Chapter 59

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Chapter 59

“If you did something wrong, you have to apologize.”

“….”

“Apologize, won’t you?”

“…Sorry. please forgive me.”

Elysee, who blushed, bowed her head. Nevertheless, Iellie felt bad about meeting Count Laurent’s person at the opera house today.

She stared at her sternly.

“Rather than that, for the vassals of the north to come to see the opera ‘The Cursed Silver Dragon and the Knight of Justice’ like this…”

In an instant, Elysee’s face turned red at those words.

Still, she only continued her words coldly, “Isn’t that an opera not suitable for a noble who swore allegiance to Hessenweitz?”

Elysee shuddered and hardened her shoulders at those words. Iellie uttered as she looked at her face, which turned red and then turned white.

“As you know, this opera is clearly meant to insult Hessenweitz, right?”

Her words were to point out that this opera was somewhat inconvenient for a person of Count Laurent’s, the Duchy’s maternal family, to watch.

“Even though you made the excuse that you had little insight because you were young, I think it was beyond the scope of what you could understand.”

“Lady, Lady Hessenweitz also watched this opera, didn’t she?”

Elysee, who was furious, timidly countered.

‘Is she stupid?’

Iellie glanced at her with that meaning.

“That’s right, I’m Zachary—Ah, my mistake.”

Unfortunately, Iellie was not good enough to treat people who didn’t like her with kindness.

“I came to see the opera with Young Duke Hessenweitz.”

Elysee, who has been accumulating societal experience, must be well aware of the fact that she deliberately misnamed him to show off their relationship. As evidence of that, her face turned red.

‘Oh dear, she needs to take care of her facial expressions.’

“I have received an invitation from His Majesty the Emperor.”

If she was hit by a glove, she would pick it up and slap her on the cheek. Iellie smiled with pretty eyes and spoke softly, “Since I have received an invitation signed by His Majesty, I have no choice but to come.”

“Wh, what…?”

Judging by her facial expression that looked like she was slapped on the cheek, it seemed that she received a ‘general invitation’ rather than a ‘signed invitation.’ It was because the more intimate the relationship, the more polite it was to send invitations with a signature.

Of course, the Hessenweitz was too powerful, so the Imperial Family must have sent an invitation with a signature as a courtesy.

‘Even though they might show courtesy to the Duchy who was hostile to the imperial family, they would not show courtesy to the county who prided themselves on being close to the Imperial Family…’

Elysee’s self-esteem would be greatly hurt. It was because County Laurent was the only family in the north that the Emperor could reach. Though their family was of low rank, they were also a relative of Hessenweitz, so it was worth having them.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Smiling gracefully at her, Iellie added her words toward Elysee with a soft voice.

“His Majesty was so considerate of us that we were able to attend not only the opera but also the ball and jousting competitions.”

It was as if she was saying, ‘The Emperor takes care of you, but you don’t have that privilege, right?’ Her words seemed to fume Elysee’s anger.

“That, that…!”

“More than that, I think Lady needs to be careful about her behavior in the future.”

Hearing that, Elysee’s pupils shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

Iellie said calmly, “Lady and I only met briefly today, though what should I do if there are a lot of problems like this?”

From her insult to Iellie, the next hostess of the Duke’s house, to the northern vassal. In addition, her attitude towards watching the opera attacking the Duke’s family…

Elysee couldn’t refute the words, she just bit her lip.

“…I’ll correct it.”

“Yes.”

Iellie nodded her head slowly. Frankly, considering her mother, Countess Laurent, it was unlikely that her behavior would change significantly.

At that moment, she recalled that Zachary still had not come back yet.

‘Hey, is Zachary a little late…?’

She didn’t think it was because there were so many people. Should she go and find Zachary?

As she thought so—

“Lady Hessenweitz.”

…Huh? What was this voice?

Captured by an ominous feeling, Iellie stiffened and glanced back.

“I told you I’d see you again after the opera.”

A man smiled at her as a large crowd looked this way… A handsome man with fiery red hair and gray eyes that cannot be understood.

To her dismay, it was the Emperor.

“You left first.”

“…Greetings Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Gree, Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Unlike Iellie, who pulled her lips and opened it, Elysee was startled as if she was going to faint. Both women bowed politely at the same time. The next moment, a light greeting was heard. It was an elegant female voice.

“It’s been a while, Lady Hessenweitz.”

Honey blonde that looked sweet like honey and shiny gray eyes… Contrary to the Emperor’s gaze, which seemed somewhat cold, the eyes of the Princess shine as warmly as the afternoon sunlight.

Iellie smiled.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Princess.”

Unlike her dealings with the Emperor, it was a gentle attitude. The Emperor, who narrowed his eyebrows, intervened in the conversation.

“How about the opera?”

“Well…”

No, didn’t they talk about this before? She became a little offended even in the midst of the embarrassment.

“It’s okay, to be honest.”

Then, the Emperor said so with great favor. Then what kind of answer does he want?

‘No matter how unpleasant the opera was…….’

It was unreasonable to express blatant dissatisfaction with the opera in front of the Emperor. Iellie swallowed a sigh.

“Your, Your Majesty. It seemed to me to be a very good opera, but…!”

At that time, Elysee somehow intervened in the conversation and hurriedly opened her mouth.

The Emperor replied coldly.

“Lady Laurent, I never asked you.”

“….”

“….”

