The Hated Empress Tames the Tyrant

The words Belle had said were clearly etched in her mind until the next morning.

While having breakfast, Arundel couldn’t even tell whether the bread was going into her nose or mouth.

‘…I wonder what Bianca’s true intentions are.’

She didn’t think that Bianca had any ulterior motives or was approaching her with a particular aim.

So far, the way Bianca had presented herself didn’t seem to be false.

However, she couldn’t help but feel strange.

‘What was her reaction back then…?’

Whenever Bianca saw Zion, she would turn as pale as a rabbit in front of a predator.

Looking at her then, it was hard to believe that they were once on the verge of becoming a married couple.

‘There must be something I don’t know.’

Arundel was hesitant about going to the library today, as she wasn’t sure she could treat Bianca as usual.

‘…No. Bianca will be waiting.’

Thinking of Bianca’s pure and kind face, Arundel eventually headed to the library.

Even though she had already mastered etiquette, she felt like Bianca would be waiting if she didn’t go, as it was an unspoken agreement to meet in the library.

“Over here, Your Majesty the Empress!”

As soon as she entered the library, Bianca greeted her with a wave of her hand.

“Hello, Miss Bianca. You’re early today.”

Arundel greeted her as usual, but for some reason, she couldn’t meet her eyes.

‘I shouldn’t be like this…’

Even though Arundel was a person…no, an angel, she couldn’t help but be conscious of it.

She hadn’t felt this way until just a moment ago. But as soon as she faced her, she couldn’t help but suspect that she had approached her with some intention, and that her actions towards her so far might have been pretentious.

Bianca, noticing Arundel’s confusion, asked with a worried look in her eyes.

“Are you okay…? You don’t look well.”

“Yes…? Ah, I’ve had a bit of a headache since this morning.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I check your temperature?”

Bianca looked very worried.

Arundel nodded, and Bianca’s delicate hand was placed on her forehead.

“It doesn’t seem like you have a fever…”

“Don’t worry about it. I have days like this sometimes.”

“That sounds like a problem…I know a good doctor, would you like me to introduce you?”

“Ah…no, thank you! Shall we read our books?”

Although she felt sorry, she had to gently refuse Bianca’s consideration.

She didn’t want to talk to Bianca for a long time, and if they talked for too long, she felt like she might reveal her suspicions about her.

Arundel took out the book she was reading and covered her face with it as if to bury her nose in it.

Quite a long time had passed.

Arundel glanced at Bianca next to her.

‘She’s really focused on reading…’

Once Bianca started reading a book, she was very focused. Today, it seemed like she was reading a book related to magic, and her passion was impressive.

On the other hand, Arundel had been unable to concentrate on her book since earlier. It seemed to be because her mind was in turmoil.

Arundel subtly got up from her seat. Then, Bianca, who had been engrossed in her book, looked at Arundel in surprise.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah… I just thought I’d stop reading and take a walk.”

“I’ll go with you!”

Bianca’s reaction startled Arundel, and she waved her hands.

“No! You don’t have to do that because of me!”

“I want to get some fresh air too.”

Bianca smiled kindly and expressed her will to go for a walk. Arundel reluctantly nodded.

The two of them came out of the palace and walked side by side on the trail behind it.

The quiet trail was lined with straight pine trees, providing natural shade from the hot sun.

Although the weather was hot, the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional bird song made her heart feel peaceful.

‘Hmm… I should just ask her directly.’

Arundel pondered.

She was quite direct, and if she had something she was curious about or something that bothered her, she couldn’t help but speak up.

It was because she possessed the body of Empress Irina and had no one to talk to.

Besides, she couldn’t keep doubting Bianca forever.

Arundel steeled herself.

“Um… Miss Bianca.”

“Yes?”

“I have a question.”

Arundel spoke quite seriously.

“What happened between you and His Majesty the Emperor?”

“…With His Majesty?”

“Yes… I’ve noticed that you seem uncomfortable whenever you have to face His Majesty.”

