Chapter 46
“What?”
“I always thought something was off from the beginning, There’s really no reason for Her Majesty to hate me like that.”
Verdi thought for a moment and then nodded.
“That’s right, You… haven’t even met her much, have you?”
“Last year, the party hosted by Countess Talips was the first time.”
“You found out about it so recently?”
“Yes.”
Verdi widened his eyes in surprise.
“I didn’t know it was that recent. Well, when Her Majesty was still the Duchess of Magne, there were some rumors… Even His Highness the Duke was a bit… sensitive about such things…”
“That’s right, So that’s why she made sure we never crossed paths…”
“Right, But why would she hate me so much when we’ve never even met….”
Anel remembered Johan’s words.
That everything should have been his from the beginning.
From the throne to Anel.
Originally, everything was supposed to be Johan’s.
At least that’s what Johan thought.
But….
“There’s something I don’t know.”
Just with that reason alone, she couldn’t explain her twisted emotions.
It seemed like there was something Anel didn’t know.
“Whether I like it or not… I have to adapt to this palace.”
“That’s right, Since the two of you are now married.”
“That too….”
She needs to adapt to this palace, establish her own power.
I can help Samuel.
I may not be able to restore him to the throne, but I can at least help him live honorably and spare his life.
Not as the prince of Staine, but as Duke Giers.
“Anyway, it seems like I need to understand her more.”
“So you’re trying to give her a gift to get closer to her, Your Majesty.”
“…Something like that.”
She didn’t want to get closer.
Not with someone so cold and unpredictable.
“Even if we can’t have a normal marital relationship… at least we should have a relationship as allies.”
“You’re right, Your Majesty, Seeing how strained your relationship seems, I was really worried.”
“So, help me out, What should I gift her?”
Anel’s question made Verdi hesitant.
A gift for reason? That wasn’t Verdi’s area of expertise at all.
“You were talking about discussing birthday gifts, weren’t you? Your Majesty didn’t mention anything.”
“…She told me to guess what she wants.”
“She did?”
“She already knows what I want, so I need to figure out what she wants.”
“Of course, it’s right for Your Majesty to choose the gift… well, there are all sorts of strange people out there.”
Verdi couldn’t hide his confusion.
Anel was the same.
Well, there are all sorts of strange people out there.
“By the way, is that true? That His Imperial Majesty… knows everything you want.”
“Yeah, She even knew I went to ask the nobles for cooperation for the birthday festival.”
As if she could read my mind.
At first, I thought it was what Ern reported.
But it couldn’t be said like that, as Johan’s gaze when I first met Anel at the hunting ground bothered me.
It was an unreadable look, wondering why Anel had come.
He seemed to just read Anel’s mind right there.
Why does that man not like me so much?
Am I such an easy person to see through?
Anel sighed.
“Did she say anything else? Any more clues?”
“Oh.”
Upon hearing the word ‘clue,’ Anel recalled something else.
“She asked me how far I would go.”
She said with a bitter smile.
“At first, I just… thought she was someone with no limits to what she wanted from me.”
She sincerely wanted to unravel all these tangled connections.
Even though she knew it wouldn’t work, she still wanted to try.
Perhaps God had sent her to this palace for that reason.
But.
“Upon reconsideration, I realized she’s just someone who wants to completely dominate me.”
Anel couldn’t shake the feeling that God had overestimated her.
“Your Majesty, 2nd Empress Mama requests an audience.”
The firm door.
A voice responded from beyond it.
“Let her in.”
Jizel smiled upon hearing that voice.
As Johannes accepted her sudden audience request, Jizel felt an odd confidence.
“I heard that the 1st Empress’s audience requests were always rejected, But considering how mine have all been accepted so far….”
Maybe they see some usefulness in me.
Or maybe they want something more from me.
Jizel’s chest swelled with pride.
Yes, now that she thought about it, there were several strange aspects to this.
Why would the Emperor, of all people, designate her, a commoner serving the Empress, as Empress herself?
If it wasn’t Anel who nominated Jizel as Empress candidate, then it must have been Johanes.
If he didn’t see her as special, why would he do that?
Until now, she hadn’t properly considered it because of fear, but Jizel was starting to realize the uniqueness of her situation.
The Emperor was treating her differently.
“I don’t know why, but I can’t not use this!”
Even Anel and Flora utilized their own origins.
Where is the law that says I can’t use this special favor named Gizelle?
Since the opportunity has come, I intended to utilize it.
“These days, I see you often , Bi.’’
Johan raised his cold eyes, wearing glasses.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Your Majesty, Thank you for granting me an audience-”
“No matter how much you learn, you’re still awkward. What’s the matter?”
No matter how much you learn…
Gizele blushed with embarrassment.
Although the knights and courtiers in the room didn’t show it, it was clear they were mocking her.
In fact, there was already overt pity in Ern’s face standing beside the emperor.
“I request an increase in the budget allocated to my palace.”
Gizelle immediately used the word she learned from Gaden, ‘increase’.
She desperately hoped that her ignorance would be at least somewhat concealed.
“Why?”
“The budget is too insufficient.”
“Is that what you call a reason now, Bi?”
Johan’s voice was laced with blatant mockery.
The faces of the knights and courtiers began to show traces of laughter.
It was impossible to endure any longer.
“Do you want to buy something? I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been collecting jewelry lately.”
“I mean…”
Gizelle’s response made Johan suspicious.
It was such an unexpected answer that he wondered if he had misheard.
“What did you say?”
“I want to buy words. As precious as Your Majesty’s words.”
“Gizelle mentioned Anel on purpose.
For some reason, this man was filled with hatred towards Anel.
Just by looking at his contract with Gizelle to break her heart, it was clear.
Ultimately, paradoxically, Anel Morata was the key driving force behind this man.
Gizelle may have pretended otherwise, but she couldn’t ignore reality.
“Just grab it, wanting a horse as expensive as the Empress’s….”
As expected.
Johan’s expression began to soften significantly.
“Vito, it seems you’re finally adjusting to life in this palace.”
Johan flicked his finger at Ern.
“Ern.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How much is the budget allocated to the Second Consort’s Palace?”
“Your Highness, the budget allocated to my office is the exclusive authority of the Empress. Even I, as the chancellor, respect her jurisdiction-”
“I asked how much.”
Johan cut off Ern’s words as if he wasn’t interested.
Seeing that, Gizelle inwardly chuckled.
Even the esteemed Lord Lars, Marquis of something, is nothing before Her Highness.
Gizelle felt the power of authority once again. Of course, it wasn’t her power.
“It’s about 3,000 gold per month, Your Highness.”
Considering that one gold is equivalent to a year’s salary for a commoner.
3,000 gold per month was a considerable amount.
However, unlike other members of the royal family, Gizelle had absolutely no financial backing.
Because of that, 3,000 gold was far from enough to keep up with the lifestyle of an Empress or Second Consort.
“Buttercup is quite an expensive horse.”
“To acquire a horse of that caliber… you’d need at least 7,000 gold.”
“You have quite the ambition, Vito, Coveting a 7,000 gold horse.”
Johan’s voice was filled with mockery.
However Gizelle, wasn’t ashamed.
All nobles desire and possess horses of that level.
‘’Just because she’s Gizelle, what reason does she have not to desire and possess them?”
