CHAPTER 26……………………………………………
No way. I didn’t even know something like that existed. Outwardly, he seemed like a businessman, but in reality, I knew very little. Most of the knowledge belonged to Lydia, so what I knew about society was only a tiny fraction.
When I shook my head, Liana continued speaking calmly.
“We’re looking into it, but nothing definitive has come up yet. Van is investigating with all his energy, so the root will probably be uncovered soon.”
“I see….”
He’s a more righteous person than I expected. Well, maybe he’s just good-natured because he’s a prince? As I lifted my gaze slightly, I noticed her eyes examining me. What was that expression?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Don’t you find it… interesting?”
“Interesting? About what?”
“Are you not curious?”
Curious… about what? I tilted my head and shook it slightly. I wasn’t curious about anything…
“Haa…”
I flinched at Liana’s audible sigh. What… why is she sighing like that? Did I do something wrong?
I blinked, hesitating to ask what I was curious about, but Liana spoke before I could.
“Aren’t you curious why Van is so passionate about his investigation?”
Ah, that? Was there really anything to be curious about? Police don’t need a special reason to catch criminals.
Liana sighed again.
“Are you going to say it’s because of me?”
“Yes.”
“No way…”
“It’s not ‘no way.’ Van was extremely angered by what happened back then. It’s partly because the crime was terrible, and partly because it was something he dislikes—but the fact that he’s investigating so intensely is all because of Lydia.”
Because of me… what did I even do? I didn’t do anything. Did I say something nonsensical while drunk or drugged? I even warned him to prepare himself, so I couldn’t have said anything worse.
I looked at her with anxious eyes.
“…Did I beg him to arrest someone?”
“Of course not. He’s just angry because someone tried to harm Lydia.”
But that person isn’t my man, nor is he my guardian, so there’s no real reason for him to feel that way. He probably just hates seeing someone he cares about treated badly at the annual party.
Normally, I might have thought that. But after yesterday, I felt my heart stir a little. I couldn’t help but wonder if there might actually be some interest on my part. Thoughts like that kept circling endlessly.
Excited, fluttery, nervous… is this how it’s supposed to feel? Do I like him? Even though we haven’t been seeing each other for long?
“What should I even say to him… no, it can’t be.”
I said “no” out loud, but in my heart, doubts kept surfacing. What if I actually do like him? At this point, what mattered more wasn’t whether Van liked me, but whether I was interested in him. Am I?
As soon as the question arose, the answer immediately jumped out:
‘Of course!’
Ugh, I’m so simple and shallow. Am I really this easily swayed by just good looks? Is this okay? I never felt fluttery over celebrities, but now my heart races for just a face…?
“So, back to my question. Aren’t you curious?”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you curious what Van thinks of Lydia?”
I am curious. But if I say it aloud, won’t the information leak to Van? At that moment, Liana in front of me suddenly felt like a potential adversary rather than an ally.
I rolled my eyes, and Liana tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling as if filled with starlight, blinking as she leaned forward.
“You’re curious, right?!”
“Yes… yes?”
“You’re curious, right?!”
If I said no, she might hit me.
“Y-Yes, I’m curious.”
“I knew it.”
I let out a small laugh at her vigorous, almost theatrical gestures. Liana, having almost forced the answer from me, adjusted her posture while fanning herself.
“I’ll be honest with you.”
I eyed Liana suspiciously as she suddenly declared her intention to be honest. The change in mood was lightning-fast. Later, I could imagine ending up with some object forcibly handed to me if I wasn’t careful. That’s experience for you.
“I see Lydia quite positively.”
We had a similar conversation not long ago. Tilting my head slightly, Liana gave a small smile.
“I’ve told you before, haven’t I? Honesty is a charm.”
I gave no reply, just moved my head vertically. Liana continued calmly.
“So, I hope Lydia meets my expectations and develops a good relationship with Van.”
That wasn’t just friendship or a contractual relationship… it meant something more, probably.
“There are too many relatives in the royal family. Over the long history of the dynasty, countless relatives have been born, which dispersed the power. Attempts were made to exclude relatives to restore the weakened royal authority, but as you know, even my family refuses to let go of power. This applies not just to my family, but also to the other two ducal houses and the noble families beneath them.”
