“They say that having a son is useless, and that’s exactly what happened.”
The Emperor sighed. It was because of Eden's declaration that he would take Cecilia to the island and enjoy the trip the day before the official completion ceremony of the hotel and the opening of the island.
“Your Majesty, you can’t move on any day other than the scheduled date anyway.”
Eden put down the teacup he was holding and replied.
“It would be less annoying if I couldn’t speak.”
The Emperor spoke while glancing at Eden. Eden didn't notice. Only Cecilia, who was sitting next to him, smiled with an embarrassed expression.
“You may go quietly with Her Majesty the Empress later, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor laughed briefly at Cecilia's words.
“That person is not interested in the island. I think I will bring the Crown Prince and Crown Princess there later.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
“She said that she recently had an unpleasant incident that was against her will and that she would minimize her movements.”
And then he turned around and explained the situation. Even though neither Eden nor Cecilia knew about the affair between the Empress and Curtis.
“Oh, so today too...”
“She rarely leaves her room.”
Cecilia sighed softly. The Empress was not in a very good mood, having ended her relationship with Curtis against her will.
“The Grand Duchess should go and say hello. But since you are a subordinate, that would be a good idea.”
It was more like an order than a suggestion. Cecilia got up from her seat obediently.
“You talk to me some more, you rascal.”
Eden wiggled his hips as if he wanted to go along, but was caught by the Emperor, who was annoyed by his attitude.
“I will be back shortly, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia didn't really have anything to say when she saw the Empress' face, but she was curious about what she was thinking right now. She also really wanted to know if there was a chance that Curtis was lying.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
“Good to meet you, Madam Dunham. Is Her Majesty the Empress in?”
When Cecilia arrived at the Empress's palace, Madam Dunham, who recognized Cecilia, hurriedly greeted her. Cecilia remembered that she used to be one of the Empress's maids, but it seemed that she had become the chief maid at some point.
“Yes, he is inside.”
“If possible, I’d like to say hello for a moment before I go.”
Madam Dunham disappeared, asking for a moment. Cecilia waited in front of the firmly closed door for permission to come in.
“She tells you to come inside.”
Soon after, Madam Dunham brought Cecilia in. The Empress sat upright and greeted Cecilia.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
However, the face greeting Cecilia was indifferent.
“Why did the Grand Duchess suddenly come to see me?”
“I came to see His Majesty the Emperor, so I thought I should pay my respects to Your Majesty as well.”
“Better than a stepson.”
The Empress mentioned Eden, who always leaves the palace without even saying goodbye.
“I heard you haven’t been going out much lately. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m not sick. I just feel a little under the weather.”
It was a somewhat cold tone of speech as if it were no different from usual.
“Is the Grand Duchess doing well?”
“Yes. I am always healthy and happy. Except for one thing.”
An unexpected answer came back to a question asked out of courtesy. The Empress's gaze, which had been indifferent the whole time, fell on Cecilia.
“What is that?”
“It’s my father’s business.”
The Empress straightened her back more than before and focused her gaze on Cecilia. It seemed as if she was looking forward to hearing the story of her former lover.
“Why Duke Lane?”
“Actually, my father had a lover.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s been a while since they lost each other, so I guess it’s time for that.”
At Cecilia's words, the Empress consciously and gently raised the corners of her lips. It seemed as if she was trying to make it look like she was listening to someone else's story.
“But there are so many bad rumors going around about him that I just can’t stand it...”
The Empress still had a picture-perfect, benevolent face. Cecilia met the Empress’s gaze and continued to speak calmly. The one who gets caught up in the conversation and loses is the one who loses. No one said so, but the rules of this game were clear.
“I insisted to my father that he should break up with that woman. As a member of the royal family, I must uphold the honor of the royal family.”
The Empress, who had been quietly listening to Cecilia, paused. But only for a moment. The Empress slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“You are very loyal. His Majesty can truly trust and rely on the Duke of Lane.”
And she made a brief assessment of Cecilia's actions. Except for the somewhat cold look in her eyes, her manners were impeccably elegant.
