Countess Eunice slapped Artizea on the cheek so hard that her head swung.
Artizea could not help but wince and cover her cheek with her hand.
The employees and servants of the Marquisate Rosan, who were watching, were surprised and tried to approach. Even one of the knights guarding the foyer came running up in bewilderment.
The Countessâ maid turned pale and had no idea what to do.
âNothing happens.â
Artizea shook her head slowly. Her mouth was torn and bleeding, so she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped herself.
Then she stared at Countess Eunice.
The Countess Charlotte Eunice was one of the Emperorâs two illegitimate daughters.
Her mother was not a beloved lover like Miraila, but a maid who had been dragged into bed for a night.
It was to keep the empress under control that he had a child with his maid, not because she was a beloved lover.
That wasnât even a secret.
The Emperor was not interested in Charlotteâs mother. However, he loved his daughters like gold and jade.
Countess Eunice had memories of being loved by the Emperor until she was about ten.
Although she had no power or love now, her pride as the emperorâs daughter was stronger than anything else.
So she couldnât bear to be defeated by Miraila.
At best, isnât she just his lover? She knew it was inevitable to lose to his son, Lawrence, but being his daughter, she couldnât bear to be behind his lover.
Thatâs why she hated his loverâs daughter, Artizea, like an insect.
From Artizeaâs point of view, both were born denied.
However, the Emperorâs blood that flowed through her veins seemed to make that not important to her.
Countess Eunice looked down on Artizea. It was a look of superiority.
âCountess Eunice you have no idea what you have done.â
âTell your mother to come here.â
âWhat do you think will happen if I collapse here and start crying?â
Artizea said quietly.
âThe servants and knights of the Emperorâs Imperial Guard saw how you suddenly slapped me on the cheek.â
âMmm, so what?â
âHis Majesty detests noisy people. Besides, what man would want his daughter to visit him during his secret meeting with his lover? You are no longer a five or six year old girl, on the contrary, you are already married and even have children.â
Countess Euniceâs face turned pale. Artizea spoke coldly.
âIf I make a big fuss at this moment, crying out in humiliation and pain, Iâm sure His Majesty the Emperor will come. And my mother would not let this opportunity pass, so she would cry with me, and tell the Emperor that his daughter despises and insults us in this way. What do you think will happen then?â
âHe, heâŚâ
âThe more you try hard to deal with my mother, the more sympathy His Majesty the Emperor will have for her. Do you want to check?â
Said Artizea and stepped forward.
Countess Eunice felt so pressured by her overwhelming presence that she almost fell backwards. The maid rushed to hold her.
Artizea pulled the hem of her dress. Then she said quietly.
âMy mother and my brother Lawrence are the only ones who would benefit from this. So go home today.â
âWho do you think you are? If youâre really so confident, why donât you try?â
Countess Eunice spoke with an air of dignity, but her voice trembled.
Artizea smiled bitterly.
She didnât have to try to find out. Because, in the past, she really had.
She was used to being slapped by Miraila, so she didnât really find it painful. However, back then she acted as if it hurt, collapsed on the floor and cried. The astonished servants and knights approached her to help her.
Miraila, who was resourceful in this, quickly realized Artizeaâs intentions and acted.
With tears in her eyes, she complained to the Emperor that she and her daughter did not deserve to be treated this way.
She then resigned herself to leaving her bedroom, and wept pitifully for almost ten days.
The Emperor, broken by the tears of his beloved woman, rebuked Countess Eunice. He also gave Miraila a great consolation gift and organized a glamorous party for her.
Miraila arrived at the party hugging proudly the Emperorâs arm and became the star of the party.
It was the first time that Artizea was recognized by Lawrence and Miraila as âsomething usefulâ.
âCountess Eunice, you should not compete with your fatherâs beloved woman. You who are his beloved daughter, if you want to push my mother aside, you have to accept to be loved in a different way.â
Countess Eunice looked at her in puzzlement.
She couldnât understand why Artizea said this as if she wanted to take his mother down.
âHis Majesty truly cared for you as his daughter, and there was a time when he loved you very much. Bring back those memories. Tomorrow go with your children to visit His Majesty. And be loved as a daughter. You shouldnât criticize his relationship with women, youâll only make His Majesty hate you. That does not benefit you in any way.â
âWhat the hell are you sayingâŚ?â
âIâll pretend nothing happened today. Now, go away. No father in the world wants his children to see him with his lover.â
Artizea said this and looked back at the knight of the Imperial Guard. The young knight became nervous at Artizeaâs gaze.
Artizea smiled sweetly at him.
âCountess Eunice is going to retire, would you please escort her out?â
âIs that all right with you?â
The knight looked at her sadly. Artizea spoke.
âWe should not interrupt His Majestyâs time of rest. Countess Eunice, please mark my words and go home. Donât forget what filial piety really is.â
Countess Eunice didnât seem to understand your words. However, when the knight urged her to leave, she did so obediently.
