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The Emperor sat at the head of the long table, his cold gaze fixed on Adele as she entered the meeting room. She didn’t offer a greeting, simply strolling and taking in the large conference hall. Adele’s nerves were on edge as she walked along the table, feeling the weight of the Emperor’s gaze like a physical presence. The atmosphere in the room was icy, reminding Adele of the scorching desert heat and the cold of the Arctic. She stopped at the appropriate distance from the Emperor, the ambiguous space between them reflecting the current state of their relationship.
Adele took a deep breath and looked at the Emperor, feeling like she was facing a frozen wasteland. His cold gaze and expression showed no hint of consideration or understanding, and Adele’s eyes narrowed in response. She had come to discuss something related to dress prices, not to fight, but she didn’t have the strength to do so even if she wanted to. But as she faced the Emperor’s icy demeanor, a fire began to burn within her. She pulled out her chair and sat down, ignoring the shocked reaction of the attendant standing behind her.
“Can I request a private meeting for a moment?” Adele asked, her voice steady.
“Yes, of course,” the Emperor replied. “Would you like some tea?”
“I already had some in the waiting room,” Adele said, shaking her head. “I don’t need any refreshments. Everyone can leave.”
The attendants quickly obeyed, the sound of the door closing like thunder in the tense silence of the room. Adele and the Emperor were left alone, facing each other across the table.
As soon as the door closed, the Emperor asked impatiently, “What do you want to say?” Adele was unfazed by his demeanor, meeting his gaze with her steady one.
“Why did you request a national marriage? Why did you make me Empress in the first place? You didn’t ask for a national marriage before me.”
The Emperor was silent for a moment, considering his words. Finally, he looked up at Adele and spoke softly, his eyes as dark as a mountain valley.
“It just exists. Like a feather on this quill, it just exists. Just by being there, you fulfill your purpose.”
“Keep your place as the empress, is that what you mean?” The pride of Adelaide, who had once been the Crown Princess of Gotrov, was crumpled. Her crumpled pride shattered like shredded paper. She seemed to freeze her air currents, which had only been cold.
“Even that, is that what you really want?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Then why did you have to undermine my prestige?”
“Never.”
Adele laughed at the firm answer. It seemed pointless even to enumerate her humiliations at her wedding and banquet. So Adele drove him away with her sharper words.
“Did you do it because you were afraid that I might harm Diane Poitier?”
Even the Emperor, who had objected so far, was silent about the question. After all, that was the reason. She wanted to ask if the Emperor of a country was sane. She wanted to refute his rude actions by bringing them out on the table. But would there be any gains from arguing with the Emperor here and now? It would be cool to lie for a while, but the one who regrets it now is Adele. Chimmy stomped on her anger, and Adele rose from her seat. Then her Emperor looked up at her from an angle.
“I am prepared to do good. I am telling you this because you seem to want some privacy.”
Her slender face, with jet-black hair spilling to the side, was paler than ever. Like the pale moonlight in the night sky, the empress’ anger shone brightly.
“I’m glad you want the empress position to be filled. I want that too. I will fulfill my responsibilities as Empress Ehmont.”
“Your Majesty, please cooperate so that I can fulfill my responsibilities.”
“What kind of cooperation are you talking about?”
“First of all, I need someone to consult to understand this place. The best way to do this is to ask the person who is in charge of the palace, and I’m afraid it’s Diane Poitier. It would be difficult for me to call her advice.”
Emperor Karl had nothing to say.
“So I would like to consult with Countess Hannah Giggs, who was the previous general manager.”
It will soon be known that Mrs. Giggs entered the palace, so Adele took the lead in advance.
“Hannah Giggs?”
“I’m asking for your understanding because your Majesty sent her out of the palace. However, we will not have her as the general manager.”
Karl, who had been agonizing for a while, nodded and agreed because there was no justification to refute.
“So be it.”
“Thank you, and one more thing. The Empress doesn’t have a budget. I ask for an urgent supplementary budget.”
Adele asked the Emperor in a businesslike tone. This time the Emperor was speechless.
“A budget for the empress’ palace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It is necessary for the maintenance and repair of the palace, as well as for the management of the palace staff and their salaries. It is also necessary to prepare for various events and ceremonies that the Empress may be invited to attend.”
“I see.”
The Emperor nodded, understanding the empress’ request.
“I will have the budget prepared as soon as possible. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?”
“No, that’s all. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Adele bowed her head in gratitude and prepared to leave the room.
“Adele.”
The Empress turned back at the sound of the Emperor’s voice.
“I apologize for everything that has happened so far. I will do my best to support you from now on.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will also do my best to fulfill my duties as Empress.”
Adele gave a slight bow before turning and walking out of the room. The Emperor watched her leave, a small smile on his face. He knew the Empress was strong, capable, and confident she would handle the challenges ahead.
*****
As the door closed behind the Empress, Emperor Karl exhaled a long breath and rubbed his forehead with his hand. He could still see the image of the Empress, dressed in the red gown that symbolized her status, fluttering in front of him like an illusion.
“Whoa
” he muttered to himself, trying to calm his racing heart. Even after becoming the Emperor, the afterimages of his past continued to haunt him. He remembered the fluttering hem of a red dress and the tiny hands of a child trying to grab onto it but never quite reaching the hem.
“My poor son,” his birth mother had said to him. “The empress will never acknowledge you.” And she had been right. Karl had wanted to be recognized by the perfect-looking woman who loved to wear red, but she had never acknowledged him.
With a deep sigh, Karl gave an order to the attendants who had entered the meeting room.
“Call Diane,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.