Chapter 136 - North Korean rabbit

Chapter 136

Chapter 15. Harvest Festival

I simply stared blankly at Evangeline.

It wasn't a glare or a warning look. I was just trying to figure out what to do.

Perhaps unable to bear the pressure, she impulsively spoke up.

"Did, did you not hear what I said? I have come as Her Majesty the Empress's representative!"

Ah, now I understand.

So she's saying I should treat her with the same deference as the Empress herself.

Her attire was flamboyant, perhaps to avoid being looked down upon. A green dress densely embroidered with gold thread, a large black gemstone brooch pinned prominently on her chest, and ruby ornaments glittering lavishly in her hair.

It was almost admirable how her attitude remained unchanged even after being reduced to a social outcast with her reputation in tatters.

As if there was no need for me to say anything, and without any cue or signal from me, the Head Lady-in-Waiting stepped forward.

The Duchess of Müzen moved to stand between Evangeline and me, blocking her, and spoke coldly.

"It seems that representative of Her Majesty the Empress did not receive instruction from Her Majesty on the etiquette to be observed before Her Highness the Crown Princess."

A voice as cold as ice.

She was outright saying, 'So you were poorly raised and that's why you're acting so rude?'

As expected of the Duchess of Müzen, impressive.

There's no way Evangeline, who is well-versed in the language of high society, could have failed to understand that.

She bristled, but was rather overwhelmed by the Duchess of Müzen's imposing presence.

"Th-that's not it! It's not that Her Majesty didn't tell me...!"

"Then you are saying you know but are not observing it properly. That, too, is an act that sullies Her Majesty the Empress's honor."

"......"

Evangeline trembled as if her phone were on vibrate mode.

But the place where I was receiving Evangeline now was my private office within the Crown Prince's Palace.

Beside me was not only the Head Lady-in-Waiting, who held the Platinum Key, but also the attendants sent from the main palace to assist with internal management.

To push her luck here would ultimately mean letting her own discourtesy reach the Emperor's ears.

In the end, Evangeline bit her lip and bowed her head.

"I pay my respects to Your Highness the Crown Princess. By order of Her Majesty the Empress, I have brought the ceremonial robes to be used for the upcoming Harvest Festival."

A lady-in-waiting hastily stepped out from behind the bowing Evangeline and handed a red box to the Head Lady-in-Waiting.

Soon, the Head Lady-in-Waiting brought it over herself and showed it to me.

'The Harvest Festival... Indeed, it's not long now.'

The Harvest Festival, praying for a bountiful harvest on the Artanus plains, was one of the important events for the Imperial family.

The harvest of the Artanus plains was of such importance that it concerned not only the Empire but the entire continent.

After all, this place was nicknamed the continent's granary.

Because this year's yield directly affected next year's wheat and bread prices across the continent.

Naturally, the role of the ceremonial officiant for the Harvest Festival also fell to the Eastrid Imperial family.

Originally, it should be performed by the Emperor and Empress together, but the Empress is currently under house arrest.

Therefore, it is scheduled to be performed by Arpad and me, who are managing the internal affairs in her stead.

The Emperor's approval had already been granted to me as well.

That is why the ceremonial attire kept in the Empress's Palace was sent ahead of time.

It needed to be altered to fit my measurements.

During the process of me inspecting the robes, Evangeline was watching with fiery eyes, as if she wanted to somehow find a flaw in me.

But.

'Is there any need to keep looking at that unpleasant face?'

I shook my head and gave the order to see her out.

"You may leave."

"Wh-what?"

"On your way back, why not stop by the court physician? Get your ears checked, in case there's a problem."

"...!"

Evangeline trembled with humiliation but did not obediently try to withdraw.

"Still, wouldn't it be better to check it in my presence? In case any problems are found with the ceremonial robes......"

I asked coldly.

"It seems Her Majesty the Empress did not properly manage the Harvest Festival ceremonial robes?"

"That is not true!"

"Then there should be no problems, so it doesn't matter."

"B-but what if a problem arises later and you try to pin it on Her Majesty the Empress...!"

In short, she was saying, 'What if there's no problem now, but you create one later and blame it on the Empress?'

'That's exactly the kind of thinking she'd have.'

After all, that was Evangeline's specialty.

I replied calmly.

"In an hour or two, I will see His Majesty the Emperor together with His Highness the Crown Prince. We will check it together then."

At these words, Evangeline's face paled.

It seems she heard it as me boasting.

"Since His Majesty will be checking it together, there will be no chance for problems to arise. So, you may withdraw now."

Evangeline could not argue further.

After moving her lips a few times, she finally bowed with an expression full of humiliation and withdrew.

Until the moment the door closed, Evangeline acted true to herself.

Wanting to somehow assert her superiority by invoking the Empress's status and power.

And trying to find fault with me, to somehow mar me, only to fail and suppress her anger.

But.

"......"

