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Chapter 4
Calisers Karvandeka had never been this flustered in his life.
“…What?”
“I’m tired of waiting. I love you, Your Majesty.”
It was a face far too beautiful for such dangerous words. Even her breath, her voice whispering those confusing words, was sweet enough to intoxicate.
Everything about her shook him—and at the same time, pulled him back into reality.
Isanna Delorvant does not love me.
He didn’t know what had changed in her heart, since she had always shown him nothing but indifference and not a shred of interest.
But one thing was certain.
Isanna Delorvant did not love Calisers Karvandeka.
She tried to act as though she did, but she couldn’t fully hide the contempt behind it.
And yet… why did he want to hear that false whisper again?
“Say it again, Isanna.”
“…You already heard me… didn’t you? Or… do you only need my family, Your Majesty…”
Who is saying what? Aren’t you the one using me?
His mood twisted at her pitiful voice. He hated her for forgetting that precious memory of that day.
To him, that memory was everything. To her, it seemed to be something trivial—easily discarded.
Unlike him.
“Isanna!”
Her slender body trembled unsteadily, as if it would collapse if not held. Leaning on Kilian Delorvant’s arm, she left the palace.
Calisers decided to bury the incident, thinking it was just a whim.
That is—if Isanna hadn’t come to the palace again the very next morning.
“What did you say?”
“The La-Lady… Lady Delorvant has requested an audience…”
Calisers’ gaze shifted to Mikain Salavar.
The Grand Duke’s handsome face was twisted into a grim expression. At the same time, something in Calisers’ chest sank heavily.
“I’ll take my leave.”
“…Do so.”
A disturbing thought crossed Calisers’ mind.
* * *
The Grand Duke Salavar fled almost as if escaping, afraid he might run into Isanna.
Then the Delorvant retainer who had delivered the message lowered his head and continued reading in a trembling voice.
“Breakfast… together?”
“Y-yes…”
“Is that all?”
“Y-yes…”
Whether it was a sigh or a laugh, Calisers’ breath made Baron Orfen’s heart shrink in fear.
Just as Orfen thought he could no longer endure this job, Gale’s voice came from outside the office door.
After a moment of silence, Calisers finally spoke heavily.
“…Let them in.”
Soon after permission was granted, Isanna entered the office wearing a deep navy dress.
Something inside Calisers tightened. His brow furrowed, irritation rising.
As expected—she had come early in the morning just to meet Salavar.
It felt as if he himself was merely the bridge between the two of them.
“So you came all this way just to meet the Grand Duke?”
“…What are you talking about?”
Her expression—acting as if she knew nothing—looked genuine. Unlike the moment she had whispered her confession of love.
Very well. I’ll play along with you for now, Isanna. But you will pay dearly for it.
“Do as you please.”
Even as she looked bewildered, there was unmistakable relief in her eyes. That only complicated his feelings further.
Does she like him that much?
His appetite vanished completely.
In contrast, Isanna continued eating calmly.
What truly irritated him was her “lie.”
“I told you yesterday… that I… love you, Your Majesty…”
The image of Salavar hearing such confessions countless times made him unable to stay still.
Without another word, he left for the private training grounds.
Even after swinging his sword hundreds, thousands of times, his boiling emotions did not settle.
“Your Majesty.”
“Gale. What is it?”
“Ihivro the aide is unable to approach…”
Only then did Calisers restrain his sharp, murderous aura.
“…I heard the Lady Delorvant visited earlier. Quite a terrifying one…”
“Get to the point.”
“Yes, sir! Lady Reina Pio has arrived!”
“Ah… that woman.”
Calisers had recently detected suspicious activity in House Pio’s territory.
A discreet investigation revealed the discovery of an Orhacon vein—and illegal trading of it without reporting to the imperial family.
So he had decided to use Reina Pio.
“Your Majesty!”
Gale blocked Reina as she tried to rush forward.
“Lady. Mind your manners.”
Her expression twisted briefly.
How dare a mere common knight…
But since he was the Emperor’s chief guard, she suppressed her anger and greeted properly.
“May the glory of the Empire be blessed with Lihibra’s grace.”
Even that felt unnecessary to Calisers.
“Reina Pio. What is it?”
“Huh? I-I thought… we had agreed… to have a meal together…”
Her flushed cheeks made her look like a girl in her first love.
But Calisers only felt irritation rising.
Isanna’s words echoed in his mind.
“I love you, Your Majesty.”
Unable to bear it, he turned away and went straight to the training grounds.
He swung his sword endlessly, trying to drown out his thoughts.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the office…
“I suppose I’ll be working all day again…”
Ihivro the aide sighed inwardly.
Seven consecutive days of overtime.
I want to resign… I really want to resign…
But his tiny, cowardly heart prevented it.
Instead, he dragged his exhausted body back to the office, thinking of his mother far away in his peaceful homeland.
* * *
The pale blue light of dawn slipped through the curtains.
Ugh… I don’t want to move.
As Isanna Delorvant, I had lived a fairly disciplined life, so waking up early wasn’t difficult.
It was just… annoying.
Still, I had to go see the Emperor again today.
Maybe I should just build a small villa and retire to the countryside… No. I forgot how hard farming was.
“Haah…”
After getting up, I pulled the bell cord. The servants soon arrived. Lima was on leave today.
“Prepare me.”
“Yes.”
“Something calm today.”
“Understood.”
I chose a simple dark burgundy dress.
Accessories? Not needed. My face was enough.
“Brother?”
As I stepped into the garden, I saw Kilian Delorvant still at home.
“Isanna. I was waiting.”
“You’re late.”
“It’s fine. Let us go to the palace together.”
I frowned slightly.
“You don’t need to do this next time.”
“I didn’t stay because of you—”
“Liar.”
He coughed awkwardly.
“You shouldn’t be affected by me, Brother. I truly have no feelings for His Majesty.”
“Is that so?”
I smiled coldly, signaling the conversation was over.
Eventually, he sighed and looked out the window.
Silence followed—uncomfortable for him, peaceful for me—as the carriage headed to the palace.
* * *
After sending my brother back to his duties, I wandered the palace alone.
The silence was pleasant.
The imperial palace, carved with centuries of art and history, was breathtaking.
But my peace didn’t last.
Clack, clack—heels echoed loudly.
Who’s walking so loudly in the palace?
I turned—and saw her.
Reina Pio.
She also noticed me, freezing for a moment.
“Lady Reina.”
“Lady Delorvant…”
Then, a faint sneer appeared on her face.
“So, the busy Lady Delorvant has graced us with her presence. What brings you here?”
I immediately understood the tone.
Mockery.
I had no issue with her meeting the Emperor—if I could become Empress, it didn’t matter.
But her forgetting her place?
That was unfortunate.
“Lady Reina… were you really in a position to speak to me like that? How insolent.”
I stepped closer.
She instinctively backed away until her back hit the wall.
“W-what is this…!”
I lifted her chin with my finger and spoke coldly.
“Know your place, Reina Pio.”
