Blanche found that whole scene rather touching and watched the Duremonts with a smile. At least she had done that before Theodore had begun putting small kisses on the side of her neck. After that, she had only glanced at the Duremonts occasionally and focused on her lover instead. She felt a bit guilty about doing this during the other family's goodbyes, but it wasn't like they wanted her to join anyway. So, she allowed herself to enjoy her lover's soft lips on her skin and leaned back to close her eyes for a moment. She only opened them again when the group finished their teary farewell.

Even Seraphina had wet eyes, but she held back more than her entire family. After saying something to them in a whisper, she allowed Linden to take her arm to bring her over to the couple. She stopped in front of them and let go to make a curtsy.

Theodore didn't seem pleased, but at least he greeted her. “Prince Linden, Lady Duremont. It seems like the time has come. We will not be able to attend your wedding, so let me congratulate you in advance. May your union become the strength of Northern Ocrea and cause your nation's growth while supporting Artias at the same time.”

Linden bowed his head. “Thank you. We only met due to your invitation. That our marriage can even happen is thanks to your permission as well. I wish to thank you for allowing me to take Seraphina with me.” He probably didn't know that he was doing the other man a favor with that.

Blanche could already see Theodore saying exactly that, so she hurried to speak up first. “That you two found each other is only due to your effort, if I may call it that. There is no need to thank anyone else. From now on, you will focus on your own happiness. We will gladly continue to work with Northern Ocrea in hopes that we can create a peaceful future that is best for our citizens. Thank you for your visit here, Prince Linden. I wish you and Lady Duremont the best.”

Seraphina smiled in return, which was still a somewhat strange sight. “Thank you, Lady Blanche. I hope that you will become happy too. I believe that you are already happy, but I wish for you to live without some of the current worries. Unfortunately, I doubt that we will be able to return for your wedding too. That is why I will congratulate you as soon as you write me about the ceremony. Still, I can already say that I wish you the best as well. I will make sure to send a letter when I arrive in Northern Ocrea so that you can confirm that everything went well with our diplomatic guest.” The look that she gave Linden told everyone here enough. She truly did love him despite only having known him for a short time.

Blanche watched that with a beam. She was happy that the other woman found true love and that Theodore didn't have to be the one. After all, the concubine wouldn't give up on her happy ending either. Being a villainess didn't mean that she would be fine sacrificing everything for the heroine. And it seemed like she didn't have to in this version of the story either.

Blanche happily cuddled against Theodore's arm and enjoyed how he patted her head. She waited for a short moment before Seraphina looked at her again and replied then. “I will look forward to a description of Ocrea. I have never been there, so I would not know much about that nation.” She had a very clear picture of the landscape and the capital in her mind, but that was probably wrong. After all, she had never been there and had certainly never read a book about Ocrea. Imagining that nation as a battlefield with destruction and death all around was certainly wrong too. “I am very interested in their culture too and how it differs from ours. In return, I may not be able to write anything special about Artias, but I can tell you about the happenings within the palace. Some gossip will always surface, so it's never boring. And I sincerely thank you for your kind wishes.”

Theodore gently ran his fingertips over the back of her neck, which made her breath hitch so that she paused. He took over for her then. “We made sure to check everything, so there shouldn't be any items that are left. But we will have to send a few letters regarding the new contracts anyway. In case something is missing, we will send a package. It seems like the servants are ready too. That means that it's time for you to leave. I give you my best regards. Prince Linden, make sure to defeat your sister. You are by far the wiser ruler out of the two of you. So, please do not lose trust. You will definitely win against her as long as you aren't alone. Lady Duremont, I wish you good luck in Ocrea. Remember to visit a doctor for your child's sake.” Theodore didn't even pause for long enough to let them process that and just continued immediately. “If I may offer one last piece of advice to the both of you, it would be to be careful no matter who you meet. The people that strive for power are not necessarily the vile ones in each case. If someone that follows them is heartless, they will inevitably leave a trail of blood behind them as well. Much like the person that trails behind your sister. You mentioned him, so don't forget to deal with him. Take care of yourself and have a good journey. We look forward to working more with Northern Ocrea.”

Linden was silent for a short moment, but he replied after a few seconds passed. “We will keep your advice in mind. Until now, you always knew exactly what to do, so we will trust you this time too. Be careful. And Lady Blanche as well. You have become the goal of some rather problematic people. I am not sure whether your tactic of trying to keep them alive is a good option. Some people will never give up even when they already lost. And if they manage to gain the slightest bit of power afterward, you may end up with bigger difficulties than before. But let us not end on a negative note. I am convinced that both of you will lead Artias to another era of blossoming. Be happy and stay safe.”

