Too Late for Regret - Chapter 65

Although she had told Renee and the nursemaid that she was going straight to the Central Palace, Anita hesitated several times before finally setting off.

After all, only a month had passed since the child’s birth. Her body had not fully recovered yet, but her steps felt light.

Dian, who was walking a short distance behind her as her escort, kept stealing glances at her face. He had never seen her so radiant before. His eyes followed her of their own accord; he couldn’t help it.

The Crown Prince’s Palace and the Central Palace were close together, and Anita soon reached the corridor leading to Cedric’s study. The walk had taken her hardly any time at all.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help feeling hurt, Cedric had never come to see Félicité. This stung for just an instant before she shook the thought off. ‘He must be busy,’ she told herself. There was no helping it.

“Her Majesty, the Empress.”

“The Moon of the Empire.”

Those who had once addressed her merely as ‘Your Highness’ now bowed deeply, their voices filled with formal reverence.

Although it was only her title that had changed, the air around her somehow felt entirely different. Overwhelmed by the sudden weight of ceremony, Anita felt awkward and hastened her steps, as if fleeing.

Even after her coronation, it was difficult to arrange a meeting with Cedric.

As in her days as Crown Princess, she had to wait in an antechamber before being granted an audience with him.

The attendant had just turned to announce her arrival when another guest entered the room.

With her silver hair gleaming under the light and dressed in the latest fashion, Anita couldn’t hide her brief look of surprise when she came face-to-face with Katrine Colbert, who was wearing an elegantly puffed muslin dress.

‘She still comes here so often.’

Katrine Colbert, the duke’s only daughter, had always been close to Cedric ever since Anita arrived in Laxion. It was said that she worked for him in an unofficial capacity, which was not unheard of in Laxion. Unlike Callithea, the Empire employed a small but notable number of women in administrative roles, and many noble ladies and daughters of high rank took on public duties. Even Cedric’s late mother had once served as an official herself.

Yet Anita found Katrine deeply uncomfortable. She danced with Cedric more often than Anita ever did, and the two met frequently. Rumors abounded that the two were personally close.

‘Didn’t Cedric once want Lady Colbert as his wife? If I were to die, she would be the most likely person to become empress.’

Anita had even heard those whispers back in Callithea. As they both stood at the center of power, people were cautious about what they said, but every now and again, Anita would overhear the bolder ones murmuring that perhaps the two were secret lovers.

Anita’s expression gradually darkened.

Then, without warning, Dian, who had been standing quietly by her side, spoke up.

“Lady Colbert, Pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Oh! Forgive me. I must have been distracted; I meant no disrespect.”

Katrine, who had stood idly even after meeting Anita’s gaze, finally smiled and bowed. It was shallow enough that it could hardly be called proper, yet not so slight that it could be openly criticized.

Was that even a bow?

Her greeting had come without any formal address, and Anita hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. Deciding to let it pass, she began to incline her head slightly but Dian stepped forward smoothly, placing himself between them.

“Lady Colbert, show proper respect to Her Majesty. Your earlier conduct was far from acceptable.”

Katrine’s eyes narrowed for a moment, but the moment passed as quickly as it came. With a pleasant smile, she adjusted her posture and bowed again, this time with impeccable decorum.

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty, the Empress.”

Anita was momentarily taken aback by Dianne’s unexpected intervention. Yet she quickly composed herself, raising a hand slightly in a calm gesture as she accepted Katrine’s bow.

“It has been a while, Lady Colbert.”

A gentle, courteous smile, the kind she showed everyone touched Anita’s lips. But the moment Katrine saw it, her hand tightened slightly. Dian, as perceptive as ever, noticed this and did not take her eyes off Katrine.

“Your Majesty, I realize my congratulations are late. I should have come sooner to pay my respects for fulfilling your duty. They say the princess is lovely, don’t they? My father and I are both looking forward to the day we can greet her.”

Katrine offered her congratulations. Her tone sounded harmless enough at first, but Anita’s lips tightened. The duke’s daughter was hiding mockery behind her impeccable manners.

“Lady Colbert. It is improper for someone of your standing to speak of Her Majesty’s duty. Mind your words.”

Dian rebuked her the moment she had finished speaking. His measured tone was as cold as ice.

“My, I only offered my congratulations. The Count is so strict about etiquette no wonder all the Imperial Knights seem so stiff. Be careful, or the ladies will call you unkind.”

“Did my words offend you? Isn’t the Duke of Colbert from the most prestigious family in Laxion? I merely pointed out that the young lady’s earlier behavior might reflect poorly on him. If you found that unpleasant, though, there’s nothing I can do.”

“…”

“As for being called unkind by women, to every knight under my command, that would be praise. It would mean that we have done our duty properly.”