"What is the matter, Your Highness?"

At Ani's question, I smiled and shook my head.

Ani wore an expression of satisfaction at Evangeline's humiliation.

The reaction of most palace attendants was similar.

A situation no different from usual.

But I felt a slight sense of incongruity.

'Clearly, during the last trial, I got the feeling Evangeline was trying to act more cautiously and cunningly?'

Moreover, delivering the ceremonial attire for the Harvest Festival is not something she needed to do personally.

Since there's nothing to gain from it except humiliation, wouldn't it be more fitting for Evangeline to avoid it?

I decided not to let my guard down.

* * *

Evangeline's body, trembling with anger and humiliation, remained so even after leaving the room.

Shoulders slumped deeply as if ruminating on the disgrace, and a head absolutely refusing to lift as she stared holes into the floor.

It was the vivid picture of a defeated person.

But when she finally raised her head inside the carriage heading from the imperial palace to the Rus Marquisate residence...

A confident smile hung on Evangeline's lips.

She removed the black gemstone pinned to her chest and looked at it with a proud expression.

"It's done. With this, the preparations are complete."

After changing carriages several times and changing her clothes, the place Evangeline arrived at was not the Rus Marquisate residence.

It was a shabby little temple on the outskirts of the capital.

* * *

After Arpad and I married.

To be more precise, after I first had an audience with the Emperor and received Artanus Hall.

The relationship between the Emperor and Arpad had been softening considerably.

Of course, it's not that they instantly became as close as an ordinary father and son.

After all, the Emperor was bound by duty and guilt, and Arpad... did not hide his dissatisfaction and resentment.

But compared to the beginning, it was definitely much more pliable.

'Honestly, this is all thanks to me!'

I orchestrated for the father and son to meet more often than the officially scheduled imperial events.

And I tried my best to soften the atmosphere beside these two people, who were excessively similar in their inability to be honest.

For example, poking Arpad in the side when he was about to say something sharp to the Emperor.

"A formal dinner should be sufficient, there's no need to have teatime together as well."

"You...!"

Or gently translating the Emperor's stiff words.

"Annoying as it may be, what can be done? It is the duty of the Imperial family."

"His Majesty is saying this because he wishes to see you more often."

...And so on.

The result of my tearful efforts over the past few months.

These stiff father and son have even reached the point of having casual conversations without me.

"Hmm. This scone is quite tasty. It's the flavor you liked when you were young."

"When was that? I don't particularly like it now. But it seems to suit my wife's taste."

Arpad slid the plate the Emperor had pushed towards him over to me.

Typical Arpad, dodging his father's show of affection like an eel.

'You...!'

In the end, I had to step in again.

I took the scone that the Emperor had offered but had ended up in front of me via Arpad's hand, split it neatly, and spread jam and cream on it.

Then I held it out with a smile.

"Ah, here."

"I gave it to you to eat... You like fig scones, don't you?"

"Here, ah."

As I pushed it, Arpad opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

The scone, the size of my fist, disappeared into Arpad's mouth in two bites.

'He eats it well, so why is he like this?'

Truly, a man who requires an excessive amount of effort.

As I let out a small sigh, the Emperor's pleased voice came from beside me.

"It's fortunate to see you two getting along so well."

For some reason, Arpad lifted his chin and retorted.

"It's fortunate that it's different from with Her Majesty the Empress, Your Majesty."

"Indeed."

Surprisingly, the Emperor accepted Arpad's blatant dig without much objection.

Well, the Emperor doesn't like the Empress.

'And once he learns the truth I'm about to reveal, he'll probably come to hate her.'

I didn't feel particularly sympathetic towards the Empress because of that fact.

Right now, I am in a life-or-death war.

While I was briefly lost in heavy thoughts,

the Emperor, still wearing a pleased smile, continued speaking.

"I was surprised to see Arpad carrying out all his external engagements without fail, even though the last Crimson Month was quite long."

Originally, during the Crimson Month period, Arpad would refrain from external activities even during the day as much as possible.

But this time, he spent the nights with me and handled all his daytime schedules normally.

The Emperor looked at me with a gentle expression and said.

"It seems you have been taking good care of him."

"Not at all."

But Arpad denied it from beside me.

"It is true that my wife has been taking very good care of me. Very."

He stared intently at me while emphasizing meaningfully.

At my... lips.

My face flushed red without me realizing it.

'This man!'

Arpad pretended not to notice my reproachful gaze.

The Emperor, who watched even this exchange of glances between us with the fondness of a father seeing his son and daughter-in-law in marital bliss, brought up something I had never imagined.

"There is an old saying in the Imperial family regarding the Harvest Festival."

"What saying is that?"

"It is said that couples who participate as the ceremonial officiants of the Harvest Festival often receive their most precious fruit that very night."

The Emperor had deployed it. The 'Any news of a child from you two yet?'

I almost spat out the tea I was drinking.