Chapter 40
Lia took Baron with her and headed to the Emperor’s study. She had something to request from Kartian.
Kartian could not hide his excitement and welcomed her warmly.
“She came to see me first.”
This was noteworthy. No matter her reason, this was the first time she had visited him like this.
Lia smirked at the sight, thinking he looked like a happy little dog welcoming its owner.
“Honestly, if he had ears and a tail, I could just call him a dog.”
Of course, that did not mean she liked him.
“Lia.”
Kartian called her shyly, his cheeks flushed.
Lia could not understand why he would get embarrassed like this over something so small.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Mm.”
Kartian was not disappointed at her words. He already knew. She would not come see him unless she had a purpose.
“I want to be able to check all the letters Freya sends and receives.”
If she banned it outright, Freya would be suspicious, so it was better to handle it through him.
Of course, Freya must never know about this.
“Did Freya do something?”
Kartian frowned at the mere mention of her name.
“Just in case,” Lia said.
Given Freya’s personality, this might not end here. She wanted to know about any plans Freya might have in advance.
“All right. If you want, I’ll do it.”
“Also, I’d like to see any letters Freya sent to others until now, if possible.”
To do that, the letters would need to be returned from the recipients.
What Lia really wanted was to see if Freya had sent anything to the Saronthien Marquis family and, if so, what it said. But she did not want to make anyone a target.
Until she was certain, she did not want anyone to know what she suspected or why.
Once the letters were retrieved, someone might ask questions, but she would have to trust Kartian on that.
“Of course, if possible, I want it done carefully, without anyone noticing.”
“Understood.”
Kartian nodded, understanding her intention. Even if total silence was impossible, he would follow her wishes as much as he could.
Lia wanted the process quiet. She did not want Freya to know she suspected her or that she was trying to pressure her.
So instead of asking directly for Freya’s letters, she could just request all letters sent from the palace.
The reason could be made up later. That was her responsibility.
Kartian was happy to finally have something he could do for Lia. Something to help her.
“Oh, and Lia.”
Lia looked at him when he called.
“Would you have time next week?”
Next week?
Lia tilted her head in curiosity.
“I’m planning an outing…”
“That’s fine. We just need to finish this week’s work first.”
There had been a lot of work at first, but after that, not much.
After all, the Empress’s position was to assist the Emperor, not to create work for herself.
“Mm.”
At her answer, Kartian’s face brightened.
“And tomorrow… is the night we share together.”
Kartian spoke cautiously, watching her expression.
“Oh, tomorrow already.”
Lia frowned, thinking how fast time had passed. She wished it hadn’t come at all—or that her allergy hadn’t cleared so that Freya’s plan would still work.
But the medicine the physician had prepared worked too well.
“Are you all right…?”
Kartian looked concerned. She had only just recovered from fainting due to her allergy.
“I’m fine.”
In truth, she only needed to pretend for now, but she could not say that with Baron nearby. This had to be a secret between the two of them.
“Good to hear.”
Kartian quickly added,
“I just mean I’m glad you’re okay. Not that I’m glad the night can happen.”
He worried she might think he cared more about that night than her health.
“Yes.”
Lia nodded indifferently after a moment of looking at him.
“Really.”
Kartian emphasized, feeling she might not believe him.
“Yes. Really.”
“Mm.”
Despite his nervousness, Lia’s calm response left him looking dejected.
“No, I really don’t…”
Back in her room, Lia noticed a small note on the table and frowned.
Who could this be from?
Reading it, her expression darkened.
「I’m sorry.」
It only said that, but she had a strong idea of who had sent it.
It was unlikely Kartian would leave her a note like this. No one else had reason to apologize.
It could not be Freya or the Duke of Seron.
That left only one person.
The voice she had heard in her dreams.
“So they know. That they did something wrong to themselves.”
Yet, this single apology could not erase everything.
The harm this person had caused her was far from minor.
She had been forced to give up everything—her friends, her life, her home.
And the situation they had brought her to was not good.
Being Empress might be a good title, but if the Emperor treated her coldly and everyone else ignored her, it would have been unacceptable, even for money.
Thinking of all the hardships since arriving, she wanted to grab the sender by the collar and shake them fiercely.
If she could see them, she would curse or hit them.
But she could not do that to someone whose face she did not know.
The only reason she knew about this person was their voice, and the only way to confirm them was through that voice.
In short, whether the Emperor was the cause or not, the one who angered her most was the owner of that voice.
The main culprit.
If they wanted to fix what was wrong, they should have done it themselves. Why involve her?
Or they should have made it impossible for the Emperor to do such things.
She did not understand why it had to happen now, or why it had to be her.
