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(3rd Person POV)
“You’re quite calm for a person who almost died and came back alive.”
“To be honest with you…”
Anastasia replied back to Wilhelm in a calm manner.
“Although the number of escorts were small, I was also accompanied by the elite knights of the Empress Palace. That’s why It didn’t occur to me that I could die this easily in that situation. I do care more about my safety than anyone else.”
“…..”
“Apart from that, I want to say how grateful I am to His Majesty’s care. You have helped me a lot in this situation…”
“You still didn’t get my point.”
Wilhelm’s voice was deeper than before.
“At times like this, I don’t know if you’re pretending to be a fool or not.”
[pr/n: I tried phrasing this multiple times but it ultimately comes down to good luck Wilhelm…and to us ahahaha.]
“What?”
“You still have no idea?”
Wilhelm spoke sharply.
“You’ve never been nervous as you talked about what you’ve been through today. Not even once.”
“……”
“You are so calm as if you were talking about someone else. No, even if it was someone else’s story, no one would be able to talk about it without feeling agitated at all.”
With those words, he took a step closer to her.
Anastasia took a step back without realizing it, as if she was being threatened.
Wilhelm’s eyebrows narrowed when he saw that.
“….You’re really weird.”
“……”
“Am I the only one who thinks that you’re strange?”
“Wasn’t the most important thing is that I’m okay?” Anastasia replied back.
“What if you’re not okay?”
He asked back sharply. Anastasia did not answer then.
“That’s a very positive outlook you have but what if things went wrong? You could have died, but you just disregard it like nothing now that you’re safe.”
“….”
“Why the hell did you do such a dangerous thing? Are you that fearless?!”
“My fear is no greater than those people who were forced into slavery.”
Anastasia answered after a brief pause. Still, it was said clearly.
“As I said in the letter, I knew you were troubled by the illegal slave trade. therefore…”
“So you did that for me?”
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
“……”
Anastasia paused for a moment before correcting.
“I stand for the Empire.”
“…I really can’t get used to it. How could the Empress suddenly become such humanitarian?”
Wilhelm shook his head, while looking at Anastasia with a somewhat startled face.
“Because this really doesn’t make any sense.”
“…. To me.”
Anastasia was strangely offended by his attitude.
She couldn’t understand this situation at all.
“You don’t have to thank me, but I thought that you would be happy about it.”
“What?”
“I never thought that you would be like this. I mean….”
‘To be honest, whatever happened today did not contain only good intentions.’
‘Because I thought that he would be happy about it…’
‘Aside from the feelings that I had for him, I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if one of the most problematic issues that had plagued the empire was resolved?’
It wasn’t just a personal aspiration, it was for the whole Empire.
“This was a good thing. We’ve apprehended all of the people involved. There will be no more slavery in Rosenberg. Just as the previous Emperor and His Majesty had long wished for.”
It was a blessing that no one was hurt under those circumstances.
‘But why…is he not happy?’
‘I would have been grateful if I were in his place.’
“Don’t you feel that what I did today was worth the risk?”
Anastasia’s voice trembled slightly but he didn’t seem to notice.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“As expected, It must be because I did what His Majesty was supposed to do… Were you offended because your opportunity was intercepted by me?”
“…What?”
“Or do you just hate me? Is that why you don’t like whatever it is that I do?”
“…..Aha.”
His deep sigh interrupted Anastasia’s rambling.
Anastasia looked at Wilhelm with red eyes.
On the contrary Wilhelm’s eyes were as cold as ice.
His sharp gaze felt like a knife that was stabbed through Anastasia’s chest.
It hurt.
“Yes, you are right…”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“It’s unpleasant. I’m annoyed and very dissatisfied.”
“Your Majesty……”
“I’m neither happy nor grateful. Did someone ask you to do that? Who told you to take that risk? Was it to build an achievement of sorts? Since when did you care so much about that?”
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
Every word that he said turned into a dagger, slashing through Anastasia’s chest.
It hurt. It hurt so much, but…..
Anastasia stared at Wilhelm with her eyes wide open to not shed any tears in front of him.
“Don’t ever get involved in such a dangerous thing ever again. You’re the Empress of this Empire. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“….I should have just come back and pretend that I didn’t see you today?”
Anastasia asked in a more agitated voice than before.
“You know for a fact that if we were delayed even just for a bit, we would  have never achieved the results we have gotten today.”
“……..”
“Why…….”
Anastasia couldn’t continue her words because she didn’t know what to ask now, but Wilhelm’s firm words came.
“Considering the current circumstances, go back first.”
“…….”
“And don’t do anything for a while. Just stay put.”
Anastasia was at a loss for words when she heard his order.
She wanted to say more, but then she realized that it would be pointless and unnecessary.
‘Why me?’
Let’s just end it like this since he wanted me to go back. Didn’t he want me to return back to the Empress’s Palace as soon as possible to rest?
Anastasia bit her lip hard and greeted Wilhelm in a businesslike voice.
