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nChapter 125

nProofreader: somnium

nIt was the day of the Empress’ birthday party.

nThe Luminous Hall was open from dawn. Dozens of spring flowers have been put in.

nThe Luminous Hall is a 100-year-old building, so no matter how much you polish and decorate it, you can hardly create a bright atmosphere.

nThis is because it was an early building unlike the luxurious main palace built of marble at the height of the empire. The dark gray stone had worn out.

nHowever, it was not easy to erase the old feeling of the building itself.

nSo the ladies preparing for the banquet decided to bury the entire hall with flowers. It was around the time when the spring flowers were blooming.

nIn the afternoon, guests began to arrive.

nThe first to come were the low-ranking aristocrats, who would not have easy access to a seat in the lounge, and the commoners who had received invitations from somewhere.

nEven a commoner is not entirely of low status. Most of them are members of a noble family but have not inherited the title for more than two generations and are no longer included in the nobility yearbook, and those who newly enter the social world based on their own wealth.

nThese people were more likely to not be able to come in at a time when people were rushing in even if they had an invitation. So they were early.

nThe second to arrive were nobles with their own status.

nThere are two categories here. First of all, there are those who have a long family, but their own reputation does not reach that of the family.

nMost of the nobles belonged to this class. Although they lost their political influence, the social world still recognized them.

nConversely, there were also emerging aristocrats who had a high personal reputation, but did not yet have anything worthy of being called a family.

nThey were mainly government officials or those who proved their abilities by establishing a major.

nArtizea grouped the intellectuals selected through Hazel into this group. Most of the new aristocrats were already familiar and acquainted with each other, so she thought that they could easily mix with each other.

nThe third to arrive were the great aristocrats. These are the real powers that govern imperial politics. The Roygar Grand Ducal couple were also among them.

nBut it was not the great nobles who received the most important invitation. The Empress’ lady-in-waiting and their family were the ones who remained unchanging friends despite her living in exile for 18 years.

nAmong them, there were those who lost most of their titles and assets and were on the verge of collapse.

nThis was especially true of the friends and acquaintances from the days when the Empress was in the southern Duchy of Riagan.

nOthers have completely refused to join the social circles led by the new Duke and Duchess of Riagan. In such a case, there were cases where he became a nobleman who was really only a phantom.

nArtizea found them and brought them up from the South.

nIt was not easy to find a person and bring them to the capital in a short time.

nThere were some people who arrived just yesterday and could not even get rid of their fatigue and came to the banquet.

nBut they managed to make it on time.

nThe Empress heard the news of the guests arriving from the Tuvalet room with her ladies-in-waiting.

nNone of the guests were greeted. Artizea, even her lady-in-waiting, could not be summoned.

n“Tia cared a lot.”

nSitting in front of the mirror to put on her makeup, the Empress said so.

nThe Empress only found out today what kind of guests had been invited.

nBecause she didn’t like revisiting political issues, she left it to Artizea. The supervision was given to Countess Martha. After that she only heard reports that there was no problem.

nCountess Martha bowed her head as if in a dreary state.

n“She might not find anyone, so I couldn’t tell you in advance.”

n“No. I know it’s because you want to please me.”

nThe Empress smiled faintly.

n“It’s a surprise party, it’s the first time since I got married.”

n“Yes.”

nAll her ladies-in-waiting smiled.

nThe thought of meeting the friendly people brought a smile to the Empress’ lips as well.

nToday is a big banquet, so it will be difficult to meet them one by one and reminisce. But there is plenty of time.

nIt’s different now than it was 18 years ago. The Empress had long since left politics, and her friends and acquaintances also lost power.

nShe can use public opinion and Lawrence as shields. She wouldn’t want the Emperor to check in or suppress her again.

nAt first, the Empress was reluctant to hold such a large banquet. But she thought it would be good to give Artizea a day or two of running about.

n“Make it nice. Make my complexion look good.”

nSaid the Empress. The lady-in-waiting who was just about to smear powder on her face was startled..

nThe Empress also wore mourning clothes, but she never wore makeup. She decided to take off her mourning clothes for her birthday celebration, but the lady-in-waiting never expected her to say that.

nThe Empress said

n“Meantime…… I want to show that I have been well and healthy.”

nThe opponent is not the Emperor, nor the enemies of the past.

nShe didn’t mean to insist strongly that no matter how painful she was, she was fine.

nShe wanted to show her old friends and vassals who kept their faith until the end.

nSo far she’s been fine, so let’s get better together in the future.

n***

nThe Emperor’s visit was after the Empress had almost finished dressing up.

nWhen the servant announced the visitor’s identity, the servants apologized and did not know what to do. The Empress ordered Countess Martha to go away with the ladies-in-waiting.

nThe Emperor came alone, without anyone. The Empress sat facing her reflection in the mirror without looking back.

nIt’s been 18 years since she had dressed up and makeup done. Meanwhile, she aged quite a bit.

nNow, there was nothing left like the thought of wanting to look pretty to someone.

