Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: An Empress's Thorn
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The first to appear was the Emperor.
Lucillea unknowingly held her breath.
Broad shoulders and a sturdy build that couldn't be concealed even by his ornate imperial robes, and knuckles that seemed hardened from years of gripping a sword.
Unlike the image of a ‘strategist’ she had imagined while reading the original novel, the Emperor possessed an aura more suited to the battlefield than the imperial palace.
Though the Emperor's golden eyes held a languid light, the instinct hidden within them resembled the keenness of a predator that sees through everything.
*Yes, a predator.*
Lucillea found herself thinking just that.
The king of beasts, who appears relaxed but never tolerates an invasion of his territory.
She could vaguely understand how the Emperor in the original novel had managed to protect his throne amidst countless political struggles.
*Wow. His Majesty the Emperor is quite handsome.*
She felt she could see where the male lead, Serdian, got his good looks from.
Cookie, who had been looking at the Emperor along with Lucillea, spoke.
[Lucy! That mister looks super strong! Don't you think armor would suit him better than those shiny clothes?!]
At Cookie's words, Lucillea quietly nodded her head. She had been thinking the same thing.
*Even so, you can't call His Majesty 'mister,' Cookie.*
[Hey! No one else can hear my voice anyway!]
*I'm saying this because I'm worried you might let it slip by accident later!*
Don't you remember calling Master Noa a dummy last time?! As Lucillea chided him, Cookie let out a short gasp. "Ah!"
*So let's be careful, okay, Cookie?*
[Okay!]
Good, that's better. Lucillea gently stroked Cookie's head and shifted her gaze to the person beside the Emperor.
Next to the Emperor stood the Empress, the star of today's birthday banquet, with her arm linked through his.
She was beautiful. And cold.
She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, and a slight age gap was noticeable with the Emperor, who looked to be in his forties.
Her voluminous, lustrous brown hair was elegantly coiffed beneath a magnificent jeweled ornament, and despite the light makeup, her fair skin glowed flawlessly.
Though she was still too young and captivating to be called the mother of the empire, her gentle smile and graceful gestures held an authority that no one could defy.
While Lucillea observed the two most powerful people in the empire, the imperial couple ascended the dais.
At that moment, the Emperor's gaze lingered for a brief instant on Elbadin, who was standing in the middle of the banquet hall, and on Serdian beside him.
It was a casual, passing glance, yet Lucillea somehow found it chilling. As if he didn't even know his own child was standing right there.
Once the Emperor's short but dignified congratulatory speech ended, the procession of nobles celebrating the Empress's birthday began naturally.
“Your Majesty the Empress, I congratulate you on your birthday. Your beauty and benevolence will be recorded in our hallowed history. Your Majesty is the one and only jewel of our empire.”
At this, the Empress smiled profoundly.
“A compliment from Marquis Marques is always a pleasure to hear.”
Then, another noble stepped forward.
“Your Majesty the Empress, this is a gift prepared by my county. It cannot compare to Your Majesty’s beauty, but please accept it as a token of our sincerity.”
“Thank you, Count Wilton. I will not forget your sentiment.”
As Count Wilton stepped back with a look of deep emotion, Baron Briang, who came from a merchant background, came forward.
“Your Majesty the Empress! This is the finest silk fabric brought from the far-off eastern continent across the sea! It is an honor to be able to present this fabric to Your Majesty!”
He blatantly opened the box containing the fabric, showing off the gift he had brought.
Following him was a series of greetings from nobles who pushed their young daughters forward to form a connection with the imperial family, and others who subtly flaunted their family's wealth, military power, or intelligence network.
All sorts of flattery and ostentation were rampant. Lucillea felt as if she had just gotten a glimpse into the world of adults.
*Social life in this world doesn't look easy either.*
She sighed inwardly and turned her head.
And finally, at the end of the long procession, it was the turn of the Grand Ducal House of Descartes.
Elbadin led the children forward to stand before the Emperor and Empress.
