Artizea arrived in the Capital three days before the Coronation.

The Empress greeted Artizea with an uneasy face.

Coronation is important. The Empress thought that Artizea had to hurry, even if her body was somewhat uncomfortable.

But she couldn’t say it face to face.

She heard an explanation from Cedric in advance. It is said that Artizea lost some of her vitality due to overuse of divine power, and it was revealed in her face.

He said it would be normal with time, and Cedric’s complexion was slowly coming back. Now, the symptom was almost unobservable.

But Artizea was a little worse than that. It caught the Empress’ eye immediately that her hair had turned white.

“You must pay a lot of attention to your makeup.”

“Sorry for causing concern.”

“Whoo.”

The Empress let out a sigh.

“Not everyone in the Emperor’s department has such a sense of responsibility. It was you, whom Gregor sent, so I couldn’t help it, and so was Cedric.”

“I have nothing to say except sorry.”

Since Cedric left the Capital immediately after the war, the Empress’ headache must have been indescribable.

The Empress sighed once more and closed the story.

She has already told Cedric enough about this. He was already the Emperor, so she could no longer nag.

The Empress slowly looked around the living room. The little furniture in her living room had already been taken out and it was quite empty.

“Now…… The time has come to empty this place. Even if it wasn’t originally attached to the Empress’ Palace, if there are any furniture or decorations you would like to keep, please tell Martha.”

“…… Do you have any plans for where you are going from here?”

“I thought you already knew?”

the Empress asked curiously. Artizea shook her head.

It must also be a political issue, so she didn’t bother to look into it. It wasn’t something Artizea was interested in anymore.

It would be well taken care of by Freil or Hayley.

“I want to go to my hometown.”

The Empress let out a roar of laughter.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t want to sit there, but I will look around the old house and ancestral graves, and to my parents after a long time…… I want to greet them.”

“Of course, you should.”

“In the meantime, I plan to enter the mansion here and repair it.”

It was referring to Duke Riagan’s residence in the Capital.

There were no good memories left. Countess Martha was grinding her teeth, saying that Duke Fernando Riagan had touched it once, and wanted to turn it upside down and grind the walls and floors all over.

Artizea did not encourage the Empress to remain in the Palace.

It must be a place where only painful memories remain.

“What are you planning to do next?”

“I had to look after the Pescher children until they debuted in the social world.”

“Yes.”

“If I stay like that, there will be things I want to do again.”

The Empress added that she had no intention of fighting Artizea.

“Come to think of it, there is something I want to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“…… Will you return Saintess Olga to me?”

Artizea nodded her head without hesitation.

“I should.”

It was a memento to the Empress, but to Artizea, it was an item that had no special meaning.

She would later send it to Duke Riagan’s residence through Countess Martha.

＊＊＊

Natalia wasn’t even surprised to see Artizea’s face.

“I just knew that when Your Highness got older, you would be more beautiful than you are now.”

“This time I found out that Your Highness Natalia is good at her words.”

Even after answering like that, Artizea just smiled. It was because she thought Natalia was just saying something comforting.

“Natalia is not good at lying.”

The face of Crown Prince Bernat who said that next to her was in full bloom.

Artizea smiled and looked at him.

Of course his expression would be in full bloom. At this point, Bernat was the first foreigner to line up for Cedric.

He is Leticia’s benefactor, and hearing Cedric’s appreciation will be of great benefit to his political career going forward.

Unless the relationship with the Empire is completely different and there were hostilities.

Even now, the couple seemed to be the only guests allowed to enter and leave the Empress’ Palace at will.

But Artizea said, considering the profit and loss, that she didn’t think that it gave her enough profit.

“Thank you.”

“It goes without saying, Your Highness.”

“I asked Your Highness Natalia to stay in the Crown Prince’s Palace, just in case, but it was more of a precaution. I really didn’t mean to make her draw a sword…….”

“Don’t say that. I think I’m glad I was there at the time…….”

Natalia smiled at her.

“Things in the world don’t always go the way we want. In that case, someone with the right power should step in.”

“Your Highness Natalia……”

“I did what I should have done, and I am grateful for it. Don’t feel sorry.”

Natalia said one last time,

“And…… Lady Mielle did the best she could, so don’t be too hard on her.”

Artizea nodded her head.