Artizea released the hem of her dress.
The love one person could feel for another had a limit. Even more so for an egocentric person like Emperor Gregor.
Love for a woman is different from love for a child, but neither can be poured out infinitely.
As Countess Eunice recovers the Emperorâs love, Miraila will eventually be pulled out of his heart.
Artizea was not like before, when she slandered and schemed against others to sow doubt in the Emperorâs mind.
In the past, she used to destroy people who wanted to get close to His Majesty, so that all his love would go to Miraila.
But now, she had to drive Miraila out of the Emperorâs heart and fill it with other people. At the same time, she had to prevent the emergence of anyone who had enough influence to replace Miraila.
Shortly after Countess Eunice left the foyer, the Emperor and Miraila appeared.
The servant glanced furtively at Artizea with an apologetic expression.
âI heard that Charlotte was here.â
The Emperor looked down at the foyer. He saw Artizea holding a bloody handkerchief with a swollen cheek. The side of her lips, which had scratch marks caused by fingernails, was torn and still bleeding.
That alone gave him a general idea of what had happened.
He knew perfectly well Countess Euniceâs temperament, and he also knew that she hated Artizea.
âIâm sorry.â
Said the emperor in a low, muffled voice. The shame for his daughterâs foolish behaviour was evident in his voice.
Artizea knelt solemnly on one knee and responded.
âNothing happened.â
âCharlotte seems to have been hard on you.â
âCountess Eunice made a small mistake because she misses her father, I could not harbour any resentment against Your Majesty or the Countess for that alone.â
After Artizea said this, Mirailaâs face turned completely red and she exploded in anger.
âNo matter the reason, she came to my home and slapped my daughter on the cheek, how dare she despise us like this? You too! You should have called me when that happened!â
âHow could I, a fatherless daughter, not understand Countess Euniceâs feelings?â
Artizea said, addressing the Emperor, not Miraila.
âShe probably did this because she misses her father very much, and is jealous of me. Besides, as master of the Marquisate Rosan, the most important thing is that Your Majesty should feel comfortable in this place. Should I have made a big fuss over such a small matter?â
The Emperor smiled.
âYou have a commendable heart.â
Artizea bowed her head respectfully.
âBut itâs my fault for not disciplining Charlotte. Sheâs very pretty, but also very violent because of her upbringing. Now that she has three children, she should improve her temper a bit. Iâm a little embarrassed because she hurt a young ladyâs face. Ask me anything you want. Come to think of it, I havenât even given you a birthday present.â
Although the Emperor said that, he had never cared about Artizeaâs birthday.
Artizea was surprised by this windfall. However, she wouldnât make the mistake of asking for a gift at this point.
Instead, she said.
âThen, with all due respect, I would like you to accept the gift I have prepared.â
âGift? For me?â
âYes, Your Majesty. In fact, itâs a gift I had prepared to give to my mother on my birthday as a thank you for giving birth to me, but itâs an accessory that comes in pairs for parents.â
Artizea bowed her head with deep regret.
âBut I had no one to accept the other pair. Even so, when I prepared it I thought of Your Majesty, but I could not even give it to my mother because I was not sure. If you would accept it, I would be very happy.â
âHaha.â
The Emperor laughed cheerfully.
âIf it is a accessory for parents, does that not mean that it is an accessory for a couple after all? How could I refuse to use an accessory for couples with Miraila? Bring it forth.â
Artizea winked at Alice, who was now in a corner of the foyer, observing the situation.
Alice had come to report after she had finished distributing the bribe to the servants, but she was watching from afar when she came across this incident.
Alice hurried to Artizeaâs room to bring a gift box that had been prepared.
Meanwhile, the Emperor finished coming down the stairs and sat down comfortably on a sofa in the foyer.
Artizea took the gift box that Alice had brought and held it carefully in front of the Emperor.
Inside were a pair of large amber brooches.
The Emperor took the womanâs brooch and placed it on the top of Mirailaâs dress. Then he put the manâs brooch on himself.
He smiled at Artizea.
âDonât be so careful. Youâre Mirailaâs daughter, so youâre like a daughter to me.â
âI am honored.â
Artizea said politely.
In the past, she really wanted to hear those words. She wanted to be part of the âfamilyâ of Miraila and Lawrence.
But in the end, the family she had imagined was just a sweet illusion.
Lawrence had killed Miraila. There was no family to trust, love and support each other.
âSo, shall we head off to the opera now?â
âYes.â
Miraila coldly looked at Artizea as she stood up, holding the Emperorâs hand.
However, he seemed to like the brooch, he had a satisfied face.
Artizea knelt down and bowed her head, waiting for the two of them to leave.
Now with this, the Emperor will feel indebted to her for todayâs events, not to Miraila.
Even if it was a momentary feeling, it was a big gain.\n