70.

“Hah!”

The emperor, fully aware of my lack of genuine faith, openly mocked my piety.

“From the events in Tartaros to the disgraceful conspiracy of young lord Morfolk, it all seems to be the will of the gods. Thinking that all these trials were the gods’ will gives me a sense of accomplishment in overcoming them.”

Regardless, I maintained the facade of a devout woman obedient to the gods’ will.

“At a time when the entire empire is buzzing with talk of you two, the oracle descends.”

The emperor’s angry gaze fixed on me, clearly not believing that this was something concocted by Diazi. He seemed to think this audacious scheme could only come from my mind.

“It almost seems as if someone orchestrated this, doesn’t it? Lady McFoy.”

The emperor was no longer smiling.

He could not hide his anger at the audacity of imitating his past manipulation of the oracle. But his direct insinuation did not threaten me.

“How can a mere mortal fully comprehend the will of the gods? I merely follow it.”

At this moment, I was the picture of innocence, ignorant of any conspiracy. No matter how directly he attacked, I shrugged it off as ignorance.

Perhaps my nonchalance effectively provoked him, as he abruptly stood up. He glared at me silently for a while, and I took the cue to bow my head deferentially.

“There must be a deeper meaning in this oracle.”

I spent the money, yet what nonsense was he spouting now? It was clear what he was thinking.

“Oracles can have different meanings depending on who interprets them. As one favored by the gods, I believe this oracle requires further interpretation.”

I felt a surge of frustration as I saw the emperor eyeing Norma Diazi with a greedy gaze.

Despite his loathing, he coveted Norma Diazi. It was utterly repulsive.

I was disgusted. If he weren’t the emperor, I would have marched up there and smacked him across the head.

Unable to tolerate any more of this wasteful conversation, I spoke up.

“Your Majesty, as a loyal subject, I would like to offer a rare piece of advice.”

“Enough. Submit it as a petition.”

I met his gaze with a bold look, knowing full well the emperor recognized it, and waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to hear more.

“Please dismiss everyone for a moment. As you know, I’m not good with words, and my candid advice might be better delivered in private. Though I don’t mind who listens.”

The emperor was about to raise his voice, but I was faster.

“You must listen.”

“…”

‘You must listen’ was a code between us. It meant I had exclusive information only a McFoy could provide. The emperor, having learned this through repeated experience, understood the signal immediately.

The greedy emperor didn’t deliberate long. He soon gestured for everyone to leave.

Hmph, foolish man. I felt a fiery determination rise within me as I faced the emperor, who had fallen so easily into my trap.

Norma, who was about to follow Milan out, looked back at me with a worried expression, almost reaching to hold my hand. I mouthed for him not to worry, and he gave me a slight, private smile. At least he listened well to what I said.

At the same time, my anger flared at the thought of the emperor eyeing this harmless man with such lecherous intent.

“As the head of McFoy, a guardian of the empire and the Rodensi royal family, I offer my sincere advice to the most noble person here. Please, do not take offense.”

Translated, it meant: Unlike you, who have done nothing but occupy your position, I have diligently worked to support this empire. So, listen up even if it displeases you. The emperor wasn’t a fool, and he felt the sting of my words.

“Recalling the second princess will bring you no benefit.”

“…What?”

“Your Majesty, you have made Princess Merke out to be mad and deficient at the empress’s behest. You stood by while she was sent off to a tiny kingdom in the west, ostensibly for convalescence.”

“Lady McFoy, what nonsense are you spouting—”

“Your Majesty, you know better than anyone that there is little I do not know. There’s no need to pretend otherwise.”

Even with his limited imagination, it was obvious the emperor planned to reinterpret the old oracle to prevent my marriage to Norma, instead marrying him off to Merke.

‘How dare you. Norma Diazi has already kissed me, after all.’

Unconsciously influenced by Diazi’s absurd customs, I found myself thinking this way.

“It’s no great secret that you spread the word that the princess was mad and deficient to ensure she could never become an heir.”

“Silence.”

When had he ever truly commanded silence?

“Princess Merke knows this. If I were her, I’d resent Your Majesty greatly. What about you, Your Majesty?”

The emperor, with a twisted expression, could only seethe without an immediate response. He had likely never considered Merke’s feelings or thoughts.

“If you recklessly bring her back and try to control her again, even the patient Princess Merke might not remain passive.”

Unlike Billinent, Merke was intelligent, patient, and most importantly, had no great desire for power. She loved her freedom and saw no reason to sit on the throne, which was why she quietly left the palace.

‘You fool. She didn’t leave because she was afraid of you, the empress, or the crown prince.’

