Blanche wanted to make sure that she looked at least somewhat presentable, so she hurried to check the other's expressions. No one seemed to be particularly concerned with her appearance. She turned her head to Stella, who was still watching her.

The maid gave her a slight smile. “Are you alright now, My Lady?”

Blanche nodded and mirrored her servant's expression. “Yes. I'm fine.” She still wanted to change the topic. “I was just thinking about what I could make for Theo's birthday. From the very beginning, I wanted to buy him something, and that will be this ring. I will bake him a chocolate cake too, but I would like to sew something as well. I don't know what though.”

Stella put her finger against her lips and pondered that for a moment. “Maybe a pouch? A small bag that he can tie to his hip. Something that isn't too heavy and doesn't disturb his movements. He could store things he needs regularly there. Or things that you gifted him. Something like that shouldn't be too hard to make either.”

Blanche's mind immediately came up with a picture of a navy pouch that was adorned with golden patterns. She should be able to create something similar to the handkerchief that she had made for the hunting festival. That might look good if she got her maid's help. “That could work.” After all, it would be more practical than anything else she could sew for Theodore with her mediocre skills. “Actually, that sounds perfect. Thank you, Stella. Do you think we have enough time left? Theo barely leaves my side at the moment, so...”

The maid waved her hand around in the air. “Don't worry. You might have to skip baking until His Majesty's birthday, but we have two weeks left. He leaves for about two hours a day and sometimes a bit more. That means that we have more than enough time. I'll assist you to the best of my ability.” Stella beamed at her, which made Blanche return the smile.

If all of this worked out, the concubine would be happy with her gifts this year. Last time, she hadn't been sure whether Theodore really liked the gifts or whether he had just been content with her getting him something. It would be much easier if he was like her and loved jewelry or clothes. Then she wouldn't have to worry about what to bring for him each time. But right now, it seemed like she might have chosen the items well. Hopefully, everything would be ready in time for his birthday.

The streets were as empty as always, so the carriage arrived at the palace quickly.

As soon as Blanche jumped out, she was already pulled into her lover's arms. She returned the hug and allowed herself to see this as consolation after her meeting with her father's acquaintance. “Hello. Did the meeting go well?”

Theodore made some undefinable noise before resting his chin on top of her head. “I'm still alive, and I didn't kill them either. So, I would argue that it didn't go completely wrong. But since seeing them physically pains me each time, I won't say that it was nice either.” He paused and pressed a kiss onto her scalp. “The only good thing about that was that you weren't here. That...degenerate asked for you immediately after he arrived. Telling him that you were preparing a present for me right now was quite satisfying. Of course, I didn't mention that you were out to keep them from doing anything stupid so that it was safe for you. You won't go out any time soon again though.”

Blanche lifted her head to smile at him. “I know. It's fine. I got what I wanted. Or rather, I ordered what I wanted and will send others to pick it up for me. It's something small, but I feel like it will be rather useful.”

Theodore grinned down at her. “Then I am looking forward to that. You're already making me curious. How am I going to stand two weeks without knowing what you will give me?”

She raised herself onto her tiptoes and waited for him to lean down so that she could kiss his nose. “It's nothing that special. Don't pressure me.”

“As long as you belong to me the entire day, you could also give me a box with air, and I would be ecstatic.”

The concubine wanted to roll her eyes at him, but she restrained herself. “I always belong to you, so you don't have to worry about that. If I count as a gift, you will get a total of four presents.”

Her lover gave her another kiss on her cheek. “You can't spoil me like this. I am the one that is already happy after giving you things. And I obviously prepared something special for our anniversary. If I see you smile and get so many gifts, I might have a heart attack out of happiness. How will I survive that day if you keep indulging me?” He linked her arm with his and led her to the building before stopping abruptly. “Ah. I almost forgot.” He turned back to the carriage and spoke up louder. “I thank all of you for your efforts today. You are hereby dismissed. Have a nice evening.”

The knights bowed to him before scattering and bringing their horses back to the stalls. A few servants took care of the carriage, and only the passengers of the vehicle stood around while doing nothing.

Owen and Stella walked over to the couple in silence, but Leon was eager to complain. “So, you thank the guards and ignore us? How kind of our generous emperor. You two are already in your own world again.”

Theodore smirked at him. “That's nothing bad though. We're really happy about it. And regarding your hurt feelings, I said that I thank all the people here. I can repeat my words while saying your name if that makes you feel better.”

Leonard shook his head. “No need. I would rather be allowed to leave before you have completely gone back to seeing each other and nothing else. The day was exhausting enough. After all, we met Lord Duremont at the jeweler's store.”

