It seemed that Franca was displeased that someone like me, who hadn't even received proper treatment in Heister, was sitting here thanks to the Empress's invitation.
As I stiffened at her clearly sarcastic question, an unexpected voice spoke.
"Lady Yuliana is staying at the Silverstel Palace that I personally prepared."
It was none other than the Empress.
The Empress, who had been talking with the other noble ladies, was now looking at Franca with a cold expression, as if she had heard the question the entire time.
Franca, clearly not expecting the Empress to answer in her place, lowered her head with a flushed face.
"Ah… I see. I was just happy to see her, so I spoke without thinking…"
The Empress rested her chin lightly on her hand, showing interest.
"Oh? It sounds like you and Lady Yuliana were very close while she stayed in Heister?"
While I was in Heister, I was nothing more than the most useless piece among my father's many children.
That was, until I voluntarily stepped forward and said I would marry into Valdormer.
There was no way my treatment could have been the same as Franca's, the wife of the heir, Cesar.
Because of that, we had never even properly spoken face to face.
In Franca's memory, I was probably no different from the many maids in Heister.
When I didn't answer, Franca forced an awkward smile and replied to the Empress.
"Of course, Your Majesty. We were as close as sisters."
At her hypocritical words, I calmly lifted my teacup and spoke.
"How could I possibly have exchanged words with the future mistress of the Heister estate, when I was merely one of Heister's many children?"
My words pointed out her lie while pretending to praise her, and Franca's face flushed red once more.
Seeing that, the Empress let out a pleased laugh.
"Lady Yuliana has a refined talent for handling others."
I looked at the Empress suspiciously, wondering if she was speaking ironically, but she seemed genuinely amused by the situation.
With a kind smile, the Empress continued.
"If the palace you're staying in is ever uncomfortable, tell me anytime. There are many palaces within Paveloupe Imperial Castle."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's thoughtful consideration."
Her words clearly showed favoritism toward me, and the gazes around us changed from before.
Franca bit her lip in frustration.
She looked unable to understand why the Empress would care more for a woman who had one foot in Valdormer and one in Silverstel, rather than herself, who represented Heister, a long-time ally of the imperial family.
Ironically, I agreed with Franca.
I couldn't understand why the Empress was showing me such interest either.
As the Empress openly showed her favor toward me, the noble ladies who had previously looked at me with contempt began speaking to me more warmly.
"So, are you planning to settle in Silverstel now?"
"After all, your marriage to Valdormer was more like a transaction than a real marriage. You must have suffered a lot."
"It was a place where you never knew when you might be accused of treason and killed."
The noble lady who had spoken thoughtlessly covered her mouth.
"Oh my, how careless of me."
"I'm sorry. It's awkward to say something like that in front of you, isn't it?"
I gave her an indifferent smile.
"It's alright. It no longer concerns me."
Relieved by my response, the noble ladies continued as if they had been waiting.
"But about the new head of Valdormer—there are rumors that he completely lost his mind a few years ago."
"Lost his mind?"
I pretended not to care, but my attention was drawn despite myself.
As I calmly sipped my tea, the noble lady glanced at me and continued.
"It was about four years ago, I think? There were even rumors that the previous lord, Darkin, had him confined because he was beyond saving."
Four years ago was before the war with Heister—when I escaped from Valdormer.
'He was in such a state that he was confined?'
"They say he was so unstable that he even harmed himself. It was kept quiet, but people said the Valdormer line might end entirely."
My fingers loosened around the teacup without me realizing it.
At the faint clinking sound, the noble ladies' eyes turned toward me. I forced a calm smile.
"Even if it no longer concerns me, this kind of talk is still a bit uncomfortable, isn't it?"
"You're right. Let's talk about something else. What is Silverstel like? Is it really winter all year round?"
In truth, I had spent three years at Vent Castle and less than a week in Silverstel, but there was no way they would know that.
I vaguely answered based on my memories from my previous life.
"I believe Silverstel has spring and summer too. It's just colder than other regions."
Even as I spoke, the stories about Kallian continued to linger in my mind.
'So broken that he harmed himself… what on earth happened?'
'Could it be… because I disappeared?'
That couldn't be.
I had believed that the emotions he showed toward me were nothing more than twisted obsession.
An obsession stained with hatred and contempt.
There had never been anything resembling love or longing between us.
Only fierce anger and a raw instinct to tear each other apart remained.
That was why I thought his obsession with me was merely a base desire to possess me.
But what I had just heard was far too unexpected.
It sounded like the story of someone who had lost a beloved lover and fallen gravely ill from heartbreak.
Like a tragic male lead who truly went mad because he loved too deeply.
'Could his memory loss be related to that time, when he was said to be harming himself?'
'Was there really something between us that caused him such pain?'
As one thought led to another, I shook my head and forcibly pushed them away.
That couldn't be.
The rumors were probably exaggerated.
I couldn't imagine a man who valued his family and himself above all else throwing everything away and breaking down.
Forcing away those unrealistic stories about Kallian, I took a sip of the tea, which tasted unusually bitter.
Inside the carriage returning to the Silverstel Palace.
Leaning against the window and gazing at the dazzling imperial castle, my thoughts were in chaos.
Kallian's face flashed through my mind—the sorrowful expression he wore as he looked at me on the terrace.
Those lonely, mournful eyes, like a wounded wolf…
'A wounded wolf…'
I scoffed at my own thoughts and shook my head.
'Have I already forgotten how he treated me?'
In both my first life and this one, he had been cold, heartless, and devoted only to his family.
Because of that coldness, how had Denian died?
How had I met my own death?
I vividly remembered the moment my breath faded away in that confined room, filled with hatred and resentment toward him.
So there was no way I could believe that he had fallen into such a state simply because I left.
And I didn't have the luxury to care about his circumstances anyway.
Denian mattered more than anything else.
Lost in those thoughts, the carriage soon came to a stop in front of the Silverstel Palace.
After stepping down, I slowly walked through the garden leading to the palace.
'Before the evening banquet begins, I should spend as much time with Denian as possible.'
Just then, a familiar laugh reached my ears as I passed through the garden.
"Kekeke—"
It was Denian's clear laughter.
He had never laughed so brightly when he was only with maids or servants.
'Did Lloyd return early and start playing with him?'
Ever since Denian grew older and realized Lloyd wasn't his father, he had been strangely awkward around Lloyd.
Lloyd didn't seem to mind the child's reaction much, though.
Feeling puzzled, I walked deeper into the garden toward the sound of laughter.
And the moment the laughter grew closer—
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Kallian was lifting the child high, giving him a piggyback ride on his shoulders.
Cradled in Kallian's arms, Denian laughed more brightly than anyone in the world.