Remove the Sweet Potato
“Why? Is the Lady not good enough to be Empress?”
“It’s not that, it’s just…”
Joshua trailed off awkwardly. Dantellion’s piercing gaze was so intense, he couldn’t bring himself to continue.
“Just take care of that paperwork properly.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
So Joshua had no choice but to nod silently.
Dantellion turned sharply on his heel and headed toward the banquet hall. As he walked slowly, he pondered.
Soon, Veronica will divorce Marquis Lionel.
Soon, Veronica will return to being single.
Veronica will…
Muttering to himself, Dantellion soon found himself stepping into the brightly lit banquet hall. A herald’s voice rang out grandly to announce his arrival.
“His Majesty Dantellion Noah Sylvester, the supreme sun of the Sylvester Empire, enters!”
Unlike the solemn atmosphere of the coronation, the ball had a more relaxed air. A massive chandelier sparkled overhead, illuminating the lavish hall.
Dantellion took one step, and then another, toward the once-empty seat of honor. He slowly sat on the throne prepared for him.
“Congratulations on your ascension, Your Majesty.”
“Congratulations.”
“Mmm.”
Nobles soon approached to offer their greetings. First, of course, was the Duke of Winston.
Dantellion gave only a cursory nod to the Duke and to Vincent, then scanned the crowd.
His eyes found Veronica, dressed in a simple white gown.
To most, she might have appeared plain—but to Dantellion, she looked more graceful and beautiful than anyone else. He smiled brightly at her.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm? Your Majesty?”
Next to Veronica, Claudia tilted her head in confusion.
Only recently, she had been chirping “Your Highness” like a baby chick, but now the new title seemed unfamiliar to her.
“Dia, come here, sweetheart.”
“Okaaay.”
Dantellion called Claudia over without hesitation. As she came closer, he lifted her into his arms.
“You mustn’t call me ‘Your Highness’ anymore.”
“Hmm? Why not?”
“Because I’ve become Emperor.”
“Emperor?”
Claudia’s eyes widened into round saucers.
The Duke and Veronica must have explained everything before they came here, but it was probably too complex for a child her age to grasp.
Dantellion smiled gently, gazing down at the still-bewildered Claudia.
“Then… Your Majesty,” she began, “you’re the most important person in the world, right?”
“That’s right.”
Seeming to finally understand, Claudia gave a tiny nod.
She looked up at Dantellion, but her expression darkened.
“Your Majesty… Then can’t you tell my mom not to go?”
“What?”
“She said she’s going back to the estate. But I want to stay here.”
“…!”
Dantellion’s eyes widened. He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly.
“You’re the most important person. So can’t you tell her not to go?”
“…”
“Please? Can you say that to her?”
Dantellion’s mouth wouldn’t open. He looked as if he’d just been struck.
“Dia.”
Veronica, who had been listening from a distance, hurried over and pulled Claudia into her arms.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. My daughter said something inappropriate.”
“…Lady Veronica.”
Then, finally, Dantellion spoke. His voice was strained, desperate.
“Is what the young lady said true?”
“…”
Veronica stared into his face for a long moment. Then, as if making a firm decision, she nodded.
“Yes. I intend to return to my estate soon.”
“…!”
“Now then, we will take our leave.”
Leaving a stunned Dantellion behind, Veronica turned away.
She took a slow, deep breath.
This was right. It had to be.
Grasping at things beyond one’s place only leads to ruin. Veronica had learned that truth the hard way.
She could tell Dantellion had feelings for her. She herself had felt drawn to him since their reunion.
But too much stood between them. Now that he was Emperor, he needed a consort without blemish—not someone like her, who had a child and had already failed once at marriage.
Her unhappy marriage had left her with an indescribable sorrow and helplessness. Even after leaving the marquisate and regaining some freedom, she was still afraid.
That one failure had shattered the confidence Veronica once carried with pride.
