Chapter 117

Proofreader: somnium

Artizea looked at Hayley. So was Freil.

For a moment, the air in the living room became awkward.

Freil said.

“Your Grace is being ridiculous, is it?”

“I was joking, as the Sir said, what is so awkward about it?”

Freil’s face turned red. Hayley frowned.

“I don’t know what you’re joking about, but you’re not talking about me, are you?”

“Sir Freil…….”

“I asked Your Grace to get Miss Hayley to help me with my work.”

Before Artizea spoke, Freil jumped and said. Artizea grinned.

“He asked me to send you, Hayley, to the army because he thought he would be buried alive in a pile of work.”

“I feel like I’m going to die under the pile of things that I already have, so I’m going to decline.”

Hailey said. And she glanced at Freil.

“You don’t think it’s easy just because I’m preparing flowers and food, right?”

“No, I don’t think so. It seems to me to be the most difficult thing in the world.”

“It is difficult. I really don’t know why people here communicate in such a roundabout way.”

Hayley sighed.

“Besides different types of flowers, did you know that the meaning varies depending on the size and number of flowers?”

“I know.”

“I know it, too.”

Hayley sighed.

“I never thought I would use it in real life.”

And Hayley didn’t have the ability to ask questions for things she didn’t know as lovingly as Lysia.

She had to memorize things she never thought were common sense and even applied them.

Hayley and Lysia were actively engaged in preparations for the Empress’ birthday party.

From invitations, small gifts to accompany it, food for the birthday party, party decorations, and congratulatory gifts to the Empress, there was nothing easy to think about.

It wasn’t just a matter of celebrating the birthday of a noble person.

This is her first public appearance since attending Artizea’s wedding. Unlike the wedding of relatives, this time it was a big banquet held at the Imperial Palace.

All important members of the Imperial nobility and bureaucrats will be present. Some were coming from far away to attend this banquet.

At this point, it was more of a political banquet than a celebration.

Hayley stopped the chatter and said.

“Your Grace, you have a guest.”

“Did Lady Hazel come?”

“Yes. She arrived a little earlier than pointed time, so I escorted her to the parlor.”

“Okay.”

Artizea raised her body up.

Hayley followed her.

Freil made a decision a beat too late. Not only did he have to do the offering, but also the scouting himself.

It’s not just Artizea’s work. If she were to take over a part of Evron’s intelligence network, it would give him a space to breathe.

“Miss Hayley!”

“Yes?”

Hayley stopped walking.

“Are you thinking of changing your position?”

What is this guy talking about, Hayley looked at him with a puzzled look. Freil tried to be blatant.

“There is a job that is much easier and more suitable for Miss Hayley than what you are doing now. It’s important for Evron, so it’ll be rewarding.”

He was like a sledgehammer even as he said it.

Hayley grinned.

“By the way, do you know why I wasn’t a knight even though I was the daughter of the Jordyn family and I was healthy?”

Freil tilted his head.

“I hate the army. I hate knights. If you want to pass on your job, please ask the secret organization operated by Her Grace, not the military intelligence network. There is an interest in that.”

Freil sagged his shoulders.

***

Hazel looked around the parlor where she was guided nervously.

The furniture was luxurious, but not excessive. There were spring flowers all over the place, and it was gorgeous.

The flowers were sent as samples from the business, who wanted to provide decorative items for the Empress’ birthday celebration, remained after decorating Artizea’s living room and overflowed into the parlor.

She arrived early, so Hazel thought she would have to wait a long time. Even if Artizea was not meeting other people or doing urgent work, it was the same.

There is no need for the Grand Duchess to make the time and come out quickly to meet her.

Considering the difference in status and fame, it was not unusual for her to wait several hours.

Arriving early was simply to be polite. Hazel came prepared to kill time while waiting.

But Artizea came out to the parlor before Hazel had even pulled a little notebook out of her handbag.

Hazel stood up in surprise.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace Grand Duchess Evron.”

“It’s been a while, Lady Hazel.”

Hazel smiled bashfully.

“When I met you the other day, you were still the Marquisate of Rosan’s Lady. Even then you were, of course, the fiancee of His Grace Grand Duke Evron.”

What Hazel said was the day Artizea was dragged out of the tea party by Miraila and beaten, and Cedric came to the rescue.

That day, Hazel met Artizea for the first time.

At that time, Artizea was nothing more than a powerless noble girl who did not even have her rights properly. Before she was engaged to Cedric, she was no better than Hazel.

Even after her engagement, she still wasn’t in a position where she was much different from Hazel. This is because the status of the social circle is not determined simply by the hierarchy of a title.

But she was now the mistress of Evron and one of the Emperor’s favorite ladies.

Not many people would have guessed that she would become such a great person in such a short time.