The Emperor sighed. It was because of Eden's declaration that he would take Cecilia to the island and enjoy the trip the day before the official completion ceremony of the hotel and the opening of the island.
“Your Majesty, you can’t move on any day other than the scheduled date anyway.”
Eden put down the teacup he was holding and replied.
“It would be less annoying if I couldn’t speak.”
The Emperor spoke while glancing at Eden. Eden didn't notice. Only Cecilia, who was sitting next to him, smiled with an embarrassed expression.
“You may go quietly with Her Majesty the Empress later, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor laughed briefly at Cecilia's words.
“That person is not interested in the island. I think I will bring the Crown Prince and Crown Princess there later.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
“She said that she recently had an unpleasant incident that was against her will and that she would minimize her movements.”
And then he turned around and explained the situation. Even though neither Eden nor Cecilia knew about the affair between the Empress and Curtis.
“Oh, so today too...”
“She rarely leaves her room.”
Cecilia sighed softly. The Empress was not in a very good mood, having ended her relationship with Curtis against her will.
“The Grand Duchess should go and say hello. But since you are a subordinate, that would be a good idea.”
It was more like an order than a suggestion. Cecilia got up from her seat obediently.
“You talk to me some more, you rascal.”
Eden wiggled his hips as if he wanted to go along, but was caught by the Emperor, who was annoyed by his attitude.
“I will be back shortly, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia didn't really have anything to say when she saw the Empress' face, but she was curious about what she was thinking right now. She also really wanted to know if there was a chance that Curtis was lying.
“Hello, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
“Good to meet you, Madam Dunham. Is Her Majesty the Empress in?”
When Cecilia arrived at the Empress's palace, Madam Dunham, who recognized Cecilia, hurriedly greeted her. Cecilia remembered that she used to be one of the Empress's maids, but it seemed that she had become the chief maid at some point.
“Yes, he is inside.”
“If possible, I’d like to say hello for a moment before I go.”
Madam Dunham disappeared, asking for a moment. Cecilia waited in front of the firmly closed door for permission to come in.
“She tells you to come inside.”
Soon after, Madam Dunham brought Cecilia in. The Empress sat upright and greeted Cecilia.
“Hello, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Welcome, Grand Duchess.”
However, the face greeting Cecilia was indifferent.
“Why did the Grand Duchess suddenly come to see me?”
“I came to see His Majesty the Emperor, so I thought I should pay my respects to Your Majesty as well.”
“Better than a stepson.”
The Empress mentioned Eden, who always leaves the palace without even saying goodbye.
“I heard you haven’t been going out much lately. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m not sick. I just feel a little under the weather.”
It was a somewhat cold tone of speech as if it were no different from usual.
“Is the Grand Duchess doing well?”
“Yes. I am always healthy and happy. Except for one thing.”
An unexpected answer came back to a question asked out of courtesy. The Empress's gaze, which had been indifferent the whole time, fell on Cecilia.
“What is that?”
“It’s my father’s business.”
The Empress straightened her back more than before and focused her gaze on Cecilia. It seemed as if she was looking forward to hearing the story of her former lover.
“Why Duke Lane?”
“Actually, my father had a lover.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s been a while since they lost each other, so I guess it’s time for that.”
At Cecilia's words, the Empress consciously and gently raised the corners of her lips. It seemed as if she was trying to make it look like she was listening to someone else's story.
“But there are so many bad rumors going around about him that I just can’t stand it...”
The Empress still had a picture-perfect, benevolent face. Cecilia met the Empress’s gaze and continued to speak calmly. The one who gets caught up in the conversation and loses is the one who loses. No one said so, but the rules of this game were clear.
“I insisted to my father that he should break up with that woman. As a member of the royal family, I must uphold the honor of the royal family.”
The Empress, who had been quietly listening to Cecilia, paused. But only for a moment. The Empress slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“You are very loyal. His Majesty can truly trust and rely on the Duke of Lane.”
