AWLITEB Chapter 14

"Your Majesty the Empress. You must go to the bath now."

The maid spoke anxiously.

But Syellin just pretended not to hear, as if determined to hold out until the last moment, and simply stroked the cat on her lap.

"Your Majesty the Empress. Everyone is waiting."

"I won't be dressing up extravagantly. So I don't need much time."

"However..."

"Shh."

The Empress simply closed her eyes while looking out the window.

Lazy sunlight poured over her head and over the cat's extended tongue.

The maid was anxious to death, but the Empress was impossibly calm.

"Really, Empress."

That's when it happened.

A heavy male voice shattered the peaceful silence.

The maid startled and stepped back, bowing at the waist.

It was the Emperor.

"Haven't even bathed yet? Still in your nightclothes."

Syellin slowly turned her head to look at her husband.

Phyke was already fully dressed with his hair fixed with flower oil.

"You've dressed up enthusiastically."

At Syellin's words, Phyke laughed even more heartily, unnecessarily so.

"Of course! My little brother is bringing his fiancée, so I have to show my best appearance with sincerity. Don't you think?"

"As you wish."

The Empress turned her head back toward the window as if uninterested.

"Even if not as much as me, shouldn't the Empress start dressing up soon?"

"I can stay a little longer. I told you, dressing up doesn't take me as long as you."

"Syellin?"

Phyke's voice became even more affectionate.

The maid, understanding what that meant, slipped outside and closed the door.

Syellin also stroked the cat while hiding her tense demeanor.

"Why don't you go to the bath."

"..."

"Hmm?"

Phyke, who had approached Syellin closely without her noticing, reached his hand over the cat's head.

Meow!

The cat screamed at the Emperor's rough touch, sensing danger.

Syellin, knowing what Phyke would do next, had no choice but to declare defeat.

"Fine, stop it!"

Syellin exhaled a long, uncomfortably trembling breath.

"I'll... go to the bath right now."

"Good thinking, Syellin."

Phyke bent down and kissed Syellin's cheek.

Syellin bit her lips tightly, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin.

As they approached the palace, Isabella couldn't hide her nervousness.

Until recently, this was something she couldn't even have imagined.

Coming to the palace together in his carriage as the person who would marry the Grand Duke.

She could feel cold sweat gathering between the lines of her palms.

"Nervous?"

Genos, sitting across from her, asked.

Isabella nodded and slightly lifted the cloth covering the window.

She could see the carriage approaching the palace's main gate.

"Yes. I'm anxious I might make a mistake."

"What mistake could there be. Just don't speak informally to the Emperor and you're fine."

"Is that a joke?"

"Does this face look like it's joking?"

Genos pointed to his own expressionless face with his index finger and asked.

Asked so blatantly, Isabella had nothing to say.

"No. Not at all."

"You know how to use tableware, right? And I'll give most of the answers anyway, so no need to worry. Besides, showing the image of a perfect future Grand Duchess would be more suspicious. They know it's a marriage decided by sudden love. Which is also true."

Genos muttered while adjusting his shirt cuffs.

"Your job isn't to practice etiquette but to identify our enemies. Think about how to kill them properly."

"Is the Empress a target for recruitment? The fact that the Empress despises His Majesty the Emperor is known to everyone."

Once, a mistress the Emperor had kept had insulted the Empress. At a cocktail party, the mistress, drunk from overindulgence, had joked that the Empress had merely fulfilled the task of producing imperial family members but hadn't received even a handful of the Emperor's love.

Though it was a joke secretly thrown to a close friend, the problem was that one of the Empress's ladies-in-waiting passing by had heard it. At such parties, there were ears everywhere—a fact temporarily forgotten due to intoxication.

The Empress was greatly enraged and filed for summary judgment in court with a witness. The result was of course the Empress's victory, and the mistress was exiled from the empire for disgracing the palace.

While the Empress's action was proper, the Emperor was very displeased that his cute mistress had been driven out.

He was also angry that such a matter had been decided unilaterally without a word of consultation with him, and he tore apart the Empress's natal family by framing them for touching the Emperor's personal coffers.