She paused briefly, then took a sip of her tea. After swallowing the bitter liquid, she lightly tapped her palm with her fan and continued.
“The Emperor worried that the royal family was becoming weaker, so he wanted Van, who had no strong relatives, to become emperor. Other princes with powerful factions openly threatened him but failed. In fact, Van’s survival alone was a miracle.”
Power struggles for the throne or sibling disputes over rights were common.
If relatives were strong, they could manipulate who becomes emperor.
To centralize royal power, there should be no relatives, and the emperor must be capable. Van was highly suited for that position.
“But there’s one thing missing if Van is to succeed the throne. Do you know what it is?”
One thing missing. My instinct told me the answer.
“…A wife.”
“That’s right. He needs someone by his side to support him. No power, no faction, just someone who encourages and backs him. Someone who doesn’t deceive him or calculate everything. It’s even better if they’re not ambitious.”
“Do you mean me?”
“Yes. A capable noblewoman who hasn’t ventured into central politics but manages a very well-known trade company. In fact, she’s the only person Van is interested in. Even leaving that aside, I believe Lydia is perfectly suited.”
“I…”
Lydia’s fan leaned toward me. Her eyes softened.
“I’ll ask you directly.”
Her voice resonated strongly. Despite her delicate appearance, she had the foresight and concern for her cousin, acting with confidence. Her explanation carried boldness and determination.
Pointing her fan at me, Liana spoke quietly.
“Lydia.”
I flinched. After a pause, her voice continued.
“Do you want to become empress?”
“…Empress?”
“Yes. The mother of the empire, the head of the most noble house, do you want that?”
Me… an empress? I froze at the unexpected question, and Liana smiled softly.
“If Lydia promises to help Van by his side, I will support you as well.”
She retrieved her fan, opened it smoothly, and smiled. Her mouth was covered by the fan, but her eyes were smiling.
“I mean, supporting Lydia to become empress.”
At that moment, I had a strong feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.
Inside the swaying carriage, I stared blankly at the paper in my hand. How did I even come across this?
“This is really an invitation for us, right? Right?”
I furrowed my brows, trying to ignore the loudly chattering Elian beside me. Everything’s fine except for him being here. Muttering internally, I unfolded the paper to check the details.
The contents were simple. It wasn’t an invitation to a party or a banquet, but a request to attend a royal event. And it bore the emperor’s seal.
Sigh… how did it come to this?
It was part of a charity event hosted by the royal family. Every year, the court gathers exceptional artists to create works resembling members of the royal family and sell them for charity.
Countless portraits, sculptures, and exhibits of the royal family were made. Nobles and invitees could purchase these items. Those who bought the highest-priced items received a personal message from the emperor and an additional invitation to the next event.
This event allowed buyers to flaunt their wealth and prestige. Conversely, the models could gauge their own recognition.
In short, it was an event to see who could spend the most.
Although called a charity auction, it was often criticized as nobles showing off their wealth to gain favor with the court.
Still, the perks included connections to the royal family and meeting influential nobles. Usually, only nobles of a certain rank could participate.
Of course, the Mertens family fell far short in terms of status. They weren’t centrally connected. But an invitation arrived for the Astria Trading Company, and participation was possible.
Personally, I couldn’t decide if this was a good thing or not. Elian seemed happy just to see Van and enjoyed the event itself. But my recent conversation with Liana lingered in my mind.
—Do you want to become empress?
An unexpected question.
Honestly, as long as I could eat and sleep comfortably, I didn’t care about power. Having money, I wondered if power was really necessary.
Even in this world, having money meant I could hire servants. I could buy a mansion or a castle, and it didn’t matter. There were no laws like in the Joseon era restricting the number of rooms. I could live wherever I wanted.
Owning land and collecting taxes? That’s basically a landlord’s life.
I already owned over ten registered buildings. I didn’t need to worry about land. I had no pride as a noble, and since my parents were non-authoritarian, even subordinates worked comfortably.
In short, as long as I kept earning money, I could maintain my current life. But power encompassed everything—wealth, military, authority.
What would it mean to become empress? Thinking vaguely of Joseon-era dramas didn’t help me understand.
