When Norma heard what had happened at the castle, she gaped with a shudder.

“The empress… She really left the castle?”

“Yes. Her maids tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen. She took a few guards with her and left to Maram with the princess.”

Norma pressed her temples with her fingers with a frown.

“And the emperor didn’t stop her?”

“No. Everyone who saw this happen said that his highness acted rather rashly… And the empress acted too aggressively as well…”

They were in the middle of the harvest celebration week, and for the hostess to leave like this was unbelievable.

Norma thought the empress was acting unreasonably. To some extent, Duchess Lonensia always had faith in the empress, but for her to act this irrationally was a disappointment. She left just because her husband wouldn’t believe her? How could an empress act so immaturely?

Suddenly, Norma became suspicious. Was the empress always this juvenile? Norma didn’t think so, and she prided in herself for having a good judgment of characters.

Norma ordered her maid, “Get someone to follow her highness’ carriage and find out if the empress really is going to Maram and staying there.”

She also added, “… And I heard she left all the maids in the castle, right? Bring me Yulia.”

***

Yulia, who was ashen-faced, arrived. She was obviously upset.

Norma asked worriedly, “I can see that you are distressed.”

Yulia raised her voice at her aunt, “Just what… did you do?!”

Norma frowned. “What do you mean?”

“A few days ago, Roberto came to visit me.”

Norma looked surprised. “Rob did? I didn’t know that.”

“He used my sister and my nieces and nephews against me to get information on the emperor’s and the empress’ costumes for the masquerade. He wanted to know exactly what they were wearing.”

The masquerade was last night.

The night when a black-haired woman supposedly had an affair with an unknown man.

Norma knew then. She suspected it, and this confirmed it.

Her mouth felt dry, but she didn’t show her anxiety.

She asked Yulia, “So did you tell him?”

Yulia shook her head. “No, I would never disclose private royal information to an outsider.”

Then how did Roberto find out the information?

Norma sighed deeply. “I see. Of course, you wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Aunty! Have you not given up on your plan yet?”

It was true that Norma didn’t, but she also didn’t plan on creating such an uproar in the royal family. It wasn’t her intention, but she knew that no one would believe her at this point.

And… she had to protect him.

Her beloved son was in danger. She hadn’t realized how twisted Roberto was, but one thing was for sure now. She couldn’t back down now.

At first, Norma created her plan, so she could become the most powerful woman in the kingdom. For this, she needed an insider in the royal family.

Now, everything had changed. She was more desperate, and things had gotten much more dangerous. Her own son was in the middle of it all. He had gotten deeper into it than her.

If things didn’t work out, Roberto would be in trouble. To protect him, she had to act strong and push on.

Norma stood up and walked towards her. “Yulia, won’t you reconsider my offer? It’s a good thing for you too. You will become the second most important woman in the kingdom. If you bear his highness’ son, he will become the heir to the throne. Can you think of a greater honor than that?”

Yulia shook her head with a rigid frown. “I don’t want that. And… there is no way his highness would ever accept another woman other than her highness.”

“Can you still say that after what happened today? The empress left the castle and the emperor didn’t stop her. We still have many days of celebration left, yet his highness’ side is empty now. It is especially problematic as the diplomatic deals are to be made on the last day of the celebration, and the emperor needs his empress by his side.”

“…”

Yulia became speechless and Norma tried to persuade her again.

“So why don’t you become the bridge between his highness and her highness? This would be one of the responsibilities of the first wife.”

Yulia was firm on her decision. “I don’t want that. Besides… I truly believe they will make up all on their own.”

Norma sighed again. “Gosh, how is it that none of my children do as I ask? They all get in trouble and I am the one who ends up having to clean up after everyone.”

Yulia glared at her aunt.

“I came here to tell you to back off, so you better tell Roberto and stop him.” Yulia bowed. “Then I will get going.”

However, Norma’s answer was very unexpected.

“Who said you can leave?”

“… Pardon?”

Yulia seemed confused as Norma glared at her.

“Yuli, I am doing this for your own good.”

Yuli. This was a pet name Yulia’s mother and Norma used to call her as a child. Yulia flinched when Norma’s maids walked into the room.

Norma ordered, “Take her. She cannot leave this place to return to the castle.”

Yulia screamed, “Aunty!”

***

Norma walked fast. Thankfully, the emperor accepted her request to meet privately.

Lucretius looked very upset.

Norma bowed deeply. “I am sorry for the recent event. I can’t imagine how worried you must be.”

Lucretius smiled bitterly. “Well, there is nothing that can be done. It all happened because of me. Anyway, why have you come to see me?”

This was the very first time Norma asked to see the emperor privately. She had no political rank, and as a noble lady, she usually dealt with the empress, not the emperor.

A Duchess meeting with the emperor didn’t make sense.

Until now.

Lucretius looked at her with obvious suspicion. Norma gave him a motherly smile in an attempt to look trustworthy.

“I came here to offer a piece of advice to your highness. It comes from my loyal heart, just as my father-in-law did.”

Cornelius was one of the very few people Emperor Lucretius respected. The emperor came in person to see the previous chancellor when he fell sick.

Norma used her dead father-in-law’s name hoping that the emperor would listen to her with an open heart. She really was loyal to him and had his best interest.

“Her highness the empress has moved to a separate wing and left the castle.”

Lucretius frowned. “I don’t want to talk about it. Even with the mention of Cornelius’ name, you still don’t have the right to get involved in this matter.”

The emperor’s voice was ice cold, making Norma sweat.

However, she wasn’t about to give up.

She didn’t mean things to happen this way, but her son’s unexpected move made things go strangely. If she failed to convince the emperor, her son may end up in huge trouble.

She had to make the emperor believe her.

“But your highness… You need an official female figure by your side on your last day when you publicly meet with the foreign diplomats.”

“I don’t need anyone. I can take care of it by myself.”

Norma knew better. The emperor claimed he would be fine, but it would look very odd, even disrespectful to the diplomats, if he didn’t have his empress by his side.

“If you appear by yourself, it would look poorly on you as well as our kingdom. As a married man, your side cannot be empty at such a public event.”

Lucretius replied with a clear irritation, “I can have one of my unmarried stepsisters beside me if necessary. Princess Roselia can do it, and if she is considered too young, I can have another older princess stand in.”

Norma was not about to back down.

“Your highness, if her highness the empress is unable to do her duties, it is the responsibility of the first wife to step in.”