“Yes, then I’ll go now,” Lucy said quickly, without adding anything else.
Ibi watched her leave and let out a quiet sigh.
‘I can’t feel at ease unless I see it with my own eyes…’
Ricardo was a man with many achievements and from a noble family, but despite his high status, his nature was that of a beast.
‘That’s probably why he’s called the “Wolf of Naha.”’
The land of Naha was cold and harsh, always battered by sharp winds, and the Duke of Naha was secretly known as the “Wolf.” Ibi knew of his notorious reputation. He had been the one to defend the border from attacks and bandits successfully, but he also commanded a private army that could threaten the emperor’s authority.
Ricardo was a man who hated getting involved with others or any particular factions, so it was a bit of luck for Frederik that Ricardo wasn’t on the anti-emperor side.
In her past lives, Ibi had been so focused on winning Frederik’s heart back that she didn’t manage to stop Ricardo’s rebellion in time.
This was the first time she was facing him directly.
If she let Ricardo go, he would eventually rebel again.
Right now, Ibi’s priority wasn’t Frederik’s feelings or his affair with Priscilla, but rather sending Ricardo out safely while planting the seeds of rebellion in his heart.
Ibi was determined to live for Ricardo’s cause in this life.
With a calm face, she walked toward the reception room in the Empress Palace. The ministers were already seated and stood up as soon as she appeared, offering their respects.
“Please sit down. There are many things we need to discuss,” Ibi said as she opened the letter from the emperor and placed it on the table.
“The emperor wishes to visit the summer palace,” she added.
“The Spring Festival is just around the corner, and you’re going to the summer palace?” The ministers frowned, clearly displeased.
Ibi was accustomed to such reactions, so she simply looked around at them calmly. Frederik, who was kind but often swayed by others’ words, was prone to being influenced by others’ opinions. He hated being seen as a villain and couldn’t bring himself to speak harshly.
Whenever such uncomfortable situations came up, Frederik would always use Ibi as a shield.
Before the repeated deaths, Ibi had never realized that she was acting as Frederik’s protector. She had just thought he trusted her enough to handle such important matters.
How foolish she had been.
Blinded by love, she had been too naive to see ahead.
“It is His Majesty’s will,” she said calmly.
If this had been Ibi from the past, she would have tried to convince the ministers and nobles to sway public opinion in a positive direction. But now, she didn’t want to waste the effort.
Her goal this time was to bring Ricardo back safely and secretly.
“His Majesty has decided. I have no authority over this,” Ibi said, tilting her head slightly.
“I’m not even the empress,” she added nonchalantly.
The room fell silent, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over it.
The ministers glanced at each other, secretly looking at Ibi’s face, unsure of how to react. It was surprising for them to hear Ibi speak so self-deprecatingly. Ibi, who was destined to be empress from the moment she was born, had never shown such humility.
“Your Highness, that’s…”
Before Lord Kingston could finish his sentence, Ibi turned to face him.
“What are you trying to say, Lord Kingston?” she asked.
“…No, nothing,” Lord Kingston stammered.
Lord Kingston, a powerful figure in the anti-emperor faction, was visibly flustered and tried to avoid Ibi’s gaze by turning his head.
Ibi continued to play innocent, keeping a blank expression as she spoke again.
“I’ll say it again, this trip to the summer palace is something His Majesty has specifically requested.”
Ibi repeated this firmly, scanning the faces of the ministers.
Emphasizing that it was the emperor’s command had a hidden purpose.
In her past lives, Ibi would always step up and defend Frederik when his policies failed and he was criticized. But now, things were different.
Now, Ibi didn’t need to defend Frederik anymore.
Her priority was herself, and for that, she had to make sure Ricardo survived and returned safely.
‘But what has the Wolf of Naha been doing in the palace?’
As she looked over the ministers’ faces, Ibi suddenly had a thought.
Ricardo, the Duke of Naha, commanded more soldiers than the palace guards. There was no reason for him to sneak into the palace.
That day had been unusually peaceful.
She hadn’t heard any rumors about intruders in the palace, so why had he slipped in secretly?
“What’s this, Your Highness?”
Ibi’s thoughts were interrupted when a voice called her.
“I understand that His Majesty’s commands are absolute, but without a proper reason, this trip to the summer palace might cause unrest among the people,” the elderly foreign minister spoke, his point not entirely without merit.
Ibi tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand.
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask His Majesty about that directly? I don’t know His Majesty’s thoughts,” she replied nonchalantly.
The nobles were clearly taken aback by Ibi’s sudden change in attitude.
But this wasn’t something Ibi cared about.
Everything would unfold as it was meant to.
At the summer palace, Frederik would fall in love with Priscilla during the banquet, and Ibi would remain behind, never becoming empress.
But this time, Ibi wasn’t going to just sit back and watch as everything played out.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave,” Ibi said, standing up calmly.
She walked out of the room, ignoring the ministers who were hastily offering their respects. She made her way to her bedroom, and as she passed the guards in the hallway, she reached out to Lucy, who was waiting outside her door.
“Did you find it?”
Lucy smiled awkwardly.
“Yes, I did, but…”
Ibi smiled faintly at Lucy, who followed her inside.
“Go ahead and leave. Lucy will attend to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After the maid stepped back, Lucy opened the door to the bedroom. As Ibi walked inside, she turned to the guards and spoke.
“Don’t let anyone in.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
The door slammed shut.
Ibi and Lucy quickly closed all the windows to ensure no sounds would escape, and then Ibi spoke up.
“While I was gone, what happened?”
Lucy let out a heavy sigh and said, “I think it would be better if you see it with your own eyes, Your Highness.”
Lucy led the way to the dressing room, where she cleverly opened a hidden space between the closet and the dresses. She turned the doorknob, revealing a secret room.
The hidden room, passed down through generations of Silderon’s empresses, was deeper inside the bedroom than the dressing room.
Ibi followed Lucy into the dark room, lit only by a single candle. As she slowly scanned the room, someone appeared.
It was Ricardo, sitting on the sofa, his shirt undone, staring at a document in his hand.
