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It was hard to even give a hollow compliment to that psychopathic Crown Prince. One couldn’t help but be displeased with the cruel temperament of a Crown Prince who relied only on his status as the next Emperor and his bloodline.

‘Even a good leader will inevitably be criticized.’

Because you can’t please everyone. When I rose to Chancellor, how much scorn, jealousy, and criticism did I receive? Only then could I begin to understand the truce between Duke Seref and Marcus the Marquess. After all, they served the same superior—the Crown Prince.

‘If only the Emperor’s stubborn insistence that the eldest son must inherit weren’t such nonsense.’

That there mustn’t be bloodshed over the throne. At least, that’s what Ren had told me.

But judging by how the Crown Prince keeps Raven in check, the moment he becomes Emperor Raven will be ruined. Or he’ll be gaslit and manipulated for the rest of his life for amusement.

‘It would be more painful than death.’

Prince Raven doesn’t yet know that I want to push him as the heir to the throne. I didn’t want to put an unnecessary burden on someone who had just broken free from gaslighting. But even if I don’t bring it up, someone as perceptive as him will likely realize it naturally—what would happen to him if the Crown Prince took the throne, and that it wouldn’t be the right path for the Empire.

“Coco, it’s not usually your taste, but that dress suits you. Is it the Duke’s handiwork?”

I smiled and answered yes, and Kiara nodded with a sulky expression.

“Well, the aesthetic is fine. If I had picked it, it would suit you even more.”

I was dumbfounded and asked back.

“Are you jealous of the Duke right now?”

Kiara jumped and fanned her flushed face.

“I can’t help it. You’re that important to me. Same with men or women.”

If our young Marquess had been born male, he’d probably be an insanely possessive man.

“You look very pretty today too. Flashy really suits you.”

Kiara wore a vivid red dress adorned with Black Dia; it matched her haughty eyes perfectly.

“I don’t have to follow trends anymore. I’ll become the trend myself. I’m already doing that.”

Wait—suddenly I realized what had been making me feel empty all this time.

“Kiara, where’s your partner?”

The seat beside her was empty.

“Ah….”

She looked oddly uncomfortable in a way I hadn’t seen before.

Kiara hesitated?

“You didn’t bring some weird jerk, did you?”

“No, but he might be a little embarrassed to see you.”

“Me?”

This was getting stranger. So that meant someone she knew….

Since becoming Chancellor, more people knew my face and name, so there were many possibilities.

“Could it be Nicola?”

He hadn’t been by the Prince’s side lately—did he hide him because of his status?

As I muttered and began to fantasize, Kiara—who had been looking at me with a pitying expression—spoke first.

“Don’t be ridiculous. What sort of relationship would I have with him?”

“Then who is it?”

Kiara sighed and snapped a sharp gesture toward somewhere, and a tall, well-built man came trudging this way from afar.

‘Somehow he looks familiar….’

I squinted at the approaching man and involuntarily covered my mouth with my hand.

“Oppa?!”

It was older brother, Marcella.

“Brother, what are you doing here?!”

Dressed in a neat noble formal suit I hadn’t seen him in before, he was so handsome I barely recognized him—it was like he was a different person.

Marcella’s face flushed in embarrassment; his hair and face seemed indistinguishable from the redness.

“I asked him to come with me.”

Kiara kept fanning herself. I couldn’t understand it at all.

“Why?”

“…You said you had to introduce Marcella to noble society.”

“Ha!”

Though I had Kiara as a close superior, I knew she wouldn’t offer someone the partner spot for a reason like this.

Just because he’s the older brother of a close friend? Of all days, today?

“Kiara Aurelius, the young Marquess?”

I smiled faintly and blinked slowly, and Kiara flinched.

“Don’t say my full name. It’s scary! So….”

“No, I asked to come along.”

Marcella interjected.

So the mood right now was… had they become that kind of couple without my knowing?!

“Incredible, when? The two of you?”

I couldn’t string words together in shock; they looked at each other, their faces flushing, and both turned away simultaneously. Kiara grabbed Marcella’s arm.

“I’ll tell her. No, I have to.”

Kiara gently lifted my still-hanging chin and said.

“Well, when you got promoted you started doing overtime and got really busy. I would drop by your house unexpectedly a lot, but you weren’t there… so I had plenty of time to talk with Marcella. Gradually I developed feelings… and when I applied for a partner this time, I confessed.”

It shocked me even more that Kiara had confessed.

“I wanted to tell you first, but I was too embarrassed in case you’d reject me. I wasn’t well after visiting the plague region and I’ve been busy. Sorry for letting you find out like this.”

So would we become in-laws now instead of friends?

That’s not it.

I’m not against it at all. I just needed time to accept this astonishing event—my close friend dating her own older brother’s friend….

“Presented by His Majesty Emperor Soren, ruler of the Seraphina Empire!”

As I struggled to collect my scattered thoughts, the Emperor appeared.

Following him came the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Princess in turn. The Crown Prince was with Princess Seref.

The Emperor smiled broadly and approached Prince Raven, who had arrived earlier.

“You could have come with me,” he said.

Raven received it politely.

