Chapter 246.1

That was true. Why did I worry about it? Didn’t I realize that I had no option whatsoever from the moment I was poisoned? Didn’t I give up whatever chance I had by admitting that I was infertile?

Although it’s not the first time I heard it, I felt as if a cold wind was blowing in my heart.

My body grew cold because of the chilliness carried by the wind.

How long did I walk away blankly? While I was plodding along, somebody suddenly called me from behind. When I looked back slowly, I saw a young man with blue hair dressed in a white robe.

“… I’m honored to see you, the Sun of the Empire.”

“Are you also taking a walk for fresh air?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I see.” He nodded, reaching out to me. After hesitating for a moment, I put my right hand lightly in his hand.

Did he feel I was in a gloomy mood? Or did he enjoy taking a walk by himself?

He walked silently for a while, then looked back at me and said, “Aristia, I have something to say to you.”

“Please go ahead.”

“I’m sorry for bringing this up, but the National Founding Day festival…”

“… If you are bothered by me, you don’t have to. All you have to do is just tell the woman you have in mind to fulfill her job.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, slightly narrowing his eyebrows. “I feel strange about the way you speak. What the heck are you talking about now? ”

“Well, I was told that both Duke Lars and Duke Veritas could not take on this job because of the circumstances they were in now. In terms of rank, it is our family’s turn to host the event, but it seems you are hesitating to assign the job to me…”

“What are you talking about?”

I felt strange. It looked like I asked him why he didn’t assign me to that job. Before I overheard them whispering about the festival, I was obviously worried that I might be taking on this job because it would inevitably entangle me with the imperial family again.

“Well, I know you were not in a good mood because of last year’s event, but I’ve never doubted your competence. Nonetheless, hearing what you have said, I feel like you don’t trust me.”

“…”

“Or are you interested in…”

His eyes were sparkling when he was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

His question, tension, and expectation were reflected in his deeply subdued eyes looking at me. I suddenly came to my senses as if I was thrown over with cold water.

What did I talk about with him a moment ago?

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. It was a slip of tongue.”

“But…”

“I seem to have made a slip of my tongue because I have been overworked for the past several days. Please forgive me. ”

“… ”

He looked at me for a long time and said with a sigh, “If so, you don’t want to host the festival, right?”

“…No, Your Majesty.”

“Okay. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to. ”

“…”

“Because of the bad things last year, I didn’t feel good about giving this job to you. I know you suffered a lot because of the unfortunate things at the festival last year. So, let me take care of it.”

“…I’m sorry, Your Majesty. ”

“Let’s go back. Everyone will be waiting for us. ”

Although he spoke to me calmly, he looked hurt. My heart ached when I saw him turning around with a bitter smile.

Was it because of that? Or was it because I had been rebelling against myself? I grabbed his white robe in spite of myself.

“…Aristia? ”

“… Your Majesty.”

I opened my mouth as he stared at me in surprise.

“…I will. ”

“What?”

“I will do it, Your Majesty. ”

When I plucked up the courage to say it, he suddenly raised his head, while looking down at my hand holding his robe. I moved my stiff lips once more towards him, who was looking at me with a puzzled expression, “I will do it, Your Majesty. So, please leave it to me. ”

Looking straight into his eyes, who was obviously surprised, I clearly spoke my mind again.

Although my reason was shouting ‘No,’ I couldn’t stop my mouth that already said yes.

“A little while ago I think there was a misunderstanding. So, please forget what you just said.

I will do it, Your Majesty. ”

“Are you serious…”

His navy blue eyes, looking at me quietly, began to tremble slightly. In no time, he hugged me.

“Lady Monique?”

When I looked back in surprise, my father pointed to Duke Lars with an eye signal.

‘Oh my god, I think I was distracted by other things.’

When I looked around hastily, I noticed people staring at me with various expressions.

The pro-emperor faction was staring at me anxiously, while the noble faction was frowning at me, and the emperor was looking at me, within his chin resting on hand.

When I looked into his eyes with mixed feelings, I remembered what happened a little while ago. Fortunately, his aide appeared at the right moment. Otherwise he would have kissed me in the public place like he did last time…

‘What are you thinking? Come on, Aristia. ‘

Ignoring my burning blushes on my face, I hurriedly bowed to Duke Lars and apologized.

“Sorry, Duke Lars. Would you please tell me once again? ”

“I asked you whether you were willing to host the festival.”

“Well, as far as the festival is concerned…”

When I inadvertently looked around, my eyes met the emperor’s again. I suddenly felt I was trying to raise my hand to my mouth, but I quickly pulled it down and said, “Although I am lacking in many ways, please trust and leave it to me. I’ll do my best to make the festival successful.”

At that moment, the pro-emperor faction showed satisfied expressions while the noble faction was very embarrassed because they never expected I would willingly take on the job.

I smiled at my father who looked at me anxiously and shook off my idle thoughts.

Once I made the decision, I decided that I would do my best to make the festival successful.

Marquis Mirwa, who remained calm alone among the whispering nobles, said, “I am relieved that Lady Monique has agreed to take on such an important responsibility. Isn’t her outstanding ability already recognized by everybody here, so much so that she was recommended as the empress candidate? Well, I think we should deal with the empress agenda. Duke Lars, can you please take up this agenda at the next political meeting? I’m formally putting forward my proposal in the name of the nobles’ council.”

“…Got it.”

“Thank you. Hmm, I think I distracted the point for a moment. Anyway, I recognize her ability, but we are running out of time now. Why don’t we share her role, so she can work in a more organized way?”

He paused for a moment, then continued, “So, how about letting Lady Jena, who is currently being mentioned as a candidate for the empress, help her with the job? Lady Jena has not only hosted this event several times, but also she is respected as the child of God’s prophecy. So, I think she could help Lady Monique a lot because this festival will be held in cooperation with the temple.”

“That’s nonsense. What you said is you really don’t trust Lady Monique, even though you said you recognize her ability.”

“No, that’s not what I mean, Earl Burt. I just recommended Lady Jena as the woman who could help Lady Monique with the job. Anyway, aren’t they currently referred to as the empress and the emperor’s concubine? I think we can regard their joint work as something like their rehearsal for their future jobs.”

Beginning with that, both factions began fiercely arguing over the matter.

Suddenly, I stared at Marquis Mirwa, who was watching the situation, staying aloof from their argument. The young marquis who suddenly reminded me of the matter of the empress and concubine smiled at me when his eyes met mine.

I suddenly broke into a forced smile.

Unlike me, who didn’t even remember how I came back to the meeting hall, the emperor came back casually and accepted Duke Jena’s proposal without any objection. I didn’t understand why he decided to accept it, but I guessed that he made the decision to smooth out his relationship with the High Priest.

It was not a bad thing in that he could avoid the suspicious eyes of the noble faction.

Of course, Jiun could come in to claim her role thanks to that arrangement.

‘Well, I’ve got an idea.’

Smiling at Marquis Mirwa, I asked for a say. As I already threw myself into it, I needed to make my point clear to everybody.

“Your point makes sense. As Lady Jena hosted the festival with me last year, I think she could help me a lot. I would like to accept his proposal.”