And now, afraid of failing again, she was running away.
I have to leave before I love him more.
Maybe her father, the Duke of Winston, had been right.
If just thinking about being with Dantellion filled her with fear and sadness rather than hope and happiness…
She would return to the estate and raise Claudia alone.
That was truly what was best for everyone.
Maybe now he’ll come to his senses.
In Veronica’s arms, I glanced back.
Dantellion was still sitting on the imperial throne in a daze.
He must’ve been dreaming just a moment ago, and now it felt like the sky had fallen on him.
But without this, they’d never end up together.
Right now, Veronica was clearly in a slump.
I turned to look up at her.
The light that had been shining in her face for the past few days had suddenly dimmed.
Sigh. That damned sweet potato.
I understood why Veronica’s self-esteem had taken a hit.
Despite all her efforts, her marriage to Cedric had brought nothing but misery.
And now, seeing Dantellion ascend to Emperor, she must’ve felt utterly unworthy.
Veronica was proud and radiant—but the wounds Cedric had inflicted ran deep.
I clenched my teeth.
That bastard should’ve just died in the duel. What a waste.
“Lady Veronica, I heard you’re returning to the estate soon?”
“Oh no, what a shame. You just arrived in the capital.”
A group of noble ladies approached Veronica, expressing their regret.
It made sense. Even after marrying, Veronica had remained a socialite icon.
She hadn’t attended many events due to Claudia’s poor health, but her influence was still strong.
Now that she was about to divorce Cedric, they were likely planning to rally around her and take over the social scene.
Of course they’d be disappointed she was leaving.
“Lately, Lady Rosette’s been getting a little too full of herself.”
“I know, right? She acts like she’s already the future Empress.”
“…?”
Rosette?
The familiar name made me tilt my head. Then my eyes widened.
Lady Rosette Chernocke.
The Chernocke Marquisate was the most powerful family in the western faction that supported Dantellion’s rise.
In the original story, after the Winston Duchy was purged by Cedric and the Dowager Empress, the Chernockes rose to the dukedom.
Rosette, the only daughter of the house, had fully expected to become Empress.
And why wouldn’t she?
Dantellion might have become a tyrant, but it was true he owed his position to the West. And the Empire needed an Empress.
So when Dantellion rejected her coldly—beheading even the official who petitioned for her coronation—it had come as a shock.
Poor thing, really.
Apparently, she still dreamed of being Empress.
Understandable, really. She’d fallen for Dantellion at first sight and probably believed she was the most likely candidate among noble ladies.
Objectively, she was the strongest candidate.
…Until Veronica died, that is.
“Lady Rosette?”
“Yes, she’s spreading wild rumors that His Majesty promised her a future together while he was in the West.”
“…”
“He’s just been crowned. He must be overwhelmed. It’s laughable how obvious her intentions are.”
One of the noble ladies spoke sharply.
Veronica’s face darkened further.
“But His Majesty does need to choose an Empress soon, for the sake of stabilizing imperial power.”
“Of course. But Lady Rosette is a bit…”
“Yes, just a bit…”
“…?”
All the noble ladies around Veronica looked uncomfortable.
Only Veronica seemed confused.
“We greet you, Lady Veronica.”
“Oh.”
Just then, the subject of their gossip walked over to Veronica.
Veronica’s eyes widened at the sight.
Rosette, with her long pink hair, looked truly graceful and lovely.
Her soft cotton-candy pink hair and bright green eyes gave her a youthful, adorable appearance.
“You must be Lady Rosette.”
“Yes, it’s an honor to be recognized.”
Rosette beamed with delight at Veronica’s greeting. Then her gaze shifted to me, still in Veronica’s arms.
“Your daughter’s violet eyes are beautiful. Like clear violets in bloom.”
“….”
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Rosette’s sweet appearance didn’t match her personality.
She had just dropped a verbal nuke—and was now smiling radiantly at Veronica.