As he moved, a strange silence fell over the bustling banquet hall.
Standing before the Empress, Elbadin looked at her with a dry gaze.
“I congratulate Your Majesty the Empress on her birthday.”
“…”
It was a short and simple congratulatory greeting.
At that, one of the Empress's eyebrows rose slightly.
The reactions of the other nobles in the hall were divided.
Some whispered, wondering if that was all, while others remarked that it was just like the Grand Duke.
But no one could find fault with it.
It was short and clear, but it was undeniably a polite greeting.
Just then.
“Grand Duke.”
The Empress, who had been watching Elbadin for a moment, called to him with the gentlest of smiles.
In response, Elbadin bowed his head slightly before raising it to answer.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
His gaze seemed to ask, *What? Is there more for us to discuss?*
The Empress, maintaining her smile, spoke.
“I cannot recall how many years it has been, Grand Duke. The northern winter winds must have been so fierce as to make you forget the spring tidings of the capital.”
Her eyes, holding a benevolent smile, crinkled softly.
But hidden within the Empress's words was a sharp thorn aimed at Elbadin for having ignored her invitations all this time.
*Huh?*
The thorn was so sharp that even Lucillea noticed it.
The atmosphere was turning ominous.
Lucillea glanced at the back of Elbadin's head.
Just then, Elbadin replied with a composed face.
“As I am in a position to guard the empire's winter, I have no leisure to covet a personal spring.”
At Elbadin's response, the corner of the Empress's mouth seemed to twitch slightly before she quickly regained her composure.
Oh…! Lucillea, who was looking back and forth between the two, was inwardly impressed.
*He doesn't go easy on her just because she's the Empress.*
As expected of the Grand Duke.
Judging by that brief exchange, it was clearly Elbadin's victory.
Lucillea peeked at the Empress's expression.
For a fleeting moment, the corner of the Empress's mouth had faltered.
Then suddenly, the Empress's eyes met hers directly.
*Huh…?*
Startled, Lucillea's eyes widened as she met her gaze, then, with a jolt of realization, she quickly bowed her head.
The Empress smiled gently and opened her mouth again.
“May I ask the child’s age?”
At the Empress’s words, Elbadin gave a short reply.
“She is seven.”
The Empress’s eyes widened as if in surprise.
“Ah… Then the timing does not match, does it?”
To that, Elbadin replied.
“I do not know what you mean.”
The Empress answered with a faint smile.
“It is nothing. I must have been mistaken.”
Then the Emperor, who had been silent until then, asked.
“Mistaken?”
The Empress slowly shook her head and said.
“It is nothing of consequence, Your Majesty. It is just…”
Trailing off, the Empress paused for a moment before continuing.
“The Grand Duke’s appearance at a banquet after so long, and his bringing young children with him.”
The Empress's gaze turned to Lucillea again.
“Looking at that child, I almost thought the Grand Duke had finally found the child he lost eight years ago.”
“…”
“…”
*It was merely my misunderstanding,* the Empress said, covering her mouth with her hand as she laughed.
In an instant, a chilling silence descended upon the banquet hall.
No one dared to even breathe, forced to watch the reactions of the Empress and Elbadin.
It hadn't been a forbidden topic from the beginning, but it had naturally become one over the years.
The Empress had just brought up the story of the Grand Duchess being found dead eight years ago, and the child in her womb who had disappeared at the time.
The nobles gathered in the banquet hall were not the only ones surprised.
Present in that very spot was Lucillea, the subject of that story about the lost child.
*N-No, what on earth is that Empress lady talking about?!*
Lucillea clenched her fists, her face a mask of horror.
She had never imagined she would hear a story related to herself in a place like this.
Lucillea shot a startled glare at the Empress, then glanced up at Elbadin.
Since she was standing behind him, she couldn't see his face or expression.
And for that very reason, she had no way of knowing.
What Elbadin must be feeling right now.
Just then, the Emperor spoke.