“Have a good night, Your Majesty.”
And with a face without a single regret, she went straight out of his office.
-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-
(Anastasia’s 3rd Person POV)
‘But….’
‘What the hell did I do wrong?’
[pr/n: Um…not value your own life very high? It’s an achievement don’t get me wrong but, maybe realized that people were worried for your safety over that? No?]
It’s been about 10 minutes since she had returned to the Empress Palace.
Anastasia could hardly contain her anger and was currently raging.
‘Honestly, I just wanted to hear a simple acknowledgement. I’m not asking for a medal or adoration. Nothing grand but just the words, ‘What a great thing that you did today!’’
‘I felt so ashamed, because it came out as if I was fishing for a compliment. But isn’t that unfair?’
‘How can he be so cruel to someone who has come back with a solution to something that had been a lifelong dream for three generations to achieve?’
‘Did he think that I don’t have any emotions at all? Who doesn’t have any feelings?! Seriously?’
Anastasia muffled her screams and distorted her face in a ridiculous way.
Fortunately, no one else but her was in the bedroom. It meant that no one would be surprised to see the Empress’s eccentric behavior.
“Hah! No, I think this has turned out for the better.”
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
Maybe this was fate.
‘Even if I did a good job and came back, since he doesn’t see me in a good light, wouldn’t it be the same as the original plot?’
If this continues, things will go on as it was in the original story, without any problems until the end.
“It’s a very good thing for me…. Of course, it is.”
The words behind them seemed a bit bitter, but Anastasia made an effort not to be conscious of it.
[pr/n: Your denial game is stronger than Wilhelm’s. Wonders will never cease.]
‘Let’s just sleep it off for now.’
Anyway, she has a lot of work for tomorrow but soon fatigue came rushing in.
Anastasia lay in the bed as still as possible to calm her troubled feelings.
“All that remains is to think about tomorrow.”
‘He told him not to do anything and to be still, but I had no intention of resting.’
‘Why should I? Since I decided to oppose everything that he wants.’
-ˏˋ ━━━━━━ ʚɞ ━━━━━━ ˊˎ-
(3rd Person POV)
As soon as the next day came, Anastasia faithfully fulfilled her promise of the previous day.
As usual, she worked hard on all of her court affairs and read books related to her affairs diligently.
“You’ve been overworking all day now. Aren’t you overdoing it, Your Majesty?”
“Just as I have been telling you, Madame Rochester, I wasn’t hurt at all. It would seem like I’m disrespecting the efforts of the knights.”
“Please don’t overwork yourself, Your Majesty. By the way, His Majesty the Emperor has widely publicized and commended Her Majesty’s achievements at today’s political meeting.”
“….I beg your pardon?”
‘He is unbelievable. Why was he so angry yesterday to only turn around and commended me today?!’
“What are you talking about? He criticized me greatly yesterday.”
“What? How could that be possible? Anyone could tell that you did a great job and came back safe.”
‘Madame Rochester seemed to think that I was just joking.’
‘But it’s true…he was terribly angry yesterday wasn’t he?’
“As a token of appreciation on behalf of Her Majesty’s achievement, His Majesty has signed an additional allowance due to your great contribution.”
“What did you say?”
“That’s about half a year’s worth of allowance. You’re happy, right?”
Madame Rochester continued with a satisfied look on her face.
“Of course, you used the Emperor’s private property but it’s still a good thing for Your Majesty, isn’t it?”
“……”
Anastasia’s expression turned sour.
‘Did he regret later what he just said yesterday?’
‘I didn’t give him any medicine or anything like that…but why is he doing this?’
“….That’s good then. There are a lot of different areas for this money to go into.”
“Will you use it for charity again?”
“Similar. By the way, what happened to the Santoro case?”
“As soon as the day dawns, His Majesty the Emperor has sent someone. Please don’t worry too much about it.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“Last night, I was so afraid that I would have nightmares for nothing.”
“Thank you for worrying about me. The only person in the world who cares for me is Madame Rochester.”
Crash!
Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking and shattering was heard.
Both Anastasia and the Duchess of Rochester turned towards the sound in bewilderment.
There stood Duke Barantes, who seemed to be greatly shocked.
“Ah, Your Majesty the Empress…”
Please do not repost our translation. Read only at Pink Muffin Translations.
“…Father?”
“So, based on Her Majesty’s words, I…I also don’t…..”
“I- father. I only said that……”
“Although I admit that I had said some harsh words to Her Majesty in the past…but it was all for Her Majesty’s…”
Tears welled up in Duke Barantes’ eyes.
Anastasia was greatly surprised, immediately got up from her seat.
“I didn’t know that was what you thought of me…..”
“Wait, father. It’s all a misunderstanding!”
Anastasia quickly tried to catch him, but Duke Barantes left the room with a face resembling a cartoon character who was severely wounded.
“Father? Father!”
Anastasia followed the Duke of Barantes belatedly, but the Duke was already running far away.
[pr/n: Oof…this was not your chapter Anastasia.]