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nChapter 55

nProofreader: xoxomonami

n“It’s spooky.”

nThe Emperor said as he got off in front of the Rosan Mansion.

nAfter a while of neglect, the atmosphere of the mansion changed. The garden was not well maintained, and the cleaning condition was not good at a glance.

n“The butler is dead. I heard he met a robber.”

nThe attendant reminded him. The Emperor exhaled.

n“That’s understandable. Tia was in the Evron Grand Duchy, and Lawrence said he was staying in another house. I’m sure she was lying with her head wrapped up.”

nThe emperor gave a glare to the attendant.

n“What are you doing without paying attention?”

n“I, I’m sorry. Lawrence didn’t like anyone being involved in the work of Rosan’s mansion…”

n“That makes sense when he’s at home.”

nThe Emperor said disapprovingly.

n“Find a guy. He’s to be patient and good at work.”

n“Yes.”

nThe attendant gave a deep bow.

n“Isn’t Lawrence still at the reception?”

n“Yes.”

n“He didn’t send a single person?”

nAs the Emperor said so, he walked up the stairs.

nA small number of employees were surprised and quickly knelt down on their knees.

nThere weren’t many employees left in the mansion because many of them followed Artizea.

nThe Emperor went up to Miraila’s bedroom.

nNora, the maid with a tray, was pacing at the door. Then she was surprised to see the emperor and the attendant.

nNora was clumsy with her manners. She worked for a long time at the Rosan mansion. But she only worked in the laundry room. It was her first time seeing the Emperor in person.

nShe thought she had to get her knees down, she couldn’t figure out what to do with the tray.

nAs Nora quivered, the attendant quickly accepted the tray instead.

nAnd then the attendant asked.

n“What are you doing?”

n“I, I’m overwhelmed with awe. Oh, this is from Lady Artizea.”

n“Tia, what?”

n“Well, that’s… Lady Artizea said the Madam would be upset when she comes back and she told me to prepare a soup made of pumpkin and lemon, that’s…”

nNora stumbled, and she started crying this time.

nIt was yesterday that Artizea called her through Alice.

nTomorrow is my wedding.

nYes. Congratulations.

nI didn’t call you to congratulate me on the wedding, but I have something for you to do. Talk to the kitchen tomorrow morning and ask them to make a pumpkin and lemon soup.

nWhat?

nAnd when my mother comes back, bring it to her.

nMy lady, I’m a maid in the laundry room.

nMaybe my mother will be in a very bad mood and won’t pay attention to you. She is much more likely to drink, and you don’t really need to be in front of my mother.

nArtizea said.

nWhile snooping near the bedroom, when His Majesty comes, tell him that I told you to prepare the soup. That’s it. If His Majesty does not come, you can take care of it yourself. To bring it or not.

nNora held her breath.

nIf I do that, will you write me a recommendation letter?

nNora!

nAlice shouted in an angry voice. Nora bowed down after she grabbed Nora with a strong arm.

nArtizea looked down at Nora with cold eyes.

nYou dare to make a deal with me?

nAh, young lady…

nNora wanted to get out of the Rosan mansion.

nNora’s eyes could see the Rosan mansion tilt. Not only was Miraila not going to be the owner, but she was even cruel. Nora had no reason to be stuck here.

nThe employees who had worked for generations had already moved to another mansion or business of the Marquisate of Rosan, using the connections of the Hanson family.

nHowever, maids who didn’t have any connections, like Nora, couldn’t easily change jobs. Because Bill, who is supposed to write her letter of recommendation, is dead.

nMiraila grew increasingly violent. No one even wrote a letter of recommendation because they were afraid.

nSo she grabbed Alice’s outstretched hand like a rope.

nShe’d love it if Sophie could be the maid who praised her. She would have her write a letter of recommendation so she could go somewhere else if that was difficult.

nShe wanted to get a definite answer on this occasion, but it was a mistake.

nArtizea said.

nIt’s just to check if you’re useful and if you can carry out my command properly.

nI’m sorry, lady.

nAlice bowed her head deeply.

nArtizea sighed a little. She decided to forgive Alice by looking at her face.

nShe said again.

nIt is about meeting the Emperor in person and speaking with him. If you’re as useful as you think of yourself, you don’t even have to ask me for a reward.

nAnd now, Nora finds herself useless.

nShe just had to snoop around with the soup and tell the Emperor the truth, but she couldn’t speak.

nWhen she thought she was in front of the Emperor, her head turned blank.

nThe Emperor showed frustration at Nora. The attendant replied quickly.

n“That’s enough. I’ll bring the soup, so you go back.”

n“I’m overwhelmed with awe.”

nNora bowed her head down. And as if running away, she left the scene.

nThe Emperor sighed.

n“But Tia is better.”

n“Aren’t daughters’ minds more delicate?”

n“If there were only one child of mine like Tia, I would have long decided on a successor.”

n“Do you appreciate her that much?”

nThe attendant asked in surprise. The emperor lamented.

