Chapter 53
After Act 1 ended.
A brief intermission arrived.
Johan briefly left his seat due to urgent news conveyed by his aide.
Anel barely suppressed the desire to rest and went out to the theater lobby.
It was difficult to simply ignore the people who had come to the theater for the imperial couple.
“Your Majesty!”
“You look truly beautiful today.”
Sure enough, as soon as she stepped outside, people gathered as if they had been waiting for her.
Most of them were high-ranking nobles with whom she had exchanged greetings a few times.
Since Anel had no acquaintance with lower-ranking nobles, conversation could only start if Anel initiated it.
Anel had rarely ventured into society, so she had almost no acquaintance with lower-ranking nobles.
This was because Maratha, the Duke, thoroughly controlled her social relationships.
The Duke wanted her to mingle only with a select few of the blue-blooded elite.
To the Duke’s eyes, there was little difference between lower-ranking nobles and commoners.
But Anel didn’t want that anymore.
After receiving greetings from the high-ranking nobles, she turned to others.
They were the lower-ranking nobles she had personally invited.
“Countess Shamel. Thank you for coming all the way here.”
“It’s, it’s my honor, Your Majesty.”
“I hope you’ll enjoy your time in the capital. If you need anything, please let me know at the palace.”
“I’m grateful for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
The lower-ranking nobles were at a loss just because Anel had spoken to them.
Such reactions were unfamiliar to Anel.
It was the first time she had conversed so freely with so many people without any constraints.
Maratha, the Duke, played a role in this, but Samuel, her betrothed, also had a say.
Samuel had never even considered the idea that Anel might need friends.
He maintained good relations with the nobility while keeping a distance.
He hadn’t even considered forming friendships with them in the first place.
That’s why Samuel cherished Anel even more.
In a place where there was no one to trust, Anel was the only person he could trust.
So Samuel wanted Anel to trust and rely on him as well.
But what about Anel?
She felt like she was encountering a completely new world right now.
“Today’s prima donna in the opera was truly amazing. She was so beautiful!”
“No, today’s star was Primo Uomo. When he sang ‘O mio Signore,’ it sent shivers down my spine.”
“I heard he’s a newcomer, but where did such talent come from? Did his aria also please Your Majesty?”
Anel had been listening absentmindedly, but she snapped back to attention at the question directed towards her.
“That was an extraordinary voice.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty must have thought so too! And he’s quite a handsome fellow, isn’t he?”
Lady Sekena, with a sinister smile, asked Anel.
In fact, Anel couldn’t say that the opera had even caught her eye, so she awkwardly laughed.
“It’s hard to imagine that Your Majesty would notice his looks. You meet ‘Stein’s Pride’ every day!”
“Well, Johann Majesty was famous even when he was a minor noble.”
“And now that he’s entered the palace, he’s become even more handsome.”
It was the first time Anel had directly heard praise for Johan’s appearance, and she struggled to find words to respond to the admiration directed at her husband-not-husband.
“Beauty alone does make someone remarkable,” she thought, “But it doesn’t impress me much. Why would someone with such striking looks utter such dreadful words?”
“Rumors have been swirling lately about how well the two of you get along, Your Highness.”
“Is it true that you always have breakfast together?”
“The necklace and earrings, were they gifts from Your Highness?”
“Seeing you wearing the same dress, one might wonder if even the dress was a gift from Empress Your Highness.”
As Johan’s story unfolded, Anel found herself bombarded with questions from those around her.
She suddenly realized the immense interest society had in Johan, an interest she had been oblivious to before entering the palace.
He was indeed at the center of attention.
“Is it true that it was a gift from Empress Your Highness?”
“Well… yes.”
As Anel managed to reply, the faces of the ladies brightened. It seemed to be the answer they were hoping for.
“Of course!”
“I knew it! Since it perfectly matched the dress His Majesty wore today, I had a feeling.”
“If only I could marry a man like His Majesty!”
“Snap out of it, Lady Dolota.”
Even the young ladies chimed in, casting envious glances at Anel.
“…Her Majesty really takes care of the emerging nobles.”
Meanwhile, high-ranking nobles observing Anel’s efforts to befriend the emerging nobility whispered quietly among themselves.
“How passionately she advocates for fairness. I’m moved.”
“I hoped being from the Ducal House would make her understand our plight a bit more… disappointing.”
As discontent crossed paths…
“Your Majesty, do you remember me?”
Someone approached Anel.
“Viscount Kenneth, it’s been a while.”
Though she had only seen him a few times in her youth, Anel couldn’t have failed to recognize him. If fate had taken a different course, he might have been the father of the Empress.
Anel greeted him warmly, concealing her discomfort.
“Your Majesty, this is my wife.”
“Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty. I am Kenneth’s wife, Rose.”
And so, two figures who drew everyone’s attention met face to face.
“Nice to meet you. I heard that Yeongae has a connection to the opera.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Rose greeted Anel with a forced smile.
Anel also felt uneasy about this gathering.
Of course, she had extended the invitation. But it wasn’t a choice she was particularly enthusiastic about.
Since Count Kenneth hadn’t openly endorsed Johann as emperor, they had openly displayed their disappointment toward the new emperor.
As the prominent noble family supporting Johann’s claim to the throne, the Kennets’ lack of support would significantly undermine trust between the imperial family and the nobles.
Given these circumstances, Anel couldn’t avoid inviting Rose.
After all, she was the most famous former lover of her unloved husband.
What else could she do?
And that wasn’t all.
“Oh my, how did Lady Kenneth end up here?”
“Why? If it’s the Countess Kenneth, it’s only natural for her to be invited, isn’t it?”
“It’s not that… There have been rumors lately that Lady Kenneth hasn’t been feeling well.”
After the Empress designation, rumors spread that Rose Kenneth had fallen seriously ill.
Anel had heard those rumors too.
It was said that she was so deeply wounded that she couldn’t even step out of the mansion.
There were also rumors that doctors were constantly visiting the Kenneth estate.
In many ways, it was the favorite topic of gossip in high society.
“I hope she enjoys herself.”
“…Yes.”
Rose replied as if squeezing out the words.
Anel was puzzled by her attitude but decided to let it pass.
She didn’t want to attract any more attention.
However, people had already started murmuring.
“Rose, what disrespectful behavior toward Her Majesty the Empress.”
Even the Count seemed to be aware of those looks, as he reprimanded Rose.
“It’s okay, Viscount. Since Yeongae doesn’t seem to be feeling well-”
“May I ask you one thing, Your Majesty?”
For a mere viscount like Yeongae to interrupt and interject into the empress’s words was something unimaginable in social circles.
Everyone seemed to think so, as people with rabbit eyes were popping up here and there.
Anel regretted acknowledging their greetings.
Sure enough, Rose’s hand was trembling.
Anel had seen such people before.
Someone who was so deeply lovesick that they couldn’t bear anything.
Although Anel didn’t quite understand why the viscount, who brought such a person in front of her, did so, there was no other way now.
It was best to send away the pitiful person in front of her.
“If you have something you want to ask, it would be better to formally request an audience, Yeongae.”
“Yes, Rose. That would be more appropriate and respectful.”
Viscount Kenneth stuttered to his daughter.
But Anel already had a feeling it was too late.
Rose’s eyes had no focus.
Those were the eyes of someone with nothing to lose. From experience, people with such eyes…
“Why wasn’t I considered as a candidate for the empress?”
And thus, she spoke.
