Concubines. The Lapion Imperial Family is full of surprises every day. Was the concubine issue something that was decided before the wedding?
Prince Tesla, you damn bastard. But what if Prince Tesla didn’t know about it?
My shoulders were tense as I walked to the reception room for tea time with the ladies. This was a completely unexpected scenario. I hadn’t thought about the concubine issue at all... Shouldn't he have told me if Linel was planning on taking a concubine last night?
He had plenty of time to talk about the concubine issue in bed. Even though he was the Emperor who could do whatever he wanted, he took a concubine right after getting married. And not just one, but several?
No matter how inadequate the Empress of another country who had a wedding seemed, this was too sudden and strange. However, the information Sharon had heard from her close servant couldn’t have been false. Last night, the attendant working in the office of the High Priest of the Temple said that he had personally heard the High Priest and several nobles discussing the timing of the Emperor and his concubines' wedding. So it can't be false information.
“Oh, then maybe because of that...”
Did Grand Duke Martins request an audience with me and Linel at the same time? To discuss the issue of taking a concubine? Did Grand Duke Martins know in advance?
“Oh, then maybe because of that...”
Did Grand Duke Martins request an audience with me and Linel at the same time? To discuss the issue of taking a concubine? Did Grand Duke Martins know in advance?
No, that couldn’t be. If he had known in advance, he would have mentioned it to me yesterday when we met in the audience room. It was highly likely that the Grand duke only heard the news this morning. The rulers of all countries take in numerous concubines and mistresses. As a mere acting Empress, I have no reason or qualification to oppose that issue. However, it was certainly unusual for a state wedding to take in concubines just a few days afterward.
Something felt off. I paused on my way to the reception room and turned my head toward the main palace building visible through the long arched window.
“Maybe you don’t want to discuss it...”
It must have been notified. Did Linel accept the audience with Grand Duke Martins and call me to his office just to relay something that had already been decided?
“Maybe you don’t want to discuss it...”
It must have been notified. Did Linel accept the audience with Grand Duke Martins and call me to his office just to relay something that had already been decided?
Complex emotions that had no clear substance were getting on my nerves. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was feeling extremely resentful toward Emperor Linel right now. Maybe it was more than resentment, I was jealous...
No, come to your senses. I consciously slowed down my rapidly accelerating pace and caught my breath. If the Emperor has decided so, then I must follow. Feeling resentful would only make him hate me, which would be pointless. My mission in the first place was to quietly divorce him when Princess Resilia arrived at the imperial palace. I must not forget my duty.
“Your Majesty the Empress? This is it.”
As I was walking, lost in thought, I turned my head at the sound of Sharon's voice. When I came to my senses, I was alone, passing the reception room door.
“Oh, okay.”
I stepped back gracefully and stood in front of the reception room door. Sharon couldn’t stop me from stepping back, her expression astonished. I wanted to meet Linel right away before meeting those ladies in the reception room. However, the Emperor’s mornings... would be filled with meetings with his ministers and work to do, and my mornings... would have to be spent laughing and laughing with the ladies who would become his concubines.
I prayed that my hand holding my teacup wouldn’t end up on someone’s dress. I prayed that I wouldn’t unconsciously look down and feel intimidated in front of them. I said a short prayer in my mind.
“You’re saying they’re all in here together? The candidates to become His Majesty’s concubines.”
I asked Sharon, glaring at the ornate floral carving on the doorknob in the living room.
“Yes, that is so.”
Sharon answered cautiously. At that moment, the tawny laughter of the noble ladies leaked out through the crack in the living room door. The ladies who heard that the Emperor was taking a concubine only a few days after getting married. It would be fun. They would be excited. There would not be a single lady among them who would be uncomfortable with the Empress from the Kingdom of Shattonil, which was treated as a vassal state of the Lapion Empire. Among them, there must have been a lady who had even dreamed of becoming Empress.
“You’re saying they’re all in here together? The candidates to become His Majesty’s concubines.”
I asked Sharon, glaring at the ornate floral carving on the doorknob in the living room.
“Yes, that is so.”
Sharon answered cautiously. At that moment, the tawny laughter of the noble ladies leaked out through the crack in the living room door. The ladies who heard that the Emperor was taking a concubine only a few days after getting married. It would be fun. They would be excited. There would not be a single lady among them who would be uncomfortable with the Empress from the Kingdom of Shattonil, which was treated as a vassal state of the Lapion Empire. Among them, there must have been a lady who had even dreamed of becoming Empress.
Even though the Empress's Palace was my residence, I seemed to be the only one who was nervous here. I straightened my hunched shoulders. I braced myself by imagining all the tension flying away into the air with the breath I was exhaling. I straightened my back and spoke to Sharon.
“Open.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Open.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
***
Sharon entered the reception room ahead of me and shouted at the ladies.
“Her Majesty the Empress enter!”
