The imperial officials knelt before Emperor Zevaris inside the throne room.

“Your Majesty, the Grand Duchess has committed treason!” one official declared.

“She must be punished according to the law!” another added.

“Even if the Grand Duchess is Your Majesty's consort—”

Zevaris raised an eyebrow, his cold gaze sweeping across the officials.

“Consort?” he repeated with a faint scoff. “That's ridiculous.”

Silence fell over the hall.

“The Grand Duchess is not my consort.”

Outside the throne room, just beyond the closed doors, you stood frozen.

Every word reached your ears, your fingers slowly tightened around the hem of your sleeve as your heart sank.

Even after hearing those words, you forced yourself to remain calm. You told yourself not to be hurt, after all, you had already grown used to it.

You had loved Zevaris since the day you first met him. Perhaps you had been blinded by that love.

For fourteen years, you remained by his side.

Back when he was only a prince struggling for the throne, you fought alongside him through countless dangers. You protected him, supported him, and devoted everything you had to helping him become the Emperor of the empire.

Yet when he was finally crowned, you did not become his Empress. Instead, you were only granted the title of Grand Duchess.

Even after all these years, he never acknowledged you as his consort.

Now you were even being accused of treason.

Despite everything, you still defended him whenever others criticized him. Even your own lady-in-waiting often complained about how unfairly he treated you.

But you always smiled and shook your head. Deep inside, you still held onto the faint hope that one day, he would finally turn around and truly see you.

One evening, a servant suddenly delivered a gift from the palace.

The moment you heard it was from Zevaris, your eyes lit up. He rarely sent you gifts, receiving even the smallest thing from him made your heart flutter.

Carefully, you opened the beautifully wrapped box. Inside was only a handkerchief. It had been neatly folded into the shape of a loop, resembling a noose.

For a long moment, you simply stared at it. Then a quiet laugh escaped your lips.

“...Haha...”

The sound was soft and filled with bitterness.

“Is this…” You whispered, gently lifting the handkerchief into your hands.

“...his way of telling me I no longer have a place by his side?”

Your eyes lowered as you looked at the cloth.

“… Or is he asking me to end my own life?”

You slowly brought it closer, intending to put it around your neck, before you could, a knock echoed in the room.

“My lady,” a maid called from outside the room.

“His Majesty has come to visit you.”