At Arundel’s words, Bianca seemed a bit taken aback, then slowly opened her mouth.

“I’ve had nothing to do with His Majesty. In fact, the first time we ever really spoke was at His Majesty’s birthday party.”

Bianca spoke with a somewhat gloomy expression.

“His Majesty rather dislikes me. It’s probably because of my father.”

“Your father…?”

“As you may know, my father is Duke Hellen. He often clashes politically with His Majesty.”

At Bianca’s explanation, Arundel nodded.

Arundel felt the fog lifting a bit at this previously unknown fact.

“But why does His Majesty dislike you, Bianca…? Just because you’re his daughter…?”

Arundel asked as if she didn’t know,

In fact, considering Zion’s twisted personality, she knew it was entirely possible. After all, he had hated Empress Irina to death, even though she had done nothing wrong, just because of her father.

But she still wanted to hear a more accurate account from Bianca.

However,

“…I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to say.”

A weak voice flowed from Bianca, who hung her head. Her drooping figure, like a puppy in the rain, was pitiful, but it was still a fact that it was suspicious.

Did Zion really dislike Bianca just because she was the daughter of Duke Hellen?

Arundel let out a short sigh.

“So, it’s just because of your father, Bianca.”

That was the only conclusion she could draw at the moment, since she said so.

Then Bianca gently tugged at Arundel’s sleeve.

“Um…The truth is…”

As if desperate at Arundel’s resigned expression, Bianca opened her mouth.

“His Majesty misunderstands that I did something my father did.”

Her red eyelashes caused a ripple.

“I didn’t do it…”

In the end, moisture welled up in her clear eyes. Bianca, who had been shedding tears, soon sat down.

“Sniff, even being misunderstood by Your Majesty… It’s really unfair…!”

At her figure, Arundel bent down and patted Bianca’s back.

After a while, Bianca, who had calmed her mind, slowly raised her head.

“…I’m sorry. To show such a figure in front of Your Majesty…”

“It’s okay.”

“I can’t tell you in detail…but my father is very greedy. I can’t understand such a father.”

Bianca spoke with a gloomy face.

“…Do you still suspect me…?”

“No… no, Miss Bianca!”

“I’m different from my father…I’m innocent!”

Bianca’s face turned red as if she was about to burst into tears again.

Arundel just found the situation awkward. It was ambiguous to doubt her when she was denying it so much.

In fact, she wanted to ask more about the part where she was a candidate for the empress, but looking at Bianca’s state, it wasn’t the situation to ask.

If she asked now, it seemed like she would see tears again.

“Bianca, it would be better to part for today.”

“Yes…”

Arundel spoke as if she were speaking to a lover after a fight. Fortunately, Bianca agreed with a gloomy expression.

Arundel got up, briefly saluted Bianca, and left the pine path.

‘Should I walk a little more.’

The schedule ended abruptly, but Arundel, who didn’t want to return to the Empress’s Palace as it was, decided to take a walk alone.

Although the weather was hot, there was nothing better than walking to organize thoughts.

‘She didn’t seem to be lying…’

Arundel recalled Bianca, who had just parted.

Bianca, who seemed to cry at any moment, appealed sincerely. Perhaps there was a more complicated situation entangled than she could understand.

‘So Zion…!’

Suddenly, Arundel realized what Zion had said before.

She was not in a good mood because she was nagged at dinner to keep her distance from Bianca, but it turns out it was because of Bianca’s father, ‘Duke Hellen’.

‘Let’s think about it next time. Now Zion…Hills… There are too many problems to think about right now.’

Arundel, who didn’t want to think anymore, shook her head.

But a familiar voice made Arundel hesitate.

Arundel, who cautiously stuck out her face to check the situation, found a group of women who looked unusual.

“…No!”

It was Bianca’s voice.

However, Bianca was not alone. Two young noblewomen of similar age were surrounding Bianca.

Seeing the serious situation, Arundel quickly hid herself.

“No?”

