Chapter 78

Chapter 78

The Emperor came closer to Iellie. He whispers as he glides across her back with his hand.

“…I still want Lady.”

“….”

“Very much, too.”

At those words, Iellie was silent. Goosebumps crept up her spine. It had been a few times the Emperor showed such possessiveness for no reason though this was the first time he had spoken openly in such a public place.

‘Damn it.’

She bit her lips. Even though she thought the dance song would be over soon, the song wasn’t even halfway there yet.

“The lady said you didn’t want to be my girl…”

The smile did not leave the Emperor’s lips. With a very satisfied face, he continued his words to her, “What can I do, now that Lady has no means to protect herself?”

“So, what will you do with this fragile woman who can’t protect herself on this opportunity? Are you saying that?”

Iellie smirked coldly. While she wondered if she could speak so rudely to the Emperor, she couldn’t stand the ignorance, he was showing. Still, the Emperor didn’t seem to be particularly offended by her words.

“No one is as stupid as someone who doesn’t seize an opportunity.”

“You are not a gentleman.”

“Please, say that I am someone who makes good use of the opportunity.”

The Emperor did not lose a word. He seemed to be aiming for this from the beginning. Iellie suppressed her anger.

“As before, the Duchy will try to get in the way, but… what about that?”

‘Zachary?’

Iellie lifted her head up with a twinkle.

…The Duchy interfered. Maybe, it was because of Zachary’s protection that the Emperor had not touched her so far? In the meantime, she used to receive occasional invitations from the Imperial Family, but she neglected them.

The Emperor spoke his words to Iellie with an uncomfortable face.

“I have already shown him the utmost courtesy. Didn’t I wait half a year?”

“Your Majesty.”

“So, now it’s the Lady’s turn to answer me.”

At the same time, the dance song ended. Even though Iellie hurriedly tried to get away from him, the Emperor would not let go of her hand.

“And, I have no doubt that a positive answer will come.”

Having said that, the Emperor raised the back of her hand and kissed her. Iellie had to suppress her nauseous feeling. At the same time, the dance song finally ended. She had never been more happy with the end of music than she was now.

“I’m going to leave.”

“Oh, already?”

The Emperor looked sad. However, she greeted him with a relieved expression instead.

“Have a good time, Your Majesty.”

“It was a great time to dance with you.”

The Emperor’s languid words gave her goosebumps. At the same time, he caressed the back of her hand in a relaxed motion.

“Wait a little bit. I will come right away.”

‘Why is he coming for me?’

Effortlessly suppressing her desire to shoot back like that, Iellie hurriedly turned her body away from him. The Emperor gazed at her back with loving eyes before he murmured as he took another woman’s hand.

“…Well, today is a long day.”

When the atmosphere of the banquet was in full swing, after gathering everyone’s attention to this place. He would ask her, “Be my woman.”

The Emperor, imagining that moment, smiled warmly.

Iellie looked around in the corner of the banquet hall. She was distracted to hastily distance herself from the Emperor, and now the banquet hall’s appearance caught her eye. It was because she discovered one strange thing.

‘The Princess is nowhere to be seen…’

The New Year’s banquet was one of the largest events held at the Imperial Palace. Besides, even the Emperor directly attended the event, but it was a little strange that the Princess did not attend. As she looked bewildered…

“Lady Blanchett!”

“Lady Rondo?”

Inwardly surprised, Iellie glanced back. The person who called her was Riche Rondo, the daughter of Marquis Rondo. She was predicted to be the woman closest to the Empress’s position, and she maintained an amicable relationship with the Princess.

‘I’ve seen her face a few times so far, but the situation is actually different now and then.’

At that time, Iellie was the next mistress of the duchy. However, she was now just a small Viscount’s daughter. Besides, she was divorced from the Duchy so she was not in a position where the Lady would want to speak to.

“Are you okay?”

But, Lady Rondo opened her mouth with a worried face. She glanced back at the ladies.

“Don’t worry about what some ladies say.”

The ladies flinched at Lady Rondo’s sharp gaze. The daughter of Marquis Rondo was a lady who held a considerable position among the capital nobles. This was because there were only a few nobles who had the status of a Marquise.

“Oh, no. I’m fine…”

Iellie, who responded that way reflexively, felt something rushing in her chest.

‘As soon as I lost the name of Hessenweitz, people turned away from me.’

It was an ironic situation. Only Princess Annerose, who once had a marriage relationship with Zachary, and Lady Rondo, whom she had only seen briefly, treat her the same as before.

Iellie smiled awkwardly.

“…But honestly, I am grateful to Lady. Most of the ladies have been avoiding me.”

“Well, there are stupid people everywhere.”

Lady Rondo replied that way for them to listen. At that, the other ladies scattered, feeling a little stabbed at those words.

‘It’s stupid to be rude to a lady here.’

Even after Zachary and her divorce, Iellie was able to escape the Emperor’s grasp for more than half a year. Since the greedy Emperor wouldn’t leave her alone, there must be a reason why Iellie was free.

