Chapter 65
Empress Miriel closed her eyes as she felt the increasingly warm air.
The head maid, hesitant, spoke up while reciting the Empress’s schedule.
“Your Majesty, would it be possible to postpone the event even now?”
“That won’t do.”
Even if others didn’t notice, her close attendant could tell that the Empress was struggling.
“The honor of the Imperial family has already been touched. I don’t want to appear weak at a time like this.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for. It’s not your fault that it’s hot.”
Empress Miriel gazed blankly at her own body, exhausted despite it not even being midsummer yet. She knew that, objectively, the capital in the central part of the Empire wasn’t particularly hot.
But for Empress Miriel, coming from a land where snow didn’t even melt in summer, this heat was dizzyingly harsh.
‘And yet, it’s only early summer…’
Her homeland, the Kingdom of Estria, was famous even in the north for its chilly climate. She had fallen in love at a banquet, married Emperor Freyzen, and had no regrets about coming to the Empire.
The marriage itself was mutually beneficial, and the Emperor was a fine husband. The Empire shared cultural similarities with her homeland, so adapting wasn’t difficult.
There was only one problem.
The weather was hotter than Estria.
At first, she had tried desperately to adjust to the Empire’s summer. But after fainting multiple times, she decided not to push herself unnecessarily.
Her “safe choice” consisted merely of relocating to the coolest palace, sprinkling water on the heated ground a few times, and simply keeping her eyes open.
“You probably don’t understand me at all. Isn’t that right? Lying here like this when it’s not even midsummer.”
“That’s not true, Your Majesty.”
She had once struggled to fulfill her duties as Empress, but Miriel realized that during the summer, staying still was the least troublesome for those around her.
True to her stubborn northern temperament, she considered showing weakness to be childish. Moreover, here she was a foreigner. Even if she spoke the continental common tongue, her accent and certain expressions were very different from the Empire’s.
“Is it because you’re from the north?”
“Because she’s from another country…”
Even if such comments were just passing remarks to others, Miriel heard them often. Despite being in the Empire for less than three years, she had already mastered the standard imperial language, matching even the vocabulary of the nobles.
Compared to provincial nobles, who rarely stayed in the capital and still retained their accents, this was astonishing. Knowing her character, the head maid could never consider her lying down as laziness.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider postponing or even canceling the Harimines event until autumn.”
“I already told you. I am now bound to die in this Empire. I can’t act childish just because it’s summer. The event schedule is already moving slowly enough.”
Indeed, despite appearances, the intervals between events were kept intentionally loose. After visiting a family, she would spend the next day barely able to rise from bed.
“Your Majesty…”
Not long ago, the Marquis of Ingda had created a scandalous crystal that insulted the Imperial family. Considering the timing, the Empress wanted to present an even stronger image, so the head maid could not protest further.
“Enough. How many families do I have left to visit?”
“After the families I mentioned earlier, it’s the House of Duke Clotilde.”
“Ten days from now, right? I hope it’s not outdoors.”
Since it would be even hotter in ten days, the head maid voiced this hope.
“Recently, Lady Clotilde has started a crystal business, so to showcase it, it will likely be indoors.”
Originally, the Harimines week was arranged according to mutual interests. The Imperial family asserted their presence by visiting noble families, while the nobles gained benefits by creating connections with the Imperial family.
“Very well, that’s probably for the best.”
Thus, Empress Miriel decided it was better to let herself be used.
Time passed, and the next family also offered an outdoor tea-time. Even though previous nobles had not reacted strongly, the same routine continued.
Was this the best approach? Or merely complacent? Or was it just a prejudice that northern rustic nobles liked seeing gentle flowers?
As Harimines week came to an end, Empress Miriel’s health worsened.
“I feel sorry for you, coming to the hot Empire because of me…”
“All royal marriages are obligatory. It could have been even further south than the Empire. And you’re not the consort of an old king, which is something to be grateful for.”
Empress Miriel comforted her husband, the Emperor, and prepared to depart once more.
‘Still, it’s amusing. Suggesting tea outdoors because the weather is “nice.”’
From her perspective, the “good weather” would have been a mild winter in the Empire.
On the day of the visit to Duke Clotilde’s estate, Empress Miriel was more curious about whether it would be indoors or outdoors than about the noble treatment she might receive.
“Your Majesty, please follow me to the reception room.”
Lady Clotilde guided Empress Miriel indoors. Just as the head maid had said, she intended to showcase the crystal, adding a note that the Empress had also seen it for promotion. Though it was blatant exploitation of her name, it didn’t bother her.
Unlike the outdoor tea and local specialties, the indoor tea made her feel a little more at ease.
“I hope it meets your approval.”
Lady Clotilde was formally dressed and courteous, as one would expect in entertaining an Empress.
Yet one detail stood out…
‘She’s draped a shawl over her arms?’
Though most nobles would enjoy the sunny weather, her attire seemed odd.
At that moment, Empress Miriel didn’t think much of it.
Following Lady Clotilde, she entered the reception room and…
“…….”
Hmm?
The Empress was taken aback by the cool—no, icy—air inside the reception room. It was refreshingly cold, reminiscent of her homeland, Estria.
“No one probably thought of combining two magics to cool a room. Brilliant work, Representative Clotilde.”
Melanie had conveyed the idea of engraving Ice and Wind magic into a single mana stone to Master Mage Damian. If executed properly, cold air would flow from the artifact to cool the room.
What Damian had said was a modest compliment, but she knew it was high praise.
‘Not everyone could come up with and create something like this.’
Upon hearing her idea, Damian had rushed to his tower and produced a fan and air conditioner that met her expectations.
“This is wonderful. But is it possible to adjust the temperature a bit more?”
“It’s possible, but mass production will be difficult and unit costs will rise.”
“That’s fine. The Empire’s summer isn’t unbearably hot… most people will manage with just fans. The air conditioner will be the premium line, like the home theater last time.”
Fans were simpler to produce and could be mass-produced even with leftover mana stones.
A few days later, employees of the Black Moon cheered for her upon hearing news about the new magic artifacts.
“Combining Ice and Wind magic to make something like this is amazing!”
“You truly are recognized by the Master Mage for a reason!”
Yet the mages drafted into the Black Moon grew increasingly envious.
‘Since the Black Moon was established, I feel like the tower mages’ gaze toward me has changed… or maybe it’s just my imagination?’
It seemed similar to the way Damian looked at her—like a tough boss. But as long as they acknowledged her brilliance, it was fine.
After this process, she finally presented the air conditioner to Empress Miriel.
As expected, she immediately noticed the room temperature upon entering the reception room.
“This is…”
She waited leisurely for the Empress’s reaction.
