IDMH - Chapter 22
I Decided My Husband
"Then I will tighten your corset."
I made my waist thin with a corset and wore various things, including underwear, on top of it.
Normally, I don't like wearing a dress, sitting at the dressing table, and dressing up pretty, but I hated it even more when I thought that all of this was done to impress the Emperor.
It was also boring. I barely suppressed a yawn as I glanced at the maids who were helping me get dressed.
Among them was a maid whom I had ordered to bring the 4th prince safely to his residence.
When I glanced at the maid, she flinched and averted her gaze as if something was poking her.
"Why are you doing this, Lady?"
As Sophia asked, I asked while keeping my eyes fixed on the maid.
"I wish you would punish that maid."
Still, I have to do what I have to do. The maid who was pointed out to me was startled and took a step back.
"If you don't mind, may I ask what makes you do that?"
"Disobedience of orders. Is this enough reason to take action?"
"Of course."
When Sophia nodded, the other maids grabbed her arms. The maid said in great confusion.
"Well, I have never disobeyed your orders!"
"Is it possible for you to say such a thing even though I saw you abandoning the 4th Prince at the entrance to the Spring Palace with my own eyes?"
When I mentioned the 4th Prince, Sofia's eyes trembled slightly.
The maid bowed her head without making any more excuses.
Sophia gave instructions to lead the maid away, then smiled gracefully and said to me.
"When you're ready, would you like to go to the restaurant, Miss? It's almost dinner time."
***
"Welcome, Lady Leopold."
"..."
The moment I saw the Emperor's smiling face, anger welled up from deep inside.
I couldn't control my anger for a moment and almost screamed, but I managed to suppress it by biting the soft flesh in my mouth.
"Don't just stand there like that, come and sit down."
"... Yes, Your Majesty."
I could only respond, but it felt like someone was stabbing my throat. Would it be possible to have a smooth conversation with the Emperor in this condition?
I was a little worried and sat down on the chair the attendant had pulled out for me. It was a place where you sat facing the Emperor at a long table in the middle.
"What is life like in the imperial palace?"
The Emperor smiled kindly and asked me.
In my first life, I was fooled by that smile and did as the Emperor asked.
In the second life... Yes, back then I was stupidly fooled by the Emperor's fake smile again.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
Maybe Chernosor didn't kill me because he received orders from the Emperor, but because he just hated me.
Then all you have to do is not marry Chernosor.
I simply thought that everything would be resolved, but then I was hit hard in the back.
It also caused great inconvenience to Sir Aldor.
"I've only been to the palace for a day, so I'm not sure yet."
I answered with as much anger as possible. However, the Emperor asked anxiously, as if he had read my anger that I had not yet been able to control.
"I guess the Lady is having some inconveniences living in the imperial palace."
Of course, there is. Talking to you like this. Seeing that shameless face of yours. No, staying in the imperial palace itself was uncomfortable. I wanted to quickly return to my comfortable home.
"It's not that it's inconvenient, it's that it's a little annoying."
I made up excuses that I had prepared in advance.
"I gave orders to the maid, but instead of following orders, she behaved as she wanted."
"Well. You must feel bad."
Yes. It makes me feel worse that you sympathize with what I say, though.
I deliberately brought up the maid's affair before coming here because it caught my eye at the right time, but it was also because I wanted to make an excuse if the Emperor found out that I was as angry as I am now.
If I had to, I was thinking of bringing up what happened with Chernosor in the Garden of the Four Seasons.
"I guess I should tell the Empress and tell her to crack down on the courtiers."
"I'm a little worried that things are getting worse because of me."
"Absolutely not, so don't worry. If there is anything else that offends you, please say anything."
"I will."
I knew what he meant by saying that, but I pretended not to know and drank my aperitif.
I had a refreshing aperitif that stimulated my appetite, but instead of increasing my appetite, I felt more uncomfortable.
"I really regret what happened to Duke Leopold."
The Emperor's next words made me feel uncomfortable and twisted. At this point, it was a struggle to straighten my naturally distorted facial expression.
"Because of my son's mistake, the empire lost a great talent."
Even if your mouth is crooked, you have to speak straight.
My father died not because of the Crown Prince's mistake, but because of his mediocre pride.
If the Crown Prince had listened to those around him telling him not to go because it was dangerous and had quietly stayed in the barracks, my father would not have died in vain!
"The Crown Prince also realizes his mistake and is deeply blaming himself."