The emperor froze as he became serious in a split second. “You did? What was he doing there? Did he say anything special?”

“He was buying a gift for you too. And he insisted on keeping us from leaving the palace. He will pick up the presents and bring them here in a few days.”

Theodore didn't hide his irritation. His frown deepened, and he was silent for a bit before speaking. “That is odd. He has no need to do that. I'll remind the guards to search him before he enters. Thank you for telling me. Your wish is fulfilled. You can leave now. Good night.” With that, he turned around and led his lover into the palace. He brought her straight to his room, for which Blanche was very thankful.

The relaxing evening they had together was exactly what she needed right now. After taking a bath together, they ate and then cuddled in bed. This helped her suppress her fear regarding the blacksmith at least a bit. That man telling someone about her identity could ruin her life, so she wasn't able to ignore it, but she tried. Even if those worries didn't disappear only because she was with her lover, she felt safer in Theodore's arms and clung to him while repeating to herself that it was fine.

Everything would end up being fine. It had to. If things went wrong, she wouldn't know what to do. She had come so far. Giving up now would be awful when she had just begun to hope for a perfect ending.

The following days were filled with nothing but the same soothing routine. The couple woke up and spent the time until lunch together. After noon, Theodore left to go to his office, which allowed Blanche to start sewing. Her work wasn't perfect due to her unsteady hands, but she made progress and was confident that she would finish in time. Making the chocolate cake one day prior to her lover's birthday also wouldn't be an issue.

The only thing that worried her was the fact that Allen hadn't brought the ring yet. Leon had asked her to write down a detailed summary of what she wanted and had sent this to the duke's son along with the document allowing the other man to order one item in the emperor's stead. After that, Allen had written back that the jeweler would take a while to finish but that everything would be ready before the date of the party.

Still, the concubine wasn't calmed by that as long as her gift wasn't here. Surely, she could give it to Theodore later, and he wouldn't mind, but that felt wrong. She wanted to hand over everything on his birthday. So, the uncertainty of whether it would arrive in time was the most exhausting thing during the next few days.

But it was clear that Blanche was complaining about small issues. In contrast to her, the servants and knights of the palace had a real problem. Planning a party for the emperor's birthday was a complicated matter and required countless people to help. The venue had to be prepared and decorated with the most beautiful ornaments, garlands and lights. The food for the crowd of guests, which would consist of every important noble in the capital and the surrounding area, had to be cooked too. Even some more influential people from other cities might come to wish the ruler of Artias the best for another year of his reign.

Having so many outsiders in the palace created a big challenge for the royal guards, who would have to secure the safety of each and every guest. At best, without offending anyone for insisting on following the harsh rules that had been set in place after the recent events.

All in all, there were more than enough tasks to fulfill before the party could begin so that every single servant had plenty to do. Naturally, this would be hard for everyone involved whether it may be the staff members preparing everything or their superiors, who had to do the planning.

Blanche was very glad that she wasn't involved in any of that. Waiting for the delivery was stressful enough. If she had to deal with so many tasks, she would probably have a breakdown. It was already exhausting to see the servants running around with food or decorations and furniture the whole time. Still, she couldn't help but feel frustrated even when others were working way harder than she was. She considered helping, but in the end, asking for authority to make decisions regarding the emperor's birthday party was a bit too out of line.

After waiting for so long, it was a great relief when a letter eventually reached Leon. Apparently, the ring was done now, and Allen would bring it to the palace the next day.

Blanche didn't have any desire to let Theodore barge into the conversation and see his present too early, so she greeted Allen by the entrance. It was a bit strange to stand there as if she was welcoming a guest when she actually just wanted the small piece of jewelry that he brought with him. She got a few confused looks for seeing the empress' brother too, but she didn't care much. She wouldn't talk to him for long anyway. After taking the ring, she would leave immediately and hide the item in her dressing room so that her lover wouldn't find it.

Though, she quickly decided against that plan when Allen climbed out of the carriage and arrived in front of her. He looked like he hadn't slept that night at all, with dark circles underlining his eyes and such a hazy gaze in his eyes. He stood there in silence for a moment before speaking up. “Good afternoon, Lady Blanche. I hope that you have been well.”

Blanche greeted him with a smile, and he tried to return it but failed miserably. That only made her feel even worse. “I haven't needed to complain in a while, so you could say that I'm well. Good afternoon, Lord Duremont. I apologize for making you travel all the way here when you are not in the best state. I do not wish to pry into your matters, but are you in good health? You seem to be a bit...tired.”

