Chspter 10 – Part 9

“…But, Laura, why would Salvatore’s daughter want to meet me?”
 
If she needed Laura’s help, this was the way to go.
 
As she claimed before, she was close to Alaina, that would help.
 
“That’s…… I don’t know.”
 
Laura glanced at her.
 
“Maybe she’s asking for help with Duke Salvatore? Since the Marquis said something like that, it’s hopeless for her to become the Empress… Well, even if he hadn’t said anything like that, there’s no way she could become Empress. Anyway, maybe she’s pretending to ask for Your Majesty’s advice as a cover.”
 
“If the Marquis intended to harm the Crown Prince, does that mean the Duchess had nothing to do with it?”
 
“Um…… sorry.”
 
She meant she wasn’t sure. After all, Laura only knew Alaina from the past, so it was hard to guess what she was thinking now.
 
“Do you know what Salvatore’s daughter has been up to since I left the capital?”
 
“At first, she avoided everyone like she was a different person, but eventually she started attending parties frequently and hanging out with her old friends… Except for not going hunting, she was the same as before. Occasionally, she would separately greet His Majesty.”
 
“Did Lady Alaina herself say that she would be engaged to His Majesty again?”
 
“She didn’t say it outright, but it was always implied. Like if there was someone more suitable for the Empress than her, she would step in. And whenever there was a party, she always… danced the first dance with His Majesty”
 
Laura’s voice trailed off as she said the last word. Tenere had to fight to keep her expression from hardening.
 
But her discomfort was palpable, and she quickly spoke again.
 
“W-well, they didn’t end up getting engaged. In fact, even when His Majesty and Lady Salvatore got engaged, they seemed more like business partners than lovers.  You know, there’s that kind of thing. A marriage of convenience where love and marriage are separate. He didn’t even look at her the same way His Majesty looked at the Empress.”
 
She and Leonard hadn’t married for love either, but Tenere didn’t bother to argue.
 
“And did you notice anything else?”
 
“Other than that, nothing in particular, but… um, would it be okay if I talked about what Lady Alaina said before leaving the capital?”
 
The cautious question was unexpected. When Tenere nodded slowly, Laura hesitated a moment before speaking.
 
“As you know, Your Majesty, I have always followed Lady Salvatore, and I have seen you approach her…… often.”
 
Laura spoke again, but her words made Tenere blush.
 
It was because she remembered an old time when she tried to say a word to someone who was always ignoring her.
 
“I’m …… embarrassed; I’ve always been a nuisance to Lady Alaina.”
 
“That’s what I thought at first, too.”
 
At Laura’s words, Tenere looked at her as if to ask what she meant.
 
“At first, I thought she didn’t like you either, but then I noticed that when the Empress finished talking and went somewhere else, she was always looking at you.”
 
“That’s ……?”
 
Tenere’s eyes widened in surprise. Laura continued.
 
“And sometimes, when Her Majesty was a bit far away at a party, she deliberately moved closer. So, from my point of view…”
 
Laura paused and hesitated.
 
“It was almost as if she was waiting for Her Majesty to speak to her.”
 
* * *
 
There was nothing to be found in the office.
 
Back in her room, Alaina sat in her private study.
 
Having written a confidential letter to be delivered to the Emperor, she tapped her fingers on the desk.
 
“You mean it’s not in the office?”
 
This wasn’t the first time Alaina had laid eyes on the office.
 
Since returning to the capital, Lord Salvatore has never left her alone in his office.
 
It was as if he expected her to check it out.
 
“Did he do that on purpose to draw attention to the office? ” 
 
Was it hidden somewhere unexpected? Buried in the ground, stored not in the mansion but in the estate, or maybe there was simply no evidence anywhere.
 
‘But my uncle said he came to meet my father.’
 
‘What did my snake-like father say to his younger brother? ’
 
The fact that he has given the title to him and not to her probably means that he treated her as a discarding loser for not listening to his words until now.
 
“Would he try to send me back there again?”
 
Alaina bit her lip in a small gesture. Would he try to get rid of her somehow and bring her down to the bottom?
 
‘It would be better if I told my uncle about everything? ’
 
“……No.”
 
Callian cared deeply for Alaina, but only because she was the daughter of his older brother, Isaac Salvatore.
 
Given the choice between brother and niece, he would undoubtedly choose his brother.
 
‘I need to go to the office one more time.’
 
She’d have to look around, but there might be a secret room, perhaps under the chair Callian was sitting in.
 
Alaina tidied up her letters and stood up.
 
It was a late night, when even the maids had gone to sleep. She didn’t think he had a guard outside his office, so maybe she could get in without too much trouble.
 
The dark hallway was deserted. Alayna pulled her nightgown tighter around her and moved slowly.
 
