Chapter 26
Anel’s toneless voice made Samu’s pale face flush with haste.
Samu immediately bowed his head.
“I will accept the mission, Your Majesty.”
Even with Samu’s satisfying response, Johann couldn’t take his eyes off Anel’s face.
Unlike before, her expression was perfectly erased, like a transparent watercolor painting.
Despite her paleness, her unwavering gaze made her even more dignified.
She was a peculiar woman.
He couldn’t erase that thought from the moment he first saw her.
Not just ten years ago.
Even now…
Perhaps because Morata Duke carefully confined and raised her in his hands, saying she might break.
If you try to break it, it shines even more brightly as a glass doll in the hands of its owner.
“If that’s the case, I will accept the tea party with Ambassador Kartar, Your Majesty. Should we start preparing immediately, perhaps from today?”
She was a very peculiar woman.
“Please proceed as you wish, Empress.”
Even though it was a morning that seemed to kneel before her. This way, it would only be-
“Whatever it is, would I have a reason to stop you?”
I kneeled down.
Seeing Anel’s face, which was different from usual, with raised anger and lips colored, Johan bit his lower lip.
It was a stormy morning.
Anel, acting as if nothing had happened, walked confidently to the Devita Palace.
“Your Majesty!”
However, the moment she entered her room, her legs weakened, and she nearly collapsed.
If Verdi hadn’t caught her in time, the situation could have been worse.
“Did you see, Verdi?”
Throughout the morning, Anel, who stood behind her watching every situation, asked Verdi who had witnessed everything.
“Now you understand, right? Why I said there’s no need for me to control my anger.”
“Your Majesty….”
“Verdi poured out the tears he had been holding back with a loud sob.’’
In reality, Verdi had to exert himself relentlessly throughout the morning meal, striving not to faint and making every effort not to make a sound of illness.
The sudden appearance of Giselle and Samuel aside, what was the Emperor’s attitude throughout, aiming to dry up human blood from the beginning to the end?
Knowing well the relationship between Samuel and Anel.
Choosing only unanswerable questions to ask.
The chilling gaze that seemed ready to order execution at any moment if the correct answer was not given.
Verdi could not forget the coldness that flowed from the Emperor’s face.
“Exactly, how have you endured all this time alone…?”
Verdi shed tears with a painful heart, thinking of the times Anel could not speak about.
How frustrating it must have been.
Not knowing anything and simply laughing while watching the maids, how hurt Anel’s heart must have been.
Verdi tightly held Anel’s hand and wept.”
“I’m fine, Verdi.”
However, not a single tear came out from Anel. She was not worthy of crying.
She came out, driving a nail into Samuel’s chest, who tried so hard to protect her, but what right did she have to mourn?
Even if it was for the sake of saving Samuel.
“Can I ask you one favor?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“We must save Duke John.”
Anel calmly recalled the words Johannes had uttered during breakfast, over and over again.
After all, Johannes had no intention of saving Samuel.
No matter which path they took, even if they set up a grand scheme, Samuel would die.
Rather, the more grand scheme they set up, the more likely he was to die faster, as it could pose a threat to the throne.
Then.
“The plan has changed. We must ask Ambassador Karthar for more favors.”
Originally, he should not have been placed in this country.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s office.
Johann, while staring out the window, was smoking the strongest tobacco.
Ern approached cautiously behind the Emperor.
He had heard about the morning incident from Gardin, the tutor in charge.
As soon as Ern heard the report, he let out a deep sigh, massaging his throbbing head.
No wonder things felt off since yesterday’s gamble.
“Her Majesty mentioned arranging a tea party for the Cartar Ambassador and his wife.”
Ern was one of the closest people to Johann, having grown up seeing him from up close.
Although Magnus Duke was known for raising Johann, it was not the truth.
Magnus Duke, not knowing how to raise his nephew who had become an orphan, only provided lessons on inheriting the title.
He did nothing for the ‘upbringing’ that a young child needed.
He simply placed Ern, the third son of Count Lars, as a playmate.
Of course, it must have been difficult to suddenly feel the existence of a nephew who not only brought disgrace to the family name overnight but also caused the loss of his sister’s honor and led her to death. However, that was not the right way to handle it.
