15. Yesterday’s Enemy, Today’s Ally

Beatrice was dumbfounded. She never expected the person responsible for dragging the Emperor’s reputation to rock bottom to say such a thing. And Beatrice believed this was all part of her plan.  

“You may not believe this because of your personality, but just because I’m not crying or throwing a fit doesn’t mean I’m not a victim. I’m simply trying to find the right perpetrator and navigate through the situation.”  

Larael, who had been staring at the tea in her cup, turned her gaze to meet Beatrice’s dark brown eyes. Her gaze was so forlorn that Beatrice suddenly felt a lump rise in her throat.  

“What’s wrong with my personality?”  

Beatrice muttered, trailing off. Even she couldn’t deny it.  

“You know it well.”  

A playful smile flickered across Larael’s expression. When Beatrice saw that smile, she unknowingly felt a sense of relief.  

“Thank you for welcoming me so kindly, even though I barged in unannounced today.”  

“Is there something I need to be cautious about if I want to build a connection with the Marchioness?”  

“No, I’m not that unreasonable. I only came today to meet you and pay my respects. I’ve seen you once before, Your Highness. From a distance, of course.”  

“Is that so?”  

“But you’ve changed so much since then that I wondered if you were a different person.”  

“A lot has happened since then.”  

Beatrice, at a loss for words, slightly parted her lips and stared blankly at Larael. She felt as though she was being drawn into Larael’s pace.  

In truth, she had come here expecting a spoiled girl to whine and complain, planning to make sure she would never dare summon her again. But things were completely unexpected.  

Beatrice finally decided to ask the question she had been wanting to ask. Taking a deep breath in and out, she opened her mouth.  

“I know this is a rude question, but have you sorted out your feelings for the Grand Duke Vellaus?”  

Thinking of Herwen, Larael tried her best to suppress the emotions that threatened to boil over as she replied.  

“I’m working hard to sever them completely.”  

“Feelings don’t always go as you wish, do they? I only came today to pay my respects, so I’ll take my leave now. I’ll return on the date written on the invitation you sent.”  

Larael nodded. She had noticed the head maid repeatedly checking the time, likely due to the upcoming dinner with the Emperor.  

After seeing Beatrice off, Larael returned to her bedroom to prepare for her meeting with the Emperor. Since the current Emperor had taken the throne, there had been no women in his life, and the maids seemed oddly excited.  

Surrounded by the maids, Larael allowed them to put great effort into dressing her up. She didn’t dislike this atmosphere, so she let them do as they pleased. In the past, she might have gotten annoyed and snapped at them, but now, seeing them enjoy dressing her up like they were playing with a doll didn’t bother her anymore.  

Edward was already waiting for Larael in the dining room.  

He wondered if he had arrived too early, but as the time approached, he found himself unable to focus on work. Unbelievably, this was the first time he would be dining alone with a woman.  

Edward had hurriedly visited the royal library late at night, ordering Trix to accompany him. Books had always been his trusted mentors. He was convinced there would be a book detailing how to dine alone with a woman.  

If he had fully mastered everything he needed to know, he wouldn’t have been so nervous. While working in his office, he had considered asking his aides several times, but the words got stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t bring himself to say them.  

“Her Highness the Empress Consort has arrived.”  

At the attendant’s announcement of Larael’s arrival, the dining room doors opened.  

Edward hesitated, then stood from his chair.  

“I greet the Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.”  

Larael greeted Edward.  

From the moment the doors opened to the moment she walked toward him and bowed, Edward couldn’t take his eyes off her.  

‘So this woman is mine.’  

The guilt that had been weighing heavily on him was replaced by a sense of elation. Overwhelmed by his rising emotions, he let out a long breath to compose himself.  

“This way…”  

Edward, recalling a scene from a novel he had read in the library, tried to pull out the chair for Larael to sit. However, an attendant quickly approached and did it for him instead. Feeling awkward, Edward hurriedly returned to his seat.  

“Are you comfortable? Is there anything you need?”  

“No, Your Majesty.”  

Once the Emperor and Empress Consort were seated, the dinner began.  

Larael noticed that Edward was paying close attention to her every move. He watched which dishes she reached for with her fork and which foods caught her gaze. He was observing her every action.  

At first, she didn’t notice, but once she became aware of it, she could feel his gaze all too clearly.  

Edward’s attention made Larael’s movements more cautious. To break the awkward atmosphere, she felt the need to bring up a topic of conversation. She recalled Beatrice’s earlier visit.  

“The Marchioness of Argen visited earlier today.”  

“The Marchioness of Argen?”  

“Yes. She came to thank me for the tea party invitation. It wasn’t a formal visit; she only came to pay her respects and left early.”  

Edward felt grateful to Marquis Argen and, of course, to the Marchioness as well. He had met her once before.  

She was a straightforward woman who didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, even to the Emperor himself. Judging from Larael’s tone, it seemed that the Marchioness had unexpectedly left a good impression on her.  

“The Marquis and Marchioness of Argen are good people.”  

“Yes, I know.”  

When Larael agreed with him, Edward’s lips twitched as though he was about to smile.  

“Do you have any favorite dishes?”  

Edward asked in an exceptionally gentle voice. Larael rolled her eyes, thinking for a moment about her favorite food.  

“I like fried fish served with a tangy sauce.”  

Edward glanced down at the veal steak, which was the main dish for tonight, and let out a low sigh. It was a dish tailored to his own taste.  

“But I also enjoy meat dishes.”  

Larael, noticing Edward’s expression, smiled as she spoke. Her words brightened Edward’s expression once again.  

“I’ll urge Duke Nox to arrange a meeting with Lady Nox soon.”  

“It’s all right. There’s plenty of time.”  

‘Ariella Nox… I’ll meet her when it’s time.’  

“I made an unreasonable request to Duke Nox. Once I’m officially crowned as Imperial Consort, prominent families will put forward candidates for the Empress’s seat. Lady Nox will likely be among them. For someone who might become Empress, asking her to be a mere companion to the Imperial Consort was rash of me.”  

Edward set his fork down with a loud clink. His desire to enjoy a pleasant meal with her suddenly vanished. The food before him felt repulsive.  

For a brief moment, he had deluded himself into thinking their relationship was perfectly normal.  

“Larael, I have no intention of taking an Empress.”  

Larael, uncharacteristically, fixed her gaze firmly on Edward.  

“You must crown a proper Empress, Your Majesty. Someone intelligent and capable of supporting you…”  

‘Presumptuous as it may be, I will choose her. Someone worthy of standing by Your Majesty’s side…’  

Larael’s eyes burned with determination. It was the most spirited she had ever appeared. Edward stared at her blankly, his chest aching as though something had torn it apart.  

“Trix!”  

Edward called for Trix.  

“Yes, Your Majesty. Do you have an order for me?”  

“I will share a bed with the Empress Consort tonight.”  

Edward spoke while looking directly into Larael’s eyes. Her previously determined gaze faltered, and her eyes wavered in shock. He looked away from her.  

Trix closed his eyes tightly and let out a long sigh. Despite his earlier request for advance notice, the Emperor’s orders were absolute. Nothing was impossible.