“Tia. ”

“Yes, father.”

“You have probably wondered why I didn’t do anything even when I said I would help you. Well, I might have looked indecisive to you. ”

I was silent because I had definitely thought so.

Even after the late emperor declared that he would make me the next empress after Jiun appeared, and when my father heard the news that the noble faction asked the emperor to have me as the empress, I felt angry about my father because he didn’t seem to do anything.

Perhaps it was because I was resentful about my father that I wanted to swear without consulting him first.

As if he read my resentment, he said, patting my hands gently, “But it is not the oath alone that has been handed down to our family. ”

“Pardon? What are you talking about? ”

“I can’t tell you the details yet, but that’s all I can tell you now. I’m telling you this because you’re so obsessed with the oath of blood.”

“… ”

“So, can you trust me? If you really have to swear before the emperor, let me know in advance. Let me show you how to handle it.”

Now I felt my lingering doubt was dispelled. And I could understand why my father looked relaxed, unlike me who was so desperate.

At the time I thought that my father took such an attitude because he had no other choice. Looking back now, however, he already knew how to overcome the difficult situation. I felt more convinced when I recalled his conversation with the emperor, which I overheard behind the pillar.

I felt as if the chain all over my body loosened a little. As I felt much lighter, I jumped into my father’s arms and whispered, “… Thank you. And I’m so sorry. ”

“That’s fine.”

Smiling at him who was gently touching my hair, I fell asleep, held in his strong arms that protected me from the ups and downs of life.

The next day when I was talking with my father about family affairs after dinner, I heard a knock. The butler came in and bowed deeply, “You have a messenger from the Imperial Palace.”

“Got it. Let me come down now.”

Messenger? At this time?

I was a little puzzled, but I followed my father.

When I entered the reception room, a man sitting in a polite position raised his body and bowed. What made the Lord Chamberlain of the Central Palace come here in person?

“Hello, Marquis, Lady Monique. How are you doing?”

“Oh, I never thought you would bring a message in person. Why did you bring the emperor’s order in person?”

“Well, I’ve got two official reasons and one thing I have to convey secretly. Here you are.”

What the Lord Chamberlain presented was a document with the imperial stamp and a small box. Given the imperial stamp, it was not a document. What is the secret thing?

Letter or the box?

The Lord Chamberlain explained to me, while I was looking at them on the table.

“This document was delivered to the Captain of the 2nd Knights and Sir Monique, this letter was sent to the head of the Monique family, and the box was for Lady Monique.”

“Ah, yes.”

Then it was clearly the letter that he had to convey to me secretly.

At first glance, it all seemed the same, but there was a subtle difference in his words.

Since the documents were for the Captain of the 2nd Knights and Sir Monique, they must have been an official order related to the knights. Given that the emperor gave the box to me, I didn’t have to dispose of it.

After seeing him off, I stood up and headed to my father’s study with my father.

Then, after watching my father checking the documents, I opened the box that the emperor sent me.

‘What is this?’

I blinked blankly at the unexpected thing. Inside the small silver box were seven envelopes with gold pearls scattered on a blue background.

Letters? Not one, but seven.

When I picked up a blue envelope curiously, my father called me, folding the documents, “Tia.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Do you know that administrative work has increased dramatically due to the formation of the new knights divisions?”

“Ah… I guess so.”

“So, the emperor says he needs an assistant who can assist him with the work while processing the relevant documents. So, he wants you to take the job because you scored most in the administrative area among all the applicants.”

“Pardon? Oh my…”

When I looked at him in embarrassment, he said with a sigh, picking up the letter, “For the next 15 days, work in the knights’ division in the morning and assist the emperor in the Central Palace in the afternoon. If you have anything to discuss, just visit the captain of each knight division.”

“… Got it, Daddy.”

“And…”

After reading the letters, he approached the fireplace and burned them. Watching the thin paper turning into ashes in a burning flame, he said, “Well, it looks like some royal knights will be dispatched to escort you for the time being.”

“Royal knights? We have family knights here. Why…”

“The emperor seems to be very concerned about you. Royal knights are more specialized in escorting than the family knights. Besides, you went through lots of happenings these days, so try to put up with them for your safety even if you feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes, Daddy. I will do so.”

Although I didn’t think he sent me a secret letter to say that, I didn’t want to ask.

By nature, the secret is better kept when fewer people know it.

I nodded silently, picked up the box, and returned to my room.

After hesitating for a moment, I picked up one in the middle of the seven envelopes.

This…? My jaw dropped open in surprise.

Was this the letter he wrote to me when I collapsed with poisoning, losing my consciousness?

My hands holding the letter began to tremble little by little. I began to read the next sentences.

What the hell is this…

I picked up another letter with my trembling hand and opened it.

As soon as I read the next one, I picked up another one, and next, next…

As I read each of the thick letters one by one, my heart began to beat faster.

It was hard for me to read properly because my hands trembled, but I picked up the last letter, with my eyes opened wide, and read it all the way to the end of the letter quickly.

“Whew…”

Only then did I let out a long breath.

I put my hand on my heart beating like crazy.

Were all these letters written by him in person?