Chapter 234: An Uncomfortable Banquet
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: An Uncomfortable Banquet
‘I guess a protagonist is a protagonist, after all.’
Back in the North, he had looked a bit worse for wear.
Perhaps it was true that clothes made the man. Standing tall with his cloak fluttering over one shoulder, Duke Kyle looked quite dignified.
As I came to a halt at a somewhat awkward distance, Duke Kyle took a large stride, closing the gap in an instant. Approaching me, he gave a polite, shallow bow.
“I have come to escort Her Highness the Consort by order of Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Empress’s order?
Right, I forgot this man was the Commander of the Imperial Knights. It seemed Duke Kyle would be joining us for tonight’s banquet as well.
Feeling a bit awkward, I placed my hand on Duke Kyle’s arm. He leaned slightly toward me and whispered.
“I am glad to see you again so soon.”
“It is certainly sooner than I expected.”
At my remark, Duke Kyle let out a faint, amused chuckle.
‘I wasn’t joking, though.’
Without me even asking, Duke Kyle began introducing various parts of the Imperial Annex.
“…This is the place His Majesty the Emperor treasures most. That is why he always uses this location when inviting private guests.”
He added that even magic messenger birds were barred from entering to ensure the Emperor’s rest remained undisturbed.
We passed through a long gallery and entered the interior. As we were walking down the hallway—
“I will escort the lady-in-waiting this way.”
A servant suddenly moved to lead Cecilia elsewhere.
“Pardon? I should stay near Her Highness…!”
“You will find the waiting room much more comfortable.”
The servant cut Cecilia off, polite but firm.
“It’s alright, Cecilia.”
After a moment of hesitation, Cecilia eventually followed the servant.
‘I thought I’d be fine.’
But now that the meeting with the Empress was imminent, I felt the tension rising. A banquet with the original story’s greatest villainess.
‘She wouldn’t go as far as poisoning the food, would she?’
Noticing my pace slowing, Duke Kyle spoke in a low voice.
“I will remain by your side the entire time.”
Well, isn’t that comforting?
I kept my mouth shut, fearing I might let something rude slip. Finally, the doors to the private dining room swung open.
“Welcome.”
The Empress smiled, the corners of her thin, red lips curling upward. With her voluminous red hair swept up in an elegant style, she exuded a chilling dignity that felt like it could freeze a person with a single glance.
In contrast, the Emperor sitting beside her had faint features and a frail impression.
“I finally get to meet the wife of my precious nephew.”
The Emperor welcomed me with a hearty, good-natured laugh.
‘He’s the complete opposite of Loik’s father.’
He looked nothing like the late Grand Duke, whose sharp features I had seen in a portrait once.
“It is an honor to be invited,” I greeted.
The Empress replied in a silky voice.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well. I’m glad to see you looking so healthy.”
It was likely a sarcastic jab at how I had declined her previous invitation using illness as an excuse. All the while, her eyes scanned me sharply, as if gauging the condition of her prey.
I clasped my hands politely, careful not to give her any openings.
“I have recovered significantly thanks to Your Majesty’s concern.”
Fortunately, the Empress didn’t press the matter further.
“Please, sit here, Your Highness.”
No sooner had I sat in the chair Duke Kyle pulled out for me than the servants began serving the food.
The Empress didn’t speak to me as much as I had feared. Mostly, the Emperor and Duke Kyle led the conversation, while the Empress and I merely offered occasional responses.
‘At this rate, I might actually get through this without any trouble.’
It was just as my tension was beginning to ebb away.
“By the way, did you enjoy your vacation?”
The Empress asked Duke Kyle with feigned casualness, as if the thought had just occurred to her.
“You went to Blenheim because of the Saintess, didn’t you?”
“…That wasn’t strictly the case.”
Duke Kyle’s voice trailed off somewhat vaguely.
“Not strictly? Then are you saying you went to Blenheim for a holiday?”
The Empress let out a disbelieving laugh, and our eyes suddenly met.
“Oh, don’t take offense. I only say that because the North isn’t exactly known for being a vacation spot.”
“It’s quite alright. You are correct.”
I had absolutely no intention of acting superior in this setting. The North was a land of nothing but snow and monsters. It would be for the best if the Empress continued to view it with that level of disregard.
But just as I was nodding in agreement—
“You are being far too humble.”
Duke Kyle spoke up, his eyebrows arching.
“The North has changed tremendously. Your Majesty would likely be astonished if you saw it for yourself.”
As if he’d traded all his tact for a bowl of soup, Duke Kyle began boasting about the lakeside views and the hot spring village.
