I came without an appointment, so I’m not sure if I’ll be permitted.
Marquis Schultz watched as a servant who had been outside the glass garden quickly entered, and he waited momentarily.
Marquis Schultz hadn’t originally planned to meet the empress today. In fact, he was just passing by the indoor garden on his way back from a meeting when he happened to see the empress enjoying tea here.
It was usually difficult to see the empress outside of official events, even within the palace. The emperor and empress typically moved together. It had been several years since their marriage, but the emperor still spared no effort in doting on the empress. Noble ladies envied such an empress, but on the flip side, there were critical views that the emperor was still not thinking straight, wrapped around his wife’s finger.
But… she seems quite at ease.
Marquis Schultz, catching the empress’s eye, smiled amicably on the surface, but inwardly he scoffed. He was one of the few who remembered the empress’s past deeply.
Some of those few, whether by coincidence or due to unfortunate circumstances, saw their families fall or lived without ever daring to speak out, but Marquis Schultz was always quick to adapt through the changing central powers, surviving and expanding his influence.
As a supporter of the previous Emperor, Marquis Schultz had been entangled in a long-standing feud with Lucellai Rudbihi and had felt a sense of relief when he heard of her death. To Marquis Schultz, whose lineage had never been blemished, the empress’s background was as good as that of a commoner, if not worse. After all, the late Duke Lucellai Rudbihi had never married, and it was known that the empress was not his biological daughter.
Being involved in a scandal and being the hidden daughter of the notorious villainess, Lucellai, made the empress’s background even less appealing to him.
Really now.
If that were true, the marquis thought, the empress wouldn’t have been alive to this day, much less sitting in that position.
That was the kind of woman Lucellai was. Would that cunning woman not have recognized the potential trouble her hidden daughter could cause?
If the empress was aware of her true background, she wouldn’t have sought that position.
Hmph, that’s not even funny.
Thus, Marquis Schultz believed the empress harbored the same intentions as Lucellai to ascend to her current position. Or perhaps they were of the same ilk from the start. After all, the position of the empress was what Lucellai Rudbihi had desired. It was simply a case of a young fox outsmarting an old one.
However, Marquis Schultz found himself in need of the empress’s influence at this moment.
“Her Majesty is waiting.”
Lost in thought, the servant who had entered was now standing before him. The permission came more easily than expected.
“Well done. Thank you.”
As if nothing had happened, he smiled pleasantly, and the servant bowed before gesturing towards the open door.
Marquis Schultz quickly straightened his attire before passing through the door into the indoor garden. A slight dampness mixed with freshness greeted him. Entering, he immediately saw the empress sitting down. Her appearance was markedly different from when their eyes met briefly earlier.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress.” Marquis Schultz stopped in front of the empress, maintaining proper etiquette.
“Welcome, Marquis Schultz.”
“I apologize for the sudden request to meet. I hope I haven’t disturbed your rest.”
He then smoothly joked about not being able to leave after seeing her on his walk after the meeting due to the pleasant weather.
“It’s fine. Would tea be alright?”
It was almost like asking if light conversation would be appropriate. As the empress invited him to sit opposite her, Marquis Schultz slightly smiled.
“How could it not be?”
* * *
What is his plan? I pondered as I watched Marquis Schultz sip tea across from me. There was definitely something he wanted from me, given his unexpected visit, but I hadn’t yet grasped his true intentions.
I had never been involved with Marquis Schultz in the past.
Marquis Schultz has two sons, right? I think I heard he also had a younger daughter born a few years ago.
My mother had plenty of enemies, so it was highly probable it might have to do with it, but at least it wasn’t me directly. If it were the son of Marquis Radwike I had personally encountered or someone from his circle, maybe I would know.
“The tea smells wonderful.”
“It’s a specialty from Horen.”
“Is that so?”
As we exchanged pleasantries, Marquis Schultz tapped his fingers on the table. Just as my gaze naturally drifted towards him, I caught sight of a familiar emblem on the ring he wore on his middle finger.
That’s. I inadvertently paused.
As if noticing, Marquis Schultz casually clenched his fist and began speaking. “Your Majesty, have you heard about the rumors circulating?”
Marquis Schultz fiddled with the ring on his middle finger as if to show it off.
* * *
It was in the northern city of Shiseta. Limon returned in the dim dawn.
Ian feigned interest in what Limon was about to say to get information from him, thinking it was a sign. Limon went on to chatter, even searching for alcohol. He didn’t seem to be much of a talker before, but Ian thought his personality had changed quite a bit over the years.
As day broke, Ian planned to visit Reynolz, who said he’d stay in the village for a day, but I didn’t go, thinking Limon might still be around.
And the day after, Ian spent his day as usual. Splitting and stacking leftover firewood, eating just enough to fill his stomach. As if no one had visited, he spent the day normally.
Three more days passed. Ian sat down at his desk at dawn, pulling out a blank piece of paper. As he began writing something down quickly, he suddenly paused and burned the paper just like he did with Bella’s letters. After dumping the ashes in the trash, he stood up. Then, he promptly started preparing to go out.
Ian changed his shirt and headed outside. With nothing to steal in the house, he locked the door carelessly, but all his attention was on whether there were any traces of someone nearby.
“Ian, when you’ve made up your mind, come find me here. I’ll be waiting.”
A note Limon left for him that day.
“Have you been staying here all this time?”
“No, I moved around quite a bit. I plan to be there for a while. But I’d like you to contact me within a month.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Then, I’ll see you later.”
Mulling over Limon’s words, he headed to the village to rent a carriage. However, the destination he headed to wasn’t where Limon was, but the imperial palace.
