Chapter 63
‘Not even a fly…’
The weather was getting hotter, and this annoying pest was being irritating.
But right now, insignificant Polius wasn’t the important thing.
I strode toward another room in the duke’s mansion.
There, Damian Matop, the lord of the tower, was waiting for me, having received a letter from Count Veldert.
“From what the letter says, it seems they are indeed using my engagement to Polius as an excuse.”
At first, after reading the letter, I couldn’t understand what Count Veldert was thinking at all.
But after actually meeting Polius, I could guess what the Veldert family wanted.
Ultimately, it was a message directed at Damian Matop:
If he didn’t want to see me engaged to Polius, he should come crawling to their family and behave obediently.
“I’ve already said countless times that I’ll break off with Polius, and he himself said he would get engaged to another woman…”
“…….”
“And now you’re talking nonsense about maintaining the engagement with Polius like before.”
Damian Matop, at first glance, seemed calm, but I knew he was far from his usual self.
His low, rumbling voice was thick with barely contained excitement.
“The letter pretends to think about me, but in the end, it’s a threat using Lady Clotilde as collateral.”
Even the late Countess treated us poorly, and they didn’t care when Damian stormed out. But now, Polius had fallen, and as the lord of the tower, his position had risen, and their attitude suddenly changed.
“It must never happen that Lady Clotilde meets with Polius again.”
I took Damian Matop’s words as if I had been waiting for them.
“And Lord Matop, you must not bend to the Veldert family either.”
Damian flinched at my words.
Yes, I needed to stop him before he got too worked up.
“There must be a way for us to resolve this without being manipulated by them.”
“But the biggest problem is that under Imperial law, the engagement contract is between families, not individuals.”
That was true. Marriage arrangements usually go through the families first, and only then are the formal documents handed over.
Normally, everything proceeds smoothly… but disputes within the families over engagement changes happen frequently.
The law hadn’t changed because the heads of the families feared losing influence over their members by approving engagement contracts that went against them.
“Can’t we request a law change so that the engagement letter is sent to the individual rather than the family?”
“The imperial court won’t act easily.”
“Yes, simply asking for the parties’ opinions to matter won’t work.”
There’s no need to stir the heads of the families at the court unnecessarily.
So, if we want the court and nobility to act, we need an advantage… but is there a good way?
“Fortunately, Harimines Week is coming up…”
This month, there was a schedule to meet the Empress.
Harimines Week had become a traditional commemorative event where the first empress toured each noble family.
Simply put, Empress Miriel would visit the Clotilde household in about two weeks.
‘When the empire was established, this was meant to hear the voices of the people, but now it’s just a time for nobles to compete over who’s better.’
Who can satisfy the imperial court, and by what means?
It’s a time that blatantly exposes the hierarchy of families… I honestly didn’t like it normally.
“Recently, the Clotilde family hasn’t stood out during Harimines Week.”
Usually, the lady of the house would take charge, but my mother passed away too early.
I had no talent for protocol and was young and frail, so I couldn’t make much of an impact.
“You needn’t worry. I’ll handle the Veldert family somehow…”
Damian said this considerately, knowing my position.
It would be good to subtly bring up our request during Harimines Week and catch the Empress’s attention.
The surest method is to change the law.
“Whether I can demonstrate my abilities during Harimines Week is one thing… I’m not sure if making a difficult request to Empress Miriel at this time would be effective.”
Changing the law seemed like a big ask for the inexperienced Empress in poor health.
“I don’t quite understand. Isn’t Harimines meant to hear the complaints of nobles?”
“Yes, but this will be Empress Miriel’s first time overseeing Harimines Week.”
So it would be even more difficult…
Originally, Harimines was held in spring, but this year, after the Marquess of Ingda caused trouble, it was postponed to summer.
“Moreover, Empress Miriel will likely find summer exhausting, making her less likely to grant a troublesome request.”
Even if Harimines hears complaints, a person needs to be in a good mood to consider them.
Since it’s her first Harimines, it could be just a show.
“The Empress? Ah, she’s from the northern Kingdom of Estria, isn’t she?”
Damian soon questioned further.
“But isn’t the summer in the Pfhaizen Empire not so hot?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Though it’s summer, compared to Korea, it’s just mild spring weather.
Even citizens who haven’t experienced Korea’s heat wouldn’t struggle; it feels much the same as spring.
“It may not be obvious, but the Empress holds fewer outdoor events in summer than in other seasons.”
“You’re observant.”
The proud Empress won’t complain or postpone even if summer is tough.
‘According to the novel I read, she eventually collapses from the heat late summer, which leads to entanglement with Polius.’
True to the protagonist’s nature, she helps only beautiful, high-ranking women.
This summer will be especially hot, making it difficult for the Empress.
But blessings aren’t a fundamental solution, right?
“Meeting Empress Miriel during Harimines Week is scheduled anyway; it would be a shame to miss this opportunity.”
“However, winning favor through protocol is not guaranteed. Even if Harimines hears other nobles’ difficulties, that doesn’t mean the Empress will fulfill our wishes like a fairy.”
“Hmmm.”
“Perhaps targeting the Emperor is better. Or, as I mentioned, I could meet and persuade Count Veldert directly.”
“But meeting the Emperor isn’t easy either.”
It seems better to stick with the original plan: meet the Empress and subtly make the request.
Besides, I have to do Harimines Week anyway. If I can gain something from it, why not?
If it weren’t summer, the Empress wouldn’t be in a bad mood.
“I can’t wait until the weather turns cold… huh?”
Make use of the hot weather? I reconsidered my words.
Right. Knowing the Empress is weak to heat, I can use it.
If I just think it’s hard for her to comply, what good does that do?
“I’ve thought of a good way.”
“Yes?”
“Even if we simply ask the Empress, it won’t work. But I thought of a way to put her in our debt.”
Earlier, the fact that it was summer and she couldn’t move easily was a concern.
Taking care of herself would be hard enough; could she even pay attention to others?
But now, this might actually work in our favor.
“The reason it’s hard to ask Empress Miriel is that she’s sensitive to heat. Then we exploit that.”
At my confident words, Damian’s gaze changed.
Though my plan might seem reckless, Damian always trusted me.
“You have something in mind?”
“Actually, the potential of magical artifacts is limitless, but I feel we’ve been focusing too much on illusions until now.”
I smiled cheerfully.
“Lord Matop, would you like to hear my idea?”
