I think I mainly cried when I was in despair or angry.
In that sense, the single tear I shed upon receiving Xenon's surprise gift was, no matter how I thought about it, an excessive reaction.
‘I was too emotional.’
The only saving grace was that the only person who saw that unsightly display was Xenon.
Though I wondered if perhaps I had shown my ugly side to the very person I should have hidden it from the most...
When Xenon saw my tear, he said nothing. He merely wiped my cheek carefully with an invisible hand.
His hand was warm, and in that moment, I think I thought, without meaning to, that I wanted to feel more of his warmth.
Of course, it was nothing more than a fleeting thought.
That was all. For that day.
Our conversation was cut short as the banquet participants, who had been stupidly frozen, belatedly came to their senses and rushed towards me.
When the imperial mage explained that the magic in the garden was 'a gift from the Magic Tower to the Resurrected One,' they belatedly gasped and praised me.
"As expected of the Resurrected One's majesty!"
"Though I suppose it's because they are mages from the Magic Tower, they manifest a truly unique magic!"
"I've never seen magic like this before!"
Seeing the attendees blushing and rejoicing made me feel unreasonably prickly, but I decided to endure it.
As Xenon said, they will remember my finale, along with that beautiful garden. They will have no more reason to see me now.
After quietly gazing at the garden, which had become bustling in an instant, I quietly turned my body.
Anyway, it all ended well. My final banquet concluded more fantastically and beautifully than I had imagined.
Though it seems not everyone had such a beautiful ending.
"These damn imperial bastards, why on earth do they have to bother people like this?"
Because the imperial mages had frantically rushed towards Xenon, who had naturally dispelled his invisibility magic amidst the crowd.
At a glance, he did seem to be in a difficult spot... but there was nothing I could do about it.
‘Well, he should have only shown off his skills in front of me, shouldn't he?’
Xenon, who said he would come to my palace today, was caught by the imperial mages, and Samuel couldn't come as he was busy assisting the priests with their departure from the palace.
Thanks to that, I was now alone, peacefully preparing to leave this imperial palace.
The task of selectively throwing only the jewelry into the subspace was monotonous, making it easy to do without thinking.
"Ah, it's full."
Only when the subspace was full did I, who had been moving my hands unconsciously, come to my senses.
"A pity, but there's nothing to be done."
The subspace wasn't small to begin with, so with just what I packed, I could live in luxury for a lifetime.
Clicking my tongue and looking at the brimming jewel box, I abandoned my lingering attachment and moved my steps to the dressing room.
"As for clothes... they're all useless."
Everything I received as gifts were dresses, and the only pants worth wearing were riding clothes. Even those prioritized appearance over practicality, so in reality, there were no clothes suitable for traveling.
It seemed I would have to buy travel clothes in advance, so I should ask Xenon later.
‘Ah, but for that, I'd have to give him my measurements.’
I paused while rummaging through the wardrobe.
In high society, a woman directly giving her measurements to a man was interpreted in various ways.
Purely, it meant trusting the other person enough to tell them intimate details and harboring affection for them.
‘...From a more adult perspective, it was an overt seduction, a desire to spend the night.’
Xenon probably wouldn't know the unspoken rules of high society, so it wouldn't matter.
However, knowing all that, the thought of telling him my measurements with my own mouth made me feel strangely... flushed.
‘But if I just tell him to buy anything and the size is wrong, it'll be uncomfortable.’
I tried to rationalize it as no big deal, but the heat in my cheeks wouldn't easily subside.
This was all Xenon's fault. All because he drove in a wedge, saying it was to commemorate our first kiss.
‘He really made it so I can't shake it off...’
[Shall I open the window if you're warm?]
Minte, who was sitting on the sunny windowsill looking outside, spoke to me.
Good heavens, had my complexion changed enough for Minte to notice?
"It's fine."
I gave a short reply and buried my head completely among the clothes. I intended to stay like this until my complexion calmed down.
I had to meet Heinri a bit later, so I absolutely had to calm down.
* * *
In the end, only after a light wash of my face was I able to regain my calm and cool-headed original self.
Only after checking several times that my face was fine did I meet Heinri in the backyard. Fortunately, he didn't notice anything odd about me at all.
When he told me to prepare to leave the imperial palace and I replied it was already done, he clicked his tongue.
"You finished your preparations faster than I thought."
"Is there anything special to prepare? Just pack some valuables, that's all."
Upon hearing my answer, a faint trace of disappointment and bitterness settled on Heinri's face.
Did my statement that the only thing worth taking from the imperial palace was valuables sound that depressing?
