Viscount Gongfyr greeted Raniero first.

"It's Viscount Gongfyr. I see the great son of Actilla, who brings abundance to the Actilus Empire."

"Yes."

Raniero tilted his head at an angle and sat down roughly on the armrest of the Empress's seat. Seeing that, Viscount Gongfyr smiled and took Eleanor's hand, who was standing still behind him, and led her forward.

"This is Eleanor, my daughter. Even though she's unworthy and lacking, she's now serving in the glorious title of handmaiden to the Empress."

"Gre, greetings to the great son of the God Actilla."

"I see."

Raniero did not seem to be listening at all.

Meanwhile, Eleanor smiled stiffly and could not even glance at him. I then turned to look at her. She had beautifully loosened her warm, dark brown hair and decorated it with flowers.

'Pretty.'

She must have put in a lot of effort.

After all, if they caught the eye of the Emperor at such an opportunity, they might be able to enter the bedroom. If they were lucky, they might have children before me. The child would grow up with the same treatment as the child of the Empress.

Although this country was strictly monogamous, the treatment of the Emperor's illegitimate children was not bad.

After greeting Raniero, Viscount Gongfyr got down on his knees to look up at me sitting on my seat. Eleanor, next to him, quickly followed her father.

"I also greet the Empress, who is the companion of the great son. I have heard many words from my child. Indeed, she is mature and wise, suitable for the mother of the Empire..."

It sounded amazing.

...Mature, wise?

Did the dictionary definitions of 'mature' and 'wise' change without my knowledge? How many idiotic things did I do in the process of adjusting to this world after possessing it...?

Raniero also seemed to have the same thoughts as me. A 'pfft' was heard above her head.

I answered awkwardly.

"Is... Is that so?"

However, even if the superior showed a sour look or even sneers, the subordinate should not show a sign of embarrassment. It was because everything would be ruined.

Viscount Gongfyr was well aware of this. He went on brazenly.

"Our Eleanor is still young, but she's quick-witted and fast with her hands."

"Oh, she's quick-witted."

I nodded as I replied.

Viscount Gongfyr's face brightened at the thought of being recognized, and he opened his mouth again, "Thanks for taking good care of my lacking daughter..."

"Obviously, Roberta Jacques would never have publicly ordered her to overlook the Empress, though she stuck with it for a while and completely ignored me... Your daughter is good at politics at a young age."

Suddenly, the atmosphere became cold at my words.

Viscount Gongfyr's face had now turned pale without brightening.

"Ho?"

I heard an interested voice above my head. Raniero leaned back on my left side and stroked my hair.

"That was what happened."

What? Knowing everything, why did he say 'That was what happened'...?

This is ridiculous.

Meanwhile, poor Eleanor was trembling. Pity arose. Of course, what does she know? It was amusing to cast out a foreign empress from a small country. Even if it was not just her, everyone would have done the same thing.

With an apologetic look on my face, I said to Viscount Gongfyr.

"Don't scold her. Perhaps, it was because she was so young and senseless. Shouldn't it be better to do better from now on?"

At that moment, Viscount Gongfyr forgot the first priority in dealing with superiors: 'do not be embarrassed' and floundered.

"But, but if there were any inadequacies in serving the Empress, how could God... I...How could this mistake be overlooked—"

It was at this moment when his plan to bring his daughter, the Empress's maidservant, to the Empress and show the Emperor the beautifully dressed daughter and aim for one night with him came to naught.

Oh, my. I feel sorry for Viscount Gongfyr.

I gave my sincere advice.

"It's her father's fault for not giving a good education to his still young daughter, so why don't you scold yourself first?"

Why on earth do adults fail to grasp such a simple reason and pass the blame for the failure of home education to children...?

A sigh came out of nowhere.

It was then. The banquet hall began to get noisy with low murmurs. I glanced away from Viscount Gongfyr and lifted my head. Raniero, who had been playing with my hair twisted in her hand, turned towards where the noise was coming from.

'Ah.'

Sylvia Jacques was quietly entering. She was still an exceptional beauty today.

Even though the conversation was completely ruined, Viscount Gongfyr seemed to have no intention of stepping down. It seemed that he did not realize the truth of life until he was at that age that most of the relationships he had were stuck in the mud because of his efforts to do too well.

He hurriedly changed the topic.

"That, that is Sylvia Jacques."

Around that time, the population density of the banquet hall began to rise, and only the side where Raniero was sitting began to increase little by little. Even though he was talking to himself, the voice was loud as if to tell everyone to listen.

"How shameless is she? How could she come to a banquet dedicated to Your Majesty the Empress..."

'...Huh?'

It was a hostile voice.

"It seems shameless. If she knew the outcome of what her mother and brother did..."

'What...?'