A heavy silence descended over the banquet hall.

Talia realized that everyone present was watching for her reaction, and so she forced a smile onto her lips.

“Then why are you still standing there? Go and escort our guests inside at once.”

She deliberately scolded the head steward in a composed tone, but the man standing by the doorway nervously moistened his lips.

“The thing is... I believe Your Highness will have to receive the guest personally.”

Talia raised the corner of her eye.

At present, she held the highest status in the East. There was no guest in existence who could require her to rush out and greet them in person.

She was about to rebuke him—

When the man's trembling voice pierced her ears.

“T-the representative leading the delegation... is Her Majesty the Empress.”

Talia's mouth fell open.

It was as though her mind had suddenly been emptied.

Then the murmurs around her snapped her back to reality.

She hurried out of the banquet hall. At that moment, she had no time to worry about others noticing her unnatural gait.

With her skirts fluttering, Talia crossed the great hall and rushed outside.

Hundreds of imperial envoys bearing the imperial standard stood assembled in the castle courtyard.

At their head, a woman waved with a radiant smile.

“Talia!”

A woman who shone like the sun crossed the garden as though walking upon clouds.

She looked so youthful that it was difficult to believe she had a daughter of nineteen years.

“Have you been well?”

In an instant, she was right in front of her. Soft arms, smooth as cream, wrapped around her.

The sweet scent of her skin made Talia's mind swim.

She looked up at her mother with eyes clouded by confusion, anxiety, fear, and longing.

“M-Mother, why are you here...?”

“Why, I came to see you.”

Senevier kissed her cheek and whispered affectionately.

“I was curious about how you were doing, so I begged Virus to send me as the imperial representative. And as always, he couldn't overcome my stubbornness.”

Then she gently cupped her daughter's cheeks with elegant fingers carrying the scent of roses and quietly examined her face.

“You look healthier than you did when you lived in the Imperial Palace. It seems your husband treats you well.”

For some reason, a chill ran down Talia's spine.

Like someone burned by fire, she hurriedly pulled away.

“Why are you really here...? What kind of scheme are you plotting this time?!”

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, a voice cold as frost cut her off.

Talia turned toward the sound.

Varkas was crossing the garden, dressed in a long black cotehardie beneath a gray fur-lined mantle.

Apparently, he had heard the news during the gathering at the cathedral and rushed over immediately.

Carrying with him the heavy scent of incense, Varkas subtly stepped between Senevier and Talia before bowing.

“Thank you for coming such a long way.”

“My condolences, Grand Duke of Siorcan.”

Blue eyes thick and deep as a swamp leisurely examined the youth who seemed carved from flawless marble.

A curious smile spread across Senevier's lips.

“To see his son grow into such a splendid man before his death... your father must have departed without regrets.”

Her tone resembled that of an adult indulging a young boy.

A faint trace of mockery passed through Varkas's lips.

He replied in his characteristically flat voice.

“Your praise is more than I deserve.”

“You remain as humble as ever. Many people in the Imperial Palace miss you dearly.”

Smiling softly, Senevier cast a meaningful glance toward Talia.

“In particular, it seems the Crown Prince and the First Imperial Princess deeply feel your absence. Which is only natural. The three of you were especially °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° close.”

Talia clenched her teeth to keep from reacting.

After observing her carefully, Senevier smiled brightly at Varkas again.

“Come to think of it, those two asked me to convey something to you. Might you spare me a moment?”

Sharpness flashed in Varkas's eyes.

Everyone knew that Gareth and Aila would never entrust Senevier with such a request.

Why was she trying to speak with him while telling such an obvious lie?

Talia felt nothing but a bad premonition.

With trembling fingers, she clutched Senevier's dress.

“You said you came to see me. Talk to me.”

Annoyance flickered across Senevier's face at her desperate words.

In an instant, Talia felt as helpless as she had when she was nine years old.

She froze, pale and powerless, just as she had back then when she desperately chased after her mother's affection.

