Aran looked at Duke Silasā blue eyes and replied in a bitter tone, āThen Iād have been better off being a revolutionary man. At least Iād have been someone elseās manure.ā
Duke Silas tilted his head at her words.
āWhy do you say that, Your Majesty? Isnāt the Grand Duke like a limb to you? As long as his loyalty towards you remains strong, there is nothing you canāt achieve.ā
The empress tended to underestimate herself too much, but in the eyes of the duke, she was quite rational and of sensible judgment. It was a great problem that she didnāt think too highly of herself. If she had risen to the throne normally, sheād be a great soldier. This was the dukeās thoughts.
For a moment, Aran staggered. Fortunately, the duke firmly supported her back. Aran was nervous. Her petite back and waist could be felt under his palm.
Aran, who took the center stage again, answered calmly, āIsnāt his authority not mine?ā
As usual, the empress was sensitive when it came to the issue of the Grand Duke.
āYour Majesty, does the Grand Duke make you feel uncomfortable?āĀ
Duke Silas asked a question he had long been curious about.Ā
Heād not have believed it even if the mores declared that sheād welcome the Grand Duke warmly. Though the Grand Duke brutally killed the late emperor, it was understandable. This was the way of politics and power.
If only things were different, the duke believed Aran would have made a great empress. No matter the environment she grew up in, she probably didnāt expect to have her own blood sell her off as if she was a mere pr*stitute. Her own brother had tried to sell his only sister to the old Marquis Maxwell to fill his own interest.
Marquis Maxwell was a rich man, though he had a bad habit of changing his wife regularly. If the duke was in her place, heād have longa*sassinated his brother before the Grand Duke could take action.
The empress lowered her gaze.
āIāll pretend I didnāt hear the question just now. I had a great time. Thank you, duke.ā
Like he saw in the office, coldness and heavy fatigue appeared on her small face. The duke realized his mistake and tried to apologize, but Aran let go of his hand. At the same time, the music came to an end.
Duke Silas asked her to dance again, but Aran declined.
Aran returned to her seat and quenched her dry throat with a glass of water.
She knew that her personal opinion towards Enoch in an official position was inappropriate to speak loudly. Yet whenever she saw his face or even the name of it, a complicated mix of emotion came running down.Ā
Setting the glass down, Aran quietly rose from her seat and headed for the deserted garden. She needed fresh air and she was sure Enoch wouldnāt notice whether she went away. He was too occupied. Besides, there wonāt be many people whoāll notice her absence for a while.
But choosing the garden wasnāt the best decision. The lovers, who had left their seats earlier than Aran, were whispering words of love between the trees and the flowers. The manās courtship and the womanās moans could be heard from all over the place.
The poet who followed her was also embarrassed. He was confused whether to expel the half naked lovers or turn them away by informing them secretly that the empress had come.
Aran put her finger on her lips, hinting at the servantās silence before hurriedly walking away before the half-naked lovers noticed her presence. It was a hundred times better to go back to the banquet hall and sit down than to hear that womanās voice full of excitement.Ā
Aran, who couldnāt see in the dead of the night, followed the servant with squinting eyes. As she neared the banquet hall, a hand suddenly pulled her in the dark and hugged her waist tightly. Warm and hot heat covered her lips as she was about to scream in surprise.