nHowever, when she looked in the mirror again, she felt the passage of time and was in vain.

nThe Emperor seemed to have felt the same way.

n“It reminds me of the old days when you sat like that.”

n“Don’t say useless things. Only the winners can talk about the past like memories. I am a loser.”

nThe Empress spoke dryly and looked at the Emperor through the mirror.

nIt was their first meeting since Artizea and Cedric’s wedding. It was the first time in 18 years that the two of them met in a private place.

nBetween the first prince, the Emperor’s illegitimate child and the Empress’ adopted son, and the only daughter of the Riagan Duchy, love has always been a secondary issue.

nIn their youth, they regarded each other as reliable allies. No passion was needed.

nThe Empress knew. A two-person doing a three-legged race is not always able to move as one body.

nThe family could be at odds with the Emperor. There was also the possibility of political friction. She also thought that there would be room for dispute over the issue of children.

nNevertheless, she thought she could count on him as a lifelong partner.

nThe Empress knew now that she was the only one who had ever thought so.

nShe gave the Emperor a bitter smile.

n“You are cold, Catherine.”

n“I didn’t come here to reconcile with you.”

n“I know. Tia must have a plan. You’re just going to be playing along with the beat.”

nSaid the Emperor.

n“I can’t understand why you would put a child other than ours on the throne.”

nKuaduk.

nThe Empress grabbed the pearl bracelet she had picked up, tightly. The opal and pearl stuck in the middle scratched and ruined.

nThe Emperor smiled faintly and took a step closer to the Empress. But after a reasonable distance, he stopped and paused a few times.

n“You seem to have misunderstood what I did, but I feel the same way.”

n“Gregor.”

n“It’s not the first time I’ve lamented how great it would have been if my child had been alive.”

nSaid the Emperor. It was a sincere voice that was never heard by anyone anymore.

nBut the Empress was not agitated. She didn’t show any sentimental feelings about it.

nThe Emperor’s sincerity cannot be trusted. She believed in that person’s sincerity at one time in the past, and the Empress knew it well enough that he had revealed his true heart.

nThe Empress said coldly.

n“Don’t put my child in that mouth. And I don’t care if Lawrence is good or bad. Now, I don’t even care about anything like Miraila anymore.”

n“Catherine.”

n“If I had the heart to do that, I would have just killed her.”

n“Is it because of Tia then?”

nThe Emperor asked.

n“What are you going to do with Cedric?”

n“It’s your side that’s trying to use Cedric.”

nThe Empress replied

n“Not many people remember that now, but you hated the Evron Grand Duchy. Not only poor Cedric’s mother, but also his father. If you have an upright person next to you, it’s easy to see that you’re a worm-infested tree.”

n“…….”

n“Do you think Lawrence would be different?”

nThe Emperor laughed bitterly.

n“It’s strange. I knew it’s better to leave him completely stomped on.”

n“And now you feel unsettled.”

n“Aren’t you at this age as well? These days, when I wake up in the morning, my hands and feet are tingling, so it takes me a while to get out of bed. That’s why I sometimes feel like this.”

n“…… Gregor.”

n“If a report comes in at night due to an emergency, it will take some time just to get up and go out to receive the report, and it will take longer to make the right decision. Then one day I will not be able to get up.”

n“Because man cannot live forever.”

n“Exactly. I couldn’t ignore it.”

nThe Emperor walked slowly and approached the Empress.

n“It’s because I’m at this age. Affection, loyalty, and blood are all in vain. In the end, the only thing you can count on is someone with the right relationship and good character. So I understand that you want to entrust the rest of your life to Cedric and his wife.”

n“Are you entrusting the empire to a trusted subject, holding power accordingly, and giving it as inheritance to those who want it? It’s only possible when Lawrence is a vessel that can hold Cedric.”

nThe Emperor did not readily answer. It was as the Empress had said. Lawrence wasn’t like that.

nIf you embrace Evron with an open mind, you can stop worrying about borders.

nWords cannot describe the value of a servant who can be trusted with sincerity, nor the value of a servant who is not afraid to drop his neck and can advise.

nBut in reality, even the Emperor Gregor, himself, couldn’t do it.

nCedric’s bound by blood and soul, so will he be trustworthy?

nIt was also something the Emperor could not do. Wasn’t the Emperor himself the one responsible for purging his own half-sister and her husband, Grand Duke Evron?

nThe Empress looked back at him and grinned.

n“It’s only natural that you don’t have anyone you can trust.”

n“…….”

n“I didn’t come out of the Empress’ palace to forgive you. Even if I knew that my hatred had no power, I would hate you until the day I died. And there will be not just one or two people like me.”

n“Catherine.”

n“I can say that everything is useless because you are the one who bought the grudge. I am not the only one who’s bitter.”

nThe Emperor opened his mouth, but he couldn’t easily answer them.

nA loud knock was heard.

nThe Emperor let out a long breath. And he said, “Come in.”

nIt was Artizea. Then there was Lawrence.

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