‘Besides, there are rumors that the Young Duke is exerting pressure on the Imperial Family.’

Lady Rondo glanced back at her. Meanwhile, the ladies gossiped while staring at Iellie and her. When Iellie was the Young Duke’s wife, they couldn’t speak their words properly. Lady Rondo narrowed her eyes.

‘…And, even if it’s not just that, the act of flipping the palms like that seems a bit frivolous.’

The unique sense that Lady Rondo, who had been in the social world for a long time, made her send a warning. And, that sense was the reason why she accepted the Princess’ request.

Lady Rondo spoke in a soft tone.

“Are you having a hard time, Lady?”

“….”

Iellie couldn’t open her mouth. She wanted to say that it was not hard, but her mouth didn’t open.

‘…I must have had a hard time unexpectedly.’

As she was feeling a bitter taste in her mouth at that thought, the Lady suddenly spoke to her first.

“I heard that the two of you were divorced.”

“Right.”

Affirming the words, Iellie could feel her heart ached. Then, with a determined face, Lady Rondo spoke to her.

“But I think the two of you must have had a reason to do with it.”

“Lady Rondo…?”

“Besides, the last time I saw you, I saw the Young Duke’s attitude towards the Lady.”

Saying so, she smiled softly and grabbed her hand. Startled, Iellie looked at her. It seemed that Lady Rondo was feeling sorry for her.

Iellie’s small palms were cold.

“By the way, Lady.”

“Yes?”

At the call, Iellie faced her. Lady Rondo whispered softly as she stood close to her.

“Actually, I have something to give to Lady.”

“For me…?”

Nodding her head, Lady Rondo handed an envelope to her and continued her words to the bewildered Iellie.

“The Princess has asked me to deliver this letter.”

“…The Princess?”

Iellie rolled her eyes. What on earth was the reason for the Lady to leave such a secret letter to Lady Rondo? Meanwhile, Lady Rondo added a word with a serious face.

“Yes. And, I think you’d better go to a place where there are no people.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The two moved to a secluded terrace. As they stepped outside, the cool air surrounded them. Iellie opened the letter, narrowing her brow.

The writing was written in a cursive font.

The Princess’ handwriting was markedly different from that of the invitation letter that the Emperor had previously written inviting her to the imperial palace pretending to be her.

…What?

Iellie was momentarily confused. The Duke is dead? Why? He looked healthy when they last said goodbye…?

Her fingertips began to tremble. She bit her lip.

Not death of a disease, but suicide…?

Anxious, Iellie hurriedly went down to read the following sentence.

She was shocked by the Emperor’s rudeness. Apparently, he had not yet abandoned his desire to advance the marriage between the two. Even though the Duchy refused to talk about marriage, he dared to send the Princess in the name of condolences…

Showing it was true that the Princess was worried, there was a small smudge of ink at the end of that sentence. It seemed that she had been holding the pen for a long time in anguish, so the ink was smeared.

The Princess continued her letter with elegant handwriting.

It was fortunate considering the things that the Emperor sometimes did to hinder the succession of Zachary’s title.

With love, Annerose.

Iellie, who had been gazing down at the letters, dropped her shoulders. Lady Rondo glanced at her face, but she didn’t ask Iellie what was going on.

That meant…

“Does Lady Rondo know the news?”

“Yes, I know. The high-ranking nobles were secretly told.”

In other words, it meant that the news was deliberately hidden from the lower nobles. Why? As soon as she asked herself the reason, the reason quickly came to mind right away. It was for this New Year’s banquet.

…Exactly because of her.

‘If the New Year’s banquet weren’t held, His Majesty and I would never meet.’

Was it an exaggeration? She may have been thinking too much. However, Iellie had a strong feeling that the Emperor had deliberately hidden it.

“How can they hide this fact?”

“You are already guessing why the Emperor hid that fact. It’s just that the Princess went down to the Duchy to pay her condolences.”

“So, in order to get ahead…”

Iellie muttered blankly.

…The Duke is dead. When she heard that fact, of course, Iellie would try to visit the Duchy.

However, the Emperor wanted her as his mistress, and he also wanted the Princess to marry the Duke. It would be perfect if he cemented his relationship with her at this New Year’s banquet and dealt with the Duke’s marriage at the same time.

“However, Duke Hessenweitz is the only Duke of the Empire.”

“Still, this is the capital—where the will of the Emperor works.”

“….”

Iellie was silent for a moment. At this moment, there was only one person who filled her head.

“Then, Zachary…”

…Zachary.

Just putting his name in her mouth was like a needle made of ice piercing her heart.

“Zachary must be holding the funeral alone right now, right?”

“Probably so. They’re going to have to pay condolences, so there’s probably some time left until the funeral.”

Iellie bit her lip, otherwise, tears would flow. She clenched her fists.

‘The Duke and Zachary.’

She suddenly remembered the Duke coughing violently. Perhaps, she didn’t know that his illness got worse? Nonetheless, what did it mean by suicide? Why? Her mind was confused. Iellie swallowed her breath.

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