SIDE STORY 11…………………………………….
For my purposes, whether it’s a back-alley thug or a noble, it made no difference.
Money, power, beauty. The more a noble had, the more weapons they wielded. Etiquette and refinement were nothing but masks.
At Illya’s melancholic smile, the Empress gently tapped the back of her hand with a motherly expression.
“Oh my, have you taken your medicine? Did you see the physician? Colds have been rampant lately. Spring is always like this.”
Turning her head, the Empress gestured to her maid to summon the physician, then signaled the Foreign Minister with her eyes.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. You are as beautiful as the rumors said.”
The Foreign Minister, after a brief greeting, spread the documents he had in his arms onto the table.
“As you know, due to various reasons, the follow-up measures from the previous war have not been fully resolved. We sent several official letters to the kingdom to discuss this matter, but we received no response.”
“What is this…?”
Flustered, Illya unconsciously looked at Jeira.
But Jeira was just as surprised by this unexpected turn of events. She thought her role was merely to attend a few banquets with a doll-like smile.
“Originally, this was a matter to be discussed with His Majesty the Emperor, but he thought the princess might be uncomfortable, so he entrusted it to Her Majesty the Empress. He said, after all, women might understand each other better.”
Illya, staring blankly with her mouth open, shook her head. This wasn’t what she had imagined.
The Emperor’s subtle glances, the tea, the pretense of goodwill with lavish and expensive gifts—none of that had happened yet. If she returned to the kingdom empty-handed… No, more importantly, she didn’t know anything about these documents. What if the truth came out and she was exposed as a fake?
“First, to hold the responsibility for initiating the war, we propose including this region and this one as imperial territory…”
The Foreign Minister now spread out a map and launched into an explanation. While Illya fidgeted, nervously tugging at her skirt, Jeira frowned behind her.
“That land is one of the kingdom’s main granaries. If you take it, what are the kingdom’s people supposed to eat?”
“I realize this may not be a maid’s place to intervene.”
The Foreign Minister’s gaze shifted from Illya to Jeira.
“But since you seem to know something, I’ll ask. How do you intend to compensate the empire for the damages caused by the kingdom initiating the war?”
“I believe Duke Syde provided sufficient compensation immediately after the defeat. Even after deducting the spoils, the compensation would still be substantial.”
“That was a consolation paid to Duke Syde personally, not a matter of state-to-state compensation, correct?”
Adjusting his round spectacles on the tip of his nose, the Foreign Minister challenged her pointedly.
“The empire also bears some responsibility for the war. Why should the kingdom bear all the compensation alone?”
Jeira, who had quietly moved to Illya’s side, leaned over the table. Her sharp eyes shone with a gaze that would not back down.
“Because they are the defeated country.”
All eyes turned to the Empress, who suddenly spoke. She smiled lightly and gestured with her hand.
“Let’s end today’s session here and resume the meeting tomorrow. You may leave.”
At her words, the Foreign Minister and the officials withdrew, leaving only Anje, the Empress, Jeira, and her maid—the fake princess—in the room.
Even the Empress’s maids departed, and sensing the tense atmosphere, Illya glanced at the Empress cautiously.
“Your Majesty?”
She called the Empress softly, but the Empress ignored her and pushed the tea toward Jeira.
“Please, Princess.”
“….”
Illya and Jeira exchanged a glance at the Empress’s words.
After a while, Illya, quick to catch on, stepped back and knelt on the floor. The Empress gave her a cold glance and looked at Anje.
“Brother said you would understand the situation?”
Anje’s face reflected awkwardness.
“How did Your Majesty know the princess had been switched?”
“The brother deliberately became a captive to investigate the complicated royal matters. He never saw the princess in person but said he had never even heard she was a beauty.”
The Empress’s icy gaze fell on Illya.
“Everything could have been fooled simply by staying quiet.”
Illya pressed her forehead to the floor in shame. The beautiful dress she had recently acquired was now crumpled and ruined.
“You will need to explain thoroughly why you plotted such a scheme.”
“When did you realize the princess was fake?”
Despite being inwardly amazed at Joseph’s quick thinking, Anje spoke in a deliberately nonchalant tone. Thanks to him, things had gone smoothly, though Jeira was embarrassed.
‘It’s a disaster of her own making.’
Anje admired Jeira. Partly because her situation wasn’t unfamiliar, he felt sympathy for her.
“From the moment you asked His Majesty for more time, claiming you needed it?”
Originally, Joseph seemed ready for work, holding thick documents in his hands. But even after sitting on the sofa with Anje, he hadn’t even opened the first page.
Leaning his chin on his hand, Joseph’s face lit up with a mischievous smile.
“You should have known.”
Had he inadvertently leaked information? Anje’s expression turned serious.
“You asked His Majesty for more time, didn’t you?”
“Why?”
Just from that one question, he realized the princess was suspicious?
Anje looked at Joseph with a puzzled face. Joseph leaned close and placed a light kiss on his cheek.
“They say the person who understands themselves the least is themselves. Still… this is too much.”
Joseph teased, and Anje was about to protest.
“You never back down in your work. You’re the one who said you’d chase the enemy even in a deadly situation. Yet you asked for more time. Doesn’t that seem strange?”
Had he really?
Though he often scolded her for being careless, she never took his words seriously, so she wouldn’t know.
“Sometimes, seeing you recklessly charge forward, I thought it a miracle you were still alive. Didn’t I? I could feel my life being slowly chipped away, so my lifespan must have shortened.”
Joseph muttered with dissatisfaction.
“So what happens to Jeira… the princess now?”
Having dared to deceive the Emperor, she might face severe punishment. Returning home could anger the Emperor, causing harm to the royal court, and the king would not let that slide.
“What does her fate depend on?”
“Well, as you know, one’s fortune doesn’t always dictate their future. It depends on what one does.”
Anje closed his eyes slightly, tracing Jeira’s fortune chart, then tilted his head.
“Huh?”
After all that, how could she end up living the life she wanted?
“The Empress, pitying her situation, decided to exile her far away as punishment. The final decision lies with the King of Nayan, but since the king isn’t entirely blameless, he’ll heed the Empress’s advice.”
Joseph smiled, then kissed Anje on the cheek again.
“But right now, the princess isn’t what’s important.”
So Jeira would end up living the life she wanted.
Fortunes show many things but rarely in detail. That was always the problem. Though it seemed everything was revealed, living it out was each person’s responsibility.
“So that’s not the important part.”
Joseph, as if blaming Anje for wandering thoughts, nibbled gently on the tender skin of his neck.
“Important? What do you mean?”
Joseph furrowed his brows at Anje’s question, pursed his lips, and let out a small sigh mixed with laughter.
“I’m the one anxious, aren’t I?”
‘Let’s see.’
Joseph hugged Anje tighter, running calculations in his head. The wedding day wouldn’t come sooner, but this was the only way to ease his impatience.
Just a couple of months to endure. Yet while his mind knew that, his senses felt like one hour was a year, and anxiety surged.
“Mm…”
Joseph let out a soft hum and adjusted Anje’s soft body in his arms. Just that warmth seemed to flow into him.
Finally, Joseph’s face relaxed a little.
“I love you.”
As always.
At Joseph’s straightforward confession, free of any embellishment, Anje’s face flushed.
THE END……………….