Allen nodded. Apparently, he had given up denying it. “I apologize for appearing like this. I had some trouble sleeping this night. It isn't your responsibility that I came here though. I would have visited my sister anyway.” Seemingly, he didn't even care for titles anymore.

Blanche scanned him for a moment while contemplating whether she should ignore this or try to be kind. It couldn't hurt to offer some help, right? “If are too restless to sleep, maybe the royal doctor could help you. Her Majesty can ask him for some herbs that will calm you down. The doctor prescribe me a mixture so that I can sleep better, and he would give that to you too. It might be worth a try.”

Allen paused for a few seconds before replying. “You mean the herbs for pregnant women? I don't think I need those.”

The concubine almost choked on the air at that. It seemed like someone had spread rumors without feeling the need to clear the misunderstanding up. “No, the herbs are supposed to help you sleep. They aren't just for pregnant women. I gave Her Majesty some of them too. They only have a soothing effect on you so that it's easier to rest calmly. ”

Allen scanned her expression closely. “So, you had difficulties falling asleep?”

“Not quite. I had a few rather terrifying nightmares. I wanted to make sure that I don't have them again, so I drank the herbs as tea every day. This seems to have worked as long as I keep consuming it.” She expected to find irritation or disbelief on the man's face. After all, being scared of nightmares to the point that she wouldn't sleep without taking something against them first was a bit childish. But instead, she was greeted with utter shock.

Allen stared at her with wide eyes. He stepped closer to her and brought his face directly in front of hers. “Nightmares? About what?”

Blanche backed away a bit before stammering around. “Well...” She didn't want to tell strangers what worried her most, especially not someone that reacted so strangely to her mentioning the topic.

Due to her avoiding him, Allen seemed to have noticed that he had seemed a bit too pushy right now. He moved back a bit and averted his eyes. “I apologize for that. I did not sleep well this night, so I might act weirdly. It's just that I had nightmares too, and I would like to try the medicine if that helped you.” That did explain why he had been so keen on asking about that topic. He had probably had a few ones already, or he wouldn't be this upset.

Blanche was happy to help with that. She knew how awful nightmares were, even if they were a bit different in her case. “I gave Her Majesty a full jar, so she should have some leftovers. If not, you can ask her to retrieve some from the doctor. A huge load should be stored in the cellar, so you can definitely take some herbs with you today.”

Allen visibly relaxed at that. “Thank you. I really don't need to see anything like that over and over again.”

The concubine had to admit that she was curious and almost about to ask him what he had dreamed about. But at the same time, that was a very personal topic, and since she hadn't revealed the contents of her nightmares, asking would be unfair. Plus, Blanche really didn't want to discuss this topic with him. She refused to mention her nightmares to someone who was connected to them so strongly, and she didn't want to speak with him for much longer either, even if he did need help. Either way, she wasn't whom Allen should talk to.

“You don't have to thank me. I didn't do anything.” Blanche stayed silent for a moment while gathering her courage. She wouldn't intrude on his privacy and only give him a little advice, so it should be fine. “I know that this is none of my business, but it seems like those nightmares affect you a lot. I can see that at the first glance. So, it might be beneficial for your mental health to talk about it. Perhaps with Her Majesty or Lady Ravillot? It won't erase the issue, but for me, talking with those I trust made it a bit easier to deal with the things I saw.”

Allen didn't say anything for a while. He just stared onto the floor next to them and seemed to be lost in thoughts. But then he eventually spoke up. “I did talk to Seraphina, but that didn't make it any better. Each time I think that I'm over what I saw, it gets worse. I kept seeing images of one specific person for a long time.” He paused, and his face scrunched up as he remembered his dreams. “They are suffering, and I can't do anything about it anymore. Each time it becomes even more painful to watch, even when I thought that it couldn't get more traumatizing. Today, I saw something different, but that was just as bad. Something was floating in the water. There was a cloth swaying around it, but there was skin visible. That was a person. No, not just a person, an inf-” He cut himself off as a shudder ran through his body. “It was horrible. I can't think about that, or I will throw up. I brought you the ring.” He pulled a small box from his pocket, opened it and held it towards her. “That should be the correct item, right?”

Blanche couldn't help but feel bad for him. She definitely wouldn't press an issue that traumatized him this much. She could only hope that the doctor's herbs would help him a bit. It wasn't her matter to deal with either way. Blanche glanced down at the box and nodded when she saw the result of the jeweler's work. The golden ring was simple with only a few engraved lines decorating it, but the royal crest on top attracted all the attention. It was perfect for someone as dignified and elegant as Theodore. “It's wonderful. Thank you so much for bringing this here.” She lifted her hands to grab the box when a motion in the corner of her eyes caught her attention. She turned her head and was surprised to see Seraphina watching them with crossed arms.