In an instant, the atmosphere became chilly as if cold water had been poured on it. Elysee, who was embarrassed in front of a large number of people, had a face that almost looked like she was crying. Nonetheless, it was Count Laurent who was nominally a relative of Hessenweitz.

‘How much do you ignore the Duchy… How does act like this in front of a member of the Duchy?’

Iellie was furious. Whatever the relationship between the Emperor and County Laurent, this was disrespectful to the Duchy.

“Your Majesty, because you asked for my honest opinion…”

Iellie smiled coldly.

The only reason she did not point out the problems of opera was to keep the minimum courtesy in front of the Emperor. As for the attitude towards the Duke’s relatives, he was the one who crossed the line first.

“It looked like a really bad opera to me.”

“…Is that so?”

At that moment, the Emperor was amazed as he stared at her.

Not hesitating, she straightened her waist and added, “It is good to put the legend of the founding of the country into an opera. However…”

“However?”

“It was biased content that demeans the Duchy too much.”

At that, she raised her gaze and looked at the Emperor. He looked at her with a relaxed face.

“Well, I didn’t expect Lady to look at it that way.”

“From the Duchy’s point of view of the duke, I think there is a possibility that the opera could be offensive.”

‘…Let’s just get out of here, Zachary will somehow cover it up.’

The moment she was thinking that…

“By the way, do you know that my younger sister and the Young Duke almost got married?”

At the sudden change of topic, Iellie and the Princess looked displeased at the same time. How could she not know?

“Well. I can say that my sister is the most beautiful woman in the Empire.”

“…Yes, I see it that way.”

“A beautiful woman of imperial blood and the Young Duke of the North, the next monarch… Don’t you think they’re a good fit?”

For a moment, she was furious.

What was he implying…? Thinking that, Iellie stared up at the Emperor with a cold gaze.

“Your Majesty… To a woman with a husband, are you asking if her husband gets along well with another lady?”

When she mentioned, ‘a woman with a husband,’ the Emperor’s expression hardened slightly.

Ignoring that, she tilted her head and continued.

“I don’t know what Your Majesty’s intentions were when you asked me that question because that is unnecessary.”

“Then, I’m sorry if I offended you. I was just thinking about something in the past.”

The Emperor gently apologized to her and gently grabbed her hand and raised it. At that moment, goosebumps arose, and Iellie reflexively almost pulled her hand out.

He then whispered with soft eyes.

“I heard that this was Lady’s first visit to the capital since your marriage.”

As the gray eyes staring at her flashed like a snake, the Emperor spoke in a sweet voice.

“Please, visit the Imperial Palace often. You seem to be avoiding me these days, which is very sad.”

Simultaneously with those words, the Emperor raised the back of her hand. As he pressed his lips together, as if stamping a stamp, Iellie felt cold in her head for a moment. Witnessing that, people around them murmured lowly.

“Lady is a very smart person, so I think we would get along well as friends.”

When the Emperor smiled brightly, her expression rotted in an instant.

He probably wanted to mention once again the marriage between Zachary and the Princess. The Princess’s voice that she had heard last time suddenly came to mind.

“Women of the Imperial Family, after all… Can only be used as a marriage alliance.”

Zachary was the heir to the Duchy. Although he was born with the magic of winter, he, in recent years, was extremely stable—far from running rampant. From the Emperor’s point of view, he was worth keeping and tied with an arranged marriage.

‘Does this mean he wants to make a marriage between Zachary and the Princess again…?’

So, in front of these countless people, he approached Zachary’s wife. The nobles gathered here are the best nobles in the empire. It seemed that the Emperor was hinting his thoughts to the nobles.

‘…And, it’s not very pleasant, but it seems that the Emperor still has not given up on his interest in me.’

Iellie thought so with an expressionless face.

The Emperor’s outspoken interest made her uncomfortable. Nonetheless, that was just his one-sided heart, and there was absolutely no need for her to accept it.

“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to say. A woman with a family must be faithful to her husband.”

The moment she spat out an answer, the surroundings became silent as though cold water had been poured.

She smiled.

“Your Majesty seems to have forgotten even the basic facts for a while because you don’t have a family yet.”

“Lady Hessenweitz.”

“Also, my husband is already married to me.”

Contrary to the thorns engraved in her voice, she had a bright smile that didn’t go against the attitude, “It is also quite unpleasant to say that my husband, who is a married man, and Her Highness the Crown Princess get along well.”

As if he did not know that he would be rejected outright like this, the Emperor’s face became cold.

Right then…

“Like Len, I am also very offended by this situation.”

At the same time, the sound of shoe steps rang out. Iellie hurriedly turned back.

It was Zachary.

Beneath his slightly disheveled silver hair, the blue eyes shining like a wild beast stared at the Emperor coldly.

“Who is willing to associate me with the Princess?”

“Zachary.”

The Emperor’s face turned white because of the murderous energy that was squeezing his neck. Still, his arrogant expression did not change.

“You two are a little sensitive to this light joke.”

“Sensitive, is it? You talk like that in front of a married couple, are you just fooling around?”

Zachary, who was blatantly sarcastic, grabbed her wrist.

At the warmth, Iellie felt her whole body relax. He then whispered in a soft voice as her fingertips quivered, and she swallowed her breath.

“Are you okay, Len?”

“…Why are you so late? I waited for you.”

She didn’t mean to rant, though she uttered in a rather whining tone unknowingly.

Hearing that, he smiled.

“Sorry. I’ll apologize properly later.”

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Thank you so much for always supporting the novels I work on, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot. ❤︎

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