Chapter 47
“Isn’t it an infringement on Her Majesty the Empress’s authority just to buy a horse, Second Empress Mama? Wasn’t it made clear that the management of the treasury is within Her Majesty the Empress’s authority?”
Ern stared at Jizel with worried eyes.
He now spoke with an almost resigned tone.
“You were told.”
“Then why are you speaking about it here?”
“Because His Majesty the Emperor is the only one higher than Her Majesty the Empress here. Am I wrong, Duke?”
“….”
Gizel met Ern’s gaze without avoiding it.
She was no longer his subordinate.
But Ern had never treated Jizel as his superior.
Dare to talk back to a duke!
Gizel felt her insides boiling with anger.
“You shouldn’t increase the budget in this way, Your Majesty. This is an infringement on Her Majesty the Empress’s authority. Not even for a valid reason, just for the sake of buying a horse-”
“My Empress probably set the price of 3,000 gold herself.”
Ern didn’t respond.
He clearly didn’t want to answer.
“Isn’t that right, Ern?”
“…Yes.”
Ern nodded reluctantly.
“I always think, she’s really fair yet so ruthless.”
“Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress-”
“Isn’t she, Vee?”
Ignoring Ern’s words, Johann asked Gizel.
“Y-yes.
Gizel quickly chimed in, not missing the opportunity.
“As expected, Your Majesty is well aware!”
The true identity of the glass doll!
“3,000 gold is not enough for an empress without any foundation to endure in this vast and lonely palace.”
Gizel’s expression turned sour at Johann’s merciless words.
“Empress received only 3,000 gold as well.”
“Increase it. Make it 7,000 gold.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Johann replied without even looking at Ern.
“But it is clear that the affairs of my household are the empress’s domain.”
Instead, he stared directly at Gizel.
“So, Bi.”
“…Yes?”
“Go directly to the empress and tell her, I have commanded an increase in the budget, so ask her to provide words similar to buttercup.”
“!”
Ask… her?
The joy that had filled Gizel’s face vanished in an instant.
“I hope you convey the message accurately without a single mistake.”
“But-”
“The empress will probably be pleased too, right, Bi?”
Gizel thought to herself.
“Since she has a discerning eye, she will probably choose her words carefully, It will be lucky for Bi.”
This man simply found this situation amusing.
“Your… Majesty.”
He was so amused that he was willing to feign affection.
“Isn’t it about time you understood your place, Bi? Coming to my study like this and making such demands….”
Johann smirked, his smile sly.
“I hope you know your place, Bi. Coming to my study like this and making such demands….”
“He slowly took off his glasses.
“You seem to want to terminate the contract with the rain.”
He never lost his smile until the end, His smile was certainly gentle and kind.
“Please think carefully before you write.”
Gizele realized that she had misjudged Johannes.
“The 7,000 gold and my patience that I assigned to Bee,”
Johanes never treated Gizele as anything special.
He was just using her for a moment.
As Gizele trembled with indignation and left the office.
Ern sent all the knights and attendants out.
“Be gentle.”
After confirming that everyone had left, Ern reprimanded Johannes.
“For what?”
Johannes had an indifferent face, as if he didn’t care.
“He’s just an ignorant person, Do you have to go that far?”
“I don’t understand, Ern.”
Johanes smiled vaguely.
“I’m just treating him fairly.”
“Fairly?”
“Since he came to serve me, I’m serving him as well.”
“Ern began to see the outline of what his lord was thinking, just yesterday.’’
Johan had a fierce lack of interest in others.
He hardly had any emotions towards others at all.
Because of that, Johann returned the attitude of others back to them when dealing with them.
Always..
Fairly.
Of course… that fairness was strictly according to Johann’s standards.
‘If you have a message you want to convey to Her Majesty the Empress, you can deliver it yourself. Why make others deliver it for you?’
‘The Empress bristles just at the sight of me, Like a scaredy-cat.’
Scaredy-cat.
Ern mentally likened Anel to a cat and was immediately convinced by his words.
It seemed like that.
‘So why do you keep having other people deliver messages? Because Her Majesty doesn’t want to listen?’
Johan didn’t answer.
He simply took out one of the piled up documents to read through.
It was a report on Samue’s deployment situation.
Samue miraculously survived.
It had only been a few days, but honestly, for someone who had never even been near the battlefield, it was a miracle that he wasn’t falling behind and was fighting just as well.
‘What’s the problem? If you want something, just seize it yourself. Like you’ve always done.’
And Johan didn’t like that miracle.
‘Samue is sending a victory report.’
‘It’s a small battle, And we won, so you should be happy.’
Ern sighed and Johan signed the report.
In truth, it wasn’t Samue who had submitted the report.
It was those whom Johann had planted around Samue.
‘It was a good attempt, Ern.’
‘…What do you mean?’
‘Sending the Empress to the hunting grounds.’
‘Did you have a conversation?’
‘Conversations aren’t necessary.’
Johan picked up the next document.
It was one of the documents submitted by the Empress.
It was a letter expressing her desire to expand the festival.
‘Why isn’t it necessary?’
‘Ern, If…'”
Johan pulled out a piece of paper from Anel’s documents and splattered ink all over it. Instantly, half of the paper turned black.
Ern was astonished by his strange behavior but didn’t say anything.
As if it were trivial, Johann shoved the paper towards Ern.
“If you were me, would you sign this document?”
“I haven’t even had a chance to read it yet, Now I can’t even sign it. Half of the document is blackened, how do you expect me to review it?”
“Right, that’s true.”
“What?”
Johan placed the document back into the rejection folder.
“What kind of conversation can one have with someone whose head is filled with Samuel Gears?”
“…!”
“Only after Samuel Gears is completely removed from that woman’s life.”
He smiled without a hint of shadow.
“Wouldn’t that lead to a proper conversation, Ern?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Garden.”
Anel responded to Garden’s unexpected greeting with a bewildered expression.
“I come to pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Unexpected guests have arrived…”
“Guests? Wasn’t this schedule planned in advance?”
“Well, you see…”
Garden hesitated while observing Anel’s reaction.
Instinctively, Anel sensed that the unexpected guest entering this room wouldn’t be pleasant for her.
Has an unwelcome guest arrived?
No, am I the unwelcome guest?
Anel smiled bitterly.
“It’s fine, We can reschedule for next time-”
Bang.
At that moment, the door swung open forcefully and then closed.
And a woman emerged.
“Your Majesty.”
“Second Empress.”
It was an encounter with unexpected guests.