As I entered the reception room, sunlight streaming in through the large window shone directly on my face. The noisy chatter suddenly disappeared and all eyes turned to me. I slowly walked to where the noble ladies were standing and made eye contact with each of them. As I expected, the ladies who met my eyes did not immediately look away. They stared at me as if they were going to confront me, and only then, as the distance grew closer, did they reluctantly lower their gazes.
“Her Majesty the Empress enter!”
As I entered the reception room, sunlight streaming in through the large window shone directly on my face. The noisy chatter suddenly disappeared and all eyes turned to me. I slowly walked to where the noble ladies were standing and made eye contact with each of them. As I expected, the ladies who met my eyes did not immediately look away. They stared at me as if they were going to confront me, and only then, as the distance grew closer, did they reluctantly lower their gazes.
The small faces all had vicious expressions calling for a punch. But the woman did not hit me. I relaxed my fists. No matter how much they glared at me, they were in a position where they had to kneel and bow to me right now. I stopped walking about five steps away from the ladies. It was neither close nor too far. However, it was a distance where I could clearly see their eyes looking down at me. If they had thought that I would be the first to smile while looking foolish, they would have been mistaken. I also remained silent in the silence the young ladies had created. I wiggled my eyebrows as if I found this atmosphere extremely unpleasant. Then the young ladies’ smiles slowly disappeared. As time passed, they began to look at each other.
Ah, it seems like they made a group agreement not to greet each other until I showed my embarrassment first and opened my mouth?
I could have easily joined in on such a childish game. I pursed my lips even tighter, raised my head sharply, and looked down. The young ladies became increasingly uncomfortable with my gaze, and unlike before, they began to avoid my gaze one by one. Some of them still did not avoid my gaze, but smiled and enjoyed my gaze.
Oh, I see. I guess there’s a candidate for concubine among them.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
While everyone was silent, the Young lady, who was closest to me, couldn't overcome the pressure and was the first to greet me.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“I am truly honored to be able to see the faces of the courteous ladies of the Lapion Empire up close... Is that right? Who are they from and what family?”
I looked over the young ladies as I spoke, then turned my gaze back to the young lady who greeted me first and asked.
“My name is Ellie Josephine of the House of Josephine...”
Starting with Lady Ellie, the young ladies next to her greeted each other one by one. Several of them stepped forward and bowed half-kneeling to me respectfully. I spoke to each of them with a calm expression, deliberately reciting their names and families. Most of the noble young ladies changed their attitudes at my actions and bowed their heads to me on the outside, pretending to be kind. I also made eye contact with the four young ladies who had invaded my bedroom yesterday, claiming to be my maids. Of them all, the most confident young lady suddenly stepped forward.
“I am Melanie of the House of Hetros.”
“Oh, Lady Melanie.”
It seems like she was cut off from my maid and immediately became a candidate for concubine?
While everyone was silent, the Young lady, who was closest to me, couldn't overcome the pressure and was the first to greet me.
“It is an honor to meet you.”
“I am truly honored to be able to see the faces of the courteous ladies of the Lapion Empire up close... Is that right? Who are they from and what family?”
I looked over the young ladies as I spoke, then turned my gaze back to the young lady who greeted me first and asked.
“My name is Ellie Josephine of the House of Josephine...”
Starting with Lady Ellie, the young ladies next to her greeted each other one by one. Several of them stepped forward and bowed half-kneeling to me respectfully. I spoke to each of them with a calm expression, deliberately reciting their names and families. Most of the noble young ladies changed their attitudes at my actions and bowed their heads to me on the outside, pretending to be kind. I also made eye contact with the four young ladies who had invaded my bedroom yesterday, claiming to be my maids. Of them all, the most confident young lady suddenly stepped forward.
“I am Melanie of the House of Hetros.”
“Oh, Lady Melanie.”
It seems like she was cut off from my maid and immediately became a candidate for concubine?
Lady Melanie was more confident than yesterday. As I was receiving greetings from the other young ladies, my eyes met with the young lady who was the last one to turn. The young lady's gaze as she looked at me was much colder than the other young lady's. She didn't even bend her knees, but only slightly bowed her head as she greeted me.
“I am Catherine of the House of Kallios. I really wanted to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
There was a note of hostility in her voice. Lady Catherine seemed to want to let me know, through her expression and tone of voice, that she was superior to me, the Empress.
“I don’t know if I’ve lived up to Lady Catherine’s expectations. Shall we all sit down and talk?”
At my reply, a haughty smile flashed across Lady Catherine’s face. It was a smile that made people feel so bad that they wanted to punch her in the back. As I sat down first, the other young ladies followed suit, one by one.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty the Empress. Have you heard that there is a concubine among us?”
Lady Catherine asked, slowly waving her luxurious gold-trimmed fan.
“...I heard it on my way here.”
I answered in as calm a tone as possible.
“Are you very upset? His Majesty seems a bit hasty. How can he take a concubine right after having just had an Empress...?”
Lady Melanie's head popped forward and she pretended to comfort me with a sad expression, but her eyes were smiling. I didn't really respond to her fake comfort, but just raised and lowered the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, right, Lady Catherine. I thought you were originally a proud and arrogant person, but this incident surprised me even more.”
