Chapter 50
If it hadn’t been a formal occasion that required him to keep up appearances, he would have stood up and given a standing ovation right there. That was how much he liked her congratulatory speech.
And in person, Wilhelmina was even more striking than any portrait could capture.
The confident smile after her speech, the strong eyes and controlled movements of someone certain everything had gone exactly according to plan—
There was no way anyone could believe this woman had been confined to a detached residence. Teorne now understood that his colleague’s praise had not been empty words.
A habit he’d lost upon becoming emperor resurfaced in his mind.
“Will you not become my companion?”
It could be as a subordinate or a companion—he didn’t mind which. But the reason he specifically said “companion” was because he wanted to treat her as a woman.
He had always preferred starting romance from a friendship rather than a superior–subordinate relationship.
Of course, he spoke in an emperor’s manner so that it wouldn’t sound like he had ulterior motives.
Given that Wilhelmina was an isolated figure in the ducal household, he was certain she would naturally take the hand he extended…
“I have no intention of remarrying.”
What came back was a firm refusal, as if she had seen right through his true intent.
“Huh? Why? I’m the emperor.”
So shocked was he that Teorne’s polite mask slipped.
When he asked again in surprise, Wilhelmina glanced at him with dry eyes, released her folded arms, and stepped back.
“Thank you for escorting me.”
At some point, they had already arrived at the lounge. She reached for the door marked “Ladies’ Lounge.”
If they had walked just a little farther, they would have reached the lounge reserved for the ducal family, but Wilhelmina had deliberately chosen this one. Of course, Teorne had no way of knowing that.
She stepped inside and extended her hand to close the door.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of the banquet…”
“Wait—you’re rejecting my offer?”
“It’s more than I deserve. I am not so foolish as to confuse my place.”
Teorne had put his emperor’s mask back on, but Wilhelmina refused with words as sharp as they were polite. Her bold attitude drew a dry laugh from him.
She knows one thing but not the other.
Did she think such a rejection would make him back off? For someone like Teorne, rejection only fanned the spark of interest.
Since she seemed to have understood the intent behind his “companion” offer, Teorne decided to approach her without concealment. He caught the door before it could close.
“I’m not talking about serious courtship. Relationships begin by filling what the other lacks.”
“I’m perfectly content with my current life. And what could I possibly provide that Your Majesty lacks?”
“If you had an enemy, we could deal with them together.”
“As long as Your Majesty protects the House of Leighton, I have no enemies.”
Bowing her head politely, Wilhelmina spoke in a measured tone that left no opening.
A woman like this hasn’t even debuted in society? Even a passing dog would laugh at that.
Her way of using political undertones to end the conversation was masterful—so much so that even Teorne found it hard to add a word.
As he was thinking about how to break through her obvious determination to refuse, he recalled a topic she had fallen silent over earlier in the conversation.
“…I could arrange a meeting with the princess.”
“…”
That’s it.
For some reason, she seemed to have certain feelings toward Helene. When he’d spoken ill of Helene, Wilhelmina had stayed silent—that could be taken as favor.
A stray stone rolling in, a fallen noblewoman—there was no way Helene actually liked her, but that didn’t matter. All he needed was a pretext.
“I know you’re living in the detached wing. If necessary, for the harmony of your household, I will lend you my name. There’s no need to be reserved. The House of Leighton is personally favored by—”
The emperor slowly reached out his hand as if to caress Wilhelmina’s cheek.
“Your Majesty.”
Her slender fingers pressed firmly against the back of his hand.
It was a touch that carried the weight of strict decorum, pushing the emperor’s hand away.
“There’s a saying—when a pigeon enters a magpie’s nest.”
“What?”
“You should return now. Any further, and it will damage Your Majesty’s dignity.”
He was about to ask what she meant, but meeting her gaze stopped the words on his lips.
Eyes sealed against emotion. Blue as the deep sea, giving no glimpse of the thoughts within, those eyes allowed no answer.
She lifted only the corners of her mouth in a faint smile.
“I wish Your Majesty an enjoyable year-end banquet.”
And she closed the door. Teorne was left alone in the silent hallway.
“…Ha.”
Her response left no room for reproach. He had been the one to overstep, and she had refused with flawless politeness.
But what shook him more was her attitude.
That utter lack of interest in him somehow reminded him of Helene.
The difference was that for Helene, he had developed blind hatred—but for her…
Do not use her any further.
Rohanos, I won’t be able to keep that promise to you.
It was a promise he had already broken several times, but this time he might truly cross the line. Teorne left the lounge at an unhurried pace, thinking how something interesting had entered his dull life as emperor.
The banquet ended in great success. Nobles from the capital and the west shared drinks without incident, and the emperor parted with Mikhail after promising future unity.
Since the snow had stopped, by the next day, the guests began to leave the castle one by one.
They had to hurry back before it snowed again, and since each family still had to hold their own year-end gatherings, it was only natural.
Freed from work at last, I lay on my bed, enjoying my rest.
The emperor’s gone, too.
The emperor’s face, pestering me in vain, came to mind.
I had no idea what charm he thought I possessed, but the last thing I wanted was to be his plaything.
Resolving never to meet the emperor again, I took a scone Anna had brought me, slathered it with jam, and bit in.
At that moment, someone knocked rapidly at the door.
“Ma—Madam!”
“Hmm?”
It was Anna, clutching an armful of letters. She set them on the bedside table, so many that a few almost tumbled to the floor.
“What’s all this?”
“Letters from the guests before they left! Invitations, notices for gatherings, and—oh—a marriage introduction, too?”
I could guess who had sent the last one. Some people would only learn their lesson after a serious scolding.
Sighing, I got out of bed and began to sort through the letters.
“Where did you get these?”
“A servant on duty last night said they were handed over then.”
“…They’re not from the main house?”
“Pardon?”
When I frowned, Anna, not knowing what was wrong, asked nervously,
“Is something the matter?”
“It’s not your fault. The guests used a loophole.”
“A loophole?”
“Usually, any letter for me comes through the main house.”
“…Ah!”
The word “censorship” hovered on my lips, but I didn’t bother to say it aloud.
From the main house’s perspective, this was only natural. And the guests, knowing that, had found a way around it.
They must have thought it a method to contact me without the family’s watchful eye…
If this gets found out, it’ll only cause trouble.
If anyone from the main house learned of it, it would invite unnecessary suspicion.
I opened each letter and checked the contents one by one.
Thankfully, none seemed suspicious. Most were simply people wanting to get acquainted, so replying wouldn’t be hard.
“Anna, could you bring me a pen and some stationery?”
“Ah, yes!”
I began writing replies immediately. They were short and to the point:
As my family schedule has not yet been decided, I cannot give a definite answer… In the future, please contact me through the main house… There.
Copying out the same lines over and over was surprisingly tedious.
Making sure not to mix up names or houses, it took me a full hour to finish them all.
“All right, don’t deliver these yourself—send them to the main house. Ask them to handle the delivery.”
That way, the main house would read them and see for themselves that I had no particular interest in any of them. Anna agreed and began tidying the desk.
“So… you’re declining all these invitations, Madam?”
“For now, yes.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Hm?”
Her voice sounded disappointed, so I paused just before climbing back into bed. I looked at her silently, and she waved her hands quickly.
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean anything. It’s just… after the recent banquet, so many people are curious about you, Madam. It just feels like a pity.”
“Anna, do you want me to join society?”