For a moment, both couples were quiet and just looked at each other.

Blanche smiled at the two while trying to ignore the tickling in her stomach. The closer they got to a true farewell, the weirder she felt. It wasn't a bad feeling, and it wasn't melancholia either.

It was more like tension. As if she was waiting for something to happen, something she didn't want that to come. But right now, there wasn't anything dangerous around them. There was not a single thing here that could hurt them, so she calmed herself down by focusing on her lover's gentle embrace.

After a few seconds of silence, Seraphina spoke up again while making eye contact with the concubine. “It may sound strange for me to ask that of you, but there is no one else I can tell that. Madeleine will try to keep an eye on them too, but she may not have the necessary tact to always say the right thing. And since I know that someone here always finds the words people want to hear, I feel like you may be very much fitting for that role. Take care of my sister for me. You need to get her out of her house. Invite her for tea occasionally. And cuddle with Grace a bit. She seems to like you and your hair very much. Just be careful that she doesn't try to eat it again. I'm also giving you permission to scold my brother in my stead. But most of all, protect the palace.” Seraphina didn't seem to care about whether the emperor wanted to hear her voice for so long and continued to instruct Blanche. “From now on, you will have to manage the servants to some extent. It's great that they adore your cake, but you should be strict sometimes. If not, I am sure that Gloria will deal out punishments that are four times as terrifying, so it's better for you to take care of it. And I wish you good luck with the heavy crowns. There is a reason why I was so happy when you gave me a light tiara. You will know what I mean as soon as you wear one for the first time. But you might have done so already too.”

Blanche didn't know whether her expression or Theodore's smirk had given it away. In either case, she wouldn't admit that she had worn the emperor's crown already. “Well. That question will remain unanswered. But I do believe that they are very heavy. I'm glad that you liked my gift. Hopefully, the crowns in Northern Ocrea are lighter.”

Seraphina glanced at the carriages before turning to her again. “Only the king and queen seem to wear one on very special occasions, so I am safe for now. But I heard that heavy capes are the alternative, which doesn't sound too wonderful either. I will manage though.”

Linden looked at the carriages as well before speaking to his lover. “I will gladly talk about our capes more, but it seems like we will have to leave now. The servants are ready, and the horses were also prepared. You wanted to speak to your family once more, right?”

“Yes, I did.” Seraphina gave the other woman a smile. “Then I guess that this is farewell. I can only give you my best regards too. Live well, Lady Blanche.”

The concubine returned the grin. “You as well, Lady Duremont. You will be a wonderful queen.”

Seraphina chuckled quietly. “Thank you. I am certain you will be a wonderful empress as well.” With that, she and Linden turned around and walked over to the Duremonts.

For a short moment, Gloria also said goodbye to the two maids that would accompany the former empress and to Seraphina herself. After that she left again, most likely to avoid getting emotional.

The rest of the next five minutes were spent with the Duremonts hugging again. Sophia and Elaine had given up on trying to hide that they were crying and wished their beloved the best for the future in as many different phrases as possible. In the meantime, Allen seemed to cry too. He wasn't so loud, but he kept telling his sister that they would always support her no matter what. It was quite obvious that Henry had tears in his eyes too, but he didn't dare to admit that he was crying. The duke desperately tried to cover his breaking voice up by coughing and intimidating Linden once again.

Seraphina was busy thanking her family for everything and told them how much she loved them with tears rolling down her face. She didn't look like the stoic empress at all while she did that, and it was a touching sight.

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But no matter how much they drew out their final goodbye, it had to come at some point.

Seraphina needed to separate herself from her family and climb into the carriage with Linden. Everyone had been waiting for them, so the coaches quickly began moving as they sat. Everyone, including the servants that had gathered here to see their former empress and their colleagues off, waved to them, and Seraphina waved back.

For minutes, this was the only thing that happened with the Duremont's quiet conversation being the only source of entertainment for many people. The carriages became smaller in the distance, and the only thing Blanche could do was watch while also waving a bit. She didn't pay much attention to her movements though and was more or less lost in thoughts.

Everything was so sudden now. Was Seraphina really gone just like that? Their past was a bit complicated, and the concubine wasn't sure what to think about the other woman. The knowledge of the novel didn't allow her to see the heroine normally anymore since she knew too much about the other possible future.

