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n“People who don’t know you well will say that you are very rational and cold-hearted, but she doesn’t look so in my eyes. She is a very warm person. She puts the importance of the people’s lives before her safety, but this makes her unable to give a cold-hearted judgement.”

nIn the past, everyone around me saw me as a very cold and rational person. In their eyes, I was a very strict master to my subordinates, I was a cold-hearted daughter to my father, and I kept up a calm attitude even when I had the status of empress taken from me by Jiun.

nThe crown prince hated me so much for that. He looked down at me with contempt, calling me a doll-like woman. But now, the emperor said I was a warm person. I’ve never heard anybody calling me a warm person. I somewhat felt strange about it.

n“The emperor must always keep cold-hearted. And above all, he must love himself. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should turn a blind ear to the impoverished lives of the people. But you should not choose to sacrifice yourself for some other valuable things.”

n“… ”

n“The emperor must lead all the people in this empire. Of course, the absence or change of the emperor does not make the empire disappear, but the empire will be very confused unless there is a normal succession change. If that happens, it’s the people who will end up suffering the most. Therefore, the emperor needs to take care of himself more. ”

nThe emperor, who sipped a cup of tea that had already cooled, continued, “What do you think you should do in the same situation as before? If I were you, I would immediately pretend I didn’t know. Of course, I wouldn’t think you really don’t know anything. But there is no direct evidence that you are the direct threat, nobody can harm you.”

n“…”

n“As you know, it takes a long time to implement a policy. If I were you, I would pretend I didn’t know, but I would have informed the duke behind my back that there was a sign of famine.

nThere are lots of ways to do so.”

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n“Ah.”

n“If you had done so, you could have achieved your goal while ensuring your own safety. Don’t you think so?”

n“That’s right,” I replied with a sigh. I never thought there was such a method.

n“So, you are not cut out to be the emperor, but an ideal empress. I’m impressed with your warm considerations for the people, your smart brain and warm character. Aren’t those the perfect as your qualifications for the next empress? That’s why I think it’s too regrettable.”

n“Why?” Veritas cut in carefully.

n“You know already. I’ve done a bad job raising my son.”

n“What are you talking about, Your Majesty?”

n“Well, my son thinks he should be the best in every field as he was elevated as the only successor to my throne. Just because he is in the top position, it doesn’t mean he has to be the best in every field. But he doesn’t know that. How stupid! If he meets this lady here, how will he react?” He said with a deep sigh.

nHe continued, “She was raised as his partner, and she has been given a name by God on an equal footing. Besides, she is smart and intelligent. Everyone regards her as the ideal empress. If she is admired so much, how will my arrogant son react? I’m just worried.”

n“Oh my… ”

n“So, every time I heard you praising the lady here, I was worried whether she could have a good chemistry with my son. I was even more troubled because I heard she received God’s prophecy. And now that I’ve met her directly, I think my worry was not groundless. Obviously, she is an ideal empress, but she is too much for my son. Besides, if he finds out her middle name means the succession right to the throne… ”

nThe chill came over my whole body. No way, no way!

n“What shall I do? It would have been much easier if you hadn’t received the name. But I can’t do anything about it now. Since you have the right to inherit the throne, I can’t send you to another country. It makes me worried to promote you as the empress as scheduled, and I can’t marry you off to a noble family…”

n“…Your Majesty, I’m sorry to hear that. You can send her to my family…”

nBut the emperor grinned at Duke Lars’s response and said,”As you know, how can I send her to your family when I know she was once the crown prince’s fiancee and that she also has the right to succeed the throne. If she gets married to your son, there is no greater coalition of power than your family. As the emperor, I can’t ever allow that to happen.”

n“Your Majesty!”

n“Oh, I’m just kidding, but you know well why I’m saying this.”

nHaving said that to him casually, which would have put him on the spot, the emperor turned to me and asked again, “What do you think?”

n“… ”

n“Just relax. I want to hear how you feel honestly.”

n“Your Majesty… I don’t want to be the crown prince’s concubine.”

n“Did you notice that?”

nWho said like father, like son? The emperor and his son were the same in terms of their words and deeds. I felt strongly resentful about the emperor’s remarks, but I bit my lip.

n‘I should behave myself well here. I can never repeat my past life.’

n“As I have the succession right, you can’t send me off to another noble family. As I have received my middle name from God, I can’t give it up. You said that you were worried if I could be the next empress. If that’s the case, you want to have your son take me as his concubine, right?”

n“Yes, that’s right.”

n“I don’t like it.”

n“… ”

n“Please forgive my disloyal remarks. But I have to tell you this. I don’t want to be entangled with the crown prince in any way.”

n“Why? Weren’t you designated as the crown prince’s partner as soon as you were born?”

nI took a deep breath and said, “As you know, there is no guarantee that the crown prince’s partner is me. You will feel awkward to pinpoint me as his partner in the current situation. ”

nYeah, there was nothing guaranteed about it. It was not me from the beginning. I wanted to tell him right away that the next empress would be Jiun after six years. But who would believe me as I am not a prophet? Moreover, the fact that the crown prince’s partner is Jiun has nothing to do with his intention to take me as his concubine.

n“If that’s the case, how would you deal with this situation?”

n“Give me some time. I will find the solution. ”

n“Giving you some time?”

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n“Don’t you remember you have told me that if I am not in a hurry, I have to excuse myself first and think about my next move carefully before taking advantage of both sides. Whatever decision you make, you wanted to keep me as the crown prince’s concubine internal, right? If you suddenly announce disengagement, many people will misunderstand whether there is a conflict between the imperial family and the Monique family. ”

n“You’re right,” the emperor said, as if he was surprised. “Good. It will take some time for the crown prince to come of age, so let me give you the time to find the solution until then.”

n“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

n“You may leave now. Ah, can you two see me before you leave?”

n“Yes, Your Majesty. Then let me leave now.”

nLeaving the audience room, I was plodding along. I had a lot on my mind. Walking around for a long time I suddenly looked around. Where am I now? I certainly remember the place, so I looked around for a moment. I was surprised to find myself in a familiar place!

n“Who are you? This is a private garden owned by His Majesty. Nobody can enter this place!”

nI heard somebody shouting at me with a cold voice. I trembled and flinched at that because I could never forget his voice.

nI slowly turned my head to the owner of the voice. His blue hair was fluttering by the wind and his eyes were blue like the sea. I saw a boy who looked much younger than when I saw him last time.

nAt that moment, I stiffened in spite of myself. I felt as if I saw hostility in his eyes looking at me. When I slowly blinked my eyes, I could see his cold-hearted blue eyes. Did I see wrong? Did I just feel that way because my idea of him was of his childhood?

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