n“Tia knows how she should behave. She knows how to put her pride and feelings behind. I thought she was overly timid, but I saw what she did to the Empress this time. She has determination and is also bold.”

nThe Emperor glanced to open the door. When he opened the door of the bedroom, several empty liquor bottles were rolling around on the floor. Even the maid, close to Miraila, was not standing by her side.

nThe Emperor frowned. However, he once again sighed and relaxed his expression.

nMiraila was lying in bed in a drunken stupor. She felt a person coming in, but she didn’t respond. She didn’t even have the energy.

nHer tears didn’t dry out and shed constantly. She was so stunned and sad that she wanted to die.

nMy mother herself is not honorable. What does the title or the name of the marriage vows mean?

nLawrence’s words didn’t leave her mind.

nMiraila always carried her head up with a proud face. All the expensive and colorful objects in the world were wrapped around her body. She did not tolerate anyone who disobeyed her own words.

nMiraila deliberately trampled on a person to see if the power in her hand was real.

nWhen the ladies of the social world bent their knees and bowed to her, she was finally satisfied. She could beat an employee to death and cast them aside.

nBut she knew more than anyone else that Miraila herself was not honorable.

nMiraila had never had a decent wedding.

nHer marriage was all about sitting face to face with an old man who couldn’t even walk properly and signing the papers.

nThere were no bouquets and no guests. There was no pure gold orb to receive from her mother.

nThe priest, who came to notarize her marriage, looked at her with his eyes, as if seeing her as a dirty thing. And as soon as the signing was finished, he hurried to leave without giving a proper blessing.

nThe Emperor dressed her in a white dress that night.

nHowever, the skirt of the wedding dress was all mesh, so the inside was transparent. It could not be as cherished as others.

nIt was evidence of her favor, but not that she was proudly married.

nWhat kind of wife is that woman who lives like a corpse at the Empress’s Palace? You are my wife.

nThe Emperor often said so, seeing Miraila with her lovable face.

nThe Emperor gave her numerous things.

nMiraila rode a carriage with the imperial crest. She even went to imperial ceremonies where she took the Emperor’s hand and became his wife.

nThe Emperor put her on his lap and at occasions held the seal in her hand.

nShe had even personally stamped the papers that govern the fate of the country.

nMiraila was the only one who could freely enter the bedroom of the Emperor.

nHowever, only the Empress seat was not allowed to Miraila.

nShe is the Emperor’s mistress, and she is not the empress.

nThe Emperor gave Miraila everything he could give her whenever she felt like it, but he did not give her a legitimate right to be protected in the name of God.

nWhile the Emperor is alive, it will be Miraila who is in his bed.

nHowever, it would be the Empress who was buried in the same tomb as the Emperor and her name engraved on the tombstone.

nLawrence is right. She was dishonorable.

nBut she didn’t know Lawrence would blame her.

nEven though everyone in the world could blame her for being dirty, Lawrence and Artizea alone shouldn’t.

n“How can they? To tell me……. I raised them.”

nMiraila murmured.

nThe Emperor approached and sat down by the bed on which Miraila was lying.

nThe mattress dipped and her body tilted. Miraila did not turn her head and buried her face on the pillow.

nThe Emperor stroked Miraila’s hair with a gentle touch.

n“Are you angry?”

n“….go.”

nMiraila said in a cracked voice.

n“I guess I should be seriously punishing Lawrence for making you so sad.”

n“Don’t do that.”

n“Are you still worried about Lawrence?”

nMiraila replied in a sobbing voice.

n“Did you know everything from the beginning?”

n“Me? What?”

n“Did you know that Tia became the Empress’s lady-in waiting or why Lawrence told me not to come? So, you didn’t even tell me to go to the wedding today…”

n“No. No matter how bright my eyes and ears, how would I know what happened inside the Empress’s palace?”

nThe Emperor said with a sigh.

n“I knew Tia went to the Empress’s Palace and got a wedding present. But, it’s natural for the groom Cedric to greet her. I never imagined she could have done such a great deal.”

n“…..You’re praising Tia.”

nThe Emperor groaned at Miraila’s murmur.

n“Everyone, how can you do this to me… .”

nHer weeping got louder again.

n“The Empress took it all from me. My son and my daughter. The only upper hand I had against her was them.”

n“Relax, don’t burden yourself. The kids are supposed to leave when they grow up anyway. I would do anything. What’s so upsetting you?”

nThe emperor pulled Miraila. Miraila was held in his arms without strength.

n‘Then can you make me an empress? Can you make me honorable?’

nMiraila didn’t say such stupid words.

nWhen she was young, she had spoken out a few times.

nBut now Miraila doesn’t say that. She didn’t even believe in the Emperor.

nA man is not to be trusted.

nNow he loves her. She is pretty.

nBut as the years go by and her beauty fades, she will be thrown away. If she offends him, she will be thrown away. She will be thrown away if she fails to please him.

nAll that remains is blood.

nIt was sincere to say that to Artizea.

nBut there was no blood left.

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