dirty tower. There is no difference.


    Shuelinaforted herself and sighed.


    To the west of the Imperial Castle, there is a room where Shuelina in the book stayed in until the end of her life. I dont know what kind of impression it will leave on me if I see it myself.


    My head had started to hurt already, but I knew I had to go to that ce  because this Imperial Pce seemed to always want to show me something.


    So, it was a rather impulsive decision.