~Chapter 121~
The Emperor’s servant knocked loudly on Mariana’s bedroom door.
“Your Majesty, the Empress! Please open the door. By the Emperor’s command!”
“I don’t want to see anyone right now. Leave me alone!”
Mariana was still under a strict ban because she had opposed Rosalind’s conversion and the royal marriage.
According to the rumors, Rosalind herself was even fasting to resist conversion.
But Mariana knew the truth.
That foolish princess had no real conviction or faith.
And she surely had no loyalty or longing for her original fiancé.
She couldn’t bear the idea of Rosalind, whom Marsen had dismissed as a country bumpkin, marrying into Favia.
“Your Majesty, Lord Joseph has not seen his mother for a long time.”
“……”
“Would it not be wiser to act prudently, thinking of the young prince?”
Mariana knew exactly who was behind the servant’s bold words.
‘Using even my six-year-old son as a political tool!’
Anger boiled inside her, but Mariana clenched her teeth and endured.
Reacting here would only put Joseph in more trouble. She could not let that poor child be wielded like a pawn by the Emperor.
Even if tears came, she had to endure it to the end.
After a long period of noise, the Emperor’s servant finally left, and the sun began to set.
Even under the ban, they could not starve the Empress, so her meals were still lavishly prepared.
“Your Majesty, today the chef has specially prepared the meal. There’s even a dessert made with Lombard’s famous honey.”
“……”
“Please try it.”
Even those attending Mariana had changed—no longer familiar maids, but the Emperor’s people.
She paused unexpectedly.
‘Lombard?’
The servant carrying her meal met her eyes, gave her a meaningful look, then lowered his head.
At the end of his gaze lay a dessert of honeyed oranges.
Mariana rose from the bed as if in a trance.
“I don’t need attendants. I want to eat quietly alone. Everyone, leave.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once they left, she immediately moved the plate—and, as expected, found a very small note underneath. She quickly unfolded it.
It was written in Elly’s handwriting—the same she had seen at the gathering of common people.
[I worry that the long ban may have affected your health. I can’t write much, so I’ll get straight to the point.
There’s an old saying: advance one step, retreat one step.
Appear to follow the Emperor’s order, and escape the ban. I’ll explain everything when we meet.
– Elly, worried about you.]
Mariana quickly burned the letter so no one could see it.
Then she fell into thought.
“Am I really supposed to send Rosalind to Favia like this?”
She felt confused.
This was only the beginning. Rumors already whispered through the court that the Emperor intended the conversion.
If Rosalind converted, Protestant priests would soon enter the court to arrange the royal marriage. The moment their hands were involved, Baldin’s state religion could be changed.
From seeing how the three ministers of the saint and the three northern Lombard powers were expelled from the palace, Mariana understood the Emperor’s intent clearly.
“What on earth is our niece thinking…?”
From the gathering of commoners, Mariana had greatly revised her opinion of Elly.
She had mastered the continent’s history from ancient times to the present.
Her knowledge of literature rivaled Isabella in youth, she was skilled in administration, and her ability to read the people was exceptional.
It was astonishing that she had kept such a low profile for so long.
‘One thing is certain.’
Mariana was caught in a trap from which she could not escape.
In such times, it was wise to seek help from a trustworthy ally.
After confirming the letter had burned without a trace, she turned her body.
“Is anyone outside?!”
“You called, Your Majesty?”
The Emperor’s servant entered.
Mariana feigned humility, massaging her temple as she spoke.
“Thinking alone, I regret defying the Emperor’s order as Empress.”
“If you—”
“I will follow the Emperor’s command. I will properly oversee Rosalind’s royal marriage. You must convey this to His Majesty. Staying in the palace alone is unbearable.”
“I will do my best.”
As expected, not long after the servant left, the Emperor lifted the ban.
Thanks to Mariana’s humility, her loyal maids returned to the Empress’s quarters.
“Mariana, are you alright?”
“You look so thin…”
The maids, knowing the hardships she had endured, wept.
Yet Mariana calmly admonished them.
“While preparing Rosalind’s royal marriage, we must also look after the people. We will inspect the orphanage. Help me.”
The empire had several state-run orphanages.
As the Empress, Mariana was responsible for overseeing them.
Additionally, it was customary for noblewomen to assist the Empress during inspections—making this the perfect opportunity to meet Elly.
Meanwhile, news of Mariana’s release from the ban reached Rosalind.
“That damn old fox!!”
She swept items from her cabinet and screamed.
She was the only legitimate princess of the Baldin Empire and the only sister of the future emperor.
Her worth was beyond price—and yet Mariana had easily bent?
“This isn’t right. I can’t let this happen. I have to see Father!”
“But His Majesty said he won’t see you until you change your mind.”
“And what about my brother?!”
“Nigel is busy handling disputes with the saints. He would be away even if you went now.”
“What the hell is going on!!”
Rosalind roamed her room like a madwoman, asking why she was being punished so cruelly.
But no matter how much she thought, she found no fault in herself. She deserved no insult!
“What did I do wrong? Why is this happening only to me?!”
Favia was dominated by strict Protestant fundamentalists.
It was nothing like the freer courts of Baldin or Marsen. She never wanted to go there.
She screamed down the halls.
“Just a few people died. I didn’t kill them! The horses just ran where rats swarmed. And just because of that!!”
Rosalind still saw her conversion as punishment from the Emperor.
Nigel had deliberately blocked information from reaching her.
Her maids, seeking favor with the future emperor Nigel, followed his orders over hers.
Rosalind had been as difficult a mistress as Elly had been before marriage—she couldn’t help but feel pity.
“That damn old fox… I will never forgive you……”
She had no choice but to marry into Favia.
All her hatred and resentment were directed at Mariana, who had yielded so easily to the Emperor’s command.
Word came that Mariana was free and resuming social activities.
Edwin’s network in the court had worked diligently for this result.
Grateful, I called him.
“Ed, are you there?”
“No.”
“……?”
“I’m joking. I answered no when you asked if I was here.”
Edwin had always been like this. Since we confessed and began our relationship, unexpected jokes became more frequent—but he was still handsome, so it didn’t matter.
“Ed, if something happens to me, will you protect me?”
“I will cut off the hands of anyone who points a finger at you.”
“If something really happens to me, you’ll destroy the bridges and lock yourself in Lombard?”
“I’ve stored three years of strategic supplies before leaving the north. Plus, there’s the Bellamare port. Even if isolated, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Ah… really…”
I thought of the cute, exaggerated promises lovers make about bringing down stars from the sky.
But Edwin’s expression was so serious, I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.
