By the afternoon, the two of us were standing in front of a large building—none other than the Poster Newspaper Company.
Over time, the newspaper had grown significantly, now playing a pivotal role in spreading the kind of news we’d planned for.
The moment word reached them that we had arrived, Poster himself came running from afar. Soon after, we moved into the president’s office.
“When I give the signal next time, I want you to run a big ad in the paper starting that day.”
“An ad? Of course, my lady. But what kind of ad would that be?”
Poster nodded enthusiastically, eager to please. Ever since the newspaper’s unmatched success with the serialized novel I contributed, Poster became the kind of person who’d nod to anything I said without question. It was a little overwhelming, but in moments like these, it was a powerful advantage.
I told him,
“The dress code for the upcoming royal ball has been set. And the color is green.”
At that, Poster cautiously asked, “Well, that’s not particularly difficult to handle, but… if this is targeted at the nobility, is there really any need to run it as a newspaper ad?”
“It needs to spread loud and far—buzzing like wildfire. I want even the commoners to be talking about it.”
My answer probably didn’t clear up all of his doubts, but having observed me for quite a while now, Poster had learned to recognize when I was scheming something. He didn’t press for more.
“But control over the royal ball lies entirely with Her Majesty the Empress. She might be offended if false information like this spreads, Vivi.”
“That’s true.”
“You want to wear a green dress? Not that it matters—you’d look good in anything.” Armin’s cheesy comment made me feel oddly embarrassed to face Poster—but the man himself didn’t seem fazed in the slightest.
“Seeing the two of you get along so well puts me in a good mood too,” he said casually, as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Even though I hadn’t said anything about dating Armin, it felt like he had already figured it out. Maybe it was true—everyone around us already knew, and I was the last to catch on.
“I don’t want to wear a green dress,” I replied. “But I will have to. And Armin’s right—the Empress has full authority over the royal ball.”
I stood up, brushing off my skirts. If I wanted to move quickly, I had to get going.
“Which is why I’m going to get her permission.”
“Permission from whom?”
“Why, from the one who holds the authority over the royal ball, of course.”
To my boyfriend, who looked up at me with a puzzled expression, I gave a bright smile.
* * *
I never thought I’d be visiting the imperial palace again in just a single day.
Not many central nobles can enter the palace without an official invitation. Fortunately, Armin vouched for me, so I was able to step past the threshold without much trouble.
We got off the carriage some distance from the Empress’s quarters and began walking slowly. Armin had told me it would be impolite for an uninvited guest to ride all the way to the front of her residence.
As a man, Armin couldn’t visit the Empress’s quarters without an invitation. When we parted ways at the palace entrance, he wore an expression that clearly said he couldn’t understand me.
“Vivi, is this really for Zeta’s sake?”
“That’s right.”
At my answer, he looked slightly displeased.
“Why do you care so much?”
Why do I care? I didn’t really have a good answer, so I gave him an awkward smile.
“You hardly even know him. Even if you don’t get involved, Zeta’s still the only one who can inherit the throne.”
“Armin. Have you ever heard this saying?”
I grasped his hand tightly and looked him in the eyes.
“People who love to climb mountains say they do it because the mountain is there. I’m the same. I just… I don’t want to pretend not to see something when I can do something about it.”
Even if someone says I’m meddling, I can’t help it. Koreans are a sentimental people, after all.
The kind-hearted Prince Zeta, who grew up so alone, who cherishes Armin as a close friend… once I realized all that, he no longer felt like a stranger.
Still, Armin clearly didn’t like me getting involved with the imperial family. Prince Zeta may have no intention of getting close to me, but the Empress could be a different story.
But my thinking was a little different.
“This isn’t just for Prince Zeta. It’s for us too.”
It was only after talking with Armin that I truly understood why the Empress had insisted on inviting me—even going so far as to pressure me.
She wanted to find a suitable partner who could support Prince Zeta. Among the many noble ladies who fit that role, I had gained some standing thanks to the serialized novel incident.
