Chaper 04
Emperor Rision of the Catalos Empire was widely praised as a wise and just ruler, yet his detailed appearance was not widely known.
Unlike other emperors, he had not commissioned numerous portraits, and the currency of the Catalos Empire bore not his face but the imperial crest.
It was no wonder that Dianu, who barely held a seat among the lower echelons of the nobility, could not immediately recognize the emperor.
Moreover, the emperor wore casual attire, like a knight or official enjoying a holiday, and no attendants accompanied him.
None of these facts offered Dianu the slightest comfort.
“Dianu Ortensa pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Do not kneel. The library is narrow.”
Dianu straightened her partially bent knees.
The ruler of an empire covering slightly more than half the continent calmly spoke with the same serene expression as always.
“Raise your head. I prefer to speak while looking into one’s eyes.”
Dianu pressed her lips together and slowly lifted her gaze.
The master of the empire quietly observed her wide-eyed stare and trembling lips.
Dianu felt embarrassed. She wanted to speak to fill the silence, yet unless the emperor initiated conversation, she could not utter a word.
“I seem to have startled you. My apologies. I did not intend to deceive you.”
And then he even inclined his head slightly.
Dianu glanced at Sir Roisen, who merely shrugged nonchalantly, as if the emperor’s apology to Dianu was only natural.
Dianu squeezed her eyes shut and spoke with difficulty.
“Your Majesty, please, you may speak without honorifics.”
Even after her true identity had been revealed, he continued using formal speech and even bowed to apologize—things Dianu found utterly overwhelming.
The emperor furrowed his brows.
“Aren’t you a lady, Miss Ortensa?”
“Eh? Yes, of course…”
Dianu reflected on the words she had carelessly spoken, mistaking the emperor for the librarian.
‘I have nothing to do right now. Just sitting around feels like a nightmare.’
‘If my employer… no, if His Majesty punishes me, I won’t be able to say anything.’
‘The librarian has surely met His Majesty before. Is he lenient with incompetent subordinates?’
Though she had said nothing that could be considered treason, the remarks were embarrassing for someone aspiring to be a refined lady.
Seeing Dianu’s embarrassed expression, the emperor continued.
“And am I not a gentleman?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. You are a gentleman among gentlemen…”
“A gentleman must speak politely to a lady. It is only proper.”
This was also the first rule written in all etiquette books sold in the Catalos Empire: “Regardless of rank, a gentleman speaks politely to a lady.”
In theory, even an emperor should treat a woman of a minor noble family with the respect due to a lady.
If no one else could assist, the emperor himself would open doors and help her alight from a carriage.
But that was only theory. The highest-ranking man to address Dianu with formal speech was Count Ervinzel, husband of Grand Duchess Ervinzel.
The situation with the emperor was different.
Before long, the emperor wore a bored expression.
“From now on, I suppose I must pretend to be a librarian before Miss Ortensa.”
Dianu felt her face heat up, but she could not bring herself to apologize.
Her behavior towards the emperor was proper. The only mistakes were what she had done when she mistook him for the librarian.
Yet she could not understand why he seemed to reproach her for behaving politely.
Sir Roisen, who had remained quiet until then, cautiously interjected.
“Your Majesty, I noticed there was no guard outside. Did you come all the way here alone?”
“It’s only a few steps from my palace.”
“The captain of the guards and the chamberlain will be screaming.”
“You, too, are scolding me. Now that I have confirmed Lyra is not here, I shall return.”
He turned his head once again to Dianu, who was desperately maintaining a courteous posture.
“Princess Oliana and Sir Giles is my sister’s favorite book.”
Dianu only then realized she was holding the book.
Even if she had remained silent, it would not have been improper.
But at that moment, she felt a strange impulse.
She lifted her head to meet the emperor’s green eyes and asked,
“Do you like it as well, Your Majesty?”
The emperor smiled faintly.
“No, I do not.”
“…May I ask why?”
“It’s about a princess and her bodyguard eloping for love.”
His tone remained calm and gentle as ever, but Dianu did not miss the subtle sting hidden within.
The emperor rejected Sir Roisen’s offer to escort him to the imperial palace and walked out of the library alone.
It felt as though a storm had passed.
Her body, drained of tension, swayed unsteadily.
Sir Roisen quickly approached to support her.
Despite herself, a pleading voice escaped.
“Sir Roisen, am I in trouble? I haven’t even met the princess yet.”
“That is impossible, Miss Ortensa. His Majesty is kind.”
“Kind…?”
Dianu felt her throat tighten. Sir Roisen looked troubled.
“Though he can be strict at times… I think he likes Miss Ortensa very much.”
“Likes me?”
“Yes. He seemed genuinely pleased after so long.”
Dianu gave him a doubtful look.
Sir Roisen smiled wryly but did not retract his evaluation.
Dianu wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt.
She could not leave handprints on the book cherished by the princess.
“Tomorrow, we should visit the hunting grounds.”
“It is at the far edge of the palace forest. It will be quite a journey.”
“The weather is nice, so we might as well make it a picnic. I’ll ask the kitchen to pack lunch.”
Though unintended, now that she had met the emperor, Dianu felt she must find the princess.
Otherwise, the emperor would inevitably learn whether he was truly lenient to incompetent subordinates.
The next day, a small party set out for the imperial hunting grounds.
Sir Roisen, who offered to guide them, and Dianu’s maid, Cora, carrying the picnic basket, followed behind.
Cora looked slightly worried.
“Is it alright with just me, Miss Dianu? The hunting grounds are quite far.”
It was an unavoidable inconvenience.
If a large group drew attention, the princess might notice and flee.
“I’m fine, but it will be hard on you carrying the basket.”
“It’s fine. But you will have to carry the parasol yourself.”
“I can manage. Even without the parasol, it’s fine. If it becomes too heavy, Sir Roisen will help.”
Cora glanced at Sir Roisen, who nodded gently as always.
Cora blushed and averted her gaze.
Dianu clicked her tongue internally.
She had heard there was some fuss when choosing which maid would accompany them.
Cora could not hide her delight at being selected.
Among the maids of the Oakwood Palace, Sir Roisen was popular.
He was a knight trusted by the emperor, handsome, courteous, and not an idle nobleman relying solely on his family’s influence.
The Roisen family had produced imperial guards for generations, and Marek Roisen himself was a battle-experienced, true knight.
Dianu understood, but she hoped Cora would not harbor unrealistic expectations.
Love across social ranks was rarely successful.
Happy endings like Princess Oliana and Sir Giles were extremely rare in reality.
‘Thankfully, Sir Roisen wouldn’t irresponsibly pursue a maid.’
Dianu slung the parasol over one shoulder and moved forward.
The weather was perfect.
If their purpose were different, it could have been a delightful outing.
After breathing in the fresh air, Dianu realized she had not stepped outside the Oakwood Palace grounds for over a week.
Moreover, she had spent most of her time holed up in the library, waiting for the princess.
The warm late-summer sun and birdsong were welcome.
The hunting grounds lay in a forest northwest of the palace.
Walking from Oakwood Palace took over an hour.
Even Dianu, confident in her health, felt slightly fatigued upon reaching the entrance.
Cora, carrying the picnic basket, and Sir Roisen, fully armed, were unscathed.
Dianu clicked her tongue in surprise.
“How are both of you so energetic? I’m usually not the type to tire easily…”
Cora looked confused.
Sir Roisen smiled faintly.
“Even so, I must not tire before a lady like Miss Ortensa, especially since Cora is working.”
‘I work too,’ Dianu