Ern sighed.
Johann, the only person willingly allowed into his inner circle, had shared some ‘words’ with Ern.
Why he had to become the Emperor.
“Her Majesty, the Empress, is still putting in quite an effort, though.”
“And why shouldn’t Samuel become the emperor?’’
“Effort? It’s just a ploy to save Samuel Gears.”
Johan uttered only one word in the midst of his bitter acting.
He’s certainly deeply angered.
Ern knew of Johan’s deep-seated hatred towards the D’Nagaro royal family.
And most of that hatred is directed towards Samuel, the ‘perfect crown prince.’
“Still, I heard he earnestly sought the command of Your Majesty from Duke Gears.”
“That, too, was just a ploy to save Gears.”
Ern noticed Johan’s twisted state of mind.
Well, considering he’s lighting a new year’s fire instead of reciting poetry.
“Amusing.”
“What do you mean?”
Ern, pulling out a new year’s torch, lit it and handed it to Johan.
“The nobility of the two.”
Johan closed his eyes, recalling the memories of the morning.
How noble the two of them were. The sight of risking their lives to protect each other was almost worthy of admiration.
“I could have been so noble.”
“Your Majesty.”
Ern stood by Johan’s side with a heavy heart.
However, Johan only cast a glance at the Debita Palace outside the window and paid no attention to Ern.
“I also wondered if I could have been so noble,” Ern said.
“Your Majesty is noble as well.”
“You and I have crossed too many rivers, Ern.”
Johan smiled sardonically.
How many people had to die to get to this point?
How many dirty deeds had to be done against others?
Samuel Denege might think he had ‘suddenly’ fallen from grace.
That everything was swept away by the sudden appearance of Johannes.
But to Johan, it was not sudden at all.
‘…Mother?’
‘You must not look, Your Grace. Please leave the room!’
The first memory of childhood was witnessing his mother hanging herself in front of him.
The most beautiful and girlishly adorned room in the Magnum Duchy.
His mother raised Johan without ever stepping out of that room.
Yes.
There was a time when that room was everything in the world.
“If that nobility looked more vile than anything else in the world.”
Mariabella Magnum.
The glass doll of the Magnum Duchy.
Born to become an empress but unable to fulfill that role, just like his mother.
“Have I crossed even an irreversible river, Ern?”
Whenever he saw his empress, who, like his mother, lived as a glass doll –
Feeling both disgust and brilliance at the same time.
Truly, isn’t crossing a river crossing a river, no matter how strong the current.
Johan sprinkled tobacco on the emperor’s desk and lit it.
“The Emperor has sent it.”
The empress’s office.
While less grand than the emperor’s office, it was still an elegant and sophisticated place that conveyed the majesty of the empire.
Ern glanced at the piled-up documents with a hint of irony.
How can a couple be so workaholic together?
“Is it regarding the tea party?” he asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Without further explanation, Anel gestured for Ern to take a seat.
“Verdi, bring some tea,” she ordered.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Anel took off her glasses and looked at Ern.
“Then, speak, Marquis.”
Ern felt a subtle tension in the changed atmosphere around Anel.
Was she always this cold and intimidating?
“Regarding the tea party, will only Ambassador Cartar’s wife be invited? The ambassador will be escorted to the palace, and a separate arrangement will be made for him to meet with the Duke, correct?”
“Yes.”
Ern looked worried as he pondered something before speaking.
“His Majesty wishes for you and the Duke to meet with the ambassador.”
“Then the two of you will have to persuade the ambassador.”
“I will do my best.”
The price of meat had skyrocketed, on the verge of causing a riot. For Ern, it was a top priority problem that needed an immediate solution, making the situation quite urgent. Amidst this, the news that the Empress herself would lend a hand was a rare piece of good news.
“May I inquire about the attendees for the tea party?”
“We won’t make it a big affair to avoid causing a disturbance. We plan to invite only the consorts of influential nobles and the Empresses.”
Anel said so while taking something out of the desk drawer and handed it to Ern.
“It’s the list of invited individuals. Take a look and let me know if you have any opinions.”
He was confident that there wouldn’t be any opinions.
Ern quickly glanced through the list and silently admired it.
