5

Whoa. That's Irene Theano?

I instinctively covered my mouth, trying to stifle my surprise. No wonder Duke Henrick fell for her. She's stunning—like she just stepped out of a painting—and the white dress complements her perfectly. I wasn't the only one captivated; everyone else at the banquet had the same reaction.

Moments later, Emperor Darius Franz Czar Oriviel began his congratulatory speech, commending those who had returned victorious from the war. All eyes were on him, attentively listening to every word. Well, all eyes except mine. I couldn't help but roll them.

Ugh, the emperor. Just the sight of him is enough to sour my mood.

As soon as his overly long speech ended, the music began, signaling the start of the evening's dances. Not my thing. I'd rather stay here and keep a low profile.

But my attention was drawn to the center of the dance hall. There they were—Duke Henrick and Irene, standing together.

Whoa. Amazing. This is straight out of the novel.

I won't deny it—they look perfect together. Even the people around them couldn't stop murmuring their admiration. Compliments poured in like a steady stream of whispers: "What a handsome couple," "So regal," "They're a match made in heaven."

Unfortunately, some of those whispers were also directed at me. A few people sneaked glances in my direction, curious about how the "villainess" would react.

Ah, the perks of being a public spectacle. Lovely.

Normally, I would've caused a scene, unleashing my fury on any woman who dared get close to Duke Henrick. But today? Nah. I flashed a sweet, polite smile at those waiting for my meltdown. Their confused expressions were priceless. Sorry to disappoint, folks, but I couldn't care less about what's happening.

Honestly, I wanted to leave. My eyes wandered back to the Duke and Priestess Irene, standing under the soft glow of the chandeliers. People around them were teasing them to dance, just like in the novel.

And then, they did.

Their dance was elegant and undeniably romantic, like something straight out of a fairytale. For a brief moment, I felt like I was watching a romantic movie. I even found myself smiling unconsciously.

But the smile quickly faded when a strange pang hit me.

Ugh. We really should finalize that divorce.

I turned away, pretending to sip my champagne, but when I glanced back, our eyes locked. Duke Henrick was looking straight at me.

My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

Seriously? Out of all these people here, you still managed to spot me?

To save myself from further awkwardness, I hurriedly left the banquet hall, escaping into the crisp night air. The cold breeze hit me like a sudden splash of water, and I instinctively hugged myself. Right. I forgot how revealing this dress was.

Not wanting to go back inside and face that suffocating crowd, I wandered into the garden instead. It was quiet, serene—exactly what I needed to gather myself. Ever since we arrived, I'd been feeling weird, like there was something heavy pressing down on me.

Better to deal with this out here than in there, surrounded by prying eyes.

I checked my surroundings to ensure I was alone. The darkness and sparse lighting were perfect. Satisfied, I exhaled deeply and rested a hand on my stomach.

And then it happened.

//Pffft!//

Oh, no.

I knew it. I knew my fart would make a sound!

I slapped my hands over my mouth, my face burning with embarrassment—even though there was no one around. I'd been holding it in since the carriage ride, but with Duke Henrick sitting right next to me, there was no way I could let it out. My stomach had been cramping all night because of it!

Finally, sweet, gassy relief.

"Pfft--"

I spun around, startled by the stifled laughter. When I saw who it was, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"Y-Your Majesty?" I blurted, barely able to contain my embarrassment. What in the world was the emperor doing here?

"Duchess Veronica," Emperor Darius Franz Czar Oriviel said between barely contained chuckles. "Pfft—ha! I was wondering why you were out here all alone. Haha—I didn't mean to, but pffttt—" He broke into a full laugh, and my annoyance spiked. This is exactly why I can't stand this man!

Let me paint you a picture: Emperor Darius, ruler of this vast country, a man eight years my senior, is currently acting like a child who just heard a fart joke for the first time. How he became emperor remains one of life's greatest mysteries. Were there no other candidates?

"Hahaha!" His laughter continued unabated, his broad shoulders shaking with amusement. "There's never a dull day with you, Duchess Veronica," he managed to say, and I scowled in response. What nonsense was going to come out of his mouth next?

"Your Majesty, if you've had your fill of laughing at me, I'll take my leave," I said, barely masking my irritation.

Still chuckling, he waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, Duchess. Kidding aside, I wanted to update you about Adelaide's condition."

At the mention of the Empress, his expression shifted. The mirth drained from his face, replaced by a somber seriousness that caught me off guard. "I truly appreciate everything you've done for Adelaide and our daughter, Alicia," he said quietly. "But her condition has worsened. As you know, I've hired the best physicians, the most skilled healers I could find, and yet none of them have been able to identify her illness or its cause. Useless fools." His frustration was palpable, his words edged with bitterness.

I stared at him, my own irritation forgotten. The Emperor, usually so flippant and carefree, now seemed burdened by a weight too heavy for even a ruler to bear.

The Empress's illness feels like an unsolvable riddle, a puzzle with missing pieces. Even in the novel, it was left shrouded in mystery. I genuinely want to help her, but without more information, I feel helpless. I'd even suggested hiring the genius doctors I'd read about in the novel, but their conclusions were all the same.

There's no cure.

"Thank you for telling me, Your Majesty," I said softly, the weight of his words settling over me. He was indirectly preparing me for what was inevitable—the Empress's passing. Despite knowing this from the novel, facing the reality of it still made my heart ache.

"I know your relationship with Adelaide is precious to you," the Emperor continued, his expression heavy with sincerity. "And I'm certain she treasures it just as much. I only hope that, when the time comes, I can still rely on your assistance, Duchess Veronica."

His words made me frown. Assistance?

"Pardon, Your Majesty?" I asked, my confusion clear. What kind of assistance was he talking about? But before I could press him for clarification, a sudden force pulled me away.

I staggered slightly before glancing up. "D-Duke?" I stammered, my eyes wide. It was Henrick, his grip firm on my wrist. His sudden appearance and actions left me utterly baffled. What on earth was he doing here?