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Chapter 40
It had been three days since the banquet ended.
A short span of time, yet many things had changed.
First, Luiza’s reputation had completely collapsed.
‘At this point, she’s basically been socially erased, hasn’t she?’
In contrast, her own reputation had… exploded.
“Your Majesty the Empress, another letter has arrived.”
“Alright, leave it there.”
Since Izaya had little to no contact with the outside world, letters were now piling up like a mountain.
‘Exhausting.’
No one in the empire dared casually send invitations to the most exalted Empress. It was impossible to summon the nation’s consort at will.
So instead, the nobles sent gifts and letters, hoping to meet her.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing that many nobles were bowing their heads to gain favor. The problem was the sheer volume.
‘Still, I can’t ignore them. I need to filter out the useful ones and keep them close.’
As Izaya read through the letters, she paused at one name and curved her lips slightly.
‘Perfect timing.’
It was a letter sent under an alias by Marchioness Camellia.
[Your Majesty the Empress, I am curious why you have not made use of my gift.]
‘In that case, meeting in person would be best.’
She immediately wrote a reply.
Not to a fabricated persona—but directly to the real person behind it.
“Deliver this to Marchioness Camellia.”
As she picked up the next letter, Izaya was slightly startled.
The envelope bore the seal of the Grand Ducal House of Tares.
‘Why is Salome writing to me?’
After breaking the seal, a neatly written letter appeared.
[To the respected Empress,
The sunlight has been pleasant these days. I hope Your Majesty is in good health.
I heard that you enjoy tea. We recently received excellent tea as tribute, and I would like to offer it to you. I am writing to ask whether I may visit with my older brother.
I will await your reply with an excited heart.
— Salome Vivian Tares]
Izaya recalled Salome from the banquet and let out a quiet sigh.
‘For some reason, she seems to have taken a liking to me.’
Izaya couldn’t understand her, nor could she guess her intentions.
But she had no intention of refusing Salome’s visit.
‘In fact, I was planning to approach her first anyway.’
And not only was Salome coming—she was bringing Dietrich as well.
This was an opportunity.
A chance to build a strong foundation for the weak Emperor Ernfrith.
‘While I’m at it, I should gather suitable people and host a tea party. First, I’ll reply and confirm Salome’s intentions.’
With that, Izaya began writing her response.
Meanwhile, at the Tares Grand Ducal residence, Salome paced back and forth before approaching Dietrich.
“Brother, the Empress won’t refuse us, right?”
Watching his restless younger sister, Dietrich shook his head in resignation.
‘What on earth does she see in that woman?’
The Empress he saw at the banquet was certainly beautiful—but that was all.
When she spoke gently to Salome, her eyes were cold and far too composed.
‘Yes… as if she calculated everything in advance.’
That was how she had been throughout the banquet.
Even when speaking about her mother’s dress, or suddenly hearing about her grandfather’s will.
She never revealed genuine emotion, only placed carefully chosen words that steered situations in her favor.
Calculating. Artificial.
Yes—she looked like the very embodiment of everything detestable about nobility.
‘I want nothing to do with such a creepy woman. And yet…’
“Brother, are you listening?”
There was no way his stubborn sister would listen even if he objected.
As Dietrich sighed, a knock sounded and a servant entered.
“Young master, a reply from Her Majesty the Empress has arri—”
Before he could finish, Salome snatched the letter off the silver tray and jumped in excitement.
“Eee! She replied! What did she say?”
She rushed to Dietrich and shoved the letter at him.
“Look! The Empress said she wants to meet us! And with other people too!”
Dietrich frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Other people as well?”
Until now, hardly anyone responded like that to his invitations.
Most nobles preferred exclusive access to him as the heir of the Grand Ducal House.
‘But to respond like this…’
Simply being the Grand Duke’s heir was usually enough to guarantee acceptance of a tea invitation.
Frankly, it was absurd.
And yet—she was the Empress.
He couldn’t refuse.
‘Is she trying to seize the initiative like this?’
As Dietrich let out a hollow laugh, Salome beamed brightly.
“I’m so happy! I’ll finally get to see the Empress! You’ll come with me, right?”
Looking at his shining-eyed sister, he could only sigh deeply.
‘Looks like I’ll have to play along with her for now.’
Meanwhile, Izaya was receiving a guest.
‘Even knowing her identity, I didn’t expect her to rush here this quickly.’
Marchioness Camellia, who had been glaring for a while, finally let out a sigh and spoke.
“How did you know?”
“As the Empress, it would be problematic not to know such information. Even the Duchess of Hallis knows it.”
At that, Camellia flinched.
“You are truly a frightening person. Was this your intention from the start?”
“I won’t deny it.”
Her honest answer made Camellia sigh deeply.
“Very well. Then when will you respond to my letter?”
Izaya raised her lips slightly.
“There is no need to use a fine blade to butcher a chicken.”
“…Pardon?”
Camellia frowned in confusion.
At that moment, Izaya’s expression turned cold.
“More importantly, I have no intention of being manipulated. Your intentions are far too obvious.”
Camellia stiffened in shock.
But soon she clenched her fists.
‘After I kindly tried to help her… to be treated like this…’
She spoke sharply.
“I am disappointed you interpret my goodwill that way. Or perhaps… you intended to run away after becoming head of your house? I understand. Not many have stayed by His Majesty the Emperor’s side…”
She trailed off.
Izaya interrupted coldly.
“Whether you dig into others’ backgrounds or were once a rebranded assassin—none of that matters to me.”
Camellia’s face turned pale.
“H-How did you…!”
“But if you ever lay a hand on His Majesty the Emperor, I will devote everything I have to destroy you.”
The killing intent in her crimson eyes was overwhelming—but it was different from an assassin’s gaze.
‘Assassins don’t hate their targets.’
They kill without emotion.
But people like this… they make their targets wish for death itself.
Camellia knew very well she should not make such an enemy.
‘If she even knows my identity… I can’t even measure her capabilities.’
She immediately dropped to her knees.
“I… I misspoke. Please forgive me.”
Izaya looked down at her and said coldly:
“You assumed I rejected your gift, but if I had used that information, I would not have survived.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
A faint smirk formed on Izaya’s lips.
“There were several false pieces of information mixed in. If I had spread it, my reputation would have collapsed.”
Camellia froze.
She had never made mistakes in her intelligence work before.
And yet—false information had been planted in her report?
That was an insult to her pride.
She hurriedly tried to defend herself.
“That’s impossible!”
Izaya continued calmly.
“Luiza is not the type to toy with engaged men.”
“Pardon? But the noble lady in question clearly suffered—”
“Her standards for men are simply too high. She prefers handsome men like Duke Hallis’s son. If anything, she would be angry that someone beneath her standards approached her—not manipulate them. She would never do something like that.”
Camellia was left speechless.
“So… your evidence is… based on appearance?”