＊＊＊

Artizea went to the Imperial Palace that day and greeted the people she needed to greet, and then returned to Grand Duke Evron’s residence with Leticia.

Freil delivered the news.

Cedric simply replied, “I see.”

In the end, Freil had no choice but to speak.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“The Empress’ Palace is cluttered now. It’s no wonder she didn’t stay there and went to Grand Duke Evron’s residence.”

Cedric replied.

The Crown Prince’s Palace has not yet been repaired. Immediately after the fire, a lot of great things happened, and Cedric left the Capital.

Besides, Leticia was also under the Empress’ protection. Neither the Crown Prince nor the grandchild stayed in the Crown Prince’s Palace, so it was not considered a priority to be sorted first.

After Cedric returned he decided not to waste the fund there.

He was going to enter the Main Palace soon. Then, the Crown Prince’s Palace would only be opened after Leticia had grown up.

It was a palace that would be used after 20 years. He concluded that it would be better to make minimal repairs now, and then go there and repair the whole thing later.

During this time, Cedric moved between the main Palace and Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

Except for Leticia’s caregiver and entourage who followed to the Empress’ Palace, the other members of the Grand Duke Evron’s family and employees were staying at Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

So, it wouldn’t be surprising if Artizea took Leticia and went back to Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

‘No, it’s strange. No matter how you think about it, it’s strange.’

Artizea was not strange, but Cedric was strange.

Freil struck his chest.

It was clear that something was going on between his master and the Madam. If not, there was no way Cedric would be doing his work here when Artizea had come.

It was the same yesterday when Cedric heard that Artizea had arrived almost close to the Capital.

However, if Cedric decided to keep his mouth shut, he would be hard as a stone, and if he expected Artizea to speak to Freil, he would rather not.

Meanwhile, even Hayley was getting angry.

The messenger he sent in the morning in frustration came with a one-line reply.

Is that all you have to say?

It was an ineffective reply.

He was disappointed. Still, Hayley was in the West, and she must have served Artizea on the way back, so he was just asking what happened.

Hayley, who at other times would have complained and provided the necessary information.

So what more should I say?

In a previous letter, she said she was worried because it was a hard time traveling to the West.

Freil didn’t reply to that.

There was a hint that something would go wrong if he replied to it.

Yet, he thought it would also go wrong if he didn’t reply.

But what to do? The master was silently working like an ox. If the master worked like an ox, his subordinates would be ground at a millstone.

＊＊＊

By the time Cedric had finished the day’s work, the sun had set and the half moon had already begun to tilt to the west.

No matter how much he looked through everything he had, he couldn’t stay in his office any longer.

The subordinates also had to rest. Since he returned half-dead, he had no choice but to get up at that time, even if it’s just for those who were concerned.

And he couldn’t even sleep in the main palace. He couldn’t say he had trouble with Artizea arriving three days before his Coronation.

Reluctantly, he headed to Grand Duke Evron’s residence.

In front of the mansion’s front door, Cedric paused for a moment and looked at the mansion.

The light was on in the Mistress’ room.

Cedric thought anew, there was a time when he felt his heart race.

It felt like an unrealistic dream to have Artizea in his house, as his wife.

It was only a year ago, but it already felt like decades ago.

So, it felt as if the old days were now gone, he spoke his words to the girl who was standing like a shadow on the wall of the imperial ballroom and proposed to her.

Cedric put his hand on his left chest and looked. Inside, his heart was pulsating to the point of being torn apart.

It was close to anxiety.

But even there, Cedric could not stand still.

He threw the reins at the servant and walked in.

All the servants, who had not slept, bowed respectfully to him.

Ansgar took his coat and said,

“Madam is waiting for you.”

“…… yes.”

Cedric wanted her to sleep with her lights on, but apparently she didn’t.

“She must not be tired.”

“She must be tired.”

Ansgar said sadly.

Cedric nodded impatiently and grabbed the doorknob of the living room.

And after hesitating for a moment, he made up his mind and opened the door.

“…… you’re here?”

Artizea heard the sound of the door opening and stood up. Looking at her in front of the desk, it looked like she was writing something.

Cedric couldn’t turn away from her, and he said yes without looking straight at her.

“It would have been okay if we talked about it tomorrow.”

“Your Majesty will work until late tomorrow as well.”

Cedric’s heart ached as if he had been stabbed in the chest.