Then a large hand settled upon her shoulder.

“Your Highness should rest in your chambers.”

Separating her from Senevier, Varkas addressed the maids waiting by the entrance.

“Escort the Grand Duchess immediately.”

As soon as the order was given, the maids hurried forward.

Talia reluctantly turned around.

At that moment, Senevier's gentle voice rang behind her.

“Let us leave old matters between mother and daughter for another time.”

Talia glared over her shoulder before finally walking away.

Senevier remained inside Varkas's study for a long time and only came to see Talia around sunset.

Having spent the entire time pacing around her room, Talia immediately rushed to the door.

But the nurse was faster.

Running out in a frenzy, she grabbed Senevier's skirts and burst into tears.

“Your Majesty! To be blessed with seeing you so closely again... I could die without regrets!”

“Oh my, why would you die?”

Gently freeing herself from the woman, Senevier scattered a girlish laugh.

“You must live a long, long time. How could I rest easy if Talia had no nurse by her side?”

The nurse gazed up at Senevier with eyes full of reverence.

Watching the scene with disgust, Talia impatiently grabbed her mother's arm.

“Can you spare some time for me now?”

Senevier's eyes curved at the sarcastic question.

“Of course. I came because I intended to talk with you.”

Then she cast a smiling glance at the knights of House Siorcan, who had followed her like guards.

“I wish to have a quiet conversation with my daughter. Would you mind giving us some privacy?”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but for the safety of both of you, we cannot obey that order.”

Tyron El Drakan lowered his head and politely refused.

Senevier looked at the knight who had defied her with interest and merely shrugged.

“It seems being alone is impossible. Shall we take a walk instead?”

Wearing a wary expression, Talia picked up her coat and followed her out.

Countless gazes pursued them through the corridors and into the garden.

It seemed everyone in the castle had entered a state of vigilance after hearing that a figure politically opposed to the Grand Ducal House had willingly entered the East.

But Senevier paid no attention to the hostile looks.

Displaying all the dignity of an empress, she descended the stairs and crossed the hall as naturally as flowing water.

Talia followed behind, limping.

Trying to keep pace with Senevier, her back was soon soaked with sweat.

But the Empress showed not the slightest concern for her daughter's condition.

Stepping boldly into the garden bathed in the colors of sunset, Senevier turned toward the knights with an innocent smile.

“Surely keeping a little distance is acceptable?”

When the knights hesitated, she pressed them with a smiling face.

“Or perhaps you were ordered to eavesdrop on our conversation?”

“...No. We shall wait here.”

Tyron answered reluctantly.

Without delay, Senevier began walking down the path covered with fallen leaves.

Staggering to keep up with her, Talia waited until the knights were far enough away before hurriedly speaking.

“What exactly did you come here for? Don't tell me you came to see me. I know that's not true.”

“I truly did come to see you. I wanted to know how you were doing.”

Talia scoffed.

This was the woman who had not even shown her face when she departed for the East.

And now she was saying such nonsense?

She was about to lash out—

When Senevier leaned close and whispered as though sharing a secret.

“And I wanted to see whether your husband might be persuaded to join our side.”

Talia's eyes widened.

Looking down at the rippling water, Senevier continued calmly.

“It seems Gareth has begun to doubt House Siorcan's loyalty because of your marriage. So he has stretched his hand toward the North in search of an alternative.”

“Don't tell me... he's arranging another marriage for Aila?”

“Yes. It seems Gareth hopes that a northern duke will fill the vacancy left by your husband.”

A chilling smile appeared upon Senevier's lips.

“But whether that marriage will truly happen, I cannot say. Your husband has been actively interfering with it.”

Talia gripped her skirts so tightly that her fingertips turned white.

Then Senevier cruelly added,

“Thanks to that, stories of the tragic and unfulfilled love between the First Imperial Princess and the young Grand Duke of Siorcan are spreading all over the Imperial Palace.”