“It’s been a while since a banquet, so I was a bit nervous and came early to get used to it,” he said.

“That’s understandable. Ha ha.”

The Emperor patted Raven on the back encouragingly, then stood where he was instead of returning to his seat.

“Don’t waste time; let’s begin. I thank all of you who traveled so far to celebrate my birthday. I will always do my best to keep the Seraphina Empire in its esteemed position. I ask you to uphold the peace and well-being of the imperial people. And as you know, this banquet also has another celebratory purpose: to commend my son Raven for his service in defeating the plague and returning home.”

Then the Emperor awarded Raven an honorary medal and promoted him one rank in the managerial hierarchy. He said special bonuses would be given to the remaining personnel.

“Continue to strive forward, Raven.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

There was nowhere left for me to be promoted, so an honorary medal was my consolation prize.

‘Useless medal. Couldn’t they give more bonus instead?’

That was my honest feeling, but in front of the ruler of the Empire I only wore a look of gratitude.

“I will continue to devote my loyalty to the imperial people.”

“I find the Chancellor very trustworthy. I have great expectations.”

I glanced around and saw the Crown Prince with a stiffened expression. I resolved to enjoy the banquet using him as my entertainment.

After the presentation of gifts to the Emperor concluded, the ball began in earnest. The Emperor opened with the Empress, then it was Prince Raven’s turn. He strode toward me.

“Chancellor Cornelia, would you grant me the honor of dancing with me?”

Having promised to decline partners, I naturally placed my hand with his.

“With pleasure.”

Of course I had discussed it with Ren beforehand. Knowing he was a terribly jealous man made me cautious.

I declined my head slightly to Ren with a glance, then began to dance with Prince Raven.

“Look at the Duke’s face. He could kill someone with his gaze.”

“Ha ha… can you feel it?”

Prince Raven led me skillfully despite it being a rare banquet.

“He usually wears that sullen face, but since that day he looks different.”

“That day?”

“The day you fell ill with the plague and came to the camp. I had called you aside then.”

It was the first time Raven had brought that up himself.

“The Duke said you didn’t say much about it.”

“Ha!”

Raven snorted.

“He really grilled me terrifyingly. ‘You’re fine but why is the Chancellor so ill? What were you doing until it got like this? List everything you did while the Chancellor was suffering.’ The Duke, apparently famous for his terrifying demeanor in the central ministries—it’s like you experienced that for the first time.”

It seemed like a brief relapse into his days of terrifying rhetoric.

“Honestly, I had no reply either. I had left so many things in his charge. He verbally beat people down and there was nothing to retort. Especially how the Duke scolded the Mage Tower Master—Aidan couldn’t even make a peep.”

“Really?”

Raven narrowed his eyes as if recalling some hazy memory and said.

“It seemed the Duke humbled himself and asked Aidan to watch over the Chancellor. And Aidan, without hesitation, accepted confidently.”

It was the first time I’d heard that.

When Raven lifted his arm, I spun once and came close to him again.

‘So that’s why he felt disheartened.’

Learning the circumstances didn’t sit well with me. Aidan had done his best to help with my work. My contracting the plague had been an accident; if anyone was to blame it was myself for overworking my body.

“You should have told him sooner that it wasn’t necessary.”

“Always turning away and lying on my sofa bothered me, so please take care of him. It’s almost unbelievable that his behavior suggests he’s older than you.”

I often felt that Aidan was more like a younger brother than an older one.

After the dance, as I took Raven’s hand and returned to my seat, the Emperor and Ren were conversing.

“Oh, you two danced wonderfully.”

“Thank you.”

Raven and I bowed our heads in response to the praise.

“You two suit each other very well. I approve.”

“Yes?”

I barely managed to keep from collapsing in shock at the sudden matchmaking suggestion.

Raven replied smoothly.

“The Chancellor should meet a better man than me. I still have much to do for the Empire.”

But the Emperor didn’t let it go so easily.

“Wasn’t it the Chancellor who looked after the Prince in the plague region? Even to the point of falling ill, you were devoted. Since this connection has formed, wouldn’t it be good to cultivate it? The Prince is of marriageable age, after all, a good time to find a match.”

At that moment Ren cleared his throat beside him. The Emperor seemed to take the bait and shifted his focus.

“Yes, our nephew is the same! Find a spouse and marry quickly. How long will you remain so proud? Today you partnered with the Chancellor just like last time. It’s good to look after my loyal subordinates, but now I want to see the Duke’s consort.”

The nagging barrage was surprisingly intense.

But Ren said he was used to hearing this from the Emperor and didn’t mind much.

“She’s not a coworker.”

“What?”

When the Emperor asked again, Ren grabbed my hand that had been beside Raven and gently pulled me into his arms.

“We are engaged, Your Majesty.”

“…!”

“What?”

That was what I cried out.

His nonchalant declaration froze the surrounding area instantly.

Why on earth was I making the same stunned face as everyone else? Seeing my dazed expression, he chuckled and whispered in my ear.

“I’m at my limit. I can’t stand others coveting you anymore.”

He smiled with his red eyes half-closed—more fox than wolf.