Even someone as dense as me could figure out as much. So, if I could remove this source of weakness surrounding Prince Zeta, then the Empress would have no reason to continue her fixation on me.
Armin averted his gaze. He was definitely upset. But as I shifted and fidgeted, doing everything I could to meet his eyes again, he finally let out a small chuckle.
“Promise me.”
When he finally looked at me again, those violet eyes were full of warmth.
“Once this is over, you won’t go and give your attention to other men anymore.”
“O–Other men?”
“Well, not that you’ll have time for any once the imperial ball’s over.”
He smiled as he gently kissed the hand he was holding. Since we started dating, Armin’s been acting like someone freshly dipped in honey.
“After all, you’ll be too busy preparing for your engagement ceremony.”
“Engagement ceremony?”
“My girlfriend’s way too talented—how am I supposed to sit still and feel secure?”
His gaze, full of sweet satisfaction as he looked up at me, was criminal.
I was so flustered I couldn’t say anything, just opened and closed my mouth like a fish. And that reaction seemed to please Armin even more.
He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Go on, then. I’ll be waiting right here.”
“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”
As I made my way toward the Empress’s residence, I could feel Armin’s eyes on me the entire time—even without turning around. His gaze followed me with a steady weight, warm and unwavering.
* * *
Unlike the day before, when I’d been welcomed with noisy cheer, this time I was left sitting alone for a long while on the crimson sofa in the center of the lavish drawing room.
Surely the maids had informed her of my arrival, yet even after my tea had gone cold twice, the Empress still had not appeared.
Just as I began to regret coming to the Empress’s quarters at all, the drawing room doors finally opened. Unlike the gentle demeanor she’d shown the day before, the Empress now radiated an imposing presence. It was clear she no longer wanted to pretend to be friendly.
There was none of the warmth from before. Judging by the frosty air between us, she was still displeased by my careless words the day before.
“What kind of discourtesy is this, coming here uninvited, Lady Roha?”
Her expressionless face was as cold as a northern wind.
Well, even noble ladies of minor rank never forgive anyone who scratches their pride—there was no way the Empress would be delighted to see me again after just a day. So her cold reception didn’t faze me much.
“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”
I offered a polite greeting, and with a dismissive gesture, she waved her hand like it was all too bothersome. Her brows were slightly furrowed as she stared at me, silently demanding I speak and leave.
“I’ve come here today… because I have a request to make of Your Majesty.”
“A request?”
She must have assumed I was here to apologize for my blunder. She looked slightly caught off guard by my unexpected response.
“Yes. I came to ask something regarding the Imperial Ball. As Your Majesty has full authority over the event.”
“You, asking me for something about the Imperial Ball?”
A scoffing laugh escaped her. I kept my head lowered, staring only at the floor. After a while, the Empress finally took a seat across from me. I might have offended her, but she was curious enough to hear what I had to say.
“Very well. Let’s hear it.”
With her permission granted, I carefully took my seat and opened my mouth.
“Please set the theme for this Imperial Ball to green.”
“Green?”
“Yes. I’ve come to ask that the dress code be set to green.”
For a moment, the Empress looked me over from head to toe. Then a short laugh burst out of her. It didn’t sound malicious—just the laugh of someone who couldn’t help but react to something so absurd.
“I see now, Lady Roha, you’re quite shameless. I think I understand why the Duchess is so fond of you. Green, is it? And why, pray tell, should I grant your request?”
“There’s a very good reason you should.”
“Oh? And what might that be?”
The Empress fell silent at my confident reply. I leaned forward, lowering my voice like I was about to share a secret.
“I’ve heard about Prince Zeta. That there are seditious factions questioning the legitimacy of his birth.”
“Vivian Roha! How dare you say such things in my presence!”
As expected, the Empress burst into a shout the moment I finished speaking. But I waited silently for her anger to subside. And once the tense silence settled between us again, I spoke.
“I have a way to turn the Prince’s situation around.”
The Empress’s already large eyes went wide with shock, as if they might spill over.