But why did she feel a faint glow at the bottom of the stairs?
 
“Don’t worry too much.”
 
“If we put pressure on it, even if it’s the Emperor…….”
 
Alaina lowered her body at the sound of the quiet voice and peered through the staircase railing.
 
The familiar faces of nobles were murmuring as they entered the reception room.
 
* * *
 
The designer who had come to fit the dress was a familiar face.
 
She had made Tenere’s first wedding dress, and it was no exaggeration to say that not only the wedding dress but all the clothes she wore in the palace had been made by her.
 
Tenere pored over the catalog.
 
Fashions in social circles changed regularly, and some of the clothes in the catalog were quite different from what Tenere knew.
 
There seemed to be more lace than ribbons and flowers, and gloves that wrapped around the wrist or even the forearm instead of long, flowing sleeves.
 
“Isn’t this pretty? I think you’ll like this one.”
 
Laura chattered excitedly, as if it were her own wedding, as she looked at the expensive, lace-covered dress.
 
“Isn’t this too revealing? Maybe this one would be better…”
 
“Oh, this will look too revealing. If you don’t want to show too much skin, this one is better, and you can add flowers like this.”
 
“I think flowers are out of style.”
 
“What does fashion matter? If Her Majesty wears it, then it becomes fashionable.”
 
As it turned out, she was right, and Tenere nodded in agreement.
 
Laura soothed Joshua’s flailing arms and turned back to the catalog.
 
“Besides, it’s your second wedding, so you’re going to have to make it more extravagant than the first, with jewelry, and…….”
 
“Tenere.”
 
Tenere and Laura looked up at the same time at the sound of a voice through the door.
 
It was none other than Leonard. A large bouquet of flowers was clutched in his arms.
 
“Your Majesty.”
 
Tenere put down the catalog and slowly rose to greet him.
 
“You must be busy… What brings you here?”
 
“I came to see you.”
 
At that, Laura said, “Oh,” and covered her mouth.
 
Joshua jumped down from the couch and ran over to hug his dad’s legs. He chuckled softly.
 
“You’ve done a good job. I’ll take care of the prince, and the nanny can get some rest.”
 
Leonard said, scooping the child up into his arms. Laura gave a quick bow and hurried out of the room.
 
“Have you picked out your dress?”
 
Leonard asked, sliding into the seat next to Tenere without looking in the direction Laura had disappeared.
 
Tenere shook her head.
 
“I was picking. I guess it helps that the designer is so good.”
 
At the Empress’s compliment, the designer ruffled her hair as if in ecstasy. Leonard nodded and flipped through the catalog.
 
“This one seems too plain.”
 
“Perhaps it would be better with some embellishments—a corsage at this point.”
 
Tenere knew that the Empress’s wedding dress shouldn’t be plain.
 
It wasn’t just the gown, but everything she wore had to reflect her status.
 
Even if she wore simple clothes for convenience, the fabric itself was different, and sometimes even jewels were added to the buttons.
 
“I think we need to try on a few and decide. Do you have samples?”
 
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
 
The designer quickly replied to Leonard’s question.
 
As Tener pointed out a few things in the catalog, the attendants quickly found the dresses hanging on the rack.
 
“Let me help you get dressed.”
 
The assistants led Tenere to a dressing room.
 
Joshua wiggled as he watched his mom get up, but he quickly calmed down when Leonard slipped him a treat.
 
“Dad, this. Eat.”
 
“Yes, Josie.”
 
It took some time to change clothes, but with a mischievous child around, it wasn’t boring.
 
Joshua, who had been eyeing the snack, grabbed another one from the plate and handed it to his dad.
 
Knowing that Joshua had cried because he had eaten everything he was given before, Leonardt pretended to eat it.
 
Joshua, however, was not amused.
 
“Eeeh, this.”
 
The child whined and shoved the treat into his father’s mouth.
 
Joshua looked up at his dad with expectant eyes, though he was worried that the next bite would make him cry again.
 
“Oh, Your Highness, are you sharing it with His Majesty?”
 
“What a kind heart.”
 
A few of the assistants who were preparing the next dress exclaimed.
 
As a parent, it seemed inevitable to feel a sense of pride when someone praised your child, so Leonard suppressed the urge to smile and moved his lips.
 
Joshua clapped his hands and laughed as he watched his father eat.
 
‘…Isn’t he going to cry now? ‘
 
It seemed like just yesterday he’d been crying because he’d actually eaten what was handed to him, and now he was clapping his hands in delight.
 
Even when praised as a hero in battle, it didn’t feel as satisfying as this…
 
“Your Majesty, the Empress has finished her fitting.”
 
“Tenere. Joshua is now…….”