Chapter 53
Eloise and Marcel’s “lovey-dovey operation” still hadn’t been completed, and there was no progress in the Crown Prince’s investigation either, so I was getting anxious.
“As such, I’ll take my leave for now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as Payson left the reception room, I looked up at Eloise with the most pitiful eyes I could muster.
“Ellie, I’m hungry. Can’t we have lunch at the imperial palace before I go?”
“Lizette, we can’t take up His Highness’s time…”
“I haven’t eaten yet either. Let’s have lunch together.”
Before Eloise could even refuse, Marcel had already called a servant to bring in a simple meal.
While lunch was being prepared, Marcel and Etienne busied themselves handling affairs of the northern provinces.
I lay lazily across Eloise’s lap, trying to figure out how to ask her about the history of the imperial consorts, then finally opened my mouth.
“Ellie, remember the imperial history lesson we had recently?”
“Did something catch your curiosity, Lizette?”
“Why did the 29th Emperor abolish the system of imperial consorts?”
Fortunately, we had just recently taken a history lesson on the imperial family together.
“Lizette… did you perhaps have a nice dream during the Crown Princess lessons?”
“I-I didn’t fall asleep!”
“Really? Then you should already know the answer.”
…Apparently I’d dozed off during that part.
But the sunshine was so warm, and the professor’s voice was soft like a lullaby.
“It’s review! Just review!”
“Fine, then let’s review. The 28th Emperor had no fewer than eighteen consorts. Because of their extravagant luxuries, the palace finances became depleted. And since the 28th Empress couldn’t produce an heir, there was a brutal succession struggle among the consorts. The 29th Emperor, Cassius de Valois, who rose to power after spilling his brothers’ blood, abolished the consort system temporarily to prevent such chaos from happening again.”
“Why only temporarily?”
“The official explanation was that a system with such long tradition couldn’t be abolished in one stroke. But the real reason was the fierce opposition from the nobles. As long as the Emperor had consorts, nobles could marry or be engaged while still keeping lovers. Since the Emperor was supposed to set an example for the empire, nobles demanded he do the same. That’s why even today, the Emperor’s mistress is treated almost like a semi-consort within the palace.”
So that’s why the Crown Prince could brazenly keep Marianne with him.
When I read it in the novel, I’d just brushed it off as “Well, mistresses were common in medieval Europe.” But seeing it play out in real life, it felt very different.
“So the consort system can never be abolished completely?”
“The 29th Emperor left a will, decreeing it should be abolished by the 32nd Emperor…”
The 32nd Emperor was the current one, Alexius de Valois.
And yet, he had made the son of his mistress the Crown Prince—what a laughable contradiction.
When Eloise didn’t respond, Marcel, who had been staring at documents, spoke up instead.
“Still, since it’s the will of a predecessor, he probably won’t do it during his reign.”
Marcel put down the papers and rubbed his eyelids before glancing at us.
“Father does care quite a bit about public opinion. He hates being gossiped about by the people.”
His expression was different when speaking of the Emperor.
Usually his eyes curved gently when he smiled, but now they were calm and serious. His lips, usually lifted in a faint smile, were pressed firm.
Eloise watched him quietly, then spoke cautiously.
“His Majesty wishes to be a model for the people of the empire.”
In the original novel, the Emperor’s image was indeed portrayed as a ruler who wanted to set an example.
Even Marianne disapproved of his mistress situation, and she often clashed with the Crown Prince over it.
When he started a war with the Beastkin Kingdom to rescue Marianne, the Emperor had been furious, even declaring estrangement, and refused to give any support.
Marcel let out a small laugh at Eloise’s words. But it wasn’t Eloise he mocked—it was the Emperor.
“If he truly wanted to set an example, he shouldn’t have made three exceptions.”
The three exceptions—those had appeared in the original story too.
From the Crown Prince’s perspective, recalling his childhood—the very foundation of his character.
The first: he officially took a mistress, breaking the precedent since the 29th Emperor.