And she made a brief assessment of Cecilia's actions. Except for the somewhat cold look in her eyes, her manners were impeccably elegant.
***
“Bring it.”
It was just after Cecilia left. At the Empress’s command, the maid opened a neat rectangular box. Inside the plain black box was a pipe.
“That’s the content of a play that suddenly swept through a back alley.”
The Empress picked up a well-trimmed pipe. The maid who served her at close range inserted the chopped tobacco and lit it with a familiar motion.
“I thought it was strange.”
When the Empress was on external schedules, she played the role of a more affectionate and loving mother than anyone else. And even now, she still had that kind of expression on her face.
“I never knew she could think that way. She could use a traveling theater troupe from another country.”
But even in the same expression, there was a completely opposite energy. The Empress quietly muttered and let out a long breath. Naturally, the cigarette smoke rose into the air. The sight of a gorgeous blonde beauty in a blood-red dress trapped in the gray smoke was quite dazzling.
“I thought she was just an ordinary woman.”
The Empress smiled leisurely. However, rather than being a pleasant smile, it was closer to a twisted and unpleasant feeling.
“...”
As far as the Empress could remember, Cecilia was nothing special. She was a typical noblewoman, elegant and beautiful, obsessed with intangible honor, as befitting a daughter raised by Curtis. She had a clever side, but she did not stand out like a sharp stone sticking out.
“That’s what secretly started this uproar.”
Of course, there was no evidence that Cecilia had created this situation. She had been so clever that she had left no evidence related to her.
'I insisted to my father that he should break up with that woman. As a member of the royal family, I must uphold the royal honor.'
But didn't she confess with her own mouth? She begged her father to break up with the Empress to clear up the false rumors. In other words, she asked him to break up, but in reality, she created a situation where they had no choice but to break up.
‘...Do you know my father?’
When the Empress recalled how Cecilia had asked her so meaningfully the other day if she knew her father, her guess became certain. Cecilia had been doubting her ever since.
'I find it unpleasant that you suspect me in this way just because one of the actors in the play resembles me in appearance.'
The Empress giggled as she recalled the words that had come out of Curtis' mouth. She had been looking at him nicely, but what she had come back to was the arrogant Curtis Lane. Curtis Lane who had turned away from her, stood up and really cut off ties. It was funny even when she thought about it again.
“It’s funny how you can drive people crazy at unexpected moments like your father.”
Again, a long stream of gray smoke rose. With the repeated action, the room was filled with acrid, hazy smoke.
“It’s not a bad thing to know how to use your head.”
The Empress muttered, smoking her pipe.
“Yeah, it’s not that bad...”
The Empress muttered slowly and leaned back in her chair. She had never thought Cecilia could think that way. The Empress was impressed by Cecilia's brain. She was sincere.
“But no matter how much I think about it, it’s hard to tolerate something so annoying.”
But, regardless of the sincerity of her admiration, it was difficult to suppress her resentment.
“It’s a bit suspicious that you’re suddenly acting like you know something..."
“Your Majesty the Empress. We have a guest.”
The Empress, who was bringing the pipe to her lips again, paused. After glancing at the door, the Empress let out a long breath, and then handed the pipe over to the maid. Then she nodded toward the window.
The maid, who had received the Empress's order, quickly opened the windows on both sides, and the cigarette smoke quickly escaped outside.
“Find out who came.”
The Empress habitually fixed her hair and then looked back at the maid walking towards her with quick steps.
“His Highness the Third Prince has arrived.”
“Oh, okay.”
Yeah. He won't come.
The Empress, who had briefly recalled his emerald eyes, laughed at her own foolishness. Hadn’t she also turned away from him when they had met three times?
But, it was something that couldn't be helped for her and her son.
“Come in, Damon. My son.”
The Empress, who had gathered her thoughts, calmly adjusted her expression. Then, she welcomed her son who was coming in through the open door.
“Did you smoke again?”
“It’s not like it’s bad for my health.”
Perhaps because the tobacco had been mixed with herbs that act as sedatives, her face was as relaxed as usual, contrary to the thoughts swirling around in her head.
