Lucy, could you tell me what you have been doing with Aria after our meeting with Iris?

  I knew that you had been secretly preparing something with Aria after that meeting, despite Aria’s busy schedule. Because of the emperor’s sudden announcement, we had to stay up all night revising the planning for the ceremony until the day of the annual prayer. Yet, you and Aria have been meeting in secret late at night in her room. I tried to ask you several times, yet you refused to tell me.

  I knew it wasn’t only related to the marriage certificate for Iris. There was something else. So, could you tell your grandma here? I am dying to know about it.

  Oh, should I talk about how we prepared the marriage certificate for Iris? As well, I don’t think there is a need for it. After, you were our little messenger. You were the one who ran around asking for the signature, recognizing Iris’s marriage certificate after all.

  It was Iris’s stubbornness. Well, her worry was unfounded after all. It would set a bad precedent not only for Willow House but also for other houses.

  For Iris, who was the knight and later the handmaid of the late Duchess of Willow, to marry the Duke of Willow would create many strange ideas. The later generations would use ‘this precedent’ to climb the social ladder.

  Some handmaids might try to kill their master to marry their master's husband. And some fool might try to attach their pawn as the handmaid, only to kill the wife and marry their pawn to the husband. That was why Iris had been hesitating to marry Duke Willow all the time. And that was why Iris requested our meeting. It was also the reason we took it upon ourselves to help her gather all the signatures from the trinity of the empire after all. Well, if anyone wanted to use this 'precedent,' they had to gather the recognition of the trinity of the empire and the support of half the nobles after all. After all, it was our wedding gift to Iris so she could marry in peace, removed from all worries.

  That was why it gave the chance for those fools from the imperial family to try to take advantage of Aria again. Well, you came to the rescue just in time.

  Ah, now I think about it. You and Paul missed the evening of the last day of the annual prayer because you had to give the marriage certificate to Iris.

  Should I recount it for you?

  Well, as you know, it was the evening of the last day of the annual prayer that the emperor ‘officially’ arrived at the main church.

  We all came out to receive him for the final prayer. As his carriage came to a stop, we gave him the priest salute. “““We pray to the goddess for your glory.”””

  Then, after he got off the carriage, he looked around and met my eyes, and he said. “Everyone rises.”

  After that, he walked to me. With a cheerful smile, trying to hide what he had done, he heartily said to me, “How long has it been since I last came here? I'm glad to see you in great health, saintess.”

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  Seeing his cheerful smile, I really wanted to punch his face. However, I hold it in. With a sharp gaze and thorny voice, I replied. “It has been a while, Your Majesty.”

  “Indeed.” That was how he replied. Then, after he acknowledged my reply, he turned to Aria. Wearing an awkward smile, he said to Aria in a gentle voice. “How are you doing, Lady Aria? ”

  Receiving the emperor’s attention, Aria bowed down and politely replied. “Thanks to the goddess’s grace, I am living a fulfilling life.”

  At that time, did you know Lucy? Your mother still replied to him with kindness. She acted as if nothing had happened the night before. She generously forgave him. Yet, he still had the nerve to bring that topic to her again.

  With a warm smile, he talked to her. “Lady Aria, my sentiment is still the same.”

  That sentiment, to others, they might refer to his request during their dance.

  Yet, to 'us,' it was more than that. He did not only refer to that time but also to the previous night's accident.

  Then Aria, with a sad smile, softly spoke as she looked at Duke Ellon. “I am honored. However, I am my father’s daughter.”

  Hearing the same reply from Aria, he shook his head before continuing. “You do not have to decide it right now. You can discuss it slowly with Duke Ellon.” Then he looked at Duke Ellon before carefully addressing him. “Duke Ellon, I hope you view it positively.”

  And you know, Lucy? At that time, what Duke Ellon did was really satisfying. At least he did not sell Aria out. Facing the emperor’s request, Duke Ellon did not reply. He only slightly lowered his head. Yet, he kept his piercing gaze on the emperor. His message was clear.

  The noble from the imperial faction tried to find fault with him. However, with just a glance, those fools cowardly averted their eyes. Then Duke Ellon emitted a terrifying aura, causing everyone to let out a cold sweat.

  His action forced the emperor to let out a weak smile.

  Then, he shifted his attention to your brother. “Are you Andres Averice? ”

  Your brother, too, did not show him much respect. He just lowered his head slightly and flatly replied to the emperor. “Yes, your majesty.”

  Your brother was really mirroring Duke Ellon in that regard.

  Seeing your brother's lukewarm response, as if trying to appear friendly, the emperor closed the distance between them. Then, the emperor placed his hand on your brother’s shoulder before warmly saying to him. “I have heard about it. Do you want to work for the imperial family? With your ability, Marquise's rank is not the problem.”

  Do you know, Lucy? I believe someone may have already informed you. At that time, although he received the emperor’s friendly gesture, your brother just coldly brushed it aside.

  After the emperor said that to him, he coldly looked at the emperor before brushing the emperor’s hand off his shoulder; then, with a chilling voice and a slight hint of killing intent, your brother replied, “I am her holiness’s knight.”

  His behavior was beyond rude. Depending on how one viewed it, he could be charged with the crime of lese majesty. Yet, I found it satisfying. I really wanted to praise him then and there. He really learned from his mistake and knew when and where to protect his ‘master.’

  Although the imperial guard reacted violently to his conduct, the rest of the nobles did not seem to follow suit. At that time, I looked around. I could see Duke Ellon let out a light smile. As for Duke Larose, he looked at me with a wry smile. And Duke Raven… he just closed his eyes as if giving up altogether. The rest of the nobles, when they saw their leaders behaving like that, were also at a loss about what to do. As for Duke Willow, he just observed the situation with keen interest.

  Then, I turned to Aria next to me. I could see Aria’s panicked expression. Her face went white. She was really worried about him. However, it was not necessary for her to be concerned.

  With a crumbly smile, the emperor raised his hand and tried to calm his guard. “Everyone clams down.”

  Then, he said weekly, “It seems to be true. Unfortunately, truly. Do continue your duty as her knight.” He also did not forget to pat your brother’s shoulder a few times as he said that.

  Then he proceeded to walk in.