“It seems Your Highness has quite the talent for governing a territory in many respects.”
The Empress’s voice took on a strange lilt.
“You flatter me. It has simply become a bit more bustling than before.”
“I’ve heard rumors that Blenheim has changed as well,” the Emperor chimed in. “It gladdens my heart to know the Grand Duke has gained such a reliable supporter.”
The Empress stared at me with an unreadable expression. My nerves were on edge because the Emperor and Duke Kyle wouldn’t stop blathering about the North.
It was then that a servant, attempting to place a bowl of butter sauce in front of me, seemed to slip. The bowl overturned right above the nape of my neck.
Fortunately, because I was already tense, I managed to lean aside quickly. However, the sauce splashed onto the edge of my dress sleeve.
‘That almost went all over my neck.’
The servant cried out, his face turning pale.
“What do you think you are doing?” the Empress barked in a sharp voice. “To make such an absurd mistake in front of a precious guest!”
“Are you hurt?” Duke Kyle asked worriedly.
“No. Only my sleeve got a bit dirty.”
“It’s fine. Could you bring me something to wipe this with?” I asked, looking at the servant who was trembling like a leaf.
“No,” the Empress said firmly. “If you leave it like that, it will stain.”
At a flick of the Empress’s eyes, another servant standing by the wall stepped forward quickly.
“Escort the Grand Duchess to the lounge so she may tidy her clothes.”
‘No, I’m really fine…’
The urge to tell her to just let me go back to the townhouse was at the tip of my tongue, but I obediently headed to the lounge as the Empress commanded.
Upon arriving at the lounge, the Empress’s maids produced a dress from somewhere.
“Your Highness, we have an extra dress, so please change into it.”
“There’s no need. I just need to wipe the sleeve a little.”
“It is butter sauce, so it won’t come off easily.”
One of the maids insisted, pushing the dress toward me.
I paused while inspecting my sleeve.
“…How did you know it was butter sauce?”
The maid’s eyes darted around awkwardly.
“Her Majesty the Empress informed us. She said butter sauce is difficult to clean, so it would be better for you to change your dress.”
A chill ran down my spine. Looking at it now, the servant spilling the sauce on me hadn’t been an accident.
Which meant, right about now…
“Does the dress fit?”
As expected.
The Empress entered the lounge. It seemed she had intended to create this pretext to speak with me alone from the very beginning.
“Her Highness said she would not change her dress…”
The Empress tilted her head as if puzzled.
“Are you worried the dress might be shabby? Despite how it looks, it is a masterpiece made by Madame Sharaide herself.”
Honestly.
I hadn’t intended to show this off here, but…
I eventually grabbed the sleeve of my dress right in front of the Empress.
Snap.
With the sound of buttons popping, the sleeve detached cleanly from the dress.
The Empress and the maids all blinked, looking as if they couldn’t comprehend what they had just seen.
“It’s because the sleeves are detachable.”
I held out the two dangling sleeves to a maid.
“If you insist, I suppose you could just wash the sleeves for me.”
The Empress let out a gasp of disbelief, followed by a light laugh.
“The Grand Duchess is truly an interesting person.”
The corners of her mouth twisted upward.
“So interesting that I want to keep you by my side and watch you indefinitely.”
Lowering her voice, the Empress asked with a chilling glint in her eyes.
“When do you plan to return to the North?”
“I intend to return tomorrow.”
The Empress shook her head as if my answer was incorrect.
“That won’t do.”
Pardon? What won’t do?
“Plan to stay in the capital for the time being,” the Empress said definitively, as if she would accept no rebuttal. “I will introduce you to Valentin soon. You are of similar age, so I’m sure you’ll get along well.”
A look of satisfaction crossed the Empress’s face, as if she were picturing the Third Prince and me standing side by side.
“Since you won’t know many faces in society, it would be best for you to accompany me for a while. I will introduce you to the ladies of reputable families so you can build connections.”
“Your Majesty.”
I stopped her there, before she could pour out any more words.
The Empress saw the stiff set of my mouth and offered a faint smile. However, her eyes weren’t smiling at all.
“I’ll warn you in advance, Grand Duchess. It would be wise not to say anything you might regret.”
I had resolved not to get on the Empress’s bad side if possible.
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t back down on this one.’
I clenched my fists out of sight.
Back in the North, I had a rabbit-like husband who was anxiously awaiting my return.
Wait, was he a rabbit?
‘Isn’t he more like a puppy?’
He had a bear-like side too, but then he could be as sly as a fox when he was being seductive.
And at night, he was a total wolf.