Chapter 43

“Why do you keep chasing me?!”

 

How could he just wait and see when the man just ran away in misunderstanding?

 

Viester crumpled his eyebrows and looked at him, as if he was depressed by the entire situation.

 

Theo’s eyes were shaking a lot as he stood in the distance.

 

“So you want me to just watch you run away like that?”

 

What kind of rumor was he trying to spread…!

 

Although it turned out better, he would get annoyed when the man got frightened away when their eyes happened to meet, and sometimes he would keep his mouth shut in an awkward manner despite having a look that seemed as if he wanted to say a lot of things.

 

He was going to take this opportunity to solve everything.

 

“You’re mistaken!”

 

“…Mistaken?”

 

“There’s a different reason why His Majesty did that.”

 

Viester said and walked forward one step carefully.

 

As he drew closer little by little toward Theo, who was wary of him, Theo spoke after contemplating for a moment.

 

“…Is there a reason?”

 

“Okay. I will explain it to you, but we have to leave first. You came here not knowing this is His Majesty’s private garden, right?”

 

“……..What?”

 

Theo opened his eyes wide in surprise.

 

Theo has always been like this. He didn’t mind anything once he believed in one thing.

 

What are you going to do about his life in the Imperial Palace if he was this stupid?

 

“First, let’s get out of here.”

 

Viester took the lead, and they left the garden.

 

He took out the pocket watch from his chest and checked the time. There wasn’t much time left before the regular assembly began.

 

It was obvious what Theo had misunderstood.

 

He must have been walking on eggshells while wondering if he really had that kind of relationship with His Majesty.

 

There was a misunderstanding because he openly put his arm around his waist.

 

“Why would His Majesty do that?”

 

Viester was annoyed.

 

As soon as they left the garden, Viester turned around and spoke curtly.

 

“Sir Theo, it’s not like we have time, so let’s just get to the point. All the scandals circulating around His Majesty and me are not true. There’s not even a single hint of truth in it. His Majesty is just someone who doesn’t get close to others easily, and we don’t have that kind of relationship even though we are close.”

 

“What do you mean by ‘that kind of relationship’?”

 

“…I’m talking about lovers.”

 

Theo’s eyes were trembling when Viester said so with a slight frown.

 

I already knew that Sir Theo was tactless.

 

It was something that he could fully understand from the casual conversation they usually shared.

 

-What? Do you mean that women go to such places these days?

 

-My parents? I think I should take care of them as they get older.

 

-I think it would be good to have a modest wife who is devoted to her family.

 

‘There’s a reason why he hasn’t gotten married yet.’

 

Although his reason was very different from him [Viester], Theo was quite interested in whether he thought of Viester as some kind of companion or not.

 

He was grateful for being thoughtful, but he never wanted to hear him being gay as much as he did.

 

It was because his mother was acknowledged as a loudmouth in society.

 

“So please don’t even speak about this. It’s because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”

 

“Yes….”

 

Theo muttered quietly.

 

It was because he felt like he was acting more suspicious by chasing him and trying to shut him up.

 

‘His reaction is too much….’

 

As expected, he’s flirting with His Majesty!

 

Viester, who was standing in front of him, had a supple body with purple eyes and hair, which exuded a mysterious atmosphere.

 

He was someone who possessed a different personality from the Emperor, who had a good look and a belligerent personality.

 

There were more than just one or two people who had seen His Majesty’s faint smile blooming as they stood together.

 

He often makes lame jokes too, and is good at it.

 

The more Viester made excuses, the more convinced and certain Theo was.

 

Theo gulped, recalling the conversation he overheard among the nobles who had gathered together.

 

“I’ll do my best to keep it a secret.”

 

Secret?

 

It was strange, but Viester thought it simply meant to hide the fact that His Majesty had wrapped his arm on his waist.

 

“Okay. I’ll see you at the assembly.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Viester left the place with a shameful look.

 

He was followed by Theo. Theo’s cheeks became red as he imagined his thought, then it turned pale back and forth.

 

‘That child is always thinking too much.’

 

Viester wished and hoped that the staff in the aide’s office would be filled.

 

***

 

“Did you call for me?”

 

When Ersa received the words that the Empress was calling her, she hurriedly prepared before coming to the Empress’ castle.

 

It couldn’t be compared to her place, and it was much more extravagant than the room she used to stay in her home country.

 

Starting with the gold statue in the entrance, all kinds of decorations caught her eyes in the hallway, and the smooth layer of marble was laid on the floor.

 

She was amazed by the number of maids that could reach dozens of times the number of maids in her residence.

 

After she opened the door of the drawing room and entered through it, Empress Josephine sat down while sipping her tea, most likely waiting for her arrival.

 

Josephine, who didn’t spare her a glance, spoke coldly.

 

“Take a seat.”

 

Ersa was intimidated when Josephine, whom she had just met for the first time, treated her harshly rather than being kind.

 

Seeing Josephine, who acted as if it was justifiable and overflowing with intimidation hurt her pride a bit, thus increasing her desire.

 

She wanted to take that position.

 

Masking her real expression, Ersa sat on the seat where Josephine’s maid motioned to her.

 

“I called you because I had a big favor to ask you.”

 

She was the perfect underdog. Ersa pushed aside her feelings about how the Empress acted toward her underling.

 

It’s not like she’s going to sh*t where she eats.

 

Josephine was not someone who would have been easy to deal with, especially now that she seemed seriously offended.

 

Perhaps, it’s because of the hunting festival?

 

Ersa recalled the upset and ferocious look on Josephine’s face on the day of the hunting festival.

 

“Please don’t hesitate to ask.”

 

As Ersa presented herself humbly, one corner of Josephine’s mouth lifted up.