Did the concubine like Seraphina now that they had had some pleasant situations and promised to write letters? It was hard to say. Maybe.

But there was a rest of some other emotion that explained why she was feeling so strange right now. The tingling in her stomach didn't make her feel too unwell, and she didn't want to cry either. She wasn't sad, which was unusual when one said goodbye. When she tried to focus on herself to find out what she was feeling right now, it became even more obvious. She knew what kind of emotion this was, but it didn't make sense in this situation.

It was a relief.

If she was correct about this, the emotion that Blanche was feeling right now was pure relief, and she didn't quite understand why. She didn't hate Seraphina anymore. She wasn't scared of the heroine taking away Theodore either.

Why was she so relieved that she could jump up and yell in happiness?

Blanche was even beaming without knowing why. It was too odd, and she had no explanation for it. She could just hope that no one would ask her about this. She didn't have a response after all. It just felt good to know that Seraphina would have her happy end far away while Blanche could stay here, especially now that she wondered whether she might be pregnant. Being vulnerable now seemed a bit safer than it had just a day ago.

Theodore smiled as well, and for him, it made sense since he had hated Seraphina for a while. Of course, he was the only one that noticed how Blanche relaxed and grinned. But he didn't question it. He just leaned over to kiss her before whispering into her ear. “It's over. The chapter in which you need to see her face is finally closed. So, we can focus on moving forward now. Only my family is left, and then all obstacles are gone. I will find a way to defeat them, I promise.”

Blanche suddenly felt like crying after all. She didn't even argue against her and just leaned against his arm.

For a moment, the couple was silent, but the servants around them made enough noise to cover their quietness as well. The people around them were busy waving after the carriages, but when their guests disappeared in the distance, the crowd dispersed. The only ones that remained there were the couple, Blanche's maids and the guards.

Theodore didn't stop holding her for one second as he addressed the knight that had previously accompanied Seraphina. “So, Noah. You successfully fulfilled your task, for which you deserve my deep gratitude. You can ask for any reward that you have in mind. But this also means that you suddenly gained a lot of free time overnight. What will you do with so much time on your hands? I'm sure that you don't plan on sitting around. That means that you will have to get another job. Do you remember what I mentioned a while ago?”

Noah put his hand on his chest and bowed to them. “Of course, Your Majesty. It was an honor to be instructed with such an important task. I do not require anything but permission to continue to serve you. I will gladly accept the duties that you asked me to fulfill. Please allow me to pledge my loyalty to Lady Blanche. I will protect her with everything I have and will sacrifice my life if it becomes necessary.”

The concubine wasn't surprised. Noah was without a doubt the most skillful person among the knights aside from Owen. That he would protect the empress wasn't strange, and since she had been told that she would receive a second guard, she had expected this in some way. She hadn't expected that he would immediately promise to die for her though.

Blanche gave Noah a smile. “Please raise your head. If you stay by my side, there is no need to be so formal. I want us to get along without us having to act like master and servant. So, please don't just give up on your life that easily. I want you to survive too.”

They had barely spent enough time together to build up a friendship, and still, Noah greeted her with a gentle smile that made him seem like he was a saint that was truly happy to see her. “I am thankful for your words. Of course, I will not throw away my life. I will merely do everything to protect you no matter what happens. Please allow me to pledge my loyalty to you.” He was definitely too eager to serve someone.

In the novel, he had been like that too, but his undying loyalty had been directed at Seraphina. The concubine only knew how this pledge worked because she remembered that. Now it seemed like he had made it his goal to serve Blanche instead of Seraphina though. Once he had said those words, she wouldn't need to worry about him ever betraying her. He was too loyal to do that. She had to fear Noah hurting himself because he ignored his own health more than anything else. She would have to pay attention to that if he was going to stay by her side.

Maybe Blanche shouldn't necessarily accept his vow now when they had only had a few conversations in the past, but she knew that he was serious when he asked for something like this. She would become empress, and that role would cause her to have many enemies too. It was better for her to have as my loyal people with her as possible. Especially since her children should be surrounded by such well-meaning people later too. She would accept.

Blanche beamed at Noah while nodding.

Noah didn't hesitate. He went to down onto his knees while unsheathing his sword to offer it to Blanche and lowering his head to bow to her. “I, Noah Aldis, hereby swear that I will devote my life to Lady Blanche. I will do everything in my power to protect you now and when you become the empress of Artias. I will be your sword and your shield. Allow me to stay by your side so that I can defend you in every way possible.”