He brushed aside Katrine’s veiled jab with effortless composure, addressing her insinuation directly. His lack of hesitation and refusal to yield even slightly caused Katrine to exhale in silent frustration. Despite knowing him for years, she had never seen this side of him before. They had never been close, but they had never been enemies, either. Had her father fallen out with him in the meantime?

“You speak quite differently than I remember. Your words are surprisingly amusing. Or perhaps…”

Her eyes flicked towards Anita, then back to Dian, who had realized something. The laws of the world were simple enough. She let her words trail off suggestively.

“Is it because you stand before Her Majesty, the Empress?”

Dian’s expression turned colder than ever. Sensing his anger mounting, Katrine felt an involuntary wave of relief at the sight of his empty sword belt and then let out a short, airy laugh.

“Don’t look so frightening, my lord. You and I have known each other long enough, haven’t we? Please, take it as a joke.”

Dian looked ready to retort, but Anita stepped forward and stopped him. Taking a step closer, she called calmly.

“Lady Colbert.”

In Katrine’s eyes, Anita was far less significant than Dian, almost laughable.

After her plans had gone awry, she could not even bring herself to pretend to be kind to the Empress. It took all her self-control to muster a shred of pity.

Katrine tilted her head slightly in response.

“I’ve heard much about your wit, Lady Colbert. Having met you today, I can confirm that the rumors were true, you are quite amusing.”

“…”

“But isn’t this place rather close to His Majesty’s office?’ To my ears, your words sound somewhat excessive. As the Count said, I would also be concerned that they might embarrass the Duke.”

“…..”

One more thing. If the listener doesn’t take it as a joke, then it’s not a joke.”

‘Had she just lectured me?’

Katrine felt a flicker of disbelief, swiftly followed by hostility.

She had given birth to a princess and become empress, and yet she dared to look down on her?

“Your Majesty, you misunderstand me. If my words seemed discourteous, I ask your gracious forgiveness.”

Forcing down her irritation, Katrine managed a strained smile. After all, they were near the emperor’s study, too close for reckless words. The last thing she wanted was to be caught up in gossip about an argument with the so-called ‘hollow empress’. Quarrels implied equality, and that was intolerable.

“I’m glad it was a misunderstanding.”

Katrine could barely conceal her irritation, grinding her teeth as she bowed her head in thanks for Anita’s words.

‘Perhaps Father was right. There was no need to show mercy after all.’

A faint, uneasy silence fell among the three of them, but it did not last long. Soon, one of the Emperor’s attendants entered the room. He approached cautiously and spoke once he was close enough.

“Lady Colbert, His Majesty requests your presence.”

The attendant hesitated, looking uneasy as he delivered Cedric’s order. Both Anita and Dian froze, their expressions tightening.

“Me? Not Her Majesty the Empress?”

Unlike the others, she blinked innocently and pointed to herself. The attendant bowed his head, unable to bring himself to look in Anita’s direction.

“Yes, His Majesty ordered that Lady Colbert be brought to him.”

“If it is His Majesty’s command, then there’s nothing to be done.”

Katrine offered a perfectly graceful bow, unprompted this time. Yet, as she lowered her head, her deep green eyes gleamed with unmistakable superiority.

“Oh, and it seems we’ll be seeing each other again soon, Your Majesty. When that time comes, I’ll be sure to offer my congratulations properly.”

Just before she disappeared into the Emperor’s office, Katrine clapped her hands lightly and turned back to say something meaningful to Anita. After nodding briefly in farewell, she followed the attendant out and was gone.

“Shall we return, Your Majesty?”

Once the door had closed, Dian looked towards Anita and asked carefully. She stood there for a moment, her shoulders drooping, before giving a faint, bitter smile and shaking her head. It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened; there was nothing new about it.

Dian started to speak, then stopped, dissatisfied, and instead guided Anita to a nearby sofa. Standing beside her, she remained silent.

Some time passed. Just as the silence became oppressive, a man entered and whispered something in Dian’s ear. After dismissing him, Dian turned towards Anita with a look that said there was news. The color drained from Anita’s face as she recalled the order she had left behind.

“Did something happen to Felicité?”

Even after checking on her sleeping child earlier, Anita hadn’t felt at ease. She had left her in the care of Renee, her most trusted handmaid, but that alone hadn’t been enough to calm her. She had instructed them to report anything immediately, even if it meant waking the princess up.

Felicité, who could already distinguish her mother from others with uncanny ease, would often fuss or cry until she was held in Anita’s arms whenever she felt uneasy.

“Her Highness has awoken.”

“Already? I just checked on her while she was sleeping. She hasn’t been sleeping deeply lately.”

If the child had simply woken up, Renee would not have sent word so quickly, even on orders. It could only mean that she had been crying and calling for her mother.

Anita turned her gaze towards the door leading to Cedric’s office, then stood up straight again. Without hesitation, she rose to her feet and said quietly to Dian.

“Let’s go back.”