The second: he gave the royal greenhouse, which traditionally belonged to the Crown Princess, to his mistress.
The third: he designated the mistress’s son as the Crown Prince.
All of this was proof of how much he loved his mistress—and equally, how much it contradicted his own principle of being the empire’s role model.
“And so, he works even harder to rule in the people’s interest, doesn’t he?” Eloise said.
“He may be a good emperor for the people, but he’s hardly a good father. Not to either of his sons.”
At that, Eloise’s lips trembled faintly as she tried to find the right words.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness, lunch has been prepared.”
“Enter.”
At the servant’s announcement, Marcel returned to his usual demeanor, smiling warmly.
Eloise’s shoulders slumped slightly, as if disappointed she couldn’t offer him any real comfort.
Maybe Marcel only showed his true feelings to Eloise.
“Lizette, you said you were hungry—go ahead and eat.”
Even as he spoke to me, Marcel was busy setting a plate of salmon with creamy white sauce in front of Eloise.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Think nothing of it, Lady Monclaire.”
We hadn’t shared many meals like this, the four of us together. Yet Marcel always seemed to know Eloise’s tastes perfectly, without needing her to say a word.
Seafood over meat, sweet desserts over sour ones.
Orange juice over lemon juice.
Light salad dressings over rich ones.
They say real love shows in how well someone takes care of your meals.
“Here.”
Etienne placed a plate of neatly diced steak before me.
The cubes were browned evenly on all six sides, releasing a delicious aroma.
He then poured lemon juice into a small glass and set it next to my plate.
The tangy scent made my mouth water.
Grrrgle.
My stomach let out a loud growl at the smell.
Embarrassed, I pretended not to notice. Marcel stifled his laughter as he cut his own steak.
Etienne and Eloise politely pretended they hadn’t heard a thing.
“The steak will get cold.”
“Enjoy your meal, Lizette.”
Face burning, I popped a cube of steak into my mouth and chewed.
Rich juices burst across my tongue, filling me with bliss.
Eloise also cut her salmon delicately into bite-sized pieces and ate gracefully.
How could even eating look so refined and beautiful?
“Lizette. Staring at me like that won’t make holes in my face.”
“Ah—well, I actually had something to say.”
“Oh? What is it?”
I’d only blurted it out because I was caught staring, but come to think of it, I did have something to say.
“Buy me an abandoned mine.”
“Of course.”
“Cough!”
She agreed instantly without hesitation, and Etienne choked mid-bite, coughing fitfully. Why was he the one so shocked?
“Lady Eloise, if you spoil her like that, Lizette will get bad habits.”
“Lizette was already treated preciously in the Crown Prince’s palace before she came to me, Your Highness. Don’t forget that.”
Eloise subtly scolded Marcel, as if implying he had spoiled me. He only gave a small chuckle.
When I nuzzled my head against her arm, a soft laugh escaped her lips. She really laughed so often now.
“You’ll keep pampering me anyway, right?”
“Do you really need to ask that, Lizette?”
I knew now. No matter what I did, Eloise would always love me. Unlike my family from my past life.
I snuggled against her for a while before picking up another piece of cooling steak.
Across from me, Etienne was staring with wide eyes.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…No reason.”
With that short reply, only the clinking of utensils and the soft chewing sounds filled the reception room.
After we finished eating, Eloise rose first.
“I’ll take my leave—I have swordsmanship training now.”
“Swordsmanship training? At the central training grounds?”
“Yes.”
Here, nobles of both genders were expected to learn swordsmanship as part of their education.
I hadn’t seen it at the Ducal House, but apparently the Empress herself had requested to see Eloise’s skill, so the class was arranged.
“Then let’s go together. I was planning to visit the training grounds anyway.”
“As you wish.”
Marcel stood and extended his hand to escort Eloise.
Before following after her, I motioned Etienne closer with a small flick of my hand.
He crouched down and leaned in so I could whisper in his ear.
