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After the distribution of invitations to the Emperor's birthday banquet, there were noticeably more tea parties hosted by noble ladies.
Amidst the many invitations, I attended the tea party hosted by the Florence family, with whom I frequently interacted.
As always, I was greeted by Ruwen, the daughter of the Florence family.
"Lady Chloe, congratulations on your successful divorce!"
Ah, now that I think about it, this is the first social event I've attended since the official announcement of my divorce with Peydan?
As I belatedly realized that fact and came to terms with the atmosphere, another young lady next to Ruwen hesitated, glancing at me.
"Well, but is it really something to celebrate?"
"It's something to celebrate. It's what the Lady wanted, and it's a divorce she has nothing to regret. ...Right?"
Ruwen, after congratulating me heartily, seemed worried belatedly and looked at me carefully.
I chuckled and nodded.
"Of course. As you said, it's what I wanted. Thank you for the congratulations."
Only then did everyone's faces brighten up.
"You have no idea how happy we were to hear the news about you, Lady! To think a woman could demand a divorce first!"
"That's right. People who have been putting up with their dog sh**... no, lousy husbands, are now harboring hopes of getting a divorce too!"
...Is that a good thing?
As I listened to the young ladies chattering with a somewhat troubled expression, I decided to just think positively.
'Anyway, it's a good thing that women have more choices.'
I felt a little proud when I thought that I had contributed to giving women hope in their lives.
I raised my teacup to hide the rising corner of my lips.
After continuing with various social stories for a while, they subtly brought up the main purpose of this tea party.
"Lady Chloe, would you happen to know what kind of gift His Highness the Grand Duke is preparing for His Majesty?"
The increase in tea parties after the distribution of invitations to the birthday banquet was precisely because of this.
At the birthday banquet, there was a time when nobles would present their prepared birthday gifts...
'It would be troublesome if the items overlapped at that time.'
Even if they did overlap, it wouldn't be a big problem, but the moment of presenting the gifts was one of the few opportunities in a year to make an impression on the Emperor.
The lower the noble, who had little chance to meet the Emperor up close, the more precious this opportunity was.
If the gift item overlapped with a big shot like the Grand Duke on such a precious opportunity...
'It's easy to be forgotten.'
That's why the noble ladies...
"Ah, of course, you don't have to tell us if you're uncomfortable with it."
Even as they said that, their eyes were earnest.
Usually, they wouldn't tell anyone for the sake of fairness, or they would quietly inform only a few close people.
'But there's no need to do that today.'
I put down my teacup and answered.
"Then I'll tell everyone here as a special favor."
"Really?"
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Well, it's not a national secret."
When I readily answered, everyone at the tea party turned their attention to me at once.
As I received all the attention, I carefully began to speak.
"This year's gift is..."
The rumor spread from mouth to mouth.
And finally, it reached someone who had been waiting for the opportunity.
"Idris said he's giving his gift to His Majesty in advance?"
Deon asked, stroking his chin, and his aide quickly replied.
"Yes. He said he's doing it to be considerate of others. I checked with the Imperial Palace, and they said he went there yesterday."
Deon clicked his tongue as he heard the news from his aide.
"Tsk, he should have shown the sight of presenting the gift in front of everyone."
He had a plan.
A plan to get rid of both Idris, who was a thorn in his side, and his beloved brother at once.
That was to poison the gift that Idris would present at the upcoming banquet.
'What a shame.'
He wanted to watch him present the gift that would kill his brother with his own hands in front of everyone.
'But the number of witnesses will decrease, but the fact that Idris gave something to his brother won't change.'
There would be no major disruptions to the plan.
"Did you find out what Idris presented?"
"They say it's items he got from the East Continent. Among them, there are tea and scented candles."
"Tea and scented candles..."
After being lost in thought for a while, Deon raised the corner of his lips with satisfaction and muttered.
"I happen to know something that would go perfectly with that."
"Haa..."
Late at night, a deep sigh echoed in the Emperor's quiet bedroom.
It was a sigh from Azef, who was dealing with a flood of documents ahead of the harvest season, even in his bedroom.
A servant, who was tidying up the bedding while watching him, heard the sigh and cautiously approached him.
"Your Majesty, it is late. Wouldn't it be better to go to bed now and deal with your work with a clear mind tomorrow?"
Then Azef burst into laughter.
"If I put off today's work, tomorrow's work will only double. I'm fine."
"Then shall I bring you some cold tea?"
Azef took off his glasses, pressed his eyes, and replied slowly.
"That would be good. Please."
Just as the servant who received the order was about to leave the room.
"Wait."
Azef's voice caught him.
The servant was startled and looked back at him as if he had committed a crime.
Azef had his eyes closed, so he didn't seem to see the servant's appearance.
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Didn't Idris give me a scented candle this time?"
"Ah, I was just about to light it before you went to bed."
"I heard it's good to use when you need peace of mind. I should try using it now."
At the unexpected order, the servant swallowed hard without realizing it.
It was because he remembered the order he had heard about that scented candle.
"There is poison dissolved in this scented candle."
"If you say poison...?"
"It's a colorless and odorless gaseous poison. If you inhale the smoke, it goes into the lungs and accumulates, gradually shortening your breath and eventually leading to death."
"..."
"It's not a powerful poison, but there's nothing better than this to kill quietly and cleanly."
"..."
"Make sure to burn this scented candle in the Emperor's bedroom every day."
The exterior looked exactly the same as the one Idris had given, but the contents were completely different.
'I was going to burn it from tonight, but the Emperor is asking for it first.'
I was worried about arousing suspicion, but that risk has been reduced.
The servant took the opportunity and brought the scented candle and lit it.
Of course, he didn't forget to hold his breath for a moment.
"...For just a scent, it's quite effective. I should praise Idris for it."
The servant watched Azef, who was breathing in and resting, unaware of anything, and quietly left the room.
Then he exhaled the breath he had been holding and headed to get the tea.
The servant's eyes, fading into the darkness of the Imperial Palace, were ominously sunken.
Time passed quickly, and it was already the day of the birthday banquet.
"Grand Duke Dellua and Lady Chloe are entering!"
Letitia and Idris, who had arrived at the Imperial Palace, entered the banquet hall, receiving everyone's attention.
Those who were gathered in groups of three and five, chatting, brightened up when they saw the two and approached them.
"Oh my, Lady Chloe. Is that dress from the autumn collection?"
"Oh my goodness, this season's new items are so beautiful!"
Those who had gathered around the two returned to their respective places after the greetings were over.
And what appeared in the place where they had disappeared was...
"It's been a while, Idris."
It was Deon.
Then everyone in the banquet hall held their breath.
No one dared to turn their head, but all their attention was focused on them.
It was because they knew about the subtle relationship between the two brothers.
"I heard you were seriously injured during the hunting festival. I couldn't come and check on you because the atmosphere inside and outside seemed to be chaotic."
"So that's what you meant. I thought you didn't contact me because you were disappointed that I came back alive and well."
At Idris's barbed words, the atmosphere in the already quiet banquet hall turned as cold as if cold water had been poured on it.
Deon also paused for a moment, but then chuckled and retorted.
"You must have been very upset. Acting spoiled, unlike you."
Then he patted Idris's shoulder.
"Good job."
Specifically, the injured left shoulder.
There was a strange force in the hand that pressed on his shoulder.
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