The concubine had no idea how to make her response somewhat special, and she didn't want to copy Seraphina's words from the novel either. So, she just hurried to make something up. “I will gladly accept your vow. From now on, I will be in your care. I trust that you will protect me from every danger approaching me. I will also do my best to protect you along with every single person in this nation, even if I still have a lot to learn. We will find a way to win without anyone here dying. In the end, we shall be victorious and lead Artias to a better future. I will gladly accept your assistance on the way there. From now on, I appoint Sir Noah Aldis as my personal guard.” That was all she could truly tell him, and she felt like it wasn't much.

But Noah lifted his head and beamed at her, which made him seem like he was glowing. “Thank you, Lady Blanche. I will offer everything I own to support you, His Majesty and Artias.”

Theodore scanned the two of them before letting out a quiet chuckle. “That was fast. I didn't expect you to be that eager. You met under the prospect of you becoming her guard for the first time. I was a bit worried about you still needing to get used to each other, but you seem to get along. The only issue is that you didn't quite do it during a formal ceremony. Theoretically, you should have waited until her coronation, but well.”

Noah's expression fell, and he quickly bowed his head again. “I apologize, Your Majesty. I got carried away. I will gladly make my vow one more time once the coronation happens.”

Blanche wasn't surprised that Noah had insisted on making that promise, but she didn't intend on discussing this now either. So, she focused on the other topic first, facing her new knight, who was still on the ground in front of her. “Noah, please stand up. You knelt for long enough.” She waited for the man to straighten his posture before she continued. “There are a few things I wish to tell you before we move on.”

There were some situations that Blanche needed to prevent. Some new ideas had appeared in her mind, but others were based on scenes from the original storyline that couldn't repeat. Maybe it would sound strange if she just addressed this randomly, but she had no choice.

“I know that you are one of the most loyal people in this world. I don't doubt your conviction, but I must ask something else of you. Noah, what I want most of you is honesty and you paying attention to your well-being.” Blanche glanced at the other knight. “You can apply that to you too, Owen. I want both of you to inform me immediately if you are sick. If that is the case, you will not accompany me but stay in bed until you recover. And that is on order, not a request. In addition, you should remember that you still have your own life. Since the royal knights are everywhere here, you can go train or use your time as you see fit when I'm within the palace. As long as we are in this safe area, you can leave without asking for permission. It would just be nice of you to tell me first. If I do go out or walk around, I will wait for one of you.”

She didn't want to see how Noah got sick with a fever and still forced himself to trail after his mistress while barely being able to stand upright. In the novel, he had once been almost delirious due to his illness, which had caused him to hug Seraphina all of a sudden, for which he had apologized a dozen times later. Back then, the villainess had only made a snarky comment about the heroine enjoying so much unfiltered attention instead of helping her own knight.

But now Blanche would make sure that Noah stayed in bed if he ever got sick. Even if she had to order him around for that.

Aside from that, there was only one more thing Blanche needed to mention. “Allow me to request one other thing as well. I am aware that the both of you are the most skilled knights here, and everyone else knows that too. That also causes many people to be jealous of you. No one would dare to attack Owen, but some older knights are very envious that you managed to impress the emperor despite your young age, Noah. Don't listen to them. You are amazing and deserve this position. You will be the empress' knight, so you shouldn't have to bow to anyone that criticizes you. At this point, you should have realized that your rank is pretty high. Keep your head up, and if someone troubles you, tell me immediately. I will make sure to visit them, and if that doesn't help, Theo and Owen can talk to them too.”

In the book, there had been a pretty short scene about Seraphina scaring some knights that had made Noah question whether he was capable of being her guard. Blanche hated conflict, but she would gladly deal with those people to support her new knight. She needed to learn how to stand her ground, and aside from that, proving that Noah was the superior fighter was incredibly easy anyway. She just had to let them duel, and he would have a flawless victory against almost anyone.

Owen commented on all of that by lowering his head to nod a single time.

Noah seemed surprised for a moment and smiled then.

The person that spoke up was Theodore though. “I don't think that anyone here will be able to ignore your words.” He looked right into his lover's eyes while saying that. “If they do, they will not be here much longer. From now on, you not only have the emperor's permission to do what you want but also the empress'. You will definitely not be criticized by anyone. And if you are, I will personally make sure that they understand what the royal family is capable of. You have enough witnesses with you to punish them for ignoring your orders immediately.” That was typical for him too.