It was just after Cecilia left. At the Empress’s command, the maid opened a neat rectangular box. Inside the plain black box was a pipe.
“That’s the content of a play that suddenly swept through a back alley.”
The Empress picked up a well-trimmed pipe. The maid who served her at close range inserted the chopped tobacco and lit it with a familiar motion.
“I thought it was strange.”
When the Empress was on external schedules, she played the role of a more affectionate and loving mother than anyone else. And even now, she still had that kind of expression on her face.
“I never knew she could think that way. She could use a traveling theater troupe from another country.”
But even in the same expression, there was a completely opposite energy. The Empress quietly muttered and let out a long breath. Naturally, the cigarette smoke rose into the air. The sight of a gorgeous blonde beauty in a blood-red dress trapped in the gray smoke was quite dazzling.
“I thought she was just an ordinary woman.”
The Empress smiled leisurely. However, rather than being a pleasant smile, it was closer to a twisted and unpleasant feeling.
“...”
As far as the Empress could remember, Cecilia was nothing special. She was a typical noblewoman, elegant and beautiful, obsessed with intangible honor, as befitting a daughter raised by Curtis. She had a clever side, but she did not stand out like a sharp stone sticking out.
“That’s what secretly started this uproar.”
Of course, there was no evidence that Cecilia had created this situation. She had been so clever that she had left no evidence related to her.
'I insisted to my father that he should break up with that woman. As a member of the royal family, I must uphold the royal honor.'
But didn't she confess with her own mouth? She begged her father to break up with the Empress to clear up the false rumors. In other words, she asked him to break up, but in reality, she created a situation where they had no choice but to break up.
‘...Do you know my father?’
When the Empress recalled how Cecilia had asked her so meaningfully the other day if she knew her father, her guess became certain. Cecilia had been doubting her ever since.
'I find it unpleasant that you suspect me in this way just because one of the actors in the play resembles me in appearance.'
The Empress giggled as she recalled the words that had come out of Curtis' mouth. She had been looking at him nicely, but what she had come back to was the arrogant Curtis Lane. Curtis Lane who had turned away from her, stood up and really cut off ties. It was funny even when she thought about it again.
“It’s funny how you can drive people crazy at unexpected moments like your father.”
Again, a long stream of gray smoke rose. With the repeated action, the room was filled with acrid, hazy smoke.
“It’s not a bad thing to know how to use your head.”
The Empress muttered, smoking her pipe.
“Yeah, it’s not that bad...”
The Empress muttered slowly and leaned back in her chair. She had never thought Cecilia could think that way. The Empress was impressed by Cecilia's brain. She was sincere.
“But no matter how much I think about it, it’s hard to tolerate something so annoying.”
But, regardless of the sincerity of her admiration, it was difficult to suppress her resentment.
“It’s a bit suspicious that you’re suddenly acting like you know something..."
“Your Majesty the Empress. We have a guest.”
The Empress, who was bringing the pipe to her lips again, paused. After glancing at the door, the Empress let out a long breath, and then handed the pipe over to the maid. Then she nodded toward the window.
The maid, who had received the Empress's order, quickly opened the windows on both sides, and the cigarette smoke quickly escaped outside.
“Find out who came.”
The Empress habitually fixed her hair and then looked back at the maid walking towards her with quick steps.
“His Highness the Third Prince has arrived.”
“Oh, okay.”
Yeah. He won't come.
The Empress, who had briefly recalled his emerald eyes, laughed at her own foolishness. Hadn’t she also turned away from him when they had met three times?
But, it was something that couldn't be helped for her and her son.
“Come in, Damon. My son.”
The Empress, who had gathered her thoughts, calmly adjusted her expression. Then, she welcomed her son who was coming in through the open door.
“Did you smoke again?”
“It’s not like it’s bad for my health.”
Perhaps because the tobacco had been mixed with herbs that act as sedatives, her face was as relaxed as usual, contrary to the thoughts swirling around in her head.
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