 

“About Concubine Edith.”

 

As she expected.

 

Ersa was a little pleased, knowing that her expectations were right.

 

It was once said that your enemy is your friend.

 

Concubine Edith, who was deemed as an irritating sight to her, eventually caught His Majesty’s attention.

 

Josephine held out a small pocket to Ersa on the table as she added.

 

“Because I can’t bear to wait and watch any longer. I trust you to take care of it.”

 

She had no clue about what was in the pocket, but one thing for sure was that she had reached a crossroad which inquired her to choose.

 

Eresa was going to act a bit bolder than before.

 

“What am I going to do with this?”

 

Then it received slightly raised eyebrows from Josephine.

 

***

 

Ersa returned to her residence with a small pocket, which was handed to her by Josephine, hidden in her arms.

 

She carefully took out the pocket and opened it only after entering the quarter and ushering all the maids out.

 

The scent that spread through the air at that moment was unfamiliar, so she hurriedly tied it close again.

 

‘Isn’t it a poisonous herb?’

 

It’s said that it was a rare herb from the East.

 

She also heard that only a few people knew about it because it was a rare herb.

 

It will help with digestion if someone takes it in a small amount, however, if they take it excessively, their internal organs will become runny….

 

Furthermore, one would be able to sleep well if they smelled the scent of the smoke after it was burnt. This could also cause them to sleep forever if it burnt too much.

 

Ersa, who was imagining Concubine Edith died in a gruesome way after drinking tea mixed with poisonous herbs, shook her head slightly to put that thought aside.

 

Ersa looked at the poisonous herb in her hand before summoning the maid who was waiting outside the room.

 

***

 

Helen accepted a letter with a rough expression from the messenger who came to her residence early in the morning.

 

“His Majesty told me to deliver this to you.”

 

It was a royal decree from the Emperor.

 

She quickly woke up, despite the fact that it wasn’t long after she fell asleep.

 

“Oh, yes…. Thank you.”

 

When Helen bowed her head, the servant who came from the Lion Palace blinked her eyes as if she was in a trance.

 

“I can’t believe you’re bowing like that. You are supposed to not do that.”

 

The servant waved his sweat-drenched hands in surprise while speaking tenderly in a gentle manner.

 

“Oh… I’m sorry about that as well.”

 

He was appalled because it was the first time he had ever heard of a noble speaking formally to their subordinates. Moreover, she had a humble attitude as if it was natural, which made her even more awkward and sweat profusely.

 

In the Imperial Palace, the situation was so scary that with just one mistake, it would result in them losing their own neck.

 

He wondered if Concubine Edith did that deliberately in front of him to make him feel awkward, but when he read Concubine Edith’s expression, who just blinked innocently and realized her mistake, he stopped wondering once their eyes met.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

This was the 26th person he had handed the letter to, but he had never received such a reaction before.

 

The details in the decree were about the gradual rise of the budget for the concubines in the future, clothes and accessories were excluded from the amount.

 

The concubines who read the details didn’t look satisfied.

 

Except for the amount, there was nothing different than before. They still have to survive in limited circumstances, so it would be hardly possible for them to be happy with it.

 

However, Concubine Edith, who opened it with clumsy movement and read it enthusiastically before giving a completely different response.

 

“…Excuse me… I’m sorry but….”

 

“Yes. Please don’t hesitate to ask about anything.”

 

“Does it matter if I’m using the budget to buy whatever I want? Such as… books?”

 

Concubine Edith’s face, as she talked, was filled with slight blush.

 

Whether it was due to the hot summer day or because of Concubine Edith, who was too obvious, quickly nodded as if there was a wall pressing on his back.

 

“Yes, of course. That’s what the budget is set up for.”

 

“I see.”

 

“And it would be better for you to stop using honorifics. His Majesty would probably not like it.”

 

The servant who delivered the decree was the same as the one who suffered abuse for seeing Helen being carried in the hunting ground.

 

The servant who witnessed the affectionate sight of the Emperor and Concubine Edith!

 

Helen couldn’t remember because she lost consciousness at that time, but the servant clearly remembered it, having his hands tremble slightly in anxiety while handling Concubine Edith.

 

“I hope… I didn’t offend Your Highness in any way.”

 

“No! I mean, no….”

 

[t/n: For the first ‘no’, Edith was using honorific, but then she corrected herself by saying ‘no’ in the second line in an informal way]

 

Is this correct?

 

Helen just decided to close her mouth because talking without honorifics appeared so trifling.

 

She pondered about what to do if the servant thought it was strange, even though she was concerned, there was something she wanted to ask.

 

“So… About the details in the decree. Does it mean that he will give different amounts to the concubines if they are paid according to the grade?”

 

“Yes. Correct.”

 

The amount written for her was unexpectedly large. The amount couldn’t even be exceeded by the total amount she received so far.

 

She couldn’t believe he gave her such a huge amount of money.

 

“Will he hand me the budget on a yearly basis?”

 

“No. You’ll receive it monthly.”

 

“…every month?”

 

Helen tilted her head.

 

She didn’t know why the budget was suddenly increased to the point she found it strange, as it had been set so low before.

 

Moreover, if it comes to enemies, she would be the least one who had it, and she even wondered how much other concubines would receive.

 

“If you don’t have any more questions, I will get going.”

 

Helen nodded as his cue.

 

When he had granted Helen’s permission, the servant gave the most polite smile he could muster before running away from there.

 

“…I guess something urgent must have come up that needs to be taken care of.”

 

Helen murmured when she saw the sight of the servant’s hasty back.

 

It was unexpected for her to see the servant run away in fear of hearing what she was going to say.