The Empress, who had been the golden, precious daughter of a ducal family, lost her natal family to lean on overnight.

"It would be good to recruit the Empress if possible. But I'm not thinking we must make her an ally at all costs. The Empress sees me as nothing more or less than the Emperor's younger brother. If her endless contempt for the Emperor extends to me, it will be difficult to make her an ally. After all, the same blood as the Emperor flows through me too. I plan to watch the situation regarding the Empress."

The carriage's speed noticeably decreased. It seemed they'd entered the palace.

Genos's brow furrowed slightly.

Isabella could also sense the uncomfortable feeling appearing on his face.

"You dislike the palace?"

When Isabella asked, Genos flinched and looked at her.

He moistened his dry lips briefly and opened his mouth.

"It feels like being invited to someone else's house."

"But it's Your Grace's house."

"It's the Emperor and Crown Prince's house, not mine. So I need to make it mine as soon as possible. My stomach churns so much I can't stand it."

Genos forcibly made an effort to relax his expression.

In the meantime, the carriage had fully entered the palace and stopped at an appropriate spot. After a knock, the door opened.

Genos got out of the carriage first and extended his hand to Isabella.

Isabella took Genos's hand and set foot in the palace for the first time.

"Haa."

At the cool scent of wood that wafted over, Isabella unconsciously took a deep breath in and out.

The place where the carriage stopped was in front of the Central Palace between the Emperor's Palace and the Empress's Palace, used for the Emperor to conduct business or invite close associates for meals or tea time.

"We've been waiting for you. Your Grace the Grand Duke, Miss Isabella. Allow me to escort you."

It was the Emperor's attendant. The attendant bowed his head respectfully and guided the two.

Genos bent his arm slightly toward Isabella.

Isabella carefully grasped his arm and took steps together with him.

When Isabella's hand gripping his arm trembled slightly, the Grand Duke bent toward her and spoke.

"Are you making such a nervous face? Even your hand is shaking."

"But nervousness and trembling aren't things I can control."

"Think of the men you killed."

"Pardon?"

"Think of how you blatantly put holes in the men's bodies."

Thrilling scenes replayed in Isabella's mind.

Those thrilling moments when she'd personally executed the lunatics who'd shown dirty speech and hand habits while raving mad.

Then, like magic, a beautiful and natural smile settled on Isabella's face.

Genos was also satisfied.

"Yes, well done."

The attendant guided the two to the Central Palace's garden.

In the garden sat a long, luxurious solid wood table with the meal fully laid out.

People like the Emperor or Empress hadn't yet taken their seats, but those who would attend to the meal stood politely at a slight distance from the table.

With the head seats empty, Genos and Isabella couldn't sit either.

This was a method Phyke often used.

By making them stand in the same position as the attendants and maids waiting to serve, he wordlessly explained that even if they shared the same blood, there was a clear dividing line.

That was Phyke's way.

While pretending to laugh heartily, he continuously divided and separated himself from others behind the scenes, employing methods to make them feel the Emperor's dignity and authority.

"His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are arriving."

The attendant announced.

Soon after, Phyke approached the garden with a smile on his imposing face. Beside him was the expressionless Empress, Syellin.

"Oh dear, I wanted to arrive first but I'm a bit late. Did you wait long, Genos?"

"Not at all, Your Majesty. Even the waiting time was gracious. Please allow me to offer humble greetings to the Emperor and Empress of the empire."

Genos respectfully knelt on one knee and bowed his head. Isabella also held her skirt beside him and bent one knee in obeisance.

"Isabella of the Baronet White family offers humble greetings to His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress."

"Enough, enough. What's with such polite and respectful greetings between family. It makes my face turn red."

Phyke grasped Genos's body and lifted him up. Then he sent a gentle look toward Syellin.

Though unwilling, Syellin helped Isabella up.

"I am honored."

Though Isabella spoke quietly, Syellin didn't respond.

This was Syellin, who'd earned the nickname 'the Veiled Empress' for not showing herself in society after the mistress incident.