The fierce-looking brunette young woman spoke. At her words, Bianca seemed a bit tense, but she opened her mouth firmly.

“No! I like Her Majesty the Empress as a person…!”

“Ha, you’re not just lining up because you heard that His Majesty has been getting along well these days, are you?”

At the brunette’s words, Arundel was shocked.

She had never thought of Bianca in that way before. She suddenly realized her changed position.

‘But they… they have a huge misunderstanding…’

Even if they line up for me, they can’t get anything…The relationship has improved compared to ‘before’…

Arundel still didn’t think that Zion would do anything for her.

That’s why their fight seemed even more meaningless.

“That’s not it. Her Majesty the Empress is a really good person in human terms.”

“Honestly, that’s not true.”

At the firm words of the blonde young woman, Arundel looked at the group with a fierce expression.

‘Thank you, though, Bianca.’

Despite the unpleasant ending earlier, Arundel was quite moved by Bianca’s attitude of defending her from behind.

However, the dispute among the young noblewomen did not easily subside.

“It was amazing on His Majesty’s birthday party day, wasn’t it?”

“Right~ She didn’t know that Captain Royden and His Majesty were friends, but she flirted with Captain Royden?”

Flirted? Arundel almost ran out to the group of noblewomen.

“His Majesty would have neglected Empress Irina differently.”

“That’s right. But she must have seduced His Majesty with that pretty face, seeing how his attitude has changed these days!”

At the tearing words of the noblewomen, Arundel felt like she was going to faint from high blood pressure.

She had no idea how the talk about her had spread behind her until now.

‘What should I say when I go out?’

Arundel pondered. But if she argued with them, it seemed like more strange rumors would be generated.

Arundel, who decided it would be better not to listen, was turning her body when,

“Her Majesty the Empress…”

“What?”

“She’s not that kind of person!”

…Bianca rushed at the brunette young woman.

At Bianca’s sudden action, the brunette young woman who dumbfoundedly got her head scratched, and the blonde young woman was also not doing anything else, just looking stunned.

Arundel hurriedly ran to Bianca and the group.

“Bi… Bianca! Bianca!!”

He grabbed the arm of Bianca, who was shaking her head vigorously on top of the brunette woman.

“…Her Majesty the Empress?”

Bianca’s pupils were aligned with Arundel.

“Bianca, you should come down from there for now.”

Arundel said, smoothing Bianca’s disheveled hair.

Only then did Bianca seem to realize her own situation and quickly got up from the body of the brunette young woman she had been lying on.

“Your Majesty…there’s a misunderstanding. They started the quarrel…!”

Bianca spoke as if to excuse herself, thinking that the situation could easily be misunderstood.

Arundel, who already knew the situation, calmed Bianca down with a gentle smile.

“Are you okay, Bianca?”

At Arundel’s question, Bianca nodded. Then she looked at the noblewomen who had been quarreling.

“You all.”

“That… that’s not… we just…”

The noblewomen seemed quite flustered at the sudden appearance of the Empress, who they had been gossiping about.

“That’s enough. Go away.”

Arundel sighed briefly and gestured for them to leave.

At Arundel’s command, the noblewomen looked at each other as if sharing thoughts and then disappeared.

When the noblewomen left, only Arundel and Bianca were left. Arundel, feeling like she should tell the truth, opened her mouth.

“Bianca… I heard everything from behind.”

“…What?!”

Bianca looked genuinely surprised. On the contrary, Arundel was relieved at her reaction.

Bianca hadn’t consciously defended her on purpose.

“Thank you… I almost misunderstood Bianca.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Thank you for defending me.”

“…Your Majesty, sob!”

Bianca burst into tears she had been holding back.

Arundel looked at Bianca and smiled.

‘I almost doubted the innocent Bianca.’

It was a neat conclusion.

Arundel felt warm at the thought that there was someone who would fight with others for her.

This was the first time she had felt such happiness since the day she gained freedom from Zion.

Arundel gently patted the back of Bianca, who was crying.