Lady Melanie spoke to Lady Catherine this time.
“Huh? What does that mean?”
Lady Catherine asked, glancing at Lady Melanie as if looking at a subordinate.
“It’s not something I should bring up in front of Her Majesty the Empress, but...”
Lady Melanie looked at me with an expression asking if she could talk. Since it was about Lady Catherine, if she looked at me, it would mean that it would be awkward for me to know, right?
“I am Catherine of the House of Kallios. I really wanted to meet you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
There was a note of hostility in her voice. Lady Catherine seemed to want to let me know, through her expression and tone of voice, that she was superior to me, the Empress.
“I don’t know if I’ve lived up to Lady Catherine’s expectations. Shall we all sit down and talk?”
At my reply, a haughty smile flashed across Lady Catherine’s face. It was a smile that made people feel so bad that they wanted to punch her in the back. As I sat down first, the other young ladies followed suit, one by one.
“I am sorry, Your Majesty the Empress. Have you heard that there is a concubine among us?”
Lady Catherine asked, slowly waving her luxurious gold-trimmed fan.
“...I heard it on my way here.”
I answered in as calm a tone as possible.
“Are you very upset? His Majesty seems a bit hasty. How can he take a concubine right after having just had an Empress...?”
Lady Melanie's head popped forward and she pretended to comfort me with a sad expression, but her eyes were smiling. I didn't really respond to her fake comfort, but just raised and lowered the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, right, Lady Catherine. I thought you were originally a proud and arrogant person, but this incident surprised me even more.”
Lady Melanie spoke to Lady Catherine this time.
“Huh? What does that mean?”
Lady Catherine asked, glancing at Lady Melanie as if looking at a subordinate.
“It’s not something I should bring up in front of Her Majesty the Empress, but...”
Lady Melanie looked at me with an expression asking if she could talk. Since it was about Lady Catherine, if she looked at me, it would mean that it would be awkward for me to know, right?
The young ladies had already started looking at Lady Melanie, Lady Catherine, and me alternately with curious eyes.
“Please speak comfortably, Lady Melanie.”
I was curious as to what on earth he was talking about and why Lady Melanie was acting so bashful with such a happy expression.
“If the proud Young Lady Catherine has accepted this job, it seems that she still loves His Majesty... Ah, Young Lady Catherine here was originally His Majesty the Emperor’s...”
Lady Melanie piqued everyone’s curiosity, but at the crucial moment, she trailed off. I turned my gaze to Lady Catherine. She seemed to already know what Lady Melanie was going to say. However, despite her exaggeratedly embarrassed expression, she didn’t actively stop Lady Melanie, who was trying to reveal something. If it was a secret she really didn’t want to reveal, she would have twisted Lady Melanie’s mouth to stop her, but it didn’t seem to be that far off.
“Please speak comfortably, Lady Melanie.”
I was curious as to what on earth he was talking about and why Lady Melanie was acting so bashful with such a happy expression.
“If the proud Young Lady Catherine has accepted this job, it seems that she still loves His Majesty... Ah, Young Lady Catherine here was originally His Majesty the Emperor’s...”
Lady Melanie piqued everyone’s curiosity, but at the crucial moment, she trailed off. I turned my gaze to Lady Catherine. She seemed to already know what Lady Melanie was going to say. However, despite her exaggeratedly embarrassed expression, she didn’t actively stop Lady Melanie, who was trying to reveal something. If it was a secret she really didn’t want to reveal, she would have twisted Lady Melanie’s mouth to stop her, but it didn’t seem to be that far off.
As I continued to watch Lady Catherine, she sensed my gaze and raised her voice at Lady Melanie.
“Young Lady Melanie, it is rude to speak in front of Her Majesty the Empress!”
Isn't it rude of you to raise your voice in front of me?
“Young Lady Melanie, it is rude to speak in front of Her Majesty the Empress!”
Isn't it rude of you to raise your voice in front of me?
Without realizing it, I lifted my teacup with strength in my hand. The black tea in the cup sloshed.
“I’m fine, so let me finish talking.”
I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to Lady Melanie in a nonchalant manner. I don't know if I sounded as nonchalant as I intended, but Lady Melanie nodded.
“Yes, His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Catherine...”
Lady Melanie continued speaking, tilting her head forward to examine Lady Catherine's complexion.
“It was an engaged relationship.”
A short sigh escaped from between my lips as I just took a sip from the teacup.
"...Ah!"
I was surprised by the hot black tea. I was even more surprised by the unexpected story.
“I’m fine, so let me finish talking.”
I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to Lady Melanie in a nonchalant manner. I don't know if I sounded as nonchalant as I intended, but Lady Melanie nodded.
“Yes, His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Catherine...”
Lady Melanie continued speaking, tilting her head forward to examine Lady Catherine's complexion.
“It was an engaged relationship.”
A short sigh escaped from between my lips as I just took a sip from the teacup.
"...Ah!"
I was surprised by the hot black tea. I was even more surprised by the unexpected story.
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