CHAPTER 159………………………………
Eventually, I arrived at the reception room. The doorman knocked on the door to announce my arrival and then opened it.
On my way here, I had been thinking about how the Emperor would receive me.
Would he call me in, seething with anger, or would he try to hide his irritation and greet me politely?
“I’ve been waiting.”
Contrary to my expectations, the Emperor looked genuinely pleased to see me. His eyes were even slightly red.
Looking from the front or the back, there were clearly traces of tears.
I bowed gracefully, following proper etiquette, and offered my greeting.
“I pay respects to the great Sun of the Empire.”
At that, the Emperor, who had been looking at me with a reluctant expression, gave an awkward smile.
Seeing me confused because I couldn’t find a reason for his reluctance, he laughed sheepishly, as if embarrassed.
“The great Sun, huh? Haha… Never mind, sit somewhere comfortable.”
Hearing the Emperor’s response only made me more puzzled.
In studying imperial etiquette, one learns both the royal family’s history and the nobles’ perspective, where it is clearly stated that the greatest being is the guardian deity, and next comes the Emperor.
So, when greeting the Emperor, it was considered acceptable to call him the “great Sun.”
Yet, for some reason, the Emperor did not seem pleased with my greeting.
‘Is this just an expression of discomfort he wears today?’
I smiled at the Emperor, who seemed unusually uneasy today.
The Emperor averted his gaze from me and gestured to the seat that appeared to be the place of honor.
‘Huh? That seat isn’t the throne, but it’s a seat for someone of at least duke rank…’
Since the seat he offered didn’t seem appropriate for me, the daughter of a count, I hesitated and studied the Emperor for a moment before sitting.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“I was wondering if it was appropriate for me to sit in the seat Your Majesty offered, as it seems beyond my station.”
“Ah. I see.”
The Emperor responded reluctantly and rubbed his chin.
He seemed unusually troubled today, as if something were weighing on him.
But since I could not ask everything I was curious about, I simply smiled and restrained myself.
“Then, may I sit here, Your Majesty?”
I deliberately indicated a more modest seat. If I sat directly in the seat of honor, I might later be labeled a greedy young lady and meet an early demise, just like in the original story. I judged it wise to handle the situation carefully.
“Hmm. Sit wherever you like.”
Reading my intentions, the Emperor permitted me with a noticeably softer expression.
I sat upright, waiting for whatever the Emperor had to say to me.
The Emperor studied me, looking as if he were searching for something.
“Is there something wrong with my face, Your Majesty?”
Feeling tense under his intense scrutiny, I asked politely. The Emperor shook his head with effort.
“Just observing.”
“……”
“They say every man in the Empire has proposed to you, Elupe. I was curious, so I observed.”
His words were sharp as a thorn.
It was a veiled expression of disapproval at the Grand Duke’s proposal, so I couldn’t just smile foolishly, nor could I get angry at the Emperor.
“Then it must all be thanks to Your Majesty’s generous heart and Her Highness the Princess’s warm affection.”
“You said the Princess’s affection?”
“Yes. All the time I spent in the palace, speaking with others, was only because of Her Highness’s kindness.”
Although I would not marry the prince, I subtly conveyed that I would continue to support the princess no matter whom I married.
It seemed that the Emperor relaxed slightly, his expression easing.
“The reason I summoned you today, Elupe, was to ask your opinion on the Grand Duke of Oberlen’s proposal.”
“My opinion?”
I was taken aback by his unexpected words, my eyes widening. The Emperor nodded.
“Count Inferna, who wishes to tie a bond with the royal family, will likely refuse Oberlen. So I summoned you first, before meeting the count. Was that unpleasant?”
“No. I am rather… grateful, Your Majesty.”
Relieved that the Emperor was cooperative, I felt reassured. Dealing with Count Inferna, who glared at me like a laser, was already overwhelming, so having the Emperor on my side was a blessing.
“However, I am curious how you became involved with the Duke.”
There was a hint of suspicion in his question.
I hesitated to answer because revealing that I wished to avoid marrying the prince and intended to get engaged to Kyle could be disastrous.
“……”
“Is it difficult to tell me the reason?”
“I was reflecting, Your Majesty. I was thinking about when I truly opened my heart to the Duke.”
“Reflecting?”
The sharp rise at the end of his voice indicated he was not entirely pleased with my answer.
“At first, I was drawn to him because he was a companion. We developed camaraderie and I felt comfortable with him like a close friend. Then, recently, when he saved me, I realized I liked him. I kept thinking of him and wanting to see him.”
“Then it is recent.”
“Yes. But since we spent time together in the palace, it feels as though we have known each other for quite some time. So if you ask when our hearts connected, I cannot answer, Your Majesty.”
I had only spoken my honest feelings, yet the Emperor exhaled a long sigh, seeming convinced.
“Rekanon’s proposal to you will be withdrawn immediately.”
“…I apologize for troubling you, Your Majesty.”
“No. It is also my fault for not asking your opinion from the beginning, so do not worry.”
Although the Emperor’s expression was reluctant, he declared that Rekanon’s proposal would be nullified.
While I had thought I had built a reasonable rapport with the Emperor during my time in the palace, I did not expect him to side with me so easily, leaving me wide-eyed.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Now that I think of it, your father does not know this yet. How do you plan to tell him?”
The Emperor seemed convinced that Kyle and I were in love.
Since Rekanon’s proposal had been declared invalid, it seemed we could postpone the engagement without major issues.
“Father might have difficulty accepting it for now…”
“That would be troublesome.”
“……”
‘Does this mean the Emperor will be troubled if Count Inferna is not persuaded?’
Watching me hesitate, the Emperor narrowed his eyes.
“The matter of the Duke of Oberlen also concerns the royal family. If it passes without action, it will weigh heavily on your heart.”
“…Yes.”
“Then, I will summon the count and speak to him directly. You should begin preparations for your engagement from today.”
The Emperor truly seemed a man of decisive action.
Soon, rumors spread that Count Inferna had a private audience with the Emperor, and the palace buzzed with talk that the Oberlen Duke’s engagement ceremony was forthcoming.
“How on earth did he persuade him?”
I was baffled that Count Inferna, who would never allow this marriage, had suddenly approved Oberlen.
[“Curious about something?”]
As if to satisfy my curiosity, Risma appeared before me.
I rose awkwardly from the bed and sat down. Risma’s aura hummed and swirled above my head.
[“Ask me anything you wish. Aren’t you my contractor?”]
“Your Majesty met privately with Count Inferna today. Suddenly, the count’s opinion completely reversed. I wonder how he convinced him…”
[“Here’s what I heard.”]
Risma relayed what she had overheard. I could hear the voices clearly as if I were present.
“Your Majesty, this proposal sent by the royal family is in my possession. How can it be invalid?”
“You also have the pledge left by the late Count Inferna. That he would never enter the royal council.”
“I have never broken that promise. Even as a noble faction leader, I have never attended the council.”
“Then how about we compromise? The terms are more favorable for you. You should not refuse.”
“……”
“If you insist on holding onto that proposal, I will declare your proposal invalid. Your family’s reputation will plummet for forging a royal proposal.”
In the end, the Emperor effectively told Count Inferna to accept the Oberlen Duke as his son-in-law.
If the family opposed the royal family, the Inferna family’s prestige would decline, and fewer nobles would dare send proposals in the future.
In short, the Emperor had elegantly communicated to the count that he would not stand in the way of his daughter’s future.