If I had to pick the most sensible person in the Rodensi royal family, it would be Merke Rodensi.

“Calling her back to the palace… If I were her, I might vent my frustrations on my young brother, unable to openly defy Your Majesty.”

“I will hear no more.”

“The empress feared Princess Merke not just because the current crown prince was still young.”

If asked who was more suitable to be emperor, Merke or Billinent—

“The princess wasn’t mad or deficient. She was a fitting candidate for the throne. Your Majesty knows this. The only reason she isn’t is because you didn’t love her as much as your other children.”

Anyone would pick Merke.

“She is capable.”

I left unsaid but implied that she was more capable than the current crown prince, which made the emperor shudder with humiliation.

“Enough of your roundabout talk. Get to the point.”

“I also don’t want to see the royal family in turmoil.”

I placed my hand over my heart, speaking softly to convey sincerity, but the emperor’s expression showed he wasn’t buying it. I truly meant it, though.

The Merke Rodensi I knew was nothing like her public image. She wasn’t a fearful, weak princess; she was as eccentric and formidable as a Rodensi should be.

If Merke had no patience, she would have been more infamous than Calliphe. If she wanted to, she could easily outmaneuver the foolish Billinent.

Honestly, for the great nobles, Billinent was preferable because he was easily manipulated.

“Do you think the princess will quietly support the crown prince? Don’t start a fire just to spite me.”

In other words, don’t burn down the house just to see me suffer.

“At the recent assembly, it was clear that the crown prince still does not appear fit to be a monarch. He needs more time at the very least.”

“…”

“Do not summon Princess Merke. It is to Your Majesty’s benefit that she has forgotten her anger and resentment in the freedom she now enjoys.”

“…”

“It would be wise to consider the ties between Norma Diazi and Rodensi ended over a decade ago.”

“Even if I concede that you are right.”

“You do not need to concede, for it is largely true.”

“Ugh… Please, for once, just… can you not…”

The emperor, slouched on his throne and holding his head in his hands, muttered in exasperation.

“This is too much. It’s the most excessive thing I’ve seen. You must feel the same.”

This time, I remained silent.

“Why such a sudden urge for marriage? There’s no need to go to these lengths.”

“Well…”

I hesitated, thinking about how absurd it was to nearly provoke a succession battle just to spite me, before responding.

“Considering that I am the head of McFoy, isn’t it fitting that my consort be someone of Norma Diazi’s caliber?”

It was a reason I had thought of suddenly, yet it sounded convincing even to myself.

“Hah.”

The emperor let out a dry laugh.

“Do you truly love him? Is that why you pulled that stunt at Lady Tibey’s mansion?”

‘How did he come to that conclusion?’

His offhand comment made me furrow my brows in irritation, though he didn’t notice.

The truth was, I did care for him, but only out of a sense of camaraderie stemming from our similar situations. It was merely a matter of aligning interests among the nobility.

“…Given my position, it’s appropriate to have a fitting partner. That’s all.”

Even as I said it, my heart beat uneasily. I wanted to change the topic quickly.

“If you fear an alliance between the East and West, there’s no need to worry.”

The emperor rubbed his face with his hand, clearly frustrated by how thoroughly his intentions had been exposed.

“It’s true that Norma Diazi is pleasant to look at, but I don’t find Nicholas Diazi appealing. You know very well that the Diazi lord and I do not get along.”

I ended with a polite bow, and the emperor looked at me with a look of exasperation.

“I will acknowledge the interpretation of the High Temple. Lady McFoy and Sir Norma Diazi will follow the oracle.”

Milan Diazi, looking both fed up and utterly drained, glanced at the emperor and then at me.

“The head of McFoy will honor the command of Your Majesty.”

Having achieved my goal, I smiled wickedly. I no longer pretended to be pitiable.

The emperor, waving his hand dismissively as if to get rid of us, signaled that he wanted us gone.

“Norma Diazi will become a McFoy. I will cherish anyone bearing the McFoy name as if they were my own life.”

But the head of McFoy, not yet finished, boldly declared her intent in front of the emperor, bordering on a threat.

“If anyone dares to insult someone bearing the McFoy name, I will exact retribution, regardless of who they are. That is my honor and, I believe, the honor of Your Majesty who has permitted this marriage.”

She did not bother to disguise her warning that she would not tolerate the emperor’s covetous eyes on Norma Diazi.

“So, watch closely.”

Just try to mess with him.

To the Diazi family, the McFoy’s constant threats sounded like a foreign language. Despite the fact that she appeared to be the villain in the room, the two pairs of golden eyes looking at her sparkled more brightly than ever.