It was a bit difficult to hear bullshit over and over again. I ate the soup, listening with one ear.
"The Empress was also very saddened by Duke Leopold's death and severely reprimanded the Crown Prince, so please do not feel sad."
Instead of blaming yourself and having the Empress reprimand the Prince, you should come to me and offer a sincere apology.
I said it was because it was too far away when I was in Leopold's territory, but it was funny that even though I was in the imperial palace, not even the tip of her nose was visible.
Of course, I had only been to the palace for a day, but if they really felt sorry, it was enough time for them to come and apologize again and again.
But not coming meant that I had no intention of doing so.
There is a saying that you can't fool blood, and in case you were wondering who was brother, Chernosor and the Crown Prince did exactly the same thing.
Not to mention the Empress and the Emperor.
If I mentioned it here, the Emperor would most likely order the Crown Prince to apologize to me, but I didn't.
Because I didn't want to receive a fake apology that didn't contain even an ounce of sincerity.
I didn't even want to see the Crown Prince's face. Throughout the meal, the Emperor tried to win my favor by vainly comforting me on the day I lost my father.
At the same time, he subtly asked about my future plans and repeated the same words and actions he had said in his first and second lives.
However, one thing has changed.
The point was that Chernosor was not related to me. He didn't even mention marriage.
'What?'
Has he really given up on his plan to swallow up the Duchy of Leopold?
That can't be possible.
"... So, I think it would be better for the Young Lady to get married quickly and find stability."
Ah, as expected. There was no way he would have given up. As much as I tweaked the beginning, the order in which the Emperor was mentioned changed slightly.
"I understand that the Young Lady wanted that too and placed a courtship ad in the newspaper."
I didn't respond and just wiped my mouth with a napkin.
As the saying goes, silence is an affirmation, the Emperor who accepted this as affirmation would mention the Book of Chernos.
"I want the Lady to marry one of the Princes and join the royal family."
I'm not saying Chernosor's name, but he's one of the Princes?
I was a little surprised by the unexpected answer, but there were only two options.
Chernosor, the 2nd Prince, and Ian, the 3rd Prince.
The Crown Prince is already married, and the third prince has not yet had a coming-of-age ceremony.
Engagement can occur before the coming of age ceremony, but marriage can only occur after the coming of age ceremony, so it was natural to exclude the 4th Prince.
Unless you get engaged first and wait until they become adults.
"What do you think, Lady?"
"It's such a sudden offer... Could you give me some time to think about it?"
"of course! Marriage is an important decision that only happens once in your life, so think carefully, Lady Leopold,"
The Emperor looked at me, the corners of his eyes curled like a crescent moon.
"I proposed because I sincerely want to become a family with you."
The eyes were clearly smiling, but looking at them made my heart feel cold as if I was encountering a snake.
***
I couldn't sleep a wink all night. It was all because of the Emperor.
I had difficulty sleeping because I was thinking so hard about how I could avoid the trap he had set so cleverly.
Thanks to you, I came up with a good method.
It was all thanks to Count Martina's advice that I was able to come up with this method.
Thinking that I would later send a gift of gratitude to Count Martina, I went to see the Emperor right after breakfast.
"You wanted to see me?"
Unless it was an emergency, if you wanted to meet the emperor, it was polite to ask if the schedule was okay and make an appointment at least a day in advance.
But the Emperor met me right away. It meant that the child was worn out.
"Yes. I would like to give you an answer to the matter that Your Majesty suggested yesterday."
"Oh, yes. What did you decide to do?"
"Before I answer, may I ask you a question"
"What question?"
The Emperor slightly raised his eyebrows but nodded.
"Do you really want me to marry one of the Princes I have chosen, Your Majesty?"
"Then! Marriage should be between like-minded people, so I will respect your choice unconditionally."
Yes, that's right.
I made a confident request with a repentant smile.
"Then please write a memorandum."
"Memorandum?"
The area under the Emperor's eyes twitched.
I took the initiative before he could refuse.
"I am afraid that if a daughter who is more suitable to be the Princess than me appears, Your Majesty's heart will change."
"Don't worry, it will never happen."
"I hope so too, but I don't know anything about people. Like my father passed away suddenly."
"Umm..."
When I mentioned my father's story, the Emperor fell into tears.
"So, I want to make sure I receive the memorandum, Your Majesty. Will you do it?"
I was really anxious, so I asked with innocent eyes, as if there was no other reason, and the Emperor eventually nodded.
"Okay. If you're so anxious, let's do it."
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