The empress scanned the people in front of her with her typical stoic expression. Though, she didn't offer her usual greeting. “While I did tell you to gain my family's favor, I was not referring to such a method.”

Blanche was completely taken aback by that and turned to Allen in confusion. She scanned him with a frown before lowering her gaze to the box. Only then, she understood and hurried to take the item from his hands before facing the heroine again and curtsying. “Your Majesty, needless to say, that was not related to anything strange. Lord Duremont was merely bringing me the birthday present for Theo.”

By now, Allen seemed to have understood his sister's comment as well and grimaced at Seraphina. “You seem to be in a very good mood to make jokes like that. Did something special happen?”

The empress walked over to the two of them and greeted her brother with a faint smile. “Indeed. I just received news about us managing to avoid all military combat with Northern Ocrea. Apparently, His Majesty's lack of tact only applies to personal matters as he was successful in negotiating diplomatically. The crown prince of Ocrea will visit us in two months. I knew about this for a few weeks, but now we have a proper date, which means that the other party is serious about this as well. Since a war with that nation would have brought the territories by the border to the brink of extinction, I am more than pleased with this development.”

Blanche could only watch as the heroine sparkled in the sun with her way too beautiful smile. Once again, she realized how unfair this whole conflict had been.

This world's favor had clearly been noticeable from the very start, and now that Seraphina smiled for once, she was at least four times as pretty as she already was with her cold expression.

The concubine knew that the empress liked to grin and joke around people she trusted, but witnessing it from up close was strange. The other woman never showed weakness in front of her, so this was a somewhat confusing situation. Blanche didn't even dare to speak up in fear that this would ruin the heroine's mood. So, she quietly stood there while the others talked.

Allen eyed his sister with slight irritation. But since he could never be cold to his beloved family, he eventually gave up and showed her a smile. “That's nice to hear. But you already knew that. Are you sure that there isn't anything else?”

Seraphina's smile widened, which only served to underline her ethereal beauty. “I found the perfect gift for one of my maids. It's her birthday today, and I wanted to make sure that it doesn't get overshadowed just because of His Majesty's party.”

Allen chuckled and gave her a playful grin. “You didn't give her something too expensive again, right? You should remember how worried she was when you gave her a necklace last year.”

“I do not need tips about how to choose proper gifts from you. I can assure you that I am very much aware of what the people around me like. She adored her present. Be honest. I was always the one giving you tips, and I will have to do so again. If you ever want to propose to Briana, don't do it like that just now. You'll need to smile and go down on one knee.” The empress poked her brother's arm and grinned at his irritated expression.

To Blanche, this interaction almost seemed like an illusion. It felt extremely odd to see Seraphina like this, it was completely surreal. But as sudden as this behavior had come, it disappeared again.

The empress had stepped closer to her brother and wasn't facing the sun anymore, which meant that she could see his face better. As soon as she noticed the dark rings under his eyes, her attitude changed. She returned her calm appearance and gazed at him with worry. “Again?”

Allen nodded and averted his eyes as if he was embarrassed. “I rethought my decision. I would like to try the herbs.”

Seraphina nodded. “I will ask a servant to bring you a portion immediately. You can sit down in one of the guest rooms and rest a bit there until everything is ready.”

“No need. I was planning on leaving early today. I don't want to interfere with your maid's birthday party. You seem to have been drinking a bit already, but the day is still long. Don't let me ruin the fun. Wish her the best from me.”

Was alcohol the reason that the empress was this relaxed today? Maybe. But she seemed awfully clear-minded for that.

The empress stared at her brother with a serious expression. “You wouldn't ruin anything. I insist that you stay for at least an hour to rest before leaving again. You wouldn't want to over-exhaust the coachman and the horses either, right? So, you need to give yourself some leeway too.”

Allen sighed quietly before nodding. “Alright. But not too long.”

Seraphina seemed to be content at that and smiled at her brother again.

That was the moment that made Blanche conclude that something was wrong.

There was no way that the empress would act like this because of a few drops of alcohol. Hadn't the empress drunk much more wine than most people around her at multiple events? She had never been too affected by that. Seraphina surely wouldn't lower her guard like this around those she didn't trust. She always paid attention to her surroundings and would never see the concubine as a person she could show her easygoing side to. Why was she so relaxed?

It was almost like this was done purposefully.

It was just a small idea at first, and as soon as Blanche truly considered it, everything fit together like puzzle pieces. Oh. This was one of the empress' famous tests, wasn't it?

It was calming to remember that the villainess had always failed at those.