Chapter 49
Liana didn’t bother to stand up. Still seated, she simply turned her body.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. I didn’t know you had arrived in Roen, or I would’ve visited earlier.”
The queen gave a graceful curtsy to Ianhart, her movements as smooth as flowing water.
Had the queen of an independent nation done this, it might’ve looked submissive. But since Roen was a vassal state of the Erkal Empire, such deference was expected.
“I accept your greeting.”
Ianhart barely spared the queen a glance before turning his gaze back to Liana, his face softening with clear affection.
The queen, despite being snubbed to her face, kept a smiling expression, her talent for masking emotions truly remarkable.
Her deep purple eyes turned to Liana.
“What brings you here?”
“What do you mean, what brings me here? Didn’t you hear I visited yesterday?”
“I did. But you didn’t leave a message, so I figured it wasn’t important.”
Liana replied indifferently. The queen’s eyelids twitched slightly.
The real reason the queen had visited Liana the day before was to confirm a shocking rumor she’d heard.
“…It seems you’re not happy to see your mother after such a long time. Is that why you didn’t say anything?”
Wow.
Liana was impressed by how quickly the queen could make such a sorrowful face.
If there were an award for acting, the category for “Most Insincere Role” would surely go to the queen.
She even used the word “mother,” which she normally avoided.
“What are you talking about?”
Liana asked, completely unfazed.
She might’ve had a shred of affection for blood-related family, but the queen—who had driven Liana’s mother to an early grave—received none of it.
“Well…”
The queen’s eyes flicked toward Ianhart.
But Liana had no intention of giving her what she wanted.
“Oh, you mean about me and His Majesty?”
“…”
Her silence was an answer in itself.
There was no way she didn’t know the already widely spread rumor was true. And yet she came here to confirm it?
It was laughable, really.
Liana thought about softening her words, but then decided to just speak plainly.
“I mean, we weren’t exactly close enough to share love stories over tea, were we?”
“…What?”
“You and I were never the type to sit together and chat about romance. Come on, ‘Mother.’”
If anything, one would serve poisoned tea and the other would be forced to drink it. That’s the kind of relationship they had.
Love stories? Give her a break.
“…Liana, what kind of way is that to speak? You don’t know how much I care about you.”
Maybe the queen thought Liana would always be obedient. But Liana’s blunt attitude clearly rattled her.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you cared about me. You’ve always been so strict.”
And with that, the queen’s fluster turned into cold hostility.
“…You must not be feeling well today. Not offering me a chair and all.”
“You can think that if you like.”
The queen might’ve been dumb, but she knew how to play her cards.
Up until now, she had been able to control Liana because of the hold she had over Ivela’s parents—Liana’s grandparents.
But that was no longer a threat.
“…Your Majesty, I’ll take my leave now.”
The queen forced a smile and bowed to Ianhart.
Maybe she realized it wasn’t worth continuing the confrontation in front of him, or maybe she was simply shocked by Liana’s change.
Either way, things weren’t going the way she had planned.
“Do as you wish.”
Ianhart gave a flat reply, never once looking away from Liana.
“…”
With her face pale from humiliation, the queen turned to leave without another word—but then glanced back for one last jab.
“…Take care of your health, Liana. As you get older, it’s important to be careful.”
“If that’s the case, I should be the one saying that to you.”
Liana’s calm, chilly reply made the queen bite her lips in frustration.
And once the queen’s footsteps had faded completely from the corridor…
Liana turned to look at her dependable ally with a refreshed expression.
“What do you think? I looked really mean just now, didn’t I?”
“That? If you think that was bad, you’d faint seeing me at the noble council.”
Ianhart’s response made Liana burst into clear, bright laughter.
“You’re more soft-hearted than you let on. What happened to the bold girl who cursed the Emperor?”
Liana narrowed her eyes playfully at his teasing tone.
“I told you—I didn’t know you were the Emperor back then.”
“You said you thought I was a merchant or a noble at least.”
“…I am a princess, you know.”
At that, Ianhart smirked.
“Aha. So you’re saying you outrank merchants and nobles?”
Liana’s face twisted slightly. That was what she meant, but…
“Objectively speaking, it’s true. But when you say it, it just sounds… mm…”
“Annoying?”
“Oh, exactly.”
Nodding enthusiastically at his spot-on wording, Liana suddenly paused, her expression turning sheepish.
“…I meant it just sounded annoying, not that you’re annoying.”
“I didn’t say anything. Why are you defending yourself?”
They exchanged smiles and light banter. Just moments ago, Liana had been coldly confronting the queen, but now the unpleasant tension had completely lifted.
The next visitor arrived while Liana and Ianhart were enjoying a relaxed lunch and strolling through the garden.
Just as Liana was about to round a corner, she spotted a rather unwelcome face approaching from the other side.
Vivian hadn’t noticed her yet, still partially hidden by the bend.
“What’s wrong?”
“My half-sister. She looks really angry.”
Hmm. Seeing Liana’s amused face, Ianhart straightened up slightly.
“Should I play along?”
“Well… could you maybe lower your presence just a little? Just enough so she doesn’t notice you?”
It was obvious what Vivian would do if she didn’t realize Ianhart was present.
Even Ianhart, who had only read reports about her, could guess.
She was simple-minded and never thought more than one step ahead.
“A mischievous older sister, huh.”
“If I don’t do this, she’ll make my life miserable. She’s greedy and jealous beyond belief.”
Vivian had always tried to take everything that belonged to Liana since they were kids. And that hadn’t changed.
“I hope not, but… she might even try to seduce you. It’d be a real headache.”
“…Yeah, that would be a bit of a problem.”
Grumbling, Liana watched as Ianhart grinned and obliged her request.
In an instant, Ianhart’s presence faded into nothing.
Right then, Vivian spotted Liana.
“Hey!”
Like mother, like daughter. Vivian had inherited her mother’s lack of manners—like showing up at someone’s palace unannounced and yelling.
She must’ve heard Liana was in the garden and had come rushing, her hair a mess.
Clearly, she was shocked by the engagement news.
“Is it true?!”
A low hedge blocked Ianhart from view just enough as Vivian stopped in front of Liana.
“If you just come up yelling that, what am I supposed to say?”
“How dare you get proposed to by His Majesty?! Who do you think you are?!”
Yep, as expected.
Vivian glared at her with wild eyes, her voice rising with every word.
“What trick did you pull?! How did you get him to propose?! That ridiculous story about fated love—that was your doing, wasn’t it?!”
She had even dropped the word “sister” altogether now, accusing Liana with a furious face.
Her expression was painted with rage, anxiety, and unfiltered jealousy.
“Why the hell are you marrying the Emperor?! You shouldn’t be allowed to!”
Liana’s unimpressed face gave Vivian all the confirmation she needed. Now she was even stomping her feet.
‘…This is what happens when you spoil a kid too much.’
Even though Vivian had been born to a concubine, she was treated like royalty thanks to her mother being the beloved youngest daughter of the powerful Marquis Delcar.
That, and the fact she and Martino were twins.
Still, this was beyond ridiculous.
“Why shouldn’t I? I’m marrying someone I love. What’s your problem?”
“Ha! Someone you love? He’s not just some commoner—you think you can marry the Emperor just because you like him? Be honest. Did you blackmail him or something?!”
…Is her brain missing a few folds?
