I looked at my father with dispassionate eyes and replied dryly.
"I have already told Mother everything regarding that matter."
And the biggest card that moves my father is Mother. Father tends to follow Mother's wishes in most matters.
That was a sight I had witnessed since I was very young.
Because Father loved Mother, he was always on edge to not lose her.
So he would not even think of opposing her opinion, let alone contradicting it.
At my words, Father furrowed his brow and fell silent for a moment. Then he spoke in a blunt tone.
"I say this because I believe you do not desire that position."
"Why?"
"If you were a child who desired such a position, you would not have been obsessed with Maxel from the beginning."
"You speak of such distant past."
A sneer escaped me before I knew it. Seeing my reaction, Father asked in a calm voice.
"Was your dream not to become Empress?"
"……My dream?"
The word 'dream' from Father's mouth felt quite unfamiliar.
Had the meaning of dreams changed while I wasn't aware?
"I didn't know you would mention such things."
"I know you put in that much effort."
Knowing that, how could he so easily put me on the guillotine?
The resentment and sense of betrayal I thought I had abandoned surged up momentarily. I grit my teeth to push away those emotions, forced a smile, and turned my head away.
I looked at the darkened scenery and spoke.
"Becoming part of the Imperial family was Mother's dream."
Then I deliberately brought up content Father would react sensitively to. Only by doing this could I stop Father's needless trip down memory lane.
"Unable to become it herself, Mother decided to at least seat her daughter in that position to exercise influence over the Imperial family. It was Mother's decision. Not mine."
It was Father who ultimately made Mother, who wanted to become the Empire's most noble woman—the Empress—remain by his side as the Duchess of Roam.
Society evaluated such love from Father as poignant pure affection.
The fact that the cold and ruthless Duke of Roam in all matters became a man in love only before his wife seemed to be good conversation material for the gossipers.
The noble ladies envied Mother for this rare, passionate love in noble society. There were also quite a few gazes mixed with jealousy.
Mother laughed at all of it. It seemed Father's love did not hold as much value to Mother as one might think. Or perhaps she tired of it faster than expected.
Father would know this. He was someone who paid more attention to Mother than anyone else.
"That is why Mother will be satisfied if the child she chooses takes the Empress's seat."
"Then did you truly love Maxel in the past?"
I, who had been gazing at a distant place, turned to look at Father. Father stood straight without a single hair out of place.
"Is that important?"
"If you still desire that, I could bring that fellow into our house as well."
Father's face was serious as he spoke so casually about taking the Crown Prince as the Duke family's live-in son-in-law.
That meant he truly had the confidence to make it happen. With Heinri's momentum rising these days, it seemed sufficiently possible.
If I desired it, that is.
"No need?"
I twisted my lips in a smile and turned my eyes back to the scenery. Far in the distance, the dark shadowy form of the Crown Prince's palace was visible.
I was idly pondering how to destroy that later when Father spoke quietly.
"I assume you understand what the position of Little Duke means to Frisian."
"Yes, I know. But didn't Mother judge my value to be higher than Frisian unnie's?"
At my words, Father, who had pressed his lips into a straight line, fell silent for a moment. Then he stood side by side with me with his hands clasped behind his back. Father's gaze, cast far away, was directed at the Crown Prince's palace.
"Does Prince Heinri not meet your standards?"
Father seemed to truly believe I wanted to become Empress.
Well, it could have looked that way. Originally, if Maxel hadn't been crowned Crown Prince, we never would have met.
The assumption that I loved the Crown Prince rather than the assumption that I loved a man named Maxel would have been easier for Father to accept.
"Yes. After dying and coming back to life, I'm sick of the Imperial family."
I nodded calmly and continued speaking.
"Don't ask about my dream as if it's something new. After all, the most important thing to you is only Mother."
I don't think Father finds pushing Frisian unnie away repugnant truly for her sake.
Rather, he must think unnie fits the position of Little Duke better.
Because she dedicated everything to Roam. Just as I had dedicated everything to the Imperial family.
"Mother wants to sit in the highest position, but she couldn't find a suitable way other than the Empress's seat. Then I appeared. More useful than an adopted daughter who lost her prophetic ability—a divine proxy."
However, to Father, Mother was absolute. Father's reason for making the Roam family powerful was to seat Mother in a position even more noble than the women of the Imperial family.
He had concluded that Roam must rise high for the sake of Mother, the mistress of Roam.
"Even after losing someone like me to the Imperial family, will you be able to fulfill Mother's wish?"
