When I was almost out of the palace, I saw a man walking across from the other side with his neat honey-colored hair hanging down. The young man approached me with strides and bowed to me, “It’s been a while, Lady Monique.”

“Yes, it’s been a long time, Marquis Mirwa. Thanks a lot for your testimony the other day.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve committed a crime, as you know. I didn’t prevent the unfortunate thing from happening to you, nor save you properly. I’m so sorry, Lady Monique. I have nothing to say.”

“Oh, you don’t have to apologize…”

I stopped him who tried to offer apologies repeatedly. In fact, he didn’t have to because he was not responsible for plotting the poisoning. He also paid the price for his crime dearly.

“By the way, I hear that the date of your wedding ceremony has been set. Congratulations! I’m sure you will be the great empress of the empire.”

“I’m flattered. Thank you anyway. ”

“How about your wound? Are you okay? I should have inquired after you earlier, but I was too ashamed to ask.”

“I’m fine. And you don’t have to blame yourself. Without your cooperation, the trial would have been very difficult.”

“Thank you for saying so. Well, I’m really sorry to say this, but may I ask you a favor?”

“What is that?”

“I know you may not feel good about the noble faction, but please don’t hate them all because of some of its members. I know this is a difficult request, but if you look at the whole picture, they are also working for the empire.”

That was true. The rival factions of the empire differed in their political goals, but they existed for the construction of a better empire. Some hardliners, who forgot their fundamental duty, were removed from their posts, but it was certain that the noble faction would be led by moderates including Marquis Mirwa Then, the political situation in the empire would be further stabilized.

When I looked at the man with a soft smile, I suddenly noticed two shoulder straps on his shoulders.

I wondered if he really returned all his titles, including the post of Captain of the 4th Knights Division. As there was no proper candidate to fill his vacancy, it was certain that he will be reappointed soon.

“Oh my, I think I have kept you too long. You must be very busy preparing for the wedding.”

“I’m fine. Anyway, I was going to express gratitude to you. See you next time, Marquis. Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome, Lady Monique. See you then.”

Returning his greeting, who bowed to me politely, I headed back home.

Since it was not lunchtime, there were only servants and maids busily moving around in the noble district, but there were no wagons. Only the front of my house was crowded with several wagons waiting to enter.

Come to think of it, I heard that the family vassals would visit my house sooner or later. Was it today?

When I tilted my head to the side, the horsemen who recognized my wagon hurriedly opened the way for me.

When I entered the mansion after passing through the employees lining up, the butler greeted me, bowing deeply to me.

“Welcome home, my lady.”

“By the way, butler, why are all those wagons here? Is it today when the family vassals are supposed to visit? ”

“They were supposed to come tomorrow, but they seemed to have arrived one day earlier.”

“Really? Well, you must be surprised by their unexpected visit. Hope you will take care of them well. By the way, did you inform my father of their arrival here?”

“Yes, I just sent the message to him.”

“Got it. Let me go upstairs for now. When they gather here, please let me know.”

After smiling at him, I went to my room and grabbed the embroidery frame. I embroidered the crest of my family on a white cloth by putting a silver thread through the needle. It would be a pair of gloves for my father as I suddenly realized that I had never given any embroidered thing to him while making a token of my love for the emperor.

How much time passed? When Lina told me it was time for me to go down to greet them, I put down the needle and went to the drawing room downstairs after quickly looking back at the silver shield I was done embroidering by half.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Monique.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, everyone. How have you been? ”

The drawing room was very crowded. Most of the vassals had come, except for the minimum number of people who had to take care of the estate. When I took a seat next to the seat reserved for my father, those who greeted me also sat down one by one.

Shortly afterwards, the maids placed tea and snacks on the table before them.

“It seems that Marquis Monique has not returned home yet.”

“Oh, he will be here soon because he’s got the message. Let’s talk about the main subject later. Shall we talk for a while? Well, how about the atmosphere of the estate these days? ”

“There is nothing special. but…”

We chatted about lots of things in a warm atmosphere for a while. According to them, the successor of a baron had a baby son, the priest at the local temple was replaced, there would be a bountiful harvest this fall, which would increase the revenue, and the mine ceded from the Hamel family was a treasure.

By the time everybody emptied their cups and had another cup of tea, my father, in a neat uniform, came in.

“Nice to see you, Marquis Monique.”

“It’s been a long time, everybody. Sit down. ”

When my father took a seat after lightly gesturing toward them, one of them on the left brought up the main subject with a serious expression.

“After we heard that Lady Monique would get married to the emperor, we have come here.

Although it’s something we have to congratulate, we are embarrassed at the same time. Marquis, what’s going on here? We understand she has clearly broken off her engagement with the emperor.”

“Well, she didn’t yet start the formal process of breaking off the engagement. Besides, the emperor loves her so much, so he has made the decision. I’m sorry that I notified you late because I made short work of it.”

“What is the status of her title? In a situation where there is no other successor, what happens if she, the only successor, becomes a member of the imperial family?”

“Well, I’ve already talked with the emperor about it, but let me make the final decision after consulting with you. Won’t you listen? ”

The agreement he made with the emperor was quite unprecedented. According to it, I could continue to act as the successor of the Monique family even when I became the empress. Besides, even after my father died in Vita’s arms, his title would not be returned to the imperial family, but bequeathed to me. In that case, the possessions of the Monique family would be mine, not the imperial family’s, and my title will be handed over to one of the babies with silvery hair, except for the crown prince baby to be born. It seemed that my father inserted that clause in the agreement just in case I broke up with him.

Besides, even if a silver-haired child is born to a relative of the Monique family, I have the priority and final say on handing over my title to him. In other words, as the empress and the marquise of the Monique family, I will have the independent authority to decide everything within the family regardless of the will of the imperial family. In that case, nobody will be able to treat me recklessly even if my relationship with the emperor goes sour.

In addition, there was a clause in the agreement that would guarantee the Monique family’s exclusive right to sell some of the products available only in the territories owned by the imperial family. The jewelry offered by the emperor in the name of wedding gifts and other material benefits to my family would also be enormous. Of course, the expenditures in the form of dowry on my end will be great, but the family vassals seemed to be ready to accept it without any opposition. Some of them even expressed satisfaction, assuming that one of the princes would be the marquis of the Monique family in the next generation.