Artizea understood the meaning and smiled at her.

“I was very ashamed back then. But I was grateful. I remember that Lady Hazel stopped Mother.”

“I’m immensely sorry. Then, had I done a favor to the most powerful person in the Empire?”

Hazel said cheerfully, half jokingly. But Artizea answered her not jokingly, but seriously and mildly.

“Of course. If it wasn’t for Lady Hazel, it wouldn’t have been easy for me to become the Marchioness of Rosan and to hold the wedding.”

Hazel tilted her head, not understanding what Artizea meant by it.

Then she understood a beat later and opened her mouth, and then she asked.

“Your Grace’s word… ah, I’m sorry.”

Hazel quickly bit her mouth again. Because she didn’t really have anything to say out of her mouth.

What Artizea said was that Hazel had spread the rumor that Miraila had assaulted Artizea at the time.

Though rumors were never good things. In general, it was preferred not to be talked about, whether good or bad.

In the end, it only becomes a gossip. Reputation was originally a double-edged sword.

Of course, Artizea’s situation at the time was not very good, and her reputation was at an all-time low.

She bought sympathy and it moved in the right direction because she had no place to fall, and because the event itself was romantic enough. Hazel knew it, too.

So she didn’t do it purely for fun, it was because she had a little pity for Artizea.

But that doesn’t change the fact that in the end people turned it into a story of interest.

This time Hazel was thinking she would be reprimanded for what happened then. Even if she doesn’t speak about it directly.

With such a gentle demeanor, she didn’t even think Artizea would be offended if she knew it.

Hazel bowed her head. Artizea smiled brightly.

“But I can’t understand the saying that I am the most powerful person in the Empire. I know that people say that I am a young woman who has been taken advantage of by His Majesty, the Grand Duchess, who fled in fear.”

“Because half of the world’s population are stupid. However, because of you, Her Majesty the Queen opened the door to the Empress’ Palace, and, with the favor of His Majesty the Emperor, you took charge of the Western Rebirth project. A lot of people know what it means.”

Public opinion in the salon and coffee house was divided about who Artizea was.

However, including all that and who is the most popular at this moment, the person who is attracting most of people’s attention, it must have been Artizea.

She may not be the one in power who leads the political world, but in a sense, it was true that she was the most noble lady in the social world.

Hazel said in a slightly excited tone.

“Above all, the favor and prestige of Dowager Marchioness Rosan did not exceed Your Grace.”

As with all stories of Miraila, it was already rumored that Artizea turned away from Miraila at the Imperial Palace.

People have been mouthing that Artizea was too cold-hearted; or that she should have been one, that it was Miraila’s consequence for her indulgence.

But the most important part wasn’t Artizea or Miraila itself.

The most important part was that the Emperor did not reveal his anger to Artizea.

Even though the Emperor was aware of all the circumstances, he pretended not to know the full story of the incident because Miraila did not directly complain.

He only comforted Miraila, who was crying that day.

Although, he gave priority to Miraila over his daughters and granddaughters. The Emperor ordered his servant to send back Countess Eunice as soon as he heard that Miraila was sitting in the hallway and weeping. Then he went to pick up Miraila, lifted her up in his arms, and took her to his bedroom.

And he advised Miraila not to go back. There was a place for Miraila in the Imperial Palace, but there was no mention of staying there. He told her to just stay in his bedroom.

He pulled out his ring, engraved with the Imperial Coat of Arms, and put it on Miraila’s thumb, and wrapped around her shoulder the cloak embroidered with gold.

But he did not ask Miraila why. He didn’t even call Artizea and scold her, or her surroundings, that she should be nice to her mother.

Artizea’s achievements in creating her cause were to be praised.

Since she was entrusted with the Western Rebirth project, her authority should not be lowered for any reason other than her failure at the job for the time being.

He wasn’t supposed to upset Cedric.

The Emperor used Miraila to make his subjects clearly aware who their master is, and sometimes he would consolidate his authority by deliberately provoking and trampling on them.

But now was not the time.

It was between Miraila and Artizea, the mother and daughter, and because of the marriage, she couldn’t be touched further.

He could step on it, but not too far.

The Emperor knew that Artizea’s threats could actually come true. That danger exists independently of the character of the previous Grand Duke Evron or Cedric.

It is for this reason that the imperial family held the food supply chain and waved it from generation to generation, but did not threaten it, and always resorted to honor or wealth.

And the Emperor’s attitude was the greatest proof that Artizea was in a very important position.

Hazel looked at Artizea with an observing gaze.

She wondered who did all these things that no one could have imagined one year ago.

Artizea is by no means the Young Lady of the Marquisate of Rosan that Hazel knew. How many more things were hidden in her?