I asked gently and looked to the side. Father's furrowed brow came into view.
He looked a bit troubled, but not for long. In truth, the fact that he met me on this balcony alone meant Father's decision was already made.
The conversation until now was merely a process to check my intentions one last time.
"The Imperial Palace's security magic will be lifted the day after tomorrow."
Those were welcome words to hear. Father intended to use means to make my escape easier, but for me, that gap would allow me to gather the Durahans.
First, to take Bark out, I would need to activate the bracelet's magic.
'Still, to think Roam's power pierced the heavens enough to lift the Imperial Palace's security magic.'
I should definitely hint to Heinri about this later. That a spy from Roam is hiding in the Magic Department.
"I will also make separate preparations to kill the Durahans said to be in your detached palace."
"If it's the Durahans, I have a way to handle them myself."
At my answer, Father raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You do?"
"Because I am the resurrected one chosen by god."
Father didn't seem to believe in my divinity at all, but he seemed to understand that there was some method.
"I will send news through Prince Heinri regarding specific plans."
Father turned away first. I didn't feel the need to say goodbye, so I stood idly in front of the railing, but Father, whom I thought would leave as is, suddenly spoke.
"Melonia rejoiced at your resurrection. All the other family members including me."
"……Yes."
"What Frisian told you is true. Our choice was difficult. That's why we feel relieved that you returned."
Those words felt like they were choking my throat, and my breath stopped involuntarily.
"……."
Ah, I had been with such selfish people. To think the price for realizing that was death.
Though the price was high, I don't know how fortunate I am to have learned this now.
"It's been a long time since you resurrected, but I'm glad we could finally convey this."
I placed my hand on the railing that had grown cold. Grasping the hard stone firmly, I took a calm deep breath and wet my lips with my tongue.
After swallowing a dry gulp, I earnestly prayed my voice wouldn't tremble as I slowly opened my mouth.
"Aren't you worried that Lillia's prophecy might be fulfilled, even if belatedly?"
"I can see you want to rebuke our foolishness."
Father let out a hollow laugh.
"Whoever deceived Roam will pay the price."
At this moment, I felt deeply relieved by the fact that I had my back to Father.
If not for that, I wouldn't have been able to hide the smile rising to my lips.
"That's fortunate."
I replied calmly, and no more words were heard. I listened to the sound of the door closing behind me, then pulled the corners of my mouth up a bit more.
I couldn't contain my laughter.
I, who had always ignored and mocked Lillia's prophecy, had now become the only person who believed in that prophecy. How could I not laugh?
「Lillia prophesied! That you will destroy the Roam family!」
Lillia's prophecy was true.
I will bring down Roam.
* * *
After successfully concluding my conversation with Father, I returned to the banquet hall.
The nobles clinging to me again were bothersome, but I decided to accept dance requests from a select few.
"Y-you are as beautiful as ever."
"Ah, yes."
"It's an honor to be your partner like this!"
Men whose names I couldn't be bothered to remember passed by as dance partners.
Just holding the hands of hypocritical nobles to dance gave me goosebumps, but I endured it while thinking about how many rumors and speculations a single dance of mine would generate.
Throughout all this, Zenon was still nowhere to be seen.
'I should have accepted his visit this morning.'
My concerned feelings didn't easily fade.
So I inadvertently looked around the banquet hall, and men who misinterpreted my gaze approached me, but Samuel blocked them appropriately.
Just now, Samuel, who claimed to be a believer of the resurrected one, had chased away some man.
Wanting to support his efforts, I handed him a wine glass and asked casually.
"Have you seen Zenon?"
Receiving the wine glass, he narrowed his eyes and searched his memory.
"If it's that mage…… I did see him come to the banquet hall earlier."
What, he came to the banquet hall but isn't looking for me?
"He looked busy."
"What would he be busy with here?"
I asked with a sour expression.
"There were a few women chasing after him, so perhaps he made some new connections."
Listening to Samuel's indifferent murmur, I frowned involuntarily.
"Women?"
"Yes."
Of course, I don't think Zenon is such a shameless guy that he would flirt with other women the day after kissing me.
Rationally, I knew he wasn't that kind of personality. Especially when he even spoke of unrequited love!
……Nevertheless, knowing something and feeling unpleasant were separate matters.
Especially for me, who had clearly confirmed the reactions of the young ladies who watched Zenon with interest on the first day of the banquet.
'No. Why would I feel unpleasant. We just kissed once, so what of it.'