Isabella carefully looked at Syellin's numb and tired face. Not even a layer of makeup could hide those emotions.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress. This is my fiancée, Isabella White. I formally introduce her."

At Genos's introduction, Isabella respectfully clasped her hands and bowed her head.

Phyke waved his hand as if greetings were enough now.

"We're family now, so no need for such formalities. Come, let's sit now."

Phyke gestured and headed toward the table.

Phyke sat at the head seat, with Syellin beside him, and Genos and Isabella sitting in order across from Syellin.

"I deliberately didn't have the Crown Prince and Prince join us today. Since it's the first meeting, I wanted it to be just the four of us. You're not disappointed, are you, Genos?"

"Not at all, Your Majesty."

"I'd prefer if you called me brother in settings like this, but you never miss saying 'Your Majesty.' Does Genos act this stiffly with you too, Isabella?"

Phyke's gaze turned to Isabella.

Isabella respectfully bowed her head and opened her mouth.

"I am honored. When His Grace the Grand Duke shows respect toward Your Majesty the Emperor, how dare I say anything."

Isabella chose an appropriate response.

In today's setting, it was right for her to blend into the atmosphere without standing out as much as possible.

Phyke seemed pleased with that answer and laughed loudly, then had the attendant divide the food onto plates.

While Genos dealt with Phyke, Isabella covertly watched Syellin.

Syellin simply stared vacantly into space, openly showing she had no interest whatsoever in this table.

But occasionally, Syellin's gaze would return to the table. When the attendant poured wine into their glasses.

Syellin would look at the wine bottle like a thirsty person, but whenever the attendant tried to fill her glass, she'd raise her palm in refusal.

"Have you decided how you'll hold the wedding? Since the bride is the star, you'll have to listen to your fiancée."

Phyke asked playfully.

Isabella simply smiled shyly instead of answering.

"We haven't decided anything specific yet. We plan to decide gradually after announcing the marriage. We've only thought that it would be good to proceed without being too noisy."

"Yes, right. Sincere blessings are what's most important after all."

When the meal had progressed to some extent, Syellin, who had set down her utensils a while ago, stood up.

Everyone's gaze gathered.

At that moment, Isabella saw several dark strands of fur stuck to Syellin's skirt hem.

Judging by the location, color, and thickness of the fur, it seemed to be from a beast.

Does the Empress keep a beast?

Isabella's eyes sparkled.

There was no better topic to start a conversation than a cute animal.

"I'll excuse myself first. My digestion isn't good, so I need to take a walk."

"It seems you've eaten very little. Will you be alright, Empress?"

Phyke asked with a worried expression.

Syellin maintained her composure even before her husband's detestable smile.

"Yes. I'll be fine. Please excuse me. Grand Duke, Lady White."

Genos and Isabella stood from their seats and bowed their heads toward the Empress leaving the table.

The Empress left the garden with quick steps alongside her maid.

Isabella watched that retreating figure and made a decision.

She addressed Phyke.

"Your Majesty the Emperor. If you permit it, may I follow the Empress and speak with her?"

"You want to converse with the Empress?"

Phyke asked with a slightly surprised look.

Genos was the same.

It was somewhat disappointing that the Crown Prince and Prince weren't present today, but he didn't want to rush things.

Yet Isabella showed unexpected behavior, which was a bit bewildering.

"The Empress didn't fully enjoy her meal, and it seems to be because of my unfamiliar visit, so I wish to briefly offer an apology. I earnestly ask that you understand this humble person's heart that wishes to cause no burden whatsoever to Your Majesty the Emperor and the Empress."

At Isabella's polite words, Phyke showed a not-unfavorable reaction.

He liked the polite and appropriately servile attitude toward the imperial family.

"Since you say so, how can I refuse. Of course. Go ahead and follow her."

"Excuse me."

Isabella left the garden with hurried steps.

Genos suppressed his anxious feelings.

While the witch's power was the biggest reason for making Isabella his person, as he'd learned through the test on Tanje Street, Isabella was also someone who knew how to use her head.

Genos decided to trust her.