"I see."
Heinri's darkened expression looked a bit pitiful, so I was about to say this place wasn't the absolute worst, but I stopped.
After all, the good memories I had within the imperial palace were created by Xenon.
Instead, I picked up a teacup and spoke nonchalantly.
"Did you receive contact from my father?"
"I did."
Fortunately, Heinri quickly regained his composure and returned to a calm demeanor.
His explanation to me was not long.
The gist was that tomorrow at midnight, after the security magic was lifted, if I arrived at the designated location within 30 minutes, the guards waiting in advance would take me away.
Roam believed that after I disappeared, Heinri would persuade the Emperor. They seemed to accept that since Heinri also aided in spiriting me away, he would naturally participate in the cleanup as well.
And to ensure Heinri's words would carry weight with the Emperor, they were also applying pressure on the administrative side.
"It seems there's a back passage used by guards near the prison. They intend to use that route."
"Ah, so they're treating me like a criminal."
‘I had anticipated having to cover my face and pretend to be a palace maid, but I never thought they'd have me disguised as a criminal.’
The idea of pretending to take me to prison to get me out was highly likely to have come from Mother's mind.
Obvious. She must have judged that after I returned to the mansion, it would be necessary to break my spirit a bit to facilitate smooth conversation.
Right now, the Resurrected One's momentum is excessively high, and this could make my future actions arrogant.
‘Perhaps she believed that since I was once imprisoned in the imperial palace in the past, making me recall that time would make me somewhat more docile.’
Moreover, Mother likely hadn't forgotten the insult of being treated as a seamstress when she visited the imperial palace to see me. That was her nature.
"I told them there must be another way..."
"No, on the contrary, it's perfect."
At my composed words, Heinri's face twisted strangely. He seemed to think I was accepting humiliation for the sake of revenge.
"If there's a video sphere usable within the palace, please use it to record something for me."
"Record?"
"Yes. Me being dragged away like a criminal."
Humiliation? Far from being humiliating, I was actually pleased.
I couldn't miss such a good opportunity.
‘Since I had no intention of persuading the Emperor anyway, it would be perfect to record everything and use it later as evidence that they threatened the Resurrected One.’
Heinri, who had guessed my intention, let out a low sigh and nodded.
"His Majesty the Emperor will be furious."
"Yes. If they're willingly providing evidence themselves, we shouldn't refuse."
Heinri parted his lips as if to say something, then closed them again. Then he nodded, saying he would comply.
"The palace maid who originally tidied your chamber has suddenly taken sick leave due to an accident. They said the clothes will be packed by a temporarily assigned maid, so you should be able to check in your chamber this evening."
That person who is to pack the clothes is probably an agent planted by Roam. The accident of the maid who originally tidied the chamber was likely also intentional.
I nodded, listening to his words, and slowly parted my lips.
"Then is this the last time I will see Your Highness?"
"It seems it will be so. Tomorrow, I must divert the attention of the imperial palace personnel elsewhere, if only to create an opening for you."
Seeing him sigh like someone facing an unpleasant task, I smiled faintly.
"Thank you for everything. Thanks to Your Highness's help, life in the palace was easier."
"The one who should be grateful is me. Thanks to you, my long-cherished wish has been brought forward by several years."
"You haven't achieved it yet. You must not forget that Roam remains."
Since Heinri's help was essential to bring down Roam, I couldn't help but remind him repeatedly.
‘Once I take over my sister's office, I should find useful documents first and send them to Heinri.’
I was silent for a moment, pondering whether hidden businesses or assets would be better, or illegal activities. It was then that Heinri subtly spoke to me.
"Do you truly intend to carry it out?"
"Carry out what?"
"Erasing the name of Roam."
He had a worried expression.
"Won't that cause you harm?"
"Since I won't be staying there, it won't be the slightest problem."
"It won't be easy."
"Roam erased my name so easily, is there any reason I can't do the same?"
Heinri's face was still dark.
Within the imperial palace, his gaze could reach me, and if need be, he could step in to help, but he couldn't do that with Roam, so he seemed genuinely uneasy.
Looking at him, I gave a faint smile.
"It will be easier than you think."
It couldn't be difficult.
"Roam's history is long and fierce. A long history inevitably means many entangled people, and the existence of a proud direct line means there are numerous collateral lines who couldn't get in."
The higher Roam's honor, the more there have always been those who coveted it.
Until now, my father and other family members have suppressed them from an absolute position, but in times like these, when Roam's honor is precarious?
"Although they are lying low, given the opportunity, they will try to replace the name of Roam at any time."